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Langpap Stables homebred Fox Rules (Roman Ruler), winner of five of six prior starts at Finger Lakes including the lucrative New York Derby in 2012, notched a sixth Farmington victory on July Fourth when he held off Awesome Vision to win the $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes for New York-breds by a nose.
Fox Rules came into the 1 1/16-mile contest on the heels of a successful seasonal debut going a mile at Finger Lakes on May 12, for which he earned a career-high Beyer of 94. Reunited with regular rider Pedro Rodriguez and conceding four pounds to his six rivals as the 122-pound highweight, the 5-year-old gelding was bet down to 2-1 second choice, behind West Point Thoroughbreds’ even-money favorite Awesome Vision, a multiple stakes winner on the NYRA circuit and the top earner of the group.
Exiting his inside post alertly at the break, Fox Rules went straight to the lead, closely attended around the clubhouse turn, down the backstretch and through the far turn by Talk Therapy through moderate fractions of 24.74, 49.02 and 1:13.33.
At the head of the stretch, Fox Rules shook off his first rival, only to have to dig deeper to hold off another. Awesome Vision, who had been waiting in the wings saving ground at the rail in fourth, angled out into the three-path at the head of the lane, closed into second in midstretch and kept narrowing the gap in the final furlong.
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Both rivals drifted out as they made their way to the wire, but Fox Rules lasted just long enough to win the close photo finish. Talk Therapy held on to third 2 3/4 lengths back, followed across the wire by Moneyinyour Pocket, Peter’s Project, Bold Deed and Tequila Hero. After a mile in 1:38.74, the final time for the 8 1/2 furlongs over the fast track was 1:45.42. [VIDEO]
The victory improves Fox Rules’ career record to 9-2-2 from 25 starts and increases his earnings to $337,453
Bred by Langpap Stables’ Dennis and Deborah Petrisak and foaled at Cornell University Research Park in Ithaca, Fox Rules (Roman Ruler) is out of the Petrisaks’ homebred champion Shesastonecoldfox. Voted top New York-bred 2-year-old filly in 2001, Shesastonecoldfox won three stakes races that year, headlined by a victory over males in the New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. Also winner of the Joseph A. Gimma at Belmont and the Lady Finger at Finger Lakes, she went on to compete in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
As a broodmare, Shesastonecoldfox has produced five winners from five starters. Her first foal Elusive Fox (E Dubai) was stakes-placed, and her current 3-year-old Fox Rox (Officer) won the last year’s Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes.
Shesastonecoldfox, who currently calls Tom and Mia Gallo’s Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge home, has a yearling filly by Lonhro (AUS) and a weanling filly by Lookin At Lucky
Hello,
I loved Shesastonecoldfox–I remember her “match” race which she lost by a nose.I wanted her to win so badly. I think the race was the TEST at Saratoga.
I hope these two young fillies show their dam’s speed–and win.
Good luck to all of her foals.
Anita Carter