Coalition launches We Are NY Horse Racing

NYTB logo[1]A coalition comprised of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., New York Racing Association, small businesses, unions, non-profits and trade organizations have launched We Are NY Horse Racing, a coalition designed to educate New Yorkers regarding the importance of the sport of horse racing to the New York economy.

From downstate labor unions to upstate local restaurants and hotels, We Are NY Horse Racing has garnered statewide support.

“Our membership is well aware of the hard work and dedication required to support a successful racing industry in New York,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. “New York’s horse breeders and farm owners have propelled the sport forward in recent years, and we look forward to contributing our collective voice to this important effort.”

The horse racing economy includes farmers, trainers, horse breeders, horse owners, racetrack employees, dozens of labor unions that support racing operations, backstretch workers, veterinarians and racing officials as well as seasonal and part-time jobs directly tied to big events such as the Belmont Stakes or the annual summer meeting at Saratoga Race Course.

As a driver of tourism downstate and throughout upstate New York, horse racing is a big business for the hospitality sector at a time when hotels, bars and restaurants continue to face uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recently concluded 2021 meet in Saratoga saw an average daily attendance of more than 26,000.

“Saratoga Race Course is an economic engine for upstate New York and a source of great pride for our communities,” said Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “Our member businesses recognize the sport’s direct impact to the local economy, which is why we will take every opportunity to emphasize horse racing’s importance to Saratoga County and New York.”

According to a study published by the American Horse Council in 2018, horse racing in New York State is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact. In addition, the broader equine industry is New York’s second-largest agribusiness, generating good-paying jobs in every county and corner of the State. The sport of horse racing drives an industry that sustains hundreds of small businesses on and around the 11 racetracks currently in operation in New York.

[2]“The horse racing industry is so instrumental to my restaurants across Saratoga. Without it, I’m not sure how local businesses like mine would survive,” said Nancy Bambara, Vice Oresident and Chief Operating Officer of DZ Restaurants, which owns and operates Chianti Il Ristorante, Forno Bistro and Boca Bistro in Saratoga Springs. “I am very happy to be joining We Are NY Horse Racing and its initiatives, especially as the restaurant industry recovers from the pandemic and we look towards the recovery of our local economy.”

We Are NY Horse Racing will engage in a number of activities moving forward, including events, paid media and other efforts directly related to educating and informing New Yorkers about the importance of horse racing to the New York economy.

“At the Belmont Child Care Association, we provide a safe, supportive and academically inspiring environment for the children of parents working in thoroughbred racing,” said Joanne Adams, Executive Director of the Belmont Child Care Association. “The sport’s continued success helps to enable the BCCA to expand our programming and work with even more children in the future. That’s why we are committed to this effort and look forward to participating in the months to come.”

“We provide health and wellness medical services for the NYRA backstretch community and see firsthand how the sport provides good jobs that support families,” said Paul Ruchames, Executive Director of the Backstretch Employee Service Team of NY. “Our community takes great pride in caring for horses and the essential services that make racing possible throughout the year in New York. We will play an active role in this growing coalition.”

“Our mission is to minister to the heart and soul of the hardworking women and men working in the backstretch at NYRA tracks,” said Reverend Humberto Chavez of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. “We must do everything we can to secure the livelihoods of the backstretch community that keeps our racetracks running.”

Founding members of the We Are NY Horse Racing Coalition include:

“The mission of the New York Farm Bureau is to support today’s agricultural needs and create member opportunities for tomorrow, and many of these opportunities are a direct result of the horse racing industry,” said Jeff Williams, Public Policy Director of the New York Farm Bureau. “New York agriculture and horse racing go hand in hand, which is why our organization is pleased to be a part of We Are NY Horse Racing.”

“Long Island contractors are proud to join the We are NY Horse Racing as this industry is an economic boom for our area,” said Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors’ Association. “Horse racing has provided our contractors with good-paying jobs – from working at Belmont Park to repairing critical infrastructure that enables fans to visit Belmont, we are grateful to have these local job opportunities.”

“Our members have been positively impacted by the horse racing industry for decades,” stated Vincent Albanese, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the New York State Laborers’ Organizing Fund. “You may not see it on television, but our members are the folks responsible for maintaining many facets of the track. We’re proud to support this new coalition that will educate New Yorkers about the broad impact of the industry, including the employment of hundreds of unionized construction workers.”

“The Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties stand in solidarity with the We Are NY Horse Racing Coalition,” said Matthew Aracich, President of The Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau & Suffolk Counties. “The sport of horse racing and its broader industry provides our members with family-sustaining jobs in and around Belmont Park. From our carpenters to our engineers and plumbers, we are grateful for the opportunities the horse racing industry brings to our local unions.”

“At Gateway Youth Outreach (GYO), we provide quality after-school programs to children in the communities surrounding Belmont Park,” said Pat Boyle, Executive Director of Gateway Youth Outreach. “The men and women who work at Belmont are our friends and neighbors and recognize their role in supporting organizations like GYO whenever possible. The children and families we serve are better off because of the opportunities to be found right here at Belmont Park.”

“New York State’s harness racing industry is proud to stand together with our Thoroughbred colleagues and agricultural stakeholders from all across the state as part of the We are New York Horse Racing Coalition,” said Joseph Faraldo, of the Empire State Harness Horsemen’s Alliance. “We look forward to telling our story directly to New Yorkers and decision makers in Albany to highlight the importance of the equine industry in New York.”

To learn more about the coalition, please visit www.nyhorseracing.com[3]

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NYTB-Logo-for-web-e1614620864994.png
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Coalition-Logo.png
  3. www.nyhorseracing.com: http://www.nyhorseracing.com

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/29/coalition-launches-we-are-ny-horse-racing/

Curly Girl scores 24-1 upset in Lady Finger Stakes

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Curly Girl and Andre Worrie cruise to upset victory in Monday’s Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

By Tom Law

Paul Barrow thought enough of Henry Steadman’s Curly Girl to send her on the 200-mile journey from Finger Lakes to Saratoga Race Course for her debut this summer.

The 2-year-old daughter of Nyquist didn’t disrespect herself, finishing fourth at 11-1 in the slop after a somewhat troubled start going 6 furlongs July 30. Off until Sept. 14, she returned with a win going 5 1/2 furlongs back home at Finger Lakes and 15 days later, in Monday’s $117,036 Lady Finger again at 6 furlongs, she became a stakes winner.

Under Andre Worrie and dismissed Monday as the fourth longest price in the field of nine New York-bred 2-year-old fillies at 24-1, Curly Girl came from off the pace to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Belmont Park shipper Belarus. Curly Girl won in 1:13.23.

Longshot Queens Dancer took the early lead ahead of a hustling Amore Fire and led that foe by a head through the opening splits of :22.27 and :46.42, with 6-5 favorite Midnight Vigilance and Belarus side-by-side tracking in third and fourth, respectively. Amore Fire poked her head in front after a half-mile, just as Belarus and jockey Javier Castellano tipped off the rail to make a three-wide run at the lead.

Curly Girl and Worrie produced the last – and winning – move in the lane and took command with a sixteenth to run. They drifted out a bit late but were well clear of Belarus, who finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Queens Dancer in third with Raymond Road fourth.

Curly Girl, who sold to Steadman for $50,000 as Hip 489[2] at the OBS March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training, collected $70,222 for her connections and padded her bankroll to $94,582. A $90,000 purchase by Quarter Pole Enterprises at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Showcase, Curly Girl is the third winner out of the winning Forest Wildcat mare Falconess, a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Spice Island from the family of Horse of the Year Spend a Buck.

Bred by Denlea Park LTD, foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson and from the second crop of champion 2-year-old and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Curly Girl is the fifth foal out of Falconess. Denlea Park bred Falconess, who sold as a weanling for $70,000 and as a yearling for $110,000 before winning one race in 14 starts.

Falconess later sold in foal to Congrats to Fred Hertrich III for $135,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November breeding stock sale before eventually going through that same sale in foal to Tapizar and landing back with Denlea Park on a bid of $67,000. Falconess’ first New York-bred foal, the 2018 Orb gelding Polpis, is 1-2-2 in nine starts with $33,290 in earnings and Curly Girl is her second foaled in the Empire State.

Falconess is also the dam of a colt by Flatter born Jan. 29 and she was bred to Bernardini during the 2021 season.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/CurlyGirl-LadyFinger.jpg
  2. Hip 489: http://obscatalog.com/mar/2021/489.PDF

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/27/curly-girl-scores-24-1-upset-in-lady-finger-stakes/

Adios Asher wins tight photo to take Aspirant Stakes

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The connections of Adios Asher celebrate New York-bred colt’s victory in Monday’s Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

By Tom Law

Adios Asher added his name to the list of stakes-winning or stakes-placed sons or daughters of Richard Ravin’s broodmare Rooney Doodle with a victory in Monday’s $116,242 Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes.

The 2-year-old son of Adios Charlie, a full-brother to 2018 Funny Cide Stakes and New York Breeders’ Futurity winner Dugout, led from the start and won a head bob at the finish with 3-5 favorite Daufuskie Island. The final margin was a nose, the same margin Dugout won by over Bankit to win the Funny Cide and also earn finalist honors as champion New York-bred 2-year-old male.

Adios Asher most likely put his name in the same race for 2021 with his second straight win in his first start on dirt for trainer Larry Rivelli. He won his prior start going 5 1/2 furlongs on Arlington Park’s synthetic surface Aug. 20, after a close third there 15 days prior going 5 furlongs on the turf.

Sent off the 9-2 third choice behind Daufuskie Island and the 3-1 second pick The Institute, Adios Asher and jockey E. T. Baird went to the front shortly after break from post three with Daufuskie Island tracking just behind after leaving the extreme outside post in the field of nine. Adios Asher led by a length after the opening quarter in :22.22 and just a half-length through the first half in :45.65.

[2]

Adios Asher (inside) holds off Daufuskie Island (10) to win Monday’s Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

The top two separated from the field – which included six maidens – turning for home and were 8 lengths clear at the eighth pole. Daufuskie Island, a maiden winner at Saratoga Aug. 12 and sixth in the Funny Cide Stakes 15 days later for Jeremiah Englehart, looked to have the momentum inside the final furlong under Dylan Davis. The two hit the finish together, with Adios Asher winning by a nose in 1:11.12. Daufuskie Island finished 9 3/4 lengths clear of Gimmedamoney in third with Cozzy’s Attitude fourth.

Bred by Ravin and foaled at Sequel Thoroughbreds New York in Hudson, Adios Asher races for Ravin and Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope LLC. Along with multiple stakes winner and $554,282-earner Dugout, Adios Asher is the seventh foal out of Rooney Doodle to make the races.

Rooney Doodle’s seven foals to race are winners, led by multiple graded stakes-winning Illinois-bred Jean Elizabeth, the winner of 15 of 21 starts and $662,786 for Ravin, Patricia’s Hope and Rivelli. She’s also the dam of graded stakes-placed $322,104-earner What’s Up Dude, stakes-placed $75,587-earner Hollarforadollar and six-figure-earners Nevrmesswithrichie and Unscathed.

Adios Asher, now the earner of $91,045, and Dugout are Rooney Doodle’s first New York-bred foals. She’s also the dam of a Laoban yearling filly, bred in New York by Ravin, and was bred back to Adios Charlie in 2021.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Adios-Asher-WC.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AdiosAsher-Aspirant.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/27/adios-asher-wins-tight-photo-to-take-aspirant-stakes/

First winner for Beautyinthepulpit

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Straight Skinny, victorious in the second race Sunday at Belmont Park, gives second-crop sire Beautyinthepulpit his first winner. NYRA Photo.

By Tom Law

New York-based sire Beautyinthepulpit was represented by his first winner Sunday at Belmont Park when Straight Skinny rolled to a 3 3/4-length victory.

Beautyinthepulpit, a multiple stakes-placed winner and earner of $410,627, stands for a private fee at Buckridge Farm in Kinderhook. Straight Skinny is one of five starters for the 13-year-old son of Pulpit, who won eight of 31 starts with eight placings during his career highlighted by a debut victory at Saratoga, a second in the Alex M. Robb and thirds in the Empire Classic Handicap and Richard W. Small Stakes against open company.

Straight Skinny, 3-year-old gelding out of the Straight Line mare Tummy Tuck and a member of Beautyinthepulpit’s first crop won in his fifth start for owner Walter Downey and trainer Mark Hennig. Bred by Tea Party Stable and Michael Slezak, Straight Skinny was foaled at Buckridge Farm.

Bred by Albert Fried Jr., Beautyinthepulpit won his debut by 8 1/2 lengths for his breeder and trainer Bruce Brown in July 2011 at Saratoga. He later won a pair of allowance races that fall at Belmont Park, along with another on New Year’s Day at Aqueduct. Beautyinthepulpit raced from 3 to 8 and placed in four stakes during his career.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/StraightSkinny.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/27/first-winner-for-beautyinthepulpit/

Dakota Gold leads 1-3 finish for NY-breds in Nownownow

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Dakota Gold and jockey Isaac Castillo win Sunday’s $500,000 Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park. Ryan Denver/ EQUI-PHOTO.

By Tom Law

Trainer Danny Gargan made the trip to the Jersey Shore looking for one thing Sunday afternoon.

“When we came here, we were hoping to be 1-2 for the Breeders’ Cup,” Gargan said after the featured $500,000 Nownownow Stakes on the Closing Day card at Monmouth Park. “So, as long as everything comes out well from here, hopefully we’ll go to Del Mar.”

Better book the flight.

Gargan and owners Dean and Patti Reeves have reason to look ahead to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar after Dakota Gold ran his record to 2-for-2 with a powerful victory over open company in the Nownownow for 2-year-olds on the grass.

Ridden by 23-year-old Isaac Castillo, Dakota Gold tracked in mid-pack early, followed the moves of fellow New York-bred and 4-5 favorite Coinage for three quarters of the 1-mile turf stakes and rolled through the lane to a 2 1/2-length victory over Royal Spirit. Coinage, winner of the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes Sept. 1 at Saratoga Race Course, finished third in the field of nine.

“Tremendous ride,” Gargan said after Castillo rode Dakota Gold to victory in 1:36.31 over the turf rated good.

The 5-1 second choice, Dakota Gold came into the Nownownow off a 4 1/2-length victory in an off-the-turf open-company maiden race going 5 1/2 furlongs Sept. 2 at Saratoga.

“We trained him on the grass, so that’s where we were looking to get him started,” Gargan said. “He’s a nice quality colt. Just a beautiful animal. We ran him against open company the first time because the timing was right and we wanted to get a race in him. We had him ready.

“When it came off the turf we knew he had also worked well on the dirt so we were fine with it.”

Gargan said he would have been comfortable running the son of Freud on either the dirt or turf Sunday. The weather cooperated the left the Nownownow, boosted from its original $150,000 purse to entice potential Breeders’ Cup hopefuls to use the race as a final prep before going to California in early November, on the grass.

“I just couldn’t wait to get him on the grass,” Gargan said. “We knew he had this kind of turn of foot on the grass. There was some pace in the race and he just flew by. When the jockey asked him he just galloped by. It was pretty impressive. You get lucky and get a horse like this once in a while. I think this horse has as much talent as any younger horse I’ve ever had.”

Grooms All Bizness and Pure Panic set the early pace before There Are No Words and jockey Jose Ferrer took over with a 2 1/2-length lead through the opening half-mile in :45.56. Grooms All Bizness and Pure Panic tracked behind the leader at that point, with Coinage and jockey Junior Alvarado tracking about three paths off the fence. Castillo also kept Dakota Gold in the clear and well off the rail up the backstretch, and followed Coinage’s move around the far turn as There Are No Words passed the 6-furlong mark in 1:10.82.

There Are No Words’ lead didn’t last long in the lane as Dakota Gold uncorked from fifth while four wide. Dakota Gold opened up past the eighth pole while Royal Spirit rallied for the place spot, 6 lengths clear of Coinage.

“There was a New York-bred race today at Belmont at seventh-eighths on the dirt,” Gargan said of the Bertram F. Bongard. “Dean and I discussed it and I really wanted to run here. I’m just glad I got the opportunity to do it and Dean gave me a chance. I told him if we win this we can go to the Breeders’ Cup, so I think Dean is going to let me going to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Ron Bowden and foaled at The New Hill Farm in Hoosick Falls, Dakota Gold became the 72nd stakes winner sired by longtime leading New York sire Freud in the Nownownow. A 23-year-old son of Storm Cat who stands for $5,000 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson, Freud came into the day third on the New York general sire list and the $300,000 earned Sunday by Dakota Gold figures to move him into second in the final days of September.

Dakota Gold is the second foal out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Dakota Kid. A half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and $1,282,810-earner Dakota Phone, Dakota Kid is also the dam of the unraced 3-year-old Freud filly Dakota Dancer currently in training at Belmont Park. Reeves Thoroughbred Racing purchased Dakota Gold as a weanling selling as Hip 106[2] for $83,000 out of The New Hill Farm’s consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DakotaGold-Nownownow.jpg
  2. Hip 106: https://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2019/1015/106.pdf

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/26/dakota-gold-leads-1-2-finish-for-ny-breds-in-nownownow/

Shipsational bounces back in Bertram F. Bongard

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Shipsational improves off fourth in Funny Cide with victory in Sunday’s Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park. NYRA Photo.

By Tom Law

Eddie Barker walked out of his Saratoga barn office the last Friday of the recent meeting, welcomed a writer looking for horses to include in the Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour with the Little Guys and stepped into the sunshine of Clare Court to start the annual visit.

Barker talked first about his lone winner at the meet, the 2-year-old New York-bred Midshipman colt Shipsational purchased in March for six figures, before extolling the positives of six other members of his small stable. After about 15 minutes of talking about the promising and proven members of the string, good and bad beats at the windows and the positive vibes of Saratoga, Barker returned to his shedrow and found himself in front of Shipsational’s stall.

“You have to watch his race in the Funny Cide,” Barker said of the race that came exactly a week before, when Shipsational finished fourth. “He got in all kinds of trouble. He really ran a giant race.”

Shipsational finished fourth, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Senbei, in the Funny Cide Stakes on New York Showcase Day, somewhat remarkable considering he was bumped and knocked sideways twice in the first 40 yards. He encountered no such trouble Sunday at Belmont Park, where he turned the tables on Senbei with a 2-length victory in the $139,500 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for 2-year-old New York-breds.

“He’s a really nice, nice colt,” Barker said after Shipsational won in 1:23.64. “He’s trained well since the day we got him. He’s going to be a special New York-bred. The last race was a throw out. He had trained super coming into this race and I am really, really happy for Mrs. Iris Smith and the whole team.”

Shipsational improved to 2-for-3 in the 7-furlong Bongard, adding the stakes to his impressive 6 3/4-length debut victory during opening weekend at Saratoga. He also picked up $82,500 for owner Iris Smith Stable.

Senbei went to the post at 4-5 and took the lead from the outset. The Funny Cide winner and jockey Manny Franco led by 1 1/2 lengths through the opening quarter-mile while Whittington Park and Shipsational battled side-by-side in second and third. Senbei still led by a length through the half in :46.48 while Sensational edged away from Whittington Park and into contention around the turn.

Saez stayed busy on Shipsational into the stretch while Franco called on Senbei. Shipsational pulled alongside between the eighth and sixteenth poles and edged away just outside the sixteenth.

“We had to work a little bit, but he gave me a good kick. He ran pretty great,” Saez said. “Last time, he had a lot of trouble in the race. He missed the break and got bothered a lot. Today, things went our way. He got a good break, he was right there and he won.”

Senbei, the 4-5 favorite in the field of five, wound up 16 1/2 lengths clear of the official third-place finisher Surprise Boss after presumptive third Happy Happy B broke down just before the wire and tossed Jose Ortiz. Happy Happy B, a half-brother to graded stakes winner Keepmeinmind, was euthanized on the track and Ortiz took off the remainder of his mounts after reportedly going to the hospital for an examination of his left ankle.

Barker, along with Richard Saba of High Point Bloodstock, picked Shipsational out of the OBS March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training and bought Hip 178[2] for $210,000 for Smith. The chestnut colt had previously sold as a weanling for $27,000 at last year’s Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

“His conformation was flawless, the way he moved, his breeze was flawless and he galloped out really well. He hit all the boxes,” Barker said after that July 18 victory at Saratoga. “He’s been showing it in his training, he’s got a great mind, he does everything right. I’m happy for the owner, she’s been very supportive.”

Smith is the daughter-in-law of Barker’s longtime former client Seymour Smith.

Bred by Diana and the late Bertram Firestone and foaled at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, Shipsational is the 10th foal out of the winning Thunder Gulch mare Regal Approach. All nine of Regal Approach’s foals are winners, including her new stakes winner, the $330,753-earning New York-bred First Appeal, $115,821-earner Regal Force and $111,739-earner Rain Forest. Regal Approach’s 2017 foal, the New York-bred Mr Speaker colt, has four wins in 10 starts, $107,120 in earnings and is entered in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance-optional Sept. 30 at Belmont.

The Firestones raced Regal Approach after purchasing her for $75,000 out of the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. She won five of 21 and earned $118,721 for the couple and various trainers including Bill Mott, Jimmy Murphy and Ralph Nicks.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ShipsationalBongard.jpg
  2. Hip 178: http://obscatalog.com/mar/2021/178.PDF

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/26/shipsational-bounces-back-in-bertram-f-bongard/

Keeneland September closes with strong NY-bred numbers

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The Keeneland September sale wrapped up Friday.

By Melissa Bauer-Herzog

A strong Keeneland September Yearling Sale for New York-breds continued to the end with Book Five’s New York offerings led by a $140,000 filly.

Purchased by Gary O’Meara as agent for Frank Bertolino, she was offered as Hip 2990.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales, the filly is the first foul out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare Turning Tide and was bred by Fred Hertich III and John Fielding in New York.

Hertrich purchased Turning Tide for $130,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale before breeding her to Violence and shipping her to New York. The yearling hails from a strong Juddmonte Farm family with Turning Tide a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Laurel River.

They are out of Calm Water, a full-sister to three-time Grade 1 winner Emollient. Her dam Soothing Touch also produced stakes winner and dual Grade 1-placed Hofburg in addition to stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Courtier.

Turning Tide has stayed a member of the New York breeding pool with a weanling New York-bred filly by Audible. She went to Grade 1 winner Gift Box this year.

Golconda Stables purchased the second-most expensive New York-bred of Book Five, going to $90,000 to acquire a daughter of Lookin At Lucky from the Sequel New York consignment. She is the second foal for Levetta, whose first foal is a Kentucky-bred Kantharos 2-year-old filly. Magnolia Bloodstock purchased Levetta, carrying the Lookin At Lucky yearling, for $24,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale with Sequel Thoroughbreds joining in on the mare’s ownership and co-breeding the yearling.

Levetta is a half-sister to stakes winner Backdoor Kenny and stakes-placed Dinar with the trio out of Internal Affair. Those under this filly’s third dam include stakes winners Mountain Range, Irish Presence and Royal Vindication with stakes-placed Mrs Petoski her granddam’s full-sister.

Levetta produced a colt from the final New York crop of the late Laoban this year. She returned to Classic Empire, the sire of Friday’s Joseph A. Gimma Stakes winner Classy Edition.

The 51 New York-bred yearlings sold throughout Keeneland September averaged $98,490 with a median of $65,000 and were led by a $650,000 City of Light colt bred by Anlyn Farms. The New York-breds registered the same median as the overall sale and saw yearlings from the state bring a gross of $5,023,000.

The next opportunity to purchase New York-bred yearlings is the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearlings sale in Maryland Oct. 4-5 with 106 of the 513 cataloged foaled in New York.

The sales return to New York for the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall sale Oct. 18 where 291 weanlings and broodmares will be offered.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/KeeScenic-09-16.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/25/keeneland-september-closes-with-strong-ny-bred-numbers/

Bromans-bred Classy Edition romps in Gimma

[1]

Classy Edition coasts home with a victory in Friday’s Joseph A. Gimma Stakes at Belmont. NYRA Photo

Put another stakes win under leading New York breeders Chester and Mary Broman as Classy Edition streaked to victory in the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park Friday.

A daughter of Classic Empire and Broman homebred Newbie, Classy Edition left little doubt in the 7-furlong stakes as she took over from Adversity and Shesawildjoker in the stretch to draw off and win by 8 lengths as the 6-5 favorite in 1:24.42. Velvet Sister finished second, with Shesawildjoker another 6 lengths back in third. Todd Pletcher trains the winner, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., for Robert and Lawana Low.

The Gimma drew a field of six, all winners, including 9-5 second choice November Rein who came off a victory in Saratoga’s Seeking The Ante Stakes in August for owner/breeder Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable and trainer Kelly Breen. Classy Edition won her debut on the final weekend at Saratoga by 6 3/4 lengths, and backed up that promise in the Gimma.

Pletcher saw improvement from the debut.

“First time she backed up out of the dirt [kickback] a little bit like most first-time starters will do,” said the trainer. “She settled into it a little better here. He [Ortiz] ultimately had no other option but to go out four or five wide. It looked like she finished with good energy.”

Ortiz liked the filly’s progression as well.

“She’s a second time [starter], and I just want to teach her. I dropped in for a second to see how she handled it [kickback] and she was moving good,” the jockey said. “She didn’t hesitate. She did everything right. She got the kickback the first time and she acted like she didn’t like it. Today, she handled it much better. By the three-eighths pole it was time to go and I felt like I had some horse, so I let her start doing her thing. She was moving great. By the quarter pole, I asked and she took off.”

Bloodstock agent Jacob West bought Classy Edition at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale in May for $550,000, the second-highest price paid for a filly and fourth-highest overall. The only starter from the top five prices, and only winner from the top 10, she became the sale’s first stakes winner Friday.

She went to Pletcher at Saratoga and posted her first workout there June 20 after breezing a furlong in :10.1 at the sale in Timonium, Md.

Consigned to the sale by Sequel Bloodstock on behalf of the Bromans, Classy Edition is a half-sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Newly Minted and the stakes-placed New Girl In Town. Their dam won twice for the Bromans and trainer John Kimmel. The daughter of Bernardini produced an American Pharoah colt in 2020, did not have a foal this year.

The Bromans bought Newbie’s dam Changeisgonnacome, carrying Newbie, for $320,000 at Keeneland November in 2008. Bred in Virginia by Audley Farm, that mare won Saratoga’s P.G. Johnston Stakes in 2006 and placed in a Grade 2 the following year. All five foals of her foals to race were winners.

Horses bred by the Bromans, perennial leaders among New York-breeders, have won 55 races and earned more than $2.1 million this year – outpacing runner-up McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Stonewall Farm among the top three.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/classy-edition-the-joseph-a-gimma2.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/24/bromans-bred-classy-edition-romps-in-gimma-stakes/

Tiergan thrives in off-the-turf Cole

[1]

Tiergan wins a tight photo in Friday’s Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont Park. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo

Watching the weather forecast paid off for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and partners Michael Imperio and Andrew Gurdon, as Tiergan prevailed in a three-horse Ashley T. Cole Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont Park Friday.

Scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the turf, the race moved to the dirt at the same distance and wound up a photo finish between the two main-track-only entrants as Tiergan won by a head over Three Jokers with City Man 2 1/4 lengths back in third. Turf runners Graded On A Curve, Lord Flintshire, Sanctuary City and Therapist scratched with the surface change. Ridden by Luis Saez, the winner finished in 1:51.15 and paid $6.60 to win.

Owned by Imperio, Gurdon and Rodriguez, the 5-year-old Afleet Alex gelding won for the fourth time in seven starts since being claimed for $16,000 in January. Bred by Hibiscus Stable and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Tiergan sold for $170,000 to Donegal Racing at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling sale in 2017 and made his first 14 starts for Donegal and trainer Bill Mott. The gray won his debut at Belmont in October 2018, but lost his next 13 – while finishing second four times. The most-recent placing came at Aqueduct in January, when risked for a $16,000 tag. Rodriguez made the claim and it’s been an upward trajectory since with an open-company starter allowance win in February, three seconds at the state-bred allowance level in the spring, an allowance win in the slop at Belmont July 3 and then another off-the-turf optional-claiming score at Saratoga in August.

Then came the Cole.

“He’s a pretty useful horse. I thought when we claimed him in the winter, we would just like to win a non-winners of three,” said Rodriguez. “He seems pretty comfortable and we’re just along for the ride.”

Rodriguez credited Saez, who won the riding title at the Saratoga summer meet, for a patient ride.

“Luis is an unbelievable rider,” the trainer said. “We’re happy to get him aboard our horses that’s for sure.”

Tiergan banked $68,750 in victory while improving his record to 21-5-7-1 and pushing his career earnings to $332,777.

Hibiscus operates racing and breeding partnerships, and purchased Tiergan’s dam Smileforamile for $24,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York mixed sale in 2014. Bred in Virginia, the daughter of Unbridled’s Song is the dam of multiple New York-bred stakes winner Sheriffa (by Posse) and the stakes-placed Might Be (also by Posse). Smileforamile’s filly of 2020 by Midnight Lute is in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale Oct. 4. The mare did not produce foals in 2017, 2018 or 2021 and was bred to Vekoma for next year.

Tiergan and Three Jokers could target the $300,000 Empire Classic at Belmont Oct. 30.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tiergan-the-ashley-t-cole-credit-susie-raisher2.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/24/tiergan-thrives-in-off-the-turf-cole/

NYTB to host Saratoga membership meeting/seminar Oct. 17

[1]The New York Thoroughbred Breeders hosts its annual general membership meeting and industry education seminar at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs Sunday, Oct. 17. The event begins at 5 p.m. and all are encouraged to RSVP by Friday, Oct. 14 at nytbreeders.org/events.

Veterinarian Dr. Scott Hancock will speak on the educational topic, “Stress Happens, Ulcers don’t have to.” Hancock is a professional service veterinarian for Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health with special interests in equine immunology, endocrinology, respiratory disease, equine gastric ulcer syndrome and lameness evaluation and therapies

The event, the day before the Fasig-Tipton New York breeding stock sale at Saratoga, will be followed by a complimentary cocktail hour and barbecue for those in attendance.

Fasig-Tipton’s fall sale in Saratoga returns Oct. 18 this year after not being held in 2020. The sale, which begins at 10 a.m., includes 90 broodmares and racing/broodmare prospects, and 200 weanlings.

Those wishing to attend the seminar and membership meeting must RSVP by Oct. 14 at nytbreeders.org/events[2]. For more information, send an email to info@nytbreeders.org[3] or call (518) 587-0777.

 

 

 

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NYTB-Logo-Lg2.jpg
  2. nytbreeders.org/events: http://www.nytbreeders.org/events
  3. info@nytbreeders.org: mailto:info@nytbreeders.org

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2021/09/23/nytb-to-host-saratoga-membership-meeting-seminar-oct-17/

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