New York-bred contingent set for RRP Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky

By Tom Law

A group of New York-breds that includes a Grade 2 winner, a stakes winner, a 19-time winner and 14 earners of more than $100,000 during their racing careers are among the entrants in the 2025 Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover.

Hundreds of horses in 10 disciplines will compete for more than $100,000 during the Makeover and National Symposium presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Accepted trainers (professionals, amateurs, juniors and teams) who applied to compete between January 6-24 with Jockey Club-registered Thoroughbreds who posted a workout or race after July 2, 2023, and did not have more than 15 retraining rides prior to December 1, 2024 are eligible to compete in this year’s Makeover. The 10 disciplines are Barrel Racing, Competitive Trail, Dressage, Eventing, Field Hunter, Polo, Ranch Work, Show Hunter, Show Jumper and Freestyle.

Here are a few facts to know about this year’s New York-bred competitors:

• New York featured the second largest contingent at this year’s Makeover with 55 original entrants. Thirty-three New York-breds are still entered to complete in the competition as of Tuesday afternoon.

• The New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. again are joined by the New York Racing Association and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association in sponsoring the $2,500 Empire State Success Story prize for the competition’s leading New York-bred.

• Stakes winner Mr. Pete, a 9-year-old gelding by Shanghai Bobby bred by Nirvana Stables, is the leading earner among the New York-bred contingent. He won 14 of 72 starts from 2017 to 2024, along with 15 seconds and 17 thirds for earnings of $397,164. Foaled at Song Hill Thoroughbreds in Schuylerville, Mr. Pete won the 2017 Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes. Mr. Pete will compete in the Dressage and Show Jumper disciplines for Jamison Glass.

• Mr. Pete is one of three earners of $300,000 or more, along with Grade 2 winner Brooklyn Strong ($341,508) and Let’s Go Big Blue ($303,850).

• Brooklyn Strong would join a unique group double as a competitor in the Makeover who also ran in the Kentucky Derby, joining recent Makeover participant and champion sprinter Whitmore and others. Bred by Cheryl Prudhomme and her husband, Dr. Michael Gallivan and foaled at their Shamrock Hill Farm in Fort Edward, Brooklyn Strong won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in 2020 and finished 14th in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. He also earned champion New York-bred 2-year-old male honors in 2020 for owner Mark Schwartz. Brooklyn Strong will compete in the Show Hunter discipline for Megan Dixon.

• Let’s Go Big Blue, also competing in Show Hunter for Robin Hannah, went 3-2-5 in 16 starts. Bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding, foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham and campaigned by Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm, the 5-year-old son of Cairo Prince placed in three stakes including a runner-up finish in the 2023 Rick Violette at Saratoga Race Course.

• Another New York-bred competing, Great Blake, won nine races during his career and earned $150,201. He’ll contest Evening and Show Jumper for Bryn Schoenthal.

• Two McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds-based sires – Central Banker and Redesdale – are represented with a pair of entrants in this year’s Makeover. Central Banker’s Seatiger will compete in Dressage for Betsy Kupic and Central Station will compete in Eventing and Dressage for Black and White Evening. Redesdale’s Snarky will compete in Dressage for Megan Pattern and Way Too Fast will contest Show Jumper and Field Hunter for Jazz Napravnik.

• Other New York-based sires with competitors are Frost Giant (Goodbye New York, Ranchwork and Freestyle for Kimberly Dunsmore), Honest Mischief (Silver Tempest, Ranch Work for Bridget Hollern), Laoban (Proper Grammar, Show Jumper for Jennifer Osterman) and Normandy Invasion (Quad Party, Show Hunter and Dressage for Quad Crusaders).

• Dosage and Mimosa’s leads the New York-bred group by wins. Bred and raced by Dr. Zachary Passaretti and foaled at Rojan Farm in Schuylerville, the 12-year-old daughter of New York-based sire Bustin Stones won 19 of 88 starts, along with 18 seconds and 14 thirds, and earned $243,677 racing almost exclusively at Finger Lakes from 2015 to 2024. She’ll compete in Dressage for Sally Scheindel.

• Corner Three, the dam of seven foals including a colt by Kantharos that sold for $200,000 this year at OBS April and a yearling New York-bred colt by Blame, will compete in the Former Broodmare Division in Dressage and Freestyle for Wendy Lind. She’s the dam of winners Timbuktu and Baseline Drive.

Find out more about the Thoroughbred Makeover and the horses entered at www.tbmakeover.org[5].

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/10/07/new-york-bred-contingent-set-for-rrp-thoroughbred-makeover-in-kentucky/

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Rhetorical punches Breeders’ Cup ticket in Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland

Rhetorical continued his development and locked down a spot in next month’s Breeders’ Cup with a victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland Race Course.

Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable’s 4-year-old Not This Time gelding won the $1,038,750 Turf Mile by three-quarters of a length over Program Trading. Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the winner for trainer Will Walden, who saddled his first Grade 1 winner just shy of a year removed from winning his first graded stakes at Keeneland in the Grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes.

Rhetorical punched a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Mile November 1 at Del Mar with Saturday’s victory through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. He also improved to 5-for-6 and joined Frizette Stakes winner Iron Orchard as new Grade 1 winners from the New York-bred ranks.

“I’m just happy for the team,” Walden said. “This is why we do it, get up and do it seven days a week, for moments like this. Super happy for the horse and the ownership: Adam Wachtel, Gary Barber, Everett Dobson. There were some doubts about whether the horse could jump up. We didn’t know. But he’d been training awfully good and giving us all the signs that we wanted to see going forward.

“Irad came into the office this morning and we talked about the race. He rode it to perfection. He’s such a clutch rider and makes the right decisions in those split-second decisions. Just happy for everybody involved.”

Rhetorical’s victory also marked the second time in the last five years that three New York-breds won a Grade 1 stakes in the same year. The trio of Rhetorical, Iron Orchard and Spirit of St Louis join the 2020 trio of Varda, Simply Ravishing and Tiz the Law.

Bred by Mallory and Karen Mort and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent, Rhetorical is one of three winners out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor. She’s also the dam of the multiple graded stakes-placed mare Sterling Silver, a five-time stakes winner, nine-time winner and $1,143,051-earner.

Sent off as the 9-1 third choice behind European shipper and 7-5 favorite Diego Velazquez and 4-1 second pick Program Trading, Rhetorical set up shop early in fourth behind Quatrocento, Howard Wolowitz and Epic Ride. Quatrocento led through opening splits of :22.40 and :46.07 over the firm turf.

Ortiz angled Rhetorical off the inside heading to the far turn and kept the gelding wide around the far turn. They inched up to third with Quatrocento still in front past 6 furlongs in 1:10.08.

Rhetorical cut into Quatrocento’s advantage in the lane before taking over just inside the eighth pole. He opened up from there and held off the late run of Program Trading, who edged Brilliant Berti by a neck. Rhetorical won in 1:33.61.

“There was speed in the race so we were looking to have a pocket trip and it ended up being beautiful, perfect,” Ortiz said. “Going into the first turn, we already pulled that off. He switched off, and after that I was a good passenger, I guess, because I tipped him out at the quarter pole and he responded. He was ready to run. Will did a great job, so I’m happy for him to get his first Grade 1.”

Unraced at 2, Rhetorical won his debut in late July 2024 at Saratoga before finishing a close third in a state-bred allowance there a month later. After nine months off, Rhetorical returned to the races with a dominating win over New York-breds in an allowance race in mid-May at Aqueduct.

Wachtel, Dobson’s Cheyenne Stable and Barber privately purchased the gelding after that win. He’s rewarded that move with three straight victories – an open allowance-optional and the West Point Stakes at Saratoga, and the Coolmore Turf Mile.

Rhetorical picked up $573,500 for the victory, boosting his bankroll to $824,700.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/10/04/rhetorical-punches-breeders-cup-ticket-in-coolmore-turf-mile/

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Iron Orchard stays unbeaten in Grade 1 Frizette

Iron Orchard joined the ranks of New York-bred Grade 1 winners and put her name in the mix for the Breeders’ Cup if her connections venture that way with a gritty victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct.

Owned by Edward Childs’ CSLR Racing Partners and R A Hill Stable, Iron Orchard won the 1-mile Frizette by a nose over 34-1 longshot Rileytole. Joel Rosario rode the 2-1 second choice in the field of 10 2-year-old fillies for trainer Danny Gargan.

Iron Orchard, a daughter of Authentic who cost $500,000 at this year’s OBS April sale, could be a major player in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies October 31 at Del Mar. Gargan didn’t fully commit to the trip just yet.

“Right now, we’ll just be happy and enjoy this,” Gargan said. “She’s done a lot this year. I told the guys before, we’ll see how it goes. There’s next year – she’s a young filly. With the way she ran today, maybe in the future she might be able to go two turns, but I’m just happy with how it went today. I feel blessed. It’s the first horse I’ve trained for the Childs’, so to win a Grade 1 with the first horse that you train for them [is special].

“We’ll have to talk to the owners. I think today, she showed that dimension, but you never know. We’ll see how she comes out of it and go from there. We’ll figure it out.”

The second choice behind 2-1 favorite Carmel Coast, Iron Orchard came into the Frizette off back-to-back victories at Saratoga in the New York-bred ranks. She won the Seeking the Ante Stakes August 22 in her most recent effort.

Gargan said he changed the filly’s training after that victory, “training her a little harder, a little further.”

Iron Orchard raced in fourth early, a few lengths back, and Gargan admitted to some second guessing.

“I’m not going to lie, I thought the first 200 yards into the race, ‘man, I’ve done a bad job training this filly,’ because she relaxed more than I wanted her to,” Gargan said. “I was a little nervous, but you’ve just got to look back and say ‘God, what a good ride.’ He [Rosario] didn’t engage all those horses, he sat. She’s difficult and was grabbing at the bridle with her head kind of cocked, but that’s her in the mornings also. I feel blessed that she pulled that off. You just have to look back and say thank you to everybody – the owners, all my help.”

Iron Orchard didn’t look like much of a threat through a half-mile in :44.84, racing 2 ½ lengths behind Carmel Coast heading into the far turn.

Rosario kept Iron Orchard a few paths off the rail around the far turn and they steadily advanced on the outside. Carmel Coast clung to a narrow lead through 6 furlongs in 1:09.25 with Steer Clear making her run toward the front turning for home. Four fillies stacked up across the track at the eighth pole – Rileytole, Carmel Coast, Steer Clear and Iron Orchard – and Iron Orchard’s momentum carried her to the lead outside the sixteenth pole.

Rileytole hung tough on the rail but Iron Orchard dug in late to win in 1:35.97. Five Bars rallied from last to finished 4 1/4 lengths back in third.

“She’s so fast, and she broke and could have been there,” Gargan said. “I told Joel, ‘Kendrick [Carmouche] is on a fast horse [Carmel Coast], if he thinks the track is fast, he’ll be in play.’ I thought we’d sit second right off of him, and next thing you know, we’re laying fourth. I was like, ‘oh boy, this is a little further back than we thought,’ but it all worked out.

“Her being able to relax with her natural speed gives her another dimension, so she ran bigger than I thought. At the end, she dug in and won the race. She’s a talented filly, we’ve always known that. Today she showed another dimension and it was really special. It was fun to watch.”

Iron Orchard picked up $220,000 and boosted her bankroll to $352,000 in the Frizette.

Bred by Pine Ridge Stable LLC and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Iron Orchard brought the highest price for a New York-bred filly and second most expensive price for a New York-bred at the OBS April sale. She originally went through the ring at the 2023 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, bringing $140,000 as a weanling from Castleton Way. A $97,000 RNA at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale, Iron Orchard later sold for $78,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.

She’s the fourth foal out of the Brethren mare 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.

Onebrethatatime’s third foal, the New York-bred Not This Time 3-year-old filly Backcheck, is 1-for-6 with $45,686 in earnings.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/10/04/iron-orchard-stays-unbeaten-in-grade-1-frizette/

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Arctic Beast powers to Aspirant Stakes victory

Arctic Beast, the fifth most expensive yearling at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale, ran his record to 2-for-2 in Monday’s $104,338 Aspirant Stakes for state-bred colts and geldings at Finger Lakes.

Ricardo Santana Jr. rode the 1-5 favorite to a 7 1/4-length victory over 22-1 longshot Diamond Child, with 5-2 second choice Party in the Army third and 25-1 longshot Hey Pal fourth in the field of nine. A son of Yaupon owned by Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables and Jennifer Rice, Arctic Beast came into the Aspirant off a narrow maiden victory August 15 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Mike Maker shipped Arctic Beast to his barn at Churchill Downs following that maiden win and breezed the colt three times in preparation for the 5 ½-furlong Aspirant, one of four stakes on the card Monday at Finger Lakes.

Arctic Beast broke well from the extreme outside but conceded the early lead to Diamond Child just to his inside. Hey Pal chased those two leaders with the trio of Party in the Army, Chioke and The Last Delivery stacked up just behind.

Diamond Child led through the opening quarter-mile in :22.31, just a head in front of an in hand Arctic Beast. The order up front didn’t change into the far turn and to the half in :45.51.

Santana kept Arctic Beast in the clear, turned for home about four wide and took command at the eighth pole. They drew off from there, extending to the finish to win in 1:04.13 over the sloppy and sealed track.

Arctic Beast picked up $62,603 for the Aspirant victory to boost his bankroll to $112,103.

Bred by Rockridge Stgud LLC, Saratoga Glen Farm and Beal’s Racing Stable LLC and foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, Arctic Beast is the second foal out of multiple New York-bred stakes winner and $584,443-earner Frostie Anne.

Originally purchased as a weanling by Good Luck Farm for $120,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale, Arctic Beast returned to that same sales ring the following August and brought $275,000 from Maker at the Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Frostie Anne, a finalist in 2018 and 2019 for champion New York-bred older dirt female honors, is also the dam of the unraced Malibu Moon colt Malibu Frost who sold for $65,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/09/22/arctic-beast-powers-to-aspirant-stakes-victory/

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Butler homebred Oh hangs on in Lady Finger

Oh won the battle and almost lost the war, but had enough left in the tank to capture the $116,000 Lady Finger Stakes for 2-year-old New York-bred fillies Monday at Finger Lakes.

After engaging in a fierce pace battle with Margarita Molly in the 5 1/2-furlong stakes, the William “Buck” Butler homebred had to hold off the fast-closing first-time starter Liberty’s Advance.

The Lady Finger was almost an instant replay of Oh’s first career start at Saratoga Race Course August 28, when she took the lead turning for home and held on to win by a half-length.

Reylu Gutierrez was intent on making the lead aboard Margarita Molly, but was never able to get any separation from Oh as the pair dueled through a quarter mile in :22.32. Ricardo Santana Jr. and Oh got a head in front around the turn and appeared to be traveling better than the hard-ridden Margarita Molly.

Once odds-on favorite Oh vanquished her opponent, she appeared to be headed for an easy victory, but the combination of an honest pace (:46.21 for a half-mile) and her ducking in then drifting out in the stretch welcomed Liberty’s Advance into the fray. Oh dug in when it counted, however, and won by a half-length in a final time of 1:06.06 over the sloppy and sealed track. Mobelladream was third with Margarita Molly fourth.

Oh is by graded stakes-placed Honest Mischief, 2024’s leading freshman sire outside of Kentucky, who stands for $7,500 at Sequel New York in Hudson. Foaled at Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains, Oh is the only winning foal to date out of the unraced Scat Daddy mare Hot Spark, who sold for $15,000 in foal to Honest Mischief at the Fasig-Tipton August Digital Selected Sale in 2024.

Trainer Mike Maker won his eighth stakes race in 15 starts at Finger Lakes over the last five years, then added another when Arctic Beast took the subsequent Aspirant for 2-year-old New York-bred colts and geldings. – Paul Halloran

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/09/22/butler-homebred-oh-hangs-on-in-lady-finger/

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Zi End dominates Niagara for first stakes win

You might say Zi End is a generational talent, and Debra Breed would certainly agree.

By Weekend Hideaway out of the Zivo mare Zismokin Gal, Zi End ran her four opponents off their hooves in Monday’s Niagara Stakes for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies at Finger Lakes, rolling to a 9 3/4-length win.

Breed, who co-owns the homebred with Kariann Breed, also bred and trained the dam and the second dam of Zi End, who improved to 6-for-8 lifetime with $120,560 in earnings.

Starting from the outside post, Zi End, who was coming in off a fourth-place finish against older fillies in the Arctic Queen Stakes September 1 at Finger Lakes, broke with the field but was last in the early stages of the 6-furlong Niagara, as they raced in chronological order by post position.

After a slow start, Mischief Lady rushed to the lead from the rail and took them through a quarter-mile in a swift :22.39. She maintained the lead heading into the turn, but Signifying Nothing and Zi End were right with her before they straightened for home.

Joel Cruz made a winning move aboard favored Zi End around the turn and had taken the lead by the time they hit the top of the stretch. From there they ran up the score, lengthening the lead with every stride. Signifying Nothing held second and Mischief Lady was third. The final time was 1:11.69.

Weekend Hideaway stood four seasons at Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions in Stillwater. A $1.14 million earner on the track he won multiple New York-bred stakes. He is pensioned and living at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Zi End is the first foal out of Zismokin Gal, who is by millionaire Zivo, the Suburban Stakes winner and a Breeders’ Cup Classic runner in 2014. Zismokin Gal is one of five foals out of Smokin Racer, also a Breed homebred. – Paul Halloran

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2025/09/22/zi-end-dominates-niagara-for-first-stakes-win/

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