Fillies lead strong day at OBS April sale

April 19th, 2024

Hip 613, a filly by Munnings bred by West End Thoroughbreds LLC, sold for $350,000 during strong session at the OBS April sale Thursday. Photo courtesy of Niall Brennan Stables.

A pair of fillies sold for $350,000 and another brought $300,000 to spark a strong showing by New York-breds during Thursday’s third session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April 2-year-olds in training sale.

That trio of New York-breds – daughters of Munnings, Omaha Beach and Maclean’s Music – were part of a group of 11 that sold for six figures and five that commanded final bids of $235,000 or more.

Trainer John Kimmel, agent for Nedlaw Stables, landed the first $350,000 filly when he signed for Hip 613, a daughter of Munnings out of the stakes-winning New York-bred Posse mare Sheriffa. Bred by West End Thoroughbreds LLC and foaled at Edition Farm in Hyde Park, the filly originally sold for $160,000 to Niall Brennan, agent for JR International Holdings, at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She breezed an eighth in :10 during presale workouts.

Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, the filly is the fifth foal out of $469,984-earner Sheriffa. She’s the dam of three New York-bred winners – Bobbies, Flattering Gal and Kid Billy – and the unraced 3-year-old Nyquist gelding Home Front who sold for $125,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale.

Hip 637, a daughter of Omaha Beach bred by Joseph DeRico, also brought $350,000 Thursday at the OBS April sale. Photo courtesy of Wavertree Stables.

Bloodstock agent Justin Casse bought the second $350,000 filly, Hip 637, a daughter of Omaha Beach out of the winning Pulpit mare Sister Margaret. Bred by Joseph DeRico and foaled at River Valley Farm in Gansevoort, the filly originally sold to Bronco Bloodstock for $65,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale.

Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables Inc., agent, the filly breezed an eighth in :9.4 during presale workouts. She’s the fifth foal out of Sister Margaret, who is out of New York-bred stakes winner Dance Gal Dance and is the dam of the stakes-placed New York-bred Palace Malice 3-year-old filly Maggy’s Palace.

Those two fillies played a role in strong returns for New York-breds Thursday. OBS reported sales on 16 of 18 New York-breds offered in the session for a total of $2,627,000, an average price of $164,188. Overall, 43 New York-breds have sold for $5,453,000, an average price of $126,814.

Hip 611, a filly by Maclean’s Music and half-sister to New York-bred Grade 1 winner Varda, sold for $300,000 to Mike Ryan, agent. Bred by Masters 2013 LLC and foaled at Song Hill Thoroughbreds in Mechanicville, the filly is out of the winning Sky Mesa mare She’ll Be Right. She’s the dam of Varda, winner of the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes in 2020 and a $1.15 million broodmare prospect sale at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale. She’ll Be Right is also the dam of Grade 3-placed winner Big Family, stakes-placed winner Getouttamyway and three other winners.

Thursday’s session also featured the sale of Hip 870, a daughter of New York-based freshman sire Honest Mischief to Carson McCord for $235,000. Bred by Sequel Stallions New York LLC, foaled at Sequel New York in Hudson and consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, the filly is out of the unraced Woodman mare Woodflower. She’s the dam of nine winners, including stakes winner and $167,560-earner Magna Rose and stakes-placed $274,820-earner Where’s Dominic.

Honest Mischief stands for $6,500 at Sequel New York in Hudson.

Hip 752, a colt by three-time leading New York-based sire Central Banker, also factored in Thursday’s six-figure haul on a bid of $140,000 from BSW/Crow, agent for Team Hanley & 30 Year Farm. Bred by Spruce Lane Farm, Edition Farm, Mashnee Stables, Copper Beach Stables and partners and foaled at Edition Farm in Hyde Park, the filly is out the second foal out of the unraced Candy Ride mare Tanmawwy. An $8,000 purchase out of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale, the filly then sold for $32,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale to Bronco Bloodstock. She was consigned at the OBS April sale by Wavertree Stables, agent.

Central Banker stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs.

The sale concludes with the final session at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

 

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Broman-bred juveniles shine at OBS April

April 18th, 2024

Hip 411, a colt by Vekoma named Rookie Racer bred by Chester and Mary Broman, sold for $800,000 to highlight Wednesday’s bidding at the OBS April sale. Photo courtesy of Sequel Bloodstock.

A pair of colts bred by Chester and Mary Broman, including a son of multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma that commanded a bid of $800,000, highlighted the action during the second session of the Ocala Breeders Sales Co.’s April 2-year-olds in training sale Wednesday.

Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing Stable, signed for Hip 411, a son of Vekoma out of the winning Bernardini mare Newbie. Bred by the Bromans and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, the colt named Rookie Racer was consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, agent. He breezed an eighth in 9.4 during presale workouts and was the co-fourth most expensive juvenile sold during the second session.

The colt is the seventh foal out of Newbie, who is the dam of Grade 3 winner Classy Edition, multiple stakes winner and $516,738-earner Newly Minted and stakes-placed winner New Girl in Town.

Classy Edition, who sold for $550,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, won six of 10 starts including the Grade 3 Royal Delta in 2023 at Gulfstream Park. She is a finalist for 2023 champion New York-bred older dirt female honors.

Hip 487, a colt by Game Winner named Win Me Gold and bred by Chester and Mary Broman, sold for $190,000 Wednesday at OBS. Photo courtesy of Sequel Bloodstock.

Hip 487, a colt by Game Winner named Win Me Gold and also bred by the Bromans, went to Mr. B LLC, agent for Golden Bear Racing on a bid of $190,000.

The gray or roan colt, who breezed an eighth in 9.4, is out of the Grade 3-winning Silver City mare Promise Me Silver. Purchased in foal to Ghostzapper at the 2020 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, Promise Me Silver won 10 of 14 starts including the Grade 3 Eight Belles Stakes in 2015 at Churchill Downs, and earned $486,681.

Promise Me Silver is the dam of winners Cyclone and Silver Smoke, along with the New York-bred 3-year-old Ghostzapper filly Pont Neuf who sold for $100,000 at last year’s OBS March sale.

Hip 592, a daughter of New York-based freshman sire Honest Mischief, brought the second session’s top price for a New York-bred filly on a bid of $30,000 from Gatsas Stables. Bred by Sequel Stallions NY LLC and Scott Miller and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, the filly is out of the Tiznow mare Sea Gazer. Consigned by Universal Performance Horses, agent, the filly breezed a furlong in 10.1 and was a $32,000 RNA at last year’s OBS October yearling sale.

OBS reported sales on 12 of the 18 New York-breds offered during Wednesday’s session for a total of $1,477,000, an average price of $123,083. Overall, 27 New York-breds have sold for $2,826,000, an average price of $104,667.

The sale continues with the third of four sessions at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

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Successful breeder, owner Spielman passes at 83

April 17th, 2024

Michael Spielman, as at home watching a race from the backstretch at Saratoga as an owner’s box in the clubhouse, passed away in early April.

By Tom Law

Longtime successful New York owner and breeder Michael Spielman, who made the shrewd purchase of Compliance out of a horses of racing age sale and played a key role in the stallion becoming a leader in the Empire State, died in early April in South Florida at the age of 83.

A native of Brooklyn who grew up in Cedarhurst, New York, Spielman attended Lawrence High School and Union College. He met his wife Alix during those years and the couple later had three daughters – Amy, Wendy and Stacey.

A longtime resident of Oyster Bay, New York, Spielman ran a manufacturing company in Hudson. Spielman stayed in touch with his many friends from childhood throughout his life and joined with one of those friends, the late owner and breeder Richard Bomze, in 1982 to purchase Compliance as a stallion prospect for $125,000 out of the Windfields Farm dispersal at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga horses of racing age sale.

A stakes-placed son of Northern Dancer and full-brother to eventual European classic winner El Gran Senor and Group 1 winner Try My Best, Compliance started his stallion career in New York at Keane Stud in Amenia. He later stood at The Stallion Park in Millbrook. One of the Empire State’s leading sires of all-time, Compliance is perhaps best known for siring full brothers Fourstardave and Fourstars Allstar.

“He loved the early morning workouts, talking with the trainers, going back to the barn and chatting and sharing stories with other horse people,” Spielman’s family said. “As much as he enjoyed the owner’s box, he equally if not more loved watching a race from the backstretch in Saratoga. He would take everyone there.”

Top horses bred by Spielman include multiple graded stakes winner Casa Eire and stakes winners Seminole Spirt and Dreamboat Annie.

Casa Eire and Seminole Spirt were foaled at Tom and Dr. Mia Gallo’s Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge. Tom Gallo, former president of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., remembered Spielman as relaxed and savvy.

“I knew him for years and years. We did a lot of business, not lately, but for a long time,” Gallo said. “He was a real, super, easy-going guy, but he was game. He put his money where his mouth was.”

Casa Eire, a daughter of Compliance out of the Upper Case mare Casarette, went 4-4-3 in 30 starts and earned $279,778. She won the Grade 3 Astoria Breeders’ Cup Stakes as a 2-year-old on the dirt at Belmont Park and defeated males in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes as a 3-year-old on the turf at Belmont. Casa Eire also won the Egret Stakes at the Meadowlands, placed in the Grade 2 Adirondack and Grade 3 Miss Grillo and placed in five other stakes.

Seminole Spirt compiled a record of 6-9-9 in 61 starts, over eight seasons and including a lengthy stint over jumps, and earned $198,320. Third in the Empire Stakes and fourth in the Grade 3 Pilgrim, the son of Compliance out of the Hasty Flyer mare Hello Poppy won the Damon Runyon in 1993.

Dreamboat Annie, a daughter of Freud out of the Honour and Glory mare Extra Impact, won the 2015 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Belmont. She won four of 17 starts with five placings and earned $195,645.

Spielman also teamed with Bomze to purchase Morning Bob for a price reported to be more than $1 million in May 1984 and before making a run at the 116th running of the Belmont Stakes.

Previously trained by Woody Stephens and in the same barn as the likes of Swale and Devil’s Bag, Morning Bob won the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby in late May for his prior connections and started for Mike-Rich Stable in the Belmont 11 days later. Supplemented for $7,500, Morning Bob finished third and 7 lengths behind Swale in the Belmont.

“He loved the excitement of owning and racing horses, especially taking Morning Bob to the Belmont, but the real joy to him was being around the stables, especially in Saratoga,” Spielman’s family said. “Of course he loved Belmont, and later Gulfstream, but our summers in Saratoga were the highlight of his love for racing.”

Morning Bob made 25 additional starts for Spielman and Bomze after the Belmont and through the end of the 1985 season, winning the Grade 2 Excelsior Handicap and placing in six other stakes, including the 1984 Travers at Saratoga.

“I had mares on my farm for him for years and years,” Gallo said. “He was the nicest guy in the world, always had a smile on his face and never had a bad word to say about anybody. He invested a lot, had a farm in Hudson and at one time owned like 20 something mares.”

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Mendelssohn filly leads at OBS April opener

April 17th, 2024

Hip 197, a filly by Mendelssohn bred by David and Christine Stack, sold for $210,000 Tuesday at the OBS April sale. Photo courtesy of Niall Brennan Stables.

A filly by Mendelssohn from the family of graded stakes winners Caroline Thomas and Bit of Whimsy sold for $210,000 to highlight the New York-bred returns during Tuesday’s opening session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April 2-year-olds in training sale.

Phil Hager’s Taproot Bloodstock signed for Hip 197, named Tralee Girl, on behalf of trainer Christophe Clement.

Bred by David and Christine Stack and foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, the filly is the first foal out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Kerry Girl. Unplaced in one start, Kerry Girl is out of Grade 2 winner and $406,387-earner Caroline Thomas, who is out of Grade 1 winner Bit of Whimsy.

Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, Tralee Girl turned in an eighth-mile breeze in :10 during presale workouts. She originally sold for $50,000 to Ryston Stables at last year’s OBS October yearling sale.

Tralee Girl was one of six New York-breds to sell for $100,000 or more during the opening session. OBS reported sales on 15 of the 20 New York-breds offered Tuesday for a total of $1,349,000, an average price of $89,933.

Hip 253, a filly by Vino Rosso bred by Gold Square, sold for $190,000 Tuesday at the OBS April sale. Photo courtesy of Wavertree Stables.

Hip 253, a filly by Vino Rosso who breeze in 9.4 during presale workouts, sold for $190,000 to Carolyn Wilson. Bred by Gold Square LLC and foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, the filly is the first foal out of the winning Super Ninety Nine mare Little Miss Raelyn.

Consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables Inc., agent, the filly originally sold for $65,000 to Bronco Bloodstock at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Lucky Man Racing LLC paid the highest price for a New York-bred colt during the opener, going to $140,000 for Hip 37, a colt by Tapiture. Bred by Phillips Racing Partnership, Christopher Elser and George Elser and foaled at Song Hill Thoroughbreds in Mechanicville, the colt is out of the winning Kitten’s Joy mare Full of Joy. A half-brother to stakes-placed winner Thirty Four Coupe, the colt breezed an eighth in :10 during presale workouts.

Consigned by Harris Training Center LLC, agent, the colt sold for $30,000 to HTC at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale.

Hip 204, a daughter of Solomini who breezed in 9.4 during presale workouts, commanded the top price for a juvenile by a New York-based stallion on a bid of $95,000 from Clear Stars Stable. Bred by Torie Gladwell, foaled at Stonegate Stables in Fort Edward and consigned by Top Line Sales, the filly is the second foal out of the Into Mischief mare Kiska.

Solomini, a 9-year-old son of Curlin who currently ranks third on the New York general sire list, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs.

The sale continues with the second of four sessions at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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Owner, breeder Sanford Bacon dies at 95

April 15th, 2024

Sanford Bacon, who bred New York-bred superstars Say Florida Sandy and Dancin Renee, passed away last week. NYRA Photo.

Successful and longtime New York owner and breeder Sanford Bacon passed away April 12 at a rehabilitation facility in South Florida. Bacon’s death at age 95 was first reported by Daily Racing Form.

Bacon bred and raced New York-bred champions Say Florida Sandy and Dancin Renee – half out of the Sweet Candy mare Lolli Lucka Lolli who have stakes named in their honor on the NYRA circuit – along with stakes winners Ricky Rachel and Ete Indien.

Say Florida Sandy, campaigned by Bacon for his first 15 starts, earned New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion sprinter honors in 2000 and 2001. Also honored as champion New York-bred 4-year-old and up male in 2001 and champion New York-bred 2-year-old in 1996, Say Florida Sandy won 33 of 98 starts, including five graded stakes, and earned $2,085,408.

Dancin Renee also earned New York-bred Horse of the Year honors, in 1997, along with champion sprinter and 4-year-old and up female honors that season. She won 14 of 21 starts and earned $490,258 racing for her owner and breeder Bacon. Dancin Renee is the dam of Risky Rachel, who won nine of 27 starts and earned $493,736 for Bacon.

Lolli Lucka Lolli was a multiple winner campaigned by Bacon’s Bacon Barn. She was named New York-bred Broodmare of the Year in 1997 and 2001.

Bacon campaigned Ete Indien in partnership with several other owners including trainer Patrick Biancone. The son of Summer Front won three of eight starts, including the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes in 2020 at Gulfstream Park, and finished third in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby.

Bacon’s breeding program earned national headlines in 2018 when a New York-bred colt by Scat Daddy out of Risky Rachel – later named Yale and campaigned by Coolmore in Ireland – sold for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-olds in training sale.

Bacon is survived by his daughter Jill Brookner and granddaughters Erin and Rachael.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Montefiore Cemetery, 121-83 Springfield Boulevard, St. Albans, New York. Funeral arrangement are being directed by Hellman Memorial Chapels in Spring Valley, New York.

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Central Banker filly Sunday Girl rolls in NYSS Park Avenue

April 14th, 2024

Sunday Girl improves to 2-for-2 with victory in Sunday’s Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Sunday Girl ran to her odds and added another stakes winner to three-time leading New York sire Central Banker’s resume with a victory in Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct.

The 3-year-old filly, fresh from an eye-catching debut victory February 10 at Aqueduct, rolled to a 3-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Park Avenue under Katie Davis. Owned by Mitre Box Stable, Clear Stars Stable and Eighth Note Stable and trained by David Duggan, Sunday Girl won in 1:16.91 as the 6-5 favorite in the field of eight.

“I gave her [Davis] no instructions,” Duggan said. “I knew she [Sunday Girl] was going to be a little bit sharper again and she had a clear trip on the outside. She had to pass the test today and she did that. The question mark going in was seasoning and she passed that test.”

Longshot Bustin Time took the early initiative in the Park Avenue, setting the pace through the opening quarter-mile in :22.36 with Davis and Sunday Girl content to track from her outside down the backstretch.

“Honestly the first time she ran, she broke great, but she was more, ‘What’s going on?’ kind of thing,” Davis said. “She broke out of the gate and was like ‘what do you want me to do,’ but she was nicely in my hands. Today, the post really helped us nicely and I got to take advantage of the outside post and being where I wanted to be and she was game.

Sunday Girl pulled Davis to the lead around the bend and approaching the half in :45.18. In control coming off the turn, Sunday Girl spurted away in the stretch as My Shea D Lady, Fast and Frisky and Sohana tried to cut into her advantage. Sunday Girl switched leads late and held off her rivals in hand, cruising under the wire as her sire’s 13th blacktype winner.

“I knew warming up,” Davis said about when she knew Sunday Girl was ready. “The pony guy goes, ‘Oh my god’ and I go, ‘Oh, I know, if you want to stop galloping, I’m good, we can keep her calm and relaxed.’ A filly like that the best thing you can do is keep their heart rate down and let them know it’s OK.”

My Shea D Lady, a stakes winner in her final start of 2023, finished second in her 3-year-old debut and led a 2-3-4-5 finish for her sire Solomini with Sohana third, Fast and Frisky fourth and Handle On You fifth.

Sunday Girl collected $110,000 for her connections in the Park Avenue to boost her earnings to $148,500. Duggan said Sunday Girl could show up next in the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies on the Sunday, June 9 card of the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

“You roll on to the next challenge that they give us which will probably be the Bouwerie at Saratoga,” he said. “If she gets seven-eighths – there will be a different type of horse coming in there, so with a little more time and maturity you’d like to think that you’re going to improve again. I don’t think she needs to improve a whole lot but that was quite a nice performance today.

“The punches are going to get tougher now. I’m very realistic. You’re in a good position going into the next stake. If she holds form or improves a little bit, she’ll be right there.”

Sunday Girl brought the highest price for a New York-bred in the open portion of the 2022 OBS October yearling sale on a bid of $43,000 from Kathryn Martin. Mitre Box Stables purchased her for $100,000 about seven months later at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, out of the de Meric Sales consignment.

Bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds LLC and Spruce Lane Farm and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, the chestnut filly is out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Lady Daphne.

Sunday Girl is a half-sister to Lady Jasmine, a New York-bred daughter of Cairo Prince also bred by McMahon and Spruce Lane who won her debut in 2022 at Saratoga Race Course. She’s earned $79,068 in 11 starts. Lady Daphe is also the dam of the winning New York-bred Laoban filly Proper Grammar, who pushed her bankroll to $53,134 this month.

Lady Daphne, purchased by McMahon of Saratoga for $17,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Solomini and a yearling full brother to the Park Avenue winner.

Central Banker, a three-time defending leading sire in New York, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. Solomini also stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

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Antonio of Venice dominates NYSS Times Square

April 14th, 2024

Antonio of Venice rolls to another stakes victory in Sunday’s Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Antonio of Venice followed up on convincing stakes victory last month with another professional performance winning Sunday’s $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct.

The 3-year-old son of the late former leading New York-based freshman sire Laoban collected his third stakes victory in the Times Square, adding the 6 1/2-furlong stakes to his victory in the March 17 Damon Runyon and last year’s $500,000 Great White Way division of the NYSS.

Under regular pilot Manny Franco as the 6-5 favorite in the field of seven, Antonio of Venice won by 2 1/4 lengths over 2-1 second choice Doc Sullivan with 34-1 first-time starter Grand Opening third. Antonio of Venice won in 1:15.32 over the fast track.

“He looks like he’s improving every time,” said winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who co-owns the colt with Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone and Hibiscus Stables. “The other day when I worked him in the morning, I looked at my watch and I said, ‘wow.’ This horse is just in a different league right now, so we’re just happy he keeps improving and hopefully keeps doing that.”

Franco, aboard for Antonio of Venice’s last four starts which include those three stakes victories, also noticed the improvement.

“I want to give all the credit to the horse, the team, and Rudy Rodriguez,” Franco said. “The horse is turning good at the right time. He’s improving every race he runs and you could see today that he just ran really hard. I’m just happy to be on him and part of the win.”

Bred by Cypress Creek Equine LLC, Antonio of Venice sold for $35,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale and for the same price at the 2023 OBS March sale. Antonio of Venice is the third foal out of Stella Performance, who also produced winning full siblings to the multiple stakes winner winner in New York-breds Modern Midas ($79,860 in earnings) and I’m Wide Awake ($158,603).

Stella Performance is also the dam of yearling New York-bred colt by McKinzie and filly by Keepmeinmind born February 18 in New York, and both bred by Cypress Creek Equine LLC.

A maiden winner at Saratoga Race Course in his third start, Antonio of Venice finished off the board in his first two stakes tries in Skidmore at Saratoga and Aspirant at Finger Lakes before a victory in the $500,000 Great White Way in mid-December. He started the season with a runner-up effort in the Rego Park in late January at Aqueduct before a 9 1/4-length victory in the Damon Runyon March 17.

The victory in the Times Square boosted Antonio of Venice’s earnings to $535,744.

Rodriguez kept the door open for several possible spots for Antonio of Venice.

“We’re going to enjoy the New York-bred, Stallion Series, maybe we take him to Finger Lakes,” he said. “Maybe we’ll take him to Saratoga, to Finger Lakes, and then try Saratoga again. We’ll see.”

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Bustin Bay shines at NY Claiming Championship

March 30th, 2024

Bustin Bay, less than a week removed from runner-up in Biogio’s Rose Stakes, wins the Sis City starter on NY Claiming Championship card at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Winning Move Stable’s Bustin Bay, six days removed from a runner-up stakes effort that came just 10 days after an open-company allowance-optional victory, led the New York-bred contingent during Saturday’s New York Claiming Championship at Aqueduct.

Bustin Bay, a 6-year-old daughter of Bustin Stones, rolled to a front-running 2 3/4-length victory in the $75,000 Sis City starter for fillies and mares that started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2023-24. Kendrick Carmouche rode the winner for trainer Linda Rice.

Bred by Robert Rosenthal, Peter Rosenthal and Martin Greenberg, Bustin Bay improved to 13-for-43 with nine seconds, six thirds and $740,490 with the Sis City victory.

Claimed by Rice for $45,000 out of a victory in a state-bred allowance-optional September 24 during the Belmont at the Big A meeting, Bustin Bay finished second in the March 24 Biogio’s Rose Stakes at 1 mile at Aqueduct. Racing on the lead in the Sis City at the same distance, Bustin Bay clicked off splits of :23.50, :46.39 and 1:11.24 en route to victory over Movie Moxie in 1:36.36 over the fast track.

Bustin Bay is one of three winners out of the multiple stakes-winning Frost Giant mare Frosty Bay, who is also the dam of New York-breds Frosty Invasion ($86,680) and Icey Cash ($24,447).

The Sis City victory also produced significant awards for Bustin Bay’s connections – $16,500 to the breeders, $4,125 to stallion and $8,250 to the owners.

The New York Claiming Championship card featured six starter allowance events at various distances. Sue Ellen Mishkin, a 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Mohaymen owned and trained by Rice, also finished second in the $55,000 Videogenic on the card.

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Set stays perfect in Cutler Bay Stakes

March 30th, 2024

Set, a son of Oscar Performance bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, wins Saturday’s Cutler Bay Stakes. Lauren King/Gulfstream Park Photo.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ and Gary Barber’s Set stayed undefeated Saturday with a victory in the $125,000 Cutler Bay to kick off the stakes portion of the Florida Derby Day card at Gulfstream Park.

Bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, the son of Oscar Performance added the 7 1/2-furlong turf stakes to his victory at the same trip February 24 at Gulfstream. The 3-5 favorite in the field of seven, Set raced in second early under Emisael Jaramillo as King Julien set the pace. King Julien led by a length through the opening quarter-mile in :24.14 and a half-length through the half in :47.83 over the firm turf.

King Julien didn’t have much left to hold off Set around the turn as the New York-bred quickly challenged and took over by the time the field reached the stretch. The only pressure Set endured down the was from his own jockey’s urging with no serious challenges coming from the rest of the field. Set won by 1 1/4 lengths over Double Your Money in 1:28.10.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Barber purchased Set for $150,000 at last year’s OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale from consignor Gene Recio.

Trained by Mark Casse, Set is out of the Irish-bred Strategic Prince daughter Three Am Tour, who won three races in her career. Set is the second stakes performer for the mare, who is also the dam of the New York-bred stakes-placed Busy Morning. Overall, she has produced three winners from four to race.

“He trained really well going into his first race, and we were pretty high on him,” said Casse’s assistant Nick Tomlinson. “We weren’t 100 percent sure if he was fit enough but he still got there. He trained wonderfully again coming into this race. Jaramillo came into the paddock and said that there was some speed on the inside. I said, ‘It’s up to you. You know him best.’ He sat off them, made a nice run and kept on with it.

“He’s a lovely horse. … I think as everybody knows Graham [Motion] had him before us and he gave him a lovely foundation, so a lot of the credit has to go to his crew, as well. Lovely horse, bright future, and we’re excited to see what happens.”

Three Am Tour is out of a half-sister to the British stakes placed Falak with her granddam a three-quarter sister to top broodmare Maryinsky. The pedigree also includes Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner and Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile winner War of Will among the 10 Grade 1 winners under Set’s fourth dam Minnie Hauk.

Three AM Tour produced a colt from the first crop of Hidden Lake Farm’s Galilean last year before returning to Oscar Performance for a full sibling to Set.

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TRF, NYTB collaborate on sanctuary farm search in New York

March 25th, 2024

NYTB logoThe Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. are collaborating on an effort to expand the TRF sanctuary farm network in New York with a focus on bringing New York-breds back to the Empire State for their retirement.

The TRF, the country’s oldest and largest Thoroughbred retirement operation, set a goal of finding farms in the state to home rescued and retired New York-breds in 2024. Farm owners in the state are encouraged to consider partnering with the TRF to provide land for these Thoroughbreds, most of whom were raised, raced and reared in New York.

“It would be so impactful for the TRF to have a sanctuary farm in New York,” said TRF Chief Operating Officer Maggie Sweet. “These horses are born here, raised here and race here and it would be a true full-circle moment to retire them here as well.”

Based in Saratoga Springs and founded in 1983, the TRF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization entirely supported by private donations from individuals, organizations, and foundations.

The TRF is also known for its Second Chances Program, which provides incarcerated individuals with life-changing vocational training through an accredited equine care and stable management program. At eight correctional facilities across the U.S., including one juvenile justice facility, this program offers second careers to its horses and a second chance at life for program graduates upon release from prison.

The search for additional sanctuary farms in New York and the Northeast became necessary due to demand. The TRF will look to start small – two farms with 10 horses apiece, for example – with a goal to grow to a comfortable level based on need and support from the New York racing industry.

“We are thrilled to share this opportunity from the TRF with farm owners in New York state to create accredited sanctuary sites for the care of equine athletes beyond their career at the racetrack,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. Executive Director Najja Thompson. “Thoroughbred aftercare is of the utmost importance to our organization and members. The TRF has proven to be a leader in that regard.”

Farm owners in New York who are interested in a partnership are encouraged to contact Chelsea O’Reilly, TRF Director of Equine Programs, at chelsea@trfinc.org.

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