Mind Your Biscuits glides up the rail to capture G2 Amsterdam

By Sarah Mace

Mind Your Biscuits (Posse[2]) collected his first career stakes tally on a very big stage Saturday, when he won the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs Saratoga Race Course after coming came from off the pace with a rally at the rail. His victory in the traditional prep for the King’s Bishop on Travers day, August 27, gave the colt’s trainer, 22-year-old Robert Falcone, Jr., his first stakes victory.

Mind Your Biscuits, who is owned by a partnership of J. Stables, M. Scott Summers, Hope Summers and Daniel Summers, came into the race sparking on all cylinders. Adding blinkers at Belmont on July 4, he won a first-level state-bred allowance by more than nine lengths while facing elders. Two races back, he finished a strong second in the Mike Lee.

Bet down to 3-1 second choice under Joel Rosario, who piloted the chestnut colt to victory in last out, Mind Your Biscuits broke cleanly from the outside post and set up last of seven, more than five lengths behind 2-1 favorite Maniacal, who was hustled to the front and posted an opening quarter in 22.36 and half in 45.41.

Making his way over to the rail on the backstretch, Mind Your Biscuits began to pick up steam around the far turn, luckily managing to avoid trouble when Quijote bobbled badly from third early on the bend.

Still inside, Mind Your Biscuits cut the corner into upper stretch, advanced into second along the rail and set his sights on Maniacal, who still enjoyed the lead. Slipping past his rival in a clear path to the inside in the final sixteenth, the colt hit the wire a 1 3/4-length winner in a final time of 1:15.25. Runner-up Maniacal finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Its All Relevant in third. Uncle Vinny, Counterforce, King Kranz and Quijote completed the order of finish. Ready Dancer was scratched. [VIDEO][3]

Jockey Joel Rosario’s comment was short, sweet and to the point: “For a second I thought the horse in front [Maniacal] wanted to stay there but I took the chance to get inside and it worked. [Mind Your Biscuits] is very, very nice horse and I’m very happy with him today.”

Falcone, for his part, spoke of his confidence in his charge, whom he said was “a racehorse” and “loves his job.” “[This win] wasn’t really a surprise,” said Falcone. “We always knew he was a good horse. I think the blinkers on really turned the corner – it really was the finishing touches for him. He matured a lot, too, since he has been in my barn. Every race he would run, he would come back and mature more.”

Mind Your Biscuits hit the board in three out of four starts for conditioner Roderick Rodriguez as a juvenile, including a third place finish in the New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes, and joined Falcone’s string for his sophomore campaign.

Of the incident on the turn Falcone said, “It looked like Joel [Rosario] had to check to get around [Quijote]. It looked like a little interruption for us. For that to happen, and for him to have to check like that, and to still make that move, was really impressive.”

Falcone added of the personal milestone, “This [win] means a lot. I’m just happy to be here – it’s the greatest horses, the best trainers and the best jockeys, it’s just great. But to win on a day like this is really something.”

Bred by Jumping Jack Racing LLC and foaled at Sue and Gary Lundy’s Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains, Mind Your Biscuits is one of three winners from three foals to start out of Jazzmane, an unraced Kentucky-bred daughter of Toccet. The mare has two more reported foals, a 2-year-old filly by Toccet and yearling colt by Officer.

Mind Your Biscuits, who has earned $285,366 from three wins, three seconds and two thirds in nine starts, was purchased as a short yearling by Machmer Hall at the 2014 Keeneland January sale. Offered at auction twice more he RNA’d both times for $47,000, first at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale and at last year’s OBS Spring 2-year-old sale.

Posse stands at Rockridge Stud [5]in Hudson. His 2016 stud fee was $5,000.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/30/mind-your-biscuits-amsterdam/

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Charlie Baker strikes again at the Spa: 15-1 Freud’s Friend takes MSW on debut

By Sarah Mace

Less than 24 hours after presiding over Moonlight Song’s scintillating title defense in the John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack, trainer Charlie Baker sent Francis Paolangeli’s homebred Freud’s Friend from the paddock for his career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for New York-bred juveniles on Friday, only to rejoin the gelding in the winner’s circle after he wired the field at odds of 15-1.

Jockey Manuel Franco hustled Freud’s Friend out of the gate from post five, and the bay, who sports a distinctive long narrow blaze, quickly emerged from the scrum in-between horses to lead the full field of 10 by a length though an opening quarter mile in 22.37.

Saving ground around the far turn, Freud’s Friend opened up some daylight in upper stretch, but challengers were on the move.

Inside the final furlong Freud’s Friend had to dug deep to hold off a determined Jo’s Bold Cat, a first-time starter by Courageous Cat trained by Rick Violette. Freud’s Friend shifted a couple of paths toward the grandstand side under a left-handed whip late, but kept to his task gamely and secured the victory by a nose. After a half-mile in 46.01, the final time for 5 1/2 furlongs over the firm turf was 1:03.60. [VIDEO[2]]

Baker said of his expectations first time out for Freud’s Friend, “You are never sure with a first-time starter. They’ve got to experience the gate and all that stuff, but I felt good coming in because he was training beautiful. He showed speed in his workouts and I figured he’s going to be up close to the pace, but he exceeded our expectations as far as winning and the way he ran.”

The gelding had posted a long, regular series of works at Finger Lakes since April, including multiple moves from the gate.

As far as collecting a pair of Spa victories in less than 24 hours, one in a stakes race, Baker said, “[It’s] great. Great. It’s always good to win at Saratoga. I love it.”

Freud’s Friend, who paid $32.40 to win for a $2 wager, is out of the winning New York-bred mare Thanza Million, by Millions, who has produced five winners from seven foals to start.

Freud[3] stands at Sequel Stallions New York[4]. Freud’s 2016 stud fee was $10,000.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/29/freuds-friend-debut/

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Laid off for a year? No problem for 9YO Moonlight Song in Morrissey title defense

By Sarah Mace

Albert Fried, Jr.’s 9-year-old gelding Moonlight Song (Unbridled’s Song) delivered an inspiring performance at the Spa on Thursday afternoon, when he wired the featured $100,000 John Morrissey Stakes for his second straight year with exactly . . . zero (yes, zero) . . . intervening starts. As it happens, veteran’s victory was also uplifting for young hot-handed jockey Jose Ortiz, who made his 1000th trip to the winner’s circle after the race.

Trained by Charlie Baker, Moonlight Song is extremely lightly raced for his age, with only 17 career starts under his girth coming into the 6 1/2-furlong Morrissey. The handsome dark bay gelding was a bit of a late bloomer and only got to the races for the first time at five. He dominated the fields in his first two career starts, but has had to work through a variety of physical issues over the years. Fried has shown exemplary patience and continues to reap the rewards.

Sent off as the 6-1 fifth choice in the competitive field of seven, Moonlight Song assumed command shortly after the break, and took the field through a hot first quarter in 22.05 and half in 45.73 with a one-length lead over 3-2 favorite Weekend Hideaway.

Pressed though the far turn by his main rival, but kicking clear and comfortably extending his lead to three lengths in upper stretch, the gelding was guided to the rail by Ortiz nearing the furlong marker, and dug for the wire as a host of challengers ganged up behind him.

Moonlight Song hit the line a three-quarter length winner under a drive. The next three to finish were separated by a photo, with Ostrolenka second, a head in front of Crackerjack Jones in third, who nosed out Weekend Hideaway in fourth. After six panels in 1:09.54, Moonlight Song stopped the clock at 1:15.99. Completing the order of finish were Drama King, Notacatbutallama and John’s Island. [VIDEO[3]]

Ortiz reported, “He broke well; he broke perfect. We went really easy the first quarter-mile. This horse is a special horse. He doesn’t run a lot, but every time he steps on the track, Charlie [Baker] brings him 110 percent.”

On his 1000th victory, Ortiz said, “This means a lot. It’s a big goal in my career. I’m just thankful. I want to thank every single owner and trainer who gave me the opportunity. My family, and my fiancée [Taylor Rice] who support me every day, [and] my brother [jockey Irad], who taught me a lot when I first started riding. Saratoga is the place to be in the summer, and I really love it. I’m very blessed I could do it here.”

Charlie Baker was, with reason, beaming in the winner’s circle over Moonlight Song’s impressive win. “He’s a great horse and he runs great fresh, so it’s a little easier on me. You still have to get him cranked up and ready to go, but he’s a nice horse.”

Continued Baker, “He had a little problem after the race last year and the owners are very easy to get along with. We got him back in March. We took our time; he had a little issue here and there, but it worked out super. It’s very hard to imagine a 9-year-old coming off a year layoff, but if any horse can do it, he can.”

Of the secret to Moonlight Song’s long-term success, Baker explained, “We’ve always given him time off and never abused him. We are going to go and see how he comes from here.” He plans will give Moonlight Song at least six weeks before (fingers crossed) his next start.

A stakes winner at all three NYRA tracks (Aqueduct’s Gold and Roses and Belmont’s Hudson in 2014 and a pair of Morrisseys at Saratoga), Moonlight Song is the third foal, and one of four winners from seven to start out of Moonlightandbeauty (Capote), also bred by Fried.

Fried purchased Moonlightandbeauty’s Grade 2 winning-dam, Stolen Beauty (Deputy Minister), for $30,000 at the 1990 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Moonlightandbeauty became a stakes winner and $228,053-earner for trainer Rick Schosberg and Fried and began her broodmare career with a bang, producing Schosberg-trained Giant Moon (Giant’s Causeway) as her first foal.

Giant Moon went undefeated in his first four starts, culminating with a victory in the 2008 Count Fleet Stakes, and was voted champion New York-bred 2-year-old male in 2007. Giant Moon won at least one stakes race every year from 2007 to 2010 and earned just over a half million.

Moonlight Song, after four stakes wins, an additional stakes placing, and a record of nine wins, two seconds and third from 18 starts, has earned $534,294.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/28/moonlight-song-morrissey-16/

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Haveyougoneaway runs down Paulassilverlining in G2 Honorable Miss

by Sarah Mace

Sequel Racing’s multiple stakes winner Haveyougoneaway, added graded laurels to her resume Wednesday at Saratoga Racecourse when she won a highly competitive renewal of the six-furlong, Grade 2 Honorable Miss for trainer Tom Morley. The 5-year-old daughter of Congrats, who relocated this spring to New York from her Oaklawn Park base after a private purchase, now has two stakes wins and a stakes placing in her native state.

Out of the gate cleanly from post four of seven, Haveyougoneaway settled in fifth position three lengths off the pace under pilot Kendrick Carmouche. Paulassilverlining, favored at 7-5, was out of the gate first, but took back on the backstretch into sixth to the inside of Haveyougoneaway, leaving 16-1 Diva Express, then 10-1 Disco Chick to click off the early splits in 22.01 and 45.04.

Rounding the far turn Haveyougoneaway had only one horse beaten as Paulassilverlining advanced at the rail. Angling out four-wide into the lane, she quickly closed into second spot, after Paulassilverlining ran past leader Disco Chick in upper stretch.

Wearing down her rival down in the final furlong, a determined Haveyougoneaway got up in the final forty yards to garner the victory by a neck in a final time of 1:09.94. The rest of the field followed 12 lengths behind runner-up Paulassilverlining: Disco Chick, La Madrina, Sarah Sis, Diva Express and Bar of Gold. [VIDEO[2]]

Carmouche, delighted by his first Spa victory, reported, “I broke good and I was sitting behind the top-four and being patient. The favorite [Paulassilverlining] came inside of me. I let her take the spot I could have been in because I knew my filly would make up the ground. It was going to make me get in the clear faster than I wanted.”

Added Carmouche, “Right past the eighth pole, I grinded a little and she really came home. This horse never really exploded like she did. That’s when I knew she would grind it out.”

Trainer Tom Morley first praised his pilot’s savvy ride, “All meet, this track has been playing so far where you need to be in the middle of the track. The rail is not the place to be. [Kendrick] angled out outside [Bar of Gold] and took dead aim at Paulassilverlining. We just got there in time.”

Morley also spoke of his mare’s continued improvement and her being ready to take on graded company. “I take nothing away from her connections previously. She’s a hard-knocking filly who won a bunch of stakes, but sometimes these sprinters start to get better around this age. She ran so well last time against New York breds that it was time to face open graded stakes company.”

Second to the accomplished Bar of Gold while making her New York debut in the Critical Eye Stakes at Belmont Park on May 30, Haveyougoneaway closed in the final furlong to win the Dancin Renee at six furlongs for New York-bred fillies and mares.

As to the future, Morley will consider the Ballerina, Bed o’ Roses at Belmont and even the Breeders’ Cup, but because she could come back to race at six, he plans to pick and choose his starts.

Morley, who was also celebrating his first graded victory as a trainer, was also vocal about Haveyougoneaway as a product of New York. “It’s very special to [win my first graded stakes] with a New York-bred,” said Morley. “I’m a huge fan of the New York-bred program. We’re breeding some seriously good horses up here. I don’t think they can be looked at as they were previously. They are good horses.”

Bred by Andy and Susan Beadnell and foaled at Bead Land & Cattle Company in Pottersville, Haveyougoneaway is the most accomplished by far of two winners out of One Wise Cowgirl, an unraced New York-bred daughter of Wiseman’s Ferry also bred by the Beadnells.

A $50,000 weanling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed sale in 2011, Haveyougoneaway brought $105,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale before Champion Racing Stable, Inc. purchased her a 2-year-old for a mere $1,200 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale when she was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect.

For Champion she earned $402,425, winning the Flashy Lady Stakes at Remington Park in September 2015, and this year nearly sweeping the filly and mare sprint series at Oaklawn Park, when she won the American Beauty and Spring Fever Stakes and finished second the Carousel.

Haveyougoneaway’s record overall stands at 10 wins, four seconds and six thirds from 25 starts. Her winner’s share of the Honorable Miss $200,000 purse brings her earnings to a lofty $622,425.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/27/haveyougoneaway-g2-honorable-miss/

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Super Allison wins New York Oaks by a head

By Jim Dunleavy, courtesy drf.com

On the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile New York Oaks, Super Allison, with Jacqueline Davis aboard, and Mecke’s Madalyn, with Tammi Piermarini up, were sitting just behind three battling leaders – Crazy Love, along the inside; Katniss the Victor, between horses; and three-wide Wonderment.

When Katniss the Victor began to bear out on the turn, Davis made a decision that may have won her the race. She sent Super Allison to the lead from between Crazy Love and Katniss the Victor. At the same time, Piermarini moved Mecke’s Madalyn, hugging the rail and going up inside Crazy Love.

Super Allison and Mecke’s Madalyn battled the length of the stretch with Super Allison proving a head the best.

After her difficulties on the turn, favored Katniss the Victor found her best stride in the stretch and steadily closed with a belated bid to finish third, three-quarters of a length shy of Super Allison.

Wonderment, who was floated wide by Katniss the Victor on the far turn, flattened out and finished fourth, 9 3/4 lengths farther back.

Super Allison, trained by Carlos Martin, paid $7.30 as the third choice in the six-horse field. Following slow early fractions of 25.09, 49.16, and 1:13.95, she completed the course in 1:46.79. [VIDEO[3]]

Mecke’s Madalyn was hesitant to load into the gate prior to the start.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/23/super-allison-new-york-oaks/

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Hit It Once More dominates New York Derby

By Jim Dunleavy, courtesy drf.com

Hit It Once More scored an easy win in the second-richest race of the Finger Lakes meet Saturday, taking the $164,150 New York Derby by 6 1/2 lengths.

Hit It Once More romps by 6 1/2 lengths under Kendrick Carmouche in the New York Derby.

Trained by Gary Sciacca and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche. Hit It Once More wrested the early lead from Awesome Gent, set a controlled pace on an open lead, and then widened his advantage in the stretch while being taken in hand by Carmouche late.

Hit It Once More paid $5 as the favorite in the seven-horse field of New York-bred 3-year-olds. He set fractions of 24.37 seconds, 48.10, and 1:11.81 before completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.02. [VIDEO[2]]

After going winless in five starts last year, Hit It Once More won a statebred maiden race by 4 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct in April and then came back to win a New York-bred allowance by five lengths at Belmont Park in May. In his most recent start, Hit It Once More tired to finish a well beaten fourth against open company in the Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont.

Extinct Charm, the second choice at 2-1, finished well to be second-best after encountering traffic on the backstretch. Extinct Charm attempted to move up along the inner rail on the backstretch but lacked room, brushed with Awesome Gent, and then dropped back. He rerallied to be 4 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Taoiseach.

Awesome Gent stalked the winner early, dropped back a bit on the backstretch, and then finished evenly to be fourth.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/23/hit-it-once-more-new-york-derby/

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Ancient Secret four-for-four after G2 Lake George coup

By Sarah Mace

Alpha Delta Stables’ undefeated sophomore filly Ancient Secret (Kantharos) had been climbing the class ladder and meeting increased distance demands with every one of her first three career starts. On the opening day of the storied Saratoga race meet, she upped the ante yet again, acing her first graded try and first race around two turns, the Grade 2, $200,000 Lake George at 1 1/6 miles for 3-year-old fillies on the Mellon turf.

A three-length winner right out of the box at Belmont last October 24 going six furlongs on turf in state-bred company, she returned to the races on May 14 firing on all cylinders.  She won a first-level state-bred allowance at seven furlongs by more than four lengths, and four weeks later annexed the open Wild Applause Stakes, a one-turn mile, winning by a head. In all three starts, she successfully came from off the pace.

Bet down to 2-1 favoritism by post time in the Lake George under regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., the Chad Brown trainee settled in fourth three lengths off the lead and saved ground around the clubhouse turn, while Sky My Sky set the pace, clocking a first half in 48.03, pushed along a length back by Gone Away.

Moving out into the two path, and gaining a position early in the far turn, Ancient Secret moved out into the three path midway around the bend and the top of the stretch set her sights on the front two to her inside.

She overhauled the leaders within the final furlong and began to edge away. She then had enough left in the tank to spurt clear and comfortably hold off stablemate Elysea’s World, who was closing with intent. Ancient Secret scored the victory by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:40.35. Outsider Art finished a length back in third. [VIDEO[2]]

Trainer Chad Brown said, “This filly ran really well. She’s a remarkable horse. She always trained like a really quality animal, we just gave her little incremental goals and she’s hit them all. I wasn’t quite sure about the two turns, I know she’s a top class horse but I was curious to see what she was going to do when the gates opened and she passed the test.”

Bred by Lambholm and foaled at Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains, Ancient Secret is the first winner and first registered New York-bred out of Privacy. The filly sold on the opening day of the 2015 OBS spring sale to Steven Young, agent on behalf of John Clay’s Alpha Delta Stable, for $225,000.

Privacy, a winning Florida-bred mare by Notebook, also bred by Lambholm, is a half-sister to stakes winner Admonition. Her 2014 foal by Posse, named Hiding, is also a registered New York-bred.

From her four victories Ancient Secret has earned $259,200.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/22/ancient-secret-g2-lake-george-coup/

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First-time starter Miss Freeze much the best in Lynbrook Stakes

By Sarah Mace

Miss Freeze, a daughter of Frost Giant[2] (Keane Stud[3]), got her career off to a flying start on Belmont Park’s closing day when she scored a decisive six-plus length stakes victory on debut in the 6-furlong, $125,000 Lynbrook for New York-bred juvenile fillies.

The only first-time starter in the six-horse field, Miss Freeze had posted a steady series of published works at since May, including a gate move on June 22. At post time, with meet-leading rider Jose Ortiz in the irons, she was the public’s fifth choice at odds of nearly 9-1.

Gunned out of post three, and undeterred by brief brush with odds-on favorite Paz the Bourbon, Miss Freeze settled in third in the two path, as Zenna (7-1) led the way, chased by 3-2 second choice Wilburnmoney.

Holding her course along the backstretch and passed by runners on either side, Miss Freeze briefly found herself in last at the approach to the far turn, but picked things up again, gained a couple of positions, and midway around the bend grabbed a spot at the rail.

Once pacesetter Zenna drifted out in the turn, leaving a large and inviting opening at the rail, Miss Freeze took full advantage. The filly charged toward the lead and took over just past the three-sixteenths marker. Scampering to the wire, she opened up readily on new leader Wilburnmoney, and secured the victory by 6 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:11.98.

Wilburnmoney finished a half length ahead of Paz the Bourbon, who closed into third. Completing the order of finish were Zenna, Christening and Holy Gold. [VIDEO[4]]

Ortiz said, “She’s a very straightforward filly. First time out, it’s tough to win a stakes race, but she was ready. I like her a lot. She did everything right. She broke well. She took dirt like a professional. When it was clear by the quarter pole, I angled in as the rail was open for me and she really gave me a nice run.”

The Lynbrook was not only a cause for great celebration for her owners, Joseph Bulger, Michael Imperio and DJC Racing Stables, but for her conditioner David Cannizzo, as well, who recorded his first stakes victory as a trainer.

“It’s a great feeling to get it done,” said Cannizzo. “It was beautiful, to say the least. We ran well in a bunch of New York-bred stakes before, but had never been able to break the ice.”

Cannizzo added, “Miss Freeze is a very special filly and I’m so grateful to the owners for letting me work with her. I also need to thank [bloodstock agent] Nick Sallusto, who has been a big factor in getting some really nice horses into my barn.”

As to Miss Freeze, Cannizzo said, “Since Day One, she’s been straightforward and has handled everything perfect. She’s handled everything we’ve thrown at her; we worked her against older horses and younger horses. She’s just been a dream.”

He also explained his thinking behind debuting the filly in a stakes race. “I figured this race would be a shorter field. The other race we [considered] was a 12-horse field. I didn’t want to have a troubled trip.”

Cannizzo will be pointing Miss Freeze to the $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga on August 26. “She ran hard, for a first start and I want to give her a chance to get into a good routine [at the Spa].”

Bred by Anthony Bruno and foaled at Rick Burke’s Irish Hill Century Farm[6] in Stillwater, Miss Frost is the most recent reported foal out of Reata’s Vixen, a Kentucky-bred multiple winner and six-figure earner who is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Royal Currier, who banked nearly $870,000. The filly is her dam’s second winner of two foals to start.

A $57,000 yearling at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale last year, she was purchased by Sallusto and Albana for $150,000 at the OBS Spring Sale.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/17/miss-freeze-lynbrook-stakes/

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King Kreesa combines speed and heart in Forbidden Apple title defense

By Sarah Mace

Millionaire King Kreesa, who has been seeking a return to the winner’s circle ever since taking last year’s renewal of the $150,000, one-mile Forbidden Apple Stakes, combined his hallmark speed with pure grit to win the race the again this year, digging deep to fend off 4-5 favorite Grade 1 winner Force the Pass.

Competitive in most of his six interim starts since winning the race last year, the 7-year-old King Cugat gelding was drawn in post four and bet down to 2-1 second choice under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Out of the gate a jump ahead of the field, King Kreesa used his greatest asset, early speed, as his weapon of choice. He got over to the fence and led the way through fractions of 24.31 and 47.20 under a snug hold, while Force the Pass chased a length back in second.

King Kreesa continued to cruise along into the far turn, but Force the Pass eroded his lead leaving the pair nearly on even terms late in the bend after six furlongs in 1:09.82

Still not headed at the top of the lane, King Kreesa brought out the second weapon in his arsenal: heart. He gave his all for the length of the stretch, holding off his stubborn foe. He ultimately won the battle, scoring his victory over Force the Pass by a nose.

Force the Pass finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of New York-bred Tapitation, while New York-bred stalwart Lubash and Brickyard Kitten finished next in order. The final time for the mile was 1:33.06. [VIDEO[3]]

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. said, “There wasn’t too much pace in the race today and that’s his best race. I didn’t take anything away from him that he gave me. The trainer brought him ready because he went a little fast and then, when he felt the other one [Force the Pass] he kept fighting. He’s always a fighter, he has a big heart. He’s a nice horse.”

Trainer David Donk said, “Irad told me afterwards he [King Kreesa] really wants to battle. He didn’t want him to spurt away too much because he didn’t want him hanging.”

Donk continued, “I was really impressed. I was impressed with him last summer, and today. Everyone knows I’m not really a speed guy, but speed is your best friend. I said, ‘Don’t slow it down too much. But keep everybody honest.’ When Johnny [Velazquez aboard Force the Pass] hooked him, I said to myself, ‘Well, we’re going to find out.’”

Donk is considering the West Point Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day, August 26, for the gelding’s next start.

Bred by owners Gerald and Susan Kresa under the banner of Horse Partners (and given an extra “e” in his name by his breeders, so that their often-mispronounced surname would not extend to the horse), King Kreesa was foaled at Carlland Stables in Avon.

He is the most successful of four winners out of Storm’s Advance, a Florida-bred daughter of Storm Creek who was a multiple winner and stakes-placed on turf ($94,652). Another foal, five-year-old Lady Kreesa by Stonesider, is a multiple winner, a stakes performer and has earned over $230,000.

King Kreesa’s remarkable career has to this point netted him $1,256,704 in earnings from 32 career starts. He has finished in the money 21 times, with ten wins in all (nine in stakes), seven seconds and four thirds while competing both in open company and the ultra-tough New York-bred turf male division.

Voted champion New York-bred turf male in 2013, he has been a contender for the honor both subsequent years, when Lubash took the title. Highlights of his career to date include a pair of victories in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes in 2013 and 2015 and a thrilling second to Wise Dan in the Grade 2 Fourstardave in 2013.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/07/16/king-kreesa-forbidden-apple-16/

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