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Clement-trained Dontlookbackatall captures G3 Caress presented by Albany Med Health System

by Christian Abdo

West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing Stables’ Dontlookbackatall closed to victory to continue her win streak and make the grade in Thursday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Caress presented by Albany Med Health System, 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Christophe Clement was forced to scratch last year’s Caress-victress and morning-line favorite Roses for Debra due to a fever, but he still came out on top as he saddled Dontlookbackatall to an 8-1 victory. He said that the Pennsylvania-bred rose to the occasion today after wins in the Listed License Fee in May at Belmont at the Big A and the state-bred Power by Far in June at Parx Racing.

"She's been improving and her numbers are good; today is the best race lifetime so let's enjoy this win,” said Clement. “She has won three stakes in a row, she is obviously pretty talented."

Piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the 4-year-old Peace and Justice dark bay broke alertly from post 8 and traveled in fourth-of-10 as last-out Grade 2 Intercontinental presented by MTV Solutions-winner Future Is Now shot to the front under Paco Lopez.

Kaufymaker and Run for the Hills tracked the early pacesetter, who narrowly led the field through an opening quarter-mile of 21.49 seconds over the firm turf as she looked to double up on graded scores after beating Roses for Debra in the Intercontinental on June 7 here.

Down the backside, Dontlookbackatall continued to travel comfortably in fourth position between the front trio and the pair of Freedom Speaks and Kerry who were one length behind.

After a half-mile in 43.82, Lopez checked over his shoulder to see who was going to challenge Future Is Now exiting the turn and it was still Kaufymaker and Run for the Hills glued to her side.

Ortiz, Jr. was left with a decision to make aboard his loaded charge approaching the top of the lane: dive towards the inside or close to the outside of Run for the Hills. At the stretch call, he navigated towards the rail for one stride but immediately rerouted to the center of the course.

When back to the outside, Dontlookbackatall gained rapidly on a game Future Is Now as the Adam Beschizza-piloted Danse Macabre surged along the rail from towards the back of the field after five-eighths in 55.39.

“She gave me the confidence. I’ve been riding her last [two] starts and she's been winning and she’s there for me. I just trust her and it worked out perfect,” said Ortiz, Jr.

In the final sixteenth, all eyes were on Dontlookbackatall as she closed to a thrilling neck victory over a rail-skimming Danse Macabre in a final time of 1:01.39.

Future Is Now was a neck back in third, with Secret Money a head back in fourth after closing from last. Zeitlos, trying the turf for the second time in 14 starts for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, rallied for fifth.

Also-eligible Star Guest, Freedom Speaks, Kaufymaker, Run for the Hills, and Kerry completed the order of finish.

The aforementioned Roses for Debra was scratched along with main track-only entrants Hot Fudge, Everyoneloveslinda and Speedy Traveler.

Clement complimented the ride engineered by Ortiz, Jr., who has now piloted four of the last five winners of the Caress. He was slated to ride Roses for Debra before her scratch.

“You can see he is looking behind him to get in that spot - he loved that spot. He has plenty of horse and most people would have moved earlier. He is waiting and waiting and even now coming to the stretch they are all out, all of them, and look how cool he is still sitting,” said Clement. “I mean, it's an extraordinary remarkable ride. Well done, Irad.”

He added that a potential next start for the promising filly is the 5 1/2-furlong $150,000 Smart N Fancy on August 23 here.

"Yeah, without a doubt [we'll] think about it. Let's see how she comes out of it,” said Clement. “The big question will be, she trains very well at Belmont on the training track, [so] do I keep her here or send her back to Belmont? I don't know, let's wait a day or two to make my mind up about it.”

Beschizza said the Kelsey Danner-conditioned Danse Macabre was game in defeat off an eight-month layoff. She has now hit the board in all 11 career starts, including wins last year in the one-mile Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park, the Listed Mamzelle at Churchill Downs, and the Glen Cove at Belmont at the Big A.

“There wasn't much of an interruption in my run. It was very smooth, uninterrupted. I just found myself mid-race struggling to go the early speed,” said Beschizza. “Once she gathered herself, turned in and straightened up and the penny was dropping she can make a good, solid two-furlong run.”

Danner was in agreement regarding the 4-year-old Army Mule chestnut who has now banked $997,090 in earnings. She will point to the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $1 million Ladies Turf Sprint on August 31 at Kentucky Downs.

"She never has early speed going five and a half. She doesn't have that quickness from the gate,” said Danner. “We've known all the time that six is probably her best distance, but this race spaced out well for Kentucky Downs. She's a solid mare. You just can't fault her - she's perfect.”

Bred in the Keystone State by A1A Racing, Dontlookbackatall, a $150,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is out of the winning Arch mare Celtic Arch, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed En Wye Cee.

She banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 12-6-5-0 and returning $19.20 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam in Race 3.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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