Empire Showcase Special

October 25th, 2024

Spirit of St Louis returns to defend title in Sunday’s Mohawk on Empire Showcase Day. Coglianese Photo.

The biggest day of the year for the New York-bred contingent unfolds Sunday with the annual Empire Showcase Day card.

Ten races worth $1.75 million are on tap for the card, hosted again during the Belmont at the Big A meeting, including eight stakes with total purses of $1.6 million. The Empire Classic and Empire Distaff go as the co-featured events, but there’s plenty of other offerings to keep racing fans and horsemen intrigued. From 2-year-olds to older turf horses, there’s a little bit for everyone’s tastes.

The team at The Saratoga Special put together another Empire Showcase Special to set the stage, with some of the favorites readers crave during our summer publishing schedule. Good luck to all the breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys and fans participating. Enjoy.

By the Numbers

5: Entries apiece on Empire Showcase Day for trainers Todd Pletcher, Linda Rice and Rudy Rodriguez.

49: Trainers with runners on Empire Showcase Day.

93: New York-breds entered for the 10-race card, including 10 also-eligibles.

250,000: Dollars in purses for the co-featured Empire Classic and Empire Distaff.

1.6 million: Dollars in stakes purses for Empire Showcase Day.

Tricky Temper, winner of this year’s Union Avenue Handicap at Saratoga, takes on older foes again in the Iroquois. Coglianese Photo.

6: Runners bred or co-bred on the card by Sequel Thoroughbreds – Sacrosanct (Sleepy Hollow), Boston’s Phinest (Maid of the Mist), Tricky Temper and Leeloo (Iroquois), Dakota Gold (Mohawk) and Jackson Heights (Empire Classic).

5: Entrants on the card bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman – Masterof the Tunes (Ticonderoga), Spirit of St Louis (Mohawk), Donegal Surges and Bank Frenzy (Empire Classic) and Pay the Juice (Sleepy Hollow).

4: Runners on the card for Central Banker – Bank Frenzy and General Banker in the Empire Classic, Light Man in the Hudson and Vitalize in the second. Central Banker stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

3: Runners on the card for Solomini – Smilensaycheese in the Sleepy Hollow, Trail of Gold in the Maid of the Mist and New York Scrappy in the second. Solomini stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

2: Entries on the card for leading freshman sire Honest Mischief – Sacrosanct in the Sleepy Hollow and Boston’s Phinest in the Maid of the Mist. Honest Mischief stands at Sequel Stallions New York.

2: Entries on the card for second-ranked freshman sire King for a Day – Olivia’s Wish in the Maid of the Mist and Soontobeking in the Sleepy Hollow. King for a Day stands at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions.

918,600: Career earnings in dollars for Empire Distaff contender Venti Valentine, most of any filly or mare on the card.

1,283,870: Career earnings in dollars for City Man, the highest of any runner on Showcase Day.

Worth Repeating
“Empire Showcase Day is the annual marquee Championship event for New York owners, breeders, and horsemen who participate in our program. The day is a full display of the quality, competitiveness, excitement, and financial incentives and awards available to horses who are bred and race in New York. We are proud to partner with NYRA to showcase why the New York-bred program is the best in the country.”
Najja Thompson, executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.

As for the races …
Race 1. Maiden special weight, $75,000, 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs, turf. Post time 12:40 p.m. The day kicks off with overflow field of juveniles, including the Vekoma gelding Vekinda for owner-breeder-trainer George Weaver. He finished a good third in debut at 14-1 and figures to be shorter price this time around.

Race 2. Maiden special weight, $75,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 mile, turf. Post time 1:11 p.m. Older maidens take their turn on the grass course. Patronage came from deep in the field last time to finish second off long layoff and should get it done here with Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Todd Pletcher. Don’t sleep on Charles J for Joe Lee and Flavien Prat.

Mo Plex (left) meets Soontobeking again in the Sleepy Hollow. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand

Race 3. Sleepy Hollow Stakes. $200,000, 2-year-olds, 1 mile. Post time 1:42 p.m. The first of eight straight stakes and a good one. Graded stakes winner Mo Plex returns to the New York-bred ranks and takes on Sacrosanct, Pay the Juice and Soontobeking.

Race 4. Maid of the Mist Stakes. $200,000, 2-year-olds, fillies, 1 mile. Post time 2:13 p.m. The fillies take their turn and it’s With the Angels, Valtellina, Carmen’s Candy Jar and Trail of Gold – the first four from last months’ Joseph A. Gimma – back for more.

Race 5. Empire Distaff Stakes. $250,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles. Post time 2:44 p.m. Bill Mott changes course with Sterling Silver, who stretches out to 9 furlongs for the first time. Daughter of Cupid loves the Big A – she’s 4-for-9 with four placings – and meets tough competitor in Venti Valentine in co-featured event.

Race 6. Iroquois Stakes. $150,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 1/2 furlongs. Post time 3:15 p.m. Sterling Silver would have been tough here but a solid group remains with Leeloo, Tricky Temper and Security Code all in the mix.

Race 7. Hudson Stakes. $150,000, 3-year-olds and up, 6 1/2 furlongs. Post time 3:46 p.m. Looms Boldly ran lights out to win the John Morrissey in early August at Saratoga and figures to be tough again here against familiar foes Factually Correct and Light Man. Old veteran Rotknee returns to defend his title off useful prep at Finger Lakes, while Sheriff Bianco eyes an upset.

Moonage Daydream, fending off Whatlovelookslike in the John Hettinger, takes on that foe and others in the Ticonderoga. Coglianese Photo.

Race 8. Ticonderoga Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles, turf. Post time 4:17 p.m. Switch back to the grass course for another battle. Moonage Daydream asserted herself toward the top of the division with back-to-back victories in the Yaddo and John Hettinger, and looks to make it three straight for Jorge Abreu. She takes on Whatlovelookslike, Caldwell Luvs Gold and last year’s runner-up Silver Skillet, among others.

Race 9. Mohawk Stakes. $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles, turf. Post time 4:48 p.m. Spirit of St Louis ventured outside the state and state-bred ranks for the first time in his last start, finishing a credible fifth in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland. Now he’s back on more friendly ground to take on familiar group that includes City Man, Dakota Gold, Itsallcomintogetha and Jerry the Nipper. Hush of a Storm asserted himself in the divisional race last time in the Ashley T. Cole and could be tough for Brad Cox and Flavien Prat.

Race 10. Empire Classic Stakes. $250,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles. Post time 5:19 p.m. Eclectic group for the co-feature, including Evan Shipman winner Bank Frenzy, Commentator winner Drake’s Passage and last-out winners Donegal Surges, Russian Realm, General Banker and Cicciobello. The winner gets a big leg up on the older New York-bred title.

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Yaupon colt sparks Fasig-Tipton Kentucky finale

October 25th, 2024

Hip 1430, a colt by Yaupon bred by Danzel Brendemuehl and Colleen Smith, sold for $300,000 during Thursday’s final session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Photo courtesy of Hunter Valley Farm.

Three New York-bred yearlings sold for six figures – led by a colt by Yaupon that brought $300,000 – during the final session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale Thursday in Lexington. That trio brought the overall haul of six-figure New York-breds sold to 10 over the four sessions.

Winchell Thoroughbreds purchased the Yaupon colt, named Whiskey Point and offered as Hip 1430. Bred by Danzel Brendemuehl and Colleen Smith and foaled at The New Hill Farm in Hoosick Falls, Whiskey Point is the first foal out of the winning Bernardini mare Capable.

Whiskey Point, originally sold as weanling for $80,000 to Rexy Bloodstock at last year’s Keeneland November breeding stock sale, was consigned at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky by Hunter Valley Farm, agent.

Capable, the winner of three of 22 starts and $52,839, is out of the Grade 1-placed stakes-winning City Zip mare Achiever’s Legacy and is a half-sister to stakes winner Tone It Up.

Fasig-Tipton reported sales on 18 of the 21 New York-breds in the final session for $897,000, an average price of $49,833 and median of $20,000. Overall, 88 New York-breds sold for $3,818,000, an average price of $43,386 and median of $17,500.

Hip 1345, a colt by Vekoma bred by Annemarie Toomey, sold for $145,000 Thursday at Fasig-Tipton. Photo courtesy of Fort Christopher’s Thoroughbreds.

White Oak Stable purchased the final session’s second highest-priced New York-bred yearling, going to $145,000 for Hip 1345, a colt by Vekoma out of the winning Big Drama mare Big Thrill.

Bred by Annemarie Toomey and consigned by Fort Christopher’s Thoroughbreds LLC, agent, the colt is the fifth foal out of Big Thrill. She’s the dam of three New York-bred winners – Capital Gal, Thethrillofvictory and Big Prankster – and the 2-year-old Vino Rosso filly Aperitif that sold for $62,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Rich Schulhoff landed the session’s final six-figure New York-bred, going to $130,000 for Hip 1451, a filly by Tiz the Law from the family of Hall of Famer Azeri.

Bred by Winter Creek Farm and consigned by Indian Creek, agent, the filly is the first foal out of the Uncle Mo mare Celestia. She’s out of the Grade 2-placed Giant’s Causeway mare Arienza, a daughter of Horse of the Year, multiple Eclipse Award winner and $4,079,820-earner Azeri.

The Tiz the Law filly was a $27,000 RNA at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Celestia is also the dam of a weanling filly by Charlatan born March 8 in New York.

The final session also saw the sale of the most expensive New York-bred by a New York-based sire. Pedro Cevano went to $60,000 to purchase Hip 1272, a colt by Honest Mischief out of the winning More Than Ready mare Ascent.

Bred by Cypress Creek Equine LLC and consigned by C & S Thoroughbreds, the colt is a half-brother to three winners.

Honest Mischief, an 8-year-old son of Into Mischief out of the Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Honest Lady, stood the 2024 season for $6,500 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. Honest Mischief leads the New York freshman sire list with four winners and progeny earnings of more than $412,000 through Thursday.

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Curlin filly shines at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale

October 24th, 2024

Hip 1195, a daughter of Curling and half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Casa Creed, sold for $500,000 Wednesday at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale. Fasig-Tipton photo.

By Tom Law

Kristen Esler, Jeff Raine and Lolly LaRue spent most of Tuesday morning driving around Central Kentucky, scouting out some stallions to breed the Thirty Year Farm mares to in 2025 before returning their attention to the remainder of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.

“We’ve got one more to sell late tomorrow,” said Esler, who owns Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs with her husband Matt. Raine serves as the farm’s advisor while LaRue serves as farm manager.

The one not only sold but sold well. So well that by the end of Wednesday’s third session, Hip 1195 staked a claim as the sale’s top-priced New York-bred and most expensive filly overall. Gary Barber purchased the Curlin filly and half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Casa Creed, going to $500,000 on the advice of Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

“We finished on a real high note,” Esler said Thursday morning. “It was a very satisfying sale, very satisfying. Again, I think I eluded to this when we spoke the other day about following your gut for the right timing. This filly, we knew what we had, she just needed a bit more time to grow into herself. She became what she was supposed to become and we stayed true to what we thought.”

Bred by and foaled at Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs, the filly is the seventh foal out of the unraced Bellamy Road mare Achalaya.

Bred by Thirty Year Farm, Curlin filly is also a half-sister to promising New York-bred juvenile Charlotte’s Heart and graded stakes winner Chess’s Dream. Photo courtesy of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the filly made her second trip through a Fasig-Tipton sales ring after she RNA’d for a reported $475,000 at the Saratoga sale of selected yearlings in August. That price would have made her the most expensive New York-bred at Saratoga, a distinction earned by her 2-year-old half-sister Charlotte’s Heart in 2023.

The New York-bred Authentic filly Charlotte’s Heart, also bred by Thirty Year Farm, sold for $725,000 to Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation on the advice of Casse at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Charlotte’s Heart won her debut August 25 at Saratoga Race Course then finished a fast-closing second in the Glorious Song Stakes October 13 at Woodbine for Casse.

“Charlotte’s Heart, she’s shown some talent right out of the gate,” Esler said. “And now this Curlin filly, we cannot wait to see what she can do. We’re happy with where she’s going. For (Casse) to have this Curlin filly, it just feels right. She’s in the right hands.”

Thirty Year Farm purchased Achalaya, in foal to Charlotte’s Heart, for $725,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She’s the dam of three other winners, including graded stakes winner and $238,908-earner Chess’s Dream.

Casa Creed, who will stand his first season in 2025, retired this summer with a record of 9-5-6 in 36 starts and earnings of $2,691,308. He won back-to-back editions of the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course in 2022 and 2023, along with back-to-back renewals of the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park in 2021 and 2022.

“Achalaya has been so good to us,” Esler said. “We went to see Casa Creed when we were down there. He’s a hometown hero for us. To read, I don’t know exactly what it was, but something like it was seven years and Bill Mott never had to X-ray him too much. Those were the old days of horses I couldn’t wait to see in Saratoga when I was growing up. And now to own his dam is just a blessing. To see the foals she is giving us, we’re absolutely thrilled.”

Achalaya, who was given the 2024 breeding season off, is the dam of a New York-bred weanling filly by Life as Good born May 6.

Hip 1076, a daughter of Vekoma bred by Sylken Stable, sold for $120,000 Wednesday at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Vinery Sales.

Hip 1076, a daughter of Vekoma from the family of graded stakes winners Freefourinternet and Chimes Band, brought the session’s top price for a New York-bred filly. Grassroots Training and Sales went to $120,000 for the filly out of the winning Yes It’s True mare True Pleasure.

Bred by Sylken Stable, foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater and consigned by Vinery Sales, agent, the filly is the fourth foal out of the half-sister to 15-time winner, stakes winner and $838,330-earner Bad Debt and multiple stakes winner Awesome Strong.

Fasig-Tipton reported sales on 26 of the 31 New York-breds offered Wednesday for $1,165,500, an average price of $44,827 and median of $14,500. Overall, 69 New York-breds have sold for $2,919,000, an average price of $42,304 and median of $17,000.

“Today was another excellent session of the Kentucky October yearling sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning Jr. “It’s been a really fun three days so far, seeing the level of energy, the level of activity. It’s been really encouraging. We’re looking forward to the final day (Thursday). We expect the same trends to continue. We’re three-quarters of the way through the sale and statistically, all the indicators are positive.”

The sale concludes with the final session at 10 a.m. Thursday in Lexington.

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Three New York-breds pre-entered for Breeders’ Cup

October 23rd, 2024

Lawrence Goichman’s. homebred Scythian, winner of the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Aqueduct, is one of three New York-breds pre-entered for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. NYRA Photo.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for the 2024 renewal November 1-2 and among the 212 pre-entries are the trio of New York-breds Scythian, Out on Bail and Mi Bago.

Lawrence Goichman’s homebred Scythian, a daughter of two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year and classic winner Tiz the Law, is among the pre-entries for the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf set for November 1.

Trained by Bill Mott, Scythian won the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes October 6 at Aqueduct in her most recent start. She won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on the turf – against males – August 30 at Saratoga Race Course.

A second generation homebred for Goichman and the seventh foal out of the Empire Maker mare Dean Henry, Scythian was foaled at Stone Bridge Farm in Gansevoort. The winner of three of 12 starts, including the 2009 Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga, Dean Henry earned $121,287. She’s produced stakes-placed winner Bonita Cat and winner Dancing Dean, and New York-bred winners Emperor’s Cause, Ascender and Somethingtotellyou.

Out On Bail, a son of New York-bred Horse of the Year and classic winner Tiz the Law, won Saratoga’s Skidmore Stakes. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Out on Bail, a son of Tiz the Law, was pre-entered in the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint also on November 1.

Owned by the partnership of Case Chambers, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and trained by Mike Maker, Out on Bail won back-to-back starts at Saratoga Race Course this summer including the Skidmore Stakes before back-to-back runner-up finishes in stakes company. He finished second last time out in the Indian Summer Stakes October 6 at Keeneland Race Course.

Bred by Matthew Nestor and foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, Out On Bail is the first winner out of the Street Cry mare Judge Lee. Out On Bail originally sold for $40,000 out of the Summerfield consignment at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. He sold for $110,000 to Case Chambers at this year’s OBS March sale.

A two-time winner in seven starts, Judge Lee is the dam of a yearling full brother to Out On Bail also bred by Nestor.

Mi Bago, winner of the Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine, was pre-entered in two Breeders’ Cup races. Michael Burns Photo.

Mi Bago, winner of the Algonquin Stakes October 5 at Woodbine, was pre-entered in the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and the $1 million, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, the 2-year-old son of Vekoma didn’t land a spot in the body of either field for November 1 and wound up relegated to the respective also-eligible lists.

Bred by Highclere Inc. and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Mi Bago is the fifth winner produced by the unraced New York-bred Wabanaki. Mi Bago is a half-brother to seven-time winner Lady Macho (by Mucho Macho Man), What Mightavebeen (Freud), Dawnland (Jimmy Creed) and Weyron (Goldencents). A $62,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale in 2023, Mi Bago was a $90,000 RNA later in the year at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Mi Bago was an impressive maiden winner August 1 at Colonial Downs before being sold privately by CM Thoroughbreds to Barber, who moved him to Casse’s barn. Mi Bago was a non-threatening sixth in the Funny Cide Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day at Saratoga Race Course August 25.

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Authentic filly highlights Day 2 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky

October 23rd, 2024

Hip 602, a filly from the first crop of Authentic bred by Pine Ridge Stables Ltd., sold for $78,000 Tuesday at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

A filly by Horse of the Year and multiple Grade 1-winning freshman sire Authentic commanded a final bid of $78,000 to highlight the second session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale Tuesday in Lexington.

Grassroots Training & Sales purchased the day’s top-priced New York-bred, Hip 602, who is out of the stakes-placed Brethren mare Onebrethatatime. Bred by Pine Ridge Stables Ltd., foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, the filly is the fourth foal out of $133,283-earner Onebrethatatime.

A $97,000 RNA at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale, the filly sold as a weanling for $140,000 to Castleton Way at last year’s Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Pine Ridge Stables, through Morris Bloodstock Services, purchased Onebrethatatime in foal to Audible for $150,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale.

Hip 730, a son of Flatter out of the unraced Yes It’s True mare Real Clever Trick, brought the day’s top price for a New York colt on a bid of $60,000 from English Range Farm.

Hip 730, a colt by Flatter bred by Hidden Lake Farm and 3C Stables, sold for $60,000 Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Mulholland Springs.

Bred by Hidden Lake Farm LLC and 3C Stables LLC, foaled at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater and consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent for Hidden Lake Farm et al, the colt is the 14th foal out of Real Clever Trick. She’s the dam of eight winners, including Grade 2 winner and $195,260-earner Vexor and stakes-placed New York-bred and $66,800-earner Ball Don’t Lie.

Fasig-Tipton reported sales on 19 of the 25 New York-breds offered Tuesday for a total of $431,000, an average price of $22,684 and median of $17,000. Overall, 42 of the 50 New York-breds through the ring have sold for $1,733,500, an average price of $41,274 and median of $17,500.

Hip 656, a daughter of Hidden Lake Farm stallion Galilean, brought the top price for a New York-bred by a New York-based sire through the midway point of the sale. JCE Racing, agent for Legion Bloodstock, went to $40,000 to purchase the filly out of the Vinery Sales consignment.

Bred by and foaled at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater, the filly is out of the winning Talkin Man mare Plinking. She’s the dam of eight winners from 11 foals to race, including stakes-placed New York-breds Jung Man Scott, Deciphering Dreams and Amazing Anne – all by multiple leading New York sire Freud. She also the dam of another winning daughter of Freud, Scribbling Sarah, who produced Grade 1 winner and $497,090-earner Speech.

Galilean, an 8-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the El Prado mare Fresia, stood the 2024 season for $3,500 at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater. His first foals are yearlings.

The sale continues with the third of four sessions at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

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Thirty Year Farm-bred fillies lead Fasig-Tipton opener

October 22nd, 2024

Hip 1, a daughter of Gun Runner bred by Thirty Year Farm, sold for $250,000 Monday at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Paramount Sales.

By Tom Law

A pair of New York-bred fillies bred by Matt and Kristen Esler’s Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs – including one that led off the day – sold for $250,000 to highlight the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale Monday in Lexington.

“One of the lessons we’ve learned in our last seven years is understanding which sale the horses belong in, and this year especially, in following our own gut,” Kristen Esler said Tuesday morning about targeting the Kentucky October sale for some of the farm’s yearlings. “It’s about listening to our gut to get them to the right sale at the right time. That’s what we did here and we accomplished what we set out to do.”

Hip 1, a daughter of Gun Runner out of the Mizzen Mast mare East India, led off the big day and was purchased by Thirty Year Racing and Team Penny. Foaled at Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga Springs and consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, the filly is the sixth foal out of East India, who is the dam of Grade 2 winner and $408,406-earner Ete Indien and winner Dame Joviale.

Thirty Year Farm purchased East India, carrying the Gun Runner filly in utero, for $325,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. East India is also the dam of the unraced 2-year-old War of Will filly Baby Lala.

Hip 148, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro bred by Thirty Year Farm, also sold for $250,000 Monday at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Marquee Bloodstock, agent, purchased Hip 148, a filly by Medaglia d’Oro out of the stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Gotta Go Mo. Also foaled at Thirty Year Farm, she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

“We were very happy with both sales,” said Thirty Year Farm manager Lolly LaRue. “The Medaglia d’Oro filly, who is the first foal out of Gotta Go Mo, she’s grown really well lately … and in six months she really changed into a racy filly. She got a lot of attention and sold well.”

A New York-bred out of the stakes-winning More Than Ready mare Hard to Stay Notgo bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman, Gotta Go Mo went 3-4-2 in 13 starts and earned $176,760. Purchased by the Eslers for $425,000 at the 2019 OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale, Gotta Go Mo finished second behind Caravel in the 2021 The Very One Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Gotta Go Mo is a half-sister to stakes winner Makin My Move.

Thirty Year Farm also bred Hip 34, a filly by Twirling Candy out of the winning Galileo mare Evening Primrose, that sold to Joseph DiRico for $130,000. She was foaled at Thirty Year Farm and consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

“It was a good day,” LaRue said. “It was not the target originally. We would love to be at the August sales (in Saratoga) but we had some young babies, those were April and May fillies (the Medaglia d’Oro and Gun Runner, respectively) and just needed a little more time to grow. We’re happy with how they wound up in October. It’s amazing what two months will do.”

Mike Ryan, agent, purchased the opening session’s top-priced New York-bred colt, going to $160,000 for Hip 338, a son of Practical Joke out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare La Kara Mia.

Bred by Lady Sheila Stable, foaled at Edition Farm in Hyde Park and consigned by Zach Madden’s Buckland Sales, agent, the colt is the first foal out of La Kara Mia, who is out of Eclipse Award winner, New York-bred Horse of the Year, multiple graded stakes winner and $1,563,200-earner La Verdad.

Fasig-Tipton reported sales on 21 of the 25 New York-breds offered in the opening session for a total of $1,281,500, an average price of $61,024 and median of $33,000.

The sale continues with the second of four sessions at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

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Bold Fortune streaks to New York Breeders’ Futurity score

October 21st, 2024

Fortune Farm’s homebred Central Banker gelding Bold Fortune cruises to victory in Monday’s New York Breeders’ Futurity. SV Photography.

Fortune Farm’s homebred Bold Fortune ran back to his monster maiden victory with another eye-popping performance in Monday’s $165,368 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes.

The 2-year-old gelding by multiple leading New York sire Central Banker crushed his six opponents in the 6-furlong Futurity, winning by 7 3/4 lengths under Dylan Davis. Bold Fortune, the 7-5 second choice shipping in from trainer George Weaver’s string at Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma Training Track, added the Futurity to his 10 1/2-length victory in the maiden ranks last month during the Belmont at the Big A meeting.

Davis put Bold Fortune on the lead from the break, outrunning Idyll Gossip, Buttah and 4-5 favorite Under Who’s Radar through the opening quarter-mile in :22.52.

Bold Fortune continued on the lead as In the Chase reached contention around the far turn. Bold Fortune clicked off a half in :44.99 and drew off from there, widening his lead in midstretch to 6 ½ lengths through 5 furlongs in :57.34. Share the Ludt, sixth after the opening quarter, rallied to finish second and was 1 ¾ lengths clear of Under Who’s Radar in third. Buttah, In the Chase, Idyll Gossip and Don Luis completed the field. Bold Fortune won in 1:10.72.

Richard Nicolai leads Bold Fortune and Dylan Davis to the winner’s circle. SV Photography.

Bold Fortune collected $99,220 for the victory, boosting his earnings to $151,270. He finished third in his August 21 debut at Saratoga behind eventual Bertram F. Bongard Stakes winner Sacrosanct.

Bold Fortune also became the latest stakes winner for Central Banker, a 14-year-old son of Speightstown who stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. Central Banker came into the day ranked second on the New York general sire list behind fellow McMahon stallion Bucchero.

Bred by Fortune Farm’s Richard Nicolai and foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, Bold Fortune is the second foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Posse mare Might Be. Runner-up in the 2017 Empire Distaff Handicap at Belmont Park and 2019 Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes at Finger Lakes, Might Be won three of 17 starts and earned $228,605.

Might Be’s first foal, the Central Banker filly Walk With Me, sold for $100,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale. She won her debut last November at Aqueduct before a second to My Shea D Lady in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct. Walk With Me is 1-2-0 in five starts with $162,100 in earnings.

Might Be is also the dam of a yearling New York-bred colt by Uncle Lino who sold for $32,000 to Adelphi Racing Club at this year’s Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale, and a New York-bred weanling filly by Nashville born May 2. Those last two foals were bred by Fortune Farm and Emcee Stable LLC.

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Sweet Brown Sugar delivers in Jack Betta Be Rite

October 21st, 2024

Sweet Brown Sugar improves to 5-for-6 at Finger Lakes in Monday’s Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes. SV Photography.

Richie Rich Stable’s Sweet Brown Sugar continued to show her fondness for Finger Lakes Monday afternoon with a dominating victory over older fillies and mares in the $50,000 Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes.

Facing elder females for the first time in stakes company, the 3-year-old daughter of Collected improved to 5-for-6 at Finger Lakes in the 1 1/16-mile Jack Betta Be Rite. Trained by Paul Barrow and ridden by Jeremias Flores, Sweet Brown Sugar won by 7 lengths over Midtown Lights. Final time over the fast track was 1:47.74.

The 1-5 favorite in the field of eight, Sweet Brown Sugar settled in third early as longshot Saloon Girl set the pace ahead of Inouaintalkintome through the opening quarter-mile in :23.92 and half in :48.45.

Sweet Brown Sugar vied for the lead around the far turn and took over before hitting 6 furlongs in 1:13.82. She drew off from there, widening her advantage to 4 1/2 lengths in midstretch past the mile in 1:40.83. Midtown Lights finished a clear second as the 7-2 second choice under Manny Franco, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 25-1 longshot Shezanarcticqueen with Waitwaitdonttellme fourth.

Sweet Brown Sugar earned $30,000 for the victory and improved to 7-for-11 with a second and a third with earnings of $244,400. She’s won five of nine starts this season, including the East View Stakes in March at Aqueduct and the Niagara Stakes in June at Finger Lakes.

The victory in the Jack Betta Be Rite came 12 days after Sweet Brown Sugar won a 5 1/2-furlong allowance-optional over older fillies and mares at Finger Lakes. She finished second in the New York Oaks and sixth in the Fleet Indian at Saratoga Race Course in her two prior starts.

Bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Sweet Brown Sugar is the first and only foal out of the winning Bodemeister mare Rachel’s Blue Moon. The winner of two of 11 starts and $97,096, Rachel’s Blue Moon raced for the Bromans as a second-generation homebred for the eight-time leading breeders in the Empire State.

Rachel’s Blue Moon is out of the Grade 1-placed stakes-winning El Corredor mare Beautiful But Blue, who is out of the multiple stakes-winning $523,927-earning Dixie Brass mare Beautiful America.

Beautiful But Blue, third in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga in 2012 and winner of three New York-bred stakes on the NYRA circuit that season, is also the dam of stakes-placed Montebello. Beautiful But Blue won five of 17 starts and earned $395,450. Beautiful America won six of 21 starts and earned $523,927 for the Bromans from 2002 to 2004.

Sweet Brown Sugar originally sold for $10,000 through the Sequel New York consignment at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She was then offered as part of the Scenic Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS June sale and brought $32,000 from Nick Hines, agent for Richie Rich Stables.

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Maker’s Candy dominates Genessee Valley Breeders’ Stakes

October 21st, 2024

Maker’s Candy dominates return to Finger Lakes in the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes. SV Photography.

By Paul Halloran

An ownership group led by Paradise Farms made it two wins in a row in the Genessee Valley Breeders’ Stakes at Finger Lakes Monday, when odds-on favorite Maker’s Candy rolled to a 4 3/4-length win.

A year after Barese, owned by Paradise Farms and David Staudacher at the time, won the Genessee Valley, Maker’s Candy made every pole a winning one. Maxis Stable and John Huber are also part of the ownership group of Maker’s Candy, who was bred by Newtownanner Stud and foaled at Jacks Farm on the Hill in Millbrook.

Lady’s Golden Guy broke first from the far outside in a field that scratched down to six, but Manny Franco was intent on getting the lead and hustled Maker’s Candy to the front from the rail. Maker’s Candy was in front by the time they went around the clubhouse turn through a quarter-mile in :24.22.

The lead was a length as they started down the backstretch, and while Franco never really opened up on the field, he was in control throughout. Lady’s Golden Guy got as close as a long neck heading into the far turn after a half-mile in :48.70, but Maker’s Candy gradually extended the advantage down the stretch. The final time was 1:47.08.

Maker’s Candy, a 4-year-old son of Twirling Candy, improved his career line to 6-3-2 from 18 starts with $423,910 in earnings. Out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Purple Cat, Maker’s Candy sold for $97,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Trainer Mike Maker signed for the $200,000 ticket at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-olds in training sale.

Purple Cat, a $550,000 yearling purchase in 2009, has produced two other winners out of six foals to race – Catapult Jack and Deep Space. Maker’s Candy is by far her most successful progeny. Purple Cat is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Sky Diva and stakes winner and the multiple Grade 1-placed Freud mare Quick Little Miss. The family also includes dual Grade 1 winner Pure Clan and Grade 1 winner Finley’sluckycharm.

Purple Cat was sold for $12,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale and foaled a New York-bred Speightster colt named Dream Alliance a few months later. Dream Alliance, who was sold for $20,000 at the 2022 OBS October yearling sale, ran sixth in his career debut August 5 at Finger Lakes.

Barese won six races, including the 2022 New York Derby at Finger Lakes, and more than $550,000 for Paradise Farms and Staudacher before getting claimed by Mertkan Kantarmaci for Diane Balsamo August 1 at Saratoga. The same ownership campaigns 3-year-old standout New York-bred The Wine Steward, who has three wins and three seconds in seven career starts, the only out-of-the-money finish coming in this year’s Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

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Leading New York owner, breeder Mary Broman passes

October 20th, 2024

Mary and Chester Broman in the winner’s circle at Saratoga Race Course. Mary Broman passed away last week at the age of 88. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Mary Rachel Broman, who with her husband Chester established one of New York’s leading breeding and racing operations, passed away October 16 at the age of 88.

Born April 13, 1936, and a resident of Babylon Village, New York, and Wellington, Florida, was devoted wife of Chester Sr., beloved mother of Chester Jr. and his wife Holly, son Christopher and his wife Tamera and the late Rachel Broman. Cherished grandmother of Sarah, Nicholas, Brandon and Hannah, and dear sister of Roseanne McWilliams and Paula Hoey.

The Bromans own and operate Chestertown Farm in the tiny community of the same name in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The couple were honored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. with the state’s Breeder of the Year title eight times, the most recent crown in 2022.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs. Broman,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “In addition to her tremendous accomplishments in the New York-bred program alongside her husband Chester, she was also a warm and welcome presence. We express our deepest condolences to Chester and the entire Broman family.”

The Bromans sit well atop the state’s list of leading breeders for 2024 with purse earnings of $2,256,979 through October 14, along with 42 wins from 227 starts. Stakes winners in 2024 bred by the Bromans include Bank Frenzy (Evan Shipman Handicap), Spirit of St Louis (Hudson Valley Stakes, Kingston Stakes, Danger’s Hour Stakes) and Sweet Brown Sugar (Niagara Stakes, East View Stakes).

“Mrs. Broman will be missed by the entire New York breeding and racing community,” said Jeffrey Cannizzo, vice president of government affairs for the New York Racing Association and former executive director of the NYTB. “She was a personal friend and I sincerely enjoyed all our time spent together.  I’d like to extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to Chester and the Broman family.”

“We are so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing,” said New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President Tina Bond. “She and Chester have been pillars of the New York breeding industry for so many years, and they set a standard of excellence that we all strive to meet. Mary was very much a partner in the Chestertown operations, and she was also a classy and lovely woman. Her passing is a real loss to our community.”

Chester and Mary Broman, at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, collected eight Breeder of the Year titles from the NYTB. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

The Bromans also led the state’s breeders list in 2023 with New York-bred earnings of $3,243,042. Hejazi, a finalist for champion 2-year-old male honors in 2022, earned the 3-year-old championship in 2023 and the Bromans also bred 2023 champion older female New York-bred Classy Edition. Spirit of St Louis also earned finalist consideration for champion male turf honors in 2023.

The Bromans racked up New York-bred earnings of $3,157,109 in 2022, nearly $1 million more than the state’s next closest breeder. Leading runners that season included New York-bred champion 2-year-old male Acoustic Ave, who raced in their familiar green and white silks. The Bromans also bred and sold Hejazi, a son of Bernardini who brought $3.55 million at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds in training sale.

Hejazi and Classy Edition were the 11th and 12th New York-bred champions bred by the Bromans since 2000. The group also includes 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold and Grade 1 winners Artemis Agrotera and Friends Lake and $1,403,536-earner and multiple stakes winner Mr. Buff. Bar of Gold, who retired with earnings of more than $1.55 million, and Mr. Buff won multiple titles and rank in the top 30 among all-time New York-bred earners.

 

From Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home:

Friends may visit at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home, 448 W. Main Street, Babylon Village, New York, Thursday, October 24 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Religious services at 10 a.m. Friday, October 25 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Farmingdale, New York. Mary will be laid to rest at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 298 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, New York, 11735, in her name, appreciated.

Condolences and fond memories can be left at www.Boyd-Spencer.com.

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