NYRA/Chelsea Durand
By Sarah Mace
A Freud of Mama, owned and bred by William Butler and raced exclusively on turf by trainer Mike Maker in four prior starts, made a spectacular dirt debut at Aqueduct on Sunday. Advancing from mid-pack in the turn, and passing two horses in the final sixteenth, she clinched a victory in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes series for New York-sired juvenile fillies Aqueduct.
Like its companion race for males (the NYSS Great White Way won on Saturday by Bank On Shea), the Fifth Avenue got a makeover in 2019. Lengthened by a furlong to seven panels, the purse was hiked to $500,000, up from $150,000 last year.
Also like its companion race, the Fifth Avenue attracted a bulky and eclectic field. The 11 fillies represented nine current or former New York stallions and the group included everything from first-time starters and maidens, to graded stakes performers.
Breaking from post six under Jorge Vargas, Jr., A Freud of Mama settled in mid-pack in seventh on the backstretch, while some of her better-regarded rivals contested the lead. Time Limit by Bustin Stones (4-1 second choice) showed the way over the muddy (sealed) track through splits of 23.08 and 46.47. Also up on the pace, were Linda Rice-trained Officer Hutchy by Boys at Tosconova (11-1), who broke her maiden on debut on November 21, and heavily-favored Key Cents winner Big Q by Big Brown (1-2).
Remaining in close touch with the scrum on the lead, A Freud of Mama began a steady advance between horses in the turn. By the time she angled out into the three-path for the stretch drive, she was a clear third. Time Limit still led by two lengths and Officer Hutchy showed no signs relenting in second.
Coglianese Photos
The order of the first three remained unchanged until the final sixteenth, when the extra distance began to factor. A Freud of Mama passed both rivals to take the lead before going on to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Officer Hutchy took over second, leaving Time Limit to settle for the third a neck back.
After six furlongs in 1:12.19, the final time for seven furlongs over the off-going was 1:25.81. First-time starter Bank Sting, by Central Banker, completed the superfecta at a whopping 51-1.
Jorge Vargas, Jr. who piloted A Freud of Mama to victory said, “It was the first time she was getting kickback, so it took her a little bit to get used to it. Once she got into the bridle, she was there for me.”
Jockey Dylan Davis aboard impressive runner-up Officer Hutchy – a Green Polka Farms homebred, and second-time starter – said, “[Officer Hutchy] ran great. She broke sharp and put me in a good spot. I just stayed with her down the lane and she was inching back up and [A Freud of Mama] pushed her to finish a little stronger. She got up for second and I thought she was going to win for a little bit. She ran a good race off the maiden win.”
A Freud of Mama has earned $342,068 from two wins and third in five starts. She broke her maiden second out at 5 1/2-furlngs on the grass at Belmont Park on September 13. Plunging immediately into deep waters, she also finished a solid third in the Grade 3 Matron. The filly was foaled at Keane Stud in Amenia.
Despite her first four starts on grass, the bay filly, whose name derives from her perennially-leading New York sire Freud, had dirt promise in her pedigree. Her dam Mama Theresa, who was bred in New York by Barry Weisbord and Margaret Santulli, was a multiple stakes-placed runner on dirt and a half-sister to two-time New York Horse of the Year and current sire Haynesfield, winner of the 2010 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Mama Theresa, who was purchased by Butler for $65,000 at the OBS Spring sale of 2-year-olds, has produced four winners from four foals to start.
