NEWS: RACING

Not That Brady is ‘just the right Brady’ for the Damon Runyon

Monday, December 31st, 2018

NYRA/Susie Raisher

By Sarah Mace

Not That Brady, a gelded son of Kentucky Derby-winning New York sire Big Brown, celebrated his final day as a 2-year-old with a first stakes victory and second straight frontrunning score. Making a confident early move to the lead and never looking back, the chestnut won the fortieth running of the $100,000 Damon Runyon for New York-bred 2-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack on New Year’s Eve in style.

A nice-looking group of six youngsters lined up to go one mile over the sloppy (sealed) track Monday, but Not That Brady garnered especial attention from bettors, who sent him off as the narrow second choice at odds of 2-1.

It should be said that Not That Brady did not have an auspicious start to what now looks like a promising racing career. Debuting for a $50,000 tag at Saratoga on August 23 and finishing nine-plus lengths behind the winner for George Weaver and R.A. Hill Stable, he was claimed by trainer Rudy Rodriguez who now co-owns the gelding with Michael Imperio and Lianna Stables, Inc. Not That Brady’s first try for his new connections on October 20 at Belmont Park turned out to be a complete toss. Never lifting a hoof in a state-bred maiden special weight, Not That Brady earned the “dreaded goose-egg” on the Beyer Speed Figure scale for his trouble.

November and December brought a dramatic turn to Not That Brady’s fortunes. Just missing by three-quarters of a length to Beachside (a Damon Runyon rival) in his first route try at Belmont on November 10, he tried the same trip at Aqueduct on December 8 and demolished a field of 10, breaking his maiden by 11 1/4 lengths and earning a 91 Beyer.

Partnered Monday with promising apprentice Reylu Gutierrez, Not That Brady in post two was brushed by his neighbor to the inside Pipes after the bell, but followed up with a confident early move to the lead, wresting away the top spot from longshot Invaluable Will by the first point of call which went in 23.78.

Racing off the fence over the sloppy going, Not That Brady established his lane in about the three-path, chased by Invaluable Will, Pipes and post time favorite La Fuerza, a three-time stakes winner.

Leading by three lengths in the approach to the far turn, Not That Brady saw his lead erode somewhat in upper stretch but drew off again to cruise under the wire a three-length winner.

Pipes, who rounded the far turn at the fence in second, came off the rail in upper stretch and held off a closing La Fuerza to get second by a nose, while Southern King completed the superfecta a half-length back. Beachside and Invaluable Will were next over the line. After a half-mile in 47.48, the final time for eight furlongs was 1:40.68. [VIDEO REPLAY]

Gutierrez, for whom this was a first stakes victory on the NYRA circuit, commented on managing the break. “Rudy [Rodriguez] has been training this horse aggressively. I tried to be aggressive coming out of the gate. He’s not the best coming out of the gate. You have to get into him . . . He’s a heavy horse. Once he gets his stride under him, he gets going. Once I got there, it was fairly easy to rate him.”

Added the pilot, “He’s a horse who has a lot of heart. All credit to him. The more they keep coming, the more he keeps running.”

Rodriguez, too, focused on the issue of getting his horse to break more effectively. “Today, he broke slow again, but I told Reylu [Gutierrez] to chase him out of there and put him in the race early. . . We need to do something [for him] to break better. You don’t want to give up the break, that’s for sure. When he gets himself in a good rhythm, it’s smooth. . . Once he learns to break, I think he’ll be more solid. Right now, I’m teaching him to take dirt behind, and he takes it good in the morning, but sometimes in the afternoon, it’s different.”

Gutierrez was excited about his first career NYRA stakes win, which he marked with a contained celebration at the wire: “Oh my goodness. I tried to be as professional as I could after the wire and keep my emotions in check. But to win here, especially on December 31 and close out the year like this, I had to yell out because I’m so excited right now! I had to contain myself. But when I get into my car after the races, I’ll probably blast some music.”

Bred by KatieRich Farm, Not That Brady is the first foal out of one of Finger Lakes’ favorite daughters, Florida-bred Lisa’s Booby Trap (Drewman), who shipped from her Farmington base in the summer of 2010 to win the restricted Loudenville Stakes at Saratoga for the late owner/trainer Tim Snyder.

Lisa’s Booby Trap has a 2017 filly by Tale of the Cat named Lisa’s Tale, who has not yet started, a 2018 filly by Hard Spun, and has been bred to Candy Ride.

Not That Brady sold once at public auction, purchased by SVG Thoroughbreds for $135,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale in Saratoga. From two wins and a second in five starts, Not That Brady has driven his earnings into six-figure territory – $103,400.

Not That Brady’s sire Big Brown stands at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC in Stillwater.

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