Thoughtfully Aces Adirondack

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Heider Family Stables’ Thoughtfully aced her graded stakes debut with a commanding performance in Wednesday’s $150,000 Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.

Sent from post 4 as the even-money favorite under Ricardo Santana, Jr., Thoughtfully took back into a stalking position while Ava’s Grace dueled inside of Make Mischief through opening fractions of :22.33 and :46.12.

Still patiently handled as she rounded the far turn, Thoughtfully waited until a hole emerged at the top of the stretch and quickly shot through to take the lead.

Beginning to draw clear at the 1/8 pole, Thoughtfully was kept to task before crossing with her ears fully pricked while 5 lengths better than her foes. The Steve Asmussen trainee completed the 6 1/2-furlong fast dirt sprint in a final time of 1:17.20.

“She’s a super nice, classy filly,” said Santana, Jr. “Today, going 6 1/2 (furlongs), I thought to take my time with her. … She has a lot of class. It’s her second time out and I didn’t want to put her on the lead. We were sitting behind the speed and she was feeling happy and comfortable where she was. I was really happy with her, too. I was just waiting for the hole to open and she gave me a really good kick.”

Make Mischief held second by a length over Ava’s Grace. Far behind them came Lilac Lace and Lucifers Lair to complete the order of finish.

Beautiful Farewell was scratched.

Thoughtfully’s win backed up her 8 3/4-length maiden-breaking debut at Churchill Downs on June 11. Purchased for $950,000 last August as a yearling, the Tapit filly has now earned $127,564.

“She does the same thing in the morning,” said Santana, Jr. “She’s so special. When you work horses like her in the morning, you know what you have in the race. I was really happy and comfortable with where she was. This was the first time behind horses; last time, she was in the clear. Steve did a great job with her and (assistant trainer) Scott Blasi and everyone did well with her. We’re really happy with her.”

Thoughtfully returned $4 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.10 to show. Make Mischief brought back $3.30 to place and $2.60 to show, while Ava’s Grace paid $3.70 to show.