Super Saver colt finds way in Grade 2 Saratoga Special

I Spent It found an opening on the rail en route to posting a decisive 2 ¾-length victory over Mr. Z in the $200,000 Saratoga Special (G2) Sunday at Saratoga Race Course. The winner is the first graded stakes winner for freshman sire Super Saver, and vaulted the WinStar stallion to the top spot on the Freshman Sire list.

The victory wasn’t without suspense for I Spent It. The bay colt tucked in nicely along the rail after breaking from the inside in the field of ten. Javier Castellano was still looking for a place to go after the field straightened for home. The narrowest of seams finally opened up, and Castellano guided I Spent It through to pull away with authority in the final furlong. The time for the 6 1/2-furlongs on the fast track was 1:16.79.

“There was nowhere to go; (along the rail) was the only way he had, so I took a shot,” said Castellano. “The way he did it was brilliant. It was an impressive run; I think he’s the real deal. He’s a young horse and he’s never been here before. And driving him home, he went just through and opened up. Not a lot of horses can do that.”

In addition to the winner’s purse of $120,000, I Spent It collected $100,000 bonus from the New York Racing Association for winning a graded stakes after having broken his maiden in his debut in July at Belmont Park. With the two wins, the colt  now has earned $245,000.

I Spent It is trained by Rick Dutrow for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, who were the winning bidders, at $600,000, for the Kentucky bred at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale this past March.