Saratoga Dreamer aces dirt debut in Rego Park

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Adam Coglianese

Peter Deutsch’s Saratoga Dreamer (Elusive Quality), whose first two career starts came on the green, fulfilled trainer Christophe Clement’s expectations that he would thrive on dirt by winning the inaugural running of the $125,000 Rego Park Stakes for New York-bred sophomores at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday.

Originally scheduled for last Saturday, but lost due to a weather cancellation, the six-furlong sprint attracted one additional entry when it was redrawn for Friday to make up a field of seven.

During the loading process, Saratoga Dreamer, 3-1 second choice at post time, hardly acted the part of a horse destined to end up in the winner’s circle, resisting the assistant starters and requiring a blindfold to get in the gate. Once settled, however, the chestnut colt was all business, breaking well and setting up shop behind duelers Regal Minister and Breakin the Fever, who led the field through a first quarter-mile in 23.56 and clocked a half in 47.29.

In the far turn Saratoga Dreamer picked up the tempo and angled out with intent, advancing into second as he entered the lane and taking aim at pacesetter Regal Minister with two lengths to make up.

Closing the gap, he engaged a game Regal Minister in the final furlong, made a steady determined bid for the lead, and took over in the final seventy yards before edging away to secure win by a neck. Favorite Regal Minister finished second, followed across the line by Drama King, Breakin the Fever, Agent Van Alden, Deficit Hawk, and Chasing Bubbles. The final time for six furlongs over the fast inner track of 1:12.83. [VIDEO[2]]

Saratoga Dreamer won his turf sprint debut at Saratoga on August 20, but followed up with a last-of-eight finish in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on turf at Woodbine on September 13 after more shenanigans behind the gate. For his third start at Aqueduct, the colt added lasix and was reunited with winning debut rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Ortiz said, “I broke good and he put me in a great position. I didn’t have to use my horse in the first part of the race, just save him for the end. He finished good. One thing I like about Christophe Clement is that he trains the babies very good; he puts them behind horses to take some dirt. I was very confident with the dirt, and when I asked him he kicked in.”

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Adam Coglianese

Clement, who had said as early as last summer following the colt’s winning turf debut, “I’m not 100% sold he is a turf horse,” commented by telephone, “The horse had trained spectacularly on the dirt in Florida. I was thinking about a race here for him, but it got cancelled. I saw this race and was able to get him up there to run in it. Before he ever ran, he trained so well on the grass I felt I had to run him on the grass. The second time, I tried stretching him out to a mile but he acted up badly behind the gate. He probably wants to sprint at this stage.”

Saratoga Dreamer’s reward for his Rego Park victory will be to spend the rest of the winter in a friendly climate. Said Clement, “He’ll come back to Florida for a freshening and return to New York in the spring.” Saratoga Dreamer’s earnings now total $120,603.

Bred by Aynsford Holdings LLC and foaled on March 24, 2012 at Hidden Lake Farm in Otisville, Saratoga Dreamer is the fourth winner from four foals to start out of St Francis Wood, a black type placed daughter of Irish River (FR) purchased by Anynsford Holdings at the 2011 Keeneland January sale for $47,000. St Francis Wood is a full sister to turf stakes winner Abbey Bridge.

Offered at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Saratoga Dreamer was a $95,000 RNA. A younger sibling, 2-year-old filly Laurel Heights (Capo Blanco [IRE]), brought $180,000 at the Fasig-Tipton preferred New York-Bred yearlings sale in 2014.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/30/saratoga-dreamer-rego-park/

Upstart kicks off sophomore campaign with dominating win in Holy Bull

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Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin

Last seen finishing a bold third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 1 following a rough trip, Ralph M. Evans’ New York-bred Upstart, a ridgling son of Flatter, returned to the races on Saturday bigger, stronger and evidently even more dangerous as a 3-year-old, as he dominated the field of the Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Upstart came into the 1 1/16-mile contest for Kentucky Derby-minded sophomores after putting in a strong six-furlong move in 1:12 on January 18 at Palm Meadows that told his conditioner Rick Violette he was ready to roll after his 84 day break. Bet down to 2-1 second choice at post time behind well-regarded 3-2 Godolphin runner Frosted, Upstart was reunited with regular rider Jose Ortiz.

Though forwardly placed from post eight (of nine) after the break, Upstart was still hung three-wide through the first turn, as he tracked Bluegrass Singer and First Down through a moderate first quarter mile in 24.52 half in 48.82. After First Down weakened, Upstart drew even with Bluegrass Singer and gained the lead through the turn, entering the lane in full control.

With no further challenge forthcoming from the field and full of run, Upstart drew off confidently in the stretch to a 5 1/2-length victory. Frosted, who was bumped at the break and raced in fourth, finished well to get second while Bluegrass Singer held for third. After six furlongs in 1:12.49 and a mile in 1:37.06, the final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.61. According to Trakus statistics, Upstart covered a good deal more ground than the other contenders: 34 feet more than Frosted and 39 feet more than Bluegrass Singer. [HRTV VIDEO[2]]

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Coglianese Photos

Jose Ortiz reported that all went according to plan. “The horse broke very well and I was in the position where me and Rick [Violette] planned to be. It was perfect. By the half-mile pole, I let him go and said, ‘Let’s see what we have here,’ and when we turned for home we rolled.”

Continued Ortiz, “He was very good. He jumped into the bit, and I knew he was ready. I want to congratulate Rick and the owner. Rick did a tremendous job and I want to thank them for giving me the opportunity to ride this amazing horse. When I saw him today in the paddock, I was very surprised because he looked so much bigger and so much stronger. I think he wants to go a mile and a quarter, so we will hopefully make the Kentucky Derby with him.”

With the victory in the Holy Bull, Upstart moved into third place in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points standings with 16, behind tied El Kabeir and New York-bred International Star, who are tied with 21 points.

Violette’s first reaction was, “I thought it (the pace) would be much quicker. [But,] one speed scratched and Kiaran [McLaughlin]’s horse [Frosted] was between a rock and a hard place (from the rail). They were coming off the bench, too. When they went 24 (seconds for the first quarter), I said, ‘We’re in a good spot.’ When they went 48, I said, ‘We’re in exactly the right spot.’ You couldn’t have asked for a better ride.”

Violette, who took gutsy New York-bred Samraat all the way to the Kentucky Derby last year, also has a pretty clear game plan in mind for this promising youngster.

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Coglianese Photos/Lauren King

He commented, “I hope it wasn’t too fast. That’s one of the advantages of running today – you have two weeks to play with. We can go up to the Gotham (March 7 at Aqueduct) or we can come back here in four weeks in the Fountain of Youth (G2, Feb. 21). There is a cushion there if we came off the bench a little strong. We got some points today. If we ran in the Withers (Feb. 7 at Aqueduct) we would have been locked in to four weeks, four weeks, four weeks and there is no wiggle room. So this is a good spot.

Violette continued, “We’ll see how he bounces off this and follow his lead. It could be that we’ll stay here (for the Grade 1 $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby on March 28) to give us the extra two weeks going into the (Kentucky) Derby. That might be the thing to do. It’s nice to have that option.”

Upstart won his 5 1/2-furlong Saratoga debut from off the pace by open lengths on August 15 and followed up just nine days later with a victory when supplemented to the Funny Cide stakes for New York-breds. He finished a wide-trip second to Daredevil in the slop in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont on October 4, for which he earned four Kentucky Derby qualifying points before shipping out west to run third in the Breeders’ Cup (two points). From his three wins, a second and third in five starts, Upstart has earned $701,880.

Bred by Mrs. Gerald A. Nielsen and foaled at her Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, Upstart is the first winner for his dam Party Silks, an unraced daughter of Touch Gold also bred by Mrs. Nielsen. His second dam Intend to Win (Housebuster) is a stakes-placed Kentucky-bred purchased by Gerald Nielsen for $120,000 at the 2001 Keeneland November sale.

Upstart was purchased by Evans on Violette’s advice at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale from the Summerfield consignment for $130,000. Violette said last summer at Saratoga, “He just had a great shoulder, really well-balanced. He looked like he was going to be a decent size, and he’s actually gotten bigger than we anticipated. He was pretty correct, he had a decent family. As they say ‘he checked all the boxes,’ which he did.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/24/upstart-holy-bull/

Captain Serious scores game victory in muddy Hollie Hughes

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NYRA/Chelsea Durand

Barry K. Schwartz’s 4-year-old homebred Captain Serious (Successful Appeal) gamely preserved a narrow lead in the final sixteenth to score his second career stakes victory Aqueduct’s Sunday feature, the $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes for older New York-breds. The race was contested at six furlongs over a sloppy (sealed) racetrack.

Open-length winner last May of Belmont’s Mike Lee Stakes for trainer Mike Hushion, Captain Serious has since placed in three graded contests, but was still looking for that elusive second stakes score. The Hollie Hughes was his inner track debut.

Captain Serious broke from the outside post of six as the 8-5 post time favorite and immediately set his sights on the front. Advancing to challenge fellow Hushion trainee I’m Stoked, who was hustled out of the gate into the top spot, Captain Serious pressed the leader through a first quarter mile in 23.15 and half in 46.34.

Captain Serious managed to secure the lead late in the far turn and angled out four wide into the lane, but the bay’s hard work was far from over. A resurgent I’m Stoked fought on inside drawing even once again, Geaux Mets charged at the rail, while longshot Crafty Dreamer threatened on the stand side.

With a final determined effort, Captain Serious repelled all three challengers and got free late to secure the victory by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:10.70 over the sloppy going. The next three finished heads apart as runner-up Crafty Dreamer nipped I’m Stoked in third and Geaux Mets fourth. Completing the order of finish were Big Business and Jeter. John’s Island was an early scratch. [VIDEO[2]]

Winning rider Jose Ortiz said, “We had a perfect post; I knew I’m Stoked was going to go [to the front.] I broke good, sat, and everything went perfect. I was pretty confident in the horse when he got that post. He’s so game, and he was ready for today.” Added Ortiz, who has piloted Captain Serious in every start, “I want to thank Mike Hushion and all of the connections for their support.”

Hushion, winner of six renewals of the Hollie Hughes, commented, “I think [Captain Serious] was waiting on horses once he got the lead. It was good to see him back on the winner’s circle.”

Named for Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, Captain Serious has compiled a strong 10-race resume. His record of four wins, one second and three thirds includes the Mike Lee and Hollie Hughes victories, a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Dwyer and a pair of thirds in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes and Grade 3 Fall High weight Handicap. His earnings bankroll stands at $320,200

Foaled at Barry Schwartz’s Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, Captain Serious is one of two winners out of Madame Diva, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Mr. Greeley. A half-sister to Deceptive, the dam of $1.1 million earner Mizdirection, Madame Diva was purchased by Buzz Chace, agent, as a yearling at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton New York select sale for $260,000, before going on to become a stakes-placed runner for Hushion and Schwartz.

Madame Diva’s most recent reported foal is a 2-year-old colt by Mizzen Mast. She was sold to El Aventurero Stables for $55,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/18/captain-serious-hollie-hughes/

Dayatthespa near-unanimous choice for Female Turf Champion

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BC FM Turf (Photo: Skip Dickstein)

In an all-but-unanimous decision, Eclipse voters made New York-bred Dayatthespa, who became the Empire State’s first Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup winner, the Champion Female Turf horse of 2014. Dayatthespa collected 260 of the 264 votes cast for first place in the division (plus one abstention). Dayatthespa was also a finalist in the Champion Older Female category.

Dayatthespa started just four times in 2014, but raised the bar with each outing. Second to Filimbi in her seasonal debut on August 2 in the De La Rose Stakes, she defeated fellow New York-bred Grade 1 winner Discreet Marq in the Yaddo Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day on August 24. She next delivered a powerhouse winning performance in the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, before sealing her case for championship honors with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

A chestnut City Zip mare bred by Castellare DiCracchiolo Stable, Cracchiolo & Goldsher, Dayatthespa brought $50,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York preferred yearling sale in 2010 before being purchased privately as a 2-year-old in training by Pete Bradley, who formed a partnership group consisting of Bradley Thoroughbreds, successful Broadway producers Jerry Frankel and Ron Frankel and optometrist Steve Layman. Dayatthespa retired with 11 wins in 18 starts (10 stakes victories), and career earnings of $2,288,892.

The champion will join the elite broodmare band of Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stable, who purchased Dayatthespa for $2.1 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Not long after the Eclipse announcement, Stonestreet Farm (@StonestreetFarm) sent out an excited tweet: “One of our newest members of the Stonestreet broodmare band wins Female Turf #EclipseAward congrats to @BradleyTBs!”

Here is what the connections had to say:

Co-majority owner Ron Frankel: “This is the best night of my life. How could it not? I want to thank Chad Brown, Javier Castellano, Peter Bradley and, most of all, my brother [and co-majority owner] Jerry Frankel. It’s great.”

Co-owner Steve Laymon: “It’s hard not to thank Chad Brown, but when you buy a New York-bred maiden at 5 1/2 furlongs, you’re sure not thinking Eclipse Award, you’re sure not thinking Breeders’ Cup, but we are so excited and we can’t thank everyone enough for this award.”

Co-owner Pete Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds: “Wow. Dayatthespa. What a ride she has taken us on these last three years. We were very fortunate to have a filly like this. They don’t come around very often. Thank you, Chad and his staff and team, his assistants are awesome. Javier, you gave her a great ride. Johnny gave her a great ride. And we’re just very happy to take this award”

HRTV Video[2] of 2014 Champion Turf Female Eclipse presentation.

Previous New York-bred Eclipse winners are: Saratoga Dew (Three-Year-Old Filly, 1992), Funny Cide (Three-Year-Old Male, 1973) and Fleet Indian (Older Female, 2006).

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/18/dayatthespa-female-turf-champion/

International Star launches sparkling late charge to win Grade 3 LeComte

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Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography

Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Eclipse Award finalists for breeders and owners of the year, were given an excuse to celebrate early on Eclipse Saturday when International Star delivered a big performance in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds, coming off the rail in the stretch to fly home victorious.

The win elevates the bay son of Fusaichi Pegasus to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings, where, by virtue of his victory in the Grey Stakes at Woodbine (10 points), a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs (one point) and the LeComte victory at the Fair Grounds (10 points), he shares first place with El Kabeir who also has collected 21 points.

Settling in at the rail after breaking from the one-hole under Miguel Mena at odds of 9-1, International Star saved ground through both turns of the one mile and 70-yard tilt, while longshot Hero of Humor (173-1) set the majority of the early pace through fractions of 23.66, 47.07 and 1:13.35, destined to be challenged by Tiznow R J (4-1) and Another Lemon Drop (7-1).

Hemmed in at the rail in upper stretch, International Star shifted out with two athletic maneuvers, finally getting clear at the furlong marker. Taking the lead at the sixteenth-pole, after a stutter-step he charged to the wire a 2 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:43.62. War Story, bested Tiznow R J by a head for the place.  [VIDEO[2]]

Mena said, “The plan was the save ground on both turns and then he came out at the three-sixteenths-pole and he came rolling.  He was running hard but he kind of pulled himself up a little at the end when he found himself alone on the lead.”

Mike Maker, who trains the colt for the Ramseys, said, “He’s been training very well.  We expected a big race – maybe not that big – but he was coming into the race great.  We’ll bring him back to Florida and take a hard look at the Risen Star.”

Now a two-time graded stakes winner, International Star has earned $320,979 with three wins and two seconds from seven career starts.

Bred by Katharine M. Voss and Robert T. Manfuso and foaled at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, International Star was purchased by the Ramseys as a yearling for $85,000 out of the Fasig Tipton select yearling sale in September in Timonium. His dam is Parlez, a multiple winner by French Deputy who has produced five winners in all, including stakes winner Fools in Love by Not For Love.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/18/international-star-lecomte/

When opportunity knocked for Sunshine Millions Sprint, Weekend Hideaway answered

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Coglianese Photos/Kenny Martin

When the announcement came that entries for Gulfstream’s Sunshine Millions were opened up to horses bred in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland as well as Florida, trainer Phil Serpe immediately thought that the $100,000 Sprint Stakes at six furlongs would be just right for Red and Black Stable’s Weekend Hideaway. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown obliged on Saturday with a resounding four-length stalker’s victory under Javier Castellano.

Breaking sharply from his outside post as the 5-1 third choice, Weekend Hideaway immediately set up shop at the flank of speedy pacesetter and 4-5 favorite Happy My Way, the who broke on top from the rail.

After stalking the leader through an opening quarter mile in 22.76 and a half in 44.96, Weekend Hideaway began his winning bid at the top of the stretch. He took command with a furlong to go and drew off to a no-doubt-about-it four-length victory in a final time of 1:08.64. Grand Shores got up for second, leaving pacesetter Happy My Way to pick up the show [VIDEO[2]].

Castellano said, “The way I handicapped the race, Happy My Way had the speed and the one-hole, so he had to go. I sat right off the pace, and it worked out great. I think the outside post gave me a big plus to win the race.”

Added Castellano, “The way [Weekend Hideaway] did it in the last part, he was very comfortable. I know they went really fast on the pace and it paid off in the last part of the race.”

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Coglianese Photos

Trainer Phil Serpe explained that as soon as he heard about the expanded entries for the Millions, it seemed like the right move: “At that point, it was kind of a no-brainer. We were actually looking for a spot for him. It all worked out well for us.” Serpe also pointed out, “He’s really been touting himself down here. His [four] works [at Gulfstream] were excellent and we really thought he’d run well.”

Weekend Hideaway is now a five-time stakes winner with a career record of seven wins, three seconds and three thirds from 20 starts. His victory in the Sunshine Millions Sprint pushes his earnings over the half-million dollar mark to $507,332

Winner of the David Stakes and Bertram F. Bongard as a juvenile, as well as finishing third in the Grade 2 Futurity, the following year Weekend Hideaway posted a frontrunning victory in the open Gone Fishin overnight stakes at Belmont. He collected his fourth stakes victory at the Spa last summer with a wire-to-wire tally in the John Morrissey

Bred by the late Carl Lizza’s Flying Zee Stables, for whom Serpe was a long-time trainer, and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, Weekend Hideaway is the first foal and only starter out of New York-bred Apocalyptical, an unplaced New York-bred daughter of Wiseman’s Ferry. Weekend Hideaway was purchased by Michael Hoffman’s Red and Black Stable for $40,000 in the yearling portion of the Flying Zee Dispersal in October 2011.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/17/sunshine-millions-sprint-weekend-hideaway/

Willet “nailed it” in Interborough for fifth career stakes victory

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NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

Willet kicked off her 7-year old campaign by posting her fifth career stakes victory, and the first New York-bred stakes score of the year, when she won Aqueduct’s $100,000 Interborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on Saturday from off the pace.

Willet was looking to get back in the winner’s circle first the first time since the summer, when she recorded a win a state-bred conditioned allowance sprint at Saratoga on July 30, but since that victory had put up a series of strong performances in imposing company. She collected a pair of thirds behind female sprinter Eclipse Award finalist Artemis Agrotera in the Grade 1 Ballerina and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, and finished second to New York-bred graded stakes winner La Verdad in the Iroquois on Empire Showcase Day. In her most recent start Willet disappointed with a third-place finish third in the slop in the Garland of Roses as the 6-5 favorite. She came into Saturday’s race looking sharp though, with a five-furlong bullet move over the inner on January 11 under her belt.

Breaking from post three (of six) as the 2-1 favorite, Willet ran a reserved race for the first half mile, falling back by as much as nine lengths, while speedier types – Bridgehampton, pursed by Cape Cod Carol and Aireofdistinction – carved out early fractions of 22.57 and 45.41.

Picking up steam around the far turn, the bay mare swung out widest of all at the head of the stretch and steadily picked off rivals. After a perfectly-timed ride by Irad Ortiz, Jr., she reached the finish line with all the momentum and a 1 1/2-length advantage. Aireofdistinction held second, while Expression closed into third. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.65. [VIDEO[2]]

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NYRA/Adam Coglianese

Ortiz reported, “I got a pretty good trip. She likes to come from behind. When she broke she was relaxed, and she finished pretty good. She was ready.”

Jimmy Iselin, winning trainer of Willet and co-owner with Charlotte Assoulin and Eli Gindi, said, “It’s great that she should come back after the last race [the Garland of Roses]. That was a little concerning. But after that race, she was flourishing. So we made a decision to race on a great day and a great track. It’s exciting that she came back and showed what she can do.”

Willet’s last stakes victory came in the mud in the Touch of Love overnight stakes for state-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct on December 2013, the same year she won the Union Avenue and Princess Dixie in back to back starts. In 2012 she dazzled in the mud with a nine-plus-length romp in the Iroquois Stakes.

Only three times out of the money in 23 starts, Willet’s record stands at 9-7-4 with earnings approaching the three-quarter million dollar mark at $746,900.

As to future plans, Iselin said, “We’ll sit down and enjoy today and go back to the drawing board.”

Bred by the late Michael T. Martin and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson Willet is out of Katina K, a winning daughter of Distinctive Pro out of New York-bred Grade 3 winner Darlin Momma (Night Invader). Katina K has produced four winners from four starters, including 10-time winner Dr. Quirk (Tomorrows Cat) who earned $159,305. The mare’s most recent reported foal is a yearling filly by Majestic Warrior and in 2014 she was bred to Warrior’s Reward.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/01/17/willet-interborough/