Dreamboat Annie re-rallies to capture Cupecoy’s Joy

by Sarah Mace

Dreamboat Annie, a 3-year-old daughter of Freud[2] (Sequel Stallions New York[3]) with an eye-catching big white blaze, improved her career record to three wins in four starts and added a main track victory to two prior turf scores on Sunday when she won the seven-furlong, $100,000 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes series at Belmont Park under a well-measured ride by John Velazquez.

Taken off the turf and contested over a track which improved to “good” over the course of Sunday’s card, the Cupecoy’s Joy was reduced to a field of five after the scratches of Amazing Anne, Cosmic Serenity, Kacy Lauren, Laura’s Patriot, and Twin Lights. Dreamboat Annie went off as the 2.25-1 narrow second choice behind last-out turf route winner Freudie Ann at 2-1.

Out of the gate eagerly and setting up position in second at the rail, Dreamboat Annie took back into fourth as many as five lengths off the lead late along the backstretch run for a breather, as The Lewis Dinner showed the way, pursued by Perfect Freud through splits of 23.19 and 46.67.

Angling out into the three-path in upper stretch, Dreamboat Annie began a relentless rally to the front in the lane, challenging game new leader Perfect Freud in the final furlong and drawing off to a three-quarter length victory in a final time of 1:25.64. Perfect Freud in second was followed 8 1/2 more lengths back by The Lewis Dinner, Loon River and Freudie Anne. [VIDEO[5]]

John Velazquez, who has ridden Dreamboat Annie in all four career starts, explained his tactics. “It was a little bit uncomfortable because there was no speed in the race and I was trying to rate her. She was a little bit rank for the first part of the race, but the other horses moved outside and that made it easier for me. From the quarter-pole home, it opened up for me and it was perfect.”

Velazquez continued, “I didn’t want to be on the lead because I knew she’d be running off and would waste too much energy, so I wanted to get her behind horses. Finally, when I got her behind horses she relaxed and came with a good run.”

Leah Gyarmati, who trains the filly for co-owners Crown Stable, Who Wudda Thunk Racing, and Debora Kinns, had nothing but praise for Velazquez’s skill in rationing out his mount’s speed. “It was a great ride. [John Velazquez] did a wonderful job of getting her back there. I think if she’s inside, and being pushed, and head-and-head dueling, it might be a repeat of that Aqueduct race where [she] got a little weary.” Dreamboat Annie’s only defeat came two starts back, when she finished third after setting the pace in the Park Avenue division of the NYSS on April 26.

Continued Gyarmati, “Luckily, he was able to get her back and outside, and it was perfect. We’ll have a lot of fun with her at Saratoga – turf, dirt, 3-year-old filly, New York-bred, maybe can go open also. You have so many choices it will make for a fun summer.”

Bred by Michael Spielman, Dreamboat Annie whose earnings now total $131,200 from three wins and a third, is the third winner of three foals to start out of Extra Impact, a winner of nearly $100,000 by Honour and Glory bred in New York by Albert Fried, Jr. The mare currently has a juvenile filly by Frost Giant named A Little Extra, a yearling colt by the same sire named Iampoe and a filly this year by Posse.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/06/22/dreamboat-annie-cupecoys-joy/

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Possessed well clear in the off-the-turf Spectacular Bid

by Sarah Mace

Trainer Charlton Baker was curious to find out whether Possessed, winner of the Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes on April 26 over the Aqueduct main oval, would also flash talent on turf. Ultimately, however, he had no grounds of complaint when the 3-year-old colt scored a resounding victory in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid division of the stakes series on Sunday after the race came off the grass and was contested over a harrowed main track listed as muddy.

Sired by perennial top-two New York sire Posse[2] (Rockridge Stud[3]) and bet down to 3-5 favoritism in the scratch-shortened field of four, Possessed was looking to rebound from a poor interim trip last out in the Mike Lee Stakes on May 25.

Possessed was content in the early stages of the seven-furlong tilt to let early leader Secured Position set opening splits of 22.82 and 46.49 while fending off an early challenges by Ex Ex Ex and Fenwick Hall.

After a three-wide trip through the far turn, Possessed, now in third, drew up alongside Secured Position and Fenwick Hall approaching the quarter pole. He did not take long to take charge in upper stretch. Kicking away, the colt drew off to a much-the-best 6 3/4-length victory. Secured Position finished second, 4 1/2 lengths clear of Fenwick Hall. Ex Ex Ex tired to fourth. After six furlongs in 1:11.56, the final time for seven panels was 1:25.17. [VIDEO[4]]

Winning rider Jose Ortiz, who also piloted Possessed to his Times Square victory, said, “We broke well and the 6 horse [Ex Ex Ex] went to the front and then the 2 horse [Secured Position] went out there. I was in the perfect position and moving well on the outside. When I asked my horse to go, he responded very well. I think Charlie Baker’s done a tremendous job with this horse. He was 100% today and we got it done.”

Baker, who co-owns the colt in partnership with Dan Hayden said, “We got a little luck, the race came off the grass and there were a lot of scratches. We got a great ride and it was a great race.”

Baker added that a turf try for the colt was still on the cards. “I’m going to eventually try to run him on the turf; I think there’s another Stallion Series in Saratoga (the NYSS Cab Calloway division at one mile on August 10). Maybe we’ll try that spot, but we’ll definitely try the grass to see where he’s at.”

Possessed has collected three wins, three seconds and a third in nine career starts and earned $195,575. Bred by Grapestock, LLC and foaled at Vinery New York at Empire Stud in Hudson, the colt is the second black type winner out of Ibetyouwishyouknew (Mr. Greeley), whose first foal I Bet Toni Knows by Sunriver also won a division of the NYSS. Ibetyouwishyouknew currently has a yearling by Soaring Empire and was bred last year to Graydar.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/06/22/possessed-spectacular-bid/

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