Pandagate takes New York Derby in return

Pandagate, off since a gallant third behind Japanese sensation Forever Young in the Grade 2 UAE Derby in late March, showed no signs of rust in his return to the races with a victory in Monday’s $159,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

Pandagate and jockey Dylan Davis made a wide sweep – out at least six paths off the rail – around the far turn en route to a three-quarter-length victory over 4-5 favorite and recent Mike Lee Stakes winner Doc Sullivan. Owned by Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stable and On The Rise Again Stable and trained by Christophe Clement, Pandagate improved to 3-for-5 with the victory.

A son of the late Arrogate bred by Fred Hertrich III, Pandagate was purchased by his trainer for $130,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. He won two of his first three starts, including the Gander Stakes over Doc Sullivan, before his sojourn to the Middle East.

Pandagate finished third in the $1 million UAE Derby, beaten 6 3/4 lengths by eventual Kentucky Derby third-place finisher and multiple stakes winner Forever Young.

Back with New York-bred company off a string of five works in June and July at Belmont Park, Pandagate went off as the 6-5 second choice in the New York Derby.

Davis was content to led Pandagate race in fifth through the opening half-mile, with local longshot Skyler’s Starship clicking off splits of :24.66 and :49.38. Doc Sullivan, the winner of his last two including a 4-lengths score in the slop in the Mike Lee June 9 at Saratoga, took up the immediate chase behind the leader with Elysian Meadows and Aggelos the Great in close contention.

Skyler’s Starship continued to lead around the far turn as Doc Sullivan and Aggelos the Great ranged up to his outside through 6 furlongs in 1:14.27. Davis tipped Pandagate to the outside midway on the bend, the grey ridgling accelerated past rivals and put away Doc Sullivan in the stretch to win in 1:45.63 over the fast track. Doc Sullivan finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of the 33-1 Skyler’s Starship, who edged Elysian Meadows by a neck for third.

Pandagate, who picked up $95,400 to boost his earnings to $297,050, is the fifth foal out of the stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare Kitty Panda. A homebred for Oak Bluff Stables and Clement, Kitty Panda won two of nine starts and finished third in the 2013 Bouwerie Stakes.

Hertrich purchased Kitty Panda in foal to Blame for $160,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale. Pandagate is one of three New York-bred winners out of Kitty Panda, who is also the dam of three-time winner and $151,380-earner Panster and the two-time winner Countable. Kitty Panda is also the dam of an unnamed Kentucky-bred 2-year-old colt by City of Light.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/07/15/pandagate-takes-new-york-derby-in-return/

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Caldwell Luvs Gold powers to NY Oaks win

Caldwell Luvs Gold stretched out to two turns for the second time in her career and stormed to victory in Monday’s $75,000 New York Oaks at Finger Lakes.

Dicke Racing’s 3-year-old daughter of Goldencents, second last time out going 7 furlongs in the Bouwerie Stakes on New York Showcase Day, shipped from Saratoga Race Course for trainer Brad Cox and won the Oaks by 3 1/4 lengths over Sweet Brown Sugar.

Sent off as the 2-5 favorite under Manny Franco, Caldwell Luvs Gold settled into second early as Sweet Brown Sugar clicked off the opening quarter in :24.88 and half in :50.70. Caldwell Luvs Gold inched closer to the leader approaching the far turn and raced just a half-length behind through 6 furlongs in 1:15.12.

Sweet Brown Sugar, who came in unbeaten in three starts at Finger Lakes including the Niagara Stakes last time out, still led into the stretch before Caldwell Luvs Gold stormed past at the eighth pole. Caldwell Luvs Gold, winner of last year’s Seeking the Ante Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day, poured it on from there and won in 1:46.22 for the 1 1/16 miles on the fast track.

Sweet Brown Sugar held second, 9 1/4 lengths clear of the second-time starting maiden Purpose with Dharma, Dreamery and Thirteen Red Flags completing the field.

Caldwell Luvs Gold improved to 3-2-2 in nine starts and picked up $45,000 for the victory to pad her bankroll to $299,765.

Bred by Jeremiah Desmond and Drumkenny Farm LLC, Caldwell Luvs Gold is the second foal out of the Quality Road mare Snow.

Caldwell Luvs Gold sold for $36,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale before being purchased by Melissa and Kevin Dicke of Indianapolis for $73,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale.

Snow’s first foal, the Cupid gelding Eminency, was a winner who earned $98,413. Her third foal, the 2-year-old New York-bred Vekoma filly Saratoga Snow, sold for $125,000 at 2023 OBS October yearling sale before bringing $47,000 from trainer Mike Dini at this year’s OBS April sale. She’s in training at Monmouth Park with a string works, including a half in :48.60 last Wednesday.

Snow is also the dam of a yearling colt by Cupid and a colt by Mind Control, both bred in New York by Desmond.

Caldwell Luvs Gold won her debut last July at Saratoga before her victory in the Seeking the Ante. After back-to-back stakes placings, Caldwell Luvs Gold finished off the board going two turns for the first time in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct. She returned in 2024 in the East View Stakes, finishing third, before a sixth sprinting on the turf against older fillies and mares. Caldwell Luvs Gold finished a late-running second in the Bouwerie, under Franco, to set up her run in the New York Oaks.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/07/15/caldwell-luvs-gold-powers-to-ny-oaks-win/

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Mo Plex scoots to Grade 3 Sanford victory

By Tom Law

Jeremiah Englehart gave owners Rick Higgins and Howard Reed a bit of a warning after Mo Plex blasted to a 10-length victory last month during the Belmont at the Big A meeting, giving the New Yorkers reason to dream big about the biggest meet of the year in their backyard.

“This isn’t how it always happens with 2-year-olds when we buy them,” Englehart told the longtime friends, who race as R and H Stable.

Englehart might need to double down next time he puts the tack on Mo Plex, after the son of Complexity ran his record to 2-for-2 in Saturday’s co-featured Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

“That was awesome,” Reed, who lives in the Albany area, said after posing with Higgins and Englehart before heading to celebrate the latest graded stakes victory for a product of the New York-bred program.

“We liked his chances, even though not a single prominent handicapper picked him on top,” said Higgins, who lives on Union Avenue in Saratoga just down the road from the racetrack.

Mo Plex’s owners, Englehart and gamblers that packed Saratoga on a steamy afternoon Saturday liked the colt’s chances a lot more after morning-line favorite Mentee came out of the race in the morning with a temperature. Mo Plex went off as the 9-5 second choice behind Studlydoright, down significantly from his 6-1 morning-line price from the outside post in the reduced field of seven.

Irad Ortiz Jr. put Mo Plex on the lead from the break, clicking off strong fractions of :22.51 and :45.92 into the backstretch and around the far turn.

In control throughout, Mo Plex turned for home up by more than a length and extended his advantage to 1 1/2 lengths over the tiring chaser Mr. Squeaky Wheels through 5 furlongs in :58.26. Mo Plex wasn’t seriously threatened from there and finished a length clear of Tremont Stakes winner Studlydoright at the finish in 1:11.72. Three Echos rallied for third.

Bred by Avi and Rhoda Freedberg’s Everything’s Cricket Racing, Mo Plex is the first foal out of the unraced Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy.

A $27,000 RNA at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale, Mo Plex was purchased by Englehart’s JCE Racing for $45,000 at the OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Englehart added R and H Stable to his client list late last year and is thrilled to bring the New Yorkers to his predominantly New York-bred stable bedded down in the Oklahoma Annex at Saratoga for the spring, summer and fall.

Englehart, a longtime player in the state who lives in Schuylerville and has turned much of his attention more to New York-breds in recent years, credited the program.

“This is where I call home all year long, and I concentrate and focus on buying New York-breds,” Englehart said. “Hopefully, we’ve got a few more we can unveil later in the meet and have some fun with. It’s just a tremendous program, and they’ve shown they can run with anything. To me, it’s fantastic and it’s almost like job security when you’re able to have New York-breds. I’m blessed.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/07/13/mo-plex-scoots-to-grade-3-sanford-victory/

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Silver Skillet romps to Port Washington win

Christophe Clement met Joel Rosario in the Aqueduct paddock before Sunday’s $116,250 Port Washington Stakes and offered one bit of advice for the latter’s ride on odds-on favorite in the New York-bred turf stakes.

“Just be comfortable, she’s doing well,” Clement said.

A few minutes later Rosario put Silver Skillet on the lead against her three foes in the 1 1/16-mile Port Washington, didn’t fight the daughter of Liam’s Map when she appeared headstrong early and let her settle around the first turn and into the backstretch. Silver Skillet responded and dominated the field en route to a 7-length victory.

“She broke a little slow, and got going with a little bit of speed, but I was able to slow it down on the backside a little bit and she did the work,” Rosario said. “Very nice. She’s really talented and sometimes she likes to do her own thing. She’s just a racehorse.”

Silver Skillet, who won in 1:43.33, added the Port Washington on closing day of the Belmont at the Big A meeting to her victory last month in the off-the-turf Mount Vernon Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. She’s won five times in 14 starts with three seconds and two thirds for Clement and owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tango Uniform Racing and Steven Rocco. The $68,750 winner’s piece of the Port Washington boosted Silver Skillet’s bankroll to $440,240.

“It’s always nice to win, especially when you train for your friends,” Clement said.

Bred by Robert Chasanoff and foaled at Blue Chip Farms in Wallkill, Silver Skillet earned champion New York-bred turf female honors last year after winning twice and finishing second three times in seven starts. She won an allowance and Suzie O’Cain Stakes at Saratoga and placed in a pair of stakes downstate.

Silver Skillet made her third start of 2024 in the Port Washington, after opening the year with a fourth in an open allowance April 25 at Aqueduct and the Mount Vernon June 9.

Facing just three following the scratches of Whatlovelookslike and main track only runners Bustin Bay and Bon Adieu, Silver Skillet went to post as the 1-2 favorite and backed up the support.

Silver Skillet clicked off splits of :23.22, :49.04 and 1:13.10 before withstanding a mild challenge from 12-1 longshot Lisa’s Vision around the far turn. Silver Skilled spurted clear in the stretch and drew off from there. Lisa’s Vision held second, 2 lengths ahead of 9-5 second choice Marvelous Maude with Snowy Evening fourth.

Joseph Migliore, agent, purchased Silver Skillet for $260,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She’s the second foal out of the stakes-winning Red Giant mare Catcha Rising Star. Chasanoff purchased Catcha Rising Star, winner of the 2016 West Virginia Senate President’s Cup Stakes and the earner of $235,050, for $85,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Catcha Rising Star produced her first foal, the New York-bred Congrats filly Gianduia, in 2019. Silver Skillet came next and Catcha Rising Star was sold in foal to New York-based stallion Honest Mischief to Thorndale Farm for $53,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Catcha Rising Star’s 2023 filly by Honest Mischief, named Ineedapop and bred by Eaton & Thorne Inc., was purchased by The Elkstone Group for $35,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/07/07/silver-skillet-romps-to-port-washington-win/

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Spirit of St Louis soars in Hudson Valley Stakes

Spirit of St Louis extended his win streak to five with a powerful victory in Sunday’s $121,250 Hudson Valley Stakes on closing day of the Belmont at the Big A meeting.

Under the meet’s leading jockey Manny Franco, the 5-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding won the 1-mile turf stakes by 3 lengths over the late-running Dakota Gold. Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn and trained by Chad Brown, Spirit of St Louis won in 1:35.83 over the firm turf.

“He is just a winning machine,” Franco said. “He likes to run, and every time he gives you 110 percent. I’m just happy to be on him right now and to get the ‘W’ once again. He had a nice turn of foot, and every time you ask him for something, he’s there. When you ask him for all, he gives you a nice kick. I think that has made him special.”

A full brother to New York-bred Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold, Spirit of St Louis improved to 8-for-10 with two seconds and pushed his bankroll to $590,650.

Spirit of St Louis’ win streak has come exclusively in stakes company dating back to last year when he won the Ashley T. Cole and Mohawk Stakes, both during the Belmont at the Big A fall meeting. Spirit of St Louis made a successful venture into open company two starts back when he won the April 20 Danger’s Hour Stakes at Aqueduct, a victory the preceded his score in the off-the-turf Kingston Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Hammered down to 1-2 in the field of five, Spirit of St Louis and Franco set up shop just behind 13-1 outsider Itsallcomintogetha early and around the first turn. Itsallcomintogetha led through the opening quarter-mile in :24.17. Spirit of St Louis inched up to challenge for the lead, along with Jerry the Nipper entering the backstretch before Itsallcomintogetha opened up again by about a length through the half in :47.82.

Spirit of St Louis continued to advance around the far turn, challenged for the lead through 6 furlongs in 1:11.51 and took over turning for home. Spirit of St Louis lengthened his advantage through the lane and won going away. Dakota Gold rallied to finish second, just ahead of Itsallcomintogetha and City Man.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Spirit of St Louis is out of the Grade 3-winning New York-bred Lemon Drop Kid mare Khancord Kid. Bar of Gold, New York-bred champion female sprinter and older dirt female in 2017, won seven of 25 starts and earned $1,551,000 for the Bromans.

Khancord Kid is also the dam of the stakes-placed New York-bred duo Land Mine and Homeland among five winners from five foals to race, including the two-time winning New York-bred 4-year-old Justify filly Im Just Kiddin. Khancord Kid is also the dam of the 2-year-old New York-bred Uncle Mo filly Starship Pegasus who sold for $200,000 at the OBS March sale.

A second-generation Broman-bred, Spirit of St Louis sold for $300,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale. He made his first two starts for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown – winning that maiden and finishing second in a 9-furlong allowance – before being sold for $280,000 at this year’s Keeneland April horses of all ages sale.

Brown hinted before the Hudson Valley that Spirit of St Louis could venture back to open company, perhaps even in graded stakes, down the road. Franco said the gelding would be ready.

“He did it [open company] once already and I think it doesn’t matter,” Franco said. “\Right now, he’s doing great, and he’s in the best hands with Chad Brown.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/07/07/spirit-of-st-louis-soars-in-hudson-valley-stakes/

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Solomini colt Wynstock wins Los Al Derby

Turns out Wynstock didn’t need the lead to win.

Southern California-based Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said that in the local press before Wynstock ran in Saturday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby. Then the 3-year-old son of Solomini proved him wrong, yielding the early lead to runoff leader Tapalo before picking up the pieces in the stretch under Kyle Frey to win the 9-furlong feature at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Owned by Dr. Ed Allred and Jack Liebau, Wynstock ended a three-race losing streak and added the Los Alamitos Derby to his victory in last year’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. The Futurity and a flashy maiden score at Santa Anita Park helped Wynstock earn consideration for New York-bred champion 2-year-old male honors in 2023.

Wynstock came into Saturday with three off-the-board efforts in stakes – the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in early February, Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in early April and the Desert Code sprinting on the grass at Santa Anita in mid-May.

Back on the dirt and under Kyle Frey, Wynstock vied for the lead early before yielding to fellow New York-bred Tapalo past the finish the first time. Odds-on favorite Tapalo, a 7-length winner of the Lazaro Barrera going 7 furlongs last time out, zipped through strong early fractions of :23.42, :46.20 and 1:09.63 while building a sizable lead.

Tapalo still led as the field turned for home and in midstretch but the early splits took their toll. Cornell, Baffert’s other runner in the five-horse field and the 3-1 second choice, cut into Tapalo’s lead with every stride in the lane. Wynstock also made up ground through the lane while racing down inside. The 4-1 third choice looked clear until the final strides when Cornell re-rallied before coming up just short. Wynstock won by a nose in 1:50.51. Cornell finished 5 lengths clear of Curlin’s Kaos, who nosed out Tapalo for third.

“I just let him settle early,” Frey said. “I was hoping he would have something for the stretch because he ran so well here in December when he won the Futurity. I stayed inside because I didn’t want to break his momentum.”

Wynstock, who won over the fast track in 1:50.51, improved to 3-for-8 in his career and boosted his bankroll to $243,740. He also gave Baffert his ninth victory in 11 runnings of the Los Alamitos Derby.

“I thought Wynstock’s only chance was to be on the lead, but he runs well here because he likes a firmer surface,” Baffert said. “He could not make the lead, so (Frey) just grabbed him and (Tapalo) was out there by himself and I knew Cornell was going to make a run. Down the stretch, I thought Cornell was going to cut the corner, but he stayed outside and (Tapalo) was drifting him out and then I saw a horse flying on the inside and I thought, ‘Son of a gun,’ and then I realized ‘Oh, that’s my horse, he came back.’

“We know Wynstock has a lot of talent. It’s mental with him. I’m just happy we won and ran 1-2. It’s nice to come here and win this race, especially for Doc. I’m a big fan of his. It’s nice to hang with him and reminisce and tell old stories.’’

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 bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, agent for Allred and Liebau, out of the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment.

Wynstock became the first graded stakes winner for McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds’ Solomini when he won the Los Alamitos Futurity. He’s one of four stakes winners for Solomini, who is also the sire of recent Mike Lee winner Doc Sullivan, Soloshot, winner of the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes; and My Shea D Lady, winner of the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS last year. Solomini, a Grade 1-placed son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Song, stands for $7,500.

Foaled at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, 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.

Empire Equines also bred Timberlea’s most recent New York-bred foals – a yearling filly by Mo Town and a full sister to Wynstock born March 26.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/29/solomini-colt-wynstock-wins-los-al-derby/

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Mischief Joke dominates Ontario County

Mischief Joke handled his second trip to Finger Lakes in western New York better than the first last fall and came away with a convincing victory in Monday’s $50,000 Ontario County Stakes.

Third after ducking in and checking after the start of the $161,547 New York Breeders’ Futurity October 16, Mischief Joke made amends in the 6-furlong Ontario County as the 2-5 favorite. The 3-year-old son of Practical Joke added Monday’s co-feature to his victory in January in the Rego Park Stakes at Aqueduct, winning by 5 1/4 lengths under Andre Worrie.

Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., Parkland Thoroughbreds, Barry Fowler and Angelo Carlesimo and trained by Mike Maker, Mischief Joke returned in the Ontario County after finishing last of five in the Mike Lee Stakes June 9 at Saratoga Race Course.

Bet down from his 9-5 morning-line odds, Mischief Joke raced third early while 3-1 second choice Stars N Stones took the early lead ahead of Benji Brown. Stars N Stones led by a half-length through the opening quarter-mile in :23.01.

Worrie guided Mischief Joke to the three-path around the far turn and Mischief Joke rolled past Stars N Stones and Benji Brown to take command. Mischief Joke led through the half in :46.72 and cruised through the lane, past 5 furlongs in :59.48 on a 4 1/2-length lead that widened at the finish. Aelfgar ralled from fifth to finish second, 5 ¼ lengths ahead of Stars N Stones in third. Mischief Joke won in 1:12.92.

Bred by Pine Ridge Stables LTD and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Mischief Joke is out of the unraced Distorted Humor mare Shesabitdistorted.

Shesabitdistorted is a full sister to graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Sharp Humor, champion New York-bred 2-year-old male in 2005 and champion New York-bred 3-year-old male in 2006. She’s the dam of six winners including Mischief Joke and fellow New York-bred It’s Mo Joke.

Mischief Joke sold for $6,500 to Erick Torres as a short yearling at the 2022 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. He started his career in Kentucky for Torres and owner Twin Oaks LLC, finishing second in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race at Keeneland Race Course, before being purchased privately by his current connections.

Mischief Joke was offered but not sold on a bid of $150,000 during last year’s Fasig-Tipton August digital sale. He compiled a record of 1-5-2 in nine starts last season before starting 2024 with a victory in the Rego Park Stakes in late January at Aqueduct. He defeated Antonio of Venice in the Rego Park before that rival turned the tables in the $93,000 Damon Runyon Stakes in mid-March at Aqueduct.

Mischief Joke didn’t race for nearly three months after the Damon Runyon and returned in the Mike Lee on the New York Showcase Day that closed the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

The Ontario County victory, worth $30,000, boosted Mischief Joke’s bankroll to $259,595 from a record of 3-6-2 in 13 starts.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/24/mischief-joke-dominates-ontario-county/

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Sweet Brown Sugar back home with Niagara Stakes victory

Sweet Brown Sugar returned to Finger Lakes off a short freshening that followed her second stakes victory and added a third Monday in the $50,000 Niagara Stakes.

Off since winning the $100,000 East View Stakes March 17 at Aqueduct, the 3-year-old daughter of Collected ran her record at Finger Lakes to 3-for-3 with her 5 1/2-length win in the Niagara. Owned by Richie Rich Racing Stable and trained by Paul Barrow, Sweet Brown Sugar started her career at Finger Lakes with back-to-back victories that included the $40,000 Shesastonecoldfox in early November.

Hammered down to 1-9 in the field of five reduced by the scratch of A Thousand Plans, Sweet Brown Sugar and jockey Jeremias Flores took the lead from Dorth’s Sol Dancer shortly after the break and opened up a clear lead.

Sweet Brown Sugar clicked past the opening quarter-mile in :23.44 with Dorth’s Sol Dancer giving chase ahead of Dreamery, Love Thyself and Sevens Up. Dorth’s Sol Dancer inched up within three-quarters of a length midway around the far turn before Sweet Brown Sugar opened up again past the half in :47.45.

Sweet Brown Sugar cruised from there, turning for home well in control and widening her advantage. Love Thyself made a tepid run down on the inside to edge past 9-1 second choice Dorth’s Sol Dancer by a half-length at the finish for the place spot at 25-1. Dreamery finished another 8 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Sweet Brown Sugar won in 1:12.41 over the fast track.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Sweet Brown Sugar is the first and only foal out of the winning Bodemeister mare Rachel’s Blue Moon. The winner of two of 11 starts and $97,096, Rachel’s Blue Moon raced for the Bromans as a second-generation homebred for the multiple leading breeders in New York. Rachel’s Blue Moon is out of the Grade 1-placed stakes-winning El Corredor mare Beautiful But Blue, who is out of the multiple stakes-winning $523,927-earning Dixie Brass mare Beautiful America.

Beautiful But Blue, third in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga in 2012 and winner of three New York-bred stakes on the NYRA circuit that season, is also the dam of stakes-placed Montebello. Beautiful But Blue won five of 17 starts and earned $395,450. Beautiful America won six of 21 starts and earned $523,927 for the Bromans from 2002 to 2004.

Sweet Brown Sugar originally sold for $10,000 through the Sequel New York consignment at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She was then offered as part of the Scenic Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS June sale and brought $32,000 from Nick Hines, agent for Richie Rich Stables.

Sweet Brown Sugar started her sophomore campaign at Aqueduct for Barrow. After a fifth behind My Mane Squeeze in the Franklin Square Stakes in mid-January, she finished third in a 6-furlong allowance-optional. Sweet Brown Sugar has won three straight since – a similar 6 1/2-furlong allowance-optional, the East View by 4 lengths and Monday’s co-featured Niagara. Sweet Brown Sugar improved to 5-for-7 and boosted her bankroll to $180,500 with her latest score.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/24/sweet-brown-sugar-back-home-with-niagara-stakes-victory/

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Kant Hurry Love defends title in Dancing Renee

Trainer Dave Duggan added blinkers for Kant Hurry Love’s return to the races, hoping for a little more focus from the 5-year-old daughter of Kantharos. He got it Sunday at Aqueduct.

Running for the first time since March 9 and with her new equipment, Ken Wheeler Jr.’s Kant Hurry Love defended her title in the $125,000 Dancin Renee Stakes. She won last year’s renewal at Belmont Park for her first stakes victory and picked up Sunday’s during the Belmont at the Big A meeting to the delight of her conditioner.

“It was a very unique performance,” Duggan said. “We were very nervous about how the blinkers would affect her off a good run. Obviously, at this stage, we don’t have to worry about that. She got loose on the lead and got very comfortable. It made a big difference.”

Off since a narrow second behind Hot Fudge in the open-company Correction Stakes March 9 at Aqueduct, Kant Hurry Love controlled the Dancin Renee from the start. Hustled away from the gate after the break by Trevor McCarthy, Kant Hurry Love led longshot Majestic Return up the backstretch through the opening quarter-mile in :22.28. Leeloo raced just behind the top pair and the complexion of the race remained that way around the far turn.

Kant Hurry Love shook off a pesky Majestic Return past the half in :44.95 and braced for the late runs from Leeloo and 1-2 favorite Sterling Silver in the stretch.

“We were rolling right along,” McCarthy said. “On paper, Kendrick [Carmouche, aboard Majestic Return] and I were the speed and with the blinkers on, I wanted to really hustle her. She broke good. I hustled her out of there and kind of had to earn it a little more than I thought.

“When we turned for home, I let her open it up a little bit and try and put some distance on Javier [Castellano, aboard Sterling Silver] and get the jump on them. She had been waiting on horses a little bit and that’s why we put the blinkers on. When she felt Javier inside and she surged again just inside the last 70 yards. It was a great performance by her.”

Leeloo, shipping in from trainer Ignacio Correas IV’s barn at Keeneland off back-to-back tries in open stakes, made a solid run at the leader but couldn’t get past. Kant Hurry Love won by three-quarters of a length over Leeloo with Sterling Silver third of six. Kant Hurry Love won in 1:10.11.

“Last race, that was a tough race beaten by a very good filly,” Duggan said of Hot Fudge. “She showed up against her own company today. We beat Sterling Silver at our game, not her game, at seven-eighths she is a better filly I think.”

Kant Hurry Love improved to 5-for-14 at the 6-furlong trip and 6-8-5 in 22 starts. She earned $68,750 for the Dancin Renee victory and boosted her bankroll to $525,600.

Bred by Dr. John and Laura McDermott, foaled at Seldom Still Farm in Granville and out of their homebred Langfuhr mare She’s All Love, Kant Hurry Love sold for $40,000 to Debbie Easter at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase in Kentucky.

A half-sister to stakes winners Candid Desire and Bonus Points, She’s All Love is also the dam of the 3-year-old New York-bred Keen Ice gelding Triple Word Score. A $50,000 purchase out of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale, Triple Word Score finished third in most recent start in a mid-May maiden-claiming race at Belmont at the Big A. She’s All Love did not produce a foal in 2022 or 2023 and delivered a New York-bred filly by multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma February 10.

Duggan said Kant Hurry Love, who scratched out of the April 13 Primonetta Stakes at Laurel Park and the June 5 Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park, would stay with New York-breds for her next start this summer.

“That’s it; that’s the plan,” Duggan said of the August 9 Union Avenue Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. “Would just train her up to that.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/23/kant-hurry-love-defends-title-in-dancing-renee/

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Remembering Toby Sheets

By Teresa Genaro

Maggie Wolfendale Morley and Toby Sheets’ friendship did not get off to an auspicious beginning. Morley (then Wolfendale) had recently begun working as the New York Racing Association’s paddock analyst, and Sheets was Steve Asmussen’s assistant. 

One night, she joined trainers Abigail Adsit and David Cannizzo for dinner. Sheets was seated across from her. 

“He ripped me a new one,” she said. “We didn’t really know each other, and he started talking about what I said about people’s horses on TV, and he was not happy. ‘You can’t say that!’”

Apparently the conversation escalated to the point that other diners in the restaurant noticed, leading to the waitress to come to the table as Morley tried to defend herself. 

“I started to lose it,” she said. “I went to the bathroom and Abby came with me, and she said to me, ‘Go to the bar, do a shot with him, and you’ll be good.’

“I took her advice, and by the end of the night, Toby and I were best friends.”

Fiercely protective of both his horses and his friends, Sheets was found dead in Greece on June 16. The cause of death was drowning. 

Sheets had worked for years as Steve Asmussen’s assistant at Belmont Park. When Asmussen closed his New York barn last year, Sheets worked for several other trainers at Belmont before recently traveling to Greece, with an eye on moving there and establishing a career in the restaurant industry.

“I feel completely empty,” said retired trainer Rick Schosberg, the president of New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Take the Lead racehorse retirement program. “I had talked to him just a couple of days ago about Chestertown.”

Asmussen, and thus Sheets, had trained the New York-bred Chestertown, who sold for $2 million as a two-year-old in 2019 and who was retired last year. Chestertown was bred by Chester and Mary Broman and named for their upstate New York farm; Sheets had been training him to be a stable pony, and, ever vigilant, had made arrangements for the horse to be transferred to Miguel Gutierrez for a career as an outrider pony.

 

“I texted him while he was in Greece and he called me back a day later,” said Schosberg. “He seemed relieved to be in another place than the racetrack, at least for a little while.”

Known for his extraordinary kindness to other people, Sheets asked little of his friends, and even those closest to him often didn’t know much about his life before he got to Belmont.

Morley said that Sheets grew up in Arkansas and had been around horses since childhood; he left home while still young, working as a waiter and bartender in Colorado, then galloping horses on the West Coast and in New Orleans. He trained on his own for a decade before signing on as Asmussen’s assistant in 2004.  

He stayed in New York year-round, and while many images capture him at Aqueduct in the winter, it was in the summer during the Saratoga meet that he and others based at Belmont had time to relax.

“A lot of the assistants stayed at Belmont year-round,” said Cherie DeVaux, a trainer who formerly worked for Chad Brown. “It was quiet in the summer because the racing was upstate, so we got a chance to hang out. Toby was a big supporter when I went out on my own. He’d send a quick text to check in or to congratulate me, and he was always there to talk to, no matter what was going on.”

She remembered a particularly painful incident that was made slightly easier because of Sheets’ presence, when one of the horses that she worked with suffered an injury that required the horse to be euthanized.

“I was really struggling during the procedure, and he took over for me,” she said. “He told me to step away and he held the horse to make it easier on me. That’s the kind of person he was: he always put other people first.” 

Known as much for his horsemanship as for his kindness, Sheets reliably retired horses when they were ready, getting the retirement paperwork done early and thoroughly.

“He was by far one of the best all-around horsemen I’ve ever known in 40 years on the racetrack,” said Schosberg.

He recalled an incident when he was at the track during morning training; Sheets was on the pony, and an exercise rider was having trouble with one of Asmussen’s horses.

“He pulled the pony up, switched places with the exercise rider, and within an eighth of a mile, Toby had this horse that had been acting like an idiot galloping around with his head down.” 

Carol Seaver was the racing manager for Turtle Bird Stable, who owned Asmussen stable standouts Haynesfield and Cluster of Stars, both New York-breds, both graded stakes winners. 

“He knew what was going on with every horse in the barn, not just the accomplished ones like Haynesfield,” she said. “His being able to get on horses was such an asset, and he had such a good handle on Haynesfield. He understood the horse’s cruising speed and ability, and he plotted a very successful course for him, knowing where he’d shine the most.” 

Bred by Barry Weisbord and Margaret Santulli, Haynesfield retired with earnings of $1.3 million, a win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), and a head loss to Jersey Town in the Cigar Mile (G1).  When Dave Lyon bought a $250,000 Classic Empire colt in 2021, he asked David Ingordo, his bloodstock agent, for trainer recommendations.

“He told us to send him to Asmussen, essentially because of Toby,” said Lyon. “And he was right.” After Morello won the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, Lyon and his partners invited Sheets to have champagne with them.

“Nope,” said Lyon. “He wanted to go back to the barn. After we won the Gotham, he did the same thing. He always put the horse before everything. And he didn’t hesitate to tell us when a horse needed time or needed to be laid up for a little while.”

Sassy, sarcastic, and often spicy, Sheets might not be the first person you’d think of as a babysitter for humans. But his kindness and care extended beyond his friends and his horses to the children of his friends.

“My kids would spend holidays with him and his family, and we got to know his dad and his brothers,” said Seaver. When Maggie and Tom Morley had their first child in 2016, they asked Sheets to be Grace’s godfather. “He and Grace were really close,” said Morley. “He promised her that when she turned 18, they’d go to Paris together.”

She paused, choked up. “He was an amazing person to our girls. He and Leah Gyramati were the first people to hold Grace after Tom and me. He stood next to me at my wedding, and when he knew that Tom was away and I had the girls to myself, he’d come hang out and spend nights with us.”

When Asmussen shut down operations at Belmont, it “rocked Toby’s world a little bit,” said Wolfendale Morley. Another friend said that demons chased Sheets, and he chased them back. 

“I kind of thought that he’d made this far and he’d be around forever,” she said. “It hurts so much, especially because it was so sudden. The day before I heard the news, I’d been thinking about how I was going to find him to get to Greece to visit him.” 

“He was always there for us,” she went on, “and he never asked anything in return, just to be a friend and give love. As he always said to me, ‘Love is love.’” 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/06/20/remembering-toby-sheets/

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