New Yorkers continue to pop in second half of F-T KY October, led by a new topper in finale

[1]

Fasig-Tipton photo

By Sarah Mace

The New York-bred cohort saved the best for last at the four-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. There were a number of Empire State-bred standouts peppered throughout the second half of the sale, but fairly early on in the trading at Thursday’s final session, Castleton Lyons went to $200,000 to acquire an Into Mischief filly bred by Pine Ridge Stables who vaulted to the top of the pack.

Hip 1238[2] is a bay foaled on March 18, 2018 and was consigned on behalf of Pine Ridge Stables by Gerry Dilger’s Dromoland Farm. At the Keeneland September yearling sale she RNA’d for $140,000.

The topper is out of Shesabitdistorted (by Distorted Humor) who is an unraced full-sister to Grade 2 Swale Stakes winner Sharp Humor, who was bred in New York by Patricia Purdy. Shesabitdistorted, who last changed hands publicly when she went to Bluegrass Equine Bloodstock for $27,000 at Keeneland November in 2012, has produced four foals to race, all winners and has been bred this year to Goldencents. Group I Two Thousand Guineas winner and sire Shadeed appears under the fourth dam.

The top New York-bred yearling colt in final day of trading was Hip 1428[3], a bay February 27, 2018 foal by Distorted Humor who was bred by Saratoga Glen Farm LLC et al. Flying Colors Stable purchased him from the Stonehaven Steadings consignment for $120,000 in a private sale. This was the colt’s third trip through the sales ring. He brought $155,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. In September he RNA’d on a final bid of $175,000 at Keeneland September.

Out of an unraced daughter of Uncle Mo, Tia Tamina, who is a half-sister to a stakes performer, the colt has a number of distinguished names under the third and fourth dams. Under the third dam we find P.G. Johnson Stakes winner Changeisgonnacome and stakes winner Little Miss Pamela. This is also the family of the current top New York-bred sophomore filly Newly Minted. Graded winners Miss Union Avenue and her son Union Avenue appear under the fourth dam.

Wednesday’s third session produced other New York-bred standouts. The top-seller of the group in session three (and seventh best-selling colt of the day) was Hip 876[4], a bay colt by Cairo Prince out of Kentucky-bred stakes performer Miss Emelina, by Big Brown. Shepherd Equine Advisors signed a ticket for $120,000 on behalf of Sanders and Hirsch – the same team that bought Monday’s New York-bred topper[5] (Hip 388) for $170,000.

Bred by H&H Farms, Inc. and foaled on May 4, 2018, the Cairo Prince colt had RNA’d when offered twice previously this year, bringing a top bid of $50,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale and $75,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale in Saratoga. His consigner on Wednesday was Vinery Sales, agent. His dam Miss Emelina is out of stakes performer and is a half-sister to stakes winner and graded stakes performer Omniscient, by Pulpit. Third dam Miss Valid Pache and fourth dam Mepache are stakes winner, and this is the family of multiple graded stakes winner and sire Valid Expectations and stakes winner and sire Littleexpectations. H&H Farms purchased Miss Emelina for $19,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

The top New York-bred filly of session 3 was Hip 940[6], who was hammered down to Hidden Brook Farm, agent for $95,000. Bred by Mia Gallo, Michael Newton, Kenneth L. Ramsey and Sarah K. Ramsey and consigned by Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm. The pedigree of May 23, 2018 chestnut filly points unambiguously to turf. Sired by Kitten’s Joy, she is out of Nehantic Kat, a New York-bred graded stakes winner on the green.

There is abundant additional black type in the female line, including the filly’s second dam, stakes winner Knightly Thunder and, under the fourth dam, graded winner Belfast Becky who produced stakes winners Thatsusintheolbean and Valid Belfast. Nehantic Kat has produced three winners to date, has a weanling colt by Munnings and was bred this year to English Channel.

Also selling on Wednesday was  a Tiznow colt from the family of A Shin Forward, who brought six figures, Hip 909[7]. Bred by Edition Farm in partnership with the Tiznow Syndicate and foaled on May 16, 2018, the colt went to Q Bar J Thoroughbreds for $100,000 from the Four Star Sales consignment.

The colt is out of Morning Gallop, a multiple stakes-placed runner bred by the legendary John Hettinger, campaigned for six seasons by Alan Brodsky and trained by Mark Hennig. She has already produced a pair of winners, led by John’s Island, a Posse gelding who placed in two restricted stakes and earned $413,910. Morning gallop is a half-sister to Wake Up Kiss, also bred in New York by John Hettinger, and the dam of Edition Farm’s A Shin Forward, a Group I winner in Japan and a sire, who relocated recently to stand in New York.

As the curtain fell on the 2019 yearling sales season with this marathon sale, New York-breds held their own. Overall, the cumulative sale average of $37,955 was several ticks higher than the New York-bred average of $31,618. The $13,000 sale median, however, was virtually on a par with the $12,500 median for the New York-breds. A total of 82 New Yorkers changed hands from 118 offered translating into an RNA percentage of $30.5%, higher the overall buyback rate of the sale which came in at 24.5%.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FTKscenics10-19FTK1362.jpg
  2. Hip 1238: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/1238.pdf
  3. Hip 1428: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/1428.pdf
  4. Hip 876: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/876.pdf
  5. Monday’s New York-bred topper: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/22/ft-october-yearling-sale-opener-19/
  6. Hip 940: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/940.pdf
  7. Hip 909: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/909.pdf

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/25/f-t-kentucky-oct-yearlings-19/

Session two of F-T October yearling sale brings fresh New York-bred filly topper

[1]

Fasig-Tipton photo

By Sarah Mace

In Tuesday’s second session of the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale, a $120,000 grey/roan filly from the first crop of Frosted emerged as the new top-selling New York-bred female. The priciest New York-sired yearling to date is a Laoban filly. Halfway through the sale’s four-day stand, the New York-bred median price is outperforming the cumulative sale median.

Hip 667[2], the top New York-bred filly, was bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, foaled on February 12, 2018, and consigned by Gainesway, agent. New York-based trainer Mark Hennig signed the ticket for $120,000 on behalf of a client. As a weanling, the filly brought $240,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

The Frosted filly’s dam is Jeanne’s Honor, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Honor and Glory who has produced seven winners, including stakes winner Going to Kukaro (her second foal by Speightstown) and stakes performer Ten K Cat (her third foal by Tale of the Cat). Bilinski’s Waldorf Farm purchased Jeanne’s Honor with the Frosted filly in utero for $75,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The filly’s second dam is Grade 1 winner Jeanne Jones, by Nijinsky, who also produced multiple stakes winner Roman Treasure and stakes performer Beautiful Gem.

The top New York-bred colt on Tuesday was Hip 508[3], a dark bay/brown individual currently named Shenu from the second crop of Triple Crown winner and dual champion American Pharoah. Purchased by Byron Rogers / Star Bloodstock for $90,000 from the consignment of Royal Bloodstock Sales LLC, agent, the yearling RNA’d for $140,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed sale in 2018.

Bred by Mare Madness LLC and foaled on April 12, 2018, the American Pharoah colt is the fourth foal produced by Gitchee Goomie, a New York-bred graded stakes winner on turf by City Zip. Bred by Barry Ostrager, campaigned by Patsy C. Symons and trained by Rick Violette, Gitchee Goomie retired with $680,520 in earnings. She has changed hands at public auction four times since, most recently when purchased by Mare Madness III for $100,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter mixed sale.

The top New York-sired yearling at the halfway point of the Fasig-Tipton sale is Hip 650[4], a grey/roan filly from the first cop of Laoban[5]. Bred by Sequel Stallions NY[6] – where Laoban stood for a stud fee of $7,500 in 2019 – in partnership with Harry L. Landry, the February 12, 2018 filly brought $60,000 from Scanlon Training and Sales. She sold previously to Atlantic Bloodstock for $17,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton fall mixed sale in Saratoga. In Kentucky she was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

The filly’s dam is Irish Ridge, by Cactus Ridge, who joined Harry Landry’s broodmare band when he purchased her for $12,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton winter mixed sale. Irish Ridge has produced two winners from three foals to start, led by an important catalogue update from Irish Danzing (by Danza), who finished third in the Joseph A. Gimma stakes in his second start on September 18 to stakes winners Naked Avenger and Fierce Lady.

Halfway through the sale, the cumulative average and median are $38,398 and $15,000, with a 26.1% RNA rate. Among the New York-breds, 39 have sold of 63 offered (including five private sales) for an RNA rate of 38.1%. The New York-bred average sits at $33,846, while the median of $20,000 sits 33% above the general sale median.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FTKscenics10-19FTK897.jpg
  2. Hip 667: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/667.pdf
  3. Hip 508: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/508.pdf
  4. Hip 650: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/650.pdf
  5. Laoban: https://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/nytb/stallion/169651/laoban
  6. Sequel Stallions NY: http://www.sequelnewyork.com/

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/23/session-2-f-t-oct-yearling-2019/

New York-bred pair fetch six figures at Fasig-Tipton’s October yearling sale opener

[1]

Fasig-Tipton photo

By Sarah Mace

Two New York-bred colts hammered for six figures in Monday’s opening session of the four-day Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Both are late April foals, supporting the notion that this final yearling sale on the 2019 calendar is an ideal destination for horses foaled later in the season.

The New York-bred topper was Hip 388[2], a dark bay colt by Street Sense from a strong female family. Bred by Graceville Breeding, foaled on April 21, 2018 and consigned by Indian Creek, agent, the youngster was purchased for $170,000 by Shepherd Equine Advisors on behalf of Sanders and Hirsch.

The yearling is out of Emotional Words, by Curlin, who is already the producer of one winner and a placed runner from two foals to start. His second dam is multiple stakes winner and Grade 1 performer Unspoken Word by Catienus and third dam, stakes winner Silent Emotion, is the dam of Grade 2 winner and multiple graded stakes performer Emotional Kitten.

Additionally, appearing under the topper’s stakes-winning fourth dam Coax Classic is the dam of Cannonball. A Ken and Sarah Ramsey-bred multiple stakes winning New York-bred, Cannonball built up an international reputation with trainer Wesley Ward, placing in Group 1 company at Ascot, competing in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin and wrapping up his career with another trainer in Australia, while competing at the top levels at Flemington and Randwick.

The other six-figure colt of the group is Hip 244[3], a son of Constitution who went to Easy Money for $135,000 from the consignment of Select Sales, agent. Bred by Wolf Pen LLC and foaled on April 25, 2018, the bay is the fourth foal out of winner City Run, by Cherokee Run. City Run is out of stakes winner Foolishly by Broad Brush and is a half-sister to St Liams Halo a multiple stakes winner. The colt’s third dam is Grade 1 winner and multiple stakes producer City Band. Female family black type extends also to the stakes winning fourth dam Wedding Ban.

The top New York-bred yearling filly of the session was Hip 237[4], a dark bay/brown daughter of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah out of Choice Pearl, by Any Given Saturday. Bred by Pine Ridge Stables Ltd, the February 11, 2018 foal was consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, and purchased by Gulfstream Gallop LLC / Kirkwood, agent, for $75,000. Pine Ridge Stables purchased Choice Pearl at the 2013 Keeneland November breeding stock sale for $165,000.

The filly’s second dam, stakes winner Horns Gray, by Pass the Tab, is responsible for exceptional offspring through the second generation. A half-sister to two stakes winners, she is the dam of Awesome Humor, winner of the Grade 1 Spinaway and Grade 2 Adirondack, etc. Awesome Humor went on to produce stakes winner Thetrashmanscoming. Horns Gray’s daughter Surf Club is the dam of Grade 1 Forego Stakes winner and New York sire Emcee. Last but hardly least, her graded stakes performer Baffled, is the dam of Constitution, who currently sits second in the rankings of first crop sires.

In the first session of the sale 16 New York-breds sold of 32 offered (including two private sales) for an average price of $35,344 and $12,000 median. The overall session average was $39,627 while the median came in at $15,000.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FTKscenics10-19FTK886.jpg
  2. Hip 388: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/388.pdf
  3. Hip 244: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/244.pdf
  4. Hip 237: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1021/237.pdf

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/22/ft-october-yearling-sale-opener-19/

Rush On By goes two-for-two in Shesastonecoldfox Stakes

[1]

SV Photography

By Sarah Mace

Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred Rush On By, a bay daughter of New York sire Alpha (Sequel New York[2]), drove her record to a perfect two-for-two at Finger Lakes on Monday when she scored a frontrunning victory in the sixth running of the featured $50,000 Shesastonecoldfox Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint for New York-bred 2-year old fillies.

After attracting five entrants, the field of the Shesastonecoldfox was first winnowed down to four with the early scratch of Spin a Yarn, Rush On By’s uncoupled stablemate. Then, when the gates opened, the group was for all intents and purposes winnowed down by yet one more. Thea’s Theme at the rail (2-1) had an absolutely disastrous start, when she stumbled badly, went nearly down to her knees and almost dropped jockey Luis Colon. Even though she went on with the race, the unlucky filly never had the opportunity to get involved in any meaningful way.

Narrow 6-5 favorite Rush On By, by contrast, got of the gate running and quickly opened up two lengths on Peripherique (13-1) and Single Verse (7-5), who ran second in the Lady Finger Stakes to My Italian Rabbi.

Rush On By cruised unchallenged through splits 23.15 and 46.92. When Peripherique dropped out the chase, the contest evolved into a match race between her and Single Verse.

Rush On By preserved a one-length cushion for the length of the stretch under jockey Oscar Gomez, but a relentless Single Verse never took the pressure off. Ultimately Single Verse could only slightly erode the leader’s advantage and Rush On By went on to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:12.63.

Trained by Christopher Progno, Rush On By earned the opportunity to dive straight into stakes company when she turned heads in her Finger Lakes debut just 13 days ago. Drawn at the rail in a field of seven to go 5 1/2 furlongs, she wired the group by 13 lengths in 1:05.80, for which she earned a strong 67 Beyer. She has now earned $45,900 from two winning efforts.

Rush On By, who has two winning siblings from two to race, is the third foal out of Hout Bay a stakes-placed runner bred in Kentucky and purchased by Chester and Mary Broman for $16,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She changed hands again in 2018 when Don Gibb picked her up for $5,000 at the Fasig-Tipton fall mixed sale in Saratoga.

Hout Bay’s leading earner to date is her first foal No Deal, a filly by Special Rate trained by Phil Serpe, whose bankroll sits at $234,026. She currently has a yearling colt by Bustin Stones and a weanling full-brother to Rush On by. She was bred this year to Exaggerator.

The Shesastonecoldfox Stakes, which is the final race on the 2019 Finger Lakes Stakes calendar, is named for the champion New York-bred juvenile filly of 2001 after she won of the Lady Finger Stakes, New York Breeders’ Futurity and Joseph A. Gimma Stakes. Langpap Stables’ Dennis Petrisak, co-owner of Shesastonecoldfox and co-breeder with Deborah Petrisak, presented the trophy.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1021-19-R4-Rush-On-By-resized.jpg
  2. (Sequel New York: http://www.sequelnewyork.com/

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/21/rush-on-by-shesastonecoldfox/

Lightly-raced Ratajkowski strikes in stakes debut to win Empire Distaff

[1]

NYRA/Susie Raisher

By Sarah Mace

The finale of the stakes portion of 2019 Empire Showcase Day card at Belmont Park Saturday, the Empire Distaff Handicap, attracted a robust field of 11 New York-bred fillies and mares eager to contest a one-turn mile at Belmont Park for a purse of $250,000. The field was eclectic as well as bulky, and the winner, Gary Broad’s Ratajkowski, who just held at the wire for a first career stakes victory, had the most unusual resume of them all.

A 5-year-old daughter of Drosselmeyer trained by Brian Lynch, Ratajkowski did not start for the first time until May 25 of this year, when she finished third in a state-bred maiden special weight at 6 1/2 furlongs. Lynch said Ratajkowski was always highly regarded, but had lots of minor issues that kept her out of the starting gate.

When finally given the opportunity to compete, she rewarded the patience of her connections by doing virtually nothing wrong. Breaking her maiden second out by 3 1/4 lengths in the slop on June 20 at Belmont going six furlongs, she immediately stretched out in distance.

Her next three efforts in state-bred allowance company yielded a close-up second and a win at Saratoga in July and August and, most recently, an eye-popping 10 1/2 length rout going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont on September 11. Right on top of a fast pace from the start, the mare clocked an impressive final time of 1:41.87 for which she was awarded a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Sent off as the post time favorite in each of her five prior starts, Ratajkowski was a well-supported 3-2 second choice in the large Empire Distaff field. Jockey Jose Ortiz, aboard for all previous starts, had the return call and the pair was drawn in post 10.

Out of Orbit from post six and Ratajkowski on the outside, both with ample speed, contested the lead in the early stages, with Out of Orbit eventually setting the opening splits of 22.79 and 45.71. Ratajkowski bided her time for a while, but drew back even with the leader through the far turn and took command.

[2]

Coglianese Photos

A little erratic in upper stretch Ratajkowski, shook off would-be challenger Newly Minted to her outside but a new threat materialized in the form of 20-1 Our Super Nova who was closing menacingly at rail.

In the end, the wire came just in time for Ratajkowski to hold on by a head, stopping the clock at 1:35.45. Our Super Nova in second finished 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Held Accountable in third, who also closed from well back. Favorite Newly Minted completed the superfecta. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“She’s a nice filly,” Ortiz said. “She had plenty of speed. She broke well and [Out of Orbit] was there and I knew I could go by whenever I wanted to. I just wanted to make sure I knew where my other competitors were. I didn’t want to make an early move either because when she makes the lead, she kind of waits. That’s what happened there.”

As to the harrowing final strides of the race, Ortiz said, “I thought [Newly Minted] was going to keep coming to her and dig in with her and she couldn’t keep up. She lost concentration a little bit in the final sixteenth and she almost got caught on the inside [by Our Super Nova]. She was game enough the last couple of jumps to get the win, so I was happy about that.”

Erin Lynch, assistant Brian Lynch, said, “She’s just been improving with every start. Kudos to Gary Broad [owner] for being so patient with her in waiting until she was five to make her debut. She has paid him back full on. She’s just been phenomenal and been amazing to be around. She does everything right and she just carries the riders around there. She ships very well and has gotten used to it. She’s all business and we’re impressed with the way she got it done here today.”

In a six-race career Ratajkowski has four wins with one second and one third and has earned $286,340.

Bred by John P. Hicks and H & H Farm, Ratajkowski is the first stakes winner for Quiet North, a Kentucky-bred unplaced daughter of Quiet American. Quiet North produced five other winners and delivered her final foal in 2015.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ratajkowski-The-Empire-Distaff4-credit-susie-raisher.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ratajkowski-The-Empire-Distaff3.jpg
  3. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20191019&track=BED&race=10

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/19/ratajkowski-empire-distaff-handicap/

Fifty Five Wins her third straight Ticonderoga Stakes

[1]

NYRA/Janet Garaguso

By Bill Heller

What separates good horses from great ones is consistency. And Peter Brant’s five-year-old New York-bred mare Fifty Five is a shining example.

On Saturday on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park, Fifty Five backed up her 1-5 odds under Javier Castellano in the field of six with a professional, one-length second consecutive victory, which was her sixth straight New York-bred stakes victory and her third straight Ticonderoga Stakes. Her victory made Fifty Five racing’s newest millionaire.

These days, any horse even running in the same stakes three successive years is rare. Winning them all? That’s special.

“She’s been super consistent for us,” her trainer Chad Brown said. “What a pleasure to have in the barn. I can’t think of a horse who deserves to be a millionaire more than her because she earned it the hard way, a lot of starts and a very consistent record.”

Probably the safest record in all sports is the one New York-bred Fourstardave set, winning a race at Saratoga for eight consecutive years.

Fifty Five won’t match that, but Brown indicated that Brant would like to race Fifty Five next year at the age of six. That would give her a shot at four straight Ticonderoga Stakes.

She won her third one Saturday by wearing down front-running longshot Wish Upon and Luis Saez, who went off at 26-1 on the rail in the field of six.

War Canoe, who was 5-1 under Jose Lezcano finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Wish Upon while 2 3/4 lengths ahead of 7-1 Munchkin Money and Junior Alvarado.

[2]

Coglianese Photos

Empire Equines bred Fifty Five, a daughter of Get Stormy out of Soave by Brahms who followed a fourth by a half-length in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga with a three-quarters of a length score in the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for New York-breds.

Likely because of the small field, Castellano kept Fifty Five closer to the early pace than usual, two to three lengths off while racing in fourth as Wish Upon led War Canoe by less than length through splits of :24.19, :48.20 and 1:11.73.

Wish Upon then put away War Canoe as Fifty Five charged up three-wide to challenge the frontrunner. Wish Upon proved a stubborn foe, but Fifty Five had her measured and won comfortably, edging away at the wire. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“She showed her versatility today,” Brown said. “She laid a little bit closer. I think the runner-up ran particularly well. She was tough to get by in the lane.”

Castellano was proud of his filly: “She’s very classy and she showed it today.”

Fifty Five is now 11-for-22 in her all-grass career with four seconds and five thirds. That’s 20 finishes in the money from 22 starts.

Her victory today pushed her earnings past the $1 million mark.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fifty-five-the-ticonderoga-credit-janet-garaguso.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fifty-five-the-ticonderoga-4.jpg
  3. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20191019&track=BED&race=9

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/19/fifty-five-ticonderoga-2019/

Captain Bombastic edges Cleon Jones in exciting Sleepy Hollow

[1]

NYRA/Janet Garaguso

By Bill Heller

Grimly holding on, Team Hanley’s unbeaten colt Captain Bombastic and Jose Ortiz edged Cleon Jones and Irad Ortiz Jr. by a short head in the one-mile $250,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes for two-year-old New York-breds on Empire Showcase Day Saturday at Belmont Park. Both horses are trained by Jeremiah Englehart. Captain Bombastic was 6-1 and Cleon Jones 7-2 in the field of six.

“Both horses ran really well,” said Englehart, who earlier Saturday saddled Maid of the Mist winner Critical Value and finished third with Pat on the Back in the Empire Classic. “I was glad they were able to go 1-2. It was a great day for the barn.”

Harris Bay, who was 2-1 with Dylan Davis in the saddle, finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind Cleon Jones. City Man, the 9-5 favorite on the rail adding Lasix under Joel Rosario, broke last and finished fourth, a neck behind Harris Bay.

Chester and Mary Broman bred Captain Bombastic, a son of Forty Tales out of Stolen Star by Cat Thief who sold for $80,000 as a two-year-old in March. Captain Bombastic was making just his second career start after winning a maiden race by 2 1/4 lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. on Sept. 28.

Cleon Jones, who won $145,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes by head under Irad Ortiz Jr. in his previous start on Sept. 20 at 6-1, was trying to win the Sleepy Hollow 50 years and two days after the Miracle Mets won the final game of the 1969 World Series not too far away from Belmont Park at Shea Stadium. Cleon Jones (the horse) is named for the Mets’ left fielder.

Irad Ortiz Jr. elected to ride Cleon Jones in the Sleepy Hollow, opening up the mount on Captain Bombastic, an assignment his brother Jose accepted.

[2]

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

Captain Bombastic got away second on the outside of front-running 5-1 Three Jokers and Luis Saez while Cleon Jones settled in fourth. Three Jokers led Captain Bombastic by a neck after a first quarter-mile in :23.31, then by three-quarters of a length after a half-mile in :46.26.

Captain Bombastic drew within a neck of Three Jokers after three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.30. Cleon Jones had rallied into third by then.

Captain Bombastic then struck the front, opening a length and a half lead in mid-stretch as Cleon Jones advanced into second. Cleon Jones steadily closed in on Captain Bombastic, who was up to the challenge. They battled heads apart to the wire with Captain Bombastic gamely holding on. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

“When I asked him at the quarter pole, he responded beautifully,” Jose Ortiz said after winning his third race of the afternoon. “It was a great training job by Jeremiah.”

Now two-for-two to begin his career, Captain Bombastic has earned more than $170,000.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/captain-bombastic-the-sleepy-hollow-credit-janet-garaguso.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/captain-bombastic-the-sleepy-hollow-credit-chelsea-durand.jpg
  3. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20191019&track=BED&race=8

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/19/captain-bombastic-sleepy-hollow/

Pauseforthecause takes no prisoners in Iroquois Stakes

[1]

NYRA/Elsa Lorieul

By Sarah Mace

Following the triumph of Mr. Buff in the Empire Classic two races earlier, Chester and Mary Broman picked up a second 2019 Empire Showcase Day stakes victory at Belmont Park Saturday when homebred Pauseforthecause, a 4-year-old filly by Giant’s Causeway, won her first black type event in front-running fashion, taking the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes for filly and mare sprinters at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Pauseforthecause tipped her hand that a black type win in her eighth stakes try was well within her grasp. On September 12 she dominated an open second-level allowance at Belmont, winning by 5 1/2 lengths after going winless since last December 2018.

Well supported at windows odds of 7-2 in wide-open eight-horse field and partnered with Jose Ortiz, Pauseforthecause wasted little time before throwing down the gauntlet, making the lead by the first point of call and opening up by two lengths.

Blitzing through early splits of 22.51 and 45.05 three lengths ahead of 7-2 Carrera Cat, Pauseforthecause cruised at will, never feeling the hot breath of a challenger behind her. Completing six furlongs in 1:09.11, she stopped the clock a 3 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:15.62.

Fair Regis (6-1) advanced from third to finish second, another three lengths ahead of Holiday Disguise in third. Completing the order of finish were Jc’s Shooting Star, Carrera Cat, Filibustin, Satisfy and More Mischief. Outsider Wadidli Princess was scratched. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

Chester Broman said, “[Pauseforthecause] has been training well. Her last race was a very good race. She deserved to win the race today.” Broman added, in his typically understated, way, “It’s been a good day. That’s what we’re doing; we’re trying to breed the better horses.”

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NYRA/Janet Garaguso

Jose Ortiz, who took over riding duties from John Velazquez who was not available Saturday, reported, “Honestly, she ran very good last time with Johnny. I watched that replay and I knew the nine horse [Carrera Cat] had speed, but being on the outside, I didn’t know if they wanted to go too fast. My filly has won from behind too, but our plan was to break well and see where [Carrera Cat] would go.”

He continued, “After we broke sharp, I was able to take the lead and take command. I didn’t walk, but I was comfortable the way she was traveling on the lead. I was very confident passing the three-eighths pole. I could’ve waited a little longer, but I was confident. Kiaran has done an amazing job and I’m just happy they gave me the opportunity to ride one of their horses.”

McLaughlin added, “It looked like there was some speed inside and outside. She really likes a clean face and when she broke so well, Jose said, ‘No one wanted to go, so I just went.’ He made a good decision. She ran that way last time for Johnny [Velazquez]. He wasn’t here today, so we were happy to have Jose. She was sharp. She broke and went.”

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NYRA/Coglianese Photos

The conditioner also paid well-deserved a compliment to the Bromans. “There’s been no one in the last decade more supportive of New York-bred racing than Chester and Mary Broman. It’s fabulous to see them win with Mr. Buff [in the Empire Classic] and then with this filly. No one deserves it more on this kind of day than them. They’re great owners and wonderful people.”

Pauseforthecause, who has four additional stakes placings in state-bred races, including a third in last year’s Iroquois to stablemate Highway Star, now sports a record of 6 wins from 22 starts with four seconds and six thirds. After the Iroquois victory she boosted her earnings $461,043.

Pauseforthecause is the most successful offspring of Spritely. A Kentucky-bred multiple stakes winner by Touch Gold, the mare was purchased by Chester Broman from the Edward P. Evans Dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November sale for $850,000. Spritely’s talented Pioneerof the Nile filly Tossup was the Lynbrook Stakes runner-up last year, and a juvenile colt by Super Saver has not started. She has a yearling colt by Curlin and was bred this year to West Coast.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pauseforthecause-the-iruquois-credit-elsa-lorieul.jpg
  2. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20191019&track=BED&race=7
  3. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pauseforthecause-the-iruquois-credit-janet-garaguso.jpg
  4. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pauseforthecause-the-iroquois-leadin-resized.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/19/pauseforthecause-iroquois-stakes/

Chad Brown’s newest star Build to Suit wins Hudson Stakes

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NYRA/Chelsea Durand

By Bill Heller

As yet another example of the brilliance of Chad Brown, who is well on his way to a fourth consecutive Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding trainer, Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s five-year-old ridgling Build to Suit notched his first stakes victory on Empire Showcase Day Saturday at Belmont Park, drawing away late to a 2 1/2 length triumph in the $150,000 Hudson Stakes under Manny Franco. Sent off the 6-5 favorite on the rail in the field of eight, Build to Suit won his second consecutive race in 1:15.88.

Front-running Eye Luv Lulu, who was 6-1 under Irad Ortiz Jr., salvaged second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 8-1 T Loves a Fight and Luis Saez. Gold for the King, who was 5-2 with Joel Rosario riding, finished fourth, a length and a quarter behind T Loves a Fight. Gold for the King was second by three-quarters of a length in last year’s Hudson Stakes.

Spendthrift Farm bred Build to Suit, a son of Dominus out of Aspen Mountain by Chief Seattle, who began his career by winning a maiden race by three-quarters of a length only to be disqualified and placed second. Build to Suit then posted three victories and two thirds, the last on October 13, 2017.

An injury knocked Build to Suit out of action for more than 15 months, but he returned better than ever, a tribute to Brown’s incredible proficiency of winning races off long layoffs. Build to Suit won his open allowance return by 6 1/4 lengths with Franco aboard for the first time on Jan. 26 at Aqueduct at 4-1.

Though Build to Suit had been out again for 6 1/2 months, Brown upped the ante by entering Build to Suit in his first stakes, the $100,000 John Morrissey, at Saratoga Aug. 4. Sent off at 5-2, Build to Suit lost a nose bob to Celtic Chaos.

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NYRA/Coglianese Photos

Build to Suit then won an open allowance race at 1-5 by 2 1/4 lengths Sept. 14. That set up Build to Suit perfectly for the Hudson, when he would again face Celtic Chaos.

Franco settled Build to Suit in fourth as Eye Luv Lulu and T Loves a Fight duked it out on the front end. Eye Luv Lulu nursed a narrow lead on T Loves a Fight through slow fractions, a quarter-mile in :23.24 and a half-mile in :46.06.

As they continued their battle through the stretch, Franco angled Built to Suit to the far outside and he kicked in quickly, blowing past the dueling leaders to win going away.

“By the five-sixteenths pole, I just tapped him, and he responded very well,” Franco said.

Brown deferred credit for Build to Suit’s performance. “We got a lot of help from Bruce Jackson down at Fair Hill,” Brown said. “He and his team did a great job with this horse. He sent this horse back to us in good shape, and he’s running as good as he ever was. He won’t do anything that would get you excited in the morning. He always runs a little bit better than I think he’s going to. He’s a real cool horse to be around and he’s earned everything that he gets. He’s all heart.”

Build to Suit is now six-for-10 with two seconds, two thirds and earnings of more than $340,000. [VIDEO REPLAY[3]]

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/build-to-suit-the-hudson-credit-chelsea-durand.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/build-to-suit-the-hudson.jpg
  3. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20191019&track=BED&race=6

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/19/chad-browns-newest-star-build-to-suit-wins-hudson-stakes/

Bold middle move lands Mr. Buff in Empire Classic winner’s circle

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NYRAA/Chelsea Durand

By Sarah Mace

With only five horses entered, the 44th running of the $300,000 Empire Classic Handicap at 1 1/8 miles was run as race five on the Empire Showcase Day card at Belmont on Saturday, but there was no question that the race featured one of the blockbuster matchups of the day: the clash of divisional leaders Mr. Buff and Pat On the Back.

Pat On the Back, recent winner of the Grade 2 Kelso Stakes and a new millionaire, was looking for a repeat win in the race after capturing the Empire Classic last year and leaving Mr. Buff to pick up the pieces in third. The John Kimmel-trained Mr. Buff, a 5-year-old gelding by Friend Or Foe and third generation homebred for Chester and Mary Broman through the male line, was looking to turn the tables and replicate an achievement of his sire, who won the Empire Classic in 2010, also for Kimmel. In the end Mr. Buff successfully spoiled the title defense and reversed last year’s results with a decisive – and winning – middle move under Junior Alvarado.

Mr. Buff exited the gate alertly as the 3-2 second choice, but shortly ceded the lead to Not That Brady, who carved out the opening half-mile in 47.38. Pat On the Back (3-5) tracked in third.

Cruising comfortably at the rail along the back stretch, Junior Alvarado made a decisive move in the approach to the far turn, darting up the rail and taking command with five furlongs to go.

Mr. Buff opened up some daylight on Not That Brady and Pat On the Back, and in the stretch Pat On the Back took the first run at him but by that time had too much to do. Instead, 9-1 Dynamax Prime emerged as the main threat, closing well into second.

Mr. Buff dug in to hold his advantage (albeit on the wrong lead), ultimately getting the big victory by one length. After one mile in 1:35.63, the final time for nine furlongs was a solid 1:48.65. Pat On the Back finished third another two lengths back, followed by Blugrascat’s Smile and Not That Brady. Mr. Buff is something of a nine-furlong specialist, now with seven wins in 10 tries at the distance. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“We always have multiple plans,” said Junior Alvarado after his second stakes victory of the day, having won the Maid of the Mist earlier aboard Critical Value. “He broke well. I made sure to get him out of there running. I even thought I could get the jump on everyone, but I let [Not That Brady] get to the lead, so I just let him run a little bit more.

“I had to make an early move to make sure I didn’t get stuck behind the horse in front and it worked out. When he gets in front, he gets into a cruise control there. He just carried me along the way.”

Alvarado concluded, “He’s very easy to ride. He’s not a complicated horse. You just have to let him do his thing; don’t get in his way, don’t try to pull, and don’t make him do something he doesn’t want to do.”

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Coglianese Photos

John Kimmel said, “I don’t know if he was at his best today, because when Junior [Alvarado] made that early move and took that inside route, it looked like he didn’t have enough to pick it up. He’s such a big-striding horse, it looked like he had the horse to his outside measured pretty well.

“I knew we had horse turning for home and I wanted them to get on their outside lead. I’m going ‘change your lead, change your lead.’ He never changed his lead. Junior said he didn’t want to take his forward momentum away by trying to make him change. He said he had plenty of horse in there, so he stayed on that left lead from the half-mile pole to the wire.”

Kimmel is looking forward to the future. “He’s as good a New York-bred as there is. I think this horse is going to have a chance to do something bigger against open [company] down the road. He didn’t have a very good trip in the Woodward. He’s a gelding. He’s going to be around for a long time for us to enjoy.” Mr. Buff tired after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Woodward at the Spa on August 31 in his previous start.

Mr. Buff has won 11 of 32 starts, with six seconds and four thirds. The Empire Classic is his fifth stakes victory to go along with wins in the open Jazil Stakes and state-bred Alex M. Robb, Evan Shipman and Saginaw Stakes. He has earned $869,536.

Mr. Buff’s dam Speightful Affair is a graded stakes placed Ontario-bred by Speightstown, who was purchased by the Bromans for $80,000 at the Fasig-Tipton 2013 winter mixed sale.

In 2018 Speightful Affair produced a full sister to Mr. Buff. Unfortunately, her 2019 foal by Friend or Foe, who stands at Smallwood Farm in Virginia, was stillborn. She has been bred this year to Accelerate.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/mr-buff-the-empire-classic-credit-chelsea-durand2.jpg
  2. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20191019&track=BED&race=5
  3. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/mr-buff-the-empire-classic3.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/10/19/mr-buff-empire-classic-19/

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