Second Saratoga debut winner for Girolamo

Just days after TDN Rising Star She's All Ready blew them away in her debut at Saratoga, another Girolamo two-year-old followed in her footsteps as Backwood Bay stole the show in a Maiden Special Weight at the Spa.

In the six-furlong race Backwood Bay raced towards the rear of the field in seventh, well off the pace. Traveling along the outside, the filly began to accelerate around the far turn, and closed in dramatic fashion in the final strides to seal a win in her very first start.

A homebred for Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman, Backwood Bay is out of the Dixieland Band mare Arradoul, a half-sister to Stakes winners and Graded Stakes-placed runners Ender's Sister and Ender's Shadow.

Freshman sire Girolamo's top wins include the G1 Vosburgh and G2 Jerome Handicap. The son of A.P. Indy is out of a full-sister to the dam of G1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Among the sire's four winners from his first crop, in addition to the aforementioned She's All Ready, are Belmont winner Lucky Lurie, also Stakes-placed at Belmont, and debut winner Thiscatsacowboy.