Film Star, Irad Ortiz Jr. capture Lure
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Linda Rice-trained 5-year-old Film Star performed just as his name would lead you to believe he should over a muddy and sealed track in the Lure Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.
The heavily favored lone main-track-only (MTO) entrant went off at 3-5 and broke well out of the gate from the Wilson Chute with Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard, staying involved from the jump and not letting up until he convincingly crossed the wire in 1:37.37.
“I was a good passenger today,” Ortiz said after the win. “He did everything for me. He was taking me every step of the way. I just told him when it was time to go.”
That move was prompted by Ortiz just as his mount and Swiftsure (3-1) approached the far turn. Then it was smooth sailing from there on as the $300,000 purchase flexed on his way to the finish line with confidence.
It was Ortiz’s second straight win on the Ronald Stewart-owned Film Star, the first happening at Saratoga just less than a year ago.
Ortiz’s brother Jose has been the primary rider of Film Star, but it was his sibling’s ride that was executed perfectly in his place.
“Irad did a beautiful job,” Rice said after the victory. “Last year, Irad won on this horse at a mile and an eighth. I was a little concerned that the No. 3 horse (Swiftsure) has a big pedigree to love the mud, he’s got a lot of natural speed, and he might run away from us early. But (our horse) was sharp.”
Despite the depleted four-horse field that was a result of overnight rain that moved or canceled all of Saturday’s turf races, the Lure was still run, but at a mile and an eighth on the dirt instead of at a mile and a sixteenth in on the inner turf.
With
six
entrants
SUNDAY’S RACES
scratching out of the race and Rice being the only MTO runner, the one half of the reigning Saratoga meet-winning trainers (along with Chad Brown, who tied Rice in 2023) continued to show her ability to pick prime spots for her horses to have opportunities for black-type wins in races that may be
Skip Dickstein/Special to the Times Union drastically changed due to weather
“Frankly, I considered the Whitney, and the Whitney field came up a very big, very competitive race,” Rice said. “I’m always trying to find a spot where I can be the heavy (favorite) rather than one of many (contenders). The weather looked like it may play into our favor, and fortunately it did. I was praying for rain last night.
“I considered the Whitney but, I thought, I am always looking for a place I could win.”
Film Star paid $3.20 to win and $2.40 to place, with no show wagering available due to the short field.