You don’t see this every day: longtime Phipps Stable trainer Shug McGaughey saddling a NY-bred.  The filly, Aquifolia, owned by Helen Alexander and Helen Groves, went off at 7-2 in today’s fourth race at Saratoga.

Ridden by Alex Solis, the filly broke well and settled, content to sit fourth down the backside as frontrunners Molls Alley and Hook Shot dueled a blazing :22.2 quarter and a :45-and-change half. The exchange took too much out of Hook Shot, who backed up, leaving the golden rail clear for first-time-starter Senora Dubai, who pulled away by 3 1/2 lengths to win in 1:23.92 for seven furlongs. Molls Alley, another firster, finished second, with Stray Bullet, a daughter of NY sire Aldebaron, coming on for third. The Shug filly ran evenly to finish fourth.

It’s good to see such lofty names in the NY-bred game.

- Tracy Egan

Saratoga Springs, NY August 12, 2011

The late Carl Lizza’s homebred Street Game looks to add a Grade II win to his resume in today’s seventh race at Saratoga, the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.  The handsome chestnut faces six rivals and a super firrrrrm turf course, which may be the chief challenge for the winner of the Grade III Hill Prince in June on yielding turf at Belmont Park.  While the solid turfer is by Kentucky sire Street Cry, he is out of the thoroughly NY-bred Thunder Puddles mare Thunder Achiever.

And here’s something you don’t see often: Claude “Shug” McGaughey will saddle a NY-bred filly, Aquifolia, in the fourth race.  Until recently Shug trained only for the Phipps family, but he now takes in a few outside clients and is unleashing the first-time starter for Helen Alexander and Helen Groves.

Bred by Alexander Groves (Michael) Matz LLC and foaled at Doug Koch’s Berkshire Stud, the filly proves that the NY-bred program is encouraging the breeding of ever-improving stock.  Sired by Smarty Jones when he stood in Kentucky, the three-year-old filly’s dam Agarita is a Danzig daughter and is the granddaughter of 1983 Broodmare of the year Courtly Dee. The late Courtly Dee was the dam of champion Althea, Ali Oop and Aishah.

- Tracy Egan

Before the bidding on their Medaglia D’Oro colt opened Monday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavillion on East Ave. in Saratoga Springs, the folks from Gallagher’s Stud knew some of the top names in racing were “on” their NY-bred colt because he’d been vetted by “all the good ones.”

When the hammer fell for the final time on the handsome bay colt (Hip No. 54), he was headed back home to his daddy’s connections at Darley Stud.  With a final bid of $500,000, John Ferguson outlasted B. Wayne Hughes of Spendthrift Farm and George Bolton of Curlin fame to secure the colt for Sheik Mohammed.

Breeder Marlene Brody says her dream for the colt is the same for every horse she produces at her farm in Ghent in Columbia County, “that he will be a Group winner and that he will be a great horse.” She’s proud of how well her NY-bred did in the sales ring and says she believes that Ferguson “was looking to buy a horse, a good horse.”

The 15-month-old colt inspires such hopes by virtue of his looks and pedigree (go to FasigTipton.com to see a Virtual Inspection video). His dam, the winning mare Summer Flash, is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Champion two-year-old Stevie Wonderboy. Second dam Heat Lightning sold at the 2005 Keeneland November Mixed sale for $1.1 million in foal to Travers winner Birdstone.

Unfortunately, Summer Flash developed laminitis stemming from Potomac fever and it was thought best to put her foal on a nurse mare.  Mrs. Brody recalls that it was “a stout, motherly quarter-horse-type mare” that took over for the ailing Summer Flash, who eventually lost her battle with laminitis.

To ease the loss of Summer Flash, Mrs. Brody has retained a half-sister to race. Coriander, a two-year-old by Corinthian, has yet to hit the track but is “doing everything right” in training.

A similar relaxed approach to his early lessons helped the colt ease smoothly into sales preparation around June 1^st of this year.  Farm Manager Mallory Mort notes that “we have a good feeding program so we just started doing some grooming and walking him free-hand and in the exerciser.”

Mrs. Brody adds, “We always liked him, but he does have a habit – he loves to sleep. I’ve heard that (Triple Crown winner) Affirmed would always nap before a race. I hope his habit serves him well in life.”

At the very least, it should serve him well on the van ride to Kentucky.  Less than 12 hours after he left the sales ring, Summer Flash’s final foal was on a van heading from the foothills of the Adirondacks to the sloping fields of bluegrass country.

- Executive Director Tracy Egan

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) confirms 2011’s first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as EEE, in an Oneida County, NY horse. The 9-year-old mare had lived at her current home for several years and had no recent travel history. The horse was unvaccinated. There is one other horse on the same premises that is not showing any signs of EEE, and which has since been vaccinated. Typical symptoms of encephalitis in equines include staggering, circling, depression, loss of appetite and sometimes fever or blindness. There is no cure for this disease, which has a high mortality rate in horses. Humans cannot become infected by handling an infected horse, nor can a horse acquire the virus from another infected horse; however, the presence of an infected horse in the area indicates that mosquitoes carrying EEE are present and pose a threat to both humans and horses.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Darrel J. Aubertine, reminds horse owners that West Nile Virus causes neurologic symptoms similar to those of EEE and is also spread by mosquitoes. Commissioner Aubertine urges all horse owners to discuss vaccination against both diseases with their veterinarian. State Veterinarian David Smith adds that any horse exhibiting neurologic problems should always be handled with great caution. The risk of physical injury to handlers is greater when horses are unsteady on their feet, and also rabies needs to be ruled out as a cause of the symptoms. Vaccines currently available drastically reduce the incidence of EEE in horses and are effective for six to twelve months, so horses should be re-vaccinated at least annually. In an area where the disease occurs frequently, most veterinarians recommend vaccination every six months. For the vaccine to be effective, it must be handled and administered properly and ideally given at least two weeks before the horse is exposed to the virus. Additionally, to stimulate full immunity, horses must be vaccinated twice, about 30 days apart, in the first year of vaccination. While it’s best to have horses vaccinated well before potential exposure, vaccinating horses now will still provide protective benefits for this year’s mosquito season.

Other preventive measures include destroying standing-water breeding sites for mosquitoes, using insect repellents, and removing animals from mosquito-infested areas during peak biting times, normally dusk to dawn. Humans should reduce contact with mosquitoes; wearing protective clothing and insect repellents and avoiding the outdoors during dawn and dusk are among the means of avoiding mosquito bites. For more information on humans and EEE, visit www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm.

The counsel handling Suffolk Co. OTB’s bankruptcy case before the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York says it could be Halloween before there’s a ruling on the Churchill Downs petition to toss out the Suffolk OTB filing.

Attorney Chris Graham says the court has set a briefing schedule through September on the attempt by Churchill Downs to block bankruptcy protection for the Long Island OTB entity. Graham predicts “it could be Halloween” before the judge decides whether Churchill Downs’ argument that Suffolk needed the approval of the state to seek protection from creditors holds merit. The Suffolk County Legislature did approve a resolution permitting it to seek Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection just days before Suffolk OTB’s filing on March 18^th of this year.

Six weeks later, Churchill Downs asked the Brooklyn-based court to block Suffolk’s bankruptcy attempt.

While race tracks top the list of creditors, with the New York Racing Association allegedly being owed a million dollars, the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund is also one of Suffolk OTB’s creditors. The pre-petition amount owed the Fund is roughly $74,000.  Since the March filing, Suffolk has been making its statutory payments to the Fund on a monthly basis at the urging of the State Racing and Wagering Board.

- Tracy Egan

Good to see the Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN.com) take notice of the “monster”  win by Weemissfrankie, a promising daughter of Sunriver, who stood his abbreviated career at Empire Stud near Hudson, NY. See below.

Sunriver Filly Takes First Del Mar MSW
Msw [5 f (AW)] Winner: Weemissfrankie, f, 2 by Sunriver
4th-DMR, $64,750, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT), :58 1/5, ft.

+WEEMISSFRANKIE (f, 2, Sunriver–Starinthemeadow, by Meadowlake) a $40,000 OBSAUG yearling, was far and away the most expensive juvenile from the two crops of her star-crossed sire (by Saint Ballado) when selling for $175,000 at OBSAPR. The chestnut had a string of sharp works at Hollywood for trainer Peter Eurton, whose strike rate with first-timers is 6%, and went postward as the 7-2 second choice in this 10-horse affair. Nonchalant in eighth down the backstretch as Love My Way (Pomeroy) winged along on the front end, she was angled out by rider Rafael Bejarano on the turn. Weemissfrankie entered the stretch in the eight path and came storming down the center of the track to seize the win by a half-length before galloping out like a monster. She is Sunriver’s second winner. Lady Fairbanks (Pure Prize) snatched second from Love My Way. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $37,800.

O-Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stables, Ciaglia Racing LLC & Rob Dyrdek. B-Hidden Point Farm Inc (NY). T-Peter Eurton.

Socialsaul squashed stablemate Preachintothedevil’s chances to win all three legs of the Big Apple Triple when he answered a stretch challenge from that one by pulling away to notch a 4 ¼-length victory in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack.

Preachintothedevil finished second to Socialsaul to round out an all-Contessa exacta. For the NYRA-based trainer, the victory was sweet because he “found out I have a really good horse in Socialsaul.” He said he’d hoped to have the one-two finishers in the race but is “not disappointed” that ‘devil’s loss means Contessa and his connections lost all chance at winning the $100,000 bonus being offered to the horse that could win all three legs of the Big Apple Triple.

Preachintothedevil won the first leg of the triple by scoring a confident victory in the Mike Lee Handicap at Belmont Park on June 26^th. Contessa was on record as saying he thought Preachintothedevil could win all three legs of the series for 3-year-old NY-breds.

The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund partnered with Finger Lakes and NYRA to make the Triple bonus possible this year.

Immediately after the race, the trainer said, “Both horses are heading right back to Saratoga and they’re both going to run in the Albany (the third leg of the Big Apple Triple) at Saratoga Race Course on August 24^th.”

Jockey John Grabowski (above) completed a personal triple with the victory: it was the third time he’s won the $150K NY Derby.

Socialsaul was bred by Thomas-Narlinger LLC and A R Properties and was foaled at Sequel Stallions in Hudson, NY. He was sired by the successful young stallion Read the Footnotes, who is owned by Sequel and stood in 2011 at Keane Stud in Amenia, NY.

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Mary Ann Furman and her husband Dennis won a two-night stay in the Finger Lakes region, betting vouchers, and VIP treatment at the track as the winning entrants in our Big Apple Triple contest. If you would like to win a one-night stay in Saratoga with VIP treatment for the August 24^th Albany Stakes, please enter our contest through the homepage of www.nybreds.com or at www.bigappletriple.com.

Dennis says he collected a hefty wager on the Contessa exacta. How hefty? “Enough,” he said, “to take my wife shopping again at the nearby Waterloo Outlets mall.”

Preachintothedevil will face five challengers when he loads into the gate for Saturday’s NY Derby at the Finger Lakes.  The New York-bred son of Pulpit nailed the first leg of the Big Apple Triple when he drew away from the field by 4 1/2 lengths on June 26th to win the Mike Lee Handicap.

Preachintothedevil’s trainer, Gary Contessa, is pretty confident about collecting the winner’s share of the NY Derby’s $150,000 purse, declaring “I think he has a hell of a chance to win the whole thing… win the Triple and the bonus.”  The NY Breeding Fund, NYRA and Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack have put up a $100K bonus to the horse that wins the series for New York-bred three-year-olds at three different tracks: Belmont, Finger Lakes and Saratoga.

In the next breath, Contessa confesses he doesn’t want to hurt ‘devil’s chances, “but I gotta give Socialsaul a shot at the NY Derby. He’s really training great and won two in a row.”  He is also the only horse in the race with a higher Beyer figure than Preachintothedevil.  Socialsaul, a son of New York sire Read the Footnotes, earned a 92 Beyer in a state-bred allowance going a mile the day before ‘devil earned a 91 in the Mike Lee over 7 furlongs.

The connections of Tap Attack, who finished second in the Mike Lee, are hoping the extra distance of the 1 and 1/16th-mile Derby will help him turn the tables on Preachintothedevil.

Top Finger Lakes trainers Michael Lecesse and Mike Ferraro will give locals two horses to root for in Bristol Harbour and Winners Laugh, respectively.

Talented juvenile Sky Music turned in a nice five-furlong work at Saratoga on July 10th in preparation for the NY Derby, and will be wearing blinkers in an attempt to show stakes-winning form as a sophomore.

There is still time to enter to win the Breeding Fund/NYTB Big Apple Triple contest for the Albany Stakes, including an overnight stay in Saratoga Springs and VIP treatment at historic Saratoga Race Course.

To enter, go to www.bigappletriple.com.

- Executive Director Tracy Egan

Carl Lizza’s passing, noted in the NYRA article by Jenny Kellner under Industry News here on our website, comes just as his beloved Highcliff Farm is hitting the high notes.

New resident sire Congaree produced an impressive two-year-old maiden special weight winner at Churchill Downs on June 27th (Givhans Ferry). Earlier in the month on the west coast, another Congaree filly, Killer Graces, broke her maiden by winning the Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park. And homebred Street Game, out of the Highcliff mare Thunderachiever, herself a daughter of Highcliff’s stallion Thunder Puddles, is a rising star coming off of a Grade III win in the Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park.

Highcliff stallion Stonesider’s offspring are also drawing raves as his two-year-olds get set to hit the track. It must have delighted Mr. Lizza that his stallion Cosmonaut, who raced under Flying Z’s light blue colors with the double ZZ’s and now stands at the Delanson stud farm, is producing gorgeous babies.

As noted in this space previously, the Highcliff stallions under Lizza’s watch always lived out their days in their familiar paddocks being cared for by the people who knew and loved them best.

No doubt Thunder Puddles, Noble Nashua and the rest are nickering to him now. Rest in peace, Mr. Lizza.

- Executive Director Tracy Egan

A retired pharmacist and long-time racing fan is the winner of the second leg of the Big Apple Triple Contest run by the Breeding Fund and the NYTB. The drawing was conducted on the grounds of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. With Seabiscuit looking on, the Museum’s Kitty Macica drew the name of Dennis Furman of Hoosick Falls, NY and presented it to the Fund’s Executive Director Tracy Egan.

Furman, 71, was delighted when he learned that his name had been selected from among the 197 entries received for the online contest.  He enjoys following New York racing on both the NYRA and Finger Lakes tracks, and admits to the occasional bet online through an OTB account.  He’s looking forward to every element of his prize package: the betting vouchers, the $100 gas card, the trip to the winner’s circle after the New York Derby, luncheon each day at the Vineyard buffet at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, and the two-night stay at the Hilton Garden Express in Victor, NY.  His wife Mary Ann will join him.

“I remember taking a tour of the Finger Lakes Vineyards once before,” says Furman. “I look forward to bringing Mary Ann on the self-drive tour, as the scenery is beautiful and the region’s wines are quite superb.”

Furman did ask for something extra that was not offered as part of our package: a chance to meet the Lakes’ announcer, Tony Calo.  “I love his enthusiasm,” said Furman. “We loved (the late race caller Ross) Morton but Calo brings something special to each race call.”  Finger Lakes management assures us they will make the introduction.

Furman began attending the races at the age of 12, and fondly recalls pushing quarters and nickels through the windows to make his first wagers at Saratoga Race Course. His fondest memory was also forged at the Spa. He witnessed the great Damascus come from 16 lengths off the pace in the 1967 Travers to shoot by the front runners and win by 22 lengths in hand.

Here’s hoping our winner witnesses something exciting when he watches the second leg of the Big Apple Triple, the NY Derby on July 16^th.  He will likely be rooting for first leg winner, Preachintothedevil, who nailed the Mike Lee at Belmont on June 26^th, to repeat. Furman would like to see his new Hoosick Falls neighbors, Gary Contessa and wife Jennifer, have a chance to collect the $100,000 bonus offered to the horse that wins all three legs of the Big Apple Triple. The final race of the series is the Albany Stakes on August 24^th at Saratoga. Check out our contest at www.bigappletriple.com – there’s still time to win VIP treatment for the Albany!