Sometimes handicappers can get a bit carried away when it comes to "key" races.
One winner exiting a race does not make it a "key" race, but there's no doubt the May 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs was a "key" race.
The winner, Classic Q, won the Just A Game Stakes (G1T) in her next start. The runner-up Portfolio Duration, came back to win the New York Stakes (G1T).
Aside from those two grade 1 wins, the third-place finisher Pin Up Betty won the Anchorage Stakes in her second try after the Distaff Turf Mile.
So, seeing how salty that field turned out to be, no one can blame trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. for feeling optimistic about sending out the stakes' fourth-place finisher Movin' On Up in the $250,000 Caress Stakes (G2T) for fillies and mares July 11 at Saratoga Race Course.
"She was fourth but it was a really good race. It produced two grade 1 winners and a stakes winner," he said. "Hopefully she can add her name to those wins."
Joseph will send out two of the six starters in the 5 1/2-furlong Caress, also entering grade 1-placed In Our Time for Resolute Racing and Miller Racing.
Though uncoupled in the wagering, the two form a dangerous duo as In Our Time will be close to the pace and Ken Ramsey's Movin' On Up will be closing from the rear.
"Both have a good chance in their own right," Joseph said. "Their styles complement each other."
Prior to the Churchill stakes, Movin' On Up, a 5-year-old Accelerate mare, was third behind In Our Time in the Giant's Causeway (G2T), a 5 1/2-furlong turf stakes at Keeneland. Earlier this year, she was third in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) at a mile and a sixteenth.
"We cut her back for the Giant's Causeway and she seems to handle the distance," Joseph said.
In Our Time, a 5-year-old Not This Time mare, was second in the mile Matriarch Stakes (G1T) last year, and stumbled at the start of the Intercontinental Stakes (G2T) at the Spa, finishing fifth In her most recent try.
"She stumbled and it compromised her from getting a more forward position," Joseph said. "After that, she was in a decent enough spot, but the speed never came back. It was a disappointing effort off the win at Keeneland. Hopefully she can break better. Her best asset is pressing the pace."
Joseph said that after the Caress, In Our Time will be pointed to the Ladies Turf Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs, a race she was third in last year which is being elevated to grade 2 status this year.
The Caress also features Leverett Miller's Sunna (Dominus) whose three-race win streak includes a victory in The Very One Stakes for trainer Kent Sweezey, and Hit The Bid Racing Stable and CMNWLTH's Italian Soiree, an Uncle Mo filly who was second in the Intercontinental Stakes for trainer Graham Motion and who finished ninth in the Distaff Turf Mile.
