Horses bred in the Mid-Atlantic make up nearly a third of a stacked renewal of the Caress Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Thursday.

The field is led by graded stakes winners Roses for Debra (PA) and Future Is Now (MD). The former is looking to repeat in this race, winning it last year by 2 1/4 lengths, the latter for a second straight graded stakes win following a head victory, over Roses for Debra, in the G2 Intercontinental during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga last month.

The third filly to hail from the Mid-Atlantic is Dontlookbackatall, bred in Pennsylvania, sired by Pennsylvania stallion Peace and Justice, and foaled at Blackstone Farm. 

She was bred by Steve Young’s A1A Racing. A trainer, bloodstock agent, owner, and breeder, Young trained Peace and Justice’s dam Strike the Sky (Smart Strike) for his friend Jay Bligh. The mare raced only four times, winning once, injury shortening her career. 

“She was a really good horse,” said Young, sitting in his box at Saratoga, armed with an iPad and a trove of details about Dontlookbackatall’s family. “We bred her to War Front and we got Peace and Justice.”

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