Bill Heller’s New York-Breds at the Races: March 13 to 15

Dream Bigger Wins the Damon Runyon Easily Sunday

By Bill Heller

Repole Stable’s freshened gray colt Dream Bigger turned the 41^st running of the seven-furlong $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for three-year-old New York-breds into a personal showcase, dusting his five rivals by 7 ¾ lengths under Junior Alvarado Sunday at fan-less Aqueduct. Sent off the 2-1 favorite from the rail, Dream Bigger won in a final time of 1:25.89.

More Graytful, the 5-2 second choice ridden by Jorge Vargas Jr., finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 3-1 Bourbon Bay and Manny Franco. Prince of Pharoahs, sent off at odds of 6-1 with Kendrick Carmouche up, finished fourth, 3 ¾ lengths behind Bourbon Bay.

Sequel New York, Twin Creeks Racing and Pamela Zielinski bred Dream Bigger, a son of Mission Impazible out of Downtown Daria by Sky Mesa who sold for $205,000 as a two-year-old in April 2019 and is trained by Rudy Rodriguez.

Dream Bigger hadn’t raced since January 12^th, when he finished third by three lengths under Manny Franco as the 1-2 favorite in the $93,000 Rego Park Stakes. Credit Rodriguez for having Dream Bigger ready to roll off a two-month layoff.

Alvarado hustled Dream Bigger up on the inside of 7-2 Scilly Cay and Jose Lezcano to contest the early lead. Scilly Cay led Dream Bigger narrowly after an opening quarter-mile in :23.10. Dream Bigger then took a half-length lead after a half-mile in :46.60.

Then Dream Bigger abruptly spurted away, taking a two-length lead after three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.18. Dream Bigger poured it on and won utterly isolated despite being taken in-hand late.

“He ran a big race,” Rodriguez said. “He broke a little slow, but Junior hustled him out of there and they took it from there.”

Alvarado said he didn’t have any option. “My only plan today was to put him on the lead and see how long he could carry his speed. I didn’t have a second plan. I was going to the lead breaking fast or slow.”

Dream Bigger has yet to run a poor race. He has three victories, three seconds and one third in seven career starts, with earnings topping $370,000.

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Taking advantage of an incident around the far turn affecting the two favorites in the race, Granny Reeves Stable’s four-year-old New York-bred gelding Freedom Prince and Julio Correa completed a wire-to-wire score, taking a one-mile $70,000 allowance race by 2 ½ lengths for his second consecutive victory. Sent off at 15-1 odds as the lone state-bred in a field of six, Freedom Prince won in a final time of 1:38.91.

High Amplitude, the 4-5 favorite involved in the incident ridden by Manny Franco, finished second, 3 ¾ lengths ahead of 6-1 Flying Curlin and Junior Alvarado. Scoreswhenhewants, the 9-5 second choice ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, appeared to take a bad step heading into the far turn and did not finish the race.

St. Elias Stable and Peta Ryan bred Freedom Prince, a son of Freedom Child out of Aqua Regia by Pollard’s Vision who is trained by Tom Albertrani. Freedom Prince won an open starter allowance by a half-length under Correa at 7-1 odds on February 1^st.

Freedom Prince broke on top Sunday and held a one-length lead on High Amplitude racing two-wide and Scoreswhenhewants three-wide after an opening quarter-mile in :24.08. Both High Amplitude and Scoreswhenhewants drew closer to Freedom Prince after a half-mile in :48.77.

Heading into the far turn, Scoreswhenhewants stopped suddenly, affecting High Amplitude and leaving Freedom Prince by himself. Freedom Prince opened a five-length lead in mid-stretch, then held off High Amplitude, who made up ground late.

Freedom Prince is now three-for-nine with three seconds and earnings of more than $135,000.

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In a thrilling photo finish between first-time starters, co-owner/trainer/breeder Michelle Nevin and Little Red Feather Racing’s colt Slash Gordon won a six-furlong $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for three-year-olds by a head over front-running Microsecond and five-pound apprentice Romero Maragh. Stash My Money and Ruben Silvera finished just a nose behind Microsecond in third. Sent off at 3-1 odds in the field of seven, Slash Gordon won in a final time of 1:13.88. Microsecond was sent off at odds of 9-1 from the rail and Stash My Money went off at 8-1 odds.

Saratoga Pal, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Eric Cancel, finished fourth, one length behind Stash My Money.

Nevin gave Slash Gordon, a son of Big Brown out of Backslash by Sharp Humor, 11 works for his debut. The last three were solid five-furlong breezes.

Slash Gordon got away second on the outside of Microsecond, who led by a half-length through a first quarter-mile in a quick :22.28. Slash Gordon drew within a neck of Microsecond after a half-mile in :47.57.

Past mid-stretch, Stash My Money joined the top pair on the outside. The three three-year-olds battled heads apart, with Slash Gordon sticking his head in front in the final 100 yards.

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Wise Racing’s debuting colt Gandy Dancing made quite the first impression taking Sunday’s finale, a six-furlong $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for three-year-olds, by 6 ¾ lengths to give jockey Manny Franco his third winner of the day. Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the field of eight, Gandy Dancing won in a final time of 1:13.22.

Farragut, who went off at odds of 10-1 under Reylu Gutierrez, finished second, nearly two lengths ahead of 52-1 firster Senrima and Jorge Vargas Jr. Unbridled John, a 25-1 shot ridden by Luis Rodriguez, finished a nose behind Senrima in fourth.

Jay Hanley bred Gandy Dancing, a son of Flatter out of Wild Grace by Forest Wildcat who sold for $210,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August 2018 and is trained by Chad Brown. Gandy Dancing’s 11 workouts included a bullet four furlongs from the gate at Palm Meadows on February 18^th, fastest of 32 horses that morning at that distance.

Franco got Gandy Dancing away third as 8-1 firster Midnight Whiskey and Jose Lezcano disputed the early lead with 7-2 No Phar Now and Eric Cancel through an opening quarter-mile in :22.81.

Then Gandy Dancing rushed to the lead after a half-mile in :47.36. He opened up on the field to win by himself.

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Starview Stable’s New York-bred colt Cryptographer and five-pound apprentice Romero Maragh stalked front-running New York-bred Future Book, took over in mid-stretch and held off another New York-bred, Valid Quest and Junior Alvarado, by a half-length to win a $50,000 open $32,000 claimer for three-year-olds Sunday. He covered the 6 1/2-furlong distance in 1:20.65.

Valid Quest, the even-money favorite on the rail ridden by Junior Alvarado, finished second, 3 ¼ lengths clear of 3-1 Future Book.

Mare Madness LLC bred Cryptographer, a son of Honor Code out of Tea for Two by Valid Expectations who sold for $150,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August 2018 and is trained by Rudy Rodriguez. Cryptographer finished second by 8 ½ lengths under Luis Saez in an open $50,000 starter allowance in his prior start at 4-1 odds on February 1^st, his first race since winning a New York-bred maiden $50,000 claimer on December 3rd.

Maragh settled Cryptographer in second on the flank of Future Book, who led by less than a length through a half-mile in :48.90. Cryptographer then took the front, opened a length-and-a-half lead and held off Valid Quest.

Cryptographer is now two-for-four with one second and earnings of more than $65,000.

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J and N Stables’ six-year-old New York-bred gelding Our Last Buck, the 9-5 favorite in a field of eight, swept to the lead around the far turn, then drew off to a 4 ¼-length victory in a one-mile $38,000 conditional $30,000 claimer, giving jockey Manny Franco and trainer Michelle Nevin their second consecutive victory in Sunday’s sixth race. Our Last Buck won in a final time of 1:39.54.

New York-bred Bebe Banker, sent off at odds of 5-2 under five-pound apprentice Romero Maragh, finished second, 6 ½ lengths clear of 29-1 Soul Fight and seven-pound apprentice Luis Cardenas.

Gerardus Jameson bred Our Last Buck, a son of Courageous Cat out of Buck Mountain by Prosper Fager who was only beaten by three-quarters of a length when fourth with blinkers added in an open starter allowance in her previous race January 25^th at 15-1 odds.

Our Last Buck raced in third early as Bebe Banker dueled on the lead with 5-2 Tiz Morning and Reylu Gutierrez through a first quarter-mile in :24.29 and a half-mile in :48.74.

Our Last Buck advanced into second on the far turn when Tiz Morning weakened, then went after Bebe Banker. Our Last Buck stormed past Bebe Banker and opened up on the field, winning handily.

Our Last Buck is two-for-nine on dirt with one second and one third. She also has one third from two turf tries, for total earnings of more than $75,000.

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Bush Racing Stable’s new claim, the six-year-old mare Timely Tradition, rallied to a 3 ¼-length victory under Dylan Davis in a six-furlong $42,000 New York-bred $25,000 claimer Sunday. Sent off at 9-2 odds from the rail in a field of seven, Timely Tradition won in a final time of 1:11.65.

Front-running Letmetakethiscall, who went off at odds of 2-1 with Jose Lezcano aboard, was a clear second, nearly six lengths ahead of Bustin to Please, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Kendrick Carmouche. Archumybaby, sent off at 5-2 odds under Manny Franco, finished another neck back in fourth.

Mr. and Mrs. Bert Firestone bred Timely Tradition, a daughter of First Defence out of True Believer by Smart Strike who is now trained by Raymond Handal. Bush Racing Stable claimed Timely Tradition for $25,000 when he finished by 2 ¼ lengths under Kendrick Carmouche as the 3-5 favorite on January 26^th. Handal freshened his new mare and she came back running.

Timely Tradition broke first but ceded the early lead to Letmetakethiscall, who took the field to a quarter-mile in :22.84 and a half-mile in :46.15. Letmetakethiscall was still 2 ½ lengths in front in early stretch, but Timely Tradition found her best stride and charged past her quickly. She won going away.

Timely Tradition is now eight-for-24 on dirt with five seconds and four thirds. She’s also had two turf tries and has combined earnings of more than $285,000.

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Trainer Bobby Ribaudo added blinkers to Marc Keller’s three-year-old gelding Cause and was rewarded for that decision when he zipped to the lead under Reylu Gutierrez, opened a six-length cushion and cruised home to take Sunday’s opener, a six-furlong $41,000 New York-bred maiden $40,000 claimer, by 2 ½ lengths. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in a field of seven, Cause won in a final time of 1:15.04.

Danegeld, the 3-2 favorite ridden by Eric Cancel, edged 5-1 Long Island City and Kendrick Carmouche by a half-length for second. Emcee Prime, a 24-1 shot piloted by Daisuke Fukumoto, reported home fourth, a length and a quarter behind Long Island City.

McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds bred Cause, a son of The Factor out of Flash Act by Sky Mesa who finished 10^th in his maiden special weight debut at 84-1 odds on December 21^st. Ribaudo added Lasix and dropped Cause into a maiden $40,000 claimer on January 30^th, and he finished a sharply improved second by eight lengths at 10-1 odds. Gutierrez was aboard in both starts.

Gutierrez got him away sharply from the four post Sunday and he opened a two-length lead by running an opening quarter-mile in :23.73. He upped the margin to four lengths through a :48.14 half-mile, got away to a six-length advantage and coasted home as much the best.

With a win and a second in three starts, Cause has earned more than $30,000.

Charlie Baker’s Awesome Debate Delivers at 3-2 in Allowance

The four-year-old gray filly Awesome Debate, owned, trained and bred by Charlie Baker, put away longshot frontrunner Happy Sophia, ridden by Dylan Davis, and drew away to a three-length victory under Jorge Vargas Jr. as the 3-2 favorite in a field of eight contesting a six-furlong $64,000 New York-bred allowance Saturday at Aqueduct. Awesome Debate won in a final time of 1:13.45.

Wailin Josie, sent off at odds of 9-1 with seven-pound apprentice Heman Harkie up, finished second, a half-length ahead of 30-1 Happy Sophia. Queendom, a 23-1 shot ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, checked in fourth, three lengths behind Happy Sophia.

Awesome Debate, a daughter of Honorable Dillon out of Healthy Debate by Freud, was making her second start off a layoff after finishing second by three-quarters of a length under Vargas at 13-1 odds on February 17^th in her first start in more than four months. The race back obviously helped her Saturday.

She got away second as Happy Sophia led by a length and a half after a first quarter-mile in :23.68. Awesome Debate drew in closer after a half-mile in :48.07 and then took over, spurting away late to a handy score.

Awesome Debate is now four-for-eight with a pair of seconds and earnings of a tad under $100,000.

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In a dominating performance under Jose Lezcano, Darlene Bilinski and Harry Patten’s Honey Money made her second career start a winning one, capturing Saturday’s finale, a six-furlong $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies, by six lengths. Sent off the 3-2 favorite from the outside post in a field of 11, Honey Money won in a final time of 1:13.56.

First-time starter Calidad, who went off at odds of 21-1 under Eric Cancel, made a strong rally to finish second, 4 ½ lengths ahead of 9-2 Dancing Kiki and seven-pound apprentice Luis Cardenas. Front-running Charlotte Webley, a 39-1 shot ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, finished another length and a half back in fourth.

Klaravich Stables bred Honey Money, a daughter of Central Banker out of Bullish Sentiment by Stormy Atlantic who sold for $240,000 as a two-year-old in April 2019 and is trained by Linda Rice. Honey Money led late before tiring to finish second by three lengths as the even-money favorite under Lezcano in her debut on February 22^nd.

Honey Money broke well Saturday and settled in second on the outside of Charlotte Webley, who led by a length after an opening quarter-mile in :23.53. Honey Money drew within a half-length after a half-mile in :48.34 and took the front easily when asked by Lezcano.

She drew away impressively to win by herself.

With a victory and a second in her first two starts, Honey Money has already earned $45,000.

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Making it look easy under seven-pound apprentice Luis Cardenas, trainer/co-owner Bruce Grossman and Four Tags Stable’s four-year-old New York-bred filly Fair Lassie quickly took the lead and never experienced an anxious moment Saturday, winning a 6 ½-furlong $37,000 conditional $25,000 claimer by 3 ¾ lengths. Sent off at 5-2 odds in the field of seven, Fair Lassie won in a final time of 1:20.79.

New York-bred Ok Honey, who went off at odds of 14-1 with Oscar Gomez riding, edged 9-1 New York-bred Gentle Annie and Dylan Davis by a neck for second.

Harry Landry bred Fair Lassie, a daughter of Dublin out of Fair Weather Lady by Western Expression who was dropping into an open claimer off a distant fifth-place finish under Manny Franco in a New York-bred allowance at 19-1 odds on March 7^th.

Fair Lassie zipped the opening quarter-mile in :23.70 to take a 3 ½-length lead. She hit the half-mile in :47.96 and continued on strongly to the wire for an easy victory.

Fair Lassie improved her dirt record to three-for-nine with one second. She’s also raced once on turf and has combined earnings topping $100,000.

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Storming down the center of the track under Jose Lezcano, Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig’s four-year-old filly Enough Love ran down front-running Love Me Tomorrow and Dylan Davis late to take Saturday’s opener, a 6 ½-furlong $41,000 New York-bred maiden $40,000 claimer, by a neck. Sent off the 8-5 favorite in a field of seven, Enough Love won in a final time of 1:21.63.

Love Me Tomorrow, who was adding blinkers and went off at 2-1 odds, finished a clear second, three lengths ahead of 2-1 Gringotts and Andre Worrie. There was a gap of 5 ½ lengths back to 9-1 Helen by Night and Eric Cancel in fourth.

Waldorf Farm bred Enough Love, a son of He’s Had Enough out of Perfect Lover by Not For Love who sold for $65,000 as a two-year-old in April 2018 and is trained by Robert Falcone Jr. Enough Love finished third in her prior start under Lezcano in a maiden special weight at 2-1 odds on February 20^th.

Lezcano got her away fifth Saturday as Love Me Tomorrow had to work hard to take a nose lead on the outside of Helen by Night through a quick opening quarter-mile of :22.55. Love Me Tomorrow then cleared Helen by Night and opened a 2 ½-length lead by running a half-mile in :48.30.

Love Me Tomorrow stretched her cushion to 3 ½ lengths as Enough Love rallied three-wide into second.

Love Me Tomorrow began to weaken as Enough Love closed ground quickly. Love Me Tomorrow dug in, but Enough Love wore her down late.

With a win and a third from four starts, Enough Love has earned more than $30,000.

Beg to Differ Powers Away to Easy Maiden Victory Friday

My Meadowview Farm’s homebred gelding Beg to Differ and Manny Franco shot past front-running Unrelenting Force, ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, and drew off to a 6 ½-length victory in a one-mile $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight as racing without fans began Friday at Aqueduct. Sent off at 4-1 odds in the field of 10, Beg to Differ won in a final time of 1:39.42.

Unrelenting Force, who was adding blinkers and went off at 10-1 odds, held well for second, five lengths clear of 9-2 Liquor and Eric Cancel. Signified, sent off at odds of 4-1 with Mike Luzzi aboard, finished a distant fourth.

Jonathan Thomas trains Beg to Differ, a son of Stephanoatsee out of Strike Twice by More Than Ready who was making just his third career start. In his only race as a two-year-old on October 26^th, Beg to Differ finished eighth in a turf try under Franco. He was freshened and returned to finish a strong-closing third by three-quarters of a length at 8-1 odds with blinkers added in his dirt debut on January 24^th under Kendrick Carmouche.

On Friday, Franco settled Beg to Differ in third as Unrelenting Force led Signified through three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.13.

When Franco gave Beg to Differ his cue, he responded with a burst, flying past the frontrunner and opening a sizable lead.

With a win and a third in three starts, Beg to Differ has earned more than $40,000.

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Zilla Racing Stables got a quick return on its new claim, the four-year-old gelding Shamrock Kid, as he backed up his even-money odds in a field of five with a professional 3 ¼-length win under Eric Cancel in a one-mile $46,000 New York-bred $25,000 claimer. Shamrock Kid won in a final time of 1:38.91.

Peter’s Project, sent off at odds of 10-1 under Dylan Davis, edged front-running 2-1 gray Singapore Trader and Manny Franco by a neck for second. Three to Thirteen, who went off at 7-2 odds under Jose Lezcano, finished fourth, five lengths behind Singapore Trader.

Margaret Carrothers bred Shamrock Kid, a son of Dublin out of Good Habits by Freud who is now trained by Orlando Noda. Zilla Racing Stables claimed Shamrock Kid for $25,000 on February 9^th, when he finished third by a neck under Cancel at 3-1 odds. Noda freshened his new gelding and he came back with a big effort.

Cancel got him away third Friday as Singapore Trader set the pace with Three to Thirteen chasing in second through an opening quarter-mile in :23.09 and a half-mile in :46.40.

Then both Three to Thirteen, racing two-wide, and Shamrock Kid three-wide got past Singapore Trader at the top of the stretch after three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.74.

Shamrock Kid shot past Three to Thirteen to take the front, opened a safe margin and maintained it to the wire.

Shamrock Kid is now four-for-16 on dirt with two seconds and five thirds. He also has two seconds from four turf tries, for combined earnings topping $200,000.

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Repole Stable’s six-year-old New York-bred gelding Blame the Thief rallied to the lead in mid-stretch under Jorge Vargas Jr., opened up three lengths on the field and then held off odds-on Business Cycle and Manny Franco by three-quarters of a length to win a one-mile $28,000 open $10,000 claimer in a final time of 1:39.78. Blame the Thief was sent off at 7-1 odds and Business Cycle went off at odds of 4-5 in the field of nine.

Longshot So Sublime, a 68-1 bomb ridden by Julio Correa, finished a distant third, 6 ¼ lengths behind Business Cycle.

Charles Dimino bred Blame the Thief, a son of Blame out of Catch a Thief by Flatter who is trained by Rudy Rodriguez. Blame the Thief was dropping into an open $10,000 claimer off a sixth-place finish under Vargas at 11-1 odds in a New York-bred $25,000 claimer on February 9th.

Vargas got Blame the Thief away third Friday as So Sublime set fractions of :23.90, :47.93 and 1:13.65. Mills advanced into second as Blame the Thief rallied three-wide.

Blame the Thief then swept to the lead and opened a three-length cushion in mid-stretch. Business Cycle got untracked late and rallied, but Blame the Thiel held him safe to the wire.

Blame the Thief is now five-for-21 on dirt with two seconds and three thirds. He also has one second and a pair of thirds from 12 turf tries, for combined earnings of more than $210,000.

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With Lasix and blinkers added, in addition to a drop into a maiden claimer, Michael Meeks’ long-idle Whispering Rose rolled to a five-length victory under five-pound apprentice Romero Maragh in a one-mile $33,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer for three-year-old fillies Friday. Sent off at 3-1 odds in the field of 11, Whispering Rose won in a final time of 1:42.80.

Molly’s Nighthawk, the 2-1 co-favorite from the outside post ridden by Benjamin Hernandez, finished a clear second, 3 ½ lengths ahead of 2-1 co-favorite Mizzen the Mark and Kendrick Carmouche. Masons Friend, a 6-1 shot piloted by seven-pound apprentice Luis Cardenas, finished fourth, 2 ¼ lengths behind Mizzen the Mark.

Peter Moore bred Whispering Rose, a daughter of Afleet Alex out of Whispered (GB) by Medicean (GB) who is trained by Horacio DePaz. Whispering Rose hadn’t raced since she finished 12^th in an open maiden special weight turf race on September 12^th.

Whispering Rose settled in fifth as Women Not Easy, who was adding blinkers and went off at 6-1 odds under Jose Vargas Jr., took the field through splits of :23.31, :47.51 and 1:14.34.

Then Molly’s Nighthawk, who had worked into second, took over as Whispering Rose made a strong rally on the outside.

Molly’s Nighthawk had no answer when confronted by Whispering Rose, who quickly opened up on the field.

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Co-owner/trainer Rick Schosberg, Clear Stars Stable, Mitre Box Stable and Edition Farm’s gelding Oneshotatforever and five-pound apprentice Romero Maragh ran down front-running Liams Majesty and Dalton Brown and drew off to a 2 ¾-length victory in Friday’s finale, a one-mile $33,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer for three-year-olds. Oneshotatforever won in a final time of 1:41.60 to give Maragh his second score of the afternoon.

Liams Majesty’s entry-mate, 26-1 Oliver Witha Twist and Daisuke Fukumoto closed well to finish second, 3 ½ lengths clear of 5-2 Political and Dylan Davis. There was a gap of 12 lengths back to 6-1 Da Berg and seven-pound apprentice Luis Cardenas in fourth.

The New Hill Farm bred Oneshotatforever, a son of Mineshaft out of Honeyed by Candy Ride (ARG) who sold for $77,000 as a two-year-old in May 2019. Oneshotatforever finished sixth under Kendrick Carmouche in his previous start on February 20^th at 5-1 odds.

Maragh got Oneshotatforever away second as Liams Majesty set a wicked pace: an opening quarter-mile in :22.92 and a half-mile in :46.33.

Oneshotatforever struck the front readily when asked by Maragh and opened a four-length lead after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.45. Then Oneshotatforever cruised home for his first victory.

Now one-for-five, Oneshotatforever has earned more than $20,000.