Subtle Aly, owned by IEAH Stables and others, overcame a rocky beginning and proved very game in the stretch to come out on top of a three-way blanket finish when making her latest start in the Grade 3, $111,000 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday, July 25.
Subtle Aly was making her first start for IEAH Stables and trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., having recently been acquired via private purchase from owner Alan Pesch who still retains a piece of ownership in the filly.
She has now won both of her career starts and, with $66,600 earned for her latest win now has total purse earnings of $91,028.
“Winning any race, let alone a stakes, is a thrill at Saratoga,” said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, who celebrated his 37th birthday on opening day of the Saratoga meet. “To get it done with a new acquisition on opening day – and on my birthday – makes it that much nicer.”
With Edgar Prado aboard, Subtle Aly, 4.10-1 in the betting, stumbled leaving the gate and was then bumped in getting away seventh from post position 4. Prado quickly gathered her and the duo made their way inside to progress to a contending position. Up front, I Promise had snuck away on the pace (22.04, 45.44), but was joined by Subtle Aly and Blitzing in the stretch. Subtle Aly led by a half-length in the stretch with five furlongs run in 57.76, but I Promise battled back along the inside and Blitzing joined the fray late on the outside. The three hit the wire together with Subtle Aly best by a nose and I Promise a neck in front of Blitzing. According to Plan, favored at 2.25-1, finished another three lengths back in fourth.
Dutrow Jr., following the race, said, “That was a thrilling race. It was good for opening day. We got her about six days ago, after Steve (Asmussen, trainer) breezed her five furlongs. The first time I had seen her was today in the paddock. I had been training at Aqueduct and drove here this morning. As soon as I saw Asmussen, I said, `Thanks a lot. You’ve done a great job.’
“Asmussen said she would win the race and don’t worry about anything. It looked like she didn’t break too good, and Edgar said she didn’t feel too comfortable behind. We got very lucky today, considering the way she broke. She did show up as a racehorse. We’ll be looking at the Spinaway.”
Subtle Aly, a daughter of French Envoy – Aly Sweet, by Alydar, completed the six-furlong distance in 1:11.06 over a fast main track and earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure. She paid $10.20 to win.
The Equibase chart for the race read, “Subtle Aly stumbled at the start and was bumped in the early stages, lodged a bid along the inside leaving the turn, closed the gap to gain a slim lead nearing the eighth pole, fought heads apart into deep stretch and prevailed after a long drive.”
New York City Girl was scratched and reduced the number of starters to eight juvenile fillies.
The following article updates IEAH Stables’ Subtle Aly’s condition:
By David Grening, Daily Racing Form
Subtle Aly done for the year
Subtle Aly, who won the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes here on opening day, will not race again this year, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said.
"She's got some issues up front that will be cleared up," Dutrow said. "She just needs a little bit of a break. We could still train her and go forward, but I feel it would not be the right thing for her. She's already accomplished a lot as a 2-year-old, let's get her ready for her 3-year-old season. We want to her to be able to compete at a top level."
Subtle Aly, a daughter of French Envoy, won her debut by five lengths on June 2 at Churchill Downs. International Equine Acquisitions Holdings Inc. purchased controlling interest in her from Alan Pesch and transferred her from Steve Asmussen to Dutrow.
Despite stumbling at the start, Subtle Aly won the Schuylerville by a nose over I Promise.
Dutrow said Subtle Aly is already at the In Front Training Center, a farm in Ocala. Fla.
Note: In Front Training Center, run by Michael Schrader, is actually in Ghent, New York.
LAST UPDATED: August 23, 2007