Ben Z Rolls rocks Ontario County Stakes with upset win

By Sarah Mace

Dead last at the head of the stretch and carrying the burden of being the longest shot on the board, Joseph L. Maloney’s homebred Ben Z Rolls (Mission Impazible) swept past his rivals in the lane to capture the 34th running of the $50,000 Ontario County Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Finger Lakes on Monday.

With only three prior starts under his belt, Ben Z Rolls was the most lightly-raced horse in the field of five (reduced from seven by the race-day defection of Tender Boy and My Man Mo). Bettors might also be excused for slighting in the rail-drawn colt and sending him off at odds of 17-1 with all the attention that was focused on a pair of downstate shippers.

Making the trip to Farmington on Monday were Morning Breez, 1-5 at post time, and rival What a Catch, bet down to 3-1, both making Finger Lakes debuts. In five prior meetings on the NYRA circuit, What a Catch got the better of Morning Breez in a pair of meetings in 2017, while Morning Breez finished better in all three meetings this year.

Following the post-break scrum for the top spot, the downstate invaders hooked up before the first point of call, Morning Breez at the rail and What a Catch in the two path. The pair traded the lead through opening fractions of 22.32 and 45.67 while being tracked intently by P J Advantage. Meanwhile Ben Z Rolls chased in last place, as many as seven lengths off the lead.

Late in the far turn the pace began to take its toll on the frontrunners and P J Advantage ranged up menacingly outside the duelers. Ben Z Rolls continued to trail and fanned out widest of all at the head of the stretch.

P J’s Advantage took over the lead in upper stretch while Ben Z Rolls passed his first horse. The Mission Impazible colt hit his best stride around the furlong marker.

Picking off another rival and keeping the final two firmly in his sights, Ben Z Rolls passed What a Catch and P J Advantage in the final jumps and crossed the finish line a half-length winner. He completed the six furlongs over the fast track in 1:11.56 under jockey Kevin Navarro.

P J Advantage, in second, finished two lengths ahead of What a Catch. Completing the order of finish were Morning Breez and Stormy Highway. Ben Z Rolls paid $36.60 to win. Since the favorite finished out of the top the three, the .50 cent trifecta returned $176.25. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

Trainer Anthony M. Ferraro unveiled Ben Z Rolls at Finger Lakes on November 13, when the colt broke his maiden by more than three lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs over off-going while being offered for a $15,000 tag. Moving up into allowance company next out, Ben Z Rolls wired the field. He shook off the winter rust after a seasonal break with a close-up fourth in the slop in an allowance for non-winners of three races on May 22 before making his successful foray into stakes company in the Ontario County.

Now a winner of three of four career starts, Ben Z Rolls had earned $48,845. He is the first foal to start out of Toot Z Roll, a Pennsylvania-bred winner. Her other progeny are: a juvenile filly by Emcee named Tara’s Ze Va, a yearling colt by El Padrino named Lo Z Rolls and a new colt by Bustin Stones foaled on April 3, 2018.

The colt’s sire, Mission Impazible (Unbridled’s Song), stands at Sequel Stallions New York[3] for a 2018 stud fee of $7,500.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/25/ben-z-rolls-ontario-county/

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Therapist wins Spectacular Bid going away

By Sarah Mace

On paper, two-time open stakes winner and graded stakes performer Therapist (Freud) overlaid the 10-horse field that was signed on for 13th running of the $100,000 Spectacular Bid division of New York Stallion Series Sunday at Belmont Park. The only apparent cause for concern was an outside draw in a large field for a 7-furlong turf tilt. Ultimately the homebred for Lynn and Richard Leahy’s Oak Bluff Stables ran to his 1-2 odds, but that didn’t prevent things from getting interesting between gate and wire.

Partnered with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., Therapist settled in midpack well off the rail from his wide post in the early going, but at this stage most eyes had to be on Belleville Spring, who had embarked on a mission. The 18-1 shot gunned to the front of the pack and opened up more than four lengths on his nearest competitor. The early splits were hot: 22.00 for the quarter and 44.34 for the half.

Patiently handled eight lengths off the pace, Therapist made his way toward the inside to save some ground going around the far turn, then moved back outward to get into a good position to get the first run at the pacesetter in the lane.

Belleville Spring still maintained a substantial lead at the quarter pole and did not show any sign of slowing down, but the days of his uncontested lead were numbered. Therapist advanced into second, erased Belleville Spring’s advantage in upper stretch and overhauled him in the approach to the furlong marker.

After cruising past his rival, Therapist won by two lengths going away in a final time of 1:21.07. Another closer, Collective Effort, got up for second after overcoming a poor start, while 2 1/4 lengths back Spectacular Kid finished third. Santo Antonio, closer up on the pace throughout, finished fourth. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

Undefeated in three starts at two, including wins in the open Laurel Futurity and Awad Stakes, Therapist was voted 2017 champion New York-bred male juvenile. The colt returned this year with a pair of starts at Gulfstream. Following a solid third in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes on March 3, he won the one-mile Cutler Bay stakes on 28 days later. Freshened briefly, he faced his toughest field yet in the Grade 2 Penn Mile, where he tired in the stretch to finish off the board for the first time in six starts. The cutback to seven furlongs and class relief on Sunday served him well.

“He’s a New York-bred and he finally gets to enjoy his New York-bred class and see how good he is,” said Irad Ortiz, Jr. “He’s competitive against open horses. He’s been running so good, he’s been right there with them. He’s won [against] open [company], finished third. He’s always done really good. Against New York-breds, he had it a little easier today, but he’s a nice horse. The way he was feeling today, I thought he was going to run the way he ran. I had a lot of confidence in him.”

Christophe Clement, who also co-bred Therapist with Lynn and Richard Leahy, commented, “Nice win, he’s a nice horse. He’s raced against some of the top 3-year-olds on turf already this year. He won at Gulfstream and came back and ran a touch flat at Penn National in the [Grade 2] Penn Mile. He was a little more anxious than what we like, he’s a pretty busy horse mentally and well named being Therapist by Freud, but he’s a lovely horse with a great turn of foot.”

The conditioner also gave a tip of the hat to the Leahys’ breeding program. “He belongs to Oak Bluff Stables who bred him with me and it’s a great credit to Mr. [Richard] Leahy because he has an amazing breeding program. He also bred Audible, who was in the same crop. Very small group of mares and I’m just lucky to train for him.”

Foaled at Berkshire Stud[4] in Pine Plains, Therapist is one of two winners out of Lady Renaissance, a winning Kentucky-bred daughter of Sharp Strike who was purchased by Oak Bluff Stables for $15,000 at the 2009 Keeneland November sale. Lady Renaissance has produced a yearling full sister to Therapist and foaled a Temple City colt on February 13, 2018.

Therapist’s career record to date is impressive, with five wins, including three stakes victories, and a third from seven starts and $308,725 in earnings.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/24/therapist-wins-spectacular-bid-going-away/

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Kreesie puts in a strong late run to win NYSS Cupecoy’s Joy

By Sarah Mace

Gerald and Susan Kresa’s lightly-raced sophomore filly Kreesie became a stakes winner in her sixth career start on Sunday at Belmont Park, when she came from well off the pace to win the 12th running of the $100,000 Cupecoy’s Joy, the first of two co-featured divisions of the New York Stallion Stakes series for eligible New York-sired horses. Kreesie is sired by former New York stallion Cosmonaut.

Kreesie, unlike several in the Cupecoy’s Joy field who were trying the green for the first time, was grass-meant from the start for trainer David Donk. Starting three times at two, including one rained-off contest, she missed breaking her maiden by just a nose in her 2017 finale going six furlongs at Aqueduct.

In her first start back this year at Belmont on April 27, the grey filly got the job done at the same 7-furlong trip as the Cupecoy’s Joy. She returned to face winners for the first time a month later (May 26) to finish a good third in an 11-horse state-bred allowance field after closing from well back.

Kreesie faced another robust field Sunday – 11 fillies strong – and was drawn far outside (post 10). For the first half mile she watched most of the action from behind as she settled in tenth in the three path under a patient Jose Ortiz. Longshot Baby Boss carved out rapid early splits of 22.20 and 44.74 while pressed along by odds-on favorite Mentality.

Angling out five wide at the head of the stretch, then maneuvering out another couple of paths to get into the clear, Kreesie was set down for the drive.

Kicking into another gear and charging down the middle of the course, Kreesie passed the bulk of the field by midstretch, overhauled new leader Mentality along with Baby Boss in the final sixteenth and cruised past the finish line a half-length to the good in a final time of 1:21.09.

Goodbye Brockley, who closed from midpack in company with Kreesie, got up for second, a length ahead of Mentality, who had to settle for third. First time turfer Wegetsdamunnys closed to complete the superfecta. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“She ran well. I think the pace helped her a lot,” said Jose Ortiz. “They ran pretty fast for the first half of a mile. She was relaxed and comfortable. I was able to get a really nice trip. When I got to the three-sixteenths, I followed the 10-horse [Goodbye Brockley]. Everything came up perfect. Luckily, they came back to me.”

Ortiz is bullish on the filly’s future. “She’s improving. Some horses need some races to get it together. I think she’s put it together now and I think she’ll keep improving.”

Donk is enthused about Kreesie’s running style and maturing process. “You love to find those grass horses with a good turn of foot and she’s developing in making a great transition from 2-to-3 [years old]. I thought this was a very good race from her and she’s coming out of a spot in which she ran well last time out.”

Continued Donk, “Today, we were just hoping there was enough pace in the race. We wanted her to sit back. That’s kind of how she likes to run, and we like to teach them that. On the grass regardless of the level, you want them to have that nice turn-of-foot, and it’s fun when you get one that does.”

Donk believes that seven furlongs and one-turn races suit Kreesie best but will discuss the possibility of taking a shot in the one-mile NYSS Statue of Liberty at Saratoga on August 9 with the filly’s owners.

Bred by Frank Lodato and foaled at Carlland Stables in Avon, Kreesie is out of Florida-bred Three Emeralds, a six-figure earner by Three Wonders. As a producer, Three Wonders is a perfect three-for-three with winning progeny. Kreesie, he last report foal, is her first to achieve black type status and with two wins a second and a third has earned $120,700.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/24/kreesie-cupecoys-joy/

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Crashing Connie takes Niagara Stakes for fourth 2018 Finger Lakes win

By Sarah Mace

In a 6-furlong dash that developed into a thrilling match race, Joseph Gentile’s homebred Crashing Connie got the bob at the wire to win the $50,000 Niagara Stakes for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies. At three, the bay daughter of Questroyal Stud’s Courageous Cat[2] has taken Finger Lakes by storm, winning all four of her 2018 starts.

Morgan’s Z Va got a jump on the 8-horse field and led the way through an opening quarter in 22.61 while Crashing Connie chased in second, grabbing the rail spot from post three.

In the approach to the far turn Crashing Connie advanced and overtook the pacesetter. Early on the bend, New Girl in Town, a Finger Lakes-based filly riding her own two-race winning streak, ranged up three-wide from fourth to grab second. This pair hooked up while straightening away for the stretch drive as the half ticked by in 46.50.

The two new leaders went at it hammer and tongs, Crashing Connie at the rail and New Girl in Town two-wide, as they charged for home, opening six lengths on the rest of the field.

Crashing Connie appeared to have a slight edge as they battled in the final furlong, but at the wire the two heads were bobbing up and down on nearly even terms, leaving the winner to be decided by an examination of the photo. In the end, Crashing Connie won the thrilling duel by a nose in a final time of 1:12.64 over the “sloppy (sealed)” racetrack.

Post-time favorite Indy’s Lady finished four lengths back in third, followed by narrow second choice I Still Miss You in fourth. Completing the order of finish were My Last Million, Always Kissable, Morgan’s Z Va and Twice Proven. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Trained by James Wright, Crashing Connie raced twice at two, finished second in her second try on November 17 going 5 1/2 furlongs. The filly returned to the races on April 23 ready to roll, winning a 4 1/2-length state-bred maiden special weight by two lengths. She followed up with a pair of allowance victories at five furlongs, then six, winning by four lengths on May 14 and 3 1/4 lengths on June 9 before wheeling right back nine days later for the Niagara.

Crashing Connie, who has earned $77,410 from four wins and a second in 6 starts, is out of Crashing Through, a New York-bred winner of 12 races in 40 starts and earner of nearly $100,000 who went on to compile an an impressive record as a broodmare.

Crashing Through produced eight winners from eight foals to start, three of whom (all by New York sires) earned six figures: Flowersonyourback by Key Contender, Crashing Colby by Catienus and Caleb’s a Survivor by Stonesider. Crashing Connie is her first foal to earn back type. The mare has one more reported foal, a juvenile colt by Stonesider named Excavator.

Crashing Connie’s sire, Grade 1 winner and millionaire Courageous Cat[4], entered stud at Lane’s End in 2012 before relocating in 2013 to Questroyal North[5] where he stands for a 2018 stud fee of $6,000. He has sired four black type winners to date.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/18/crashing-connie-niagara/

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Split Time overcomes rough start to win Laurel’s Alma North Stakes

By Sarah Mace

New York invader and Linda Rice-trainee Split Time made a Saturday trip to Laurel Park well worth the effort for owner Tic Stables. The bay 3-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy parlayed a difficult start into a driving victory to earn her first open company win and second career black type score in the $75,000 Alma North Stakes run at seven furlongs.

Winner of the Maddie May Stakes on March 24 when she split horses and got up in the final strides, Split Time had yet to finish off the board in five career starts coming into the Alma North. The owner of tactical speed as well as grit, she was sent off as the 3-1 third choice in a competitive field of six.

Split Time ended up behind the eight ball only a few strides into the race. Elevenses to her inside, the 6-5 favorite, came out at the break, bumped her hard and crossed over, pinching her back. She then spent the first half-mile at the caboose of the field, seven lengths or so off the pace. Up front, Elevenses, then Almond Roca, then Limited View led the pack through fast splits of 22.41 and 45.25.

Picking off horses in the turn two-wide, Split Time advanced to third by the head of the stretch and began to carve a path between Limited View, who went very wide coming out of the turn, and Almond Roca at the fence.

Powering onward and gaining the lead inside the furlong grounds, Split Time staved off a late threat by 47-1 longshot Norma’s Charm who was charging hard far out on the grandstand side, to win by a half-length, completing the 7-furlong distance in 1:24.48 over a fast main track. Norma’s Charge was followed across the line by Limited View, Almond Roca, Aggreator and Elevenses.

Jockey Horacio Karamanos focused first on the troubled start. “We got a bad break out of the gate. [Elevenses] was coming out and crossed in front of me and my filly lost her action but then she started to pick it up nice and easy.”

Continued Karamanos, “I saw they were going so fast [up] front … but she was able to give me a nice kick and kept going strong to the wire. I think if she didn’t have that kind of trouble in the beginning she could have won it easier.”

Trainer Linda Rice’s assistant Chris Sankar commented, “Every time you lead her over she gives you everything she’s got, and once again she got it done. Anytime you leave state-bred company there’s no free lunch, but she’s got the heart and the talent, and everything worked out today.”

Rice, the 2017 Laurel winter-spring meet co-champion, added in a text, “We are very pleased with her effort today. She had a troubled start but a strong finish.”

Split Time, now a winner of four races in six career starts with one second and a third has earned $195,700.

Bred by Sequel Stallions New York[3] and foaled at Sequel’s farm in Hudson, Split Time issues from a productive New York-bred family. Her winning dam Speed Dating, out of Near and Dear, is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and $693,500-earner Saratoga Snacks.

Speed Dating has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by freshman Sequel stallion Alpha and a yearling filly by Freud named Afreud of a Storm.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/16/split-time-alma-north-stakes/

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Picco Uno hoofs it in Dancin Renee

By Sarah Mace

Kennesaw Mountain Racing’s Picco Uno (Macho Uno), a sharp, successful runner in 2017, regained her winning form at Belmont Park on Saturday with a frontrunning victory in the fifth renewal of the 6-furlong, $125,000 Dancin Renee Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares. The race honors the 1997 New York-bred horse of the year who was named by owner/breeder Sanford Bacon after his mother-in-law – a “Ziegfeld girl” in her youth.

From December 16, 2016 to August 17, 2017, Picco Uno, won five of six starts for trainer Jason Servis, culminating in her first stakes score in the 6 1/2-furlong Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga. Since then, albeit racing in tough stakes company, her form had tailed off, particularly in the first two starts of her 5-year-old campaign. In the Dancin Renee, however, she could look forward to some class relief after the Grade 3 Distaff on April 6 where she finished fifth.

Partnered with jockey Manny Franco, aboard for her last two starts, Picco Uno was the first to show the lead, establishing a one-length advantage over Cozzy Spring to her inside from post three. Holiday Disguise, the 4-5 favorite, settled in third as the quarter went in 22.25.

Continuing to be pressed along by Cozzy Spring along the backstretch run and around the far turn, Picco Uno was shaken up by Franco around the quarter pole.

The gray obliged, opened up a comfortable margin in the lane and cruised across the finish line to win with ease. Four lengths back Cozzy Spring and Holiday Disguise finished second and third a half-length apart, followed by Absatootly, Bluegrass Flag and Bobby’s Song. Still There was scratched. After a 45.23 half mile, the final time for the Dancin Renee was 1:09.60. Picco Uno paid $12.40 to win. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“Coming into the race, the plan was to break out of there and get involved early,” said Manny Franco. “The other horse with speed [Cozzy Spring] was inside of me but I broke better than him and took advantage. My last two races aboard, we tried different tactics but today, [Jason Servis] wanted to be right there up front in the lead or second, nothing further than that. Thankfully, it worked out getting on the lead early and she did everything from there easy.”

Servis added, “We told Manny not to take anything away from her. She always breaks sharp and he was able to go on with it. She ran a really great race and we’re just thrilled”

The trainer explained how Picco Uno’s form began to turn around. “Two months ago, [this race] wasn’t even on the radar. She had some issues this winter and it took a long time to get her going. But she really started to turn around the last couple of weeks and she had a really good breeze the other day, so we thought we’d take a shot.”

Picco Uno is under consideration to defend her title in the Union Avenue at Saratoga.

Bred by Topsmeade LLC and Adena Springs and foaled at Irish Hill Century Farm[4], Picco Uno is one of two winners from two foals to start out of Piccola Isola, a winning New York-bred daughter of Western Expression. She has earned $413,667 from seven wins, four seconds and two thirds in 17 starts.

A $35,000 short yearling at Keeneland in January 2014, Picco Uno was purchased by Kennesaw Mountain Racing at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale for $27,000. From

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/16/picco-uno-dancin-renee/

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Belmont-loving Disco Partner successfully defends Jaipur title

By Sarah Mace

Frank and Patricia Generazio’s homebred Disco Partner, by late New York sire Disco Rico, brought high expectations and a record of seven wins from 11 tries over Belmont turf into Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational Stakes, a race he won last year in world record time.

The bettors’ pick in a classy field of eight, Disco Partner obliged, mowing down his rivals in the lane after a stalking trip. With his $220,000 winner’s share of the purse, the 6-year-old grey became a millionaire into the bargain.

Last seen in the winner’s circle on October 7 when he won the 6-furlong Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, Disco Partner wrapped up the year by making the trip to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint where he finished third, just a half-length shy of winner Stormy Liberal, who was also signed on for Saturday’s Jaipur. In his first start back this year on April 7 in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Shakertown, Disco Partner was a well-beaten third over yielding turf, which he may not have relished.

Teamed up with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., Disco Partner set up in fifth/sixth from post five shortly after the bell and made his way inwards into the two-path, three lengths behind stablemate and fellow Generazio homebred Pure Sensation. The pacesetter clocked the opening quarter mile in 22.16 pressed along by Conquest Tsunami and Pocket Change.

Asked for more run once he was well into the far turn, Disco Partner geared up, angled six-wide and was set down for the drive with five horses still to pass. Passing his first rivals around the furlong marker and in the clear, Disco Partner hit his best stride.

Like a grey streak, he powered the remaining three horses, hit the front with six strides to go and went on to score a convincing one-length victory. When a photo sorted out the blanket finish behind the winner, Conquest Tsunami finished second, a head in front of Pure Sensation. Another head back, Holding Gold and Pocket Change — in fourth and fifth — were separated by a nose.

After a 44.03 half-mile, Disco Partner’s final time for 6 furlongs was 1:06.74, the second-fastest running of the Jaipur when run at this distance, a mark bested only by his own record time in the race last year of 1:05.67. The Jaipur is a “Win and You’re In” in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

“He broke so good and sharp and put me in a good spot,” said Ortiz. “I held him together and in the mid-pack, I made my move …, got him in the clear and … in the stretch, and he took off.”

The pilot continued, “He always tries hard. He is a nice horse and it’s nice to see him back from his layoff after [the Shakertown] in Keeneland, where he didn’t have a good race on the turf – he wasn’t comfortable on the soft turf.”

Clement said, “Basically, everything worked out great. He was a bit closer to the pace today. The other horse [Pure Sensation who set the pace] actually ran a great race because he grabbed a quarter pretty bad and still managed to finish third.”

“My first feeling when you win these kind of races, it’s a great credit to Mr. and Mrs. Genarazio. They have a wonderful program and they are great owners and breeders to work for. I’m just a lucky guy to train those kind of horses.”

Clement has won the Jaipur three years running with Pure Sensation in 2016 and twice with Disco Partner.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “I’m thrilled. I’ve won the race two or three times in the last few years and I’m delighted.”

Disco Partner moved to Clement’s barn in 2017 following a successful three-year run with trainer Jimmy Ryerson from 2014-2016. Last year he won four of six starts, headlined by Jaipur. In addition to victories in the Elusive Quality and Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational, in a tour de force performance for a confirmed sprinter, Disco Partner also successfully stretched out to a mile to win the Forbidden Apple Stakes.

A third-generation product of Patricia and Frank Generazio’s breeding program, Disco Partner was foaled at Keane Stud[3] in Amenia.  The grey is out of Lulu’s Number (Numerous), a New Jersey-bred multiple winner of over $200,000 trained by Ben Perkins, Jr. Disco Partner’s second dam Mary Lou’s Magic (Concord Dream) was bred in Florida and trained by Frank.

As a broodmare, Lulu’s Number has produced five winners from seven starters, including Don Six’s Number (Don Six), a stakes performer and earner of $212,686. Lulu’s Number has yearling colt by First Samurai and foaled another colt by Into Mischief on May 20, 2087.

The Jaipur repeat on Saturday brings Disco Partner’s earnings to $1,153,810, making him the second New York-bred to attain millionaire status during the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Fourstar Crook reached the goal on Friday with her victory in the Grade 2 New York Stakes[4].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/09/disco-partner-jaipur-2018/

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Fourstar Crook upsets favorite in Grade 2 New York, turns millionaire

By Sarah Mace

In an oddly-run race where the pacesetter put more than 20 lengths between herself and the bulk of the field over the first half-mile, Fourstar Crook under a cool-headed Irad Ortiz, Jr. got the first run at the leader and held off 3-5 favorite Sistercharlie to win the Grade 2, $600,000 New York Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Belmont on Friday.

The $330,000 winner’s share of the purse sent her lifetime earnings shooting past the million-dollar mark to $1,213,166.

Second choice in the accomplished field of nine at odds of 4-1, Fourstar Crook was the “other” Chad Brown horse in the race and looking to turn the tables on her stablemate Sistercharlie. When they last met in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 14, Fourstar Crook had to settle for second.

After the break, Fahan Mura threw down the gauntlet from her rail post and by the first point of call had put more than eight lengths between herself and her nearest pursuer Esquisse, and 16 lengths between herself and the third horse. Fourstar Crook raced in fifth with the bulk of the field, while Sistercharlie, who was squeezed at the start, lingered in last, 28 lengths behind the leader after a half in 46.39.

The complexion of the race changed in the far turn, after the 1:10.36 time for six furlongs took its inevitable toll on Fahan Mura. Fourstar Crook angled out three wide for the stretch drive, while Sistercharlie geared up from last. After being shuffled back rounding the turn, the favorite had her work cut out for her.

Fourstar Crook got the first run at the top spot and took over command inside the furlong grounds. Sistercharlie came flying in the end, diving down to the inside of Fourstar Crook to try to run her down, but to no avail. The gritty Fourstar Crook dug in and held off the leader, prevailing by head in a final time of 1:59.21, the fastest New York since 1993, when Aquilegia covered the 1 1/4-mile distance in 1:59 flat. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. described his winning (and patient) strategy.

“The speed horses opened up way too much, so I didn’t pay attention to that,” said Ortiz. “I just rode my filly. She was comfortable, so I didn’t try to do anything crazy. I kept her covered up, saving ground, like the owner and Chad wanted. I just rode my filly and she was there. I kept riding her and she held on. Sistercharlie was flying, but she held on.”

Chad Brown, who trains the 6-year old daughter of Freud (Sequel Stallions[4]) for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stable and Gary Aisquith, said, “Fourstar Crook, hats off her. Michael Dubb deserves a lot of credit and his partners. Mike is the one who decided to race her at six which is not always the in thing to do and Mike loves this horse as do his partners. They are great partners, Mike Caruso [of Bethlehem Stable] and Gary Aisquith. They agreed to let us run her at six and they were rewarded today.”

Bred by Kathleen M. Feron and foaled at Akindale Farm in Pawling, Fourstar Crook has won 11 races with three seconds and a third in 17 starts. Her $1,213,166 earnings bankroll enrolls her on the ever-growing roster of New York-bred millionaires (48 and counting). Her stakes victories include the Grade 2 Hillsborough, the Grade 3 Dr. James Penney Memorial, and four New York-bred stakes, the Yaddo, Mount Vernon and two editions of the John Hettinger.

The bay mare sold as a yearling to Allied Bloodstock at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale for $55,000. A $70,000 buyback when offered at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton March 2-year-old sale, she was purchased by owner Michael Dubb for $110,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic sale. Fourstar Crook has a juvenile full-sister named Kitty’s Legacy and an unnamed yearling full-brother.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/06/08/fourstar-crook-new-york/

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