Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan
Sheppard has been no stranger to the Saratoga winner’s circle in recent years,
having captured eight races going back to the start of the 2010 meet. What makes
his victory in yesterday’s Signature Stallion Waya with Emerald Beech
remarkable was how it was his first win in a flat race at the Spa since champion
Forever Together won the Grade 1 Diana for the second straight year in 2009.
“I know we had some narrow misses
last year,” said Sheppard. “We won the Diana two years in a row with Forever
Together, and she missed by a head last year.”
In the Waya, Emerald Beech, an
Augustin Stable homebred, waited behind horses on the far turn, found a narrow
opening in midstretch, and held off Senada to prevail by a neck.
“She got a beautiful ride,” said
Sheppard. “The race set up well for her. When you travel on the rail, which is
what the rider did, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Jockeys here, for the
most part, I wouldn’t say protect the rail like they do in England . You can’t go inside horses
in England , but here, for some reason,
you very often can, particularly when everybody knows horses switch their leads
when they first come off the turn. But you have to have gas in the tank to take
advantage.”
Sheppard said he’ll consider the
Grade 3 Glens Falls at 1 3/8 miles on September 5, closing day, for Emerald
Beech.
“That could be a little bit
tough; it’s a graded stakes in Saratoga ,” said Sheppard. “We might run her in
a spot that’s a little easier. “We’ll try to find something between now and the
[Dowager Stakes at the] end of the Keeneland meet.”