High Oak put in an impressive performance in his second lifetime start for jockey Junior Alvarado to win the Grade 2 Saratoga Special at The Spa on Aug. 14. The Bill Mott trainee chased a tough early pace, breaking well in a field of ten and settling for fifth, three wide on the backstretch run of the six and a half furlong contest. He passed inside rivals to click into third, behind pacesetters Doctor Jeff and Gunite into the stretch, then swung to the outside, hanging alongside them in the top of the stretch. At the 3/16ths pole, High Oak found another gear and powered away, winning by four and a half lengths.
Gunite hung on for second, with Nakatomi getting up for third. Favored Doctor Jeff, who went off at 8-5, was fifth.
The field set fractions of :21.82, :44.93, and 1:09.81, with a final time of 1:16.53. See the full chart here.
Mott trains High Oak for owners LRE racing and JEH Racing. The Gormley colt came to the Special off a maiden win at Belmont in late June, where he also set off the early pace and closed. High Oak was bred in Kentucky by Catherine Parke and is out of Elusive Quality mare Champagne Sue. He was sold as a weanling at Keeneland November for $37,000, consigned by Valkyre Stud and purchased by Donarra Farm. As a yearling, he brought $70,000 from LRE Racing as a graduate from the Lane's End consignment.
High Oak paid $22.40 from a $2 win bet.
Saratoga Special Quotes
Bill Mott, winning trainer of High Oak (No. 11, $22.40): “We were just off the pace so he was right behind them. He was running plenty fast enough himself. When they hung up those fractions, I thought he'd have to be pretty good to hang in there himself.”
On working in company with older Grade 1-winner Casa Creed: “If they're going to run in these kind of races they better be able to do that. We just gave him some company to go with and thought they looked like a good pair. He was very professional today. We were very pleased. He's been a little tough to handle, but great in the paddock, great on the race track. He did everything right.”
On a potential next start in the G1, $500,000 Champagne on October 2 at Belmont Park: “You certainly would look at him and say that a one-turn mile is going to be okay. I guess you find all those things out as you go along. It's usually guesswork until you do it.
“I'm sure there will be plenty of discussion with [co-owner] Lee [Einseidler]. He's probably not going to want to pass up too many spots, but we'll talk and figure out a game plan.”
Junior Alvarado, winning jockey aboard High Oak (No. 11): “He broke very sharp today. He was a whole different horse today. He was mentally prepared and sharp. To be honest, I was just a passenger today. He put me in the spot that I wanted and he took me all the way around. When I turned for home, I just had to ask him a little bit and he took off.
“He broke great so I wasn't hustling to get there, but I wasn't going to slow him down either. He was going in a good rhythm for my horse. I know they were going fast but my horse was in a nice rhythm and he wasn't going as fast as he can go. He was pretty happy there. He finished up strong and galloped out great.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., jockey aboard third-place Nakatomi (No. 1): “I had a perfect trip behind the leaders and off the speed. He was right there, close. The winner was much the best. My horse ran a good race. He came running.”
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