Spirit of St Louis collects second Grade 1 in Old Forester Turf Classic on Derby Day

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Manny Franco celebrates victory aboard Spirit of St Louis in $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Saturday. Churchill Downs/Coady Media.

Spirit of St Louis vaulted to the top of the North American male turf division Saturday with a rousing victory in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.

Reunited with Manny Franco – who rode the Medaglia d’Oro gelding to six stakes wins in 2023 and 2024 – Spirit of St Louis added the Turf Classic to his victory two starts back in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park. He also bounced back from a close fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes in late March at Fair Grounds.

Sent off again as the favorite – this time 3-1 against nine others over the saturated turf course labeled good – Spirit of St Louis closed from the back of the field to win a six-way wild finish by three-quarters of a length over Mercante and Highway Robber. Franco angled Spirit of St Louis wide into the lane, avoiding any trouble down inside to give owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Richard Schermerhorn the win in the traditional Derby Day fixture.

“I was so happy in the last 200 yards because I thought I made the right move,” Franco said. “There were a lot of horses back in the same spot and I never had to stop and that was the key.”

Brown also praised Franco’s ride, which provided the trainer with his fifth victory in the Turf Classic following scores with Program Trading (2024), Domestic Spending (2021), Digital Age (2020) and Bricks and Mortar (2019).

“He was standing flat-footed and he didn’t break all that well,” Brown said. “But Manny did a good job of saving ground with him in the first turn and then got him running late. I was confident today with this horse because he does real well on soft turf. I’ve been following his numbers and he is getting better and better. But he has surprised me with how far he can run.”

Spirit of St Louis improved to 3-for-4 at 9 furlongs, winning in 1:48.20. A full brother to New York-bred Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold, Spirit of St Louis also improved to 11-for-16 with three seconds in the Turf Classic. He earned $530,110 to boost his bankroll to $1,809,250, good for 14th on the all-time list of New York-bred earners.

Bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Spirit of St Louis is also a half-brother to stakes-placed New York-breds Land Mine and Homeland. Khancord Kid, a Grade 3 winner, has produced five winners. She’s also the dam of a 2-year-old full brother to Spirit of St Louis named Kid’s Khanclusion.

The Bromans bought Khancord Kid’s dam, Confidently, for $1 million at the 2000 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. Out of Grade 1 winner Key Phrase, Confidently is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Yankee Gentleman with her dam a half-sister to the dam of champion Shared Belief.

Spirit of St Louis, a $300,000 purchase by BSW/Crow out of the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, made his first two starts for owner Peter Brant and Brown. He won his debut on the dirt in mid-February 2023 before a second in a 9-furlong allowance on the dirt, both at Aqueduct. Dubb purchased Spirit of St Louis for $280,000 shortly after that effort, at the Keeneland April horses of racing age sale. He’s won 10 of 13, including a run of five straight stakes from late 2023 to the summer of 2024.

The Turf Classic marked just the fourth graded try for Spirit of St Louis, who also finished a troubled fifth in last year’s Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland. He bounced back from that effort to win his second straight Mohawk Stakes on Empire Showcase Day in late October to close his 5-year-old campaign and set up a strong start to 2025.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SPIRIT-OF-ST-LOUIS-The-Old-Forester-Bourbon-Turf-Classic-05-03-25-R11-Churchill-Downs-Tight-Finish-02-Renee-Torbit.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/05/03/spirit-of-st-louis-collects-second-grade-1-in-old-forester-turf-classic-on-derby-day/

New York-breds set for Oaks-Derby weekend

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Early On, a daughter of Union Rags bred by John Lauriello, leads the New York-bred contingent this weekend at Churchill Downs and starts in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks. Churchill Downs/Coady Media.

A trio of runners will fly the flag for the New York Thoroughbred breeding program at Churchill Downs in Grade 1 events on this weekend’s Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby cards.

The group includes Early On in Friday’s headlining $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks, which lost a New York-bred Thursday morning following the scratch of potential contender Five G.

Early On, a 3-year-old daughter of Union Rags bred by John Lauriello, will start from post one in the 9-furlong Oaks for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and owners C2 Racing Stable, Ken Reimer and Paul Braverman, Timothy Pinch and Bradley Kent. She finished second by a nose behind Ballerina d’Oro last time out in the Grade 3 Gazelle April 5 at Aqueduct and is listed at 30-1 on the morning line for the Oaks.

“This is unbelievable. She’s going to be in the Kentucky Oaks,” Lauriello said last month. “I’m 77. I’ve been in and out of the horse business in a small way for 50 years. This is just a miracle. That filly has really done well. Sometimes you get lucky, not often.”

Lauriello lives in Alabama and keeps a small band of broodmares as a hobby. He purchased the winning Distorted Humor mare Sally O’Brien, carrying Early On in utero, for $75,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Sally O’Brien later sold in foal to Corniche for $55,000 to Fortune Farm at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Early On, who also finished second behind fellow Oaks entrant Fondly in the Virginia Oaks March 15 at Colonial Downs, was foaled at Hickory Hill Farm Thoroughbreds in Fort Edward and sold for $20,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

“I love the New York program,” Lauriello said. “The New York breeding program is second to none in my opinion. I’ve been involved in horse racing with some folks from Birmingham and upstate New York, but the breeding was as much or more fun. The people from Birmingham got old and stopped their horse racing business, still fans, but didn’t want to breed or race, so I started about 15 years ago buying broodmares.

“I grew up in Amsterdam. The Sanford family had a farm there. When the season started at Saratoga, we used to hitchhike, and when kids couldn’t get in, we’d stand on the hoods of cars and look over the bushes to see the track. From the time I was a kid in Amsterdam going to the Sanford farm, I got bit early. Long story short, I got the bug.”

The New York program lost its other Oaks entrant, Grade 1 Gulfstream Parks Oaks winner Five G, when trainer George Weaver scratched the daughter of Vekoma after she reportedly backed off her feed and didn’t train to his satisfaction. The Gatsas Stables’ homebred figured to be one of the potential threats to favorites Good Cheer, Quietside, La Cara and Ballerina d’Oro.

“This is the type of race where you’ve got to be 110 percent and we don’t feel like she is,” Weaver told Daily Racing Form’s David Grening Thursday morning.

The Kentucky Oaks goes as the 11th of 13 races Friday with post time set for 5:51 p.m. ET.

The other two Grade 1-bound New York-breds run on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day card.

• Gary Barber’s Mi Bago, the winner of three straight stakes to end 2024 and start this season, leads things off when he takes on a full field of 13 other 3-year-olds in the newly upgraded $1 million American Turf presented by Ford. Bred by Highclere Inc., the son of Vekoma drew post four in the full field for the 1 1/16-mile turf event that goes as the ninth race at 4:06 p.m.

Mi Bago won the Pulpit Stakes on the turf in late November, Dania Beach on synthetic on New Year’s Day and Colonel Liam back on the grass in early March, all at Gulfstream for trainer Mark Casse. Foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham and out of the Indian Charlie mare Wabanaki, Mi Bago is 10-1 on the morning line for jockey Jose Ortiz.

• Spirit of St Louis, winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf two starts back, could give the Empire State its best chance of the weekend in the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes. Campaigned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Richard Schermerhorn, the 6-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding is the 9-2 second choice in the field of 12 entered in the 9-furlong stakes.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown and out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Khancord Kid, Spirit of St Louis reunites with Manny Franco for the Turf Classic. Franco rode the gelding to six stakes victories in 2023 and 2024, including back-to-back editions of the Mohawk on Empire Showcase Day. Trained by Chad Brown, Spirit of St Louis drew post 10. The Turf Classic goes at 5:39 p.m., leading in as usual to the headlining Kentucky Derby at 6:57 p.m.

Notes: Buck Butler’s homebred My Mane Squeeze was entered in Saturday’s $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery but reportedly will scratch in favor of next Saturday’s Grade 2 Ruffian at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old daughter of Audible is trained by Mike Maker and co-owned by WinStar Farm.

 

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Early-On-Gallop-Churchill-Downs-04-27-25-001-Kurtis-Coady.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/05/01/new-york-breds-set-for-oaks-derby-weekend/

NYTB to honor Barry K. Schwartz with Lifetime Achievement Award

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Leading owner and breeder Barry K. Schwartz. Coglianese Photo.

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce Thoroughbred breeder and owner Barry K. Schwartz will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the New York-bred program.

Schwartz, who owns and operates Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs with his wife Sheryl, will be recognized at the NYTB’s Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund from 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, May 19 at Sacred Saratoga on the property of GMP Farm in Schuylerville.

“Barry has been an integral and influential person in the development of New York breeding and racing,” said NYTB President Dr. Scott Ahlschwede. “He has achieved success in every facet of our industry, and we are proud to honor and recognize his contributions to New York breeding and racing at our marquee event.”

Schwartz, the former CEO of Calvin Klein Inc., grew up a racing fan and purchased his first horse in 1978. He has consistently been one of the Empire State’s leading owners and breeders for nearly four decades since.

“What a great honor,” Schwartz said. “When I got the call, everything was out of the blue and kind of shocking. Yes, I was shocked. Shocked. I guess it tells you you’re getting up in years when they use that lifetime word.”

A member of The Jockey Club and former Chairman and CEO of the New York Racing Association, Schwartz bred and campaigned New York-bred Grade 1 winners Voodoo Song, The Lumber Guy and Princess Violet, along with New York-bred graded stakes winners Lovely Lil and Sharp Starr in his signature black and white colors. Other leading runners campaigned by Schwartz include Boom Towner, David, Degenerate Jon, Great Intentions, Jacaranda, Killer Diller, Lovely Lil, Nothing But Fun, Papa Shot, Papua, Rodman, Star Dabbler, Thepromonroe, Three Ring, Turnofthecentury and Whatlovelookslike.

Boom Towner won 29 of 82 starts with 30 other placings and earned $962,391. Claimed for $50,000 in September 1993 at Belmont Park, he won the Grade 3 Boojum Handicap three starts later at Aqueduct for trainer Mike Hushion. The popular gelding known for his tendency to lug in won three more stakes carrying Schwartz’s colors. Boom Towner continued to run competitively in the claiming ranks at 7, 8 and 9 before being claimed for $25,000 in late June 1997. Schwartz and Hushion claimed him back for $18,000 in December 1997 and retired the gelding in early 1998.

“He certainly wasn’t the best horse that I’ve had, but he was my favorite,” Schwartz said. “We claimed him for $50,000. He went up the ladder. He was a stake horse for a long, long time. He came back down the ladder, as he aged, and got claimed a few times. Eventually I retired him and he lived until he was 31.

“Every year when I’d go out to California, I’d see him and take a picture with him because I didn’t know if I was going to see him again. But he hung in there. He lived until he was at 31, which is a real ripe old age. He definitely recognized me. He’d know my car when I came up the road to the paddock he was in. He’d come over to the fence and look for some sort of a treat. He’d stick his head right into my chest, you know, and nuzzle me. We had a very personal relationship.”

Schwartz takes a hands-on approach to building and sustaining his broodmare band that runs between 15 and 20 mares every year. He’s assisted by his longtime farm manager Peter Moore and enjoys the challenges with breeding his own racing prospects.

“Most of the years, believe it or not, I did it all myself,” Schwartz said of his approach to mating mares. “I did a lot of reading. I go back in the days reading the Racing Form when (Leon) Rasmussen would write the ‘Bloodlines’ column. I read Tesio’s books. I read most everything I could get my hands on relating to breeding over the years.

“Now I do it all with my farm manager. He’ll go down to Kentucky to visit the stallions, look at them physically and make recommendations. He’s truly a horseman. We’ve become very close and have really worked very well together for a number of years now.”

Stonewall Farm was honored as Breeder of the Year by the NYTB in 2023 and 2012 and by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as New York Breeder of the Year in 2023. Schwartz also received the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Award as “the person who did the most for racing” in 2001 by the New York Turf Writers Association.

“We look forward to celebrating Barry’s lifetime achievements as an owner, breeder and racing executive at this year’s New York-bred Divisional Champions Awards dinner,” said NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson. “In addition to celebrating each of our divisional program nominees it will be a wonderful evening.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Barry-Schwartz.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/05/01/nytb-to-honor-barry-k-schwartz-with-lifetime-achievement-award/

Mo Plex adds another open company score in Bay Shore

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Mo Plex guts out another stakes victory in Saturday’s Bay Shore at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo//Susie Raisher.

R and H Stable’s Mo Plex returned to the winner’s circle – back against open company for the first time since last fall – in Saturday’s $145,500 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct.

The 3-year-old graded stakes-winning son of Complexity dueled for the lead early outside of Faster Gator early and shrugged off that foe in the stretch for his second open stakes victory. The win was Mo Plex’s first in four starts since taking the Funny Cide Stakes in late August at Saratoga Race Course.

“That was great,” winning trainer Jeremiah Englehart said. “The whole team did a great job. He looked great in the paddock. His groom, and Harlem [Johnson] and Dana [Saul, assistants] did really well with him. It was nice to get him back in winning fashion. The 3 horse [Faster Gator] ran a hell of a race and so did the West Point colt [No. 1, Pascaline]. They both look like horses with bright futures so hopefully he moves onward and upward from here.”

Faster Gator, who entered a 2-for-2 record at Laurel Park, made the lead from post 3 under Arnaldo Bocachica but it was 6-5 favorite Mo Plex and jockey Manny Franco who pressured from the outside and put a head in front through an opening quarter-mile in :23.09 over the fast main track.

Pascaline attempted an inside move approaching the turn with New York-bred maiden winner Share the Ludt and McKellen trying wide bids as Faster Gator battled back to gain a half-length advantage after a half in :45.55.

Mo Plex put his head back in front at the stretch call, but a stubborn Faster Gator continued to find more as the field straightened away. Mo Plex, game and determined, would not be denied the narrow win by head in a final time of 1:21.96. Pascaline completed the trifecta with Share the Ludt and McKellen rounded out the order of finish.

“He was [game]. You’ve got give credit to the horse from Anthony [Farrior, trainer of Faster Gator] – he was tough to go by, but at the same time, I feel my horse was running for me, so I was happy,” Franco said. “I was happy with where I was. [Faster Gator] broke on top, I let him take it and just sit right next to him and put the pressure. I knew that I got Javier [Castellano, aboard McKellen] outside, so he wanted to get close to me and I let my horse go a little bit. I had a lot of horse under me the whole way.

“He’s getting more mature, more intelligent. He liked to get out before, but now it seems like he’s straightening out a lot better this year.”

Bred by Avi and Rhoda Freedberg’s Everything’s Cricket Racing and foaled at Stonegate Stables in Fort Edward, Mo Plex is the first foal for the Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy. He was offered but listed as an RNA for $27,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Englehart and Legion Bloodstock purchased Mo Plex for R and H Stable for $45,000 out of last year’s OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale.

A finalist for New York-bred champion 2-year-old male honors, Mo Plex won his debut against state-breds by 10 lengths last June at Aqueduct before a victory in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes on opening weekend of the Saratoga Race Course meeting. Mo Plex ran his record to 3-for-3 with a victory in the $200,000 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on Saratoga Showcase Day. He finished the season with a third in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes on Empire Showcase Day, both at Aqueduct.

Mo Plex improved to 4-for-7 with Bay Shore victory and boosted his earnings to $445,000.

“Any time that you get a horse who looks very precocious as a 2-year-old, and goes on and wins his first three races, obviously he’s going to be running against tougher competition,” Englehart said. “He got beat a couple of times, but if you look at who beat him, they are no slouches. His last race was his first race off a layoff going a flat mile. You want them to back up what you think of them, and I’m glad to get another ‘W,’ and kind of re-affirm what we have thought all along about him.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/mo-plex-the-bay-shore-credit-susie-raisher2.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/19/mo-plex-adds-another-open-company-score-in-bay-shore/

Strong demand holds up at OBS April finale; Redesdale, Central Banker juveniles fare well

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Hip 925, a colt by Kantharos bred by Masters 2013 and Kantharos Syndicate, finished as one of nine juveniles that brought $200,000 or more at the OBS April sale. Photo courtesy of Doble J Equine Sales.

Interest in New York-breds continued through Friday’s closing session of the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale with three more six-figure juveniles sold to push the overall total to 21 for the week.

Friday’s trio was led by Hip 925[2], a colt by Kantharos out of the winning Scat Daddy mare Corner Three, that sold for $200,000 to Salusto & Kimmel, agent for Winning Move Stable. Consigned by Doble J Equine Sales, agent, the colt breezed an eight in :10 during presale workouts.

Bred by Masters 2013 and Kantharos Syndicate, the colt originally sold for $18,000 to Rua Racing & ARC at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. He’s the sixth foal out of three-time winner and $122,200-earner Corner Three, who is the dam of winner and $232,603-earner Timbuktu and winner and $127,920-earner Baseline Drive.

The colt was also part of a group of nine juveniles that sold for $200,000 or more – including a son of Vekoma that brought $750,000 during the third session[3] – at the sale. OBS reported sales on 60 of the 71 New York-breds through the ring over the four sessions for a total of $6,217,000, an average price of $103,617 and median of $67,500.

The final session’s other two six-figure juveniles were Hip 937[4], a daughter of Silver State named Two Pearl Penny bred by Windylea Farm New York LLC purchased by Cherry Valley Farm for $120,000; and Hip 1185[5], a daughter of Charlatan bred by Rockridge Stud LLC and Ascendant Farm purchased by Sport of Kings Racing Partnership for $105,000.

A pair of juveniles by New York-based sires came next on the final day’s sale’s sheet.

Hip 920[6], a son of Redesdale out of the Johannesburg mare Cool Johanna, sold to Chad Schumer, agent for $70,000. Consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, agent, the colt is a half-brother to three winners including the stakes-placed duo of Zolo and D’fever. He was bred by Lannister Holdings LLC.

Redesdale, a 12-year-old son of Speightstown out of the Grade 3-winning Danzig mare Harpia, stands for $2,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs.

McMahon of Saratoga’s Central Banker also sired a $70,000 juvenile in Hip 1072[7], a filly out of the stakes-placed New York-bred Flashback mare Forever Changed purchased by Elizabeth Morey. Bred and consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, the filly is the first foal out of the half-sister to multiple stakes winner and $470,748-earner Classic Lady.

Central Banker, a 15-year-old son of Speightstown out of the stakes-winning Go For Gin mare Rhum, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga. He topped the New York general sire list from 2021 through 2024 and sits atop the same list with progeny earnings of nearly $1.5 million through Friday.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/925p.jpg
  2. Hip 925: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/925?refUrl=results&session=4
  3. son of Vekoma that brought $750,000 during the third session: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/18/honest-mischief-colt-central-banker-filly-among-top-sellers-thursday-at-obs-april-sale/
  4. Hip 937: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/937?refUrl=results&session=4
  5. Hip 1185: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/1185?refUrl=results&session=4
  6. Hip 920: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/920?refUrl=results&session=4
  7. Hip 1072: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/1072?refUrl=results&session=4

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/19/strong-demand-holds-up-at-obs-april-finale-redesdale-central-banker-juveniles-fare-well/

New York breeder Susan Beadnell passes at 79

[1]

Susan and Andy Beadnell reached the peak as breeders thanks to the Grade 1 success of Heaveyougoneaway. Skip Dickstein Photo.

Susan Beadnell, who with her husband Andy bred Grade 1 winner Haveyougoneaway, passed away April 16 at the age of 79 at home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born in Glens Falls, Beadnell grew up at her parents’ Ed and Orabel Castens’ Ridin Hy Ranch Resort in Warrensburg. She and her husband later owned and operated Ridin Hy, transforming the dude ranch from a seasonal to year-round vacation destination. Susan became a staple at the Ridin Hy front desk for more than 40 years.

The Beadnells “retired” in 2010 and moved to their home on the Schroon River in Pottersville. They began their foray into the Thoroughbred industry in the 2000s, raising horses on their Bead Land & Cattle Company in Pottersville.

Haveyougoneaway, a daughter of Contrats out of the Beadnell-bred Wiseman’s Ferry mare One Wise Cowgirl, was born and raised at Bead Land & Cattle Company. She was originally sold by the Beadnells for $50,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale, and sold the following year for $105,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Haveyougoneaway raced with success in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and New Mexico before returning to her native state in the spring and summer of 2016. After a runner-up finish in the Critical Eye Stakes at Belmont Park, Haveyougoneaway rattled off three straight victories in the Dancing Renee at Belmont and Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap and Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Tom Morley and owners Gary Barber and Sequel Racing. She finished seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park, retiring with a record of 11-4-6 and earnings of $907,425 in 27 starts and sold shortly after for $1.1 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Haveyougoneaway was voted champion New York-bred female sprinter and older dirt female in 2016.

The Beadnells also bred the topper at the 2016 Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Mo Diddley, a son of Uncle Mo out of the Vindication mare Miss Bodine, sold for $450,000 at Cheyenne Stables. He went on to win eight of 24 starts with $288,287 in earnings.

They also bred Collegeville Girl, a daughter of Central Banker who won the 2016 Iroquois Stakes on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park; 2016 champion New York-bred steeplechaser Willow U; and Nutmet, a winning New York-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who sold for $190,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings.

The Beadnells, who enjoy a longtime association with McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, were featured in New York Breeder in 2016[2]. Susan described the couple’s involvement in the Thoroughbred industry as commercial breeders.

“We are not races; we are breeders,” she said. “I’m the one who pays the bills, and I tell Andy, ‘We can’t afford to be a racer.’ As breeders, we enjoy seeing a horse we bred be so successful, like Haveyougoneaway. It’s been surprising the attention we’ve got from being her breeders. Yesterday, in the mail, I got a really nice pewter cup engraved as being ‘The Breeder of the Month’ from WinStar Farm, who stands her sire Congrats. It was just so nice to receive that.”

Susan was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband Andy and their sons, Tod and his wife Heidi of Lake George, Tim and his wife Patience of Warrensburg, Troy and his wife Carrie of Warrensburg and semi-adopted son David Letzelter and his wife LaRae; seven grandchildren, Kyle (Jessie) Letzelter, Zoie and Orabel Beadnell, Mattelyn and Gavin Beadnell and Andrew and Nathan Beadnell; her brother Gary Carstens of Saratoga and his daughters Brandy and Samantha.

The family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children at www.shrinerschildrens.org[3]. Family and friends are invited to call Friday, April 25, from 3-6 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street in Warrensburg.

Full obituary[4].

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Beadnell-4.jpeg
  2. featured in New York Breeder in 2016: https://www.nytbreeders.org/pdf/10-2016Oct.pdf
  3. www.shrinerschildrens.org: http://www.shrinerschildrens.org/
  4. Full obituary: https://alexanderfh.net/tribute/details/4250/Susan-Beadnell/obituary.html

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/18/new-york-breeder-susan-beadnell-passes-at-79/

Honest Mischief colt, Central Banker filly among top sellers Thursday at OBS April sale

[1]

Hip 787, a colt by Vekoma bred by Annemarie Toomey, sold for $750,000 Thursday at OBS April. OBS/VidHorse Photo.

Five New York-breds – including one by 2024’s leading New York freshman sire Honest Mischief and another by four-time leading New York sire Central Banker – sold for $200,000 or more to highlight the third day of the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale Thursday in Ocala, Florida.

Maverick Racing and CHC Inc., the buying team behind the New York-bred Grade 1-placed classics contender River Thames, landed the session’s top-priced juvenile when they went to $750,000 for a colt by Vekoma. Hip 787[2], who is out of the winning Big Drama mare Big Thrill, also finished the day as the sale’s top-priced New York-bred through three of the four sessions.

Consigned by Ocala Stud, agent, bred by Annemarie Toomey and foaled at Fort Christopher’s Thoroughbreds in Fort Edward, the colt originally sold for $145,000 out of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. He’s the fifth foal out of Big Thrill, whose first three foals are multiple winners and six-figure earners. The colt breezed a quarter-mile in :20.3 during presale workouts.

Joe Migliore, agent for Steven Rocco and Adelphi Racing, went to $290,000 for Hip 657[3], a colt by Honest Mischief out of the unraced Woodman mare Woodflower.

[4]

Hip 657, a colt by leading New York freshman sire Honest Mischief, landed a bid of $290,000 Thursday at OBS. Photo courtesy of Sequel Bloodstock.

Bred by and foaled Sequel Stallions New York LLC in Hudson and consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, the colt is the 13th out of Woodflower and a half sibling to 10 winners led by stakes winner Magna Rose and the stakes-placed duo of Where’s Dominic and Arigatou Gozaimasu. Woodflower is also the dam of a yearling New York-bred colt by Freud.

Honest Mischief, a 9-year-old son of Into Mischief out of the Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Honest Lady, stands for $7,500 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. Currently fifth on New York’s general sire list, Honest Mischief topped the Empire State’s freshman sire list in 2024 with 13 winners and progeny earnings of more than $1.64 million.

Sallusto & Kimmel, agent for Winning Move Stable, went to $200,000 to buy Hip 837[5], a daughter of Central Banker out of the winning Spring At Last mare Calidez.

[6]

Hip 837, a filly by four-time leading New York sire Central Banker, sold for $200,000 Thursday at OBS. Photo courtesy of Best A Luck Farm.

Bred by BHMFR, LLC and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, the filly is the fourth foal out of Calidez. She’s the dam of two winners – For Love and Honor, a two-time winner and earner of $164,475; and Mascara. The filly originally sold for $82,000 to top the New York-bred offerings at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale[7]. She was consigned at OBS by Best A Luck Farm LLC, agent.

Central Banker, a 15-year-old son of Speightstown out of the stakes-winning Go For Gin mare Rhum, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. He topped the New York general sire list from 2021 through 2024 and leads this year’s list with progeny earnings of nearly $1.5 million.

OBS reported sales on 20 of the 26 New York-breds through the ring Thursday for a total of $2,853,000, an average price of $142,650 and median of $92,500. Overall, 47 New York-breds have sold for $5,375,000, an average price of $114,362 and median of $75,000.

The sale concludes with the final session at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HIP-787-1.jpg
  2. 787: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/787?refUrl=results&session=3
  3. 657: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/657?refUrl=results&session=3
  4. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/657p.jpg
  5. 837: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/837?refUrl=results&session=3
  6. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/837p.jpg
  7. $82,000 to top the New York-bred offerings at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/10/02/central-banker-filly-highlights-midlantic-yearling-sale/

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/18/honest-mischief-colt-central-banker-filly-among-top-sellers-thursday-at-obs-april-sale/

NY-bred average hits six figures, Solomini filly fares well at OBS April second session

[1]

Hip 433, a colt by Maclean’s Music bred by Milfer Farm, sold for $250,000 Wednesday at OBS April. Photo courtesy of Advanced Thoroughbreds.

New York-breds continued to sell well during the second session of the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale, including five that brought $100,000 or more and a filly by New York-based sire Solomini that sold for $70,000.

OBS reported sales on 11 of the 13 New York-breds offered Wednesday for a total of $1,117,000, an average price of $101,545 and median of $70,000. Overall, 27 of the 32 New York-breds through the ring have sold for $2,522,000, an average price of $93,407 and median of $60,000.

Hip 433[2], a colt by Maclean’s Music out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Soarwiththebirds, led the way Wednesday on a bid of $250,000 from Salusto &Kimmel, agent for Winning Move Stable. Consigned by Advanced Thoroughbreds LLC, the colt breezed an eighth in :10 during presale workouts.

Bred by and foaled at Milfer Farm Inc. in Unadilla, the colt sold for $15,000 at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale. He’s the sixth foal out of Soarwiththebirds, who is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and classic winner Upwiththebirds and the dam of four winners.

Milfer Farm purchased Soarwiththebirds carrying the Maclean’s Music colt in utero for $55,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Team Penney and Icon Racing purchased the session’s top-priced New York-bred filly, going to $200,000 to land Hip 531[3], a daughter of Kantharos out of the Quality Road mare That’s My Cue. Consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales LLC, agent, the filly breezed in :9.4 during presale workouts.

Bred by Trail Creek Stables LLC and foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, the filly originally sold to Grassroots Training & Sales for $85,000 at the 2024 OBS October yearling sale. She’s the first foal out of That’s My Cue, who is also the dam of a New York-bred yearling colt by Girvin also bred in New York by Trail Creek Stables.

[4]

Hip 573, a filly by New York-based sire Solomini bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, sold for $70,000 Wednesday at OBS. Photo courtesy of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

Hip 573[5], a daughter of Solomini out of the unraced Elusive Quality mare Truly Charming, sold for $70,000 to Joe Migliore, agent for Adelphi Racing Club and Fun Belly.

Bred and consigned by and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC in Saratoga Springs, the filly breezed an eighth in :10 during presale workouts. She’s the eighth foal out of Truly Charming, who is the dam of five winners including $338,227-earner Saturday Appeal and $225,401-earner True Charm.

Solomini, a 10-year-old Grade 1-placed son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Song, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. Solomini topped the New York freshman sire list in 2023 and finished third on the state’s general sire list in 2024.

The sale continues with the third of four sessions at 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/433p.jpg
  2. Hip 433: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/433?refUrl=results&session=2
  3. Hip 531: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/531?refUrl=results&session=2
  4. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/573p.jpg
  5. Hip 573: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/573?refUrl=results&session=2

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/17/ny-bred-average-hits-six-figures-solomini-filly-fares-well-at-obs-april-second-session/

Fillies lead the way at OBS April sale opener

[1]

Hip 234, a daughter of classic winner and Horse of the Year Authentic, brought $500,000 to highlight the OBS April sale opening session Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Grassroots Training and Sales.

A filly from the second crop of Authentic sold for $500,000 and another by the late former New York-based sire Combatant brought $135,000 to highlight the New York-bred offerings during the opening session of the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale Tuesday in Ocala.

Bill Childs and Mark Stanton secured the session’s top-selling New York-bred – Hip 234[2], a daughter of Authentic out of the stakes-placed Bretheren mare Onebrethatatime.

Bred by Pine Ridge Stable LLC and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, the filly is no stranger to being a session topper. She sold for $72,000 to highlight the second session of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale[3].

Grassroots Training and Sales – the buyer in Kentucky – consigned the filly who breezed an eighth in :9.4 during presale workouts. She’s the fourth foal out of Onebrethatatime, a three-time winner who earned $133,283 and is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Wonderlandbynight and Gilded Miracle, the dam of Grade 1 winner Exaulted.

The Authentic filly finished the day as one of three six-figure New York-breds. OBS reported sales on 16 of the 19 New York-breds through the ring for $1,405,000, an average price of $87,813 and median of $55,000.

[4]

Hip 179, a filly by the late former New York-based sire Combatant, sold for $135,000 out of the McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds consignment Tuesday in Ocala. Photo courtesy of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

Sallusto and Kimmel, agent for Winning Move Stable, landed the second highest priced New York-bred of the day, going to $135,000 for the daughter of Combatant out of the Central Banker mare Moneybackguarantee.

Consigned and bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC, Hip 179[5] was also foaled at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs. She’s the second foal out of Moneybackguarantee, who produced fillies by McMahon’s resident stallion Solomini in 2022 and 2024.

Grade 1 winner Combatant, a popular stallion in the Empire State in his first season at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, died suddenly from Colic while standing the Southern Hemisphere season in August 2022 at Haras Porta Pia in Chile[6]. Combatant stood his first season for $7,500 LFSN and bred 85 mares in his initial book.

Grassroots Training and Sales also sold the opening session’s top-priced colt, Hip 155[7], a son of Rock Your World out of the winning Dynaformer mare Miss Blarney Stone.

Bred by and foaled at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, the colt was purchased by Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable. He originally sold to Grassroots Training and Sales for $50,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Miss Blarney Stone is the dam of six winners, including stakes-placed Irish Sweepstakes and Begginer.

Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable also landed the session’s top-priced juvenile by an active New York-based stallion. Hip 13[8], a colt by King for a Day out of the Into Mischief mare Kiska, sold for $50,000.

Bred by Torie Gladwell and foaled at Stonegate Stables in Fort Edward, the colt was consigned by Top Line Sales, agent. Gladwell also bred both New York-bred winners out of Kiska – the Sharp Azteca filly Perfectly Mperfect and the 3-year-old Solomini filly Bam’s Bliss Kiss, who finished sixth in last weekend’s Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes for Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable.

King for a Day, a 9-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the French Deputy mare Ubetwereven, stands for $5,000 at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC in Stillwater.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/234p.jpg
  2. Hip 234: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/234?refUrl=results
  3. sold for $72,000 to highlight the second session of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/10/23/authentic-filly-highlights-day-2-at-fasig-tipton-kentucky/
  4. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/179p.jpg
  5. Hip 179: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/179?refUrl=results
  6. died suddenly from Colic while standing the Southern Hemisphere season in August 2022 at Haras Porta Pia in Chile: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2022/08/22/rockridge-stallion-combatant-dies-in-chile/
  7. Hip 155: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/155?refUrl=results
  8. Hip 13: https://obssales.com/catalog/#/144/hip/13?refUrl=results

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/16/fillies-lead-the-way-at-obs-april-sale-opener/

Name Changer filly Storm Changer upsets NYSS Park Avenue

[1]

Storm Changer and Jose Gomez emerge between rivals to win the Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Sunday at Aqueduct

Peter Kazamias’ homebred Storm Changer, one of 13 foals from the first crop of Name Changer, came between rivals in the lane to upset Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct.

Jose Gomez rode the filly, making her first start for trainer Carlos Martin after previously running for the suspended Dimitrios Synnefias. Dismissed at 12-1 in the field of eight reduced by the scratches of Fedupwiththefed and Lazy Y Legacy, Storm Changer improved to 2-for-5 with the victory.

Storm Changer finished second two starts back in the 7-furlong East View Stakes February 8 at Aqueduct and a distant fifth last time in the 1-mile Maddie May Stakes March 7 at Aqueduct. Martin admitted he didn’t do much to get the filly ready for the 6 ½-furlong Park Avenue.

“Jose, we’ve had some luck together with Patricia Ann and some other horses. He always tries hard for us,” Martin said. “He had worked her the other day, she went an easy half in :49 (April 5 on the Belmont Park training track). She came in great shape from Dimitrios, we didn’t want to re-invent the wheel too much. I thought cutting her back would be pretty good for her.”

Howling Wind hustled to the lead ahead of 9-5 favorite Bam’s Bliss Kiss early and led that foe through the opening quarter in :22.40 over the muddy and sealed surface. Bam’s Bliss Kiss inched up within a half-length of the leader midway around the turn, just ahead of Forever to Go and Decree and Declare through the half in :46.37.

Gomez kept Storm Changer in the clear on the outside in fifth around the bend.

“I wasn’t worried,” Gomez said. “That was the game plan; just save some ground and everything has seemed to be running well in the middle of the racetrack.”

Dylan Davis took another route aboard Disco Star, coming up the inside approaching the stretch and took the lead turning for home. Gomez countered that move on the outside while Eric Cancel did similar Princess Mischief even wider out from the rail.

Storm Changer emerged from the three-way battle for the lead inside the sixteenth pole to win by a half-length over Princess Mischief, who nosed out Disco Star for the runner-up spot. Decree and Declare, Howling Wind, Bam’s Bliss Kiss, Royal Event and Forever to Go completed the field. Storm Changer won in 1:18.39.

“She ran great first time out [to win on debut in November],” Gomez said. “Last time I rode her [two starts back in the East View], it might have been a bit long for her, but Bernieandtherose is a pretty decent horse. After that they gave her to Mr. Martin and from then she’s been a different type of horse. She’s a lot more calm.”

Storm Changer picked up $110,000 to boost her bankroll to $183,750.

Grade 3 winner Name Changer, a 12-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the Northern Afleet mare Cash’s Girl, stands for $2,500 at Kaz Hill Farm in Middletown. The sire of 29 foals of racing age, including a group of 16 current 2-year-olds, Name Changer finished third on the New York freshman sire list in 2024 thanks to two winners from five starters.

Storm Changer is the sixth foal out of the unraced Stormy Atlantic mare Stormin Sistas, who was purchased in foal to classic winner Palace Malice for $27,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Stormin Sistas is the dam of seven-time winner Atlantic Princess, three-time winning New York-bred Kaz Palace and the 4-year-old New York-bred Bank Heist filly Stormin Heist. Kaz Hill Farm also bred Storm Changer’s full brother, the 2-year-old Name Changer colt Hurricane Kaz, out of Stormin Sistas.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/storm-changer-the-nyss.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/04/13/name-changer-filly-storm-changer-upsets-nyss-park-avenue/

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