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| Big Apple Daddy breaks stakes record
in Philly Park's Donald LeVine by Rab Hagin
Launching a three-wide rally on the turn as the field that was trailing front-runner P. Kerney began to bunch up, Ervin Rodriguez's New York-bred BIG APPLE DADDY practically inhaled his competition in Philadelphia Park's $100,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap going seven furlongs on Memorial Day weekend Saturday. By mid-stretch, recent seven-furlong Laurel stakes winner P. Kerney was tenuously trying to nurse a two-length advantage to the wire, but Big Apple Daddy under New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2004-2005 Jockey of the Year Richard Migliore closed relentlessly with giant strides. In the final furlong, the big rangy four-year-old blew by the pace-setter to score a 2-1/2-length victory in the time of 1:20.79, which broke the previous seven-furlong stakes record by almost a half-second (.48) and essentially equaled the seven-year-old track record (if clocked in fifths of a second).
P. Kerney held for second for his fourth consecutive first-or-second-place finish in 2006, and 2006 Gulfstream Park stakes winner Little Thunder took third. The first five finishers among the Donald LeVine Memorial's seven starters -- all four-year-olds and up although the event was open to three-year-olds -- were all previous stakes winners. Big Apple Daddy was the odds-on choice at .50-to-1 and became the third New York-bred to win the Donald LeVine Memorial, joining a previous holder of the stakes record, Claramount (set in 1988), followed by multi-millionaire Say Florida Sandy (see New York-bred Millionaires Club). Both Claramount and Say Florida Sandy were voted NYTB Horse of the Year, Champion Older Male, and Champion Sprinter for the years in which they won the Donald LeVine Memorial. Conditioned by NYTB 2005 Trainer of the Year Bruce Levine, Big Apple Daddy increased his earnings by $60,000 to $383,756 for his second stakes victory of 2006, improving his record to 6 - 7 - 2 in 18 starts. The dark bay colt had shown dazzling seven-furlong speed a year ago while winning a restricted N2X allowance by 9-3/4 lengths at Belmont, but since Levine has taken the blinkers off him for 2006, he appears to have gotten even better. Big Apple Daddy had won a six-furlong open N1X Aqueduct allowance on January 7 in 1:09.46, had captured Aqueduct's restricted Hollie Hughes Handicap at six furlongs by 2-1/4 lengths on February 19, and on April 8 had placed a strong third in Aqueduct's Grade 1 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs. In the seven ensuing weeks between the Carter and the Donald LeVine, trainer Levine had given the long-striding New York-bred four sharp workouts at Belmont successively spaced nine, eight, and seven days apart. Purchased by Rodriguez for $40,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2004 March sale of two-year-olds in training in Florida, Big Apple Daddy was bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin and was conceived and foaled at his breeders' Lakland North, LLC in Hudson. The son of former New York stallion Precise End is among three runners, all winners, produced from Clever Actress, by Theatrical, and is a half-brother to New York-bred 2005 three-time Aqueduct winner Princess Jasmine ($105,030). Clever Actress, who is a full sister to stakes-placed winner Clever Actor ($199,900), had been purchased for $65,000 by Lakland Farm at Keeneland's 2000 November sale when she was carrying Princess Jasmine. Big Apple Daddy is the 12th New York-bred winner of a stakes race outside state-bred company in 2006, and the Donald LeVine Memorial is the 16th open (to horses bred anywhere) stakes event captured by a state-bred this year. Those 16 open 2006 stakes victories have been registered in New York, California, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, Maryland, and now Pennsylvania. |
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| 29 NY-breds have won or placed in 2006
stakes outside state-bred events by Rab Hagin
As Belmont's recent Kingston Handicap illustrated, quality fields have regularly been running in stakes restricted to New York-breds, and confirming the trend of top-flight state-breds competing effectively in stakes outside restricted company have been recent performers at Belmont and Pimlico: FRIENDLY ISLAND, West Virginia, Funny Cide, and Samsincharge. Friendly Island and West Virginia are both graded-winning five-year-olds conditioned by two-time Eclipse Award winner and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 1999 Trainer of the Year Todd Pletcher.
Anstu Stables' Friendly Island ($426,214), who captured Pimlico's Grade 3 Emirates Airline Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap at six furlongs on Preakness Day (Saturday, May 20) to add to victories in Belmont's 2004 and 2005 Hudson Handicaps, "put it all together," according to co-owner Stuart Subotnick. "Now we'll stick with the graded races," Subotnick told Deirdre B. Biles of The Blood-Horse. "The next thing to do is look for a Grade 2 and then a Grade 1. More often than not, we end up gelding horses, but this guy isn't gelded. He has a future as a stallion, in New York anyway. Just look at him. He's a beautiful horse, and he's a New York-bred. If he does really well, there could be an interesting demand for him." On Preakness eve, Donald and Roberta Mary Zuckerman's New York homebred West Virginia ($804,846) registered his first on-the-board Grade 1 finish by placing third in the Pimlico Special Handicap after having to be checked at mid-stretch when the eventual winner, Invasor, lugged in on him. A justifiable claim of foul by jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. aboard the New York-bred against the winner was not allowed. Forty-eight days earlier, the son of New York stallion Tomorrows Cat had beaten New York-bred Eclipse Champion Funny Cide by a length and three-quarters to win Aqueduct's Grade 3 Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap for the second graded victory of his career. West Virginia's third-place effort in the $500,000 mile and three-sixteenths Pimlico Special increased his earnings by $55,000. Registering his 17th on-the-board stakes finish -- 15 in graded events -- by placing third in Pimlico's Grade 3 William Donald Schaefer Handicap on Preakness Day was Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide ($3,325,144), whose effort represented the 46th top-three stakes finish outside state-bred company by a New York-bred in 2006. Funny Cide's preferred quarter-mile cruising speed in the first half of a race is somewhat under 24 seconds, and when prevented from running that pace, he generally performs less than optimally, which was the case in the mile and an eighth Schaefer. Kept in third place about two lengths behind front-running winner Master Command through fractions of 23.80 and 47.63, the "gutsy gelding" was back to fourth among six starters with three-eighths of a mile to go but overtook one more lightly-weighted rival and out-gutted another in the stretch. Under the right conditions, he rarely runs a bad race (see New York-bred Millionaires Club). The 29th New York-bred to hit the board in a 2006 stakes outside state-bred company was Robert Cohen's homebred four-year-old filly, Samsincharge ($162,413), who placed third in Belmont's off-the-turf Thirty Flags Stakes on Wednesday, May 17 as the only starter among five not entered for main track only. A winner on turf and dirt, the June-foaled filly also qualified her connections for a total of $3,414.55 in owner, breeder, and stallion owner awards as a result of her third-placing in the unrestricted one-turn mile event for fillies and mares, four-year-olds and up. Leading at all calls in an off-the-turf open N3X Belmont allowance/optional claiming contest for four-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile and a sixteenth on Friday, May 19 was Steven Wecker's New York-bred STORM BOOT GOLD ($277,903), who was ridden for the first time in competition by jockey Eibar Coa. The five-year-old gelding went off as the 6.50-to-1 third choice among five starters and improved his record to 7 - 8 - 3 in 25 starts while qualifying for an additional total of $6,000 in owner and breeder awards. Conditioned by NYTB 2004 Trainer of the Year Gary Contessa, Storm Boot Gold ran with a $75,000 tag because he had used up his open N3X allowance condition when he won a 6-1/2-furlong race at Aqueduct on April 14. He was bred by and foaled at NYTB 2005 Breeder of the Year Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds (North) in Stillwater, who had purchased the gelding's multiple stakes-winning dam, Shananie's Light ($218,005), for $70,000 at Keeneland's 1999 November sale when she was carrying her first foal and first winner. Coming off an almost six-month layoff to go gate-to-wire in a five-furlong starter allowance on Pimlico's turf on Thursday, May 18 was Roy Ry Farm and Jayne Marie Slysz's New York-bred TOTALLY SELFISH ($136,651), who tallied by a length and a quarter at odds-on (.40-to-1) among nine fillies and mares. The effort improved the seven-year-old mare's record to 7 - 2 - 3 in 23 starts. A first-out winner by six lengths going six furlongs on Belmont's main track as a two-year-old in September of 2001, Totally Selfish was bred by the late Joseph W. Gerrity Jr. She is trained by Dale Capuano, who had given her six workouts at Laurel from March 19 through April 25 in preparation for her return to competition. The daughter of Abaginone out of stakes-placed winner Missalaric, by Dom Alaric, had once been away from racing for more than 2-1/2 years (from November 2002 to June 2005), but she has won six times since coming back. Her two New York-bred half-sisters have both won on dirt and turf: stakes-placed Expect Nothing ($134,299 through 2005) and turf specialist After You ($219,640). Another New York-bred starter allowance winner was Alex Stathopoulos' nine-year-old GRILLHOUSE ($586,801), who scored his third consecutive victory at Mountaineer Park in 39 days -- all under jockey Chad Murphy -- when he captured a mile and three-sixteenths contest on Saturday evening, May 20. Sent off by trainer John Progno as the 3.50-to-1 second choice among seven starters -- six with earnings in six figures -- the indestructible route-running gelding improved his three-time stakes-placed record to 21 - 8 - 7 in 61 starts. As a two-year-old in 1999 he had placed second to future graded winner and New York sire Precise End in Woodbine's Display Stakes and third in Belmont's Sleepy Hollow Stakes on New York Showcase Day, and as a seven-year-old he had placed third in Finger Lakes' Genesee Valley Breeders' Handicap. The son of Metfield - Tinted Ivory, by Sir Ivor, was bred by Roger Toffolon. Going from last-to-first in a 7-1/2-furlong restricted N2X/allowance optional claiming contest at Belmont on Friday, May 19 was Paraneck Stable's homebred four-year-old filly, FUEGO GRANDE, who was the 27-to-1 last choice among seven fillies mares in her second outing in eight days under jockey Pablo Fragoso. Trained by Alan Klanfer, the daughter of Adonis out of the winning Cure the Blues mare, Shotanabeer, who is a half-sister to 2000 Eclipse Champion Sprinter Kona Gold ($2,293,384), improved her record to three wins in eight starts -- all in 2006 at Aqueduct and Belmont. Winning restricted N1X allowances at Belmont were six-year-old gelding NAPOLEON SOLO (optional claiming) on Wednesday, May 17, three-year-old colts PRIME DIAMOND and BABY RUSCH and four-year-old colt CLASSIC FRAN -- all on Saturday, May 20 -- and five-year-old mare CONTENDERS EMOTION and three-year-old filly TAMBERINO on Sunday, May 21. Napoleon Solo ($125,984), who is owned and trained by Mary Cotter and ran with a $30,000 claiming price because he had gone through all his restricted allowance conditions more than a year earlier, romped by 6-3/4 lengths in an off-the-turf mile and an eighth main track contest. Prime Diamond, a son of Prime Timber owned by the Gumpster Stable LLC of Andrew Berg of Roslyn, Long Island and conditioned by NYTB 1992 Trainer of the Year Gary Sciacca, tallied by 3-1/2 lengths going a yielding turf mile for his second consecutive NYRA grass victory in 29 days. Baby Rusch, Hemlock Hills Farm LLC's homebred colt conditioned by NYTB 2005 Trainer of the Year Bruce Levine, was the only starter among eight in his six-furlong contest with fewer than three previous outings, but his four-length tally put his record at 2 - 1 - 0 in three starts. Classic Fran, Barbara Santangelo's homebred son of Regal Classic conditioned by NYTB 1995 Co-Trainer of the Year Angel Penna Jr., scored by 3-3/4 lengths at a mile on turf after having won a Gulfstream maiden special grass mile by 4-1/2 lengths 38 days earlier. Contenders Emotion, Flying Zee Stable's homebred daughter of Key Contender trained by Frank Martin Sr., now has turf mile victories at Saratoga and Belmont, scoring under jockey Edgar Prado as the 17.10-to-1 sixth choice among 11 filly and mare starters. Tamberino, purchased by Joseph Appelbaum's Hedgewick Stable for $55,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2005 March sale of two-year-olds from the Sequel Bloodstock of co-breeder Becky Thomas of Lakland North in Hudson, is by Freud out of a stakes-winning Crusader Sword mare and scored a 2-3/4-length six-furlong victory. The following New York-breds won open allowance races at Finger Lakes from Saturday, May 20 through Tuesday, May 23: Homebred four-year-old filly CITRINE by 2-1/4 lengths going 5-1/2 furlongs on Saturday in her first start off a seven-month layoff; homebred four-year-old colt PHIL'S BLUE WAY by 5-3/4 lengths going a mile and 70 yards on Sunday for his second win -- fourth overall -- in four 2006 starts; three-year-old gelding DONKEY ENGINE (sired by Chief Seattle) at odds-on as the only three-year-old against four older rivals for his third consecutive win outside state-bred company in 27 days, on Monday; five-year-old mare PRISCILLA'S FLAG ($183,163) by 7-3/4 lengths under co-topweight for her second consecutive win by five-plus lengths in 10 days, four-year-old gelding THIRTEEN MIL (sired by Millions) by five lengths, and three-year-old colt PROSPECT CITY by 3-1/2 lengths gate-to-wire for his second big-margin win of 2006 after having won at Gulfstream in February -- all on Tuesday. The following won restricted allowance races at Finger Lakes on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 19-20-21: Homebred KID SMOKEY by 2-1/4 lengths for his sixth career win with one win and one second in two starts in 2006 and SEMICHI by five lengths for her fifth career win with one win and one second in two starts in 2006 -- both on Friday; EMMET SQUARE by 5-1/4 lengths for his eighth career win, on Saturday; and STRIDER'S ORMSBY (sired by Ormsby) for his eighth career win with earnings now $114,418 and homebred top-weighted even-money favorite A VERY YOUNG JET (sired by A. P Jet) for his third win -- fourth overall -- in six 2006 starts -- both on Sunday. New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, May 17 through Tuesday, May 23 included: Top-weighted SILVER THUNDER by two lengths at Lone Star Park for his eighth career win and third consecutive daylight-margin tally at that track in 34 days and claimed, on Wednesday; top-weighted NOLO KEY (third offspring and third winner sired by Key Contender from dam) at odds-on at Belmont after having won at Gulfstream 33 days earlier and claimed, CAMEL CAT (sired by Tomorrows Cat) by 3-1/2 lengths at Charles Town for his third win and second victory of 2006, and LET'S CONTEND (sired by Key Contender) by 7-3/4 lengths at Charles Town for her seventh career win in her first 2006 start -- all on Thursday; BOBBIE'S PRIDE by 6-1/4 lengths at Penn National for his second win of 2006, and TINY TUTU in her first 2006 start and second career win and HAILEY KEEN (sired by River Keen) by 3-1/4 lengths -- all on Friday and the latter two at Finger Lakes; co-topweighted even-money favorite ENCASED by 4-3/4 lengths at Monmouth for his first career win on dirt and claimed, even-money favorite JACARANDA GAL (sired by Lycius) by 2-1/4 lengths going a mile and 70 yards at Philadelphia Park for her first two-turn win and one of two starters claimed and homebred MISTER BUDSTER -- both at Philadelphia Park -- BIG TIME SPENDER by seven lengths for his seventh career win, at Indiana Downs, THE ROCK (sired by Artax) by 6-1/4 lengths and claimed and homebred GOLDTOKEN TRISTAN -- both at Finger Lakes -- and ADMIRALINTHENAVY by 4-1/4 lengths at Suffolk Downs -- all on Saturday; TOASTTOFRIENDSHIP by 6-1/2 lengths for her sixth career win, PLEASANT TRICK ($162,489) for his eighth career win, homebred SISTER LAURA (sired by Raffie's Majesty) by 10-1/2 lengths at even-money for her second win of 2006 in four starts this year, and TONY'S GIRL by 4-3/4 lengths at odds-on for her fifth career win -- all at Finger Lakes -- and co-topweighted FULLY VESTED (sired by Artax) for his second win at Charles Town in four weeks, and top-weighted and odds-on GOLDEN DEREK (sired by Goldminers Gold) for his second consecutive daylight-margin win at Delaware Park in three weeks and second consecutive time claimed -- all on Sunday; RENOIR RED ($131,308) and odds-on SIMPLY SMASHING (sired by Good and Tough) by 5-1/4 lengths -- both at Mountaineer Park in their first starts of 2006 -- homebreds GEBB'S PRINCE ($129,369) and THIS TRICK'S A PRO -- the latter by 7-3/4 lengths and both at Finger Lakes -- and PURE AMAZEMENT ($118,720) at Great Lakes Downs -- all on Monday; homebred KISS THE LIPS under co-topweight for her second consecutive daylight-margin win in 15 days, rock-solid QUATRE DIX NEUF ($265,031) by 9-1/4 lengths at odds-on, and DRIVEN BY MONEY by 6-1/2 lengths -- all at Finger Lakes on Tuesday. New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, May 17 through Tuesday, May 23 included: FUNNY CONNECTION by 2-3/4 lengths (off-the-turf) and homebred MY BIG TREASURE by 6-1/2 lengths -- both at Belmont on Wednesday; two-year-old GONZO BONZO BEANS by 13-1/2 lengths at Belmont on Thursday following a second-place debut at Pimlico 13 days earlier; GO JERSEY GINNY by four lengths in the slop on Friday to boost her never-unplaced NYRA record to 1 - 3 - 4 in eight starts, homebred PATCH MAN (sired by Raffie's Majesty) as the only debut starter in his restricted maiden special and despite being bumped after the start, and POLISH KING in his second start -- all at Belmont on Friday -- and LARRICK by 2-1/4 lengths at Pimlico in his third start and wearing blinkers for the first time, QUILLEN'S POINT by six lengths at odds-on, and PEGASUS TOMMY -- all on Friday and the latter two at Finger Lakes; TOKEN at Belmont in her third start, PREMIENNE by 16 lengths at Calder, and BLESSED TRINITY (sired by Williamstown) at Finger Lakes -- all on Saturday; BIG BOO BOO with blinkers on following three consecutive runner-up efforts this spring at Aqueduct and WHO'Z YO DADDY -- both at Belmont on Sunday -- and SUCCESSFUL SECRETS by 5-3/4 lengths at Finger Lakes on Saturday; RYAN'S GLORY (sired by Ormsby) at Finger Lakes on Monday; and homebred MISSY BOO (sired by Western Expression) at Finger Lakes on Tuesday. |
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Friendly Island wins G3 Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint at Pimlico by Rab Hagin (5/20) Covering his final furlong in less than 12 seconds, Anstu Stables' New York-bred FRIENDLY ISLAND drove to a three-quarter-length victory in Pimlico's six-furlong Grade 3 Emirates Airline Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap on Preakness Day Saturday for his first victory since winning Belmont's Hudson Handicap on New York Showcase Day. The talented five-year-old was the 1.80-to-1 favorite among seven starters in the $190,000 event and was never farther back than second throughout the contest, pressing the relatively moderate pace of 3-to-1 third choice Kazoo -- a four-length graded winner at Aqueduct in March -- to the stretch. Longshot (24.80-to-1) Celtic Innis and 2.30-to-1 second choice Gaff -- who had beaten Friendly Island while winning Gulfstream's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap in January -- launched a late outside challenge but never seriously threatened the winner. It was the second consecutive win on the card in a graded race for the team of jockey Garrett Gomez and two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. Friendly Island's time of 1:09.94 was faster than 12 of the 19 winning times for the Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint at six furlongs.
Gomez, who had never previously ridden Friendly Island in competition, seemed impressed with how automatic the New York-bred is to ride and at how quickly he got in front of Gaff: "I actually got in front of (Gaff), and I didn't think I would, early. Once I cleared over, I was loving my trip. Kazoo got the lead, but I wasn't going to let him away too soft. This horse was push-button all the way home. I was just a passenger. I had all the confidence in the world in Todd (Pletcher). They're all good horses, and it makes my job easy." Ginny DePasquale, Pletcher's assistant, confirmed that Friendly Island would be returning to his home base in New York (the horse had been given moderate workouts at Belmont on May 7 and 14 in preparation for his Maryland Breeders' Cup effort): "He ran very good, and Garrett rode him perfectly. He's been training well. We'll take him back to New York." In addition to winning two Eclipse Awards, Pletcher also was selected Trainer of the Year for 1999 by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. Although described as "winless since October" in the peculiar and nonsensical lexicon of current turf journalism, Friendly Island has shown measurable improvement since winning the Hudson Handicap under his regular jockey at that time, the injury-recovering John Velazquez. In the horse's latest previous outing 37 days prior to the Maryland Breeders' Cup, the quick-striding chestnut had turned in a game runner-up performance to the consensus best current sprinter in North America, Bordonro, in Oakland Park's Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at six furlongs. Friendly Island's latest victory increased his earnings by $120,000 to $426,214 and improved his record to 7 - 1 - 1 in 13 starts, which includes the 2004 as well as the 2005 renewal of the Hudson Handicap. In his debut as a three-year-old at Belmont in June of 2004, the fleet New York-bred had won by 17-1/4 lengths in 1:08.48 for six furlongs. Friendly Island had a chip removed from his knee following an unplaced effort in Aqueduct's 2004 Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap. Friendly Island races for the Anstu Stables, Inc. of Stuart and Anita Subotnick of New York City, owners of Anstu Farm in Millbrook. Stuart Subotnick is a general partner and executive vice president of Metromedia Company and a member of the New York Racing Association board of trustees. Bred by Kildare Stud and Adrian Regan, Friendly Island was an $85,000 sales two-year-old at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2002 March auction of juveniles in Florida. He is by multiple Grade 2 winner Crafty Friend and is the first offspring and first of two starters -- both winners -- produced from Island Queen ($148,890), an Ogygian mare that won five sprints and is out of British-bred Irish black-type stakes winner Regal Peace. Island Queen had been purchased for $16,500 as a five-year-old broodmare prospect at a Fasig-Tipton horses of racing age sale in New York in November of 1999. Friendly Island is the 11th New York-bred winner of a stakes race outside state-bred company in 2006 and the seventh New York-bred graded winner of 2006, with the Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint being the ninth graded event of the year captured by a state-bred. The 15 open (to horses bred anywhere) stakes events that New York-breds have captured in 2006 have been run in New York, California, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, and now Maryland. |
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| 28th Kingston Handicap highlights quality/depth
of NY-bred turf division
by Rab Hagin Belmont's Kingston Handicap for New York-breds on turf -- in which one-two finishers from Aqueduct's recent graded Fort Marcy Handicap on grass finished four-three respectively, nine of 11 starters had six-figure earnings, and the winning nine-furlong time was virtually 1:49-flat despite a less-than-firm course -- represented a significant win for five-year-old DAVE. The Sunday event triple-highlighted the depth of the New York-bred turf division: 1) Kingston stakes-and-course-record-setter Golden Commander exited a 10-month-plus layoff to place second as the favorite; 2) Fort Marcy runner-up Pa Pa Da (sixth choice) placed third; 3) Fort Marcy winner Foreverness finished fourth. Dave, making his second start for The Three Colleens Stable of David Stack of Oak Ridge, New Jersey and the Saratoga Springs-based Partingglass Stable and saddled by New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2003 Trainer of the Year Barclay Tagg, was third choice (5-to-1) among 10 wagering interests and 11 starters.
Trainer Tagg, who had won the 1993 Kingston as both an owner and a trainer with graded turf winner Social Retiree, acknowledged "there were a bunch of nice horses in there" and indicated that he would confer with Dave's owners about the gelding's next outing. Jockey Castellano, who had ridden Dave twice before in competition -- when the future Kingston winner was a maiden two-year-old and later to a second-placing in a restricted N1X allowance on Aqueduct's main track in April of 2005 -- also had piloted 2003 Kingston winner Irish Colonial. Castellano observed that with "a horse like him (Dave), you have to move at the right moment." Bred by the late philanthropist and board chairman of Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Joseph W. Gerrity Jr., who died last October 10, Dave raced under the Gerrity colors through October while being trained by John Hertler and then was given six months off. He subsequently was purchased by Tom Gallo for his current owners and turned over to Tagg, returning to competition to place second -- nosed out by graded turf winner Chilly Rooster -- in an open N3X allowance/optional claiming turf mile at Aqueduct on April 28. Tagg later gave the gelding a moderate maintenance half-mile workout at Belmont on May 9. The son of now-deceased New York stallion Ends Well is the third starter and third New York-bred winner that Gerrity has bred from indestructible (81 starts and 22 wins, three through nine) non-black-type stakes-placed Commadore's Gold ($133,210), being a half-brother to 12-time main track winner Cabin Boy ($121,571). Commadore's Gold is a half-sister to stakes winner Sir Stephenmichael ($133,250) and to Grade 1-placed winner Gold Spruce ($105,895), who is the granddam of stakes winner Reside ($132,692). New York Minute: The winner and third-place finisher (Pa Pa Da) in the Kingston Handicap were both conceived in New York. Scheduled to run in Monmouth's 5-1/2-furlong Red Cross Stakes for fillies and mares on Saturday, May 13, was New York-bred SLEW MOTION, who instead earned or qualified for almost as much money (had she won that stakes) by capturing a Belmont open N3X/allowance optional claiming contest on Friday. NYTB 2002 Trainer of the Year Richard Dutrow Jr. opted not to pass up the four-year-old filly's open N3X condition level, so Slew Motion went off at odds-on (.55-to-1) among five starters in the six-furlong contest for fillies and mares and increased her purse earnings by $29,400 to $213,500. Her record now 5 - 4 - 1 in 15 starts, this was Slew Motion's fourth outing under Jockey Edgar Parado, who has ridden the speedy filly to two wins and two seconds -- one of them a four-length tally in Belmont's restricted Dancing Renee Stakes at 6-1/2 furlongs 11 months earlier. She has placed second in three 2005-2006 stakes, including Belmont's 2005 Grade 2 Nassau County Breeders' Cup plus Aqueduct's open Fickle Fanny in her latest previous effort on April 2. Also picking up purse money was New York-bred Speed Bag ($251,209), as the two state-bred four-year-old fillies qualified for an additional total of $7,031.50 in owner, breeder, and stallion awards. Bred by Bill Terrill of New Hyde Park (manager of Our Sugar Bear Stable) and Bob Noble, Slew Motion was a $60,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2004 May sale of two-year-olds in training in Timonium, Maryland after being a $52,000 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS) yearling the previous August. She had won her second and third starts by 4-1/2 and six lengths at Golden Gate Fields in December of 2004 prior to being acquired by her current owners. The dark bay filly campaigns as the property of IEAH (International Equine Acquisitions Holding) Stables managed by Michael Iavarone of Holbrook, the Curragh Stables of Michael Devlin II, Diamond Pride LLC of New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, and Andrew Cohen. The daughter of Slew Gin Fizz is a half-sister to Puerto Rican multiple stakes-winning filly/mare Concerto's Crown ($201,446) and is inbred 3 x 3 to In Reality. Slew Motion is the second named offspring produced from New York-bred (and current multiple stakes producer) Inthemiddleofitall, whom co-breeder Noble had purchased for $5,000 at an OBS 2002 January mixed sale when she was carrying Slew Motion. Scoring his fourth consecutive victory in six starts -- this time in an open N3X allowance/optional claiming contest on Sunday at Calder -- was New York-bred PRECISE STAR, who races for Ervin Rodriguez's E. R. Stud and was almost even money (1.10-to-1) as the 123-pound topweight among six starters, three-year-olds and up. The four-year-old gelding's six-furlong tally provided the second winning ride of the day for jockey Manoel Cruz, who had piloted Precise Star to a N2X allowance/optional claiming score at Gulfstream 43 days earlier, and it also was the second win on the card by a New York-bred. Currently trained by Joseph Catanese III, who had given him three half-mile Calder workouts -- one "bullet" drill -- from April 12 to May 10, the stalking speedster had scored impressive back-to-back victories at Aqueduct and Belmont in March and May of 2005 before being away from competition until this spring. Bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin and foaled at his breeders' Lakland North, LLC in Hudson, the son of Precise End is the second offspring produced from dirt and turf winner Arizona Star, being a half-brother to multiple route-winning New York-bred filly Belmont Babe. Lakland Farm had purchased Arizona Star, who is by Afleet and is a half-sister to stakes winner Ima Bad Habit, for $42,000 at Keeneland's 2000 November sale when she was carrying Belmont Babe. Winning restricted N2X allowances at Belmont -- including two optional claiming -- from Wednesday through Saturday, May 10-13, were four-year-old filly EARHART (six furlongs) on Wednesday, three-year-old filly ITSNOTTHEMONEY (turf mile) on Thursday, five-year-old gelding MY KINDA TOWN (mile and an eighth) on Friday, and four-year-old gelding TOUCHDOWN KID (mile) on Saturday. Earhart, who campaigns for Paul and Gilmary Andrews under trainer Thomas Bush's care and was race-ridden for the first time by jockey Pablo Morales, improved her record to 3 - 1 - 2 in nine starts, which includes wins at Saratoga (2004 maiden special) and Belmont (restricted N1X allowance last June). Bred by Dr. Douglas Koch's Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, the daughter of A. P Jet had been purchased by co-owner Paul Andrews for $15,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2003 Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale. Itsnotthemoney, who has won her last three consecutive outings -- all on turf at Gulfstream in February, Aqueduct on April 28, and now Belmont -- since placing second in her debut at Calder in January, races for Joseph Platt Jr.'s Thorn Stable under the care of trainer Frank Alexander. Her two-length tally marked the second outing under jockey Cornelio Velasquez for the Prime Timber filly, who was bred by Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds and was purchased by trainer Alexander as agent for $50,000 at the OBS 2005 March sale of two-year-olds in training. My Kinda Town ($131,760) won by 2-1/4 lengths for his second consecutive NYRA daylight margin score in 34 days under the colors of Hemlock Hills Farm (Alfred and Lupe Hemlock) and Stewart Hoffman while being piloted by jockey Mike Smith and trained by James Jerkens. Bred by Vivien and Henry Malloy's Edition Farm in Millbrook and a $117,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton's 2002 Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale, the son of Williamstown previously had back-to-back maiden special and allowance victories sprinting at Belmont and Aqueduct as a three-year-old in the fall of 2004. Touchdown Kid was odds-on (.60-to-1) among six starters and won by 4-1/4 lengths in his third consecutive outing under the guidance of jockey Michael Luzzi and the care of two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer William Mott, adding to earlier 2006 tallies at Santa Anita and Aqueduct in five career starts. Owned since after his January maiden victory at Santa Anita by the partnership of Brous Stable (Nils Brous), Wachtel Stable (Adam Wachtel), Weyhill Farms (Robert Johnson), and Paula and Andrew Capestro, the chestnut gelding was bred by Kathleen Schonefeld of Katy, Texas. New York Minute: All four of the aforementioned restricted N2X allowance winners at Belmont were conceived in New York, and three of their four sires currently stand in the state. Winning restricted N1X Belmont allowances from Thursday through Sunday, May 11-14, were four-year-old filly SOUL POSSESSION (six furlongs, turf) on Thursday, three-year-old colt IMPERIAL ZIP (5-1/2 furlongs) on Friday, three-year-old colt SHUFFLING MADDNES (mile and a sixteenth) on Saturday, and three-year-old filly SHE'S EXCELLENT (mile and a sixteenth) on Sunday. Soul Possession, who like Kingston winner Dave races for The Three Colleens Stable and Partingglass Stable under the care of trainer Barclay Tagg (and under Partingglass Stable's colors), scored her 1:09.71 six-furlong victory off an almost 11-month layoff and in her first attempt at sprinting. Imperial Zip, owned by Tommy Roberts Racing Stable and Eugene Conese Sr. and conditioned by NYTB 2005 Trainer of the Year Bruce Levine, went gate-to-wire for his 3-1/2-length victory after having broken his maiden by 2-3/4 lengths at Aqueduct 36 days earlier -- with both wins coming under jockey Michael Luzzi. Shuffling Maddnes -- essentially a homebred campaigned by Enzo Gioia's Trinacria USA Stable and bred by Joe Gioia of Very Un Stable in North Woodmere -- romped by 7-1/2 lengths in his first outing under NYTB 2004-2005 Jockey of the Year Richard Migliore. She's Excellent, Robert Perez's homebred filly trained by Juan Ortiz, came from last in a field of eight as the 18.40-to-1 seventh choice and scored her second consecutive victory following a one-mile restricted maiden special tally on Aqueduct's inner track eight weeks earlier. New York-bred open claiming winners at Belmont on Wednesday were four-year-old filly CASSETTE CASE (six furlongs) and three-year-old gelding HIMMARSHEE (mile), and on Sunday the New York-bred Belmont open claiming winners were five-year-old gelding RUN ALONG SONNY (mile) and five-year-old gelding SUPER NATIONALS (mile and a sixteenth on turf). Cassette Case ($140,687), a daughter of Mighty Magee who in 2006 has won three times at NYRA tracks and been claimed three times, went gate-to-wire to score her first victory for her latest owner, Eagle View Farm, in her third consecutive outing under jockey Charles Lopez. Himmarshee, a May 29-foaled three-year-old owned by John Lally's Summerplace Farm, was the youngest starter in his contest, and he was claimed by Joseph D'Agostino's Sportsmen Stable following his second 2006 victory in seven career starts. Run Along Sonny ($125,181), who races for the partnership of Robert Kaufman, Robert Shapiro's Four Fifths Stable, and James Iselin, turned back two challengers in the final quarter-mile of his resolute run to the wire. Super Nationals, a homebred for Team Tristar Stable (Glenn Lostritto) trained by Joe Lostritto, was favored as one of seven New York-breds among 10 starters -- all with $35,000 claiming prices -- and won by a length and a quarter, giving him daylight margin grass wins at both Belmont and Saratoga. New York-bred open allowance or overnight handicap winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, May 12 through Tuesday, May 16 were: ULTRA POP (sired by Millions) at 35.75-to-1 in his first start of 2006, PRECISE STRIKE ($119,470) at odds-on for her second win of 2006, and SWEET SANTANNA (sired by Prime Timber) in her first start of 2006 and now two-for-two -- all on Friday; PRISCILLA'S FLAG ($173,863) by 5-1/4 lengths to add a third win to her stakes-placed record -- on Saturday; STORM ON THE LAKE ($142,605) by 3-1/2 lengths for her seventh win to go along with a stakes victory in 2003 -- on Sunday; and homebred EVERYTHINGS GROOVY (sired by Western Expression) for his second consecutive allowance win in May, and PIXIE DUST by four lengths for her seventh win and second consecutive tally in May -- both under top weight of 124 pounds on Tuesday. Restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Sunday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 16 were: PRECISE MOTION ($148,535) by 2-1/2 lengths for his fourth win, and RUN MIKEY RUN at odds-on for his fifth career win -- both on Sunday; and SWEET SWEET MOLLY (sired by A. P Jet) by 3-1/4 lengths under top weight of 124 pounds for her third consecutive win since April 21 and sixth score in 10 starts -- on Tuesday. New York-bred open claiming winners from Thursday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 16 included: TREATED WOOD by 3-1/4 lengths for his second win of 2006, at Charles Town, and homebred TORNADO WIND for his second win of 2006, at Pimlico -- both on Thursday; homebred ASTRALLED with a $30,000 tag and PRIMARILY MICHELLE (sired by Prime Timber) by three lengths at odds-on for her second win of 2006 -- both at Mountaineer Park on Friday -- and LADY ROCK N ROLL (sired by Rock and Roll) by 2-1/4 lengths for her second win of 2006, and SPOOKY GIRLFRIEND by 6-1/2 lengths -- both at Finger Lakes on Friday; CLEAR DRIVE by 2-3/4 lengths for his third consecutive win since April 3 and claimed -- at Canterbury Park on Saturday -- and WHOLEHEARTED by 7-1/2 lengths for his second win of 2006, homebred WHAT A JOY by six lengths in his first start of 2006, R B'S ASHLEY by 4-3/4 lengths for her second win of 2006, and homebred NEILS RE' ENTRY by 3-3/4 lengths -- all at Finger Lakes on Saturday; multiple stakes winner J'S WILD SLEW (sired by Polish Pro) going gate-to-wire at Pimlico to boost his earnings to $158,816 with his 14th win, OUTSHINE by 4-1/2 lengths at Calder, and homebred RAF'S SOCIETY GIRL (sired by Raffie's Majesty) by 15-3/4 lengths for her fifth career win, and GOLD CLARA (sired by Goldminers Gold) by six lengths at odds-on for her second win of 2006 in two starts -- all on Sunday and the last two at Finger Lakes; HIGH ON MADISON ($164,010) by 2-3/4 lengths under top weight and at odds-on for his third win of 2006 (10th overall) in five starts this year and claimed, homebred CLASSIC EXPLORER (sired by Regal Classic) for his second win of 2006, NUN FOR BAILEY (sired by Nunzio) by five lengths for his second win of 2006, and homebred REGAL BOBETTE (sired by Regal Classic) -- all at Finger Lakes on Monday; homebred JUST GABI ($153,298) by 3-1/2 lengths at Delaware Park on Tuesday for her second win of 2006 and claimed, and POKER JOE (sired by Danzatame) by three lengths, MISS D FLAWLESS, and BRIEF THE LADY from last to first for her second win of 2006 -- all at Finger Lakes on Tuesday. New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, May 10 through Tuesday, May 16 included: HERE'S YA SOUVENIR ($131,190) in 1:35.53 for a mile on turf at Belmont in his 36th career start, and homebred CAN'T TALK NOW at Suffolk Downs in her third start -- both on Wednesday; KARAKORUM STARLET by 13-3/4 lengths with blinkers off and following an eight-month layoff, and NEW TESTAMENT -- both at Belmont on Thursday -- and homebred CITI ANALYST (sired by Freud) at Pimlico on Thursday; FOR WHAT ITS WORTH by 5-3/4 lengths at Belmont, ABIDAYLE at Charles Town in her second start despite a disastrous break from the gate, and SEPTEMBER CIRCLE at Finger Lakes -- all on Friday; homebred TOUGH SHIPMATE (sired by Good and Tough) by three lengths at Belmont at odds-on in his second career outing and first start since a second-placed debut at Belmont last July, EYE OF THE RIVAL by 2-1/2 lengths at odd-on at Charles Town following three consecutive runner-up efforts in March and April, and homebred SAYOUNARA (sired by Adios My Friend), NAGGING NANA by 8-3/4 lengths, and IRON OF REALITY (sired by Slice of Reality) -- all on Saturday -- the last three at Finger Lakes; homebred OILILY by two lengths and odds-on at Belmont in her second U.S. start on Sunday, and JUDGE TOMMY D., who was stakes-placed as a juvenile in 2005, DIVINE COMEDY by three lengths at odds-on, and homebred BEFORE TODAY (sired by Western Expression) by 11 lengths at odds-on -- all at Finger Lakes on Sunday; LOUISE THE TEASE (sired by Key Contender) in her third career start and PUTITINTHEBANK in her first start of 2006 -- both at Finger Lakes on Monday; and CLASSIC RENEE (sired by Regal Classic) in her debut start, and TWO WEST with blinkers on -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday -- and STORY DAY (sired by Daygata) by 2-1/2 lengths at Delaware Park, and SHIREE AMOUR by 3-1/2 lengths at River Downs -- both on Tuesday. |
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The Three Colleens Stable and Partingglass Stable's DAVE, making his second start for trainer Barclay Tagg, rallied from off the pace and won Sunday's 28th running of the $114,100 Kingston Handicap for New York-breds at nine furlongs on the "good" inner turf course by a length over Golden Commander. Ridden by Javier Castellano, the 5-year-old Ends Well gelding bided his time behind dueling leaders Unnerving and Retribution, as they went in fractions of :23.32; :57.50 and 1:11.79, then kicked in late to win comfortably in 1:49.13. Previously trained by John Hertler for the late Joe Gerrity, Dave was purchased by Tom Gallo for the partnership of Three Colleens Stable and Partingglass Stable who turned him over to their trainer, Barclay Tagg. Away from the races since last October, Dave, making his first start for new owners, finished a close-up second on April 28th, in an open NW-3X condition allowance turf race run at Aqueduct. "I was worried about running back a little quick after he ran so big off the layoff," Tagg said. "He was feeling good, and the kid rode him perfectly. There were a bunch of nice horses in there. He looked to me like the kind of horse that always wanted to come off the pace and then make a quick burst. Everything worked out great today. We'll talk to the owners and find a race for him." Castellano did well in giving Dave a patient ride. "I saw Edgar Prado (aboard Golden Commander) move down the backstretch, but I didn't want to go with him," Castellano said. "It all worked out perfect. I went around horses at the quarter-pole and he was right there. He waits; he wants to hang out. (With) a horse like him, you have to move at the right moment." Dave returned $12 to win to his backers in the crowd of 6,007 for his fifth victory in 23 career starts. Golden Commander was strong in his first start since last July. "He ran big, considering he was coming off a soft-tissue injury," said trainer Phil Serpe. "We're very proud of him and he should move forward off this race." Pa Pa Da closed late for third, followed by Foreverness, Chestertown Slew, Certifiably Crazy, Irving's Doers, Retribution, No Parole, Charimount and Unnerving. Spite the Devil, Dynergy, Touchdown Kid and Tergesti were all scratched as they were entered for the main track only. |
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Sunday's gate-to-wire victory by OPRAH WINNEY from the outside post among nine three-year-old fillies in Belmont's $110,600 Bouwerie Stakes at seven furlongs might have been the 2006 kickoff for yet another talented New York-bred distaff representative. Odds-on (.80-to-1) with the latest Kentucky Derby-winning jockey, Edgar Prado, on board for the fourth -- and second consecutive -- time in competition, the speedy filly boosted her earnings by $66,360 to $185,576 and improved her never-worse-than-fourth record to 3 - 2 - 2 in eight starts. In her latest previous outing 50 days earlier, Prado had guided Oprah Winney to a third-placing among seven despite a stumbling start in Aqueduct's graded Cicada Stakes, which had followed a 75-day layoff. Two starts prior to that effort, she had scored a front-running 2-1/2-length open company victory in Aqueduct's mid-December Randaroo Stakes at six furlongs. Owned by Sanford Goldfarb's Bunch of Characters Stable and by Michael Dubb of Jericho, New York, Oprah Winney is the second Bouwerie winner owned in part by Goldfarb and conditioned by New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2002 Trainer of the Year Richard Dutrow Jr. Those two had teamed up with 2002 Bouwerie winner Carson Hollow, who in her next start had captured Belmont's Grade 1 Prioress Stakes by two lengths. Dutrow, who had given Oprah Winney six workouts of varying intensities at Aqueduct during April and early May, including five-and-six-furlong "bullet" drills on April 13 and 19, indicated he was considering turf competition for the daughter of English-Irish champion and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Royal Academy. Bred by the Gatsas Thoroughbreds LLC of Theodore and Michael Gatsas of Manchester, New Hampshire (also owners of New York-bred millionaire Gander and founders of the Sovereign Stable Inc. horseracing management company), Oprah Winney is by the sire of at least five European champions. The gray/roan filly is the first offspring out of Mere Presence, whose dirt-and-turf-winning dam, Flying Wish, is a half-sister to South African champion Icona and to the winning dam of 2004 multiple Aqueduct stakes winner Fit Performer ($356,309 through 2005). Gatsas Thoroughbreds had purchased Mere Presence, who is by Irish champion and Eclipse Champion sire Woodman, for $115,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's (OBS) 2000 February select sale of two-year-olds in training at Calder. The runner-up effort under top weight in Churchill Downs' Grade 1 Humana Distaff Handicap on Derby Day Saturday by Patti and Hal Earnhardt III's New York-bred Behaving Badly ($520,804) was that mare's fifth on-the-board stakes finish. She went off at odds-on (.90-to-1) among eight starters in the seven-furlong event and led to mid-stretch but clearly disliked the track surface, lurching to her left lead in the final furlong as her stablemate, 2005 Grade 1 winner Pussycat Doll, drove to victory in the time of 1:21.62. Three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Bob Baffert, who conditions the one-two finishers, confirmed the New York-bred's antipathy towards tracks that are not bone-dry fast: "The track...is really drying out, and Victor (jockey Espinoza) said Behaving Badly was really having trouble with it," Baffert told David Grening of the Daily Racing Form. "She likes a faster track." Behaving Badly was bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin and was foaled at her breederss' Lakland North, LLC, in Hudson. She was sold by Lakland North for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2002 Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale and nine months later -- after working the fastest pre-sale quarter-mile (21 2/5) -- was purchased by the Earnhardts for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2003 May sale of two-year-olds in training in Timonium, Maryland. On Wednesday, May 3, Castle Village Farm's New York-bred INTROSPECT got his first victory since winning an open N1X Aqueduct allowance in March of 2004, going above his existing condition level to capture a $49,000 open N3X allowance/optional claiming contest in 1:09.28 for six furlongs. In 24 previous outings following his 2004 tally, Introspect had placed second or third 13 times and had finished fourth six times, and in three Aqueduct efforts in March and April he had placed second, third, and third at the N2X allowance optional claiming level. In February, he had placed second in Aqueduct's six-furlong Hollie Hughes Handicap for New York-breds, and in 2005 he had placed second in Belmont's six-furlong Hudson Handicap on New York Showcase Day (October 22) and third in Monmouth's five-furlong off-the-turf Wolf Hill Stakes. The six-year-old gelding's Wednesday win as the 6.60-to-1 fifth choice among six starters increased his earnings by $29,400 to $295,144 and improved his record to 5 - 6 - 12 in 39 starts for the Castle Village Farm racing partnerships that is managed by Stephen Zorn of Dania, Florida. Purchased by Castle Village Farm for $15,000 from Thomas J. and Nadine Gallo, agent, at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2001 October yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland, Introspect is trained by William Turner Jr., who had given him a half-mile "bullet" workout over Belmont's training track five days earlier on April 28. This was his fourth consecutive outing under jockey Pablo Fragoso, who since the bay gelding's last previous win more than two years earlier has ridden Introspect in nine races -- finishing on the board in eight of those efforts. The son of In Case was bred by Questroyal #100, LLC of New Hampton and is among eight known starters, all winners, produced from Axspect, who won Philadelphia Park's non-black-type Dunmore Stakes as a four-year-old and placed second in Garden State's black-type Woodcrest Stakes at three. Introspect's allowance-winning half-siblings include To Dy Fore ($250,833) and Polish Outlaw ($125,279). Questroyal Farm had purchased Axspect for $15,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 1999 December mixed sale when she was carrying Introspect. Another early May New York-bred open allowance winner was Colleen S. Stable's NYSTATE OF GRIND, who won a 4-1/2-furlong non-winners-of-three contest at Charles Town on Friday evening as the odds-on (.60-to-1) co-topweight among 10 fillies and mares, scoring her third victory in four starts -- all in 2006. The four-year-old filly has been race-ridden exclusively by jockey Christopher Baker, winning two six-furlong outings at Penn National before trying seven furlongs at Charles Town on April 13, when she broke last among 10 from the ninth post and closed from eighth to place third. Trained by Michael Salvaggio Jr., Nystate of Grind races for the Colleen S. Stable of Colleen Simeone (also operating under the name of Seasoft Stables) of Franklin Square, New York, who had purchased her for $45,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2003 September-October yearling sale. The daughter of Grindstone was bred by Tammy Jacobs and Andrea Odenbach and is the first winner produced from Uncork New York, by Northern Wolf. Uncork New York is a winning full sister to stakes-placed winning filly Hip Wolf ($313,942) and a half-sister to stakes-winning fillies Umbrella Rig ($144,510) and Mink Hat (dam of stakes-winning fillies/mares Lady Lear and Cover Your Ears, who together won 21 races, set a track record, and earned $509,473). Uncork New York also is a half-sister to stakes-placed winner Northern Peak ($105,881) and to the winning dam of stakes-placed winners Royale Derby ($206,142) and Seminole Warrior. Nystate of Grind was the second New York-bred winner on Charles Town's Friday evening card. Also winning a Friday allowance was five-year-old REDEFINED ($136,880), who came from last place among nine in a virtual one-turn mile turf test at Belmont to score his fourth career victory and fourth win on the Big Sandy's lawn -- competing at the restricted N3X allowance/optional claiming level. Race-ridden for the second time by Joe Bravo, who in October of 2004 had guided him to a third-placing on Aqueduct turf, the grass-loving bay clocked an impressive 1:34-flat for trainer and part-owner John Pregman Jr., who campaigns the horse in partnership with Joseph Grasso and Michael Boker. Pregman had purchased Redefined for $21,000 from the NYTB 2005 Breeder of the Year, Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds (North) in Stillwater, at the OBS 2003 April sale of two-year-olds in training. Simon, who resides in Aventura, Florida, had purchased Redefined's dam, two-time sprint winner Definition, for $22,000 in the name of his New Dawn Stud at Keeneland's 2000 November sale when she was carrying Redefined, who is by Grade 1 turf winner Labeeb. Redefined is a half-brother to New York-bred 2004 Japanese juvenile stakes-placed winner Seiun Vivace ($281,021) and to dirt and turf winner Let's Dance Nance (seven wins). His dam, Definition, is a half-sister to stakes winners Stalker ($351,929), Cash Road ($215,964), and Lord Pergrine. Two other intriguing Belmont allowance winners were three-year-old SARATOGA JET, who on Sunday scored his third win in four starts in a restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contest at six furlongs, and six-year-old LORD LANGFUHR ($303,578), who on Wednesday won a one-mile restricted starter allowance by 7-1/2 lengths off a layoff. Saratoga Jet was making only his fourth career start while racing for Anthony Mitola's Triple Diamond Stables and Keith Leonard's White Owl Stable under the care of trainer Dutrow and was the only participant in his contest that had fewer than nine previous races. He went off as the 3.05-to-1 second choice among eight starters in his first outing under jockey Edgar Prado and scored his third consecutive victory since mid-February, visiting the winner's circle 36 days after having registered a front-running tally going seven furlongs in an Aqueduct restricted N1X allowance. In the interim, Dutrow had given the bay colt workouts over Belmont's training track on April 15 and 27. Bred by Bill Terrill of New Hyde Park, who manages the Our Sugar Bear Stable racing partnership, Saratoga Jet had been a $25,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton's 2004 Saratoga sale of preferred New York-bred yearlings. The son of A. P Jet is a half-brother to two New York-bred winners, including dirt and turf winner Private Port ($196,173), being out of wet track winner Pierpont Account, who had been purchased by Our Sugar Bear Stable for $6,500 at the OBS 2001 October mixed sale. Lord Langfuhr, a homebred racing for Howard Whitbred of ATOKE Chase Farm in Middleburg, Virginia and Christine Brennan and trained by James Jerkens, might have regained the impressive form he had flashed during a three-race win streak in the late fall and early winter of 2004. Something had gone awry in the graded Aqueduct Handicap the following January, putting the veteran campaigner out of action for 10 months, but a fast-closing fourth-place effort at Aqueduct in his fifth start back -- and first on Lasix medication -- on March 15 hinted the bay gelding was rounding into form. Trainer James Jerkens had given Lord Langfuhr another seven weeks off but kept him fit with two workouts over Belmont's training track in late April and reunited him with jockey Jorge Chavez, who had ridden the gelding to five of his most recent previous victories. The six-year-old's subsequent romp as the 2.15-to-1 favorite among seven starters -- five of the others also six-figure-earners -- improved his record to 8 - 5 - 3 in 27 starts, which includes a victory in Aqueduct's 2004 restricted Alex M. Robb Handicap and a third-placing in Aqueduct's restricted Ave's Flag Stakes in February. The son of Langfuhr is among the first three offspring -- all six-figure-earners -- produced from Whitbred's New York homebred winner Palace Lady, being a full brother to 11-time winner Lord Burleigh ($196,406 on dirt and turf) and a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed winner South Wing ($203,432). Restricted N1X allowance winners at Belmont on Wednesday, May 3 and the following Saturday and Sunday were three-year-old gelding RUNNING DOG going a mile and an eighth on turf on Wednesday, four-year-old gelding SENOR FREDDIE going seven furlongs on Saturday, and three-year-old filly PAIGE NICOLE going seven furlongs on Sunday. Running Dog, retired Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud's homebred son of A. P Jet, won despite being rank and now has consecutive daylight-margin victories (he broke his maiden by 6-1/2 lengths five weeks earlier) under jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. on dirt at 6-1/2 furlongs (Aqueduct) and turf. Senor Freddie, owned and trained by Gerasimos Moschonas and race-ridden for the first time by jockey Channing Hill, tallied by 3-3/4 lengths after having competed at Pimlico just eight days earlier. Paige Nicole, Sanford Goldfarb's homebred filly that he races in partnership with Ira Davis, Michael Glassberg, and William Vidro, was the youngest starter (foaled May 30, 2003) in her race, but trainer Anthony Dutrow judiciously reunited her with jockey Arroyo, under whom she had won first-out on New Year's Day. A couple of notable New York-bred open claiming winners over the weekend were eight-year-old SONG DANCER ($238,347) under top weight at Louisiana Downs going a mile and 70 yards on a sloppy sealed track on Saturday and four-year-old MACKLENIN ($141,737) going six furlongs on Belmont turf on Sunday. Song Dancer, claimed by Phillip and Christy Lee's Lee Racing Stables, LLC for $25,000 while winning at Oaklawn Park on March 11, again had a $25,000 tag and won by two lengths at odds-on (.90-to-1) among four starters, improving his stakes-placed record to 20 - 9 - 3 in 43 starts. Macklenin, Paul Pompa Jr.'s dirt and turf winner at Aqueduct in 2005, was reunited with jockey Eibar Coa, under whom he had placed second three times in three previous NYRA starts, and scored his fourth career victory and first Belmont tally while racing with a $35,000 tag. New York-bred open allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Saturday and Tuesday, May 6-9, were: TOORA LOORA MUKORA by two lengths on Saturday; homebred DAVID'S DILEMMA ($113,857), THATSWHYWEBOUGHTTO for his second consecutive daylight-margin win at Finger Lakes in two weeks, DONKEY ENGINE (sired by Chief Seattle) for his second consecutive Finger Lakes win by seven or more lengths in two weeks, and ATLANTIS CRUSADER (sired by Crusader Sword) for his second consecutive Finger Lakes win -- but off a 158-day layoff -- boosting his earnings to $110,250 -- all on Tuesday. New York-bred restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, May 5, 6, and 8, were: BURNING FLUID (sired by Obligato) for his sixth career win with earnings of $113,386, WESNIAK by a length and three-quarters -- both on Friday; homebred EVERYTHINGS GROOVY (sired by Western Expression) by 4-1/4 lengths on Saturday; and homebred FIDDLERS PRIDE ($128,082) under co-topweight for his third consecutive win in the spring of 2006, on Monday. New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, May 3 through Tuesday, May 9, included: SILVER THUNDER at Lone Star Park and claimed, on Wednesday; TRUE BABU (sired by River Keen) at Evangeline Downs and claimed after her second win in four starts, and TAP MACHINE ($120,356) from last-to-first at Thistledown -- both on Thursday; UN OCHIO ($122,009) and claimed, REALITYISCOUNTRY (sired by Slice of Reality), and REAL SAUCY (sired by Slice of Reality) -- all at Finger Lakes on Saturday; THORETTES COOL CAT for his second consecutive win in 46 days, at Pimlico on Sunday; LIME KING (sired by Regal Classic), who had won a restricted maiden special at Aqueduct 30 days earlier, at Philadelphia Park with a $25,000 tag on Monday; KISS THE LIPS by 5-1/2 lengths, PREFLIGHT (sired by Danzatame) in his first start off a 164-day layoff -- all at Finger Lakes on Monday; JUST LIKE YOU by 5-1/2 lengths and RED AT MORN (sired by Tomorrows Cat) by six lengths -- both at Mountaineer Park on Tuesday; NIFTY GAL by 6-3/4 lengths, RUBY'S PRO (sired by Polish Pro) by 5-1/2 lengths to boost his earnings to $164,037, DENTON ROAD for his second consecutive win in 25 days, and CAP D'ANTIBES by 9-3/4 lengths -- all at Finger Lakes on Tuesday. New York-bred maiden-breakers on Wednesday, May 3, and Friday through Tuesday, May 5-9, included: Homebred PEG'S PRAYER by 5-1/4 lengths off a 192-day layoff and ALWAYS ALBERT by 7-3/4 lengths in his third start -- both at Belmont on Wednesday -- and CLARAMOUNT'S LASS by 10-1/2 lengths in her debut at Charles Town on Wednesday evening; homebred REWRITE by 2-3/4 lengths at Belmont in her second start and first outing in 190 days, DETERMINATOR at Lone Star Park in his second start after having placed a close second in his Oaklawn Park debut 51 days earlier, DUPREE at Charles Town, and TARRYTOWN (sired by A. P Jet) by 8-1/2 lengths at Finger Lakes -- all on Friday; homebred GINFORTHEWIN by 9-1/2 lengths in his second start and BARCO at a mile and an eighth on turf in his third start and first venture on grass or beyond six furlongs while wearing blinkers for the first time -- both at Belmont on Saturday -- and PLEASE MOVE OVER (sired by Western Expression) in her debut and TOOTSIE HONEY -- both at Finger Lakes on Saturday; AUNTIE LUZZI by 3-1/4 lengths in her second start, at Belmont, and QUICK WITTED by 4-3/4 lengths at odds-on, at Assiniboia Downs -- both on Sunday; ANGEL'S MELODEE by 8-1/2 lengths at even money at Mountaineer Park on Monday, and YASTRZEMSKI by 2-1/2 lengths at odds-on, GOLD YANKEE in his second start and off an 8-1/2-month layoff with blinkers on, and homebred TWISTED KEY (sired by Key Contender) by 3-3/4 lengths in her third start -- all at Finger Lakes on Monday; two-year-old LORD CATTICUS (first New York-conceived winner sired by Catienus) by 5-1/4 lengths at Delaware Park despite a bobbled start, and CITYSUITSHIM at Finger Lakes -- both on Tuesday. |
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Prado Scores Hat Trick With Frontrunning Oprah Winney
By Bruno Zalubil |
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| Behaving Badly places game top-weighted
2nd in G1 Humana Distaff
by Rab Hagin Setting a scorching second-quarter pace under top weight, Patti and Hal Earnhardt III's New York-bred Behaving Badly led to mid-stretch in Churchill Downs' seven-furlong Grade 1 Humana Distaff Handicap for fillies and mares on Kentucky Derby Day but was overtaken in the final furlong by stablemate Pussycat Doll. The five-year-old mare was odds-on (.90-to-1) among eight starters with jockey Victor Espinoza on board for the seventh -- and fifth consecutive -- time and had a half-length lead after setting an opening quarter-mile fraction of 23.05. Accelerating to a 22.84 quarter-mile split into and around the turn, Behaving Badly continued battling with 13.80-to-1 fifth choice Bending Strings (a five-year-old daughter of former New York sire American Chance), who briefly edged ahead before falling back, and finally pulled clear of that rival in the stretch. By the eighth-mile pole, the big New York-bred mare started looking uncomfortable, switching to her left lead and drifting inward as 4-to-1 third choice Pussycat Doll challenged on the outside. Although Pussycat Doll also switched to her left lead in the stretch, she looked considerably more comfortable in the final strides, while Behaving Badly placed a length and a quarter ahead of Bending Strings. Runner-up effort in the $291,000 event increased Behaving Badly's earnings by $56,454 to $520,804 off a record of 7 - 2 - 0 in 10 starts, which includes consecutive 2006 wins in Santa Anita's Grade 1 Santa Monica and Grade 3 Las Flores Handicaps and Bug Brush Stakes on April 7. She had captured Del Mar's Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap in 2005. Behaving Badly does not have to have an early lead, but she usually gets it -- though in the Humana Distaff she had to contend early on with a multiple Grade 2 winner at seven furlongs in Bending Strings, who was returning to sprinting after competing in middle distance events. The Humana Distaff winner, 2005 Grade 1 seven-furlong winner Pussycat Doll, and Behaving Badly are both trained by three-time Eclipse Award winner Bob Baffert, but they run for different owners. Bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin and foaled at her breeders' Lakland North, LLC, in Hudson, Behaving Badly was sold by Lakland North for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2002 Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale. Nine months later, after she had worked the fastest quarter-mile (21 2/5 seconds) at all three pre-sale under tack shows, the Earnhardts bought the bay filly for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2003 May sale of two-year-olds in training in Timonium, Maryland. The daughter of Pioneering is the sixth starter and sixth winner -- five of them New York-breds -- produced from Timeleighness, by Sir Raleigh, and is a half-sister to New York-bred Lavish Numbers, who set a stakes record in Belmont's 1997 Maid of the Mist Stakes at a mile. Behaving Badly's runner-up performance in the Humana Distaff was the 42nd on-the-board stakes finish by a New York-bred outside of state-bred company in 2006. |
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The top-weighted victory by Sackatoga Stable's New York-bred FUNNY CIDE ($3,314,144) in Aqueduct's Kings Point Handicap last Sunday -- heralded as "ending" his eight-race "losing" streak -- boosted the tenacious gelding's post-Kentucky Derby/Preakness record to arguably the best since Silver Charm's post-classic career of the previous decade. He has now won more races (four), more stakes (three -- two of them graded), and more money ($1,424,759) SINCE his 2003 Derby/Preakness triumphs than any of the other seven Kentucky Derby winners of the past eight years. He also has hit the board in eight other graded stakes -- four of them Grade 1 -- since his classic victories, and yet the sports media refers to his having "lost" 17 of 20 contests prior to the Kings Point. Considering that horseracing is a multi-participant sport like auto racing, swimming, marathon-running, track and field, or golf -- rather than a two-contestant win/lose proposition like football, basketball, baseball, tennis, or boxing -- it is odd that the lexicon for evaluating racehorses is similar to that of assessing boxers or tennis players. No sports journalist would say that Tiger Woods "lost" the Masters if he finished third in the standings, or that a silver medalist in the Olympic 1,500 meters "lost" that contest. Multi-participant sports generally recognize that finishing in the upper standings of a major contest is more prestigious than finishing first in a minor event -- similar to placing third in a Grade 1 stakes verses finishing first in the Okra Festival Sprint at Cocklebur Downs. Funny Cide's post-classic non-winning efforts include runner-up performances under top weight in two Grade 2 stakes -- missing by a head in one of them (the Massachusetts Handicap) -- and falling short by a neck and a nose while placing third in Belmont's Grade 1 Suburban Handicap. Given the gelding's respiratory problems, his aversion to heat and humidity, and his proclivity for nine-to-ten-furlong racing, there have been at least four outings in which he had no shot: the 2003 and 2004 Breeders' Cup Classics, Belmont's 2004 Metropolitan Mile, and Gulfstream's six-furlong Mr. Prospector Handicap in January. When Gold and Roses ($516,145), an improving four-year-old who has been unplaced only once (finishing fourth) in 13 efforts at a mile or longer, edged ahead of Funny Cide in mid-stretch of the mile and an eighth Kings Point, the "gutsy gelding" assumed his uniquely distinct combat mode. He pinned his ears, switched to his left lead, and lowered his head. Within about four strides, he was a half-length in front and widening his margin. It was vintage Funny Cide, whose record is now 9 - 6 - 5 in 29 starts (see New York-bred Millionaires Club). Funny Cide's next scheduled race is Pimlico's Grade 3 William Donald Schaefer Handicap at a mile and an eighth on Preakness Day, May 20. "I really didn't see anything else for him," trainer Barclay Tagg remarked. "I'd rather run him a mile and a quarter." Scoring their first stakes victories in Aqueduct's seven-furlong New York Stallion Times Square (for three-year-olds) and Park Avenue (for three-year-old fillies) divisions on Sunday were off-the-pace moderate longshots PRINCE OF PEACE ($106,037) under jockey Fernando Jara and NO REASON ($148,412) under jockey Channing Hill, respectively. Prince of Peace, Script R Farm et al's homebred son of Regal Classic trained by Michael Miceli, endured a rigorous conditioning schedule following his fourth-place finish in a restricted N1X Aqueduct allowance on April 1, with two of his three workouts over a 25-day period coming only three days apart. The Times Square marked the New York-bred bay colt's first stakes outing and improved his record to 2 - 1 - 2 in eight starts. He is the first winner produced from Script R Farm's New York homebred winner of the 1999 Park Avenue (also trained by Miceli), Winloc's Glorious ($245,061), whose stakes-winning dam, Cherokee Chill ($244,032), likewise campaigned for Script R Farm (Raymond Roncari and Leslie Roncari-Marconi of Windsor Locks, Connecticut). No Reason came off a nine-week layoff to capture the Park Avenue, improving her record to three wins and two seconds -- including a runner-up effort in Aqueduct's New York Stallion Fifth Avenue Stakes last November -- in eight starts for the Winter Park Partners of Anthony Grey of Winter Park, Florida. Winter Park Partners had purchased the bay filly for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton Florida's 2005 select (March 1) sale of two-year-olds in training at Calder, to which she had been consigned by co-breeder Becky Thomas's Sequel Bloodstock, agent. During her layoff, trainer Steven Asmussen had kept No Reason fit with six workouts from mid-March through late April over Belmont's training track. The Park Avenue marked jockey Hill's fourth consecutive race-ride and second victory aboard the New York-bred Precise End filly, who is the second named offspring and second winner produced from two-time winner Tammany Hall, being a half-sister to New York-bred Aqueduct allowance-winning filly Pro Occident. Tammany Hall, whose dam is multiple stakes winner Tammi's Pal, had been claimed as a four-year-old in 1999 while winning her final career start. A year later, the mare was purchased by Lakland (the farm and operational banner for No Reason's breeders, Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin of Lakland North, LLC in Hudson) for $21,000 at Keeneland's 2000 November sale while carrying Pro Occident. In addition to Times Square winner Prince of Peace, New York stallion Regal Classic also is the sire of David Cassidy's and Edward Lipton's homebred HALF HEAVEN, an open N2X allowance-winning filly going a mile on Aqueduct's turf on the same Sunday card and heading a New York-bred exacta. Coming off a five-month layoff as one of two participants among nine older female competitors that had not started in 2006, Half Heaven won decisively as the 4.50-to-1 third choice with jockey Norbert Arroyo Jr. on board for the first time in competition. In preparing the four-year-old filly for her first start since placing a close second in Aqueduct's November 19 Soaring Softly Stakes on turf for three-year-old fillies (non-stakes winners on grass), New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2004 Trainer of the Year Gary Contessa had given her four workouts over 26 days. The victory increased Half Heaven's earnings by $28,800 to $165,049 while improving her record to 4 - 4 - 1 in 12 starts, which also includes second-and-third-place efforts, respectively, in Belmont's 2005 Gaviola (same conditions as the Soaring Softly) and Jena Jena (for New York-bred fillies) Stakes. Placing second was New York-bred Samsincharge ($155,148), and finishing fourth was New York-bred Pelham Bay ($191,419), as New York-breds earned 88 percent of the total purse and qualified for an additional $18,528 in owner, breeder, and stallion owner awards. Half Heaven is a half-sister to New York-bred 2006 two-time three-year-old filly winner Doll Baby ($116,056), who also was a winning stakes-placed 2005 juvenile. She is the second of three offspring of racing age through 2005, all winners, produced from seven-time winner Sand Pirate, who is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 2 winner and turf and dirt stakes winner Continental Red ($1,363,788 through 2005). Another New York-bred open allowance winner during the last week of April was Guzman Stables' GIRLFRIEND CALLING, who won a two-turn seven-furlong N1X contest at Charles Town on Saturday evening, April 29, by 3-1/4 lengths as the 1.50-to-1 favorite among nine older male starters. The May-foaled colt was the only four-year-old facing more seasoned competition -- including three six-figure earners -- and was making his first start under jockey Gerald Almodovar, but he pulled away confidently after gaining the lead in mid-stretch. Girlfriend Calling had won his Aqueduct debut almost exactly a year earlier and had been claimed at Charles Town in September, after which he climbed steadily up the class ladder under the guidance of trainer Ollie Figgins III. The bay colt had stumbled after the start but still placed a close second among ten going 6-1/2 furlongs in a N1X allowance at Charles Town 15 days earlier and now has a record of 4 - 2 - 2 in 16 starts. The son of Family Calling - Great Girlfriend, by Private Account, was bred by Hidden Point Farm Inc. -- an Ocala bloodstock facility managed by Barry Long -- and had been an $85,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2004 March sale of two-year-olds in training. Girlfriend Calling is the fifth offspring and fifth winner produced from his dam, who is a full sister to multiple Grade 1-placed winner Grand Girlfriend ($211,838) and a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Seriously ($227,069). Restricted N2X Aqueduct allowance winners during April 26-28 were Castle Village Farm's five-year-old mare ANGEL DANCER ($192,711) going a mile on Wednesday, Daniel Monosson's six-year-old EMOTRIN ($162,474) going a turf mile and an eighth on Thursday, and Christopher Nupp's seven-year-old DUKE'S CROSSING ($170,639) also going nine furlongs (dirt) on Friday. Angel Dancer, an open Aqueduct allowance winner in March who had graduated from her restricted N2X condition last September, ran with a $25,000 tag under the optional claiming condition and was haltered by trainer Dominic Galluscio on behalf of Paul Punzone's Team Ten Stable. Emotrin, a hard-hitting homebred for Monosson of Muttontown, Long Island and a son of New York stallion Gold Fever, scored his first grass victory and has now won on dirt and turf at Aqueduct in 2006 under the guidance of trainer Del Carroll II. His three-year-old half-brother, Monosson's New York homebred D MONEY, broke his maiden by 3-1/2 lengths at Aqueduct the next day in his first attempt on turf. Duke's Crossing, a Philadelphia Park claim in December while placing second, has since won three of five starts in 2006 with two placed efforts and was coming off an 8-1/2-length romp going a mile and 70 yards at Philadelphia Park 33 days earlier. Winning an open N2X starter allowance for fillies and mares going 5-1/2 furlongs on Atlantic City turf last Wednesday was My Son My Son Stable LLC's New York-bred NINA MARIE, who has now won four times on grass and twice on dirt and probably will gain six-figure earnings this year. Bred by Generals Monty Foss and John Moirano and overlooked as the 8.30-to-1 fourth choice among ten starters, the seven-year-old daughter of former New York stallion Hansel is the first offspring produced from turf winner Danielle's Ice, who is a half-sister to stakes-placed seven-time winner White Lotus ($132,897). Winning restricted N1X Aqueduct allowances by daylight margins on Friday and Saturday, April 28-29, were Paul Andrews' and Daniel Scouler's FIRE ONE UP and Thorn Stable's ITSNOTTHEMONEY on Friday and Tina Marie Bond's homebred TOMMASI under top weight of 123 pounds on Saturday. Fire One Up, a three-year-old colt bred by Barbara Brewer and the Saint Ballado Syndicate and trained by Thomas Bush, romped by 4-1/2 lengths as the 1.10-to-1 favorite among seven starters in his one-mile outing and now has two wins and a third-placing in three Aqueduct outings since December. Itsnotthemoney, a daughter of Prime Timber bred by NYTB 2005 Breeder of the Year Sez Who Thoroughbreds, was the only three-year-old filly facing six older females in her mile turf contest and came off a 71-day layoff to score her second victory in three starts (with one second-placing). Tommasi, a four-year-old gelding by Raffie's Majesty trained by his co-breeder, four-time NYTB Trainer of the Year Harold James Bond, won by 5-1/2 lengths at a mile for his second consecutive big-margin Aqueduct victory in 28 days, improving his never-unplaced record to 2 - 4 - 1 in seven starts. New York-bred open allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, April 29, May 1, and May 2, were: J. D.'S GIRL (sired by Take Me Out) by 4-3/4 lengths and PEGASUS THUNDER (sired by Deputy Cat) by 2-1/2 lengths, both on Saturday; top-weighted (122 pounds) APRIL TRUE at odds-on and A. P. GLITTER (sired by A. P Jet), both on Monday; and A VERY YOUNG JET (sired by A. P Jet) by a length and three-quarters and PIXIE DUST by four lengths in a starter allowance, both on Tuesday. Restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday were: Top-weighted (122 pounds) CRYING POVERTY (sired by Artax) by 2-1/2 lengths at odds-on for his sixth career win and third victory in 2006, on Saturday; top-weighted (124 pounds) SWEET SWEET MOLLY (sired by A. P Jet) at even money for her fifth win in nine starts and HIGH ON MADISON ($156,030) by 4-3/4 lengths for his ninth career win, both on Monday; FACTUAL CONTENDER (sired by Thunder Puddles) by four lengths, boosting her earnings to $200,633 and improving her record to 5 - 7 - 2 in 24 starts, on Tuesday. New York-bred open claiming winners at Aqueduct -- both homebreds -- last week were: Chevalier Stable's (Edward Shapoff) four-year-old gelding PREMINGER as the 2.25-to-1 favorite among seven starters on Thursday, and Hemlock Hills Farm LLC's three-year-old filly ROSIE'S GAL ANN by four lengths for her second consecutive Aqueduct win in 51 days -- with another New York-bred filly placing second -- on Sunday. Other New York-bred open claiming winners from Saturday through Tuesday, April 29-May 2, included: LONE SMITTEN (sired by Raffie's Majesty) by six lengths at Philadelphia Park on Saturday, GOLDEN DEREK (sired by Goldminers Gold) by five lengths at Delaware Park with blinkers off on Sunday and claimed, ED'S PARTY BOY by 4-1/4 lengths at 36-to-1 for his tenth career victory, GOLD CLARA (sired by Goldminers Gold) by 6-1/4 lengths, and PERVASIVE FORCE (sired by Artax) by three lengths -- all at Finger Lakes on Monday; LIQUID ROMANCE at even money over the claimed second-place finisher, at Delaware Park, and LORD AND LADY B by five lengths at Finger Lakes -- both on Tuesday. New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, April 26 through Tuesday, May 2, included: DORMELETTO (sired by Western Expression) at odds-on in his third turf start, TONY LANTANA by two lengths in his first outing over the Big A's outer main track, FISHS EDDY by 12 lengths, and GOLDEN CHIEF (sired by Chief Seattle) off almost a year layoff -- all at Aqueduct on Wednesday; PRIME HONOR (sired by Prime Timber) despite an awkward start and in his first turf outing and first route effort, at Aqueduct on Thursday; CLEVER FREUD (sired by Freud) by 2-1/2 lengths in her debut, and WIND IN THE FOREST after a bumped beginning -- both at Aqueduct on Friday, and PROLIFIC APPEAL by 11-1/2 lengths and DARBAY'S VALENTINE (sired by Goldminers Gold) by 10-1/2 lengths -- both at Finger Lakes on Friday; MOON ALA MODE at 33.50-to-1 in his first turf outing after having raced just three days earlier, UNCONCERNED in his third career start and coming off a nine-month layoff, and BROOKLYN BOBBIE (sired by Deputy Cat) as the only debut runner among 12 starters -- all at Aqueduct on Saturday, and LADY ROCK N ROLL (sired by Rock and Roll) by 2-1/4 lengths, at Finger Lakes on Saturday; FLYAWAY PRINCESS (sired by Prime Timber) by 2-1/2 lengths in her debut and READY ENOUGH by 3-1/4 lengths -- both at Aqueduct on Sunday, and CHEQUER'S PROSPECT by two lengths with blinkers on for the first time and DON'T CHEQUER -- both at Delaware Park on Sunday and among four New York-bred winners (one was an Arabian) on the card -- and BEARMINT by 3-1/2 lengths in his debut start at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday; homebred SCAPOLITE by 9-3/4 lengths at Finger Lakes on Monday; homebred GO TO THE LEAD (sired by Western Expression) by five lengths and PLEASE BE QUICK -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday. |
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