Thoroughbred Daily News
Lael Stables’ THE GREAT MAYBE (Upstart), let go at 8-1 in a live-looking field of juvenile fillies Sunday at Saratoga, made that price look like a gift when winning a far-turn pace duel and bursting clear in the stretch for a first-out romp and ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors.
Bought by De Meric Sales for $55,000 at Fasig-Tipton October, the dark bay blossomed into a $425,000 OBS March 2-year-old after breezing a furlong in :10 flat–her sire’s most expensive progeny to sell thus far in 2022–and showed an above-average but not spectacular worktab on paper, capped by a half-mile gate breeze here in :48 3/5 (6/67) Aug. 21. Made the fourth choice in a field where only one of the 10 fillies had experience, The Great Maybe was away well enough from her rail draw and settled in third early as I’m a County Girl (More Than Ready) was quickest past a salty :22.13 quarter. Sneaking through inside and soon going by that rival midway around the turn, the Cherie DeVaux trainee left the half behind in :45.28 and showed no signs of stopping down the lane, pouring it on en route to a eight-length romp in 1:10.24. Love to Shop (Violence), the 9-5 favorite, edged out longshot Quiescent (Nyquist) for second.
The winner is the second foal to race out of her dam, a half-sister to three black-type performers who has a yearling Midshipman colt and produced a colt by Promises Fulfilled this season before returning to Upstart for 2023.
