Royal Posse earns second “crown jewel,” turns millionaire

By Sarah Mace

Royal Posse, trained by Rudy Rodriguez and campaigned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith, had a triumphant day Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding by New York sire Posse[2] successfully (and grittily) defended his title in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, the centerpiece of Gulfstream Park’s Opening Day Claiming Crown card, and crossed the seven-figure threshold in earnings to bring his career total to $1,011,245.

Royal Posse was enthusiastically backed by bettors to repeat in the CC Jewel, 1 1/8-mile event for horses that have raced for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower: he was sent off the 3-5 post time favorite on the strength of being in career form, having just reeled off three straight victories in the Alydar Stakes, Evan Shipman Stakes and Empire Classic. On top of that, the gelding is as honest and hard-trying as they come. In 13 starts since being claimed by his connections on May 31, 2015, Royal Posse had won seven races, including six stakes, and never finished out of the exacta.

In the early stages of the CC Jewel, Royal Posse saved ground in fourth through the first turn, then settled in the pocket in the backstretch, while Homespun Hero and Diamond Bachelor set an honest pace up front, covering a quarter mile in 23.92 and a half in 47.56.

Dropping back slightly to six lengths off the pace before rounding the turn, Royal Posse then came under a drive, moved one more path off the rail, and hit his best stride by the quarter pole.

Four wide in the charge to the wire, Royal Posse had only Diamond Bachelor still to catch. He steadily wore down his rival, prevailing in the last half-dozen strides to win by a half-length and stop the clock in a final time of 1:49.84. John Jones finished two more lengths back in third.

Winning jockey Luis Saez, aboard Royal Posse for the first time, reported, “He broke good and he was very comfortable. At the half-mile pole, he was a little bit heavy but he kept going and when I started riding he responded. When we came to the stretch I put him in the clear and he took off. When you ask him, he just keeps going.”

“I wasn’t worried. I know when he’s outside, he’s a grinder,” said trainer Rodriguez. “Luis said as soon as he took him outside, he started grinding and grinding. That’s what he does most of the time.”

Rodriguez added, “He’s a really game horse. Every time, he tries so hard. I know the stretch isn’t as long as the stretch at Saratoga and Belmont, but he did it. I’m very happy and proud of him.

“We claimed him at the right time. When we got him, he was pretty sound horse. He’s like an ATM. You put him in (a race) and he gives it to you. You don’t have to put much back, just keep him happy.”

Bred by Richard J. Troncone Senior and Junior, and foaled at Mill Creek Farm[3] near Stillwater, Royal Posse is one of four winners from seven starters out of Struckbylightning, an unraced Kentucky-bred daughter of Cryptoclearance. Her one other black type performer is Ampart Ridge by Cactus Ridge, who earned $176,000.  The mare’s most recent reported foal is a 2-year-old filly by Desert Party.

The gelding’s million-dollar bankroll has come from 11 victories and 10 runner-up finishes in 24 starts.

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Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/12/03/royal-posse-cc-jewel-16/

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Highway Star passes class test with flying colors in G3 Go for Wand

By Sarah Mace

Chester and Mary Broman’s Highway Star, the lone 3-year-old in a field of seven fillies and mares, parlayed victory in the Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Stakes (NYSS) series on November 13 into a graded stakes win just 20 days later, when she captured Saturday’s featured Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Stakes at Aqueduct.

Stretching out from seven furlongs to a one-turn mile, but already proven twice at the distance, Highway Star toted 115 pounds for the race and was the fourth betting choice in the field at odds of 7-1. She was reunited with jockey Angel Arroyo, the win rider for the NYSS.

Away well, Highway Star settled four-wide near the back of the field along the backstretch behind a moderate pace (24.20), which was set by fellow New York-bred Wonder Gal and 50-1 longshot Burn Control who dueled on the front end.

Getting closer into contention, Highway Star took over the third spot in the turn and set her sights on tackling the leaders. Highway Star wore down and collared Wonder Gal, now alone on the lead, in the final furlong, but still had a fast-closing High Ridge Road to hold off.

Highway Star persevered and secured the victory by a determined nose in 1:38.07. Wonder Gal finished another neck back in third, while Bar of Gold checked in fourth. Rounding out the running order were Cayman Croc, Camille Claudet and Burn Control. [VIDEO[3]]

“The pace was too slow [early] and, I don’t know what happened,” said winning trainer Rodrigo Ubillo.

“Angel was too far back [on the backside] with the pace and everything. I thought we were going to be third with a good pace but he was almost next to last at one point. [When the fractions came up,] we were a little bit concerned, but it worked out just fine.”

Arroyo said, “I feel happy. My filly broke good. I put her on in stalking position and on the backside, we were clear and went through. I had her in good control in the stretch and she really responded. [She was] real strong, I’m excited for her future. She’s good.”

Ubillo has plans to carry on with his graded stakes winner when Aqueduct racing shifts to the inner track. “You will see me back as long as she comes out of the race good,” said Ubillo. “Every time she runs, she just gets better and better, more feisty and more happy.”

Ubillo knows firsthand that he has a happy horse on his hands: “I ride her myself [in the mornings] and she gives me a good energy. She’s almost dropped me off like twice; she jumps and kicks, she’s just happy. She likes her job.”

Unraced at two, Highway Star won her first two starts at three, breaking her maiden on debut last May at Belmont and following up with a restricted allowance victory in July. Unplaced in her first stakes try, the Statue of Liberty division of the NYSS at Saratoga, she finished third in the Fleet Indian at the Spa before registering back-to-back wins in a second-level allowance race and the Staten Island. Highway Star’s five wins and a third in seven starts, brings her earnings to $369,000.

Highway Star is one of three winners, and the first stakes winner, out of Stolen Star, a multiple stakes-placed homebred for the Bromans, who is also a half sister to their multiple stakes winner and Friend or Foe, who is now a sire.

Highway Star’s sire Girolamo, a Grade 1-winning son of A.P. Indy owned by Darley, began his stud career in 2012 at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger’s Sequel Stallions New York[4] before relocating to Kentucky.

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Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/12/03/highway-star-go-for-wand/

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