Javier Castellano scored two big wins at Saratoga on Saturday, riding Stay Thirsty to victory in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes for 3-year olds and guiding Zagora to capture the $500,000 Diana Handicap for fillies and mares.
Stay Thirsty took control from front-running Dominus at midstretch and drew away to a four-length victory in the Jim Dandy, considered the primary prep race for the $1 million Travers Stakes, which will be run Aug. 27 at Saratoga. The Belmont Stakes runner-up in his last start, Stay Thirsty ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 49.19 seconds. Long shot Moonshine Mullins was second, and Dominus, the favorite, was third of seven.
''We got a perfect trip. He let him find his rhythm down the backside and kept turning up the pressure as he went along,'' trainer Todd Pletcher said. ''It was a great day. It was a breakthrough effort for Stay Thirsty. We always felt as if he had a performance like this in him, and it's a great place to do it here at Saratoga.''
Stay Thirsty earned $300,000 for owner Mike Repole and returned $7 for a win bet.
''I was where I wanted to be, the spot right behind the front-running horses, and everything set up perfectly for me,'' Castellano said. ''He's a very handy horse; you can put him in any spot you want to be. I wanted to be close to the pace because I didn't see a lot of speed. The way it unfolded, it was perfect.''
The 4-year-old, Chad Brown-trained Zagora earned her first win in five starts since she was imported from France last year. She ran 1-1/8 miles over the main turf course, which was labeled good, in 1:49.19. Aruna was second, 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, and Bay to Bay was third of nine.
Zagora's late rally earned $300,000 for owner Martin S. Schwartz and returned $13.60.
