Winter Memories like her mother Memories of Silver lands the Lake George Stakes at Saratoga
Like mother like daughter.
Winter Memories follows in her mother’s footsteps as she displayed an eye catching performance at the Saratoga’s inner turf in the $150,000, Grade 2 Lake George Stakes on 27 July, just like her mother, Memories of Silver, did 15 years back.
The, now, 18-year-old bay mare, Memories of Silver, landed the Lake George Stakes back in 1996, and now her eighth foal, so far the best of them all, Winter Memories, a 3-year-old roan filly, surged past her rivals at Saratoga to keep the legacy alive.
Trained by James Toner for owner John Phillips, Winter Memories is the proud member and part of the Darby Dan Farm Dynasty.
Memories of Silver was also bred by Phillips Racing Partnership, and she had the same conditioner as her daughter, James Toner.
Winter Memories, who was ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano, made a lazy break from the gates in the 1 1/16 miles event.
The roan filly was up against five other fillies in the field of six, and her lazy break early in the race did raise the bettors’ pulses.
The filly quickly got her act together and started to push forward in a relaxed manner.
The 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf champion More Than Real, who is responsible for Winter Memories only defeat in her career, jumped to lead the pack.
With the winner of the Xtra Heat race at Belmont Park on seven furlongs, Bellamy Star was also participating in the race and assumed second position just behind More Than Real.
The 3 to 5 favourite, Winter Memories made a scintillating run from the rear under strong drive by jockey Jose Lezcano to first position.
She was en route to the finish line focused and determined; her strong bid to rally from back to front was a joy to watch.
Screamed past her Breeders’ Cup tormentor More Than Real, defeating her by a good 4 ½ lengths. More Than Real finished third, a length back the runner up Bellamy Star.
Finally Winter Memories atoned for her defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The champion filly has had 6 career starts and out of those she has won five of them, with a lone runner up finish behind More Than Real in the Breeders’ Cup in 2010.
Prior to the Grade 2 Lake George Stakes, Winter Memories this year has won 2 races previously.
Her first of the year was Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland on 21 April, 2011.
Her second win came in her second start in the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Park turf course on 30 May, 2011.
According to trainer James Toner, the filly’s next target is the Lake Placed Stakes at Saratoga, but the main goal remains the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which Memories of Silver won, and her connections would be hoping that her daughter can do the
same.
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