Neck of the Moon gets breakthrough victory in South Beach

By Sarah Mace

Expertly guided by Paco Lopez, Hidden Brook Farm’s multiple stakes-placed Neck of the Moon nailed down her first stakes score at Gulfstream Park Saturday afternoon when she swept to the lead in the far turn to win the $100,000 South Beach Stakes, a 7 1/2-furlong two-turn turf contest at Gulfstream Park.

Neck of the Moon last visited the winner’s circle in September 2015, but has been a consistent performer throughout her career, hitting the board in 16 of 21 prior starts and placed in four stakes. Still, the six-year-old daughter of More than Ready had found that first stakes victory elusive.

When the race was drawn, trainer Chad Brown observed, “She’s a very consistent horse, but she is just not lucky. We spotted her well all season and she just had very unfortunate trips. A couple of those races she could have won. She always gives her best.” Neck of the Moon was last seen finishing second by a length in the one-mile River Memories Stakes at Woodbine on November 5. She went postwards in the South Beach as the third betting choice (of nine) at odds of 6-1.

Out of gate six well, Neck of the Moon and Lopez secured a ground-saving spot near the fence for the first bend, then raced in seventh along the backstretch in the two-path, a couple lengths clear of the close-packed scrum up ahead.

Making her way between horses in the far turn, Neck of the Moon advanced into contention wtih clear running in the in the four path at the head of the stretch.

Neck of the Moon drove past her three remaining rivals under a ride, then held off the most persistent of them, Sandiva. who was trying to re-rally. The grey mare crossed the wire the winner by a neck, in a final time of 1:31 flat. Sandiva finished a half-length ahead of the Clement-trained British-bred Excilly in third.

After the victory, Brown said, “Today, she got the trip she needed. We told Paco a few things about her, particularly her affinity to get outside if possible in a big field, and he executed it perfectly. I’m really proud of the ride he gave her and I’m proud of the filly for the effort she gave.”

Remarked Lopez, “This filly is easy to ride. I had good position on the inside. When I took her to the outside, she ran big.”

Brown is unsure whether Neck of the Moon, a $402,312 earner, will continue racing or prepare for life as a broodmare with her back type win under her belt. “I’ll speak to the management at Hidden Brook, just enjoy this for now and see what happens.”

Bred by Stone Bridge Farm [2]in Gansevoort, where she was foaled, Neck of the Moon is out of stakes-placed Kentucky-bred Cotopaxi, by With Approval, who was purchased by Stone Bridge owner Jeffrey Tucker at the 2006 Keeneland November sale for $120,000. She has produced five winners from five foals to start and relocated to Mexico in 2010.

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Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/12/17/neck-of-the-moon-south-beach/

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Bavaro draws off to upset Great White Way

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[2] 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.

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[4]]

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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Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2016/12/17/bavaro-great-white-way/

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