Ocean Colors, an impressive winner in her first start, may be the sentimental choice heading in to the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) on Saratoga’s opening day, July 23. Eleven 2-year-old fillies will carry 119 pounds while contesting the six-furlong contest, and all of them are seeking their first stakes victory.
However, what makes Ocean Colors stand out is the fact that she is the second-to-last foal out of the late Winning Colors, who won the 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and died earlier this year at age 23 following complications from colic.
While a champion on the racetrack, to date Winning Colors has never reproduced herself as a broodmare. But June 13, Ocean Colors served notice that she may be that runner for her dam when she broke her maiden by 5 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. Steve Asmussen trains the homebred Orientate filly for Gainesway Thoroughbreds.
Challenging Ocean Colors will be several other fillies that were also impressive in their racing debuts. Collegiate, Jardin, Mani Bhavan, Ouchy Night, and Chartreux all broke their maiden at first asking for their connections.
Both Collegiate, who is trained by Mark Henning and runs for Team Valor International, and Jardin, another Asmussen trainee, came with high price tags.
Collegiate, a daughter of Saarland, broke her maiden by 2 1/4 lengths at Belmont June 19. She was purchased by Team Valor for $400,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale from Darby Dan Farm, agent for her breeder, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. Colliegiate’s dam, La Sorbonne, has produced grade III winner Good Student and stakes winner The Student.
Asmussen trains Jardin for Padua Stables. The Montbrook filly was victorious in her first start June 22 at Churchill Downs when she won a maiden special weight by three lengths. Padua bought Jardin for $425,000 earlier this year at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s select 2-year-olds in training sale from her breeder, Ocala Stud. She is a full sister to grade III winner Beacon Shine.
Boom Town Sally, who is trained by Kelly Breen, enters the race off an impressive seven-length victory May 3 at Delaware in her second start.
Several others attempting the Schuylerville will be looking to redeem themselves after failing in their first try at added-money company. After breaking their maidens, Renda, who is conditioned by Juan Arias, and Cameron Crazies, a D. Wayne Lukas trainee, finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the June 28 Debutante Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs behind Garden District.
Girlfrienontheside is the only Schuylerville entrant who is stakes-placed after running second in the June 29 Astoria Stakes at Belmont. However, that day the Tony Dutrow trainee was beaten 9 3/4 lengths by Bold Union.
Mine All Mine, who is seeking to win her first race, rounds out the field.
$100,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III), six furlongs, 2-year-old fillies
Post Postion/Horse/Jockey
1. Ocean Colors/Shaun Bridgmohan
2. Mani Bhavan/John Velazquez
3. Collegiate/Edgar Prado
4. Renda/Javier Castellano
5. Chartreux/Channing Hill
6. Ouchy Night/Kent Desormeaux
7. Mine All Mine/Elvis Trujillo
8. Boom Town Sally/Eibar Coa
9. Cameron Crazies/Julien Leparoux
10. Girlfrienontheside/Cornelio Velasquez
11. Jardin/Robby Albarado