Trainer Melanie Giddings celebrated the first stakes win of her career Saturday with August Dawn Farm's Maple Leaf Mel, who was named for her trainer during her tenure as an assistant trainer to the filly's original conditioner Jeremiah Englehart.
The New York-bred daughter of Cross Traffic notched the second graded coup of her career in Saturday's Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont, landing a facile 2 1/2-length victory to keep her record unblemished through five lifetime outings.
Giddings said Maple Leaf Mel returned to Saratoga Race Course Sunday morning where she will make her preparations towards an intended start in the $500,000 Test (G1) on August 5 at the Spa.
“She is here and happy to be eating and to be back,” said Giddings. “The Test is the plan. She'll have a few days off like everybody after their race and we'll see how she comes out of it. We'll make sure she's happy and good and her energy is good and go from there. She's a high-energy horse, so it takes quite a bit to knock her down. She looks pretty bright-eyed this morning.”
Maple Leaf Mel, who also won Pimlico's Miss Preakness (G3) on May 19, has won all five of her starts in gate-to-wire fashion, including her effort Saturday when guided by regular pilot Joel Rosario through splits of :22.54, :45.52, and 1:09.48 over the fast main track. She faced a brief challenge from Dazzling Blue into the stretch, but turned back her foe with ease to coast home the winner in a final time of 1:15.74. She earned a career-best 99 Beyer.
“It's really special. When you have a horse like that and she's already won four, you just want perfection for her all the time,” said Giddings. “I expected her to run the way she did. She just thrives on running. She's the kind of horse anyone loves to have and when you're taking her over, she's going to give 110 percent.”
Maple Leaf Mel, bred by Joe Fafone, made her first three outings against fellow state-breds, including a 7 3/4-length score in the East View in March for her sophomore debut. The gray filly has made an impressive jump from 2 to 3 and covered the Victory Ride's 6 1/2 furlongs more than two seconds faster than she ran that same distance in the state-bred Seeking the Ante in August at the Spa.
“I think she's just learning and she just does things naturally and so easy,” said Giddings. “Her turn of foot and speed is really incredible and she doesn't even know what she's doing. I think the more she runs, she's kind of just enjoying herself. She probably could have run even faster yesterday if she wanted to.”
The Victory Ride was just the 29th lifetime start for Giddings, who went out on her own in January after working for Englehart for several years. Giddings said she is grateful to have a filly like Maple Leaf Mel so early on in her career.
“I'm just really blessed, and not a lot of people get an opportunity with a horse like this,” said Giddings. “I appreciate having the chance. I've never missed a day since getting her in the barn when she was 2 with Jeremiah. Even when I'm having a bad day myself, she's here and I suit up and go whether I feel like I can or can't. It's good for me. I just never want to miss a day with her.”
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