James Edwards, Former New York Breeder of the Year Passes

“Because of the higher purses, the claiming game has been very active and it’s also been hard to buy New York state-bred yearlings. There’s a buzz and electricity we haven’t seen in quite a while.” NY-based trainer Bruce Levine (TTT 1/22/2012).

The first reported foal on the ground for multiple G2 winner Munnings (Speightstown) is a New York-bred -- a colt born at Anstu Farm in Millbrook on Thursday 1/19. His dam, Heaven’s Grace, is a full sister to G2 Swale Stakes-winner This Ones for Phil. Manager Jim Maloney said, “He’s a good quality colt—we couldn’t be happier with him.” Munnings stands at Ashford Stud in KY.

Since moving moved St. Croix to in the fall of 2011, NY-bred Slevin (Belong to Me), runner-up in all three legs of the 2009 Big Apple Triple, has taken the V.I. by storm and is regarded as "St. Croix's biggest horse." The 6yo gelding, bred by Eric Brophy and now owned by James Bates, set two records at James Racetrack on St. Croix to close out the year (7 1/2f in 1:29.1 [11/6] and 1 1/18 miles in 1:48.4 [12/ 26] and last Sunday romped by 4 lengths in the 1-mile leg of the inaugural V.I. Triple Crown Classic in Tortola.

Owners Elizabeth Loftus and Michael Imperio have donated $50,000 to the Belmont Child Care Association in memory of the late General Maximus. The handsome chestnut son of Freud won three stakes races, including the past two renewals of the Hudson Stakes on NY Showcase Day. The Belmont Child Care Association will dedicate one of the new rooms at Anna House – the on-site child care center at Belmont Park for NYRA’s working families – in General Maximus’ memory.

Trainer David Donk told the DRF that standout 4yo female Hessonite (Freud), who was turned out at a farm in Delaware after the turf season, is expected to rejoin his New York string this weekend. Donk is eyeing the Beaugay (early May) for the G3-placed filly, winner last year of the Justenuffhumor Ticonderoga and two NY Stallion Series races.

“I would consider the majority of our regional areas to still be very flat, with the exception of New York with the VLTs coming in. That put quite a bit of exuberance in trainers, owners, and breeders alike up there, where there had never been a whole lot of hope in the last eight to ten years.” Bayne Welker, Fasig-Tipton’s vice president of sales in the Thoroughbred Times Today (1/7/2012).

Caleb’s Posse, who capped his stellar 3YO campaign with a triumph in the BC Dirt Mile, is a 2011 Eclipse Award finalist in two categories: Three-Year-Old Male (with Animal Kingdom, Shackleford) and Male Sprinter (with Amazombie, Regally Ready). A KY-bred son of leading NY-Sire Posse (Vinery NY at Sugar Maple Farm), Caleb’s Posse won four graded stakes in 2011 including the G1 King’s Bishop and G2 Amsterdam at the Spa. Winners will be announced in 1/16 at the 41st annual Eclipse Awards at the Beverly Wilshire.

Readers have probably noticed that extra-industry news publications are increasingly taking notice of the resurgent breeding business in New York. The most recent example is Gregory A. Hall’s article in the Louisville-based Courier-Journal, “Kentucky horses follow money out of state, Aqueduct's slots parlor gives N.Y. more revenue.” (1/3/2012)

Stakes-winners Saltamontes (4-1) and Dr Disco, both newly-turned 4yos, won back-to-back 6f open AOC races on AQU’s Mon. card. Gabrielle Farm’s Saltamontes (Wheelaway), took Race 2 (OC62k/N2X), downing an odds-on favorite in a final time of 1:12.82. In Race 3 (OC75k/N3X), Joe DiRico’s Dr Disco (Disco Rico), running as the 3-5 favorite, took the lead three-wide in the far turn after rating early, and drew away to win by 2 1/4 lengths (1:11.29). The colt is pointed to next month’s G3 Toboggan S.

Steel Your Face Stables’ 4yo G1-placed Yawanna Twist (Yonaguska/Twist and Pop) couldn’t have looked better in his return from a seven-month layoff in 5AQU on New Year’s Eve. Going 1 mile and 70 yards, he prompted the pace under Michael Luzzi and took over the lead at the quarter pole before going on to an effortless 6 3/4-length victory, gearing down in the end to finish in 1:41.30. Equibase Chart.