Tuesdays are usually a day off for Saratoga-based jockeys, but Luis Saez took a trip south to the Philadelphia area to ride in three stakes at Parx Racing, winning all three, including an eventful victory aboard Eduardo Soto's Il Miracolo in the Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds.
A son of Gun Runner bred by Willow Oaks Stable and trained by Antonio Soto, Il Miracolo chased dueling pacesetters Army Times and Ninetyprcentmaddie in the early going, then made a three-wide move on the final turn. He took command on the final turn for home but drifted out in front of a rallying Cagliostro straightening into the stretch, then bore out down the stretch finishing on the far outside of the track while pulling away to win by three lengths. Cagliostro, ridden by Cristian Torres for trainer Cherie Devaux, finished second after having to alter course to the inside of Il Miracolo. He was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Daydreaming Boy and Dexter Haddock in third. The order of finish was completed by Adero, Ninetyprcentmaddie, Army Times, Victory Way, and Movisitor.
Il Miracolo ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:48.59 after fractions of :24.31, :49.22, 1:14.64, and 1:41.39. He paid $9.60 for the win, his first in a stakes and third overall from 13 starts.
Despite Il Miacolo's erratic run into and down the stretch, stewards did not conduct an inquiry, apparently assuming any interference caused by the winner against the runner-up did not affect the order of finish.
Il Miracolo was a $70,000 purchase from the De Meric Sales consignment at the OBS June Sale of 2-year-olds in training in 2022.
After finishing sixth in a maiden special weight race aboard Callie Rae for trainer John Servis, Saez won three consecutive stakes: the $100,000 Parx Dash Stakes aboard Nobody Listens for trainer Tim Eggleston; the $200,000 Cathryn Sophia Stakes aboard foggy Night for trainer Robert Reid Jr.; and the Smarty Jones.
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