Disco Partner scintillating off the bench in Elusive Quality Stakes

By Sarah Mace

Despite a laundry list of challenges in Saturday’s seven-furlong, $100,000 Elusive Quality on the Widener turf course at Belmont Park, Patricia Generazio’s homebred Disco Partner (Disco Rico) overcame all and absolutely buried the field in his 5-year-old debut for trainer Christophe Clement.

Coming off a six-plus month layoff, the turf sprint specialist had been posting a series of regularly-spaced works at Payson Park for Clement, who took over training duties from James Ryerson after his successful three-year run with the grey.

In addition to having to overcome the time off, Disco Partner had rarely ventured beyond six furlongs, and was not necessarily at his best over “good” turf, the condition he faced on Saturday. Clement himself expressed reservations when the race was drawn.

“I’ve got a question mark on the seven-eighths as well as a question mark on the softer turf,” said Clement. “I don’t know if it is ideal for him. He might want to go shorter and I think he would do well on firmer turf, but the horse has been training well. It’s time to go.”

Little did Clement know, Disco Partner was also destined to be faced with the prospect of closing into a slow pace and losing ground when forced to circle the field in the turn.

After Disco Partner exited post four alertly as the narrow 5-2 favorite, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr took his mount hard in hand and settled in last place, six lengths off leader Siding Spring, who got away with a moderate 23.75 first quarter and 47.66 half.

Still under a hold for the remainder of the backstretch run, Disco Partner came off the rail in the approach to the far turn. The grey had to swing out five wide at the head of the stretch.

Ortiz did not really ask Disco Partner until he straightened away. Once he got his cue, Disco Partner unleashed his devastating late kick and inhaled his rivals like they were standing still. Solidly in the lead by the furlong marker, Disco Partner drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:22.61 over the “good” turf.

Veteran New York-bred turfer Kharafa (6-1), while kicking off his 8-year-old campaign, advanced from a covered up position in third to get the place, collaring Siding Spring late. The New York-bred exacta paid $40.60 for a $2 bet. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“The trainer didn’t put me under any pressure, he just told me to save ground,” said Ortiz, who had ridden Disco Partner once in 2015 and in his final start of 2016, finishing a close-up fourth in the Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes.

Ortiz continued, “I had to wait a little while after the turn, but it worked out good. With the kind of horse that comes off the pace, I knew I was going to have to go around them because they were going to take cover in the turn. I was stuck in there when we were turning for home and I knew I had a lot of horse, so I had to take him around and just let him do his thing.”

Clement added, “He was very impressive today. They went fairly slow up front and Irad gave him a perfect trip to put himself in a position to win. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the previous trainer [Jim Ryerson], he came to me in very good shape. He’s a very nice horse. It’s fun because I trained Pure Sensation who ran against Disco Partner and for the same owners, Mr. and Mrs. Generazio, so it’s wonderful.”

With six wins, four seconds and two thirds from 16 career starts, Disco Partner has earned $456,810. A runner-up in last year’s Grade 3 Jaipur Invitational Stakes by a neck to Clement-trained Pure Sensation, Disco Partner won the open Troy Stakes at Saratoga.

This talented homebred, who was foaled at Keane Stud [3]in Amenia, is one of five winners out of Lulu’s Number (Numerous), a multiple winner of over $200,000 also bred by Generazio in New Jersey. Her first foal Don Six’s Number (Don Six) is a stakes performer and earner of $212,686. The mare’s offspring combined have earned over $1.1 million in purses.

Currently Lulu’s Number has a 2-year-old filly by Posse named Lulu’s Partner, did not produce a foal in 2016 and foaled a First Samurai colt on February 14.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/29/disco-partner-elusive-quality/

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Celtic Chaos last to first in Affirmed Success thriller

By Sarah Mace

Zilla Racing Stables’ Celtic Chaos (Dublin) kicked off the Belmont Park spring/summer stakes program with a bang Friday when he went from last to first to capture the opening day feature, a competitive and exciting renewal of the $100,000 Affirmed Success Stakes for older New York-bred sprinters.

The 12-horse field for the Affirmed Success, was noteworthy for both size and quality, chock-full of stakes-winning veterans and promising up-and-comers.

Celtic Chaos, who already had two stakes placings on his resume, came into the race in particularly sharp form. In the money in five prior starts dating back to December 1, he finished second by just a neck to Candid Desire, also in the Affirmed Success, three starts back in the Hollie Hughes. The colt won a state-bred allowance just three weeks ago.

After breaking from post seven, Celtic Chaos raced in caboose for the first half mile, while Marriedtothemusic used his hallmark early speed to carry the field through opening fractions of 22.31 and 45.43. Sudden Surprise pressed the leader along and was joined in the chase by Weekend Hideaway.

Celtic Chaos navigated the turn three-wide while the battle raged up front, and swung to the far outside in upper stretch. He launched his bid seven-wide with eight horses left to pass.

After pacesetter Marriedtothemusic ran out of steam at the rail, the lead changed three times in the stretch. Weekend Hideaway, the 2-1 favorite, got the best of the pace duel in upper stretch, but came under pressure from Eye Luv Lulu, in turn. Eye Luv Lulu grabbed the lead in the final sixteenth, but Celtic Chaos was charging home in the clear on the grandstand side, together with 75-1 longshot Final Chapter.

The better finisher, Celtic Chaos nailed Eye Luv Lulu in the final jumps to win by a neck in 1:10.84. Final Chapter, the aptly-named last horse bred by the legendary John Nerud, continued his strong closing kick to get a head in front of 2-1 favorite Weekend Hideaway, who had to settle for fourth. Completing the order of finish were Candid Desire, Riff Raff, Ostrolenka, Rectify, Awesome Gent, Marriedtothemusic, Samadi Sky and Sudden Surprise. West Hills Giant was scratched. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“To be honest, I’ve been riding this horse a lot,” said jockey Eric Cancel. “He’s a horse that likes to be comfortable at the beginning and he gives you a really good kick at the end. This time I knew I had to be a little bit closer with him. He gave me all he had. Perfect trip and we ended up winning.”

Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains the colt for Zilla, added, “It looked like there was a ton of pace in the race and Eric thought it was best to be outside. He had to ride him almost the whole way, but he knows the horse and he’s been riding him well.”

“I was a little nervous, but I could see him coming,” continued McLaughlin. “I thought he was too far back [early] but once he worked his way out, he started running and I knew they were all going to be slowing down. It was a great win.”

McLaughlin also gave a special shout-out to the enthusiastic partnership group that campaigns Celtic Chaos. “It’s a special win for Zilla [Racing Stables]. It’s their first stakes win, so it’s great for them. They’re very passionate owners and great fun to be around and they come out often. It’s a good team of people and we enjoy them. Mike Piazza, he’s the main guy, but he couldn’t be here today, but it’s really great for them.”

Bred by Spendthrift Farm LLC and foaled at Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains, Celtic Chaos is from the first crop of Dublin, who stands at Keane Stud[3] in Amenia for a 2017 fee of $2,500. His dam is Let Joy Reign, has produced five winners from five to race, including Louisiana-bred stakes-winner Osi Posse and Kentucky-bred multiple stakes performer Get a Notion. Zilla purchased Celtic Chaos for $55,000 at the 2015 OBS spring sale.

Celtic Chaos, who paid $17.20 for a $2 win bet, has earned $320,780 from five firsts, four seconds and three thirds in 18 starts.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/28/celtic-chaos-affirmed-success/

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Gold for the King prevails in NYSS Times Square

By Sarah Mace

Just before Sunday’s 24th running of the $100,000 Times Square division of the of the New York Stallion Series for eligible New York-sired 3-year-olds, Francis Paolangeli’s homebred Gold for the King was getting a shoe repair and, according to the paddock report, “not happy” about it.

That could have spelled trouble for the 3-2 favorite, as he launched his sophomore campaign after a four-month layoff, but the Posse gelding obviously recovered his equanimity by post time, and proceeded to deliver yet another a thoroughly professional performance to capture Aqueduct’s Closing Day feature.

Never out of the money in six prior career starts, and winner of last year’s New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes and Notebook Stakes at Belmont, Gold for the King was partnered with Joel Rosario for the first time in Sunday’s highly-competitive 6 1/2-furlong tilt.

After breaking from post six (of seven), Gold for the King settled comfortably in midpack in the four path, while relative longshot Italian Syndicate led the way through early fractions of 22.78 and 45.27, chased by Bavaro in second.

Still racing in the clear through the turn, Gold for the King, in his distinctive lime-green blinkers, spun out five wide for the drive. Zeroing in on Italian Syndicate and Bavaro, he cruised past the pacesetters with a furlong to go, with T Loves a Fight to his inside.

Edging away from T Loves a Fight in the stretch, Gold for the King crossed the finish line 1 3/4 lengths to the good. After six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.08, the final time for 6 1/2 panels over the fast main track was 1:16.53.

Runner up T Loves a Fight finished three lengths ahead of Reason to Soar in the third and completing the order of finish were Italian Syndicate, Bavaro, Mission Leader and Jaime’s Angel. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“I had a great trip,” Rosario reported. “[Trainer] Charlie [Baker] told me to wait as long as I can and make one run at the end. I tried to wait as long as I could and he came with a very nice run.”

Baker, who was celebrating his fourth win on the card, followed up, “He’s a nice horse and he can overcome anything. He did everything OK. He has a big, long stride so once he got going, he was clear. We had enough pace in there where he was going to be OK. It was a pretty decent race coming back off the layoff.”

Baker is considering the Mike Lee on the May 29 New York Showcase day card at Belmont Park for Gold for the King’s next start. The gelding has now won four of seven starts with a second and two thirds, and earned $370,568.

Foaled at Keane Stud[4] in Amenia, Gold for the King is the second foal and first winner out of Gold for the Queen, a New York-bred multiple stakes winner bred by Pegasus Farms Inc., also campaigned by Paolangeli and trained by Baker.

Gold for the Queen currently has a yearling colt by Frost Giant named True Gold, and was barren this year after being bred to Japan in 2016.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/23/gold-for-the-king-times-square/

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Bluegrass Flag stamps herself as a filly with future in NYSS Park Avenue

By Sarah Mace

Bluegrass Flag (Bluegrass Cat) notched her second career stakes tally even more impressively than her first, when she when she buried two rivals in a six-length romp in the open Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct on March 25.

In Saturday’s 24th running of the $100,000 Park Avenue division of New York Stallion Series (NYSS) for eligible sophomore fillies, Bluegrass Flag won again by six lengths, but at the same bested a highly-touted opponent and stopped the clock in “real racehorse time.”

Stretching out to 6 1/2 furlongs with regular rider Kendrick Carmouche in the irons, and going off as the 3-1 second choice, Bluegrass Flag faced six rivals, headed by Noble Freud. A half sister to Eclipse champion La Verdad and graded stakes winner Hot City Girl, Noble Freud was bet down to .30 cents on the dollar on the strength of an eye-catching debut on February 16 at Oaklawn Park. The promising filly was then purchased privately by a potent partnership group that includes Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners and Michael Kisber (both involved with Mind Your Biscuits) and moved to Chad Brown’s barn in New York.

At the bell, front-running Bluegrass Flag did what she does best, gunned to the lead and challenged all comers to “Catch me if you can.”

The filly clocked stiff early splits of 22.71 and 45.48, pursued 1 1/2 lengths back by Noble Freud. The rest of the field gave chase.

Bluegrass Flag widened her lead to more than two lengths by the head of the stretch, and to more than five lengths with a furlong to go before sailing across the finish line six lengths to good without a serious challenge.

After six panels in 1:10.08, she completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.67 over the fast main track. Noble Freud checked in second, a neck in front of closing longshot Frosty Gal in third. Toni Tools, Dublin Girl, Unbridledadventure and Karen Kan completed the order of finish. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“My filly ran a gorgeous race today,” enthused winning rider Carmouche. “What a good job by [trainer] Thomas Morley and his team.  All I had to do was sit on her and get her around and make her look good. We know we can run.”

Carmouche continued, “We wanted to make Chad Brown’s horse [Noble Freud] run. Today, that’s what happened. My filly finished up really good. I was really pleased with her.”

Morley, in Ocala scouting fresh talent, regretted not seeing the race in person, but said, “This was probably the best performance of her career to date. Before the race, it was interesting to see Chad’s filly so strongly fancied, but we were confident in Bluegrass Flag’s ability to perform today.”

Morley added, “I thought Kendrick gave her a terrific ride. We do think the further she goes the more she’ll enjoy the added distance and I told the owners one day perhaps I envision she could possibly be another Ballerina horse, but we’re going to take it nice and steady and let her tell us where she wants to take us.”

In the meantime, the conditioner will point Bluegrass Flag, whose record stands to 3-1-0 in five career starts with career earnings of $173,220, to the seven-furlong Bouwerie at Belmont on the May 29 Big Apple Showcase card.

Bred by Susanne Hooper, James Hooper and Thomas Albrecht, and foaled at Haven Oaks Farm in Fort Edward, Bluegrass Flag is one of four winners from four foals to start, and first black type offspring out of No More Flags, a multiple winner bred in New York by the Hoopers. The mare has a juvenile colt by Posse and a yearling colt by Dublin. In 2016 She was bred to Stephanoatsee.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/22/bluegrass-flag-nyss-park-avenue/

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Twisted Tom goes the distance in Federico Tesio Stakes

By Sarah Mace

Winner of the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms at Laurel Park on March 18, when he nailed O Dionysus at the wire in his stakes debut, Cobra Farm’s Twisted Tom bested that rival and three others in the short but potent field of Saturday’s $125,000, 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio at Laurel. The Creative Cause gelding appears to be getting better and better the longer he goes.

Exiting post three with the vanguard, Twisted Tom navigated the clubhouse turn three wide in third before inching up into second in the backstretch, with Action Everyday just to his inside. The pair pressed the pacesetter Hashtag Alex through early fractions of 24.39 and 48.08.

In the far turn, Twisted Tom and Action Everyday passed Hashtag Alex in tandem, while O Dionysus uncoiled a bid from last and moved into contention.

O Dionysus engaged Twisted Tom, now on the lead, in upper stretch, but this time the outcome for the rivals was not even close, as Twisted Tom went on to post a decisive 2 1/4-length victory. Action Everyday finished 2 3/4 lengths back in third and the final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:53.60 over the sloppy (sealed) track.

Twisted Tom was let go at 5-1 and, after Newman Racing’s New York-bred Absatootly upset the Primonetta field[2] at odds of 10-1 in the previous race, the New York-bred Laurel double came in at $169.80 for $2.

“He broke sharper today,” said Jockey Feargal Lynch, also aboard for Twisted Tom’s Private Terms victory. “I just got into a nice rhythm all the way. I thought O Dionysus might struggle to stay and I knew from my horse’s gallop-out last time that he would like the distance. Today he had no kickback and a small field. He’s a turfer and a mudder and a very adaptable, huge horse who should get better.”

“He ran terrific and Feargal really rode him well once again,” said trainer Chad Brown. “They’re a great team, those two. The horse showed a lot of heart again. He’s a long-winded, hard-trying horse that obviously showed he has a tremendous amount of stamina and will to win. He’s a horse that continually is improving, which we love to see. We’re just really proud of his effort today.”

Continued Brown, “[Twisted Tom] really has [shown versatility]. It’s another thing I’m really proud of. He showed a new dimension today, and dealing with an off track he handled it fine. Feargal deserves a lot of credit for using good judgment in keeping him out of trouble. He’s a big horse and although he was losing some ground he picked a good spot to let him relax and find his rhythm. When that horse [O Dionysus] came to him on the outside, he showed his heart.”

Twisted Tom, who has earned $209,040 from four wins in six career starts, broke his maiden at second asking for trainer George Weaver and owner Thomas Brockley at Belmont Park last September 22 going a mile on the green in a state-bred maiden special weight. Acquired by Cobra Farm, who transferred the horse to Brown, in four starts for his new connections he has won through his first level state-bred allowance condition at a mile and posted victories in the Private Terms at 1 1/16 miles and the 9-furlong Tesio.

The Tesio is a “Win and You’re In” event for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the $1.5 million Grade 1 Preakness at Pimlico Race Course, but Twisted Tom has not been nominated. Said Brown, “Because he’s not [Triple Crown] nominated it certainly complicates things, so I’ll speak to the ownership group. Right now we’ll just enjoy this win. We’ll see how the horse comes out of the race physically and then we’ll all probably speak about it next week sometime and come up with a plan.”

Bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud[3] in Ghent, Twisted Tom is one of six winners from six foals to start out of Tiffany Twisted, a Wilmot-Taylor homebred who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Incurable Optimist and two stakes-performers. Grade 1 winner Class Play appears further down the family tree.  Tiffany Twisted has a yearling filly by Fed Biz and was bred to Paynter in 2016.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/22/twisted-tom-tesio-stakes/

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Absatootly upsets Laurel’s Primonetta at 10-1

By Sarah Mace

After being let go at odds of 10-1, Newman Racing’s Absatootly (Mineshaft) posted the first open stakes victory of her career Saturday in Laurel Park’s $75,000, six-furlong Primonetta for fillies and mares three and up, which was run over a sloppy (sealed) track.

An admirably consistent runner for trainer Charlie Baker, 4-year-old Absatootly came into the Primonetta having finished off-the-board only twice in eleven prior starts.

The filly had already shown an affinity for Laurel, shipping in to win open allowance contests in March 2016 and February 2017. Off-going was also in her wheelhouse. While facing winners for the first time in her third career start, she won the East View for New York-bred juvenile fillies by a nose on a “good” Aqueduct inner track; her February victory at Laurel was also over a “good” track. Jockey Kevin Gomez, aboard for that win, had the return call.

Breaking alertly from post eight (of nine), Absatootly tracked early pacesetter and favorite Appealing Maggie in fourth in the four path, but worked her way up into third by the approach to the far turn. When she emerged at the top of the stretch as a clear second to new leader Loveable Lady, the affair turned into a two-horse race.

Absatootly gained the lead midstretch, and, despite drifting out late toward the center of the track, had enough forward momentum to secure a 1 1/2-length victory over Lovable Lady. Next Best Thing circled the field from last to get third. After opening splits of 22.92 and 46.65, Absatootly stopped the timer at 1:11 flat.

“I thought someone was going to catch up with me,” Gomez said. “I just tried to keep her straight and hoped no one could catch me and she got it done.” The win was the first stakes score for the 22-year-old Guatamala native.

Absatootly’s second stakes victory improves her record to five wins, three seconds and two thirds from twelve starts and increases her earnings to $249,107.

Bred by the late Donald Newman and foaled at Fawn Ridge Farm in East Nassau, Absatootly is campaigned by Newman’s son Richard. She is the second foal and second winner out of New York-bred So N So (Freud), who took the Lucy Scribner Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in 2009. The mare’s first foal So Let It Be So (Sky Mesa) is multiple winner.

So N So has a three-year-old colt by City Zip named Quest for Fire who has not started and a juvenile colt by Desert Party named Whendowerunpappy. Not bred in 2016, the mare went to Munnings last year.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/22/absatootly-primonetta/

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FLGR earns reaccreditation from NTRA safety & integrity alliance

[1](NTRA press release)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 19, 2017) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack has earned reaccreditation from the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance. Located in Farmington, N.Y., the 55-year old track opens its door for live racing season April 22. Finger Lakes has been continuously accredited by the Alliance since 2011.

The reaccreditation of Finger Lakes was the culmination of a lengthy process that hosted several meetings with Alliance officials. An on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing facility. Interviews were also conducted with race track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards and fans. The inspection team was comprised of Dr. Ron Jensen, DVM, former equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board; Mike Kilpack, security and integrity consultant and past chairman of the Organization of Racetrack Investigators; Dan Fisk, racetrack operations consultant and vice chairman of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program; and Steve Koch, executive director of the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance.

In addition to the reaccreditation for the Finger Lakes, the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP) received a “Best Practice” from the Alliance in 2011 as one of the best Thoroughbred aftercare programs in the nation. In 2016 the FLTAP was awarded accreditation from the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).  The TAA is the only accrediting organization in thoroughbred aftercare network of 64 accredited organizations, operating at more than 180 facilities across the United States and Canada.

Finger Lakes is one of 23 racing facilities fully accredited by the Alliance that together host 90 percent of graded stakes and generate 75 percent of North American pari-mutuel handle. The others are Aqueduct Racetrack, Arlington Park, Belmont Park, Canterbury Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Indiana Grand, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, Laurel, Los Alamitos Race Course, Monmouth Park, Pimlico Race Course, Santa Anita Park, Saratoga Race Course, Suffolk Downs, Sunland Park, Turfway Park and Woodbine.

The NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance is horse racing’s key mechanism for implementing racetrack safety and integrity initiatives on a uniform basis nationwide. Information on the Alliance, supported by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and Insurance Office of America can be found at NTRAalliance.com[2].

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/19/flgr-ntra-safety-alliance/

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Inside Straight springs 19-1 upset in Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap

By Sarah Mace

Driving his record to a perfect two-for-two after shedding blinkers, longshot Inside Straight (Super Saver) posted a decisive victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park at 1 1/8 miles.

On March 10, in his first try without blinkers since November 2015, Inside Straight powered his way from the back of the pack to a five-length victory in an optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park. Reunited with win jockey Geovanni Franco, the 4-year-old gelding was let go Saturday at odds of 19-1, the fifth choice in the seven-horse field, while most of the money went in the direction of 1-2 favorite Midnight Storm.

After the bell, Inside Straight broke with the vanguard from post five, and raced toward the clubhouse turn between horses in third and two lengths behind pacesetter Midnight Storm.

Making his way to the fence, Inside Straight enjoyed a ground-saving trip through the bend and along the backstretch, as Midnight Storm clocked a quarter in 22.96 and a half-mile in 46.49.

Cruised along comfortably under a patient ride, the gelding was unfazed when passed to his outside by longshots Goats Town and Cutacorner, who rallied to challenge Midnight Storm on the way to the far turn. At the head of the stretch, he maneuvered out into the two path and began his bid.

After the other challengers wilted, Inside Straight passed Midnight Storm within the furlong grounds, and employed the final sixteenth to widen his margin to two lengths by the wire. Domain’s Rap closed from midpack to get the place by a neck, while Midnight Storm had to settle for third.

After the mile went in 1:35.88, Inside Straight stopped the clock after nine furlongs over the fast going at 1:48.40.

“My horse broke very sharp. He was alert, feeling good, nice and relaxed,” Geovanni Franco said. “I just tried to follow [Midnight Storm]. My horse was just full of run and full of strength today.” Continued Franco, “I don’t know (what to say), it was incredible. My first graded stakes. I am so happy it happened.”

Winning trainer Robertino Diodoro commented, “Midnight Storm is a nice horse and I was scared he was going to be the lone speed and we weren’t going to have much pace to run at. All we could worry about was our horse. This horse has just been getting better and better, training better, working better. He’s a horse that just made the step to the next level, and he proved it today. Can’t say enough about the horse. Franco suits him. I give my assistant, Rob Atras a lot of credit. It was his idea two starts back to take the blinkers off him. I think that’s helped the horse a lot, helped him relax. Awesome win, that’s all I can say. Great for the owner, Randy Howg. Can’t say enough about him. Twenty-three years I’ve trained for him. He’s a great man, and he deserves it.”

Diodoro said of the future, “One step at a time. We haven’t made any plans. He is a New York-bred, and the plan is to take him to Belmont. We are going to have a string there this summer. He’s had kind of a rough campaign, a tough campaign since we bought him (privately last June through an agent). He’s done a lot of traveling. He’s not that big a horse, but he’s carried good weight. He’s just gotten better and better with each race, and today he proved it. Been a good purchase.”

Inside Straight began his career in New York for WinStar Farm and trainer Todd Pletcher. Third in the Aspirant stakes at Finger Lakes in September 2015, he won his last start for these connections on May 4, 2016 by more than 10 lengths in the mud at Belmont at the $40,000 claiming level.

Resurfacing at Assiniboia Downs on July 9 in Howg’s colors, Inside Straight finished third in the Harry Jeffrey Stakes in his Canadian debut for conditioner Robertino Diodoro, and followed up with a victory in the Manitoba Derby on August 1.

Inside Straight has improved in every start of his 4-year-old campaign, capping third and second place finishes with the unblinkered optional claiming and Grade 2 victories. From seven lifetime wins, two seconds and four thirds in 20 starts, he has earned $752,889.

Bred by SF Bloodstock LLC and foaled at Vinery NY at Sugar Maple in Poughquag, Inside Straight is out of Dance Alexa, an unraced Maryland-bred by Southern Halo purchased by SF Bloodstock at the 2010 Keeneland November sale for $80,000.

Dance Alexa has produced eight winners from nine foals to start, and Inside Straight is her fourth stakes horse. Her second foal Dance Daily (Five Star Day) won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes in 2006 and Mission Viejo Halo (Luhuk) is a two-time stakes performer. Her only other registered New York-bred to date, Conquest Superstep, an older full sister to Inside Straight, finished second in the 2015 running of the Fleet Indian.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/04/15/inside-straight-oaklawn-h/

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