By J.N. Campbell
Saratoga Maidens, presented by Keeneland
In what was the second start of her career, Bittersweet Memory (The Factor–Candy Floss, by Twirling Candy) controlled the tempo and went all the way to graduate at the Spa on Friday afternoon.
The NBS homebred made her first start going two turns over the turf upstate Aug. 1. That afternoon she was unable to catch Mark Casse trainee Voyager (Justify), who led from the bell and sealed the deal. Voyager is nominated and currently working out at Woodbine for next month's GI Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes.
Tabbed as the 6-1 choice here, Bittersweet Memory got down to business at the break and came through with the lead as the field made for the first turn. The 2-year-old proceeded to make every pole a winning one through the top of the lane.
Digging down for more speed, the filly got to the wire in time by a neck over favorite and first-time starter Sellonthenews (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).
Bittersweet Memory | Sarah Andrew
“You know, I had the opportunity to work her in the morning and I really liked her that day,” jockey Luis Saez told Maggie Wolfendale on the FOX Sports show 'Day At The Races.' “We had a lot of rain, so we couldn't work on turf. She worked on the dirt and handled it pretty well. I thought we had a big chance today.
“I had a lot of horse at the top of the stretch,” he added. “You can see her action with her ear looking around, and she was just waiting for the other horses to get close, so she could just keep going again.”
Her dam's first foal, Bittersweet Memory has a yearling half-sister by Jackie's Warrior. Candy Floss was purchased by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock for $30,000 during Keeneland January while a colt by Up to the Mark was in utero. She was entered in Patch Adams's book for 2027.
Bittersweet Memory's second dam–who passed away in 2023–was a half-sister to GSW Revolutionary (War Pass) and she foaled the dam of MSW Rated By Merit (Battalion Runner).
5th-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 8-28, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.06, fm, neck.
BITTERSWEET MEMORY (f, 2, The Factor–Candy Floss, by Twirling Candy) Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $77,050. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing.
O/B-NBS Stable (KY); T-Kelsey Danner.
dominates gate-to-wire and wins R5 at Saratoga under jockey @luissaezpty for trainer @kelseyjdanner. pic.twitter.com/xvG1NK2Gwy
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 28, 2026
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