Connections of Ashado Hope for Rainy Skies

Trainer Todd Pletcher said his feelings wouldn't be hurt if the skies opened up and produced rain Friday, when he is to saddle Ashado in the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. The daughter of Saint Ballado is a perfect two-for-two with both wins, including a three-length win in the July 23 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. II) coming over a sloppy track.

Ashado broke her maiden by seven lengths over a sloppy going on June 18 at Belmont.

"We're pretty convinced she can handle a fast, dry track but then again my feelings wouldn't be hurt if it rained on Friday," Pletcher said Tuesday during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference.

Pletcher said Ashado was scratched from her initial start because of the track conditions. "We ended up scratching her after the track came up sloppy because we didn't know if she could handle the track. I think now maybe that track condition was some sort of a sign," he said.

It had been reported that Pletcher would also saddle Capeside Lady in the Spinaway but the trainer said the daughter of Cape Town would instead start in the Aug. 30 Sorority Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. Capeside broke her maiden by eight lengths on Aug. 7 at Saratoga.

"Capeside has been training at Monmouth and she is doing very well, so we decided it would be in her best interest to go to the Sorority since this would be her second start," Pletcher said.