Sweet Loretta / Adam Mooshian Photo

Sweet Loretta rallies from last to win G3 Schuylerville

by Dave Litfin

Overcoming a slow start, Sweet Loretta swept past the leaders in the stretch under Saratoga's all-time leading rider, Hall of Famer John Velazquez, and drew off to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes on Friday's Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course.

Sweet Loretta broke last in the field of eight 2-year-old fillies and was well back through the opening stages, which may have worked to her benefit as 23-1 longshot Inspired Flight rocketed to the lead through blazing fractions of 21.68 and 44.79 seconds.

Inspired Flight lost the lead to 8-5 favorite Made Me Shiver turning for home, but the latter's advantage was short-lived, as Sweet Loretta powered up on the outside and drew away through the final furlong to score by 4 ¼ lengths.

Fun and Harlands Thunder ran on late to wind up second and third, as Made Me Shiver grew leg-weary and just held fourth over 7-2 second choice Olive Branch.

"She ran well," said Velazquez, who surpassed the 800 victory mark at the Spa last year. "Winning at Saratoga never gets old - every time you come here and win a race, it's always special. Obviously there's a lot of speed but the track was a little slow. But it worked out my way. She did everything well. I talked to Todd [Pletcher] in the paddock before the race and he told me she breaks well, give her a chance and let her run down the lane, and that's what she did." 

Sweet Loretta ran six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.89 seconds, and earned $90,000 for St. Elias Stable as she improved her record to 2-for-2.

A $750,000 daughter of Tapit, Sweet Loretta was a record sixth Schuylerville winner for trainer Todd Pletcher. The final time, though well off the stakes record of 1:09.80, was the race's fastest since the Pletcher-trained Georgie's Angel won in 1:10.68 seconds in 2011.

"She came to us early at Palm Meadows and she showed some quality," said Pletcher. "We didn't know what she ran against [in her maiden race] at Monmouth, but we liked the way she did it. She looked like she did it with something in reserve, but we knew this was a big step up in class. I told Johnny in the paddock, 'I don't think she's as quick as some of these other fillies, just don't rush her off her feet. Give her a chance to get her legs underneath her.' It actually probably worked in her favor that she didn't break well. They went fast early but she ran professionally; she ran into dirt as well. She kept gaining ground in the early part of the race and put herself in a good position coming off the turn."

The order of finish was completed by Summer Sally, Lightning Dove and Inspired Flight.