Saturday, July 21, 2012
Contact: John Scheinman
(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237
EUROPEAN CLASSIC WINNER SAMITAR SET FOR
"I'm in detox," Schwartz, known as "Buzzy," said of his at least temporary retirement from the market wars.
Schwartz, 67, who lives in
Since his April purchase of Samitar, a daughter of 2002 European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar, Schwartz has campaigned her four times in
"I'm very excited," Schwartz said. "We tried to buy her last fall, and they turned down our offer. I bought her in April. They had such horrendous weather in
Channon, who won his first Classic with Samitar, has sent his son, Jack, to saddle the filly, and after the race she will be transferred into the care of Chad Brown, who handles Schwartz's U.S.-based runners.
In the Lake George, Samitar will confront a field of eight, with one main track only entry, including 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf winner Stephanie's Kitten, who has been freshened since a two-length score in the Edgewood Stakes on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
The 5-2 morning line favorite, Stephanie's Kitten was bred by owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, and a placing in the
Trainer Wayne Catalano is stabled at
"The
Darley Stable will send out Better Lucky, a daughter of Ghostzapper who won a 6 ½-furlong sprint by 5 ¼ lengths May 2 at Belmont Park and then won the Grade 2 Sands Point by a nose with a determined stretch run in her turf debut.
"I thought she ran a big in the allowance race, and I thought the Sands Point was coming up light and she fit well with that group," said trainer Tom Albertrani of Better Lucky, 8-1 on the morning line. "I thought turf wouldn't hurt any. I had her half-sister, and she couldn't hardly break her maiden, but she ran well on both surfaces.
Albertrani said he is comfortable tackling the tough competition set for the
"That's fine; we're up to the challenge," he said. "We've already got a Grade 2 win with her. If she can come back and move up again, that will be even better. She's been doing really well."
Albertrani also has entered recent allowance winner Elusive Rumour, 20-1 on the morning line.
Trainer George "Rusty" Arnold will run the rising Centre Court, who stalked two long shots before powering past to win the Grade 3 Regret last month at Churchill Downs. A daughter of Smart Strike, out of the A.P. Indy mare Let a winner of more than $600,000 Centre Court has shown the ability to come from far behind or stalk the pace.
"Her mother was a really good filly, although she wasn't a grass horse,"
Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Medolina, unbeaten in three starts all by open lengths including the Tweedside Stakes June 24 on the
At 5-1 on the morning line, Medolina will be joined by stablemate Dancing Solo (10-1), winner of two straight stakes races at Monmouth this year, most recently the Grade 3 Boiling Springs at the Lake George distance.
Rounding out the field is Grade 3 winner Somali Lemonade, fourth in the Sands Point and third in the Boiling Springs for trainer Michael Matz.
The field for the Grade 2, $200,000
PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
1 | Elusive Rumour (NY) | J Alvarado | 116 | T Albertrani | 20-1 |
2 | Stephanie's Kitten (KY) | J R Velazquez | 120 | W M Catalano | 5-2 |
3 | Centre Court (KY) | J R Leparoux | 122 | G R Arnold, II | 4-1 |
4 | Better Lucky (KY) | E Castro | 122 | T Albertrani | 8-1 |
5 | Dancing Solo (KY) | J Bravo | 122 | T A Pletcher | 10-1 |
6 | Samitar (GB) | R A Dominguez | 122 | M R Channon | 3-1 |
7 | Somali Lemonade (KY) | J | 120 | M R Matz | 12-1 |
8 | Medolina (KY) | J Castellano | 120 | T A Pletcher | 5-1 |
9 | Harbor Mist (NY) (MTO) | | 118 | P M Serpe | 4-1 |
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