Commentator got best Beyer figure at Belmont on Memorial Day card by Rab Hagin

Photo:Adam Coglianese

COMMENTATOR 108 Beyer topped Memorial Day card

As a display of pure speed relative to track conditions, Tracy Farmer's New York-bred COMMENTATOR ($791,236) led the way on Belmont's Memorial Day card when he captured the 6-1/2-furlong Richmond Runner Stakes for New York-breds by 11-1/4 lengths under co-topweight, registering a 108 Daily Racing Form Beyer speed figure. That Beyer surpassed the 107 for three-quarter-length winner Corinthian in Belmont's Grade 1 Metropolitan (Mile) Handicap under seven less pounds five races later. Commentator's Hall of Fame trainer, Nick Zito, has indicated that Saratoga's Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at a mile and an eighth on July 28 -- which Commentator had won over eventual Horse of the Year Saint Liam in 2005 -- is under consideration for the swift six-year-old. In between that event and the present, Belmont's Grade 2 Tom Fool Breeders' Cup Handicap at seven furlongs on July 4 or Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Salvator Mile Stakes on June 23 fit conveniently into a preparation schedule.

In 2006, owner-trainer Charlton Baker's New York-bred JOHNIE BY NIGHT ($208,858) won Finger Lakes' George W. Barker Handicap by 5-1/4 lengths to launch a three-stakes winning streak by margins totaling 13-3/4 lengths during the first half of the summer. In 2007, the five-year-old gelding won the Barker on Memorial Day under four more pounds (121) and by a bigger margin (6-1/2 lengths), so he may have another banner summer ahead of him. The Kirsten LeBlanc-bred gelding has won on Aqueduct's outer and inner tracks among his seven wins in 13 starts but seemed off form at the Big A's winter meet, finishing well behind at least one rival in the Hollie Hughes Handicap that he beat decisively in Monday's Barker. "He had a few problems in New York (Aqueduct)," acknowledged Baker, who added: "He's been training well and loves the course here (at Finger Lakes)."

New York-bred open stakes winners Bestowed ($152,831) and Accountforthegold ($468,637) placed second and third, respectively, in Monmouth Park stakes on Saturday and Monday -- the former in the turf mile Elkwood Stakes off a 264-day layoff; the latter under top weight in the mile and 70 yards Frisk Me Now Stakes. Bestowed, a five-year-old homebred gelding owned by Marlene Brody's Gallagher's Stud in Ghent, had won Colonial Downs' Da Hoss Stakes going a turf mile last July and has a record of 4 - 1 - 2 in 10 starts following his runner-up effort behind the Elkwood odds-on favorite. Trained by Michael Dickinson, he is one of two offspring sired by Gallagher's Stud's homebred Repeal, a Rahy stallion that died as the result of a 2001 paddock accident, and is the first of two winners produced from Gallagher's Stud's wet-main-track-winning homebred Blond Lady, by Rubiano. Graded winner Accountforthegold, who races for Brian and Steve Sigler's (et al) Winning Move Stable and Harold Lerner under trainer Gary Contessa's care, has won (three times) or placed (five times) in eight starts since returning from an almost nine-month layoff last August at Saratoga. Bred by Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds, the five-year-old horse has run in stakes in his latest five consecutive outings, capturing Aqueduct's Grade 3 Stuyvesant Handicap last November and Kings Point Handicap for New York-breds on April 29, registering one of 2007's best Beyers (109). Accountforthegold's third-placing in the Frisk Me Now put his record at 6 - 5 - 4 in 19 starts.

New York Minute(s): Bestowed was the 27th New York-bred to finish in the top three in a stakes outside state-bred company in 2007; Accountforthegold's third-placing in the Frisk Me Now was the 45th top-three finish by a New York-bred in an open (to horses bred or conceived anywhere) stakes event in 2007.

Decisively going through her open N1X allowance condition at Belmont following three consecutive runner-up efforts at that level since early April was Karakorum Farm's KARAKORUM STARLET ($155,935), who scored by 3-1/4 lengths as the 2.50-to-1 second choice among seven three-and-four-year-old fillies racing seven furlongs on Sunday. Placing third was another New York-bred filly, Tesoriero Stable's Lady Jove ($123,351). Karakorum Starlet, a $13,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2004 October yearling sale who races for the Karakorum Farm of partnerships managed by William DiScala of Staten Island, is trained by Jeff Odintz. The four-year-old filly's latest victory improved her record to four wins (all at Belmont; two going seven furlongs and two going one-turn miles, by margins totaling 28-3/4 lengths) and five seconds in 13 starts. Bred by Jim Jam Thoroughbreds and Marvin Little Jr., the chestnut daughter of Skip Away is the fifth offspring and fifth winner produced from New York-bred sprint and route winner Amaryllis, by Cormorant, and her multiple-winning half-sisters include New York-bred eight-time winner Our Breadwinner ($213,597). Dam Amaryllis is a full sister to graded winner and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 1994 Horse of the Year Mr. Angel ($378,662) and to open stakes-placed 15-time winner Love Bird ($220,137).

Winning restricted N2X allowance and N2X allowance/optional claiming contests at Belmont were five-year-old gelding PRECISE ALLOY ($127,460) going seven furlongs in 1:22.51 on Sunday and three-year-old gelding PAYS TO DREAM scoring his third consecutive grass victory of the spring while going a virtual one-turn mile on Memorial Day Monday. Precise Alloy, who has raced for gravel company owner Roddy Valente of Troy, New York since shipping from the West Coast late last fall, had blinkers back on for the first time following his initial start in New York and scored his second daylight-margin victory of 2007. Breaking from the outside post among eight starters, the Bruce Levine-trained speedster set all the fractions while beating odds-on three-year-old and 2006 juvenile stakes winner I'm a Numbers Guy, improving his record to 3 - 4 - 2 in 15 starts in a contest that saw two runners claimed. Pays to Dream, a homebred for the December Hill Farm of Allan Dragone of New Jersey, advanced from eighth-to-first among 10 to remain undefeated on turf, improving his suddenly-blossoming record to three wins and one second in six starts. Trained by David Donk, the maturing gelding is the fifth winner produced from Changing Ways, winner of Saratoga's Grade 2 Schuylerville Stakes by four lengths in the mud for December Hill Farm in 1994, and his four winning half-siblings include Grade 2-placed Hot Attraction ($149,123).

Winning restricted N1X Belmont allowances were three-year-old colt MISSIONED APPROVED going a mile on Thursday, four-year-old colt TRICK MEETING going six furlongs on turf on Saturday, three-year-old filly ABSOLUTE HEAVEN on Sunday, and three-year-old gelding THUNDERESTIMATE on Monday -- the last-named two both going a mile and a sixteenth on turf. Mission Approved, a homebred for Dr. William Coyro Jr. of Michigan, scored a front-running 3-1/2-length victory to run his record to 2 - 1 - 1 in four starts since March 10 and is the third state-bred winner produced from a route-winning mare purchased by Dr. Coyro as a two-year-old. Trick Meeting, the Einar Paul Robsham Stable homebred who had placed in a New York Stallion Stakes event as a 2005 juvenile, came from off the pace to score his first turf victory in 1:09.67, improving his record to 2 - 2 - 4 in 12 starts. Absolute Heaven, the David Cassidy-bred who has raced for Edward Lipton since being sold for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2006 December mixed sale, scored her second win of the year in her grass debut to go along with a six-furlong tally on Aqueduct's inner track in February. Thunderestimate, Flying Zee Stable's homebred son of Western Expression, scored his second consecutive daylight-margin turf victory going a mile and a sixteenth at Belmont in 26 days and now has two wins and a narrowly-missed runner-up effort (last August at Saratoga) in three starts -- all on grass.

Notable open Belmont claiming winners were five-year-old mare BRASSY BOOTS going six furlongs on turf with a $35,000 tag on Sunday, three-year-old gelding SMOKIN LU going six furlongs and four-year-old filly GO JERSEY GINNY going seven furlongs -- both on Wednesday -- and four-year-old colt COCKNEY GAMBLER going seven furlongs on Monday. The last-named three all won on Big Sandy's main track while running with $25,000 tags. Stakes-placed Brassy Boots ($126,375), who has now won twice since being claimed by current owner Peter Kazamias for $7,500 almost exactly a year earlier, broke from the outside post among nine and clocked 1:09.54 for her first turf victory and is still eligible for restricted N2X allowance competition. Smokin Lu, a semi-homebred son of Smokin Mel racing for Wachtel Stable, Jay Cee Jay Stable, and Lynne Boutte, scored his second victory despite being bumped at the start as New York-breds finished 1-2 while being separated by a head. Go Jersey Ginny ($108,255) tallied by four lengths from the outside post among seven starters, improving her record to 3 - 4 - 5 in 24 starts while boosting her earnings into six figures in a contest that had New York-breds finishing first, second, and fourth. Cockney Gambler also prevailed in a contest dominated by state-breds (they finished first, third, fourth, fifth), advancing from ninth -- several lengths off the entire field -- after being bumped hard shortly after the break to improve his record to 2 - 2 - 2 in 11 starts for Anthony Smith's Hilly Fields Stable.

New York-bred open allowance or overnight handicap winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27 were:

NANTASKET for her second consecutive win following her 6-3/4-length maiden-breaking effort at Aqueduct 58 days earlier, on Friday; homebred PASS THE SWEETS (sired by Prime Timber) by overtaking the odds-on favorite in the final furlong at equal weights, on Saturday; homebred RAF'S SOCIETY GIRL (sired by Raffie's Majesty) by 3-1/2 lengths gate-to-wire and odds-on while "ridden out" for her second consecutive daylight-margin win in her first race off a 180-day layoff and improving her stakes-placed record to 9 - 7 - 1 in 31 starts with earnings of $122,768, and homebred TOMMASI (sired by Raffie's Majesty) by 2-1/4 lengths at odds-on from the outside post among six starters in the overnight Eastview Handicap 31 days after launching his 2007 campaign with an open allowance victory at Aqueduct and improving his stakes-placed record to 5 - 6 - 1 in 15 starts with earnings of $188,631 -- both on Sunday.

New York-bred restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 29 were:

POKER JOE (sired by Danzatame) in a front-running effort off a 26-week layoff for his fifth career victory and boosting his earnings into six figures at $105,829, on Friday; HER ROYAL NIBS ($223,952) by 4-1/2 lengths at odds-on despite a bobbled start for her third win of 2007 in five starts this year and improving her stakes-placed overall record to 6 - 4 - 2 in 17 starts, on Sunday; PRECISELY BELLA at odds-on for her second daylight-margin win in 23 days and improving her overall record to 5 - 3 - 5 in 22 starts, on Memorial Day Monday; SNOWS GONE (sired by Gone for Real) by 10 lengths "ridden out" under top weight from fifth-to-first among seven starters for her second consecutive allowance win (5-1/2 furlongs followed by a mile and 70 yards) in three weeks and improving her record to 5 - 4 - 1 in 19 starts while boosting her earnings into six figures at $100,157, on Tuesday.

Other New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, May 23 through Tuesday, May 29 included:

LOOKN BOLDN BRASSY from fifth-to-first among seven at Churchill Downs off more than a six-month layoff for her third career victory and first win at beyond a mile despite her rider dropping his whip in mid-stretch, on Wednesday; GOLDMART GEM (sired by Prime Timber) at Thistledown for her second win of 2007 and improving her record to 4 - 3 - 2 in 18 starts, and WILD ON GIN at Penn National for his second win of 2007 and second career turf tally to add to three victories on dirt and claimed -- both on Thursday; FAMOUS ARTIST from fifth-to-first among seven at River Downs for his second win of 2007 and improving his record to 4 - 7 - 6 in 34 starts, ARJAY'S FLAG from sixth-to-first among 10 at Mountaineer Park for his third win, REAL TREASURE "drew clear" by three lengths at Indiana Downs for his third win after breaking from the outside post among 10 starters, SOFT EXPRESSION (sired by Western Expression) by five lengths from fifth-to-first under top weight and at even-money among seven at Charles Town for her fourth win and increasing her earnings to $105,412, STRONG CASE by a front-running 11-3/4 lengths at odds-on "easily" with blinkers off for his second big-margin win, TIMONIUM STAN (sired by A. P Jet) for his second front-running two-turn win in the spring, JET'S ROLE (sired by A. P Jet) by a front-running 2-1/2 lengths out of the fifth post among six starters to improve his record to 4 - 3 - 6 in 23 starts, and SPECIAL JET (sired by A. P Jet) by a front-running seven lengths "ridden out" for his seventh career win to increase his earnings to $123,425 -- all eight on Friday, and the last-named four at Finger Lakes; homebred MASTER TEACHER (sired by Artax) despite breaking sluggishly, and CUT DIAMOND by a length and three-quarters -- both at Finger Lakes on Saturday; ROCKIN SARAH (sired by Rock and Roll) by 9-1/2 lengths gate-to-wire for her third multiple-margin win and improving her overall record to 3 - 2 - 1 in 11 starts, ATLANTIS DREAM from fifth-to-first among six starters after going five-wide on the turn for his seventh career victory, LATENIGHT FRANNIE "proved best" by 3-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire for her ninth career victory, and TARNISHED STERLING by 4-1/4 lengths from fifth-to-first as "clearly the best" among seven starters for his sixth career win -- all four at Finger Lakes on Sunday; ME ME ANNA ($164,242) by 4-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire and "ridden out" from the fifth post among six starters in her first outing since November to improve her record to 19 - 13 - 6 in 57 starts and one of three starters claimed, homebred WESTERN LARIAT (sired by Western Expression) by two lengths "ridden out" at odds-on under top weight for her second consecutive daylight-margin win in 20 days, and JUST A WHIM in a tenacious front-running effort despite racing five-wide on the turn for his eighth career victory -- all three at Finger Lakes on Memorial Day Monday; GI'S SECOND CHANCE "proved best in handy fashion" by a front-running 4-1/2 lengths at almost even-money from the outside post among six starters at Delaware Park to improve his record to 2 - 1 - 4 in 11 starts, homebred CITI ANALYST (sired by Freud) by 5-1/4 lengths from the seventh post among eight starters at Philadelphia Park for her third career victory, CURTANA in a front-running daylight-margin performance at Penn National to improve her frequently-on-the-board record to 2 - 6 - 6 in 26 starts, TOMMATOR by 2-1/2 lengths from the seventh post among eight starters, and VICARISH with a five-wide turn move to improve his record to 3 - 2 - 2 in 13 starts -- all on Tuesday, and the last-named two at Finger Lakes.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, May 23 through Tuesday, May 29 included:

Homebred TEXAS ELEGANCE (sired by Polish Pro) on Belmont turf for the sixth offspring and sixth winner produced from a winning dam, homebred SULTRY VICKIE by 3-3/4 lengths "going away" at odds-on at Delaware Park 22 days after having placed second in her debut, and SWEET RHONDA (sired by Regal Classic) from the outside post among 10 starters at Charles Town -- all three on Wednesday; homebred STUD MUFFIN (sired by Raffie's Majesty) rallying four-wide from sixth-to-first among nine going a one-turn mile at Belmont and sporting a long-winded dosage profile (3-1-9-2-1) that suggests longer distances are in his future, LYPHARD'S RIVER (sired by River Keen) in 58.01 for five furlongs on turf at Penn National despite having to be steadied in tight quarters around the turn in his first outing on grass, and MR. TICONDEROGA "drew off" by 3-3/4 lengths at Charles Town after having placed third in his first two starts of 2007 -- all three on Thursday; PROM DANCE "drew clear" by 3-3/4 lengths on her chronological three-year-old birthday at odds-on after breaking from the 10th post as one of the youngest among 12 three-year-old-and-up females competing and improving her never-worse-than-fourth record to 1 - 1 - 2 in five starts, and SUNNY BOY 'N BEN E in a front-running effort with blinkers off -- both at Belmont -- and ANOTHER SWEETIE "drew off" by four lengths at Finger Lakes after advancing from seventh-to-first under top weight of 124 pounds among eight starters -- all three on Friday; SMOKY CHIMNEY by 7-1/2 lengths "going away" in the second start for the three-year-old inbred 3 x 3 to Mr. Prospector and looking well-worth his $100,000 sales price at the OBS 2006 March sale of two-year-olds, and LOGIC WAY (sired by Freud) by 4-1/4 lengths from sixth-to-first among 10 starters on turf with a four-wide rally approaching the stretch -- both at Belmont -- and homebred PHONE WILLY by six lengths gate-to-wire at odds-on at Charles Town, and HIDDEN EXPENSE by two lengths "ridden out" from the sixth post among seven starters at Finger Lakes in his third career outing and half of an odds-on entry that finished 1-2 -- all four on Saturday; homebred JESSE'S JUSTICE by 5-1/4 lengths at odds-on from the ninth post among 10 starters on Belmont turf following three consecutive runner-up efforts (two on turf; one on dirt) in 2007 for the half-sister to a multiple turf stakes winner of $302,029, UNDOCUMENTED by 3-1/4 lengths "ridden out" at odds-on despite ducking in and having to be checked at the three-sixteenths pole in his first two-turn effort on a main track, and LABEESPA RUBIA (sired by Mighty Magee) by 2-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire 16 days after a runner-up effort among seven in her debut -- all on Sunday, and the last-named two at Finger Lakes; BIG DADDY REX from eighth-to-first at Belmont after breaking from the outside post among nine starters at odds of 60.50-to-1 in his first effort at a mile and an eighth on turf, on Memorial Day Monday; NOAH'S PAL (sired by Millions) from fifth-to-first among nine starters at almost even-money in his second career outing and 2007 debut despite breaking sluggishly and having to alter course in mid-stretch, and SUM WISH (sired by Rizzi) by 8-3/4 lengths from last-to-first out of the outside post among seven starters at even-money to advance her record to 1 - 1 - 1 in four starts (all in 2007) -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday.

Commentator cruises in Belmont's Richmond Runner in first '07 start by Rab Hagin

Photo:Adam Coglianese

COMMENTATOR

Running slightly faster with less urging and winning by a bigger margin than in his previous victory at the same distance at Belmont 320 days earlier, Tracy Farmer's COMMENTATOR cruised home by 11-1/4 lengths in Belmont's 6-1/2-furlong Richmond Runner Stakes for New York-bred four-year-olds and up on Memorial Day. The outcome of the $65,350 overnight stakes was never in doubt, as Commentator shot to the front at the break and was a length in front within a few strides, covering his opening quarter in 22.56 while being kept off the rail by jockey Corey Nakatani. His subsequent quarter-miles went in more relaxed splits of 23.42 and 23.44, with the swift gelding appearing briefly confused by Belmont's big turn and switching to his right lead for a few strides while still racing on the turn. Commentator drew off through the stretch, setting a six-furlong fraction of 1:09.42 and reaching the wire in 1:15.69, which was seven-hundredths of a second faster (just under a half-length) than his winning time for Belmont's 6-1/2-furlong Mugatea Stakes last July.

Jockey Nakatani, who had never ridden Commentator in competition before, was obviously impressed: "Special horse, huh?" commented Nakatani. "He broke like a rocket. When you ride horses like this, it makes your job easy. He did it very easy, and I'm looking forward to another stint with him."

The six-year-old gelding's Hall of Fame trainer, Nick Zito, was possibly even more enthusiastic: "He's an amazing horse," Zito remarked. "That's how he ran in the race (a seven-furlong Belmont allowance that Commentator won by 16-1/2 lengths) before he won the Whitney (in August of 2005 at Saratoga). I don't t hink the track was that fast today. I don't know what kind of Beyer (Daily Racing Form speed figure) he's going to get, but it's going to be in the moon."

Commentator ($791,236), who was the heavily odds-on (.15-to-1) co-topweight among five in the Richmond Runner -- named for David Reynolds' homebred winner of Belmont's 1994 and 1997 Evan Shipman Handicaps -- now has nine wins in 12 starts, including victories in Saratoga's Grade 1 Whitney Handicap and Keeneland's record-setting Perryville Stakes. He holds Belmont's 7-1/2-furlong track record (1:27.44) and was the only horse in North America in 2005 to register Beyer figures above 120 for more than a mile (123 in the Whitney) and up to a mile (121 for seven furlongs at Belmont in 1:20.23). Zito is unsure of the next goal for Commentator, who has been plagued by shin problems and previously had not started since Labor Day weekend: "The best thing we need to do is hope he stays around until the end of the year," Zito observed. "Mr. Farmer expressed that he'd like to win the Whitney again. That was a big thrill for him. One thing is for certain: we're never going to run out of races with him. He's a real treasure."

Owner Farmer, who with his wife Carol owns Shadowlawn Farm in Kentucky, had purchased Commentator for $135,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 2002 July yearling sale, prior to which the son of Distorted Humor had been sold as a weanling at Keeneland's 2001 November sale for $45,000. "He just caught my eye," recalled Farmer. Bred by Michael Martinez of Meriden, Connecticut, Commentator was foaled and raised at Thomas Gallo's Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge and is the first offspring produced from Outsource, who is by Storm Bird and is a half-sister to multiple turf stakes winner Cogburn ($153,910). The smooth-striding chestnut is inbred 3 x 4 to two ancestors comprising one of the most popular sire "nicks" in breeding -- Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector -- and is from the immediate female family of three-time Grade 1-winning router Behrens ($4,563,500). Commentator was voted New York Thoroughbred Breeders Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male for 2005 and Co-Champion Three-Year-Old Male for 2004 and is from the exceptional New York-bred crop of 2001, which has produced four Grade 1 winners, three millionaires (to date), and an Eclipse Champion.

Photo: Pat Lang

TIME SQUARED #2 Winner at Keeneland (above) & Arlington

Highlighting New York-bred three-year-old allowance winners at four different out-of-state tracks from Friday through Tuesday, May 18-22, were never-worse-than-second filly YOU GO WEST GIRL going a mile on Churchill Downs turf on Saturday and million-dollar sales colt TIME SQUARED going a mile and a sixteenth at Arlington Park on Friday. Both had won maiden specials on Keeneland's all-weather track this past April, and both came from off the pace to score decisive daylight-margin allowance victories.

You Go West Girl, whom international marketing manager Craig Bernick of Alberto-Culver had purchased for $145,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales (OBS) Company's 2006 April sale of two-year-olds, advanced from last-to-first after being bumped at the start while breaking from the eighth post among nine three-year-old fillies. Well-regarded as the 2.80-to-1 second choice despite making her turf debut and ridden for the third time in three starts by jockey Jamie Theriot, the dark bay overtook the field in the second half-mile, fanning six-wide in the stretch to win by a length and a half. It was the first two-turn effort and first venture beyond 6-1/2 furlongs for You Go West Girl, who had scored by 3-1/2 lengths at Keeneland to become the fourth winner among four starters bred by Marlene Brody's Gallagher's Stud in Ghent from multiple graded turf winner Careless Heiress ($393,595). Initially sold for $62,000 at Keeneland's 2005 September yearling sale, the Thomas Proctor-trained daughter of Mr. Greeley had closed from far back to place second among 11 going 5-1/2 furlongs in her off-the-turf sloppy track debut at Fair Grounds in March. You Go West Girl's dam, Careless Heiress, by Runaway Groom, also had been a stakes winner on dirt and had been purchased by Gallagher's Stud for $295,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1997 November mixed sale while carrying future winning stakes-placed filly Schatzeli as her first foal. Careless Heiress is a full sister to one stakes-placed female, a half-sister to another, and her half-sisters also include the dam of two more stakes-winning fillies in what is clearly a strong female family.

Time Squared, the $1,050,000 auction-topper at Keeneland's 2006 April sale of two-year-olds who races for the Fab Oak Stable of Fabien Quaki, Lewis Lakin, and others, was the odds-on (.50-to-1) co-topweight among seven three-year-olds in his Arlington Park contest and won by a length and three-quarters. The son of Fusaichi Pegasus had shown so much talent in close-finishing placed efforts at Santa Anita in December and January that trainer Patrick Biancone had tried him while still a maiden in the graded Sham Stakes, where he was carried wide on the first turn and never recovered. After Time Squared had come from last among 12 to break his maiden at Keeneland, he was sent into the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes eight days later, closing to within three lengths of photo-finishing winner and runner-up Dominican and Street Sense, respectively. The dark bay colt's N1X victory on Arlington's all-weather track also marked his first outing under jockey Rene Douglas and improved his record to 2 - 1 - 1 in six starts. Bred by Chester and Mary Broman of Babylon, Long Island and Palm Beach, Florida and foaled at his breeders' Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Time Squared is the first offspring produced from the Bromans' New York homebred stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Indy Glory ($283,422), by A. P. Indy. Indy Glory is a full sister to Grade 1 winner and popular sire Stephen Got Even ($1,019,200) and to stakes-winning New York-bred filly Grand Merger.

In open stakes action from Friday through Sunday, May 18-20, New York-bred mares Wild Berry ($238,234) and Magnolia Jackson ($532,098) placed second in stakes at Pimlico on Friday and at Belmont on Sunday, respectively, and other state-breds Funny Cide ($3,469,412), Waytotheleft ($246,521), and Rahys' Appeal ($457,009) placed third in stakes. Wild Berry, Steeplechase Farm's homebred dirt and turf winner, was runner-up to an odds-on turf sprinting specialist in Pimlico's five-furlong The Very One Stakes for fillies and mares on turf on Preakness Eve, moving her record to 5 - 6 - 6 in 34 starts. Magnolia Jackson, Ted Taylor's Grade 2-winning $51,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2004 May sale of two-year-olds, placed second to a rival that was getting a four-pound concession from her in Belmont's six-furlong Mac's Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares, bringing her record to 10 - 4 - 2 in 19 starts. Funny Cide, Sackatoga Stable's iconic Eclipse Champion, placed third in Belmont's mile and a half Wagon Limit Stakes after leading to the stretch, beating Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Evening Attire plus state-bred Aqueduct routing specialist Successful Affair ($322,877) and bringing his record to 10 - 6 - 8 in 37 starts. Waytotheleft, Winning Move Stable's prescient $30,000 claim at Aqueduct in January, placed third under top weight in Pimlico's six-furlong Whimsical Stakes for fillies and mares, bringing her record to 6 - 3 - 4 in 26 starts following consecutive Aqueduct wins in February, March, and April. Rahys' Appeal, Gallagher's Stud's homebred Grade 2 winner on dirt and Grade 2 runner-up on turf, placed third in Belmont's Grade 2 Shuvee Handicap on the main track to put her record at 5 - 5 - 4 in 22 starts.

New York Minute(s): Funny Cide recorded his 21st top-three stakes finish in the Wagon Limit, becoming the 26th New York-bred to win or place in a 2007 stakes outside state-bred company; Magnolia Jackson's second-placing in the Mac's Sparkler was the 43rd top-three stakes finish by a New York-bred outside state-bred company in 2007.

Also winning open allowances were New York-bred three-year-old fillies CAMMY'S CHOICE going 6-1/2 furlongs at Philadelphia Park to score her second daylight-margin win in three starts on Tuesday and SHE'S ON FIRE romping by 5-3/4 lengths in a six-furlong contest for fillies and mares at Suffolk Downs on Saturday. Cammy's Choice, a homebred daughter of Take Me Out racing for Charles Murray's Rhodyo Stable, Inc. and trained by Edward Lehman, was odds-on (.40-to-1) among seven three-year-old fillies after having placed second among 11 at Philadelphia Park four weeks earlier in her second career start. Ridden for the first time in competition by jockey Anthony Black, she got her second win of 2007 and appears to have the breeding and running style to stretch out in distance. Cammy's Choice is out of former juvenile winner Truth, who is by Smart Strike and had been purchased by owner-breeder Murray for $32,000 at the OBS 2000 March sale of two-year-olds in training. Truth, inbred 3 x 3 to Raise a Native, is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Grand Jewel ($285,151) and to the winning dam of New York-bred multiple stakes-placed winner Hot Golden Jet ($205,910). She's On Fire, Touchdown Stable's improving daughter of Smokin Mel returning from a 57-day mini-layoff, scored a surprisingly easy victory in her first outing under jockey Yamil Rosario, drawing off as the 7.70-to-1 fourth choice among seven starters that included older competition. Trained by Robert Raymond, the dark bay filly has now won by daylight in Florida in February and in Massachusetts in May and might ship to New York if she does not go through her entry-level allowance conditions first. She's On Fire was bred by Leonard Friedman and is a half-sister to Grade 2-placed New York-bred winner Parkhimonbroadway ($100,190), being the second offspring and second winner produced from dirt and turf winner Miss Broad ($155,517), by Broad Brush. Miss Broad, who is inbred 3 x 3 to Hoist the Flag, is a full sister to two five-time winners: multiple stakes-placed Primary Space ($150,948) and Broad Ha Ha, who is the dam of a stakes-placed three-time winner.

Remaining unbeaten in three starts following her 5-1/4-length cruise under top weight in a restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contest for fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Belmont last Thursday (May 17) was Sanford Goldfarb's and Michael Dubb's STARSHIP CRUISER, who broke from the outside post among seven starters. The four-year-old filly -- a $110,000 purchase at Keeneland's 2004 September yearling sale -- was favored at her longest odds ever (2.05-to-1) in her second victory in 34 days and third tally in 67 days, giving her wins at six, seven, and eight furlongs for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Bred by the Gibraltar Trans-Continental Assurance Company of Stephen Barberino Jr. of Bristol, Connecticut, the Golden Missile filly was foaled at Beverly and Gary Least's Foggy Bottom Farm in Geneseo and is out of dirt-and-turf stakes winner Wakonda ($415,400), a Fappiano mare and full sister to a Grade 2 winner.

Winning restricted N1X Belmont allowances were three-year-old filly LOVE COVE going six furlongs on turf (Wednesday, May 16), four-year-old gelding MR SAM I AM going a turf mile and three-year-old colt WHAT A TALE going seven furlongs (both on Saturday), and four-year-old filly HIGHER INCENTIVE going a turf mile (Sunday). Love Cove, a $75,000 purchase by Brant Laue's Laue Ranch at Fasig-Tipton's 2005 Saratoga New York-bred preferred yearling sale and a half-sister to 2007 multiple open stakes winner Half Heaven ($349,461), exploited a huge inside opening while advancing from sixth-to-first among nine in her turf debut, clocking 1:09.68. Mr. Sam I Am, Lawrence Goichman's homebred half-brother to New York-bred open stakes winner Beebe Lake ($195,375), won by three lengths despite breaking from the outside post among 10 starters, improving his record to two multiple-margin wins and four seconds in 10 starts. What a Tale, Thomas Van Meter II's and Maurice Miller III's $750,000 purchase at Keeneland's 2006 April sale of two-year-olds and bred by Howard Kaskel's Sugar Maple Farm, coasted home by 7-3/4 lengths to improve his graded-placed record to two big-margin wins and two seconds in six starts. Higher Incentive, Winning Move Stable's and Medico Stable's Freud filly, broke from the 10th post among 11 and advanced from next-to-last to score her second daylight-margin turf win, improving her stakes-placed record to 3 - 1 - 4 in 15 starts, which includes an all-weather track win in Kentucky.

Two New York-bred five-year-olds were impressive open claiming winners with $25,000 tags: Castle Village Farm's BRAVE SIR ROBIN ($140,546) going a Belmont mile on Thursday (May 17) and Jonathan Kaufman's PRETTY PARTISAN ($238,930), an open stakes-placed daughter of Badge, going a mile and a sixteenth at Monmouth Park on Saturday. Brave Sir Robin led throughout while getting his second one-turn mile win at Belmont, as the gelded half-brother to New York-bred stakes winner Brave One ($350,288) prevailed in a mild upset (he was the 12.50-to-1 fifth choice among eight) that featured state-breds finishing first, second, and fourth. Pretty Partisan, who had won 52 days earlier at Aqueduct with a $25,000 tag, carried top weight and also led throughout, scoring by daylight to improve her record to 10 - 2 - 3 in 27 starts and getting claimed for the sixth time in her career.

New York-bred winners of open allowance races at Finger Lakes from Friday, May 18 through Monday, May 21 were:

Homebred RAPID RICKEY (sired by Artax) by a front-running 2-1/4 lengths to improve his record to 3 - 5 - 4 in 21 starts with earnings of $122,574, on Friday; RUN ALONG SONNY ($187,472) from the outside post among seven and under co-topweight for his second win in four weeks to improve his record to 9 - 7 - 7 in 43 starts, and homebred SWEET NOBILITY ($108,614) from the ninth post among 10 starters for her third win and boosting her earnings into six figures -- both on Saturday; homebred BRAG BAG gate-to-wire for her second consecutive win in 29 days and fifth career victory, on Sunday; ON THE PHONE by two lengths gate-to-wire from the outside post among 11 starters for his second multiple-margin win and improving his record to 2 - 3 - 3 in 14 starts, on Monday.

New York-bred winners of restricted allowance races at Finger Lakes on Friday, May 18 and Monday, May 21 were:

TOWN GOSSIP "closed fast" from last-to-first out of the seventh post among eight starters as the 30.25-to-1 last choice in her first outing of 2007 and fifth career victory after having won three of four starts in the fall of 2006, DIXIE JAM by 2-1/4 lengths from the outside post among six for her third career win, TONY'S GIRL ($125,878) "ridden out" for her third win in four weeks and improving her career record to 9 - 6 - 5 in 38 starts, and PAM D'MONIA ($193,494) under co-topweight at odds-on and running five-wide on the turn for her second win in 10 days and improving her overall record to 6 - 11 - 4 in 37 starts -- all on Friday; homebred A VERY YOUNG JET (sired by A. P Jet) by a front-running 2-1/4 lengths finishing "under wraps" despite breaking sluggishly to improve his record to six wins (including a four-race daylight-margin victory streak in 2006) and five seconds in 19 career starts, on Monday.

Other New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, May 16 through Tuesday, May 22 included:

CATS A GLITTER (sired by Catienus) by six lengths from sixth-to-first at Woodbine for her second multiple-margin win despite being blocked on the turn and improving her record to 2 - 1 - 1 in five starts, on Wednesday; DONIZETTI ($101,323) in a front-running effort at Mountaineer Park to register his seventh career win and boost his earnings into six figures, homebred CAPTAIN GOODIN by a front-running 5-3/4 lengths at Penn National out of the eighth post among nine starters for his second multiple-margin win in 66 days, homebred LOOK OUT AUSTIN (sired by Take Me Out) from sixth-to-first among seven starters, homebred PRESSAWAY (sired by Wheelaway) from seventh-to-first by 2-3/4 lengths among nine "to win in hand" following a seven-wide turn move and registering her second victory in five starts, and BRASS ARROW ($159,261) by 3-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire under co-topweight at odds-on for his second win by more than three lengths in 38 days and improving his career record to 7 - 12 - 9 in 48 starts -- all on Friday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; homebred CITY ZIPPER gate-to-wire as the only three-year-old filly facing older fillies and mares, and LAPIN by a front-running 4-1/4 lengths "ridden out" under top weight for his third consecutive multiple-margin win in three weeks and 11 days after having been claimed -- both at Finger Lakes on Saturday; WAR SCANDAL by 5-3/4 lengths at Calder to improve his record to 2 - 2 - 3 in 14 starts, MAPLE SUGAR under top weight for her second consecutive daylight-margin win in seven weeks to go along with three seconds (one disqualification from first) in a total of six starts, and SHE'S GOT ZIP by four lengths -- both at Philadelphia Park -- and homebred IDE GOT STYLE for his second win in nine days following an almost seven-month layoff and his third career victory, SWEET SWEET MOLLY (sired by A. P Jet) by 3-1/2 lengths gate-to-wire "ridden out" from the outside post among seven starters with a $35,000 tag and improving her record to eight wins and four seconds in 19 career starts while pushing her earnings into six figures at $109,204, and KEEP SAM IN CHEQ by 2-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire for his fifth career win -- all on Sunday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; ALMAVIVA from sixth-to-first among nine starters at Philadelphia Park for the second win of 2007 for the son of New York-bred millionaire Thunder Rumble, GOGO LILLY from fifth-to-first among eight starters for her fifth career win, STARS ALIGNED ($187,720) "going away" in his first start off a 19-month layoff to improve his record to 5 - 5 - 14 in 46 starts, and WINTERLILY (sired by Regal Classic) rallied from seventh-to-first among eight starters off an eight-month layoff for her first six-furlong win in addition to a two-turn maiden-breaking effort at beyond a mile -- all on Monday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; ADULTENTERTAINMENT (sired by Rizzi) gate-to-wire under co-topweight at Mountaineer Park for her second daylight-margin win in four weeks, PRECISE TACTICS for his third career win, and BUMP IS SWEET (sired by Prime Timber) for her second win of the spring and third career victory 43 days after being claimed -- all on Tuesday, and the last-named two at Finger Lakes.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, May 16 through Tuesday, May 22 included:

Two-year-old filly EXPECT THE END in her debut at Churchill Downs from the outside post among nine starters on a muddy track and the only runner claimed (for $30,000) out of that contest, and ON ONE NOD (sired by Wheelaway) by 3-3/4 lengths at Charles Town despite an outside post among nine starters and having to be steadied at the break while improving her never-worse-than-fourth record to a win and a third-placing in three starts -- both on Wednesday; INSIDE INFO by 2-3/4 lengths on turf following two consecutive third-place efforts, homebred SMALL POTATOES (sired by Regal Classic), and MANHATTAN MACK "drew clear" after advancing from sixth-to-first among 10 starters despite the half-brother to multiple graded winner The Judge Sez Who having to be steadied following the start -- all three at Belmont on Thursday; homebred SWEET CORREDOR by two lengths on Belmont turf for the half-sister to two stakes-winning females (including Grade 1 winner Dark Ending), on Friday; WINAWAY (sired by Wheelaway) by 4-1/2 lengths from fifth-to-first among seven starters, and DEFREREOFTHEHEART at almost even-money following two consecutive runner-up efforts -- both at Belmont -- and ELVA'S ROSE by a front-running six lengths at Philadelphia Park following a pair of placed efforts during the previous 26 days, and homebred L C WINSTON by a front-running 2-1/2 lengths from the 10th post among 11 starters at Finger Lakes -- all on Saturday; homebred MAGICAL MONA (sired by Millennium Wind) by 3-1/4 lengths at odds-on in her debut at Belmont, CLEVER DAME (sired by Prime Timber) by 11-1/2 lengths at Calder, CRIMINAL POWER from sixth-to-first out of the eighth post among nine starters with a five-wide move at Woodbine in his first start of 2007 and second career outing, OUT FOR GLORY by 4-1/4 lengths from sixth-to-first at odds-on among seven starters with blinkers on at Assiniboia Downs to improve her never-worse-than-fourth record to 1 - 1 - 2 in five starts, and LOCAL FORECAST (sired by Regal Classic) from the sixth post among seven starters at Finger Lakes and forced to run five-wide on both turns -- all on Sunday; HIGH AUDITION by six lengths gate-to-wire at odds-on and claimed, and SAND ISLAND from seventh-to-first among 10 starters -- both at Finger Lakes on Monday; SIXYEARSTOTHEDAY (sired by Slice of Reality) 16 days after a runner-up effort despite his jockey losing his whip at the 16th-pole, and MOLLY'S CAT (sired by Tomorrows Cat) -- both at Finger Lakes on Tuesday.

NY-breds turn in some of week's quickest and classiest performances by Rab Hagin

Photo:Adam Coglianese

BUSTIN STONES 3-for-3 - best speed rating among 3yos

Although seven graded stakes -- including three for three-year-olds and up plus the Lone Star Derby -- were run during May's second weekend, Bloodstock Research and Information Services (BRIS) rated performances by three New York-breds in restricted races as being among May 7-13's best according to its speed and class ratings. Screenland Stakes winner BUSTIN STONES earned the week's highest BRIS stakes-winning speed rating among three-year-olds (Wednesday, May 9), and four-year-olds BUILDING NEW ERA and RED ZIPPER garnered two of the three highest class ratings while winning a restricted allowance (Friday, May 11) and Belmont's Kingston Handicap (Sunday), respectively. These ratings help explain why state-breds have performed with such notable successes when venturing into 2006-2007 open stakes competition.

In Belmont's two restricted stakes events -- the 6-1/2-furlong Screenland for three-year-olds on Wednesday and the mile and an eighth Kingston Handicap on turf for three-year-olds and up on Sunday -- it would be challenging to find more impressive performances at any level. Roddy Valente's homebred Bustin Stones ($124,650) romped gate-to-wire by 3-1/4 lengths in Belmont's overnight Screenland Handicap to advance his record to three-for-three within 46 days, generating a 102 BRIS speed rating that beat the speed ratings for three-year-old stakes winners in Texas (graded Lone Star Derby), Louisiana, and Washington. The May-foaled colt was the youngest among seven starters in the Screenland and came within about a second of Belmont's three-year-old track record for 6-1/2 furlongs (1:14.46) despite running his final furlong under wraps.

Jeffrey Tucker's May-foaled four-year-old Red Zipper ($211,280) likewise was the youngest starter in the Kingston, and his gate-to-wire victory in 1:49.37 for nine furlongs over a drying-out "good" turf course generated the highest BRIS class rating (122.4) of the week for any horse going two turns. Red Zipper's score over Kingston stakes record-holder Golden Commander ($386,448) -- who placed second -- and 2006 Kingston winner Dave ($355,347) -- who placed third -- raises the hypothetical question of the Kingston outcome had morning-line favorite Certifiably Crazy ($605,655) not been scratched from the event because of a stifle problem. Certifiably Crazy, recently honored for his second consecutive New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Turf Male championship, reportedly is being pointed primarily for two restricted turf stakes: Saratoga's $100,000-added West Point Handicap (August 12) and Belmont's $150,000 Mohawk Handicap on New York Showcase Day (October 20).

New York Minute: Bustin Stones and Red Zipper are both sons of former New York-based stallion City Zip, who ranks among North America's top dozen third-crop sires for 2007 based exclusively on earnings of his New York-conceived progeny.

Building New Era ($121,800), Rolando Cabral's improving May-foaled four-year-old, advanced from seventh-to-first from the outside post among eight starters in a restricted N2X allowance/optional claiming contest going a one-turn mile at Belmont on Friday, May 11, winning by 8-1/4 lengths. That effort generated a BRIS class rating of 123.5 -- second for the week only to Songster's 124 the next day in Belmont's Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at six furlongs. Purchased by Cabral for $55,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales (OBS) Company's 2005 April sale of two-year-olds and bred by Richard Simon's Sez Who Thoroughbreds, Building New Era also was the youngest starter in his contest, being two weeks short of his chronological four-year-old birthday when he won. It was the gray/roan colt's first win ever on a wet (muddy) track, improving his stakes-placed (as a juvenile) record to 3 - 4 - 1 in 10 starts -- all under the care of two-time NYTB Trainer of the Year Gary Contessa.

New York-bred three-year-old filly SWING LANE, who narrowly missed winning at Gulfstream Park this past February, might ship to New York following her front-running and odds-on 6-1/2-length romp in a six-furlong non-winners-of-two allowance for fillies and mares at Suffolk Downs on Wednesday, May 9. Owned by four individuals -- Al Tassone, C. and M. Scafidi, and J. Masterson -- and trained by Michael Collins, the dark bay filly improved her record to 2 - 1 - 4 in 11 starts. The daughter of War Deputy was bred by Mr. and Mrs. William Sienkewicz and the Massachusetts-based Lands End Farm and is the first offspring produced from route winner Tormenta, by Storm Boot. Dam Tormenta is a half-sister to stakes winner Santiago Suzie ($145,752), record-setting steeplechase multiple stakes winner Maipo ($227,679), and to the winning dam of multiple stakes winner B Flat Major ($490,480).

New York-bred winners can surface anywhere, and on Saturday, May 12, Josh Madden's state-bred GOLDEN BLUE CHIP made his 2007 debut in a half-mile co-fea tured allowance dash at Eureka Downs in Kansas and was quickly tabbed the class of the field despite being a router. Bet down to 40 cents on the dollar among four starters, the six-year-old gelding uncharacteristically took the lead and turned back two challengers -- including one that got his head in front a furlong from the finish -- and prevailed for his second career victory. Golden Blue Chip, who was the shortest-priced winner on Eureka's Saturday card in his first half-mile effort, is a veteran of the "Red River" circuit, having broken his maiden going a two-turn mile and 70 yards at Prairie Meadows. The Robert Stout-trained son of Skip Away was bred by Questroyal Stable Inc. and had been purchased for $11,000 as a weanling at Keeneland in November of 2001. He is the first of three winners produced from Bolshoia, who is by Moscow Ballet and whose half-siblings include a stakes winner and the dams of two major-earning stakes winners in California.

In addition to the aforementioned Building New Era, other restricted N2X allowance or allowance/optional claiming winners at Belmont during May 9-13 were five-year-old mare STAG DANCER ($153,933) on Wednesday, three-year-old colt GOOD PROSPECT ($107,804) on Thursday, six-year-old gelding STONEWOOD ($375,915) on Saturday, and three-year-old filly JUNKANOO PARTY ($110,302) on Sunday. Stag Dancer, who races for George Grennan's HorsePartners Stable under the care of trainer John Toscano Jr., was coming off an almost six-month layoff to score her first sprint victory in a six-furlong optional claiming turf dash, clocking 1:09.56 as the 11.80-to-1 fifth choice among nine starters. Bred by Glenn and Adam Demetri, Jerry Orenstein, and Pete Siegel and the first offspring produced from turf stakes-placed Fast Lover, the daughter of dirt-and-turf-winning millionaire Running Stag had compiled a three-race win streak going beyond a mile on Saratoga and Belmont turf last August-September. Good Prospect, a $1,200 purchase by Gene Stuchbury of Cedar Bridge Stable at the New York Breeders' Sales Company's 2005 August yearling sale, went a mile and an eighth to score his first turf victory, improving his stakes-placed record to three wins and two thirds in 10 starts. Trained by Leah Gyarmati and bred by Mary Jo Herbert, the Good and Tough colt is inbred 3 x 3 to Mr. Prospector and is the fifth winner produced from two-time route winner Herb's Prospect, whom Herbert had purchased for $20,000 at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 1993 May sale of two-year-olds. Stonewood, Marty Cunningham's and Eugene Hauman's indestructible son of Tomorrows Cat, set a 21.83 opening quarter-mile fraction and scored a front-running victory in a six-furlong optional claiming contest in which five of the 11 participants -- including Stonewood -- ran with $30,000 tags and two were claimed. Conditioned by NYTB 2000 Trainer of the Year Michael Hushion and bred by the late John Franks, the chestnut gelding who has been claimed seven times -- three in 2006 -- improved his record to 12 - 12 - 9 in 42 starts and is among four earners of $375,000-plus sired by Tomorrows Cat. Junkanoo Party, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's homebred daughter of Catienus, advanced from sixth-to-first by 2-1/4 lengths in a mile and a sixteenth optional claiming turf contest for fillies and mares, scoring her third NYRA victory of 2007 (first on grass) and second multiple-margin tally in 44 days. Now with a record of 3 - 1 - 4 in 13 starts and six-figure earnings, the Charlton Baker-trained filly is the first offspring produced from eight-time route winner Hawk Cliff ($216,127), who is by Hawkster and is a half-sister to stakes winner and dirt-turf victor Quest Master ($251,230).

Winning restricted N1X allowances at Belmont during May 9-13 were four-year-old filly PRECISE LADY going six furlongs on Wednesday, five-year-old gelding CAT'S LAD ($151,785) going six furlongs on turf on Saturday, and three-year-old stakes-placed filly PASQUALINA going six furlongs on turf on Sunday. Precise Lady, purchased for $65,000 by Jaye Egan's Trinity Farm at the OBS 2005 March sale of two-year-olds and a half-sister to multiple turf stakes-placed winning filly Whatsmineisyours, broke from the sixth post among seven starters under co-topweight and won by a length and three-quarters as the 13.10-to-1 sixth choice. Cat's Lad, Murray and Lillian Durst's homebred late-bloomer, went gate-to-wire from the outside post among 12 starters to capture his turf debut in 1:09.54 as the 13.90-to-1 sixth choice, scoring his second NYRA victory in 36 days, his third tally of 2007, and fourth career win. Pasqualina, Thomas Mina's recently stakes-placed filly bred by the Paradiso Ltd. of Joseph Sansone of Chesterfield, Missouri and foaled at Empire Stud, broke from the outside post among 10 to take her turf debut by a length and three-quarters for her second win of 2007 in seven career starts.

Notable New York-bred open claiming winners during May's second weekend were Tucci Stables' three-year-old gelding, CAPTAIN RAUCOUS, going six furlongs at Woodbine with a $40,000 tag (Canadian) on Saturday and Joseph Neil Masone Sr.'s three-year-old filly, CELESTIAL SKY, going five furlongs on Pimlico turf with a $20,000 tag on Sunday. Captain Raucous, the only three-year-old among eight starters while making his 2007 debut, advanced from sixth-to-first despite having to be steadied at the start and overtook the front-running odds-on favorite to improve his record to three wins and two seconds in eight starts. Celestial Sky, a $12,000 purchase at the OBS 2006 April sale of two-year-olds and one of just two sophomores among an eight-starter field of mostly older fillies and mares, overcame a stumbling start to score her first turf victory, improving her record to 2 - 1 - 2 in eight starts.

Winning an open non-winners-of-two allowance for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs at Finger Lakes on Friday, May 11 was Walter Shook's homebred TOMORROW THE WORLD (sired by Tomorrows Cat), who advanced from sixth-to-first despite being bumped at the start and running five-wide on the turn. That effort improved the three-year-old colt's record to two wins and two seconds in eight starts, which includes a runner-up performance among seven in his second start in Finger Lakes' $127,638 Aspirant Stakes for New York-bred juveniles last August after overcoming a stumbling start.

New York-bred restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes on Friday and Sunday, May 11 and 13 were:

PSYCHOTIC REACTION (sired by Freud) drew off by 3-3/4 lengths "as clearly the best" at almost even-money 12 days after having been claimed at Aqueduct to improve his record to 5 - 2 - 2 in 13 starts while boosting his earnings into six figures at $114,543, on Friday; and FIERCE STORM for his fifth career win following four scores in 2006, on Sunday.

Other New York-bred open claiming winners from Friday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 15 included:

HEATHERSDADDYSBABY (sired by Badge) in a front-running performance at Pimlico for her third career win on turf and improving her overall dirt-and-turf-winning record to 6 - 1 - 3 in 17 starts, MARYKAYSANDPIT from sixth-to-first under top weight of 123 pounds among 11 starters at Evangeline Downs for her second consecutive late-running win in four weeks and third career victory, SHOW BOOT ($229,411) by 2-3/4 lengths 20 days after having placed a close runner-up in his first start off a year's layoff and improving his stakes-placed record to 6 - 4 - 5 in 25 starts, homebred IDE GOT STYLE from fifth-to-first out of the outside post among seven starters for his third career victory, and HOLD YOUR PATIENCE by 2-1/2 lengths at a mile and 70 yards for his third win and first victory beyond six furlongs -- all on Friday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; homebred MUDDER IN LAW from the eighth post among nine starters at Monmouth Park with a $20,000 tag to improve her open stakes-placed record to two wins and two thirds in seven starts, JET PROSPECTOR (sired by A. P Jet) by a front-running 2-1/2 lengths at Pimlico 31 days after having been claimed and improving his record to 9 - 5 - 4 in 27 starts with earnings of $280,859, VICARACCI by a front-running 3-1/4 lengths at odds-on at Philadelphia Park, SCENTUAL by a mostly front-running two lengths at Lincoln State Fair in Nebraska for her second multiple-margin win in 36 days and improving the record of the half-sister to five-time stakes-placed Mr. Determined ($305,192) and recent Delaware Park allowance winner Smelling Salts to 7 - 5 - 12 in 35 starts and claimed by someone who might have recognized her pedigree potential, homebred PETERS BLUE WAY in a mostly front-running effort at Mountaineer Park although he lost and regained the lead in the stretch to score his second win of 2007 and improve his record to 4 - 3 - 3 in 20 starts, YELLOW EYES by a front-running 2-3/4 lengths at Fairmount Park for the four-year-old filly that was claimed three times in just over three months during the late fall and winter of 2006-2007 and now has six career wins, homebred NEW YORK PRIZE (sired by Preacherman) from the fifth post among six starters, homebred DR SILVER PACKET (sired by Artax) by a front-running 3-1/4 lengths for his fourth career victory, and AARDVARK (sired by Adonis) -- all on Saturday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; GOOD CHANCE from the outside post among six starters at Pimlico, PEGASUS PROSPECTOR (sired by Deputy Cat) gate-to-wire at almost even-money for her second daylight-margin win in 27 days and third victory of 2007 to improve her overall record to 3 - 4 - 1 in 12 starts and claimed back by her previous owner who had lost her through the claiming ranks just 12 days earlier, and MONTEROSSO from eighth-to-first among 10 starters while carrying top weight to his second consecutive win in 15 days -- both at Mountaineer Park -- and homebred BOSTON RAIDER by three lengths to improve his record to 3 - 4 - 3 in 20 starts, BRASSY KARAKORUM ($118,790) "drew off" by 3-3/4 lengths after advancing from sixth-to-first out of the outside post among eight starters in his 2007 debut and ninth career win, SERIOUS SONG by two lengths following a five-wide turn move for her second multiple-margin win in just eight days and third career victory, and NEW YORK KITTY by 2-3/4 lengths for her second multiple-margin win in 59 days -- all on Sunday, and the last-named four at Finger Lakes; HONEY LOVE (sired by Prime Timber) by 4-1/2 lengths at Delaware Park for her second big-margin win, on Monday; homebred FREE OF SECRETS by two lengths at odds-on at Delaware Park for his second two-length win of 2007 to improve his record to 2 - 2 - 1 in nine starts and one of two runners claimed out of his contest, ALY'S COLORS (sired by Carry My Colors) by 10 lengths from the sixth post among seven starters at Mountaineer Park to improve her dirt-and-turf-winning record to 3 - 2 - 3 in 16 starts, AFFAIR IN THE AIR (sired by A. P Jet) by a front-running 4-1/4 lengths under top weight at River Downs for his third win in 10 weeks and improving his indestructible record to 11 - 15 - 10 in 77 starts with earnings of $261,839, homebred LAKE ISLE DRIVE with a five-wide turn move despite a sluggish break for the second consecutive win in 24 days for the April-foaled three-year-old who was the youngest among nine starters, BLUE BLITZEN (sired by Raffie's Majesty) by 3-3/4 lengths at almost even-money to improve her record to 4 - 8 - 3 in 28 starts, and JUMPING JACK LOUIE from seventh-to-first among eight starters for his third career victory -- all on Tuesday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, May 9 through Tuesday, May 15 included:

HIGHLY SPOKEN by 2-1/4 lengths from sixth-to-first out of the eighth post among 10 starters in his first effort on turf, and homebred CRESCENT'S JOKER from fifth-to-first out of the sixth post among seven starters for the first offspring produced from a stakes winner of $196,860 -- both at Belmont -- and homebred CLASSIC FLIRT (sired by Regal Classic) by 6-3/4 lengths going almost gate-to-wire in the three-year-old May-foaled filly's debut, and homebred BERRY BOUND by three lengths 10 days after having placed second -- all on Wednesday, and the last-named two at Delaware Park; homebred OFF SWEETS (sired by Prime Timber) by 2-1/4 lengths from eighth-to-first among 11 starters in her third career start and first outing of 2007, and WHEELABOY (sired by Wheelaway) -- both at Belmont -- and CHEROKEE FEATHER by 8-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire at odds-on from the outside post among four starters at Pimlico 20 days after having missed victory by a neck in her debut, and WITCH by 8-1/4 lengths from last-to-first among six starters at Penn National -- all on Thursday; homebred CARRY ON THE DREAM (sired by Carry My Colors) by 2-1/2 lengths with a four-wide rally in his first turf sprint, and homebred COMEONBOOTS (sired by Comeonmom) from the outside post among 10 starters -- both at Belmont -- and NO RIZPECT (sired by Rizzi) from sixth-to-first among eight starters at Pimlico despite a slow start and having to be checked entering the turn, ZABAGLIONE by 2-1/4 lengths "going away" in his debut and the only first-time-starter in the race, and EXTERNAL AFFAIR from fifth-to-first among seven "going away" 18 days after having placed second in her debut -- all on Friday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; GOLD PAGEANTRY by 2-1/4 lengths from the outside post among 10 starters on Belmont turf, ALMONDINA (sired by Prime Timber) by two lengths from the sixth post among seven starters at Delaware Park, and homebred WHAT'S THE SCOOP at Finger Lakes -- all on Saturday; homebred NEDJMA "drew clear" after advancing from eighth-to-first among 11 starters at Belmont in her first turf start and first effort at a mile and an eighth, and homebred ITTY BITTY SARAH "drew off" by 2-1/4 lengths at Finger Lakes to improve her record to 1 - 1 - 1 in four starts -- both on Sunday; homebred DAVID IS MAD "drew off under a hand ride" by 5-3/4 lengths from the sixth post among seven starters in his debut, homebred HAPPY BUDDHA (sired by Key Contender) by 4-1/4 lengths "ridden out" from the outside post among seven starters at even-money to improve his always-an-honest-effort record to 1 - 3 - 1 in seven starts, and NOMOREMRNICEGUY regained the lead to score his first victory -- all three at Finger Lakes on Tuesday.

NY-bred NYTB Divisional champions for 2006 announced
Please click here for profiles of this year's champions

New contenders emerge to find niches in May by Rab Hagin

FACTUAL CONTENDER Emerging turf star get 1st stakes win

In the film "Cinderella Man," manager Joe Gould encourages washed-up boxer Jimmy Braddock after a miraculous first-round survival against up-and-comer Corn Griffin: "Sure beats working on the docks"; following victory by FACTUAL CONTENDER in Belmont's 10-furlong Destiny Dance Stakes on turf, she possibly heard: "Sure beats running in dirt sprints."

Part of the real "Cinderella" story was Braddock's discovery in the twilight of his career that he was naturally effective at counterpunching. How good is Thomas Farone Jr.'s newly-discovered New York-bred turf mare, Factual Contender ($270,898), who in the twilight of her career has finally found turf routing? With a record of 7 - 8 - 3 in 31 starts following her front-running win in Belmont's open Destiny Dance Stakes for fillies and mares on Thursday, May 3, the six-year-old daughter of pensioned New York stallion and Grade 2-winning turf router Thunder Puddles will have ample opportunity to find out. The state-bred filly and mare turf division appears to have a new "contender."

New York Minute: Factual Contender was the 10th New York-bred to win an open stakes in 2007, and the Destiny Dance was the 13th open stakes event captured by a New York-bred in the first 18 weeks of 2007.

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's homebred TALKING TREASURE ($143,120) cruised home by two lengths in Belmont's seven-furlong Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred three-year-old fillies on the first Sunday in May, with Ramsey-bred stakes winner My Kitty ($155,267) placing second, as daughters of Ramsey-owned stallion Catienus ran one-two. Despite a comfortable winning margin at what is still a sprint distance, Talking Treasure appears to be gearing up for longer events and could try turf.

Latest New York-bred to win or place in an open 2007 black-type stakes -- two days after Factual Contender's Destiny Dance victory -- was Sunset Stables' Mohegan Sky ($143,465), who placed third under co-topweight in Tampa Bay Downs' five-furlong Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares on turf last Saturday (May 5). It was the first stakes outing for the Linda Rice-trained four-year-old filly, who was coming off back-to-back five-furlong allowance wins on turf at Gulfstream Park in March, giving her a record of 4 - 3 - 1 in 11 starts.

New York Minute: Mohegan Sky was the 23rd New York-bred to finish in the top-three in an open black-type stakes in 2007, and her third-placing in the Lightning City was the 38th top-three effort by a state-bred in an open black-type stakes event this year.

About 2-3/4 hours after Mohegan Sky's stakes-placing at Tampa Bay, another New York-bred placed in a stakes -- this time in the Pacific Northwest -- as Allen Floyd's and Jonathan Nance's Lil Bit Ruff was runner-up to his stablemate among six starters in Portland Meadows' mile and an eighth non-black-type Oregon Derby. It was the second runner-up effort in three starts for Lil Bit Ruff, who was bred by Louis Ferrari and is still a maiden.

Highlighting six New York-bred open allowance winners from Wednesday, May 2 through Sunday, May 6 were stakes-placed four-year-old fillies ICE COOL KITTY (sired by Tomorrows Cat) and GONE GOODBYE (sired by Gone for Real) going one-turn miles at Belmont on Friday. Ice Cool Kitty ($156,676), who races for Lansdon Robbins III and Kevin Callahan under trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.'s care, went gate-to-wire by 6-3/4 lengths in Belmont's open N2X allowance feature for fillies and mares, running a sub-24 final quarter to score her fifth win in nine starts. Bred by William Garbarini and a $65,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton's 2004 Saratoga New York-bred preferred yearling sale, the chestnut filly who last year had placed second in Belmont's Bouwerie Stakes is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes-placed winner Icy City. Her winning dam is a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Cold Snap, who won on dirt and turf, and a half-sister to two-turn Grade 1 winner Plenty of Light ($510,420). Gone Goodbye ($132,726), racing for the IEAH (International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, Inc.) Stables that was founded by Michael Iavarone and trained by Dominick Schettino, was co-topweighted among seven fillies in her open N1X allowance/optional claiming venture, which improved her record to 4 - 1 - 3 in 10 starts. Bred by Jane Griffin of Old Empire Stable in Saratoga Springs and third in Belmont's New York Stallion Cupecoy's Joy Stakes 11 months earlier, the gritty filly who has won from six furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth was a $10,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2004 October yearling sale. She is the third offspring and third winner produced from Olivia's Whirl, who is a full sister to five winners -- three six-figure-earners, including Grade 2 winner Jess C's Whirl ($305,928) -- and is out of stakes-placed five-time winner and closely inbred (3 x 3 to Nasrullah) Proud Woman.

Winning Delaware Park's co-featured N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up going a mile and a sixteenth on Wednesday, May 2 was PTK LLC's recent New York-bred acquisition from California, SMELLING SALTS, who went gate-to-wire to score "easily" by seven lengths for his third consecutive victory since the end of February. The four-year-old gelding was favored and co-topweighted among six starters and cruised to a faster time (1:43.04) than he had run that same distance while winning a starter allowance at Santa Anita six weeks earlier. Now trained by Laura Dennis and with only five career starts on his record, the son of Two Punch was bred by the Flatbird Stable of Louis Milazzo and is a half-brother to New York-bred five-time-stakes-placed Mr. Determined ($305,192). Smelling Salts is the sixth New York-bred winner produced from graded-placed 11-time route winner Won Scent ($303,110), who is by Air Forbes Won and is a full sister to a stakes winner.

Scoring their first turf victories in starter allowances for fillies and mares at Atlantic City on Thursday, May 3 were New York-breds LOW CEILING going a two-turn mile and REBEL ROUSER going 5-1/2 furlongs. Four-year-old Low Ceiling, who races for owner-trainer Berkley Kern Jr., registered a front-running 2-1/4-length tally just 13 days after having won by four lengths on Pimlico's main track. The daughter of Service Stripe was bred by Harry Landry and is the first offspring produced from Foggy Launch, a Meadowlake mare that Landry had purchased for $6,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's 1999 October yearling sale. Low Ceiling has the "Rasmussen Factor" in her pedigree, being inbred to a major producing broodmare -- in her case 4 x 4 to Runaway Bride, whose three stakes-winning offspring included five-time Group 1 winner and influential international sire Blushing Groom. Five-year-old Rebel Rouser, a $45,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's (OBS) 2004 April sale of two-year-olds who races for P and J Stable under the care of trainer Herold Whylie, romped by 4-1/4 lengths. Bred by Frank Stella's Delehanty Stock Farm in Amenia, the daughter of New York-bred Grade 1 winner and former New York-based sire Victory Speech is the third offspring and third winner produced from Latin Nexus, by Roman Diplomat. Delehanty Stock Farm had purchased Latin Nexus, who is a half-sister to three stakes winners and to the winning dam of a stakes winner, for $50,000 at Keeneland's 1996 September yearling sale.

Winning a six-furlong N1X allowance/optional claiming contest for three-year-old fillies going two turns at Stampede Park on Sunday, May 6 was New York-bred ZIP N' ZAP, who had just broken her maiden 29 days earlier and was the 12.10-to-1 sixth choice among nine while coming out of the seventh post. The chestnut filly races for five owners -- David Rowbotham, D. Lindskog, H. Mackinnon, E. Richer, and R. Carpenter -- under the care of trainer Pam McDougall, and her latest victory improved her record to 2 - 3 - 2 in 12 starts. Part-owner Rowbotham had purchased Zip n' Zap for $50,000 at the OBS 2006 April sale of two-year-olds and had sent her to Woodbine, where on the all-weather track as a juvenile she had placed second twice (both times last December) and third twice. Bred by Gus Schoenborn Jr., the daughter of City Zip is out of stakes-placed three-time winner Addie's Pride, who is by Circulating and is a half-sister to two stakes winners and to the winning dam of a stakes winner.

Winning a one-turn mile starter allowance on Wednesday, May 2 at Belmont for New York-breds that had started for a claiming price -- no matter how high or when -- was multiple stakes-placed PAY ATTENTION ($413,411), who 39 days earlier had been claimed at Aqueduct while scoring with a $30,000 tag. Now owned by Winning Move Stable (Brian and Steve Sigler et al), Mitchell Klafter, Island Wind Racing (Robert Teeman), and Frank Curcio and trained by Gary Contessa, the six-year-old son of Take Me Out was the 9.80-to-1 fifth choice among eight starters. He had the 19th jockey of his career on board -- Corey Nakatani, who became only the fourth rider ever to guide him to victory -- and collared 2.05-to-1 second choice Go Fernando Go in the deep stretch to improve his record to 9 - 7 - 9 in 58 starts. Pay Attention was bred by trainer Scott Schwartz, and in the past 11 months Winning Move Stable and the Schwartz stable have claimed the bay gelding from each other three times, although during his career the indestructible New York-bred has been claimed a total of seven times.

Winning his first turf outing in a restricted N2X/allowance optional claiming contest for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs at Belmont on Saturday, May 5 was Bill and Vicki Poston's $75,000 weanling purchase at Keeneland's 2003 November sale, four-year-old SOUTHERN PRINCE, who led throughout and finished in 1:08.87. The Michael Hushion-trained four-year-old gelding whose previous wins were on Aqueduct's inner track improved his record to 3 - 1 - 1 in eight starts for the Poston couple, who are in the residential building and development business in Atlanta. Southern Prince was bred by Kildare Stud, Fergus Galvin, and D. Owens.

Winning restricted N1X allowances at Belmont from May 2 through May 6 were three-year-old gelding JOAQUIN MEMPHIS on Wednesday, four-year-old filly AGAINST THE GRAIN on Thursday, four-year-old geldings ACADEMY ROYALE and PHILLIP X. on Saturday, and five-year-old mare APPEALING MYSTERY on Sunday. Joaquin Memphis, a $55,000 purchase at the OBS 2006 March sale of two-year-olds by the R. Nortons Farm of John Greene Jr., came off a 68-day layoff to score his second win in five starts, stretching out to a one-turn mile after having broken his maiden going six furlongs. Against the Grain, a Prime Timber filly racing for the RB and L Stable of Robert Frank Jr. of Gansevoort, carried top weight to a 5-3/4-length victory going a one-turn mile and has won or placed in her last six consecutive starts. Academy Royale, a homebred racing under the Happy Hill Farm banner of Peter Wetherill of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, scored by 2-1/2 lengths going a mile and an eighth on turf and now has two wins and three thirds in eight starts. Phillip X. ($111,734), a semi-homebred racing for Steven Kouray and Katina Sarris, broke from the outside post among eight starters going six furlongs and advanced from sixth place to boost his earnings into six figures. Appealing Mystery, Pinebourne Farm's (Alexandra, Frank, and Denise Nastasi) homebred turf mare, advanced from ninth-to-first among 10 distaff starters going a mile and a sixteenth on grass to improve her record to 2 - 4 - 2 in 16 starts and has an abundance of black-type under her second dam.

Notable New York-bred open claiming winners going six furlongs at Belmont were Saul and Max Kupferberg's six-year-old REDEFINED ($162,630) with a $35,000 tag on Wednesday (May 2) and Vincent Scuderi's multiple stakes-placed five-year-old mare, FIGHTING SPEEDY ($262,020), tallying with a $25,000 tag the next day and getting claimed. Redefined, who broke from the 10th post among 12 starters and advanced from sixth to win by two lengths, had been claimed by the Kupferbergs 11 months earlier and was making his first start off a layoff of almost nine months. Fighting Speedy has now been claimed three times since Thanksgiving and was odds-on (.85-to-1) among six distaff starters, winning by 2-1/4 lengths to improve her record to 6 - 9 - 7 in 32 starts, which includes third-place efforts in stakes at Saratoga and Aqueduct in 2006.

New York-bred open allowance or overnight handicap winners at Finger Lakes from Friday, May 4 through Tuesday, May 8 were:

Homebred HE'S GOT THE MOVES (sired by Regal Classic) "drew clear" to win by almost two lengths after breaking from the seventh post among eight starters to improve his record to 2 - 1 - 2 in nine starts, homebred MS. EMMA by 3-3/4 lengths from the sixth post among seven starters at near even-money for her second big-margin win of 2007, LISA'S TESTIMONIAL from the sixth post among seven starters to improve her record to 2 - 2 - 3 in eight starts, and open stakes winner LIGHTS OF BROADWAY (sired by Catienus) for his fourth career victory -- all on Friday; BROCCO VALLEY ($100,027) by 3-1/4 lengths gate-to-wire under top weight and at odds-on in Saturday's Post Tense Handicap off a 79-day layoff to improve his record to 7 - 2 - 4 in 21 starts and boost his earnings into six figures; MISTER MCGATH from the outside post among seven starters off a five-month layoff for his second consecutive open allowance win and improving his overall record to 3 - 4 - 6 in 22 starts, in Sunday's feature; AUNTIE LIZ by a front-running 2-1/2 lengths under top weight for her second consecutive win in 16 days and third daylight-margin victory in six starts, in Monday's feature; SEEKING REDEMPTION from last-to-first out of the fifth post among six starters with a six-wide move for his third win, and SNOWS GONE (sired by Gone for Real) from fifth-to-first out of the sixth post among seven starters at near even-money to improve her record to 4 - 4 - 1 in 18 starts -- both on Tuesday.

New York-bred restricted allowance winners at Finger Lakes from Saturday, May 5 through Tuesday, May 8 were:

HOOSICK FALLS ($168,506) by a front-running 4-3/4 lengths "ridden out" for her second big-margin win of 2007 to improve her record to 9 - 3 - 2 in 25 starts, on Saturday; MY DYNOMITE ($114,822) by 2-1/4 lengths "handily" under top weight at odds-on for his second consecutive multiple-margin win in nine days and fifth daylight-margin victory in six starts, on Monday; PAM D'MONIA ($179,934) "going away" at odds-on from the fifth post among six starters to improve her record to 5 - 11 - 4 in 36 starts, on Tuesday.

New York-bred open claiming winners from Wednesday, May 2 through Tuesday, May 8 included:

MR. BULLSHIPPER (sired by A. P Jet) at Charles Town off a 103-day layoff for his second career victory, on Wednesday; DANCY'S ANGEL ($100,918) in a front-running odds-on performance at Arlington Park despite being headed in the stretch to boost her earnings into six figures and improve her record to 3 - 3 - 2 in 15 starts with her first win on a main track, MISS SILVER IMAGE gate-to-wire with a $20,000 tag at Hollywood Park to improve her dirt-turf-and- all-weather-track-winning record to four wins and one second in 10 starts, TERA'S OPEN FORUM in a front-running performance at Fonner Park for his fourth career win despite stumbling at the start, CARAVAN END by a front-running 8-1/4 lengths at Finger Lakes to score her third win "easily" under wraps -- all on Friday; AD MUSTER by 4-1/2 lengths at Pimlico to improve her record to 2 - 1 - 2 in nine starts and claimed, EVERBLAZING (sired by Regal Classic) by a front-running 2-3/4 lengths at Woodbine, homebred BLAZING DOCUMENT at Will Rogers Downs for the second win in 47 days for the May-foaled three-year-old facing all four-year-olds and up, homebred PREMINGER at odds-on at Suffolk Downs for his fifth career victory, PRECISELY BELLA by 2-1/4 lengths under top weight as half of an odds-on entry and improving her record to 4 - 2 - 5 in 20 starts, WORTHY LOVER (sired by Rizzi) by two lengths under top weight, and SERIOUS SONG by a front-running 4-1/2 lengths for her second daylight-margin win -- all on Saturday, and the last-named three at Finger Lakes; homebred CONFIDENT CAT (sired by Artax) by a front-running 3-1/4 lengths at odds-on to improve his record to 4 - 6 - 4 in 19 starts, BOMBAY DREAMS from the seventh post among eight starters off a 14-month layoff to improve her record to 6 - 1 - 4 in 17 starts, and NAPOLEON SOLO ($145,999) rallied from sixth-to-first among 10 starters for his sixth career victory -- all on Sunday at Finger Lakes; TRULY ALONE ($104,928) by three lengths gate-to-wire from the outside post among eight starters at Philadelphia Park to improve her record to 4 - 3 - 1 in 15 starts and push her earnings into six figures and claimed, DOBELIEVENMAGIC "surged" to a 2-1/4-length win from the outside post among 10 starters at Mountaineer Park for her second win in 45 days and fourth career victory, DEVILISH APPROACH at a mile and 70 yards for his first win beyond six furlongs, ELUSIVE TOGA by 2-1/4 lengths "going away" from the sixth post among seven starters, DYLANS DESTINY (sired by Tomorrows Cat) for his seventh win on dirt or turf to boost his earnings to $149,921, SAY I DO (sired by Western Expression) by a front-running 6-1/4 lengths at odds-on and "much the best" off a seven-month layoff to improve his record to 6 - 2 - 4 in 16 starts, and NAVY MISS (sired by Carry My Colors) from last-to-first at odds-on among seven starters for her second consecutive win in two weeks to give her two wins and a second in four starts and claimed -- all on Monday, and the last-named five at Finger Lakes; homebred MAJER B by 12 lengths "ridden out" from sixth-to-first among seven starters at Philadelphia Park from the sixth post for her second consecutive big-margin win in 38 days, NETCONG ($270,010) by a front-running 3-1/4 lengths at Penn National off a 110-day layoff to improve his stakes-placed record to 6 - 13 - 11 in 60 starts, homebred LAPIN "drew clear" by a front-running 3-1/2 lengths under top weight of 124 pounds for his second consecutive multiple-margin win in 10 days and claimed, and homebred KIKI B ($111,270) by a front-running 3-1/2 lengths at odds-on for her fifth career win -- all on Tuesday, and the last-named two at Finger Lakes.

New York-bred maiden-breakers from Wednesday, May 2 through Tuesday, May 8 included:

Homebred THUNDERESTIMATE (sired by Western Expression) by 2-3/4 lengths on turf at odds-on from the eighth post among 10 starters in his second career start but almost nine months since a narrow-miss second-placing in his Saratoga debut, and homebred FALSE I. D. by 2-1/2 lengths from ninth-to-first among 10 starters -- both at Belmont on Wednesday; homebred MANDY'S PURSE in the debut for a three-year-old filly who has stakes-winning and Group 3-placed half-sisters and is inbred 3 x 3 to Mr. Prospector, and KARAKORUM ELEKTRA (sired by Freud) from fifth-to-first out of the seventh post among eight starters with a three-wide rally 20 days after having placed second in her debut at Aqueduct -- both at Belmont -- and homebred INSIDE STRAIGHT by five lengths gate-to-wire at odds-on from the outside post among six starters 23 days after having placed second in his second start -- all three on Thursday; TEXAS STARLET from sixth-to-first out of the 10th post among 11 starters in her second try on turf to improve her record to 1 - 2 - 3 in nine starts, and homebred BACK TO MANDALAY by 3-1/2 lengths from sixth-to-first "with speed to spare" among 12 starters for the first offspring out of a graded juvenile winner -- both at Belmont -- and A TENOR AFFAIR by 3-3/4 lengths from fifth-to-first among six starters at Penn National, NATIVE HALL by two lengths from seventh-to-first among eight starters at odds-on after having placed second in three of his five previous starts, homebred REGAL ENCOUNTER by 6-1/4 lengths "ridden out" from the fifth post among six starters, homebred COUNT TOWN gate-to-wire in his first main track effort beyond a mile, and homebred WILD PREDATOR by 2-3/4 lengths -- all on Friday, and the last-named four at Finger Lakes; homebred CONDUCT OF HONOUR by 3-1/2 lengths from 10th-to-first among 12 starters in his debut at Belmont as the 66.75-to-1 last choice and becoming the first winner produced from five-time stakes winner Potential Fire ($202,855), homebred MY CHRISTINA by three lengths with a four-wide rally at Philadelphia Park, LIL BIT MIGHTY by 3-3/4 lengths from sixth-to-first among nine starters at Charles Town, MR. BUD (sired by Badge) by three lengths from fifth-to-first and "wrapped up late" after breaking from the outside post among 10 starters, and PESTA (also sired by Badge) by 14 lengths from fifth-to-first among seven starters to win "handily" -- both at Suffolk Downs -- and HANDY HUNTER at Finger Lakes in his second start -- all on Saturday; RIZZI'S TWIST (sired by Rizzi) from fifth-to-first among eight at Belmont with a five-wide rally after clipping heels and stumbling on the backstretch, FLYING NOTEBOOK (sired by Well Noted), and homebred ANGEL BEACH by 6-3/4 lengths under top weight of 124 pounds at odds-on -- all three on Sunday, and the last-named two at Finger Lakes; THE FLYING WASP "drew off" by four lengths from the sixth post among seven starters at Finger Lakes, on Monday; homebred WICKED SPY at Philadelphia Park, and homebred WESTERN LARIAT (sired by Western Expression) at Finger Lakes -- both on Tuesday.

Red Zipper zips gate to wire to win Kingston by Rab Hagin

Photo:Adam Coglianese

RED ZIPPER

Setting negative splits while turning back four successive challengers, Jeffrey Tucker's RED ZIPPER came off a 27-week layoff to win Belmont's $113,100 Kingston Handicap for New York-breds on Sunday by a half-length over Kingston stakes record-holder Golden Commander, with 2006 Kingston winner Dave less than a length back. The four-year-old May-foaled gelding was the youngest among nine starters and one of two that had not raced since last fall (second choice Dave was the other), and he went off in the mile and an eighth turf event somewhat overlooked as the 12.20-to-1 sixth choice.

Breaking on top, Red Zipper set accelerating quarter-mile splits of 25.20, 24.53, 24.19, and 23.71 over the "good" grass course, but when his fourth challenger, 1.90-to-1 favorite Golden Commander, closed relentlessly on the outside, the Tucker standard-bearer was able to zip his final furlong in a fastest-of-all 11.74. Golden Commander ($386,448), whose demonstrations of serious turf speed include a course record-setting 1:45.35 winning time (over a "firm" course) in the 2005 Kingston, obviously ran his final furlong even faster, but it was not fast enough to catch Red Zipper under jockey Eibar Coa. Dave ($355,347), who had to be steadied in close quarters going into the second turn, also closed quickly and finished at Golden Commander's throatlatch.

Coa, whose five rides aboard Red Zipper have produced four turf wins, including Aqueduct's New York Stallion Cormorant Stakes in a November 5 seasonal finale, suggested the chestnut gelding has matured: "He was (a) little aggressive going to the gate, but once he broke, he was able to settle nicely. He was very professional in the race. They gave me an easy lead, so I took it. I asked him for run, and he gave it to me."

Red Zipper's first victory at nine furlongs and second consecutive stakes tally boosted his earnings by $67,860 to $211,280 and improved the John Morrison-trained gelding's record to five wins and a second in 12 starts for owner Jeffrey Tucker of Manhattan and Stone Bridge Farm in Saratoga Springs. Tucker, whose previous New York-bred campaigners have included 2005 Grade 1 winner and New York Thoroughbred Breeders multiple champion Acey Deucey, had purchased Red Zipper for $40,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2005 April auction of two-year-olds. Tucker indicated that the son of former New York stallion City Zip was ready for a top performance in the Kingston and that the plan is to point him for Saratoga: "He trained well for this," Tucker acknowledged. "We trained him in company, which got him sharp. This is one of those horses that loves the lead and loves to stay there. He usually runs well fresh. He's the most atypical of the City Zips -- he's big, he's rangy and correct. I don't know what we'll do with him until Saratoga. We'll probably try to keep him as fresh as we can for those races."

Tucker's use of the plural (those races) begs interesting questions: Saratoga's only scheduled two-turn turf stakes for state-bred three-year-olds and up is the $100,000-added West Point Handicap (August 12); four other possibilities beckon, including Grade 2 grass events at a mile and a sixteenth and a mile and an eighth. What other races are being considered?

Bred by Nancy Harris of Florida and John Allen, Red Zipper is out of winner Lady in Red, who is by Red Attack and is a half-sister to Panamanian stakes winner Big Partner. The four-year-old's co-breeder, Harris, had purchased Lady in Red as a weanling for $1,700 at Keeneland's 1994 November sale.

Bustin Stones leads way in Screenland for 3rd decisive win in 3 starts by Rab Hagin

Photo:Adam Coglianese

BUSTIN STONES

For the third time in as many starts over a 46-day span, Roddy Valente's homebred BUSTIN STONES was neither headed nor seriously challenged, leading gate-to-wire in Belmont's $66,750 Screenland Stakes for New York-bred three-year-olds going 6-1/2 furlongs on Wednesday to win by 3-1/4 lengths at odds-on (.60-to-1). His competition this time included Sleepy Hollow Stakes winner Chief's Lake, the 2.85-to-1 second choice among the seven starters (including three stakes winners) making his first start since his stakes-winning New York Showcase Day outing last October.

With jockey Edgar Prado on board for the first time in competition, Bustin Stones broke from the sixth post and held 11.40-to-1 third choice Indian Camp at bay through decelerating quarter-mile splits of 22.37 and 23.01, at which point Indian Camp was at his throatlatch. The Valente homebred quickly pulled away in the next furlong, opening up a five-length advantage at mid-stretch while setting a six-furlong fraction of 1:08.91 and reaching the wire almost under wraps in a final time (1:15.50) that was within about a second of the 1:14.46 track record. Indian Camp, who was carrying four pounds less weight than Bustin Stones, held for second, and Chief's Lake came in third. It was the second winning ride aboard a New York-bred on Belmont's Wednesday card for Prado.

Victory in the Screenland -- named for Earle Mack's four-time stakes-winning (in 1979-1981) daughter of New York-bred national juvenile champion Silent Screen -- marked a birthday win for Bustin Stones (now $124,650), who was foaled exactly three years earlier and was the event's youngest (and least experienced) starter. Seventeen days earlier, the son of former New York stallion and current North American top-10 third-crop sire (in cumulative progeny earnings) City Zip had set a stakes record of 1:22.33 in Aqueduct's seven-furlong New York Stallion Times Square Stakes. His conditioner, New York Thoroughbred Breeders 2005 Trainer of the Year Bruce Levine, has indicated Belmont's $75,000 New York Stallion Spectacular Bid Stakes at a one-turn mile on June 3 and $100,000-added Mike Lee Stakes (first leg of The OTBs' Big Apple Triple) on June 24 as potential goals. In preparation for the Screenland, Levine had given Bustin Stones a fairly quick half-mile workout of 48-2/5 at Belmont last Saturday.

Bred and owned by Roddy Valente of Troy, New York, who owns and operates R. J. Valente Gravel Inc. and has campaigned racehorses since the mid-1990s, Bustin Stones is the third offspring and third New York-bred winner that Valente has bred from Shesasurething, a three-time-winning daughter of Prospectors Gamble. Shesasurething is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Ryan's Moment ($134,669), who is inbred 3 x 4 to Native Dancer, and her first stakes-winning offspring, Bustin Stones, is inbred 3 x 4 to Mr. Prospector.

CORMORANT 1974 - 2007 by Rab Hagin

CORMORANT 1974 - 2007

On Friday, May 4 -- almost exactly 13 years after his New York-conceived son Go for Gin had scored a front-running two-length victory in the 1994 Kentucky Derby -- 33-year-old pensioned New York stallion CORMORANT died of old age at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York. The Grade 1-winning stallion had stood in New York since 1980, and his longevity at Waldorf Farm was clearly a source of pride to the farm's veterinarian owner, Dr. Bilinski, who reported: "I had hoped to get him to 35 (years old), but it was not to be."

Cormorant's well-cared-for retirement was also a labor of love, since according to The Jockey Club's annual reports on mares-bred, the old syndicated stallion had not covered a registered mare in at least a decade. He was 20 years old when Go for Gin won the Kentucky Derby and already had sired an Eclipse Champion plus a Grade 1-winning millionaire, but his Derby winner finally put him on the national radar at a time when his declining fertility was imminent and biologically inevitable. For a stallion that rarely -- if ever -- stood for more than $7,500, the son of His Majesty - Song Sparrow, by Tudor Minstrel, had an amazing impact on the breed.

Bred by the late Dr. Ben Roach at Parrish Hill Farm in Midway, Kentucky, Cormorant was consigned and sold as a ridgling for $16,000 at Keeneland's 1975 September yearling sale to Charles T. Berry Jr., a building contractor from Upperville, Virginia. The ridgling condition (an undescended testicle) eventually corrected itself, and Cormorant embarked on a juvenile season in which he bolted in his debut but won his next four consecutive outings, including the seven-furlong Marlboro Nursery Stakes in stakes record time.

Dr. Bilinski with CORMORANT

Cormorant's winning streak continued into his three-year-old season through his next three races, all stakes, including Aqueduct's Grade 2 Gotham and Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes. He came down with a fever following the Gotham and was sidelined for more than a month, missing the 1977 Kentucky Derby won by Seattle Slew before returning to competition to miss by a nose in the Withers Stakes and then taking on "Slew" a week later in the Preakness. The plan was to run right at Slew, and Cormorant -- probably alone among his crop -- had the speed to do it, swapping leads with the eventual Triple Crown winner and setting a six-furlong fraction of 1:09-4/5 before fading to fourth. Nine days after the Preakness, Cormorant won the Grade 1 Jersey Derby by 3-1/2 lengths and shortly thereafter placed second in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby while breaking from the outside post. A slab fracture to his right knee, incurred during a workout at Laurel Park in July, required surgery, and he bowed a tendon in a comeback attempt while being galloped at Laurel in March of 1978. Cormorant was retired to stud at the Virginia Stallion Station in Middleburg, and in that abbreviated first season he conceived his first of 47 eventual stakes winners. Two years later he was in New York.

Standing first under Tom Martin's Kinderhill management at Schoenborn Brothers Farm in Climax and then at Kinderhill Farm in Old Chatham before going to Dutch Acres Farm in North Chatham and finally to Dr. Bilinski's nearby New York Stallion Station, Cormorant saw his stud career take off in New York. His first Grade 1 winner was Grecian Flight ($1,320,215), who was followed by 1992 Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Saratoga Dew -- both New York-bred females. When Saratoga Dew was a yearling, Yonkers native Pamela Darmstadt du Pont shipped her mare Never Knock the 600-plus miles from Kentucky to breed her to Cormorant, the result of which was Go for Gin ($1,380,866). Following Go for Gin came yet another millionaire son, New York-bred Grade 2 winner Gander ($1,824,011), who placed second behind Go for Gin's son Albert the Great in Belmont's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2000, as a son and grandson of Cormorant ran one-two in that $1-million event.

Albert the Great ($3,012,490) has sired recent Grade 1 winner Nobiz Like Shobiz in his second crop, and graded winners produced from Cormorant's daughters include Grade 1 winners Silver Train ($1,259,345) and Bishop Court Hill. New York handicappers still wistfully recall Cormorant's offspring, which could win on wet tracks or turf, could sprint or route, were frequently good as two-year-olds but better as three-year-olds, and stayed sound long enough for racing fans to become familiar with them. Through successive generations, Cormorant's legacy continues.

Talking Treasure wins first stakes outing with 2-length Bouwerie romp by Rab Hagin

Photo: Adam Coglianese

TALKING TREASURE

Unperturbed even after a delayed start and having to be re-loaded into the gate following a blinker adjustment, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's homebred TALKING TREASURE captured Belmont's seven-furlong Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred three-year-old fillies by two lengths on Sunday while carrying co-topweight from the eighth post among nine starters. It was the versatile dark bay's first stakes outing in five starts and her third win along with two runner-up efforts, and she went off in the $115,200 event as half of a Ramsey homebred entry that was favored at 1.85-to-1 among eight wagering interests