On the same track where her sire made history, Lemon Drop Mom hoped to make some of her own Friday afternoon.
Instead she caught a knockout `Punch.’
Stronach Stable’s champion Ginger Punch, who already made history of her own with her repeat victory in the Grade 1 Go for Wand earlier this meet to remain unbeaten at Saratoga Race Course, caught the bob at the wire to nip Lemon Drop Mom by a nose and win the 61st running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Personal Ensign at a mile and a quarter.
“I thought we won,” said her trainer Tim Ritchey, a history-maker himself in 2005 when he trained Belmont Stakes/Preakness winner Afleet Alex. “It came down to a head bob. She ran the best race of her career against a champion. She just keeps moving forward, after running in minor stakes, up to graded stakes.”
But if Lemon Drop Mom found honor in defeat, Ginger Punch continued to raise her already lofty status with her victory, the 12th of her 20-race career. In the Go for Wand, she had to wait for running room. In the Personal Ensign, she was fighting herself.
“Today and in her last race, she had to overcome a lot of things,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. “She’s in heat -- and I was a nervous wreck. When I saw her in the paddock, she was (acting) as if she was ready to be bred.”
Ginger Punch stopped horsing around long enough to take care of the business at hand.
Lemon Drop Mom and jockey Jose Caraballo assumed the pacesetter’s role, and managed a sensible pace of 24.62 and 49.85 on the fast main track. Caraballo allowed Golden Velvet and Unbridled Belle to take over the lead, but kept his hold on the rail as three-quarters went in 1:13.66 and the mile in 1:37.87.
Ginger Punch, already in a drive around the far turn, had saved ground but now was sent widest of all as the race was joined. Neither horse quit, but it was the champion who had her nose down first in 2:03.37. She returned $3.30 to win.
“By the way Rafael (Bejarano, jockey) was putting her in a drive, I thought she had a lot to do,” Frankel said. “As soon as she got to the quarter-pole, I knew she had a chance. I thought we got beat. She got the perfect bob.”
Bejarano, who is on a four-race winning streak with Ginger Punch, gave her all the credit.
“For me, she is a super filly,” Bejarano said. “She tries all the time. As soon as I got to the turn, she was kind of tired, but as soon as she saw the other filly pass me in the final furlong, she kept coming back again. This race was very close and very scary. The other horse tried hard, too, but my horse doesn’t quit. She runs ‘til the end.”
Frankel had originally thought about skipping the personal Ensign and going right to Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet for the Grade 1, $600,000 Beldame for fillies and mares at nine furlongs on September 27.
Now, he’ll go into that race with a mare that, once again, has proven at Saratoga that she is always ready for a fight.
PERSONAL ENSIGN QUOTES
Winning trainer Bobby Frankel of Ginger Punch (No. 1): “I thought we got beat. She got the perfect bob. Today and in her last race, she had to overcome a lot of things. She’s in heat -- and I was a nervous wreck. When I saw her in the paddock, she was (acting) as if she was ready to be bred. By the way Rafael (Bejarano, jockey) was putting her in a drive, I thought she had a lot to do. As soon as she got to the quarter-pole, I knew she had a chance.
“We’re thinking about the Beldame [Grade 1, $600,000, fillies and mares, nine furlongs, Belmont Park, Saturday, September 27]. We want to see how she comes out of this race.”
Winning jockey Rafael Bejarano: “For me, she is a super filly. She tries all the time. As soon as I got to the turn, she was kind of tired, but as soon as she saw the other filly pass me in the final furlong, she kept coming back again. This race was very close and very scary. The other horse tried hard, too, but my horse doesn’t quit. She runs ‘til the end.”
Tim Ritchey, trainer of runner-up Lemon Drop Mom (No. 3): “I thought we won. It came down to a head bob. She ran the best race of her career against a champion. She just keeps moving forward, after running in minor stakes, up to graded stakes.”
Jose Caraballo, jockey of Lemon Drop Mom: “It was close, very close, and I was hoping it went my way. I had a good trip and she was there the whole time. She responded, but I just got beat by a nice filly.”
