On paper, Manfred Hellwig’s SALVE GERMANIA (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) looked to
be up against it in Saturday’s $200,000
Ballston Spa H. (G2) at Saratoga. That impression was only reinforced
when the German shipper acted up in the paddock and the post parade, and she was
accordingly sent off as the 24-1 longest shot on the board. The past was
certainly not prologue for the Waldemar Hickst trainee, however. Plowing through
the Spa’s soft turf, Salve Germania rallied from last to catch 9-5 favorite
Rutherienne (Pulpit) by a head at the wire. Under a patient Javier Castellano,
the four-year-old chestnut finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:47 1/5 and fueled payouts
of $50.50, $15.60 and $5.90.
Salve Germania brought a slender resume into her U.S. debut. Sporting only
one win and one third-place effort from eight career starts in Europe, she had
never raced at a distance shorter than 1 1/4 miles, her best previous stakes
result was a third in the Frankfurter Stutenpreis (Ger-G3) last October, and she
had yet to hit the board in her three outings this season. Her connections kept
the faith that the beautifully-bred filly would finally live up to her pedigree.
“We had always had high hopes for her since she was a yearling because she
was well bred,” said Maren Hennig, the groom’s wife. “She was running in long
races in Germany and we decided to cut back in distance, but there were no
suitable races in Germany. We decided to look in the United States for shorter
races and firm ground.
“We found the shorter race, but the ground wasn’t firm today! We were
surprised that she acted up like that (before the race). I had been leading her
every day here and she was very calm.”
“In the paddock she was hard to handle,” Castellano said. “It was her first
time in this country, she was a little scared of the people — it was so
crowded.
“I was a little disappointed in the moment (when she ran off in the post
parade),” the jockey added. “You’re looking forward to settling down your horse
before the race. When they’re acting like that, you start to worry a little bit
because you take a lot of energy before the race. After the post parade she
settled down beautiful and I think it was the key to the race.
“In the race she settled beautifully. It was a slow pace, and she settled
right behind the horses, and when asked, she kicked very good.”
Castellano allowed Salve Germania to relax at the rear of the seven-horse
field, five lengths behind the front-running Captain’s Lover (SAf)
(Captain Al). The pacesetter carved out slow fractions of :25 4/5, :51 4/5 and
1:17 1/5 while being prompted by Cocoa Beach (Chi) (Doneraile Court). As
Captain’s Lover and Cocoa Beach came up empty in the drive, they were swamped by
the closers.
My Princess Jess (Stormy Atlantic) threatened on the outside, and Teamgeist (Arg)
(Mutakddim) and Rutherienne sliced through along the inside. Rutherienne
produced the strongest run of the trio and powered to the lead in midstretch.
The favorite appeared to be on her way to victory, until Salve Germania
commenced her improbable rally. Still only sixth at the eighth-pole, she flew
home inside the final furlong to snatch the verdict in the waning yards.
Rutherienne returned $3.40 and $2.40 for her gallant effort. My Princess Jess
stayed on resolutely to finish third, a half-length astern of Rutherienne, and
gave back $3.60 at 4-1. The exacta was worth $204.50, the trifecta totaled $760,
and with Cocoa Beach managing to outfinish a tiring Teamgeist for fourth, the
8-1-2-7 superfecta paid $1,823. Captain’s Lover retreated to sixth, Closeout (Repriced)
trailed, and Dyna’s Lassie (Dynaformer) was scratched.
Salve Germania more than quadrupled her earnings to $153,332 while advancing
her record to 9-2-0-1. A close fourth in the Prix Allez France (Fr-G3) in her
2009 debut, she was a disappointing ninth in the Prix Corrida (Fr-G2) and fourth
in the Hanshin Cup at Hamburg last time out.
Bred by Gestut Hony Hof in Ireland, Salve Germania still has some way to go
before she emulates her dam, German highweight older mare Salve Regina (Monsun).
Heroine of the 2002 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) (Ger-G1) and runner-up in the
Deutsches Derby (German Derby) (Ger-G1), Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal
(Ger-G1), Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-G1) and Preis von Europa (Ger-G1), Salve
Regina is herself a full sister to German highweights and Deutsches Derby kings
Samum and Schiaparelli. Samum also captured the Grosser Preis von Baden, while
the still-active Schiaparelli boasts victories in the Deutschland Preis
(Ger-G1), Preis von Europa and Gran Premio del Jockey Club (Ity-G1), along with
the Goodwood Cup (Eng-G2) and Prix Kergorlay (Fr-G2) in his past two. Salve
Regina is a three-quarter sister to current German classic performer Soberania (Monsun),
runner-up in the Preis der Diana last time out.
Salve Germania is the first foal from Salve Regina, who is also responsible
for an unraced juvenile filly named Salve Aurora (King’s Best).