Barese, winner of the Rego Park and Gander this winter at Aqueduct, takes step up in Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo.
The New York-bred program will be well represented in this weekend’s major races, including with at least one runner in each of the six stakes on Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial Day card.
The group includes a pair in the headlining Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino in Barese and Golden Code and a trio for the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes in Venti Valentine, Classy Edition and Caragate.
Two-time stakes winner Barese, an undefeated son of Laoban bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC and Lakland Farm, is the 8-1 fourth choice for the 9-furlong Wood Memorial. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and trained by Mike Maker, Barese comes off a victory in the 1-mile Gander Stakes Feb. 12 at Aqueduct.
Calumet Farm’s Golden Code, a son of Honor Code bred by Barry Ostrager, is part of a three-horse entry for trainer Todd Pletcher. A 10 3/4-length maiden winner Feb. 5, Golden Code comes into the Wood Memorial off a third in the Grade 3 Gotham last month. He’s 15-1 on the morning line.
The $750,000 Wood Memorial offers 100 points to the winner toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby, with 40 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth.
The trio of fillies in the $250,000 Gazelle look to punch their tickets for Louisville and the Kentucky Oaks. The 9-furlong Gazelle offers the same points breakdown for the Oaks and Venti Valentine and Classy Edition are the two top choices on the morning line.
Venti Valentine dominated the Busher Invitational and looks to lock up Kentucky Oaks berth Saturday in the Gazelle. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo.
NY Final Furlong Racing Stable’s and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Venti Valentine, 7-length winner of the Busher Invitational last time out for trainer Jorge Abreu, is the 7-5 favorite. Bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, the daughter of Firing Line is 3-for-4 in her career including a victory in last year’s Maid of the Mist Stakes on Empire Showcase Day.
Robert and Lawana Low’s Classy Edition, second last time out in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park, is 5-2 on the morning line. The daughter of Classic Empire, bred by Chester and Mary Broman, also sports a 3-for-4 record for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Richard Greeley’s homebred Caragate, third last time out in the Maddie May at Aqueduct, adds blinkers for her first start around two turns. Trained by Mitch Frriedman, Caragate is 30-1 on the morning line.
Kept Waiting, winner of the Broadway last time out, returns to open company and kicks off the run of New York-breds in Aqueduct’s stakes. Bred by John Lauriello, the 5-year-old Broken Vow mare runs in the $150,000 Grade 3 Distaff Handicap for owners Sanford Goldfarb, Irwin Goldfarb and Nice Guys Stables and trainer Robert Falcone Jr.
The largest contingent in any of the stakes comes next in the $100,000 Danger’s Hour going 1 mile on the grass. Six New York-breds make up the field – 5-2 second choice Rinaldi, 7-2 third choice City Man, Therapist, It’s a Gamble and Sanctuary City.
Bank On Shea seeks Grade 1 success in Saturday’s Carter Handicap. SV Photography.
Shea D Boys Stable’s Bank On Shea will attempt to become the 62nd New York-bred Grade 1 winner when he takes on seven others in the $300,000 Carter Handicap at 7 furlongs. Bred by Dr. Scott Piece, the 5-year-old son of New York-based sire Central Banker comes off an open-company victory in the Pelican Stakes last time out at Tampa Bay Downs. Trained by Carlos Davis, Bank On Shea is 2-1-1 in four starts at Aqueduct, with both victories at 7 furlongs.
Perez Stable’s Juggler closes out the day at Aqueduct for New York-breds in the finale, the Grade 3 Bay Shore for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs. The son of Lord Nelson, bred by Sequel Stallions NY and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, broke his maiden two starts back and finished third in an allowance-optional March 13 at Aqueduct for trainer Juan Vazquez.
Gainesway Stable’s homebred 3-year-old Karakontie filly Spendarella flies the flag for her native state in the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes presented by the Japan Racing Association at Keeneland Race Course. The 7-5 favorite on the morning line, Spendarella comes into the 1-mile turf stakes off a gate-to-wire victory at the same trip in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride last month at Gulfstream for trainer H. Graham Motion.
A pair of New York-breds look to kick off the potentially big weekend on Friday’s Opening Day card at Keeneland.
Coinage looks to build growing turf resume in Keeneland’s Transylvania. Lauren King/Gulfstream Park Photo
Coinage, winner of Gulfstream’s Palm Beach Stakes last time out for D J Stable and Chester and Mary Broman, goes in the $400,000 Grade 3 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. The son of Tapit, bred by the Bromans, is 3-1 on the morning line for trainer Mark Casse.
Mark Anderson’s Sterling Silver looks to rebound from her fifth in the Busher in the featured Grade 1 $600,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Bred by Mallory and Karen Mort, the daughter of Cupid won the Franklin Square two starts back. She’s 15-1 on the morning line in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland for trainer Tom Albertrani.
Two New York-bred mares could cap a big weekend in Sunday’s $100,000 Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct. Maiden Beauty, a daughter of Revolutionary bred by Sandy Glenn Stables; and Ice Princess, a daughter of Palace Malice bred by Mina Equivest, are part of the six-member field for the 9-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.
