(9/29) Funny Cide romps by 9 in record Bongard as Santos scores double
With a quick burst to the front while in hand under jockey Jose Santos, Sackatoga Stable's FUNNY CIDE got the lead and the rail before the first quarter-mile of Belmont's $83,975 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at seven furlongs for New York-bred two-year-olds on Sunday. After half a mile in 45.91, he held a half-length lead over 1.85-to-1 favorite Storm Cadet, and from there it was no contest, as the chestnut speedster drew off under a hand ride to win by nine lengths in 1:22.95, breaking the six-year-old stakes record by almost a second. Spite the Devil, who already has two Grade 2 placings at Saratoga on his resume, closed for second after a bumpy start and a five-wide trip. Previously unbeaten (two-for-two) Infinite Justice, a 7 1/2-length winner of Finger Lakes' New York Breeders' Futurity on September 2 and the 3.65-to-1 third choice among the 10 starters, finished third, followed by Storm Cadet.
The 2.95-to-1 second choice, Funny Cide was the fourth of five winners (three New York-breds) ridden at Belmont on Sunday by Santos, who also piloted Beautiful America to victory in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for New York-bred two-year-old fillies immediately preceding the Bongard. Santos had been on board Funny Cide when the gelding won first-out three weeks earlier at Belmont by 14 3/4 lengths, and he was hanging on when the undefeated New York-bred ran off to a 47 2/5 half-mile clocking (second-fastest of 43) at Belmont 10 days before the Bongard.
"I worked him three times before he ever ran, and I knew he was going to be a nice horse," recalled Santos. "His debut was great. I actually worked him the other day (September 19), and he ran off with me. We were supposed to go in 49; he went in 47 2/5, and I was standing up. He's ready to go a mile. He can beat open company."
Funny Cide's trainer, Barclay Tagg, was pleased with his charge's performance: "That's the way you like to see them win. I thought he could win the race; I'm a very conservative guy. You never know until they get hooked. For a youngster, that was good time. The tentative plan is to run him in the Sleepy Hollow ($100,000 guaranteed, for New York-bred two-year-olds at a mile on New York Showcase Day, Saturday, October 19), and then freshen him up and bring him to Florida for the open races."
Owned by Jackson Knowlton's Sackatoga Stable, Funny Cide earned $50,385 for his Bongard victory, putting his bankroll after two starts at $76,185, and he also qualified his breeder, Bill Casner's and Kenny Trout's Kentucky-based WinStar Farm, LLC, for a $5,038.50 breeder award. Funny Cide was a $22,000 purchase out of Fasig-Tipton's 2001 Saratoga preferred yearling sale from the consignment of Joe and Anne McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, agent. His sire is Grade 2 track record-setter Distorted Humor, who stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky and currently ranks as North America's second-leading first-crop sire.
Funny Cide is the first runner produced by Oklahoma-bred Belle's Good Cide, a Slewacide mare who was an open allowance winner at Remington Park and finished fourth in two stakes. Belle's Good Cide, who was sold for $100,000 at Keeneland's 2000 January mixed sale when she was carrying Funny Cide, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Belle of Cozzene ($522,455) and to multiple stakes winner Quackerbell ($111,918). The mare's 2001 foal, a registered New York-bred half-sister to Funny Cide sired by New York stallion Personal Flag (standing at McMahon), has been consigned as Hip No. 750 to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's Eastern fall yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, and is scheduled to sell Wednesday, October 2.

(9/29) Beautiful America rallies 3-wide to win Joseph A. Gimma by 2 1/2
Last to load into the gate for Belmont's $84,475 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes on Sunday and obviously reluctant to do so, Chester and Mary Broman's BEAUTIFUL AMERICA finally was shoved into her starting stall and then was first out at the break from the outside post position against nine rivals. The two-year-old filly raced near the early pace set by the only previous stakes winner in the field, even-money favorite Sweet Samantha, while three wide, then rallied nearing the stretch, lugging in slightly and bumping with 4-to-1 second choice Mischieviously before drawing off to a 2 1/2-length victory. It was the third of five winning rides (three on New York-breds, including Funny Cide in the Bertram F. Bongard) at Belmont on Sunday for jockey Jose Santos, who had ridden Beautiful America to a 4 3/4-length winning debut at Saratoga on August 9. At 4.20-to-1, the Bromans' talented dark bay was the third choice among the 10 New York-bred juvenile fillies competing in the seven-furlong Joseph A. Gimma.
Beautiful America was the only starter in the Joseph A. Gimma who had placed against colts, accomplishing that feat by finishing third in her second start in Finger Lakes' New York Breeders' Futurity on September 2 -- a race in which she had to be checked at the start. Her first stakes victory increased her earnings by $50,685 to $90,208 in three starts.
"She was back in with the girls today; that definitely helped," observed Santos. "I've been getting on her in the mornings, and she is a real nice filly. We had a good trip outside of horses. When I asked her to switch leads at the sixteenth pole, she ducked in, but I grabbed her and got her back on track quickly. She was much the best."
Winning trainer Ramon "Mike" Hernandez was impressed with Beautiful America's professionalism: "We ran her against the boys last time, because you never know what can happen in a race -- if someone got sick or was unlucky, she could have won. You could see today that she is very handy and professional. She does things like an older horse. If she comes back okay, we'll bring her back on New York Showcase Day ($100,000 guaranteed Maid of the Mist, for New York-bred two-year-old fillies at a mile, Saturday, October 19)."
Bred by Thomas Ryba of Chestertown about 60 miles north of Saratoga Springs, who qualified for the maximum $10,000 breeder award, Beautiful America is among three 2002 juvenile winners from the second New York-conceived crop of the late New York stallion, Dixie Brass. Sire also of two-year-old Dixie Country, who won Finger Lakes' Aspirant Stakes on August 17, NYRA Grade 1 winner Dixie Brass was owned by Michael Watral of Central Islip, Long Island, who qualified for a $3,547.95 stallion award. Beautiful America's owners, the Bromans, also own Chestertown Farm in Chestertown. The filly is the first offspring produced from Ryba's New York homebred mare, Eyeofbeauty ($132,041), who is by former New York stallion Bounding Basque and was a multiple allowance winner at Aqueduct. Eyeofbeauty is among three winners produced by another of Ryba's homebred mares, multiple stakes-placed winner Wanakena.

(9/29) Brickens uses route seasoning to steal 7F sprint
When Austin Delaney's homebred BRICKENS won his first start as a two-year-old by 5 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong main track sprint at Belmont, Bill Clinton was president, the stock market was soaring, and Enron was considered the investment of the future. A layoff of more than 20 months followed, but Brickens came back to place a game second in a six-furlong restricted N1X allowance at Belmont in his second career outing. Another layoff -- this time a year -- ensued, and the now-five-year-old gelding returned to Belmont for a closing third-place finish in a restricted N1X allowance at a mile and a sixteenth on turf.
Three more turf efforts from eight to nine furlongs followed -- one in which he ran above his conditions -- with Brickens coming off a mere 10-week layoff to place third in a mile and a sixteenth turf allowance at Belmont on September 18 under jockey Javier Castellano. Eleven days later, Brickens again had Castellano up as the 4.30-to-1 third choice among 11 wagering interests (12 starters) for Belmont's fifth race on Sunday, a seven-furlong $45,000 restricted N1X allowance on the main track, returning to the winner's circle for the first time in more than three years.
For the first quarter-mile, Brickens dueled with front-running fourth choice Karakorum Cat through a split of 22.62 before moving out to a clear lead as the early pacesetter was eased. By mid-stretch with a six-furlong fraction of 1:10.96, the five-year-old held a three-length lead, but at the wire he was hanging on to hold off a pair of three-year-olds -- 1.65-to-1 favorite Smile Smile Smile and 2.95-to-1 second choice Blue Burn -- who were both carrying less weight. Switching back to his left lead in the final strides, Brickens won by a neck, with Smile Smile Smile and Blue Burn a nose apart. The victory increased the Michael Nevin trainee's earnings by $27,000 to $70,100 and improved his record to 2 - 1 - 2 in seven starts, and it also qualified owner-breeder Delaney of Pier 17 on the South Street Seaport in Manhattan for a $5,400 breeder award.
Sired by deceased former New York stallion Double Negative, whose New York connections (James Iselin, et al) qualified for a $1,890 stallion award, Brickens is among six named offspring -- all winners -- bred by Delaney from Nara, who is by Green Forest and is a half-sister to graded winner Tubrok ($252,960). Brickens is a half-brother to stakes winners Irish Daisy ($364,197) and the colorful Irish Silence ($305,524), who is still winning flat races (and placing in stakes) on the Kentucky-West Virginia circuit as an eight-year-old after a brief stint as a steeplechaser.

(9/29) Black and Blues rallies 5-wide for maiden win
A strong outside finisher in two starts at six and seven furlongs at Belmont and Saratoga this past summer, John Spendolini's homebred three-year-old, BLACK AND BLUES, was stretched out to a one-turn mile for his third outing, Belmont's nightcap 10th race, a $44,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up. Horseplayers seemed to approve, sending the colt off as the 3.20-to-1 second choice among 12 starters for his first start on Lasix and first effort under jockey Jose Santos, who already had piloted four winners on the card, including New York-bred juvenile stakes winners Funny Cide and Beautiful America.
With the field tightly-packed in the early running, Black and Blues was held in reserve for a half-mile, then rallied five wide past five rivals and closed through the stretch to overtake sixth choice King of the Mount in the final 20 yards, winning by a length and a half. It was Santos' fifth winning ride of the day. The victory was worth $26,400 in first-place purse money for Spendolini, boosting Black and Blues' earnings to $33,370 in three starts since mid-July with a record of 1 - 0 - 1, and it also qualified Spendolini for a $5,280 breeder award.
A May foal trained by Gary Contessa, Black and Blues is by the late leading New York sire Cure the Blues, whose syndicate connections qualified for a $1,848 stallion award, and is the fourth starter and fourth winner -- but first New York-bred -- produced by open Belmont allowance winner Counselor Deb. Black and Blues' winning half-siblings out of Counselor Deb, who is by Valid Appeal, include multiple stakes-placed Dan Kimball, 13-race winner Blue Henry ($140,204), and the dam of stakes-placed winner Pressin' Your Luck ($138,806).

(9/28) Y Two J rallies 5-wide to capture nightcap
A late foal (May 31, 1999) with enough promise to win second-time-out by 5 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct in January, Double S Stable's homebred Y TWO J might have come into his own in Belmont's 10th race on Saturday, a six-furlong $47,000 restricted N2X allowance for three-year-olds and up. Sent off the 6.50-to-1 third choice among nine starters with jockey John Velazquez up for the first time, the chestnut gelding raced outside of alternating front-runners Top Shoter -- the .80-to-1 favorite -- and 4.10-to-1 second choice Peggys Mukora through a blistering half-mile in 44.54. On the turn, he rallied five wide to overtake those top two choices, gaining a half-length lead in the middle of the track with a five-furlong fraction of 56.60 despite being bumped entering the stretch, and he reached the wire a length and three-quarters in front in 1:09.03. Four-year-old Salute Him, the 10.10-to-1 fourth choice, closed between rivals to place second, followed by Peggys Mukora and Top Shoter. The track, labeled "good", had been sealed during the rainy night before, and some horses took to it enthusiastically. One of them was Y Two J.
The fourth winner ridden at Belmont on Saturday by Velazquez, Y Two J earned $28,200 for the Double S Stable of Joseph Sweedler of Westport, Connecticut, increasing his career bankroll to $99,030 and improving his record to 3 - 1 - 1 in nine starts. He also qualified his owner-breeder, Sweedler, for a $5,640 breeder award. Trained by John DeStafano Jr., Y Two J has made all of his starts at NYRA tracks under six different jockeys and has picked up a check in every race, and while his six-furlong times clearly are getting faster, this was his fastest race yet.
Y Two J is among 23 winners from the first New York-conceived crop of the late New York stallion Dixie Brass, whose owner, Michael Watral of Central Islip, Long Island, qualified for a $1,974 stallion award. He is the fourth offspring -- all New York-bred winners -- bred by Sweedler from Anguilla Holiday, a Lear Fan mare who raced for Double S Stable and won twice at Aqueduct. Y Two J's half-siblings include Blue Holiday ($282,470), who has won open allowance races at both Belmont and Aqueduct.

(9/28) Gold Oxide shines in the mud
In five money-earning starts, Paraneck Stable's three-year-old GOLD OXIDE had never faced an off track prior to Belmont's Saturday opener, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs, but she handled mud like a veteran and benefited from a ground-saving trip under new jockey Jorge Chavez. As half of an entry that was the 2.05-to-1 second choice among nine wagering interests (10 starters), the bay filly drafted close behind pacesetter and 1.15-to-1 favorite Tuft of Flowers while tucked in third place, then slipped through along the rail to overtake the favorite in the stretch. She reached the finish three-quarters of a length in front of Tuft of Flowers in the impressive time of 1:10.99 on a muddy track but in warm, mostly sunny weather with gusting winds. Gold Oxide was the first of two winning New York-breds ridden at Belmont on Saturday by Chevez, who also was aboard the winner of the featured Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational, Kazzia.
Owned by the Paraneck Stable of Ernie Paragallo, who purchased the New York-bred for $35,000 through agent Buzz Chace at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2000 October yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, Gold Oxide earned $25,800, boosting her total bankroll to $48,470 and improving her record to 1 - 2 - 0 in six starts. The Jennifer Leigh-Pedersen trainee had been consigned to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale by Thomas J. and Nadine Gallo, agent, and her breeder is Louis Salerno's Questroyal #100 LLC, based in New Hampton, which qualified for a $2,580 breeder award. Questroyal Stable had purchased Gold Oxide's dam, Zinc Oxide, for $16,500 at Keeneland's 1998 November sale when she was carrying Gold Oxide, who is by Grade 1 winner and top-25 third-crop sire Gold Fever.
A late-arriving foal (May 21, 1999), Gold Oxide is the second winner produced by Zinc Oxide, a seven-time winning daughter of Sun Master and a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Zie World ($196,809). Zinc Oxide won a mile and a sixteenth allowance race on Turfway Park's main track, but her most impressive score was an allowance victory at a mile and a sixteenth on Ellis Park's turf course, which she covered in 1:41 4/5.

(9/28) Heavenly Rose ($42.40) beats open claimers by 4 1/2
Having gone through her New York-bred conditions with a two-length restricted N2X allowance win at Saratoga, Our Seven Stable's homebred HEAVENLY ROSE came off a tiring fifth-place effort with a $50,000 tag at Belmont on September 8 to be 20.20-to-1 under those same conditions at Belmont on Saturday. She did not run like the last choice among six three-year-old fillies in the fifth race, staying close behind two rivals that had dusted her in her previous outing -- 5.90-to-1 second choice Jill Rabbit and .45-to-1 favorite Literary Light -- while in fourth place along the rail. Rounding out of the turn of the six-furlong contest, Jill Rabbit left an inviting opening on the inside, and Heavenly Rose seemed to explode under jockey Jorge Chavez after switching leads, bursting forth to a 2 1/2-length lead at mid-stretch with a five-furlong fraction of 56.75. Through the final furlong, the New York-bred literally leveled out to draw off by 4 1/2 lengths from favored Literary Light at the wire, clocking 1:08.92 over a drying-out "good" track that had been sealed the night before and obviously was becoming speed-conducive.
Second place finisher Literary Light was claimed out of the race for $50,000. It was the second win of the day aboard a New York-bred for Chavez, who was riding Heavenly Rose for the third consecutive time and later piloted Kazzia to victory in the featured Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational. First-place share of the $37,000 purse was $22,200, increasing Heavenly Rose's earnings to $135,010 and improving her record to 4 - 3 - 1 in 15 starts. The chestnut filly also qualified her owner-breeder, the Our Seven Stable of Lee Berkowitz and her father, trainer Joseph Lostritto of Old Brookville, for $4,440 in open race owner ($2,220) and breeder ($2,220) awards.
By Irish juvenile champion and Grade 1-winning North American router Helmsman, who stands in California, Heavenly Rose is the first offspring and only starter produced by Front Row Center, a Monmouth-winning Crafty Prospector mare who placed in open allowance company at Aqueduct while racing for Barbara Davis. Front Row Center's winning dam, Cut Proud, was stakes-placed at Finger Lakes.

(9/27) Carson City Girl wins gate-to-wire off layoff
A series of solid workouts at Monmouth punctuated by a "bullet" half-mile work of 47 seconds (best of 35) indicated that Joseph Parisi's four-year-old filly, CARSON CITY GIRL, was sharply honed for her first start off a layoff of almost five months in Belmont's nightcap ninth race on Friday. Sent off the 5.20-to-1 fourth choice among nine starters for the $47,000 restricted N2X allowance at six furlongs for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, the swift chestnut broke on top, got the rail, and was never headed while being ridden for the first time by jockey Edgar Prado. By mid-stretch, she was striding comfortably with a 2 1/2-length lead and a 57.59 five-furlong fraction, and she finished a length and a half in front in 1:10.49 -- her best time yet in six starts at six furlongs even though it was her first outing on a muddy track.
With $28,200 in first-place purse money for her third NYRA score at six furlongs this year, Carson City Girl boosted her earnings to $92,080 and improved her overall record to 3 - 1 - 0 in eight starts. Trained by Faustino Ramos, the New York-bred filly was a $200,000 purchase by Parisi out of Fasig-Tipton's 1999 Saratoga select yearling sale after having been bought for $115,000 from her breeder, Geret Farm Corporation, as a weanling at Keeneland's 1998 November sale. Her latest victory qualified Geret Farm Corporation, which purchased Carson City Girl's dam, Devil's Dispute, as a four-year-old for $150,000 at Keeneland's 1993 November sale, for a $2,820 breeder award. Geret Farm Corporation sold Devil's Dispute as a stakes-producing nine-year-old for $280,000 at Keeneland's 1998 November sale.
By Carson City, sire of New York-bred Grade 1-winning filly Carson Hollow, Carson City Girl is the third starter and third winner produced by Devil's Dispute, a Devil's Bag mare who was carrying future New York-bred stakes winner Patent Pending ($142,880) when Geret Farm Corporation purchased her at Keeneland. Patent Pending currently holds the stakes record for Belmont's Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at seven furlongs for New York-bred two-year-olds, which will have its 2002 renewal on Sunday, September 29. Devil's Dispute is a half-sister to three black-type and/or stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner and $594,297-earner Banker's Lady (dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Banker's Gold), and to the dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire Ecton Park ($1,323,825).

(9/27) I'llruinya splashes to convincing maiden win
With turf-oriented pedigree, Robert Attanasio's three-year-old I'LLRUINYA seemed a natural for Belmont's opening race on Friday, a $44,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up scheduled for a mile and an eighth on grass, but that race came off the turf because of earlier downpours -- and I'llruinya still won. Ridden for the second consecutive time by Dale Whittaker and favored at 1.30-to-1 among nine starters, the dark bay gelding raced close behind and outside of 3-to-1 second choice pace-setter Lord of Ewhurst through three quarters in 1:11.56 on the sloppy track while in hand. He gained command coming out of the turn and drew clear, winning by 2 1/4 lengths while four-year-old Lord of Ewhurst tired in the final furlong and was edged out for second place by Allisons Smile.
I'llruinya's first victory in three starts was worth $26,400 in purse money, raising his total earnings to $27,720, and it also qualified breeder Roger Toffolon of Hartford, Connecticut, for $7,128 in breeder ($5,280) and stallion ($1,848) awards, since Toffolon owns I'llruinya's sire, New York stallion Sea Salute. The New York-bred is the 16th winner from Sea Salute's 1999 crop, boosting his sire's 2002 progeny earnings over the $1-million mark. Sea Salute is a Belmont-winning son of Danzig - Glowing Honor, by Seattle Slew, who stands at Jim Scott's Liberty Stud in Ghent.
Trained by Sal Iorio Jr., I'llruinya was a $2,500 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's October 2000 yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland. He is the third offspring and third winner produced by Ivory Today ($120,876), a Belmont allowance-winning Caveat mare who won four NYRA races -- three on turf and at a mile and a quarter on both dirt (mud) and turf -- and finished fourth in Woodbine's Canadian Grade 3 Wonder Where Stakes. Ivory Today, who is from the female family of Eclipse Champion juvenile colt and popular sire Dehere, was purchased by breeder Toffolon for $12,000 as a nine-year-old not-in-foal broodmare at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 1997 January mixed sale.

(9/27) Sophisticated Man strides home by 3 1/2 vs. open claimers
Given an 11-week layoff after his third victory and first-ever turf tally (at Monmouth) since being claimed for $40,000 at Aqueduct in February, New York-bred SOPHISTICATED MAN returned to competition on August 18 for a 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga sprint -- not his optimum distance -- and still earned a check. Almost six weeks later, in Belmont's fifth race on Friday for three-year-olds and up with claiming prices of $50,000 at a one-turn mile and a sixteenth, the stakes-winning seven-year-old was back to his winning ways.
Sent off the 6.20-to-1 fourth choice among seven starters (six wagering interests) with jockey Jose Santos on board for the second consecutive time, Sophisticated Man raced close behind pace-setter and 1.80-to-1 favorite (as half of an entry) Brave One while next to the rail in third place. After three-quarters in 1:09.56 on the muddy track, New York-bred Brave One tried to hang on, but he encountered a 15 mile-per-hour headwind rounding into the stretch, and Sophisticated Man came through on the inside to take command, hitting the mile marker with a 2 1/2-length lead in 1:35.12. In the final furlong, Sophisticated Man drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:41.99, with Brave One placing second and New York-bred No Bad Habits (the other half of the entry with Brave One) finishing fifth, as New York-breds earned 83 percent of the race's total purse.
The contest marked the first of two winning rides on the card for Santos, who has ridden Sophisticated Man a total of four times -- the first occasion being at Keeneland in 1998 when the horse was a three-year-old. No Bad Habits was one of two runners claimed out of the race for $50,000.
Owned by Maggie Moss -- who made the $40,000 February claim -- and Terry Finley's New Jersey-based West Point Stable, Sophisticated Man picked up $22,800 for his fifth score at a mile and a sixteenth, bringing his total earnings to $396,987 and improving his record to 16 - 5 - 6 in 48 starts. The Gary Contessa trainee also qualified his owners for a $4,560 open race owner award.
As a four-year-old in 1999, Sophisticated Man won Belmont's Evan Shipman Handicap by two lengths under equal top weight for his breeder, John Franks, who for this victory qualified for a $4,560 breeder award even though he lost the horse (while winning) for a $25,000 tag in August of 2001. Sophisticated Man is among 80 stakes winners sired by the late leading New York sire Cure the Blues, whose syndicate connections qualified for a $1,596 stallion award. He is the first of two winners produced by New York-bred stakes-placed winner Sophisticated Sam ($215,394), who is by Eskimo and is a half-sister to stakes winner Wind Change. Franks purchased Sophisticated Sam as a six-year-old for $42,000 at Keeneland's 1993 November sale.

(9/26) Battier battles through stretch for turf tally
Richard Bomze's homebred BATTIER continued to show his distinct preference for Belmont turf in the sixth race at the Elmont facility on a rainy Thursday afternoon, capturing a $46,000 restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up going a virtual one-turn mile and a sixteenth on grass. Ridden for the second consecutive time by current leading Belmont jockey John Velazquez, the three-year-old gelding saved ground in fifth and then fourth place through six furlongs before swinging outside at the top of the stretch and quickly overtaking the new leader, 1.95-to-1 favorite Native Rhythm, and drawing away. On the outside, 4.60-to-1 third choice Hristoforos mounted a late challenge to place second, but Battier had enough of a margin to win by a length in 1:42.87 over a course still classified as firm despite the rainfall.
The victory increased Battier's earnings by $27,600 to $71,200, improving his record to 2 - 2 - 0 in 10 starts and also qualifying his owner-breeder, Long Island sports publisher Richard Bomze, for a $5,520 breeder award. The first time Battier encountered Belmont's turf course was as a maiden in May when he almost beat open winners (with a $65,000 claiming price) while placing second after three unplaced efforts on Aqueduct's main track. Six days later, he won a restricted maiden special by five lengths going a mile and an eighth on Belmont turf, to which he returned after two unplaced Saratoga outings, placing second on September 9 with a $75,000 tag and under Velazquez for the second (but first on turf) time. The bay New York-bred gelding has been trained alternately by Leo O'Brien and son Keith O'Brien, but Keith O'Brien has saddled him for his last four starts. At Saratoga, Battier had finished behind both Hristoforos and Native Rhythm, but he turned the tables on those two at Belmont.
Sired by pensioned New York stallion Compliance, whose syndicate connections qualified for a $1,932 stallion award, Battier is the fourth offspring and fourth multiple winner by Compliance that Bomze has bred from Roscommon Lassie, a New York-bred Aqueduct allowance-winning Cormorant mare who won on dirt (Aqueduct) and turf (Belmont). Bomze also was the breeder and co-owner of Compliance's two most famous offspring, New York-bred millionaire brothers Fourstardave ($1,636,737) and Fourstars Allstar ($1,600,048).

(9/26) Go Rockin' Robin runs down favorite for first win
With a September 20 "bullet" work (best of 12) of 1:01 breezing for five furlongs at Aqueduct under his belt, Herbert and Carol Schwartz's two-year-old GO ROCKIN' ROBIN was re-united with Michael Luzzi for Belmont's third race on Thursday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special at seven furlongs. The dark bay colt had placed second under Luzzi in his first two starts in May and June at Belmont, then had been unplaced in two Saratoga outings -- unsuccessfully trying blinkers in one of those races -- before returning to Belmont as the 4.90-to-1 second choice among 11 starters. Luzzi kept Go Rockin' Robin in reserve early, then allowed him to advance between rivals on the turn while angling over to the rail, where he slipped through on the inside and hooked up with .95-to-1 favorite Explicit Action, a former $300,000 Saratoga select sales yearling making his debut. The ensuing stretch battle carried those two colts lengths ahead of the rest of the field, with Go Rockin' Robin prevailing by half a length over Explicit Action, who did not switch to his right lead until past mid-stretch.
Go Rockin' Robin, who picked up first-place money of $25,800 to put his earnings at $46,290 and improve his record to 1 - 2 - 0 in five starts, was the first of two winners ridden by Luzzi at Belmont on Thursday. Two juveniles that had beaten Go Rockin' Robin at Saratoga, 7.10-to-1 third choice Polish Posh and 9.50-to-1 fourth choice High Priced, finished fourth and in a dead heat for fifth, respectively.
Trained by his owners' son, Scott Schwartz, Go Rockin' Robin was bred by the McMahon Thoroughbreds of Joe and Anne McMahon in Saratoga Springs in partnership with Bill Casner's and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm in Kentucky -- a partnership arrangement which qualified for a $2,580 breeder award. WinStar Farm also owned the fourth race winner at Belmont, Cliff Notes, and it stands the sire of Go Rockin' Robin, Distorted Humor. Go Rockin' Robin is the first offspring from Flag Support, who is by New York stallion Personal Flag (standing at McMahon Thoroughbreds) and out of French stakes winner Accommodating.
Co-owner Herbert Schwartz of Woodmere recently was dual-honored by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) as 2001's New York Breeder of the Year and National Small Breeder of the Year (20 or fewer runners). He has owned and bred Thoroughbreds for more than three decades.

(9/25) Robbie's Rockin runs 6-wide to beat elders
Taking his standard wide-on-the-turn move to the extreme, Robert Cohen's three-year-old ROBBIE'S ROCKIN advanced from eighth place in the latter half of Belmont's nightcap ninth race on Wednesday, a $48,000 restricted N2X allowance for three-year-olds and up going a two-turn mile and an eighth on the inner turf. Not wanting to get caught behind traffic, jockey Shaun Bridgmohan swung the colt out six wide in a bold move on the second turn, sending him past five rivals in the fourth quarter-mile to reach contention at the head of the stretch. In mid-stretch, Robbie's Rockin caught the new leader, 8.50-to-1 fifth choice Stogie Two, and edged ahead to a half-length victory in 1:48.57, with 7.20-to-1 fourth choice Saf Link closing on the outside to beat out Stogie Two by a neck for second place. It was the fifth winning ride on the day's card -- three of which came aboard New York-breds -- for Bridgmohan, who was riding Robbie's Rockin for the eighth time.
Favored at 1.95-to-1 as one of two three-year-olds among 10 starters, Robbie's Rockin was coming off a pair of Belmont "bullet" half-mile workouts since his previous start on August 12 at Saratoga -- 47 seconds (best of 27) and 47 1/5 (best of 43) on September 1 and 8, respectively. As a two-year-old, he broke his maiden by 7 1/2 lengths on dirt at Aqueduct the second time Bridgmohan rode him, and in April Bridgmohan guided him to a two-length victory in an open Aqueduct allowance feature at a mile and a sixteenth against older horses on turf. Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Philip Johnson, the New York-bred dark bay picked up $28,800 for his latest victory, boosting his earnings to $137,484 and improving his record to 3 - 4 - 3 in 15 starts -- all on the NYRA circuit. His April victory marked the start of a four-race stint with blinkers, but in his last three starts Robbie's Rockin has competed without a hood.
Bred by Christine Heimerle at her Scargo Farm and qualifying his breeder for a $5,760 breeder award, Robbie's Rockin is by Crusader Sword (Damascus - Copernica, by Nijinsky II), a Grade 1 winner standing at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in New Hampton whose syndicate connections qualified for a $2,016 stallion award. Robbie's Rockin is the first offspring produced by New York-bred Otims, who is by Grade 1-winning New York stallion Forever Silver and is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes-placed winner Sam's In Control ($131,136). Otims' dam is Chilean Group 1 winner Wagers Delight, who raced at Aqueduct for the current owner of Robbie's Rockin, Robert Cohen.

(9/25) Rhythmic Motion goes from last to first in 2YO debut
The only first-time starter among 10 two-year-olds in Belmont's third race on Wednesday, a $44,000 restricted maiden special run over virtually a one-turn mile on the outer turf, was Robert Spiegel's RHYTHMIC MOTION, who went off the 3.15-to-1 second choice and was literally left at the gate. Trailing his competitors by as much as 12 lengths on the backstretch under top turf jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, the chestnut colt finally caught up and advanced between rivals on the turn, then angled six wide entering the stretch and passed everyone else, winning by a length and three-quarters in 1:36.02.
It was the third of five victorious rides on the day for Bridgmohan, whose winners included New York-bred Showtime over open claimers in the first race, a two-year-old daughter of New York stallion Regal Classic in a first-out score in the second, and New York-bred Robbie's Rockin in the nightcap. For Rhythmic Motion, who was coming off a half-mile "bullet" workout (best of 41) of 48 1/5 breezing from the gate at Belmont on Saturday and had clocked an earlier Belmont "bullet" work (best of 23) of 48 4/5 breezing on September 1, first-place money was $26,400.
Acquired privately by Spiegel of Weston, Connecticut, Rhythmic Motion is trained by David Donk and was bred by the late John Valentino, whose estate qualified for a $2,640 breeder award. By French champion Irish River, who has sired four champions either in Europe or on North American turf, Rhythmic Motion is the sixth winner produced by K.'s Solution, an Aqueduct allowance-winning Bailjumper mare that Valentino claimed for $15,500 after she had scored her sixth -- and final -- career win. The New York-bred is a full brother to the Valentino family's current homebred three-year-old filly, River's Solution, who broke her maiden going a mile and a quarter on turf at Belmont on July 21. Rhythmic Motion also is a half-brother to Valentino's New York homebred multiple graded winner, Restored Hope ($287,266), and to the winning dam of New York-bred stakes winner Common Objective, but he is the first offspring of K.'s Solution to win as a two-year-old.

(9/22) Finality sets stakes record in G2 Jamaica as Velazquez-Pletcher score stakes double
Last to load into the gate and the only one of three to vie for the lead from the outside in Belmont's $200,000 Grade 2 Jamaica Handicap at a mile and an eighth on the inner turf Saturday, New York-bred FINALITY was forced three-wide and still shattered the stakes record. When he reached the stretch, the extra ground covered did not seem to matter, as the Dogwood Stable colt drove ahead to win by about a length under jockey John Velazquez in the time of 1:46 3/5, breaking the 1997 stakes record by more than two seconds. For Velazquez, who has ridden Finality nine times, it was the third winning ride on Sunday at Belmont and his second aboard a New York-bred. Finality also was the second New York-bred stakes winner saddled on the card by NYTB champion trainer Todd Pletcher, who sent out I'm All Yours to victory in Belmont's restricted Ashley T. Cole Handicap on Saturday as well as Maddie May in the restricted Schenectady Handicap immediately preceding the Jamaica.
"I knew I would be 1-2-3 when we turned for home," said Velazquez, who also rode Maddie May to victory in the Schenectady. "He really exploded when I asked him. No one could kick with him."
Pletcher elaborated: "He got a good trip today, and everything worked out smoothly. He kicked on strong through the lane, and 1:46 3/5 is racehorse time.
"It seemed like such a tough race from top to bottom," Pletcher continued. "It was hard to identify a clear-cut favorite. They've all taken turns beating each other. At a mile and a quarter, Chiselling nailed us late, but we thought a mile and an eighth would be a more suitable distance for us."
Front-runner Union Place, carrying a pound less than Finality, faded somewhat in the stretch to place second, and 2.45-to-1 favorite Chiselling, who was coming off consecutive victories in the Grade 3 Lexington (July 14) and Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes (August 17), finished third. Nine three-year-olds started in the Jamaica, including five graded or group stakes winners on turf. Finality earned $120,000 for his first stakes victory, increasing his bankroll to $305,955 and improving his record to 4 - 4 - 1 in 12 starts, which includes close second-place finishes in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes and Saranac Handicap plus seconds as a two-year-old in the open Pilgrim and Mecke Stakes. He also qualified his owner, Cothran Campbell's South Carolina-based Dogwood Stable, for the maximum $10,000 open race owner award, and his breeder, Albert Fried Jr. of Button Wood Farm in Rhinebeck, for the maximum $10,000 breeder award. Dogwood Stable purchased Finality for $100,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2000 Saratoga select sale of yearlings. The colt has been nominated to the Breeders' Cup.
Sired by Dehere, Finality is the fifth winner out of Finally Found, a Lord Durham mare that breeder Fried bought for $70,000 at Keeneland's 1992 January mixed sale. He is a half-brother to Grade 2 stakes winner Stolen Beauty ($303,894) and to stakes-placed winner Yes Minister.
Finality is the 12th New York-bred to win an open stakes (to horses bred anywhere) in 2002 and the fifth graded New York-bred winner for the year. New York-breds have won a total of 16 open stakes in 2002, including six graded events.

(9/22) Maddie May draws off in Schenectady
With two stakes victories already on her resume, So Madcapt Stable's five-year-old MADDIE MAY went off the .55-to-1 favorite among six starters for Belmont's $81,275 Schenectady Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, on Sunday and won convincingly under top weight of 120 pounds. Ridden for the 10th (and fourth consecutive) time by John Velazquez, the dark bay mare was kept a few lengths off the early pace before moving up on the outside to challenge front-runner Jolie on the turn, and from there she drew clear, winning in 1:11.01 for six furlongs.
"That was easy," reported Velazquez. "She's so much better than these fillies. She's got the speed to put you in the game. We were outside, and she was moving so easily. I chirped at her when it was time to go, and she drew off."
For her sixth victory at six furlongs in 11 outings at that distance, Maddie May increased her earnings by $48,965 to $395,001 and improved her overall record to 8 - 5 - 0 in 18 starts, which includes victories in Belmont's Maid of the Mist (at two) and Iroquois Stakes last year. She races for the So Madcapt Stable racing partnership that is managed by Michael Joseph Cascio, and her trainer is Todd Pletcher, who saddled two New York-bred stakes winners (Maddie May and Finality) at Belmont on Sunday. Pletcher is planning for Maddie May to defend her 2001 Iroquois Stakes title on October 19 (New York Showcase Day).
"She trained so well coming into this race that we were confident she was back to her old self," explained Pletcher. "We're going to run her back in the Iroquois, and that will be her last start. She's going to the Keeneland November sale after that. She's accomplished a lot. I think she's an exciting prospect."
Bred by Roger Toffolon of Hartford, Connecticut, who qualified for a $4,896.50 breeder award, Maddie May was purchased as a juvenile for $47,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 1999 March sale of selected two-year-olds in training in Ocala, Florida. Five months earlier, she had been a $21,000 sales yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's fall yearling sale in Lexington. The mare is the third female stakes winner -- and second New York-bred stakes winner -- sired by Maryland stallion Not For Love within the past two days, following New York-bred Shopping for Love in Pimlico's Maryland Million Ladies Stakes and Blinded by Love in Pimlico's Maryland Million Distaff Stakes. Maddie May, who is a half-sister to open stakes-placed winner Davy Jones ($122,290), is the first of three New York-bred offspring -- all winners -- produced by New York-bred Lady by Design, an Aqueduct-winning Fast Play mare that Toffolon purchased for $65,000 at a 1994 Saratoga sale of two-year-olds. Lady by Design is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Miss Tawpie ($207,275) and to the dam of champion Venezuelan juvenile filly Bonne Femme.

(9/22) Grab Bag gets second successive big-margin win
Henry Waring's homebred GRAB BAG showed promise last year in two unplaced efforts as a two-year-old, picking up checks both times, but she came off a nine-month layoff on August 23 at Saratoga looking like a new filly while capturing her three-year-old debut by 10 lengths under jockey Edgar Prado. With Prado again aboard for Belmont's Sunday opener, a $45,000 restricted N1X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going the same distance (seven furlongs) as her previous outing, Grab Bag went off well backed at .95-to-1 among 10 starters and showed that such favoritism was well justified.
Breaking from the eighth post position, Grab Bag contested the early pace with 15.20-to-1 seventh choice Totally Selfish through four furlongs and then drew clear, staying on her left lead throughout the stretch but winning under a hand ride at the finish by 4 1/4 lengths. Trained by Thomas Skiffington, the bay New York-bred picked up $27,000 for her second successive victory, boosting her total earnings to $55,350 and improving her record to 2 - 0 - 0 in four starts while also qualifying her owner-breeder, Waring, for a $5,400 breeder award.
Grab Bag is from the first crop of syndicated New York stallion Abaginone (Devil's Bag - Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid), a multiple graded winner who stands at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in Hudson and whose connections qualified for a $1,890 stallion award. Abaginone is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Cara Rafaela -- those two being among 67 stakes winners produced by daughters of the great Spectacular Bid, who also is a New York stallion. Grab Bag is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes-placed winners Naskra's Ferrari ($191,832) and Lucy Ellen ($166,593) -- both also bred by Waring from six-time winner Hakucho, whom Questroyal Farm purchased as a six-year-old for $32,715 at a 1991 Canadian breeding stock sale when she was carrying Lucy Ellen. Hakucho, by Raise a Cup, was an allowance winner at Woodbine and has picked up considerable black-type in her female family since her purchase in 1991, becoming a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-placed winner Dixie Connection and to the dam of stakes winners Janluray ($255,825) and More D'Amour ($211,256).

(9/22) J. B. Hood meets expectations
One of the two highest-priced New York-breds sold at Fasig-Tipton Florida's February 2002 sale of selected two-year-olds in training was a French Deputy colt named J. B. HOOD (presumably for Confederate General John Bell Hood), who before the sale worked a furlong in a sizzling 10 1/5 seconds. Purchased for $310,000 by equine law specialist Robert Beck of Colleyville, Texas, J. B. Hood made his debut on August 31 at Saratoga, going off as the .75-to-1 favorite under Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey and giving way late to finish third behind Unswept and War Paint. For Belmont's second race on Sunday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-olds going six furlongs, the bay colt again was favored (at 1.30-to-1) among 11 starters (nine wagering interests) with Bailey again up and on Lasix for the first time -- and this time there was no giving way.
Although bumped at the start, J. B. Hood moved quickly into contention while three wide and collared front-running third choice Ed's Party Boy after a half-mile, then drew off to a seven-length margin by mid-stretch with a five-furlong fraction of 58.71 and won by 6 3/4 lengths. War Paint, who was the 2.40-to-1 second choice for his rematch with J. B. Hood, finished third. For Bailey, it was the first of two consecutive winning rides.
Trained by Steven Asmussen, who also trains New York-bred 2002 Grade 2 winner Private Emblem, J. B. Hood earned $25,800 for his maiden victory, giving him total earnings of $30,310 from two starts over the past 23 days. He also qualified his breeder, Ernie Frohboese, for a $2,580 breeder award.
A late foal (May 7, 2000) delivered at Ruth von Wiesenthal's Snowberry Farm in Hudson, J. B. Hood is the first offspring produced by Belle Boyd, a Jolie's Halo mare who raced for Frohboese, winning a seven-furlong open maiden special by almost two lengths at Aqueduct in November of 1998. Belle Boyd is a half-sister to 1992 Panamanian champion three-year-old imported filly Sallysay (dam of a 2001 stakes-placed winner in Panama) and to stakes-placed winner Sweet Nena.

(9/21) I'm All Yours prevails in Ashley T. Cole
Anstu Stables' five-year-old I'M ALL YOURS scored his third turf stakes victory under Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey in Belmont's $83,825 Ashley T. Cole Handicap on Saturday, setting a stakes record for a mile and an eighth on grass of 1:49.13 under top weight of 122 pounds. Favored at 1.95-to-1 among nine New York-breds, the bay gelding was rated by Bailey back in seventh place through three-quarters of a mile despite easy fractions of 24.99, 49.50 and 1:13.60. He then rallied three wide approaching the stretch and kicked in to pass six rivals in the next three-eighths of a mile -- even those three furlongs went in a lively 35.53 seconds -- winning by a neck over 9.80-to-1 fifth choice Haggs Castle, to whom he was conceding nine pounds. Third choice Celtic Sky (2.85-to-1) finished a head back for third place.
Bailey, who in the next race rode Tates Creek to victory in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Handicap, has ridden I'm All Yours nine times, including turf victories in Saratoga's 2001 West Point Handicap, Belmont's 2001 Mohawk Handicap, and a $56,000 open classified allowance at Belmont on July 11. The gelding's most recent previous start was a fourth-place effort under top weight of 124 pounds in Saratoga's 2002 West Point Handicap on August 9, where he was asked to spot six to 11 pounds to rivals. His latest victory increased his earnings by $50,295 to $385,912 and improved his record to 9 - 0 - 3 in 17 starts.
"I don't think having to spot so much weight last time helped, but I think it was more that he didn't want to be that close," remarked I'm All Yours' conditioner, 1999 New York Thoroughbred Breeders Trainer of the Year Todd Pletcher, who saddled two winners on Belmont's Saturday card. "He broke well last time, and Jerry (Bailey) opted to keep him near the pace. We didn't think there would be much pace today, but we wanted him to sit back and let him run his race. He's a super consistent horse. With his running style, he makes it exciting. We'll go in the Mohawk ($150,000, mile and an eighth, turf, on Belmont's New York Showcase Day, October 19) next, and then maybe one race at Aqueduct. He's won open races, but the New York-bred stakes are our main focus."
Bailey confirmed Pletcher's observations: "He's just a better horse when he can come from far of the pace. I didn't want to rush him today. I let him put me into the race. He's got a big punch when he's on his game. We've had a lot of success with him."
Owned by the Anstu Stables, Inc. of Anita and Stuart Subotnick, whose Anstu Farm is located in Millbrook, I'm All Yours was purchased by his owners for $75,000 (through Pletcher as agent) at Fasig-Tipton Florida's March 1999 select sale of two-year-olds in training. He also was a $60,000 Keeneland 1998 September sales yearling and a $50,000 Keeneland 1997 November sales weanling. Bred by 2001 NYTB Breeder of the Year Gerald Nielsen, who qualified for the maximum $10,000 breeder award as a result of the Ashley T. Cole victory, I'm All Yours is a half-brother to New York-bred 2002 Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes winner Roman Dancer ($267,949). By former New York stallion Belong to Me, whose New York connections qualified for a $3,520.65 stallion award, I'm All Yours is among four winners produced by Nielsen's New York homebred Cormorant mare, Phalanopsis, who is named after a butterfly orchid and was a multiple allowance winner.

(9/21) Shopping for Love romps by 7 1/4 in $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie
Dennis D'Arcangelo's and Donald George's New York-bred SHOPPING FOR LOVE made it look all too easy in Pimlico's $95,000 Maryland Million Ladies Stakes, stalking the pace of front-running 10th choice (31.60-to-1) Breezy Bri before advancing three wide into the second turn and seizing command in the upper stretch. From there, the five-year-old mare pulled away at will, winning the mile and an eighth turf event for Maryland-conceived fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, by 7 1/4 lengths under jockey Richard Migliore in the time of 1:48.61 as the 1.30-to-1 favorite among 14 starters. Breezy Bri, carrying two pounds less than Shopping for Love, held on for second.
The Maryland Million Ladies was Shopping for Love's sixth stakes victory and her second stakes score outside of New York, and it was her first outing ever under Migliore, who also rode the winner of the next contest on Pimlico's card, the Maryland Million Distaff Handicap. Trained by Kenneth Nesky, Shopping for Love has now won four grass stakes, including a division of Belmont's restricted Mount Vernon Handicap by four lengths two starts earlier on June 23, and two stakes on sloppy main tracks at Aqueduct (the open Busher Stakes) and Belmont (Bouwerie Stakes). In her most recent previous start, she placed third in Saratoga's restricted Yaddo Handicap (switched from turf to a sloppy main track) on August 16. With the $55,000 she picked up for her Maryland Million Ladies victory, the dark bay mare has earnings of $583,669 and a record of 8 - 6 - 1 in 24 starts.
"This race fell perfectly in our schedule," explained Nesky. "We weren't sure that there would be enough time between the Maryland Million and the Ticonderoga ($150,000, mile and an eighth on turf for New York-bred fillies and mares, on Belmont's New York Showcase Day, October 19), but the early schedule date for this race fit perfectly. I'm really going to miss this one (Shopping for Love). Her next start will be her last. She will be going to Keeneland for their November breeding stock sale. She's been a wonderful horse to have in my barn. She's won on the turf, she's won on the dirt, and now has earned almost $600,000. Those kind don't come along that often."
Migliore was obviously pleased: "I enjoy coming down here for Million Day. It's a great day, and I've always been lucky here."
Eligible for the Maryland Million series and also a registered New York-bred, Shopping for Love was bred by New River Partnership and was acquired privately by Massachusetts residents George (who is in the fuel oil business) and D'Arcangelo (a court clerk for the judicial system). The daughter of Not For Love is out of New York-bred Instant Shopper -- an Aqueduct allowance-winning D'Accord mare that Nesky trained -- and is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Shoppers Gold and to stakes-placed winners Berkshire Shopper and Instant Genius.

(9/21) Steves Sunny Comet deflected, moved up for win
With a turf routing pedigree and a flaxen mane and tail that looks straight out of Hollywood, three-year-old STEVES SUNNY COMET has tried the main track at four different distances and turf at a mile and a sixteenth -- but his best success has been at six furlongs on dirt. After placing second in his third career start and three-year-old debut going six furlongs at Belmont on May 24, he was unplaced at three other distances -- once on grass -- before returning to six furlongs for Belmont's opener on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up.
Sent off the 29.25-to-1 seventh choice among 13 starters (12 wagering interests) with jockey Jose Santos aboard for the first time, the distinctive-looking chestnut colt broke from the seventh post position and advanced from seventh to fourth after a half-mile, trailing just behind .90-to-1 favorite Promise Mountain. Rallying wide, he passed Promise Mountain in the stretch and took up pursuit of the new leader, 5.70-to-1 third choice Pure Amazement, gaining steadily despite staying on his left lead. In the final 50 yards, Pure Amazement ducked out twice in reaction to jockey Jose Espinoza's left-handed whipping, causing Steves Sunny Comet -- still on his left lead -- to take up noticeably the second time. The infraction resulted in the disqualification of Pure Amazement to second and the first victory for Steves Sunny Comet, who reached the wire a neck in front of 5.10-to-1 second choice Looks Expensive.
Owned by Robert Butzko, Richard Coburn, and Steve Viola and trained by Thomas Skiffington, Steves Sunny Comet earned $25,800 for his maiden victory, boosting his total bankroll to $36,460 and improving his record to 1 - 1 - 0 in seven starts. He also qualified his breeder, Gus Schoenborn Jr. of Contemporary in Coxsackie, for a $5,160 breeder award. Schoenborn stood the sire of Steves Sunny Comet, Canadian juvenile champion and multiple turf stakes winner Comet Shine, at Contemporary prior to that stallion's purchase by California interests, so Steves Sunny Comet's win also qualified the New York connections of Comet Shine for a $1,806 stallion award. Steves Sunny Comet is the first winner produced by the durable New York-bred mare Majestic Avenger ($137,739), a daughter of Top Avenger who won 18 races from ages two through eight and placed second in Finger Lakes' Ontario County Stakes as a three-year-old.

(9/19) Sparkling Ava hangs on for 3rd win in 4 starts
Prior to her fourth career start and third victory, Barry Schwartz's homebred 1.45-to-1 favorite, SPARKLING AVA, was anything but calm, and from there everything just seemed to get tougher. Fractious at the gate for Belmont's nightcap ninth race on Thursday, a $48,000 restricted N2X allowance for 10 fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going a mile and a sixteenth on the inner turf, jockey Jose Santos had to dismount Sparkling Ava before she was loaded into her starting stall. She then broke in the air from the third post position and wound up racing behind eight rivals after half a mile. On the far turn, the three-year-old New York-bred launched a four-wide rally to narrowly take command in mid-stretch and then held on, switching back to her left lead a few jumps from the finish and appearing to ease up slightly. At the wire, 6.30-to-1 third choice Run Alexis Run -- a six-year-old with earnings in six figures -- closed on the outside to within about an inch of Sparkling Ava, with four-year-old But finishing third, as Santos recorded his third winning ride of the day.
Santos also has ridden Sparkling Ava to a 4 3/4-length first-out six furlong score on Belmont's main track in May, a mile and a sixteenth turf tally at Belmont in June, and a third placing in the slop in a mile and an eighth off-the-turf Saratoga allowance on August. 29. Conditioned by 2000 NYTB Trainer of the Year Michael Hushion, the bay filly's latest victory increased her earnings by $28,800 to $84,860 and also qualified her owner-breeder, NYRA Board Chairman and CEO Barry Schwartz of Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, for a $2,880 breeder award.
By English-Irish champion and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Royal Academy, Sparkling Ava is the fifth winner produced by Carolina Chant, being a half-sister to Schwartz's New York homebred stakes-placed winner, Ms. Forte ($139,539), and to the five-time winning dam of 2001 Canterbury Oaks winner Savannah Canon. Carolina Chant, a winning daughter of Linkage and a half-sister to 1993 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Sir Beaufort ($1,149,130), was purchased as a seven-year-old for $30,000 by Schwartz out of Keeneland's 1993 November sale through agent Robert Courtney.

(9/19) My Girl Nessa ($53.50) wins Belmont opener by 4
For Belmont's seven-furlong opener on Thursday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, only two of the 12 starters were coming off second-place efforts this summer, and one of them -- Lawrence Romano's homebred MY GIRL NESSA -- somehow went off the 25.75-to-1 tenth choice. Breaking from the number two post position with jockey Paul Toscano up for the third time, Romano's homebred drafted close behind the early leaders on the inside, then advanced through along the rail to take command coming out of the turn as early pace-setter November Rose left a large opening. Throughout the stretch drive, My Girl Nessa continued to draw clear, reaching the finish four lengths in front of 7.30-to-1 fourth choice Irish Rail, who rallied to hold off 2.10-to-1 late-closing favorite Lady Nelson -- coming off an 11-month layoff -- for second place.
Trained by John Paone, My Girl Nessa's turnaround might possibly be traced to Toscano, who first rode the New York-bred on May 19 in a seven-furlong restricted maiden special at Belmont, where she led early before tiring. Two starts later on July 13, Toscano again was on board for a six-furlong restricted maiden special at Belmont, but this time he allowed the bay filly to come from off the pace, and she rallied to get her first second-placing, with Irish Rail finishing third at equal weights. A layoff of almost 10 weeks followed, and My Girl Nessa appears to have returned fresher than ever for her first win, increasing her earnings by $25,800 to $45,110 and improving her record to 1 - 1 - 2 in 15 starts. Owner-breeder Romano, of Franklin Square, also qualified for a $5,160 breeder award.
My Girl Nessa is the ninth winner from the second New York-conceived crop of syndicated New York stallion Crusader Sword (Damascus - Copernica, by Nijinsky II), a Grade 1 winner who stands at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in Hudson and whose connections qualified for a $1,806 stallion award. She is the first offspring produced by New York-bred Our Girl Nessa ($125,998), a hard-hitting Star Gallant mare who raced for Romano and won Finger Lakes' 1996 Susan B. Anthony Handicap by 2 1/4 lengths as a six-year-old among her nine career victories. Our Girl Nessa also is a half-sister to New York-bred Romantic Girl ($197,052), who won Belmont's $100,000 Fifth Avenue New York Stallion Stakes as a two-year-old.

(9/18) Ivars Blues gamely to win turf allowance
Ivar Malmstrom, Jr.'s IVARS BLUES under Edgar Prado closed resolutely through the stretch to overtake front-runner Robyns Gold Charm, notching his first victory in his three year-old campaign. Racing on a yielding inner turf course at Belmont Park, the one and one-sixteenth mile event was contested by a full field of 10 state-breds. Ivars Blues was making his first start over the turf and first two-turn race for trainer Vincent Blengs.
Bags Are Packed and Robyns Gold Charm dueled for the early lead, as an anxious Ivars Blues was held under stout restraint by Prado in the run down the backstretch. Once settled, Ivars Blues rated kindly and waited for Prado's command before unleashing a strong drive in the stretch. Devouring the turf with each stride, Ivars Blues collared Robyns Gold Charm in the late stages, winning by two lengths crossing the wire.
Bred by Emlawn Stable, Ivars Blues was purchased in the 2001 April OBS two year-old in training sale for $80,000 and broke his maiden as a two year-old at Saratoga. Slow to get untracked this year, Blengs decided to stretch the three year-old gelding out and run him on the turf; the strategy worked to perfection. Ivars Blues is by Cure the Blues, out of the Red Ransom mare, Arabian Wind, and has now earned $54,700 in six lifetime starts.

(9/18) Quatre Dix Neuf completes New York-bred early daily double
New York-bred QUATRE DIX NEUF in for a claiming tag of $40,000 completed the early daily double at Belmont Park with Combanchera, winner of the opener. Rogue Agent, also a New York-bred, finished second to Quatre Dix Neuf. Javier Castellano was aboard for trainer James Jerkens, as seven three year-olds contested the $33,500 purse.
One Mean Cat was up quickly to take the lead of the one-mile one-turn affair with Quatre Dix Neuf rating on the leader's outside flank. Ridden confidently by Castellano, Quatre Dix Neuf glided to the lead in the middle of the last turn and proceeded to draw off from the field, as much the best.
Bred by Howard Kaskel at his Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York, the three year-old gelding is owned by John Comfort and Albert Weiss. Quatre Dix Neuf is by Distinctive Pro, out of Mrs. Filio, by Eastern Echo. Quatre Dix Neuf has now banked $68,400 in nine lifetime starts for his owners. For today's opening company score, the owner's receive an open owner's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $4,020, which matches the breeder's award for Mr. Kaskel. Not to be forgotten is the owner of the stallion, Distinctive Pro, who collects 7% of the winner's share of the purse or $1,407 - all awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(9/18) Combanchera impressive in debut
Anstu Stable's COMBANCHERA, making her first lifetime start, won rather easily today at Belmont Park against against state-bred two year-old fillies. Trained by Todd Pletcher the dark bay filly was bet down to the odds-on favorite. Eight fillies went to post.
Fast For All hustled out of the gate went to the front with Cologny sitting close behind in the run down the backside. John Velazquez, aboard Combanchera, kept the filly out of harm's way in the early going before moving to the leaders in the middle of the last turn of the six-furlong race. Clearing the early leaders by the top of the stretch, Combanchera gradually lengthened her stride and won comfortably by four lengths.
Bred by Bask Stables, Inc., the royally bred Combanchera is by Seattle Slew, out of the Miswaki mare, In Her Glory, a stakes winner and multiple graded-stakes placed, earning close to $200,000 in her 20 race-career.

(9/18) Scarlet Billows wins first time out at Belmont Park
Inis Fada Farm's SCARLET BILLOWS made her first career start a winning one today at Belmont Park. Racing against 2 year-old state-bred fillies in a six-furlong affair, Scarlet Billows was overlooked by the betting public, going to the post at 14-1. Trained by Michael Nevin, the two year-old bay filly was given a heady ride by Dale Whittaker.
Four fillies vied for the early lead with Katies Danza and Special Girl coming away with the lead. The leaders were racing well off the rail heading into the last turn, and Whittaker decided to send the brave little filly throw an inviting opening along the rail to gain command at the top of the stretch. Once clear, Scarlet Billows drew off from the field to win by three lengths. Katies Danza closed strongly in the late stages to finish second by a neck over Bird Key.
Bred by Barbara A. Fausner at her Country Gentleman Farm in Nassau, New York, Scarlet Billows is by Scarlet Ibis, out of Harvard Mistress, by Harvard Man. Harvard Mistress has had four foal to race including Slightly Scarlet (Scarlet Ibis) winner of $192,702 and College Point (Noble Nashua) winner of $149,549. Scarlet Ibis stands at Carl Lizza and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York.

(9/17) New York-bred stakes on tap for this weekend at Belmont Park
Two $75,000 added state-bred stakes are carded for this weekend at Belmont Park. On Saturday, September 21st, the Ashley T. Cole, for three year-olds and upward run at nine-furlongs over the turf and on Sunday, September 22nd, the Schenectady, at six-furlongs for three year-old and upward fillies and mares will be run over the main track.

I'm All Yours winning last July.

Top nominees for the 27th running of the Ashley T. Cole include last year's winner of the $150,000 Mohawk Handicap, I'm All Yours. The Todd Pletcher trained five year-old gelding finished fourth in the West Point Handicap to the Christosphe Clement-trained Celtic Sky, who also won this year's Kingston Handicap at Belmont. Also slated to run are Reluctant Groom, trained by Pat Kelly, who just missed in the West Point Handicap and Seymour Cohn's Chasin Wimmin, winner of the 1999 Ashley T. Cole, who finished third in the West Point Handicap. Rounding out the tightly matched field are Brickens, Haggs Castle, No White Flags and Quiet Ruler.

Maddie May winning last February.

On Sunday, the 22nd running of the Schenectady Handicap features another Todd Pletcher standout, Maddie May. The five year-old dark bay mare is owned by the So Madcapt Stable. Maddie May won the 2001 running of the $125,000 Iroquois Handicap. Carl Lizza's Flying Zee Stable has a standout filly of their own in Seeyouinmydreams, a recent allowance winner at Saratoga and last year's East View Stakes winner at Aqueduct. Other contenders include Begateful, Belongs to Mony, Home on the Hill, Jolie, Shamrock Blues and We'll Sea Ya.
In other weekend stakes action at Belmont Park, New York-bred Finality, a 3 year-old chestnut colt trained by Todd Pletcher, will race in the Grade II - Jamaica Handicap, a nine-furlong turf race, which will be run on Sunday, September 21st.
Finality finished second, beaten a nose, in Grade II Lexington to Chiseling and also finished second, beaten a half-length, in the Grade III - Saranac to Ibn Al Haitham. Both nemesis' are entered in the Jamaica Handicap.
On Saturday, New York-bred Dat You Miz Blue, who has impressed in both her turf races after sprinting for most her career, is entered in the Grade III - Noble Damsel against the likes of Tates Creek, Amonita, Babae, Cozy Corner and Shooting Park. The Noble Damsel is run at one-mile over the Belmont turf.

(9/15) Near and Dear fights to near win on grass
Top-weighted by scale against 13 rivals that included five four-year-old fillies, Gerald Nielsen's homebred NEAR AND DEAR was made the 2.20-to-1 favorite among 12 wagering interests (with two coupled entries) for Belmont's fifth race on Sunday, a $46,000 restricted N1X allowance at a mile and an eighth on turf. Jockey Edgar Prado, who has ridden the three-year-old filly in all three of her starts, wasted no time risking getting caught behind the large field, sending Near and Dear on the inside to contest the early pace set by long shots Fiji Rascal and Irrepressible Joy. After a half-mile, the two early leaders had dropped out of contention, and command of the race was taken over by three-year-old 7.10-to-1 fourth choice Perfect Energy on the outside, with Near and Dear a head back next to the hedge. Those two then fought it out all the way to the finish, leaving their competitors six or more lengths behind by mid-stretch, as Near and Dear -- carrying two more pounds than Perfect Energy -- gained the lead, then lost it, then re-gained it and held on, winning by a nose.
Time for the race, run on a firm inner turf course under skies that were threatening to burst forth with rainfall, was 1:49.09, as third-place finisher and 2.70-to-1 second choice Little Cupcake closed late to finish within 2 1/2 lengths of the first two. It was the second of four winning rides on Sunday for Prado, who also piloted Whywhywhy to victory in the Grade 1 Futurity four races later. Near and Dear's second consecutive victory in three starts was worth $27,600 in purse money, boosting her total earnings to $52,800, and it also qualified owner-breeder Nielsen, who is president of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB), for a $2,760 breeder award. Trained by four-time NYTB Trainer of the Year Harold James Bond, the dark bay filly finished 10th in her May 16 Belmont debut after leading early, but returned 87 days later at Saratoga to win a restricted maiden special at a mile and an eighth on turf by three lengths. Bond already has acknowledged that New York-bred Near and Dear "has a ton of talent".
By top turf sire Red Ransom, Near and Dear is the first offspring from Nielsen's New York-bred Deputy Minister mare, Deputy Dear, and is a half-sister to a New York-bred yearling Forest Wildcat colt that sold for $130,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga preferred sale hours after Near and Dear's first win. Deputy Dear is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Without Feathers ($499,866) and to New York-bred stakes winners Currency Arbitrage ($343,902) and Copper Mount ($251,871). Another of Deputy Dear's winning half-sisters is the granddam of New York-bred Compelling World ($151,465), winner of a division of Aqueduct's King's Point Handicap by 4 3/4 lengths in April. Nielsen, who bred Currency Arbitrage and Copper Mount as well as two stakes-placed half-siblings to Deputy Dear, bought Near and Dear's second dam, the King's Bishop mare Damerelle, for $165,000 at Keeneland's 1988 November sale when that mare was an eight-year-old but already a Grade 1 stakes producer.
 
(9/14) Carson Hollow cruises by 2 1/4 in Floral Park
Showing no loss of confidence following her epic stretch duel with You in Saratoga's Grade 1 Test seven weeks earlier, New York-bred CARSON HOLLOW faced older competition for the first time in Belmont's Grade 3 Floral Park Handicap on Saturday and led gate to wire, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. Top-weighted by scale as the only three-year-old against three stakes-winning older fillies and co-top-weighted in actual weight with second choice Gold Mover, who had beaten champion Xtra Heat in Calder's Grade 2 Princess Rooney Handicap in July, Carson Hollow was never seriously challenged throughout the six-furlong $103,400 event. Again confidently ridden by John Velazquez, she quickly opened up a length and a half lead with a first quarter in 22.50. On the turn, jockey Jerry Bailey on Gold Mover appeared to be planning the same inside maneuver he had successfully pulled off aboard You in the Test, but Carson Hollow seemed to explode after switching leads in the stretch, drawing off by 2 1/2 lengths and coasting to the wire.
Gold Mover, who had won the 2001 Floral Park Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths over New York-bred Dat You Miz Blue and became a millionaire ($1,000,530) as a result of her earnings in the 2002 Floral Park, finished a clear second. Carson Hollow's winning time was 1:10.25.
"It was easy," reported Velazquez, who rode two winners on the card and also piloted New York-bred No Parole to a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Jerome Handicap four races later. "She (Carson Hollow) broke real sharp today. She was into the bridle; I kind of just grabbed hold of her and kept my hands tight. Things worked out perfectly. I just tapped her a few times on the shoulder to get her attention down the lane."
Television Games Network anchor and racing analyst Matt Carothers expressed another interesting observation: "That was one of the easiest 2 1/4-length graded wins you'll ever see."

Drs. Chris and Patricia Purdy, breeders of Carson Hollow.

Carson Hollow's trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr., said that the New York-bred speedster would likely start next in the $1-million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington Park on October 26. "She won big today," said Dutrow. "She relaxed so well with Johnny (Velazquez) that he was just galloping her along. When the other horse (Gold Mover) came to her, she didn't want to run with that other horse. So she just took off. The track has been playing awfully dead lately, and for her to run a half that slow (45.99) has got to be something to do with the track. If it was a fast track, she would have went 44 4/5 with them at the same pace behind her. She took off when he asked her. We have plenty of time to the next race. If we have to train her a little more aggressively, we can do that. I've just been playing around with her."
Carson Hollow's third stakes victory and second graded stakes score increased her earnings by $63,955 to $335,370, giving her a record of 5 - 1 - 0 in six starts. She is about a centimeter away from being undefeated. Her Floral Park tally also qualified her owners, recent 60 percent majority purchaser Frank Stronach plus original owners Hemlock Hills Farm (Alfred and Lupe Hemlock), Gabrielle Farm (John Acierno), Justine Zimmerman, and Sanford Goldfarb, for a $6,395.50 open race owner award.
Bred by Patricia Staskowski Purdy of Ivy League Farm in Ithaca, who qualified for a $6,395.50 breeder award, Carson Hollow was a "reserve not attained" at Keeneland's 2001 April sale of two-year-olds, where she brought a final live bid of $80,000, and afterwards was acquired privately by her original owners. The daughter of Carson City is the third winner out of Lizeality ($133,434), a Hold Your Peace mare who was a three-time Aqueduct allowance winner and a fourth-place finisher in Belmont's Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap. This has become a noticeably active female family. Lizeality is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Penn Fifty Three ($372,246) and Duck Trap ($300,011) and to stakes-placed winner Dancer's Gate ($238,233), whose three-year-old Portcullis ($565,859) won three consecutive turf stakes at Woodbine this past summer, including the Grade 3 Toronto Cup. The latest runner produced by Dancer's Gate is current two-year-old Walls of Jericho, who placed third in Woodbine's Grade 3 Summer Stakes on September 8.

(9/14) Mr. Determined lives up to his name
What happens if a New York-bred potential favorite gets scratched from an open company race at Belmont? Answer: The other New York-bred entered in the race wins instead. At least, that is what happened in Belmont's fifth race on Saturday, a $48,000 open N1X allowance contest for three-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile and a sixteenth, for which Dorothy Demola's New York-bred three-year-old, MR. DETERMINED, was sent off the 6.40-to-1 co-fourth choice among seven starters. With New York-bred Private Practice -- a possible favorite -- scratched from the contest, the 1.20-to-1 favorite was former million-dollar Keeneland July sales yearling Regency Park, coming off an impressive maiden win at a mile and an eighth at Saratoga on August 19, who took command after half a mile. Mr. Determined, who broke on top under new jockey Jose Bermudez, was close up on the outside at that point, and on the turn he rallied wide to gain a head lead over Regency Park by mid-stretch, then extended that margin to a neck at the wire.
Regency Park finished 4 3/4 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher. The winning time for Mr. Determined, who is now three-for-three at a mile and a sixteenth, was 1:43.68 on a Belmont track currently considered to be on the slow side.
Mr. Determined's first open company competition increased his earnings by $28,800 to $136,867 and improved his record to 4 - 1 - 2 in eight starts. Trained by Richard Demola, he also qualified Dorothy Demola for a $5,760 open race owner award. The gray/roan colt's only unplaced effort came in his previous start, when he finished fourth behind New York-bred three-year-old stars Private Emblem, Trial Prep and No Parole in Saratoga's $181,284 Albany Stakes on August 21.
Bred by Judith Anchel, who qualified for a $5,760 breeder award, Mr. Determined is the third winner produced by his breeder's homebred graded stakes-placed winner, Won Scent ($303,110), by Air Forbes Won. His sire is former New York stallion Raja's Revenge, whom Edward and Judith Anchel used to stand, thereby also qualifying the Anchels for a $2,016 stallion award. Dam Won Scent is a full sister to another stakes winner bred by Judith Anchel, Unforbesgettable.

(9/14) No Parole stumbles, places 3rd in G2 Jerome
Thomas Mina's New York-bred No Parole tried to overcome a stumbling start, was steadied, and raced wide on the turn in Belmont's $150,000 Grade 2 Jerome Handicap for three-year-olds at a one-turn mile on Saturday, advancing from fifth to third to get his second NYRA open stakes-placing. Ridden for the second time by John Velazquez, who had guided him to a first-place Aqueduct allowance finish in November (disqualified to fourth), the winner of Belmont's June 29 Mike Lee Stakes against state-bred stars Trial Prep and Private Emblem went off the 6.20-to-1 fourth choice among seven starters. Those he beat in the Jerome included favorite Puzzlement (1.35-to-1) and third choice Essayons (4.20-to-1).
Trained by Joseph Aquilino, No Parole picked up $16,500 in purse money for his third-place Jerome finish, boosting his earnings to $204,788 and putting his record at 3 - 1 - 5 in 11 starts. His other stakes efforts include his upset Mike Lee victory plus third-place finishes in Aqueduct's open Count Fleet Stakes in January and restricted Damon Runyon Stakes last year and Finger Lakes' $143,733 New York Derby on July 27, putting him on the board in all three Big Apple Triple events. In the Jerome, the bay son of Lit de Justice - Suddenly Victoria, by Bates Motel, also qualified his owner, Mina, for a $1,650 open race owner award and his breeder, Dr. William Coyro Jr. of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, for a $1,650 breeder award.

(9/13) Thebigapple in a big way
Robert Levine's THEBIGAPPLE easily defeated state-bred allowance horses today at beautiful Belmont Park. The one-turn mile and a sixteenth race was run over the main track with 11- 3 year-olds and upward loading into the gate.
Longshot (65-1) Speedy Mohama was hustled to the front with Thebigapple sitting close behind moving down the backside. Nearing the far turn, Aaron Gryder sent Thebigapple around Speedy Mohama and quickly cleared the field, gradually increasing the lead to six-lengths crossing the wire.
Trained by Bruce Levine and bred by James Iselin's J I Racing, Inc., Thebigapple is by Abel Prospect, out of the Strawberry Road mare, Fire Opal. Thebigapple was originally sold as a weanling for $1,400 and then resold for $4,500 as a yearling and finally purchased by Robert Levine as a two year-old in training for $23,000. The three year-old dark bay gelding has now earned $66,500 in six lifetime starts. Mr. Iselin has received both breeder and stallion owner awards of 20% and 7%, respectively, of all purse monies earned to date for a grand total of $17,955. Breeder and stallion owner awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(9/13) Just Plain Joe stretches out to break maiden
In his first career start at Saratoga, JUST PLAIN JOE raced 'greenly' finishing fourth in a seven-furlong race. Trainer Mark Hennig shipped the New York-bred back to Monmouth Park, where he has another division, before dropping the three year-old dark bay colt into today's state-bred maiden race for three year-olds and upward over the main track at Belmont Park. Nine horses contested the one and one-sixteenth mile affair.
Bet down to the even money favorite, Just Plain Joe gave his backers some anxious moments as he awkwardly broke from the gate, losing several lengths in the process. Ridden by John Velazquez, Just Plain Joe was given an opportunity to settle before advancing steadily on the field. Traveling on the outside, Velazquez strongly urged the still 'green' colt around the last turn, and throughout the stretch run, getting up in the final strides over a tiring King of the Mount, who had broken through the gate prior to the start.
Bred and owned by Camelia Casby, Just Plain Joe is by Alydeed, out of the Fappiano mare, Fapulous Star, who produced Grade II stakes winner She's A Devil Due (Devil's His Due), winner of $533,820.

(9/13) Gebb's Dixie wins in thrilling three-horse finish
Bicycle Stable's GEBB'S DIXIE charged from off the pace to break her maiden today at Belmont Park. The one and one-eighth mile affair for state-breds was run over the inner turf course. A full field of 12 fillies and mares went to post with the fences out 9 feet from the hedges.
Dancing Indiscreet was gunned out of the gate by Shaun Bridgmohan and won the race into the first turn with Dillye close-up. As the field raced down the backstretch Dancing Indiscreet maintained her advantage over Dillye with the field well behind. Dillye engaged the leader around the last turn, but Dancing Indiscreet was up to the challenge and as they turned for home was still on top. A host of horses began to move on the leaders at the eighth pole with Silk Drawers taking a brief lead before being overtaken by Gebb's Dixie, Lilly A and Tiger's Halfmoon who finished heads apart crossing the wire.
Trained by John Hertler and bred by Bicycle Stable, Gebb's Dixie is a three year-old chestnut filly by Dixie Brass, out of Gebb's Halo, by Halo. Gebb's Dixie has now earned $44,460 in eight lifetime starts.

(9/12) Critical Eye wins Belmont Park feature
New York-bred CRITICAL EYE won today's featured 8th race at beautiful Belmont Park. The open company $58,000 allowance race was run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth mile over the main track. Trained by Scott Schwartz, the multiple grade I winning five year-old bay mare was ridden by Mike Luzzi, as six horse went to the gate.
Delray Dew took the early lead but was under pressure heading into the last turn of the one-turn event, with Critical Eye loping well off the pace. As the field straightened for the home, Delray Dew drew off from the field and it appeared that Critical Eye was going to be defeated but the 'classy' mare waited until the eighth pole before mounting her run. Once she kicked into gear, she devoured the ground and made up eight lengths, unbelievably passing Delray Dew nearing the wire to win by a length.
Getting closer to being a member of the New York-bred Millionaire's Club, Critical Eye has now earned $944,911 in her remarkable 34-race career.
Critical Eye is by Dynaformer, out of the Dr. Blum mare, Critical Crew, and is owned by Herbert and Carol Schwartz. The Schwartz' earn an open company owner's award for today's victory of 10% of the winner's share of the purse or $3,480 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) recently named Mr. Schwartz the 2002 New York Breeder of the Year and Small Breeder of the Year.

(9/12) Entrepreneur captures Belmont Park finale
Richare Englander's ENTREPRENEUR, a five year-old gelding, closed strong under a terrific ride by jockey Mike Luzzi, through the stretch to take the last race on the Belmont Park Thursday race-card. The six-furlong race for non-winners of 1X condition for New York-breds, was contested by 9 horses, 3 year-olds and upward for a purse of $45,000.
Finger Lakes shipper, Smolder was sent to the front by Aaron Gryder, and dictated the pace to the top of the stretch before being engaged by Runaway Artie, who, briefly, took the lead. Gamely battling back, Smolder retook the lead past the eighth pole but couldn't hold off Entrepreneur or Blue Burn in the late stages. Entrepreneur, who sat next to last turning for home, made up ground in the middle of the stretch before being guided toward the rail and ultimately a half-length victory over Blue Burn.
Bred by Mary Eppler, Entrepreneur is by Distinctive Pro, out of Seven Rogues, by What a Rogue. Seven Rogues, who was stakes placed on four occasions while earning $124,204 is the producer of multiple stakes winner P. J. Higgins (Oh Say) and stakes winner Saturday Affair (Oh Say).
The sire, Distinctive Pro, is currently the fourth leading active sire in New York State. Thus far, his 2002 progeny has earned $1,590,796. Distinctive Pro stands at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York.

(9/12) Burnt Bush first-out winner at Belmont
James Dorrian's BURNT BUSH, making her career debut, beat state-bred maiden two year-old fillies today at beautiful Belmont Park. Trained by Michael Nevin and rode by John Velazquez, the gray filly broke from the seven post-position in the ten horse field.
Ormsbys Treasure was first out of the gate opening up a clear lead down the backstretch of the five and one-half furlong race run over the main track. Puma's Pride stalked alongside with Burnt Bush sitting close on the far outside. As the trio hit the top of the stretch, Velazquez moved the game filly by her two rivals and continued under a drive to the wire, a one-length winner. Ormsbys Treasure held on for second money with Puma's Pride finishing third.
Bred by Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, New York, Burnt Bush is by American Standard, out of Des Nieges, by Pilgrim. Purchased out of the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling Sale for $22,000, Burnt Bush earned $25,800 for her maiden victory and Dutchess Views Farm earns a breeder's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $5,160 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program. The 'Program' also provides incentives to the New York-based stallion, American Standard, sire of today's winner who stands at Dutchess Views Farm. The stallion owners earn 7% of the winner's share of the purse or $1,806.
For those wishing to "Get with the Program", Dutchess Views Farm has consigned a full sister (hip #85) to this year's Midlantic Sale, which will be held from Sept. 30th through October 2nd in Timonium, Maryland.

(9/12) Marc's Rainbow finds pot o' gold on Belmont turf
Albert Fried, Jr.'s MARC'S RAINBOW making her initial foray over the turf easily defeated state-bred two year-old fillies today. The one-mile affair was run over the Widener turf course and had a full field of 12 fillies go to post.
Breaking from mid-pack, Marc's Rainbow was sent to the front by jockey Richard Migliore, setting the pace to the top of the stretch, while under mild pressure from Rockin Rachel Anne. After a three-quarter in 1:11.2, Migliore roused the dark bay filly and she willingly responded by drawing off to a five-length margin, which she held to the wire. Time for the one-mile race was 1:35.4.
Bred by Mr. Fried at his Buttonwood Farm in Rhinebeck, New York, and trained by Saratoga's leading trainer Todd Pletcher, Marc's Rainbow is by Summer Squall, out of the Miner's Mark mare, Marc's Lark, who is a half-sister to the graded stakes-placed winner Courageous Maiden. Marc's Rainbow is the first foal out of the mare.

(9/9) Kinjet arrives on time at Belmont Park
Showing an affinity for the turf, James L. Hogue III's KINJET, off the board in three previous main-track sprint races at Saratoga, crossed the finish line in front of 11 other state-breds today at Belmont Park. Trained by Joe Aquilino and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Kinjet is a two year-old gelding by A. P Jet, out of the Lear Fan mare, Kintla.
Distimeitspersonal opened up a three-length lead in the run down the backstretch of the one-mile turf race run over the Widener turf course. Setting honest fractions of :23, :45.4 and 1:10.3 to the three-quarter mile pole. Moving to the leader midway in the last turn, were Charged Up and Fran's Uncle Al who sat second and third in the early going.
At the top of the stretch, a host of horses were in with a chance with Kinjet and Handy Andy moving on the far outside and Glory to Winloc weaving his way through on the inside. Past the eighth pole, the leaders began to tire, as Kinjet and Handy Andy hooked up and raced gamely to the wire, with Kinjet pulling away by three-quarters of a length at the wire. Glory to Winloc finished strong to be third.
Bred by R G H Partnership, Kinjet was sold at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton October Midlantic Yearling Sale at Timonium, Maryland for $4,000. Today's victory was worth $26,400. The R G H Partnership earned a breeder's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $5,280 from the incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(9/8) Funny Cide flies home by 14 3/4 in debut
Obviously, the word was out. As one of five first-time starters among 12 two-year-olds going to the post for Belmont's sixth race on Sunday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special at six furlongs, Sackatoga Stable's FUNNY CIDE was made the 2.25-to-1 favorite and proved that even that flattering assessment was an underestimation. Breaking from the outside post position under jockey Jose Santos, the chestnut New York-bred raced three wide in hand with the early pace set by 3.35-to-1 second choice Polish Posh -- who already had three placings in three starts -- and 14.40-to-1 seventh choice Dazzling Spirit. After an opening quarter in 22.77, Funny Cide drew off while racing well out from the rail, switching back to his right lead about two-thirds of the way around the turn. His margin of a length and a half after a half-mile in 46.56 grew to 10 lengths at mid-stretch with a five-furlong fraction of 58.80 and widened even further to 14 3/4 lengths at the wire, which he reached in the time of 1:11.38 under a hand ride.
Owned by Jackson Knowlton's Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, Funny Cide earned $25,800 for winning his first start. The colt was a $22,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton's 2001 Saratoga preferred yearling sale, selling from the consignment of Joe and Anne McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, agent. His breeder is Bill Casner's and Kenny Troutt's Kentucky-based Win Star Farm, LLC, which qualified for a $2,580 breeder award and is a major syndicate shareholder in New York stallion Regal Classic, who stands at the McMahon facility. Funny Cide is from the first crop of Grade 2 track record-setter Distorted Humor, who stands at Winstar Farm in Kentucky and currently ranks as North America's second-leading first-crop sire.
Funny Cide is the first runner produced by Oklahoma-bred Belle's Good Cide, a Slewacide mare who was an open allowance winner at Remington Park and finished fourth in two stakes. Belle's Good Cide, who was sold for $100,000 at Keeneland's 2000 January mixed sale when she was carrying Funny Cide, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Belle of Cozzene ($522,455) and to multiple stakes winner Quackerbell ($111,918). The mare's 2001 foal, a registered New York-bred half-sister to Funny Cide sired by New York stallion Personal Flag (standing at McMahon), has been consigned as Hip No. 750 to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's Eastern fall yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, and is scheduled to sell Wednesday, October 2.

(9/8) Gallant Gander runs game 2nd in G1 Woodward
Getting the lead turning for home in Belmont's $500,000 Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Saturday, Gatsas Thoroughbreds' New York-bred Gander drove down the stretch with Grade 2 winner Express Tour inside of him and multiple Grade 1 winner Lido Palace challenging on the outside. The big gray set the mile fraction of 1:34.82 while holding a head margin over Lido Palace, who had won the 2001 Woodward against Albert the Great and Tiznow and was bidding to become the first back-to-back Woodward winner since Cigar in 1995-96. But first, Lido Palace had to deal with Gander, who fought to a closer Woodward finish than Lido Palace had enjoyed in 2001, reaching the wire three-quarters of a length off the winner while holding back the stubborn threat of Express Tour. Time for the mile and an eighth race was 1:47.75.
"My horse ran as hard as he could," remarked Gander's jockey, Richard Migliore, who in the Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes on grass immediately preceding the Woodward had finished second aboard Anstu Stables' Balto Star. "He ran his race," continued Migliore, who had last ridden Gander to an unplaced effort in Belmont's 1998 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes when the now six-year-old gelding was a juvenile and had just broken his maiden a month earlier. "As for the winner, he kind of rushed at the start and then was taken back, so it looked like an indecisive race -- but he still won."
John Terranova, trainer of Gander, was upbeat: "I'm thrilled. He ran a helluva race. I thought Lido Palace was the horse to beat, and we got darn close. He's doing really good. He's still got it. I saw (Jorge) Chavez starting to ride Lido Palace down inside around the three-eighths pole, and then he brought him outside. At the quarter pole, I thought we were looking real good. I was confident he was going to fire big."
The $100,000 in purse money that Gander picked for his second-place finish brought his career earnings to $1,473,688, advancing him from sixth to fifth (ahead of Win) among all-time leading New York-bred money earners -- trailing Say Florida Sandy ($1,915,355), L'Carriere ($1,726,175), Fourstardave ($1,636,520) and Fourstars Allstar ($1,600,048). Gander, whose career record is now 11 - 9 - 7 in 46 starts, also qualified his owners, brothers Theodore and Michael Gatsas of Manchester, New Hampshire, for the maximum $20,000 owner award. Theodore Gatsas, currently a New Hampshire state senator, purchased Gander for $50,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 1998 select sale of two-year-olds in training. Gander's breeder, Angela Rugnetta, qualified for the maximum $10,000 breeder award.
The Woodward, in which Gander placed third in 2000 but skipped in 2001, is the eighth graded stakes and the fifth Grade 1 contest in which Gander has placed. The gelding's stakes wins include the Grade 2 Meadowlands Cup in September of 2001. He finished first in his previous outing, the Grade 2 Saratoga Breeders' Cup on August 17 -- but without jockey Mike Smith, who was unseated when Gander stumbled coming out of the starting gate. "Mike (Smith) said he broke so strong, his front feet didn't get back under him fast enough, and he just tripped," trainer Terranova explained. "He did that once before on a wet track at Aqueduct before we trained him. He got a scrape on his nose when he hit the ground, bruised his gum and got one nick on a pastern," Terranova continued. "We're just happy he didn't get hurt or seriously injured. That was pretty scary."
For the 2002 Woodward, Gander broke on top before yielding a short early lead to Express Tour, who ran through the opening six furlongs in 1:09.61 on the inside with Gander a half-length back. At the finish, Berkshire Stud's New York homebred Sherpa Guide -- taking on Grade 1 competition in his first open stakes outing -- was edged out of fourth by Baseball Champion, but he still picked up fifth place money of $15,000, boosting his career earnings to $274,999. Recent Grade 2 winner Cat's At Home finished sixth and last.
Gander's placing also qualified the syndicate that owns pensioned New York stallion Cormorant, who currently resides at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, for a $7,000 stallion award. Gander is among four winners produced by stakes-placed New York-bred Lovely Nurse, an "iron mare" by Sawbones that won 14 of 101 starts and earned $164,346.

(9/6) Well Fancied powerful in General Douglas MacArthur
WELL FANCIED, a four year-old son of Prosper Fager, was an upset winner in today's opening day feature, the $84,425 General Douglas MacArthur, at Belmont Park. Freshened up since finishing 5th in a July 7th open allowance race, trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. had the bay gelding sharp for his return. Ten New York-breds contested the 7-furlong race run over the main track.
Breaking sharply, Well Fancied had a brief lead but was taken back to second by jockey John Velazquez letting Private Enterprise have the lead through fast early fractions of 22.2, 45 and 1:09.1 to the three-quarter mile pole. Turning for home, millionaire Say Florida Sandy was making a big move on the far outside, but Well Fancied easily took command at the top of the stretch. Set down by Velazquez, Well Fancied drew off from the field holding off stakes winners, Chasin' Wimmin and Impeachthepro by 5 lengths.
Today's stakes victory was the first for Well Fancied, and the first victory in five attempts for the partnership of Sanford Goldfarb and Stewart Hoffman since purchasing the gelding this past spring. John Hertler, trainer of second-place finisher Chasin' Wimmin, formerly trained Well Fancied for owner/breeder Seymour Cohn.
Well Fancied is the first foal out of the Tricky Creek mare, Patty's Fancy Tric, who is out of the multiple stakes winner Elpaso Patty. With today's winners share of $84,425 purse, Well Fancied elevates his earnings to $213,842 with a Lifetime Record: 17-5-3-3.
Trainer Dutrow commenting about the layoff: "In his last race, he bled pretty good. Things were so tough at Saratoga, and I didn't want to run him back in a 'two other than,' within 30 days. After we got him over bleeding, we breezed him a few times and we treated him. He really responded and we just decided to take a chance on this race. We paid a lot of money for him, so we got to start getting some of it back. We've been getting buried with him." As for his next start, Dutrow said: "We're going to run him back in the six-furlong Hudson Handicap on Showcase Day - Oct. 19th."
Mr. Cohn, the breeder of both the first and second-place finishers, earned breeder's awards of $13,377, which are part of the rich incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program!

(9/6) Big Ruby K breaks maiden over Belmont turf
BIG RUBY K found the inner turf course at Belmont Park much to his liking today, rambling home a five length winner in the finale. Ridden by Jorge Chavez for trainer Pat Kelly, the three year-old gray gelding was making his eighth lifetime start and fourth on the grass. Two scratches at the gate reduced the field to seven-horses.
Chavez had Big Ruby K in fifth position in the run down the backstretch of the one and one-sixteenth mile affair before moving strongly around the leaders to take command at the top of the stretch. Once straightened for home, the big gray drew away from the field and won comfortably as much the best.
Bred by Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York and owned by the partnership of Ruby Rose Stable, William Adamski, John Ross, Henry Boeckmann and Michael Callari, Big Ruby K is by Rubiano, out of the Java Gold mare, Hot Gossip, a full-sister to the multiple Grade II stakes winner, Grand Jewel.

Say Florida Sandy winning last June

(9/6) Say Florida Sandy Kicks Off Belmont Fall Meet (Courtesy of NYRA and Blood-Horse)
All Say Florida Sandy needed was a first or second-place finish in last October's Hudson Handicap and the title "leading New York-bred money earner of all time" was his. He earned the title that autumn afternoon in his usual workmanlike fashion, but it was Impeachthepro who proved the winner and party pooper of the Hudson.
On Friday, the Opening Day of Belmont Park's 33-day Fall Championship meet, Say Florida Sandy has a chance of becoming the only three-time winner of the General Douglas MacArthur Handicap.
And, wouldn't you know? Impeachthepro has another shot to crash the party.
Eleven were entered in the $75,000-added, state-bred restricted MacArthur at seven furlongs. Say Florida Sandy is the 125-pound highweight and will spot seven to 11 pounds to his rivals.
Owned by John Rotella, Say Florida Sandy has earned the respect of most hardened horseplayers the hard way. In August, he received the inaugural Big Apple Award from the New York Turf Writers Association as the top New York-bred of 2001.
An 86-race veteran, the venerable horse gives his all each and every time he steps onto the racetrack. Say Florida Sandy is a multiple graded stakes winner, millionaire and has held his own against the country's best sprinters over the last couple of seasons.
For proof, check out his recent second-place finish behind Orientate in Saratoga's A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II). With wins in Saratoga's Vanderbilt and Forego (gr. I) this summer, Orientate is possilby the country's premier sprinter.
"Sandy put in a good run and we were beaten by a top sprinter," said Victor Cuadra, Say Florida Sandy's trainer. "A lot of people were saying Orientate hadn't beaten anything. He proved them wrong in the Forego."
For a top New York-bred that excels in races at seven furlongs and under, it's surprising Say Florida Sandy has raced in the MacArthur just twice. It's no surprise that he's won the race in both appearances.
"He's an amazing horse," Cuadra said. "For him to be competitive in Grade 1 and 2 races at eight-year-old is remarkable. He's still got that fire."
In the last fall's Hudson Handicap on New York Showcase Day, Say Florida Sandy carried 127 pounds in his familiar highweight role. Impeachthepro carried 119 pounds. Both rallied from off the pace but it was Impeachthepro who may have benefited from the better trip.
Under jockey John Grabowski, Impeachthepro had a traffic-free journey while racing with the pace and took the lead nearing the eighth pole en route to his 1 º-length win. Say Florida Sandy, meanwhile, got off poorly from post 4, raced inside and was forced to alter course in the stretch in search of racing room. He finished well for second money.
"I thought our horse had the worst of it when they met last time," Cuadra said. "I have respect for Impeachthepro. He's a good horse. I'm not happy about giving up seven pounds to him."
Cuadra and Rotella also entered Stalwart Member, a MacArthur winner in 1997 and 1999. Combine the nine-year-old Stalwart Member with his younger stablemate Say Florida Sandy, and you've got the MacArthur champ from 1997 to 2000.
"We entered Stalwart Member is case there is an emergency and Sandy can't run," Cuadra said. "Having both of them in there gives us a few more options."
Stalwart Member is an earner of more than $750,000 in 54 races. While easy to root for, the gelding's recent efforts in mid-priced claiming races won't be good enough to win this race.
Laneve and Warner's Impeachthepro has compiled an excellent record of 14-3-4 from 23 starts and figures close to the lead early. A gelding by Distinctive Pro, Impeachthepro owns victories this year in Monmouth Park's Longfellow and a money allowance race at Delaware Park.
Belmont Park's Fall Championship Meet will run from Friday through October 20th. Racing is conducted Wednesdays through Sundays -- dark Mondays and Tuesdays -- with a few exceptions. Belmont Park will be open on Monday, September 9 and on Columbus Day, Monday, October 14. Belmont will be closed on Wednesday, September 11 and Wednesday, October 16. Post time is 1 p.m.

$75,000 General Douglas MacArthur Handicap
PP Horse, Weight (Jockey)
1 Private Enterprise (L), 115 (Santos, Jose)
2 Impeachthepro (L), 118 (Luzzi, Mike)
3 Chasin' Wimmin (L), 117 (Samyn, Jean-Luc)
4* Stalwart Member (L), 115 (Arroyo Jr, Norberto)
5 As Wicked (L), 114 (Prado, Edgar)
6 Magic and Bird(L), 116 (Bridgmohan, Shaun)
7* Say Florida Sandy (L), 125 (Gryder, Aaron)
8 Tortellini Ted (L), 114 (Espinoza, Jose)
9 Well Fancied (L), 116 (Velazquez, John R)
10 Mount Intrepid (L), 116 (McCarthy, Michael J) 10
11 Personable Pete (L), 115 (Chavez, Jorge F)
* John Rotella-owned entry

(9/2) Commissioner Robert W. Lee, 72, dies
Robert W. Lee, 72, who operated the Wishing Well Restaurant on Route 9 in Wilton, just outside of Saratoga Springs, New York, for more than 30 years, died early this past Sunday morning after a long battle with cancer.
Lee was a member of the New York State Racing Commission and served as a member of the 11-person Board of Directors for the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, Inc. Lee served on Fund's Advertising Committee.
Lee, a Seton Hall graduate, was born on Oct. 5, 1929, and moved from New Jersey to Saratoga Springs with his wife, Brenda, and their four children, Dean, Susan, Jennifer and Bob Jr., in 1968. He then opened the Wishing Well Restaurant.
The restaurant became a beloved place among horse racing enthusiasts and those involved in the sport.
Lee's son, Robert Lee Jr., currently operates the popular eatery, known for its home- grown ingredients.
Lee, an avid golfer, who played at golf courses throughout the world, is survived by his wife, Brenda, and four children: Dean, Bob Jr. and Susan, all of Wilton, and Jennifer of Oakland, N.J.
"Mr. Lee was a pleasure to work with in his capacity as Board member of the state Thoroughbred breeding fund where he served with distinction for nearly ten years. He was active and instrumental in implementing a series of policies related to the advancement and promotion of thoroughbred breeding in New York State. He will be missed as an asset to this Fund and as a gentleman in this industry," said Fund Executive Director Martin Kinsella.
Calling Lee a ''brilliant restaurateur'' and a ''great host,'' New York Racing Association Senior Vice President Bill Nader expressed sadness over Lee's death Sunday afternoon.
''The NYRA family and Bob Lee had a very unique and special relationship,'' said Nader. ''So many of us felt so at home in his restaurant. He'll really be missed.''
The Wishing Well is located on Route 9 in Wilton. In 2001, the Lees received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Capital District chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association.

(9/2) Whispered Call wins Spa '02 finale by 2 1/2
Chester and Mary Broman's homebred three-year-old filly, WHISPERED CALL, and her two-year-old half-brother, Patriotic Legend, clearly relish running at Saratoga, as was evident in the Spa's meet finale contest on Labor Day, a $43,000 restricted N1X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going six furlongs. Fifteen days earlier, Patriotic Legend had won first-out by daylight for the Bromans as the 2.15-to-1 favorite. Whispered Call, who last year won her debut by daylight as a two-year-old at Belmont, had placed a close second in a $43,000 restricted N1X allowance at Saratoga on August 3 with Jose Santos up for the first time, and for Monday's nightcap Santos again was in the irons.
The 4.20-to-1 third choice among 11 starters, Whispered Call raced in second place on the outside of long shot early front-runner Lady Commando and then 2.60-to-1 favorite La Pro for a half-mile before rallying three wide to take command in the stretch, drawing clear by 2 1/2 lengths. La Pro, who had beaten Whispered Call by 5 1/2 lengths while placing third when the two three-year-old fillies had last met on July 13 at Belmont, faded in the stretch. It was the second winning ride of the day for Santos, who also guided New York-bred Irish Colonial to a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Saranac Handicap immediately preceding the nightcap.
Trained by Ramon Hernandez, who also trains Patriotic Legend, Whispered Call picked up $25,800 in purse money for her latest victory, boosting her earnings to $62,870 and improving her record to 2 - 1 - 0 in seven starts. She also qualified the Bromans of Chestertown Farm in West Babylon for a $2,580 breeder award. Conceived in Kentucky to the cover of a stallion -- Phone Trick -- who now stands in New York, the bay New York-bred is among five named offspring, all winners, produced by New York-bred Whiskey Whisper, a winning Affirmed mare that the Bromans acquired privately in the mid-1990s. Whiskey Whisper is a half-sister to stakes winners Triocala ($465,660) and Tri Argo (dam of graded winner Tee Kay and granddam of three stakes winners) and to the dam or granddam of three more stakes winners.
Phone Trick, sire of Whispered Call, was represented by his 50th stakes winner on August 17 when six-year-old Night Caller won a stakes at Philadelphia Park, and Night Caller got his second successive stakes victory on August 31 in Monmouth's Bob Harding Stakes. Consistently ranked among North America's top 20 sires for 2002, Phone Trick (Clever Trick - Over the Phone, by Finnegan) stands at Dr. Jonathan Davis' Milfer Farm in Unadilla.

(9/2) NY-breds Finality and Irish Colonial place 2-3 in G3 Saranac
New York-breds Finality and Irish Colonial overtook favored Miesque's Approval on the second turn of Saratoga's Grade 3 Saranac Handicap for three-year-olds and closed within a half-length on either side of Ibn Al Haitham at the wire, placing second and third among nine in the mile and three-sixteenths turf event. The two were only a head apart at the finish, with winner Ibn Al Haitham -- the 4.10-to-1 second choice -- hanging on between them while getting weight concessions from both New York-breds, who picked up a total of $34,565 in purse money in the final stakes of Saratoga's 2002 meet. Their margin over fourth-place finisher Miesque's Approval, a 4 1/2-length Grade 3 grass winner in his previous start on July 21, was a length and a quarter.
Finality, owned by Cot Campbell's Dogwood Stable and ridden for the eighth time by John Velazquez, increased his earnings by $22,300 to $185,955 and boosted his record to 3 - 4 - 1 in 11 starts while also qualifying Dogwood Stable for a $2,230 open race owner award. The chestnut colt likewise qualified his breeder, Albert Fried Jr. of Button Wood Farm in Rhinebeck, for a $2,230 breeder award. Finality, who is conditioned by 1999 New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Trainer of the Year Todd Pletcher, has placed second in three other open stakes, including Belmont's Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on July 14, which he lost by a nose.
Irish Colonial, a homebred who races for Howard Nolan's Blue Sky Farm in Delmar and for Fred Martin of White Plains, was ridden for the sixth consecutive time by Jose Santos and increased his earnings by $12,265 to $121,045 while advancing his record to 3 - 1 - 2 in 11 starts. The bay colt qualified his owner-breeders for $2,453 in open race owner and breeder awards ($1,226.50 each). Trained by Randy Schulhofer, Irish Colonial placed third to Finality in the Lexington Stakes and won a $46,000 restricted N2X allowance going a mile and three-sixteenths on grass at Saratoga on August 12.
Both colts are still eligible for the open N1X allowance level on the NYRA circuit.

(9/1) Cold Blow Lane battles for tough win on DQ
Hilly Fields Stable's COLD BLOW LANE has raced on the lead and come from off the pace, but in Saratoga's nightcap 10th race on Sunday, a $44,000 restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up going a mile and an eighth on turf, he survived one of his roughest races yet. Sent off the 5.10-to-1 co-second choice among 10 starters with Edgar Prado up for the seventh time and breaking from the inside post-position, the four-year-old colt was rated behind the early leaders until mid-stretch, where he rallied wide and closed strongly on the outside. At the wire, Cold Blow Lane missed by a nose to first-place finisher and 1.30-to-1 favorite Foreverness, who ducked out in the final yards, bumping with Cold Blow Lane after having veered inside in the upper stretch and incurring a disqualification to fourth because of the earlier encounter. Time for the race was 1:49.65, with Cold Blow Lane finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of third-place finisher (moved up to second) Preferred Guest.
Cold Blow Lane's latest victory was worth $26,400 in purse money, pushing his career earnings over the six-figure mark to $115,740 and improving his record to 2 - 6 - 1 in 17 starts. Trained by Philip Serpe, the New York-bred broke his maiden at Belmont in October under Prado, who also rode the winner of Saratoga's opener on Sunday and secured the meet-riding championship (beating out defending champion Jerry Bailey, who rode Foreverness) with the nightcap tally -- his 53rd win of the meet. Prado rode Cold Blow Lane to a close second-place finish (the colt's first of two second-placings at Saratoga in 2002) on July 31 and has a record of 2 - 2 - 1 in his seven rides on him.
Bred by Elise Benedict Browne of Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster, who qualified for a $2,640 breeder award, Cold Blow Lane is by Afternoon Deelites and is among three winners produced by Sucre Sucre, whom Tilly Foster Farm purchased as a weanling at Keeneland's 1990 November sale for $24,000. His New York-bred winning half-siblings are stakes-placed Lucky Sucre, who missed by half a length while placing second in Aqueduct's 2001 East View Stakes, and Maryville Bid, whose five wins included an open allowance score at Churchill Downs and a four-length maiden special tally at Keeneland as a two-year-old. Sucre Sucre, who is by Manila, is a half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Cannonade and three other stakes winners and also is a half-sister to the dams or granddams of several stakes winners, including multiple Grade 1 winner Stephan's Odyssey ($1,255,328).

(9/1) Budapest Girl ($33.80) goes gate-to-wire
After showing encouraging improvement in March, John Candlin's and Michael Moriarty's BUDAPEST GIRL was given a four-month layoff and returned to competition on August 2 at Saratoga, where she had her initial encounter with a sloppy track and again -- for the fifth consecutive time -- faded after leading early, finishing fifth. For her next start in Sunday's second race at Saratoga, a $41,000 restricted maiden special for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going six furlongs, the three-year-old filly was made the 15.90-to-1 sixth choice among 12 betting interests (13 starters) with a new jockey, the relatively unknown Dale Whittaker.
Breaking on top out of the 10th post position, Budapest Girl went immediately to the lead and got the rail while dueling with 48-to-1 eighth choice Sunsational Julia and 5.80-to-1 fourth choice Gold Oxide on the outside. After a half-mile, she still held a short lead over Gold Oxide, who stayed at Budapest Girl's throatlatch all the way to mid-stretch, with six lengths separating the pair from the rest of the field. In the final furlong, Budapest Girl edged out to a three-quarter-length victory, as favored first-time-starter Watt Ever, coming off some great workouts but hesitant to load and slow to break, was not a factor.
Budapest Girl's first win was worth $24,600 in purse money, increasing her earnings to $42,230 and improving her record to 1 - 1 - 1 in six starts. It was the first victory of Saratoga's 2002 meet for her trainer and co-owner, John Candlin, who purchased the New York-bred filly for $3,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2000 October yearling sale. It also was the first Saratoga victory of 2002 for jockey Dale Whittaker, who was winless in 14 rides in 2001 but nursed Budapest Girl along on the lead masterfully in Sunday's race. Budapest Girl's breeders, Mr. and Mrs. James Duncan, consigned the chestnut filly to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale through Thomas J. and Nadine Gallo, agent, and they qualified for a $4,920 breeder award as a result of her front-running score.
Sired by former New York stallion and Eclipse Champion Hansel, Budapest Girl is the second New York-bred offspring and second winner produced by New York-bred Dennie Mae, a Raise a Man mare bred by the Duncans and a half-sister to the dams of two stakes-placed winners. Her victory also qualified Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm, which stood Hansel at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in New Hampton prior to the stallion's sale to Japanese interests in 1999, for a $1,722 stallion award.

(9/1) Ham Sandwich again last to first - vs. open claimers
Having gone through his New York-bred conditions in his previous start on July 28 at Saratoga, when he charged from last to first in a mile-and-a-sixteenth restricted N2X allowance event on turf, Leonard Leveen's homebred HAM SANDWICH used the same tactic against open claimers and again won. The extra sixteenth of a mile in Saratoga's sixth race on Sunday, a mile and an eighth contest on turf for four-year-olds and up with claiming prices of $50,000 (Ham Sandwich and nine others) to $45,000 (two starters), had to have been a plus factor.
Sent off the 8.60-to-1 fifth choice with jockey Jose Santos on board for the eighth (and sixth consecutive) time, Ham Sandwich trailed the field -- three lengths off the next-to-last runner and as much as 18 1/2 lengths behind front-running New York-bred Thunders Luck -- for half a mile. He then circled widest of all on the second turn and came charging through the stretch on the far outside, advancing to within less than two lengths of late leader Glick with three other rivals also lined up ahead of him across the course. Switching back to his left lead about 50 yards from the wire, Ham Sandwich forged to the front to win by half a length over 4.50-to-1 third choice Glick, finishing under a hand ride from Santos with his ears pricked in the time of 1:48.23.
Favored Fast City (2.15-to-1) was claimed out of the race for $50,000.
"I thought we had a good chance when I saw that half-mile in 46 4/5 (46.84)," commented trainer Randy Schulhofer, who saddled his first winner ever at Saratoga when Ham Sandwich captured the restricted N2X allowance on July 28. The victory increased the distinctive-looking gray's earnings by $22,800 to $184,650, boosting his record to 4 - 9 - 0 in 23 starts and also qualifying owner-breeder Leveen of Boca Raton, Florida, for $9,120 in open race owner and breeder awards ($4,560 each). Sired by New York stallion Halissee, Ham Sandwich is the first of two winners bred by Leveen from New York-bred dirt and turf allowance winner Dana's Wedding ($120,708), who raced for Leveen and is by pensioned New York stallion Compliance. One of Ham Sandwich's half-brothers, On Rye, broke his maiden for Leveen on August 5 at Saratoga (under Santos), and his two-year-old half-brother, To Go, placed second in his debut on August 18 at Saratoga (under Santos). Dam Dana's Wedding is a full sister to stakes-placed winner Henny B. and a half-sister to another black-type-placed winner.
Halissee (Cozzene - Hedonic, by Fappiano), sire of Ham Sandwich, is a multiple graded grass winner at Belmont owned by and standing at Diane Szymczak's Meadow Hill Lane Farm in Pine Bush, which qualified for a $1,596 stallion award. Ham Sandwich is from Halissee's second crop.