Hostess No Cupcake in Glens Falls 'Cap

Hostess kept the leaders in range throughout the easily paced $108,900 Glens Falls Handicap (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) at Saratoga, then burst past odds-on choice Dynaforce and two others mid-stretch for jockey Rajiv Maragh to post a neck victory Sept. 1. on the inner turf course.

Trained by H. James Bond, Hostess has enjoyed a solid 2008 with two wins and two thirds in her past four starts, all coming in grade II or III races. She successfully kicked off her fall season for owner William Clifton Jr. with a big move in the Glens Falls while carrying top weight of 119 pounds. Bond picked up his first win of the Saratoga season on closing day.

Palmilla rallied from the back of the six-horse field in the stretch to gain second under jockey Edgar Prado. Jade Queen, with John Velazquez aboard, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up.  Dynaforce, the 1-2 favorite making her third U.S. start for trainer Bill Mott after transferring from France, came up empty in the stretch and finished fifth. The final time for the 1 3/8-mile event for fillies and mares was 2:11.66.

Tejida showed the way while posting easy fractions of :23 4/5, :47.48 and 1:11.63 and led coming into the stretch before falling back as Jade Queen, along the inside and Dynaforce, stalking on the leader's outside, closed in. But Hostess, reserved but positioned closer to the pace than usual, soon challenged all of them before taking command near the eighth pole. She had a good jump on Palmilla, who closed relentlessly but ran out of room while clearly the best of the rest.

Hostess posted her first win in three starts on the Saratoga lawn and her initial triumph in four tries at the 11-furlong distance. She came into the Glens Falls after a nice freshening, last racing June 21 when she finished a close third to Mauralakana and Dynaforce in the New York Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park. She beat Mauralakana in the Orchid Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park in March.

Overall, the 5-year-old Chester House mare has won four times in 20 starts. She earned $65,340 for the win, boosting her total to $379,048. Peter Van Andel bred the winner in Kentucky.

Sent off as the second choice, Hostess paid $8.50, $5 and $5.40. Palmilla, winner of the Robert B. Dick Memorial (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park last time out for Jonathan Sheppard, returned $6.20 and $6.30, capping a $2 exacta worth $44.20. Jade Queen, running for Todd Pletcher and the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust, was $9.90 to show.

Lamentation, Dynaforce and Tejida trailed. Dyna's Lassie scratched.

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