Mo Maverick decisive winner of Monmouth’s Lamplighter Stakes

[1]

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

By Sarah  Mace

Three-times stakes placed already, Mo Maverick (Uncle Mo) got his breakthrough black type victory on Saturday afternoon with a decisive score over five rivals in the 1 1/16-mile, $60,000 Lamplighter Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Bet down to even money, Mo Maverick stalked a length behind longshot pacesetter Hot and Heavy for the opening half mile. Asked for more approaching the far turn, the colt caught up with Hot and Heavy and, in the bend, made a decisive move between the pacesetter and Holiday Bonus, who had ranged up on his outside, and poked his head in front.

Opening up daylight in the stretch, Mo Maverick roared home a 1 1/2-length winner, with never an anxious moment. Dover Cliffs, Harlan Strong and Holiday Bonus finished next in order a neck and a nose apart, followed by Muggsamatic. The final time for the race was 1:42.80 over a “good” turf course.

“He sat just off the early pace and was comfortable,” said winning rider Eddie Castro, who had the assignment aboard ‘Mo’ for the first time on Saturday. “I felt the horse [Holiday Bonus] come pressure me on the outside and I asked [Mo Maverick] to run and he took off. He’s a really good horse.”

[2]

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

Trained by George Weaver for RA Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables, Mo Maverick compiled a strong juvenile record last year after transitioning from dirt to turf and stretching out to a route of ground. Breaking his maiden by seven lengths at third asking at Aqueduct on November 13, he came right back to win a state-bred allowance on November 26. The colt wrapped up his 2-year-old campaign on the Aqueduct inner, where he finished second in the Damon Runyon Stakes on December 29.

Following a 10-week winter break, the colt came roaring back off the bench to win an allowance turf sprint at Gulfstream Park by more than three lengths on March 11. He then posted a pair of solid performances in stakes company. A game third in a blanket photo for place behind Yoshida in the James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico on May 20, Mo Maverick finished a fourth to Frostmourne in the Grade 2 Penn Mile on June 3. The Lamplighter provided some welcome class relief.

Bred by Gentry Stable and foaled at Blue Chip Farms in Wallkill, Mo Maverick is the first foal out of Lemon Splendor (Lemon Drop Kid). Bred by Gallagher’s Stud, campaigned by Jim and Susan Hill and trained by George Weaver, Lemon Splendor won the 2011 Swirlaway Stakes for New York-breds as a juvenile. In 2013 the mare sold to Arch Bloodstock in foal at the 2013 Keeneland January sale for a bargain price of $10,000. In addition to Mo Maverick, she now has a placed juvenile by Tapizar named Raging Fire and a weanling filly by Carpe Diem.

Mike Ryan purchased Mo Maverick at the Keeneland September yearling sale for $200,000. From four wins, two seconds and a third from nine starts, the colt has earned $204,700.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/29/mo-maverick-lamplighter/

Celtic Chaos wins loaded edition of John Morrissey with thrilling late charge

[1]

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

By Sarah Mace

Zilla Racing Stables’ Celtic Chaos (Dublin[2]) can do little wrong these days. That includes on Thursday afternoon at Saratoga, when the 4-year-old colt charged down the center of the course to cut down a gritty Ostrolenka and win a loaded edition of the $100,000 John Morrissey Stakes for older New York-breds.

The victory was Celtic Chaos’ third straight win, second consecutive stakes score and the fifth win of the 2017 Saratoga meet for the white-hot barn of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

A one-run closer who depends on some pace to run into, Celtic Chaos was drawn in the outside post of nine under Eric Cancel for the 6 1/2-furlong tilt over a muddy (sealed) racetrack. Going in, his conditioner was a little concerned about the way the race was going to set up. “We were worried about the track. He likes it wet, but so do others,” said McLaughlin. “We wanted a fast pace when we saw [speedster] Bustin It as well as a couple others [Candid Desire and Weekend Hideaway] scratch.”

Sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice in this competitive group, Celtic Chaos settled next-to-last shortly after the break, while freewheeling longshot Brimstone clocked the first quarter in 21.74 on the front end.

Celtic Chaos passed one rival along the backstretch then advanced toward the vanguard in the approach to the far turn, with early trailer Papa Shot hot on his heels. Four wide in the turn the colt fanned out in the seven path at the head of the stretch as the half went in 44.96.

While Celtic Chaos unleashed his charge in the center of the track, Ostrolenka split horses to take over control in midstretch from third. Celtic Chaos quickly caught up with the new leader, and despite a stubborn foe and some brushing in the final strides, got up to win by a game neck. After six furlongs in 1:10.81, Celtic Chaos stopped the clock at 1:17.65.

Papa Shot, well back early with the winner, got up for third another 2 1/2 lengths back. T Loves a Fight and 7-2 favorite Gypsum Johnny followed a neck apart in fourth and fifth. Completing the order of finish were pacesetter Brimstone, Eye Luv Lulu, Fish Trappe Road and Breakin the Fever. [REPLAY[3]].

“Every single time I ride this horse he gives me 100 percent,” enthused jockey Eric Cancel. “Today, we had a wonderful trip. He felt really comfortable where he was along the inside and he was relaxed. He was running so I had to take swing him out. Like always, he was there for me and finished strong.” McLaughlin added, “Eric [Cancel] gets along great with this horse and everything worked out today.”

McLaughlin said, “I was a little worried in the stretch. I thought he was lugging in a little bit and I didn’t want to see any bumping but it all worked out and it was a fun day to win with these owners. It’s great for the Zilla [Racing Stables] group so many of them are from Saratoga and they have a lot of passion for the game.”

At three Celtic Chaos had a strong campaign, winning two races and finishing six times in the money, but has really blossomed at four. Never out of the exacta in six 2017 starts, the colt won through his state-bred conditions in Aqueduct in early April. Next out in his stakes debut in the Affirmed Success Stakes on April 28, he made a terrific last-to-first run to get the money. In 19 starts, the Celtic Chaos has six wins, four seconds and three thirds and has earned $380,780.

Bred by Spendthrift Farm LLC and foaled at Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains, Celtic Chaos is from the first crop of Dublin[2], who stands at Keane Stud[4] in Amenia. His dam 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.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/27/celtic-chaos-morrissey/

Twisted Tom scores determined victory in New York Derby

[1]

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.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/22/twisted-tom-ny-derby/

Bonita Bianca last to first in New York Oaks

[1]

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.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/22/bonita-biancany-oaks/

Pure Silver a perfect two-for-two with Lynbrook score

[1]

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

By Sarah Mace

On April 28, Belmont Park’s spring/summer meet Opening Day, Celtic Chaos won the featured Affirmed Success Stakes for older New York-breds. This Sunday, the meet came to a fitting end with another featured New York-bred stakes race, this time starring the youngsters: the $125,000 Lynbrook for juvenile fillies.

When the dust settled, the meet’s final trophy went to Pure Silver and owner/breeder Twin Creeks Racing Stables. Like Celtic Chaos (Dublin), Pure Silver, who is a daughter of Mission Impazible, is a New York-sired New York-bred. With the victory, filly ran her career record to a perfect two-for two and increased her earnings bankroll to $97,200.

Tabbed at 2-1 second choice behind undefeated open Astoria Stakes winner I Still Miss You (1-5), Pure Silver bobbled slightly at the start, but still got a jump on her rivals from her rail post and quickly opened up a length on I Still Miss You. One Last Cast raced in third at the fence and Northernstreetgal was last.

Parked out the two path by jockey John Velazquez, Pure Silver ticked off opening fractions of 23.01 and 46.82 while maintaining the lead. In the turn, however, I Still Miss You began to loom and the pair straightened away at the top of the stretch for a fair fight to the wire.

Pure Silver dug in, maintained her lead and, ultimately, got the win by 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:11.40. One Last Case and Northernstreetgal finished well back in third and fourth. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“We just broke good and got to the lead. I tried to save something for the end and she put in a good fight in the lane,” reported John Velazquez. “She broke so fast, it was kind of weird. She was so fast, she was on the ground and in the next step, she’s up and running. She got pressed and when she had to put in a fight, she did it all the way.”

Todd Pletcher’s assistant Byron Hughes followed up, “After the last start [her winning debut on June 22] we knew she had the speed out of the gate and she showed it again today and she was able to hang on.”

Hughes also tipped his hat to the filly’s well-backed rival. “[I Still Miss You] is a nice filly. It seemed like our filly dug in a little bit and it seemed like the other filly had the advantage but we were able to hold her off.” The connections plan to bring Pure Silver back at Saratoga.

Pure Silver is the lone starter from her dam Jehan, by Forest Wildcat. A Kentucky-bred stakes winner and $302,683-earner, Jehan was purchased by Twin Creeks at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale for $150,000.

In 2016 Jehan produced a yearling full-brother to Pure Silver and foaled a filly by Graydar on April 6 this year. Mission Impazible (Unbridled’s Song), stands at Sequel Stallions New York[3], where Pure Silver was foaled.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/16/pure-silver-lynbrook/

One-mile Forbidden Apple Stakes? No problem for turf sprint record holder Disco Partner

[1]

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

By Sarah Mace

It’s official: Frank and Patricia Generazio’s homebred Disco Partner, the record-setter for six furlongs on turf in the Grade 3 Jaipur Invitational at Belmont Park on June 10 (1:05.67), now has new worlds to conquer after a commanding victory in the one-mile $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes.

Disco Partner’s connections regarded stretching Disco Partner out as something of an experiment. When the race was drawn, trainer Christophe Clement said, “I’ve always wanted to try [Disco Partner] at a mile. He came out of the Jaipur great and he’s been training well, so we want to see how he’ll be able fare at this distance.” Disco Partner fared very well indeed.

Following a sharp clean start, Disco Partner, who was the 7-5 post time favorite, spent the first part of the race in the second flight at the rail, with Grade 1 stakeswinner Grand Arch just to his outside. Meanwhile, fellow New York-bred King Kreesa led the way, ultimately to be drawn into a duel with aggressively-ridden 21-1 longshot Cerise’s Prince. The top pair opened up three lengths on their pursuers through opening splits of 23.91 and 46.84.

Regular pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr., stock-still on Disco Partner for three-quarters of a mile, maneuvered into the three path at the head of the stretch and asked the grey for run.

Shaken up, Disco Partner swept past King Kreesa, who had wrested the lead back from Cerise’s Prince, and with the powerful closing kick familiar from his sprint victories, drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths. To quote race caller Larry Collmus, “Oh yeah, he can stretch out!”

After a closing quarter in 23.39, Disco Partner’s final time for the mile over the firm going was a flashy 1:33.49. New York-bred Get Jets won a close photo with Bondurant for second, both of whom edged King Kreesa in the final strides, forcing him to settle for fourth. Completing the order of finish were New York-bred Offering Plan, Cherise’s Prince and Grand Arch. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“[Disco Partner]’s a nice horse and he has a good mind,” said Irad Ortiz, who knows his mount well. “He broke good and he’s there when you ask him. He waits until you need him at the end, that’s his style. He can do anything; he can go a mile, he can sprint. I’m happy with him.”

Clement said “I think he’s a very nice horse. He trained great; he gets on very well with Irad and I just think six [furlongs], seven-eighths to a mile, he can do whatever he wants. He ran well.”

The conditioner and his owners now have some enviable options to mull over. “We’ll have to think about putting together a nice summer campaign,” said Clement. “I think he’s top class. He’s not Breeders’ Cup eligible, so I’ll have to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Generazio and we’ll try to map out the next two to three starts for him between now and the end of the year and try to do the best we can.”

As Clement sees it, “The choices are: do we run him right back in the Troy [$250,000, August 6, 5 1/2 furlongs]? Do we go for the Fourstardave (Grade 1, $500,000, August 12, one mile]? Do we keep him at a one-turn mile at the Woodbine Mile [Grade 1, $800,000, September 16]? I’m not sure. I’ll just have to think about it.”

Another consideration is that it may now be possible to separate Disco Partner from stablemate Pure Sensation, another Generazio homebred and star turf sprinter.

Disco Partner, now an earner of $708,810 from eight wins, four seconds and two thirds in 18 career starts, is a third-generation Generazio homebred and was foaled at Keane Stud [3]in Amenia,

His dam Lulu’s Number (Numerous) is a New Jersey-bred multiple winner of over $200,000 trained by Ben Perkins, Jr. As a broodmare, she has produced five winners from six starters, including Don Six’s Number (Don Six), a stakes performer and earner of $212,686. She has a 2-year-old filly by Posse named Lulu’s Partner, and delivered a colt by First Samurai on February 14, 2017.

Patricia Generazio bred Disco Partner’s second dam Mary Lou’s Magic (Concord Dream) in Florida, and the winning mare was trained by Frank.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/15/forbidden-apple-disco-partner/

What a Catch wires Rockville Centre

[1]

NYRA/Viola Jasko

By Sarah Mace

Gary Barber’s What a Catch was first-crop sire Justin Philip’s first winner when he aced his debut by 5 1/2 lengths at Belmont on June 2 as the 7-5 favorite. The chestnut colt has now also become the stallion’s first stakes winner after scoring a wire-to-wire victory in the $125,000 Rockville Centre Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Second choice in the Rockville Centre at odds of 9-5 behind odds-on favorite Morning Breez, What a Catch went straight to the front under jockey John Velazquez, shadowed by Morning Breez, who raced a half-length back in second right at his flank. Analyze the Odds (9-2) set up a length back in third, Morrison (4-1) raced another length back in fourth, while longshot Over Salty was outrun from the bell and brought up the caboose of the five-horse field.

As What a Catch raced along the backstretch through an opening quarter in 23.12, Morning Breez pressed the issue, turning the affair into a full-fledged duel. The pair opened up more than 2 lengths on Analyze the Odds and Morrison and passed the quarter pole on even terms as the half clicked off in 46.48. The stage was set for a battle to the wire.

By midstretch What a Catch began to win that battle. Morning Breez never threw in the towel, and even came back gamely to tighten the finish in the final strides, but What a Catch secured a clear victory by one length. Six lengths back Analyze the Odds got third, while Morrison and Over Salty completed the order of finish. The final time for six furlongs over the fast main track was 1:11.21. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

[3]

NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

“We came out running,” said victorious Hall of Famer John Velazquez. “I thought the horse to the outside of me [Morning Breez] might make the lead so I came out running to see what he is going to do. And then he sat off of me and that was perfect and I stayed in front of him.”

Added Velazquez, “My horse seemed a little bit green, so it kind of helped him to have company. After that, I tried to get away from the horse at the quarter pole, tried to discourage the horse a little bit and I think it worked out.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s assistant Byron Hughes added his appraisal. “I thought [What a Catch] was very professional. He acted good in the paddock, post parade, broke sharp and fought off the second-place horse, who’s a nice horse himself. I thought it was a good race overall.”

Both jockey and assistant trainer also offered broader observations on the youngster’s prospects. Velazquez said, “The farther he goes the better he gets, so he seems pretty nice.” Hughes, for his part, commented, “He’s always been pretty classy, a bit precocious 2-year-old. He’s been benefiting from that and stepping up every time we’ve asked him.”

Bred by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy and foaled at Berkshire Stud[4], What a Catch, now a $97,000 earner from two victories, is one of five winners and the first stakes winner out of Catch My Fancy, a Florida-bred multiple stakes winner by Yes It’s True.

A graduate of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale in Saratoga where he was purchased by Steve Venosa’s SGV Thoroughbreds for $90,000, his value skyrocketed the following year when Justin Casse had to go to $265,000 to get him after a well-timed headline-worthy catalogue update.

Catch My Fancy’s first foal Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon) is the dam of Girvin, who the weekend prior to the sale leapfrogged to the top of the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard when he won the Grade 2 Risen Star. Catch the Moon, who foaled a full sister to What a Catch on February 13, 2017, is also the dam of graded winner Cocked and Loaded.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2017/07/15/what-a-catch-rockville-centre/