No obstacles in the path to a perfect record for Stonesintheroad in Franklin Square

By Sarah Mace

Stonesintheroad, a homebred for Shirl and Mary Ann Penney’s Team Penney Racing, drove her race record to a perfect three-for-three at the Big A on Saturday when she went straight to the front and never looked back in the featured $100,000 Franklin Square for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies.

A chestnut daughter of New York sire Bustin Stones[2] (Waldorf Farm[3]), Stonesintheroad came into the Franklin Square following a pair of good-looking wins by a combined 10 1/4 lengths to begin her career for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Debuting at 5 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct on December 30, she stalked and pounced over “good” going to win a New York-bred maiden special by four lengths. Taking on allowance foes at six furlongs at the same venue on February 3, she made it look even easier, wiring the overmatched field by 6 1/4.

In the Franklin Square Stonesintheroad was sent out for the third straight time as the betting favorite (9-5), despite the stiffer competition, which included undefeated New York Stallion Stakes Fifth Avenue winner Forgotten Hero (8-5) and Flush, a promising youngster trained by Kiaran McLaughlin fresh off a 7 1/2-length maiden-breaking rout on January 11 (2-1).

Flush got out of the gate first from her outside post under Junior Alvarado, but in short order Stonesintheroad darted up along the rail to take over. She led the field through the early splits at a good clip (22.91, 46.12) with Flush pursing a length back second.

In the far turn Flush made a bid, getting as far as the throatlatch of Stonesintheroad, but the menace was short-lived. Once the field straightened away for the stretch, Stonesintheroad kicked clear and widened her advantage, winning by an uncontested 3 3/4 lengths.

Longshot Wadadli Princess (16-1) outran her odds to finish second, rallying nicely in the lane to nip Flush. Following Flush in order were Maiden Beauty, Quietude and Forgotten Hero, who started poorly. The final time for six furlongs over the fast going was a strong 1:10.66.

Jockey Rajiv Maragh, who had previously ridden both Stonesintheroad and Forgotten Hero and took the former as his first call, said, “I’m very high on this horse, and from the mornings to the races, she’s shown us a lot of ability. We think she can be a special sprinter. She’s really fast naturally, and she got to the lead and got relaxed on the lead. She wasn’t over-pursuing it, so I was really happy. It felt like she was in a good flow and was going to have something left to finish, and she did.”

Englehart feels that with Stonesintheroad the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. “This is a very quick filly. She reminds me a lot of her dad [Bustin Stones] and watching her dad run,” said the conditioner. “She’s quick out of there and she can take it to them early. In her first start, she sat off the early leader and passed her. She’s very versatile and she really enjoys what she’s doing.”

Stonesintheroad, who was foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, where her sire stands stud, is out of Dixie Talent, an unraced Dixie Union mare who was purchased by Team Penney Racing for $30,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Dixie Talent has produced six winners from nine foals to start and Stonesintheroad is her first to earn black type. Her top earner is A Shin Ranger by Read the Footnotes, who has bankrolled over $550,000 in Japan. She has a juvenile filly by Big Brown, did not bring a foal to term in 2018 and 2019 and has been already bred back this year to Bustin Stones.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/23/stonesintheroad-franklin-square/

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Bavaro captures Hollie Hughes fresh off the claim

By Sarah Mace

All In the Family Racing had good reason to celebrate President’s Day, when new acquisition Bavaro, who was claimed on their behalf by Linda Rice on January 11, handily won the featured $100,000 Hollie Hughes for older New York-breds at six furlongs. The win was a first stakes victory for All In the Family Racing and the third straight win for the 5-year-old grey son of by Freud (Sequel Stallions).

The field of the Hollie Hughes Stakes got quite a makeover after scratches. Would-be contenders Honor Up and Syndergaard raced the day before, finishing one-two, just noses apart, in a memorable renewal of the Haynesfield Stakes. Also scratched were likely favorite Build to Suit, a talented Chad Brown trainee, and Runaway Lute. Among the six horses left in the mix, there was a preponderance of early speed.

After the break, Eye Luv Lulu, Sudden Surprise and Tribecca took part in the early scrum, before Tribecca, prevailing, emerged to lead the group through an opening quarter in 22.65 pressed along by Eye Luv Lulu.

Bavaro, too, looked to get into the action in the relatively early stages. After recovering from a bobble and a bump at the break, he advanced confidently under Junior Alvarado along the backstretch and approach to the turn. Making his way into second early on the bend, he engaged Tribecca and took over as the field neared the quarter pole.

As the half ticked away in 46.22, Bavaro scampered clear. Digging in to discourage any possible challengers, he posted a one-length victory unmolested in a final time of 1:11.78. Celtic Chaos, a one-run closer, got up for second with an energetic rally, while Eye Luv Lulu hung on for third. Next across the line were Tribecca, Sudden Surprise and Bluegrass Express. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Bavaro began his career auspiciously, winning his 2-year-old debut for Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm and trainer Gary Sciacca by more than five lengths and, next out, upsettjng the New York Stallion Stakes series Great White Way. Winless as a sophomore, however, he moved his tack to the barn of Jeremiah Englehart but didn’t find the winner’s circle again until May 2018, by now racing in Englehart’s colors at Finger Lakes.

Following a strong season, in which he won five of ten starts in all, Bavaro returned to the NYRA circuit and was dangled twice at Aqueduct for a $25,000 tag. When he won by more than four lengths on December 8, he was able to return to his own stall after the race. Following an even more impressive 8 1/2-length blowout on January 11, however, the claim box routed him to Linda Rice’s barn.

“I was pretty excited about running him here today off the claim,” said Rice. “He had been training really well coming into the race.”

She added, “I was a bit concerned there was a lot of speed in here. He didn’t break that sharp today, but Junior [Alvarado] rode him beautifully so we’re very excited. This was the first stakes win for All In The Family Racing, so I’m very happy for them as well.”

“We were hoping to go to the lead,” said Alvarado, who has now ridden Bavaro to three straight victories. “He’s been winning on the lead. I thought that was his best shot. He kind of missed the break a little bit there, so I had to go plan B. Good thing he didn’t try to run off right away. I let him settle in, put him on the outside; then after that, from the half-mile pole, he pretty much took me all the way around.”

Bavaro was bred by a partnership of Hidden Lake Farm (where he was foaled), Gunston Hall Farm and Anthony Grey. His dam Chantess, an unraced daughter of Unbridled’s Song, was a $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2004, and last changed hands at public auction when purchased by JMJ Racing at the 2007 Keeneland November sale for $150,000.

The grey is one of three winners for Chantess and the first to earn black type. She has an unraced 3-year-old gelding by Honorable Dillon named Michael Connor, a juvenile filly by Medal Count, an Into Mischief yearling colt and was bred in 2018 to More than Ready.

Bavaro sold as a weanling to Machmer Hall for $20,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga mixed sale in Saratoga, before being picked up by Parcells the following year for $85,000 at the Fasig-Tipton preferred New York-bred yearling sale. From nine victories with one second and two thirds from 20 starts, Bavaro has netted $312,605 in earnings.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/18/bavaro-hollie-hughes/

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Honor Up holds off Syndergaard in thrilling Haynesfield rematch

By Sarah Mace

Honor Up just managed to keep his nose in front of a rallying Syndergaard in a thrilling finish to the $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes for older New York-breds run at a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Sunday.

This was not the pair’s first meeting. Their one-two finish in the 7-furlong Say Florida Sandy Stakes on January 12, was also a squeaker. In that case Honor Up collared Syndergaard late to score a neck victory. This burgeoning rivalry between these talented older New York-breds is likely to carry on further into the racing season.

The 6-horse field of the Haynesfield contained nearly as many intriguing storylines as runners, including the fact that Honor Up and Syndergaard were both cross-entered in Monday’s Hollie Hughes, a 6-furlong tilt for older New York-breds. Arguably the shorter distance was better suited to both horses, but their trainers, Michelle Nevin and John Terranova respectively, felt that the mile would be fine.

Also, both horses, as it happens, were making their fifth starts following a trainer switch, and thriving in their new barns.

Four-year-old Honor Up (To Honor and Serve) concluded his time with trainer Bill Mott following his 2017 summer campaign. Away for more than a year, he returned last October in Nevin’s care. He shortened up in distance and abandoned any turf experimentation, resulting in three wins and a second in four starts. He was looking for a third straight victory in the Haynesfield.

Five-year-old Syndergaard (Majesticperfection), who is named for Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, began his career brilliantly for Todd Pletcher in 2016, falling just a nose short of Practical Joke while finishing second in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. That year he also won the Funny Cide Stakes. Failing to replicate that form in three starts at three, then away from competition for a year, he took a couple of races in Terranova’s barn – and a bit better of racing luck – to recover his lost form. Recently he has put together a pair of fine efforts, winning a second-level state-bred allowance in December, and finishing second to Honor Up in the Say Florida Sandy.

To get things started in the Haynesfield, sprinter Stoney Bennett, who was looking to stretch out his speed to a mile for a second time after winning an open allowance win at the same trip on January 12, shot out of his outside post, and took his customary position on the lead, taking the field through opening early splits of 23.45 and 46.11. Longshot Fiery Opal pressed in second, while Syndergaard tucked in behind the leader to pursue in third.

Honor Up, for his part, broke awkwardly and inward. Once he straightened out, he was faced with the task of working his way up into contention in the run up the backstretch. By the approach to the far turn, he had advanced from last into fourth.

Gaining ground three-wide through bend, Honor Up took over second and confronted Stoney Bennet at the quarter pole. After battling with that tenacious rival in upper stretch, he took over the lead with a furlong to go.

Meanwhile Syndergaard, who had fanned out three-wide for the dash home, found another gear and mounted a serious bid. Despite drifting out in late stretch, he very nearly got the job done, getting on almost even terms with the winner by the wire. When the pair were separated by the photo, Honor Up had his nose in front.

Twisted Tom, who is enjoying a renaissance of his own after moving from Chad Brown to Bill Mott, rallied down the center of the track and finished 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Completing the order of finish were Fiery Opal, Stoney Bennett and 8-year-old Loki’s Vengeance. The final time for the mile over the fast going was 1:37.04. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

The finish was so close, neither trainer Michelle Nevin nor jockey Jose Lezcano were sure of the outcome.

Said Nevin, “I thought I was going to pass out. The other horse [Syndergaard] ran a hell of a race to keep coming. That was a close, close race. I thought it was a dead heat for a second.”

Lezcano said, “It was so close. I thought he got me, but as soon as my horse saw the other horse, he dug in, but I didn’t know if he got me on the wire.”

Jockey Rajiv Maragh, who was aboard Syndergaard for the tough beat, added, “[Syndergaard] got a little lost for a second there in the stretch, but that was just a tough way to lose. That’s probably the shortest of margins I’ve ever lost a race by.”

Nevin also commented on Honor Up’s poor start. “We didn’t have the cleanest break and that changed the dynamics of things,” Nevin said. “We would have hoped to break cleanly and be sitting right behind them and relaxed. Instead, we broke awkwardly and had to get back into the race and get position. Maybe [Jose Lezcano] switched him on a little bit too quickly, but he did a hell of a job to keep going to get to the wire.”

Lezcano added, “I think the longer you wait for him, the better for him. I got to the quarter pole, and I said it’s time to go, and the last three-sixteenths, he started to wait a little bit for the other horses. I think the longer you wait for him, the better.”

Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd and foaled at Vivien Malloy’s Edition Farm[3] in Hyde Park, Honor Up is out of Unobstructed View, a Florida-bred daughter of Yes It’s True who was graded stakes-placed and stakes-placed as a juvenile. Of her five winning offspring, Honor Up is her second stakes winner, following in the hoofprints of his Kentucky-bred full brother Blueridge Traveler who has bankrolled $319,000.

Saratoga Seven Racing Partners purchased Honor Up at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton preferred New York yearling sale for $65,000 from the Gainesway consignment. In 15 career starts he has earned $335,513 from six wins, three seconds and a third.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/17/honor-up-haynesfield/

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Holiday Disguise wins Broadway Stakes with patented closing rally

By Sarah Mace

Lady Sheila Stable’s Holiday Disguise got back to her winning ways Saturday when she parlayed her patented closing rally into an open-length victory in Aqueduct’s featured $100,000 Broadway Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares four-years-old and up at six furlongs.

A 5-year-old daughter of Harlan’s Holiday trained by Linda Rice, Holiday Disguise was last seen finishing a disappointing sixth in the Iroquois Stakes on Empire Showcase Day, a performance that belied the mare’s consistently outstanding efforts on the racetrack for the past two years.

On-the-board in nine straight races at three and four and, at one point, stringing together four straight wins, Holiday Disguise collected stakes victories in the Bouwerie Stakes and Biogio’s Rose – in back-to-back starts eight months apart – the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap and the Critical Eye Stakes for New York-breds. The top-earner in the intriguing Broadway field with history of running well fresh, Holiday Disguise was nevertheless overshadowed in the betting by Broman homebred Pauseforthecause, who was bet down to 4-5. Holiday Disguise was sent off as the 9-2 second choice.

After the break, Holiday Disguise settled in her customary position at the rear of the field while, up front, multiple stakes winner and confirmed speedster Filibustin battled for the lead with Absatootly, also a multiple stakes winner, through a testing quarter-mile in 22.31.

On the backstretch Holiday Disguise advanced between horses and, by the time the field was rounding the far turn, put herself into contention in fourth, a little earlier than usual.

Angling out at the top of the stretch and moving in tandem with stablemate Startwithsilver to her outside, Holiday Disguise started doing what she does best: gobbling up ground in the lane.

Passing Absatootly, now back into third, Holiday Disguise collared new leader Pauseforthecause with a furlong to go, and widened her lead to 4 1/4 lengths by the time she crossed the finish line. After a half-mile in 45.90, she stopped the clock at 1:11.13 for the six furlongs.

Runner-up Pauseforthecause finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Palladian Bridge (15-1), followed in short order by Absatootly and Startwithsilver. Further back, Filibustin, I Still Miss You and Queeb completed the order of finish. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Winning jockey Jose Lezcano explained his game plan as follows: “[Holiday Disguise] looks like she’s more comfortable when she’s outside horses. She broke a little behind but picked it up and went behind [Pauseforthecause]. When I asked her, she kicked very good. There was plenty of speed and my filly can really finish.”

Linda Rice noted that while she thought Holiday Disguise was fit and ready, she was anxious about the race dynamics for her her late-running charge coming into the Broadway. “I was a little concerned because the track has been favoring speed for the last couple of days,” Rice said. “So, that was definitely a concern and also ‘Holiday’ really hasn’t had success [at the distance]. I don’t think she’s ever won a race at six furlongs, though she’s obviously capable of it.” Holiday Disguise has done her best work in longer sprints up to a mile and, coming into the Broadway, was winless in two tries at six panels.

Holiday Disguise was bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud[4] in Ghent. She is out of Wilmot and Taylor’s Thin Disguise (Yes It’s True), a winning half-sister to millionaire and 2007 New York-bred Horse of the Year Naughty New Yorker out of star broodmare Naughty Natisha.

Thin Disguise has produced four winners from five foals to start. Midnight Disguise (Midnight Lute), Holiday’s Disguise’s talented younger sister, has three stakes wins to her credit, namely the Bouwerie Stakes (like her sister) and the Busanda and Busher Stakes. Currently, Thin Disguise has a juvenile filly by Tiznow, a yearling filly by Bodemeister and was bred to Gun Runner in 2018.

Holiday Disguise sold first as a weanling, purchased by John Greathouse for $70,000 at the Keeneland November sale. Rice bought her for Sheila Rosenblum’s Lady Sheila Stable the following year, going to $220,000 at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale.

The mare’s fifth career stakes victory boosts her bankroll to $554,875 and improves her record to seven wins, a second and two thirds from 13 starts.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/16/holiday-disguise-broadway/

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Somelikeithotbrown seals the deal in John Battaglia Memorial

By Sarah Mace

Somelikeithotbrown came tantalizingly close to the winner’s circle on some very big stages as a juvenile. Most notably, he finished a game third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on November 2 at Churchill Downs after setting the pace, only three-quarters of a length behind winner Line of Duty.

In his sophomore debut Friday night the bay colt by New York sire and Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown[2] (Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions[3]) sealed the deal with a dominant performance in the $75,000 John Battaglia at Turfway Park.

Trained by Mike Maker for Harvey Diamond’s Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable of David Koenig and partners, Somelikeithotbrown hasn’t run a bad race since his Saratoga debut in an off-the-turf sprint contest. Making his second of three starts at the Spa he blew away eight rivals to break his maiden by eight lengths while stretching out all the way out from 5 1/2 to 9 furlongs, a race notorious for an error in the placement of the starting gate.

Somelikeithotbrown then launched the stakes portion of his career, coming up just short of Opry to finish second in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga, then second by three-quarters of a length when collared in the Grade 3 Pilgrim, and the game third in Breeders’ Cup.

On paper Somelikeithotbrown had a class and talent edge over his Battaglia rivals and was bet down to even money accordingly. His main rival appeared to be The Mackem Bullet (3-2), a Group 1-placed filly in England and winner of her North American debut at Turfway by 10-plus lengths. The only open question for Somelikeithotbrown was whether, after a steady diet of grass races, he would take to the all-weather surface.

Bumped just after the break, Somelikeithotbrown quickly regrouped under Rafael Hernandez and tucked in behind a pair of dueling longshots – Dynamic Racer (29-1) and Maya Solomea (57-1) – for the run around the clubhouse turn and along backstretch.

In the approach to the far turn Somelikeithotbrown continued to draft in behind the leaders and maneuvered closer inside for a ground-saving trip around at the far turn, as the leaders ticked off reasonable splits of 24.08, 48.24 and 1:13.30.

As the field straightened away for the dash home, a gap opened at the rail and Somelikeithotbrown took full advantage. He scampered on through and dispatched Dynamic Racer, now alone on the lead, in upper stretch.

Drawing away in the late stages, Somelikeithotbrown drifted out, but was well clear of his competition, crossing the wire a 3 1/2-length winner.

Dynamic Racer hung tough for second, while Dabo, who found his best stride in the far turn, closed into third. The Mackem Bullet completed the superfecta. Next across the line were Over Protective, Maya Solomea, Kentucky Allstar and Zulu Legend. Echo Alpha Six was a late scratch after flipping in the gate. After a mile in 1:39.44, Somelikeithotbrown stopped the clock at 1:45.86 for the 1 1/16 miles. [VIDEO REPLAY[6]]

Bred by Hot Pink Stables and co-owner Sand Dollar Stable and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York, Somelikeithotbrown’s name is a clever amalgam. It pays tribute to the names of his sire Big Brown and dam Marilyn Monroan, while alluding both to the comedic masterpiece “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, and a legendary dish served at Louisville’s Brown Hotel named the Hot Brown[7].

Marilyn Monroan, a Kentucky-bred placed runner by Tapit, has a juvenile colt by Mission Impazible, a yearling colt by Temple City and was bred in 2018 to Palace Malice.

In six career starts, Somelikeithotbrown has compiled a record of two wins, two seconds and third and earned $246,918.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/16/somelikeithotbrown-battaglia-memorial/

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Frostie Anne freezes out Biogio’s Rose rivals with front-running score

By Sarah Mace

Frostie Anne by New York sire Frost Giant[2] has become something of a handful for the assistant starters behind the gate but was all business as soon as the starter sprang the latch on the $100,000 Biogio’s Rose at Aqueduct Racetrack Sunday. After taking a decisive lead by the first point of call, the 6-year-old mare completely owned the one-turn mile for older New York-bred fillies and mares.

By mid-year 2018 Frostie Anne was in peak form for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who co-owns the mare with Michael Imperio. She compiled a six-race win streak which was bookended by victories in the open Sis City Stakes at Aqueduct on March 31 (at the same trip as the Biogio’s Rose), and the 9-furlong Saratoga Dew Stakes at the Spa on August 17.

In the fall, however, Frostie Anne’s form tailed off. Despite placings in the Staten Island Division of the NYSS series and a $16,000 starter’s allowance, she threw in a clunker in the Empire Distaff in October and finished a no-excuse fifth in the Bay Ridge Stakes on December 30. Sent off at odds of 9-1 on Sunday, the dark bay put her struggles behind her.

At the bell, it was Bonita Bianca, dominant winner of last year’s Empire Distaff Handicap, who got a jump on the field, but Frostie Anne charged up rail from her inside post to take over, and quickly led the way by more than two lengths.

Unpressured, Frostie Anne carved out early fractions of 23.35 and 46.51 with Bonita Bianca still on the chase. Navigating the turn smoothly, she remained firmly in command at the quarter pole as six furlongs went in 1:11.21. Six lengths back, the imposing Midnight Disguise (2-1), returning from an eight-plus months’ layoff, was getting her large frame into gear for a closing bid.

Frostie Anne stayed comfortably clear and secured win by six lengths. Midnight Disguise passed the field in the stretch to get up for second, while a length back Bonita Bianca had to settle for third. The final time for the flat mile was 1:37.32. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Completing the order of finish were favorite No Hayne No Gayne, Playinwiththeboys and Frosty Margarita, who is due to retire the breeding shed after this race. Unbridled Adventure was scratched early in the day and, unfortunately, contender Split Time flipped in the gate and had to be a late scratch. The incident also delayed the start of the race and forced Frostie Anne to undergo the rigors loading into the gate twice, which she does with a blindfold.

“I had a perfect trip,” reported winning rider Hector Diaz, Jr. “She just went easy upfront. She likes to be on the lead and Rudy had the blinkers on her today [for the second time], which helped her stay focused. When I asked her for more, she did it easy.”

Rodriguez acknowledged that he was happy to see Frostie Anne flash her good form again. “She’s always trained very good. We were just disappointed with her last couple of races.”

Added Rodriguez, “I have to give all the credit to Hector. He’s been breezing her in the mornings and he’s really gotten to know her. I just told him not to fight her, to let her do what she’s comfortable doing being up front, and everything worked out perfect for us today. We just have to keep going from here.”

As a weanling Frostie Anne sold to Fergus Galvin for $18,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Fall mixed sale. After making her first six starts for Galvin and partners, including breaking her maiden at the $20,000 claiming level, she was claimed for the first of five times (twice by Garry Gullo for Unqua Stable).  Rodriguez picked her up for a $25,000 tag in December 2017. In 12 starts for the Rodriguez barn she has won six races, including three stakes.

Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Grant L. Whitmer and foaled at Keane Stud[5] 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 half-sister to turf stakes-placed Irish Princess. Lake Toccet is also the dam of Freudie Anne by Freud, a multiple stakes winner of nearly $400,000. Lake Toccet has juvenile colt by Giant Surprise and a yearling colt by the same sire. She was bred to Freud in 2018.

Frostie Anne has now won five of nine starts at the one-mile distance of the Biogio’s Rose and five of 12 races at Aqueduct. In 36 career races in all, she has compiled a record of 14 wins, four seconds and three thirds and earned $528,063.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/10/frostie-anne-biogios-rose/

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