Good Luck Gus wins Albany to give Saez three straight victories

by Bill Heller

Benefitting from a fine ride by red-hot Luis Saez, Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stable and The Elkstone Group’s colt Good Luck Gus edged One Sided by a half-length to win the 38th running of the $250,000 Albany Stakes for three-year-old New York-breds, the highlight of Showcase Day for New York-breds at Saratoga Friday afternoon. Good Luck Gus gave Saez his third consecutive victory Friday following a maiden win aboard Heated Verdict and an upset in the $150,000 Yaddo Stakes on The Tea Cups.

Asked if the previous two wins helped his confidence in the Albany, Saez said, “That was big. We’re so happy to win here.”

Rudy Rodriguez trains Good Luck Gus, a son of Lookin At Lucky out of Tacticmove by Deputy Minister who was bred by Fred Hetrich III and sold for $97,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August, 2013. Good Luck Gus had won two stakes before the Albany, the $252,000 New York Breeders Futurity at Finger Lakes and the $100,000 Damon Runyon at Aqueduct to conclude his two-year-old season on Dec. 14th.

Rodriguez gave Good Luck Gus the winter and early spring off. He made his three-year-old debut at Belmont Park May 25th, finishing second by two lengths in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes. On July 3rd at Finger Lakes, Good Luck Gus finished fourth by 3 ¾ lengths to Force.

“We thought he had a lot of ability,” Dubb said in the winner’s circle. “We figured this (the Albany) was our objective.”

Bettors sent him off at 7-2 on the rail in the Albany. One Sided, who was ridden by Javier Castellano, went off at 5-2 and Force, who broke from the outside post in the field of six, was the 2-1 favorite under Jose Lezcano.

Javier Castellano shot One Sided to the lead from the two post and Lezcano placed Force a neck behind him on his outside in a very slow pace: a quarter in :25.30. Bellamy Way, who went off at 9-2 under Joel Rosario, raced in third and Good Luck Gus was fourth.

“The plan was we were going to be behind the speed, and when we made the move, hopefully we would have the horse,” Saez said.

Lezcano didn’t wait on Force, who took a half-length lead on One Sided after a half-mile in a pokey :50.23. Force couldn’t clear One Sided through three-quarters in 1:14.33. Bellamy Way remained in third while Good Luck Gus, who had fallen back to fifth, began his rally.

One Sided gamely came back on Force’s inside to re-take the lead after a mile in 1:38.30 while Good Luck Gus, who had moved into third, kept coming on the far outside. Inside the sixteenth pole, Good Luck Gus made the lead and won by a half-length.

One Sided saved second, a length ahead of Bellamy Way in third. Force was another length and a quarter back in fourth. [VIDEO[3]]

Castellano told One Sided’s trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole he might have done things differently, but Repole brushed that aside, telling Castellano, “You did a great job.”

So did Rodriguez. “He was coming into this race very good,” he said. “We were pointing him to this race all along.”

Good Luck Gus improved his record to four-for-10 with three seconds and earnings of more than $510,000.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/08/28/good-luck-gus-wins-albany-to-give-saez-three-straight-victories/

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The Tea Cups cruises past field to take Yaddo in stakes debut

by Sarah Mace

With only one rival beaten in a 10-horse field by the top of the lane, Kendel Standlee’s The Tea Cups, a 5-year-old bay mare by Hard Spun, swung widest of all for the drive, passed all the other fillies and mares in the stretch, many extremely accomplished, and drew off to victory in her stakes debut, the 35th running of the $150,000 Yaddo Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

On paper Discreet Marq, a multiple graded stakes winner and earner of more than $1.2 million, overlaid the field, but as it turned out it was not the grey superstar’s day. Instead, The Tea Cups (9-1) lurked innocently at the back of the pack, racing in ninth and tenth for a first half mile that went in 47.73, while 46-1 longshot Lady Kreesa led the way, pressed by Invading Humor and tracked intently in third by Discreet Marq.

The Tea Cups was still next-to-last through the far turn and entering the stretch. Swinging out eight-wide, she began to mow down the competition, while up front Lady Kreesa yielded the lead by a narrow margin to Discreet Marq.

Advancing in the clear down the center of the track, The Tea Cups surged late past remaining rivals and inched away to a one-length victory. After one mile in 1:36.72, she completed the 1 1/16 miles of the Yaddo in 1:42.92 over the firm inner turf course. She was followed across the line by Old Harbor, who closed from fourth to finish second, a neck ahead of Selenite, who had been racing mid-pack. Swear by It finished fourth a length back and one-half length ahead of Discreet Marq who weakened to fifth. [VIDEO[2]]

Winning jockey Luis Saez said, “They went a little fast in the beginning the first part of it but I had a great trip. We were coming from behind so I stayed patient and at the three-eighths pole I came out. When we came into the stretch I said, ‘Man, everybody is right there,’ so I knew we could do something. When we came to the finish, we were in front. She ran big. She really responded.”

Jeremiah Englehart indicated that this win had extra significance for him. “This is my first stakes win at the meet and it’s exciting. The Yaddo was the first stakes race I ever ran in and I’ve always admired the race.”

Continued the conditioner, “Luis gave her a super ride. They were going quick up front and the closers seemed to have been having a better chance than the horses that were up front. I was a little worried that she was back so far, but he just gave her a really good ride. Luis did a phenomenal job.”

Last out on July 24 at Saratoga, The Tea Cups finished fourth by two lengths going 1 3/16 on the Mellon in an open first-level allowance. Englehart said that after that, “My main goal for her was this race and cutting back in distance. That helped her for sure.”

Englehart concluded, “It is something when you beat an awfully nice mare like Discreet Marq. Anytime you get to up against a really nice horse like that and you come away with a win, it’s an added bonus.”

Claimed for $16,000 on February 14 of last year and transferred to Englehart from Joan Scott that June, she has collected three wins a third and a fourth for the Englehart barn. With a record of five wins, three seconds and four thirds from 19 starts, The Tea Cups has now bankrolled $231,713.

Bred by William Parsons Jr. and David S. Howe, The Tea Cups is one of four winners out of Lunar Colony, a Kentucky-bred A. P. Indy mare. She is the dam of Lunar Victory, a son of Speightstown bred by the same team, who was a multiple stakes winner trained by Bill Mott for Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Lunar Victory won the 2012 Empire Classic and earned $446,495.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/08/28/the-tea-cups-yaddo/

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Lubash runs down King Kreesa for his third straight win in the West Point

by Bill Heller

As good at the age of eight as he’s ever been, Allyu Ben J Stables’ home-bred Lubash ran down his nemesis King Kreesa to win his third straight race Friday at Saratoga on New York-bred Showcase Day. Flawlessly ridden by Junior Alvarado, Lubash won the 36th running of the mile-and-a-sixteenth $150,000 West Point Handicap for New York-breds on grass by one length in 1:43.04. Lubash was the 3-2 second choice and King Kreesa, who was piloted by Jose Ortiz, the 6-5 favorite in the field of five.

Lubash, who missed two weeks of training because of an incident on the backstretch at Belmont Park, has been one of trainer Christophe Clement’s favorites for a long time as he’s woven his million dollar-plus earning career. “He’s a fun horse; he’s a real fun horse,” said Clement, who continues to have an outstanding Saratoga meet. Lubash was Clement’s 12th winner from 43 starts.

Lubash is a son of Freud out of Nasty Cure by Cure the Blues. “He’s that good; he overcomes me,” Clement joked. “He tries harder.”

And he seldom disappoints.

The original field for the West Point was 10, but five horses, including top contender Kharafa, scratched, leaving Lubash and King Kreesa as the obvious two favorites. In last year’s West Point, King Kreesa edged Lubash by a head. They’ve raced against each other many times including earlier this year when Lubash captured the $125,000 Kingston Stakes at Belmont Park May 25th by a length over Kharafa with King Kreesa just another neck behind in third.

After the Kingston, Lubash made it two straight when he won a New York-bred allowance at 1-5. He left from the four post Friday. King Kreesa had the two post.

As he usually does, King Kreesa broke first and immediately seized the lead. But John Velazquez, riding 5-1 Notacatbutallama on the rail, completely changed the dynamics of the race when he took his horse off the rail and made a quick outside brush to take the lead. Ortiz responded by letting King Kreesa race in second on Notacatbutallama’s flank. After a first quarter in :24.67, Notacatbutallama slowed the pace down, hitting the half in :49.22 and three-quarters in 1:13.28.

Alvarado let Lubash idle along in fourth before asking him to get closer heading into the far turn. Coming out of the turn, King Kreesa surged past Notacatbutallama as Lubash bore down on him.

In the final sixteenth of a mile, Lubash surged clear, winning by a length. King Kreesa was second, a length and a half ahead of Notacatbutallama in third. Orino finished fourth, just a head behind Notacatbutallama, at 6-1. [VIDEO[2]]

Lubash’s victory was his 14th in 40 grass starts with nine seconds and five thirds. He also has won one of three dirt starts and has total earnings of more than $1.2 million.

Alvarado said, “As soon as I pulled him out, he was there for me. He’s just such a classy, unbelievable horse. He makes my job easy.”

And Clement’s job joyful. “He’s a great horse,” Clement said. “It’s nice to win. I’m very grateful to the owners.”

The owners are most likely grateful to have Clement taking care of a horse as talented as Lubash.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/08/28/lubash-west-point-2/

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Nirvana Stables’ She’s All Ready much the best in Seeking the Ante

by Sarah Mace

Nirvana Stables’ She’s All Ready, slated to pay 30 cents on the dollar to win the 6 1/2-furlong $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes for New York-bred fillies, obliged her backers with a commanding victory.

Trained by James Ryerson, She’s All Ready certainly lived up to her name when she won her Spa debut on August 7 by more than eight dazzling lengths. A chestnut filly by Girolamo, the filly worked once in the interim, firing a five-furlong bullet on the Oklahoma training track in 1:00 2/5.

Out of the gate well, She’s All Ready immediately engaged 23-1 longshot Crowd Control in a contest for the lead in the early stages of the race under Kendrick Carmouche. After an opening quarter-mile in 22.04, She’s All Ready began to shake free as she completed the half-mile in 45.39.

Carmouche said “go” in upper stretch, and the filly complied readily, opening up a comfortable lead and cruising home under the wire a three-length winner in a final time of 1:16.71. Super Surprise finished second, followed more than five lengths back by Lemon Liqueur in third. Completing the order of finish was Ben’s Girl, Backwood Bay, Crowd Control and Out of Nowhere. [VIDEO[3]]

Carmouche reported, “She’s very easy [to ride]. Mr. Ryerson, the whole team of us, they’ve all done a good job at just keeping her relaxed in the morning because she was very anxious when she came on the track.

Carmouche continued, “I wasn’t worried [about the early pace]. She was nice and relaxed in my hands. Once I asked her, she pretty much ran on from there. She did such a good job. She’s a phenomenal filly. Mr. Ryerson’s trained a lot of good horses over the years. I’m sure if he wanted to stretch her out and train her to stretch out, I’m sure he can do it if anybody can.”

Ryerson said, “You know, I thought she could do it. She’s so smart. She’s fast, but she’s like an old horse in the paddock. She’s a really nice filly. Mentally, all you need her to do is relax. She has that ability and I was never really concerned. When she leaves them and nobody’s running at her it feels good.”

As to the future, Ryerson said, “We’ll see how far she can go. She’s a very thick filly. She’s built like a sprinter. She’s very strong, and at this stage she’s very mature so that gives her a little chance. We’ll see what the schedule of races are. We wouldn’t be afraid to go against open company that could definitely be a possibility.”

Bred by Kings and Queen’s Farm and foaled at Rockridge Stud [4]in Hudson, She’s All Ready is the first winner out of Prominent, a winning Kentucky-bred daughter of El Prado (IRE). Prominent has also produced a yearling full brother to She’s All Ready named Masci. The filly has now earned $163,800 from her two winning starts at Saratoga.

She’s All Ready’s freshman sire Girolamo began his stud career in 2012 at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger’s Sequel Stallions New York[5].

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/08/28/shes-all-ready-seeking-the-ante/

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Jc’s Shooting Star Breaks Maiden in $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes

by Bill Heller

Thanks to a fine-timed rally from last under Manuel Franco, Shooting Star Stable’s Jc’s Shooting Star edged Conquest Superstep by a head, breaking her maiden in the second running of the mile-and-an-eighth $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes for three-year-old New York-breds Friday at Saratoga on Showcase Day.

Sent off at 18-1 in the field of five, Jc’s Shooting Star won in 1:51.39. Though she was zero-for-six, Jc’s Shooting Star had finished fifth in the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont Park and a distant second in the $75,000 New York Oaks at Finger Lakes. Then she finished fifth and second in a pair of New York-bred maiden grass races.

So how exactly did J’s Shooting Star wind up in a $200,000 stakes? “The owner,” trainer David Donk said. “I give him all the credit. It was only a field of five. I was hoping to get third. I honestly didn’t know if she could beat a couple of these fillies.”

Well, she did.

Jc’s Shooting Star is a daughter of Miracle Man out of American Passage by Quiet American who was bred by Miracle Man Racing Partners. She made her debut at Aqueduct April 11^th, finishing second by a length and a quarter. She was second again in a maiden race at Belmont Park before trying stakes company twice.

On Friday, she was last early as 30-1 Congaroo led and 7-2 Freudie Anne and 9-5 Conquest Superstep chased in second and third through a quarter in :23.58 and a half-mile in :47.00. Temper Mint Patty, the 4-5 favorite on the rail under John Velazquez, raced in fourth

Freudie Anne, who won the $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes on grass here in her previous start, took over the front end after three-quarters in 1:11.52 and Conquest Superstep moved into second.

Conquest Superstep took on Freudie Anne around the far turn as Jc’s Shooting Star rallied strongly on their outside. After a mile in 1:37.63, Jc’s Shooting Star advanced into second and went after Conquest Superstep. They separated themselves from the others, battling head-to-head for the final sixteenth of a mile. Just before the wire, Jc’s Shooting Star stuck her head in front.

Temper Mint Patty finished third, 2 ¾ lengths behind Conquest Superstep. Freudie Anne was a distant fourth. [VIDEO[2]]

Donk briefly left the winner’s circle before the trophy presentation to go back on the track, pick up a hose and cool off his newest stakes winner himself. Then he credited Franco, who missed part of the meet after being bruised from a gruesome accident. “He gave her a great ride,” Donk said.

Franco, who had ridden Jc’s Shooting Star in three of her previous six starts, was thankful for the opportunity. “It’s a blessing,” he said.

Jc’s Shooting Star now has a win and three seconds from five dirt starts and a second from two turf tries for combined earnings of just under $180,000.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/08/28/jcs-shooting-fleet-indian/

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Sudden Surprise makes winning look easy in Funny Cide Stakes

by Sarah Mace

Sudden Surprise, a homebred for Mike Repole by New York freshman sire Giant Surprise[2], won his 5 1/2-furlong debut with ease at Saratoga on July 30 in the slop. Four weeks later, stretching out to 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track, he kicked off the Saratoga New York-bred Showcase card by mastering the field of the $200,000 Funny Cide and giving his young sire his first stakes winner.

Out of the gate in good order along with a quartet of rivals, 4-5 favorite Sudden Surprise hustled toward the front under John Velazquez and contested the early pace with No Entiendo at the rail and Dr. Shane between horses through a first quarter-mile in 22.22.

Entering the turn three-wide, Sudden Surprise was able to move inside a path as No Entiendo began to tire. He then edged into the lead around the quarter pole after a half-mile in 45.28.

In the stretch Manipulated, winner of the Rockville Center at Belmont in his debut earlier in the spring, joined the chase, but Sudden Surprise drew away, opening up daylight on his way to a two-length victory in a final time of 1:16.42. Manipulated finished second followed across the line by Dr. Shane, Guaranteed and No Entiendo. [VIDEO[3]]

Jockey John Velazquez, said, “The important thing was that he broke well, and I was able to secure a good position. After that, the rest was easy. He did it very easily, responded well and finished up good.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher added, “We felt like he’d been training well. He was very professional in his debut and he came back and ran another big race today. I’m very proud of him. We thought he’d be forwardly placed. We didn’t want to get into any speed duels. We felt like we were outside the other main speed so we just kind of let [jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] see how the race unfolded. He kicked away against what appears to be a pretty nice horse, so it was a good effort.”

Pletcher indicated that Sudden Surprise’s next date with the starter could be the Sleepy Hollow at Belmont on Empire Showcase Day on October 24.

Owner Mike Repole, beaming in the company of his family, including with its newest addition, a 10-week-old daughter named Gioia Mia (Italian for “My Joy”), said, “It’s Gioia’s first trip to the track and the winner’s circle. It was her first race. It took me 40 years to get to the winner’s circle. It took her 10 weeks. She’s a lot more efficient than I am.”

Repole also wanted to talk about the colt’s sire Giant Surprise, who stands at Rockridge Stud[5] in Hudson. Giant Surprise won his lone start for Repole/Pletcher four years ago by 4 1/4 lengths in a much-anticipated debut at Saratoga. He completed the six furlongs in 1:10.23 and earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, but unfortunately he suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture in that start and had to be vanned off the track and retired.

Said Repole, “It was meaningful to watch this horse run here given what happened to [his sire] Giant Surprise. Giant Surprise [debuted] the day of the Jim Dandy in 2011, a promising 2-year-old. Stay Thirsty was also in the race. We came down to the winner’s circle, like we did today, and [Giant Surprise] didn’t make it back. Todd liked him. He was super talented with great pedigree and great conformation.”

Foaled at Mill Creek Farm[6] in Stillwater, Sudden Surprise is the first foal out of Ready and Good, a placed Florida-bred runner by Ready and Good, also trained by Pletcher, who had a lone career start for Repole. She has visited Repole stallions exclusively, and has a yearling filly by Overdriven and a weanling filly by Stay Thirsty. She was bred this year to Uncle Mo.

Newly-minted stakes winner Sudden Surprise has earned $163,800 from his two winning starts.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2015/08/28/sudden-surprise-funny-cide/

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