First stakes victory for Saratoga Treasure comes in ‘old New York’

Treasure Beach celebrated the holiday season on several fronts yesterday when Patricia Generazio’s Saratoga Treasure overpowered the field in the $130,907 Autumn Days Stakes on the grass at Aqueduct.

Over an outer turf course labeled ‘yielding,’ the 4-year-old New York-bred filly (1) scored her first stakes victory in her first stakes try; (2) added $73,907 to her bank account, which jumped to $310,603, best of any Treasure Beach runner; (3) lifted her sire over the $2 million mark in just his third season; (4) gave Treasure Beach his first stakes-winner of 2019, and (5) elevated the stallion’s career progeny earnings to within $51,000 of $4 million.

With Eric Cancel riding, at odds of 17-1, Saratoga Treasure was off last in the field of eight going six furlongs. Cancel kept her in the three path down the backstretch, not electing to ask her for more until the field approached the turn. Then, she put it in overdrive and inhaled the other seven in a matter of seconds, taking the lead as they straightened out for home.

From there to the wire, it was strictly no contest as Saratoga Treasure drew off with authority to win by 3 1/2 lengths, raising her record to 5-2-3 in 16 starts. She’s won two in a row and three of her last four.