Split Time rallies straight into New York Oaks winner’s circle

By Sarah Mace

Tic Stables’ Split Time (Take Charge Indy) rallied energetically in the stretch to score a decisive victory over nine rivals in the $75,000 New York Oaks, which was co-featured along with the New York Derby on Saturday afternoon at Finger Lakes.

Coming into the New York Oaks, Split Time had yet to run a poor race for trainer Linda Rice. Second in her unveiling last December 6, the bay followed up with four victories in her next five starts.

Split Time reeled off her first three wins from mid-January to late March, culminating in a half-length score in the Maddie May Stakes on March 24, her stakes debut. Following a brief freshening, the filly finished a solid third in the Bouwerie behind the accomplished Midnight Disguise and English Soul – her main rival in the New York Oaks and fellow co-highweight at 124 pounds. Most recently, on June 16, Split Time made the trip to Laurel Park where she captured the Alma North Stakes after being pinched back at the start.

When the gates opened on the 1 1/6-mile New York Oaks, four fillies vied for the early lead, but 3-2 favorite English Soul won the battle from her advantageous rail post and set the early pace pressed along by local heroine Crashing Connie, winner of the Niagara Stakes on June 18. Split Time, who broke from post six, was content to settle in the second flight in sixth place in the two-path

Two-wide along the backstretch and into the far turn, Split Time appeared to check in the compact field around the quarter pole and lose some ground. The filly regrouped quickly though and fanned out four-wide for the drive.

Up front, after English Soul completed a moderate six furlongs in 1:14.49, she faced a serious challenge from Crashing Connie, who took over a narrow lead in upper stretch.

At this point Split Time was just finding her best stride. She passed three rivals in mid-stretch, then reeled in the new leader just shy of the sixteenth marker. With a driving finish, Split Time hit the wire a two-length winner with her ears pricked.

Crashing Connie and English Soul finished noses apart in second and third, and Indy’s Lady, a two-time Finger Lakes stakes winner, completed the superfecta. Split Time’s final time for the 1 1/6 miles was 1:47 flat. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

With the $45,000 winner’s share of the purse, Split Time’s earnings increased to $240,700 and her record improved to five wins a second and a third in seven starts. Second choice at post time, she paid $7.80 to win.

Bred by Sequel Stallions New York[3] and foaled at Sequel’s farm in Hudson, Split Time issues from a familiar New York family. Her winning dam Speed Dating, a $155,000 yearling purchase in 2007, 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 named Bet Alpha, who has not yet started, and a yearling filly by Freud named Afreud of a Storm. The mare has no reported foal this year.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/21/split-time-new-york-oaks/

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Sea Foam back to winning form in New York Derby

Sarah Mace

Following a stellar five-race juvenile campaign in which he never finished out of the exacta, Waterville Lake Stable’s homebred Sea Foam was still looking to hit the board in his third start of the year. All that changed in one-minute, forty-six seconds and change on Saturday afternoon – the time it took the Medaglia d’Oro colt to wire the 2018 edition of the 1 1 /16-mile $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

In back-to-back Aqueduct starts last fall for trainer Christophe Clement, Sea Foam broke his maiden and captured the Notebook Stakes. He returned to work this year on May 28 on Showcase Day. That day he finished a wide-trip fourth in the Mike Lee Stakes to Analyze the Odds, who was destined to be his main rival in the New York Derby as the heavily-backed 3-5 post time favorite. On July 4, Sea Foam stretched out to a mile and gave the turf a try in the open $100,000 Manila Stakes at Belmont, where he finished fifth.

Typically a stalking type, Sea Foam changed tactics for the Derby under jockey Jaime Rodriguez and went right to the lead from post two. The bay cruised through early splits of 24.68, and 49.29, pursued a length back by Spectacular Kid, Retonova and Analyze the Odds.

Spectacular Kid made a menacing move in the far turn, hooking up with Sea Foam at the quarter pole, but was repulsed in upper stretch. Sea Foam then drove the wire, posting a 3 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:46.19

Spectacular Kid held on for second, followed by Analyze the Odds, who had spotted his rivals six pounds for his first two-turn race. Completing the order of finish were Irish Valor, Ben Z Rolls and Retononva. Andy Hernandez on Spectacular Kid lodged an objection against Rodriguez on the winner, but it was not allowed. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

From three wins and three seconds in eight starts, Sea Foam has earned $236,070 and is a two-time stakes winner.

Foaled at Berkshire Stud[3] in Pine Plains, the colt is out of Kentucky-bred Strike It Rich by Undbridled’s Song, who was purchased by Clement for John Meriwether’s Waterville Lake Stable for $350,000 at the 2008 Saratoga select yearling sale.

After going on to become a graded winner before retiring to broodmare duty, Strike It Rich has produced a pair of winners from three starters. She currently has a juvenile filly by Kitten’s Joy named Kerry’s Ring who has not yet started, a yearling filly by Giant’s Causeway, and foaled a colt by Hard Spun foal on April 7, 2018.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/21/sea-foam-new-york-derby/

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