Saratoga 2014: Antipathy wins Shuvee Handicap

Antipathy crosses the wire in the Shuvee Handicap, with Stanwyck
and Hot Stones in pursuit | WMML Photo

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Antipathy took advantage of the mud, pushing to the front around the first turn before holding off challenges by Stanwyck and Hot Stones as the Kiaran McLaughlin trained A.P. Indy filly won the Shuvee Handicap by a length and a half.

It was the first graded stakes win for Antipathy, whose only other venture into stakes competition came in the Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.  There she pushed the early pace, and found herself passed by Princess of Sylmar just before the wire, coming within a neck of front-running Close Hatches.

The win tops her earnings to over $300,000, and puts her in consideration for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on the eve of the Travers Stakes on August 22nd.

Stanwyck, unraced since a third place finish in the Apple Blossom in April, held back until the far turn, then started gaining ground heading into the stretch.  But she couldn't get the extra kick that she needed to get past the winner.

Hot Stones kept in mid-pack until urged by John Velazquez, and like Stanwyck, couldn't get that extra kick needed to beat the two horses in front of her.

Ambusher raced at the back of the pack early, but started to fire in the turn and passed the tiring horses in the stretch to finish fourth.  Unlimited Budget and Flashy American failed to make a big presence in the race, and Swinger's Party, who took the lead from Antipathy entering the backstretch, began to tire and lost the lead entering the far turn.