Nicole McNees’ Not Phar Now, a gelding by American Pharoah bred by Chester and Mary Broman, competed in Barrel Racing under Jessica Frederick and earned the Empire State Success Story Top New York-Bred Award at last week’s Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Lexington, Kentucky. Erin Gilmore Photography.
By Melissa Bauer-Herzog
Three New York-breds finished in the top five after two days of preliminary competition at last week’s Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, and represented the Empire State in Saturday’s Finale.
One of 28 New York-bred retired racehorses who competed at this year’s Makeover, Not Phar Now, was awarded the Empire State Success Story Top New York-Bred Award presented by New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and New York Racing Association after the week’s preliminary competition as the highest placed Makeover horse bred in New York.
Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the son of American Pharoah competed in barrel racing and proved best among the 20 horses entered in the discipline. Performing a horsemanship pattern and two preliminary barrel racing runs during the week, Not Phar Now recorded a combined score of 40.134, more than a point ahead of the next nearest horse to enter the Finale.
Competitors started on a clean slate in the Finale and Not Phar Now showed that his earlier scores were truly representative of his abilities. The gelding stopped the clock in :18.567 Saturday – more than a second and a half faster than the nearest competitor – to win the division with Jessica Frederick aboard. Now that the Makeover in the books, Not Phar Now will see a change in rider with owner Nicole McNees turned the reins over to her 11-year-old daughter Zoe.
“During the run, I had to remember to breathe and just trust him because sometimes I forget to trust him around work,” Frederick said. “He’s such a special guy, especially with him only having one eye. He’s so special.”
The title of Barrel Racing Champion is just the latest accolade for the one-eyed Not Phar Now, who was trained at the end of his career by Orlando Noda for Final Turn Racing Stable and Celeritas Racing. Not Phar Now won six of his 24 starts, with seven other top-three finishes, and earned $271,790 during his career. He was sourced from ReRun Inc. by McNees.
Boo Ba La, a daughter of Frost Giant bred by Dutchess Views Farm Inc. and Gina Bentivgna, finished third behind Not Phar Now. The 5-year-old mare, retired in August 2023 while under the care of owner-trainer Ralph D’Alessandro, won twice on the track with three other top-three finishes during her racing career.
Boo Ba La had finished close behind Not Phar Now in her preliminary performances to be less than 3 points behind the leader going into the Finale. The Megan Hems-trained Boo Ba La registered a time of :20.597 to finish just a tick behind the runner-up and 1.5 seconds ahead of the fourth-place finisher. Boo Ba La also finished 15th in the Freestyle event during preliminary competition.
Winwood was the third representative for the New York-bred program in the Finale when competing in Polo.
A homebred runner for Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable, Winwood was retired from the track last December after four career starts. A 3-year-old son of Poseidon’s Warrior, Winwood finished fifth in preliminary competition to earn his spot in the Finale. After a flat test and short indoor polo match where he could show his skills, Winwood finished fifth in the Finale.
Just like Boo Ba La, Winwood competed in a second discipline and finished 21st in Freestyle.
Only five horses from each discipline competed in the Finale but five other New York-breds also finished in the top 20 of their disciplines. The other top-20 finishers:
- Lemon Taffy (sixth, Barrel Racing)
- Cancelled Captivity (10th, Barrel Racing)
- Best Idea (10th, Competitive Trail)
- Bustin Hoffman (16th, Ranch Work)
Pretty miss Keens (17th, Show Hunters)
