When morning-line favourite Roses for Debra scratched with a fever the morning of the race, her stablemate Dontlookbackatall was more than pleased to complete the job with a late-closing victory within the $200,000 Caress Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course.
The graded win was the primary for the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Peace and Justice . After graduating in her debut on the Spa in opposition to open firm at 2, the Christophe Clement trainee honed her craft with a softer marketing campaign for almost all of her 3-year-old season final yr except a runner-up end to Danse Macabre within the 2023 Glen Cove Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Dontlookbackatall returned at 4 higher than ever, touchdown two consecutive black-type scores sprinting on the turf within the License Payment Stakes at Aqueduct and the Energy by Far Stakes in opposition to state-breds at Parx Racing.
Even within the absence of her extra completed barn mate, the Caress was a step up in school for Dontlookbackatall. Her job turned rather less daunting, nevertheless, when she secured the companies of main rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who had initially been named to journey Roses for Debra.
Taking the filly additional off the tempo than she had been in her previous races, the rider confirmed once more why he’s merely the most effective in Saturday’s 5 1/2-furlong contest. Ranking behind a three-way tempo duel between Future Is Now , Kaufymaker , and Run for the Hills , Ortiz waited patiently with a greater than keen Dontlookbackatall till daylight opened earlier than them with somewhat greater than an eighth-mile left to run. Revving into excessive gear, the white-faced filly dashed to the wire a half-length in entrance in a closing time of 1:01.39 over a agency turf course.
Clement praised Ortiz’s skillful timing within the race.
“Pay attention, (Dontlookbackatall) gained nice. Look right here (pointing to the replay), Irad bought her in stalking,” Clement mentioned. “You possibly can see he’s trying behind him to get in that spot—he liked that spot. He has loads of horse and most of the people would have moved earlier. He’s ready and ready and even now coming to the stretch they’re all out, all of them, and look how cool he’s nonetheless sitting. I imply, it is a unprecedented exceptional journey.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. and Dontlookbackatall after profitable the Caress Stakes
Danse Macabre, ever the constant filly for coach Kelsey Danner, raced up the fence late to seize second over front-running Future Is Now in her 4-year-old debut.
Dontlookbackatall returned $19.10 for a $2 win ticket.
Bought for $150,000 by West Level Thoroughbreds on the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching, Dontlookbackatall has banked $487,290 whereas working for West Level, Scarlet Oak Racing, and Titletown Racing Stables.
“(Dontlookbackatall has) been bettering and her numbers are good; immediately is the very best race lifetime so let’s take pleasure in this win. She has gained three stakes in a row, she is clearly fairly gifted,” Clement mentioned, indicating that the Aug. 23 Good N Fancy Stakes on the Spa might be on the horizon for the bettering filly.
Dontlookbackatall, produced from the Arch mare Celtic Arch , turned the primary graded stakes winner for her sire, Blackstone Farm stallion Peace and Justice. The son of Struggle Entrance stood the 2024 breeding season in Pennsylvania for a price of $5,000.
