Mind Your Biscuits G1 Malibu Stakes
© BENOIT PHOTO
By Sarah Mace
Grade 1 winner, and hero of the Group 1 US$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Racecourse two weeks ago, Mind Your Biscuits was voted the 2016 New York-bred Horse of the Year. The chestnut son of former New York sire Posse also took home the honors for champion three-year-old male and champion male sprinter.
Trained by Robert Falcone Jr. last year, Mind Your Biscuits now races from the barn of newly-minted conditioner Chad Summers, who is also a part owner of the colt and whose first victory as a trainer came with Mind Your Biscuits in Dubai. The ownership group is headed by Joaquin Guerrero’s J Stables, Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners and Michael E. Kisber. Mind Your Biscuits was bred by Samantha Will Baccari of Jumping Jack Racing and foaled at Gary and Sue Lundy’s Cedar Ridge Farm in Pine Plains. The champion’s dam, the Toccet mare Jazzmane, was named New York’s 2016 Broodmare of the Year.
The New York-bred horse of the year and divisional champions were announced at the annual awards banquet of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) held on April 3, 2017 at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event, sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, was emceed by Richard Migliore, a former champion New York jockey and now a broadcast analyst. The New York-bred divisional champions and horse of the year were chosen by a ballot of New York turf writers, handicappers, chart callers and racing analysts conducted by NYTB.
The other equine multiple honoree of the night was Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes winner Haveyougoneaway. Voted New York’s champion female sprinter and champion older dirt female, the mare was bred by Andy and Susan Beadnell and trained by Tom Morley for owners Gary Barber and Sequel Racing.
For the fourth time Chester and Mary Broman were named New York’s top breeders. The couple, whose names are synonymous with New York breeding success, also won the award in 2004, 2011 and 2014. The Bromans’ standouts in 2016 included Highway Star and Bar of Gold.
Rudy R. Rodriguez emerged as the top-earning trainer of New York-breds last year. The hot-handed Irad Ortiz, Jr. was top state-bred jockey earnings. Ortiz, who won the award in 2013, was displaced by younger brother Jose in 2014 and 2015.
A complete list of New York’s 2016 equine and human honorees follows:
Horse of the Year, Champion Three-Year-Old Male, Champion Male Sprinter: Mind Your Biscuits
CH, C, foaled March 15, 2013 (Posse – Jazzmane, by Toccet)
Breeder: Jumping Jack Racing LLC
Owner: J Stables LLC, Head of Plains Partners, Summers et al
Trainer: Chad Summers (2017), Robert Falcone Jr. (2016)
Champion Female Sprinter, Champion Older Dirt Female: Haveyougoneaway
CH, M, foaled February 8, 2011 (Congrats – One Wise Cowgirl, by Wiseman’s Ferry)
Breeder: Andy Beadnell & Susan Beadnell
Owner: Gary Barber and Sequel Racing
Trainer: Thomas Morley
Champion Two-Year-Old Male: Syndergaard
CH, C, foaled March 14, 2014 (Majesticperfection – Magic Belle, by Gold Case)
Breeder: Burleson Farms
Owner: Eric Fein, Christopher McKenna, Harris Fein, Harris, Guri Singh, and Jerry Walia
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly: Bonita Bianca
CH, F, foaled February 5, 2014 (Curlin – Friendly Michelle, by Artax)
Breeder: Dormellito Stud
Owner: Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Michael Imperio
Trainer: Rudy R. Rodriguez
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Highway Star
CH, F, foaled March 14, 2013 (Girolamo – Stolen Star, by Cat Thief)
Breeder/Owner: Chester and Mary Broman
Trainer: Rodrigo A. Ubillo
Champion Older Dirt Male: Effinex
DK B/, H, foaled April 15, 2011 (Mineshaft – What a Pear, by E Dubai)
Breeder: Dr. Russell S. Cohen
Owner: Tri-Bone Stables
Trainer: James A. Jerkens
Champion Turf Male: King Kreesa
DK B/, G, foaled May 26, 2009 (King Cugat – Storm’s Advance, by Storm Creek)
Breeder: Horse Partners
Owner: Gerald Kresa and Susan Kresa
Trainer: David G. Donk
Champion Turf Female: Ancient Secret
CH, F, foaled May 20, 2013 (Kantharos – Privacy, by Notebook)
Breeder: Lambholm
Owner: Alpha Delta Stables
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
Champion Steeplechase Horse: Willow U
B, M, foaled April 21, 2011 (Utopia (JPN) – Overextended (FR), by Entrepreneur (GB))
Breeder: Andy Beadnell
Owner: Check Mark Stables LLC
Trainer: Richard L. Valentine
Broodmare of the Year: Jazzmane (Toccet – Alljazz, by Stop the Music), dam of Mind Your Biscuits
Breeder of the Year: Chester and Mary Broman
Trainer of the Year: Rudy R. Rodriguez
Jockey of the Year: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Thank You for the wonderful night at the NY Breeders award dinner. This was the first time at this function and my wife and I felt privileged to be nominated in the Three Year old Filly category with our horse Fingerpainter. Richard and Kaye Zwrin the Breeders of this horse gave us the opportunity to train and own such a nice Filly. We have the utmost respect for Ricard and Kaye. As a team we all take great pride in the horse racing business and look forward to racing and Breeding in NY for a long time.