Yo Cuz makes it three straight in East View

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Yo Cuz rolls to third straight stakes victory in Sunday’s East View at Aqueduct. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Tom Gallo didn’t want to leave last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training empty handed.

The head of Dream Maker Racing, who tested out Fasig-Tipton’s internet bidding system early in the sale, set a budget and waited for a New York-bred filly selling as Hip 209[2] to come through the ring. The daughter of Laoban, who galloped during the presale under-tack show, eventually arrived and bidding quickly passed that threshold.

“The budget was $75,000,” Gallop said. “I wound up going almost double the budget, but we liked her enough. We had scoped out several of the other horses, but we were not in the ballpark for the ones that were coming up. But we didn’t want to leave without one. We liked her and liked the fact that the horse didn’t breeze.”

Gallo and his team, which included Andrew Calvano, ultimately bought the filly now named Yo Cuz using the internet bidding system for $125,000. She’s since won three times – all stakes – in four starts and banked just shy of $400,000 for the Dream Maker partnership.

The latest victory came Sunday in the $100,000 East View, the Closing-Day feature for the Aqueduct winter meeting. Yo Cuz and jockey Jose Ortiz, riding back in New York after returning from the Dubai World Cup card Saturday at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, won the 7-furlong East View by 5 1/4 lengths over Stone Creator. Yo Cuz won in 1:26.94.

“I’ve been in on a few of their horses and she is clearly the best so far,” said Dave Wagman, a member of the Dream Maker partnership that owns Yo Cuz. “The New York program is what they preach and it’s a lot of fun to get the chance to come out and run in a stakes race like this. She’s now won three of them. It’s a fabulous program and we love it.

“I enjoy it. There’s a lot more to learn from what you see on TV and being a fan is a tiny glimpse of it. I’ve enjoyed getting to see behind the curtain. She’s a really, nice filly.”

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Yo Cuz continues to impress jockey Jose Ortiz after latest stakes victory in Aqueduct’s East View. NYRA Photo.

Yo Cuz, the 3-5 favorite in the field of six from post five, expected to have some company on the lead with Silver Fist making her first start from the rail for trainer Chuck Lawrence and the multiple stakes-placed Sandy’s Garden just to her inside. Silver Fist stumbled bad at the break, going to her nose and spotting the field several lengths. Sandy’s Garden broke well but not as well as Yo Cuz, who led up the backstretch on Ortiz’s quite hold.

Silver Fist regrouped enough to come up the inside to get within a half-length of Yo Cuz to the quarter in :23.97, with Sandy’s Garden and Stone Creator not far back.

Yo Cuz continued to lead through the half in :47.99, a half-length in front of Stone Creator and Kendrick Carmouche. Around the turn it boiled down to Yo Cuz and Stone Creator, before the former cut the corner turning for home and opened up. She led by 4 1/2 lengths past the eighth pole and 6 furlongs in :13.52 and after a crew cracks of Ortiz’s left-handed whip in deep stretch Yo Cuz cruised home.

Stone Creator held second by a neck from the late-running Captainsdaughter, who finished third and 9 1/2 lengths in front of Sandy’s Garden. Salsa a Parte and Silver Fist completed the field.

“She’s a nice filly. I was expecting [Sandy’s Garden] to show some speed, too,” Ortiz said. “I broke good and did my thing and ended up by ourself up there [on the lead], so I took it. She did the rest. She finished up well. It’s very windy around the turn, so I think you’ll see a lot of slow times today, but she did everything right. She keeps moving forward. It’s a heavy track. I know she’ll be a lot better when she gets to Belmont; the track will suit her a little better.”

Yo Cuz added the East View to her maiden-breaking victory in the 7-furlong Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes Dec. 18 at Aqueduct and the 1-mile Maddie May Stakes Feb. 21 at Aqueduct.

Bred by Maggie Seidman’s Seidman Stables and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, Yo Cuz is the second foal out of the Tale of Ekati mare Steve’s Philly. A $50,000 purchase by Seidman Stables at the 2015 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training, Steve’s Philly is out of the Gone West mare Striking Wonder, who is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Wonder Again from the family of Grade 1 winners Colonel Liam, Tribulation and Graceful Darby.

Steve’s Philly is also the dam of the 3-year-old New York-bred Palace Malice gelding Uncle Jerome, who is in training in Maryland with owner and trainer Michael Gorham. Seidman, through McMahon of Saratoga, sold Steve’s Philly’s short yearling colt by Laoban for $160,000 at the OBS winter mixed sale in January. Steve’s Philly wasn’t bred in 2021 and was bred in early February to Connect.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2022/03/27/yo-cuz-makes-it-three-straight-in-east-view/

6 NY-bred winners on Claiming Championship card

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Honey Money, one of two winners on the day for Central Banker, romps in the $60,000 Sis City Saturday at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Owners and breeders of New York-breds enjoyed a bountiful day Saturday at Aqueduct, pocketing more than $71,000 in awards for wins alone on the New York Claiming Championship program.

Six New York-breds won on the 10-race $620,000 Claiming Championship card, open to horses that started for a prescribed claiming price in 2021-22. The breeders’ awards totaled $39,187.50 on the day, while owners’ awards came to $26,125. Stallion owner awards for the day’s two winners totaled $6,325.

Central Banker, New York’s leading sire in 2021 who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, sired two winners on the card with Honey Money in the $60,000 Sis City Starter Stakes and Dark Money in the $55,000 Kelly Kip Starter Stakes.

Honey Money, a 5-year-old daughter of Central Banker out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Bullish Sentiment bred by Klaravich Stables, won the 1-mile Sis City by 4 lengths under Trevor McCarthy. Trained by Wayne Potts for owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas, Honey Money improved to 7-for-22 with $330,870 in earnings in the Sis City.

“She’s game and she always gives 100 percent,” McCarthy said. “She’s a much better filly on the lead but she would get there and just wait. I worked her the other morning with blinkers on and she worked like a gorilla.”

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Dark Money, gave Central Banker his first winner in the Kelly Kip. NYRA Photo.

Dark Money, a 6-year-old gelding by Central Banker out of the Purge mare Candelabra bred by Cedar Meadow Inc., won his third straight race in the Kelly Kip. Sent off the 3-5 favorite in the 6-furlong event, Dark Money won for owner Flying P Stable, trainer Tom Morley and jockey Jose Gomez. Morley claimed Dark Money for $25,000 out of his win Feb. 19 in his prior start. The gelding improved to 13-for-31 with $466,207 in earnings.

“He’s a really cool horse,” Morley said. “We’ve had him before and we claimed him back with this race in mind. It was the owner’s idea. He came into the race in super shape. Jose said he just rocked back when they opened the gate and he missed the break, which is very unlike him for a horse who shows that amount of speed.”

Michael Foster’s Witch Hunter started the big day for New York-breds with a dominating victory in the second race on the card, the $45,000 Belle Gallantey Starter. The 5-year-old daughter of Khozan out of the Congrats mare Wave Bye Bye won the 7-furlong Belle Gallantey by 9 lengths as the 1-4 favorite. Dylan Davis, who rode four winners on the day, rode Witch Hunter for trainer Charlton Baker. She improved to 7-for-25 with $158,330 in earnings.

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Witch Hunter, Central Banker’s first winner on the card, gave Dylan Davis one of his four wins Saturday at Aqueduct in the Belle Gallantey. Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo.

“She handled it the way she should have. It was easy all the way,” Baker said. “The owner claimed her in Florida (for $8,000 May 21, 2021, at Gulfstream) and she improved a lot for him. We’ve just maintained where she was at. She’s a nice filly. She’s a hard-knocker and she tries.”

Davis also rode Gus Ginesin’s Blewitt to victory in the $75,000 Stud Muffin Starter. Sent off the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10 in the 11-furlong Stud Muffin, Blewitt won by 4 1/2 lengths over Air Attack for his ninth win in 25 starts to boost his bankroll to $350,765. Bred by Repole Stable, Blewitt is an 8-year-old by Uncle Mo out of the Montbrook mare Stopspendingmaria. Toscano claimed Blewitt for $25,000 out of a victory going 9 furlongs Dec. 31 at Aqueduct.

“I had Air Attack [win this race] last year and this year I had Blewitt,” said winning trainer John Toscano Jr. “The old man got good. He’s peaking now as an 8-year-old. He loves two turns. If you look at his form, his one-turn races aren’t as good.”

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Whistling Birds scores mild upset in the $80,000 Caixa Eletronica. NYRA Photo.

Epona Racing Stable’s, Clyde Jasinki’s and Toga Party Racing Stable’s Whistling Birds won the day’s biggest purse, taking the $80,000 Caixa Eletronica by three-quarters of a length over Zoomer. Bred by Pinnacle Farms Bloodstock LLC, the 6-year-old Jimmy Creed gelding out of the Unbridled mare Unshuttered improved to 8-for-27 with seven seconds and earnings of $333,958. Chris Englehart claimed Whistling Birds for $40,000 out of a runner-up effort going 1 mile last May at Belmont Park.

“He’s a very decent horse and has a big heart,” said winning jockey Eric Cancel.

Irving Kalensky’s and Joseph Loner’s No Salt closed the card and gave Davis his fourth victory in the $45,000 Dads Caps Starter as the 7-10 favorite. Bred by Larry Goichman, the 5-year-old gelding by Tonalist out of the Street Sense mare Shea Derby improved to 5-for-20 and $172,321 in earnings. Mike Miceli took over the gelding’s training last fall and he’s won or placed in five of six starts since.

“He’s been a very consistent and pleasurable horse to train,” Miceli said. “He was cut out to be a decent horse and it’s a little late in the game for him, but he’s making up for it now.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2022/03/27/6-ny-bred-winners-on-claiming-championship-card/

Water’s Edge takes Haynesfield in stakes debut

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Water’s Edge gets a big pat from jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. after winning Sunday’s Haynesfield at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Empire Equines’ second-generation homebred Water’s Edge, shortening back up to a trip he liked in three prior starts, delivered a big effort Sunday in his stakes debut with a victory in the $100,000 Haynesfield at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride did nearly all the work on the lead in the 1-mile stakes for older New York-breds, fended off multiple challenges around the far turn and to the top of the stretch and won by 4 1/4 lengths over stakes winner Chestertown. Jorge Vargas Jr., aboard for Water’s Edge’s three prior races, rode the colt again for trainer David Donk and Empire Equines’ John and Sandy Crowe.

Vargas summed up the colt out of the stakes-placed Bluegrass Cat mare Sandra in three simple words.

“He’s a fighter,” he said with a wide smile.

Vargas saw that fight three starts before the Haynesfield when Water’s Edge came back from a short two-month freshening to win a 1-mile allowance Nov. 28 at Aqueduct. He finished a close second in allowance company at the same distance Jan. 14 before Donk stretched him out to 9 furlongs and a victory in a state-bred optional Feb. 10.

Donk admitted the jump to the Haynesfield was a step up in class, but Water’s Edge handled it just as he’d handled his previous seven starts. He also improved to four wins with four seconds.

“He’s a really nice horse that’s continued to improve,” Donk said. “A big credit to John and Sandy Crowe, they let us be patient with him. Credit to everyone in the barn, really. They’ve done a great job with this horse. It’s fun to run in stakes races and obviously it’s a lot of fun to run well.”

Lobsta, the 9-5 favorite in the field of six coming in off back-to-back stakes victories, got away the quickest before Javier Castellano took a tight hold. Vargas let Water’s Edge slide through to Lobsta’s inside a few strides into the Haynesfield and they led that foe through the opening furlong as Our Last Buck and Chestertown quickly joined the mix approaching the first quarter-mile in :23.35.

Water’s Edge maintained a half-length lead up the backstretch and to the half-mile mark in :46.01. Lobsta made the first run at the leader on the turn but was easily repelled. Chestertown came next, ranging up in the four path to get within less than a length midway on the turn.

Our Last Buck joined the fray to Chestertown’s outside approaching the end of the bend and just when it looked like Water’s Edge might tire down on the inside he responded and opened up 1 1/2 lengths past the eighth pole. The advantaged widened from there under Vargas strong hand ride.

“That was the plan,” Vargas said of taking the lead early. “We drew the inside and I wanted to have him on his game. I was aggressive and he fought all the way.

“He was waiting on them. He was getting ready for them and when they came up, he took off again. Last time, he ran hard and was pretty keen on me, but he still managed to fight and win at the end. I was pretty confident about the cut back today. I knew I was going to have horse to dig in.”

Chestertown held second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Our Last Buck, with Lobsta, My Boy Tate and Brew Pup completing the field. Water’s Edge won in 1:36.93.

Water’s Edge picked up $55,000 for the win to boost his bankroll to $240,350.

Water’s Edge joined Donk’s stable late in his 2-year-old season in the fall of 2020. He finished second by a neck in his debut behind eventual Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution in a 6-furlong state-bred maiden last June at Belmont Park. Water’s Edge won his next start in a similar maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs before back-to-back seconds in allowance company – once after getting caught in a speed duel at Saratoga and another after breaking through the gate before the start at Belmont.

Well before Water’s Edge ran those latter to races at Saratoga and Belmont, Donk talked about the colt’s background in his visit with The Saratoga Special’s Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour.

“They had him here in the yearling sale, but they said he was small and not much to look at,” Donk said last July. “He came to me last fall and John called and asked if he was kind of on the small side. He’s not small, he’s a nice horse, really classy.

“We’re looking at them as yearlings and trying to see things, but they change so much. The first time out he got beat a neck in a really good maiden race and then came back and won pretty impressively. When he ran back, everyone on the (NYRA) show was worried because he was coming back in 20 days. He buried his fed tub, he breezed once in :48 and change. Am I supposed to wait another three or four weeks to run? He did go forward, but there’s a reason. He’s a nice kind of horse to have.”

Foaled at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, Water’s Edge is the second foal out of Sandra, who won once and finished second in the 2014 Key Cents Stakes at Aqueduct for Empire Equines. Sandra’s first foal, the New York-bred Mineshaft mare, placed five times and earned $61,942 for Empire Equines. Sandra is also the dam of the New York-bred 3-year-old Frosted colt Qarnas, who sold for $65,000 at the 2021 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training. He’s 1-1-2 in four starts, including a third in the Saudi Derby Qualifier Jan. 28 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in his most recent start. Sandra is the dam of a 2-year-old New York-bred Bernardini colt and a yearling New York-bred Bernardini filly.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2022/03/20/waters-edge-takes-haynesfield-in-stakes-debut/

Rotknee makes it three straight in Damon Runyon

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Buck Butler’s homebred Rotknee rolls to victory in Sunday’s Damon Runyon for NY-bred 3-year-olds. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

By Tom Law

William “Buck” Butler’s second-generation homebred Rotknee continued his ascent up the New York-bred 3-year-old male division with a front-running victory in Sunday’s $97,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct.

A month removed from running an allowance-optional field off their feet early on the way to a 3-length comeback win, Rotknee did it again in the 7-furlong Runyon. The son of Runhappy broke sharp, opened up quick on his four opponents and stayed on through the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Agility.

Rotknee also went to the front early in his maiden victory going 6 furlongs Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course. Butler and jockey Manny Franco both conceded after the victory that they planned those tactics again for the Damon Runyon with trainer Mike Maker.

“That was the plan,” Franco said. “I didn’t want to change anything with him. I rode him last time and I went to the lead and he kept going. So, going seven-eighths today, I expected to be on the lead, too. I let him break out of there, got the lead and he did the rest.”

“What was not to like?” Butler said. “I heard from Mike, we were looking to do what we did. The fact that he had no company [on the front end], I was thrilled. We hadn’t done the 7 furlongs before so that gave me a little trepidation coming down, but he pulled out all stops.”

The 2-1 second choice behind the 3-5 favorite Best Idea, who came into the Damon Runyon off a 5 3/4-length debut victory Feb. 12 at Aqueduct, Rotknee was 1 1/2 lengths in front through the opening quarter-mile in :23.37 with Agility.

Rotknee continued the maintain that same advantage over Agility around the far turn and to the half in :46.69 while Mister Larry, Best Idea and G Munning lagged 5 or more lengths back on the bend. Dylan Davis went to the whip on Agility approaching the quarter pole, trying to cut into Rotknee’s advantage to no avail. Rotknee went past the eighth pole 3 lengths clear and Franco stayed busy in deep stretch.

Agility held second and the finish, 5 3/4 lengths ahead of G Munning, who edged Best Idea by a nose for the show spot. Rotknee won in 1:27.06 over the fast track.

“I was happy with my position, he was just lugging in with me down the stretch,” Davis said of Agility, second last time to Rotknee’s stablemate Barese in the Rego Park Stakes Jan. 9 at Aqueduct. “I thought he got in his own way – he stayed on his left lead the whole time. I talked to [trainer Jorge Abreu] and we’re going to change the bit on him and maybe stretch him out a little more. I thought if he was able to be straight and switch his leads properly and maintain a straight course, he would have won this race, for sure.”

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Manny Franco rode Rotknee to 3-length win in February and again Sunday in the Damon Runyon. Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo.

Foaled at Keane Stud in Amenia, Rotknee is the second foal out of the winning Speightstown mare In Spite of Mama. The mare’s first foal, Lookin for Trouble, a 4-year-old New York-bred son of Into Mischief, finished a game second in a state-bred allowance-optional two races after the Damon Runyon. In Spite of Mama is also the dam of the 2-year-old New York-bred Bolt d’Oro colt Mama’s Gold and a yearling filly by Audible. She was bred to 2019 Preakness Stakes winner War of Will in 2021.

In Spite of Mama, a 10-year-old out of the Carson City mare Mama Theresa, went 3-2-2 in 17 starts for Butler and Maker from 2014 to 2016.

Butler bought Mama Theresa for $65,000 at the 2005 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training. She won six of 25 starts, placed in two stakes and earned $240,898 for Butler and Timothy Twomey and the late trainer Dominic Galluscio. In Spite of Mama is Mama Theresa’s second foal and a half-sister to four other winners, including stakes winner A Freud of Mama, an earner of $399,818 who also finished third in the Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park in 2019 for Butler and Maker.

“Mama Theresa … she’s the base that we’ve put this all together from,” Butler said. “For a guy that’s learning the ropes here, she’s been very good to me.”

Rotknee picked up $55,000 for his connections and improved to 3-for-4 in his career. He finished second in his debut, a 5 ½-furlong maiden on a muddy track July 9 at Belmont Park. Rotknee won his second start, taking a similar state-bred maiden at 6 furlongs Aug. 1 at Saratoga. He came out of that an injury to a splint bone and missed the rest of his juvenile season.

Maker wasn’t sure Rotknee was completely ready for his comeback – despite seven breezes over the Belmont training track from Dec. 19 to Feb. 2 – but he showed no signs of rust in his 3-length victory under Franco.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2022/03/13/rotknee-makes-it-three-straight-in-damon-runyon/

Union Jackson filly Kisses for Emily scores in Society Hill

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Kisses for Emily #5 (L) breaks her maiden over Starship Laoban #10 in the $100,000 Society Hill at Parx Racing in Bensalem, PA on March 8, 2022. The New York-Bred daughter of Union Jackson was ridden to victory by Dylan Davis and is trained by Louis Linder, Jr., for owners Branjam Stable and Dave Clark. Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.

By Tom Law

Kisses for Emily kept the New York-bred program rolling Tuesday with a maiden-winning score in the $100,000 Society Hill at Parx Racing.

The 3-year-old daughter Union Jackson, New York’s leading freshman sire in 2021, led a 1-2 finish for New York-breds in the 6-furlong stakes with a 1-length victory over the Laoban filly Starship Laoban. Sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice in the field of five under Dylan Davis, Kisses for Emily overcame a bump early and found her best footing late to win in 1:13.29.

Kisses for Emily, bred by Sequel Stallions NY LLC and Lewis Lakin and owned by Bran Jam Stable and David Clark, also gave Union Jackson his first stakes winner in the Society Hill. Union Jackson, a 10-year-old son of Curlin out of the Dixie Union mare Hot Dixie Chick, stands for $2,5000 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. Kisses for Emily was foaled at Sequel Stallions NY in Hudson.

Kisses for Emily’s victory is the fifth open-company stakes victory for a New York-bred in a four-day span, following Coinage in Palm Beach and Spandarella in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park Saturday, Venti Valentine in the $250,000 Busher Invitational at Aqueduct Saturday and Bank Sting in the Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct Sunday.

Consigned by Sequel Bloodstock as Hip 367[2] and sold to Mike Mellen for $125,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training, Kisses for Emily came into the Society Hill winless in her first five starts.

She raced three times at 2, finishing third in her final start of 2021 in a 7-furlong New York-bred maiden for trainer John Toscano Jr. Transferred to trainer Louis Linder Jr., Kisses for Emily finished second and third in 6-furlong state-bred maiden races in January and February prior to her stakes debut.

Kisses for Emily was bumped early and 10 lengths back as Disco Ebo and Starship Laoban vied for the early leading through the opening quarter-mile in :22.17. Kisses for Emily continued to lag 8 lengths behind as Starship Laoban wrested a narrow lead from Disco Ebo through the half in :45.76. Davis tipped Kisses for Emily out in the lane and she surged past her fellow New York-bred in deep stretch for the victory. Starship Laoban, an 11 1/2-length winner of an open optional-allowance Feb. 16 at Parx, finished 4 ½ lengths ahead of 9-1o favorite Disco Ebo with Perfect Direction fourth and Martini’s America fifth.

Kisses for Emily picked up $60,000 for her victory in the Society Hill and boosted her earnings to $94,100.

Kisses for Emily is the third foal out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare Caldwell, a half-sister to the dam of multiple graded stakes winner and sire Rockport Harbor. Caldwell’s first foal, the Kentucky-bred Danza gelding Hail to the Chief, is 2-0-4 in 12 starts for $75,479 in earnings. Her second foal, the Jimmy Creed colt Sultan Murad, sold for $14,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Caldwell is also the dam of the 2-year-old New York-bred Unified filly Queenpin, who sold for $225,000 to Flying P Stable at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale; and a  yearling colt by World of Trouble.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2022/03/08/union-jackson-filly-kisses-for-emily-scores-in-society-hill/