New York horsemen are excited for the two-part plan to provide purse parity for racing in the state starting in 2026. Coglianese Photo.

New York-based horsemen have expressed their support for the two-part plan unveiled by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) to provide purse parity for New York-breds.

The programs will be offered starting in 2026 at both Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct as well as at the new Belmont Park, which will open in the fall of 2026.

In October 2023, NYRA announced that beginning January 1, 2026, all New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds [foals of 2024] on the NYRA circuit will offer purse amounts matching their open-company counterparts.

On December 30, NYRA further announced that effective January 1, 2027, all New York-bred overnight races will be run for purse money equal to their open-company counterparts, allowing the New York-bred foal crop to benefit from the financial reward of purse parity throughout their racing careers.

Boyd Browning Jr., President and CEO of Fasig-Tipton
“It’s a fantastic move by NYRA that further strengthens the New York-bred program both from a racing standpoint and from a sales standpoint. It also reiterates the cooperative nature and strengths of the racing community, breeding community and the sales community in the State of New York. This will continue to make the New York-bred sale one of the strongest in the United States and also continue to enhance the value of every New York-bred produced. It should also provide further incentive for more people to breed in the state of New York. We look forward to continuing to devote significant resources to the sales at Saratoga.”

Joe McMahon, McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds
“As a longtime breeder and owner of racehorses in New York State, I would say this is a wonderful addition to the already great NYRA and New York Breeding and Development Fund awards. We’ve been in business here for over 50 years, and it’s certainly one of the biggest advancements we’ve made in that period. It should impact the industry for New York racing very positively. The awards to breeders are going to be based on a higher amount of money, so that’s more money in their pockets.”

Lere Visagie, Rockridge Stud
“It’s obviously very important for us to have it. It’s very good news for all of New York. We’ll see what impact it will have on us this year, but it’s very encouraging for us to say [to clients] that New York-breds will run for the same money as open company.

“There’s a little bit of a disconnect still between New York and Kentucky because it’s a regional market, but we’ve definitely kind of stopped the exodus of people going to Kentucky. There’s a lot more people staying in New York, and with the quality of stallions that are here now, there’s a wide variety for them to stay local. This [purse parity] is all the more reason to stay.

“The last three years, we’ve been stepping it up every year with better and more stallions, because we felt with the new Belmont, there’s a lot of positives that we can build off.”

Harlan Malter, Managing Partner of Ironhorse Racing Stable, Ironhorse Stallions and Bucchero 
“When we moved Bucchero up to New York, it was an unusual move. Usually, it is Florida to Kentucky, or New York to Kentucky. It was very intentional; we felt that he was on the uptick. We saw how strong he was in open company, and we would hear rumblings of the plans coming down the pipeline for Belmont and the plans of purse parity being talked about. That is one of the things that has been on the top of my mind: New York is on its path to be, if not the premier racing jurisdiction in America, the co-premier racing jurisdiction, with the new Belmont and Saratoga. I’ve found in other jurisdictions the state-bred programs are just something on the side that they try to keep going, whereas New York I think has the opportunity to make it a central part of the racing program.

“It feels like the stallions in New York are being upgraded on a consistent basis, and the beauty of this purse parity is that we wanted to come along with it. As stallion owners, as breeders, it is important for us to start to elevate New York sires, so we can have New York-sired compete with New York-breds, who compete with open horses. The strength of the New York program in the future is how strong can we make our New York-sired horses, and can they be competitive with open horses? That was one of the reasons we brought Bucchero to New York. It is a premier racing jurisdiction that is taking all the steps necessary to not just have two levels of racing.”

Dan Zanatta, co-managing partner of NY Final Furlong Stable
“This has already been front of mind for us. We’ve done a few things strategically as we started to think about the program. One, the foals that our broodmares had this year – we sold as weanlings – because we thought there would be a little more demand from the investment side. We definitely saw the market react to the news that had already been released.

“We also started to think about the need to increase the quality of our stock and we’re willing to increase the max threshold ceiling of what we would be willing to pay for horses. We bought a $150,000 Yaupon weanling filly at Keeneland November which is typically in the upper bounds of what we would be paying for a yearling. If we’re going to be able to compete for purses that are up to 20 percent higher than what they are now, then we reshape our focus and improve what we are willing to pay for horses.

“Do we want to have more broodmares and be more invested on the breeding side, as well? These kind of announcements force those discussions and make some of those investments a little easier.”

Michael Sternklar, Clear Stars Stable
“The New York program has always been great for New York-breds, between the increased purses with the casino and the bonuses for running against open-company horses. But you always looked at those other purses and said, ‘why is there a disparity?’ So this was, of course, great news, especially because we converted our stable about 10 years ago from one that did claiming and buying at the sales, to a pure breeding, yearling and 2-year-old stable. We might purchase 10 new 2-year-olds a year and they’re all going to be New York-breds, so this is wonderful news. The program has always been so much better than other states, and it’s not even comparable. This just makes it even better.”

Linda Rice, trainer and owner
“Anything that is good for the New York-bred program is good for me because I race in New York year-round. I’m a big supporter of the New York-bred program and it’s been very good to me for the past 10-15 years, since I started racing in New York for the majority of the year. I’m happy to see that and what’s good for the program is good for my stable as well. I think it will definitely attract more interest in the New York-breds [at the sales], but hopefully not so much interest that we can’t get them bought!”

David Donk, trainer
“It’s showing the strength of the New York-bred program which continues to get stronger where in some other jurisdictions it hasn’t, especially with the declining horse population nationally. It’s a great opportunity for people and there’s a lot of positivity – not just for owners, but for breeders. The state-breds are getting better and better all the time. There’s a lot of good New York-breds out there and it’s a big strength of NYRA’s program.

“There’s a lot of optimism with the new Belmont Park and this just adds to it. The state-breds are the backbone – especially with the winter program – and I think it leads into that winter of 2026. The New York-bred program has been very good to me and hopefully it continues to do so.”

Ray Handal, trainer
“It is huge for the New York-bred program. The New York-breds are getting better so it makes the racing more competitive and people are more inclined to breed to have New York-breds and race them here. I think it is good for everybody that there will be more contentious races. It will give incentive to breeders to bring more horses here and it will put money in all of our pockets for the guys that are dedicated to the New York racing program.

“Half of my barn is New York-bred, so they are a big part of it, and they are a big part of New York racing. Anything we can do to help promote that, is huge.”

Horacio De Paz, trainer
“It is a great incentive for the owners. I would say New York-breds are at least 80 percent of my barn, for the most part, because I train for breeders and owners here in New York. This is a great incentive for us and for them.

“This is going to make the program even better – maybe you will see some different sires start coming over here. It will open up things for people wanting to breed to have New York-breds.”

David Duggan, trainer

“It becomes an easier sell to people that are investing in New York. If you’re thinking of investing, you’re increasing the amount you’re going to invest based on return. It regenerates interest – the cost of doing business here can be a deterrent to people, and I think it’s an added bonus that’s needed to sustain people in regular business. The New York breeders need that boost, and I think this is a good avenue for that. I think it’s good.”

New York State has adopted rules that expand the reach of the New York-bred awards and benefits by clarifying a pathway for non-resident mares to gain residency status. Accordingly, a non-resident mare purchased in foal through public auction is deemed a resident mare provided the mare is purchased for at least $50,000 in the public auction; is present in the state of New York within 15 days after a sale in North America and 60 days at any public auction sale abroad; the foal is foaled in New York; and the mare thereafter is continuously in residence in New York from within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception of another foal and remains in residency until foaling.

For additional information on resident and non-resident mares and their foals, visit https://www.nybreds.com/rules/resident-non-resident-mares.

To support the residency rule, NYRA and The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (NYTBDF) provide up to $650,000 per year in purse bonuses to owners. The bonus offers $5,000 every time a New York-sired New York-bred wins at the maiden special weight or allowance level at NYRA’s tracks.

Mi Bago collects third stakes victory in Wednesday’s off-the-turf Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park. Coglianese Photo/Lauren King.

Gary Barber’s Mi Bago, already a stakes winner on grass and a winner on dirt in his debut, became a stakes winner on synthetic Wednesday in the $150,000 Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park.

Taken off the grass following overnight rain, the 1-mile Dania Beach also marked the second straight win for Mi Bago. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of seven off a win in the Pulpit Stakes November 29 at Gulfstream, Mi Bago won by three-quarters of a length over Hammerhead.

Edwin Gonzalez, aboard for winning trainer Mark Casse, kept it simple on the 3-year-old son of Vekoma.

“Nick [Tomlinson] didn’t give me too many instructions for the horse,” Gonzalez said of Casse’s assistant. “Today I break out of the gate, he put me right there. He was pulling my arm. He wanted to keep going. I wanted to keep him in a nice and relaxed position, and he finished good. He’s a really good horse.”

Barber and his team identified that quality after Mi Bago won his debut in a 5-furlong dirt maiden at Colonial Downs last August for owner CM Thoroughbreds and trainer Carlos Munoz. Barber purchased Mi Bago privately after that effort and moved him to Casse’s care. Mi Bago finished a non-threatening sixth in the Funny Cide Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day at Saratoga Race Course August 25 before moving to the grass to win the October 5 bet365 Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine.

Mi Bago missed out on the Breeders’ Cup after failing to draw into either the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf or Grade 1 Juvenile Turf Sprint. He finished fifth in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes on the Future Stars Friday undercard before returning to the East Coast to win the Pulpit.

Mi Bago led the field through splits of :24.23, :47.03 and 1:10.41 in his synthetic debut, putting away Hit That Review. Mi Bago opened up a 1 1/2-length advantage in midstretch and held off Hammerhead’s late run. Maui Strong finished third, with I Know I Know, Hit That Review, Nothingsubtle and Bucaro completing the field.

Mi Bago, who won the 1-mile and 70-yard test in 1:39.17, earned $91,140 for his lastest victory. He’s won four of six starts.

Bred by Highclere Inc. and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Mi Bago is the fifth winner produced by the unraced New York-bred Indian Charlie mare Wabanaki. She’s the dam of seven-time winner and $227,242-earner Lady Macho (by Mucho Macho Man) and winners What Mightavebeen (Freud), Dawnland (Jimmy Creed), Weyron (Goldencents) and Fast Chaz (Fast Anna). The latter graduated in his 13 start on the New Year’s Eve card at Turf Paradise.

A $62,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale in 2023, Mi Bago was a $90,000 RNA later in the year at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Five G cruises to victory in Wednesday’s $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Coglianese Photo/Lauren King.

Gatsas Stables’ homebred Five G returned to the main track and came away with a victory over open company in the $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run Stakes on the New Year’s Day program Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.

The newly turned 3-year-old daughter of Vekoma, second in the Tepin Stakes on the turf in her most recent start in mid-November at Aqueduct, blitzed her six foes in the 1-mile Cash Run. Five G won by 9 lengths under John Velazquez, finishing in 1:38.11 over the fast track.

Five G also won a state-bred maiden race on the grass in early November at Aqueduct, after making her debut in a 6-furlong state-bred maiden August 22 at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer George Weaver put the filly back on the dirt after being impressed with her recent works at Palm Beach Downs.

“She worked very well on the dirt and when you’re trying to figure out what horses want to do and what’s best for them, you need to try things sometimes and she worked well enough on the dirt that we needed to try it,” Weaver said. “Obviously we’re happy, she likes the turf and the dirt. With that kind of performance, we’ll probably stick to the dirt now and try and get her on the (Kentucky) Oaks trail.”

Supplemented to the Cash Run, Five G broke well from the rail and stayed close to Andrea through the opening quarter in :24. Velazquez sent Five G to the front before the field hit the half-mile in :46.74.

Five G went on from there, widening her advantage around the far turn and running past 6 furlongs in 1:12.26.

“I left the race in the hands of Johnny,” Weaver said. “I said to just get her comfortable and see what she does. When they got into turn and he had the lead and the more they went on, other people were scrubbing and we weren’t scrubbing yet. I was like, ‘We might be all right here.’ ”

Five G cruised through the lane, increasing her advantage from 4 lengths in midstretch to 9 at the finish. Paradise City, sent off the 9-5 favorite, closed to be a distant second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Unchained Elaine. Yellow, Fallon, Sweet Note and Andrea completed the order of finish.

“Pretty easy,” Velazquez said. “She broke really well, and I was trying to let the speed go. [Jockey Emisael] Jaramillo was on the outside [on Andrea]. When he got close to her she kind of went away from her, and I pulled her to be close to her and she got really on the bridle. After that I just let her get into her rhythm.”

Five G picked up $91,140 for her second victory in four starts, boosting her earnings to $160,290.

Weaver said he’d look at options for Five G going forward, with eyes on the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks March 30, including possibly the Grade 3 Forward Gal going 7 furlongs February 1 and the Grade 2 Davona Dale at 1 mile March 1.

“These Oaks and Derby horses, there’s a bunch of spots,” Weaver said. “We’ll just map out something we think is going to get her there the right way. There’s plenty of options.”

Five G is the second foal out of the Quality Road mare Triumphant, who was purchased by Gatsas Stables in foal to Runhappy for $57,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The resulting foal, the now 4-year-old Runhappy filly Six O Three, is winless in three starts. Triumphant is also the dam of a yearling full brother to Five G, also bred by Gatsas in New York.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. today announced its continued support of the New York-bred racing program with the expansion of previously planned overnight purse increases. Effective January 2027, all New York-bred overnight races will be run for purse money equal to their open-company counterparts.

As announced by NYRA in 2023, beginning January 1, 2026, all New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds on the NYRA circuit will offer purse amounts matching their open-company counterpart.

This year, NYRA ran 548 New York-bred races for total purses of $42,817,000 with the new program anticipated to increase New York-bred overnight purses by 15 percent compared to 2024 purse levels.

According to early breeding figures reported by The Jockey Club, the New York-bred foal crop is on pace for significant growth this year with 672 live foals reported through October 13, an increase of 13.9 percent compared to the same period last year when a total of 1,088 mares were bred with 590 live foals reported. Nationally, it is expected that the foal crop will decline by approximately two percent in 2024.

“The commitment to the New York-bred overnight program builds upon our previous efforts to support high-quality New York-bred racing,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations. “Starting in 2026, the New York-bred foal crop will benefit from the financial reward of purse parity and will continue to reap those benefits throughout their racing careers.”

The programs will be offered starting in 2026 at both Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct as well as at the new Belmont Park, which will open in the fall of 2026.

As a result of the partnership between NYRA and FOX Sports, nearly every New York-bred contest is broadcast live to a national audience on the FOX Sports family of networks. Both Saratoga Live and America’s Day at the Races, which are produced by NYRA, have generated sustained ratings growth since they were launched nationally in 2016.

In addition to the lucrative purses offered by NYRA, a variety of owner, breeder and stallion awards are available to those who breed and race in New York. These incentives directly benefit thoroughbred breeding farms across the state.

“Thanks to the quality of New York-breds in the sales ring and at the racetrack, our foal crop numbers have trended positively in recent years,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “NYRA’s commitment to investing in the New York-bred program will support continued growth and is a clear statement on why it pays to breed, own, and race in New York.”

New York State has adopted rules that expand the reach of the New York-bred awards and benefits by clarifying a pathway for non-resident mares to gain residency status. Accordingly, a non-resident mare purchased in foal through public auction is deemed a resident mare provided the mare is purchased for at least $50,000 in the public auction; is present in the state of New York within 15 days after a sale in North America and 60 days at any public auction sale abroad; the foal is foaled in New York; and the mare thereafter is continuously in residence in New York from within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception of another foal and remains in residency until foaling.

For additional information on resident and non-resident mares and their foals, click here.

To support the residency rule, NYRA and The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (NYTBDF) provide up to $650,000 per year in purse bonuses to owners. The bonus offers $5,000 every time a New York-sired New York-bred wins at the maiden special weight or allowance level at NYRA’s tracks.

Bank Frenzy (outside) gets up late to defeat Doc Sullivan by a nose in Saturday’s Alex M. Robb at Aqueduct. Coglianse Photo/Chelsea Durand.

LSU Stables’ Bank Frenzy continued to show his determination and fondness for a wet track with a narrow victory over Doc Sullivan in Saturday’s 47th renewal of the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old son of three-time leading New York sire Central Banker collected his second stakes victory of 2024 with his nose win over the front-running Doc Sullivan and five others in the 1-mile Alex M. Robb. Bank Frenzy, now 4-for-4 on wet tracks, won the Evan Shipman Handicap in mid-August in the mud at Saratoga Race Course shortly after being purchased privately by LSU Stables and transferred to trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s barn.

“He loves the wet track,” said LSU Stables’ Larry Sarf. “When it’s wet, you can’t beat him. He was carrying more weight than all of the other horses, so it makes it a little tougher.

“He likes a little more distance, but he made the way. He stalked the lead and the big thing was he wasn’t getting any splash back, because he was laying on the outside. It was a great ride by Manny [Franco].”

Dismissed as the 6-5 favorite ahead of the 3-year-old El Grande O, making his return to stakes company and against New York-breds for the first time since October 2023, Bank Frenzy dueled with the foe in second and third as Doc Sullivan took the early initiative.

Doc Sullivan, fourth in the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes in late November, led those two and the others through the pouring rain past the opening quarter in :22.73 over the sloppy track. Doc Sullivan and Jose Lezcano continued to lead up the backstretch to the half in :45.60 and around the far turn toward the 6-furlong split in 1:10.29.

El Grande O yielded first behind the free-wheeling front runner, leaving just Bank Frenzy and Sheriff Bianco as the closest pursuers into the stretch. Doc Sullivan opened up early, passed the eighth pole 2 lengths clear as Bank Frenzy continued to cut into his lead approaching the finish.

“I was traveling fine,” Franco said. “My horse broke good. Sometimes he doesn’t break, but today he broke with the field, so I took advantage of that. I put him right next to [El Grande O].”

Bank Frenzy put his nose in front three jumps from home and held on at the finish. He won in 1:36.81 and improved to 6-for-14 in his career.

“The one on the lead was tough to go by. I got to give credit to that horse, too,” Franco said. “My horse was trying, giving all he had, and I got him right there at the wire.”

Bank Frenzy also picked up $55,000 – boosting his bankroll to $424,170. Those dollars also figure to be worthwhile as Central Banker hunts down a fourth straight leading sire title in the Empire State.

Central Banker, a 14-year-old son of Speightstown who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, came into the day leading the New York general sire list with $5,362,263 in progeny earnings. He held a narrow lead over Bucchero at $5,278,396.

Bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Bank Frenzy is out of the Tiznow mare Storm Now. The Bromans purchased Storm Now for $110,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Storm Now is the dam of two other winners – the Into Mischief gelding City Mischief ($131,830) and the Awesome Again gelding Broadway Joe ($15,228). She’s also the dam of the 3-year-old Practical Joke filly Funny Forecast and 2-year-old Instagrand filly Farm House, a $100,000 purchase by Final Furlong Racing Stable at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale. The Bromans bred all of those runners in New York, along with Storm Now’s yearling filly by Instagrand.

Stonewall Star collects her fifth stakes victory in Friday’s Bay Ridge at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Stonewall Star returned to the New York-bred ranks, overcame a hesitant start and bounced back from a graded stakes try 20 days earlier with a victory in Friday’s $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes at Aqueduct.

Barry K. Schwartz’s homebred 4-year-old daughter of Flatter picked up her second win of 2024 with a 2 1/4-length score over odds-on favorite Sterling Silver and seven others in the 1-mile stakes.

Dylan Davis rode the winner for trainer Horacio De Paz, adding more highlights to the respective career best seasons for the jockey and conditioner. Stonewall Star, the 9-2 third choice coming off a distant seventh in the Grade 3 Go For Wand Stakes December 7 at Aqueduct, won in 1:35.02.

“She had been breezing so good – 47 and change last weekend,” said De Paz, who inched closer to the $4 million mark for purses earned by his stable in 2024. “She’s really been doing good all year. I told Barry that she was really thriving and her coat looked really good. It was just a matter of the break situation. When the overnight came out and we drew the one and it was 12 horses, I was like, ‘really?’ You know you have a gate issue horse but the guys at the gate do as good a job as they could do with her.

“She still wants to be competitive. Honestly, we were just trying to run in this spot to see where she fits now. I’ll talk to Barry and see what he decides to do. But if she’s doing well, I’d imagine he’ll keep her running. We’ll see.”

Bon Adieu came away with the lead shortly after the break and before the field made their way to the main track out of the chute, just ahead of 4-5 favorite Sterling Silver and Sweetest Princess. Stonewall Star, who came away last, ran up the inside over the first quarter-mile and took command just after the opening split of :23.55.

“Horacio has been trying to work with her in the morning and they thought that grabbing the tail in the gate was giving her issues there – the stumblings and the misbreaks,” said Davis, the winner of 208 races and more than $16.1 million in purses in 2024. “We tried no tail today, and she was standing well for me, but she just got antsy there when the last one went in, and she tried to push back on the back doors and then she charged the front. It just finally adjusted there, and we were able to break the best we could, but she has a little bit of an attitude there. When she came out of there, that’s the first time for me a horse ever double-barreled or tried to kick the gate coming out at about the second or third jump. Once she was able to get her feet under her, I was able to ride my race from there.

“With not the best break, I was just trying to get as forwardly as possible and stay on the rail at the same time – just breaking and getting that position, and I just kept finding better position and found myself on the lead. I was happy with where I was.”

Stonewall Star, who came into the Bay Ridge on a five-race losing streak, continued on the lead up the backstretch and to the half in :46.15 with Bon Adieu still giving chase and Lisa’s Vision inching into contention.

Davis let Stonewall Star lengthen her stride around the far turn and she gave the field the slip, opening up by 3 lengths at the quarter-pole and past 6 furlongs in 1:09.98. Stonewall Star continued on in the lane as Sterling Silver, the runner-up last time out in the Empire Distaff Stakes on Empire Showcase Day, launched her rally from the outside under Junior Alvarado.

Stonewall Star held sway in deep stretch and held off Sterling Silver at the finish. Midtown Lights, a daughter of Redesdale and a 35-1 longshot under Sofia Vives, rallied up the inside to finish third with 13-1 Golden Rocket fourth.

“We wanted to just let her run where she’s comfortable and she’s usually pretty comfortable on the front end or close to the pace,” De Paz said. “The way the track has been playing, the rail seemed pretty live, so that was a great spot for her.

“I expected the break to be better, but that’s been her trouble all year – bad breaks. In the morning she doesn’t get unsettled in there, but in the afternoon, Dylan said she was really good right up to the last horse that loaded and then she got a little unsettled in there which cost her the break. We got lucky that it stayed open, and he was able to come up the rail like that.”

Bred and foaled at Schwartz’s Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, Stonewall Star improved to 6-for-18 with two seconds and four thirds in the Bay Ridge. A stakes winner at 2, 3 and 4, Stonewall Star picked up $55,000 to boost her bankroll to $467,398.

Stonewall Star is the fourth foal and one of three stakes winners along with Whatlovelookslike and La Fuerza out of the Proud Citizen mare Jonata.

Whatlovelookslike, a 5-year-old daughter of English Channel, is 5-4-3 in 18 starts with earnings of $485,350 for Schwartz and trainer Todd Pletcher. Fifth last time out in the Grade 3 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct and scratched from Thursday’s Via Borghese Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Whatlovelookslike won last year’s Port Washington Stakes at Belmont Park and has placed in three other stakes.

La Fuerza, a full brother to Stonewall Star, won three stakes carrying his owner and breeder’s black and white colors in 2018. He won four of eight and earned $261,610. Jonata is also the dam of New York-bred winner Citizen K, a gelding by Mizzen Mast with a record of 4-2-3 in 25 starts and a bankroll of $208,522.

A $100,000 purchase by Schwartz at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale, Jonata won two of 17 starts with five placings and $140,800.

Sacrosanct (inside) fends off National Identity and improves to 4-for-4 in Saturday’s Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

Sequel Stallions New York’s Honest Mischief, already well on the way to topping New York’s freshman sire list in 2024, added to his haul with a pair of victories in Saturday’s rich New York Stallion Series events at Aqueduct.

Sacrosanct kicked things off in the $500,000 Great White Way division, putting away a front runner and fending off a late challenger to stay unbeaten in four starts. Stone Smuggler completed the double about 30 minutes later and led a 1-3-4 finish for her sire in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division.

Honest Mischief, an 8-year-old son of Into Mischief who stands for $7,500 at Sequel, came into the day with more than $859,000 in progeny earnings from his first crop of 68 named foals and 28 runners. He’ll add $450,000 from the two winners’ shares, plus $113,500 from the other placings and minor awards in the two stakes.

Honest Mischief’s total of more than $1.42 million would be enough to make the top 10 among all North American freshman sires according to the latest BloodHorse statistics.

Sacrosanct delivered at 1-2 odds for owners Lady Sheila Stable, Net Birdie LLC and Schwing Thoroughbreds and trainer Brad Cox in the Great White Way. He came in with victories during the Belmont at the Big A meeting in September in the Bertram F. Bongard and in October in the Sleepy Hollow on Empire Showcase Day.

“He’s got a good mind,” said Lady Sheila Stable’s Sheila Rosenblum. “He and Manny Franco are becoming a good team together. The program [New York Stallion Series] needs this and is spectacular. I was always so pro-New York and the turnout – it’s wonderful to see the people out.

“It’s a great program and we’re lucky to be a part of it. I’m incredibly pleased with what he’s doing. Sacrosanct is a good talent.”

Sacrosanct came away with the rest of the field as New York Breeders’ Futurity winner Bold Fortune took control for Dylan Davis.

Bold Fortune edged away before Sacrosanct and Franco got within a half-length through the opening quarter-mile in :22.30 with National Identity and Smilensaycheese tracking a little further back. The front two continued as a team around the far turn, with Bold Fortune clinging to a neck advantage through the half in :45.01.

Sacrosanct put away Bold Fortune turning for home and braced for the late run of National Identity. That foe, a son of Solomini coming off a maiden victory November 2 at the same 7-furlong trip, engaged Sacrosanct on the outside put couldn’t get past in deep stretch. Sacrosanct won by a head in 1:24.10.

“I was a little worried because I knew the pace we set was honest,” Franco said. “At the same time, my horse was OK outside that horse [Bold Fortune] and when he made the lead, I knew that I got a little bit more. I knew he’s going to give me that extra run down the lane.

“This is a nice horse, since the beginning when I got on him in Saratoga. We knew we had a great New York-bred, so he didn’t disappoint.”

National Identity finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of the Solomini colt Smilensaycheese in third with Soontobeking, a son of King for a Day who encountered traffic trouble trying to come up the rail inside of the retreating Bold Fortune in the lane

Bred by Burleson Farms, McKenzie Bloodstock and Sequel Thoroughbreds and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson, Sacrosanct is the fourth foal out of the unraced Unbridled’s Song mare Vibrato.

Sacrosanct was purchased for $260,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds in training sale. Vibrato is also the dam of Navit, a graded stakes winner in Puerto Rico, and the four-time winner All The Diamonds. She’s also the dam of a yearling New York-bred Instagrand colt, also bred by Thoroughbreds Sequel, Farm Burleson and McKenzie Bloodstock; and a New York-bred weanling colt by Honest Mischief bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Burleson Farm.

Stone Smuggler caps big day for Honest Mischief with victory in the Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

• The team behind Stone Smuggler said they had the NYSS Fifth Avenue in mind when they paid what now looks like a bargain $57,000 for the Honest Mischief filly at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

“We ended up buying four Honest Mischiefs pretty early at the weanling and yearling sales,” said Dan Zanatta of NY Final Furlong Racing, which co-owns Stone Smuggler with Sunset Ridge Racing Stable. “They were all really balanced … they all had tremendous hips, great girths, great toplines and great walking motion. We love New York-sired horses to go after because typically we can buy the best ones. … We bought [recent maiden winner] Oklahoma Smoke and we bought her as the two best Honest Mischiefs we found of the filly crop and it’s worked out for us.

“We have never had a horse in this race before. Over the past two or three years, we specifically went out and bought horses for this race. We bought this filly at the yearling sale with this race in mind. So, 18 months later to be in this race, never mind win it, is a success. Very rarely do you buy a horse a year and half before a race target and actually get there.”

Stone Smuggler improved to 2-for-4 with her second stakes victory in the Fifth Avenue. Third in the Key Cents last time out, Stone Smuggler broke her maiden in the Lady Finger Stakes two starts back at Finger Lakes following a strong second behind the highly regarded With the Angels in a Saratoga maiden race in her debut.

The 5-2 second choice in the field of 11 behind 8-5 favorite and Maid of the Mist runner-up Boston’s Phinest, Stone Smuggler raced sixth early from her extreme outside post in the field of 11.

Bam’s Bliss Kiss came away with the lead from the rail after a five-way scrimmage early with Stunning Sugar, Mischief Lady, Blossoming Erudite and D’s a Rock. Bam’s Bliss Kiss eventually led by a head over Mischief Lady through the opening quarter in :22.72. Those two continued through the backstretch and into the far turn to the half in :46.59.

The Fifth Avenue field bunched up approaching the stretch and five fillies fanned out turning for home, including Stone Smuggler five paths off the rail in third.

Lezcano pushed Stone Smuggler to the lead at the three-sixteenths pole and she held a half-length lead from Princess Mischief at the eighth pole. Stone Smuggler kept clear of Princess Mischief in deep stretch and finished 1 3/4 lengths clear of the late-running Central Banker filly Material Girl at the finish. She won in 1:24.90.

“She really ran well,” winning trainer Jorge Abreu said. “I was as a little concerned about the seven-eighths with her. I didn’t know if she could go that far, but she did it. I was a little bit concerned [about the outside post] but the race had a lot of speed inside of her, so that worked out well.

“I said to Jose ‘whoever takes the lead, just park right outside of them.’ Stretching out I didn’t want to see her fighting for the lead. Jose rode a great race.”

Stone Smuggler picked up $275,000 for the victory and boosted her bankroll to $364,347.

Bred by Eaton & Thorne Inc. and foaled at Thorndale Farm in Millbrook, Stone Smuggler was sold out of the Eaton Sales consignment at last year’s Saratoga New York-bred sale.

Stone Smuggler is the seventh foal out of the winning Bustin Stones mare Bustinattheseams. She’s the dam of five other New York-bred winners, including $146,899-earner Limit Up, $120,110-earner Fat N Bitter and the 3-year-old Destin gelding, two-time winner and $44,115-earner Seams Like Destiny.

Eaton & Thorne Inc. also bred a yearling full brother to Stone Smuggler who sold for $60,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale.

Roanan Goddess, a 3-year-old daughter of Leofric bred by Chad Carter, wins her third stakes of 2024 in Saturday’s Safely Kept at Laurel Park. Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club Photo.

Mens Grille Racing’s Roanan Goddess returned from a short freshening and collected her third stakes victory – all in 2024 – in Saturday’s $100,000 Safely Kept Stakes at Laurel Park.

J. G. Torrealba rode the 3-year-old daughter of Leofric to a three-quarter-length win over Discreet Ops and five others in the 7-furlong Safely Kept. The 5-1 fifth choice, Roanan Goddess added the Safely Kept to her victory in the Xtra Heat Stakes in late January and the off-the-turf Searching Stakes in early August, both at Laurel for trainer Hamilton Smith.

Roanan Goddess came into the Safely Kept off more than two months on the shelf, after finishing a close third in the 6-furlong Weather Vane Stakes September 22 at Laurel. She finished well back in the $150,000 Camptown for Virginia-restricted runners August 31 at Colonial Downs prior to the Weather Vane.

“It was the last 3-year-old filly stake of the year, and we just waited for this,” Smith said. “She needed a little time between races and it worked out great. She ran well,” Smith said. “Beyond 7 furlongs might be a problem, but she’s a middle-distance horse. She’s doing awfully good.”

Dazzling Move, the 8-5 favorite for trainer Mike Trombetta, took the early initiative in the Safely Kept and opened up a 3 1/2-length advantage through the opening quarter-mile in :22.55. Dazzling Move still led by 2 lengths over Discreet Ops around the far turn and to the half in :45.32, with Kissedbyanangel, Sheilahs Warcloud and Roanan Goddess giving chase.

Discreet Ops shrugged off the favored pacesetter turning for home, while Roanan Goddess continued her run while wide into and through the upper stretch. Roanan Goddess snatched the lead inside the sixteenth pole and pulled away late over a stubborn Discreet Ops. Sheilahs Warcloud finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third with Goodnightngodbless fourth and Dazzling Move fifth. Roanan Goddess won in 1:23.63 over the fast track.

“I told (Torrealba) … just get her out of there good and see where you are and ride your race. He did just that,” Smith said. “I thought she was little further back than I expected her to be but she came a running.”

Bred by Chad Carter, foaled at Rockridge Stud in Hudson and out of the winning Midnight Lute mare Night Madam, Roanan Goddess improved to 3-for-8 with three thirds this season. She also picked up $60,000 for winning the Safely Kept to pad her career bankroll to $289,240.

Roanan Goddess is the second foal out of Night Madam, who is also the dam of the eight-time winning New York-bred Alpha mare Madam Alpha. Night Madam is also the dam of an unraced West Virginia-bred 2-year-old full brother to Roanan Goddess named Snowy Night and a weanling Virginia-bred weanling colt by Capo Bastone named Night Call.

Roanan Goddess originally sold for $30,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale. Mens Grille Racing purchased the filly for $60,000 about eight months later at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale. She’s won five of 14 starts overall.

Mi Bago collects second stakes win in last three starts in Friday’s Pulpit at Gulfstream. Coglianese Photo/Lauren King.

Gary Barber’s Mi Bago bounced back from a troubled and better-than-appeared run over Breeders’ Cup weekend at Del Mar with a victory in Friday’s $100,000 Pulpit Stakes on the second day of Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet in South Florida.

Fifth and beaten only 2 lengths at 45-1 last time out in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, Mi Bago took control of the Pulpit from the start and held off all his rivals to win as the 9-5 favorite. Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, the 2-year-old son of Vekoma won by 5 lengths over 7-2 second choice Hit That Review and 6-1 Bucaro in third. Mi Bago won in 1:27.06 for the 7 1/2 furlongs on firm turf.

Mi Bago led from the break and into the first turn, opening up 1 1/2 lengths over Enterdadragon through the opening quarter-mile in :23.50. Mi Bago widened that advantage to 3 1/2 lengths through the half in :46.24 with Hit That Review, Discreet Dancer and Como among the closest pursuers behind Enterdadragon.

Past 6 furlongs in 1:09.61, Gonzalez gave a look over his shoulder turning for home as Mi Bago maintained his 3-length advantage over Bucaro in midstretch. They widened again from there and finished well clear. Hit That Review edged Bucaro by a neck for second, with Discreet Dancer fourth.

“Honestly, I kind of left it up to Edwin. He said he was going to break and try and get himself into a good position,” Casse’s assistant Nick Tomlinson said. “He broke running, and I was a little worried about how fast they were going. But he really quickened impressively. He ran really well today. It was a great race.”

Mi Bago improved to 3-for-5 with the victory and picked up $58,900 to boost his earnings to $178,910.

Bred by Highclere Inc. and foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Mi Bago is the fifth winner produced by the unraced New York-bred Indian Charlie mare Wabanaki. She’s the dam of seven-time winner and $227,242-earner Lady Macho (by Mucho Macho Man) and winners What Mightavebeen (Freud), Dawnland (Jimmy Creed) and Weyron (Goldencents).

A $62,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February mixed sale in 2023, Mi Bago was a $90,000 RNA later in the year at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Mi Bago won his debut in a 5-furlong dirt maiden at Colonial Downs August 1 for owner CM Thoroughbreds and trainer Carlos Munoz.

Barber purchased Mi Bago privately after that effort and moved him to his primary trainer Casse. Mi Bago finished a non-threatening sixth in the Funny Cide Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day at Saratoga Race Course August 25 before moving to the grass to win the October 5 bet365 Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine.

“He’s got the talent. Especially for a 2-year-old to go three-quarters in 1:09, that’s a lot to ask of them,” Tomlinson said. “The performance today was extremely impressive. We’ll definitely keep him on the grass. There’s a lot of good 3-year-old stakes coming up. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out and go from there.”