Racing Front News Archives - Feb. 2000

(2/27) HOLLIE HUGHES STAKES
Seymour Cohn's KASHATREYA won the Hollie Hughes Stakes for the second year in a row after a near disastrous start. Ridden by jockey Octavio Vergara, Kashatreya stumbled badly coming out of the gate, and Octavio lost an iron. Quickly gathering his composure, Kashatreya settled in behind the field, gradually gaining ground along the rail up the backside in the 6 furlong race. Weaving between horses, at the top of the stretch, the 6 year-old chestnut gelding overtook the lead and charged to the wire a 1 length winner over Say Florida Sandy, who made a big move on the outside but was no match for the winner.
After a 3 month layoff and a problem with a quarter crack which was slow to heal, trainer John Hertler had Kashatreya sharp as a tack and is pointing toward the True North Handicap-G2, a race he won last year over eventual sprint champion Artax.
Kashatreya, which is a Hindu word meaning 'Upper Class', is by Daring Groom, out of the Blushing Groom mare, Douce Carotte, and was by Mr. Cohn. With this victory, Kashatreya's Lifetime Record is: 19-8-5-3 and his earnings have swelled to $392,347 which doesn't include the breeder's award money of $78,469 or the stallion award money (also Mr. Cohn) of $27,464 for a grand total of $498,280!! As Mr. Cohn says when asked why he likes to participate in the New York Breeding and Racing Program..."It's like a stock dividend or mutual fund...Why Not?"
Seymour Cohn's daughter, Mrs. Penny Hallman, was on hand to accept the stakes trophy on behalf of her father, who resides in Florida.

(2/27) Wire to Wire
Vincent Giorgi, Jr.'s BIG BOY JARRETT, hustled to the lead by jockey C.C. Lopez, dictated some quick fractions, and won comfortably by 2-1/4 lengths against state-bred allowance horses at Aqueduct Racetrack. Bred by the partnership of Vincent Giorgi, Jr. and Joseph Saccone, Big Boy Jarrett is by Well Selected-Hudson Dancer, by Tridessus. Trained by Alfredo Velazquez, the 5 year-old chesnut gelding has now won 3 races in his 9 race career with earnings totaling $83,820.

(2/26) IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
IMPEACHTHEPRO ran down the hot favorite, John Paul Too, in the late going to win his maiden voyage for owners Nicholas Laneve and William Warner. Breaking a tad late, jockey Oscar Chavez moved the 3 year-old dark bay colt by Distinctive Pro, out of the Hoist the Flag mare, Flagrance, along the rail never letting the favorite get too far away. Chavez strongly urged Impeachthepro at the top of the stretch, the handsome colt responded with a rousing run through the stretch to the wire, winning by a length.
Bred by the partnership of Brendan Tobin and Dr. Win Stevens, Impeachthepro was purchased at the 1998 Fasig-Tipton Timonium sale for $20,000. His full brother, Bull Dog Pro, won the 5th race in a head bobbing finish.

(2/26) HUGE EFFORT
It's not very often that a horse moves from a maiden special weight race into an open allowance stakes race in his second outing, but that's exactly where trainer Tim Kelly spotted APPEALING DANGER. Scratching out of tomorrow's Hollie Hughes Stakes, Kelly opted to go in the 16th running of the Best Turn Stakes for three year-old olds.
The oddsmaker didn't give him much of a shot (20-1 morning line), but his backers bet him down to 6-1, which caught one's eye factoring in that it was only his second lifetime start with not a very well known sire, New York-based Appealing Guy.
Jockey Diane Nelson, who won her 1000 career victory earlier this week at Aqueduct, was back aboard and quickly put Appealing Danger in the hunt, settling in third position. As the horses moved into the last turn, Appealing Danger loomed up on the outside of the favorite, Max's Pal. Full of run, the 3 year-old son Appealing Guy, out of the Hostage mare, Little Whim, took a run at Max's Pal but had to steady at the 1/16th pole. Nelson alertly had the 'greenly raced' colt back into contention but the wire beat them to the punch as he lost by a diminishing length.
A heckuva nice effort and a horse to be followed in the coming months especially since he is nominated to the Stallion Stakes Series and the Big Apple Triple.

(2/26) NO JOKING
The last time JOKER'S FRANGRANCE won he had to share the purse with Doomesday Defense as they came to the wire together and finished in a dead-heat. At Aqueduct Racetrack today, the New York-bred gelding wasn't taking any chances in sharing the pie as he romped home a clear and convincing winner over a field of state-bred allowance horses.
Bred and owned by Michael Ricatto, Joker's Frangrance is Joker's Farce, out of the Tom Rolfe mare, Frangrance, and was foaled at Mr. Ricatto's Internation Horse Farm in Monticello, New York. The chestnut gelding has earned $114,230 with a Lifetime Record of: 28-3-1-7.

(2/26) READY TO WIN
Trainer Richie O'Connell has a knack for getting horses ready to run big after lengthy layoffs as evidenced by his 4 year-old filly, INTRANSIGENCE, who won her third race in a row after a two month layoff. Her previous win was after a 6-1/2 month layoff! Storming from off the pace the 4 year-old New York-bred, by Belong To Me-Nit Pic, by Nasty and Bold, filly just got up to win against $60 claimers today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The win boosted the lightly raced filly's earnings to $108,220 with 4 wins in 8 starts including one second place finish.
Today's win garners Mr. O'Connell an additional owners' award of $4,920 for the open company score. Bred by Gerald Nielsen's Sunnyfield Farm in Mt. Kisco, New York, Intransigence's dam, Nit Pic, is a 100% producer who earned $114,160 on the racetrack. Mr. Nielsen as breeder, also, earns an award of $4,920 - all part of the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(2/24) Aqueduct Feature winner
Celtic Pride Stables' RUBY RUBLES won today's feature at Aqueduct Racetrack. After challenging for the lead up the backstretch with Devil's Quid, leading jockey Aaron Gryder asked the 5 year-old mare for more turning for home and she responded by opening up 3 quick lengths on the field, which she held to the wire. Ruby Rubles has never been worse than second in her 8 inner track starts, winning 4 times and placing 4 times.
Bred by the Flying Zee Stables at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York, Ruby Rubles was claimed for $70,000 shortly after breaking her maiden. The daughter of Scarlet Ibis, out of the Say I'm Smart mare, Granite Island, has now earned $330,992 with a Lifetime Record of: 33-9-9-4. Aside from today's winner's purse, Celtic Stable, who's principle owner is Boston Celtic coach Rick Pitino, earns an additional owners' award of $6,480 the breeder, Flying Zee Stables, earns $6,480 and the stallion owner receives a check of $2,268 - all part of the New York Breeding and Racing Program's incentives.

(2/24) Wire To Wire
TURNOFTHECENTURY led at every call today winning by 2 lengths in an impressive style for owners Barry K. Schwartz and Eugene E. Hauman. A half-brother to graded stakes winner Best Friend Stro (Jade Hunter) and graded stakes placed winner Noteasybeingreen (Distinctive Pro), Turnofthecentury is a gray son of Holy Bull-Greening, by Greinton.
Trainer Mike Hushion decided to equip the talented gray colt with blinkers today and leading jockey Aaron Gryder quickly had Turnofthecentury on the lead and there was never a doubt as to the outcome. The colt is nominated to the Big Apple Triple Series which begins with the Mike Lee Stakes on July 1st at Belmont Park. Last year, Mr. Schwartz' David won the second leg of the Big Apple Series - The New York Derby - at Finger Lakes Racetrack. Turnofthecentury was bred by the partnership of Barry K. Scwartz, Eugene E. Hauman and Ernest Dahlman.

(2/23) Television Feature
The New York Breeding and Racing Program has a weekly feature on the new New York City-OTB Racing Desk show, which is hosted by turf writer Bill Finley. The show was the concept of Mr. Ron Ceisler, Vice-President of Marketing for New York City OTB and can be seen every Saturday morning on cable channel 71 in the 5 boroughs of New York City beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The format of the show is as follows:
Replays of racing from Yonkers Raceway is followed by Bill Finley discussing harness racing with either Dave Little or Fred Drucker. In the Breeding and Racing segment, racing news and upcoming stakes are gone over with film highlights of past performances along with stallion news and program highlights. The segment ends with a frequently asked questions portion with Fund Representative, Joe Spadaro, followed by Thoroughbred action with jockey agent Drew Mollica. The final segment is a handicapping discussion with Mike (The Wizard) Kipness and Rick Lang discussing picks of the day along with Bill Finley.

(2/21) GRADED STAKES WINNER
New York-bred BIOGIO'S ROSE won the Rare Treat Handicap (GIII) with a rousing come-from-behind finish today at Aqueduct Racetrack over Roaring Twenties. Ridden patiently by leading apprentice jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., Biogio's Rose rated kindly behind the front running New York-bred Gold 'n Sugar and Roaring Twenties to the top of the stretch and chased down the leaders in deep stretch for a 1-1/2 length score.
Owned and bred by Alfred and Joseph Nastasi, this year's goal of the Nastasi brothers and trainer Bobby Ribaudo was to win a graded stakes before retiring to the breeding shed. A multiple New York restricted stakes winner, the 6 year-old Polish Numbers-Fois Gras, by Barachois, mare is going to continue to race in the near future as she remains sharp as a tack.
The winners' share of the purse comes to $48,930 boosting her overall earnings to $530,896 with a Lifetime Record of: 40-13-7-7. The owners incentive, for today's open company win, from the New York Breeding and Racing Program comes to $4,893. Naturally, they continue to earn a breeders award for her New York score of, also, $4,893!! Factoring in the increased value of the Biogio's Rose and her broodmare, it was a great year 2000 Presidential Day for the Nastasis.

(2/21) Open Winner
MISS THERMAL TECH continued her winning ways since being claimed by Malakasa Farms in early November, with a game effort under the guidance of leading apprentice jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr. Racing against open allowance fillies and mares on the holiday Monday card at Aqueduct Racetrack, the 4 year-old bay filly by Distinctive Pro-Video Night, by Dr. Blum, lead every step of the way holding a late charge from Seeking The Sky to win by a 1/2 length. Miss Thermal Tech has rewarded her connections with 3 wins and two seconds in 6 attempts since being claimed for $40,000.
Bred by Suzanne Jager and Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York, the talented filly has an impressive overall Lifetime Record of: 24-7-7-5 and earnings of $266,069.
For the open allowance win Malakasa Farms earns an additional $5,640 for today's win and the breeders, also, earned $5,640 as part of the rich New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(2/19) Hollie Hughes re-scheduled
The first restricted stakes race of the year will be run next Sunday, Feb. 27th with the race re-opened for the original nominations. Entered for today's race, which was cancelled after the third race, because of unfit conditions, were 4 stakes winners including last year's winner KASHATREYA. Also entered were THEPROMONROE who won the race in 1998 and finished 2nd last year, STALWART MEMBER who won the 6 furlong race in 1997, POOSKA HILL the winner of the Hudson over some of the same horses and CHASIN WIMMEN who won the Askley T. Cole on the grass last season. This year's purse has been raised to $75,000.

(2/19) Circle of Life Scratches
The 3 year-old debut for Grade I winner Circle of Life has been put off after today's scratch from the 8th race at Gulfsteam Park. Apparently, trainer Todd Pletcher detected a problem with the 'frog' of Circle of Life's hoof and opted to scratch the talented filly instead of putting a pad on the shoe for protection. The 'frog' is a V-shaped configuration at the bottom of the hoof which acts as a cushion against the constant pounding with the racing surface. A spokesperson from the racing office said the problem wasn't "serious in nature" and expects the filly to race at Gulfstream Park in the near future.

(2/19) Aqueduct Cancels
After a mishap in the third race, jockey Aaron Gryder, who was aboard the winner, Saint Joseph, jogged out to the spot of the accident to examine the surface. Labelled sloppy for the second day in a row after Friday's cancelled card, the rest of the racing card was cancelled after the jockeys deemed the surface to be unfit. Armstrong Mill, the fallen colt, had to be destroyed. No word as to the condition of Herberto Castillo, Jr. who was thrown from his mount. Castillo walked away but seemed shaken at the time.

(2/19) Dazzler
GYPSY SPARKLE wired the field today in the Aqueduct finale over a 'soupy' racing strip. Bounding to the lead from the outside post in the 12 horse field, apprentice jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr. guided Gypsy Sparkle, as the 5 year-old gelding by Lac Quimet-Lil's Pegasus, splashed home a huge winner.
Bred by Patricia Purdy at her Ivy League Farm in Ithaca, New York, Gypsy Sparkle had only one previous win in her 39 race career with earnings of just under $133,000.

(2/17) Impressive Score
Michael T. Martin's LAKEN overwhelmed a field of 3 year-old state-bred allowance fillies today winning much as she pleased by 6 lengths. With 2 wins out of three lifetime starts this daughter of Scarlet Ibis, out of the multiple stakes winning mare Anniron ($539,476), by Iron Constitution, shows alot of grit and great promise.
Bred by W. Alec Martusewicz at his High Oaks Farm in Geneseo, New York, Laken was sold privately to Mr. Martin but still shares in the filly's New York earnings as the breeder without incuring any expenses. For today's win Mr. Martusewicz earns 20% or $5,160.

(2/16) Determined Effort
James McHale's ALWAYSGOODTHANX drove through the stretch holding off a late surging Kiss Me Kris to win against state-bred allowance fillies and mares at Aqueduct Racetrack. Ridden by jockey Joe Rocco, Jr., the 4 year-old bay filly by Miswaki, out of the Dixieland Band mare, Redeemer, has hit the board in all of her 5 lifetime starts.
Bred by Candy Land Stable, Alwaysgoodthanx was purchased as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Timonium sale in Maryland for $84,000. Her dam, Redeemer is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes winner Lite Light (Majestic Light) who earned $1,231,596.

(2/16) Derby Nominee
New York-bred SCOTTISH HALO, winner of the Laurel Futurity (G3) and a solid fourth in the Remsen Stakes (G2) in 1999 has been nominated to the Visa Triple Crown Series.
Purchased by John Oxley, for $160,000, at the Keeneland two year-old in-training sales last April, Scottish Halo is by Jolie's Halo, out of the Deputy Minister mare, Scottische.
Trainer Paul Rizzo has decided to pass on this Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes and run in an allowance race as a prep for the Florida Derby(G1) on March 11th at Gulfstream Park.

(2/13) Gulfstream Park winner
The well traveled New York-bred TROPICOOL won a $38,000 allowance race today at Gulfsteam Park in Hallandale, Florida. Jockey Edgar Prado positioned the 7 year-old bay horse close to the pace, stalking the pace setter, Be Valiant, to the 16th pole before taking over the lead and holding off the late closing favorite, Epistolaire, winning by 3/4s of a length.
The winner of the Remsen Stakes as a two-year old and winner of the Al Maktoun Challenge Cup as a 4 & 5 year-old in Saudi Arabia, Tropicool was bred by the Stone Ridge Partnership and is owned by Sheik A.B.R. Al Maktoun and K. Ellenberg. Tropicool is by Carr de Naskra, out of the Le Fableux mare, Mended Heart.

(2/13) Belle of the Ball
Regally bred AMERICA'S BELLE beat a state-bred allowance field today at Aqueduct Racetrack and may be on her way to fulfilling the promise of her royal pedigree. Lightly raced to this point in her career, four year-old America's Bred is by Dayjur, out of the Graded Stakes winner Stolen Beauty ($303,894), by Deputy Minister. Bred and owned by Al Fried at his beautiful Buttonwood Farm in Rhinebeck, New York, the bay filly is trained by Richard Schossberg.

(2/12) After lugging in in his last start, trainer Mike Hushion placed blinkers on SARATOGA NIGHTS for today's state-bred allowance race and the gray colt responded with a late surge on the outside of a contentious group of game three year-old colts and geldings. Saratoga Nights is nominated for the Big Apple Triple, which are a series of three races run at different tracks - Belmont Park, Finger Lakes Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course at progressive distances of 7 furlongs, 1-1/16th and 1-1/8th mile. The winner of all three races wins an additional $250,000 owner bonus.
Bred and owned by Barry K. Schwartz, Saratoga Nights is a son of Black Tie Affair(Ire)-Koluctoo's Lori, by Koluctoo Bay.

(2/11) That's the Ticket
Trainer James Ferraro's TRICK E TICKET swept the field in the last turn to win a state-bred allowance race by 3 lengths today at Aqueduct Racetrack. Given a perfect ride by apprentice jockey Janice Blake, Trick E Ticket has now bumped her earnings to $159,564 in 29 lifetime starts. Bred by Robert Losey and Steve Holmberg, the 6 year-old bay mare is by Hamza, out of the Fast Gold mare, E Ticket Ride who is full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Senor Speedy ($878,431).

(2/10) Game effort
Racing around two turns for the first time, SHOPPING FOR LOVE, drove through the lane to win by a length against state-bred allowance fillies. Ridden by apprentice jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., the 3 year-old daughter of Not For Love, out of the stakes producing mare Instant Shopper, by D'Accord, seemed to relish the extra distance. Her previous win was at 6 furlongs. Bred by the New River Partnership, Shopping For Love is owned by Donald J. George and Dennis J. D'Arcangelo.
Her dam has produced stakes winner Shoppers Gold (Gold Seam) and stakes placed winners Instant Genius (Honor Grades) and Berkshire Shopper (Carr de Naskra).

(2/9) Aqueduct Feature
New York-bred BIOGIO'S ROSE dominated a field of open company allowance fillies and mares to win today's featured 8th race at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Ridden smartly by apprentice jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., the 6 year-old chestnut mare came from off the pace in the mile and 70 yards race to win by 6 lengths as the odds-on favorite. The multiple stakes winning mare has now banked $481,966 for owner/breeders Joseph and Alfred Nastasi.
The consistent Biogio's Rose, is a 6 year-old daughter of Polish Numbers, out of the Barachois mare, Fois Gras. Among the stakes wins in her career are the East View Stakes as a 2 year-old, the New York Oaks as a 3 year-old and the Montauk as a 4 year-old. Her overall Lifetime Record is an impressive: 39-12-7-7.

(2/9) Winning Return
Away from the races since July 9th, 1999, John Valentino's APPEARING NOW made a sweeping move on the last turn and ran down a game Turnofthecentury for her second lifetime victory in 3 starts. Racing against 3 year-old state-bred allowance colts and geldings, jockey Mike Luzzi was poised in 5th position up the backstretch before uncorking his charge midway in the last turn.
Bred by Mr. Valentino at his Genegantslet Farm in Smithville Flats, New York, Appearing Now is by Demons Begone, out of the Lyphard's Wish mare, Toe Tappen.

(2/9) FINGER LAKES ANNOUNCES 2000 STAKES SCHEDULE
-- FARMINGTON, N.Y. -- Finger Lakes Race Track's 2000 stakes race schedule includes 18 races with almost $600,000 in estimated total purse awards. Sixteen of the stakes races are restricted to New York-breds.
The $125,000 New York Derby for New York State-bred 3-year-olds on July 29 will be the highlight event of a stakes season that also includes the $60,000 New York Oaks for New York State-bred 3-year-old fillies and the $100,000 New York Breeders' Futurity for New York State-bred 2-year-olds on September 4. This year's Derby purse was increased $25,000 from 1999.
The Derby will be the second leg in the Big Apple Triple series, which this year offers a $250,000 bonus to the owner of a thoroughbred that wins all three races in the series. The other two races are the Mike Lee at Belmont Park on July 1 and the Albany at Saratoga Race Course on August 31.
Finger Lakes' stakes season begins with the $30,000 George W. Barker Stakes on Memorial Day (May 29) and concludes with the $30,000 Finger Lakes Juvenile on October 7.

(2/6) Ready to Rumble
Since RUMBLE ALONG returned to the races on Nov. 20, 1999 he has shown remarkable consistency, never finishing worst than second in his last 5 starts including today's two length victory over state-bred allowance horses. Owned and bred by the Braeburn Farm, the 4 year-old dark bay son of Thunder Rumble-Dancing Quoit, by Waquoit, was ridden by his steady jockey, Aaron Gryder, who pushed Rumble Along to the lead and then grabbed him to let another horse assume the lead. Up the backstretch, Gryder moved to the outside and took command of the race to the wire.

(2/5) Happy score
The name of the horse, BLUES INTHE VALLEY, belies the enjoyment shared by owners Arthur Yorkes and Patrick Leuci as the 4 year-old dark bay colt won for the second time in his brief four race career. Ridden confidently by apprentice jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., the son of Halissee, out of the Crafty Prospector mare, Rosey Prospector, blew by Double Conquest at the 1/8th pole and won comfortably by 5 lengths. Blues Inthe Valley is trained by Patrick Reynolds and was bred by Pleasant Valley Farm in Goshen, New York.

(2/5) Wire to Wire
Brian Blatt's GUN RACK led every step of the 1-1/16th mile race to win his second lifetime start. Bright sunshine over the Aqueduct Racetrack oval made conditions bearable for apprentice jockey Norberto, Jr. as he guided the 4 year-old dark bay colt to victory. A homebred, Gun Rack is by Farma Way-Scant, by Ginistrelli, and has now earned $105,480 with a Lifetime Record of: 20-2-4-4.

(2/5) Instant Friendship repeats in Cup (Courtesy of the Daily Racing Form)
New York-bred INSTANT FRIENDSHIP won Saudi Arabia's most important race, H.R.H The King's Cup for imports, for the second time Friday night, defeating Pozarica by 2 1/2 lengths at Al Riyadh Racecourse.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori and now trained locally by Fihan Al Mandeel, Instant Friendship had won the same 2 1/16-mile dirt contest two years ago for Leo O'Brien. O'Brien had previously trained him to victory in the 1997 Red Smith Handicap and the Empire Classic at Aqueduct
Third place went to the John Veitch-trained Strudel Fitz, who was ridden by Robbie Davis, one of a number of American jockeys who took part in Saudi Arabia's biggest day of racing. Earlier on the card, former New York-based trainer Joe Hennessy won H.R.H. The King's Cup for local breds as Ma Tahaab, ridden by Jose Valenzuela, landed the 1 1/2-mile dirt contest by five lengths. - Alan Shuback

(2/4) HAT TRICK
New York-bred DOC CALLS HER KATE remained unbeaten in three lifetime starts with today's victory against open company at Aqueduct Racetrack. Stalking the pace, jockey Roberto Alvarado, Jr. had a ton of horse underneath him. Alvarado turned the 3 year-old daughter of Missionary Ridge-Avie's Song, by Lord Avie, loose coming out of the last turn and she quickly opened up three on the field in mid-stretch which held a late closing Southern Sandra off at the wire.
Owned by Charles Murray and bred by Equiology Concepts, Doc Calls Her Kate is conditioned by Anthony Correnti. Owner Murray will reap an extra $5,400 today in the form of an owner's award because his talented filly beat open company allowance fillies. This is another incentive of the rich New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(2/2) Aqueduct Finale
Saul and Max Kupferberg's OVERSHADOWED returned to the winner's circle today capturing the last race at Aqueduct Racetrack on a cold and blustery day in metropolitan New York.
Trained by John Parisella and ridden by Dale Beckner, Overshadowed came from well off the pace to overtake front runner Cellular Joe in deep stretch holding off a late bid by Gypsy Sparkle.
Bred by Maurice F. Casey III, the durable Overshadowed is by Prosper Fager, out of the Gentle King mare, Evening n Georgia