Dogtag was hammered down to even-money–from a 6-1 morning-line quote–as a maiden in this black-type bow and ran to her odds, spurting clear late to win the P.G. Johnson S. at Saratoga. Crossing the wire on debut in an off-the-turf test going seven panels here Aug. 5, she was promoted to third after the original third-place finisher was disqualified for bumping Dogtag in the stretch. Away well from her rail draw, the gray kept a close eye on the leaders from a ground-saving third as Road Tiger (Quality Road) clocked an opening quarter in :24.20 and a half in :49.42. Joined by Chocolate Kisses on the backstretch run, Dogtag charged through on the fence to take control in the lane and swiftly rolled clear to earn her diploma. Fellow maiden and 13-1 shot Varenka came flying late to cut the margin down to a length at the line and Chocolate Kisses completed the trifecta.
“It was [her] first time on the grass and the surface was a little soft,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “First time two turns; all those considerations, she has to prove it and figure it out. After I switched leads, she leveled off, and I liked the way she finished.”
The Hall of Famer continued, “She hung a little bit, but it was soft ground, and I didn't want to squeeze her. I just drove her a little to get my spot and not be stuck at the back. I knew sooner or later, those horses would back up a little bit. I didn't want to go wide in the turn, but, at the same time, I didn't want to be stopped inside on the rail. Those things went through my mind, but when I asked her, she split horses and [found] a tiny hole on the rail. Not many horses do that, and she did. I was very impressed.”
Dogtag is the 74th black-type winner for Claiborne stalwart War Front. Her SP dam Diamond Necklace is a half-sister to European champion and top sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) and Group 2 winner Geoffrey Chaucer (Montjeu {Ire}). She is out of the SP Helsinki, a daughter of Group 1 winner Helen Street and full-sister to GI Stephen Foster H., G1 Dubai World Cup winner and late Darley sire Street Cry (Ire). John Sikura purchased Diamond Necklace for $1.15 million at the 2004 Keeneland November sale and she returned to that auction in 2008, summoning $1.3 million from BBA Ireland and Tyreel Stud while carrying a foal by Giant's Causeway. The Roth family's LNJ Foxwoods acquired the mare in foal to Commands (Aus) for $556,902 at 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. The 14-year-old mare's most recent produce is a yearling filly by Super Saver and she visited Tapit this spring. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
P. G. JOHNSON S., $100,000, Saratoga, 8-30, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.82, yl.
1–DOGTAG, 116, f, 2, by War Front&log=">War Front
1st Dam: Diamond Necklace (SP-Ire), by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Helsinki (GB), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Helen Street (GB), by Troy (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY); T-Chad Brown;
J-Javier Castellano. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $65,200.
2–Varenka, 116, f, 2, Ghostzapper–Dynamic Cat, by
Dynaformer. O-Augustin Stable; B-George Strawbridge (KY);
T-H. Graham Motion. $20,000.
3–Chocolate Kisses, 120, f, 2, Candy Ride (Arg)&log=">Candy Ride (Arg)–Brownie Points,
by Forest Wildcat. ($410,000 Ylg '17 FTSAUG). O-Debby M.
Oxley; B-Pin Oak Stud, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $12,000. [bullet ad=”denali-keesep-hip-723″] Margins: 1, 5, 3/4. Odds: 1.15, 13.00, 2.30.
Also Ran: O'Malley, Road Tiger, Chasing the Kitty. Scratched: Global Exchange, Guacamole, Cassies Dreamer, Mintd (Ire), Miss Technicality.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
