And One More Time got one more win at this Saratoga Race Course meet, and got Javier Castellano one more win closer to a career milestone, with a well-rationed performance on the lead to hold off all comers in the $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) Aug. 22.
Castellano is approaching a milestone, with 5,998 career wins. The Hall of Famer is looking ahead to a big week at Saratoga, as he seeks a record-extending eighth victory in the meet's signature race, the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes (G1), with The Puma.
For now, however, Castellano won his fourth edition of the Ballston Spa, donning the colors of Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation for trainer Mark Casse. And One More Time was a top-level performer as a juvenile, winning the 2024 Natalma Stakes (G1T). However, a long layoff followed, and she has only returned to her best form this year, at age 4. She has now won three of her last four, taking the Plenty Of Grace Stakes in April at Aqueduct Racetrack; finishing fifth in the Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga; and then winning the De La Rose Stakes July 17 at Saratoga.
"She's wonderful, and I hope she keeps getting better and better," Weber told FOX Sports Saturday.
The filly's latest win was not without controversy. And One More Time broke outward, squeezing back favored Segesta, who is typically forwardly placed. And One More Time fairly loped through her opening quarter of :24.07, followed by the half-mile in :47.05, with longshot Long Ago providing only mild pressure. International invader Sunlit Uplands, who had been quite unsettled in the gate, was sitting a pocket trip in third, with Segesta having recovered to race in fourth on her outside.
The tempo quickened into the far turn, with Grayosh and Deep Satin attempting to launch bids from the back of the pack. Spinning into the stretch, And One More Time came under a ride, as Sunlit Uplands tipped out to press her, with Segesta bidding outside. Despite Castellano urging his filly right-handed, And One More Time drifted out, taking Sunlit Uplands with her, and providing room for Deep Satin to dive to the rail.
At the wire, And One More Time held by a neck over Sunlit Uplands; Deep Satin was another neck back in third. There was a stewards' inquiry, as well as a claim of foul from John Velazquez aboard Sunlit Uplands, but after a review, the result stood. And One More Time returned $14.62 to her backers.
The time for the 1 1/16 miles on turf rated firm was 1:40.80
Following the top three were Grayosh, Segesta, defending winner Ozara, and Long Ago.
And One More Time, by Omaha Beach , was bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo. Harrigan had purchased the filly's dam, the Blame mare Complicated, from a deep Phipps family, for $110,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. And One More Time was offered via the Indian Creek consignment at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale, and was a $750,000 purchase by Live Oak.
And One More Time is one of eight stakes winners in North America this year, coming on both dirt and turf, for the versatile sire Omaha Beach, who stood the 2026 season for $75,000 at Spendthrift Farm. He is currently among the nation's top 15 general sires by earnings.
