CLICK HERE for New York Showcase Stakes Races - Wrapup of Results & Photos from Oct.19, 2002

(10/31) Halloween Surprise in Big A. Finale
CHOCOLATEMILKSOUP, owned, bred and trained by Joseph Lostritto, pulled off a screamer in the last race at Aqueduct today, winning handily by two lengths, paying a scary $64!!
Away from the races since last St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, Chocolatemilksoup was fine- tuned to perfection for his return. The state-bred maiden race was originally carded for the turf but moved to the main track. The one and one-eighth mile event for state-breds, 3 years-old and upward, carried a purse of $44,000.
Chocolatemilksoup breaking from the outside post was hung out five wide around the first turn with Lord Of Ewhurst taking early command. As the field raced down the backstretch, Lord Of Ewhurst Life At Sea and Captain Smith were tightly bunched with Chocolatemilksoup moving determinedly on the outside. As the field turned for home, Chocolatemilksoup, under Raul Rojas, swept to the lead and held off all challengers to the wire.
The three year-old roan gelding, who had been beaten by a freightening 102 total lengths in his previous 4 races, is by Alphabet Soup, out of the Mining mare, Golden Loot, who is out of stakes winner and graded stakes placed Worldly Possession (Valid Appeal).Chocolatemilksoup is from the first crop of Alphabet Soup, winner of the 1996 Breeder's Cup Classic.

(10/30) Hat Trick for Grab Bag
Henry Waring's GRAB BAG reeled off her third straight victory today. The non-winner of 2X condition for state-bred fillies and mares, 3 year-olds and upward, was run for a $47,000 purse at six-furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct. Trainer Tom Skiffington named Edgar Prado to ride, and seven horses went to post.
Drive Right and Gold Oxide hooked up early and led the field through quick fractions of 22.2, and 46 flat to the half-mile pole. Grab Bag sat just off the early duel until the top of the stretch. Prado kept Grab Bag outside of the early leaders at the top of the stretch and responded willingly through the stretch run, dancing off to an easy four length score, stopping the timer in 1:10.3
Bred by Mr. Waring, Grab Bag is a three year-old filly by Abaginone, out of Hakucho, by Raise a Cup.
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 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 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).
Grab Bag has now earned $83,550 in five lifetime starts and Mr. Waring as the breeder has collected breeder's awards of 20% of her career earnings or $16,710. The Abaginone syndicate has also benefitted by receiving stallion awards of 7% of Grab Bag's career earnings or $5,848. Breeder and stallion awards are two of several lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/30) Market Guru breaks maiden
Dinwiddie Farm's MARKET GURU, a two year-old bay filly making her fourth lifetime start, broke her maiden today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The field of state-bred fillies ran over the main track at a distance of one-mile, which is a one-turn event at the Big A. Trainer George Arnold name Jean Luc Samyn to ride, and 11 fillies contested the $44,000 purse.
Sunshine Rondevou breaking from the 11 post-position went to the front with Sicilian Princess and Bird Key close behind in the run down the backstretch. Market Guru, sitting seventh at the half-mile pole, began to move forcefully while on the outside as the field neared the far turn. Coo Cold Bird, full of run, moved to Sunshine Rondevou at the top of the stretch and engaged Market Guru, who was to her outside flank. Market Guru took the lead after a brief battle but Coo Cold Bird, gamely, made another move inside the sixteenth pole, drawing even with only 20 yards to the wire. In a thrilling duel, Market Guru won a head-bob victory over Coo Cold Bird.
Bred by Klaravich Stable, Market Guru is by Quiet American, out of Pleasant Colony mare, Stock Picker, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Ocean Princess (Rahy) and Bay Eagle (Secret Hello). Market Guru was sold this past spring at the Keeneland Two year-old in training sale for $100,000.

(10/27) Blue Burn battles to half-length victory
In six starts, Suzanne Jagar's three-year-old BLUE BURN has never been worse than third and never finished more than 2 1/2 lengths off the winner, and he indicated in his latest outing on Sunday at Aqueduct that he could be getting better than ever. Made the 3.15-to-1 second choice among 11 starters for the fourth race, a $45,000 restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up going seven furlongs, the chestnut colt was last to load and briefly held up the start before breaking almost on top from the 10th post position. The fairly large field bunched up somewhat on the backstretch as 11.70-to-1 fourth choice Beau's Fantasy led the way with fractions of 22.70 and 45.33. Blue Burn, on the outside in sixth and then fifth place for half a mile, rallied four wide under encouragement from jockey Parker Buckley approaching the stretch, quickly going past four rivals -- including even money favorite Smile Smile Smile -- in the next quarter-mile to take command in mid-stretch. Smile Smile Smile found himself blocked behind Beau's Fantasy and four-year-old third choice Native Rhythm and angled outside to make a strong late stretch move but ran out of track, as Blue Burn got to the finish first by half a length in his most impressive time yet -- 1:22.95.
All of Blue Burn's six starts have been under Buckley, who rode the New York-bred to a second-place finish in his two-year-old debut in the Finger Lakes Juvenile Stakes just over a year ago, when the colt was checked at the start and had a six-wide trip against seven rivals. Three weeks later, Blue Burn broke his maiden by a length and a half at Aqueduct, followed by a layoff of more than 10 months, with trainer Jonathan Buckley bringing him back to competition in September at Belmont. Blue Burn placed second -- missing victory by a nose -- and then third twice in restricted N1X allowance company prior to his second Aqueduct score on Sunday, which increased his earnings by $27,000 to $76,500 and improved his record to 2 - 2 - 2.
Acquired privately by his owner, Blue Burn was bred by James Edwards' CBF Corporation, which qualified for a $5,400 breeder award, and was sired by deceased record-setting New York stallion Cure the Blues, whose syndicate connections qualified for a $1,890 stallion award. The late-foaled colt (May 11, 1999) is the sixth winner produced from Edwards' homebred Halo mare, Solar Halo ($190,561), who was a nine-length Grade 2 winner at Aqueduct and second in a Grade 1 event. Blue Burn has a winning four-year-old full sister, and his half-sisters include Pretty Keane, dam of Edwards' homebred stakes winner Solar Deputy ($157,733) and granddam of Edwards' homebred stakes winner Personal Pro ($235,644) and 2002 stakes-placed winner Pretty Brassy ($145,670). Edwards owns The Stallion Park in Millbrook.

(10/27) Marc's Rainbow places 2nd in open Miss Grillo Stakes
Coming off consecutive wins on turf (restricted maiden special) and dirt (open allowance, sloppy track) at Belmont, Albert Fried Jr.'s New York homebred Marc's Rainbow was not among the nine scratches (including three also eligibles) when Aqueduct's $84,000 open Miss Grillo Stakes for two-year-old fillies was taken off the turf. One of the six remaining fillies in the two-turn mile and an eighth event was Woodbine Grade 3 winner One and Twenty, who went off the 1.50-to-1 favorite, but she was beaten to the first turn by Marc's Rainbow, who set a controlled pace under jockey Richard Migliore.
One and Twenty constantly threatened to challenge without ever actually doing so, but when Marc's Rainbow rounded the second turn, she encountered a 13 mph south-southwesterly headwind and had a new challenger stalking her under four pounds less weight: Fircroft. With a couple of Grade 1 outings already under her belt -- both on dirt -- including a third-place finish in Belmont's Matron Stakes on September 15 following a bumped and stumbling start, Fircroft advanced on the outside, catching the New York-bred in the final furlong to win by a length. Her winning time, 1:49.79, was within a fifth of a second of both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winning times at Arlington Park the previous day, and Marc's Rainbow carried the same weight (119 pounds) as the starters in the Juvenile Fillies. One and Twenty never did manage to pass Marc's Rainbow, finishing 4 1/4 lengths back in third place.
Sent off the third choice in the Miss Grillo at 3-to-1, Marc's Rainbow picked up $16,800 for her second-place finish and third consecutive start under Migliore, boosting her earnings in four starts to $72,000 and bringing her record to 2 - 1 - 0. The Todd Pletcher-trained filly also qualified owner-breeder Fried of Button Wood Farm in Rhinebeck for $3,360 in owner and breeder awards ($1,680 each). Sired by Preakness and Hopeful winner Summer Squall, Marc's Rainbow is the first offspring produced by Marc's Lark, a six-year-old Miner's Mark mare that Fried purchased as an unbred two-year-old broodmare prospect for $7,500 at Keeneland's 1998 January sale. Marc's Lark is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed winner Courageous Maiden.

(10/26) Breeders' Cup 2002 Notes:
Volponi ($89.00!) - son of NY-bred mare Prom Knight - wins BC Classic
Four-year-old Volponi, the 43.50-to-1 last choice among 12 starters in the $3,664,000 Breeders' Cup Classic, scored the biggest upset in the Classic in nine years with a 6 1/2-length score over favored Medaglia d'Oro, as 4-to-1 second choice War Emblem fell back to eighth. Although Volponi has won graded stakes on dirt and turf, he had not even cracked the million-dollar mark in earnings until his win in the Classic, which pushed his career bankroll to $2,748,976.
A homebred owned by the Johnson family's Amherst Stable and Ed Baier's Spruce Pond Stable and trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Philip Johnson, Volponi is the third offspring and third of four winners produced by New York-bred PROM KNIGHT, a daughter of former New York stallion Sir Harry Lewis. Johnson purchased Prom Knight, who was bred by Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, for $8,000 from the Sugar Maple Farm consignment at Fasig-Tipton's 1993 Saratoga preferred sale of New York-bred yearlings. The filly made one start at Belmont in July as a two-year-old, finishing fourth, and the following year became a broodmare for Amherst Stable, which consists of Philip and wife Mary Kay Johnson along with daughters Kathy and Karen Johnson.
Prom Knight's first offspring was multiple graded-placed winning filly Fickle Friends ($254,130), and her fifth offspring and current unraced two-year-old, a late-foaled (May 23, 2000) Pleasant Tap colt named Gentle Nudge, is a registered New York-bred. Now a Grade 1 multi-millionaire producer with four winners from four starters, Prom Knight is only 10 years old. (Editor's note: Karen Johnson writes the weekly New York breeding column for the Daily Racing Form)
Carson Hollow forces 21.53 opening quarter in Sprint but fades
One of the feared fates for New York-bred Carson Hollow in the $1,140,000 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday at Arlington Park materialized almost like a premonition. Breaking quickly among the top three from the number four post position, the three-year-old filly ran the only way she knows how -- all out -- barreling forward for what was obviously to be a sub-22-second opening quarter-mile. Just to her inside out of the number one post position was three-year-old colt Thunderello, who -- in what had to have been a surprise to the filly -- stuck his head in front as the two hit the quarter-mile marker in a scintillating 21.53.
This was the fastest Carson Hollow had ever run an opening quarter -- and over a drying-out track that might have been more "good" than fast -- but unlike the fillies she had faced, Thunderello did not back off, running what would be a 22.38 second quarter. A length behind Carson Hollow after the opening quarter was another filly, 6.40-to-1 fourth choice four-year-old Xtra Heat ($2,223,305), who also likes to run on the front end, and charging up on the outside was favored Orientate. The pace did not let up. Clearly unseasoned for what she was facing, Carson Hollow checked on the turn, and jockey John Velazquez -- correctly sensing she had no chance to finish in the money-earning top five -- began to ease her up. Velazquez already had ridden Storm Flag Flying to victory in the Juvenile Fillies, and in the next race he steered Starine to a score in the Filly and Mare Turf.
Thunderello surprisingly stayed on the lead until the final 20 yards, setting fractions of 43.91 and 56.09 before four-year-old Orientate caught him on the outside to win by half a length, covering the six furlongs in 1:08.89. Xtra Heat also wilted after trying to stay with Thunderello's scorching early pace, fading to a non-earning fifth place at the finish -- a length and a quarter behind six-year-old mare Kalookan Queen. Thunderello (48.70-to-1) paid $33.00 to place -- and might have owed some of his near-upsetting front-end tactics to the early push he got from the New York-bred filly.

(10/25) Quarter to Nine arrives on time
Akindale Farm's QUARTER TO NINE won today's finale at Aqueduct Racetrack, beating state-bred fillies and mares. The non-winner of 1X condition, for three year-olds and upward, was run over the main track at six-furlongs. Trainer Kathleen Feron named Aaron Gryder to ride the three year-old bay filly.
Street Wheeling went to the front with Alittlebitbrassy and Quarter to Nine up close as the 11-horse field raced down the backside. As the field turned for home, Quarter To Nine went to the outside of the tiring Street Wheeling, with Alittlebitbrassy moving strongly while down along the rail. The pair dueled gamely through deep stretch with Quarter To Nine prevailing by a length.
Bred by John Hettinger's Akindale Farm in Pawling, New York, Quarter To Nine is by Dixieland Band, out of the stakes winning Ruhlmann mare, Top Ruhl, who, also, finished third in the Grade I - Del Mar Oaks Invitational and second in the Grade III - Bay Meadows Oaks, earning $145,118 in her 14 race career.
Quarter To Nine, the second foal out of her dam, has now earned $89,070 with a Lifetime Record: 10-2-3-1.

(10/25) Proster breaks maiden at Aqueduct
Ellen Brayshaw's PROSTER led every step of the six-furlong race run over the main track at Aqueduct. 10-horses contested the state-bred maiden field for 3 year-olds and upward. Racing in his 7-career start, Proster had the services of newly arrived apprentice jockey Luis Chavez, who was aboard for trainer Pat Quick.
Springing to the front at the break, Proster opened up a clear lead down the backside setting fractions of 22.2, 45.4 & 58.1 to the five-eights marker. Turning for home, the three year-old bay gelding drifted to the middle of the track, but Chavez kept Proster to a drive, holding off Artistic Awareness by three and one-half lengths. Final time was recorded as 1:11.1.
Bred by Frank Kolenda, Proster is by Distinctive Pro, out of the Danzig Connection mare, Pressingconnection, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winners Man's Hero (Hero's Honor), winner of the Grade 3 - Sports Page Handicap and Boston Party (Colonial Affair) winner of the Grade 3 - Queens County Handicap.

(10/24) You'll Be Happy wires open claimer on turf
Robert Traino's ONE N THREE in for a claiming tag of $45,000 went wire to wire today over the Aqueduct turf course, which was rated 'good.' Ridden by Richard Migliore for trainer Philip Gleaves, You'll Be Happy was sent off at 4.20 to 1 in the 12- horse field.
Intent on the lead, You'll Be Happy, led the field in the long run to the first turn and set a respectable pace in the race down the backstretch. Bounding clear by three lengths in the middle of the stretch, You'll Be Happy was under an all out drive approaching the wire, holding off a late charge by Vicarious Sara by a head.
Bred by Mike Spielman, You'll Be Happy is a five year-old bay mare by Wave To Seattle, out of A Nother Another, by Raja's Revenge. A Nother Another is out of the multiple stakes winning mare, Another Paddock, by Darby Creek Road.
You'll Be Happy has now banked $225,690 with a Lifetime Record: 28-8-0-4. Today's open company victory earns Mr. Traino an open owner's award of 10% of the winner's share of the purse or $2,130, and with today's breeder's award Mr. Spielman has now earned a total of $22,569 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/24) Polish Silk steps up and scores again
After being beaten by almost 14 lengths at Saratoga, POLISH SILK was given a brief respite and has returned with a vengeance. Today at Aqueduct Racetrack, the New York-bred won his second in a row against open claimers. Trainer Richard Violette, Jr. moved Polish Silk up from $25,000 to $40,000 claimers, and the colt again won comfortably.
Sitting third in the run down the backside of the one-mile one-turn affair, jockey Mike Luzzi was on cruise control to the top of the stretch. Once given the go signal by Luzzi, the New York-bred stormed to the lead, drawing clear by more than two lengths over Fromheretoheaven.
Owned by George Raymond and bred by E. Paul Robsham, Polish Silk is by Polish Pro, out of Silk Stocks, by Medieval Man. Silk Stocks is a stakes winning mare, who has produced grade 2 stakes placed winner Silk Broker (Pentelicus). The sire, Polish Pro stands at Milfer Farm in Unadilla, New York.
Polish Silk has now earned $145,295 with a Lifetime Record: 15-5-2-2.
The opening company score qualifies Mr. Raymond for an open owner's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $4,560 and Mr. Robsham earns the same amount in the form of a breeder's award. Mr. Robsham owns the sire Polish Pro and thus earns a stallion award of 7% of the winner's share of the purse or $1,596! The above awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/23) One N Three takes Aqueduct finale
D and B Stable's ONE N THREE, a three year-old dark bay colt by Dixie Brass, closed strongly to take today's finale at Aqueduct Racetrack. The non-winner of 2X condition was run at a distance of seven furlongs over the main track. Entrepreneur scratched at the gate leaving 10 state-breds loading into the starting gate.
Seeking the Money and Peggy's Mukora hooked up early with One N Three, under Richard Migliore, sitting fourth to the outside of Top Shoter. Drawing closer in the middle of the last turn, One N Three swept three wide engaging Joshua's Jet as he cleared the early leaders. After a brief tussle, One N Three drew off under a vigorous drive, winning by three lengths crossing the wire, and stopped the timer in 1:22.3.
Bred by Andrew Kruger, One N Three is out of the Secret Prince mare, Patsy McCann Can, and has hit the board in all 9 career starts, banking $118,280. Mr. Kruger, as breeder, has collected 20% of One N Three's earnings to date in lucrative breeder's award incentives from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/23) No Parole finishes 3rd in Discovery Handicap
New York-bred No Parole moved six wide coming off the far turn of the Discovery Handicap, a one and one-eighth mile open event over Aqueduct's main track, but couldn't catch Saint Marden, finishing third behind Regency Park. Saint Marden was sent off as the prohibitive favorite.

(10/20) Withorwithoutyou runs wide for convincing win
Coming off improving turf performances at 5 1/2 furlongs at Colonial Downs, a mile at Laurel, and a mile and a sixteenth at Pimlico, R. D. Marmac Stable's WITHORWITHOUTYOU had sufficient seasoning to be second choice for Belmont's third race on Sunday, a $44,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-old fillies. At 2.30-to-1, she was only marginally less preferred for the virtual one-turn turf mile contest than 2.25-to-1 favorite Deesalia, who in her previous start had placed second at Belmont on September 18, but Deesalia had never raced on turf, and Belmont's yielding surface obviously became a fatigue factor.
Although Withorwithoutyou also was inexperienced on yielding turf, she handled it like a European veteran, dropping back in the early running after breaking from the outside post-position and then rallying inside on the turn before coming wide for the stretch drive with only one filly -- Deesalia -- to beat. In the final quarter-mile, the gray/roan filly overtook the tiring Deesalia and then drew off from late closer Western Punch to win convincingly by 3 3/4 lengths under jockey Richard Migliore, who was riding her for the first time. As an also-eligible who drew into the race because one entrant was scratched, Withorwithoutyou was one of four starters in the 10-filly race with previous grass experience, but she was the only one of those finishing in the top three. The victory was worth $26,400, increasing Withorwithoutyou's earnings to $33,120 and improving her record to 1 - 1 - 0 in four starts spaced evenly through July, August, September and October.
Trained by Wendy Kinnamon, Withorwithoutyou was bred by Gary Mottola of Glen Grey Farm in Oakland, New Jersey, who qualified for a $2,640 breeder award, and was sold for $6,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2001 October yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland. The filly's sire is NYRA multiple Grade 2 turf winner With Approval ($2,863,540), who set a world record for a mile and three-eighths on turf (2:10 1/5). Withorwithoutyou is the fifth winner produced from Majestic Debster, who is a daughter of Majestic Light and stakes winner Fantasy Lover and was purchased for $14,000 by Thomas Gallo, agent, at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2000 February mixed sale when she was carrying Withorwithoutyou.

(10/20) Fly Our Flag flies 5-wide for victory
Perhaps stretching out to seven furlongs in her previous start on October 3 at Belmont, when she had finished fourth after being bumped at the break, provided both conditioning and seasoning, because Chester and Mary Broman's homebred FLY OUR FLAG ran in Belmont's Sunday opener like a completely different filly. Dismissed as the 17-to-1 sixth choice among 11 starters (10 wagering interests) in the $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-old fillies going six furlongs, Fly Our Flag raced close to the pace on the outside but did not contend for the early lead, which fell to Brians Move. That 31.50-to-1 ninth choice then became hotly pursued by .55-to-1 favorite Lady Libby, who had shipped up from Florida with an impressive second-place Calder debut on her resume. Coming out of the turn, almost half the field fanned out five wide, with Fly Our Flag rallying widest of all, and in the next-to-last furlong she advanced from fifth to first while Lady Libby and Brians Move both faded.
Through the final furlong, Fly Our Flag continued to edge ahead of the new second-place runner, 13.80-to-1 fourth choice Tap Machine, winning by three-quarters of a length. A 3 1/4-length margin separated Tap Machine from third-place finisher Back Bay Lady, and 8-to-1 second choice Katies Danza, who had beaten Fly Our Flag in two of their three previous encounters, was never a factor.
Ridden for the second time by Shaun Bridgmohan, who had first been on board when she had made her debut at Belmont in July, Fly Our Flag picked up $25,800 for her first victory, increasing her earnings to $39,215 and improving her record to 1 - 0 - 2 in six starts. She also qualified the Bromans, who own Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, for an additional $5,160 breeder award. The bay filly's trainer is Ramon "Mike" Hernandez, who saddled another two-year-old filly owned by the Bromans, Beautiful America, for a top-weighted victory in Belmont's $100,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes on Saturday (New York Showcase Day).
Fly Our Flag is the third two-year-old winner of 2002 from the third crop of New York stallion A. P Jet, who is owned by a syndicate comprised chiefly of John Nerud, Howard Kaskel, John Hettinger and Taylor Made Farm that jointly qualified for a $1,806 stallion award. A group stakes winner of $1,622,369 in Japan, A. P Jet (Fappiano - Taminette, by In Reality) stands at Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag. Fly Our Flag is the third offspring and third New York-bred winner bred by the Bromans from New York-bred stakes-placed winner Obligated Sue ($158,810), who raced for the Bromans and is by New York stallion Obligato.

(10/19) Big Gun fires in his first start
As one of five first-time starters among 10 New York-bred two-year-olds in Belmont's third race on New York Showcase Day, a $44,000 restricted maiden special at a virtual one-turn mile on turf, BIG GUN was the overall third choice at 4.50-to-1 behind two other first-timers. With Norberto Arroyo Jr. aboard, he ran like an old-timer rather than a first-timer, breaking on top out of the ninth post position and then dropping back to fifth place near the rail to save ground on the turn. After half a mile, the dark bay colt began advancing along the inside, passing four rivals in the next three-eighths and gaining command near mid-stretch, from where he extended his half-length margin over second-place finisher Back to Work to a full length at the wire. Back to Work, also a first-time-starter and the overall co-fifth choice at 11.70-to-1, placed 6 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Red Down South, as the top two choices were both non-factors over the soft turf in their first starts.
Owned by Charles and Susan Harris in partnership with Peter Karches and trained by Christophe Clement, Big Gun earned $26,400 in his first start. Clement had signed the sales slip as agent purchasing the New York-bred for $55,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2001 Saratoga preferred yearling sale, to which he had been consigned by Joe and Anne McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC, agent. Big Gun's breeder is Frank Mancini of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who qualified for a $5,280 breeder award.
Big Gun is the fourth winner from the 2000 crop of deceased New York stallion Dixie Brass, whose two-year-old Beautiful America captured Belmont's $100,000 Maid of the Mist Stakes in the next race on the card. Dixie Brass also is the sire of two-year-old Dixie Country, who won Finger Lakes' Aspirant Stakes on August 17. Winner of Belmont's Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile, Dixie Brass was owned by Michael Watral of Central Islip, Long Island, who qualified for a $1,848 stallion award.
Big Gun is a half-brother to New York-bred stakes winners Shopping for Love ($613,669) -- who placed second in Belmont's $150,000 Ticonderoga Handicap five races later on Belmont's Showcase card -- and Shoppers Gold ($176,314) and to stakes-placed New York-bred winners Berkshire Shopper and Instant Genius. He is the eighth winner produced from super broodmare Instant Shopper, a New York-bred D'Accord mare who was an allowance winner at Aqueduct and is from the Gallagher's Stud female family of New York-bred graded/group winners Adorable Micol and Adcat.

(10/19) The Name Was Gone gets up in debut
Seven of 11 juvenile starters in Belmont's second race on New York Showcase Day, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-old fillies going six furlongs, were making their debuts, and the first-time-starter breaking from the extreme outside was Tri Richard Stable's homebred 7.20-to-1 fourth choice, THE NAME WAS GONE. With Michael Luzzi aboard, this filly came out of the gate in the back of the pack but got up to fourth place on the outside after an opening quarter-mile in 22.56. Rallying three wide coming out of the turn, The Name Was Gone advanced to third but appeared to be blocked in mid-stretch before digging in between rivals and getting up to win by a neck over first-time-starter Hanselina, with Market Guru a half-length back in third place. The bay filly's winning time was 1:11.92, while Hanselina's five-furlong fraction was 59.13.
Campaigned by the Tri Richard Stable of Manhattan resident Lewis Friedman and trained by Michael Sedlacek, The Name Was Gone earned $25,800 in her first start, and she also qualified Friedman's Edgewood Organization for a $5,160 breeder award. In a dozen published workouts at Aqueduct during the four months preceding her debut, she had recorded two "bullet" works -- at three furlongs (best of four) and five furlongs (best of five).
The Name Was Gone is the third 2002 juvenile winner sired by graded stakes winner Gone for Real (Gone West - Intently, by Drone), who stands at Michael and Debra Lischin's Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains and whose syndicate owners qualified for a $1,806 stallion award. She is the fourth starter and fourth New York-bred winner bred by Edgewood Organization from Secreto's Dance and is a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed current three-year-old winner Dancing Blues ($140,533). Secreto's Dance, who is by Secreto and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Goldenita ($280,211) and to the dams of stakes winners Golden Phase ($222,273) and Share a Martini, was purchased by owner-breeder Friedman for $29,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 1991 March sale of two-year-olds in training.

(10/19) Robyns Gold Charm prevails in Showcase opener
Mac Fehsenfeld's ROBYNS GOLD CHARM got his first NYRA victory in Belmont's opening race on New York Showcase Day, capturing a $46,000 restricted N1X allowance contest for 10 three-year-olds and up at a virtual one-turn mile on turf that came down to an expected battle between two 2.50-to-1 co-favorites. One of those co-favorites, four-year-old R. F. Burton, broke on top and set the pace through seven furlongs, while the other co-favorite, four-year-old Robyns Gold Charm, broke slowly and raced close to the pace in fourth place while in hand under jockey Aaron Gryder for half a mile. Coming wide for the stretch drive, Robyns Gold Charm caught up with R. F. Burton inside the final furlong and dug in to win on the outside by a neck, with R. F. Burton placing 8 3/4 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher. It was the first experience on soft turf for both geldings, although Robyns Gold Charm had placed a close second on yielding Belmont turf in his previous start, a restricted N1X allowance at a mile and a sixteenth on September 18, when Gryder had ridden him for the first time. Both co-favorites carried equal top weight of 122 pounds.
Trained by Dennis Manning and an open maiden special winner on Meadowlands turf in November of 2001, Robyns Gold Charm picked up $27,600 for his Belmont victory, pushing his earnings over the six-figure mark to $103,190 and boosting his record to 2 - 4 - 3 in 12 starts. Owner Fehsenfeld, who resides in Zionsville, Indiana, purchased the gray gelding as a just-turned-yearling for $24,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales (OBS) Company's 1999 January mixed sale, to which the New York-bred had been consigned through Eddie Woods, agent, by his breeders, Jill Rich and Edward Michaels II. Robyns Gold Charm's sire is Grade 3 winner and world record-setter Robyn Dancer, who stands at Farnsworth Farms in Florida, and his dam, Gold Charm, was carrying Robyns Gold Charm when she was sold for $2,500 to Farnsworth Farms (from Farnsworth Farms, agent) at the OBS 1998 January mixed sale. As breeders of Robyns Gold Charm, Rich and Michaels qualified for a $2,760 breeder award.
Robyns Gold Charm is among six starters, all winners, produced by Gold Charm, who is by Slew o' Gold and is a half-sister to stakes winner Toccatina and to the granddams of stakes winners Magic Star (champion juvenile filly in Venezuela) and Silent Drum.

(10/18) Critical Eye captures Belmont Park feature
New York-bred CRITICAL EYE stormed from off the pace to capture today's featured 8th race, a $59,000 open allowance for fillies and mares, run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth mile over Belmont Park's main track. Jockey Mike Luzzi was on-board once again for trainer Scott Schwartz. Critical Eye was the third consecutive New York-bred to win an open allowance on the Friday race card, joining Shawklit Mint in the sixth race and Tiger Babe in the seventh race.
Trailing the field in the early going, Luzzi must have been in seventh-heaven as the pace, set by Delray Dew, was a taxing one. Luzzi, who knows the 5 year-old bay mare better than anyone who has previously ridden her, let Critical Eye find her best stride before moving on the field coming off the far turn. Swinging five wide, Critical Eye picked off her rivals one by one and only had Shiny Band to beat by the eighth pole. Gaining with every stride, Critical Eye ran by in the final 100 yards, for her 13th career victory. Final time was a swift 1:40.4, which is only seven ticks off the track record.
Knocking at the New York-bred Millionaires Club door, Critical Eye has now amassed earnings of $989,711 in 35 lifetime starts. Herbert and Carol Schwartz are the owner/breeders of the outstanding race-mare, and for today's open company score qualify for open owner's award of $3,480 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program. The Schwartz' also earned a breeder's award of $3,480 - breeder and owner awards are part of the healthy incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.
The multiple Grade I winner of the Hempstead Handicap and Gazelle Handicap as well as the Grade II - Sheepshead Bay Handicap, Critical Eye is by Dynaformer, out of Dr. Blum mare, Critical Crew, who also produced stakes placed-winner Personable Pete (Personal Flag).
Distaff members of the Millionaires Club include, Grecian Flight, Fit For A Queen, Irish Linnet, Lottsa Talc, Queen Alexandra and Capades.

(10/18) Tiger Babe victorious against in open turf allowance
New York-bred TIGER BABE, the only mare in the 7-horse open allowance field, won easily over the Belmont Park's Widener turf course. The seven-furlong race for non-winners of 3X other than Maiden, Claiming, Starter or Restricted condition carried a purse of $51,000.
Rideouts Patton and Harmony Hall battled through the early going as Tiger Babe tracked closely behind, while on an outside path, in third down the backstretch. Jockey Dennis Carr aggressively moved Tiger Babe up into contention around the last turn and was pushed out into the four-horse path coming off the turn. Never wavering, Tiger Babe moved to the lead and won going away by almost two lengths.
Bred by John Desmond at his Charlton Farm in Ballston Spa, New York, Tiger Babe is owned by the partnership of Desmond and Mark Lansing. The five year-old bay mare is by Ends Well, out of the Big Burn mare, Tiger's Burn, who is a multiple stakes-placed winner. Tiger Babe has earned $165,830 with a Lifetime Record: 19-5-1-3.
Mr. Desmond earns a breeder's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $6,120 and for the opening company victory he also earns $6,120 for a total payday of $42,840! Awards are part of the rich incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/18) Shawklit Mint - game in open victory
Flatbird Stable's New York-bred, SHAWKLIT MINT, beat open allowance fillies and mares today at Belmont Park. Racing over the main track at a distance of seven furlongs, Shawklit Mint faced 5 rivals in the conditioned allowance for non-winners of 2X other than Maiden, Claimer, Starter or Restricted. Jockey Richard Migliore had the mount for trainer Patrick Reynolds, who opted to run Shawklit Mint against open company rather than entering her in tomorrows $125,000 Iroquois Stake.
Breaking sharply, Shawklit Mint went to the front only to be challenged immediately by Missing Miss, who was down along the rail. After a quarter in :23 flat, the pair battled through fractions of 45.4 and 1:09.4 to the three-quarter pole. At the top of the stretch, Shawklit Mint edged away from Missing Miss, but was once again under pressure from Montana Cat who received a perfect trip under jockey Aaron Gryder. Shawklit Mint was up to the task and won going away by almost two lengths, stopping the timer in a quick 1:22.2.
The stakes-placed Shawklit Mint is a three year-old dark bay filly by Air Forbes Won, out of Shawklit Delight, by Pine Bluff. The dam is a half-sister to Mr. Shawklit (Afleet) winner of the Grade 3 - Westchester Handicap, Screen King Stake and Safe Ground Stake. Bred by Treasure Hill Farm in Middletown, New York, Shawklit Mint has now earned $192,713 with a Lifetime Record: 15-5-2-6.
For the open company victory, Flatbird Stable earns an open owner's award of 10% of the winner's share of the purse or $2,940. Mike Anschel, owner of Treasure Hill Farm, earns a breeder's award of $2,940, which brings his total breeder earnings for Shawklit Mint to $19,271 - the owner and breeder awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/17) Self Rising sets pace to win open allowance
When she gets an early lead and the rail, Happy Hill Farm's homebred SELF RISING can be hard to beat. Three-wide in her previous start on July 14 at Belmont, the New York-bred three-year-old filly had tired to finish fifth behind what turned out to be some fairly tough open allowance company. Given a three-month layoff, she returned to competition for Belmont's nightcap ninth race on Thursday, a $47,000 open N1X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going six furlongs and was made the 3.85-to-1 second choice among 10 starters with Jorge Chavez aboard for the first time. Chevez hustled Self Rising immediately to the front to set fractions of 22.06 and 45.39 while saving ground, and after five furlongs in 57.49 she had a length and a half margin that helped against the outside charge of 1.90-to-1 favorite Dynamite Miss, who closed on her left lead. At the wire, the New York-bred held a head margin over Dynamite Miss -- ridden by Jose Santos, who had piloted Self Rising in her four previous starts -- in 1:10.10 on a drying out fast track that had been listed good for the first four races on the card.
For her first NYRA open allowance win, Self Rising picked up $28,200 in purse money, increasing her earnings to $126,890 and improving her record to 4 - 1 - 1 in 10 starts, and she also qualified owner-breeder Happy Hill Farm for $11,280 in open race owner ($5,640) and breeder ($5,640) awards. Trained by Peter Pugh, the chestnut filly was foaled at Dr. Douglas Koch's Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains. Happy Hill Farm, the name under which Peter Wetherill of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, breeds and races, bred Self Rising as the second New York-bred multiple winner produced from Happy Hill Farm homebred mare My Necessity ($106,376), who is by Ziggy's Boy and was stakes-placed at Aqueduct. My Necessity, who won at Belmont, Saratoga, and Aqueduct, is a half-sister to stakes winner Patooie, whose winning offspring include Grade 2-placed Copelan Too, and to stakes-placed winner Salty Secret and the $152,200-earning dam of Japanese multiple stakes winner Eishin Cameron ($1,544,865).
Self Rising's sire is Belmont-Preakness winner and Eclipse Champion Hansel, who used to stand at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in Hudson and is now based in Japan. Owned by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm at the time he was standing in New York, that stallion's New York connections qualified for a $1,974 stallion award as a result of Self Rising's open allowance victory.

(10/17) Counting Visions gets clear in the stretch
Three times a runner-up bridesmaid but never a bride at the restricted N1X level after breaking her maiden by 7 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct early in her three-year-old season 20 months ago, West Point Stable's four-year-old COUNTING VISIONS tried turf in her last six previous starts, placing second once. For Belmont's seventh race on Thursday, a $46,000 restricted N1X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, what was supposed to have been a mile turf contest was switched to a one-turn main track mile, and the chestnut filly ran as though that was her preferred surface.
Ridden for the fifth time by Aaron Gryder, who had first been aboard her when she had placed second in a six-furlong main track maiden special at Aqueduct as a two-year-old, Counting Visions went off as half of a 2.15-to-1 second choice entry among nine wagering interests (10 starters). For the first half-mile, she lagged back in eighth place but rallied five wide on the turn to pass six rivals in the next three-eighths of a mile and in the final furlong drew clear by 2 1/4 lengths, giving Gryder his second winner on Belmont's Thursday card. The victory increased Counting Visions' earnings by $27,600 to $119,640 and boosted her record to 2 - 5 - 1 in 24 starts. Trained throughout her career by Gary Contessa, the New York-bred filly was a $55,000 yearling purchase by Buzz Chace, agent, out of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1999 July select sale and races for the West Point Stable that is managed by Terry Finley from Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Like many New York-breds, Counting Visions also was a profitable pinhook, selling for $30,000 as a weanling at a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 1998 November mixed sale.
Bred by Elaine Peck's and Richard Quinn's Rhapsody Farm in Plymouth in partnership with Peter Trapp, who jointly qualified for a $2,760 breeder award, Counting Visions is by NYRA Grade 1 winner Unaccounted For and is among five winners produced from Visionneuse, by Vice Regent. Rhapsody Farm purchased Visionneuse, who is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Noble Regent ($335,630) and to the granddam of two more stakes winners and a half-sister to the dam of stakes winner Attraction Fatale ($204,979), for $14,000 at Keeneland's 1997 November sale when she was carrying Counting Visions. Visionneuse's three-year-old New York-bred half-sister to Counting Visions, a Signal Tap filly named Perfect Energy, won a mile and a sixteenth turf allowance at Belmont by 5 1/2 lengths on October 2.

(10/17) Shining Forever shows speed on dirt
A tiring three-wide seventh-place finisher going a mile on turf in her debut at Belmont on October 4, Jujugen Stable's homebred SHINING FOREVER had her next outing in Belmont's fourth race on Thursday, a mile and a sixteenth off-the-turf maiden special for New York-bred fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up. Unlike in her first start, this time jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aggressively sent the three-year-old after the lead from the eighth post position, and though she had to duel with 29-to-1 Lottsa Appeal on her inside for half a mile, Shining Forever started drawing away dramatically on the turn. By mid-stretch, she had a 10-length lead, which was reduced to a still-comfortable 3 3/4-length margin at the wire on a drying-out "good" Belmont main track surface.
The 3.25-to-1 second choice among 11 starters, Shining Forever was one of four also-eligibles (out of six) that got into the contest after three other three-year-old fillies had been scratched, and she picked up $26,400 for her first victory. The John DeStafano Jr.-trained New York-bred also qualified her owner-breeder, Martin Scheinman of Jujugen Stable, for a $2,640 breeder award. A late foal (May 15, 1999), Shining Forever is by Eclipse Champion Lord Avie and is the third New York-bred offspring and third winner bred by Scheinman from two-turn turf mare A Shaky Queen ($231,191), who is by Wavering Monarch and also raced for Scheinman's Jujugen Stable. A Shaky Queen scored all of her 12 wins on grass, winning open allowance races at Belmont, Aqueduct and Meadowlands.
Shining Forever's second dam, Mysteriouscontract, is a half-sister to the dam of Japanese two-time filly champion and sprint champion Nishino Flower, and her fourth dam is a full sister to Triple Crown champion Secretariat.

(10/17) River Spirit returns to July form
When he is on his game, like when he won a restricted N1X mile allowance mile at Belmont by 4 1/2 lengths in early July, Chester and Mary Broman's homebred RIVER SPIRIT is effective, but he lacked a closing kick in three nine-furlong allowance attempts (one on turf) thereafter. Returned to a one-turn Belmont mile and dropped in with a $20,000 claiming tag for Belmont's Thursday opener, the New York-bred four-year-old was dismissed as the 8-to-1 fourth choice among eight starters, with six-year-old claimers Warm April (1.15-to-1), Badger Gold, and Boeing favored over him. For the first half-mile, that unflattering assessment seemed correct, as River Spirit trailed the field before jockey Jose Santos sent him forward five wide on the turn, and with a furlong to go he had a half-length lead which was extended to 4 1/4 lengths at the wire. Third choice Boeing (5-to-1) placed second and was claimed for $20,000, followed by Warm April, as Santos' gray/roan mount covered the distance on a drying-out "good" track in an impressive 1:35.81. Badger Gold also was claimed out of the race for $20,000.
The victory increased River Spirit's earnings to $116,610 and improved his record to 4 - 1 - 3 in 24 starts, and it was his second score under Santos, who has ridden the gelding five consecutive times beginning with the restricted N1X allowance tally at Belmont in July. Trained by Ramon Hernandez, River Spirit is by Silver Ghost and is among four New York-bred winners produced from River Sunrise, a Riverman mare who is a half-sister to five New York-bred stakes winners, including Grade 3 winner Vandy Sue ($234,631).

(10/16) Remembering Fourstardave, the 'King of Saratoga' (Courtesy of Thoroughbred-World.com, John Pricci, Executive Editor)
Saratoga Springs--You can still feel his presence here but, lest you forget, simply make a left from the Race Course on Union onto Nelson Avenue a couple of blocks to Lincoln. Left again until you reach a little street--no, more alley than street--then, look up at the sign post. You've arrived at the corner of Local-Boy-Makes-Good and Saratoga-Legend, a.k.a. Fourstardave Way.
Even in this town of "History, Health and Horses," it takes a special equine to get a by-way named for it. No one ever wants to insult the ghosts of great equines past and, of course, all the greats, too numerous to mention, have passed through here. But Fourstardave was special, a character around the barn that screamed "I'm home" every time he came here to race. And did he ever love coming to Saratoga.
Every year, he led trainer Leo O'Brien's troops up the Northway and was placed in "Dave's stall" so that he could look out on the backside he loved and watch the races every afternoon he had a day off. While living the life of a pensioner in Florida, owner Richard Bomze always made arrangements to ship him here for the season. Even though he no longer worked for a living, Dave needed to be galloped every day or he'd tear the place apart. In demeanor, somehow "feelin' good horse" misses the point. Fourstardave was hard-wired to run and he loved competition, especially here.
A few years ago, when the field entered the track for the former Daryl's Joy Stakes re-named the Fourstardave by the New York Racing Association in recognition of Dave's winning a race at Saratoga for eight consecutive years, the gelding, partnered by the legendary Angel Cordero Jr., led them post-ward. Upon dismounting, the retired but still youthful Cordero walked over to Bomze and said: "Don't you ever do that to me again."
Dave wasn't racing that afternoon, only nobody bothered to tell Dave. He felt good, as always, it was afternoon, society jammed the clubhouse, and fans were lined up at the rail to cheer for Dave as if they had bet the mortgage straight. This obviously made Dave feel even better, Cordero worse, but both survived.
Back in the day, however, Dave's competition at Saratoga rarely survived. His relentless stretch drive vanquished more than a few rivals as he won races at the Spa from age two to age nine, mostly on grass, sometimes, especially in the early days, racing on the lead when the pace came up softer than he liked.
The record shows that New York-bred Fourstardave retired in 1995 after his 100th career start with career earnings of over $1.6-million, compiling a slate of 21 wins, 18 seconds and 16 thirds, and was third state-bred money-earner of all time. Of those 21 career wins, 13 were stakes, among them two scores each in the Poker and Daryl's Joy, and one in the Jaipur, open-class victories all.
But traditional measures of greatness, a horse's racing-career composite, aren't what Dave was about. Dave was about his love affair with Saratoga and Saratoga's love affair with Dave. It was about his competitive spirit and pride. He just seemed to try harder here, so often harder than anyone else. And there was the pressure that O'Brien and Bomze felt every year after the publicists began to note that Fourstardave, then age seven, had won here for five straight years. Could it last forever?
Dave won despite infirmities--because slow, poor-trying horses never run fast enough to hurt themselves--and he won despite the bad trips and vagueries of track condition and surface. Every year, New York-bred competition was getting better, and younger, and every year Dave would beat them anyway.
Fourstardave arrived by van from Florida at Belmont Park last Friday to lead a parade of popular, recently retired New York-breds in a special ceremony celebrating New York Showcase Day this Saturday, where seven stakes races will be run on a program dedicated entirely to New York's highly successful breeding program.
Appearing, in Bomze's words, "slim and trim," Dave began his Tuesday morning gallop but succumbed to an apparent heart attack before he could finish. Ironic that on the same morning 14 New York-based Breeders' Cup entrants were finishing their final serious preparations prior to shipping to Chicago for "racing's greatest day" a week after New York's showcase event.
And maybe Dave caught a glimpse of them and his old competitive juices began to course through his veins and it was all too much for a 17-year-old to bear. Or perhaps he knew that he would be leading a parade for other old racehorses beyond their prime and that was all too much, too. Or maybe Dave figured that this was the way, the time and place for him to go, on a racetrack doing what he loved best.
And long live the equine "King of Saratoga," gone but never forgotten, especially where Lincoln Avenue ends, hard by the race course.

(10/16) Fourstardav Update
Fourstardave, who died Tuesday morning, Oct. 15th, will be buried at Claire Court at Saratoga Race Course.
The New York-bred was so popular in Saratoga, that upon his retirement he was feted at neighboring Siro's Restaurant, where he was presented with an edible key to the city and had a small lane named in his honor - Fourstardave Way.
Fourstardave is also honored with a race in his name at Saratoga, and by the New York Turf Writers Association, who present its annual Fourstardave Award for special achieivement at the Spa.
'Dave' will be the third horse to be buried at Claire Court, joining Mourjane (Ire) and A Phenomenon.

(10/15) Fourstardave, 17, dies during gallop By KAREN M. JOHNSON
Fourstardave, one of the most popular New York horses of recent years, died Tuesday morning, apparently of a heart attack, while jogging on the training track at Belmont Park.
Fourstardave, a retired 17-year-old New York-bred, had been vanned to New York from Florida four days earlier to participate in Saturday's New York Showcase Day at Belmont, where he was scheduled to lead a parade of retired New York-breds.
While in New York, the gelding was in the barn of Leo O'Brien, his trainer during his racing career.
"He came here looking terrific," O'Brien said. "This is just unreal. He was always a great character to be around, with all his quirks. I guess he died doing what he liked."
Co-owned and bred by Richard Bomze, Fourstardave, a son of Compliance, was retired in 1995 after his 100th career start, the majority of them on the grass.
Fourstardave, a multiple statebred champion, earned $1,636,520 and had a record of 21-18-16. Among the 13 stakes won by Fourstardave were the Poker (1989, 1993), West Point (1989, 1991), Daryl's Joy (1990, 1991), Jaipur (1990), and Empire (1987).
Fourstardave, who is third on the list of the richest New York-breds of all time, won at Saratoga for eight consecutive years. In recognition of that feat, the New York Racing Association renamed the Daryl's Joy, a Saratoga stakes, in his honor.
Fourstardave had spent his retirement at Tony Everard's Another Episode Farm in Ocala, Fla. Bomze said Fourstardave, who competed in a charity race four years ago, wasn't content to just laze around his paddock.
"Tony galloped him every day," Bomze said. "This wasn't like a couch potato who was trying to win a marathon. He was very slim and trim and when he arrived in New York, [O'Brien] said he never looked better.
"We're very, very shook up," he added. "Oh gosh, he was my favorite for all the wonderful things he did for us. Only a handful of horses had that kind of heart."
Fourstardave's younger full brother, Fourstars Allstar, also was a New York-bred champion and won $1,600,048 for Bomze, who owned and bred the horse.

(10/14) Quatre Dix Neuf drills competition in the mud
In his first venture beyond a mile on Columbus Day Monday at Belmont, John Confort's and Albert Weiss's three-year-old QUATRE DIX NEUF broke from the outside post position and had to advance five wide around a phalanx of horses because the early leader, longshot Indougherty'shonor, was just inside of him. Midway around the turn of the $46,000 one-turn mile and a sixteenth N1X allowance contest for eight New York-breds, three-year-olds and up, he simply took over while still well out in the middle of the track, and by mid-stretch he had a seven-length lead. From there, it was just a gallop to the wire, as Quatre Dix Neuf won by five lengths as the 1.15-to-1 favorite and gave jockey Javier Castellano, who has now ridden the dark bay gelding four times, his second of four winners on Belmont's Monday card.
Castellano, whose Monday winners included Glia in the $114,300 Pebbles Handicap, also been on board Quatre Dix Neuf in the gelding's previous start on September 18 at Belmont, when he had raced with a $40,000 tag while winning a one-turn mile by 3 1/2 lengths. Quatre Dix Neuf's latest and second consecutive victory -- and his first score on a muddy track although he has competed twice on sloppy surfaces -- increased his earnings by $27,600 to $96,000 and improved his record to 3 - 2 - 1 in 10 starts. The James Jerkens trainee races for John Confort and Albert Weiss of New York City and was purchased by Confort for $175,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2000 Saratoga preferred yearling sale, to which he had been consigned by the Sugar Maple Farm of Howard Kaskel, who qualified for a $5,520 breeder award.
Quatre Dix Neuf is among three New York-bred racing age offspring -- all winners -- produced by three-time winner Mrs. Filio, an Eastern Echo mare purchased by Sugar Maple Farm for $65,000 at Keeneland's 1997 November sale when she was carrying a filly that became seven-time winner Legend Has It. Mrs. Filio's two-year-old filly by A. P Jet, Mischieviously, broke her maiden at Saratoga on July 29 in her second start and finished fourth in Belmont's Joseph A. Gimma Stakes on September 29. Mrs. Filio is a half-sister to two stakes-placed winners, including the granddam of 2001 stakes winner Silver Jet, and her dam is stakes winner and Saratoga Grade 3-placed Mrs. Flagler, by Hoist the Flag. Quatre Dix Neuf's sire, Distinctive Pro (Mr. Prospector - Well Done, by Distinctive), stands at Sugar Maple Farm as the property of a syndicate whose shareholders qualified for a $1,932 stallion award as a result of Quatre Dix Neuf's victory. Distinctive Pro now has 22 winners in the 1999 crop that includes Quatre Dix Neuf.

(10/14) Acceptable Venture accelerates to 8 1/4-length first-out score
Stumbling shortly after the start while breaking from the inside post position, Wafare Farm's New York-bred two-year-old, ACCEPTABLE VENTURE, found himself blocked behind three rivals with speed to spare and nowhere to go but outside in Belmont's sixth race on Columbus Day Monday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special. Although racing greenly, he got clear and rallied wide on the turn, securing a two-length lead after a half-mile in 46.21 in the muddy going and then drawing off by six lengths at mid-stretch (in 58.43) and winning by 8 1/4 in 1:11.02 for six furlongs under jockey Jose Santos. It was the bay colt's first start, prior to which he had posted seven decent though not sensational workouts at Keeneland and Belmont during the summer, and he went off as the 4.40-to-1 third choice among nine starters, including four other first-timers.
Earning $25,800 in his first start, Acceptable Venture eclipsed his $7,500 purchase price as a 2001 Keeneland September sales yearling by almost 3 1/2-fold, and he also qualified his breeder, Patricia Staskowski Purdy of Ivy League Farm in Ithaca, for a $2,580 breeder award. The swift New York-bred juvenile is the seventh starter and fifth winner from the first crop of syndicated graded winner Acceptable, who stands at Nathan Fox's and Richard Kaster's Wafare Farm in Kentucky, which also is the owner of Acceptable Venture. Nathan Fox signed the sales slip at Keeneland in September of 2001 confirming the purchase of Acceptable Venture from Hedgewood Farm, which had consigned the yearling colt as agent for Purdy.
Acceptable Venture is the second starter and second winner -- following Belmont turf allowance winner Iolite in July -- produced from Academy Life, a Royal Academy mare who raced for Purdy. Academy Life is a half-sister to English juvenile stakes winner and Group 3-placed Fair Cop.

(10/13) Promise Mountain proves ability in opener
Unraced until May of this year, Edwin Wachtel's New York homebred four-year-old, PROMISE MOUNTAIN, had placed second at Belmont and Saratoga in his first two outings and third at Saratoga in his third start before an odds-on sixth-placed effort at Belmont on September 21 had cast suspicions on his consistency. Trainer Howard Tesher subsequently put a new jockey on the dark bay gelding -- Norberto Arroyo Jr. -- and saddled him for his first outing on an off track and his first try at seven furlongs in Belmont's Sunday opener, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up. Sent off the 3.75-to-1 third choice against seven rivals -- all three-year-olds and thus all carrying less weight -- Promise Mountain was unhurried on the outside while tracking early five-length front-runner Proster to the head of the stretch, where he took command well out from the rail. In the final furlong after setting a three-quarter-mile fraction of 1:11.49 in the sloppy going, Promise Mountain drew clear to a length and a half victory, as 2.55-to-1 favorite Looks Expensive also passed Proster in the stretch to place second.
Promise Mountain's first victory was worth $25,800 in purse money, increasing his earnings to $46,710 in five starts and also qualifying owner-breeder Wachtel, of Boca Raton, Florida and Suffern, New York, for $6,966 in breeder ($5,160) and stallion ($1,806) awards, since Wachtel owns the gelding's New York-based sire, Claramount. Promise Mountain is the 31st winner in 2002 to represent 1988 New York-Bred Horse of the Year Claramount (Policeman - Fifties Galore, by Cornish Prince), who stands at James Edwards' The Stallion Park in Millbrook and has sired 78 percent winners from all his starters.
A late-arriving foal (May 15, 1998), Promise Mountain is the first winner produced by New York-bred I've Got Promise, who is by the late New York stallion Native Bidder and also raced for Wachtel, winning at Belmont as a three-year-old.

(10/12) Smolder scores while blending with the day
A gray, windy, rainy day and gray New York-breds seemed to go together at Belmont on Saturday, as Michael and Patricia Palenscar's homebred SMOLDER blended perfectly with his surroundings for the eighth race, a $45,000 restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs in a sea of slop. Although he had never raced on an off track, the late-foaled (June 9, 1999) three-year-old seemed right in his element and was sent off the 1.70-to-1 favorite among seven starters (counting two scratches) with jockey Aaron Gryder aboard for the fourth time in as many starts. He broke on top and ran with the pace set by 9.40-to-1 fifth choice Call Leo while on the outside for half a mile in 45.86, then dug in through the stretch to overtake and pull away from Call Leo, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:11.12. Smolder, who set a five-furlong fraction of 58.10, was the third consecutive winner on Belmont's Saturday card ridden by Gryder and the jockey's second New York-bred gray winner for the day.
With $27,000 for his latest victory, Smolder increased his earnings to $64,750 and improved his record to 2 - 1 - 1 in four starts beginning July 28 at Saratoga, and he also qualified his breeder and co-owner, Michael Palenscar of Whitehall Farms in Marcellus, for a $2,700 breeder award. Trained by Chris Englehart, Smolder broke his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths at Saratoga in his second start and placed third at Belmont in his latest previous outing on September 12 -- a contest in which this race's third-place finisher and second choice, Blue Burn, was nosed out of a win. Although all four of Smolder's starts have come at Saratoga and Belmont, he generally trains at Finger Lakes and has recorded all of his workout times there.
From the first crop of Eclipse Champion Sprinter Smoke Glacken, sire of New York-bred stakes winner Smokieisabandit and already noted as an off track sire, Smolder is the second offspring and second winner produced by first-time-out winner Smartrullah, who won at a mile and 70 yards on turf. Kentucky bloodstock agent Sanborn Chase purchased Smartrullah, who is by Smarten and out of a stakes-placed winner by The Minstrel and also a half-sister to a stakes-placed winner, for $13,000 as a five-year-old when she was carrying Smolder at Keeneland's 1998 November sale. Bred for speed on top and stamina on the bottom, Smolder obviously can handle an off track, and it will be interesting to see what trainer Englehart plans next for the gray colt.

(10/12) Grey Comet cuts clear by 2 in debut
With six of nine participants making their first starts in Belmont's sixth race on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-olds going six furlongs, favoritism naturally fell to Polish Jewel, who had placed second in his debut at Belmont on September 22 and was sent off at 1.25-to-1. Well regarded as the 3.15-to-1 second choice, however, was Star Track Farms' homebred first-time-starter, GREY COMET, whose seven published workouts at Philadelphia Park, Monmouth and Aqueduct included a "bullet" work (fastest of 11) of 1:00 2/5 from the gate on September 19 at Philadelphia Park. With jockey Aaron Gryder up, the gray colt broke quickly and cruised along in second place behind 5.20-to-1 third choice Laird Angus' 5 1/2-length lead before closing on that front-runner and cutting through on the inside to take command in the stretch. Pulling clear to a two-length victory over Polish Jewel, who passed Laird Angus in the final furlong, Grey Comet won in the time of 1:12.50 in the sloppy going while setting a five-furlong fraction of 59.20.
Grey Comet earned $25,800 in purse money for his first start and also qualified his owner-breeders, the Star Track Farms of Peter and Marshall Winston of North Bergen, New Jersey, for a $5,160 breeder award. The gray colt was Star Track Farms' second New York-bred juvenile first-time-out winner on Belmont's Saturday card saddled by trainer Gary Contessa -- following Mrs. Smooth Moves in the fourth race -- and he was the first of three consecutive winners (and first of two gray New York-bred winners) ridden by Gryder. Contessa sent out three winners for the day and teamed up with Gryder for two of them.
Sired by ageless New York stallion Distinctive Pro (Mr. Prospector - Well Done, by Distinctive), who stands at Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag and whose syndicate owners qualified for a $1,806 stallion award, Grey Comet is the fifth offspring and fifth winner produced by Jack Betta Be Rite. That mare, a daughter of New York stallion Jacques Who purchased by Star Track Farms for $6,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 1988 October yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, went on to become Champion New York-Bred Three-Year-Old Filly for 1990, winning seven stakes at two and three and earning $350,399.

(10/12) Mrs. Smooth Moves splashes to winning debut
A dozen impressive workouts at Monmouth, Aqueduct, Saratoga and Philadelphia Park starting in July -- with two "bullet" works that included a 34 4/5 clocking (best of eight) at Aqueduct on October 8 -- heralded Star Track Farms' MRS. SMOOTH MOVES as a two-year-old filly to watch. Although none of those works had been on off tracks, she still went off the 1.95-to-1 favorite among 10 starters (nine wagering interests) for her debut in Belmont's fourth race on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs through rain and gusting winds. The dark bay filly broke from the ninth post position and was confidently allowed by jockey Charles Lopez to get her bearings before being boldly sent up three wide on the turn to engage front-running 2.75-to-1 second choice Newsontherun. The latter, who had stumbled at the start, fought back gamely and still held a half-length lead at mid-stretch before Mrs. Smooth Moves took command on the outside and drew off to a length and a quarter victory in 1:05.89 in the sloppy going, setting a five-furlong fraction of 59.38.
Earning $25,800 in her first start, Mrs. Smooth Moves was the first of two New York-bred juvenile winners on Saturday for the Star Track Farms of Peter and Marshall Winston of North Bergen, New Jersey -- both trained by Gary Contessa, who saddled three winners on Belmont's card. Contessa had signed the sales slip purchasing Mrs. Smooth Blues for $20,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2001 October yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, to which she had been consigned through Highclere Sales, agent, by Martin Zaretsky's Pine-Ridge Stables of Old Chatham and Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm of North Chatham. The breeders of the New York-bred filly are Bilinski, Zaretsky, and Marc Roberts, who jointly qualified for a $2,580 breeder award.
By the Forty Niner stallion Twining, who now stands in Japan, Mrs. Smooth Moves is the third winner produced from the winning Fit to Fight mare, Extra Touch, being a half-sister to Arlington Park stakes-placed winner Falfurrias and to Gulfstream and Calder (in the slop) allowance winner All Extra ($149,546). Extra Touch, whom Bilinski bought for $50,000 at Keeneland's 1998 November sale, is a half-sister to stakes winners Crimson Slew ($304,651) and Dancing Liz -- the latter dam of Grade 2 winner Oraibi ($383,100) and granddam of recent Grade 1 winner The Tin Man ($498,100) and stakes winner Mama Simba ($505,775).

(10/12) NY-bred Love Less and Brocco Bob run 1-2 in Belmont nightcap
New York-bred four-year-olds LOVE LESS and Brocco Bob locked up in mortal combat for Belmont's 10th race nightcap on Saturday, a six-furlong open claiming contest for three-year-olds and up, dueling on the front end all the way to the wire and leaving their competition more than 10 lengths behind. At the finish, Love Less had a half-length advantage over his New York-bred rival, who was 10 1/2 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher. Ridden by Dale Whittaker, Love Less was the 4.10-to-1 fourth choice among six starters, each with $20,000 claiming tags, and he completed the distance in the slop in 1:11.09 while getting a two-pound weight concession from Brocco Bob, who went off the 2.75-to-1 second choice under Aaron Gryder. Brocco Bob was one of two horses claimed out of the race -- the second time he has been haltered for $20,000 in less than two months.
Owned by Kieran Bourke, Patrick Cormican, and Jack Dorian and trained by Michael Nevin, Love Less increased his earnings to $102,600 and improved his record to 4 - 2 - 0 in 13 starts. Robert Bartow bred the gelded son of Not For Love - Evie's Roll, by Rollicking, who late last year won two restricted allowance races at Aqueduct. Brocco Bob boosted his bankroll to $123,870 while bringing his record to 4 - 3 - 2 in 20 starts.

(10/12) Irish Colonial places 2nd in $150,000 Lawrence Realization
With five defections -- including New York-breds Finality and Battier -- because rain had forced Belmont's Grade 3 Lawrence Realization Stakes off the turf, that event became a contest of who was best in sloppy main track conditions at a mile and a half, and New York-bred Irish Colonial filled in admirably. Although he already has demonstrated that turf routing is his forte, the bay colt did not disappoint backers who sent him off the 2.35-to-1 second choice among the five surviving three-year-old starters, which included main-track-only entrants Fisher Pond and Deeliteful Guy. Rated off the pace by Shaun Bridgmohan, Irish Colonial made an eye-catching four wide move on the second turn that put him within a length and a half of the leader and 1.25-to-1 favorite, Fisher Pond, and he then held on through the stretch to secure second place.
Because of the main track switch, the $150,000 Lawrence Realization lost its graded status, but second-place money of $30,000 increased Irish Colonial's earnings to $151,045 while also qualifying the colt's owner-breeders, Howard Nolan's Blue Sky Farm and Fred Martin, for $6,000 in open race owner ($3,000) and breeder ($3,000) awards. Trainer Randy Schulhofer saddled the New York-bred son of Colonial Affair - A Rose for Shannon, by Private Account.

(10/11) Marc's Rainbow takes Belmont Park feature
Albert Fried, Jr.'s New York-bred, MARC'S RAINBOW, gamely defeated open company allowance horses in today's Belmont Park featured 8th race. Switched from the turf to the main track, which was rated sloppy, the one-mile non-winner of 1X condition allowance race for two year-old fillies carried a purse of $48,000. Part of a Todd Pletcher trained entry with Feather Boa, Marc's Rainbow was bet down to the odds-on favorite.
Hustled to the lead by jockey Richard Migliore, Marc's Rainbow led the six-horse field through fractions of :23, :46.2 and 1:11.3 to the three quarter pole. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Marc's Rainbow was under heavy pressure from Reheat, who was positioned down along the rail. Under a strong drive, the brave New York-bred filly held Reheat off in the final strides, prevailing by a neck as they crossed the wire. Final time was 1:38.3.
Bred by Mr. Fried at his beautiful Buttonwood Farm in Rhinebeck, New York, Marc's Rainbow is a dark bay filly by Summer Squall, out of the Miner's Mark mare, Marc's Lark. Marc's Rainbow is the first foal out of his dam, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed winner Courageous Maiden. Marc's Rainbow has now won two of her three lifetime starts earning $55,200. As breeder, Mr. Fried, has earned a breeder's award of 10% of Marc's Rainbow total earnings or $5,520 and for todays open company score, Mr. Fried earns a owner's award of 10% of the purse earnings or $2,880 - owners and breeders awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/11) It's Showtime in finale
Richard Frankel's SHOWTIME took the last race on the Friday Belmont Park race-card, a $35,000 open claiming event for three year-olds run at seven furlongs over the sloppy main track.
Intent on the lead, Showtime raced along the inside to wrest command at the quarter pole and held off all challenges to the top of the stretch. Under a strong drive by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, the three year-old dark bay gelding prevailed over Peruvian Summer by three-quarters of a length.
Trained by Charlton Baker, Showtime was bred by Hall of Famer John Nerud, who oversees Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York. Showtime is by A. P Jet, out of the Broad Brush mare, Cassat, who is out of the multiple graded-stakes placed mare Lambros, by In Reality. Showtime has now earned $54,580 in 12 career starts and Mr. Nerud, as breeder, has now earned 20% of Showtime's lifetime earnings or $10,916. Mr. Frankel, as the owner of an open company winner - $30,000 claimer and upward, will earn an additional 20% of today's open company score or $3,780 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/11) Gold Oxide glitters at Belmont Park
Paraneck Stable's GOLD OXIDE, who recently broke her maiden, scored easily today over the sloppy going at Belmont Park. Eight state-bred fillies and mares went to post in the non-winner of 1X condition allowance race run at six furlongs. Jockey Jorge Chavez rode Gold Oxide for trainer Jennifer Pedersen.
Hustled to the front by Chavez, Gold Oxide took the early lead and while under a hand ride increased the margin throughout the stretch run coasting under the wire a much the best 14-length winner.
Bred by Questroyal #100, LLC, Gold Oxide was purchased out of the 2000 October Fasig-Tipton Mid-lantic sale for $35,000 by Ernie Paragallo's Paraneck Stable. Gold Oxide is a three year-old bay filly by Gold Fever, out of Zinc Oxide, by Sun Master. Zinc Oxide is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Zie World (Transworld) who also placed second in the Grade 2-Lamplighter Handicap at Monmouth Park. Gold Oxide has now earned $75,470 with a Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-0.

(10/11) Soon Soon arrives soon enough
Karen Noiman's SOON SOON closed strongly in the middle of the sloppy main track at Belmont Park to beat non-winners of 1X condition allowance race for fillies and mares. The six furlong race was contested by 7 state-breds, 3 year-old and upward.
Lady Commando out hustled Sea of Hope for the early lead but was overtaken by Quarter To Nine in the middle of the last turn. Swinging four wide, Soon Soon, under Javier Castellano powered past the Quarter To Nine in mid-stretch and won comfortably by two and one-half lengths.
Bred by Gus Schoenborn, Jr. at his Contemporary Farm in Coxsackie, New York, Soon Soon is a three year-old dark bay filly by Comet Shine, out of the Secret Prince mare, Marypats Secret. Soon Soon is the second foal out of the dam and has now banked $77,640. Mr. Schoenborn, as breeder, has earned 20% or $15,528 of Soon Soon's lifetime earnings in breeder's awards, which are one of the incentives of the New York Breeding and Racing Program. Soon Soon, now with a record of: 9-2-2-1, is trained by Assaf Ronen.

(10/11) Joint Custody breaks maiden at Belmont Park
Harold D. Armstrong's JOINT CUSTODY racing in his eighth career start broke his maiden over a sloppy main track at Belmont Park. Thirteen state-breds, 3 year-old and upward, contested the one and one-sixteenth mile affair.
Life At Sea took over the lead going to the quarter pole as Joint Custody rated seventh in the large field. Nearing the far turn, Javier Castellano angled Joint Custody three wide and responded willingly charging to the wire and a three-length victory over Life At Sea.
Trained by Mitch Friedman and bred by Walnut Creek Farm of Stanley, New York, Joint Custody is a three year-old gelding by Sultry Song, out of Picadilly Lilly, by Kick. Picadilly Lilly, a hard hitting racemare who earned $187,308, was stakes-placed on six occasions. She has also been successful in the breeding shed having produced three race horses from her first four foals including the grade 2 stakes-placed winner Talavera (Cormorant) who earned $291,734.

(10/10) But in laugher
Joseph W. Gerrity, Jr.'s BUT easily beat state-bred allowance fillies and mares in a non-winner of 2X condition race at Belmont Park,. The one and one-sixteenth mile affair was run over the main track and after two late scratches six fillies loaded into the gate.
Edgar Prado, aboard But, sent the race time favorite to the front with Private Port tracking close behind in the run down the backstretch. Coasting through comfortable fractions of :24, 47.4 and 1:12.1 to the three-quarter pole, But began to draw away from Private Port and the field at the top of the stretch and won as much the best by six lengths.
Foaled at Mr. Gerrity's Little Farm in Kinderhook, New York, But is a four year-old chestnut filly by Unaccounted For, out of Down South, by Dixieland Band. Trained by Ramon (Mike) Hernandez, But has now banked $166,700 with a Lifetime Record: 20-3-4-9.

(10/10) B Bop prevails in thrilling three-horse finish
B BOP outdueled Wonderful Victory and Dazzling Spirit after a thrilling stretch run which saw the lead exchanged on two occasions. The state-bred maiden race for two year-olds was run over Belmont Park's Widener turf course at one-mile with the fences set out 18 feet from the hedges. Trainer Robert Terrill equipped B Bop with blinkers for the first time and named Jose Bermudez to ride.
Going to the front soon after the break, B Bop thwarted challenges by Margin of Error and Wonderful Victory in the run down the backstretch and was under intense pressure throughout. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Dazzling Spirit moved up to challenge and was sandwiched in between B Bop on the rail and Wonderful Victory on the outside. Wonderful Victory put a head in-front at the sixteenth pole but B Bop came right back to wrest command of the lead, putting a head in front as they crossed the wire.
Bred by Frank DeSavino and owned by the partnership of DeSavino and Terrill, B Bop is by first crop sire Tomorrows Cat, out of the Personal Flag mare, Rachel Allyn. Tomorrows Cat, a son of Storm Cat, stands at Questroyal Stud Farm in Hudson, New York. B Bop is Tomorrows Cat third winner and his progeny has earned $165,745 to date.

(10/10) Tuft Of Flowers, a bridesmaid no more
Berkshire Stud's homebred, TUFT OF FLOWERS, made it to the winner's circle today after finishing second in her last two races. Racing against state-bred maiden fillies and mares, Tuft Of Flowers broke from the far outside (#12) post-position and was ridden, once again, by Javier Castellano.
Polish Donut streaked away from the field quickly opening up five lengths on the field but was overtaken by Tuft Of Flowers and Sensational Julia just past the quarter pole. Battling head to head, Tuft Of Flowers and Sensational Julia were far in front of the pack as Tuft Of Flowers ran by her rival past the eighth pole, winning comfortably by three lengths. French Hideaway past a tired Sensational Julia near the wire to be second.
Tuft Of Flowers is a three year-old gray filly by Two Punch, out of Notice Taken, by Known Fact. Notice Taken, a winner of over $107,000 is a full sister to stakes winner Give Notice and a half-sister to graded stakes-placed winner Royal Ruby (Rubiano) and stakes-placed winner Look Upon (Carson City).
The talented filly has now hit the board in all four of her lifetime starts earning $47,110 to date. Berkshire Stud, owned by Dr. Doug Koch, has earned breeder's awards of 10% of Tuft Of Flowers lifetime earnings or $4,711. The New York Breeding and Racing Program pays award money to breeders and stallion owners for any purse money earned in pari-mutuel races run in New York State and open owner awards for horses competing for $30,000 claimers and upward run in New York.

(10/9) Rhythmic Motion captures open turf allowance
Two year-old New York-bred RHYTHMIC MOTION came right back to win after breaking his maiden against state-breds in his first lifetime start, this time beating open allowance colts at Belmont Park. The one-mile race was run over the Widener turf course, with the fences set out 18 feet from the hedges.
Nine two year-olds loaded into the starting gate with North Broad and Heatcus vying for the lead in the early going. The pair dueled through early 'hot' fractions of 22.2, 45.2 and 1:10 flat at the three-quarter pole. Javier Castellano, aboard Rhythmic Motion, rated the chestnut gelding well off the pace and was sitting next to last rounding the far turn. Swinging six wide at the top of the stretch, Rhythmic Motion charged to the wire picking off horses one by one before getting to the front nearing the wire, stopping the timer in a very respectable 1:35.2. Hypnotist finished second by three-quarters of a length with Stroll a neck behind in third.
Owned by Robert Spiegel of Weston, Connecticut, Rhythmic Motion is trained by David Donk and was bred by the late John Valentino at his Genegantslet Farm in Smithville Flats, New York. Rhymtic Motion is by Irish River, out of the Bailjumper mare, K.'s Solution, who also produced River's Solution, who broke her maiden going a mile and a quarter on turf at Belmont last July. Rhythmic Motion 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.
For the open company score, Mr. Spiegel earns an open company award of 10% of the winner's share of the purse or $2,880. Aside for owner's awards, the New York Breeding and Racing Program pays a breeder's award for all pari-mutuel races (first through fourth) run in New York State, thus, qualifying the estate of Mr. Valentino for a breeder's award of $2,880 for today's race and a grand total of $5,720 for the talented gelding's two lifetime races.

Photo: Gary Burbrink/Lang Photos

(10/6) Perfectly Stunning looks like a $million+
Bumped at the start in her debut against New York-breds at Saratoga on August 23, Debby Oxley's New York-bred PERFECTLY STUNNING -- a $1,250,000 Saratoga select sales yearling two years ago -- ran greenly in that seven-furlong contest and was unplaced. Trainer John Ward subsequently shipped the aptly named three-year-old filly to Keeneland, where she put in a "bullet" five-furlong workout (fastest of six) on September 29. Made the 2.60-to-1 second choice among nine three-year-old fillies (although conditions called for three-year-old fillies and up) a week later in a $44,750 six-furlong Sunday maiden special at Keeneland with jockey Edgar Prado aboard for the first time, Perfectly Stunning broke first out of the extreme outside post position. She immediately challenged the front-running favorite, Witch Tradition (1.40-to-1), and ran that filly into submission, taking command in the upper stretch while setting a five-furlong fraction of 58.40 and extending her lead by almost five lengths through the final furlong to win easily by 8 1/2 lengths in 1:11.10.
Perfectly Stunning's first victory was worth $26,350, and she was the first of four winners ridden at Keeneland on Sunday by Prado, who also teamed up with trainer Ward in piloting the fifth race winner for John Oxley and was aboard the Grade 1 Spinster winner, Take Charge Lady. Favored Witch Tradition faltered to finish fourth.
Bred by Bill Garbarini's Quarter Keg Stable, Dr. Frank Ariosta's Skytop Farm and Ernie Lee and foaled at Skytop Farm in Roccoe, Perfectly Stunning got her name because of her early appearance and presence, which led to her becoming the highest-priced New York-bred yearling or filly ever sold at auction. The $1.25-million final bid that she elicited from Oklahoma oilman John Oxley, husband of her owner, was "somewhat higher than I had hoped to pay," according to Oxley, but as he later told agent Fred Seitz of Brookdale Farm (Perfectly Stunning's consignor), "We just couldn't let her get away." The reserve price Brookdale Farm had put on Perfectly Stunning was $95,000.
By five-filly champion sire Silver Deputy, Perfectly Stunning is a half-sister to stakes winners Farmonthefreeway (New York-bred graded winner of $486,929), Scarlet Rage (New York-bred) and Wardrobe Test, being the eighth starter and eighth winner produced from Screened, a daughter of Alydar. Screened was a swaybacked mare that never raced and was purchased privately by Garbarini and Ariosta from the estate of her breeder, the late David (Sonny) Werblin, founding owner of the New York Jets pro football team. Screened's winning half-siblings include Grade 1 winner Travelling Music plus the dams of stakes winners Mistic (Group 1), Why Be Normal ($288,644), Video Talc (graded stakes producer), Audio Cassette and Cassette Player.

(10/6) Ed's Party Boy pulls away by 5 in third start
He had broken "in the air" from the gate and run wide in his Saratoga debut on August 31, then showed good speed at Belmont on September 22 before dropping back, but for his third start, Edwin Wachtel's and Double S Stable's homebred ED'S PARTY BOY was ready to fire. On Lasix for the first time and sent off the 3.40-to-1 third choice among eight starters for Belmont's second race on Sunday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-olds going 5 1/2 furlongs, the chestnut gelding ducked in at the start but was in front almost immediately thereafter. By mid-stretch, he was six lengths ahead with a five-furlong fraction of 59.84, and he reached the wire with a five-length margin over 6.90-to-1 fourth choice Ruby's Pro, as 2.35-to-1 second choice B. Carson finished third and 2.20-to-1 favorite Token Tonko ran fourth. Riding Ed's Party Boy for the second time was Javier Castellano -- the New York-bred juvenile's jockey in his first start.
The victory was worth $25,800 in first-place purse money for Wachtel and the Double S Stable of Joseph Sweedler of Westport, Connecticut, raising the total earnings for Ed's Party Boy to $28,260 in three starts over the past 36 days. The win also qualified the John DeStafano Jr.-trained gelding's breeder and co-owner, Wachtel, of Boca Raton, Florida and Suffern, New York, for an additional $6,966 in breeder ($5,160) and stallion ($1,806) awards, since Wachtel owns the sire of Ed's Party Boy, 1988 New York-Bred Horse of the Year Claramount.
Ed's Party Boy is among two juvenile starters of 2002 -- both winners -- sired by Claramount, the other being first-out five-length winner Light Artillery at Thistledown on September 23. Although a Group 3-winning juvenile in his own right and sire of multiple Grade 3-winning sprinter Stalwart Member, Grade 2 winner Claramount generally sires runners that are more late-maturing -- meaning Ed's Party Boy bears watching. Claramount (Policeman - Fifties Galore, by Cornish Prince) stands at James Edwards' The Stallion Park in Millbrook and recently went over $7-million in lifetime progeny earnings. Ed's Party Boy is the first offspring produced by Woodbine allowance winner Molly's Party Girl, a Premiership mare who won her first two starts as a two-year-old and raced for Wachtel. Molly's Party Girl is a half-sister to stakes winner Affair With Molly, and her dam is five-time stakes winner Molly Bolt.
Ed's Party Boy was the first of two New York-bred winners at Belmont on Sunday -- the second being George Raymond's three-year-old filly, POLISH SILK ($122,465), who was saddled by trainer Richard Violette Jr. to beat open claimers with a $25,000 tag in the nightcap 10th race under jockey Michael Luzzi.

(10/5) Foreverness decisively first in N1X allowance
Disqualified from first to fourth for ducking out in his previous start on September 1 at Saratoga, Red Oak Stable's three-year-old FOREVERNESS resumed competition in Belmont's nightcap 10th race on Saturday, a $46,000 restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up going a mile and an eighth on the inner turf. This time, Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey managed to keep him out of trouble, and the late-foaled (June 5, 1999) chestnut colt got a clear win and an official victory.
Not that he was any surprise. Sent off the 1.60-to-1 favorite among 10 starters, seven of which were older horses, Foreverness was rated as far back as eighth place in the early running off a slow pace, but as the field started to bunch up approaching the second turn, he advanced past rivals. Coming into the stretch, he rallied three wide while pursuing a fourth quarter split of 23.51 seconds and then ran the fastest furlong of the entire race -- 11.29 -- to draw clear to a 2 1/4-length victory while full of run in 1:50.69. It was the third winning ride of the day for Bailey, who was riding Foreverness for the third consecutive time and also guided Imperial Gesture to victory in the Grade 1 Beldame.
Trained by Gregory Sacco, Foreverness earned $27,600 for his second Belmont victory this year, increasing his bankroll to $62,740 and improving his record to 2 - 0 - 1 in six starts, with his wins and placing as well as his first-place disqualification to fourth all coming in four starts on turf. He broke his maiden for his breeders, Louis and Patrice Wolfson's Harbor View Farm, on June 30 at Belmont and nine days later was consigned by Harbor View through Eisaman Equine to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's sale of two-year-olds and horses of racing age, where John Brunetti bought him for $102,000. As breeders of Foreverness, the Wolfsons qualified for a $2,760 breeder award because of the colt's latest victory.
Sired by multiple Grade 1-winning router Island Whirl (also a Grade 2 winner at seven furlongs), Foreverness is the fourth winner produced by Harbor View Farm's homebred winner Dearness, who is by Harbor View Farm's legendary Triple Crown champion, Affirmed. Dearness won four races -- all on turf -- capturing an Aqueduct maiden special at a mile and an eighth and allowances at Hialeah and Calder at a mile and a sixteenth (twice) and a mile and an eighth, earning $70,020. Dearness is a half-sister to the winning dam of two stakes-placed 2002 winners in Texas -- four-year-old Brother Julius ($111,297) and three-year-old Royal Honey.

(10/5) Provincetown pulls clear in open 2yo maiden turf special
As the only New York-bred among 12 two-year-olds in Belmont's fifth race on Saturday, a $46,000 open maiden special at a virtual one-turn mile on the Widener turf, Flying Zee Stable's PROVINCETOWN was a well-regarded 2.90-to-1 second choice -- and he deserved that respect. Of the nine colts that already had started, he had the highest Daily Racing Form Beyer speed rating and was the only one to have placed on turf, which he did in his debut at Belmont on a yielding course on July 20, finishing second while missing by a neck. Acquired privately thereafter by the Flying Zee Stable of Carl Lizza Jr. of Wharton, New Jersey, Provincetown again placed second (among 12) on a muddy main track at Saratoga on August 25 against New York-breds following an awkward start.
For Belmont's Saturday race, Provincetown had Jorge Chavez up for the first time and clearly was unintimidated by the big seven-length lead opened up by Elton, who was half of an entry favored at .80-to-1 and ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day. Racing in second place, Provincetown quickly began closing the gap on Elton on the turn, came wide to assume command entering the stretch and drew clear to win by a length and three-quarters in 1:36.40, as Elton faded to fifth and 20.40-to-1 fourth choice Cheadles closed for second. The victory was worth $27,600 in purse money, raising the two-year-old colt's earnings to $44,400 in three starts, and it also qualified owner Flying Zee Stable for a $5,520 open race owner award. It was the first of two winning rides on the day for Chavez, who piloted Toccet to victory in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes six races later.
Trained by Patrick Biancone, Provincetown was bred by Donald Jones and Jeanne Polese, who qualified for a $5,520 breeder award, and he made his second-place debut while racing for Jeanne and Ralph Polese under the care of trainer William Turner. The bay colt is the first starter and first winner sired by New York stallion Crimson Guard, a turf stakes-winning son of Danzig - Wedding Reception, by Round Table, standing at Jerry Herron's Cobble Creek Farm in Valatie whose partnership owners qualified for a $1,932 stallion award. Provincetown is the fourth New York-bred winner produced from New York-bred Pour Popsie, a London Company mare that co-breeder Jones, who leased Lo An Jo Farm in Sugar Loaf, acquired privately in the late 1990s. Pour Popsie is a half-sister to New York-bred multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Lottsa Talc ($1,211,996) and to New York-bred stakes winner Appealing Guy ($220,003).

(10/4) Pretty Brassy captures open claimer
James F. Edward's PRETTY BRASSY closed resolutely down the stretch to capture a open claiming race at Belmont Park. Seven three year-old fillies, all in for a claiming tag of $75,000, contested the $45,000 purse. Distance for the race was seven furlongs over the main track.
Unexpected Twist took command of the race down the backside tracked closey by Fui. Shaun Bridgmohan, aboard Pretty Brassy, held Pretty Brassy well behind the first tier of horse to the middle of the last turn. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Fui hooked Unexpected Twist and they battled down along the rail toward the finish line. Pretty Brassy, moving to the outside of late closer Saratoga Mark, displayed a strong late kick taking the lead in the last twenty yards.
Bred by Mr. Edward's CBF Corporation, Pretty Brassy is a three year-old dark bay filly by Dixie Brass, out of the Personal Flag mare, Pretty Personal, producer of stakes winner Personal Pro (Distinctive Pro). Pretty Brassy has now earned $145,670 in twelve lifetime starts.
Mr. Edwards, owner of Keane Stud in Amenia, New York and The Stallion Park in Millbrook, New York, has earned $29,134 in breeder's awards to date. And for today's open company victory, picks up an open owner's award of $5,400 - all awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(10/4) Oatka Idas Destiny breaks maiden on turf
Daniel and Donna Harmon's OATKA IDAS DESTINY mounted a strong drive in deep stretch to capture a state-bred maiden race today at Belmont Park. The one-mile affair for fillies and mares, 3 year-old and upward, was contested over the Widener turf course with the fences set out 9 feet from the hedges.
Longshot (41-1) Degrove breaking from the 12 post dueled with Bound On Bi and Silk Drawers down the backstretch and into the far turn. Oatka Idas Destiny rated in mid-pack to the top of the stretch before angling off the rail to the middle of the course. Javier Castellano, aboard the eventual winner, didn't find racing room until past the eighth pole but once underway, charged past her rivals to win convincingly by more than a length.
Bred by John Hettinger at his Akindale Farm in Pawling, New York, Oatka Idas Destiny is a 3 year-old chestnut filly by A. P Jet, out of Likean Angel Looks, by Foolish Pleasure. The unraced dam is a half-sister to several outstanding race mares including Lady D'Accord (D'Accord), winner of over $590,000 and MissymooIloveyou (Turkoman), winner of the Grade 3 - Miss Grillo Stakes. Among the stakes races won by Lady D'Accord was the Grade 2 - Bed O' Roses which she captured on two occasions.

(10/4) Lady Nelson wins bizarre finale at Belmont Park
Delehanty Stock Farm's LADY NELSON beat state-bred maidens today in an accident marred finale at Belmont Park. Run over the Widener turf course at one-mile, 12 fillies and mares, 3 year-old and upward went to post.
Watt Ever and A Moment In Dixie battled through the early going with A Moment In Dixie taking command of the race in the middle of the last turn. Lady Nelson, sent off as 2-1 favorite moved into contention at the top of the stretch and was sitting second several lengths behind A Moment In Dixie who appeared full of run. Nearing the eighth pole, A Moment In Dixie began to veer toward the inside rail before suddenly bolting, crashing through the breakaway rail ending up on the other side while sending jockey Herberto Castillo, Jr. into the turf. Lady Nelson, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, took over the lead at this point and drove to the wire winning by two lengths over Lilly A. Jockey Castillo was conscious when he was taken to North Shore Hospital to be treated for a laceration to his forehead. A Moment In Dixie appeared fine although obviously shaken for the experience.
Bred by Delehanty Stock Farm and trained by Frank Alexander, Lady Nelson is a three year-old gray filly by Sea Hero, out of Fortunate Faith, by Fortunate Prospect. Fortunate Faith won the 1992 Grade 2 - Demoiselle at Aqueduct Racetrack. Lady Nelson has now banked $48,460 in six career starts.

(10/3) Thebigapple rolls in New York-bred feature - By Drew Mollica
Proving his six and one-half length victory in his last start was no fluke; Robert Levine's THEBIGAPPLE trounced a solid field of 2 other than allowance runners at Belmont Park.
Confidently ridden by Aaron Gryder, who piloted him in his last start, Thebigapple tracked Barry Schwartz' Seeking The Money into the far turn, and overtook him in the final eighth of a mile. He won by 3 lengths stopping the teletimer in 1:42.4 for the mile and a sixteenth event.
D & B Stable's One N Three rounded out the top three while odds-on choice Center, who raced in a graded stakes in his last start, finished a disappointing fourth.
Bred by James Iselin's J I Racing Inc., Thebigapple is a dark bay three year-old gelded son of Abel Prospect, out of good race mare Fire Opal, by Strawberry Road. Thebigapple was purchased at the 2001 June OBS two year-old in training sale for $23,000 and with this victory has lifetime career earnings of nearly $100,000.

(10/3) Hot favorite, Pure Amazement, breaks maiden
Maggie Moss' PURE AMAZEMENT who was disqualified after finishing first in his last race put in a troubled free journey today to beat state-bred maidens at Belmont Park. Ridden once again by Jose Espinoza, Pure Amazement was heavily bet and went to the post as the prohibitive odds-on favorite.
Jockey Dale Whittaker sent Sensational Bid to the front with Mister Fizz and Pure Amazement in close pursuit. Closely bunched around the last turn, Pure Amazement, in between horses, forged his way clear of a determined Sensational Bid and drew off to win by four lengths.
Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Nielsen, at their Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, New York, Purse Amazement is a 3 year-old chestnut colt by Gilded Time, out of Top Tart, by Believe the Queen. Winner of the 1990 Double Delta Stake at Aqueduct, Top Tart has produced multiple stakes-placed winner Pastry Chef (Chief's Crown) and stakes-placed winner Secret to Life (Cure the Blues).
Pure Amazement was purchased at the February 2001 Fasig-Tipton two year-old in training sale in Calder, Florida for $77,000, and has now earned $36,860 in three career starts.

(10/3) Doubtful Diva - first out winner pays $100.50
Dresden Farm's homebred, DOUBTFUL DIVA beat state-bred 2 year-old fillies today in a seven-furlong race run over the main track at Belmont Park. Making her first career start, the bay filly was overlooked in the betting and went to the post at 48-1! Shipped from Finger Lakes, Doubtful Diva had the eight post in the twelve-horse field and is trained by John Progno.
After an early battle for the lead, Katies Danza took command of the race with Doubtful Diva sitting well off the pace in fifth position. As the field turned for home, Katies Danza had a large lead but began to drift toward the outside rail with Doubtful Diva taking advantage to gain the lead in deep stretch for the victory.
Doubtful Diva is by King's Grant, out of the Smarten mare, Miz Off the Cuff. Freshman sire King's Grant stands at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York.

(10/2) Perfect Energy in powerful display
Matthew Stasior's PERFECT ENERGY blew away a state-bred allowance field today at Belmont Park over the inner turf course. Eight fillies and mares, contested the one and one-sixteenth mile affair, a non-winners of 1X condition, with the fences set out eighteen feet out from the hedges.
Perfect Energy, breaking from the far outside, was bumped coming out of the gate but was hustled into contention by jockey Jorge Chavez. Sitting second down the backstetch to My Lady Roanne, who opened up three lengths, Perfect Energy was full of run but was held hard to the far turn before gliding up to challenge My Lady Roanne. Drawing even with the front-runner at the top of the stretch, Perfect Energy roared to the lead, quickly opening daylight on the field and drew off to win by five and one-half lengths.
Trained by Gary Sciacca and bred by Peter Trapp and Rhapsody Farm, located in Plymouth, New York, Perfect Energy is a three year-old dark bay filly by Signal Tap, out of the Vice Regent mare, Visionneuse, a full-sister to the multiple stakes winner Noble Regent, earner who earned $335,630.
With four races run over the turf, Perfect Energy has won twice and placed twice, and has now earned a total of $73,290 in eight career starts. The breeders, Trapp and Rhapsody Farm, have earned breeder's award of 20% of Perfect Energy's earnings or $14,650 from the rich incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program. Also, the share owner of Signal Tap, who stands at Questroyal Stud in Hudson, New York, has earned 7% of total earnings or $5,130 from the 'Program'.

(10/2) Ormsbys Treasure takes to the turf
After having run seven times on the dirt and never going further than six and one-half furlongs, trainer Dewayne Deville entered ORMSBYS TREASURE in a mile race to be run over the Widener turf course at Belmont Park. The strategy worked for the game chestnut filly, as she broke her maiden in front-running fashion over a full field of 12 state-bred two year-old fillies.
Arguing for the lead with Special Girl down the backside, Ormsbys Treasure emerged with the lead nearing the turn after 'hot' fractions of: 23, 46.2, getting to the six-furlong pole in 1:11.4. At the top of the stretch, Ormsbys Treasure was put to an all-out drive by Edgar Prado and managed to hold off a furious late charge by Seraphic Too, by a neck with Exchange Bay finishing third by a half-length.
Bred by James H. Iselin and Marvin Little, Jr., Ormsbys Treasure is owned by the partnership of Neal R. Galvin, Julie Levine and Pre K Stable. Ormsbys Treasure is by Ormsby, out of the Cormorant mare, Pipit, a full sister to the multiple stakes winner Social Retiree, who's stakes victories included the Grade 3 - Gallant Man. Pipit is also a full sister to multiple stakes winner Auroral, who placed in the Grade 3 - Royal Palm Handicap.
Purchased out of the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Preferred Yearling Sale in Saratoga for $15,000, Ormsbys Treasure has now banked $58,180 with a Lifetime Record: 8-1-2-3. The breeder's, Iselin and Little, have earned breeder's awards of $11,636, to date, from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.