New York-bred three-year-olds spotlighted during June's final weekend and preceding week included Sanford Goldfarb et al's homebred FEROCIOUS WON, who assumed top pro tem state-bred status in the 2003 crop -- following Sharp Humor's sidelining injury -- with his game victory in Belmont's $110,300 Mike Lee Stakes on Sunday. The seven-furlong event for New York-bred three-year-olds was the first leg of The OTBs' Big Apple Triple -- possibly horse racing's most improbable hat trick, including Finger Lakes' mile and a sixteenth New York Derby ($125,000 added, July 15) and Saratoga's nine-furlong Albany ($150,000 added, August 23). A $250,000 bonus is payable to the owner of the horse that can sweep all three events, which has never happened -- even before the bonus was instituted in 2000.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

FEROCIOUS WON winning the Mike Lee Stakes

Ferocious Won ($153,237), who boosted his earnings into six figures with his Albany victory while improving his record to 3 - 3 - 2 in 10 starts, races for his breeder, 48-year-old commodities trader Sanford Goldfarb of Old Westbury, in partnership with Ira Davis, Michael Glassberg, and William Vidro. Following the chestnut colt's Mike Lee victory, New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2002 Trainer of the Year Richard Dutrow Jr. expressed reservations about the New York Derby, commenting: "I don't know if he wants to go that far, but if it comes up light, we might take a shot."

Sired by multiple Grade 1 winner Lite the Fuse, Ferocious Won is the offspring of two sprinters, being out of two-time sprint winner Shawklit Ruse, who is by Air Forbes Won and is from an equine female family associated with Michael Anchel's Treasure Hill Farm in Middletown. Earlier generations in his pedigree feature such stamina-associated names as Buckpasser, Tom Rolfe, Graustark, and Hail to Reason. Ferocious Won's best Daily Racing Form Beyer figure to date -- including his Mike Lee victory -- came in a 3-3/4-length victory going a two-turn mile and a sixteenth on Aqueduct's inner track at the restricted N1X allowance level on March 24. Winning rider Edgar Prado, who has now ridden four of the last six Mike Lee winners and had two winning rides at Belmont on Sunday, pointed out that his latest Mike Lee winner, "had a nice kick," but surmised that Ferocious Won's best distance might be seven furlongs. Prado has ridden Ferocious Won in the three-year-old's last three consecutive outings -- the first time at a mile and an eighth at Aqueduct on April 28 followed by a mile and a sixteenth in a third-place effort at Belmont 27 days prior to the Mike Lee.

Two three-year-old graduates of Fasig-Tipton's 2004 Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale that captured restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contests on Belmont's main track on Wednesday were Donald Flanagan's improving gelding, INDIAN HAWKE, at a one-turn mile and Clear Stars Stable's tenacious filly, ZIPPY SHANNON, at six furlongs. Indian Hawke, a $140,000 purchase by his owner -- a resident of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts -- had won authoritatively going two turns on Aqueduct's inner track in December and March, and trainer George Weaver had the blinkers off the striking gray for the first time since the gelding's juvenile debut in November. The successful result as the 3.90-to-1 third choice among five starters improved Indian Hawke's record to three wins in eight starts, with multiple stakes-placed Pay Attention ($297,572) placing second under top weight and getting claimed. The son of Indian Charlie - Georgialina, by Affirmed, was bred by Theresa and Joseph Mangine and was foaled at Joseph and John Marino's JM Stables, Inc. in Saugerties. Zippy Shannon ($127,490), who since being claimed for $40,000 while winning by 2-3/4 lengths on Aqueduct's inner track in February has earned $70,400, was making her second start in 20 days following a two-month layoff and had apprentice jockey Pablo Morales on board for the sixth consecutive time. Morales, whose apprentice allowance is five pounds, has transcended Zippy Shannon's changing ownership and got his fourth win aboard her by not getting drawn into a second-quarter speed duel with 1.60-to-1 favorite Tamberino, who gained the lead from the Clear Stars Stable (Maura Sternklar) standard-bearer on the turn. The fourth 2006 victory for Zippy Shannon, a $14,000 yearling purchase who was the 2.45-to-1 second choice among seven fillies and mares in Belmont's Wednesday opener and the race's youngest participant (foaled May 16, 2003), improved her record to 5 - 2 - 1 in nine starts.

Now two-for-two in six-furlong Belmont sprints spaced four weeks apart, Anstu Stables' homebred three-year-old gelding RUN RED RUN captured a restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up as the 1.55-to-1 favorite among eight starters on Saturday. The dark gray/roan son of Afternoon Deelites -- a 5-3/4-length maiden special winner in 1:09.87 -- is the second offspring and second winner produced from stakes-placed winner Red Melody, a Runaway Groom mare who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Ten Ten Ho and to stakes-placed winner Hard Rock Ridge ($114,320). His New York homebred half-brother, Anstu Stables' Jumping Jack Louie, had won a restricted N1X allowance at Aqueduct by two lengths going a mile and an eighth on April 1. Anstu Stables and Farm (in Millbrook), the banner under which Stuart and Anita Subotnick of New York City race and breed, had purchased Red Melody through Eclipse Award winner and NYTB 1999 Trainer of the Year Todd Pletcher for $180,000 at Fasig-Tipton Florida's 1998 February sale of two-year-olds at Calder.

Daniel Herrmann's CAMP ON WOOD ($159,433) has such an accomplished resume -- stakes-winning main track sprinter at three, multiple two-turn turf winner, victorious in Canada, New York, New Jersey, and Florida -- that it was surprising she still had her restricted N2X condition, which she finally used up at Belmont on Thursday. The five-year-old mare was the 2-to-1 second choice among eight wagering interests and nine starters in a restricted N2X allowance for fillies and mares going a mile and an eighth on turf and led throughout to improve her record to 5 - 3 - 4 in 22 starts. Trainer Bruce Alexander, who had preserved Camp On Wood's condition level by craftily running her with high-price claiming tags at opportune times, had signed the $5,000 sales slip for the bay mare when she was a just-turned "winter" yearling at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's (OBS) 2002 January mixed sale. Camp On Wood was bred by Questroyal Stable, Inc. in partnership with Edward and Joan Simpson and is a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed winner Woodman's Kris ($132,100) and to the dam of multiple stakes-placed winner Collateral Damage ($223,900). She was the first of two New York-bred winners at Belmont on Thursday closely inbred (3 x 3) to Mr. Prospector.

Scoring his second consecutive turf victory in 53 days in his second career grass outing with jockey Michael Luzzi again on board was three-year-old MOON ALA MODE, the 7.10-to-1 fifth choice among nine starters, three-year-olds and up, in a restricted N1X allowance mile at Belmont on Wednesday. The bay gelding, who had never finished better than fourth (twice as a juvenile) in five main track outings at Churchill Downs, Saratoga, and Aqueduct, had been a $130,000 purchase at the OBS 2005 March sale of two-year-olds in training. He changed hands following a two-start summer juvenile season and made his three-year-old debut under trainer Lisa Lewis's care in March at Aqueduct for his current owner, Same Team Stable, which is the managing partnership for George H. Walker, Eric Lane, and C. Steven Duncker. Moon Ala Mode appears to have a real future on grass.

Another improving three-year-old on Belmont turf in restricted N1X allowance competition was Fox Ridge Farm's homebred HOMERETTE ($115,662), who in a seven-furlong Friday grass test broke from the outside post among 12 and won by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:22.45 in her third consecutive outing under jockey Cornelio Velasquez. Conditioned by NYTB 1986 Trainer of the Year Patrick Kelly, the late-running filly's record is 2 - 5 - 3 in 13 starts, which includes an Aqueduct main track January maiden win and a third-placing in Belmont's restricted seven-furlong Bouwerie Stakes on dirt on May 7. Homerette is a half-sister to two New York-bred $150K-plus-earners, including open stakes winner Dulce de Leche, being out of stakes-placed winner Bien Sucre ($124,206), whom Peter Schiff's Fox Ridge Farm of Syosset had purchased for $85,000 at Keeneland's 2002 November sale when she was carrying Homerette. Bien Sucre's winning full sisters include the dam of current multiple stakes-placed New York-bred winning filly Finlandia ($140,345).

Scoring his third 2006 win in a Delaware Park starter allowance on Tuesday was The Nonsequitur Stable's New York-bred MIKE'S GREENFIELDS ($184,395), who has earned $64,422 since being claimed for $25,000 from his breeder, Michael Hanafin of Four Green Fields in Greenfield Center, New York, at Laurel on January 21. The five-year-old gelding's front-running 3-1/2-length victory at odds-on (.80-to-1) among six starters in the sloppy mile and an eighth off-the-turf contest improved his record to 9 - 7 - 4 in 43 starts. Trained by Linda Albert, Mike's Greenfields is by Slew City Slew and is the fifth offspring and fifth winner produced from winner Home Video, whom Hanafin had purchased for $5,000 at Keeneland's 2000 November sale when she was carrying Mike's Greenfields.

Capturing Fort Erie's Sunday six-furlong allowance feature for non-winners of a race other than maiden or claiming in 2006 was Ralph D'Alessandro's New York homebred four-year-old gelding, YOU WILLGO BROKE ($139,029), who was odds-on (.70-to-1) among seven starters -- four with six-figure earnings. Placing second was Tyler's Jewel ($190,395), and also competing were multiple stakes-placed Frank's Selection ($471,636) plus 10-time winner Trifecta ($208,722). Based at Finger Lakes and trained by Jason Giliforte, You Willgo Broke improved his record to 8 - 2 - 6 in 21 starts, which includes a third-placing as a two-year-old in Finger Lakes' Aspirant Stakes. The son of New York stallion Millions is among three racing age offspring -- all multiple winners bred in New York by D'Alessandro -- produced from "iron" race mare Bedrock, a daughter of Rollick 'n Roll who compiled a racing record of 16 - 18 - 9 in 111 starts over six seasons.

New York-bred open allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Friday, June 23 and Monday, June 26 were: LUNAR RULER under top weight and stakes-placed STILL GUILTY by 2-1/4 lengths -- both on Friday -- and DEVIL'S LAST DANCE for her second win of 2006 and third career victory -- with on-the-board efforts in open allowance competition in her last six consecutive outings since mid-April -- on Monday.

Restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, June 23 through Tuesday, June 27 were:

TOKEN DEM by 2-3/4 lengths at odds-on for his second front-running Finger Lakes allowance win by more than two lengths in 13 days and WATRAL'S DAHLIA for her second consecutive Finger Lakes allowance win in 17 days and sixth career victory -- both on Friday; DARE TO BE GREAT ($152,206) by 5-3/4 lengths under wraps to improve his record to 7 - 13 - 8 in 59 starts and RED HOT CAT (sired by Tomorrows Cat) for his second allowance win in 13 days to improve his record to 6 - 8 - 2 in 26 starts -- both on Sunday; homebred LULIE under co-topweight for her second consecutive win in 32 days and fourth career victory, on Tuesday.

New York-bred open claiming winners from Thursday, June 22 through Tuesday, June 27 included:

Front-running HE'S MY DANCER at Charles Town for his fourth win and claimed for the second consecutive time in 34 days, on Thursday evening; SUNSHINE NUMBERS at Colonial Downs on Friday evening for his first win on turf, and TORRENTS OF FIRE, DARBY BOOK, CROOKED WOMAN by 3-1/4 lengths, and homebred FOR CASH ONLY by 7-3/4 lengths -- all at Finger Lakes on Friday; stakes-placed DAVY JONES ($271,309) at Monmouth on Saturday to improve his record to 11 - 5 - 8 in 63 starts, MIGHTY GOOD (sired by Good and Tough) by three lengths at Delaware Park on Saturday for her second daylight-margin win in two weeks and third career victory, and WATRAL'S SENOR at odds-on for his second win in 25 days and third career victory, DO IT DEPUTY by five lengths at 48.25-to-1, HAILEY KEEN (sired by River Keen) by six lengths gate-to-wire under top weight for her third consecutive win in 36 days and fourth career victory, and homebred TAKEMETOSARATOGA (sired by Take Me Out) by 9-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire at odds-on for his second win of 2006 -- the last-named four all at Finger Lakes on Saturday; BLACK MARKET ($155,286) at Mountaineer Park on Sunday evening for his second consecutive win in 20 days and improving his overall record to 9 - 4 - 7 in 37 starts, WATRALFAMOUSLAWYER at River Downs on Sunday for her second consecutive win in 16 days, OLD SUGAR SHOES (sired by Tomorrows Cat) by 3-1/2 lengths at even money at Stockton, California on Sunday, KELLY BEAR at Thistledown on Sunday for her second daylight-margin win in 15 days and improving her overall record to 10 - 5 - 6 in 45 starts; SWEET SAMANTHA ($110,944) by 16-1/2 lengths to improve her record to 5 - 2 - 4 in 27 starts and claimed, and CRUSADER'S QUEST (sired by Crusader Sword) by three lengths for his second win of 2006 -- both at Philadelphia Park on Monday -- STARRING WALTER gate-to-wire at Great Lakes Downs on Monday, ADMIRALINTHENAVY by 2-1/4 lengths at Suffolk Downs on Monday for his second win in 37 days and third career victory, UN OCHIO ($133,075) by 3-1/2 lengths for her second daylight-margin win in 15 days and improving her record to 12 - 19 - 13 in 81 starts, CARR QUEEN for her eighth career win, homebred PUNCHIE'S MOON, SMARTTHINKIN'TONY by seven lengths with blinkers off for his second daylight-margin win of 2006 -- the last-named four all at Finger Lakes on Monday; SHESAHOTTAMMLE (sired by Badge) at Penn National on Tuesday, ROCKATOWA (sired by Kracotowa) by five lengths for his second win in 25 days and eighth career victory, PASSING SHIPS ($327,147) by 2-3/4 lengths in his second start of 2006 to boost his record to 10 - 15 - 15 in 62 starts, homebred LAST TRIAL for his fourth win in 10 months, and WHIZBANG at almost even money and claimed -- the last-named four at Finger Lakes on Tuesday.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, June 21 through Tuesday, June 27 included:

Homebred JACKS EXPRESS by two lengths on Belmont turf in his second start of 2006 and with blinkers on for the first time, on Wednesday; homebred two-year-old filly BECKY'S FLUTE by 6-1/4 lengths in her debut and May-foaled three-year-old FLING IN DEAUVILLE (sired by Western Expression) in his third start and second outing on turf as the youngest among 11 starters, three-year-olds and up -- both at Belmont on Thursday; homebred LATITUDE FORTY by 2-1/4 lengths in her first outing on turf and with blinkers on for the first time, homebred SKEETER GIRL (sired by Manlove), and FEELIN' THE BLUES from the outside post among eight starters -- all at Belmont on Friday -- and homebred TALCPRO at Finger Lakes on Friday; GIMME CREDIT (sired by Artax) by four lengths at Belmont in his second start of 2006 and second time on turf and THE THREE GEORGE'S (sired by Prime Timber) with blinkers on at Suffolk Downs and stretching beyond six furlongs to a mile for the first time -- both on Saturday -- and homebred MASTER TEACHER (sired by Artax) and homebred HIP HOP PATTY (sired by Western Expression) by 3-1/4 lengths -- both at Finger Lakes on Saturday; two-year-old THE ZIPSTER at almost even money in his debut despite being bumped in the stretch and looking well worth his OBS March juvenile sale purchase price of $160,000, EXTRA IMPACT in her third career start and first outing of 2006, and LOG JAM (sired by Prime Timber) -- all at Belmont on Sunday -- and homebred FACIAL EXPRESSION (sired by Western Expression) at odds-on and despite a stumbling start, WESTERN LASSIE (sired by Western Expression), homebred DISTINCTIVE JULIA by two lengths at almost even money in her third start of 2006, and homebred STARE DOWN by 5-1/2 lengths -- the last-named four all at Finger Lakes on Sunday; TIGER'S REVENGE (sired by Prime Timber) by 4-1/4 lengths at Fort Erie on Monday; JUDGE JOHN B. by two lengths despite an early bumping and running five wide and TOMORROWS SUNSET (sired by Tomorrows Cat) by eight lengths in her second start after having placed second in her debut 16 days earlier -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday.

Older New York-breds stood out in mid-June, as FLEET INDIAN laid claim to being North America's best older female, four-year-old JOHNIE BYE NIGHT became the 14th state-bred 2006 open stakes winner, SABELLINA scored a dramatic Mount Vernon win, and West Virginia rallied for third in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. Among New York-bred three-year-olds, DONKEY ENGINE confirmed that he is for real by beating 2006 open Aqueduct stakes winner Strummer in Finger Lakes' Ontario County Stakes for his fourth consecutive victory in 54 days. In stakes competition outside state-bred company, 35 New York-breds have registered 55 on-the-board stakes per formances in 2006 through June 18. New York-breds this year have won open stakes in New York, California, Florida, Arkansas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, and Manitoba (Canada).

Photo: ©Hoofprints, Inc.

FLEET INDIAN #2 3-for-3 in 2006 stakes

The stock of Paul Saylor's Fleet Indian continued rising about 30 minutes after her 7-3/4-length romp under top weight in Delaware Park's Obeah Stakes on Saturday, as a rival she had beaten in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Next Move on March 26, Flaming Heart, won Woodbine's $89,090 Hill 'n' Dale Stakes. Flaming Heart's only loss in her latest five starts came against Fleet Indian ($504,513), who has won 10 of 15 starts and owns the longest win streak (five), longest stakes-winning streak (three), and highest Beyer figure (112) of any North American filly or mare currently racing. Two other six-figure stakes for fillies and mares at beyond a mile were held Saturday, and both winners -- Take D' Tour in Belmont's Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and Happy Ticket in Churchill Downs' Grade 2 Fleur de Lis -- carried less weight than Fleet Indian while winning by smaller margins. Take D' Tour's 5-1/2-length victory in Belmont's one-turn mile and a sixteenth Phipps -- her first win at beyond a mile -- was impressive, but her final sixteenth in 6.71 seconds forebodes less promise for two-turn competition than Fleet Indian's final furlong in the Obeah of 12.48. Granted, both mares were coasting at the end. "She's very good right now," understated owner Saylor to Amanda Duckworth of The Blood-Horse following Fleet Indian's Obeah cruise. "We'll see what happens after this next race (the $1-million Delaware Handicap at a mile and a quarter on Sunday, July 16 at Delaware Park), but I would like to at least run her through this year."

For fast-closing kicks at a mile and an eighth, it would be challenging to find a more impressive one than that of Jay Lieberman's Sabellina ($325,391) in her last-to-first move in Belmont's $114,700 Mount Vernon Handicap on turf for New York-bred fillies and mares on Sunday. With three-eighths of a mile to go, the five-year-old mare was dead last among 12 starters and crashing into the hedge, and although the last three panels went in 35.22 with a fastest-of-all final furlong in 11.71 (which Sabellina began four lengths off the leader), she still won. Sabellina, whose record is 6 - 2 - 4 in 24 starts with nine-furlong turf stakes victories at Saratoga and Belmont, was the 4.30-to-1 second choice in the Mount Vernon, which hosted earners of more than $2.3-million, including 11 six-figure earners that had hit the boards in 28 previous stakes.

Photo: Stephanie Van Minos/Tom Cooley

JOHNIE BYE NIGHT #5 14th NY-bred 2006 open SW

New York-breds ran one-two in Finger Lakes' open Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at a mile and an eighth on Sunday, with owner-trainer Charlton Baker's Johnie Bye Night ($146,285) shattering the 17-year-old stakes record by a full second in his 6-1/4-length gate-to-wire tally and the indestructible War Paint ($233,052) placing second. It was the second stakes record at two different distances in 20 days for the versatile Johnie Bye Night, who had broken Finger Lakes' six-furlong George W. Barker Handicap record with a 1:09.34 clocking on May 29. The odds-on (.80-to-1) choice among seven starters in the unrestricted black-type event for three-year-olds and up despite never having raced two turns or beyond seven furlongs previously, the four-year-old gelding improved his resume to five wins (three at Aqueduct starting with a first-out Thanksgiving Eve tally) in eight starts. Runner-up War Paint, who currently races for Clery Sosa-Barrera, now has a record of 11 - 7 - 4 in 40 starts and became the 35th New York-bred to win or place in a stakes outside state-bred competition in 2006.

In Finger Lakes' six-furlong Ontario County Stakes for New York-bred three-year-olds immediately preceding Sunday's Wadsworth Memorial, Yusuf Mongroo's Donkey Engine scored his fourth consecutive victory since returning in late April from a 66-day layoff, beating odds-on (.95-to-1) Aqueduct open stakes winner (in 2006) Strummer. The son of New York-based 2006 millionaire sire Chief Seattle had seemed green and unfit in two winter outings on Aqueduct's inner track, but he came back all business at Finger Lakes for trainer Linda Rice, proving in the Ontario County that leading is not necessary for winning. Owner Mongroo, of Georgetown, Guyana on South America's northeast coast, had purchased Donkey Engine for $155,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's (OBS) 2005 March sale of two-year-olds in training, prior to which the bay New York-bred had worked a quarter-mile in an eye-catching 21 3/5.

For the second time in 29 days, Donald and Roberta Mary Zuckerman's New York homebred West Virginia ($885,918) had a troubled trip in a Grade 1 stakes and placed third -- that scenario occurring this time in Churchill Downs' $844,500 Stephen Foster Handicap at a mile and an eighth on Saturday. Although the multiple graded-winning son of Tomorrows Cat was prominent in fourth place through the first half-mile after breaking dead last, he was quickly engulfed by three closers on the second turn and reached mid-stretch with only two of eight rivals behind him. Jockey Garrett Gomez, who was race-riding West Virginia for the first time, maneuvered him seven wide, and in the final furlong the five-year-old overtook Grade 1 winners Buzzards Bay (1.40-to-1 favorite) and Brass Hat (2.70-to-1 second choice) and Grade 2 winner Love of Money (4.30-to-1 third choice) -- among others. He also made up almost four lengths on mid-stretch leader and $4.4-million-plus-earner Perfect Drift, who was nipped at the wire by longshot (91.70-to-1) outside closer Seek Gold. The effort brought West Virginia's record to 7 - 6 - 2 in 24 starts, which includes six stakes victories and eight stakes-placed performances. The dark bay New York-bred was the 7.10-to-1 fourth choice among nine starters in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster.

Coming off a 31-week layoff and competing above his condition level in what nevertheless were ideal circumstances was Suzann Bobley's and Joan O'Brien's THECONFIDENCEMAN, who captured a restricted N3X/allowance optional claiming contest for three-year-olds and up going a virtual one-turn mile on Belmont turf on Thursday. The five-year-old gelding obviously prefers Belmont's lawn in the summer and performs his best under New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2002 Jockey of the Year John Velazquez and had all that going for him when he went off as the 10.20-to-1 fifth choice among nine starters. His three-wide rallying victory over a field that included stakes winner and multiple Grade 2-placed No Parole (claimed out of the contest for $30,000) boosted his earnings into six figures at $127,532 and improved his record to 3 - 3 - 3 in 19 starts. All of Theconfidenceman's victories have been under Velazquez as well as two of his three runner-up performances and two of his three third-place efforts. As a two-year-old, the chestnut gelding had won first-out by six lengths sprinting on Belmont's main track, and his most recent previous victory had been going a Belmont turf mile in July of 2004. Conditioned by three-time NYTB Trainer of the Year Leo O'Brien -- father-in-law of Velazquez and husband of part-owner Joan O'Brien -- Theconfidenceman was bred by Richard and Jeanette Powers of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His sire, NYTB Horse of the Year and multiple graded winner Incurable Optimist, had stood one season at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson; his dam, nine-time winner The Midnightrobber, had raced for co-breeder Jeanette Powers as an allowance-winning sprinter on the New England circuit.

Another restricted (N2X) turf allowance winner at Belmont on Thursday was Barbara Santangelo's homebred CLASSIC FRAN, who scored his third consecutive grass victory in 64 days with a three-wide tally as the 123-pound topweight and 1.15-to-1 favorite among nine starters going a mile and an eighth. The four-year-old had won a Gulfstream maiden special by 4-1/2 lengths in April and had cruised by 3-3/4 lengths on yielding Belmont turf in a May 20 restricted N1X allowance, after which NYTB 1995 co-Trainer of the Year Angel Penna Jr. had given him three main track workouts at Belmont. Bred by Francis Santangelo, the colt was the first of two Thursday winners at Belmont sired by Regal Classic and is the sixth New York-bred winner produced from allowance-winning router My Dear Juliette -- a half-sister to graded winner and NYTB 1997 Champion Turf Male Draw Shot ($615,890).

New York Minute: Regal Classic, who stands at Joe and Anne McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC in Saratoga Springs and is the sire of 2006 New York Stallion Times Square Stakes winner Prince of Peace, also is the leading active New York-based broodmare sire for 2006 -- ranking close behind pensioned Cormorant.

In addition to Theconfidenceman, another New York-bred gelding coming off a layoff to gain six-figure earnings in a restricted allowance/optional claiming contest at Belmont on Thursday was FRANK'S FUSE ($107,131), who at the N2X level going six furlongs on dirt won as the 1.90-to-1 favorite among seven starters. The four-year-old had missed by a neck in his first outing under jockey Edgar Prado while going seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 22, after which NYTB 2002 Trainer of the Year Richard Dutrow Jr. had given him six workouts at Monmouth and again named Prado to ride him. Now with a record of 3 - 2 - 2 in 12 starts, Frank's Fuse races for his breeder, Sanford Goldfarb of Old Westbury, in partnership with Anthony Bertucci, Ralph DePalma, Michael Dubb of Jericho, New York, and Louis and J. Marino.

Winning restricted N1X allowance races at Belmont were four three-year-olds: gelding BANROCK (turf mile and an eighth) on Friday, colt ALWAYS ALBERT (mile and a sixteenth) and filly REWRITE (turf mile) on Saturday, and filly KARAKORUM STARLET (mile) on Sunday -- plus four-year-old colt MEET MY BUDDY (turf mile) on Sunday. Banrock, a homebred son of New York-conceived Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin owned by the Nyala Farm of Ruth Bedford of Greens Farm, Connecticut, scored by a length and three-quarters as the 6.40-to-1 fourth choice among 10 starters, registering his second NYRA grass win in 65 days. Always Albert, My Meadowview Farm's (Leonard/Louise Riggio) improving homebred making his fifth start, rallied four-wide to a 3-1/4-length win at even money despite a bobbled start and being the only participant in his contest with fewer than a dozen previous starts, getting his second Belmont tally in 45 days. Rewrite, Amherst Stable's (Kathy Johnson) homebred, broke from the outside (11th) post in her third career outing but led throughout to score by 3-3/4 lengths over the stakes-placed favorite as the 2.75-to-1 second choice despite carrying three more pounds, getting her second Belmont grass win in 43 days. Karakorum Starlet, a former $13,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling purchase who races for the Karakorum Farm of racing partnerships managed by William DiScala of Staten Island, was odds-on (.80-to-1) for her second big-margin Belmont win in 38 days, tallying by 3-1/2 lengths. Meet My Buddy, a homebred for the R Hercules Farm of Nick Siounis of Laurel Hollow campaigned in partnership with the Gates Men Stables of Colm McGuckian of East Islip, Long Island, beat 11 rivals almost exactly a year after breaking his maiden at a mile on Belmont grass.

A six-furlong non-winners-of-two contest for fillies and mares with $20,000-to-$25,000 claiming prices at Belmont on Thursday turned out to be an all-New York-bred affair, with three-year-old May-foaled BLUSHING MARIAN -- the youngest among seven starters -- going off as the 16.40-to-1 last choice and winning by 5-3/4 lengths. The daughter of Rizzi, who currently races for Wachtel Stable, Brous Stable, and Preferred Pals Stable and is trained by John De Stefano Jr., improved her record to two wins (at Woodbine and Belmont) and a second (in the 2005 open Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies Stakes) in six starts. She was bred by the NYTB 2005 Breeder of the Year, Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds, and had been sold for $16,000 at the OBS 2005 April sale of two-year-olds in training.

New York-bred open allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday, June 17, 18, and 20, were:

Homebred MAD BOB CAT by 10-3/4 lengths easily at odds-on on Saturday; homebred HONOR MOUNTAIN at 23.70-to-1 after being slow to load in the gate and LIVE BY REQUEST (sired by Regal Classic) gate-to-wire at odds-on -- both on Sunday; homebred SCAPOLITE by 3-1/4 lengths for her second big-margin win in 50 days and homebred WHEEZER by two lengths gate-to-wire for her second consecutive win in her first start of 2006 -- both on Tuesday.

Restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, June 16, 17, and 19, were:

Homebred CAP D'ANTIBES for her third consecutive daylight-margin win in 38 days and fifth victory overall and SWEET SWEET MOLLY (sired by A. P Jet) by 5-1/4 lengths at odds-on for her fourth win of 2006 in five starts this year and seventh career victory in 12 starts -- both on Friday; TOASTTOFRIENDSHIP ($101,204) by 10 lengths under wraps at odds-on for her second win of 2006 and seventh victory overall, on Saturday; BROTHER SCOTT for his second win of 2006 and third victory overall and PINKY FREUD by 4-1/2 lengths at odds-on for his sixth victory in his second start of 2006 -- both on Monday.

Other New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, June 14 through Tuesday, June 20 included:

SUE ME at Suffolk Downs on Wednesday; WEE DAVID at Charles Town for his eighth career win and claimed, on Thursday; three-year-old FRANNY BABIE (sired by Deputy Cat) by 3-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire as the youngest among seven fillies and mares in Monmouth's Friday opener and claimed after scoring her second Monmouth win in 18 days, LARGE POPCORN by 10 lengths off a 135-day layoff and NASTYATTITUDE -- both at Finger Lakes on Friday; FIFTY SENSE by two lengths at Delaware Park for his second win of 2006, VERTICAL STORM by four lengths and TIFFANY GOLD (sired by pensioned Scarlet Ibis) off an 11-month layoff for his 14th career victory and boosting his earnings to $106,271 -- both at Philadelphia Park on Saturday -- J B OF THE SEA (sired by Scarlet Ibis) by two lengths at Suffolk Downs on Saturday, and COMPANY JET (sired by A. P Jet) by 2-1/4 lengths for his second win of 2006 and 12th victory overall while boosting his earnings to $137,004, EXCELLENT CHARISMA, homebred POWER LINK for his second win of 2006 in two starts this year and third victory overall, SILENT ANNIE by 2-1/2 lengths for her fourth win, and TANAJA (sired by Tank's Number) by 2-1/4 lengths for her fourth win -- the last-named five all at Finger Lakes on Saturday; homebred CITI ANALYST (sired by Freud) at Monmouth for her second win in 38 days, on Sunday; GAME CONTENDER (sired by Western Expression) by five lengths at Suffolk Downs for her second consecutive win by more than 2-1/2 lengths in 13 days, MAGIC BELLE ($122,620) at Delaware Park, and AIRTOGROUNDCONTROL (sired by Key Contender) for his second win in nine days, CHAMPAGNEFORSHELBY ($139,682) for her 14th career win, APRIL TRUE ($106,470) by 3-1/2 lengths gate-to-wire at odds-on for her third win of 2006 and fourth victory overall, and homebred SAY I DO (sired by Western Expression) by 6-3/4 lengths gate-to-wire for his second big-margin win in 10 days -- all on Monday and the last-named four at Finger Lakes; CHEQUER'S PROSPECT with a $40,000 tag at Delaware Park for her second win in 51 days and first score on turf, CARAVAN END by 6-1/2 lengths at Calder for her second daylight-margin win of 2006, NUNZIONIC (sired by Nunzio) at Philadelphia Park off a 10-month layoff for his second daylight-margin win in three starts and claimed, J'S SEA ANGEL from last-to-first and five-wide for his seventh career win and claimed, and homebred DEL MAR BREEZE -- all on Tuesday, and the last-named two at Finger Lakes.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, June 14 through Tuesday, June 20 included:

SMOKE DIAMOND in his first main track mile effort, at Belmont on Wednesday; CLASSIC IMPACT (sired by Regal Classic) at Belmont and KICKS ARE FOR KIDS from last to first at Thistledown in his 48th career start -- both on Thursday; homebred two-year-old SUPERSTAR LEBO (first New York-conceived winner by Kelly Kip) by three lengths gate-to-wire in his second start and second on-the-board finish but somehow allowed to go off at 30.25-to-1, BAGAVOND by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:08.89 for six furlongs on turf with blinkers off for the first time and almost at even money, homebred WINLOC'S HAIL MARY by three lengths off a 162-day layoff -- all at Belmont on Friday -- and JUST CHECKING in his debut as the only three-year-old finishing among the first seven of eight starters, at Finger Lakes on Friday; STARHUMOR in his second start and MOHEGAN SKY with blinkers on for the first time by 2-3/4 lengths at odds-on -- both at Belmont on Saturday -- and SPEEDY ZIP in front-running fashion at Finger Lakes on Saturday; LOVELY DREAM (sired by Freud) by 16-3/4 lengths at Belmont to make her $220,000 sales price as an OBS juvenile look like a bargain, ENERGICO by seven lengths at Calder with blinkers on for the first time, and homebred-and-trained AMERIWHIM at 28.75-to-1 at Finger Lakes -- all on Sunday; VALIANT VALERIE VZ (sired by Williamstown) gate-to-wire and LITTLE BROADWAY gate-to-wire under top weight in her second start of 2006 -- both at Finger Lakes on Monday; GOLDEN BLUE CHIP at Prairie Meadows and MATT'S A MILLION (sired by Millions) by 3-1/2 lengths at Finger Lakes -- both on Tuesday.

In a $100,000 prep race for the $1-million Delaware Handicap 29 days hence, Paul Saylor's relentless New York-bred FLEET INDIAN went gate-to-wire in Delaware Park's mile and an eighth Obeah Handicap, winning by 7-3/4 lengths under top weight of 123 pounds for her fifth consecutive victory since Thanksgiving Day weekend. The five-year-old mare toyed with her opposition while being race-ridden for the third consecutive time by New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2003 Jockey of the Year Jose Santos, running nearly even quarter-mile splits although covering her first and fourth quarters more quickly than the middle two. Her fourth quarter-mile extended her margin from a half-length to six lengths, and she continued drawing away on her own accord through the final furlong, as graded winner Friel's for Real ($530,544) -- carrying six pounds less than Fleet Indian -- placed second. Other multiple stakes winners in the field of seven starters and six wagering interests, among which Fleet Indian was the heavy odds-on (.30-to-1) favorite, were Sticky ($235,650) and American Miss ($323,870).

Photo: ©Hoofprints, Inc.

FLEET INDIAN #2

"She (Fleet Indian) is very professional," Santos remarked after the race. "She has been really impressive in her last three races. She really impressed me the day she ran (at) Hawthorne (winning that track's Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap by 12-1/2 lengths on April 22), and she was just as good -- if not better -- today. She is just getting better and better."

Fleet Indian increased her earnings by $60,000 to $504,513 with her Obeah score and improved her record to 10 wins and one third-placing in 15 starts, with her other 2006 victories having come in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Next Move Handicap on March 26 and Hawthorne's aforementioned Sixty Sails. She was the second New York-bred daylight-margin winner at Delaware Park on Saturday and the first of two winners on the card ridden by Santos and conditioned by two-time Eclipse Award winner and NYTB 1999 Trainer of the Year Todd Pletcher. The big dark bay mare owns the longest win streak and the longest stakes-winning streak in North America's older female division and has registered the highest Daily Racing Form Beyer figure (112) of any filly or mare this year at any distance on either dirt or turf.

In the eight weeks between Fleet Indian's Sixty Sails cruise and her Obeah victory, Pletcher had given the long-striding New York-bred six weekly workouts at Belmont from May 7 through June 12 -- all of them moderate.

Fleet Indian's owner, Saylor, is managing director of the investment banking firm Chadwick, Saylor and Company in Atlanta and Los Angeles and a former part-owner of two-time Eclipse Champion filly Ashado. Saylor had purchased Fleet Indian for $290,000 through Mike Akers' Dapple Bloodstock, agent, at Keeneland's 2006 January sale with the idea of adding her to his broodmare band but subsequently found out that, "she's better than I thought she was."

Bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin and foaled at her breeders' Lakland North, LLC in Hudson, Fleet Indian had been a $40,000 yearling at Fasig-Tipton's 2002 Saratoga New York-bred preferred sale and a $230,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2003 March sale of two-year-olds in training. Her previous owner, Stan Fulton, owns Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in New Mexico. The daughter of Indian Charlie is the third offspring and third winner produced from now-deceased Hustleeta, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Cherokee Wonder ($284,010 and dam of graded winner and $969,886-earner Cherokee's Boy) and to the winning dam of multiple stakes winner Annika Lass ($221,795). Lakland Farm had purchased Hustleeta for $39,000 at Keeneland's 2000 November sale when she was carrying Fleet Indian.

STORM BOOT GOLD #2

Scoring her second open NYRA allowance victory in two months was Castle Village Farm's New York-bred FIGHTING SPEEDY ($205,120) in a six-furlong off-the-turf N2X sprint for fillies and mares at Belmont on Wednesday, June 7. It was the four-year-old filly's eighth outing (and third win) under jockey Pablo Fragoso, who also had guided her to a third-placing among seven in Aqueduct's six-furlong Broadway Handicap for state-bred fillies and mares on March 12. Dismissed as the 9.90-to-1 last choice and the only New York-bred among six starters, Fighting Speedy improved her record to 5 - 7 - 5 in 23 starts with her hard-fought victory. Since being claimed by the Castle Village Farm of Stephen Zorn of Hialeah, Florida for $30,000 at Gulfstream in January of 2005, the chestnut filly has earned $180,636 in purse money alone -- exclusive of open race owner awards in New York. She campaigns under the care of trainer Leah Gyarmati and prior to joining her current connections had raced for her breeder, Robert Perez of Haras Lucy Grace in Otisville. The New York-conceived daughter of former New York stallion Senor Speedy is the sixth winner produced from Scrapping, who is by Fight Over (by Grey Dawn II) and is a half-sister to Grade 1 and Grade 2 NYRA winner Agincourt ($338,483). Perez had purchased Scrapping for $2,800 at a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 2001 February mixed sale when the mare was not carrying a foal.

For a horse that did not break his maiden until his 19th start in mid-January at Aqueduct, Robert Cole's New York-bred TREATED WOOD ($107,619) has improved dramatically, scoring his fourth win in a Charles Town N1X allowance on Friday evening by 12 lengths and pushing his earnings into six figures. The four-year-old gelding had placed third at that level at Charles Town just 13 days earlier and had won by 3-1/4 lengths at the West Virginia track only 29 days prior to Friday's victory, for which he was favored at 2.30-to-1 and co-topweighted among nine starters. Reunited with jockey Travis Dunkelberger, who had guided him to his latest previous victory, Treated Wood won the two-turn 6-1/2-furlong contest handily while improving his record to 4 - 2 - 5 in 29 starts. Owner Cole had claimed the bay gelding for $15,000 in a winning effort at Aqueduct on March 11 and had turned him over to trainer Stephanie Beattie when he sent him to Charles Town. The stretch-running son of Cryptoclearance was bred by Dr. Russell Cohen and is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 1996 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Double Dee's ($293,052) and to stakes-placed winner Bee Cup ($121,734). He is among seven winners produced from New York-bred stakes-placed 10-time winner Oh How We Danced ($188,638), by Sir Jinsky.

Another New York-bred standout gelding on West Virginia's nighttime circuit is Alex Stathopoulos' GRILLHOUSE ($600,312), who on Saturday evening registered his fourth consecutive victory at Mountaineer Park in 60 days by successfully stretching out to a three-turn mile and a half in a starter allowance for three-year-olds and up. The nine-year-old John Progno-trained gelding was co-topweighted and favored at 1.50-to-1 among seven starters with jockey Chad Murphy on board for the fourth consecutive time in competition and improved his overall record to 22 - 8 - 7 in 62 starts. As a two-year-old in 1999, he had placed second behind future graded winner and New York stallion Precise End in Woodbine's Display Stakes and third in Belmont's Sleepy Hollow Stakes on New York Showcase Day, and in 2004 he had placed third in Finger Lakes' Genesee Valley Breeders' Handicap. Bred by Roger Toffolon, Grillhouse is a half-brother to five runners, all winners, including stakes winner Mr. Fixed Income. The route-running son of Metfield, who had been sold as a weanling, yearling, and two-year-old in training, is out of Tinted Ivory, a Sir Ivor mare that Questroyal Stable had purchased for $27,000 at Keeneland's 1996 November sale when she was carrying Grillhouse. Tinted Ivory is a half-sister to Canadian Champion Grass Mare and Older Mare Woolloomooloo ($373,236), who is the dam of stakes winner Affirmed Dancer ($211,100), and to Canadian juvenile stakes winner Gudai Might.

Yet a fourth hard-knocking New York-bred older gelding who seems to be hitting his best stride is Christopher Nupp's DUKE'S CROSSING ($180,146), who scored his fourth win of 2006 in a starter allowance at Philadelphia Park on Sunday going a mile and 70 yards. It was the seven-year-old's second outing of the year under jockey Harry Vega, who had guided him to a 3-1/4-length tally at Philadelphia Park in his first start for new owner Nupp last January, and it improved his overall record to 7 - 7 - 5 in 40 starts. Since being claimed from the family of his breeder for $5,000 at Philadelphia Park last December, Duke's Crossing has earned $56,137, finally going through his restricted N2X allowance condition with a mile and an eighth win at Aqueduct on April 28. The dark bay gelding is trained by Ramon Preciado and was the 3-to-1 second choice among seven starters in his length and a half victory. Bred by John Hulak Jr. and originally raced by Carolyn Hulak, Duke's Crossing is by Valley Crossing and is a half-brother to five winners, including stakes winner Hay Cody ($303,605) and stakes-placed Carolyn Frances ($174,400) and Karousel Karen (dam of two multiple stakes-placed winners). His dam, Monmouth and Meadowlands winner Princess Luisa, by Chicago, also raced for Carolyn Hulak.

Placing third in weekend stakes were New York-breds Magnolia Jackson ($350,384) in Belmont's Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap at 6-1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares on Sunday and Vanna's Honeybear ($130,819) in Charles Town's two-turn seven-furlong Cortan Stakes on Saturday evening for colts and geldings currently running at that track. Ted Taylor's Magnolia Jackson, who is conditioned by NYTB 2004 Trainer of the Year Gary Contessa, had placed first or second in her six most recent previous starts beginning the day after Thanksgiving, winning Aqueduct's Grade 2 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup, open Correction, and restricted Broadway Handicaps. Her record now 7 - 2 - 1 in 12 starts, the four-year-old filly was bred by the NYTB 2005 Breeder of the Year, Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds, and had been purchased by Taylor -- of Birmingham, Alabama -- for $51,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2004 May sale of two-year-olds in Timonium, Maryland. The third-place performance by Vanna's Honeybear in the black-type Cortan Stakes -- for colts and geldings that had made most of their last four starts at Charles Town -- marked that five-year-old's first stakes effort, earning black-type for his 12-year-old New York-bred allowance-winning dam's produce record. Vanna's Honeybear was bred by Patricia Calandro of Barely Able Farm in Holmes and races for Michael Baer (Baer's Racing Stable) under trainer Timothy Grams' care and has a record of 5 - 5 - 5 in 25 starts. The gelded son of no-longer-active New York stallion American Standard is the second offspring and second winner produced from Double Coverage, by Double Negative. Vanna's Honeybear is the 33rd New York-bred to win or place (second or third) in a 2006 stakes outside state-bred competition, and Magnolia Jackson's third-placing in the Vagrancy was the 51st on-the-board finish in an open (to horses bred anywhere) stakes event by a New York-bred this year.

Getting her second consecutive Belmont victory in 31 days in a restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contest for fillies and mares going a one-turn mile on Wednesday was three-year-old PAIGE NICOLE, who overcame a stumbling start to lead throughout in a game victory over 1.15-to-1 favorite Behrnik ($376,913). The late-foaled bay (May 30, 2003) was the only three-year-old filly in the contest and the only starter that had fewer than eight previous outings, with four of the participants running with $25,000 claiming tags (three had gone through their restricted N2X allowance conditions) and three of those claimed. Now with three wins (all under jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr.) and two third-place efforts in six starts -- all in 2006 -- Paige Nicole races for her breeder, Sanford Goldfarb of Old Westbury, in partnership with Ira Davis, Michael Glassberg, and William Vidro and is trained by Anthony Dutrow.

Regaining winning form in restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contests (both taken off the turf) at Belmont on Thursday after having been absent from the winner's circle for 10 and 23 months respectively were two homebreds: four-year-old colt NO ALLEGIANCE ($116,765) and five-year-old mare SHADY LANE ($145,650). No Allegiance, owner-trainer John Pregman Jr.'s homebred also partially owned by David Lindstrom's AvaStar LLC, overcame a bumped and bobbled beginning to romp by 4-1/4 lengths as the 25.25-to-1 ninth and last choice in a seven-furlong sprint that marked his first main track attempt at that distance. The chestnut son of Kayrawan -- a half-brother to stakes winner Victory at Sea ($261,443) and stakes-placed Forbidden Sea -- is among six winners produced from winner Hostile Fleet, whom Pregman had purchased for $10,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's (OBS) 1990 April sale of two-year-olds in training. Shady Lane, a homebred for the Majesty Stud of Digby Barrios of Ridgefield, Connecticut, had not won since back-to-back daylight-margin tallies at Belmont in the summer of 2004 and was the 4.90-to-1 third choice among five New York-bred fillies and mares going a one-turn mile and a sixteenth. Unaffected by that modest assessment, the 2005 stakes-placed chestnut daughter of Peaks and Valleys out of the Rahy mare Distant Dream drew off to a 2-3/4-length victory over odds-on favorite Christina's Melody (.85-to-1) at equal weights.

Two weeks after placing second in a nine-furlong restricted N1X turf allowance at Belmont and 29 days after winning a 6-1/2-furlong main track maiden special at Big Sandy, owner-trainer John Candlin's NEW TESTAMENT tallied at the restricted N1X level going an off-the-turf mile and a sixteenth at Belmont on Friday. The three-year-old colt's sudden emergence seems the combined result of developing maturity -- foaled on April 25, 2003, he was the youngest of six starters, three-year-olds and up, in his latest outing -- and increased distance. Overcoming a bumped start, New Testament scored by 2-3/4 lengths over even-money favorite Benlayla (entered for main track only) for his second win and third on-the-board finish in six starts.

Winning a seven-furlong restricted N1X allowance at Belmont on Belmont Stakes Saturday was F E Que Stable's PRECISE ACTION, a former $12,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2005 May sale of two-year-olds in training who has never finished worse than fourth (and that was only once) in six starts. Now with a record of two wins and three runner-up efforts, the three-year-old son of Precise End was bred by Jo Halleck Finley and Glen Brok and is the first starter produced from New York-bred Joe's Nyna, by former New York sire Go and Go. The next day (Sunday) at the Big Sandy, Pont Street Stable's three-year-old KEEN SPIRIT -- the youngest starter (foaled May 21, 2003) among 12 fillies and mares in a six-furlong restricted N1X allowance -- rallied for her second win of 2006 in 12 career starts as the 18.40-to-1 seventh choice. The daughter of River Keen is the fifth starter and fifth multiple winner that sports publisher Richard Bomze of Saratoga Springs has bred from Roscommon Lassie, a New York-bred Aqueduct allowance-winning Cormorant mare who won on dirt (Aqueduct) and turf (Belmont).

New York-bred open allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, June 10, 12, and 13, were the following:

TOKEN DEM by 4-3/4 lengths gate-to-wire despite being bumped at the start and at odds-on for his second win of 2006 and fourth victory overall, and homebred-and-trained J'S LUCKYLADY (sired by Dr J) by 2-1/2 lengths -- both on Saturday; homebred TOO MANY BUBBLES ($107,985) by 2-3/4 lengths for her second win of 2006 and fourth victory overall and WESNIAK for his seventh win and just 10 days after having captured a restricted allowance at Finger Lakes -- both on Monday; and KEEN EYE WILL (sired by River Keen) at odds-on in his second start of 2006, on Tuesday.

Restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, June 9 through Monday, June 12, were the following:

SEMICHI by 2-1/4 lengths in her third start of 2006 and second win this year (sixth win overall), on Friday; HOWYALIKEDEMAPPLES for his sixth career win in his first start of 2006, on Saturday; HOOSICK FALLS by 11-3/4 lengths at odds-on for her fifth career win in her first start of 2006, on Sunday; and RED HOT CAT (sired by Tomorrows Cat) by 2-3/4 lengths for his fifth win, on Monday.

New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, June 7 through Tuesday, June 13 included:

PRETTY PARTISAN (sired by Badge) by 4-3/4 lengths at Belmont to improve her open stakes-placed record to 5 - 1 - 2 in 14 starts with earnings of $125,702, TRUE BABU (sired by River Keen) at Evangeline Downs for her third win in six starts in 2006, on Wednesday, June 7; ON THE EDGE (sired by Regal Classic) by two lengths at Thistledown for her fourth career win, on Thursday; PRIVATE TOWN at Belmont, COLOR ME LOVE by 2-3/4 lengths at River Downs for her fourth win by two or more lengths in 2006, COMPANY JET (sired by A. P Jet) for his 11th career win while boosting his earnings to $132,264, THERE YOU'LL BE (sired by Deputy Cat), homebred WHAT A JOY in his second start and second win of 2006 (fourth win overall), and PATTI'S CLASSY (sired by Regal Classic) -- all on Friday and the last-named four at Finger Lakes; KELLY BEAR at Thistledown for her ninth career win in her first start of 2006 and claimed, MIGHTY GOOD at Delaware Park at odds-on and claimed, PURE AMAZEMENT ($122,380) by 3-1/2 lengths at Great Lakes Downs for his second win in 19 days and 11th career victory, and SLIPPERY SLICK for his fourth career win in his first start of 2006, homebred RICHFIELD RENEGADE by 3-1/4 lengths for her second win of 2006, and AIRTOGROUNDCONTROL (sired by Key Contender) -- all on Saturday and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; PRETTY PARTISAN (sired by Badge) by two lengths at Philadelphia Park just four days after winning an open claiming race at Belmont by 4-3/4 lengths and boosting her earnings to $150,033 with a record of 6 - 1 - 2 in 15 starts, GOLDENBERG'S GIFT (sired by Raffie's Majesty) despite a stumbling and bumped start for his second win of 2006 in two starts this year and eighth victory overall, ME ME ANNA ($135,904) by three lengths for her second win of 2006 and 15th career victory, and UN OCHIO ($127,975) by 2-1/4 lengths for her second win of 2006 and 11th career victory -- all on Sunday and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; J'S WILD SLEW (sired by Polish Pro) by 5-1/2 lengths at Delaware Park for his second win in 29 days and 15th career victory and boosting his earnings to $166,616, HEATHERSDADDYSBABY (sired by Badge) by four lengths at Mountaineer Park for her third win of 2006 and fourth career victory in 10 starts, homebred CLUSTER BOMB in his second start of 2006, FINNEGANS IN AGAIN, KARAKORUM SECRET for his second daylight-margin win in nine days, SHEILAS DESIRE going gate-to-wire for her seventh win, and undefeated USPINMERITEROUND (sired by Aristotle) for her second front-running daylight-margin win in two starts over 15 days -- all on Monday and the last-named five at Finger Lakes; CAT MUSIC (sired by Tomorrows Cat) at Suffolk Downs, homebred KING'S BANKER (sired by King's Grant) by 4-1/2 lengths at Penn National, NATALIES COMMANDER by 3-1/4 lengths at odds-on at Prairie Meadows for her sixth career win, homebred GLORY BE TO WINLOC ($161,888) by 2-3/4 lengths for his sixth career win, RED'S RED ($161,338) for his 11th career win, SWEET N' FROSTY, and WATRALROSEOFTRALEE by three lengths -- all on Tuesday and the last-named four at Finger Lakes.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, June 7 through Tuesday, June 13 included:

SLY DIAMOND JIM (sired by Good and Tough) by 4-1/4 lengths at odds-on at Belmont with blinkers on for the first time, LAURIE'S DISCOVERY gate-to-wire by 9-1/2 lengths at Charles Town in her second start, and HONOURED SCOUT by 2-1/4 lengths at odds-on at Delaware Park and with blinkers on for the first time -- all on Wednesday, June 7; SHINING WOOD (sired by Prime Timber) at Belmont and TERA'S OPEN FORUM by 3-1/4 lengths at Arlington Park in his third start and claimed by Andrew Berg's New York-based Gumpster Stable LLC -- both on Thursday; BOYSIK by 4-1/2 lengths at Belmont at odds-on in his second start of 2006, WATRALFAMOUSLAWYER by 2-3/4 lengths at 45.30-to-1 at Finger Lakes, PORT OF STONE at Mountaineer Park, ASPEN EDGE at Fair Meadows in Oklahoma, homebred SAY I DO (sired by Western Expression) by three lengths and STAR NICOLE in his first start of 2006 and claimed -- all on Friday and the latter two at Finger Lakes; GOOD GOING DARL (sired by Freud) by 3-1/2 lengths at Belmont in his second start of 2006, homebred two-year-old CATAMOUNT LANE (sired by Millions) by four lengths at Prairie Meadows in his second start, YANKEE ROSE by 10-1/4 lengths at Fort Erie, and homebred GATA BE TROUBLE (sired by Daygata) by two lengths at Finger Lakes -- all on Saturday; POINT SPREAD in her debut at Belmont and overcoming a bumped start to make her $185,000 purchase price as a 2005 OBS two-year-old look like a bargain, SPEEDY FREDDIE by 8-1/2 lengths at Philadelphia Park, ALL SALUTE by 2-1/2 lengths, DIANESLASTDANCE (sired by A. P Jet) in her first start of 2006, and WANDA'S RAGE by 2-1/2 lengths in her debut -- all on Sunday and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; MARIEVAL at Mountaineer Park in her second start of 2006 and homebred MORGANATIC by 3-3/4 lengths at Finger Lakes -- both on Monday; homebred PITCHINGFORPENNIES (sired by Millions) and STRONG CASE by 6-3/4 lengths -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday.

Storm Boot Gold skims to wet track Ormsby win by Rab Hagin

Photo: Adam Coglianese

STORM BOOT GOLD

Storm Boot Gold's second consecutive front-running victory at Belmont in 20 days boosted his earnings by $41,250 to $319,153 while improving his record to 8 - 8 - 3 in 26 starts. Conditioned by New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2004 Trainer of the Year Gary Contessa, who had given him a half-mile Aqueduct "bullet" workout four days earlier, Storm Boot Gold since April 14 has also won at 6-1/2 furlongs and a mile and a sixteenth -- both times facing open NYRA company. The Ormsby's seven starters had a consistent in-the-money proportion of better than 59 percent for their 191 combined prior starts, with aggregate records of 42 - 47 - 24, including 12 stakes wins and 31 stakes-placings.

Storm Boot Gold was the second New York-bred winner on Belmont's Thursday card bred by Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds (North) of Stillwater, which was the NYTB 2005 Breeder of the Year. The son of Storm Boot is the second offspring and second winner produced from multiple stakes winner Shananie's Light ($218,005), whom Simon had purchased for $70,000 at Keeneland's 1999 November sale when she was carrying her first foal and first winner. Shananie's Light is Shananie (by In Reality) and is a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed winner Maggie's Mischief ($120,412).

If their running styles and pedigrees are accurate indicators, Sunday's New York Stallion Stakes winners NO REASON and ONE WAY FLIGHT figure to improve with maturity and distance, as does New York-bred three-year-old QUICK WITTED, who scored his first stakes victory on Saturday evening at Assiniboia Downs in Central Canada. New York-bred older mare Little Buttercup also made things interesting with her first stakes-placing on a main track or outside New York, finishing third in Delaware Park's $100,000 off-the-turf John W. Rooney Memorial Stakes on Saturday. Sunday's two New York Stallion Stakes events -- the Cupecoy's Joy for three-year-old fillies conceived in New York to the covers of registered New York stallions and the Spectacular Bid for three-year-old colts and geldings under those same conception conditions -- were both run at a one-turn mile at Belmont.

NO REASON #5

Daylight-margin victories by odds-on favorites No Reason (under top weight of 122 pounds) and One Way Flight (by 4-1/4 lengths) were no surprises. Five weeks earlier, No Reason ($193,412) had captured Aqueduct's $100,000 New York Stallion Park Avenue Stakes at seven furlongs, after which trainer Steven Asmussen had given the Precise End filly four moderate-to-easy workouts at Belmont in May -- each spaced a week apart. The Cupecoy's Joy's extra furlong suited No Reason perfectly, improving her record to 4 - 2 - 0 in nine starts for the Winter Park Partners of Anthony Grey of Winter Park, Florida, which had purchased her for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton Florida's 2005 select sale of two-year-olds in training at Calder. It was the bay filly's first outing under jockey Garrett Gomez, who also rode New York Stallion Spectacular Bid Stakes winner One Way Flight for the first time in competition for trainer Asmussen.

After winning first-out by 11-1/2 lengths at Belmont last July, No Reason's 2005 juvenile season had been a disastrous series of "checked hard, steadied, and steadied" that obscured her true ability, according to Asmussen's assistant trainer, Toby Sheets: "It was a fiasco last year. Her effort in the Park Avenue was good; it was an effort we expected a long time ago."

ONE WAY FLIGHT #6

Madoca Establo's never-unplaced One Way Flight ($202,763), who romped by 4-1/4 lengths in the Spectacular Bid, already has hit the board in more open 2006 stakes (three) than 28 of the 32 New York-bred open stakes horses this year. Following a bad-starting runner-up effort in Aqueduct's $100,000 New York Stallion Times Square Stakes on the same card with the Park Avenue, Asmussen had given the Precise End colt almost the same workout schedule he had given the filly: four Belmont works in May a week to six days apart. One Way Flight's record improved to 3 - 2 - 2 in seven starts, which includes a 13-1/4-length victory in Finger Lakes' $128,275 Aspirant Stakes last year plus a runner-up performance in Aqueduct's open Whirlaway Stakes and third-place efforts in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Bay Shore and open Jimmy Winkfield Stakes.

"The best thing about him is he tries every time, and he's never run a bad race," observed assistant trainer Sheets in reference to One Way Flight prior to the Spectacular Bid. "He's a solid little horse."

Both No Reason and One Way Flight were bred by Becky Thomas and Lewis Lakin and were foaled 18 days apart in April of 2003 at their breeders' Lakland North, LLC in Hudson, where their sire, Precise End, had entered stud in 2001 and had stood through the 2003 season. Their wins pushed Precise End -- now standing in Japan -- back up to eighth on the third-crop sire list in lifetime progeny earnings ($3,876,777) for current or former North American-based stallions -- accomplished exclusively with New York-conceived offspring. No Reason is a half-sister to New York-bred Aqueduct allowance-winning filly Pro Occident, being the second named offspring and second winner produced from two-time winner Tammany Hall, by Clever Trick. 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 and a year later was purchased by Lakland for $21,000 at Keeneland's 2000 November sale while carrying Pro Occident. One Way Flight is the third starter and third winner produced from Harps and Wings, a Relaunch mare that Lakland had purchased for $18,000 at Keeneland's 2002 January sale. Harps and Wings is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Grand Forks and to English stakes-placed winner Angelus Sunset and to the winning dam of two more stakes-placed winners.

The recent emergence of Quick Witted in back-to-back victories under jockey Travis Hightower at Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, Canada -- the most recent being his two-length Saturday evening tally in that track's six-furlong Golden Boy Stakes for three-year-olds -- has raised some intriguing possibilities. By the sire of multiple classic winner Funny Cide, he is the first offspring produced from Lucky Sheikh, who is by Sheikh Albadou and is a half-sister to multiple graded-winning router Traffic Circle ($313,844) and to the winning dam of two Italian black-type winners, including group-winning router Strong Life. The former $410,000 summer yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky has the running style and pedigree of a possible router, but where he next competes will indicate what his current connections -- trainer and part-owner Emile Corbel, Aime Corbel, Sharon Campbell, and L. Carter -- think of his abilities. Quick Witted was bred by Highclere Inc. (Jeffry and Stuart Morris) and was foaled at Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag.

Another new state-bred open stakes performer of 2006 is Lawrence Goichman's homebred Little Buttercup ($189,739), who placed third in Delaware Park's $100,000 off-the-turf John W. Rooney Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares on Saturday for her first on-the-board stakes finish in either open company or on a main track. The six-year-old mare, whose record is now 3 - 6 - 5 in 21 starts, also was ridden for the first time in competition by pickup jockey Stewart Elliott. The daughter of Labeeb - Emily's Charm, by Dom Alaric, had placed second in Belmont's 2005 Mount Vernon Handicap on turf -- beaten only a neck -- and third in Belmont's 2004 Ticonderoga Handicap on turf on New York Showcase Day. Little Buttercup's third-place performance in the mile and an eighth Rooney Memorial followed a few hours later by Quick Witted's Golden Boy victory increased the number of New York-breds that have won or placed (second or third) in open 2006 stakes to 32. They have 50 on-the-board stakes finishes outside state-bred company this year.

Owner-trainer Larry Jones obviously recognized value when he invested $25,000 on May 15 at Delaware Park to claim New York-bred WITH A PASSION, who 22 days later rallied from a roughed-up start to win a Delaware N2X allowance for fillies and mares going 5-1/2 furlongs on Tuesday, June 6. Overlooked as the 9.80-to-1 fourth choice among seven starters and race-ridden for the first time by jockey Mario Pino, the four-year-old filly increased her earnings by $24,000 to $125,810 with her four-wide come-from-behind romp in the $40,000 contest, improving her record to 3 - 4 - 4 in 17 starts. Placing second -- 2-3/4 lengths behind With a Passion -- was Ten Halos, who has placed in three stakes over the past 10 months (two in 2006). With a Passion was bred by Frank Stella's Delahanty Stock Farm in Amenia and had been sold as a yearling for $25,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in July of 2003 and as a two-year-old for $87,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS) in March of 2004. In 2005, the gray/roan daughter of Honour and Glory had broken her maiden by 11-3/4 lengths on Belmont's main track and had won a Saratoga allowance contest on turf. She is the third winner produced from three-time graded turf winner Southern Tradition ($379,125), who is by Family Doctor and is a half-sister to multiple graded turf sprint stakes winner Ski Dancer ($578,344), stakes-placed 18-time winner Fortunate Streak ($424,153), and to the dams of three more stakes performers.

Scoring gate-to-wire nighttime allowance victories were New York-breds ON THE RIVER for owner-trainer Dale Baird in Mountaineer Park's Saturday evening feature and PRINCE O' PRANKS for owner-trainer David Geist above his condition level at Charles Town on Thursday evening, June 1. On the River had been a $550,000 yearling purchase by the late Jeanne Vance at Fasig-Tipton's 2003 Saratoga select sale and had been bought by Baird for $30,000 at Keeneland's 2005 January sale following Vance's death and second-and-third-place finishes at Saratoga and Belmont in two juvenile outings. Since Baird's purchase, the chestnut colt has four wins and three placed efforts in eight starts, improving his overall record to 4 - 3 - 2 in 10 starts with his length and a quarter victory in the 5-1/2-furlong feature, which was his second start off an 8-1/2-month layoff. Placing second to On the River at equal weights was the odds-on favorite, three-time stakes winner Super Fuse ($455,572). By Grand Slam and a half-brother to New York-bred multiple stakes winner Queen of Millbrook ($213,540), On the River was bred by James F. Edwards and is the sixth starter and sixth winner produced from multiple stakes-placed winner Lilac's Star ($222,920), a Deputy Minister mare that Edwards also bred. Prince o' Pranks tallied by two lengths as the 1.20-to-1 favorite in his Thursday effort going a two-turn 6-1/2 furlongs at Charles Town, winning a non-winners-of-three allowance for six three-year-olds that was above his condition level and registering his second daylight-margin Charles Town victory in six weeks. The bay gelding, whose record is now 2 - 2 - 0 in eight starts, had placed second at Charles Town at the same condition level just 12 days earlier. The son of the late New York stallion Phone Trick was bred by Robert Losey, Dr. Jonathan Davis's Milfer Farm Inc. in Unadilla, and Paul McGinty and is the first offspring produced from four-time winner Unbridled Princess, by Unbridled's Song.

Decisively winning restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contests at Belmont on Thursday, June 1 were four-year-old fillies HIS BEAUTY going seven furlongs on turf and PARISPARIS going six furlongs on the main track. His Beauty ($119,203), a homebred for Marlene Brody's Gallagher's Stud in Ghent and a 2005 restricted stakes winner going a mile and a sixteenth on Belmont turf, charged from last among 10 to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:21.47, improving her 11-start record to three wins and two seconds. She is by a two-time New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Champion Turf Male, graded winner Adcat, whom Gallagher's Stud also bred and raced, and out of Gallagher's Stud's homebred Mine Forever, a Belong to Me mare who is a half-sister to New York-bred three-time stakes-placed winner Azadeh ($193,317). Parisparis, who races for the Coastal Racing Stable of Chris Jean of Pearl River, Louisiana and had placed a close second in the 2005 Sam Houston Oaks, opened up a big early lead and cruised home by 5-1/2 lengths as the 4.40-to-1 third choice among eight starters. Now with a record of 3 - 2 - 2 in 10 starts, the Berkshire Stud-bred daughter of Arch and half-sister to two six-figure-earners, including New York-bred stakes winner French Hideaway, looks like a judicious $95,000 purchase by her owner at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2004 May sale of two-year-olds in training.

Three-year-old winners of restricted N1X allowances at Belmont during June's first weekend were gelding WOOD WINNER at a mile and an eighth and colt LIME KING at 5-1/2 furlongs -- both on Saturday -- and fillies GIRL IN UNIFORM at 5-1/2 furlongs and A PRIME SPECIMAN at a mile -- both on Sunday. All four were in contests for three-year-olds and up. Wood Winner, a son of Prime Timber bred by Sez Who Thoroughbreds and claimed by NYTB member Dr. Paul Giacopelli of Brewster for $14,000 at Belmont just 16 days earlier, won by a length and three-quarters as the 15.30-to-1 sixth choice among seven starters in his off-the-turf outing. Lime King, a homebred son of Regal Classic owned by NYTB member James McGlinn of Windsor, Vermont and a half-brother to New York-bred stakes-placed winner Limone Forte ($149,169), scored his third victory in his last four starts over the past eight weeks. Girl in Uniform, William Rickman's $125,000 purchase at the OBS 2005 April auction of two-year-olds, was the only starter in her contest that had not raced in 2006, but she won by two lengths with blinkers on for her second consecutive daylight-margin victory in three outings. A Prime Specimen, Steven Simon's and Jay Rosenfeld's Prime Timber filly conditioned by NYTB 2005 Trainer of the Year Bruce Levine, also tallied by two lengths while coming off a nine-week layoff and has never been unplaced in five starts following a greenly-run Belmont debut last September.

New York-breds comprised two-thirds of the six starters in a Belmont open claiming contest for fillies and mares with $35,000 tags going a one-turn off-the-turf mile on Sunday, and they garnered 75 percent of the purse, as owner-trainer James Corrao's four-year-old Key Contender filly, NOLO CONTENDERE, won by 4-3/4 lengths. In addition, the New York-bred contingent qualified for an additional $8,137.50 in owner, breeder, and stallion owner awards.

New York-bred open allowance winners at Finger Lakes from Saturday, June 3 through Tuesday, June 6 were the following:

PRECISE TACTICS on Saturday, June 3; TOORA LOORA MUKORA for his second win of 2006 and third victory overall and homebred CITRINE under top weight of 124 pounds for her second win of 2006 in two starts this year -- both on Sunday, June 4; SCHIFTY'S PROSPECT (sired by Good and Tough) on Monday, June 5; homebred ENGY'S RIVER SONG (sired by Adios My Friend) and DIVINE COMEDY in a dead heat -- the former for her second win in 46 days and the latter for her second consecutive win in 23 days -- on Tuesday, June 6.

Restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, June 2 through Tuesday, June 6 were the following:

WESNIAK -- despite jockey losing whip near the wire -- his second win in four weeks and sixth victory overall, homebred SHEER SILK (sired by Western Expression) by 3-3/4 lengths at odds-on for her fifth win of 2006 and improving her overall record to 6 - 3 - 5 in 17 starts with earnings of $124,507, BODY DOUBLE breaking from the outside post for third win of 2006 and fifth victory overall -- all on Friday, June 2; SEATTLE SCHIFTY ($104,150) for his seventh career win in his second start of 2006 and open stakes-placed in 2005, on Sunday, June 4; BLACK MARKET ($141,772) by 2-3/4 lengths for his eighth career win, on Monday, June 5; WATRAL'S DAHLIA for her fifth career win in her second start of 2006 and now a winner or placed in 14 of 18 starts, on Tuesday, June 6.

New York-bred open claiming winners from Thursday, June 1 through Tuesday, June 6 included the following:

LORD BALTIMORE at Charles Town in his third start of 2006, on Thursday, June 1; ROCKATOWA (sired by Kracotowa) breaking from ninth post among nine starters for his seventh career win, SINGASONGFORME (sired by Ormsby) by 7-1/4 lengths at odds-on and claimed while improving his record to 6 - 5 - 4 in 37 starts with earnings of $153,106, and homebred GOLDENROD KISSES -- all at Finger Lakes on Friday, June 2; homebred SOLID GOLD VICTORY by four lengths for her second win of 2006 and claimed, RUBY'S PRO (sired by Polish Pro) for his second win of 2006 and improving his stakes-placed record to 6 - 9 - 4 in 32 starts with earnings of $168,957, homebred stakes-placed NATIVE RHYTHM ($166,938) in his second start of 2006, JAMING THE BLUES by 2-1/4 lengths, and WAR PAINT ($223,052) by four lengths for his 11th career victory and one of two starters claimed out of his contest -- all at Finger Lakes on Saturday, June 3 -- plus homebred BRASSY BOOTS by 5-1/4 lengths at Monmouth Park in her second start of 2006 and one of three starters claimed, JELLY ROLL JOURNEY at Great Lakes Downs for her sixth career victory, PRECISELY BELLA at Louisiana Downs for her second win of 2006 in four starts this year and third career victory, and SHOALIHS TALE ($136,194) by 3-1/2 lengths at Thistledown for his sixth career victory -- all also on Saturday, June 3; REAL ASSETS (sired by Slice of Reality) at Finger Lakes for her fourth career victory but first win at beyond a mile -- on Sunday, June 4; homebred TARRYTOWN (sired by A. P Jet) by two lengths for his second win in 31 days and GAME LADY -- both at Finger Lakes on Monday, June 5 -- and EMPTOR (sired by A. P Jet) at Fort Erie for her fourth career victory in her second start of 2006, WESTERN GALAXY (sired by Western Expression) by two lengths and at odds-on to improve his stakes-placed record to 3 - 1 - 3 in 19 starts with earnings of $107,132 and THE QUEEN'S DOC ($124,944) by 5-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire as the 44.40-to-1 last choice among eight starters for his second win of 2006 and eighth career victory -- all on Monday, June 5 and the last two at Delaware Park; SUGAR CANE FEVER (sired by Gold Fever) in her second start of 2006 for fifth career victory and HAILEY KEEN (sired by River Keen) for her second consecutive win in 18 days -- both at Finger Lakes -- and CHEQ'S A COMIN in his second start of 2006 and GAME CONTENDER (sired by Western Expression out of a Key Contender mare) by 2-3/4 lengths for her second win of 2006 and third career victory -- both at Suffolk Downs and all four on Tuesday, June 6.

New York-bred maiden breakers from Wednesday, May 31 through Tuesday, June 6 included:

LICK THE SPOON (sired by Lycius) at Philadelphia Park, SCOTCH SOUR at Penn National in his third career start, and WILLSINGFORMOM (sired by Williamstown) at Charles Town in his second start of 2006 -- all on Wednesday, May 31; homebred juvenile filly ONE TOUGH BELLE (sired by Good and Tough) by 6-1/2 lengths as the favorite in her debut start and LADY JOVE by 11-1/2 lengths despite being bumped at the start in her third career outing and second effort of 2006 -- and before being claimed for $35,000 -- both at Belmont on Thursday, June 1; BEHRDINE in her second start, homebred MR SAM I AM by 2-3/4 lengths in Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez's first ride back following a bone-breaking injury at Keeneland in April, and SIGH YOU (sired by Good and Tough) -- all at Belmont on Friday, June 2 -- and homebred CRAFTY NUMERO UNO at Finger Lakes and COLOR STORM at River Downs -- both also on Friday; PRINCE BILLY by 2-1/2 lengths, WAR SCANDAL by 2-3/4 lengths despite being bumped at the start, and homebred ALL YOU NEED (sired by Lycius) by 5-1/4 lengths in her second start and first outing on dirt -- all at Belmont on Saturday, June 3 -- and REGAL RHYTHM (sired by Regal Classic) at Pimlico, KARAKORUM SECRET, and homebred SLUGGISH (sired by Aristotle) by 3-3/4 lengths -- both at Finger Lakes -- and DOT'SBRUSH by 17-3/4 lengths at Delaware Park -- all also on Saturday; MRS. CHIPPY by five lengths at Belmont, homebred BERRYTIME at Delaware Park in his second start of 2006, SWEET DREAMS TESS by two lengths, homebred KNOW OUR BOY, and FIVE STAR GOLD (sired by Goldminers Gold) -- all on Sunday, June 4 and the last three at Finger Lakes; CITY PRINCESS by 2-1/4 lengths and homebred ARBORWAY DREAM -- both at Finger Lakes on Monday, June 5; homebred HEART OF IRON by 9-1/4 lengths in her second start and homebred PERSONAL CALL despite rearing in his third start -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday, June 6.

(6/3) Since returning from a 20-week layoff following a disappointing but twice-placed four-start juvenile campaign at Belmont and Aqueduct, New York-bred QUICK WITTED is two-for-two by daylight margins at Assiniboia Downs, having scored by two lengths in that track's six-furlong Golden Boy Stakes on Saturday evening. Owned by Emile (trainer) and Aime Corbel, Sharon Campbell, and L. Carter, the dark bay colt broke from the seventh post as the 1.60-to-1 second choice among eight three-year-old starters in the one-turn event run out of a long chute onto the 6-1/2-furlong oval. He pressed the pace of front-running New York-conceived Flying Nine Oh while four-wide through the turn before gaining command in mid-stretch and drawing clear. It was Quick Witted's second outing in 27 days under jockey Travis Hightower and second consecutive victory, improving his career record to 2 - 0 - 2 in six starts.

The top-priced New York-bred at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2004 July yearling sale with a final bid of $410,000, Quick Witted had raced as a 2005 juvenile as the property of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Darley Stable under the care of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. He had placed third in his first two starts at Belmont in October but seemed to go off form after Thanksgiving, and he re-emerged on May 7 at Assiniboia Downs for his current connections, breaking his maiden at odds-on (.60-to-1) by 4-3/4 lengths going five furlongs. Trainer and part-owner Emile Corbel subsequently gave the New York-bred a sharp half-mile workout five days prior to the Golden Boy.

Quick Witted was bred as well as sold at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky by the Kentucky-based Highclere Inc. of Jeffry and Stuart Morris, but he was foaled at Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York. The stretch-running colt is the seventh New York-bred stakes winner sired by syndicated Distorted Humor, whose other state-bred standouts include Grade 1 winners Funny Cide and Commentator and Grade 2 winners Sharp Humor, Sensibly Chic, and Go Rockin' Robin. Inbred 3 x 4 to Danzig, Quick Witted is the first offspring produced from Lucky Sheikh, who is by Sheikh Albadou and is a half-sister to multiple graded winner Traffic Circle ($313,844) and to the winning dam of two Italian black-type stakes winners, including a Group 3 winner.

Quick Witted is the 13th New York-bred winner of a stakes race outside state-bred company in 2006, and the Golden Boy was the 17th open (to horses bred anywhere) stakes event captured by a state-bred this year. Those 17 open 2006 stakes victories have been registered in New York, California, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and now Manitoba, Canada.

NY-breds show dazzling speed in Memorial Day weekend sprint stakes by Rab Hagin

Photo By EQUI-PHOTO

BIG APPLE DADDY winning the Philadelphia Park's Donald LeVine Memorial

Dazzling speed was on display by New York-breds over Memorial Day weekend: BIG APPLE DADDY shattered Philadelphia Park's Donald LeVine Memorial stakes record, JOHNIE BYE NIGHT equaled a Finger Lakes stakes record, CARLOW resumed winning stakes following a five-month layoff, and Bold Decision prompted a Belmont Grade 3 course record. The two highest Bloodstock Research Information Systems (BRIS) sprint speed ratings during May's final days were recorded by four-year-olds Johnie Bye Night (107 and third-highest overall) and Big Apple Daddy (105 and fourth highest overall).

The 2-1/2-length tally by Ervin Rodriguez's Big Apple Daddy ($383,756) in the $100,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap at seven furlongs in 1:20.79 on Saturday, May 27 knocked almost a half-second (.48) off the stakes record and basically equaled Philadelphia Park's track record (when clocked in fifths) of 1:20 3/5. It was his first start outside New York and the second six-figure sprint stakes win by a New York-bred older male outside the state within a week, following Friendly Island's victory in Pimlico's Grade 3 Emirates Airline Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint at six furlongs on Preakness Day, May 20.

Owner-trainer Charlton Baker's Johnie Bye Night boosted his earnings into six figures at $116,285 by winning Finger Lakes' George W. Barker Handicap for New York-breds on Memorial Day Monday, May 29, scoring his second consecutive victory in 37 days for a record of 4 - 1 - 0 in seven starts. The 5-1/4-length romp in 1:09.34 for six furlongs by the former $7,500 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2003 September yearling sale in Timonium, Maryland matched Lordofthemountain's previously unequaled 13-year-old stakes record.

Seahorse Stable's homebred Carlow ($210,413) came off a five-month layoff and broke from the tenth post among 11 starters under co-topweight to win Finger Lakes' Memorial Day co-feature, the six-furlong Susan B. Anthony Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares, improving her record to 6 - 2 - 5 in 20 starts. The four-year-old filly who races for Dr. Cary Shapoff of Fairfield, Connecticut under the Seahorse Stable banner had captured Finger Lakes' mile and a sixteenth New York Oaks and six-furlong Niagara Stakes and had won a six-furlong restricted N2X Saratoga allowance while compiling a four-race 2005 win streak.

The 30th New York-bred to win or place in a 2006 stakes outside state-bred company was Robert Van Ostrand's and Todd Liebman's Bold Decision ($148,724), who in his second turf outing set the pace and placed second in Belmont's record-breaking Grade 3 Jaipur Handicap at six furlongs on Sunday. Dismissed as the 35.75-to-1 last choice among seven starters in his first open company stakes effort, the four-year-old gelding set searing fractions of 21.91, 44.21, and 55.54 while turning back successive challenges and endured a bumpy stretch drive to finish three-quarters of a length behind winner Around the Cape. The latter's time of 1:07.31 broke the course record by more than a half-second (.58), indicating Bold Decision also was well under the course record according to the rule of thumb that a full length equals one-fifth (.20) of a second. In addition to earning $22,300 in purse money, the New York-bred qualified his owners for a $4,460 owner award, the Sez Who Thoroughbreds of Richard Simon for a $4,460 breeder award, and the partnership that had stood Precise End at Lakland North, LLC for a $1,561 stallion award ($10,481 total). Bold Decision's runner-up performance in the Jaipur was the 48th on-the-board finish by a New York-bred in an open (to horses bred anywhere) stakes event in 2006.

Advancing from last among six to win an open starter handicap going a one-turn mile and an eighth at Belmont on Friday, May 26 was Vincent Scuderi's New York-bred DELTA SEA ($237,826), who scored his fourth daylight-margin NYRA victory of 2006 and seventh win overall. The six-year-old gelding went off as the 6.90-to-1 fourth choice and has now earned $125,400 in purse money since being claimed from his breeder for $17,500 by trainer James Ferraro on behalf of Scuderi at Aqueduct in December of 2004. Bred by the Goldspur Racing Stable of Isao Aiba of New York City, the rugged, route-running son of Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Sea Hero is the second New York-bred winner that Goldspur Racing Stable has bred from Aqueduct open allowance winner