Twisted Tom scores determined victory in New York Derby
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SV Photography
By Sarah Mace
Twisted Tom, last seen when sent off as a well-respected 9-1 shot in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, where, with an assist from some traffic trouble, he finished midpack, proved just too good for six rivals in Saturday’s salty renewal of the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes where he scored a determined half-length victory.
Carrying the colors of Cobra Farm Inc., who owns the Creative Cause gelding along with with RR Partners and Head of Plains Partners, Twisted Tom has been based at Saratoga with trainer Chad Brown, and, since late June, has posted three works, including a four-furlong bullet move on June 29. By post time for his Finger Lakes debut, he was bet down to 3-4 favoritism. Regular Maryland-based jockey Feargal Lynch who had the riding assignment was also appearing at Finger Lakes for the first time.
Gold for the King was sent to the front after bell, only to be joined to his inside by Pat On the Back, while from post three Twisted Tom embarked on his trip around the clubhouse turn between horses in the second flight. Exiting the turn four wide, “Tom” caught up with the leaders in company with Broken Engagement.
Gold for the King extended his lead somewhat on the backstretch, but Twisted Tom followed suit and attached himself firmly to the pacesetter’s flank, while Pat on the Back settled in third.
As the field rounded the far turn, the top three were stacked up across the track, but Broken Engagement and Twisted Tom emerged as the main contenders at the head of the stretch, setting up a pitched battle to the wire.
Twisted Tom found himself in tight at the rail in midstretch, but poked his head in front and, from that point on, refused to give up any ground. The gelding simply dug in and propelled himself to a determined half-length victory.
Runner up Broken Engagement finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of Pat on the Back in third. Completing the order of finish were Can You Diggit, Gold for the King, Six Sided Bling and Dynamax Prime. The final time for 1 1/16 miles over the fast going was 1:44.62. [VIDEO REPLAY][2]
Bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud[3] in Ghent, Twisted Tom now has five wins from eight starts and has earned $350,131. The New York Derby marks stakes win number three for the gelding. Earlier in the year he followed a thrilling victory in Laurel’s Private Terms on March 18, when he nailed O Dionysus at the wire in his stakes debut, with a more decisive 2 1/4-length score over the same rival and three others 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio also at Laurel.
Twisted Tom is one of six winners from six foals to start out of Wilmot-Taylor homebred Tiffany Twisted. The mare 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 currently has a yearling filly by Fed Biz.
Endnotes:- [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/7-22-17-R7-s-Twisted-Tom-Action-II.jpg
- VIDEO REPLAY]: http://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20170722&track=FIM&race=7
- Gallagher’s Stud: http://www.gallaghersstud.com/home.html
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/22/twisted-tom-ny-derby/
Bonita Bianca last to first in New York Oaks
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SV Photography
By Sarah Mace
Following a protracted last-to-first drive, last year’s New York-bred champion juvenile filly Bonita Bianca (Curlin) got up in time to win the $75,000 New York Oaks at Finger Lakes on Saturday afternoon in the second start of her sophomore campaign.
After six-plus months on the sidelines, Bonita Bianca returned this year at the allowance level at Monmouth on June 24. Bumped at the start, and eager early, she also arguably needed the race and finished a well-beaten fourth as the even-money favorite. She donned blinkers on Saturday afternoon for her Finger Lakes debut.
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Bonita Bianca started poorly, ducking in at the break and wandering a little as she got into stride, settling in to trail the field by six or more lengths behind a soft pace set by 41-1 longshot Butch’s Mango (24.25, 49.11).
Bonita Bianca revved up in the approach to the far turn under vigorous urging by jockey Dylan Davis, gained a spot, then swept past her rivals into second by the head of the lane.
With only new leader Playinwiththeboys standing between Bonita Bianca and her third career stakes victory, the filly closed inexorably in the stretch, made the lead in the final hundred yards and drove past to get the neck victory in a final time of 1:46.72. Playinwiththeboys in second finished 6 3/4 lengths clear of Tiznow’s Smile. Somekindasexy, Bluegrass Hip Hop and Butch’s Mango completed the order of finish. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez was snagged on the fly as he was rushing to saddle a horse for Saratoga’s final race. Asked what he thought of Bonita Bianca’s victory, the conditioner replied with a big smile, and without missing a beat, “She was bonita [beautiful] today!” Bonita Bianca is named for Rodriguez’ niece.
Owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Michael Imperio, Bonita Bianca won at first asking at Belmont Park last September, before scoring a next-out victory in the one-mile one-turn Maid of the Mist in the slop on Empire Showcase Day. In her third start on November 26, she tested much deeper waters in the Grade 2 Demoiselle, and managed to finish an extremely creditable closing third. She closed out the year with a last-to-first rally to win the East View Stakes. From four wins and a third in six starts, Bonita Bianca has earned $323,000.
Bred by Dormellito Stud and foaled at Mill Creek Farm [3]in Stillwater, Bonita Bianca was purchased by Michael Dubb for $97,000 at the 2016 OBS March juvenile sale.
She is a daughter of Friendly Michelle (Artax), winner of the Grade 1 Prioress in 2004. In 2006 the mare sold to Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings for $1.15 million at the Keeneland November sale in 2006. In 2013 Steven Rowan picked up Friendly Michelle for $42,000 with Bonita Bianca in utero at the same venue. Friendly Michelle has produced six winners in all, and currently has a juvenile filly by Simmard, foaled a colt by Paynter on February 24 and has been bred back to Nyquist.
Endnotes:- [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/7-22-17-R6-s-Bonita-Bianca.jpg
- VIDEO REPLAY: http://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20170722&track=FIM&race=6
- Mill Creek Farm : http://www.millcreeksaratoga.com/
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/22/bonita-biancany-oaks/