SV Photography
By Sarah Mace
Trainer Gary Sciacca can congratulate himself on making a good call Monday. Yellow Moon Stables’ Hit It Once More was cross-entered in the $50,000 1 1/6-mile Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes for New York-breds 3-year-old and up at Finger Lakes and the Evan Shipman Stakes for the same division, run 70 minutes later at Saratoga at 1 1/8 miles. Opting to contest the fortieth running of the Genesee Valley, Hit It Once More’s connections saw him sent off as the 6-5 favorite and produce a dominant gate-to-wire victory.
A 5-year-old horse by Hard Spun, Hit It Once More notched a Finger Lakes stakes victory two years ago when he won the New York Derby by 6 1/2 lengths. His highlight so far this year was a victory in the 1-mile Haynesfield Stakes for state-breds in the Aqueduct mud on February 17. Since then he has arguably been facing stiffer competition, running in a trio of open stakes races, a tough open conditioned optional claimer and the Saginaw stakes, where he finished third to Pat On the Back and Wine Not, both signed on for the Evan Shipman.
Alertly out of the gate from his rail post under John Davila, Jr., Hit It Once More vied briefly with Winston’s Chance, runner up in last year’s edition of the Genesee Valley but, by the time he navigated the clubhouse turn with a ground-saving trip, he had the lead well in hand.
Maintaining a three-quarter length lead over Winston’s Chance along the backstretch as the top two separated themselves from the body of the field, Hit It Once More saved ground in the far turn, cornered neatly and finally shook off his rival in upper stretch.
Unchallenged to the wire, Hit It Once More sailed home to a 3-length victory in a final time of 1:44.52. Winston’s Chance held second, while 6 3/4 lengths back longshot Broadway Bay closed from last to get the show. Completing the order of finish were Peter’s Project, who won the race last year, and Manipulated, another longshot. [VIDEO REPLAY]
Bred by JMJ Racing Stables and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson, Hit It Once More is the lone winner for his stakes-winning dam, Kentucky-bred Sunday Geisha (Sunday Break).
Sold as a yearling for $105,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale, Hit It Once More was purchased by Sciacca for $90,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale for Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm. After 17 starts for Parcells, Hit It Once More contested the Empire Classic on October 21, 2017 in the colors of Yellow Moon Stable.
In 30 starts Hit It Once More has won seven races with two seconds and five thirds and earned $553,342. He has now won four stakes races in all, the New York Derby and Albany at three and the Haynesfield and Genesee Valley this year.
