Bold Journey, a half brother to New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution, wins second straight stakes in Saturday’s Gravesend at Aqueduct. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo.

Bold Journey loves Aqueduct. Like, really loves it.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has made 14 of his 20 starts at Aqueduct – not really his decision mind you – and six of his seven wins have come at the Big A. That’s entirely up to the chestnut colt, who collected his latest score in Saturday’s $145,500 Gravesend Stakes.

Bold Journey, a half-brother to New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution, added the Gravesend to his victory a month ago in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap. Bold Journey won the latter by a length over Durante with fellow New York-bred Rotknee third, and topped Rotknee by 4 1/2 lengths in the Gravesend with 4-5 favorite Durante third.

Jockey Eric Cancel, who returned from injury in late October, returned on Bold Journey for the first time since June when he won that one time away from Aqueduct going 6 furlongs on the turf.

“He broke very sharp. He usually sits back early in the race,” Cancel said. “I just let him get comfortable and once I asked him, he knew what he needed to do. He just engaged and from there on that was it.

“He was very explosive. As soon as I asked him, he didn’t hesitate. He didn’t take a while like he usually does. He just exploded and from there on I just had to hang on tight.”

Bold Journey, who won the 6-furlong Gravesend in 1:09.46 over the drying out track labeled muddy, improved to 7-for-20 and collected $82,500 to boost his bankroll to $568,743 for trainer Bill Mott and owners Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber.

The 3-1 third choice in the field of five, Bold Journey raced fourth early as 5-2 second choice Rotknee blazed through the opening quarter mile in :21.94. Durante and Stage Left took up the chase up the backstretch, with Bold Journey 8 1/4 lengths back in fourth.

Bold Journey inched within 6 lengths around the far turn and to the quarter-pole, with Rotknee still in front after a half in :44.95.

Cancel guided Bold Journey to the inside of Durante in the stretch, passed that foe outside the eighth pole and set his sights on the leader approaching the sixteenth pole. Bold Journey accelerated from there and widened his advantage with every stride to the wire. Rotknee held second for the New York-bred exacta, a nose in front of Durante, who has a head clear of Stage Left. Greeley and Ben completed the field.

“He broke a step behind and broke out,” said Jose Lezcano, who rode Rotknee. “After that, I sent a little bit and he jumped in the bridle and went on. That’s the way he wants to run. The winner can run – can’t take nothing away from him. My horse gave me what he’s got. He ran his best.”

Bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Bold Journey is one of three winners out of the winning Super Saver mare Polly Freeze. Named New York-bred broodmare of the year in 2021, Polly Freeze produced the Kentucky-bred Wicked Strong mare Text Dont Call, won two of 16 starts and earned $42,109.

Americanrevolution, a son of Constitution and Polly Freeze’s second foal, earned New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old honors in 2021 after a 5-for-6 season highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap, Empire Classic Handicap and Albany Stakes. He recently retired to stand his first season in 2024 at Rockridge Stud in Hudson.

Polly Freeze’s fourth foal, the 3-year-old Collected filly Paleta, sold for $60,000 as a broodmare prospect at this year’s Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Polly Freeze is also the dam of a yearling filly by Frosted that sold for $150,000 at the Keeneland September sale and a weanling colt by Constitution born March 18.

A $75,000 RNA at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, Bold Journey later sold for $80,000 to McMahon & Hill Bloodstock, agent, at the 2021 OBS April sale. He won one of two starts at 2 before a second in the Gander Stakes in February 2022. Ninth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes that March, Bold Journey didn’t return to stakes company until this past April when fifth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct.

Bold Journey has won four of seven starts since the Carter, including three straight over the Aqueduct main track.

Dr Ardito scores third stakes victory of 2023 in Friday’s Alex M. Robb at Aqueduct. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Chad Brown marveled at Dr Ardito’s propensity for finding the winner’s circle this past fall from his barn office on Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma Training Track.

“He knows how to win, that horse,” Brown said, a few days before Dr Ardito didn’t win on a sloppy track in the Parx Dirt Mile and the start of a three-race losing skid.

Dr Ardito returned to his winning ways and ended the schneid just before the end of 2023 Friday with a typically gritty come-from-behind victory over stablemate Aggregation in the $96,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct. The 5-year-old son of Liam’s Map won the 1-mile Robb by a half-length under Manny Franco, improving to 4-for-9 on the season for Brown and owners Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso.

Sent off as the 8-5 favorite in the field of five, Dr Ardito won in his return to New York-bred stakes company after finishing sixth in the Parx Dirt Mile, second in the Grade 2 Forty Niner Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meet and seventh in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct in his last three starts. Dr Ardito won the Evan Shipman Handicap – also against New York-breds Aug. 11 at Saratoga before that three-race foray into open company.

Franco, aboard for all but one of Dr Ardito’s 13 prior starts, knew what to expect from the field and the 6-5 favorite Aggregation. He rode that Flatter gelding in his last two, both victories in 1-mile events.

“I know that probably I was going to have some pace in front – the other horse for Chad, and I thought Barese going a mile today was going to be on the pace,” Franco said. “That’s what I expected – a good pace in front of me and just come with my run late.

“I know they were going a pretty good pace in front because my horse was there, but then he tucked back a little bit. I knew they were rolling along, so I just bided my time, cut the corner and when I get in the clear, he started running again.”

Dr Ardito raced 6 1/2 lengths back through the opening half-mile, clicked off in a sharp :45.34 by Aggregation.

Aggregation and jockey Kendrick Carmouche still led to the top of the stretch and past 6 furlongs in 1:09.99, with Barese and General Banker chasing in second and third with Dr Ardito still 4 1/2 lengths behind. Aggregation’s 3-length advantage in midstretch looked in serious jeopardy with Dr Ardito closing well on the outside.

Dr Ardito caught his stablemate in the final 50 yards and edged clear to win in 1:36.18 over the muddy and sealed track. Barese finished another 4 1/2 lengths back in third with General Banker fourth and Curlin’s Wisdom fifth.

“He ran his race,” Carmouche said of Aggregation. “I felt I held [Dr Ardito] off pretty good until he got me in the last couple jumps. [Dr Ardito] was the best horse in the race, we just didn’t know if he could catch up with us late, but he did.

“We tried to make every pole a winning pole, but I got pressed early and that caved him in a little. He was very tired and by the time I got to the three-quarter [pole], I knew I was running out of horse. But, he ran awesome and was second best.”

Named for Dubb’s close friend and physician, Dr. Anthony Ardito, Dr Ardito was bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding. He’s out of the winning Indian Charlie mare Delightfully So, who Hertrich purchased for $55,000 as a 3-year-old at the 2013 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Dr Ardito is the third foal out of Delightfully So, who is also the dam of winners Delightof The Nile and Navistar and a 2-year-old filly by Audible who sold for $15,000 at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale. Delightfully So is also the dam of a yearling filly by Volatile that sold for $400,000 at this year’s Keeneland September sale and a weanling colt by Liam’s Map born April 10.

Dubb purchased Dr Ardito for $95,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. After a runner-up finish in his debut in February 2021, Dr Ardito won six straight through February including the Haynesfield Stakes at Aqueduct. He later won the Evan Shipman and the Alex M. Robb marked Dr Ardito’s third stakes victory.

Dr Ardito picked up $55,000 for his win Friday and boosted his bankroll to $496,393 from a record of 8-2-0 in 14 starts.

Fingal’s Cave rolls to victory in Thursday’s Bay Ridge Stakes, her first start in more than a year. NYRA Photo.

Alifyfe Racing’s Fingal’s Cave took more than a year to make her return following arguably the best race of her career – a loss, and her first defeat, no less – but showed Thursday she’ll be a major player in the New York-bred older female division.

Making her first start since finishing second in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run in late October 2022 at Keeneland Race Course, Fingal’s Cave shrugged off her foes to win the 10th running of the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem won the 1-mile Bay Ridge by 4 3/4 lengths under Jose Lezcano, leading almost from the start on the way to her fifth victory in six starts.

“Four hundred thirty-two. I heard someone say the number and I tried not to dwell on it,” said winning trainer David Donk. “She’s got a lot of class, so I think the class prevails.”

The 2-1 favorite in the field of six, Fingal’s Cave took the lead from Bustin Bay leaving the chute and clicked past the opening quarter-mile in :23.30 on a tight hold from Lezcano.

Fingal’s Cave maintained a half-length advantage over 5-2 second choice and multiple stakes winner Venti Valentine heading to the far turn and past the half in :46.52. Fingal’s Cave and Venti Valentine, the winner of last year’s Bay Ridge and champion 2-year-old filly in 2021, stayed a half-length apart after 6 furlongs in 1:11.46 before the former edged away in the stretch. Fingal’s Cave continued to widen in the lane, passed 7 furlongs in 1:24.19 and finished in 1:37.45 over the muddy and sealed surface.

“When we broke out of the gate, my filly did everything herself,” Lezcano said. “She’s got a lot of class and broke pretty good and put herself there. I didn’t ask her for nothing. When I asked her at the quarter [pole] she went on and won the race.

“When I got to the quarter, I still felt I had a lot left in the tank. When I asked her she went on well. She’s very classy.”

Fingal’s Cave earned $55,000 for the victory to boost her bankroll to $370,500.

Donk watched the races leading up to the Bay Ridge and liked what he saw for the filly’s comeback.

Jose Lezcano and Fingal’s Cave greet their people after winning the Bay Ridge. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

“I left it up to Jose. I thought there would be more pace,” Donk said. “I was satisfied that horses could close today and that it wasn’t a biased rail. Sometimes, when it gets wet and dries out, it changes throughout the day. But horses were closing. I told him to ride her the way he thought was best.

“Jose is a really good rider and really kind. But she broke sharp and I thought being off the long layoff, she’d be a little fresh. I thought maybe one or two might be in front of her but when she was there, he did the right thing.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Fingal’s Cave is out of the Mineshaft mare Barbie On a Budget. Alifyfe Racing bought her for $75,000 at the 2021 OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale.

A second-generation homebred for the Bromans and out of their top-producing mare Seeking the Ante, Barbie On a Budget went 1-1-2 in four starts and earned $61,500. Fingal’s Cave is her first foal. Barbie On a Budget did not produce a foal in 2020 or 2021 and is the dam of a colt by Honest Mischief that sold for $100,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Unraced at 2, Fingal’s Cave made quick waves in the New York-bred 3-year-old filly division in 2022 with back-to-back victories to start her career in the spring at Belmont Park. After an allowance win going 9 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course in late July 2022, Fingal’s Cave won the Fleet Indian Stakes at the same distance in late August to improve to 4-for-4. She suffered her first loss, a 4-length defeat to Wicked Halo, after a troubled and slow start in the 7-furlong Raven Run in late October 22 at Keeneland.

Donk said Fingal’s Cave was diagnosed with “a little bone bruising” after her sophomore campaign and was late to return to his string in New York after dealing with foot bruises while prepping for her return in Kentucky this past summer and fall.

“She was a little delayed getting to me but she came in great shape,” Donk said this week. “She’s done really well since she’s been here.”

Fingal’s Cave showed her readiness with a bullet 5-furlong work in 1:00.66 Saturday on the Belmont training track.