Still There captures Laurel’s Twixt in stakes debut

By Sarah Mace

Employing a perfectly-executed a stalk-and-pounce strategy, PTK LLC’s Still There scored a convincing open-length victory in her stakes debut Saturday, the $75,000 Twixt Stakes at Laurel Park. The Twixt was only the fourth date with the starter for the 4-year-old blaze-faced daughter of Union Rags.

Unveiled by trainer Dane Kobiskie on April 18, Still There reeled off two straight wins to open her account, breaking her maiden at Keeneland by two-plus lengths going six furlongs, and airing by 7 1/2 lengths going seven furlongs in Belmont slop on May 27. Most recently, when she stretched out and gave turf a try in a second-level state-bred allowance, she finished last as the post-time favorite.

Returning to her preferred dirt surface in the Twixt and cutting back to seven furlongs, Still There was relatively ignored at the windows, as bettors gravitated to stakes winner Bishop’s Pond (2-1 favorite), multiple stakes winner Lake Ponchatrain (5-2) and multiple graded stakes winner Tequilita (3-1). Still There went post-ward with Jevian Toledo in the irons as the fifth choice of seven at odds of 6-1.

Having stalked successfully in her two winning efforts, Still There embarked on the same strategy in the Twixt. After the bell she set up in third, two lengths behind pacesetter Magician and one length off Bishop’s Pond in second. The early fractions went in a reasonable 22.82 and 45.50.

In the far turn Still There drew even with Bishop’s Pond as the pair issued a challenge to Magician. Negotiating the turn three-deep, she advanced into contention and poked a head in front at the head of the stretch.

Kept to business by her jockey in the charge for the wire, Still There gradually extended her lead to 3 1/2 lengths by the finish. Lake Ponchatrain closed into second, a neck ahead of Bishop’s Pond, who weakened to third. Completing the order of finish were Tequilita, Magical, Power of Snunner and outsider Not Taken. New York-bred Absatootly was scratched. The final time for seven furlongs over the fast track was 1:21.72.

“She’s a nice filly,” said Toledo, Maryland’s leading rider in 2015 and 2017. “[The trainer] told me he got her ready today, and he was right. I just put her in a great spot and when I asked her she gave me everything she had. I had plenty of horse. In the last part, I just put my stick away.”

Trainer Dane Kobiskie is a former jockey who won his share of of races at Laurel and, as a trainer, won the Laurel Park meet titles in 2011 and 2012. He said, “It’s good to be back when you win like this. We’ve just been gone for a few years.”

Kobiskie continued, “I brought a few horses to run this weekend and she was the main reason for coming. She’s a New York-bred and I had run her on the grass up there because they didn’t have any long dirt races for her. She didn’t like the grass at all and this was our [next] option. The race came up a little bit tougher than I thought it would, but we decided to go ahead and run anyway.”

Bred by Joanne T. Nielsen, Still There is one of five winners produced by Kentucky-bred mare Forever Smart. A stakes-placed turf runner by Smart Strike, Forever Smart and is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Raging Daoust (Kafwain). Bred by Arthur B. Hancock III, she last changed hands at public auction when purchased by Find a Cure Stable for $21,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November sale,

Forever Smart’s Blue Baby, by Touch Gold is a multiple stakes performer and all the winners she has produced have earned six figures, topped by her New York-bred Scat Daddy gelding Forever in Love, who has banked nearly $225,000. The mare also has a juvenile filly by Flatter named Mesa Member and an unnamed yearling full-sister to Still There.

PTK purchased Still There at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale from the Summerfield consignment for $200,000. From her three wins Still There has banked earnings of $119,900.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/28/still-there-twixt-stakes/

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Still a tough nut at eight, Weekend Hideaway captures second John Morrissey stakes

Sarah Mace

Exactly one year ago, Red and Black Stable’s 8-year-old millionaire Weekend Hideaway (Speightstown), disappointed his connections. Winner of the 2014 John Morrissey Stakes for older New York-bred sprinters, Weekend Hideaway was training well and primed for a repeat.

As trainer Phil Serpe explained, “One year ago today, this horse was just as ready as he could be to run in this race and unfortunately, he grabbed his quarter. He abscessed, and we didn’t realize it until the morning of the race, because he was fine the day before. It really killed me to not see him run last year because I really felt like he was in a position to win.”

The popular runner more than made amends to Michael Hoffman of Red and Black Stable, Serpe and the rest of his fans at Saratoga on Thursday, when he beat an extremely salty Morrissey field to win the race for a second time. In Serpe’s word’s, “To come back and do this today was great.”

The race-day conditions suited the veteran to a tee. Weekend Hideaway loves off-going, winning five of 10 starts on a wet track, and there had been heavy rain overnight leaving the track in a muddy (sealed) condition. Weekend Hideaway also loves Saratoga, with four victories here in 10 tries. The fact that the multiple stakes winner was sent off as the fifth choice of seven at odds of 10-1 is only a testament to the strength of the field of stakes winners and graded stakes performers that the Morrissey attracted this year.

Aggressively handled from the bell under regular rider Luis Saez, Weekend Hideaway hooked up early from his outside post with fellow-speedster Eye Luv Lulu as the opening quarter went in 21.77.

Eye Luv Lulu backed out of the tussle along the backstretch and Weekend Hideaway was able to open up some daylight by the time field entered the far turn and the half ticked by in 43.93.

Gold For the King aimed for Weekend Hideaway in the turn, but to no avail and Weekend Hideaway was able to increase his advantage to two lengths in upper stretch, but his work was not yet done.

In the final stages, Eye Luv Lulu proved resurgent, while Celtic Chaos launched a strong bid at the rail. Digging in for the final push while shifting inward, Weekend Hideaway held on to secure the victory by 1 1/4 lengths. After six panels in 1:08.52, he stopped the clock after 6 1/2 furlongs at 1:15.18.

Eye Luv Lulu and Celtic Chaos finished noses apart in second and third, while completing the order of finish were Gold for the King, Mighty Zealous, favorite Long Haul Bay and T Loves a Fight. Runaway Lute was scratched in the paddock. Brad Cox, the trainer of Celtic Chaos lodged a trainer’s objection against Weekend Hideaway for interference in the final sixteenth, but no change was made to the order of finish. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“He loved the mud,” said Luis Saez. “I loved the way he ran today. When we broke, and I saw the speed was not that hot, I let him go and he was energetic. He ran hard in the stretch.”

Addressing the objection, Saez said, “I was on the lead and controlling the pace. When I came to the stretch, my horse came out a little, but I corrected him and tried to stay in my line. It looked like [Celtic Chaos] was coming, but he didn’t come with the fastest speed to get in the hole. I was there and never came out at that point and stayed in my line. I think the stewards made a good decision.”

Serpe, for his part, quipped, “We’ve seen good calls and calls we thought weren’t so good, I’m glad they left him up because I don’t have the money to pay the fines for cursing out every one of those stewards for taking this 8-year-old horse down from a race he deserved to win.”

Given Weekend Hideaway’s ability on wet tracks, Serpe also confessed he had something else on his mind once the rainy overnight and morning turned into a bright, sunny afternoon. “I was worried the track was drying out a little bit too much, because that sun’s been beating on it and its gone from pretty sloppy to muddy, so it was worrying me a little bit.”

The winner of at least one black type event every year since 2012, when he won a pair of stakes as a juvenile, Weekend Hideaway’s stakes tally is now nine, including a pair of wins in the $200,000 Commentator Stakes. His career best Beyer Speed Figure of 107 came in January 2015, when he dominated the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream, completing six furlongs in 1:08.64.

From 13 wins, seven seconds and nine thirds in 48 starts, Weekend Hideaway has earned $1,134,212.

Serpe summed up the case nicely: “Look, he’s a great horse. He does this stuff on his own and we’re just happy to be along with him.”

Bred by the late Carl Lizza’s Flying Zee Stables, for whom Serpe was a long-time trainer, and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, Weekend Hideaway was purchased by Michael Hoffman’s Red and Black Stable for $40,000 in the yearling portion of the Flying Zee Dispersal in October 2011.

He is one of only two foals produced by Apocalyptical, an unplaced New York-bred daughter of Wiseman’s Ferry. The mare’s other foal, Chosen One Elijah earned six figures.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/26/weekend-hideaway-morrissey-18/

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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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Aptly-named Maiden Beauty wins Lynbrook at first asking

By Sarah Mace

Maiden Beauty (Revolutionary) did a terrific job of marketing herself by name on Belmont Park’s closing day when she broke her maiden at first asking in the featured $100,000 Lynbrook Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies.

The 6-furlong Lynbrook attracted an eclectic field of nine. There were three first-out winners (Icy Lady, Native Dawn, Positively Jean), three maiden second-time starters (Midnitesalright, Princess Pinky, She’s Trouble) and three first-time starters (Maiden Beauty, Sander’s Empire, Tossup).

The betting was wide open, with the bulk of the money going to horses with experience along with the pricey Rick Violette first-time starter Tossup. Another X-factor in the whole equation for these youngsters was the track condition, which was “muddy (sealed)” at post time.

Let go at odds of 22-1 while breaking from post three under Joel Rosario, Maiden Beauty raced in mid-pack in the two-path along the backstretch, four-plus lengths behind pacesetter Native Dawn, who carved out a first quarter in 22.88 Midnitesalright stalked 1 1/2 lengths back in second.

Navigating the far turn in the two-path, Maiden Beauty angled out further for clear running in upper stretch. Meanwhile the two front-runners had hooked up in the bend and were joined on the outside by Tossup.

In mid-stretch Tossup poked a head in front, but Maiden Beauty found another gear. Charging toward the finish between horses, she surged past Tossup and rail runner Midnitesalright, and outkicked She’s Trouble, who launched a good late bid from the back of the pack.

Maiden Beauty went on to secure the victory by a convincing 3 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:13.41, paying a healthy $47.60 to win. Maiden Beauty left an additional mark with her victory as the first winner and first stakes winner for her freshman sire Revolutionary.

Tossup and Midnitesalright finished heads apart in second and third. She’s Troubled completed the superfecta, followed across the line by Icy Lady, Native Dawn, Princess Pinky and Positively Jean, who broke her maiden on turf at first asking. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“It was a beautiful trip,” said Rosario. “I was on the inside a little bit and was just looking for room to go outside. She was a first-time starter but very professional. She finished very strong and it looks like she can go a bit further. I was very pleased with how she ran today.”

Gary Contessa, who trains the bay filly for owners Pines Stables, John J. Irwin, Paul Zysset and Sam F. Arci, clearly had Maiden Beauty well prepared for her unveiling. There are a good series of regularly-spaced published Belmont works dating back to May 21.

Said Contessa “She’s been training really well. Yesterday, we ran a horse called Red Zinger, who had a really green trip and ran third [in the Rockville Centre], and [Maiden Beauty] has been beating him pretty good, so I knew she was a hair better than him, so I thought we had a shot today.”

Contessa also felt he had another factor in his corner with the rider. “Joel [Rosario] happened to be available and it’s a big advantage to have him.”

Bred by Sandy Glens Stables LLC and foaled at Stonegate Stables in Fort Edward, Maiden Beauty, now a $60,000-earner, is the second starter and first winner out the young mare Alpha Charlie, an unplaced Kentucky-bred daughter of Eddington. She has been bred back twice to Revolutionary resulting in a pair of fillies this year and last.

A $15,000 purchase as a weanling by Cicada Stable at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton New York Fall Mixed sale in Saratoga, Maiden Beauty was purchased by Pines Stable for $40,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in April. The filly’s second dam is a multiple stakes-placed runner and third dam Lusty Lady is a stakes winner, graded stakes performer and stakes producer.

 

 

 

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/15/maiden-beauty-lynbrook/

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Favored Dot Matrix rallies to victory in Indiana Grand’s Warrior Veterans Stakes

By Sarah Mace

In just his second attempt to earn black type credentials, Dot Matrix, a 5-year-old gelded son of New York sire Freud[2] (Sequel Stallions[3]), got the job done out-of-state when he rallied from mid-pack to win Indiana Downs’ $100,000 Warrior Veterans Stakes for older turf horses on Saturday evening.

Trained by Brad Cox for Marshall Gramm’s Ten Strike Racing, Dot Matrix broke from post nine in the robust field of 12 to go 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Early on, the blaze-faced bay settled at the rail in fifth and navigated the clubhouse turn in the clear. Five lengths ahead, second choice Siem Riep set the pace through early fractions of 23.06 and 46.78 while being pressed along by Lanier.

Continuing a ground-saving trip up the backstretch and around the far turn, after six panels in 1:10.52 Dot Matrix rallied into contention between horses in upper stretch.

Driving to the wire with determination, Dot Matrix got up for a one-length victory in the final strides and stopped the clock at 1:41.10. Siem Riep stayed on to finished second, followed 1 1/4 lengths back by One Mean Man. Sent off as the 3-2 favorite under Florent Geroux, Dot Matrix paid $5.60 to win.

“I was loaded,” said Geroux. “Great trip. I thought I’d be pretty much on the fence coming into the first turn. And the break, I was pretty much on the outside. But very nice trip from the nine hole.”

A fairly consistent runner for Abby Adsit in 2016 through November 2017, Dot Matrix has been extremely competitive in six starts for Cox. He won a pair of allowance races at Fair Grounds, missed another by a nose, and won an allowance at Keeneland. Last out he finished a solid fourth in the Kingston Stakes on May 28 behind Offering Plan.

“He’s just one of those hard-knockers,” said Rick Giannini, Cox’ assistant. “He’s as honest as the day is long. He rattled off some nice wins, got beat by a nice horse of ours in Arklow at the Fair Grounds. That [win two back] in that Keeneland race [on April 25] a was just unbelievable. If anybody watches the race, they will not believe he even won the race. He just showed his heart and class in that race.”

Continued Giannini, “Sending him to New York [for the Kingston] was a tall order. Those New York-bred stakes are not a walk in the park, for sure. And Brad thought it was a great idea to come down here. This race set up well for him, and Florent gave him a great ride, tucked there on the fence, parted the seas and came on through. He’s one of those horses who gives you a lot of confidence, too. I thought he’d be a little more forwardly placed. But when they kind of got away from him, Florent did the right thing and took him back, saved ground, and it all worked out well.”

Bred by Truxton Stables and foaled at Winslow Stevens and Philippe Lasseur’s Keane Stud[5] in Amenia, Dot Matrix is one of four winners out of Aunt Dot Dot by Gulch, whose second foal, PA-bred Aunt Ellipsis by Successful Appeal, is also a black type winner. Aunt Dot Dot had a successful racing career in her own right, winning six races and earning $213,915. The mare has an unnamed yearling filly by Normandy Invasion, but lost her Freud foal this year.

With seven wins, three seconds and three thirds from 23 starts, Dot Matrix has earned $309,051.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/14/dot-matrix-warrior-veterans/

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Voodoo Song takes his bite from the Forbidden Apple with front-running score

By Sarah Mace

Following 2-year-old La Fuerza’s victory in the Rockville Centre Stakes[2] earlier on Belmont’s Saturday card, Barry Schwartz and friends had the pleasure of making a second trek to the Belmont Park winner’s circle to celebrate a homebred stakes winner.

In this case, the star was Voodoo Song (English Channel), who had the best of a strong field of every step of the way in the $150,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes at one mile on the Widener Turf Course. Manny Franco piloted both Schwartz horses to victory.

Trained by Linda Rice, Voodoo Song was a Saratoga sensation last summer at three, posting four victories at the meet, a feat not accomplished since the legendary Native Dancer won four races at the Spa as a juvenile in 1952 during a 24-day meet. Voodoo Song’s Saratoga series was capped by a first stakes victory in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes on Woodward Day.

Following a winter break lasting from October 28 to April 11, Voodoo Song shook off the rust off for his 4-year-old campaign with a pair of strong allowance performances, winning the second one on May 12 by a nose. He returned to stakes company on June 17, finishing a solid third in the Grade 3 Poker behind by Oscar Performance, and earning his first triple-digit Beyer.

Going postward, Voodoo Song was bet down to odds of 5-1, the third betting choice. Popular fellow New York-bred Disco Partner, who was looking for his second bite from the Forbidden Apple after winning the race last year, went off at even money and Projected was 4-1.

At the outset Voodoo Song established one-length lead over Bind Ambition, who tracked him intently for three-quarters of mile. Meanwhile Franco was able to dictate all the fractions unbothered by a direct challenge, clocking splits of 23.29, 46.30 and 1:08.94.

Voodoo Song embarked on his stretch drive two lengths to the good. By mid-stretch a wall of horses lined up behind him but nobody got close enough to threaten. Voodoo Song, crossed the wire a one-length winner in an extremely fast final time of 1:31.67 over the firm turf.

Projected finished second after kicking clear of the pursuing group, followed by New York-bred Offering Plan who closed from last after being squeezed at the start. Completing the order of finish were multiple graded stakes winner Disco Partner, who on this day lacked his characteristic brilliance, Blind Ambition and Pocket Change. [VIDEO REPLAY[4]]

“The plan was to let him do what he wanted to do. He went to the lead,” said Manny Franco. “I tried to slow him down a little bit and he did, it worked out. The last time, he went a little [fast], I figured this time if I went around 46 [seconds], that was my goal. He is game all the time. He always keeps trying. He gave me all he had.”

Linda Rice explained why she pointed Voodoo Song to the Forbidden Apple. “He was coming into this race really well and I wanted to run him. On paper there were three speeds in the race and you would think it was going to set up for a closer like Disco Partner, but fortunately it worked out. He was able to get on the lead and settle.”

Rice added, “As a 4-year-old he’s really matured. Last year, running from the dirt and switching to turf he was really rank and running at two-turns has really benefitted him.”

Rice has on her radar for Voodoo Song’s next start the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave on August 11 as well as the $150,000 West Point for New York-breds on August 24.

Voodoo Song’s dam is Mystic Chant, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Unbridled’s Song purchased by Barry Schwartz for $200,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. In an eight-race career Mystic Chant became a stakes winner for Schwartz before graduating to broodmare duties. She has produced six winners, but Voodoo Song is the first to earn black type.

Mystic Chant has produced a juvenile full-brother to Voodoo Song, a yearling colt by Japan and foaled a Flatter filly on April 9, 2018.

The Forbidden Apple is Voodoo Song’s second stakes victory and improved his record to seven wins, two seconds and third from 15 starts. He has now earned $581,685.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/14/voodoo-song-forbidden-apple/

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La Fuerza much the best in Rockville Centre Stakes

By Sarah Mace

If his first two career starts are anything to go by, Barry Schwartz’ homebred Flatter colt La Fuerza has a bright future. On the Saturday of Belmont’s closing weekend, the chestnut colt drove his career record to perfect two-for-two with a much-the-best victory in the $100,000 Rockville Centre Stakes for New York-bred juveniles.

La Fuerza, “The Force” in Spanish, was impressive in his debut three weeks ago for trainer Todd Pletcher. Pinched back at the start and left with nearly eight lengths to make up after the first point of call, he swept past the field in the stretch under jockey Jose Ortiz to win the 5 1/2-furlong tilt by seven-plus lengths.

Schwartz told the DRF when en route to the Rockville Centre from California, “[I] thought he ran wonderfully, really excited. Honestly, he’s out of a crop of 18 2-year-olds I have. Clearly, he was the best-looking one, and he ran to his looks, I guess. We’re excited.”

Favored in his debut at 1-2 odds, La Fuerza proved even more popular with bettors Saturday, sent out as the most likely winner of the five-horse field at odds of 2-5.

La Fuerza got away cleanly under jockey Manny Franco, by contrast with his unveiling, but was still content to bide his time in last about three lengths off the pace set by Hushion, who was gunned to the front from his rail post by Mike Luzzi. What the Luck and Bustin Mach Four tracked in second and third.

Advancing a position at the rail along the backstretch, La Fuerza still saved his real running for later.

While the field was on the turn, Hushion was joined by What the Luck and first-time starter Red Zinger, who moved aggressively on the bend, making it three across the track.

Late in the turn, La Fuerza tipped out three-wide and straightened away for the dash home. From this point it was all smooth sailing. Once in the clear, he outkicked his three rivals and drew off to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Bustin Mach Four finished second 1 1/2 lengths ahead of firster Red Zinger in third. Completing the order of finish were Hushion and What the Luck.

Following early splits of 22.33 and 46.28, the final time for six furlongs over the fast going was 1:12.27.  The order of finish remained unchanged after the stewards worked through two jockey’s objections and an inquiry into a traffic issue in upper stretch between Bustin Mach Four and What the Luck. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Franco expressed his overall confidence in La Fuerza but noted that his top priority for the race was getting a good break. “The main thing was to break out of there well and then try not to do too much to him,” Franco said. “As soon as I had the chance to go to the outside, I just tipped him out and he exploded by himself. He’s a nice horse. I knew the horse can run and I had a lot of confidence in him and I just waited for the time and he did it.”

Pletcher assistant Byron Hughes added, “I thought he broke well. There was a little more speed in the race than we expected. They kind of went ahead of him and he was down there on the inside on the rail. Manny did a good job being patient and when the outside opened up, he veered him there and he kicked on in the stretch.”

Overall, Hughes felt that La Fuerza’s Rockville Centre was a case of ‘mission accomplished.’ “It was a good race for him. Coming into today, we were hoping he would break a little better. He broke a little slow and got pinched his first start and it turned out to be okay. In similar fashion, here he ended up getting behind horses but handled taking the dirt well and was able to get up.”

La Fuerza, who was foaled at Barry Schwartz’ Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, is the first foal out of Jonata, a Kentucky-bred two-time winner purchased by Schwartz as a yearling for $100,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale. Without issues in 2017, she foaled colt by Mizzen Mast on January 27, 2018.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/07/14/la-fuerza-rockville-centre/

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