NYRA/Jeo Labozzetta
By Sarah Mace
As a newly-turned 3-year-old, William Butler’s homebred A Freud of Mama picked up right where she left off at two: with a stakes victory at the Big A. Last seen on December 29 springing a 23-1 upset in the lucrative Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes series, the namesake of her sire Freud wheeled back in three weeks to win the $100,000 Franklin Square for New York-bred sophomore fillies going away.
A Freud of Mama (5-1) got away a beat slow from post five (of six) to go 6 1/2 furlongs under Jorge Vargas, Jr., who had the repeat call from trainer Mike Maker, but wasted no time getting into position. She advanced confidently between horses and tugged her way up into third in the three-path. Three lengths up ahead, 4-5 favorite Fierce Lady showed the way, a length ahead of 5-2 second choice Big Q who applied steady pressure.
As Big Q advanced to hook Fierce Lady in the far turn, A Freud of Mama enjoyed a ground-saving trip before tipping out widest of all for the stretch drive.
In upper stretch Big Q got the better of Fierce Lady, but A Freud of Mama, closing fast, made their battle moot. She cruised right by both and opened up, going on to win by a dominant six lengths with ears pricked.
Big Q was a clear second, while 2 1/4 lengths back 18-1 Firenze Freedom won a photo for third over Fierce Lady. Playtone and Violent Point brought up the rear. Following early splits of 22.39 and 46.52 over the fast – if snowy – going, A Freud of Mama stopped the timer at 1:19.15 after 6 1/2 furlongs. [VIDEO REPLAY[2]]
NYRA/Chelsea Durand
Winning rider Jorge Vargas, Jr. was impressed. “Today, she really proved to me that she wants to be a good horse,” the pilot said. “I was behind horses and she was taking me places. Whenever I got a seam, she went for it. I really loved it. She’s still a little nervous but she’s getting there. She wants to be a good horse and she’s proven it. She likes coming off the pace.”
A Freud of Mama made her first four starts on turf, including a Belmont graduation at second asking on September 13, which she followed up with a creditable third in the Grade 3 Matron on October 5. She is now a perfect two-for-two dirt, once over a muddy Aqueduct track for her 1 1/2-length Fifth Avenue victory, and over a fast track Saturday for her romp in the Franklin Square.
A Freud of Mama has now won three of six starts with one third and has earned $399,818. She is one of four winners from four foals to start out of Mama Theresa, who was purchased by William Butler for $65,000 at the OBS Spring sale of 2-year-olds.
Bred in New York by Barry Weisbord and Margaret Santulli, Mama Theresa was a multiple stakes-placed runner on dirt and a half-sister to two-time New York Horse of the Year and sire Haynesfield. She has an unnamed juvenile filly by Stay Thirsty and was bred last year to Sharp Azteca.
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/01/18/a-freud-of-mama-franklin-square/
Keeneland Photo
By Sarah Mace
The 68 New York-breds who sold at the five-day Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale (Jan. 13-17) generated solid cumulative results that were largely on par with the figures for the auction overall. As polarization in the North American bloodstock market has led us to expect, a handful of New York-breds, all short yearlings, stood out from the crowd, bringing prices from $150,000 to $280,000.
The annual auction, which Keeneland’s vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston pronounced “a solid January sale” returned to “normal” this year. In 2019 the key indicators were inflated by the blockbuster sale of champion Abel Tasman for $5 million, accounting for more than 10% of total sales that year.
Gross sales for the 2020 auction totaled $42,480,500 (compared to $48,280,100 in 2019). The cumulative average was $38,409 and the median was $14,000 (down from $50,768 and $20,000). The 2020 buy-back rate was 20.8%.
The New York-bred cohort of 68, which sold for a total of $2,474,300, posted an average price of $36,387 and $13,000 median. New York-bred buybacks, which tracked low early, crept up in the latter sessions, ending at 23.6%.
The New York-bred top-seller was a $280,000 Candy Ride colt bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski and purchased by team Clement in the second and concluding session of Book 1 on Tuesday (read more[2]). The New York-bred star of Book 2 was a chestnut colt by popular young WinStar sire Constitution who was purchased by Solis/Litt for $210,000 on Wednesday as Hip 908[3].
Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III, the Constitution colt was foaled on February 2, 2019 and consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent VIII. He is the first foal out of Tiz Willy, a Kentucky-bred placed runner by Tiznow, whom Hertrich acquired for the bargain price of $7,500 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale.
Jason Litt, who signed the ticket, said, “We bought him for some clients and we’ll either bring him back to sell him or race him. Constitution is the hot horse and he’s a lovely bodied boy. We’re excited to have him.”
Out of stakes winner City Fair by Carson City, first dam Tiz Willy is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Win Willy, by Monarchos and stakes / graded stakes performer My Arch Enemy. City Fair is a sister to Lorenzon, who set a track record for six furlongs at Zia Park.
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/01/18/kee-jan-2020-wrap/
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