Verve's Tale bests Blue Prize to win Summer Colony

by Gillian French

In an exciting stretch duel, Charles E. Fipke's Verve's Tale held off Merriebelle Stable's Blue Prizetoearn her first win and  stakes victory since the Grade 3 Comley in 2016, capturing the fourth running of the $100,000 Summer Colony on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.

Breaking from the rail as the 4-5 post-time favorite with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, Verve's Tale was placed comfortably in third position behind The Argentine-bred Blue Prize, as Annie Rocks who broke alertly from post 7 led the field of six through fractions of 24.71 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.34 for the half mile.

As the field turned for home, Annie Prize gave way at the top of the stretch as Blue Prize and Verve's Tale hooked up in a battle to the wire. Securing the last nod in front, Verve's Tale earned the victory by a nose completing the 1 1/8 miles distance in a final time of 1:50.53 on the main track listed as fast.

"I was in second for a little at the top of the stretch, she had the blinkers on so I didn't want to go with her too early because of the blinkers," Said jockey Jose Ortiz. "She broke good and she won, making it a little easier for me, I thought. She dug in at the half mile making her very hard to pass."

Returning $3.70 for a $2 win wager, the Tale of Ekati filly boosted her career earnings to $480,500.

The jockey rode her beautifully, you can't complain about that," said winning trainer Barclay Tagg. "She didn't seem to skip across the top of it as easily as she does other times, but I think he got the race won for her. She tries hard, and she's probably a step away from being a really, really good horse. You can't be mad if they try hard."

Following Blue Prize in second was Fuhriously Kissed, Rachel's Temper, Annie Rocks, and Romantic Vision completed the order of finish.