New York Stallion Stakes Series purse values to double to $2,300,000 in 2019

[1](NYRA/NYTB press release)

In 2019, purses for the 10-race series restricted to the progeny of nominated New York stallions and contested on NYRA racetracks will double from $1,150,000 to $2,300,000.

Purses for all 10 races will see increases with The Great White Way for juvenile males and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, to be run at Aqueduct in December 2019, becoming the richest sire stakes races in the country with purses of $500,000 each.

“This purse enhancement is the result of a diligent process with our partners in New York racing and I appreciate the leadership of John Poklemba of The Fund and Jeff Cannizzo from the NYTB to get this over the finish line,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Continuing to find new and innovative ways to incentivize the owners and breeders who fill our races is paramount to the ongoing success of New York racing.”

Funding for the enhanced NYSSS purse structure comes from The Fund which distributes “Purse Enrichment” annually.

Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director of the NYTB which administers the NYSSS series, said, “I sincerely want to thank The Fund and NYRA for agreeing to this proposal which dramatically enhances the Stallion Stakes Series and creates the most lucrative sire stakes for two-year-olds in the country. Directing The Fund’s ‘Purse Enrichment’ to New York-sired horses will, I believe, have both immediate and long-term positive effects on the state’s breeding and racing industries.”

The purse hike will directly benefit all participants in the New York breeding and racing programs starting with the owners of New York-sired horses, who already derive added value from the racing opportunities afforded by the NYSSS. Owners will see an increase in their bottom lines both from bigger purses and the opportunity to earn larger “Open Owner’s Awards” from The Fund. Currently, New York-sired horses who finish first through third in open races, and races like the NYSSS which are not otherwise restricted to New York-breds, earn 20% on top of purse earnings.

In addition to the purse increase for the juvenile races from $150,000 to $500,000, purses for the other eight races will increase as follows in 2019:

• the Times Square and Park Avenue divisions for 3-year-olds of both sexes to be run at Aqueduct will be worth $200,000 (up from $100,000);
• four turf races for 3-year-olds, which are run in pairs at Belmont and at Saratoga (Spectacular Bid and Cab Calloway for males and Cupecoy’s Joy and Statue of Liberty for fillies) will be worth $150,000 (up from $100,000);
• a pair of sprints for older horses run at Aqueduct (the Thunder Rumble for males and Staten Island for fillies and mares) will be worth to $150,000 (up from $125,000).

NYSSS Race Schedule for 2019 – $2,300,000

April    Park Avenue Division                 F 3YO  6 1/2 Furlongs  $200,000
April    Times Square Division               3YO     6 1/2 Furlongs  $200,000

June     Spectacular Bid Division          3YO     7 Furlongs (Turf)   $150,000
June     Cupecoy’s Joy Division            F 3YO  7 Furlongs (Turf)   $150,000

Aug      Cab Calloway Division              3YO     1 Mile (Turf)      $150,000
Aug      Statue of Liberty Division         F 3YO  1 Mile (Turf)    $150,000

Nov     Staten Island Division               F&M 3&UP     7 Furlongs        $150,000
Nov     Thunder Rumble Division         3&UP             7 Furlongs       $150,000

Dec      Fifth Avenue Division               F 2YO  7 Furlongs        $500,000
Dec      Great White Way Division        2YO     7 Furlongs        $500,000

Breeders of New York-sired New York-breds and stallion owners will also benefit from the opportunity to earn increased fund awards. New York-sired New York-breds earn 30%, 15% and 15% in “Breeders Awards” for first, second and third-place finishes, which is 50% more than the Breeder’s Awards for out-of-state-sired New York-breds. “Stallion Owner’s Awards” are allotted at 10% each for progeny that finish first through third. On the bloodstock side, New York-sired foals will gain added value in the sales ring for their increased earnings potential.

“Doubling the purse value of the New York Stallion Stakes Series through The Fund’s ‘Purse Enrichment’ money will benefit owners, breeders and the bloodstock market, starting immediately. Having an additional $1,150,000 in quality black-type earnings on the table could also have a wide-ranging effect on the landscape of the stallion business in New York,” said Cannizzo. “New York-bred juveniles will have a greater built-in added value when they enter the sales ring in the first few months of 2019. My additional hope is that the enhanced NYSSS program will incentivize stallion owners to consider bringing stallions to the state. The racing opportunities, purses and awards in New York for a stallion’s progeny are second to none. This move could help enhance the quality of the stallion population and provide a stronger magnet for attracting quality mares to New York.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/10/31/nyss-series-purses-double/

Central Banker’s Sassy Agnes wins Shesastonecoldfox for second FLGR stakes tally

[1]

SV Photography

By Sarah Mace

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds’ Sassy Agnes broke her maiden in style on September 8 when she won the lucrative Lady Finger Stakes in her third career start, while giving her first-crop New York sire Central Banker[2] his first stakes winner. The Linda Rice-trained, Belmont-based runner still had some unfinished business at the Farmington oval, however. Shipping in to Finger Lakes on Monday, the chestnut filly scored a decisive victory in the fifth running of the $50,000 Shesastonecoldfox, the track’s final stakes race of the year.

Following the scratch of L.A. Page who had contested the Maid of the Mist Stakes on Empire Showcase Day, a field of five lined up for the Shesastonecoldfox, which, like the Lady Finger Stakes, is a 6-furlong dash for New York-bred juvenile fillies. Party Like Grandma, winner of the Seeking the Ante on Saratoga Showcase Day and the only other stakes winner in the field, emerged as the 4-5 favorite, while Sassy Agnes was sent off as the second choice at odds of 9-5.

Sassy Agnes was quickest out of the gate from her outside post before being guided toward the fence by jockey Oscar Gomez, also aboard for the Lady Finger. Oh Dilly, a second-time starter who had aired in her Finger Lakes debut on September 19 by more than 14 lengths, also got out of the gate alertly from post five and took over the lead at the rail on the backstretch while clocking an opening quarter-mile in 22.40.

Sassy Agnes shadowed Oh Dilly closely and, midway through the far turn, chose her moment to take over. Emerging with a clear lead at the head of the lane, the filly never looked back, cruising home to a 3 1/2-length victory in a final time of 1:11.43.

After Oh Dilly tired, Party Like Grandma and Wait a Minute, who had run their own match race throughout in third and fourth, were left to battle it out for second. Wait a Minute, who stalked her way to a two-length victory in her debut three weeks ago at Finger Lakes, won the fight for place, ultimately finishing 1 1/4-lengths ahead of Party Like Grandma in third. Ma Meatloaf and Oh Dilly completed the order of finish. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Bred by Klaravich Stables and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds[4], Sassy Agnes is a graduate of this year’s OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale, where Beach Haven Thoroughbreds made a winning bid of $105,000 after the filly breezed a furlong in :10 seconds flat. She has now earned $113,182 from four starts, which are topped by her two stakes wins.

The filly is the first foal out of Bullish Sentiment, an unraced daughter of Stormy Atlantic out of stakes performer Raffie’s Dream. Bullish Sentiment is also a full sister to Stormy’s Majesty (bred by Majesty Stud, LLC), winner of the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap, three additional stakes races and earner of $336,649.

Bullish Sentiment has produced yearling and weanling full sisters to Sassy Agnes, and the unnamed yearling brought $55,000 at this year’s OBS yearling sale. The mare has been bred this year to Constitution.

Central Banker[5], whose son Bankit also won the Sleepy Hollow Stakes this past weekend, is a Grade 2-winning sprinter by Speightstown out of multiple stakes winner Rhum. Currently fourth on the leading first-crop sire list nationally, his stud fee for the 2018 breeding season, where he stood at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds[6] in Saratoga Springs, was $7,500.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/10/22/sassy-agnes-shesastonecoldfox/

Pat On the Back recovers from poor break to win the Empire Classic

[1]

NYRA/Coglianese Photos

By Bill Heller

Any pre-race strategy jockey Dylan Davis had regarding his mount on Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stable’s four-year-old colt Pat On the Back went out the window at the start. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10 contesting the mile-and-an-eighth $300,000 Empire Classic on New York-bred Showcase Day at Belmont Park Saturday, Pat On the Back lunged when the starting gate opened and nearly went to his knees.

Davis didn’t panic. He let Pat On the Back regain his balance and then delivered a flawless ride, rallying Pat On the Back to a length and a half victory, giving Lerner and Nehoc Stables their second Showcase Day stakes after winning the Hudson with Runaway Lute, the horse who gave Javier Castellano his 5,000th career victory.

Can You Diggit, who was 5-1 with Junior Alvarado aboard, rallied to finish second, one length ahead of 10-1 Mr. Buff and David Cohen. Wine Not, who was 11-1 under Manny Franco, finished fourth, just a neck behind Mr. Buff.

Sugar Maple Farm bred Pat On the Back, a son of Congrats out of Accomplished by Awesome Again who sold for $70,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August, 2015. He is trained by Jeremiah Englehart.

Pat On the Back, who had been principally sprinting earlier in his career, took his game to a whole new level when he finished second by a nose to subsequent Grade 1 stakes winner Diversify in the $200,000 Commentator Stakes on May 28th.

Pat On the Back then won the $90,000 Saginaw Stakes by a length and three-quarters July 13th before finishing second by a neck to Can You Diggit in the $97,000 Evan Shipman Stakes at Saratoga, Aug. 20th. Englehart freshened Pat On the Back, and, outside of the clumsy start, he raced lights out in posting his most significant victory.

[2]

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

After letting Pat On the Back regain his balance, Davis settled him in third as 7-2 Sea Foam and Joel Rosario set the pace prompted by Mr. Buff through early splits of :24.26, :47.94 and 1:12.03.

Mr. Buff took over the front and Pat On the Back was right behind him going three-wide. Pat On the Back then took the lead, opened a clear advantage and maintained it to the finish line. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“This was a great way to end a fantastic day, also winning the Hudson today with Running Lute,” Lerner said afterwards. “It’s been a great Empire Showcase Day for me and my partners. We’ll definitely enjoy today and we always love to support the New York-bred program.”

Davis said of his winner, “He really likes this track and handles it well.”

No lie there. Pat On the Back is now three-for-eight at Belmont with three seconds and a pair of thirds.

Overall, Pat On the Back is six-for-20 on dirt with four seconds and four thirds. He also has raced once on grass and has total earnings of more than $710,000.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/10/20/pat-on-the-back-empire-classic/

Bonita Bianca pours it on to win Empire Distaff by six lengths

[1]

NYRA/Susie Raisher

By Sarah Mace

After finishing third in last year’s $250,000 Empire Distaff on Empire Showcase Day, Bonita Bianca had to go back to the barn a beaten favorite for owners Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Michael Imperio. There was no such disappointment for her connections this time around. Favored once again at odds of 5-2 in a highly competitive field of 10 fillies and mares, Bonita Bianca absolutely trounced the competition, racing up on the pace and pouring it on the stretch to win by six lengths.

A winner of two of four starts already in 2018 for Jason Servis, who took over training duties this year from Rudy Rodriguez, the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin already owned a stakes win this term, rallying to take the 6 1/2-furlong Union Avenue at Saratoga. The 1 1/6-mile distance of the Distaff was still well within her comfort zone, though, and she had two wins at the distance to prove it. Moreover, in the Empire Distaff Bonita Bianca was returning to her proper surface following an unsuccessful turf experiment in the John Hettinger on September 23 at Belmont Park where she did no running and finished last of eight.

Michael Dubb explained the thinking behind the grass try. “She has a big [turf] foot and we felt we had to try her there [on turf]. It seemed like the right thing to do. With her being a 4-year-old, it’s been on our minds. She didn’t take to it.”

Partnered for the first time with Jose Lezcano for the Empire Distaff, Bonita Bianca got a good start from her outside post, racing with the vanguard as English Soul and Bluegrass Flag vied for the lead to her inside.

[2]

NYRA/Rob Mauhar

English Soul set early splits of 23.71 and 46.32, before Bluegrass Flag and Bonita Bianca advanced. In the turn, with three furlongs to go, the trio lined up across the track. Bonita Bianca on the outside had most momentum and, by the quarter pole, had the lead to herself.

From that point, it was all over but the shouting. Bonita Bianca drew off impressively to win by six lengths in a final time of 1:43.18. A pair of closers rallied into the remaining placings, with Split Time getting up for second, and Tiznow’s Smile coming from dead last to get third. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“She broke really good” Lezcano said. “She was right there the whole way. When I asked her at the quarter-pole, she went on. When I asked her, she kicked home. She did everything right today to win the race.”

Dubb emphasized that the distance, home track and draw were all on Bonita Bianca’s side. “She’s a Curlin. She’ll go long. She’ll go short. She loves Belmont Park. It was all in her favor today. She had a favorable post position, and everything was to her inside, so it was all good. At a mile and a sixteenth down the chute at Belmont, she’s really comfortable running outside, and that’s her comfort zone and she was there today.”

Dubb, a perennial leading owner on the NYRA circuit, still has an extra special feeling about winning on Empire Showcase Day. “When I go home tonight, I’ll be looking at the calendar for when this date is next year. It’s the greatest day; there’s probably more New York people here today than any other day. The track is busy. It’s one of the best betting cards. It’s really nice to see all of our New York brethren who work so hard come out and have the opportunity to compete. It’s a great day.”

Bred by Dormellito Stud and foaled at Mill Creek Farm[4] in Stillwater, Bonita Bianca was purchased by Dubb for $97,000 at the 2016 OBS March juvenile sale.

At two she won the Maid of the Mist and East View Stakes and placed in the Grade 2 Damoiselle Stakes. At three she added the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes to her stakes tally, which with her Union Avenue and Empire Distaff victories this year, brings the total to five. A winner of seven of 14 races overall with one second and two thirds, she has earned $609,667.

Bonita Bianca’s dam is Friendly Michelle, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Artax who won 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 at Keeneland Steven Rowan bought Friendly Michelle for $42,000 with Bonita Bianca in utero. The mare has produced six winners in all, 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/2018/10/20/bonita-bianca-empire-distaff-18/