It was only fitting that trainer Melanie Giddings registered her first career victory with a gelding named Fight on June 21 at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa.

Giddings, 39, had to be full of fight to overcome Stage 4 endocervical and ovarian cancer. Her battle with the disease began when two large tumors were surgically removed in June 2020. The operation was followed by heavy doses of chemotherapy and radiation.

The native of Coburg, Ontario, has been declared cancer free. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells was so impressed by Giddings that he named a filly he purchased as a 2-year-old in training after her.

Maple Leaf Mel has gone undefeated through her first five starts with earnings of $399,650 for Parcells’ August Dawn Farm. She recently provided her namesake with her first stakes victory in her first start for Giddings. She rolled gate to wire for jockey Joel Rosario and captured the July 8 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park.

Now, Giddings and her unbeaten gray filly take on the sternest challenge of their young careers in the seven-furlong Test Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Giddings shares her insights and emotions with Tom Pedulla in a diary written on behalf of America’s Best Racing.

I really was not quite sure what to think when I heard that Coach Parcells had named a 2-year-old filly after me. I was honored, of course. But I was an assistant to trainer Jeremiah Englehart and, at first, I just thought it was kind of funny. Now that Maple Leaf Mel has gone on to do what she’s done, I greatly appreciate this wonderful tribute.

Maple Leaf Mel means the world to me. She helped me through my fight with cancer in ways no one could imagine. Since my doctors are in Louisville, I would fly there and back the same day so I would not miss any training with her. When she had a walk day, that is when I would fly off to see one of my doctors.

Maple Leaf Mel wins the Victory Ride. (Walter Wlodarczyk/NYRA)

I have never missed a day with Mel. When she needs to be walked, I walk her myself. When she goes to the track, I am right beside her on the pony because she has to have her pony. She makes me get up early every day and work hard even when I do not feel well.

I am so grateful to have survived cancer. There were down days when the side effects of my intense treatment were so severe that I did not think I would make it. With the support of family and friends, I can say I made it.

In some ways, my fight continues because the disease and the treatments took a toll on me. I battle fatigue and have to be careful not to allow myself to get run down. The neuropathy in my feet is really bad. My bones are so brittle that they ache. It’s like arthritis multiplied by 100.

The horses and the game keep me going. I had prepared for some time to go out on my own as a trainer. I did not have any backing at first, so I made sure to save enough money to claim my first horse and to cover early expenses.

It was a very intimidating proposition. I am learning every day. My stock has grown to eight horses, seven of them babies. I own two of the babies. I also have a couple of new clients who want to enter the game by claiming horses and I look forward to working with them. Needless to say, I am eager to expand while keeping to my hands-on approach with every horse.

Maple Leaf Mel is the star of the stable, of course. She would be the star of any stable. I am so grateful to Coach that he allowed me to take over her training. He’s a great man. He’s concerned that I’m happy and I like what I’m doing. He tells me all the time that he wants me to be successful.

He always jokes around and says I’m like his fourth daughter. I tell my mother (Susan) that he says a lot of stuff my father (Allen) used to tell me before he passed away. Coach has become a father figure to me and I am so grateful to have him in my life.

Bill Parcells (Anne Eberhardt/BloodHorse photo)

He always tells me to do what I think is best. He has 100 percent trust in me. “You’re doing a great job,” he will tell me. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Coach is always a bit nervous when it comes to big races and race day. We are asking a lot of Mel by running her in the Test, but I believe she is up for this. She was always a sweet horse and she’s done everything easily to this point. She’s really matured a lot and is figuring out what is going on. She has a ton of natural ability. She possesses tremendous speed, but she has learned to relax at certain stages of the race and give herself a breather.

When we were deciding whether to enter the Test, I told Coach, “When horses are good, you run them. You don’t back down from anybody.” While I know this is going to be a tough race, I would not trade her for any other filly in the field.

Mel is happy and healthy. She has never been doing better. She is 5-for-5. I am optimistic she can make it 6-for-6.

I want this win for me and even more for Coach. At this age (81) and at this stage, he deserves it. He’s put a lot into the game. He is everything a great owner should be. He deserves a Grade 1 win more than anybody.