Noon Shadow first winner for Noonmark

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Photo by Joy Gilbert

by Sarah Mace

Noon Shadow, a 2-year-old bay gelding bred by Sequel Stallions New York[2] and Thomas Dushas and owned by Christopher Trakas and Arlene M. Falk, became the first winner for New York freshman sire Noonmark[3] Saturday, after winning the opener at Suffolk Downs, a maiden special weight contested at five-furlongs.

Debuting off-the-board at Saratoga on August 22 for trainer Jacqueline Falk and favored to win on Saturday at odds of 7-5 with his trainer in the irons, Noon Shadow contested the early pace with Yasou Christo, was urged to the front after the first half-mile and, after repelling a challenge in the stretch by Proud Patriot, drew off to win by a length in a final time of 1:01.13. Noon Shadow, who has now earned $12,900, is the third winner produced by Overdue Number, an unraced Virginia-bred Polish Numbers mare.

Bred in Kentucky by John D. Murphy Sr., Noonmark is a son of Unbridled’s Song out of the unraced Storm Cat mare In the Storm, a half-sister Grade 1-winning millionaire and sire Formal Gold (Black Tie Affair). A $1.15-million Keeneland April 2-year-old purchase, Noonmark was trained by Steve Assmussen and campaigned George Bolton, Joan Corrigan, and Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm.

Compiling a record of a record of 4-5-3 from 19 starts in four campaigns and earnings of $354,090, Noonmark broke his maiden by 10-plus lengths at Belmont in October 2005 in his second and final start as a 2-year-old. Returning to win an allowance at Gulfstream the following February, he followed up with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Swale. Later that year he also collected a Grade 2 placing in the Woody Stephens. A winner at four, in his 5-year-old debut Noonmark captured the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream Park, for which he earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Noonmark stands at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger’s Sequel Stallions New York[2] for a partnership consisting of Thomas, Narlinger, Chester Broman, Tony Grey, and Lewis Lakin.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2013/09/07/noon-shadow-first-winner-for-noonmark/

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