JAVIER Castellano, waiting for room on the favourite I Spent It in the straight, squeezed through on the rail at the furlong mark to win the $200,000 Grade 2 Toyota Saratoga Special Stakes in smashing style last Sunday at Saratoga Racecourse, New York.

An adventurous trip for the 5/2 choice in a field of 10 juveniles ended happily with a two and three-quarter length victory for I Spent It. Alex and Joann Lieblong’s Super Saver colt slipped at the start, chasing the leaders on an extremely fast clip, then altered course to the inside when lacking room coming into the straight.

With much traffic to his outside, Castellano waited patiently for room to open up. It finally did, as tiring pacesetter Nonna’s Boy drifted off the rail just enough to give I Spent It and Castellano an opportunity. I Spent It showed no hesitation, scraping paint coming to the final furlong and poking his neck in front, to accelerate smartly to win going away.

“There was nowhere to go,” said Castellano, noting that the rail “was the only way he had, so I took a shot. The way he did it was brilliant. I think he’s the real deal. He’s a young horse and he’s never been here before. And driving him home, he went just through and opened up. Not a lot of horses can do that.”

Now two-for-two in his career after a debut maiden win in July at Belmont Park, I Spent It is living up to the potential trainer Tony Dutrow has felt ever since the bay colt began training.

“I don’t want to trade places with anybody,” commented the winning trainer, looking ahead to a possible start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. “It’s one step at a time, but, so far, so good. I’m hoping to wait for the Grade 1 Champagne, but that’s not my decision to make.”

The one-mile Champagne, worth $500,000, is at Belmont Park on October 4th. I Spent It was a $600,000 purchase by the Lieblongs at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale in March. Bred in Kentucky by Dixiana Farms, he became the first winner for WinStar Farm freshman sire Super Saver, winner of the 2010 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and has now become the stallion’s first graded stakes winner.