(11/30) Cheap Talk tallies in $137K Woodbine stakes
Scoring his third consecutive victory and fifth tally of 2002, New York-bred three-year-old CHEAP TALK stalked stakes-winning pace-setter Krz Ruckus to mid-stretch in Woodbine's $137,500 Kennedy Road Stakes for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs on Saturday, then gained command in the final strides and won by half a length. Cheap Talk had been showing unmistakable brilliance leading up to the Kennedy Road, for which he was one of two three-year-olds among seven starters, but Saturday's score in the impressive time of 1:09.50 marked his first stakes victory.
Ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Patrick Husbands, who piloted two winners at Woodbine on Saturday, the dark bay colt was the 1.65-to-1 second choice behind New York-conceived favorite (at 1.30-to-1) and graded winner Wake at Noon ($1,260,821), who placed third. Placing second was 2002 multiple stakes winner Krz Ruckus ($667,849), the 4.15-to-1 third choice, and also earning purse money in the Kennedy Road was New York-bred 2002 open stakes winner Impeachthepro ($458,634).
The Kennedy Road victory increased Cheap Talk's earnings by $82,500 to $381,404 and improved his record to 6 - 5 - 0 in 13 starts, establishing him as the 14th New York-bred winner of an open stakes (to horses bred anywhere) in 2002. Through 11 months of the current calendar year, New York-breds have captured 18 open stakes victories in nine U.S. states and now Canada.
Prior to launching his three-race winning streak, which began at Woodbine on October 26, Cheap Talk had placed second to Wake at Noon (one of 81 stakes winners by deceased New York sire Cure the Blues) in his only previous stakes outing, Woodbine's Grade 3 Highlander Handicap on September 29. The colt's trainer is Robert Tiller, who purchased him as a weanling for $2,700 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1999 December mixed sale, and he races for Tiller in partnership with T. Lottridge.
Bred by Betty and Len Powell's Hi-Tail Farm in Saratoga Springs in partnership with Sally Bierer's Woodside Stud and James Iselin's J. I. Racing Inc., Cheap Talk is by former New York stallion Abel Prospect. He is the second New York-bred winner produced from Berrylicious, an allowance-winning Strawberry Road mare that Betty Powell bought for $2,200 at Keeneland's 1998 January mixed sale. Berrylicious is a half-sister to multiple non-black-type stakes winner (and black-type-placed) Odie West.

(11/29) Unswept impressively wins allowance
UNSWEPT demolished a field of state-bred allowance two year-olds today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The non-winner of 1X allowance conditioned race was run at six-furlongs over the main track. Trainer Gary Contessa named Aaron Gryder to ride, with 8-horses loading into the gate.
Breaking sharply, Unswept took command early on and set sensible fractions down the backstretch of 22.2 and 46 flat to the half-mile pole. Gryder sat chilly aboard the dark bay colt as his mount led the way around the last turn and into the stretch. Once straightened for home, Gryder let out a notch and the colt drew off from nearest challenger Patriotic Legend, opening up by seven lengths. Gryder, never moved his hands throughout the race and looked back on several occasions looking for competition, however, none materialized. Unswept glided under the wire a seven and a half-length winner, with Look Out Evan up for second money. Final time for the six-furlong race was a swift 1:10.3.
Owned by television and singing star David Cassidy in partnership with Richard Brodie's Andrew Farm, Unswept was purchased by Cassidy for $117,000 at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Preferred Sale. Cassidy, a longtime supporter of the New York Breeding and Racing Program, is, also, an active breeder in New York.
Unswept's breeders, Dr. Jerry Bilinski of Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Martin Zaretsky of Old Chatham, and Marc Roberts, jointly qualified for a $2,700 breeder award. Bilinski purchased Unswept's dam, four-time winner Dress, for $27,000 at the 1999 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October mixed sale in Florida when she was carrying Unswept, who is by deceased End Sweep, currently the third-leading juvenile sire in North America.
Unswept is the fourth offspring and fourth winner produced by Dress, a Topsider mare who was an allowance winner on turf and a three-time winner on dirt. Dress's first offspring won open allowance races at Arlington Park and Meadowlands; her second, Diablo His Due, captured a non-black-type stakes race at Turf Paradise in 2000; her third broke his maiden by six lengths at Hollywood Park this summer and won again on August 28 at Sacramento. Dress's half-brother, Brunswick ($412,960), won Saratoga's Grade 1 Whitney Handicap by 3 1/2 lengths in 1993.

(11/29) Jelly Roll Rock rolls to break maiden
Trainer Joe Orseno equipped JELLY ROLL ROCK with blinkers today and that seemed to be the catalyst for Jelly Roll Rock to break his maiden. Racing in his 20th career start, last four with Orseno, Jelly Roll Rock had the 12 post in the seven-furlong affair for state-bred maidens, which was run over the main track at Aqueduct. Orseno named Norberto Arroyo, Jr. to ride the four year-old dark bay colt.
Breaking alertly, Jelly Roll Rock sat just off the early pace set by Life At Sea with Captain Smith another length back in third. Midway in the last turn, Jelly Roll Rock was sent up to engage the leader and had the lead shortly after the field straightened for home. Once in front, Jelly Roll Rock drew off from the field, winning while under a drive by four and one-half lengths.
Bred by the Billings Partnership, Jelly Roll Rock is by Prosper Fager, out of the Green Dancer mare, Winelight, who is the first foal out of Cherokee Frolic (Cherokee Fellow) winner of 9 stakes races including the Grade 2-Test Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and the Grade 3 - Railbird stakes at Hollywood Park. Unraced, Winelight has produced 13 foals, including the graded stakes placed and stakes winner Jelly Roll Jive (Prosper Fager) and Japan stakes-placed winner Eishin Windom (Peteski).
Jelly Roll Rock has hit the board in half of his lifetime starts and has now earned $102,540. The Billings Partnership has collected breeder (20%) and stallion (7%) awards amounting to $27,686. Breeder and stallion awards are part of the incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program. The stallion, Prosper Fager, stands at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York.

(11/28) Blink Twice prevails in Thanksgiving Day allowance
Padua Stables' BLINK TWICE, bet down to the prohibitive 3 to 5 favorite, managed to get her nose in front after a thrilling stretch duel with Scarlet Billows, keeping alive the pick-six bettors who singled her on their tickets. The state-bred allowance for non-winner of 1X condition for two year-old fillies had a field of seven after I'll Be The One was scatched at the gate. Trainer Todd Pletcher named John Velazquez to ride Blink Twice in the six-furlong affair, which carried a purse of $45,000.
Scarlet Billows was away quickest of all, with Blink Twice tracking in third position. Setting quick fractions of 22.1 and 45.3 to the half-mile pole, Scarlet Billows was engaged by Blink Twice at the top of the stretch. Velazquez urged Blink Twice and the filly put her head in front past the eighth pole, but the game Scarlet Billows dug in and made another move on Blink Twice drawing even with fifty yards to the wire. As the pair crossed the wire, track announcer stated that "Blink Twice won by a flared nostril", and that about says it all.
Sold for $475,000 at the 2001 Saratoga Fasig-Tipton Select Sale, Blink Twice was bred by John Hettinger at his Akindale Farm in Pawling. The juvenile filly is the third winner sired by Dixieland Band from Grade 2 winner With a Wink ($233,880), a Clever Trick mare that Hettinger purchased for $240,000 when she was a not-bred four-year-old at Keeneland's 1994 November sale. With a Wink is a half-sister to NYRA multiple graded winner Raja's Shark ($673,977), who placed second in Aqueduct's Grade 1 Wood Memorial.

(11/28) Cologny equipped for victory
Mercedes Alvarez' COLOGNY, making her second career start, broke her maiden today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The $43,000 state-bred maiden race was run over the main track, labeled 'good', at six-furlongs and had a field of 11 two year-old fillies go to post. Trainer Carlos Morales made several changes on Cologny for today's race. After a dismal performance in her first when she finished last by 31 lengths, Morales went back to the drawing board adding blinkers and lasix, and, naming Herberto Castillo, Jr. to ride.
Lady Libby and Cologny dueled in the early going before Cologny emerged with the lead before the half-mile pole. Setting quick fractions of 22.2 and 46.1 to the half-mile pole Cologny drew away from the field at the top of the stretch. Alone through the stretch run, Cologny was kept to a drive by Castillo and won by seven-lengths under the wire. Final time for the six-furlong race was 1:11.4, with Lady Libby finishing second and Karakorum Kiss holding on for third.
Bred by Martin Zaretsky and Dr. Jerry Bilinski at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Cologny is a two year-old bay filly by Go for Gin, out of C.J.'s Sister, by Slady Castle. Cologny was purchased out of the 2001 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $40,000. The filly is the twelfth foal out of 100% producer C. J.'s Sister, and is a half-sister to stakes winner Keep It S. S. (Cormorant) and to multiple stakes winner Selective (Mi Selecto).

(11/27) Itsmyfinalanswer wins finale at Aqueduct
Janice Wolfe's ITSMYFINALANSWER took today's last race at Aqueduct with a last gasp effort. Racing against state-bred fillies in non-winners of 1X condition, Itsmyfinalanswer drew into the race off the also-eligible list after three late scratches. The four year-old bay filly had the outside (#14) post-position in the one-turn one-mile affair for fillies and mares, 3 year-old and upward.
Alittlebitbrassy went to the lead with Itsmyfinalanswer tracking close behind while in third position in the middle of the 'sloppy' track. Unhampered through the early going, Alittlebitbrassy had a three-length lead as the field turned for home with Itsmyfinalanswer and Senorita Million racing together. Still on top by two at the eighth pole, Alittlebitbrassy seemed well on her way to victory. However, a super effort by jockey Aaron Gryder, aboard Itsmyfinalanwer, paid dividends in the final few jumps as she surged past the Alittlebitbrassy by a head as they crossed the wire.
Bred by Jerry Herron, manager of Cobble Creek Farm, Itsmyfinalanswer is by Mighty Magee, out of the Within Hail mare, Calling Distance, who raced a remarkable 80 times, hitting the board on 39 occasions including 18 victories. Mighty Magee, a son of Cormorant, stands at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York

(11/27) My Girl Natalie rallies to break maiden
It was a longtime coming, but MY GIRL NATALIE, finally visited the winner's circle in her 21st career start. Elizabeth and Zacarias Aragon's homebred faced a field of 10 other state-breds in the second division of maidens for fillies and mares run at a distance of one-mile over the main track at Aqueduct. The track was labeled 'sloppy'.
Odds-on favorite Cream Creek opened up three lengths on the field in the run down the backstretch. Unpressured Cream Creek turned for home on top by seven lengths with My Girl Natalie, under apprentice Luis Chavez, still sitting fourth. Cream Creek seemed a sure winner but My Girl Natalie quickly accelerated into contention and ran by Cream Creek at the eighth pole. Once on top, the three year-old gray filly opened up daylight on the field, crossing the wire a 10-length winner. Track conditions slowed the final time of the race to 1:42.1 for the one-turn race.
Bred by the Aragons, My Girl Natalie is by Prosper Fager, out of Princess Nova, by Morning Bob. Princess Nova, a half-sister to Grade 3 stakes winner Cuzzin Jeb (Jeblar), has also produced stakes-placed winner Galactic (Tanks Number). Prosper Fager, a son of Mr. Prospector, stands at Meadow Hill Lane Farm in Pine Bush, New York.

(11/27) Pareepassoo breaks maiden for new trainer
Trainer Mike Brice, saddling PAREEPASSO for the first time, had a big smile on his face after the three year-old bay filly romped in the first race at Aqueduct Racetrack. Having raced 11 previous times under two different trainers, Pareepasso, came close but never made it to the winner's circle, until today. Brice named Mike Luzzi to ride in the state-bred maiden field, which was run at one-mile over a 'sloppy' main track.
Dixie Dream and Forever Dixie, both wearing blinkers for the first time, battled for the early lead with race-time favorite In Reverse in close pursuit. Slow fractions were indicative of how bad the overnight snow and rain had on the main track, as Dixie Dream took command nearing the far turn and led to the top of the stretch hitting the six-furlong pole in a pedestrian 1:16.1. Luzzi moved Pareepasso into contention as the field straightened for home and easily ran by Dixie Dream before the eighth-pole, drawing off to an easy seven-length victory. Dixie Dream finished second nine-lengths in front of In Reverse. Final time was 1:43.2 for the one-turn race.
Owned by the partnership of Michael Brice, Deborah McAllister and Donald Olsen, Pareepasso was bred by Aspen Stables, who qualified for a $5,280 breeder's award. Pareepasso is by Distinctive Pro, out of the L'Enjoleur mare, Key to Paree, who also produced the Grade 2 and multiple stakes winning filly Bodacious Tatas (Distinctive Pro). Distinctive Pro stands at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York, and his progeny has earned $2,112,980 in 2002, placing him in fourth position of leading stallions in New York State.

(11/24) Grab Bag graduates to open allowance victory

(11/24) Center again succeeds at nine furlongs
Showing the ability that had gotten him a 6 3/4-length victory at a mile and an eighth at Saratoga in mid-August, Gary and Mary West's three-year-old CENTER was undeterred by a slowed-down pace in Aqueduct's nightcap ninth race on Sunday, a $48,000 restricted N2X allowance for three-year-olds and up. Under Edgar Prado, who had been on board for the Saratoga romp, the favored (2.15-to-1) bay gelding advanced between rivals on the backstretch to get within a head of longshot (62-to-1) leader Lake Marion, who had been swapping leads with 2.20-to-1 second choice Seeking the Money. As expected, the latter did not give way, and the two three-year-olds eventually forged to the front and rounded the second turn only heads apart, with Center holding a slight advantage on the inside of Seeking the Money. In the stretch, Center edged away from Seeking the Money and then held on to prevail by a head over four-year-old Cold Blow Lane, who closed strongly on the outside as the 30.25-to-1 eighth choice among the 11 starters. The winning time was 1:50.90.
Center's credentials also include a money-earning effort in Woodbine's Grade 3 Col. R. S. McLaughlin Handicap at a mile and an eighth in September, and his two turf outings both produced close finishes -- the latest being a second-place performance at a mile in his previous Aqueduct outing on November 1. The gelding's latest victory boosted his earnings by $28,800 into six figures at $100,461 and improved his record to 3 - 1 - 0 in nine starts, and it also qualified his breeder, Marlene Brody's Gallagher's Stud in Ghent, for a $2,880 breeder award. Center was the second New York-bred winner ridden at Aqueduct on Sunday by Prado, who has piloted the promising two-turn specialist in five races.
Trained by four-time New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Trainer of the Year Harold James Bond, Center was a $47,000 purchase out of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2000 October yearling sale and is by Eclipse Champion Gulch, who currently ranks among the top five sires in North America for 2002. He is the first winner produced from Storm Attack, a Storm Bird mare who is a half-sister to stakes winners Glacial Storm (Group 3 winner of $463,243 in England and France) and Chaudennay (dam of two stakes winners, one Grade 3) and to the dam of another black-type winner. Gallagher's Stud purchased Storm Attack, whose dam is French Group 2 winner Hortensia, for $80,000 at Keeneland's 1995 November sale.

(11/24) Hansel's Gretel grabs sweet ($80) win in maiden special
A green-running sixth in her Belmont debut 10 weeks and three days earlier, Herbert Kushner's HANSEL'S GRETEL must have learned something during three November workouts, because she returned to competition to win Aqueduct's third race on Sunday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-old fillies, by a length and three-quarters. Again ridden by Julio Molina Pezua and sent off the 39-to-1 fifth choice among 11 starters in the six-furlong contest, the bay filly engaged front-running second choice Polonia (2.65-to-1) entering the turn after Polonia had ripped off an opening quarter in 22.72. The two then drew off from the rest of the field, with Hansel's Gretel gaining a head advantage at mid-stretch while setting a five-furlong fraction of 59.21 and drawing clear on her own accord in the winning time of 1:11.94. Polonia continued on from the inside to place second, reaching the wire 2 3/4 lengths ahead of heavy favorite Hanselina (.65-to-1), who was third.
Trained by John Hertler, Hansel's Gretel earned $25,800 for her first victory and second start and also qualified her breeder, Arlene Kushner, for a $5,160 breeder award. The New York-bred filly is the second winner from the second New York-conceived crop of Eclipse Champion Hansel, who now stands in Japan, but she was not the Hansel two-year-old filly expected to win at Aqueduct on Sunday. Third-place finisher Hanselina, whose two seconds in two previous starts include Aqueduct's $125,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes on November 10, held that distinction. Hansel stood the 1998 and 1999 seasons at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in Hudson as the property of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm, which qualified for a $1,806 stallion award as a result of the latest victory by a two-year-old daughter of Hansel.
Hansel's Gretel is the first winner produced from Arlene Kushner's homebred Aaron's Roll, a Rollicking mare who won first out at Pimlico as a three-year-old. Aaron's Roll is a half-sister to stakes winner Aaron's Concorde ($160,692) and to stakes-placed winner Aaron's Halo.

(11/23) Polish Posh improves - wins maiden by 4 3/4
A money-earner in each of his seven previous starts and placed in five of them, Einar Paul Robsham's homebred POLISH POSH went into Aqueduct's third race on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-olds going six furlongs, as the leading money earner among 12 starters. His seasoning and obvious continual improvement since mid-summer stood him in good stead even though he drew the outside post position, from which he broke noticeably ahead of the rest of the field under jockey Javier Castellano, who was riding the colt for the sixth time. Favored B. Carson (1.75-to-1), breaking from the seventh post, charged up inside of Polish Posh to get a short lead, but the advantage after a half-mile in 46.38 belonged to Robsham's homebred, who gradually drew clear despite weaving somewhat at the top of the stretch and lugging in later.
At the finish, Polish Posh had a 4 3/4-length margin, having extended his lead by 3 1/4 lengths in the final furlong after setting a five-furlong fraction of 58.74 despite running into winds gusting up to 43 mph, and he stopped the clock with a final time of 1:11.69. B. Carson was nosed out for second by 10th-choice first-time-starter John's Jet (40-to-1), who was carrying five pounds less weight because of his jockey's apprentice allowance. As the 3.25-to-1 second choice, Polish Posh was the first of two winners ridden at Aqueduct on Saturday by Castellano.
Trained by Stanley Hough, Polish Posh picked up $25,800 for his first victory, increasing his earnings to $60,220 and improving his record to 1 - 2 - 3 in eight starts while also qualifying his own-breeder, Robsham of Cochituate, Massachusetts, for a $5,160 breeder award. The bay New York-bred colt is the third two-year-old winner from the 2000 crop of New York stallion Polish Pro, following Great White Way-placed winner Polish Jewel and first-out winner Ruby's Rocket. Polish Pro (Mr. Prospector - Polish Holiday, by Danzig), whose syndicate owners qualified for a $1,806 stallion award, stands at Dr. Jonathan Davis' Milfer Farm in Unadilla and also is the sire of Polish Posh's full siblings, stakes-placed multiple allowance winner Houston Pro and Belmont winner Polish Elegance -- both Robsham homebreds.
Polish Posh is the third offspring and third winner produced by winner Houston Elegance, following Polish Elegance and four-year-old Houston Pro, who placed in a stakes at Rockingham in July. Houston Elegance is by Houston and out of stakes-placed winner Loan and was a $75,000 purchase at Keeneland's 1994 April sale of two-year-olds in training who won by six lengths at Belmont before being claimed for $35,000 at Saratoga by trainer Gasper Moschera on behalf of Barbara Davis. The then three-year-old filly subsequently became the property of Robsham.

(11/23) Traffic Chief defies pedigree to win first out at two
A dozen decent though not sensational Belmont workouts over a 9 1/2-week period leading up to Aqueduct's Saturday opener, a $43,000 six-furlong restricted maiden special for two-year-olds, convinced Aqueduct horseplayers to send Barry Schwartz's homebred two-year-old, TRAFFIC CHIEF, off as the 4.80-to-1 third choice among 11 starters. Looking at the colt's pedigree, which is solid on class and stamina but not suggestive of precocity, that might have been a generous assessment, but Traffic Chief apparently was unaware that he was not bred to win first out as a juvenile -- so he won anyway. With jockey Jose Santos aboard, the bay New York-bred was sixth after the opening quarter before rallying five wide on the turn and rolling by his remaining competition -- 1.80-to-1 favorite For Cash Only and 3.15-to-1 second choice Bronco Buster -- in the final quarter-mile, winning by 3 1/2 lengths. For Cash Only placed second, followed by Bronco Buster.
Trained by New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2000 Trainer of the Year Michael Hushion, Traffic Chief earned $25,800 for winning his first start and also qualified his owner-breeder, NYRA Chairman and CEO Schwartz of Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, for a $2,580 breeder award. The colt's sire is 1993 Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair, who did not hit the board in a stakes until he was a three-year-old and currently stands in Japan. Traffic Chief is the first offspring of Schwartz's New York homebred stakes-placed winner, Ms. Forte ($139,539), who is by Sewickley. Ms. Forte did not break her maiden until she was a three-year-old, when she won against open company going a mile and a sixteenth on turf at Belmont. As a four-year-old, Ms. Forte won allowance races on dirt at Santa Anita and Del Mar and placed third in Fairplex Park's E. B. Johnston Stakes going a mile and a sixteenth on the main track. She is a full sister to the winning dam of 2001 Canterbury Oaks winner Savannah Canon. As a point of interest, Traffic Chief's pedigree dosage profile is a long-winded (by contemporary standards) 4 - 4 - 9 - 2 - 1.

(11/23) Rate Base ($47.40) refuses to quit against open claimers
Although his published past performance lines did not go back far enough to indicate it, C'est Tout Stable's homebred RATE BASE is at least as accomplished -- and possibly more so -- on dirt as he is on turf. The six-year-old New York-bred had been unplaced in five previous NYRA starts on grass -- the last three with a $35,000 claiming tag -- and was coming off a layoff of seven weeks and a day for Aqueduct's second race on Saturday, a mile and an eighth main track contest. Once again he had a $35,000 claiming price, as did five of his competitors with another three in for $25,000, and since the majority of his starts had been on turf, the dark bay gelding was dismissed as the 22.70-to-1 sixth choice among eight wagering interests (nine starters). With apprentice jockey Luis Chavez up for the first time -- Rate Base's 14th jockey over a five-year career -- and carrying only 112 pounds because of Chavez's five-pound apprentice allowance -- the stage was set for Rate Base's fourth NYRA main track victory.
New York-breds led the way almost from the start, as Empire State-bred Gunning gunned out to a seven-length lead in the first half-mile with Rate Base tracking him. After three-quarters of a mile, Rate Base had whittled Gunning's margin down to three lengths but was joined by 1.35-to-1 favorite Inky Lawson, who took over second place coming out of the second turn. By mid-stretch, Inky Lawson and Rate Base had overtaken Gunning, with Inky Lawson leading by a head on the outside, but those two then were joined in the final furlong by 4.80-to-1 third choice Gail's Drive on a ground-saving trip next to the rail. In tight quarters with rivals on either side of him, Rate Base dug in and pushed his nose in front, winning narrowly. Inky Lawson, who placed third -- a head behind Gail's Drive -- was claimed out of the contest by owner-trainer Scott Lake for $35,000.
Rate Base, whose NYRA wins also include an open allowance score on Aqueduct's main track two years earlier and a mile and a quarter turf tally (his second at that distance) with a $50,000 claiming price at Belmont in May, picked up $19,500 for his victory in the $32,500 contest. In addition to boosting his career earnings to $238,198 and improving his record to 6 - 2 - 9 in 54 starts, he also qualified his owner-breeder, Howard Read's C'est Tout Stable of Albany, for an open race owner award of $3,900 and a breeder award of $3,900. The Michael Daggett trainee is by New York-bred champion and New York stallion Thunder Puddles ($791,695), who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson and whose syndicate owners qualified for a $1,365 stallion award.
Rate Base is among four New York-bred starters, all allowance winners, bred by Read from New York-bred Belmont-Aqueduct allowance winner Madame Mystique ($123,161), who also raced for C'est Tout Stable. The gelding's half-siblings include Power Choice ($133,590), who has won Aqueduct allowance races at seven furlongs and a mile and a sixteenth (in 2002), and Maltbie, who won Belmont and Aqueduct allowance races at six furlongs. Madame Mystique, who is by the late New York stallion Sir Wimborne, is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Higgler ($397,175).

(11/22) All the way with Thebigapple
New York-bred THEBIGAPPLE notched his fourth victory today in only his ninth lifetime start. Facing open company allowance horses for the first time, Thebigapple was coupled in the betting with Lisa's Royal Guy. The $48,000 allowance race was written for non-winners of 1X other than Maiden, Claimer, Starter or Restricted company and run at a distance of nine-furlongs. Five scratches reduced the field to seven starters and the track condition was changed from 'sloppy' to 'muddy.' The Levine entry was sent off as the prohibitive odds-on favorite.
Breaking sharply, Thebigapple won the race into the first turn over Pleasant Hall and opened up a comfortable lead as the field race down the backstretch. Setting moderate fractions of :23.2, 47.4 and 1:13 to the six-furlong pole, Thebigapple came off the far turn with a two-length lead and held that margin to the wire, under a mild drive by jockey Aaron Gryder. Final time was 1:52 flat with Pleasant Hall finishing second a nose in front of Lisa's Royal Guy.
The Bigapple was bred by the James Iselin Racing Stable and purchased for $23,000 at the 2001 June OBS two year-old in training sale by Robert Levine, father of Bruce. Thebigapple is a three year-old dark bay gelding by Abel Prospect, out of the Strawberry Road mare, Fire Opal.
Mr. Levine qualified for an owner's award for today's open company score and will collect 20% of the winner's share of the purse which amounts to $5,760. Mr. Iselin, as breeder, also qualified for a breeder's award of an identical amount - $5,760. Not to be forgotten, Mr. Iselin, as owner of Abel Prospect, will collect a stallion award of 7% of the winner's share of the purse or $2,016 - all awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(11/22) Thermopylae captures Big A. finale
Stephen Russo's THERMOPYLAE took today's last race on the Aqueduct card in a very contentious affair. Ten horses went to post in the state-bred allowance field. The distance for the non-winner of 1X condition was a mile, and run over the main track which remained muddy.
No less than seven horses argued for the lead early on and as they past the half-mile pole the entire field was only four lengths apart from front to back, without a clear leader. Nearing the far turn, Thermopylae began to emerge with the lead with Eddie White Sox making a threathening move on the outside. As the field turned for home, Thermopylae had a two-length lead but was all out to hold off Eddie White Sox by a length crossing the wire.
Claimed for $12,500 at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia, Thermopylae, racing in state-bred allowance company, has been close in his four races for his new connections, finally getting the job done today. Trained by Craig Cox, Thermopylae was bred by B E Stables, and is a four year-old gelding by Pine Bluff, out of Bouncy Barb, by Rollicking. Bouncy Barb has an excellent produce record having had several stakes winners including multiple stakes winners Bouncing Brave (Brave Shot-Gb) and Choper (Vigors). Choper, will stand in New York State next year at Cobble Creek Farm in North Chatham.

(11/22) Karakorumblackjack comes us a winner
KARAKORUMBLACKJACK, a two year-old dark bay colt, broke his maiden today over a 'sloppy' main track at Aqueduct. The state-bred maiden field was contested by 9 two-year olds at a distance of seven-furlongs. After finishing a close second in his last outing at six-furlongs, trainer Jeff Odintz stretched the colt out another furlong and named Javier Castellano to ride, once again.
Hustled out of the gate by Castellano, Karakorumblackjack took command in the early going. Never pressured down the backstretch, Karakorumblackjack turned for home on top by five-lengths and cruised to victory, crossing under the line a three-length winner over Ruby's Pro.
Bred by Frank Maner, the colt was consigned by the Thomas J. Gallo Bloodstock Agency at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale at Timonium, Maryland and was purchased by Karakorum Stable for only $4,000. Karakorumblackjack is by Dixie Brass, out of the Nasty and Bold mare, Gracefully Bold, a winner in her only career start and out of stakes winner Bold Finesse, by Determined King. The promising colt has, thus far, earned $35,690. Mr Maner, as breeder, has thus far earned $7,138 in breeder's awards.

(11/22) Miss Ivy Hilton romps against open claimers
El Coqui Stable's MISS IVY HILTON shipped from Finger Lakes Racetrack to Aqueduct Racetrack and easily defeated a $35-25,000 claiming field for fillies and mares. Trained by Angel Rosado, the four year-old chestnut filly was ridden to victory by Victor Carrero.
Streaking to the lead soon after the break, Miss Ivy Hilton opened up a clear lead in the one-turn one-mile affair run over the main track, which was labeled 'sloppy'. The track superintendent changed the status to 'muddy' in the following race. Continuing on an uncontested lead, Miss Ivy Hilton hit the top of the stretch with a six-length lead, which she increased to almost nine-lengths crossing the wire.
Bred by B.E. Stable, Miss Ivy Hilton is by Storm of Angels, out of Oaklane's Love, by Nalees Man. The B.E. Stable had a good afternoon, having bred the winner of the ninth race, Thermoplylae, as well. For the open company score, El Coqui Stable qualified for an owner's award of $3,900.

(11/21) Exchange Bay, overwhelming favorite, scores at Big A.
Two year-old EXCHANGE BAY, bet down to the prohibitive odds-on favorite, broke her maiden today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The state-bred maiden race going seven-furlongs over the main track had a field of 11 after Toda Rouge scratched at the gate.
Squeeze Squeeze came away with the lead in the run down the backstretch with Exchange Bay racing along the rail. As they neared the final turn, Exchange Bay moved inside of Squeeze Squeeze and Back Bay Lady raced up on the outside. Taking the lead at the top of the stretch, Exchange Bay, under Jorge Chavez, was roused in mid-stretch and held off Back Bay Lady by one and one-half lengths crossing the wire.
Owned by Joseph Platt, Jr. and brred by Bettina Gates and My Jo Lee Stable II, Exchange Bay is two year-old dark bay filly by Gold Fever, out of Timely Holiday, by Caveat. Gold Fever recently moved to Questroyal Stud located in Hudson, New York. Trained by Frank Alexander, Exchange Bay was purchased at this past February's OBS two year-old in-training sale for $105,000.
The dam, Timely Holiday is a full sister to Timely Warning winner of the Grade I - Brooklyn Handicap and two-time winner of the Budweiser Maryland Classic.

(11/21) Grey Pride brave in victory
GREY PRIDE, racing for the second time in his career, stretched out to nine-furlongs today and gamely broke his maiden. The state-bred maiden affair, run over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack, had a field of eight horses. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas named Shaun Bridgmohan to ride.
Breaking from the 2-post position, Bridgmohan sent the gray colt to the front. Setting respectable fractions of :23.3 and :48 seconds to the half-mile pole, Grey Pride opened up a three length lead around the last turn. Success Rate, who raced along the rail moved into contention at the top of the stretch and hooked Grey Pride at the eighth pole. But a vigorous ride by Bridgmohan and a brave effort by the 2 year-old gray colt resolutely held off Success Rate by a head at the wire with fast closing Back To Work a very close third.
Bred by Philip Birsh and owned by the partnership of Birsh and William Gildin, Grey Pride is by Partner's Hero, out of the Affirmed mare, Awareness.

(11/21) Dazzling Spirit breaks maiden
Donald and Mary Zuckerman's DAZZLING SPIRIT broke his maiden today against state-breds. Trainer Todd Pletcher removed the blinkers after a one-race experiment and stretched the bay colt out to nine-furlongs in a race run over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack. Nine two year-olds went to post.
Intent on the lead, John Velazquez hustled Dazzling Spirit to the front winning the race into the first turn. Without much pressure, Dazzling Spirit set soft fractions of :24, :49, and 1:14.4 to the three-quarter pole. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Dazzling Spirit had a two-length lead and continued to the wire under a steady drive to win by two and one-half lengths.
Bred by the Zuckerman's, Dazzling Spirit is by Glitterman, out of the Broad Brush mare, Canvas Spirit, who's a half-brother to the multiple stakes winner Truth and Nobility (Proud Truth). Florida residents, the Zuckermans stand Tomorrows Cat at Questroyal Stud Farm in Hudson, New York.

(11/20) Our Breadwinner brings home the bacon at 50-1!
The Lou Meittinis owned and trained OUR BREADWINNER closed with a flourish today to take Aqueduct's featured 8th race and paid alot of dough - $102.50!! The $47,000 feature race was carded for 3 year-old and upward state-bred fillies and mares for non-winners of 2X condition allowance, and was run at a distance of seven-furlongs over the main track. Meittinis, who formerly trained several Standardbred horses of the year, Hot Hitter and Icarus Lobell in the '70s, named Mike Luzzi to ride the three year-old chestnut filly.
A contentious three-horse battle for the lead ensued soon after the break. Moonlightandbeauty, Whispered Call and Quarter To Nine were strung out three wide in the race down the backstretch and set quick fractions of 22.4, 45.2 and 1:10.2 to the three-quarter mile pole. As they hit the top of the stretch, Moonlightandbeauty and Quarter To Nine were still hooked up while Our Breadwinner, who had saved ground throughout in fourth position, moved between horses waiting for an clear opening. Once daylight appeared, Luzzi guided Our Breadwinner between her two rivals and raced boldly to the wire winning by three-quarters of a length crossing the wire. Quarter To Nine finished a game second and the final time for the race was a respectable 1:23.3.
Bred by Woodside Stud, Inc., Our Breadwinner is by the second-crop sire, Ormsby, out of Amaryllis, by Cormorant. Amaryllis is the dam of three of racing age, two to race, and is a full sister to the multiple stakes winner on the grass, Mr. Angel, winner of $378,661.
Our Breadwinner has now banked $131,110 with a Lifetime Record: 21-3-1-5. Woodside Stud, who owned Ormsby and stand him at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York, qualifies for a breeder's award of $5,640 and a stallion owner award of $1,974 for today's victory.

(11/20) Coo Cold Bird breaks maiden
COO COLD BIRD, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, broke her maiden today at Aqueduct Racetrack against state-bred two year-old fillies. Trained by Scott Schwartz, Coo Cold Bird had the far outside post-position (#12) in the one-mile one-turn event, which carried a purse of $44,000.
The three outside horses in the starting gate, Wed In Dixie, Bird Key and Coo Cold Bird, were hustled along setting quick fractions of 22.4 and 45.4 to the half-mile pole. Jose Santos aboard Wed In Dixie, cleverly took back off the early pace and rated his mount just behind the early duelers. As the pair past the three-quarter mile pole in 1:11.2, Coo Cold Bird had the lead with Bird Key still in with a chance, and Wed In Dixie moving around the pair to mount her stretch run. Under strong handling, Coo Cold Bird was game throughout the stretch run and prevailed by a length over Wed In Dixie, who was a half-length in front of Bird Key. Time for the race was 1:38.3.
Bred by Jane M. Freed and owned by Herbert and Carol Schwartz, Coo Cold Bird is a bay filly by Personal Flag, out of the Criminal Type mare, Criminaly Inclined. Personal Flag stands at McMahon's Farm in Saratoga Springs, New York. Personal Flag is ranked in third place of living New York Stallions with progeny earnings of $2,748,520 as of November 15th. With today's victory, Ms. Freed qualified for a breeder's award of $5,280 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(11/20) Oatka Justa Prince rallies to break maiden
Daniel and Donna Harmon's OATKA JUSTA PRINCE apparently has found the two-turn nine-furlong races to his liking finishing second in his previous start at this distance and winning today at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trainer Phil Serpe named Edgar Prado to ride in the state-bred maiden affair, which carried a purse of $44,000.
Mister Fizz went to the lead with King Of The Mount and Chime Away in close pursuit. Prado rated Oatka Justa Prince behind the second tier of horses in the run down the backstretch and saved ground along the rail in the middle of the last turn. Once straightened for home, King Of The Mount went to the front with Oatka Justa Prince out in the middle of the track, five wide. Oatka Justa Prince, a tall lanky individual, picked off his competition one-by-one before getting to the lead with fifty yards remaining. The winning margin was 2-lengths over a late-closing Duke's Crossing, with King Of The Mount holding on for third money. Final time was 1:51.1.
Bred by Kathleen Feron, farm manager for Akindale Farm, the three year-old chestnut gelding is by Just a Cat, out of Playgirl Princess, by Princely Native. Playgirl Princess, a half-sister to Bee A Scout (West Coast Scout) who won the Princessnesian Stake at Hollywood Park and finished second in the Grade I - Santa Susana Stake and third in the Grade I - Oak Leaf Stake, has produced eight horses - all to race. She has produced two state-bred stakes winners, Royal Ben (Foolish Pleasure), winner of the George W. Barker in Finger Lakes, and Demon Damon (D'Accord), winner of the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

(11/17) No Parole handles open N2X with no problem
With a 2002 record featuring a 2 3/4-length victory in Belmont's $122,034 Mike Lee Stakes plus six stakes-placings, including the Grade 2 Jerome and Pegasus Handicaps and Aqueduct's Grade 3 Discovery on October 23, Thomas Mina's New York-bred NO PAROLE had unmatched credentials for Aqueduct's seventh race on Sunday. He also had Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey up for the first time, resulting in favoritism at 1.40-to-1 among nine starters in the $49,000 open N2X allowance ("other than" including restricted) for three-year-olds and up going 6 1/2 furlongs on a muddy track under darkening skies.
Showing he still can sprint as well as compete effectively in Grade 2 and Grade 3 stakes at a mile and an eighth, No Parole rallied four wide on the turn to advance from seventh to third, then overtook his remaining competition to win by a length and a quarter. The dark bay colt's winning time on the muddy track was 1:17.40, and he also set the six-furlong fraction of 1:10.60. Third choice Outathechute, an impressive 4 1/2-length Keeneland allowance winner in his previous start on October 4, placed second, followed by 2002 Grade 3-placed winner Deeliteful Guy and New York-bred second choice Personable Pete, as New York-breds picked up 66 percent of the race's total purse. Trained by Joseph Aquilino, No Parole was the second winner ridden by Bailey at Aqueduct on Sunday.
No Parole's latest victory was worth $29,400 in purse money, increasing his career bankroll to $316,728 while also qualifying owner Mina -- who bought the colt for $20,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2000 Saratoga sale of preferred yearlings -- for a $2,940 open race owner award. With a record of 4 - 2 - 6 in 14 starts, No Parole has finished first in all his outings at 6 1/2 and seven furlongs -- competing twice at each distance -- although he was disqualified to fourth following a first-place effort in a seven-furlong Aqueduct allowance as a two-year-old.
Bred by Dr. William Coyro Jr. of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, who qualified for a $2,940 breeder award, No Parole is by Eclipse Champion Sprinter Lit de Justice and is the first offspring produced from stakes-placed winner Suddenly Victoria, by Bates Motel. Dr. Coyro initially acquired Suddenly Victoria through the claiming ranks for $25,000 after she had won with claiming tags at Delaware and Garden State, and when the then three-year-old filly eventually was tried at five furlongs on turf, she won a Meadowlands allowance and placed third in a stakes. She later was claimed for $20,000 at Aqueduct by Frank Stronach, who the following year bred her to Lit de Justice (standing at Stronach's Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky for a $20,000 fee) and consigned her to Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1998 November sale, where Dr. Coyro re-acquired her for $21,000. The foal Suddenly Victoria was carrying at the time Dr. Coyro bought her was No Parole. Suddenly Victoria was sold again at Keeneland in November of 2000 -- when No Parole was a yearling -- for $32,000 while carrying a filly by Grindstone.

(11/17) Shining Forever shows yet another dimension
Winner of a restricted maiden special at a mile and a sixteenth on a "good" Belmont strip on October 17, Jujugen Stable's homebred SHINING FOREVER returned to competition in Aqueduct's appropriately designated "nightcap" ninth race at seven furlongs on Sunday under darkening rainy skies over a sloppy track. Sent off the 2.50-to-1 second choice among 10 starters in the $45,000 restricted N1X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, the May 15-foaled three-year-old shouldered top weight of 121 pounds -- conceding actual weight to four four-year-olds -- and faced conditions under which she never before had raced. None of that seemed to matter.
With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan up for the third time in three starts, Shining Forever raced close to the pace set by 1.65-to-1 favorite Lady Commando, who already was experienced with sprinting on sloppy tracks, having finished second at seven furlongs and third at six within the past three months. Rallying outside on the turn, the chestnut filly caught Lady Commando in the stretch and dug in for a half-length lead, holding on to maintain that margin through the final furlong despite conceding four pounds to the favorite. It was Bridgmohan's second winning ride of the day, and it increased Shining Forever's earnings by $27,000 to $53,400 in three starts. The John DeStafano Jr.-trained New York-bred's only non-winning effort was in her October 4 Belmont debut at a mile on turf, when she appeared to tire after chasing three wide.
Bred and raced by Martin Scheinman of Jujugen Stable, who also qualified for a $2,700 breeder award, 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), by Wavering Monarch. A Shaky Queen also raced for Scheinman's Jujugen Stable, scoring all 12 of her victories on grass, including 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.

(11/17) Lord of Ewhurst splashes home for maiden win
A new owner, trainer, and jockey and -- voila! -- Gabriel Romero's four-year-old LORD OF EWHURST broke his maiden in his 14th career start in Aqueduct's opener on Sunday, a $44,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile on a sloppy track. The chestnut gelding had run on sloppy tracks twice before, had tried turf seven times, and had competed at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile and an eighth, but his best efforts had come on off tracks when he had held the lead or run close to it. Obviously, this fact had not gone unnoticed by new trainer Victor Cuadra nor by apprentice jockey Hector Ramos, who urged Lord of Ewhurst to break first out of the gate from the 10th post position and then sent him to get the rail and the lead within the first quarter-mile.
For the next half-mile, Ramos' mount was challenged alternately by 11.40-to-1 fifth choice Allisons Smile and by 2.35-to-1 favorite Austin's Awesome -- both three-year-olds -- but held each at bay while racing slightly out from the rail. In the final furlong, 25-to-1 eighth choice Angelo the Jet made a serious run at the front-runner but came up short, as Lord of Ewhurst reached the finish a neck in front.
Racing with 117 pounds because of Ramos' five-pound apprentice allowance, Lord of Ewhurst was favorably regarded among Aqueduct horseplayers, going off the 2.70-to-1 second choice among 11 starters. In previous mile and an eighth races at Belmont and Aqueduct in September and October, he had finished behind both Allisons Smile and Austin's Awesome while giving weight to each under weight-for-age conditions with no apprentice allowances. Lord of Ewhurst's victory increased his earnings by $26,400 to $56,240 and improved his record to 1 - 1 - 4 in 14 starts, which includes a second and two thirds on turf. He also qualified his breeder, Charles Engel, for a $2,640 breeder award. Engel had raced Lord of Ewhurst from the gelding's Saratoga debut in August of 2001 through October 31 of 2002 at Aqueduct, after which current owner Romero had acquired the New York-bred privately.
Sired by Rakeen, a Northern Dancer stallion and Group 2 winner in South Africa who stood in Maryland before returning to South Africa, Lord of Ewhurst is the first winner produced from Saratoga Magic, by Northern Dancer stallion Northrop, making Lord of Ewhurst inbred 2 x 3 to Northern Dancer. Saratoga Magic raced for breeder Engel, placing second (beaten only a nose) in her debut at Pimlico as a three-year-old but never reaching the winner's circle. She is a half-sister to stakes-placed winner G. U. Magic and to the dam of French stakes winner Nemuro, who also was sired by Northrop.

(11/16) Call Leo cruises to nightcap allowance win
For a colt that started off as a maiden claimer at Calder before taking a 10-month layoff and returning as a maiden claimer at Delaware in July, Joseph Balsamo's three-year-old CALL LEO has rapidly ascended in class. He won his Delaware outing by 4 1/4 lengths in a romp with a $25,000 tag, then two months later placed second in a $45,000 restricted N1X allowance at Belmont in the slop, and five weeks after that was favored at 1.25-to-1 among eight starters for Aqueduct's Saturday "nightcap". Various indicators pointed auspiciously to Call Leo's second venture in a $45,000 restricted N1X allowance at six furlongs -- among them being three solid works that included a 48 3/5 half-mile clocking at Belmont on November 1, his first time on Lasix medication, and a new jockey in John Velazquez. As it turned out, new trainer Michael Miceli had the New York-bred more than ready on a murky, rainy Saturday that offered a sea of mud for a racetrack and a strong (22 mph) diagonal crosswind on the backstretch. Four horses were scratched from the contest.
Breaking from the number two post position, Call Leo was immediately hustled by Velazquez to get the lead and the rail, which he did with an opening quarter in 22.75. After a half-mile in 46.55, fourth choice Star Goldminer got to within half a length of him but no closer and was reluctant to change leads in the stretch, as Call Leo set a five-furlong fraction of 58.98 and drew off to a 3 1/4-length margin at the finish. Star Goldminer stayed on to place second, followed by Promise Mountain -- the only four-year-old in a race with seven three-year-olds -- who finished third. Call Leo was the second winner at Aqueduct on Saturday ridden by Velazquez.
Call Leo's first victory at a NYRA track increased his earnings by $27,000 to $50,080 and brought his record to 2 - 1 - 1 in four starts. Owner Balsamo purchased the bay colt as a weanling for $16,500 at a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 1999 December mixed sale in Timonium, Maryland, to which Call Leo had been consigned by his breeder, Patricia Staskowski Purdy of Ivy League Farm in Ithaca, through Jeffrey Minton, agent. Conceived in Kentucky to the cover of a stallion -- Caller I. D. -- now standing in New Jersey, Call Leo nevertheless has strong New York connections in his pedigree. His sire is among 51 stakes winners by New York stallion Phone Trick, and his three-time winning dam, Spectacularcrystal, is a daughter of the greatest American racehorse alive today, New York stallion Spectacular Bid. Purdy, who qualified for a $2,700 breeder award, purchased Spectacularcrystal -- a half-sister to stakes winner Meru ($360,468) and to the dams of stakes winners Quicken Away (Horse of the Year in Hong Kong) and Mandalero ($210,044) -- for $8,200 at a 1997 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company breeding stock sale in Florida.

(11/15) Smile Smile Smile
SMILE SMILE SMILE didn't leave the competition laughing today as he destroyed a field of state-bred allowance horses today in a race which was switched from the turf to the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trainer Nick Zito named John Velazquez to ride the three year-old roan colt, which is owned and bred by John Hettinger's Akindale Farm in Pawling, New York.
After outdueling Speedy Mohama in the run into the first turn of the one and one-eighth mile event, the race was essentially over. Leading the eight-horse field down the backstretch, Smile Smile Smile was gliding through respectable fractions of 23.2, 47.2 and 1:12 to the three-quarter pole. Turning for home, Smile Smile Smile was on top by five lengths. Never having gone two turns prior to today's race, Velazquez had to remind Smile Smile Smile the race wasn't over as they past the eighth-pole. Responding willingly, the talented colt opened up once again and coasted under the wire an eight-length winner.
By Unbridled's Song, Smile Smile Smile is the third offspring and third winner produced out of the Grade 2-placed winner Good Morning Smile ($263,476), being a half-brother to New York-bred stakes-winning filly Wake Up Kiss and New York-bred stakes-placed winning filly Pearly White ($177,684). Good Morning Smile, a daughter of Morning Bob and a half-sister to multiple stakes winner No Mecourtney, was something of an "iron" race filly and mare, winning seven races on turf and seven on dirt and placing in three stakes on turf and one on a sloppy main track. In Gulfstream's Grade 2 Orchid Handicap at a mile and a half on turf, she placed second while finishing a length and a quarter off the winner in a race that was run in 2:25.40. Hettinger bought Good Morning Smile for $200,000 at Keeneland's 1996 November sale when she was carrying Pearly White, who is by Holy Bull.

(11/15) French Hideaway breaks maiden in second attempt
Anstu Stable's FRENCH HIDEAWAY, a three year-old chestnut filly, broke her maiden today in her second career start. The maiden race for 10 state-bred fillies and mares was run at six-furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack. Paul Toscano had the winning mount for trainer James Moloney.
Cream Creek went to the front and opened up a clear lead on the field as they raced down the backstretch. French Hideaway rated in mid-pack through the early going before swinging wide for the stretch run. Once straightened for home, Toscano sent French Hideaway up to challenge Cream Creek and caught the latter past the eighth pole, drawing clear to win by one and one-half lengths crossing the wire.
Purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale for $187,000, French Hideaway was bred by Dr. Doug Koch's Berkshire Stud Farm in Pine Plains, New York. The talented filly is by French Deputy, out of the Mogambo mare, Caribbean Hideway, who's a half-sister to stakes winner Frankly Classic (Sky Classic).

(11/15) Sunsational Julia wires in Big A. finale
It took seven races for SUNSATIONAL JULIA to break her maiden, but when she did today it was an impressive performance. Racing against state-bred fillies and mares, 3 year-olds and upward, Sunsational Julia was sent to the gate as the 2-1 second choice by the bettors. Trainer Scott Schwartz had the 3 year-old bay filly razor sharp and named Raul Rojas to ride.
Breaking from the rail, Sunsational Julia sprinted to the lead, opening up a commanding three-length lead in the race down the backstretch. Un-pressured throughout, Rojas had plenty of horse underneath him when they arrived at the top of the stretch. Watrals Strike Go, the race-time favorite was trying to mount a rallying in second position, but was no match for Sunsational Julia as she drew away to win by six-lengths crossing the wire.
Owned and bred by Herbert and Carol Schwartz, Sunsational Julia is by Danjur, out of the Sunny's Halo mare, Sunsational Girl, who has produced three foals, all to race.

(11/14) Sparkling Ava shines in Big A. feature
Barry K. Schwartz' SPARKING AVA won today's $52,000 Aqueduct feature, an open allowance for non-winners of 3X condition for fillies and mares, 3 year-olds and upward. Named after Ava Gurney, daughter of Stonewall Farm's manager, Jennifer Dahlman Gurney, Sparkling Ava was ridden for the first time in her 6-race career by Jean Luc Samyn. Originally carded for the turf, the feature was switched to the main track and run at a flat one-mile.
Kingsland charged to the lead in the run down the backstretch with We'll Sea Ya, Wishful Splendor and Cat Rocket making up the first tier of horses in the seven-horse field. Samyn rated Sparkling Ava near the back of the field sitting off the early fast fractions of 22.3, 45.2 and 1:09.4 at the three-quarter pole. Mounting an outside move nearing the far turn, Samyn had Sparkling Ava in full-stride at the top of the stretch. Charging down the middle of the track, the three year-old bay filly, took the lead past the eighth pole and won handily by one and one-half lengths over Wishful Splendor. Sparkling Ava paid $13.20 and stopped the timer in a quick 1:34.4.
Conditioned by 2000 NYTB Trainer of the Year Michael Hushion, the talented filly's has now banked $116,060 in six-starts. Today's victory, also, qualified her owner-breeder, NYRA Board Chairman and CEO Barry Schwartz of Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, for a $3,120 breeder award and, an open owner's award of $3,120.
By English-Irish champion and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Royal Academy, Sparkling Ava is the fifth winner produced by Carolina Chant, being a half-sister to Schwartz's New York homebred stakes-placed winner, Ms. Forte ($139,539), and to the five-time winning dam of 2001 Canterbury Oaks winner Savannah Canon. Carolina Chant, a winning daughter of Linkage and a half-sister to 1993 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Sir Beaufort ($1,149,130), was purchased as a seven-year-old for $30,000 by Schwartz out of Keeneland's 1993 November sale through agent Robert Courtney.

(11/14) Artistic Awareness breaks maiden in a romp
ARTISTIC AWARENESS, bet down to the odds-on favorite in the Big A. finale, didn't disappoint his backers, winning easily to break his maiden. Racing against state-bred maidens, Artistic Awareness is trained by Gary Sciacca and was ridden by Breeder's Cup Classic winning jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. Distance for the race was six furlongs which was run over the main track.
Hustled to the front down the backstretch, Artistic Awareness led the field throughout the early going and into the stretch. Once straightened for the home, Artistic Awareness was set to a drive by Bridgmohan and crossed the wire a two-length winner over Running Count.
Bred by Monhill Farm and owned by the partnership of One Pond Stable and Giuseppina Piazza, the three year-old chestnut gelding is by A. P Jet, out of Meet the Best, by General Assembly. Artistic Awareness, who finished third in the New York Stallion Stakes as a two year-old, has now earned $51,100 in 5 career starts.

(11/11) Quatre Dix Neuf gets third consecutive win
Since coming off a 54-day layoff in mid-September, John Confort's and Albert Weiss's three-year-old QUATRE DIX NEUF has won three races by margins totaling 10 1/2 lengths, with his latest victory coming in Aqueduct's fifth race on Veterans' Day Monday, a $48,000 restricted N2X allowance for three-year-olds and up. Made the 2.45-to-1 second choice among eight starters for the one-turn mile contest with Javier Castellano in the irons for the third consecutive time, the dark bay gelding broke from the third post position and was hustled to the front to secure the lead and the rail position. Favored Tomahawk Lake (2.25-to-1), breaking out of the sixth post position and carrying two pounds less than Quatre Dix Neuf, charged up to challenge on the outside but could get no closer than half a length. After three-quarters in 1:10.61, Castellano's mount had a length lead and was starting to pull away, and by mid-stretch his margin had expanded to three lengths. Quatre Dix Neuf reached the finish two lengths ahead of 3.90-to-1 third choice River Spirit, who closed strongly on the outside to overtake 5.40-to-1 fourth choice Netcong for second place, as Tomahawk Lake finished fourth. Time for the one-turn mile, which on a main track looks like an ideal distance for Quatre Dix Neuf, was 1:36.76.
Quatre Dix Neuf's third win in a row and second victory at a one-turn main track mile since returning from his brief late summer layoff increased his earnings by $28,800 to $124,800 and improved his record to 4 - 2 - 1 in 11 starts. The gelding has the same owners -- Confort of New York City and Weiss of Sands Point -- and trainer -- James Jerkens -- as four-year-old Haggs Castle ($234,565), who the day before won Aqueduct's $100,000 Cormorant division of the New York Stallion Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths. His breeder, Howard Kaskel of Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, also is one of the breeders of Haggs Castle, and for Quatre Dix Neuf's Veterans' Day victory Kaskel qualified for a $5,760 breeder award. Sugar Maple Farm consigned Quatre Dix Neuf to Fasig-Tipton's 2000 Saratoga preferred yearling sale, where co-owner Confort signed the sales slip purchasing him for $175,000.
In addition to having the same owners, trainer, and breeder of one New York Stallion Stakes winner, Quatre Dix Neuf also has the same sire -- Distinctive Pro -- as New York Stallion-Great White Way winner Grey Comet, a two-year-old who on Sunday became the 42nd stakes winner sired by Distinctive Pro. Quatre Dix Neuf's victory qualified the syndicate that owns Distinctive Pro (Mr. Prospector - Well Done, by Distinctive), who stands at Sugar Maple Farm, for yet another stallion award -- this one worth $2,016.
Quatre Dix Neuf is among three New York-bred racing age offspring -- all winners -- produced from 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 in her second start and finished fourth in Belmont's Joseph A. Gimma Stakes. 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.

(11/11) Pure Harmony and Brave One duel to NY-bred exacta
Right from the start of Aqueduct's third race on Veterans' Day Monday, a $38,000 mile and an eighth contest for eight open claimers (seven wagering interests), three-year-olds and up, with claiming prices ranging from $50,000 to $40,000, it looked like it would be dominated by New York-breds. John Rotella's New York-bred PURE HARMONY broke on top from the sixth post position but was joined immediately to his inside by New York-breds Brave One and Gunning. Hugging the rail on the first turn, Brave One got a short lead and set the pace through even quarter-mile splits of 24.36 and 24.07 before Pure Harmony ran a third quarter-mile in 23.63, putting him a head in front of Brave One and seven lengths ahead of everyone else. Coming out of the turn, Pure Harmony momentarily looked like he was about to bear out, but apprentice jockey Luis Chavez -- riding the five-year-old for the third consecutive time -- steered him left while Brave One stayed right at his throat latch. The pair continued to duel down the stretch, with Brave One -- ridden by Jorge Chavez -- making repeated runs at Pure Harmony even though his impost was five pounds heavier because of Luis Chavez's apprentice allowance, with Pure Harmony's margin at the finish dwindling down to a nose. The margin from the two New York-breds to third-place finisher Mike's Thunder was 5 1/4 lengths.
The 9.70-to-1 last choice among the seven betting interests and eight starters, Pure Harmony carried a claiming tag of $50,000, as did Brave One, who went off as the 3.60-to-1 third choice, and four others. Two starters ran with claiming prices of $40,000. The victory increased Pure Harmony's earnings by $22,800 to $203,170 and improved his record to 7 - 2 - 1 in 19 starts and was his first win for John Rotella of Rahway, New Jersey -- also owner of leading New York-bred money-earner Say Florida Sandy ($1,971,455), who won again on Friday. Rotella, who also qualified for a $2,280 open race owner award, privately acquired Pure Harmony, with the horse coming off a layoff of almost nine months to make his first start for his new owner on October 5 at Belmont. Both that effort and an Aqueduct outing on October 26 resulted in unplaced finishes, with the Victor Cuadra trainee leading early before tiring. Judging from Monday's effort, Pure Harmony appears to have re-gained his conditioning.
Pure Harmony made his first 16 starts for the J & Vee Stables representing the family of his late breeder, John Valentino, whose estate qualified for a $2,280 breeder award. He is one of only six North American offspring of the stakes-winning Wild Again stallion, Wild Harmony, who currently stands in Australia, and is the first offspring produced by Valentino's New York homebred Pure Vintage, an Aqueduct-winning daughter of Proud Truth out of Valentino-raced Vintage Champagne ($165,080).

(11/10) Beautiful America bedazzles in Fifth Ave.
In the most impressive effort of her five starts this year, Chester and Mary Broman's BEAUTIFUL AMERICA captured Aqueduct's $125,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes for two-year-old New York-sired fillies on Sunday, drawing off easily to win by six lengths in 1:10.41 for six furlongs. Ridden for the fourth time by Jose Santos, who has been on board for all of her victories, the dark bay filly broke on top from the outside (ninth) post and looked like she was running for fun with her distinct high-headed action, setting fractions of 22.75, 46.15 and 58.24. Nothing seems to bother her -- not an outside post, which she has drawn in her last three consecutive starts, nor top weight of 122 pounds, which was her heaviest impost yet and put her six to four pounds above her eight rivals, nor her fourth racetrack in three months. As the prohibitive .40-to-1 favorite, Beautiful America did more than was expected of her, running her fastest six furlongs ever even though it was against a strong 24 mph headwind (gusting to 30 mph) in the stretch, coming within less than half a second of the stakes record.
"She's a very nice horse," pointed out winning trainer Ramon (Mike) Hernandez. "She was very strong in the stretch. I hope she turns out to be like Xtra Heat. I think she can go any distance. Her grandfather, (former New York stallion) Bounding Basque, won at many distances."
Hernandez, who won the 1987 Fifth Avenue with Mithrandir, said that Beautiful Pleasure might make her next start in the seven-furlong Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas on December 17.
Santos, who has never lost aboard Beautiful America, indicated that the filly who always seems to be hesitant to load into the starting gate is getting more professional: "She acted up a little bit before her race at Belmont (Maid of the Mist) last time, but she was behaved today. She's just better than this field. I put her into the race early, and she responded when I asked her."
Beautiful America was the second New York Stallion Stakes winner ridden on Sunday by Santos, who also piloted two-year-old Grey Comet to victory in the Great White Way division two races earlier.
For her fourth victory in five starts and third stakes tally, Beautiful America earned $75,000 to put her bankroll -- accumulated since August 8 -- at $225,208, with her only loss being a third-place effort against colts in Finger Lakes' New York Breeders' Futurity when she was checked at the start. She followed that September 2 outing with victories on September 29 and October 19 in Belmont's Joseph A. Gimma and Maid of the Mist Stakes, respectively.
Bred by Thomas Ryba of Chestertown about 60 miles north of Saratoga Springs, who qualified for the maximum $10,000 breeder award, Beautiful America is among four 2002 juvenile winners of eight races from the second New York-conceived crop of the late New York stallion, Dixie Brass. Sire of 29 stakes winners, including New York-bred 2002 black-type winners Princess Dixie (three-year-old), Strike the Brass (five-year-old) and Dixie Country (two-year-old), Dixie Brass was owned by Michael Watral of Central Islip, who qualified for a $5,250 stallion award. Beautiful America's owners, the Bromans, own Chestertown Farm in Chestertown where the filly's breeder, Ryba, also resides. Beautiful America is the first offspring produced from Ryba's New York homebred Eyeofbeauty ($132,041), a multiple Aqueduct allowance winner whose sire, three-time Grade 1 winner Bounding Basque ($1,256,258), won Belmont's then Grade 1 Brooklyn Handicap when it was a mile and a half. Eyeofbeauty is among three winners produced by another of Ryba's homebred mares, multiple stakes-placed winner Wanakena.

(11/10) Grey Comet wires field in Great White Way
As formidable as he appeared while winning his debut by two lengths in the slop at Belmont on October 12, Star Track Farm's homebred GREY COMET looked even better wiring the field in Aqueduct's $125,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes on Sunday. Sent off the 2.10-to-1 second choice among seven wagering interests (10 starters) in the six-furlong event for New York-sired two-year-old colts and geldings, the gray/roan broke on top and was never headed, setting fractions of 22.66, 45.82 and 58.15 and winning by a length and a half. Finishing second and third, respectively, were the two halves of the favored 1.75-to-1 entry, Ruby's Pro and Polish Jewel. Grey Comet's winning time, 1:11.01, was 1.49 seconds faster than his winning time 29 days earlier when he broke his maiden. For jockey Jose Santos, who was riding the colt for the first time, Grey Comet's victory marked the first of two winning rides in New York Stallion Stakes events on Sunday.
"Gary (trainer Gary Contessa) told me to ride him like a good horse, and I did," reported Santos. "He broke so good, and I didn't want to take anything away from him, so I let him run. He wasn't going to let anyone by him."
Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, rider of second-place Ruby's Pro, confirmed Santos' observation about Grey Comet's competitiveness: "He (Ruby's Pro) had aim on that horse, but couldn't get by. He was very game."
Winning trainer Gary Contessa labeled Grey Comet as "special," prior to the Great White Way, saying that the colt: "did everything right coming up to his debut, and he's done everything right since. He's got a good amount of speed and should only improve. I've got him as good as he can be right now. He's the consummate professional.
"I told Santos to do whatever was comfortable," Contessa said after the race. "I really think he's the real deal. He'll run next in the Damon Runyon ($75,000 added for New York-bred two-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth on Aqueduct's inner track on Sunday, December 15)."
For his second victory in two starts, Grey Comet boosted his earnings by $75,000 to $100,800 and also qualified his owners and breeders, the Star Track Farms of Peter and Marshall Winston of North Bergen, New Jersey, for the maximum $10,000 breeder award. The colt is the fifth offspring and fifth winner produced by 1990 Champion New York-Bred Three-Year-Old Filly Jack Betta Be Rite ($350,399), a daughter of the late 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.
Grey Comet is the 42nd stakes winner sired by ageless New York wonder stallion Distinctive Pro (Mr. Prospector - Well Done, by Distinctive), pushing that stallion's 2002 progeny earnings over $2-million and qualifying Distinctive Pro's syndicate owners for a $5,250 stallion award. Distinctive Pro, who stands at Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, also is the sire of 2002 New York-bred open stakes winner Impeachthepro. The 2002 Great White Way was the 10th New York Showcase or New York Stallion Stakes won by an offspring of Distinctive Pro, who sired three winners of those events in 2001.

(11/10) Haggs Castle captures Cormorant for first mile win
There never was any question about the turf ability of John Confort's and Albert Weiss' four-year-old HAGGS CASTLE, who came off a layoff of nearly nine months to win a Belmont open allowance by 3 1/4 lengths in July, but that had been at a mile and three-eighths. For Aqueduct's one-mile Cormorant division of the New York Stallion Stakes on Sunday -- a $100,000 turf event for New York-sired colts and geldings, three-year-olds and up -- Haggs Castle was the 3.70-to-1 second choice among 11 wagering interests (12 starters) despite shortening to a distance at which he was winless. He did not get a fast pace, either, but jockey Michael Luzzi kept him towards the back of the pack until the second turn, where the bay gelding advanced along the inside to reach the head of the stretch with a wall of about five horses in front of him. As if by divine ordination, the wall parted, and Haggs Castle quickly moved from sixth to first by mid-stretch and then continued drawing clear, winning by 2 3/4 lengths over seven-year-old Chassin' Wimmin, who had won the Cormorant division in 2000.
"Mike rode a great race on him," pointed out winning trainer James Jerkens. "He saved ground, kept him on the bit, and when he saw an opening, he went for it."
Luzzi, who was riding the gelding for the third consecutive time, seems to understand his mount perfectly: "He never breaks, but we got lucky and got a good spot going into the first turn. The field bunched up at the half-mile pole, and things just opened up from there. We were concerned about the mile, but we had a trip and a half today."
In the restricted Ashley T. Cole and Mohawk Handicaps after his open Belmont allowance score, Haggs Castle was beaten by a neck while placing second in the Cole and by 2 1/4 lengths while finishing fourth in the Mohawk, and Jerkens admitted to reservations about the distance of the Cormorant. "Maybe a mile is a little short for him, but once he gets some momentum, he really starts rolling," observed Jerkens, who indicated that Haggs Castle probably would not race again until 2003.
"But I'll keep him in light training through the winter," Jerkens added. "Last year, we turned him out, and it took a while to get him back to his best."
The first stakes score for Haggs Castle increased his earnings by $60,000 to $234,565 and improved his record to 5 - 3 - 2 in 19 starts, which includes a turf record of 5 - 2 - 1 in 12 outings. His owners, Confort of Manhattan and Weiss of Sands Point, purchased the gelding for $55,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 1999 Saratoga sale of preferred yearlings from Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm, agent. Bred by Frankie O'Connor, Patricia Calandro, and Howard Kaskel, who jointly qualified for the maximum $10,000 breeder award, Haggs Castle is a half-brother to New York-bred stakes winners Try N Sue ($236,590) and Winter Dreams ($142,824), being among five winners produced from New York-bred Aqueduct winner Final Accord, by D'Accord. He is the first stakes winner sired by former New York stallion Husband (Diesis - Beaming Bride, by King Emperor), whose New York connections (John A. Nerud Revocable Trust) qualified for a $4,200 stallion award. Haggs Castle was conceived at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag and is among 21 winners -- 18 in 2002 -- sired by Husband, a Grade 1 turf winner who captured black-type events in France and North America.

(11/4) Lovely Amanda saves ground to take Perfect Arc
In scoring her first victory in 11 months and her first stakes tally ever on turf, Robert Pierz's and Peter McCann's homebred five-year-old mare, LOVELY AMANDA, exemplified the benefits of patience, and her jockey, John Velazquez, also showed on Sunday that stakes victories can come to those who wait. Although primarily a main track performer, the New York-bred chestnut placed second in Belmont's Mount Vernon Handicap at a mile and an eighth on turf in June, then had an almost three-month layoff following an unplaced effort in the slop in Saratoga's off-the-turf Yaddo Handicap in August. In her first start off the layoff, trainer Todd Pletcher saddled her for Aqueduct's $100,000 Perfect Arc division of the New York Stallion Stakes at a mile on turf for New York-sired fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, for which she was the 5.30-to-1 third choice among nine starters.
The yielding turf prompted two non-also-eligible entrants to be scratched from the Perfect Arc, but it did not scare away the connections of graded winner Dat You Miz Blue, who had finished first, second and third in three open turf outings -- placing in Belmont's Grade 3 Noble Damsel -- since July. Made the 1.40-to-1 favorite, Dat You Miz Blue stalked eighth choice Ma Femme (40.25-to-1) until the stretch, where she got a short lead, while Lovely Amanda -- with jockey John Velazquez aboard for the ninth time -- stalked Dat You Miz Blue while saving ground the whole way. Velazquez correctly anticipated that Ma Femme, ridden by Julio Pezua, would come out from the rail, with Dat You Miz Blue to the outside of Ma Femme.
"You know he (Pezua) is going to come out once we straighten away," explained Velazquez. "He does it every time. All you've got to do is sit off of him, and -- thankfully -- I got into a good spot down the backstretch. She was very game."
Digging in through the stretch next to the rail, Lovely Amanda edged out to a half-length margin at the wire, with Dat You Miz Blue and 8.80-to-1 fourth choice Wootie finishing in a dead heat for second. It was her first victory since winning Aqueduct's Montauk Handicap at a mile and an eighth by 7 3/4 lengths in December of 2001, her first stakes score on turf and her first win with more than 121 pounds up, since her impost for the Perfect Arc was 122. The victory increased Lovely Amanda's earnings by $60,000 to $376,450, improving her record to 8 - 5 - 4 in 24 starts, which includes second-place finishes (beaten a head in 2001) in two previous runnings of the Perfect Arc and a third-place finish in Pimlico's six-furlong Cumberland Stakes on dirt in 2001. She also qualified her breeder and co-owner, Pierz, for the maximum $10,000 breeder award.
"It was nice to see her win," remarked Pletcher, who was voted the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Trainer of the Year for 1999. "She's one of those fillies who runs well on either surface. She liked the ground today, and Johnny (Velazquez) gave her a dynamite ride, which really made the difference. We'll probably come back in the Montauk ($75,000 added for New York-bred fillies and mares on Sunday, December 1). That's what we did last year."
Jose Santos, the jockey on Dat You Miz Blue, pointed out some of the obstacles his mare had to overcome: "The turf course is a little deep, and she was carrying a lot of weight (top weight of 124 pounds). Johnny (Velazquez) was able to go inside, and I was stuck on the outside."
Jimmy Jerkens, Dat You Miz Blue's trainer, was succinct: "She didn't have any excuses. I just wish Pezua (the jockey on Ma Femme, who finished fifth) would have stayed on the rail."
Sired by former New York stallion Belong to Me (Danzig - Belonging, by Exclusive Native), whose New York connections qualified for a $4,200 stallion award, Lovely Amanda is the second winner produced from Love Alleged, by Alleged. Love Alleged is a half-sister to two stakes winners, and her dam is graded winner Me and Connie, by In Reality.

(11/9) Salute Him sails to win in Aqueduct allowance
In eight previous efforts at six furlongs, Barry Seinfeld's and Elizabeth Dodson's four-year-old SALUTE HIM had never been unplaced, and he improved on that record in Aqueduct's seventh race on Saturday, a $47,000 restricted N2X allowance for three-year-olds and up, as the 1.40-to-1 favorite among five starters. Ridden for the first time by Michael Luzzi, the dark bay gelding raced inside in last place in the tightly-bunched field through a half-mile, then angled out to split rivals in the stretch -- brushing briefly with Jelly Roll Romp -- and took command with a five-furlong fraction in 57.47. He drew clear in the final furlong, winning in 1:10.31 by 2 3/4 lengths over 1.90-to-1 second choice Smolder, who also put forth a commendable effort as the actual top-weight (121) in the race despite being a June-foaled three-year-old. It was Salute Him's first race without blinkers since December of 2001, even though his last previous victory -- on January 4 at Aqueduct -- had been his first start with blinkers on. Saturday's win also marked Salute Him's fastest winning time at six furlongs.
Trained by Steven Kappes, Salute Him picked up $28,200 for his latest victory, boosting his career earnings to $156,450 and improving his already impressively consistent record to 3 - 6 - 5 in 17 starts. The New York-bred was purchased as a yearling for $3,000 by Sheila Ballard at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1999 October yearling sale and made his second-place debut in August of 2001 under the colors of S A Partnership. In his second start a month later at Belmont, he won for current co-owner Seinfeld while under the care of trainer Kappes. Salute Him's Saturday score also qualified his breeder, Roger Toffolon of Hartford, Connecticut, for a $5,640 breeder award and a $1,974 stallion award, since Toffolon owns the gelding's sire, New York stallion Sea Salute (Danzig - Glowing Honor, by Seattle Slew), who stands at Jim Scott's Liberty Stud in Ghent.
Salute Him is the second offspring and second New York-bred winner produced by Closure, being a half-brother to multiple open allowance winner Lord Buckley (seven wins). His dam, an Alysheba mare acquired privately by Toffolon, is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Anguilla ($541,564), stakes winner Kashgar, and graded-placed winner Alive With Hope. This is the famous Phipps-Wheatley Stable female family of champion filly and outstanding broodmare Numbered Account.

(11/9) Looking Grand lives up to name in second start
Trainer Dominic Galluscio made a few adjustments following the third-place greenly run debut for Team Five Star Stable's two-year-old LOOKING GRAND at Belmont on October 14: two solid Belmont workouts, including three furlongs in a "bullet" 36 seconds (best of 17) on November 4, Lasix medication, and blinkers on. The result was a front-running performance that gave the New York-bred his first victory as the heavy favorite (.70-to-1) among nine starters in Belmont's second race on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-olds going six furlongs.
Ridden for the second time by jockey Edgar Prado, Looking Grand broke somewhat slowly from the sixth post position but was hustled up to take the lead with an opening quarter in 22.83. After a half-mile in 46.13, the chestnut colt was in front by three lengths, and he rounded the turn while well out from the rail to reach mid-stretch 3 1/2 lengths in front with a five-furlong fraction of 58.52. In the final furlong, second-choice Polish Posh (3.15-to-1), who had trailed in second place on the outside from the turn, cut Looking Grand's margin to a length and a half but did not seriously threaten the winner, who reached the finish in 1:11.54. It was the first of two winning rides at Aqueduct on Saturday for Prado, who also guided New York-bred Double Screen to victory in the fourth race.
Owned by the Team Five Star Stable that is managed by Herb Oster of Westbury, Looking Grand earned $25,800 to put his bankroll after two starts at $30,530. Trainer Galluscio had purchased the colt as agent for Team Five Star Stable for $60,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2002 March sale of selected two-year-olds in training, to which Looking Grand had been consigned by Florida pinhooker Murray Smith, agent. Smith, in turn, had purchased the New York-bred for $30,000 from the consignment of Harry L. Landry Bloodstock, LLC, agent, at Fasig-Tipton's 2001 Saratoga sale of preferred yearlings. Looking Grand's victory also qualified his breeders, Harry Landry of Saratoga Springs and Dr. David Doane of Jonesboro, Tennessee, for a $2,580 breeder award.
The 11th two-year-old winner from the first crop of Grade 1 NYRA winner Formal Gold ($1,413,600), Looking Grand is the fourth winner -- and second New York-bred winner -- produced by his dam, Seeno, and is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed winner Looking ($104,890). Seeno, who is by Encino and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Beau Britches and to the dam of multiple stakes winner Born to Shop ($538,373), was purchased by Landry as a three-year-old in 1992 for $4,400 at a Saratoga horses of racing age sale. Seeno had been consigned to that sale by Thomas J. Gallo III, agent.

(11/9) Double Screen ($656,001) scores 19th win
A graded winner at six furlongs, Sanford Goldfarb's and Peter James' New York-bred DOUBLE SCREEN boasted credentials no other horse in Aqueduct's fourth race on Saturday for open claimers could match, and the wagering public sensed it, making him the 2-to-1 favorite among seven starters for the six-furlong contest. Ridden for the first time by Edgar Prado -- his 28th jockey in 82 career starts -- the venerable nine-year-old raced under wraps in fourth and fifth place until reaching the stretch, where he angled out and overtook three rivals to win by half a length in 1:10.55. He was the second New York-bred winner ridden on Saturday by Prado, the first of two Aqueduct winners co-owned by Goldfarb of Old Westbury, and the first of three winners saddled by Richard Dutrow Jr., who also saddled the other winner (Cyber Secret in the eighth race) co-owned by Goldfarb. The dark bay gelding's latest victory -- coming 15 days after a previous win at Aqueduct -- increased his earnings to $656,001 and improved his record to 19 - 11 - 14, which includes a length and a half tally in the $156,500 Grade 3 Finger Lakes Breeders' Cup in 1997.
Bred by James Iselin of New York and New Jersey, Double Screen is by former New York stallion Double Negative and is among eight winners -- including two full brothers -- produced by New York-bred black-type winner Video Talc ($159,854), who is by deceased New York stallion Talc. Video Talc is a full sister to stakes winners Audio Cassette ($126,155) and Cassette Player and to stakes-placed winner Fini Cassette ($201,894) and to the winning dam of six more stakes horses, including stakes winners Bubba Higgins ($235,345) and Desktop ($221,317).

(11/8) Quiet Ruler wins Big A. feature
New York-bred QUIET RULER, winner of his last start, the $150,000 Mohawk Handicap on Showcase Day, beat open company allowance horses today in the Aqueduct feature. Trained by Russell Mueller, Quiet Ruler was ridden to victory again by John Velazquez. The 58,000 feature was run over the turf course, labeled 'yielding,' at a distance of one and three-eighths mile. Nine horses went to post.
After Whata Brainstorm was wrestled off the lead by jockey Victor Carrero, Quiet Ruler assumed the lead and led the field past the grandstand for the first time. Setting a dawdling pace throughout, Quiet Ruler was full of run at the top of the stretch and once asked bounded away from the field to win by three lengths.
Owned by Catalina Mueller's Old Brookside Farm in partnership with Randy Sarf, Quiet Ruler was a $17,000 purchase out of Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1999 October yearling sale. The gelding's breeder is Marlene Brody's Gallagher's Stud in Ghent, New York. Quiet Ruler is by former Irish juvenile champion Woodman and is the first winner produced from New York-bred Rivermorn, a Riverman mare bred and owned by Gallagher's Stud. Rivermorn is a full sister to German stakes winner Magical River and a half-sister to stakes winners Alphabatim (Grade 1 and Group 1 winner of $1,300,384), Puzzle Book (dam of three graded winners) and Gran Alba.
Quiet Ruler has now banked $277,970 with a Lifetime Record: 30-6-4-2. For today's open company victory the owners qualify for an owner award from the New York Breeding and Racing Program. Because, the four year-old chestnut gelding is sired by a non-registered New York-bred sire, the owners will earn 10% of the winner's share of the purse or $3,480.
Gallagher's Stud qualify for a 10% breeder award every time Quiet Ruler earns purse money (1st thru 4th) in a pari-mutuel race in New York State.

(11/8) Say Florida Sandy does it again!
Like 'Ole Man River' SAY FLORIDA SANDY just keeps rolling along, winning for the 31st time in his remarkable 90-race career!! Trained by Victor Cuadra and ridden to victory by Jose Santos, the eight year-old dark bay horse was back on his game today. Racing against open allowance company in a six-furlong race, which was run over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack, Say Florida Sandy broke from the outside post in the eight-horse field.
Unlike his last start in the Hudson Handicap when he broke last in a field of 13, 'Sandy' was sent winging from the break and rated up close, behind Run Kush Run in the run down the backstretch. The pair got to the half-mile pole in a swift 44.3 with True Direction taking dead aim at the leaders. Turning for home, Run Kush Run carried 'Sandy' wide leaving a wide opening along the rail for True Direction, ridden by Jerry Bailey. 'Sandy' put Run Kush Run away at the top of the stretch before engaging True Direction in deep stretch and his class and courage carried him to the front once again. Final time was a sharp 1:08.4!
The lifetime leading New York-bred money earner has now amassed $1,971,455! Bred by Sanford Bacon, and owned by John Rotella, the eight year-old horse is by Personal Flag, out of Lolli Lucka Lolli, by Sweet Candy (Ven). Personal Flag stands at McMahon Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, New York.

(11/8) Spite The Devil captures allowance
Hardwicke Stable's SPITE THE DEVIL, bet down to 2-5, didn't disappoint his backers as he beat state-bred allowance two-year olds at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by H. Allen Jerkens, the two year-old dark bay gelding was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano. The non-winners of 1X condition race carried a purse of $46,000 and was run over the main track at a distance of one-mile.
Kinjet and Gallant Soldier vied for the lead down the backstretch with Castellano rating Spite The Devil behind the tightly bunched field. Forced to check nearing the far turn, Castellano settled the talented gelding before swinging five wide turning for home. Once underway, Spite The Devil dueled with a game Gallant Soldier through stretch, pulling clear in the shadow of the wire to win by three-quarters of a length.
Bred by Elisabeth Jerkens, Spite The Devil is by Devil's Bag, out of Samantha D., by Cryptoclearance. Samantha D. is out a seven-times stakes winner, Cuca's Lady (Great Above), who earned over $350,460 in her career.
Spite The Devil has finished third in the Saratoga Special (G2) and Sanford Stake (G2) and second in the Sleepy Hollow and Bertram Bogard stakes to undefeated Funny Cide. Now the winner of $124,815, Spite The Devil has earned his breeder, Elisabeth Jerkens, breeder awards of 10% of his lifetime earnings or $12,481 from the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(11/8) Sensible Chic impressive in maiden score
SENSIBLE CHIC making her first career start gamely beat state-bred two year-old maiden fillies today at Aqueduct Race Track. The race was run over the main track at six-furlongs and 10 fillies contested the $43,000 purse. Trained by Robert Ribaudo and ridden to victory by Dennis Carr, Sensible Chic paid a healthy $59.00!
Airialissue and Sensible Chic hooked up early, setting fractions of 22.2 and 46 flat to the half-mile pole. After fending off Airialissue, Sensible Chic was strongly challenged by Hello Karakorum, who put a head in front at the eighth pole. Digging in, Sensible Chic responded to the urgings of jockey Dennis Carr, coming back along the inside to draw off to a one and one-half length winning margin.
Sensible Chic is the second New York-bred two year-old maiden winner saddled by trainer Robert Ribaudo this week. Biagio's Beauty won on Tuesday. Both are by the hot first-crop sire, Distorted Humor, and both were making their debut.
Owned by Lois Nervitt and bred by Win Star Farm and McMahon Thoroughbreds, Sensible Chic is a chestnut filly, by Distorted Humor, out of the Hero's Honor mare, Rajana's Honor, who's a full sister to Honor Rajana, who was a multiple graded-stakes placed winner, both in the United States and in France.

(11/8) Have A Great Day at the Big A.
Dale Lucas' HAVE A GREAT DAY went wire to wire today to break her maiden against state-bred fillies and mares. The one and one-eighth mile affair was run over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack and carried a purse of $44,000. Trained by Guadalupe Preciado and ridden by Richard Migliore, Have A Great Day was making her third lifetime start. 11 fillies and mares went to post.
Breaking from the 11 post, Have A Great Day was sent to the lead by Migliore, out dueling Irish Rail in the early going. Setting comfortable fractions, Have A Great Day was clear on the lead to the far turn before In Reverse put in her run. Drawing to the throat latch of Have A Great Day, In Reverse failed in her attempt to pass the leader, fading in mid-stretch. Drifting wide in deep stretch, Have A Great Day held off a late challenge by Michelle Mel, crossing the wire a one and one-half length winner.
Bred by Camaland Partnership, the 3 year-old chestnut filly is by Tank, out of Camaland, by Badger Land.

(11/7) Leave It to Betsy strongly at 40-1!
The Michael Brice owned and trained LEAVE IT TO BETSY, 'got all the money today' beating a field of state-bred fillies and mares in a non-winner of 1X condition race. Leave It to Betsy had finished third in the slop in her last start and showed a 'bullet' work leading up to today's race and still went to the post at 40-1!
After a contentious early battle, Tuft of Flowers and Street Wheeling led the nine-horse field down the backstretch of the six-furlong affair run over Aqueduct's main track. Leave It to Betsy, ridden by Herberto Castillo, Jr., tracked close behind and began to move on the leaders in the middle of the far turn. Circling three wide, Leave It to Betsy stormed off the last turn and drew clear while under a drive, getting to the wire ahead of the Gallant Angel by one and a half-lengths.
Bred by William D. Snyder, Leave It to Betsy is a four year-old bay filly by Now Listen, out of the Garthorn mare, Believe in Betsy, who's a half-sister to stakes winners Lummox (Silent Cal) and Raise The Flag (Dr. Adagio).

(11/7) Dixie Doree closes strongly to capture open claimer
New York-bred DIXIE DOREE, in for a claiming tag of $45,000, closed with a strongly to take an open claimer today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The one-mile affair run over the main track carried a purse of $38,000. Only five fillies and mares went to post and the track was rated 'fast'.
Home Deed and Declined Amex battled for the early lead with Smith rating Dixie Doree well off the early pace behind the field. Coming off the far turn, Declined Amex opened up a three-length lead with Dixie Doree, still sitting last, swinging wide for the stretch run. After straightening for home, Dixie Doree was full-out under a drive and ran past Declined Amex by the eighth pole, drawing off to win by almost three-lengths.
Ridden smartly by Ariel Smith and ably trained by Juliane Brida, the four year-old dark bay filly is owned by the partnership of Dennis and Joseph Brida, Kenneth Mitchko and Thomas Novotny. Bred by Dennis Brida, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., Dixie Brass is by Dixie Brass, out of the Medaille D'or mare, Reine Doree.
Dixie Doree has now earned $145,560 with a Lifetime Record: 25-5-1 and for today's open company victory the partnership earn an owner's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $4,560. Dennis Brida, as breeder, has now earned breeder's awards 20% of Dixie Doree's lifetime earnings or $29,112. Owner and breeder awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(11/7) Combanchera coasts to allowance victory
Two year-old COMBANCHERA, ridden confidently by John Velazquez, beat state-bred allowance fillies today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The non-winner of 1X condition race was run at one-mile over the main track and carried a purse of $46,000. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Combanchera is owned by Anstu Stable.
Breaking from the outside post, the prohibitive odds-on favorite, Combanchera, glided to the lead. Mrs. Smooth Moves racing to the inside of Combanchera couldn't match strides with Combanchera and tired past the half-mile pole. Sitting chilly throughout, Velazquez waited until the top of the stretch before asking Combanchera for more run. Once asked, the talented two year-old filly drew off from the field, winning as much the best. Shesasmokin finished second.
Bred by Stuart and Anita Subotnick at their Anstu Farm in Millbrook, New York, Comanchera is a dark bay filly by Seattle Slew, out of the Miswaki mare, In Her Glory, winner of the 1993 Garland of Roses Stake. In Her Glory, also, finished third in the Acorn Stakes - Gr. I and the Gazelle Handicap - Gr. I.
The New York-bred filly has now earned $73,400 in three lifetime starts.

(11/7) War Paint breaks maiden at Big A.
Barry K. Schwartz' WAR PAINT broke his maiden today, his 3rd lifetime start. Racing against state-bred two year-olds, War Paint was heavily backed going to the gate as the odds-on favorite.
My Buddie Duddie broke alertly taking command of the lead with Plant the Seed and War Paint racing up close to the pace. Around the far turn of the six-furlong race, run over the main track at Aqueduct, War Paint moved easily to collar My Buddie Duddie. Once straightened for home, War Paint, under Jose Santos, drew off from the field and coasted under the wire a three-length winner. My Buddie Duddie finished second with High Priced up for third.
Bred by Mr. Schwartz at his Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, New York, War Paint is a bay colt by Devil's Bag, out of How About Now, by Pentelicus. Trained by Mike Hushion, War Paint is the second foal of racing age for How About Now, winner of the Grade II - Schuylerville Stake.

(11/5) New York-breds are superfecta in Aqueduct open allowance
Headed by ONE N THREE, New York-breds finished first, second, third and fourth to make up the superfecta in the Aqueduct finale. The $47,000 open allowance for non-winners of 1X other than Maiden, Claimer, Starter or Restricted condition was run over the main track at a distance of seven furlongs. One N Three, the race-time favorite, was a handy two-length winner followed by Farmer Jake, Papua and Private Enterprise, in the 9-horse field. The superfecta paid $487.00.
Papua went to the lead but was closely pursued by Private Enterprise, Saltaat, and Deux Mille down the backstretch. One N Three, under Shaun Bridgmohan, sat off the 'hot' early pace while on an outside path down the backstretch. Nearing the final turn, Bridgmohan moved One N Three up to challenge but was strung out five wide by the time the field hit the top of the stretch. Once straightened, One N Three powerfully charged down the middle of the track overtaking Papua and Private Enterprise and holding off a late challenge by Farmer Jake. Final time was 1:23 flat.
Bred by Andrew Kruger and owned by D & B Stable, One N Three is trained by Jonathan Buckley, who calls Finger Lakes his home base. The three year-old dark bay colt is by Dixie Brass, out of the Secret Prince mare, Patsy McCann Can.
First or second in 9 of his 10 career starts, One N Three has now earned $146,480. Mr. Kruger, as breeder, has now earned breeder's awards of 20% of One N Three's earnings to date or $29,296. For today's open company score, the D & B Stable earn an owner's award of 20% of the winner's share of the purse or $5,640.
The owners of Farmer Jake, Papua and Private Enterprise also earned owner's awards of 20% or 10% of respective purse earnings. Because New York-based stallions sired horses, Farmer Jake's and Private Enterprise's owners will receive 20% of purse earnings. Farmer Jake owners, James Riccio et al, receive an owner's award of $1,880, Private Enterprise owners, Nyala Farm, receive an owner's award of $564 and Papua owner, Barry K. Schwartz, receives an owner's award of $517.
Owner, breeder and stallion awards are part of the lucrative incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(11/5) Solar Blues captures state-bred allowance on turf
James F. Edwards' SOLAR BLUES, trained by H. James Bond and ridden by Edgar Prado, beat state-bred fillies and mares today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The non-winner of 1X condition was run over the turf course, labeled 'good', with the fences out 18 feet from the hedges. 10-horses contested the one-mile affair, which carried a purse of $46,000.
Totally Selfish, under Jose Santos, went to the lead with My Lady Roanne sitting second two-lengths behind in the early going. Prado kept Solar Blues well off the early speed pace, and at one point trailed the field by 8-lengths. As the field turned for home, the early leaders began to tire. Sultress of Swing came with a bold move to take command as Solar Blues had just started to put in her run. Sultress of Swing on the inside and Solar Blues on the outside battled to the wire, with a determined Solar Blues prevailing by a neck at the wire.
Bred by the CBF Corporation at Mr. Edwards' Keane Stud in Amenia, New York, Solar Blues is a four year-old bay filly by Cure the Blues, out of graded stakes winner Solar Halo, by Halo. Solar Halo also finished second Grade I - Ladies Handicap and earned $190,561 in a 13-race career.

(11/5) Biogio's Beauty wins at first asking
Two year-old BIOGIO'S BEAUTY, trained by Robert Ribaudo, broke her maiden today in her first career start. The six-furlong race, run over the main track at Aqueduct, had a field of 12 state-bred fillies go to the starting gate
Rockin Rachel Anne and Karakorum Kiss vied for the early lead with Danzasouth and Raucous Miss chasing three lengths behind in the run down the backstretch. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan rated Biogio's Beauty in the second tier of horses moving into contention while maintaining an outside path to the top of the stretch. Karakorum Kiss had a clear lead by the eighth pole but Biogio's Beauty came with a flourish in the latter stages to win by almost three lengths.
Bred by Glen Gray Farm, Biogio's Beauty was purchased by Joseph and Alfred Nastasi for $23,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale. Biogio's Beauty is by the hot first-crop sire, Distorted Humor, out of Night Sparkler, by Pleasant Colony.

(11/3) Perfect Energy proves ready for next level
Continuing to improve dramatically since first encountering turf in June, Matthew Stasior's three-year-old PERFECT ENERGY has won or placed close seconds in her last five starts, winning a restricted N1X allowance by 5 1/2 lengths at Belmont on October 2 and winning again at Aqueduct on Sunday. The logical 2.30-to-1 favorite among 10 starters for Aqueduct's fifth race, a $48,000 restricted N2X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going a two-turn mile and a sixteenth on turf, Perfect Energy appeared to be in control of the race at all stages. With jockey Jorge Chavez aboard for the fifth consecutive time, the dark bay filly raced just outside of pace-setting seventh choice Ma Femme through an easy three-quarters of a mile (1:14.17), then took command in the upper stretch with a lead change, at which point Chavez immediately began urging her. She drew clear while running her final sixteenth in 6.19 seconds over the "good" turf course, reaching the finish a length and a quarter in front of 2.70-to-1 second choice Dynamic Lisa, who had placed third in Belmont's $150,000 Ticonderoga Handicap on New York Showcase Day (October 19). Third choice Near and Dear (3.35-to-1), who had edged Perfect Energy by a nose at Belmont the last time the two three-year-old fillies had met on September 15, was not a factor.
The victory boosted Perfect Energy's earnings by $28,800 into six figures at $102,090 and improved her record to 3 - 2 - 0 in nine starts, with all five of her wins and placings coming in five starts on grass. It also provided another generous return on the $16,000 that owner Stasior paid for Perfect Energy at Fasig-Tipton's 2000 Saratoga preferred yearling sale, to which she had been consigned by Harry L. Landry Bloodstock, agent. Also benefiting from the New York-bred's Sunday score were her breeders, Elaine Peck's and Richard Quinn's Rhapsody Farm in Plymouth in partnership with Peter Trapp, who jointly qualified for a $5,760 breeder award. Perfect Energy's trainer is Gary Sciacca, who was voted New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Trainer of the Year for 1992.
Sired by syndicated New York stallion Signal Tap (Fappiano - South Sea Dancer, by Northern Dancer), a multiple graded turf winner standing at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in Hudson whose connections qualified for a $2,016 stallion award, Perfect Energy is among five winners produced by Visionneuse, a daughter of 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. The filly that Visionneuse was carrying at the time of that sale turned out to be recent (October 17) New York-bred Belmont allowance winner Counting Visions ($119,640).

(11/3) Must Be Nice notches maiden win off layoff
Despite returning from an almost nine-month layoff, Barry Schwartz's homebred three-year-old filly, MUST BE NICE, had placed second to subsequent NYRA allowance winners in her only two starts -- missing by only a nose in her second outing -- and fully deserved her 1.65-to-1 favoritism for Aqueduct's opener on Sunday. Ridden for the first time by Aaron Gryder in the $43,000 restricted maiden special contest for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going six furlongs, the dark bay raced closed up on the outside of long-shot pace-setters Lottsa Appeal and Forever Dixie before rallying three wide approaching the stretch. By mid-stretch, she was a half-length in front of Forever Dixie, and her margin at the wire was a length and a quarter over 4.70-to-1 third choice Dusting of Powder -- also returning from a spring layoff and the only other starter coming off two consecutive second-place finishes. Forever Dixie, the 42-to-1 ninth choice among the 12 fillies and mares in the race, finished a nose behind Dusting of Powder in third place.
For jockey Gryder, it was the first of three winning rides on Aqueduct's Sunday card. Must Be Nice increased her earnings by $25,800 to $42,400 in three starts -- all in 2002 -- and also qualified owner-breeder Schwartz, the NYRA board chairman and CEO who bred Must Be Nice in the name of his Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, for a $2,580 breeder award. Michael Hushion, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Trainer of the Year for 2000, saddled the New York-bred filly, whose sire is champion-siring Dixieland Band.
A half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner and stallion David ($403,920) and 2002 Grade 2-placed juvenile winner Presence and to New York-bred earners of $121,646 and $112,780, Must Be Nice is the sixth winner among six racing age offspring produced by Fateful Beauty, a daughter of Turkoman. Fateful Beauty is a half-sister to Irish multiple stakes winner Ailleacht and to the winning dam of multiple stakes winner The Goddess Athird. A maiden special winner at Belmont as a juvenile and a Monmouth allowance winner (by 19 lengths) the following year, Fateful Beauty was purchased as an in-foal four-year-old for $25,000 at the 1993 Keeneland November sale by Robert Courtney, agent, and Schwartz has bred all of her offspring.

(11/3) Look Out Evan leaves open 2yo claimers behind
Coming off a seventh-place Delaware Park effort with a $50,000 claiming price on October 12 that had followed a bumpy fifth-place outing in Belmont's Bertram F. Bongard Stakes by only 13 days, Bonnie Jo Wooster's two-year-old LOOK OUT EVAN was dismissed at 9.60-to-1 for Aqueduct's second race on Sunday. That established him as the last choice among six wagering interests (seven starters) in the six-furlong contest for two-year-old open claimers with tags of $60,000 (Look Out Evan and four others) to $50,000 (two starters), even though Look Out Evan was the only open maiden special winner in the field. For those class handicappers who surmised that the New York-bred colt might benefit from having 22 days between races instead of 13, the pari-mutuel rewards ($21.20) were generous.
Ridden Michael Luzzi, who had been on board for his winning debut on May 2 at Belmont and also for the seven-furlong Bongard venture, Look Out Evan broke on top from the outside post position and stalked front-running duelers Ed's Party Boy and Really Tough by about two lengths. Ed's Party Boy, also a New York-bred who was coming off a five-length restricted maiden special win at Belmont on October 6, set the opening quarter-mile split of 22.60 despite being bumped at the start and pushed Really Tough to a half-mile fraction of 46.42. At the head of the stretch, Really Tough had a short advantage over the tiring Ed's Party Boy to his inside, but Look Out Evan advanced three wide to challenge, overtaking Really Tough with authority even though that rival came out slightly in the stretch. Although somewhat late to change leads in the upper stretch, Look Out Evan looked professional in his second winning effort, reaching the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front in 1:11.79, with Really Tough -- who had set a five-furlong fraction of 58.94 -- staying on for a clear second.
The victory was worth $24,600 in purse money, pushing Look Out Evan's earnings to $52,019 in four starts, and it also qualified owner Wooster for a $2,460 open race owner award. Qualifying for a $2,460 breeder award was the colt's breeder, Herbert Schwartz of Woodmere, who recently was double-honored by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) as 2001's New York Breeder of the Year and as national Small Breeder (20 or fewer runners) of the Year. Schwartz's son, Scott Schwartz, trains Look Out Evan and also has trained the colt's two winning half-siblings, Aqueduct winners Look At You and Priscilla's Chance -- neither of whom raced at two -- and their dam, A Royal Look, who placed third at Aqueduct in her first start but never won.
Conceived in Kentucky to the cover of a stallion currently standing in New York, Look Out Evan is the first two-year-old multiple winner of 2002 to represent syndicated Take Me Out (Cure the Blues - White Feather, by Tom Rolfe), who stands at Dr. Jonathan Davis' Milfer Farm in Unadilla. Take Me Out, whose eight juvenile winners this year include two that are stakes-placed, was a graded winner sprinting at Saratoga and going two turns in Florida, and his nine stakes winners to date include four that have won stakes in 2002. Look Out Evan's dam, A Royal Look, by Sunny's Halo, is a half-sister to three stakes-placed winners, including the dam of New York-bred graded winner Hey Baba Lulu ($615,218), who also was bred by Herbert Schwartz and trained by Scott. Herbert Schwartz claimed Look Out Evan's maternal great-granddam (third dam), stakes-placed Petunia, in 1971.

(11/3) Critical Eyes places third in G3 Turnback the Alarm
A former claiming sprinter with no black-type credentials whatsoever set a slow pace in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm Handicap on Sunday, winning by four lengths to dramatically enhance her own broodmare value while denying New York-bred Critical Eye a chance to become a millionaire. Last choice Svea Dahl (6.40-to-1), ridden masterfully by Richard Migliore, got an easy lead off controlled fractions of 24.49, 49.15, 1:13.15 and 1:37.88 and reached the finish in 1:50.42 for the mile and an eighth distance. The five-year-old daughter of Honor Grades -- now with earnings of $346,720 -- is a half-sister to a Puerto Rican stakes winner. Second choice Mystic Lady (now $1,126,930), a multiple Grade 2 winner whose dam is New York-bred Diane Suzanne, placed second, and Herbert and Carol Schwartz's homebred Critical Eye (now $991,591), a multiple Grade 1 winner whose graded wins include scores up to a mile and three-eighths, finished third. Favored With Ability (1.75-to-1) finished fourth, followed by another New York-bred, Along Came Mary.
John Velazquez, rider of Mystic Lady, was obviously frustrated with how the race unfolded: "I broke best, but had to take back because of her entry-mate (actually her stable-mate, With Ability). If I had ridden my own race, I probably would have been fast enough to get the lead. Things just didn't work out."
Mark Hennig, trainer of With Ability and Mystic Lady, thought his second-place finisher acquited herself well despite the circumstances: "I thought Mystic Lady stayed on well."
Critical Eye, who is five years old and usually needs a brisk pace to perform at her best, will be retired to the Schwartz's broodmare ranks after this season, but she is within an allowance placing of going over the million-dollar mark in the next eight weeks of 2002. Mystic Lady's dam, Diane Suzanne, is a full sister to New York-bred champions Fourstardave ($1,636,737) and Fourstars Allstar ($1,600,048) and has been consigned to Keeneland's November breeding stock sale for auctioning on Monday, November 4, as Hip No. 235. Of 1,896 broodmares and broodmare prospects consigned to Keeneland's sale, she is the only dam of a millionaire who also is a sister or half-sister to a millionaire (in her case, sister to two), and she is pregnant to Point Given ($3,968,500), whose sire, Thunder Gulch, sired Mystic Lady.

(11/2) Shamrock Blues' open score is 2nd win for Robsham-Hough-Chavez
Einar Paul Robsham's homebred SHAMROCK BLUES had gone through her New York-bred conditions with wins at seven furlongs and a mile, but when she was dropped into a Saratoga six-furlong contest with a $50,000 claiming price following a two-month layoff, she closed considerable ground late to finish a strong fourth. Given another layoff of just over two months, the four-year-old went off the 12.90-to-1 fifth choice among eight starters for Aqueduct's six-furlong seventh race on Saturday, a $47,000 open N1X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, and showed a closing kick that produced her first open win.
Ridden for the second time by Jorge Chavez, who had first been aboard her for a six-furlong contest at Belmont in May, Shamrock Blues ran like six furlongs was definitely not her game early on, lagging back in seventh place for a half-mile before rallying five wide approaching the stretch. By mid-stretch, she was within about two lengths of leader Wild Punch and in the final furlong went by four rivals on the outside to win by half a length in 1:11.29, as third choice Wild Punch (3.70-to-1), who set a 58.69 five-furlong fraction, held on for second. Favored Dynamite Miss (1.20-to-1), one of the fillies Shamrock Blues blew by in the late stretch, finished third. Shamrock Blues might have been assisted in her late-running performance by the honest early pace set by dueling New York-breds Jolie and Carson City Girl, as the former led for half a mile with fractions of 22.87 and 46.54 before weakening.
It was the second Aqueduct win of the day for the team of owner Robsham, trainer Stanley Hough, and jockey Chavez, with the latter piloting his third winner on the card aboard Dawn of the Condor in the featured Grade 2 Knickerbocker Handicap two races later. Shamrock Blues also was the second homebred winner of the day bred from one of Robsham's own New York homebred mares and sired by a New York stallion. The victory increased the dark bay filly's earnings by $28,200 to $160,360, boosting her record to 4 - 4 - 2 in 17 starts, and it qualified Robsham, of Cochituate, Massachusetts, for an additional $11,280 in open race owner ($5,640) and breeder ($5,640) awards.
Sired by deceased record-setting New York stallion Cure the Blues, whose syndicate connections qualified for a $1,974 stallion award, Shamrock Blues is the first offspring produced by Robsham's New York homebred Sunny Shamrock, a stakes-winning daughter of New York stallion Distinctive Pro. Sunny Shamrock, who won Belmont's six-furlong Joseph A. Gimma Stakes as a two-year-old in her third start, was bred by Robsham from Calder two-turn turf stakes winner Sunny Issues, whom Robsham purchased for $125,000 as a two-year-old in training at Fasig-Tipton Florida's 1987 February sale.

(11/2) Nothing Wasted wins convincingly at a mile
At four attempts at distances beyond six furlongs, Four Partners Stable's three-year-old NOTHING WASTED had a second and two thirds, so his first outing at a mile in Aqueduct's opener on Saturday, a $44,000 restricted maiden special for three-year-olds and up, looked like a good spot. Returned to main track racing after two turf tries at Saratoga and Belmont, prior to which he had received an almost 12-week layoff, the bay gelding broke on top from the ninth post position among 11 starters and was hustled straight to the front by jockey John Velazquez. Sixth choice Mister Fizz (15-to-1) then came through on the inside to gain a short lead after half a mile and raced abreast of Nothing Wasted through six furlongs of the one-turn contest before tiring, as the Four Partners Stable color-bearer drew clear to win by a length.
Favored Indian Card (2.35-to-1), who had drafted within a length and a half of Nothing Wasted through most of the race, closed well on the outside but never seriously threatened Nothing Wasted, who prevailed as the 2.70-to-1 second choice in his third consecutive outing under Velazquez. Although the race was for three-year-olds and up, all the starters were three-year-olds.
Trained by current leading Aqueduct conditioner Richard Dutrow Jr. since returning from his May-to-August layoff, Nothing Wasted races for the Four Partners Stable that is managed by Henry Prieger of Stanfordville for other partners Digby Barrios of Ridgefield, Connecticut, Laura Vukovich of Holmdel, New Jersey, and David Lester. The $26,400 he picked up for his maiden victory boosted his earnings to $45,480 and improved his record to 1 - 1 - 2 in eight starts. Nothing Wasted also qualified his breeder, Raymond DeStafano, for a $5,280 breeder award. The New York-bred gelding is the 21st winner from the first crop of syndicated New York stallion Abaginone (Devil's Bag - Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid), a multiple graded sprint stakes winner who stands at Louis Salerno's Questroyal Stud in Hudson and whose connections qualified for a $1,848 stallion award.
Nothing Wasted was consigned to Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2000 October yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, by Four Partners Stable through Thomas J. and Nadine Gallo, agent, with agent Webb Carroll signing the sales slip for $17,500. He is the sixth winner produced by Aqueduct winner Waste No Words, a Nasty and Bold mare that breeder DeStafano acquired privately from the Derby Fair Stable of Dr. Cary Shapoff of Fairfield, Connecticut, in the late 1990s. Waste No Words is a half-sister to stakes-placed winner Bold Intrusion.

(11/2) Polish Jewel maneuvers through for first win
Second in his first two starts going six furlongs at Belmont in September and October, Einar Paul Robsham's homebred two-year-old, POLISH JEWEL, dodged traffic in the stretch to get his first victory in Aqueduct's third race on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted maiden special for two-year-olds going six furlongs. Favored at 1.30-to-1 among 12 betting interests (13 starters), the dark bay colt drafted close behind the early leaders while three wide, which might have helped against a strong westerly headwind that greeted runners on the turn with gusts of up to 21 m.p.h. He launched his bid at the head of the stretch but was late changing leads until long-shot Stand for Speed veered out after being bumped by third choice Token Tonko, forcing Polish Jewel to the middle of the track, where he closed strongly to win by three-quarters of a length. Fourth choice Karakorumblackjack (9.40-to-1), who dueled for or held the lead throughout most of the contest and set a five-furlong fraction of 58.84, finished fourth.
Ridden for the second time by Jorge Chavez, who had been aboard for his September 22 debut and would later ride two more winners on Aqueduct's Saturday card (one for Robsham), Polish Jewel had a 1:11.65 clocking that was faster than the winning times in either of his earlier starts. He picked up $25,800 for his first victory, putting his earnings in three starts at $43,000, and also qualified Robsham for a $5,160 breeder award. Polish Jewel was the first of two New York-bred winners for Robsham saddled on Saturday by trainer Stanley Hough, who teamed with Chavez for both victories, and he also was the first of two Aqueduct winners produced from New York homebred mares owned by Robsham, who resides in Cochituate, Massachusetts.
Polish Jewel is the second juvenile winner from syndicated New York stallion Polish Pro's 2000 crop, qualifying the connections of that nine-year-old stallion (Mr. Prospector - Polish Holiday, by Danzig) -- who stands at Dr. Jonathan Davis' Milfer Farm in Unadilla -- for a $1,806 stallion award. He is the first offspring produced from Robsham's New York homebred Winter Jewell, who placed third in Belmont's Joseph A. Gimma Stakes as a two-year-old maiden and later won at Aqueduct as a three-year-old. By Pentelicus, Winter Jewel was bred by Robsham from New York-bred Saratoga and Belmont winner (dirt and turf) Winter Crown, a Cox's Ridge mare purchased by Robsham as a yearling for $250,000 in 1988 at Saratoga. Winter Crown's three stakes-winning half-siblings include multiple Grade 1 winner Bien Bien ($2,331,875).

(11/1) Lord Ofthe Thunder wins Big A. feature
Paraneck Stable's LORD OFTHE THUNDER, who finished third to Gander in the Empire Classic in his last outing, beat open allowance horses in today's Aqueduct Racetrack featured 8th race. Trained by Jennifer Pedersen and ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Lord Ofthe Thunder was making his 11th career start. Carrying a purse of $50,000, the non-winner of 2X other than Maiden, Claimer, Starter or Restricted condition race was run over the main track at a flat one-mile.
Father Steve and Adduction dueled early with Mr. Determined and Lord Ofthe Thunder tracking close behind as they raced down the backside. New York-bred Mr. Determined engaged Father Steve around the last turn, drawing even to the top of the stretch with Lord Ofthe Thunder, under a confident ride, looming boldly. Once straightened for the home, Lord Ofthe Thunder accelerated past Father Steve and his fellow New York-bred, and crossed the wire, a one and one-half length winner.
Bred by Barbara Brewer at her Onteora Farm in Canandaigua, New York, Lord Ofthe Thunder is a three year-old dark bay colt by Saint Ballardo, out of the Deputy Minister mare, Astarte, who is a half-sister to Honky Tonk Tune (Cure the Blues), the 1994 Canadian Champion 2 year-old filly.
Purchased at the 2000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale for $240,000, Lord Ofthe Thunder has now earned $171,734 with a Lifetime Record: 11-4-2-1. For today's open company score, Mr. Ernie Paragallo, owner of Paraneck Stable, earns an owner's award of 10% of the winner's share of the purse or $3,000. Qualification for open owner awards are for horses that earn purse money (1st thru 4th) in $30,000 claimers and upward. Owner awards are part of the rich incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.

(11/1) Best Shot Yet scores at 30-1!!
Albert Fried's BEST SHOT YET, overlooked by the bettors, rallied strongly to take a state-bred non-winner of 2X condition allowance today at Aqueduct Racetrack. The $48,000 purse was contested by 9-horses and run over the turf course at a distance of one-mile on a surfaced labeled as 'yielding'. Trainer Robert Ringhoff named Norberto Arroyo, Jr. to ride the six year-old bay gelding.
Captain Nicholas, Motives and Thirtythree O Nine vied for the lead in the early going and down the backstretch. The trio raced three abreast to the top of the turn, with Center moving aggressively on the outside and Best Shot Yet tracking closely in behind horses. As the field straightened for home, Best Shot Yet had to steady behind a tiring Thirtythree O Nine, while Center streaked to the lead. Arroyo angled Best Shot Yet to the middle of the course and came bounding down the stretch to overtake Center by a length crossing the wire.
Bred by Mr. Fried at his Buttonwood Farm in Rhinebeck, New York, Best Shot Yet is by Miswaki, out of the Seattle Slew mare, Erin's Slew. Best Shot Yet has now earned $101,430 with a Lifetime Record: 19-4-1-2.

(11/1) Brass Tango captures allowance
Delehanty Stable's BRASS TANGO closed resolutely through the stretch to beat state-bred allowance horses today at Aqueduct Racetrack. After two previous attempts over the turf, trainer Frank Alexander entered the 3 year-old chesnut gelding into a non-winner of 1X condition, which was run over the main track at a flat one-mile.
Pure Amazement opened up a ten-length lead shortly after the break with a host of pursuers tightly bunched down the backstretch. Around the last turn, Pure Amazement came back to the field. Brass Tango raced in fifth position and moved three wide at the top of the stretch and under a strong ride by jockey Victor Carrero powered past Daredevil Adam for the score.
Bred by Delehanty Stock Farm of Millbrook, New York, Brass Tango is by Dixie Brass, out of the Black-typed Argentinian mare Matera, by Masqued Dancer. Matera is a half-sister to Podeica (Petronisi), a grade 1 winner in Argentina and the dam of champion Perfect Arc (Brown Arc), a New York-bred who won several graded stakes including the Grade I - Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup, amassing $668,230.

(11/1) Explicit Action wins in eventful fashion
Padua Stable's EXPLICIT ACTION broke his maiden today at Aqueduct Racetrack. Racing against state-bred maiden two year-olds, Explicit Action was heavily backed going off at 1-2. Jockey John Velazquez had the mount for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Longshot (31-1) Decisive Strike grabbed the lead down the backstetch of the one-mile one-turn race contested by 12-horses. Velazquez moved Explicit Action into contention nearing the far turn and took command as the field straightened for home. The colt however, raced very 'greenly' through the stretch. Only a strong ride by Velazquez kept Explicit Action's mind on business as he fought off a challenge by Raffit before holding off Success Minister by a neck as they crossed the wire.
Bred by John Hettinger's Akindale Farm in Pawling, New York, Explicit Action is by Holy Bull, out of the graded stakes-placed Morning Bob mare, Good Morning Smile.
Explicit Action is a full brother to stakes-placed winner Pearly White and a half-brother to stakes winner Wake Up Kiss (Cure the Blues). The promising gray colt was purchased at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale for $300,000.