Tiz the Law and Manny Franco stalk their way to victory in Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby

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Coglianese Photos/Lauren King

By Sarah Mace

New Yorkers looking for something to cheer about in the waning days of March 2020, need look no further than Sackatoga Stable’s magnificent blaze-faced 3-year-old Tiz the Law. The New York-bred Constitution colt cemented his status as the top sophomore in the country Saturday after winning the Grade 1, $750,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park after a perfect stalking trip under jockey Manny Franco.

From the win Tiz the Law picked up 100 more qualifying points on “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” bringing his total to 122 and setting him atop the leaderboard. Recently, of course, that “Road” became four months longer than it would be in ordinary days. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Churchill Downs has rescheduled the 2020 Run for the Roses from the first Saturday in May (May 2) to the first Saturday in September (September 5). Provided all goes smoothly in the interim, Tiz the Law will be there.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law brought multiple assets to the table to face his eight rivals in the Florida Derby: gate speed, tactical speed, a willingness to rate and athleticism. He and Franco have also been a good fit ever since last fall when they rallied to win the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont by four lengths.

Bet down to the 7-5 post time favorite, Tiz the Law was, on paper, pitted against the speedy Ete Indien, the second betting choice at odds of 5-2. Tiz the Law beat Ete Indien by three lengths in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on February 1 after his rival set the pace. By design, he trained for 56 days straight through to the Florida Derby. Ete Indien, however, took a huge step forward by competing in the interim, scoring a stunning gate-to-wire eight-plus length victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Exiting readily from four-hole, Tiz the Law and Franco began immediately to execute on the game plan. Franco expected that Ete Indien would try to clear the field from post eight, but wanted to make sure Tiz the Law stayed in the clear for running room. In fact, longshot Shiveree took control early from post two, Ete Indien set up at his flank in second, while Tiz the Law took up a stalking position in third outside the early leaders.

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Coglianese Photos/Nikki Bernstein

Ete Indien and Shiveree continued to vie through three-quarters of a mile, clocking splits of 23.75, 47.95 and 1:11.94. Tiz the Law then began his serious bid in the far turn, ranging up alongside the duelers three-wide, engaging them in the bend and emerging with a slight advantage as they straightened away.

Set down for the drive under a confident Franco, Tiz the Law answered the call, lengthened his stride and drew off to a much-the-best 4 1/4-length victory. After one mile in 1:36.79, the final time for nine furlongs was 1:50 flat.

Overachiever Shivaree, who was let go at odds of 80-1, crossed the line second, while Ete Indien had to settle for third, three-quarters of a length further back and a neck ahead of Gouverneur Morris, who completed the superfecta.

Franco said, “I want to give all the credit to the horse. [Tiz the Law] broke out of there perfectly, like a shot, and I was able to let the horse on the outside clear me and I ended up in a great position. I sat third and I just thought about waiting for the right moment, and I was happy by the five-sixteenths pole. All the time when I called on him a little bit, he was there for me.”

Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable, who couldn’t be in attendance due to health and safety protocols that prohibited spectators, even owners, from attending Saturday’s races, said on behalf of his ownership group, “All we know is that we’ve got a horse that’s very special, and it’s pretty exciting for us. Unfortunately. none of us could be there today. We were all watching it on TV from coast to coast.” Knowlton earlier told hosts on FS1 that, otherwise, Tiz the Law’s cheering section at the track would have been 70-80 strong.

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Coglianese Photos/Derby Glass

Overall, Tiz the Law is only three-quarters of a length shy of perfection in five career starts. Winner of his August 8 Saratoga debut, a 6 1/2 sprint against state-breds, by 4 1/2 lengths, Tiz the Law went straight on to the Grade 1 Champagne, where he parlayed a stumbling start and pocketed trip into another stunning win after agilely angling out in the stretch.

After passing on a cross-country trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, in his final start of the year Tiz the Law finished third, three-quarters of a length behind the winner in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. In the contest run over sloppy going, he was covered up and waylaid in traffic which robbed him of his final punch. In 2020 Tiz the Law has been flawless, winning the Holy Bull and Florida Derby by a combined 7 1/4 lengths.

Tiz the Law was bred by Twin Creeks Farm and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York. Knowlton purchased him at the 2018 Saratoga New York-bred preferred yearling sale from the Sequel consignment for $110,000. From four wins and a third he has earned $945,300 in his young career.

Tiz the Law’s dam, Kentucky-bred Tizfiz, is a winner of four stakes on turf with a graded placing on dirt. She was purchased by Twin Creeks Farm for $125,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Tiz the Law is the mare’s second foal to earn black type. Awestruck, by Tapit, who was a $525,000 yearling, has collected four stakes placings to date. A full sister to graded stakes winner Fury Kapcori, Tizfiz also issues from the female family of 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (Phone Trick). She has a juvenile filly by Mission Impazible named Angel Oak, an unnamed yearling by the same sire and was bred back to Constitution in 2019.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Tiz-the-Law-the-FL-Derby-credit-Lauren-King.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Tiz-the-Law-the-FL-Derby-credit-Nikki-Bernstein.jpg
  3. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Tiz-the-Law-the-FL-Derby-credit-Derbe-Glass.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/28/tiz-the-law-florida-derby/

Notes for Breeders from the Fund and Beyond on COVID-19

Events related to the spread of COVID-19 have upended all of our lives at quantum speed. The juvenile sales season is disrupted, racing at NYRA is on hiatus and you are doing your best to navigate a breeding season unlike any you have experienced before. This month, I will use this space to pass along a few specific pieces of information I think you will find informative and useful at this time.

The economic health of the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (the Fund) is obviously an issue for all of our stakeholders. Typically, the Fund derives on average $30,000 a day (or $900,000 a month) from VLT revenue. The other driver of Fund revenue of course is pari-mutuel handle. As you know, casinos are currently closed in the state and there is no racing due to COVID-19.

The other side of the coin is that 89% of Fund revenue is disbursed in awards. In other words, because no awards are being earned on the racetrack in New York currently, the interruption in revenue we hope will not create a shortfall for the Fund in the near term. There may be a time when racing resumes before the casinos come back on online, but the Fund is already taking precautionary measures to ensure cash flow so that it will be able to pay out awards.

Closer to home are issues affecting your employees. With Executive Order 206, beginning March 22, Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered 100% of the workforce for “non-essential” services across the state to stay home. This is not a guideline but a legal mandate. The NYS Department of Ag and Markets immediately issued guidance concerning essential animal care.

Specifically, Ag and Markets designated animal care operations, including equine, as “essential” and exempt from the Governor’s Executive Order. The farm owner / operator determines who falls within the category of “essential employees.” Visits to a farm or equine facility by anyone not designated as an essential employee are not permitted. Moreover, farm workers taking care of horses are still responsible for following CDC guidelines, including 6-foot social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing of facilities and equipment.

Finally, as the foaling and breeding season progresses, the Fund has already examined contingencies relevant to mare residency rules in the unlikely event that interstate travel restrictions are imposed in the future. Current rules state that resident mares who travel out of state to be bred must return to New York within 90 days of their last cover. Also, program participants may ship their non-resident mares back to their home state 90 days after they foal in New York.

The Fund has explored the residency concern and its conclusion after preliminary discussions is,

“Since the requirement for mares to be back in New York within 90 days of its last cover is regulatory (not statutory), the Fund has discretion in how it intends to enforce that rule under the circumstances. It seems . . . that if there are any substantial restrictions on the ability of owners or breeders to move their mares back into New York State as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fund would be well within its authority to review that condition in order for the mare to retain its status with the Fund.”

To conclude on a brighter note, we are seeing numerous examples of the best among us stepping up to help the thoroughbred community downstate. The New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), spearheaded by the organization’s president Ramon Dominguez, is raising funds to support backstretch workers and conducting a drive to restock its food pantry. The Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) is accepting supplies for infants and toddlers. NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum and NYTHA Board Member Rick Schosberg are active at the track in concert with the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T) to support track workers. A Preparedness and Response Plan Committee, comprised of key NYRA staff members and the organizations just named has posted coronavirus-related signage in English and Spanish across the backstretch and is closely monitoring and assessing developments and developing key protocols to monitor and manage both the Aqueduct and Belmont properties. Details about all these activities apprear in articles on NYRA.com. I urge you to follow up there, where you will also find information about donating supplies or money to these worthy causes. Until next time, I wish you all good luck and good health.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/25/notes-for-breeders-from-the-fund-and-beyond-on-covid-19/

NYTB Cancels April 6 New York-Bred Divisional Champions Awards Banquet

[1]By Sarah Mace

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) has cancelled the organization’s New York-Bred Divisional Champions Awards Banquet due to concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The event, where we planned to crown the 2019 New York-Bred Horse of the Year, Divisional Champions and human honorees, was originally scheduled to take place on the evening of Monday, April 6, 2020 at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Our decision was prompted by recent guidance from federal and state authorities about limiting large gatherings, recommendations for “social distancing,” and concern for all members of our community.

Historically this a convivial, sold-out event. Guests gather from up and down the east coast and beyond. Prospective attendees and honorees have already expressed concerns about travel during the pandemic.

We realize that this cancellation is a disappointment, especially for the connections of our divisional championship nominees. This is also a disappointment for NYTB. This celebration of the racetrack achievements of the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Program is a high point in our annual calendar. These are, however, extraordinary circumstances and the need to protect all members of our community is paramount.

NYTB will publicly announce the 2019 Horse of the Year, divisional winners and human honorees on April 6 as planned. The program and video presentation for the event are currently in production. After April 6 we will mail the commemorative program to all our members and release the video presentation on our website and social media channels. NYTB is contacting individual attendees about previous reservations.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NYTB-Logo-Lg2.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/19/nyb-div-champs-awards-banquet-cancelled/

New York-breds conclude solid run at OBS March

By Sarah Mace

The Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company went full steam ahead through uncharted waters this week, holding its two-day March sale of 2-year-olds in training on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17-18, against the backdrop of turbulent financial markets and the spreading COVID-19 virus. Despite uncertainties for all aspects of our industry and daily life that run the gamut from A to Z, connections of the top New York-bred offerings were rewarded by strong buyer interest in the top lots.

The top-selling New York-bred of the auction was purchased in Tuesday’s opening session when Larry Best’s OXO Equine LLC went to $330,000 for Hip 167[1], a dark bay / brown Chester and Mary Broman-bred Medaglia d’ Oro filly who is a full sister to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint heroine Bar of Gold (read more[2]). The quartet of six-figure sellers on Tuesday, was joined by an additional trio on Wednesday, including a filly by New York-based sire Big Brown[3] (Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions[4]).

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Sequel Bloodstock consigned both the top New York-bred colt and filly on Wednesday. The New York-bred topper was Hip 417[5], a bay colt by Ghostzapper with a strong pedigree who was purchased by C. Clement, Nick Esler Agent, for $200,000. A speedy youngster, the bay posted a :9 4/5 furlong in the under tack show. [UNDER TACK VIDEO[6]]

Bred by Kathleen Schweizer and Daniel Burke, the Ghostzapper juvenile is the first foal out of Smoke Signals, a Kentucky-bred multiple winner and stakes-placed runner by Street Sense whom Burke purchased for $250,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.

The colt’s second dam is the accomplished runner Unspoken Word (Catienus), a multiple stakes winner and Grade 1 La Brea Stakes runner up. His third dam, stakes winner Silent Emotion is also the dam of graded winner Emotional Kitten. In 2019 Smoke Signals produced a filly by Kitten’s Joy and was bred to Nyquist.

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The top-selling New York-bred filly was Hip 670[7], a dark bay / brown juvenile from the second crop of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah who was purchased by Gary Contessa, Agent, for $180,000. Bred by Sequel, her consignor, she clocked a furlong in:10 1/5 in the under tack show. [UNDER TACK VIDEO[8]]

The filly is out of the unraced Kentucky-bred Corey’s Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday, who last changed hands via public auction when purchased by Sallusto & Albina for $155,000 at the 2016 OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds.

Corey’s Holiday is also a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and New York-bred fan favorite Notacatbutallama, who was bred by Happy Hill Farm, campaigned by Repole Stable and retired with $789,359 in earnings. The filly’s second dam also produced stakes-placed producer Jazzminegem.

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The third six-figure earner and top-selling New York-sired juvenile of the concluding session was Hip 368[9], a daughter of Big Brown. Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent XII, she went to Joe DiRico, Nick Esler, Agent, for $115,000 after posting a furlong breeze in :10 2/5 in the under tack show. [UNDER TACK VIDEO[10]]

The Big Brown filly is a second generation New Yorker. Breeder William C. Schettine campaigned her dam Rosa Salvaje who was bred in the state by New Dawn Stud. She went on to become a Saratoga stakes winner on turf for trainer Lisa Lewis and earned over $200,000. The filly’s second dam, Navarro Rose, is a CA-bred stakes-placed runner. Rosa Salvaje has already produced a winner from two foals to start and has a yearling filly by Mastery. She was not bred in 2019.

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Of 43 New York-bred juveniles offered over two days, 27 changed hands (including four private sales to date) for a buyback rate of 37.2%. The New York-bred average and median came in at $71,519 and $40,000 respectively.

For the entire sale, which (understandably) saw a decline across-the-board, the average price was $95,885 compared with $144,603 in 2019 while the median price was $50,000 compared with $80,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 39.6%; it was 23.9% in 2019.

OBS director of sales Tod Wojciechowski said an announcement about OBS’s 2-year-old sales schedule going forward would likely come next week. “We’ll get together early next week. There’s still a lot of news on the horizon, and still a lot of things in turmoil in the world… We’ve been asked quite a bit. For right now, our answer is that the April sale is on the books, but certainly we have to look at everything that’s going on and try to come up with a plan that works well for everyone.”

Endnotes:
  1. Hip 167: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/167.PDF
  2. read more: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/18/top-new-york-breds-at-obs-march-opener-are-beacons-of-optimism-in-uncertain-times/
  3. Big Brown: https://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/nytb/stallion/125809/big-brown
  4. Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions: http://www.ihdvstallions.com/
  5. Hip 417: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/417.PDF
  6. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/417.mp4
  7. Hip 670: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/670.PDF
  8. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/670.mp4
  9. Hip 368: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/368.PDF
  10. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/368.mp4

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/19/new-york-breds-conclude-obs-march/

Top New York-breds at OBS March opener are beacons of optimism in uncertain times

By Sarah Mace

Thoroughbred auctions, particularly springtime auctions of “race-ready” 2-year-olds in training, are founded on hopes and dreams. In the past two weeks our lives have been upended because of the spread of COVID-19 – up to and including the postponement of the iconic Kentucky Derby from the first Saturday in May to the first Saturday in September.

Despite turbulent financial markets and a national landscape that is shifting rapidly from one day to the next, Tuesday’s March 17 opening session Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March sale of 2-year-olds in training illustrated that, when given the opportunity to buy a top-tier New York-bred, prospective owners are still eager to feed their hopes and dreams by opening their checkbooks.

Of the 24 New York-bred juveniles who went through the ring, 14 found new homes, including one via private sale. The $70,786 average price for Empire-State breds and $32,000 median were anchored by four six-figure sellers.

The New York-bred star of the day was Hip 167[1], a dark bay / brown Medaglia d’ Oro filly from Chester and Mary Broman’s breeding program who is a full sister to Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint heroine Bar of Gold. Last year’s OBS March record-setting sale topper was Broman-bred Chestertown, who brought $2 million and is slated to start in next weekend’s $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby.

Hip 167, who was consigned on behalf of the Bromans by Sequel Bloodstock, went to Larry Best’s OXO Equine LLC for $330,000, the sixth top price of the session and second top-selling filly. Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan signed the ticket. The Bromans reportedly stayed in for a percentage. The filly, who is currently named Espresso Kid, turned in a speedy :10 flat furlong in the under tack show last Thursday. [Hip 167 WALKING VIDEO[2]; Hip 167 UNDER TACK VIDEO[3]]

Ryan told the Bloodhorse.com, “To be honest, we were delighted to get her at that. If she runs, she’ll be worth a fortune. But, if not, she’ll never be worth less than what she brought today because of her pedigree.”

“She was absolutely beautiful,” Sequel’s Becky Thomas told the TDN. “[She and Bar of Gold] are different kind of fillies. This filly is quick. Bar of Gold was real tall, leggy and stretchy. She was a different made kind of horse. They are both very Medaglia looking in terms of color though, both being dark bay or brown. Larry Best got a really, really great value. The market is obviously very compromised with what’s happening right now and Mr. Broman is very realistic on reserves. We were sure that she was going to sell. We’re really happy that Mr. Best got her. Mr. Broman isn’t dispersing his mares at this time. We know that she’ll get a great shot, that part was really good, but it is bittersweet.”

Espresso Kid’s dam is Khancord Kid, a Broman homebred by Lemon Drop Kid who captured the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes on turf at Gulfstream Park turf in 2010. Chester Broman purchased Khancord Kid’s dam Confidently, an unraced daughter of Storm Cat, at Keeneland’s 2000 January sale of horses of all ages for $1 million. Confidently’s dam is Grade 1 winner Key Phrase and she is a half-sister to sire Yankee Gentleman.

Khancord Kid’s first foal, sprint star Bar of Gold earned $1,551,000. The mare has produced two other winners, both stakes performers: Land Mine (Mineshaft) and Homeland by American Pharoah. She produced a full brother to the sales filly in 2019 and was bred to Justify last spring.

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John Kimmel went to $170,000 for an unnamed client for another dark bay / brown filly: Hip 184[4], a daughter of Hard Spun bred by Milfer Farm Inc. from the family of Bernardini. Consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent I, the filly she posted a furlong breeze in :10 1/5. [UNDER TACK VIDEO[5]]

Filly is the first foal out of Lapinski (Street Cry [IRE]), a winner at two and half-sister to stakes winner Sunset Wish. The star-studded third generation of the filly’s pedigree is headed by Grade 1 winner and 2006 Broodmare of the Year Cara Rafaela, a half-sister to Abaginone and dam of champion and sire Bernardini. Milfer Farm bought Lapinski for $82,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.

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A pair of New York-bred juvenile colts fetched $100,000 at the sale opener, including the top New York-sired offering, Hip 166[6] by Mission Impazible[7] (Sequel Stallions New York) who was purchased by Michael Behrens and David Kandasamy’s California-based Myracehorse.com after turning in a sharp work in in :10 1/5. [UNDER TACK VIDEO[8]]

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Twin Creeks Farm, and consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, Hip 166 is the most recent reported foal out of Kettle’s Sister, an unplaced Maryland-bred by More Than Ready who has produced four winners from seven foals to start, led by her second offspring, Vinceremos by Pioneerof the Nile, winner of the 2003 Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and runner up in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. A full sister to the sale colt, New York-bred Paz the Bourbon, has collected a pair of stakes placings. Second dam Safe at the Plate is a half-sister to champion sprinter Safely Kept, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 1990. According to the TDN, the colt will go to Todd Pletcher and Twin Creeks will stay in as a partner.

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Dennis O’Neill scooped up the other $100,000 New York-bred colt, Hip 169[9], a bay by Blame who breezed an eighth in:10 1/5 for de Meric Sales. [UNDER TACK VIDEO[10]]

Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III, the youngster was previously purchased as a short yearling by Pewter Stable at the Keeneland January sale for $35,000. He is the second foal out of Knox County Zip, a Kentucky-bred winner by City Zip whose first foal, Trickle In by Temple City, is already a multiple winner on turf.

The colt’s second dam is stakes winner Menifeeque, who went on to produce graded winner and multiple graded stakes-placed runner Thank You Marylou by Birdstone.

The sale resumes on Wednesday for its second and concluding session at 10:30 a.m.

Endnotes:
  1. Hip 167: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/167.PDF
  2. WALKING VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/167w.mp4
  3. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/167.mp4
  4. Hip 184: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/184.PDF
  5. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/184.mp4
  6. Hip 166: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/166.PDF
  7. Mission Impazible: https://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/nytb/stallion/166076/mission-impazible
  8. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/166.mp4
  9. Hip 169: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/169.PDF
  10. UNDER TACK VIDEO: http://obssales.com/marcatalog/2020/169.PDF

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/18/top-new-york-breds-at-obs-march-opener-are-beacons-of-optimism-in-uncertain-times/

Dream Bigger steals the show in Damon Runyon

[1]

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

By Sarah Mace

Repole Stable’s Dream Bigger, a grey son of Mission Impazible, returned to his winning ways in style Sunday, taking the featured $100,000 Damon Runyon at Aqueduct Racetrack by 7 3/4 lengths under Junior Alvarado.

The field of the Damon Runyon, a 7-furlong race for New York-bred 3-year-olds, was a well-matched group of six, several of whom have been knocking heads since last fall. In the end, bettors gave a slight edge to Dream Bigger, drawn in post one, betting him down to 2-1 odds.

Dream Bigger broke inward at the bell, but got straightened out in short order and scooted up the rail to assume a half-length lead over Scilly Cay through early fractions of 23.16 and 46.60.

Improving on his advantage and shaking off Scilly Cay for good in the bend, Dream Bigger expanded his lead to nearly four lengths by the time he hit the quarter pole and never looked back, drawing off to win by 7 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:25.89 over the fast going.

More Graytful, who broke his maiden last out on February 17, rode the rail throughout from post position two and closed well, if greenly, from fourth to capture the runner-up position, followed by Bourbon Bay. Prince of Pharoahs, Titan’s Will and Scilly Cay completed the order of finish. Chowda, winner of the Gander Stakes last out on February 16, was scratched. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]

“He broke good, but he broke inside,” Junior Alvarado recounted. “I think that’s why he lost a little momentum going forward at the break. My only plan today was to put him on the lead and see how long he could carry his speed. Today, he had a good day, and he carried it all the way to the wire. I thought somebody would put pressure on me, but I didn’t have a second plan today. I was going to go to the lead breaking fast or slow. I was committed to the lead before the break.”

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez concurred. “He ran a big race. He broke a little slow, but Junior hustled him out of there and they took it from there.”

Well regarded from his debut, Dream Bigger has been sent off as the post time favorite in each of his seven career starts and has never finished off the board.

Second to top Kentucky Derby contender Tiz the Law in his Saratoga debut, the grey broke his maiden two starts later in dramatic fashion, romping by more than 10 lengths in the New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes on September 30. Winner of the Notebook Stakes next out in November, he suffered a heartbreaking nose loss in the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes series. Third in the Rego Park to Scilly Cay, he was freshened for 63 days for his Damon Runyon effort.

Coming into the race, Dream Bigger boasted the field’s biggest bankroll. His third stakes win bolstered his earnings to $376,178.

Bred by Sequel New York, Twin Creeks Racing and Pamela Zielinski, Dream Bigger is the most recent reported foal, and one of two winners, out of Downtown Daria, a Kentucky-bred winner by Sky Mesa. The mare’s Noonmark filly Downtown at Noon placed in the Niagara Stakes at Finger Lakes in 2017 and earned just shy of six figures.

Dream Bigger changed hands three times at public auction. Northface Bloodstock purchased him for $15,000 as a weanling out of the 2017 Fasig-Tipton New York fall mixed sale. Returning next summer in the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale, he brought $65,000 from Whetstone Farm. Mike Repole went to $205,000 to take him home from the 2019 OBS spring 2-year-old sale.

New York sire Mission Impazible[3] stands at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson for a 2020 fee of $5,000.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/dream-bigger-the-damon-runyon-credit-chelsea-durand2.jpg
  2. VIDEO REPLAY: https://www.nytbreeders.org/includes/video-player.cfm?date=20200315&track=AQD&race=8
  3. Mission Impazible: https://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/nytb/stallion/166076/mission-impazible

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/03/15/dream-bigger-damon-runyon/

Copyright ©2024 New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News unless otherwise noted.