Tiz the Law records final breeze for Kentucky Derby

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Tiz the Law records his final breeze for the Kentucky Derby at Saratoga. (Susie Raisher photo)

NYRA Press Release

For his final piece of serious preparation for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby, Sackatoga Stable’s New York-bred Tiz the Law went five furlongs in 59.21 seconds over the Saratoga Race Course main track on Saturday.

Trainer Barclay Tagg timed the work to avoid the anticipated rain showers, so the four-time Grade 1 winner was amongst the first horses to step foot onto the track at 5:45 a.m., just fifteen minutes before precipitation made its way to the Capital Region.

Piloted by exercise rider Heather Smullen, the son of second crop sire Constitution went his first three-eighths in 36.01 before galloping out in 1:12.01 on the fast main track, which was raked and harrowed.

“Everything went fine. He came back well,” Tagg said. “He did everything he was supposed to do. I’m satisfied with this work. We had to make the decision this morning to work him. We made the decision around 4:00. Luckily, it wasn’t raining when he was working. It’s supposed to rain all day, and the track may be worse tomorrow. I’m glad we got the work in.”

Tiz the Law, who is atop the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 372 qualifying points, will be the likely favorite of the “Run for the Roses”, arriving at the prestigious event off a runaway triumph in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 8. Unbeaten in four starts this season, he won the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park before becoming the first New York-bred in over a century to win the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20.

A win in the Kentucky Derby would be a second victory in the American Classic for both Tagg and Sackatoga Stable, who teamed up to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide, who became the first and so far only New York-bred to win the prestigious event.

Tiz the Law is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday. Manny Franco will have the call in the Kentucky Derby.

Bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the graded stakes winning Tiznow mare Tizfiz and was hammed down to $110,000 when being purchased at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale of New York-breds.

Check out video[2] and photos[3] of the breeze.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tiz-the-Law-8-29-20-breeze.jpg
  2. video: https://www.xbtv.com/video/recent/tiz-the-law-worked-5-furlongs-in-59-21-at-saratoga-on-august-29th-2020/
  3. photos: https://www.facebook.com/nytbreeders/posts/10158660724896950?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARB8g79rS2G5TWLBcLQezxarJZHZsR9TXoZwq6ChIqknZQehcARHfMlkLh41ivpeS3wwN7D6ENlf1aAZ5y8E5fAtsd-xUeVUpZJkbcOoGufn4gHoSur0_-kfj7cbtnOx0h2RbD2hZXBXC3HGErabnVgkmgzzZ-Fmk_eOFbMzFX4SWtLV5ND0D6LvIUS2XDXIiw-fDB9WjJxe3SGuKwnJFXbnPCkF3aM9deC0A_PqkPA6ImkLjkAnJgy5hQxZFq0egehi5Y3HBm5d1Ss0jXNqqP7P5mPMMP3V7v7BBZtI0ZbvFDK7wcv7oKdAREGSZVJsDn7VIp2ChE8svhE68Q&__tn__=-R

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/29/tiz-the-law-records-final-breeze-for-kentucky-derby/

Captain Bombastic bounces back in NYSS Times Square

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Team Hanley’s Captain Bombastic wins second stakes in last three starts in Times Square division of New York Stallion Series at Saratoga. NYRA Photo.

By Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Twenty-eight days after finishing fourth in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, Captain Bombastic made his way back to the winner’s circle with an eye-catching effort in the Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes Friday at Saratoga Race Course.

Bumped at the break, the 3-year-old Forty Tales colt quickly got his feet back under him and joined a three-way battle for the lead early in the 6 ½-furlong restricted stakes. Captain Bombastic quickly saw one of his rivals drop back but Dream Bigger wasn’t going to let him have the win that easy. The pair clocked a first quarter in :21.80 as they opened up multiple lengths on the rest of the field to run the half in :44.10.

Captain Bombastic held a slight edge entering the stretch while Dream Bigger yielded. Given just a few reminders in the stretch by Luis Saez, Captain Bombastic continued pulling away to win as the race favorite by 5 1/4 lengths over Dream Bigger, who was 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Chowda.

“I was very concerned (about the pace battle),” trainer Jeremiah Englehart said. “In the paddock, Luis sounded like he wanted to be aggressive and it really wasn’t my plan. Luis was aggressive and it ended up being the winning move because he took the race to (Dream Bigger) and he knew what kind of horse he had under him. It worked out well.”

While Saez had planned on letting his mount sit behind horses, it all changed when Captain Bombastic’s stablemate Ariesberg was squeezed at the start in the rough break. With the race working out differently than Saez expected, he decided to gun for the lead.

“It was a battle,” he said. “I knew I had horse and I was thinking to sit second or third behind the speed but when I saw Ariesberg didn’t break that well and I was there, I took it. When I came to the three-eighths, Jose (Ortiz) started putting pressure on me but my horse was responding. When we came to the stretch, he went to the lead and took off. He was much the best.”

Trained by Englehart for Team Hanley, Captain Bombastic has won four of his eight starts and only finished off the board once in a career that includes three stakes victories.

Purchased last year by Bradley Thoroughbreds from Sequel Bloodstock for $80,000, the colt was bred by Chester and Mary Broman out of their homebred New York-bred Stolen Star.

Captain Bombastic is a half-brother to the Bromans’ multiple graded stakes winning New York-bred Highway Star and three other winners with his dam producing five winners from six foals.

Stolen Star was purchased in utero by the Bromans when they bought her dam from the Keeneland November breeding stock sale in 2002 for $115,000. Stolen Star is also a half-sister to their homebred stallion Friend or Foe in addition to stakes winning Star Gazing and the dam of stakes winner Surge Of Pride.

From a family full of stakes horses, Captain Bombastic’s fourth dam is dual-Grade 1 winner and successful broodmare Taisez Vous.

Stolen Star visited Malibu Moon in 2018 for a New York-bred yearling filly and foaled a New York-bred Good Magic colt in March.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CaptainBombasticNYTB.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/28/captain-bombastic-bounces-back-in-nyss-times-square/

Funny Guy hopes to deliver punch line in Forego

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Funny Guy returns to open company for Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga. NYRA Photo.

By Paul Halloran

The field assembled for Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course is no joke, but that has not deterred the connections of New York-bred Funny Guy from trying to get the last laugh.

Coming off convincing wins in the Commentator Stakes and John Morrissey Handicap, both restricted to New York-breds, Funny Guy will meet open company for only the second time in his career, having run sixth in the Oklahoma Derby in his final race of 2019.

As it turned out, trainer John Terranova could not have found a much tougher spot. The Forego features 11 horses who have collectively made 95 starts in graded stakes, compiling 19 wins, 22 seconds and 11 thirds. You can make a cogent argument that this is the most competitive stakes race of the meet thus far.

“It certainly is a classy, deep field,” said Terranova, who has four wins at Saratoga this year, including the Tale of the Cat Stakes with Stan the Man. “He has to come with his ‘A’ game and keep moving forward.”

Based on the morning line, NYRA oddsmaker David Aragona must think Funny Guy, who has earned $505,145 in 12 career starts, has more than a puncher’s chance, installing him as the 9-2 third choice.

“Maybe he is the ‘now’ horse and some of the others may be off form,” Terranova said. “We don’t even know what his top is.”

Terranova and owners Gatsas Stables, Randy Hill and Swick Stable would like to find out Saturday. In order to do so, Funny Guy – a son of Big Brown out of the Distorted Humor mare Heavenly Humor bred by Hibiscus Stable – will have to be better than multiple graded stakes winners Whitmore, Firenze Fire and Mind Control, 2018 Champagne winner Complexity, Lexingtonian, who missed by a nose in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar after being scratched at the gate in the A.G. Vanderbilt, and Win Win Win, who hit the board in two Kentucky Derby preps in 2019.

“He’s a very smart colt and he has trained amazing,” said Terranova, who won the Forego in 2000 with 50-1 Shadow Caster, also for Gatsas, for whom he campaigned Gander, a New York-bred who ran in two Breeders’ Cup Classics. “His first two races this year were fantastic. He certainly deserves a shot.”

A shot to leave them all crying.

Cross Border tackles Sword Dancer

Three Diamond Farms’ Cross Border also faces a stiff challenge Saturday when he takes on seven foes in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer. The English Channel progeny, who was bred in New York by Berkshire Stud and B. D. Gibbs, is the 3-1 second choice as he seeks his second stakes win of the meet.

The Mike Maker trainee finished second in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Aug. 1, but was moved up when Sadler’s Joy was disqualified for interfering with him and Channel Maker. Those three will be joined in the Sword Dancer by Highland Sky, promoted from third to second in the same DQ, United Nations winner Aquaphobia, Bowling Green pacesetter Marzo, Qatar Derby champ Pedro Cara and Corelli, who was third in the United Nations.

After taking nine starts to break his maiden at Woodbine, Cross Border didn’t tackle stakes company until his 19th career start, when he was off the board in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont in 2019. He set the pace and finished fifth in this year’s Grade 1 Manhattan, and picked up his first stakes win in the Lubash for New York-breds at Saratoga July 1.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FunnyGuyMorrissey.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/28/funny-guy-hopes-to-deliver-punch-line-in-forego/

Multiple NY-bred Champion Perfect Arc Dies at Age 28

By Reg Lansberry

Perfect Arc, a Grade-1 winner and multiple graded stakes winner and New York-bred champion, died on August 26 at the place of her birth, owner-breeder Frank Stella’s Delehanty Stock Farm in Amenia, New York. The daughter of Brown Arc, a son of 1977 and 1978 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor Alleged, was 28.

Recalling the finest horse he has bred and raced in more than four decades in the Empire State, Stella said he “Bred Perfect Arc on a whim,” due to “a mad set of circumstances.” Those circumstances resulted in his standing her sire at Delehanty for one season. Brown Arc was a full brother to 1988 Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby) winner Hours After.

Perfect Arc was foaled March 7, 1992, out of the Argentine mare Podeica (Petronisi-Indian Order, by Ovid), co-owned by Stella and the late Paul K. Sorren (Brazil Stable). Podeica won the 1987 Polla de Potrancas (Arg-G1) (Argentine One Thousand Guineas), defeating 1998 Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bayakoa (Arg).  Podeica was a winner in allowance company in the U.S. when an injury forced her retirement.

Trained by Angel Penna, Jr., and co-owned and raced by Stella and Sorren, Perfect Arc competed from ages two through four. She was retired after her four-year-old season with ten victories in 13 career starts (six of them stakes wins) and purse earnings of $668,230. Her finest season came at age three in 1995 when she compiled a perfect 7-for-7 record, all on turf. With John Velazquez in the irons, Perfect Arc captured the 1995 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course, defeating Auriette (Ire) by two lengths on good turf in 1:49 4/5. She also triumphed in the Rare Perfume Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park and Diana Handicap (G3) at Saratoga Race Course.

Perfect Arc’s glittering campaign resulted in multiple honors including 1995 New York-bred Horse of the Year, champion three-year-old filly, and champion turf female.

In 1996, Perfect Arc won two of four starts, all on turf. She added another graded stakes victory to her resume by taking down the Noble Damsel Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park and finished second to champion Possibly Perfect in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington International Racecourse. She was named 1996 N.Y. champion turf female at year’s end.

Retired to Delehanty to begin her career as a broodmare, Perfect Arc produced three winners from seven runners. Prominently, she is the granddam of seven-year-old mare Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind—Perfectly Wild, by Forest Wildcat), a Grade-1 winner, reigning Horse of the Year in Canada and that country’s three-time champion turf female (2017-1019). To date, Starship Jubilee has earned in excess of $1.6 million. All eight of Perfectly Wild’s runners to date have been winners.

Perfect Arc was buried at the farm.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/28/multiple-ny-bred-champion-perfect-arc-dies-at-age-28/

Proposed Modifications of Mare Residency Rules: Public Comment Period

LAST NOVEMBER I summarized proposals arising from discussions over a year ago among a wide spectrum of program stakeholders about ways to attract new broodmares into New York’s program. A shrinking foal crop and the coming retirement of a generation of our most prolific and successful breeders (responsible for as much as 20% of our state foal crop annually) make it essential to restock our mare population. The stark reality is that the New York Racing Association’s commitment (per the franchise agreement) to run 600 state-bred races annually will no longer be binding if the program cannot sustain a New York-bred population sufficient to fill the races. Breeders and stallion owners alike agreed that it is essential to remove barriers that are currently keeping new owners from bringing mares into the state.

The gaming commission and executive chamber received the proposal in late 2019. We have received notice the executive chamber (regulatory review unit) approved the publication of the draft rule change in the Department of State Register Aug. 26, initiating a period of public comment lasting 60 days when breeders and other interested parties can respond in writing to the proposed rule.

Click here to read the proposed rule [1]

The public comment period for this proposed rule will run through Oct. 26. After the public comment period runs, the Fund will be in a position to adoptthe proposed rule. If there are public comments received before Oct. 26, the Fund board will need to be apprised, evaluate those public comments, and decidewhether to accept any of them. If the Fund board wishes to accept a public comment that would result in a modification of the proposal, it may then issue a Notice of Revised Rule-making, which would need to again be approved by the Regulatory Review Unit, be published as a Revised Rule Making in theState Register, and be subject to a further public comment period.

As I outlined last year, the most important change is to open “resident mare” status to “Mares from Public Auction” purchased for at least $50,000 (or an amount to be determined annually by the Fund). After dropping a New York-bred foal, such a mare would not (as currently) be obliged to breed back to a New York sire. Instead, she could go to an out-of-state stallion, but only so long as she returns to New York after that breeding and maintains “Resident Mare” status (according to existing rules) until the birth of that second foal.

This is a rule that many of our competing neighboring breeding states currently follow.  In fact, they permit mares to be purchased and brought in their states with no minimum purchase price threshold or floor, such as Pennsylvania and Ontario.

Another change aims to reduce the shipping burden on owners of resident mares who currently raise foals in Kentucky. A resident mare going out of state to be bred would be allowed to stay away for 120 days (rather than 90 days) so her new foal can be weaned before she returns to New York. Finally, the 90-day period that a non-resident mare must currently stay in New York after foaling would begin “on arrival” rather than “after foaling.”

It is important to point out that stallion owners involved in our discussions have endorsed the kinds of measures outlined above, agreeing that attracting new mares or breeders will benefit the program as a whole. At the same time, I’ve been successful at brokering an agreement between NYRA and the Fund to further support our stallion population, creating a $5,000 owners’ bonus (by purse money) for New York-sired winners in various maiden and allowance conditions (both state-bred and open) with a potential value of more than $650,000 annually. This commitment has been signed by both NYRA and the Fund and will be instituted a year after the rule change officially takes place.

None of this, however, means that any rule change has been put in place; this officially kicks off an elaborately choreographed State-controlled process of review, comment, and possible revision before the proposed rule change is adopted or rejected.

I urge you to make your views known during the public comment period. The outcome of this process will be a transparent, open format, in the hands of the entire program and all constituents.   To comment by October 26th you must send in writing to tegan@nybreds.com[2] or by mail:

Tracy Egan, Executive Director
New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund
One Broadway Center, 1st Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305

The timeline is such that if there are no comments requiring a change to the rule, the Fund board could submit its approval to the State for finalization before the November sales. The State will then incorporate the new rules which could take weeks administratively. However, it is important to note the rule as written will apply to all mares bought from public auction 2019 forward who’ve followed the new protocols.

Lastly, New York has reopened indoor businesses such as bowling alleys, museums, and gyms. Schools are reopening. If they can all open successfully, hopefully the casinos may get their chance to open sooner than a 2021 timeline. NYRA is functioning in this reduced environment and surviving. Yes, it’s for reduced days and purses. Rest assured, NYTB and NYTHA are working to ensure there will be a winter meet at Aqueduct under these same principles. You can count on that happening.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey A. Cannizzo, Executive Director

 

Endnotes:
  1. Click here to read the proposed rule : https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-08-26-Thoroughbred-Fund-Residency-requirements-for-dam-of-NY-bred-foal.pdf
  2. tegan@nybreds.com: mailto:tegan@nybreds.com

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/26/proposed-modifications-of-mare-residency-rules-public-comment-period/

Central Baker continues rise for McMahons

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Newly Minted, winner of the Union Avenue Aug. 13, played big part in strong run for her sire Central Banker this month. NYRA Photo.

By Melissa Bauer-Herzog

If you were in Saratoga earlier this month, you’d be forgiven for thinking McMahon Of Saratoga Thoroughbreds was throwing a weeklong party. McMahon of Saratoga’s third-crop sire Central Banker gave them plenty to celebrate when he not only had five winners in a week at Saratoga with but 10 winners overall through the first three weeks of August.

For Joe McMahon Central Banker’s success goes outside even the importance to the stallion because it also lets people see the strength of the New York breeding program.

“(The New York breeding program is) important because all these horses race at the NYRA tracks and the NYRA tracks are probably the most bet on and watched races in the country,” McMahon said. “Certainly, when you see a horse like Central Banker have five winners at Saratoga last week alone, that gets him attention. It’s very good for people to see that New York has good stallions and their offspring are running very, very well on the best circuit in the world. That encourages other people to be involved in New York.”

Currently at the top of the New York general sires list and eighth on the national third-crop list, Central Banker is having a summer most only dream of. His first two crops gave him two stakes winners in five days last week and three stakes horses in 15 days.

Zipalong started his sire’s August stakes run with a third in the Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series Aug. 6. That placing was followed by Central Banker’s five-winner week at Saratoga, headlined by champion New York-bred Newly Minted earning her fourth career stakes victory in the Union Avenue Handicap Aug. 13.

Then showing that Central Banker is in demand all over the country, Doc’s Holiday was his latest stakes winner Aug. 18 in Colorado’s CTBA Derby at Arapahoe.

Central Banker’s rise to becoming a successful sire was set in motion almost from the time he stepped off the van at McMahon of Saratoga. A fast dirt horse, John McMahon said the support he’s received from the beginning has been strong and steady.

“Central Banker had great credentials entering his stallion career so that parlayed into a very good first-year book,” he said. “Immediately following, attractive weanlings sold for very good money, which helped, then yearling and 2-year-old sale results followed by race success. So, his support from breeders has been excellent from the very first day he started his stud career.”

While it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Central Banker’s stud fee had risen after the performances of his first few crops, for the McMahons it’s been important for the stallion to stay affordable for breeders. They’ve been rewarded for that loyalty with Central Banker never having less than 75 mares during his five seasons at stud.

“It’s important that he’s good value, we didn’t raise his stud fee,” Joe McMahon said. “We’ve kept him very affordable to breeders in New York with the added incentive that they get twice as much award because they’re New York-sired and they’re eligible for the New York Stallion Series. It’s a value play for a lot of people.

“Rather than send a mare to Kentucky and breed to a $7,500 horse there or a $10,000 horse there and get half the awards and not be eligible for the stallion stakes, this horse gives you as good a horse as you’re going to get in Kentucky for $10,000 to $15,000 plus the breeders awards are twice as high and you’re eligible for the stallion stakes – which are about $3 million in value.”

A stallion who is often lauded by trainers for his trainable and durable runners, for the McMahons it’s important that Central Banker stay in New York not only for his own success but for breeders in the state.

“He’s a good stallion and good stallions can stand anywhere, but we choose to keep him here because New York needs a good stallion like that,” Joe McMahon said. “If he can continue to get 100 mares a year, that’s good business for our farm.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NewlyMintedNYTB.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/25/central-baker-continues-rise-for-mcmahons/

Tiz the Law returns to work

[1]

Tiz the Law breezes pre-dawn at Saratoga. (Susie Raisher photo)

NYRA Press Release

After Saturday’s sudden downpour that drastically changed the track conditions and postponed Tiz the Law’s workout, the Sackatoga Stable-owned colt was the first horse on the Saratoga Race Course main track Sunday, breezing five furlongs in a bullet 59.47 seconds in preparation for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5.

At 5:30 a.m., on the main track rated fast with exercise rider Heather Smullen up, Tiz the Law reached three furlongs in :35 3/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 and up in 1:26 for seven furlongs.

Trainer Barclay Tagg said the workout for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 1 Runhappy Travers champ was “perfect” as he prepares for the Kentucky Derby, second leg of the Triple Crown, at Churchill Downs. The third leg of the Triple Crown, the Grade 1 Preakness, is slated for October 3 at Pimlico Race Course.

“It went fast enough, but not too fast,” Tagg said. “It was a little quicker than usual, but it wasn’t too quick for him. He’s a pretty fast horse. I told Heather I wanted a good work in him. I didn’t want to set any records out there. I wanted her to keep a good snug hold on him. I wanted a good work.”

This was the first workout for Tiz the Law since winning the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers by 5 ½ lengths on August 8. With two weeks before the Kentucky Derby, Tagg said this workout was important.

“This is an important workout. In one way, I don’t have any way to make up for it,” Tagg said. “It’s the first thing he has done in the last two or three weeks. That’s why I needed a good work today. If he goes a little too slow going on top of the race, I wouldn’t want that, but I don’t want it too fast either. It’s going to have to be almost perfect. If it’s just like today, that would be fine. I can only work him two times before this race. To me, this work was more important.”

Smullen said the colt performed in a professional manner while working on dark Saratoga main track.

“It was a little dark and he wasn’t quite as focused going down the backside,” she said. “He was playing around. At the three-eighths pole, I took my stick out. He stayed nice and straight. I never had to ask him. At the eighth pole, he saw a horse. I didn’t have to do anything. He finished up his work. Galloping out, he just kept going. He’s good at what he does.”

Watching near the clocker stand on the backstretch, Sackatoga Stable principal owner Jack Knowlton said he was also impressed with the workout and gallop out.

“Pretty amazing,” Knowlton said. “If you watch him gallop out, he just wants more. He isn’t even breathing hard, which is pretty amazing. They didn’t expect that he was going to have a fast work. They wanted him to have a vigorous work and gallop out and get a lot out of the work. I think they got all of that and more. [Assistant trainer] Robin [Smullen] and Barclay said not to expect a real fast time because the plan was to be off the rail because the rail was pretty deep.”

Full video of the breeze[2]

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Tiz-the-Law-8-23-20-breeze.jpg
  2. Full video of the breeze: https://www.xbtv.com/video/recent/tiz-the-law-worked-5-furlongs-in-59-47-at-saratoga-on-august-23rd-2020/

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/23/tiz-the-law-returns-to-work/

NYRA Fall Schedules Released

Mr. Buff takes the 2019 Empire Classic at Belmont Park on Empire Showcase Day.[1]

Mr. Buff takes the 2019 Empire Classic at Belmont Park on Empire Showcase Day. (Coglianese Photos)

Edited NYRA Press Release

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced race dates for the 27-day Belmont fall meet, including 38 stakes worth $5.58 million in purse money, that will kick off on Friday, September 18 and run through Sunday, November 1, and the 18-day Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet, offering 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 million in purse money, that will kick off on Friday, November 6 and run through Sunday, December 6.

“This new fall schedule is the result of a collaborative effort between NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders to modify our racing calendar in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the industry,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “I’d like to thank the horsemen and breeders for their common-sense approach to solving the challenges brought about by this unprecedented public health crisis.”

The two meets offer a combined twelve stakes races restricted to New York-bred company, in addition to four divisions of the New York Stallion Series. The spotlight will focus on the Empire State on Saturday, October 24 when the best New York-breds gather at Belmont Park for Empire Showcase Day. An annual celebration of all things New York, the Empire Showcase Day card will offer eight stakes worth $1.2 million topped by the $175,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles.

New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19. NYRA will issue updated guidance regarding COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys, trainers and owners in the near future.

America’s Day at the Races will present Daily television coverage of both meets with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform, and the best way to bet every race. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com[2].

2020 Fall New York-bred & Sired Stakes Schedule
Belmont Park
Thurs., Oct. 1 – Joseph A. Gimma (NYB), $100,000, F2YO, 7 Furlongs
Fri., Oct. 2 – Bertram F. Bongard (NYB), $100,000, 2YO 7 Furlongs
Sat., Oct. 24 – Empire Classic (NYB), $175,000, 3&UP, 1 1/8
Sat., Oct. 24 – Empire Distaff (NYB), $175,000, F&M 3&UP, 1 1/16
Sat., Oct. 24 – Sleepy Hollow (NYB), $150,000, 2YO, 1 Mile
Sat., Oct. 24 – Maid of the Mist (NYB), $150,000, F2YO, 1 Mile
Sat., Oct. 24 – Mohawk (NYB), $150,000, 3&UP, 1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Oct. 24 – Ticonderoga (NYB), $150,000, F&M 3&UP, 1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Oct. 24 – Iroquois (NYB), $125,000, F&M 3&UP, 6 1/2 Furlongs
Sat., Oct. 24 – Hudson (NYB), $125,000, 3&UP, 6 1/2 Furlongs

Aqueduct Racetrack
Sat., Nov. 14 – Notebook (NYB), $100,000, 2YO, 6 Furlongs
Sun., Nov. 15 – Key Cents (NYB), $100,000, F2YO, 6 Furlongs
Sun., Nov. 22 – New York Stallion Series (Thunder Rumble Division), $100,000, 3&UP, 7 Furlongs
Sun., Nov. 22 – New York Stallion Series (Staten Island Division), $100,000, F&M 3&UP, 7 Furlongs
Sun., Dec. 6 – New York Stallion Series (Great White Way Division), $250,000, 2YO, 7 Furlongs
Sun., Dec. 6 – New York Stallion Series (Great White Way Division), $250,000, F2YO, 7 Furlongs

The complete stakes schedules for both meets can be found at NYRA.com[3].

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Mr-Buff-Empire-Fall-Stakes-Release.jpg
  2. www.NYRABets.com: https://www.nyra.com/www.NYRABets.com
  3. NYRA.com: http://nyra.com

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/23/nyra-fall-schedules-released/

‘Barn favorite’ Newly Minted wins Union Avenue

[1]

Newly Minted, last year’s champion NY-bred 3-year-old filly, wins Thursday’s Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga. NYRA Photo.

By Tom Law

Linda Rice leaned into this one.

Rice, the reigning and seven-time champion New York-bred trainer in the midst of another strong Saratoga meet, snapped, rooted and leaned into Newly Minted’s victory in Thursday’s $85,000 Union Avenue Stakes.

“She’s a barn favorite,” Rice said after Beach Haven Thoroughbreds’ 4-year-old daughter of Central Banker withstood a few late charges and a stewards inquiry to take the 7-furlong stakes for older New York-bred fillies and mares.

Newly Minted, making her first start since finishing second in the 1-mile Heavenly Prize Stakes in early March at Aqueduct, gave her trainer some anxious moments in the stretch. Watching on a small monitor on the first floor of the clubhouse in the empty Porch dining area, Rice stayed glued to the action while Newly Minted took over in the stretch, opened up and started to get a little tired inside the final furlong. That’s when Rice went to work, giving it the snap, “come on Jose,” snap, “come on Jose,” snap about a half-dozen times while Newly Minted managed to win by a neck over the late-running Mrs. Orb with 33-1 longshot Forever Changed another three quarters of a length back in third and Parx shipper Collegeville Girl a head behind that in fourth.

“I was,” Rice said when asked if she was concerned in deep stretch while Newly Minted hung on to win in 1:23.84. “I didn’t get quite as many workouts in her as I would have liked but she has a lot of raw talent and I was hoping that would carry her through.”

Then came the inquiry.

Newly Minted and jockey Jose Lezcano came out a few paths inside the sixteenth pole, causing Jose Ortiz and the backing up 6-5 favorite Ratajkowski to check. Stewards gave it a long look but made no change.

“I was concerned at first when I saw the head on up and the lines up, I was concerned,” Rice said. “I could see the filly was laboring, she was tired at the end of it. Jose told me, ‘look Linda I know she came over a little, she was tired but I was well in front of her.’ ”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, winners of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ breeder of the year honor the last four years, Newly Minted improve to 6-for-11 and boosted her earnings to $515,988 for John Sakkos’ and Ara Aprahamian’s Beach Haven Thoroughbreds. She’s the second foal out of the Broman’s homebred two-time winning Bernardini mare Newbie.

Newbie’s first foal, the Boys At Tosconova mare New Girl in Town, has won seven of 19 starts and earned $169,355 carrying the Broman’s colors. She won an allowance race at Saratoga last summer and has placed in four stakes in her career. Newbie is also the dam of a 3-year-old Carpe Diem filly Coco Cookies, unplaced in one start but on the work tab as recently as late June at Belmont Park; and the 2-year-old Speightstown filly Colonizer purchased by Rice as agent for $150,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Newly Minted won five of eight starts last season to earn champion New York-bred 3-year-old filly honors. She won three stakes, including the Fleet Indian at Saratoga, and bounced back from a scary incident when she fell after the finish of the Empire Distaff with a second and a win in open-company allowance races to end 2019.

Newly Minted finished second in her two 2020 starts – the Biogio’s Rose Feb. 9 and Heavenly Prize March 8, both at Aqueduct.

“She’s been such a pleasure to have from when she started early in her 3-year-old year,” Rice said. “We were going for over a year straight. We had a few incidents, when she fell in the race at Belmont and it was frightening but she’s run quite well since.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NewlyMintedNYTB.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/13/barn-favorite-newly-minted-wins-union-avenue/

Fasig-Tipton Consolidates Saratoga Fall and Midlantic December Mixed Sales for 2020

For Immediate Release

Fasig-Tipton Consolidates Saratoga Fall and Midlantic December Mixed Sales for 2020

Due to the current travel restrictions put in place by the state of New York to combat the spread of COVID-19, Fasig-Tipton will not conduct The Saratoga Fall Sale as originally scheduled on October 20 in Saratoga Springs, New York.  Instead, for this year, Fasig-Tipton will combine the auction with its Midlantic December Mixed and Horses of Racing Age sale, which will now be held over two days on December 7 and 8.

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York Travel Advisory requires any individuals that travel to New York – from any of the states currently listed – to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in the state.  There are currently 35 states/territories listed under this travel advisory, including horse racing regions Kentucky, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, California, and Texas.

“The current travel advisory requirements make it virtually impossible for many buyers from out of state to attend an auction in Saratoga,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning.  “We do not know what the duration or scope of the New York Travel Advisory will be in October.  Combining our Saratoga Fall and Midlantic December sales into a two-day auction in Maryland is the prudent and logical course of action at this point in time.”

The Midlantic December Mixed and Horses of Racing Age sale will be conducted on Monday and Tuesday, December 7-8, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland.  Entries for the main catalogue will close on September 18.  The entry deadline for the Horses of Racing Age Supplement is November 13.

Entry Forms are available at fasigtipton.com[1].

For further information:
Evan Ferraro
(859)255-1555

Endnotes:
  1. fasigtipton.com: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LqzCzmlaQLLG4vw4CmBEO-5eCVX8A7gBO5Ey6qRlMGwsbPLFDgV5GJ51Nh2yVgnb_losfxWcbLk7ICVc1-gw-rtaVDg-z994SSOxM-ckF46nSMFcjz3kPsIFIukcAwkcU1qsPph10gTUV3jPvAJI64t52iSI2qnk5Zy1UQJAc9g5ymkKd_8ZWLTEUKdvtrZv&c=Rfl6Zpcji27yoOdYJQYO_jpAN_okypXwlB023oMvVJJjlHuidYlW9g==&ch=HpZRQzeCPrKuDtHx0N5FFbOyYBLsJL2wUU7tunBxguPenXMev1EOfA==

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/08/10/27229/

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