Bold Journey adds Gravesend to resume

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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.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2023/12/30/bold-journey-adds-gravesend-to-resume/

Dr Ardito rallies to victory in Alex M. Robb

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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.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2023/12/29/dr-ardito-rallies-to-victory-in-alex-m-robb/

Fingal’s Cave returns a winner in Bay Ridge

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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.

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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.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2023/12/28/fingals-cave-returns-a-winner-in-bay-ridge/

Wynstock scores in Grade 2 Los Al Futurity

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Wynstock and jockey Kyle Frey outfinish Stronghold to win Saturday’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. Benoit Photo.

By Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Wynstock kept Solomini’s big day rolling with his second straight victory and first stakes score in Saturday’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The 2-year-old son of Solomini came into the 1 1/16-mile Futurity off a 7 1/2-length maiden special weight romp in October. Sent off as the 13-1 second longest price on the board, Wynstock was hustled out of the gate by Kyle Frey and took a short lead on the field around the first turn. Wynstock opened up a length on the field up the backstretch as he galloped comfortably on the lead to register opening fractions of :23.53 and :47.90.

Frey kept his mount well in hand but the field quickly closed his margin to cause a three-way duel for the lead as the field turned into the stretch. Wynstock wasn’t willing to give up but had to dig in deep with Stronghold fighting him every step of the way.

While his other early stretch challenger had quickly given up, Stronghold wasn’t about to do the same and Wynstock’s stablemate Coach Prime was also racing up the outside for his own turn at the leader. Wynstock kept the advantage throughout and started to pull away from Stronghold near the line to win by a half-length in 1:43.53 over the fast track. Coach Prime closed too late to finish third, beaten a length.

Trained by Bob Baffert for Edward Allred and Jack Liebau, Wynstock improved to 2-for-4 and earned $120,000, boosting his bankroll to $162,740.

Bred by Empire Equines LLC, Wynstock was a $50,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase by Gerardo Barragan from Hidden Brook in 2022. He returned to the ring at this year’s OBS April sale and brought $700,000 from Allred and Liebau out of the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment.

Wynstock became the third stakes winner and first graded stakes winner for McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds’ freshman sire Solomini, who also scored another new stakes winner with My Shea D Lady in Saturday’s Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct. Three stakes winners ties Solomini for first among all first-crop sires by stakes winners with the stallion also leading New York freshmen in multiple categories.

Wynstock is the first foal out of the placed Flatter mare Timberlea, who was purchased by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock for $10,500 at the 2020 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale before joining the New York program. She is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 2-placed Untrapped and out of a granddaughter of successful broodmare Yarn.

Yarn’s foals included champion Minardi and Grade 2 winner and successful sire Tale of the Cat with her daughters producing European and U.S. champion Johannesburg and the dam of Grade 1 winner Joking.

Timberlea produced a New York-bred Mo Town filly April 5 and returned to Solomini for her 2024 foal.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2023/12/16/wynstock-scores-in-grade-2-los-al-futurity/

Laoban colt Antonio of Venice improves to take NYSS Great White Way

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Antonio of Venice gets up in time to win Saturday’s $500,000 NYSS Great White Way at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Antonio of Venice made the lead early in his second try at stakes company last time out and couldn’t last. The son of Laoban and jockey Manny Franco – aboard for that run in the Aspirant at Finger Lakes – employed different tactics in Saturday’s $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes and came away with a improved result.

Antonio of Venice came from off the pace in the 7-furlong Great White Way and overcame a rough trip to land his first stakes victory for owners Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone, Hibiscus Stables and Rudy Rodriguez. Rodriguez trains the New York-bred colt out of the Trappe Shot mare Stella Performance and also came away with the runner-up in the Great White Way after a lengthy steward’s inquiry with the Solomini colt and first-time starter Heavyweight Champs.

“It’s one of the bucket list things that we got 1-2 in the $500,000 race,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what we work so hard for. All the credit goes to the help in the barn, they do an amazing job. The grooms, the hotwalkers, my assistants – we have a very good team. I’m so happy to be around in the mornings with them. We have a lot of laughs, a lot of cries, but I’m just so happy to see this happen to us.”

Some of the connections of Antonio of Venice’s beaten foes might have felt a few lumps in their throats after Saturday’s co-feature.

Heavyweight Champs took the lead shortly after the break, just ahead of Solo’s Fury with The Big Torpedo and Antonio of Venice tracking just behind through the opening quarter-mile in :22.49. Heavyweight Champs still led by a half-length from Solo’s Fury around the far turn and to the half in :45.78.

As the field passed the quarter-pole with Heavyweight Champs clinging to his short lead, Brick Ambush made his run about four paths off the fence and Antonio of Venice did the same up the inside. Solo’s Fury and The Big Torpedo wound up squeezed between those Brick Ambush and Antonio of Venice just before straightening for home, dropping a few lengths back.

Brick Ambush came alongside Heavyweight Champs at about the 3/16ths pole, while Franco guided Antonio of Venice toward the middle of the track. Brick Ambush’s lead at the eighth pole didn’t last long, as Antonio of Venice rolled past at the sixteenth pole on the way to a three-quarter-length win. Brick Ambush held second at the finish, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Heavyweight Champs with The Big Torpedo running on well despite his trouble to finish another length back in fourth. Antonio of Venice finished in 1:24.40.

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Antonio of Venice and some his team head to the winner’s circle Saturday at Aqueduct. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Stewards took a long look at the incident at the top of the lane and eventually disqualified Brick Ambush to 12th and last, a spot behind Solo’s Fury.

“I held my spot inside [at the top of the lane] and the pressure was coming from outside,” Franco said. “I was just trying to hold my spot because [Brick Ambush] is coming, so I knew when he comes I’m going to go around him. I held my spot there.”

Antonio of Venice, fourth in the Aspirant and sixth in the off-the-turf Skidmore Stakes against open company two starts back, improved to 2-1-1 in six starts and boosted his bankroll to $350,744 winning the co-richest race for 2-year-olds on the NYRA circuit.

“He [Antonio of Venice] ran unbelievable,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just very, very happy with the way he was. He got pinched right away out of there. I thought he was going to be close to the lead and then he got pinched pretty hard. The other horse [Heavyweight Champs] went, so I was just rooting for any of my horses. I saw him coming up the outside and thought, ‘Oh, it’s the other one!’ We’re very excited and very happy with the way they ran.

“Maybe he wants to run from behind. He got a lot of kickback along the rail and then was able to come outside. I don’t know [what’s next]. These guys want to bet him in the pool for the Derby.”

Bred by Cypress Creek Equine LLC, Antonio of Venice sold for $35,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale and for the same price at this year’s OBS March sale. Antonio of Venice is the third foal out of Stella Performance, who also produced winning full siblings to the Great White Way winner in New York-breds Modern Midas and I’m Wide Awake. Stella Performance also produced a weanling colt by McKinzie foaled February 25 in New York.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2023/12/16/laoban-colt-antonio-of-venice-improves-to-take-nyss-great-white-way/

Solomini filly My Shea D Lady wins NYSS Fifth Avenue

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My Shea D Lady gives Solomini another stakes winner in Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

My Shea D Lady came into Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes stakes-placed and her sire’s second leading earner. The daughter of Solomini came out a stakes winner and $275,000 richer, after riding the inside most of the 7-furlong trip en route to victory under Javier Castellano.

My Shea D Lady won the Fifth Avenue by 2 1/2 lengths over Walk With Me, who made a long and sustained rally to finish second and give McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds a 1-2 finish by offspring of the Saratoga Springs’ farm’s stallions in the richest race for 2-year-olds on the NYRA circuit.

Solomini, the leading freshman sire in New York, stands for $6,500; while Central Banker, the sire of Walk With Me and two-time defending leading sire in the Empire State, stands for $7,500.

“We’ve liked him [Solomini] all along and we were lucky to get him in the first place,” McMahon of Saratoga’s Joe McMahon said. “He won a Grade 1 and they took him down. If they gave him that Grade 1, he’d be in Kentucky for a lot more money. We were very fortunate that way. [My Shea D Lady] was my absolute favorite foal.”

Bred by and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and out of the Teuflesberg mare Ladyberg, My Shea D Lady was purchased for $100,000 by Shea D Boy’s Stable at the OBS April sale. Campaigned by that group and trained by Carlos Davis, My Shea D Lady came into the Fifth Avenue off back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Joseph A. Gimma and Key Cents after a third in the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in her second start.

The 5-2 favorite in the field of 12, My Shea D Lady raced in the middle of the pack under Castellano up the backstretch as fellow Solomini filly Soloshot set the pace ahead of the Freud filly Sun and Wind through splits of :22.99 and :46.91.

Castellano stayed on the inside around the far turn as My Shea D Lady raced into third approaching the quarter-pole, just 1 1/2 lengths behind Soloshot. My Shea D Lady took the lead just outside the eighth pole and drew off to win going away in 1:25.91 over the fast track. Walk With Me, 4 1/2 lengths back turning for home, rallied under Dylan Davis for the place spot and 2 1/2 lengths clear of the Big Brown filly and first-time starter Elite Status in third. Sun and Wind finished fourth.

My Shea D Lady survived an inquiry after a trainer’s objection from Rudy Rodriguez – the trainer of Sun and Wind – for the win.

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Javier Castellano piled onto his big 2023 with a victory in Saturday’s NYSS Fifth Avenue aboard My Shea D Lady. Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo.

“My filly was just a little bit intimidated along the rail behind horses,” Castellano said. “It was really tight and she don’t want to go, but as soon as she got through, she took off. She started getting tired a little bit at the end. I had to keep her straight but I didn’t interfere with nobody else. You could see I was clear and I didn’t bother nobody in the race. The horse was much the best in the race.”

My Shea D Lady earned $275,000 for the victory and boosted her bankroll to $336,500.

David was happy to give a leg up to Castellano for the first time aboard My Shea D Lady.

“They’re still babies. They’re still trying to figure it out,” he said. “I know it’s another month and they’ll be 3, but she’s only run five times and there’s been a couple races where she just kind of hangs.

“The jockeys weren’t as aggressive as I wanted them to be, and I told Javier, ‘I think it’s a great spot and if she doesn’t get in trouble, we should be able to come through; don’t feel scared to just kind of push a little bit and encourage her to get in the spot.’ ”

My Shea D Lady is the first foal out of Ladyberg. A half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Hoosick Falls and stakes-placed Manor Prospect, Ladyberg is also the dam of a Solomini colt who was a $37,000 RNA at this year’s OBS October yearling sale and a weanling colt by Solomini born May 9. McMahon of Saratoga bred each of Ladyberg’s foals.

David said My Shea D Lady would likely receive a refresher after her second win in five starts.

“I kind of want to give her a little bit of time off. She’s been running good,” he said. “I’m going to talk to the guys and maybe send her to the warm weather for a couple of months. I’ll leave it up to them. She’s great and has done good for us. I always like to give them a little break, maybe run her one time in Florida. She’s a New York-bred, but after a race like this, maybe we just give her a couple months off and let her refresh.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2023/12/16/solomini-filly-my-shea-d-lady-wins-nyss-fifth-avenue/