Discreet Marq just caught in Sweetest Chant

Patricia Generazio’s 3-year-old homebred Discreet Marq delivered an impressive performance in classy company on Sunday, leading the field of Gulfstream Park’s featured $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes through swift fractions for a mile over firm turf before being collared in the final three strides by well-regarded European import and Chad Brown-trainee Premier Steps.

Out of the gate alertly under Joseph Rocco, Jr., Discreet Marq (9-2 fourth choice) emerged with the lead by the time the six fillies entered the first turn. Pressed by Dania Beach winner Mystic Love, the grey filly continued to lead through the far turn with Mystic Love not far behind, as 3-2 favorite Premier Steps, looking for her first North American victory, lurked three lengths back in third.

After a half-mile in 46.40 and six furlongs in 1:10.41, Discreet Marq kicked away from Mystic Love at the top of the stretch to open up a two-length lead, but Premier Steps, who had narrowed the gap through the turn, found another gear at mid-stretch. Premier Steps proved game and just got up in the final three strides to get the victory by a neck. Discreet Marq finished second, a neck ahead of Caroline Thomas (5-2 second choice), while fellow pace-setter Mystic Love (5-2) faded to fifth. The final time for the mile was a sharp 1:34.20.

A daughter of Discreet Cat, Discreet Marq broke her maiden for trainer James Ryerson by 4 1/2 lengths second time out, completing 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf at Saratoga in 1:02.91 for a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

Moving straight into stakes competition, Discreet Marq finished third in the open, 7-furlong Voodoo Dancer Stakes at Belmont in early October and closed into fourth in Laurel’s Selima Stakes, before securing her first stakes victory wire-to-wire in the 1-mile open Lie Low Stakes at Aqueduct on November 22. After moving south for the winter to the barn of Jane Cibelli, Discreet Marq finished third in another strong field in the 1 1/16-mile Ginger Brew in her Gulfstream debut on New Year’s Day.

With a record of 2-1-2 from seven starts, Discreet Marq has now earned $125,900.

Foaled at Keane Stud[1] in Amenia, Discreet Marq is a daughter of Discreet Cat out of To Marquet (Marquetry), a Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner ($198,236).

Discreet Marq is her dam’s first stakes winner, but two siblings are stakes performers on turf. Marquet Cat, an 8-year-old gelded son of Cat Thief, has earned $376,309 from 54 starts to date. Marquet Madness, a 6-year-old mare by Pico Central (BRZ), has earned $226,994.

To Marquet’s most recent reported foal is a yearling colt by Bluegrass Cat.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2013/01/28/discreet-marq-sweetest-chant/

Brigand proves two-turn mettle wiring Turnofthecentury

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Adam Coglianese

Recording his first victory around two turns and second career stakes score, 4-year-old Brigand (Flatter) won the one-mile, $75,000 Turnofthecentury overnight stakes for older New York-breds at Aqueduct on Sunday in wire-to-wire fashion.

Last out winner of the 7-furlong $104,000 City Of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park on December 8 and looking to put together back-to-back stakes wins, the Bob Baffert-trainee scratched out of Saturday’s open 1 1/16-mile Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct in favor of a slightly shorter distance and New York-bred rivals. He had previously won a one-turn one-mile allowance race at Belmont last October.

Heavily favored by post time at odds of 3-5 and drawn in the inside post (of five), Brigand got away alertly under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and by the time he entered the clubhouse turn led Groomedforvictory by a length.

Pressed ever closer by Groomedforvictory along the backstretch and around the far turn, Brigand continued to lead, clocking a half-mile in 47.94 and six furlongs in 1:12.13. Kicking free in upper stretch, he opened up daylight on his way to a 2 3/4-length victory in a final time of 1:36.70.

Mine Over Matter, winner of the Hudson on Showcase Day and third last out in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight, won a three-way photo for place after closing from third, with Socialsaul, fourth and fifth in the early stages, finishing a head back in third and a head in front of Groomedforvictory in fourth. Uncle T Seven, making his first start since August 1, completed the order of finish.

Winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who recorded his fourth straight victory on Sunday’s card in the Turnofthecentury, said, “I had a lot of horse. Tonja [Terranova, assistant to winning trainer Bob Baffert] did a good job with the horse. I broke good out of there, like Tonja told me to do. I put him in front, and he relaxed and had a comfortable trip.”

Irad Ortiz won races 4-7, while his brother, apprentice jockey Jose Ortiz, won races 1-3. Irad added, “[Today] has been a good experience for [me and my brother]. We try in every race, and today we got good horses.”

Purchased by Kaleem Shah as the $925,000 sale-topper out of the 2011 OBS March sale, Brigand aced his debut at Hollywood Park in July 2011 and finished second next out in the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile, making all three starts that year on synthetic at Hollywood and Del Mar.

After shuttling between West and East Coasts for the first part of 2012, Brigand has been based in New York since last August. In addition to his victory in the City of Laurel Stakes on December 8 and two 2012 state-bred allowance wins, Brigand finished second to eventual Grade 1 winner The Lumber Guy in the Grade 2 Jerome at Aqueduct in April and second to eventual Grade 1 winner Willy Beamin in the Mike Lee at Belmont in June.

Brigand’s record now stands at 5-5-0 from 13 starts with $ $333,820 in earnings.

Bred by Berkshire Stud[2] in Pine Plains where he was foaled, Brigand is out of Silence Please, an unraced Quiet American mare. Four foals of five to start from Silence Please have won, including New York-bred stakes winner Sky Music by Sky Mesa ($130,070). Silence Please also has a multiply-placed 3-year-old colt by Bluegrass Cat named Everydoghashisday, a 2-year-old filly by Bernstein, and a yearling full sister to Brigand. She was bred last year to Mineshaft.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2013/01/20/brigand-turnofthecentury/

Mischief Maker romps in Swirlaway

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Adam Coglianese

Windhorse Thoroughbreds LLC’s homebred filly Mischief Maker (Cape Town) became a stakes winner on Sunday when she drew off to an overwhelming victory in the $75,000 Swirlaway Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares going a mile over Aqueduct’s inner track.

Although the field of the Swirlaway was whittled down to only three runners after scratches, the three who lined up in the gate were all players.

Favored at 3-5 was veteran Opus A (Read the Footnotes), looking for a fifth stakes victory to kick off her 6-year-old campaign. Improving 4-year-old Mischief Maker was the 1.45-1 second choice, running back after a breakout seven-length victory in a second-level state-bred allowance at Aqueduct on December 12. Third choice at 4-1 was another 4-year-old, Shesabronxbomber (Afleet Alex), shooting for a first stakes score after being claimed for $50,000 on November 29 by the powerhouse team of Michael Dubb and Rudy Rodriguez.

While all three got away in good order, with Mischief Maker posted on the outside under Cornelio Velasquez, Opus A got the jump on the field, opening up two lengths over a stalking Mischief Maker through an opening half-mile in 48.36.

Midway around the far turn Mischief Maker got her cue from Velasquez, drew even, and at the top of the stretch poked her head in front. The filly then widened her lead comfortably for the length of the stretch on her way to a no-doubt-about-it 7 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:38.90 over muddy going. Opus A held on for second and Shesabronxbomber completed the order of finish. [VIDEO[2]]

Trainer Bruce Brown said he always felt Mischief Maker had talent, telling the DRF last week “She showed ability right from the get-go. Then she leveled off a little bit. Finally, she got in a groove and matured. I think she really appreciates two turns.”

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Mischief Maker and her connections in the winner’s circle (NYRAnews)

A creditable third when she debuted going long against males last January, Mischief Maker ran back third in Wind Swept Wings on February 12, 2012. After recording her maiden and first-level allowance victories, as well as a show finish in New York Oaks at Finger Lakes over the course of the year, Mischief Maker really turned heads with her December 12 allowance romp for which she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86. After 11 races since January 2012, Mischief Maker will get a break before her next start.

Foaled at Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent, Mischief Maker is the first foal out of Saint Misbehavin’. An unraced daughter of Sweetsouthernsaint, Saint Misbehavin’ changed hands once at public auction, purchased from the consignment of Margaux Farm by Gallagher’s Stud for $4,500 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2013/01/14/mischief-maker-swirlaway/

Veteran Head Heart Hoof records first stakes victory in speedy True and Blue

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Adam Coglianese

Head Heart Hoof wired a small but select field of older sprinters, including multiple stakes winners Royal Currier and Be Bullish, to record his first stakes victory for owners Michael Dubb, Stuart Grant and Gary Aisquith in the swiftly-run $75,000 True and Blue Stakes at Aqueduct on Wednesday. The win was the 7-year-old gelding’s 17th trip to the winner’s circle.

Claimed for $35,000 out of a runner-up effort on January 22, 2012, the Indidab gelding knocked on the door in both forays into stakes competition last year – finishing second last February in the Holly Hughes Stakes for trainer Tony Dutrow and, after a barn change in September, running third in the open Valley Forge in the mud at Parx on December 18 for current trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

Out of the gate like a shot under Cornelio Velasquez in the True and Blue, Head Heart Hoof (4-1 third choice) quickly opened up on the field, chased a length behind by 3-5 favorite Royal Currier.

After a quarter mile in 22.98, Royal Currier pressed a little harder on the turn and closed the gap to a half length, but Head Heart Hoof opened up again at the top of the lane and never faced another serious challenge before crossing the finish line with a 2 1/4-length advantage. After a half-mile in 45.75, Head Heart Hoof completed the six furlongs over the fast going in a salty 1:09.10, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. VIDEO[2].

A juvenile maiden-breaker at Belmont at second asking, but well-beaten in two stakes tries that year for Masie Stable and trainer Seth Benzel, Head Heart Hoof, went on compile a very solid record in the allowance and claiming ranks from 2009-2012 at Finger Lakes and on the NYRA circuit, changing hands multiple times via the claim box and rising in the claiming ranks from $4,000 to the $35,000 level. During this period he enjoyed particular success – including 12 victories – in the barn of Chris Englehart by whom he was claimed twice on behalf of My Purple Haze Stables – for $4,000 in June 2009 and for $7,500 in July 2010.

While competing at the level of $25,000 or above, Head Heart Hoof won once and finished second three times in six starts for Jay Em Ess Stable and Rick Dutrow, and finished second once in a single start for Bruce Brown and La Marca Stable. The durable gelding, who has had no significant layoffs in five years, has compiled a record of 17-7-3 in 49 starts and earned $380,176.

Bred by Rhapsody Farm and Alan and Dora Alcon, and foaled at Rhapsody Farm, Head Heart Hoof is out of Trustees Gray, a Kentucky-bred five-time winner out of Flying Chevron ($103,269). Trustees Gray is also the dam of Myrtle’s Gray ($155,755), a stakes-placed winner out of Oratory also bred by Rhapsody and the Alcons. Her last reported foal, a 4-year-old filly by Roaring Fever bred by Frank and Peggy Ariosta, has placed multiple times.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2013/01/10/veteran-head-heart-hoof-records-first-stakes-victory-in-speedy-true-and-blue/

Sunny Desert takes sixth straight trip to the winner’s circle after Cat Cay

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Adam Coglianese

Saul and Max Kupferberg’s Sunny Desert (Wild Desert) prevailed by a length in the evenly-matched and contentious field of the $75,000 Cat Cay Stakes for 4-year-old fillies at Aqueduct on Sunday to secure a sixth straight victory and fourth career stakes score.

Odds-on post time favorite under Ramon Dominguez and toting the co-highweight of 122 pounds, Sunny Desert trailed the four-horse field in the early going, enjoying a groundsaving trip three lengths off the lead. Beginning her move from midway on the far turn, she drew even with the leader at the sixteenth pole before drawing off to win by one length. In her first start around two turns, Sunny Desert completed the 1 mile and 70 yards in a final time of 1:42.46.

The running of the Cat Cay was tragically marred when Francis J. Paolangeli’s talented homebred Wildcat’s Smile broke down fatally in upper stretch after setting the pace. Winner of the Sarcastic Stakes and the New York Breeders’ Futurity against males for trainer Dominic Galluscio, the striking blaze-faced dark bay filly was twice Grade 2 placed, finishing second by a nose in the Demoiselle and third in the Black-Eyed Susan in 2012. She compiled a record of 4-4-2 from 13 starts and earned $420,321.

Sunny Desert was claimed by trainer John Parisella on behalf of the Kupferbergs on December 7, 2011 for $35,000 out of a fourth-place effort in her third career start at Aqueduct. The filly has never finished worse than second in eight races since and won her last six, including three other stakes (NYSS Park Avenue, open Judy Soda and NYSS Staten Island). Sunny Desert’s career record now stands at 6-3-0 from 11 starts with $311,750 in earnings.

Bred by Breed of Characters LLC and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds[2], Sunny Desert sold as a weanling at the OBS Fall Mixed sale for $2,000 to her first owners K. K. and Vilasini D. Jayaraman, from whom she was claimed last December. She is the second foal and second stakes horse out of the winning Louis Quatorze mare Hoping for Sun. Sunny Desert’s elder half-brother, Bound by Humor by Sharp Humor ($87,720), ran third in the Corma Ray S. Hoping for Sun currently has a newly-turned yearling colt by Two Step Salsa, to whom she was bred back this spring.

Wild Desert, who entered stud in 2008, stood at McMahon’s from 2008-2010 and at Unbridled Racing Stable near Greenville in 2011.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2013/01/06/sunny-desert-cat-cay/