Nine-year-old Kharafa wins West Point at 17-1

By Bill Heller

Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch’s nine-year-old New York-bred gelding Kharafa obviously never got the memo heading into Friday’s mile-and-a-sixteenth $150,000 West Point Stakes on New York-bred Showcase Day Friday at Saratoga Race Course. See, the memo said that the Old Guard had changed in high-profile New York-bred grass stakes because Lubash had been retired at the age of 10, and Kharafa, as well as his West Point opponent Friday King Kreesa, were both nine-years-old. Yes, they were million-dollar earners, but time moves on. And Kharafa was zero-for-10 the last two years and Kreesa zero-for-five in that span.

Well, Kreesa didn’t get involved Friday, but Kharafa sure did. Sent off at 17-1 under Dylan Davis in the field of 11, Kharafa rallied from far back to take a clear lead past the sixteenth pole and then hold off 3-5 Offering Plan by a half-length to win in 1:40.44. Rapt, who was 9-1 under Irad Ortiz Jr., finished third, a half-length behind Offering Plan while 2 1/2 lengths ahead of 9-2 Morrison and Luis Saez in fourth.

“This is incredible,” Davis said as he was bringing Kharafa back to the winner’s circle. “When he turned for home, he turned into a beast.”

Even at the ripe age of nine, just like Fourstardave and John’s Call: a Saratoga stakes winner.

High Meadow Farm bred Kharafa, a son of Kitalpha out of Exquisite Cassie by King of Kings who is trained by Timothy Hills. Hills has done a remarkable job managing Kharafa’s career. “He’s nine-years-old, but he doesn’t train like an old horse,” Hills said. “He loves what he does. He got a real good trip this time. I’m so happy for Dylan. His dad, Robbie, is one of my all-time favorite riders.”

Besides Kharafa’s two-year-old losing streak, Davis also had to deal with his horse’s lack of success at Saratoga, where he was zero-for-six with one second and four thirds. “He’s never done well at Saratoga,” Hills said. “In fact, he gets real keyed up with the crowd. It was nice to break through here.”

Davis let Kharafa linger far behind the fast pace set by 24-1 Black Tide and Jose Lezcano that produced three-quarters in 1:10.46. When Black Tide called it a day, the race was wide open.

And out of the pack came Kharafa with a full-speed rally. He charged to the lead and then made it last. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Kharafa improved his incredible grass record to 13-for-48 with 13 seconds, nine thirds and earnings of more than $1.2 million.

“He definitely brought his `A’ game today,” Davis said. “To be a nine-year-old and he still tries, I’m glad to continue to ride him. I want to thank Tim and the owners for keeping me on him.”

Davis probably should have thanked one more person, the one who threw out that memo before Kharafa read it.

Age be damned.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/24/kharafa-west-point-2018/

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English Soul wins the Fleet Indian Stakes in a four-horse blanket finish

By Bill Heller

Those of us who live in Thoroughbred racing sometimes take for granted what is absolutely astonishing. Imagine four three-year-old fillies separated by inches at the finish line after running a mile-and-an-eighth in a $200,000 stakes race. That’s exactly what happened on New York-bred Showcase Day at Saratoga Friday.

Zilla Racing Stable’s English Soul, flawlessly ridden by Manny Franco from the extreme outside post in the field of 11, got a nose past front-running Take Charge Aubrey and Jose Ortiz to win the mile-and-an-eighth $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes for three-year-old fillies.

Just a head behind Take Charge Aubrey were Split Time and Junior Alvarado in third. And a neck behind her was Indy’s Lady and Irad Ortiz Jr. in fourth.

English Soul was 4-1, Take Charge Aubrey 5-2, Split Time 3-1 and Indy’s Lady 10-1.

Mia Gallo, Dave Stack and Arlene Wilkins bred English Soul, a daughter of English Channel out of Soul Possession by Belong To Me who sold for $55,000 as a two-year-old in 2017, and is trained by Raymond Handal.

English Soul raced four times as a two-year-old finishing second and sixth on grass and first twice on dirt, winning a maiden race on a sloppy track at Belmont Park by 14 1/4 lengths and a New York-bred allowance by seven lengths at Aqueduct, again on a sloppy track. She then ran her dirt record to three-for-three by adding a 2 3/4 length victory in the $100,000 East View Stakes at Aqueduct in her first race on a fast track, Jan. 14.

English Soul had made only two starts since. She finished second in the $125,000 Bouwerie on March 28 at Belmont Park under Franco, then a front-running third by two lengths at Finger Lakes in the New York Oaks at on July 21.

Franco regained the mount at Saratoga and he had no choice but to take English Soul wide around the first turn to be forwardly placed. “I was a little concerned when I saw her four-wide into the first turn,” Handel said. “That was definitely not ideal.”

Regardless, it kept English Soul near enough to front-running Take Charge Aubrey through splits of :23.67, :48.66 and 1:12.51. Take Charge Aubrey put away the filly chasing her in second, 66-1 Cause We Are Loyal and Jose Lezcano, only to have English Soul take her on as Split Time rallied into third and Indy’s Lady arrived late on the scene.

With 200 yards to go, any of the four could have won. The one who did, English Soul, was outside of Take Charge Aubrey while inside the other two closers. The photo finish showed English Soul had won while Take Charge Aubrey suffered the toughest kind of beat. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“I waited as long as I could,” Franco said. “She was game.”

She always is. English Soul is now four-for-six on dirt with one second and one third. She also has one third from two turf tries for total earnings of more than $285,000.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/24/english-soul-fleet-indian/

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La Moneda uncoils best closing kick in Yaddo Stakes

By Sarah Mace

Up-and-comer La Moneda, riding a three-race win streak, took the next logical step and tested stakes company on Friday’s New York Showcase day at Saratoga, lining up with a formidable group of New York-bred fillies and mares to contest the $150,000 Yaddo Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. The experiment proved to be an overwhelming success, when the 5-year-old daughter of top New York-based sire Freud[2] (Sequel Stallions New York[3]) outkicked some very accomplished rivals to win by a neck.

A homebred for Patricia Moseley, La Moneda has spent her career shuttling between the barns of Brendan Walsh — for whom she broke her maiden second out last September 29 — and Tom Morley. Morley explained that he has the mare when Walsh, who does not keep a string in New York year-round, is not in the state.

In either case, patience has certainly paid off with La Moneda, who did not start until she was four. Winner of two of four starts in 2017, she galloped through her remaining state-bred and open conditions this year, winning a second-level state-bred allowance at Belmont on June 9, an entry-level open allowance on June 30 and, at Saratoga, a second-level open allowance. All three wins came at one mile on turf.

On the strength of La Moneda’s talent and sharp form, by post time she was the second betting choice of the eight fillies and mares. Chad Brown-trained Fifty Five was the even-money favorite. Voted champion New York-bred turf female in 2017 and a graded winner, Fifty Five herself was in top-notch form having finished first or second in her four most recent starts. Fifty Five also has a devastating late kick which, in theory, could have been a an obstacle for La Moneda, who has the same running style.

After the bell both La Moneda and Fifty Five settled in mid-pack in fourth and fifth, respectively, while confirmed speedster Lady Joan, a stakes winner in her own right, outsprinted the field from her outside post, crossed over and showed the way. On the backstretch the field became quite strung out, leaving La Moneda as much as nine lengths behind Lady Joan at one point.

The relative positions of Lady Joan, La Moneda and Fifty Five remained unchanged though solid fractions of 23.25, 47.34 and 1:11.21. The pack tightened up considerably early on the far turn, and Moneda advanced into third in the bend. In the stretch, things really began to pop.

By mid-stretch Lady Joan still enjoyed a one-length lead over Overnegotiate, who had dogged her steps throughout, but La Moneda had gained momentum in the clear, and the ever-dangerous Fifty Five kicked into gear further out on the grandstand side.

Overnegotiate faded leaving the main three to duke it out. Lady Joan was dead game on the inside, but La Moneda extended her stride, caught up past the sixteenth marker and at the same time managed to outkick Fifty Five. La Moneda got the win by a neck, while Lady Joan and Fifty Five finished just noses apart second and third.

Completing the order of finish were War Canoe, Tizzelle, Overnegotiate, Feeling Bossy and Purrageous Dyna. After a mile in 1:34.54, La Moneda stopped the clock after nine furlongs at 1:40.49. [VIDEO REPLAY[4]]

Winning rider Junior Alvarado reported, “She broke good. I thought going into the first turn I was sitting in a perfect position. It was like a dream trip. At the half-mile [pole] I started letting her go a little bit just to make sure the horse in front [Lady Joan] didn’t go away from me, and at the same time trying to save a little bit for the end just to make sure I can hold off [Fifty Five].

The pilot continued, “She was there for me the whole way. Everything I asked of her, she was up to the challenge. She ended up winning and I thought she deserved it. I knew I was going to get the horse in front at the eighth pole; I wanted to ride hard but at the same time try to save a little bit in case the horse in behind tried to catch me. I had to time it right, but she was so good. She was there for me.”

Morley reported that he and Walsh have been comparing notes all along. “Brendan told me before she debuted here last year, ‘I think I have a New York bred in my barn who can win a graded stakes.’ We’ve taken our time and picked our spots, but she just keeps getting better and better. I think she’s good enough to win a graded stakes. But today was the aim, and that was a massive performance.”

As to the race itself Morley said, “The whole way down in front of us, I was worried about catching the horse in front of us [Lady Joan]. Junior was very confident. It was a super ride.”

Even after his huge win in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes last weekend with Donegal Racing’s Carrick at longshot odds of 38-1, Morley fully appreciated the Saratoga score.

“They don’t come around, these good ones, all the time,” Morley said. “So, you have to appreciate them when they do. That was huge. Saratoga and a stakes win, it doesn’t come bigger than that to me.”

Long-time owner/breeder Patricia Moseley, who named La Moneda after a Chilean palace, takes especial pride in her homebred who, after being foaled in New York, was raised at Moseley’s farm in Hamilton Mass.

La Moneda’s dam is Jade Palace, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Jade Hunter bred by Moseley and her late husband James B. Moseley. Jade Palace has produced four winners from four foals to start, including a full-sister to La Moneda who is a stakes performer. The Moseleys also bred La Moneda’s second dam Topkapi whose family is Chilean. Jade Palace delivered a Freud filly this year on April 10.

A winner of six of nine starts with one runner-up finish, La Moneda’s earnings bankroll stands at $312,769.

 

 

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/24/la-moneda-yaddo-stakes/

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Party Like Grandma shifts the party to Saratoga with Seeking the Ante win

By Bill Heller

The word was out at Finger Lakes the afternoon of July 12. Co-owner/trainer Jeremiah Englehart, Flower City Racing and Christopher Meyer’s debuting two-year-old, New York-bred filly Party Like Grandma could fly. Accordingly, she got bet down to 1-2 and then showed why she was odds-on, going wire-to-wire to win by 11 1/2 lengths under Andre Worrie.

Considering her connections bought the daughter of Desert Party out of Grandma Lu by Salt Lake, who was bred by Patricia Calandro and Susan Georgas, for $8,000 as a weanling in 2016, they knew they’d made a wise investment.

“As a weanling, she looked like a racehorse,” Englehart said. “Desert Party gets runners here and there, and I thought she looked like a racehorse for $8,000.”

Who could blame her connections for upping the ante by starting their Finger Lakes filly in the 6 1/2-furlong $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies as part of New York-bred Showcase Day Friday at Saratoga Race Course? Englehart decided to let Worrie keep the mount.

Her victory at Finger Lakes was impressive enough that she was 7-2 on the morning line in the field of eight. The early scratch of Awesome Debate cut the field to seven.

Then Party Like Grandma’s chances improved measurably in the starting gate when the speedy maiden winner Collegeville Girl, who was the 6-5 favorite under Kendrick Carmouche, had a serious issue in the gate, became a late scratch and had to be walked onto an equine ambulance.

The entire field was unloaded from the gate, and all the riders got off their horses. The field of two-year-olds was remarkably composed, each one walking with an assistant starter holding their reins. After several minutes, the jockeys remounted and the horses reloaded. And Worre knew exactly what he was going to do when the gate opened.

“I knew the other horse scratched,” he said. “I was the other speed. I had to go.”

And he did to the relief of bettors who made her 5-2 co-second choice in the remaining field of six.

Party Like Grandma obliged by breaking sharply on the rail as 5-2 Maiden Beauty and Joel Rosario settled in second. Party Like Grandma led Maiden Beauty by three-quarters of a length to one length through fast early splits, a quarter-mile in :21.78 and a half-mile in :44.73.

Party Like Grandma and Maiden Beauty stayed 1-2 all the way to the finish line as Party Like Grandma dug in and refused to let Maiden Beauty get closer. She won by a length and a quarter in 1:17.59. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

Maiden Beauty finished a clear second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of She’s Trouble, the 9-5 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., in third. There was a five-length gap back to 18-1 Harley Q and Manny Franco in fourth.

Worrie was ecstatic that Englehart had let him keep the mount on Party Like Grandma and thanked him afterwards. “My daughter’s here to take the picture with me,” Worrie said. And, indeed, his baby daughter did.

Now two-for-two, Party Like Grandma has earned more than $125,000.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/24/party-like-grandma-seeking-the-ante/

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Dugout noses Bankit in Funny Cide

By Sarah Mace

Dugout and Bankit turned the fifth running of the $200,000 Funny Cide for New York-bred juveniles into a thriller. With their heads bobbing up and down on virtually even terms in the final strides of the at 6 1/2-fulong dash, it took a photo to determine whose nose got to the finish line first. Dugout, a grey colt by Adios Charlie trained by Larry Rivelli, got the decision.

Dugout was unveiled early in the Saratoga meet (July 23) and was an impressive 7-plus length winner in a sloppy 5 1/2-furlong off-the-turf affair that attracted nine. In the interim the colt posted a pair of solid half-mile works over the main track.

Owner of the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the field of five, Dugout was the second choice in the betting at odds of 3-1 but it was a well-matched field, with four individuals sitting at lower than 4-1 odds at post time. Even so, taking the lion’s share of bettor’s money was La Fuerza, a two-for-two Todd Pletcher-trained colt who won the Rockville Centre at Belmont Park on June 22 and prevailed in both starts with professional stalking tactics.

Right from the bell, the Funny Cide unfolded as “The Dugout and Bankit Show.” Dugout veered out slightly after the break from post four, along with La Fuerza who veered out more dramatically from post five, but quickly got himself going in a straight line and aimed for the top spot. Bankit, for his part, outran his neighbors from post three and set up at the fence.

Bankit on the inside had a slight edge along the backstretch through an opening quarter-mile in 22.28, but Dugout shadowed him closely all the way through the far turn and the pair traversed the bend virtually in tandem as the half ticked by in 45.09.

Bankit cornered neatly at the rail and straightened away for the stretch drive with a slight advantage, but Dugout eroded the lead steadily and drew even again by mid-stretch.

In the final panel the pair went at it hammer and tongs, finishing the race with noses up and down on the line, and Dugout getting the edge. Bustin to Be Loved finished third 3 3/4 lengths back, followed across the line by Dalliance and La Fuerza, who never seemed to recover his poise after the poor start. The final time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:16.43. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Castellano is very enthusiastic about his mount’s prospects. “He’s such a talented horse,” said the pilot. “He ran huge on the sloppy track last time [in his debut]. Today, it was a fast track. He has all of the potential. He has the speed, he has the stamina, I think he can be any horse.”

He added, “My horse was game. Last time it was 5 1/2 [furlongs], today it was 6 1/2. He gave me a little extra. A very special horse.”

“It was a great trip,” Rivelli commented. “I figured it was going to be between us and Asmussen [trainer of Bankit] and I was confident coming into the race, but I’m glad everything worked out.”

Rivelli continued, “I talked to Javier before the race and we set him up with a game plan, Most of the runners in this race had won on the front end, so I didn’t want him let him get hit with a lot dirt. I told him, ‘If you can make the lead, make it, because speed has been going good and he just gave a professional ride.”

Owned by Rivelli, Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope LLC, Dugout was also bred by Ravin and Rivelli, which made the victory extra-sweet. “This is the first homebred we’ve had, and we dropped him in New York and he won, so it’s exciting,” Rivelli said.

Dugout is the most recent foal out of Rooney Doodle, an unplaced California-bred daughter of Lit de Justice who has produced six winners from six foals to start. Dugout’s full-sister Jean Elizabeth is also a stakes winner, and half-sister Hollarforadollar is stakes placed. The mare has been bred back this year to Adios Charlie. From his pair of victories, Dugout has earned $151,250.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/24/dugout-funny-cide/

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Sea Foam holds sway in Albany

By Sarah Mace

Waterville Lake Stable’s homebred Sea Foam did all the hard work on the front end and had enough left in reserve to hold off a menacing closer to capture Friday’s $250,000, 1 1/8-mile Albany Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds, the first featured race on the all-New York-bred Showcase card that kicks off Travers weekend at Saratoga Racecourse.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Sea Foam was last seen at Finger Lakes on July 21 scoring his first win as a sophomore in the New York Derby, wiring the field under local rider Jaime Rodriguez. With the Albany victory on Friday, Sea Foam’s third career stakes win, the bay son of Medaglia d’Oro earned the bragging rights for two-thirds of the three-race series for New York-bred 3-year-olds traditionally known as the Big Apple Triple. The triad begins with the Mike Lee at Belmont in May, which was won this year by Albany runner Analyze the Odds.

Four horses in the well-matched Albany line-up received significant support from the bettors. Sea Foam was sent off as the post time favorite at 3-2. Last year’s Sleepy Hollow winner Evaluator was bet down to 2-1, Analyze the Odds was 7-2 and Singapore Trader, a flashy grey son of Flatter trained by Todd Pletcher, was 4-1 for his stakes debut.

Drawn outside with Joel Rosario in the irons, Sea Foam started off his run in the Albany by taking a page out of his New York Derby playbook, getting away well and leading by the first point of call.  Singapore Trader and Spectacular Kid tracked in second and third.

Leading the way by a comfortable length along the backstretch and around the far turn, Sea Foam carved out fractions of 23.53, 47.51 and 1:11.85. At the head of the lane Sea Foam angled out into the two-path for dash home.

In the stretch, as Singapore Trader persisted at the fence, Evaluator unwound a serious bid. Fourth inside the furlong grounds he passed two rivals and took a bead on Sea Foam.

Sea Foam, however, had the answer. The bay dug in and held on to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:50.24. Evaluator checked in second three-quarters of a length ahead of Singapore Trader. Completing the order of finish were Analyze the Odds, Spectacular Kid and Bad Guy. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“Christophe [Clement] told me to let him be happy wherever he was,” reported Rosario. “He broke sharp out of there and I just let him be where he was. He looked like he showed some speed. He has a nice closing speed.”

Added Rosario, “I was happy because I work him in the mornings and he’s the type of horse where it doesn’t matter how fast you go, he has a good closing speed and when you ask him to go, he just keeps going.”

Clement commented, “He’s always been a nice horse. He was supposed to run at Aqueduct [in December] in a race [Damon Runyon] which was canceled. It took him a while to get going, but certainly going longer on the dirt is better for him.”

Winning for this set of owners is also special for Clement. “I’m delighted because [John Meriwether’s] Waterville Lake Stable has supported me forever. It’s pretty usual for them to keep their fillies and sell their colts, and they didn’t with Sea Foam because of an early issue, and I’m delighted it worked out.”

Sea Foam opened his account last year with a trio of solid runner-up efforts at Saratoga and Belmont before breaking his maiden at Aqueduct on November 26 and stalking and pouncing to capture the Notebook Stakes on November 26. It took two starts this spring to shed the rust of the winter, with wide-trip fourth in the Mike Lee Stakes and an unplaced effort in the open $100,000 Manila Stakes at Belmont, before scoring his back-to-back New York Derby and Albany wins. From four wins and three seconds in nine starts he has earned $373,570 for his connections.

Foaled at Berkshire Stud[4] in Pine Plains, Sea Foam is out of Kentucky-bred mare Strike It Rich by Undbridled’s Song, who was purchased by Clement for Waterville Lake Stable for $350,000 at the 2008 Saratoga select yearling sale.

Becoming 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/2018/08/24/sea-foam-albany/

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Can You Diggit gets breakthrough stakes victory in Evan Shipman

By Sarah Mace

Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred Can You Diggit has been knocking on the door of a stakes victory all year. On Monday he managed to break through that door when he won Saratoga’s featured $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes at Saratoga with a final surge in the shadow of the wire for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

The 1 1/8-mile contest for New York-breds three and up attracted a small but highly competitive field. Drawn originally with eight horses, the group was whittled down by scratches when Papa Shot, Hit It Once More and Winston’s Chance, who were cross-entered in a matching feature at Finger Lakes — the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes — opted try their luck in Farmington. Hit It Once More won[2] the Genesee Valley.

Can You Diggit’s near (and relatively near) misses coming into the Evan Shipman have piled up this year. The 4-year-old Tiznow colt rolled out a trio of runner-up finishes in the Alex M. Robb in January, Haynesfield in February and a second-level state-bred allowance in March. In April he won at the same level going nine furlongs, then came back to finish fourth in the Commentator in May. Freshened until August 3, he finished third in an open allowance in the mud.

Breaking from post two under Junior Alvarado as the 6-1 fourth choice in the betting, Can You Diggit settled in fourth a just off the rail, letting second choice Control Group and 8-1 Wine Not battle it out for the lead through an opening quarter in 23.95 and half in 48.44.

Cruising along comfortably in the two-path along the backstretch two lengths behind the dueling leaders, Can You Diggit was shaken up midway around the far turn and swung out six-wide into the stretch where he set his sights on the leaders. Meanwhile Control Group was defending his lead against a new challenger, Pat On the Back.

Passing Wine Not in upper stretch, Can You Diggit drew even with the top pair in the closing sixteenth. With a final surge he secured the win by a neck. Pat On the Back got the place, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Control Group in third, followed by Wine Not and favored Twisted Tom, who was not a factor. After a mile in 1:36.98, the final time for nine furlongs over the fast going was 1:49.93. [VIDEO REPLAY[4]]

“He always runs good, but it seems like I [was] always missing something to get him to the wire,” said Junior Alvarado, aboard for the fourth time. “It’s a little hard to get him going, but today he was better than ever. He got going, and he got us to the winner’s’ circle.”

Jerkens concurred that this stakes victory was overdue. “This horse has been knocking on the door,” the trainer said. “He certainly deserved a win. He always makes a move towards the end of races and I thought if the pace was honest and he could save some ground, he would have a big chance with the smaller field and he’d come and get him.”

Added Jerkens, “Junior did a great job on him. He put him in a perfect spot in the stretch and he had another gear to get home after that. I think this is ideal distance. With his style, it benefits him.”

The trainer also had words of appreciation for the Bromans. “[Chester Broman]’s been so great for the game for so long. He’s winding down a little bit and selling his younger horses, but owners like that are dream to train for, and whenever you win for them, it’s just an extra bonus.”

Can You Diggit, whose record now stands at four wins, six seconds and three thirds from 19 starts with $373,555 in earnings, is a third-generation product of the Bromans’ breeding program. His second dam is Broman homebred Seeking the Ante (Seeking the Gold), who won Grade 2 Nassau County Breeders’ Cup S. and earned $392,830. Her first foal Mineralogist by Mineshaft was a 4-time stakes winner and bankrolled $270,550. Can You Diggit is Mineralogist’s second foal.

Mineralogist currently has a juvenile colt by Desert Party named Sahara Sand N Sun who is currently in training at Belmont Park and foaled a Hard Spun filly this year. She has been bred back to Tiznow.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/20/can-you-diggit-evan-shipman-stakes/

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Hit It Once More leads every step of the way to win Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes

By Sarah Mace

Trainer Gary Sciacca can congratulate himself on making a good call Monday. Yellow Moon Stables’ Hit It Once More was cross-entered in the $50,000 1 1/6-mile Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes for New York-breds 3-year-old and up at Finger Lakes and the Evan Shipman Stakes for the same division, run 70 minutes later at Saratoga at 1 1/8 miles. Opting to contest the fortieth running of the Genesee Valley, Hit It Once More’s connections saw him sent off as the 6-5 favorite and produce a dominant gate-to-wire victory.

A 5-year-old horse by Hard Spun, Hit It Once More notched a Finger Lakes stakes victory two years ago when he won the New York Derby by 6 1/2 lengths. His highlight so far this year was a victory in the 1-mile Haynesfield Stakes for state-breds in the Aqueduct mud on February 17. Since then he has arguably been facing stiffer competition, running in a trio of open stakes races, a tough open conditioned optional claimer and the Saginaw stakes, where he finished third to Pat On the Back and Wine Not, both signed on for the Evan Shipman.

Alertly out of the gate from his rail post under John Davila, Jr., Hit It Once More vied briefly with Winston’s Chance, runner up in last year’s edition of the Genesee Valley but, by the time he navigated the clubhouse turn with a ground-saving trip, he had the lead well in hand.

Maintaining a three-quarter length lead over Winston’s Chance along the backstretch as the top two separated themselves from the body of the field, Hit It Once More saved ground in the far turn, cornered neatly and finally shook off his rival in upper stretch.

Unchallenged to the wire, Hit It Once More sailed home to a 3-length victory in a final time of 1:44.52. Winston’s Chance held second, while 6 3/4 lengths back longshot Broadway Bay closed from last to get the show. Completing the order of finish were Peter’s Project, who won the race last year, and Manipulated, another longshot. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

Bred by JMJ Racing Stables and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York [3]in Hudson, Hit It Once More is the lone winner for his stakes-winning dam, Kentucky-bred Sunday Geisha (Sunday Break).

Sold as a yearling for $105,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale, Hit It Once More was purchased by Sciacca for $90,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale for Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm. After 17 starts for Parcells, Hit It Once More contested the Empire Classic on October 21, 2017 in the colors of Yellow Moon Stable.

In 30 starts Hit It Once More has won seven races with two seconds and five thirds and earned $553,342. He has now won four stakes races in all, the New York Derby and Albany at three and the Haynesfield and Genesee Valley this year.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/20/hit-it-once-more-genesee-valley/

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Frostie Anne makes it six straight with gritty victory in Saratoga Dew

By Sarah Mace

Frostie Anne was last seen on August 12 easily handling an open allowance field at Saratoga going nine furlongs in an off-the-turf event.  Just five days later, on Friday, she turned in a determined performance to win the $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies and mares at the same distance for her sixth straight victory.

Frostie Anne, a 5-year-old daughter of Frost Giant[2] (Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions[3]) has been nothing less than perfect of late. Dating back to March 31, when she wired the Sis City Stakes – one of Aqueduct’s (non-black type) Claiming Championship races – the 5-year-old daughter of Frost Giant has done nothing but have her picture taken. She followed up with three state-bred allowance victories (Belmont on May 16, and Finger Lakes on June 27 and July 17), all going a route of ground, before her open allowance win at Saratoga last Sunday.

Frostie Anne was not the only horse in the Saratoga Dew field wheeling back on short rest. The lineup, in fact, had a distinctly “old school” feel. Empire Distaff winner Verdant Pastures did have a significant time between starts (81 days), but Frostie Anne’s stablemate Frosty Margarita won the Jack Betta Be Rite stakes at Finger Lakes four days ago on Monday. Pink Twist was returning eight days after a state-bred allowance victory at the Spa and Land Mine last raced three weeks before, finishing a solid second in a Saratoga allowance race. Held Accountable (10 days) was scratched.

Verdant Pastures (5-2) was hustled to the lead after the bell and Frostie Anne (likewise 5-2) set up 1 1/2 lengths back in second to enjoy a ground-saving trip around the first turn. Land Mine (favored at 3-2), who bobbled at the break but recovered quickly, pursued in third in the two path followed by Frosty Margarita and Verdant Pastures.

The order remained unchanged as the field proceeded along the backstretch with the quarter and half ticking by in 23.86 and 47.95.

[4]Rounding the far turn, Frostie Anne advanced on the pacesetter, issued a direct challenge and assumed the lead midway around the bend.

Mid-stretch Land Mine, who went wide around the turn, came knocking at the door.

Frostie Anne met the challenge with determined resistance, digging deep in the final panel and refusing to let her rival make up ground. She hit the wire with a half-length to spare. Land Mine in second finished 11 3/4 lengths clear of Pink Twist in third and Frosty Margarita and Verdant Pastures completed the order of finish. After a mile in 1:39.17, the final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:53.17. [VIDEO REPLAY[5]]

Jockey Junior Alvarado, who has been Frostie Anne’s regular rider in her NYRA starts this year, credited trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who co-owns the mare with Michael Imperio, with a masterful job of managing her races.

“Rudy’s done such a good job,” Alvarado said. “Whatever he’s doing, she’s ready and comes through the races and gives you her ‘A’ game. She’s been trying in every race and really brings it.”

The pilot also explained why he refined on his typical front-running tactics for the Saratoga Dew. “I wanted to go to the lead but at the same time I didn’t want to overuse her because it’s a mile and an eighth and we ran five days ago,” he said. “I just tried to use her as much as I could. She broke good. I just sat off with her and when I asked her, she was there for me.”

Rodriguez returned Alvarado’s compliment with praise of the ride. “I have to thank Junior for a good ride. I just told him to put a little pressure on and don’t let them give the race up early up front. Junior did what he’s supposed to do, and the filly is just game horse. We’re just lucky to have her in the barn. She always digs in… I knew when they hooked up to her, she wouldn’t quit.”

Rodriguez also reported that during this six-race win streak he has noticed a positive change. “She’s usually very headstrong and difficult in the mornings, but the last eight weeks she’s been very good, relaxed and comfortable,” Rodriguez explained. “You always are concerned when they come back from short rest, but we’ll freshen her up from here and go forward.”

Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Grant L. Whitmer and foaled at Keane Stud[6] in Amenia, Frostie Anne is one of four winners from four foals to start out of Lake Toccet by Toccet, an unraced New York-bred a half-sister to turf stakes-placed Irish Princess. Her other black type winner is Freudie Anne by Freud, a multiple stakes winner of nearly $400,000.

Lake Toccet has yearling colt by Giant Surprise and a weanling colt by the same sire. She was bred back to Freud this year.

Frostie Anne has won 13 of 31 starts with three seconds and a third. A consistent earner she has a compiled a bankroll of $438,998.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/17/frostie-anne-saratoga-dew/

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Bonita Bianca up in time to capture Union Avenue

By Sarah Mace

This year’s $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes, a Saratoga staple for New York-bred fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs, attracted a small but intriguing field of five multiple stakes winners, most of whom have knocked heads before. After the dust settled, 7-2 second choice Bonita Bianca capped a long drive from fourth place with a final surge inside the sixteenth pole to secure her fourth career stakes victory.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Michael Imperio and trained by Rudy Rodriguez through 2017, Bonita Bianca switched barns to Jason Servis in 2018. The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin began the year with a rallying victory in an $20,000 optional claimer at Monmouth, but in her most recent effort had to settle for fifth in Delaware Park’s Dashing Beauty after getting mired down on the rail on a day where the fence was not the place to be.

Away driving from post four, Bonita Bianca settled in fourth well off the fence while her speedy stablemate Picco Uno, winner of the Union Avenue last year and favored at 1-2 favorite following a career performance in the Dancin Renee on June 16, struck the lead. By the first point of call, however, Picco Uno took back to track an even more aggressive Swing and Sway, who claimed the top spot.

Swing and Sway, a Ron Moquett-trainee who attracted the services of jockey Javier Castellano, was a relatively unfamiliar face having won a pair of listed stakes at Oaklawn Park this year, and was overlooked in the wagering at 7-1 odds.

As Swing and Sway led the field through a hot 21.57 opening quarter and 44.02 half with Picco Uno pressing the pace, jockey Manny Franco continued to get after Bonita Bianca. The pair advanced into third while rounding the far turn five-wide and in upper stretch set their sights on Swing and Sway and Picco Uno.

With enough left in the tank to turn on the afterburners late, Bonita Bianca made the lead just past the sixteenth pole and drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Swing and Sway and Picco Uno completed the trifecta, followed by Wonderment and Absatootly. After six panels in 1:08.82, the final time over the fast main track was a sharp 1:15.39. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“I was happy where I was [far outside], because my filly doesn’t like to get that much dirt on her face,” said Franco. “I know they were going fast in front. I just took my time and when the time came, I let her run.”

The pilot continued, “I think the [6 1/2-furlong] distance fits her really good. The trainer did a great job with the horse. She showed she belongs here. She’s a nice filly and she did it today.”

Servis said, “They were moving really fast early up front. The fractions they were putting up kind of compromised Picco Uno, but it certainly benefited Bonita Bianca.”

As to race strategy, the conditioner said, “The only instructions I had for Manny coming into the race was that she didn’t like to get hit in the face with dirt. In her last start at Delaware she really ran when she was wheeled out and today she got the perfect setup and certainly took advantage of the early splits. It was a nice win for her.”

Bred by Dormellito Stud and foaled at Mill Creek Farm [4]in Stillwater, Bonita Bianca was purchased by Michael Dubb for $97,000 at the 2016 OBS March juvenile sale. With an impressive record of six wins from 12 career starts, with a second and two thirds, Bonita Bianca has earned $470,917. At two she won both the Maid of the Mist and East View Stakes while collecting a placing in the Grade 2 Damoiselle Stakes. At three she added the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes to her stakes tally.

Bonita Bianca’s dam is Friendly Michelle, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Artax and winner of the Grade 1 Prioress and Grade 3 La Troienne Stakes in 2004.

In 2006 Friendly Michelle sold to Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings for $1.15 million at the Keeneland November sale in 2006. In 2013 Steven Rowan bought the mare for $42,000 with Bonita Bianca in utero at the same sale. Friendly Michelle has produced six winners in all. She has a yearling colt by Paynter, no reported foal in 2018 and was bred to Ghostzapper in the spring.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/08/16/bonita-bianca-union-avenue/

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