NEWS: RACING

Bavaro draws off to upset Great White Way

Saturday, December 17th, 2016
NYRA/Robert Mauhar

NYRA/Robert Mauhar

By Sarah Mace

Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm and trainer Gary Sciacca teamed up to score an upset in Aqueduct’s Saturday co-feature, the $150,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes (NYSS) for New York-sired 2-year-olds. Bavaro, their grey son of Freud bred by Hidden Lake Farm, LLC, Gunston Hall Farm and Tony Grey, comfortably bested 1-5 favorite Gold for the King in Saturday’s six-furlong tilt

Bavaro debuted successfully just 28 days ago, scoring a front-running 5 1/2-length victory in a state-bred maiden special weight under Antonio Gallardo, despite failing to change leads in the stretch. He completed six furlongs on Aqueduct’s fast main track in 1:11.77 for a Beyer Speed Figure of 73. In the interim, Bavaro posted two strong half-mile moves, most recently last Tuesday, when he fired a bullet over Belmont’s training track in 48 2/5 seconds

Drawn in post two (of six), and partnered with Manny Franco for the first time, Bavaro (7-2, second choice) got off to a bit of clumsy start, but then threw down the gauntlet, grabbing a one-length lead by the first point of call and challenging the rest to run him down.

All eyes were on the talented Gold for the King, winner of both the New York Breeder’s Futurity Stakes and Notebook Stakes this fall, as he moved his way up into second from fourth in the far turn.

NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

Approaching the quarter pole, it seemed as if Bavaro was about to face a serious challenge from the looming favorite, but the grey cornered neatly and readily kicked clear of his would-be challenger. Galloping off to a 3 3/4-length victory  Bavaro’s final time for six furlongs over the “good” going was 1:11.16.

Gold for the King in second finished, well clear of Remstin in third. Rounding out the order of finish were Eddie’s Gift, Ethan Hunt and Three to Thirteen. [VIDEO]

Sciacca said of the colt, who is named for former Giant’s tight end Mark Bavaro, “He’s a tough horse, that’s why he’s named Bavaro. He’s a big, good-looking runner where nothing bothers him. He’s like a bull.”

Continued Sciacca, “He’s a nice horse and he’s done everything right. I figured he’d be up front, but I didn’t think it’d come that easy. He changed leads today; he didn’t change it last time. The speed wasn’t that great today.”

Sciacca plans to keep the colt sprinting.

“I knew he had good speed from the first time he raced, said jockey Manny Franco. “He didn’t break good in his first race like today, but he showed good positional speed. Today, he got out of the gate well and took off. He really did it easy and when I asked for more at the quarter pole, he just took off.”

Bavaro, who was foaled at Hidden Lake Farm in Otisville, is out of is Chantess, an unraced daughter of Unbridled’s Song. A $250,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2004, the mare last changed hands at public auction when purchased by JMJ Racing at the 2007 Keeneland November sale for $150,000.

Chantess has produced three winners from four foals to start and Bavaro is her first stakes-winning offspring. Bavaro was first sold to Machmer Hall for $20,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton New York mixed sale in Saratoga, before being picked up by Parcells the following year for $85,000 at the Fasig-Tipton preferred New York-bred yearling sale. From two victories, the colt has netted $123,000.

Chantess has a weanling colt by Honorable Dillon and was bred in 2016 to Medal Count.

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