Photo by Joy Gilbert
by Sarah Mace
Noon Shadow, a 2-year-old bay gelding bred by Sequel Stallions New York and Thomas Dushas and owned by Christopher Trakas and Arlene M. Falk, became the first winner for New York freshman sire Noonmark Saturday, after winning the opener at Suffolk Downs, a maiden special weight contested at five-furlongs.
Debuting off-the-board at Saratoga on August 22 for trainer Jacqueline Falk and favored to win on Saturday at odds of 7-5 with his trainer in the irons, Noon Shadow contested the early pace with Yasou Christo, was urged to the front after the first half-mile and, after repelling a challenge in the stretch by Proud Patriot, drew off to win by a length in a final time of 1:01.13. Noon Shadow, who has now earned $12,900, is the third winner produced by Overdue Number, an unraced Virginia-bred Polish Numbers mare.
Bred in Kentucky by John D. Murphy Sr., Noonmark is a son of Unbridled’s Song out of the unraced Storm Cat mare In the Storm, a half-sister Grade 1-winning millionaire and sire Formal Gold (Black Tie Affair). A $1.15-million Keeneland April 2-year-old purchase, Noonmark was trained by Steve Assmussen and campaigned George Bolton, Joan Corrigan, and Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm.
Compiling a record of a record of 4-5-3 from 19 starts in four campaigns and earnings of $354,090, Noonmark broke his maiden by 10-plus lengths at Belmont in October 2005 in his second and final start as a 2-year-old. Returning to win an allowance at Gulfstream the following February, he followed up with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Swale. Later that year he also collected a Grade 2 placing in the Woody Stephens. A winner at four, in his 5-year-old debut Noonmark captured the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream Park, for which he earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
Noonmark stands at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger’s Sequel Stallions New York for a partnership consisting of Thomas, Narlinger, Chester Broman, Tony Grey, and Lewis Lakin.
