An Awesome Rivalry Continues at Saratoga

Two of the top 2-year-old fillies in the country will have a rematch in the $200,000 Spinaway today at Saratoga.

Awesome Humor and Stellar, who finished 1-2 in the Adirondack on Aug. 12, head a field of 12 going seven furlongs in the Grade I.

Purchased privately by Winstar Farm after her win in the Debutante at Churchill Downs on July 6, Awesome Humor earned her third victory at three tracks in the Adirondack. She led virtually throughout under jockey Pat Day and defeated Stellar by a length.

Owned by Michael Tabor and Edward Evans, who bred the filly in Virginia, Stellar is a daughter of Grand Slam. Trained by Patrick Biancone, she will be ridden by Saratoga’s leading rider, Edgar Prado, and will race on Lasix.

Stellar will break from the outside and Awesome Humor the rail. Between them will be Appleby Gardens, a winner of her lone start at Woodbine in Toronto last month; Just Call Me Angel, Hope For Love, Miss Mary Apples, second in the Schuylerville to the ill-fated Freedom’s Daughter on July 24; Vasquez, Midnight Cry, Traumatic, Forever Partners, Manny’s Gold Maker and Holiday Runner.

Race of the day: It’s not a good betting race, but the second at Del Mar is a showdown between stakes winner Crafty C.T. and the unbeaten Fleet Foot.

Who’s hot: Grant Marty A Wish. The 3-year-old Beautiful Crown filly is one of the claims of the year. Taken for $12,500 by trainer John Ivory for a partnership out of a maiden claiming victory up north, Grant Marty A Wish remained unbeaten in three starts with her second easy win at Del Mar on Wednesday.

Who’s not: Bay Meadows. The track begins its 50-day fall meet today with a slew of small fields. Only 52 horses entered the eight races.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Modernist and Bettor Royalty in the fifth, using Malone, Six Hitter and Snoopy Cat in the sixth, singling Printemps in the seventh and using To The Victor, Reigning Storm, Smokin Pirate and Obermeister in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/65. Money: Previous day/meet total: $9.20/$384.60. Total money bet: $544.