Half-brother to Runaway Rumour brings six figures at Keeneland September sale

September 17th, 2025

Hip 2772, a colt by Mandaloun bred by Lawrence Goichman, sold for $105,000 this week at Keeneland September. Photo courtesy of Indian Creek.

A colt from the first crop of Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun and half-brother to a trio of stakes winners led by multiple stakes winner Runaway Rumour sold for $105,000 to lead the New York-breds sold in Book 4 of the Keeneland September yearling sale Monday and Tuesday.

MHM Stables LLC purchased the colt, Hip 2772, out of the Indian Creek consignment. Bred by Lawrence Goichman – who also bred and raced $571,305-earner Runaway Rumour – the colt is the eighth foal out of the stakes-placed Elusive Quality mare Elusive Rumour.

Elusive Rumour is also the dam of three-time New York-bred stakes winner and $442,966-earner Myhartblongstodady, the New York-bred open-company stakes winner Scuttlebuzz, Grade 2-placed New York-bred Lachaise and one other winner. She’s also the dam of the 2-year-old Constitution filly Silly Season.

Keeneland reported sales on six of the eight New York-breds through the ring during the Book 4 sessions for a total of $357,000, an average price of $59,500 and median of $48,500. Overall, 24 of the 34 New York-breds offered have sold for $4,682,000, an average price of $195,084 and median of $145,000.

Brinco Bloodstock purchased the second most expensive New York-bred during Book 4, going to $75,000 for Hip 2701, a colt by Mo Donegal.

Bred by Caliburn Farm LLC and consigned by Four Star Sales, the colt is the sixth foal out of the stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Bennett Jean. Out of multiple stakes winner Pretty Meadow, Bennett Jean is the dam of four winners including $98,780-earner Cavendish.

The September sale continues with the first of four Book 5 sessions at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

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Questroyal North’s Galilean sires first winner

September 16th, 2025

Froutien, a 2-year-old son of Galilean who sold for $700,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, gives freshman sire Galilean his first winner last weekend at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Multiple stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Galilean sired his first winner when Froutien, the co-top-priced New York-bred at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, won a 7-furlong maiden race Saturday at Aqueduct.

Galilean, a 9-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the El Prado mare Fresia, stands for $3,500 at Questroyal North in Stillwater.

Froutien, purchased by bloodstock agent Mahmud Mouni for $700,000 at the Timonium sale, is the second foal out of the winning Mineshaft mare It’s Timeless. Bred by Andy and the late Susan Beadnell and foaled at their Bead Land & Cattle Co. in Pottersville, Froutien is owned by Tagermeen Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher.

Froutien, a $95,000 purchase out of the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale, finished third in his debut in a 6-furlong New York-bred maiden race August 15 at Saratoga Race Course. He’s one of 10 starts for Galilean, who sits atop the New York freshman sire list through Monday with progeny earnings of $161,365.

Galilean won six of 16 starts, including stakes at 2, 3 and 4, and earned $592,522.

Former New York-based stallion Son of Thunder, a full brother to former leading New York-based freshman sire Laoban, was also represented by his first winner Tuesday.

Pine Ridge Stable’s homebred 2-year-old filly Miss Moxee gave Son of Thunder that win when she took her debut by 7 ¼ lengths in a $25,000 maiden claiming race on Presque Isle Downs’ synthetic surface. Trained by Linda Rice, Miss Moxee is out of the stakes-placed Invisible Ink mare Lotto Ticket.

Son of Thunder, a son of Uncle Mo out of the stakes-placed Speightstown mare Chattertown, previously stood at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham. He stood the 2022 season, returned to the races late that year and won two of 16 starts with four placings.

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Six New York-breds sell for six figures during Book 3 of Keeneland September yearling sale

September 15th, 2025

Hip 1746, a colt by Nashville bred by Beals Racing Stable, sold for $425,000 to lead all New York-breds during Book 3 of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Photo courtesy of Betz Thoroughbreds.

The record-setting Keeneland September yearling sale passed the midpoint Sunday and New York-breds continued to be in demand, with six selling for six figures during the Book 3 sessions over the weekend.

Keeneland reported sales on nine of the 13 New York-breds through the ring Saturday and Sunday sold for $1,690,000, an average price of $187,778 and median of $150,000. Through six of the 12 sessions, 18 New York-breds have sold for $4,325,000, an average price of $240,278 and median of $190,000.

Hip 1746, a colt by Nashville and half-brother to stakes winner Galactic Star, led the way for Book 3 when he sold Sunday for $425,000 to Mayberry Farm.

Bred by Beals Racing Stable LLC, foaled at Saratoga Glen Farm in Schuylerville and consigned by Betz Thoroughbreds Inc., agent, the colt is out of the unraced Pioneerof the Nile mare Stella’s Dream. She’s the dam of five winners, including the $147,232-earner Galactic Star, winner of this year’s Al Bastakiya at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Beals Racing Stable bought Stella’s Dream, who is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Little Miss Zip, in foal to Nashville for $18,000 at the 2024 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Hip 1700, a filly by Violence bred by Rockridge Stud LLC, Chesapeake Farm, Matthew Nestor and Three Times A Charm, sold for $335,000 Sunday at Keeneland. Photo courtesy of Black-Albina Thoroughbred Services.

Book 3’s top-selling New York-bred filly, Hip 1700, also sold during Sunday’s session. Joe Migliore, agent for agent for Adelphi Racing and Chief Horse Futures, went to $335,000 to purchase the daughter of Violence out of the winning More Than Ready mare Rockin Ready.

Bred by Rockridge Stud LLC, Chesapeake Farm, Matthew Nestor and Three Times A Charm, foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson and consigned by Black-Albina Thoroughbred Services, agent, the filly is the second foal out of Rockin Ready.

Rockin Ready, the dam of an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Violence, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Newgrange, who will enter stud in 2026 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson.

Keeneland reported total sales of more than $417.6 million for the first six sessions of the September sale, a total that already exceeds last year’s total of $411 million for the entire 12-day auction. The sale continues with the first of two Book 4 sessions at 10 a.m. Monday.

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Multiple graded stakes winner Newgrange to Stand at Sequel New York in 2026

September 12th, 2025

Newgrange, multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire, to stand at Sequel New York in 2026. Photo: Coglianese Photos

Press Release courtesy of Sequel New York 

Sequel New York is proud to announce that Newgrange, the multiple graded stakes-winning son of Violence, will take up stud duties at Sequel New York beginning with the 2026 breeding season.

A durable and consistent performer, Newgrange captured graded stakes at 3, 4, and 5, including victories in the G2 San Antonio and back-to-back victories in the G2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. As a three-year-old on the Kentucky Derby trail, Newgrange won the G3 Sham Stakes at SantaAnita and the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Over the course of his career, he amassed more than $1 million in earnings while competing at the highest levels of the sport.

“Newgrange possessed all the right physical attributes from the very beginning. On the racetrack, he demonstrated class, toughness, and an undeniable will to win. He represents exactly the type of horse I aim to purchase—and the kind of stallion breeders should be eager to breed to.” – Donato Lanni

By Violence, one of the most successful stallions of his generation, Newgrange is out of the winning Empire Maker mare Bella Chianti, making him a grandson of the legendary Unbridled. This rich pedigree combines speed, stamina, and toughness—qualities that Newgrange repeatedly displayed on the racetrack.

“When purchasing Violence, I was struck by his balance and athleticism. Newgrange reminds me of his sire in those same ways—he has that same raw physicality, competitive spirit, and ability to carry his speed over a distance. Those shared qualities give me every confidence that Newgrange will follow in Violence’s footsteps and become a terrific sire. We at Newtownanner are excited to be a major shareholder in Newgrange andlook forward to supporting him with a strong book of quality mares.” – Hanzly Albina, Newtownanner

“A striking individual with the size, scope, and athleticism to match his race record, Newgrange retires sound after a career that showcased his versatility and toughness across multiple tracks, distances, and conditions.”Newgrange embodies everything we look for in a stallion prospect. He was precocious at two, dominant at three, and proved his class and soundness competing against the best older horses. He’s a horse that breeders in New York and beyond are going to love.” – Becky Thomas

Stud fee to be announced at a later date.

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Sequel-bred Vekoma colt tops Book 2 at Keeneland September

September 12th, 2025

Hip 566, a colt by Vekoma bred by Sequel New York, sold for $500,000 to highlight Book 2 of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Photo courtesy of Hunter Valley Farm.

A colt by leading second-crop sire and multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma sold for $500,000 to top the New York-bred yearlings sold during the Book 2 sessions of the Keeneland September sale Wednesday and Thursday in Lexington.

Bloodstock agent Barry Berkelhammer, bidding on behalf of Albaugh Family Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and Team Railbird, landed Hip 566 during Wednesday’s session.

Bred by and foaled at Sequel New York LLC in Hudson, the colt is out of the winning Yes It’s True mare True History. She’s the dam of the 3-year-old Violence gelding Rout, who sold for $280,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale; and the five-time winning New York-bred Destin mare True Destiny.

Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, the colt originally sold out of the Burleson Farms consignment for $180,000 to Cherry Knoll Farm at this year’s Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

The Vekoma colt was one of seven New York-breds that sold during Book 2 for a total of $1,610,000, an average price of $230,000 and median of $200,000.

Hip 386, a colt by Flightline bred by Thirty Year Farm, sold for $350,000 Wednesday at the Keeneland September sale. Photo courtesy of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Wednesday’s session also included the sale of Hip 386, a colt by Horse of the Year Flightline that brought $350,000 from SBA Racing. Bred by and foaled at Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the colt is the first foal out of the Grade 3-winning Union Rags mare Lady Scarlet.

Lady Scarlet, winner of the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes in 2022 at Pimlico Race Course, won four of 12 starts and earned $307,530. Thirty Year Farm purchased the mare carrying the Flightline colt in utero for $625,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Hip 615, a daughter of Good Magic out of the winning Arch mare Ardara, brought the top price for a New York-bred filly in Book 2 on a bid of $250,000 from Rich Emmett during Wednesday’s session.

Bred by Mill Creek Farm and Fortune Farm and foaled at Mill Creek in Stillwater, the filly originally sold as a weanling for $180,000 to No Money No Honey at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale. Consigned by Keeneland September by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, the filly is the ninth foal out of the Ardara and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Miss Marissa, stakes-placed winner The X and four other winners.

Fortune Farm’s Richard Nicolai purchased the Ontario-bred Ardara carrying the Good Magic filly in utero for $105,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale.

The Keeneland September sale resumes Saturday with Book 3 after a scheduled dark day Friday.

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Thirty Year Farm yearlings highlight Book 1 at Keeneland September

September 10th, 2025

Hip 207, a colt by Constitution bred by Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs, sold for $675,000 to highlight Book 1 of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Photo courtesy of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Kristen and Matt Esler sent two yearlings from their Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs to sell in Book 1 of this week’s Keeneland September yearling sale and came away with $1,025,000.

Case Clay Thoroughbred Management landed the first of the two yearlings, going to $675,000 for Hip 207, a colt by Constitution out of the unraced Into Mischief mare Walking Miracle. Bred by and foaled at Thirty Year Farm, the colt is the sixth foal out of Walking Miracle. He was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Thirty Year Farm bought the mare carrying the Constitution colt in utero for $525,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She delivered the colt about two months later, Jan. 26, at the farm not far from Saratoga Race Course.

The Constitution colt is the sixth foal out of Walking Miracle, who is a half-sister to the Grade 3 winner and $279,052-earner Sound Money. Walking Miracle’s first two foals – Swill and Stitched – are stakes winners.

Swill, a 7-year-old gelding by Munnings and a winner in 2025, sports a record of 7-4-3 in 28 starts with $406,924 in earnings. He won the 2023 Challedon Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and finished fourth in three other stakes, including the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in 2020 at Churchill Downs.

Stitched, a 6-year-old by Mizzen Mast who made two starts in early 2025, has won six of 22 starts with $955,689 in earnings. He’s a three-time stakes winner, taking the Grade 2 Wise Dan in 2023 at Ellis Park and the Caesar’s Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis and Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park in 2022.

Walking Miracle is also the dam of a New York-bred weanling colt by Good Magic, foaled March 12 at Thirty Year Farm.

Hip 231, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Casa Creed, also starred for breeder Thirty Year Farm and sold for $350,000. Photo courtesy of Paramount Sales.

The second Thirty Year Farm yearling went through the ring about a half hour later, Hip 231, a filly by Life Is Good and half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Casa Creed, that sold for $350,000 to Mike Repole’s Repole Stable. The filly is the eighth foal out of the unraced Bellamy Road mare Achalaya, who is the dam of five winners from five foals to race. She was consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

The five winners include Charlotte’s Heart, a New York-bred daughter of Authentic bred by Thirty Year Farm who sold for $725,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings. Campaigned by Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, Charlotte’s Heart won her debut in 2024 at Saratoga Race Course before a second in the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine. She’s 1-2-0 in six starts with $114,732 in earnings.

Achalaya’s seventh foal, a daughter of Curlin, sold for $500,000 to be the top-priced New York-bred and top overall filly at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.

Thirty Year Farm purchased Achalaya, in foal to Charlotte’s Heart, for $725,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She’s the dam of three other winners, including graded stakes winner and $238,908-earner Chess’s Dream.

Casa Creed, who stood his first breeding season in 2025 at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, retired with nine wins in 36 starts and earnings of $2,691,308. He won back-to-back editions of the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course in 2022 and 2023, along with back-to-back renewals of the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park in 2021 and 2022.

Those were the lone New York-bred yearlings through the ring for the Book 1 sessions. Book 2, which features 19 New York-breds in the catalog, started at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

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Students from SUNY Cobleskill go behind-the-scenes at Saratoga Race Course

September 3rd, 2025

Students from SUNY Cobleskill took in a day at the races after a full behind-the-scenes tour of the Oklahoma Training Track last weekend at Saratoga Race Course. Susie Raisher Photo.

By Tom Law

The alarms rang, beeped and buzzed early last Saturday for a group of students on the campus of the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill. The group, upper class students in the Animal Science program, were off early and into the East Avenue gate on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course by 7:30 a.m. for a glimpse at the world of Thoroughbred racing.

For the fourth consecutive year, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) and the SUNY Cobleskill partnered to offer a Thoroughbred Industry Course exposing upper-class students in the Animal Science program to various segments of the Thoroughbred Industry.

The program launched Saturday with students observing morning training on the Oklahoma with NYTB board member Tom Gallo followed by a tour of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame with legendary racetrack announcer Tom Durkin and watching afternoon races. The day at the races included judging the “Best Turned Out” contest offered by the Backstretch Employee Service Team.

The course, which runs from late August through early December, was developed to expose students interested in Animal Science more detail and insight into the Thoroughbred industry through exposure to breeding and racing.

“The students that join us every year are engaged, interested and ask really great questions,” Gallo said. “They all have different aspirations about how they would like to have careers in contact with either horses in general, Thoroughbred horses or in the Thoroughbred industry. After listening to me for a good hour about the history of Saratoga and what goes on in the morning during training hours, we moved down the Oklahoma stretch to the barn area.”

Trainer Adrianne DeVaux gives students from SUNY Cobleskill a tour of the tack room, including an overview of the morning feeding. Susie Raisher Photo.

The students spent 2 1/2 hours in the stable area and visited with trainers Adrianne DeVaux and Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

The visit with DeVaux afforded the opportunity to go into a stall with a horse and check out the horses up close and personal, learning about their dispositions, different personalities and confirmation. The students were given a quick tutorial on what a groom looks for in their horses on a daily basis to make sure the horse is in 100 percent shape for training and racing. A visit to the tack room included a lesson on all the equipment and the morning feeding.

The stop at Mott’s barn included a visit with Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Sovereignty, jockey Junior Alvarado, the legendary Erma Scott and Mott himself, who talked to the students about how he became involved in the horse business and how he brings young horses along and develops them into racehorses.

“Talk about a full day,” Gallo said. “Later that afternoon, sitting in Section E watching the races, they were still full of questions and suggestions on how to make the program better. They learned from me and I learned from them. It was a very successful morning. Something to build on in the future. The kids even had suggestions on how to do that. There’s nothing like the great energy that you get from young people.”

SUNY Cobleskill students helped judge the “Best Turned Out” last Saturday at Saratoga. Susie Raisher Photo.

The students will continue in the program with planned visits this week to Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga and GMP Farm in Schuylerville, along with additional trips down to the road to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga Springs, observing the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale in October and attending the NYTB Educations Seminar. The course also includes virtual lectures and discussions.

“It has always been a priority for our organization to identify, support, and mentor the next generation of individuals who will contribute to and become stakeholders in the Thoroughbred industry,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. Since launching this course in 2022, in partnership with SUNY Cobleskill and Professor Ray Whelihan, we have remained committed to providing students with hands-on exposure to every aspect of breeding and racing. The enthusiasm we see from students during each visit is inspiring, and we hope this experience will encourage more of them to pursue careers in the industry, strengthening our future workforce.”

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True Empress victorious in Arctic Queen

September 1st, 2025

True Empress scores 14th win and first stakes victory in Monday’s Arctic Queen at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

True Empress returned to stakes company for the first time in more than three years Monday and came away with a victory in the $50,000 Arctic Queen at Finger Lakes.

Owned by J and M Racing Stables, James O’Driscoll and Elvira Falco, True Empress won the 6-furlong Labor Day feature by 1 ¾ lengths under Luis Perez for trainer Michael Ferraro. The 5-2 third choice in the field of six improved to 2-for-8 on the season with $65,621 earned.

Bred by Magnolia Mares LLC, the 6-year-old daughter of Classic Empire originally sold to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing out of the Sequel New York consignment for $135,000 as a weanling at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale. She started her career for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and R. A. Hill Stable and trainer George Weaver, winning in her fifth start and finishing fifth in the Bouwerie Stakes at Belmont Park in her seventh start.

True Empress was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Carlos Martin and J and M Racing Stables out of a victory in mid-September 2022 during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. She raced for Martin through May 2023 before making her first start for Ferraro at Finger Lakes in late June 2023.

The winner of an allowance race at Finger Lakes in late June, True Empress came into the Arctic Queen off a third in a $93,000 allowance July 30 at Saratoga Race Course.

Matched up against 7-5 favorite Zi End and stakes winner Caldwell Luvs Gold, True Empress came away last of six and raced 4 lengths behind Sandy’s Garden through the opening quarter-mile in :23.47.

True Empress made up ground around the turn and inched into third, just a length behind Sandy’s Garden past the half in :47.23. True Empress continued on well from there, zipped past the eighth pole a length in front and edged away under pressure late to win in 1:11.71. Sandy’s Garden held second, 2 lengths clear of Caldwell Luvs Gold with Zi End fourth. The Shoe Lady and Missing Fortune completed the field.

True Empiress, who improved to 14-for-44 with earnings of $446,202, is the second foal out of the stakes-placed Yes It’s True mare For All You Know. She’s the dam of the winning Good Magic colt Thawban and the 2-year-old Knicks Go filly Fulanita who sold for $20,000 at the OBS June sale.

For All You Know sold in foal to Mitole for $38,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Digital February sale. She’s the dam of a yearling filly by Mitole and a weanling colt by Endorsed, both bred in Maryland by Golden Lion Racing.

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Twenty Six Black lands first stakes win in Disco Partner

August 31st, 2025

Roger Cimbora Jr.’s homebred Twenty Six Black cruises to first stakes win Sunday in the Disco Partner at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo.

Roger Cimbora Jr.’s homebred Twenty Six Black continued to show his affinity for the turf courses at Saratoga Race Course Sunday with a victory over open company in the $135,000 Disco Partner Stakes.

The 5-year-old gelding by New York-based sire War Dancer secured his first stakes win in dominating fashion in the 5 ½-furlong Disco Partner, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths over fellow New York-bred Bold Journey and Outlaw Kid. Flavien Prat rode Twenty Six Black for trainer Horacio De Paz.

“His disposition has always been a horse that wants to try,” De Paz said. “He’s built like a tank. … He’s always had a good mind on him and the mare has thrown nothing but runners, and they continue to get better as they get older.”

Twenty Six Black improved to 6-for-15 in the Disco Partner and gave his dam, the First Dude mare Brazo de Oro, her first stakes victory.

Brazo de Oro is the dam of three-time winner and $116,978-earner Happy Hill Lil, stakes-placed $298,505-earner and the De Paz-trained New York-bred Can’t Fool Me. Brazo do Oro is also the dam of the 2-year-old New York-bred and Cimbora homebred and De Paz-trained A Little At First, a full sister to Twenty Six Black who finished fifth in her debut Sunday at Saratoga.

Twenty Six Black, the 7-5 favorite in the field of seven, came into the Disco Partner off a second behind Bring Theband Home in the Grade 2 Troy Stakes Aug. 3 at Saratoga. He finished fourth in his prior start against fellow New York-breds in the 6-furlong Ashley T. Cole Stakes, an effort De Paz chalked up to the gelding not handling the warm weather in late June at Aqueduct.

“He gave us a flat effort in the New York-bred stakes,” De Paz said. “His energy wasn’t great. I don’t know if the week before when that heatwave came through, it knocked him out a little bit. He just wasn’t himself. He’s normally a very forward, happy horse. In the paddock, he can be forward. He was just a little bit quiet.”

De Paz ran blood work on Twenty Six Black after the effort and everything checked out. He conceded it just “wasn’t his day” and moved on.

Shipped to Saratoga – where he went 1-2-1 in five starts before the Troy – Twenty Six Black bounced back.

Flavien Prat rode Twenty Six Black in the Troy and again the Disco Partner. He rated the gelding in fourth early before taking command at the top of the stretch. He led by a half-length in midstretch and widened from there, drawing off to win in 1:01.43 over the firm turf.

“I was worried about the pace scenario,” Prat said. “He broke running and I was able to get him into the race. I tipped him out and he made a good run. I really thought he ran a good race last time and was second to a very good horse. Obviously, we didn’t have to run against him today. I thought this was a race I could possibly win, and he did.”

Twenty Six Black picked up $74,250 for the Disco Partner win and boosted his bankroll to $493,310.

De Paz said he’d look at the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Sept. 27 at Aqueduct as a next start for Twenty Six Black.

“That would be the logical spot,” he said. “I always thought 6 furlongs would probably be a little bit better for him – 6-to-7– we’ll keep him local.”

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Minorinconvenience handles business in Funny Cide

August 27th, 2025

Minorinconvenience cruises to victory in Wednesday’s Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo.

By Julia Reedy

Trainer Amelia Green and co-owner Amanda Gillman sat side-by-side in their front-row clubhouse box, Green’s face obscured by her binoculars as she watched Minorinconvenience secure his second win in three starts in Wednesday’s Funny Cide Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds.

As soon as the race finished, Green shed both her binoculars and poker face and exchanged a smile with her longtime friend and co-owner.

“It’s amazing,” Gillman said of watching the New York-bred son of Mendelssohn win by 4 lengths. “I’m honestly struggling to find words. The first win was very cool, but (this win), I can’t put into words how cool it is. … He’s always been a little bit green, and to see him put it all together and do this, it’s very special.”

Bred by Steve Barberino and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Minorinconvenience broke his maiden at Saratoga Race Course July 31. That off-the-turf win at 7 furlongs gave Green just enough confidence to run him back in the $139,500 Funny Cide at 6 furlongs, though she still had some reservations about the cutback in distance.

“I thought it was (a concern) going in, but with how sharp he broke – I told Amanda after the race when he hit the top of the stretch and put his nose in front, I was quietly confident, because I knew the further distance would be the best for him,” Green said. “I was pretty confident when he found his stride at the top of the lane, but maybe I didn’t look like it, because I was still nervous, and in a stakes race, you never know. But I was quietly confident.”

The 5-2 third choice in the field of five, Minorinconvenience won by 4 lengths over 5-2 second choice Fourth and One with 4-5 favorite Toga Twist third. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Minorinconvenience won in 1:11.56.

For Green and Gillman, watching their 2-year-old colt progress has been nothing short of thrilling, having purchased him as a yearling for $20,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. It doesn’t hurt that the New York-bred supplied Green with her first stakes win at Saratoga.

“Very exciting, especially with this horse,” Green said. “We’ve owned him since he was a baby and have spoiled him rotten. It was very exciting. …He’s come a long way. He’s actually still one I don’t think has clicked yet. He’s still a big baby. I still think he’s got a lot of learning to do. To see him run like this, when he still seems like a horse that’s still figuring things out is very exciting.”

Minorinconvenience is the third foal and the first to race out of the Mission Impazible mare Skyler’s Lil Cutie. He came after Skyler’s Lil Cutie produced New York-bred fillies Dorthys Speedstre (by Tale Of The Cat) and Aggie (by Exaggerator).

Barberino bred those fillies and also Skyler’s Lil Cutie’s yearling colt by Early Voting named Rocky’s Early Vote and her Virginia-bred weanling filly by Bolt d’Oro.

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