Senbei, a son of Candy Ride bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, dominated Monday’s $205,179 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.
By Tom Law
Christophe Clement admitted to being more than a bit surprised when Senbei paid $19.20 when he won the Funny Cide Stakes on New York Showcase Day during the recent Saratoga meeting.
Nobody was surprised Monday when the 2-year-old son of Candy Ride dominated the $205,179 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. Senbei, under regular pilot Manny Franco, went to the post 7-10 for the 6-furlong Futurity and made quick work of his four opponents coming out of last month’s Aspirant Stakes in Farmington.
Senbei won by 4 lengths from Aspirant winner Adios Asher in 1:10.96 over the fast track. Owned by Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski, Senbei improved to 3-for-4 in the Futurity and boosted his earnings to $309,857.
Clement’s instructions to Franco in the Funny Cide, and no doubt in Senbei’s runner-up finish last time out in the Bertram F. Bongard as the odds-on favorite, were to “break well and then be comfortable.” No doubt the same for the Futurity, Senbei raced a length off the pace set by Adios Asher through the opening quarter-mile in :22.09, with Aspirant runner-up Daufuskie Island another length back in third and Gimmedamoney a length behind that foe in fourth.
Adios Asher and E. T. Baird continued on the lead through the half-mile in :45.68, just a half-length ahead of the eventual winner as the top two started to separate from the others. Senbei battled with Adios Asher into the stretch before taking over, opening up a half-length at the eighth pole before drawing away late. Adios Asher held second, 3 1/4 lengths in front Daufuskie Island with Gimmedamoney fourth and Don Bernardo fifth of five.
Bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski and foaled at his Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Senbei is out of the winning Western Cat mare Sweet Aloha. Clement purchased Senbei as a short yearling for $280,000 out of Stuart Morris’ consignment at the 2020 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.
Bilinski said after the Funny Cide that Senbei was “probably the best” horse produced by Sweet Aloha, who is also the dam of dual stakes winners Filibustin and Indy’s Lady and the stakes-placed winner Man O Manassas.
