Red Knight, winner of this year’s Colonial Cup, was pre-entered for the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. Coady Photography.

By Tom Law

Eight New York-breds are among the pre-entries for nine of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship events slated for next weekend at Keeneland Race Course.

Trinity Farm’s homebred Red Knight leads the group in the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. The  8-year-old Pure Prize gelding earned an automatic berth Grade 1 Turf with a victory two starts back in the Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Mike Maker and foaled at Keane Stud in Amenia, Red Knight also won the Colonial Cup Stakes this season and finished a troubled eighth last time out in the Grade 2 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland.

Red Knight is joined on the Nov. 5 Championship Saturday card by two pre-entries in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in Fingal’s Cave and Sterling Silver and by Dancing Buck in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Those three were not selected into the field but could still draw in before final entries are determined Monday.

Fleet Indian winner Fingal’s Cave was pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. NYRA Photo.

Fingal’s Cave, winner of the Fleet Indian Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and runner-up in the Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland last time, is No. 15 on the also-eligible list for the 7-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint. Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, the 3-year-old Carpe Diem filly races for Alifyfe Racing LLC and trainer David Donk.

Sterling Silver, a 3-year-old daughter of Cupid who has placed in three graded stakes in her last four starts, is No. 16 on the AE list. Bred by Mallory and Karen Mort, foaled at Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent and campaigned by owner Mark Anderson and trainer Tom Albertrani, Sterling Silver won the Bouwerie Stakes in May at Belmont Park and finished third last time out in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes.

J & N Stables’ and Diamond M Stables’ Dancing Buck sits No. 16 for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. The 4-year-old son of New York-based sire War Dancer is 3-for-6 this season with a victory last time out in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint after a runner-up finish in the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga. Trained by Michelle Nevin, Dancing Buck was bred by J & N Stables LLC and foaled at Sundial Farm in Amsterdam.

Frizette runner-up You’re My Girl (blue shadow roll) qualified on points for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. NYRA Photo.

You’re My Girl, runner-up in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meeting last time out, leads the New York-bred contingent for Future Stars Friday. A qualifier based on points for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, the 2-year-old daughter of Overanalyze runs for Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Hidden Brook Farm and trainer John Terranova. Bred by James G. Doyle and foaled at Doyle Farm in Schuylerville, You’re My Girl won her debut by 14 1/2 lengths on closing weekend at Saratoga.

A pair of New York-breds were pre-entered in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – Lawrence Goichman’s homebred Lachaise and George Sharp’s Curly Larry and Mo.

Lachaise is among the 14 runners selected into body of the field by the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. The 2-year-old son of Oscar Performance, who was foaled at Edition Farm in Hyde Park, finished third in the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes last time out after a debut victory at Saratoga for trainer Jorge Abreu.

Curly Larry and Mo sits on the AE list at No. 18 for the Juvenile Turf off a maiden win in his fourth start Oct. 15 for trainer Caio Caramori. The son of Mo Town made three starts at Saratoga, including a runner-up in his debut July 17.

Bred by Hidden Lake Farm and Donna Bernhard and foaled at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater, Curly Larry and Mo was also pre-entered in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, with a first preference for the Juvenile Turf. He’s ranked 25th of 26 for the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Vacation Dance, who races for Sleeping Giant Stables, America’s Pastime Stables and Kim Don Racing, also landed on the AE list and is ranked 18th. Bred by Harry Landry and James Hogan and foaled at Majestic Farm in Schaghticoke, the 2-year-old son of The Lieutenant won his debut Sept. 4 at Saratoga before a third in the Grade 3 Futurity Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meet for trainer John Kimmel.

Check out all the pre-entries, and download past performances, here.

Allure of Money rolls to victory under Luis Perez in Tuesday’s Tin Cup Chalice Stakes at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

Happy Face Racing Stable’s Allure of Money made quick work of his six opponents on a short turnaround since his last start in Tuesday’s $29,900 Tin Cup Chalice Stakes at Finger Lakes.

The 2-year-old son of Central Banker rolled to a 9-length victory in the 6-furlong feature, become the latest stakes winner for New York’s leading sire just eight days after an 11 ¾-length maiden victory at Finger Lakes.

Allure of Money to post for the Tin Cup Chalice as the 3-10 favorite off that blowout maiden victory going 1 mile and 40 yards. Jockey Luis Perez was content to let Allure of Money chase Macdonough through the early stages up the backstretch and through the opening quarter-mile in :22.69.

Allure of Money and Macdonough raced on even terms around the far turn before the former stuck a neck in front outside the quarter pole and just before clicking off a half in :46.55. Allure of Money drew off from there, widening his lead to 8 1/2 lengths in midstretch as Gold Templar rallied past Macdonough in deep stretch for the place spot. Mo Trump, Color Commish and American A. P. completed the order of finish. Allure of Money won in 1:12.80 over the fast track.

Bred by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan and foaled at their Shamrock Hill Farm in Fort Edward, Allure of Money is the first foal out of the unraced Shackleford mare Alana’s Allure. Co-bred by Prudhomme, Gallivan and Darby Dan Farm, Alana’s Allure is out of the Chilean-bred Dancing Groom mare Bella Madame.

Consigned as a weanling to the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale through the Vinery Sales consignment, Allure of Money did not meet his reserve on a final bid of $6,500.

Trained by Michael Ferraro, Allure of Money earned $17,940 for Tuesday’s victory to boost his bankroll to $40,420. He’s the seventh black-type winner this year for Central Banker, a 12-year-old son of Speightstown who stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. Central Banker came into the day the clear leader on the New York general sire list, which he also topped in 2021.

Run Curtis Run and jockey Jose Ortiz roll by the field in the stretch to win Sunday’s $120,000 Carle Place Stakes. NYRA Photo.

Run Curtis Run’s connections figured the New York-bred colt would appreciate some class relief, along with a return to a more favorable distance back in his native state, and the son of Summer Front proved them correct in Sunday’s $120,000 Carle Place Stakes at the Belmong at the Big A meeting.

“This horse has run his heart out,” said Michael Dubb, who co-owns Run Curtis Run with Michael Caruso. “He’s been a longshot in his last three races and has gotten no respect. He’s been a bridesmaid each time. I thought today he would like being back in New York and the 6 furlongs.

“The horses he had been facing, he was getting a bit of class relief today, but this was still a nice group of horses. I thought it all might gel together today.”

Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Run Curtis Run overcame a squeeze at the start and closed from last of nine to win the open-company stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over Grooms All Bizness with 2-1 favorite Outlaw Kid third and fellow New York-bred Just Jeremy fourth. Run Curtis Run won in 1:09.43 over the firm turf.

“I was squeezed very hard,” Ortiz said of the break. “It felt like [Grooms All Bizness] came over to me. It was a terrible trip and definitely not what we wanted to see out of the gate. But I felt like my horse was running with better horses and I gave him his shot to show off his class, and he did. It’s very hard to close on this soft ground of the outer turf, and he did. That shows that he was the best horse in this race by far.”

Second in his last three starts – an allowance at Churchill Downs, the Grade 2 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and the Grade 2 Franklin Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs – Run Curtis Run won for the first time since the Rick Violette Stakes in July 2021 at Saratoga.

Trained by Mike Maker, Run Curtis Run also placed in the William Walker Stakes on the grass at Churchill this spring and finished second in last year’s Grade 3 Futurity at Belmont Park. The Carle Place victory, worth $66,000, improved Run Curtis Run’s record to 3-4-1 in 10 starts with earnings of $317,300.

Bred by Larry Goichman and foaled at Edition Farm in Hyde Park, Run Curtis Run is the sixth foal out of the stakes-winning Grade 3-placed Forest Wildcat mare My Magic Moment. Bred in New York and raced by Goichman, My Magic Moment earned $149,813 during three seasons, winning the Missy Moo I Love You Stakes and finishing third in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo Stakes in 2008 and placing in two stakes in 2009.

Goichman, through consignor Indian Creek, sold Run Curtis Run for $45,000 to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock LLC at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale.

My Magic Moment is the dam of three winners – Run Curtis Run, the New York-bred Candy Ride mare Candy for Kisses and the New York-bred Pulpit gelding Bold Bid. She’s also the dam of the unraced 2-year-old New York-bred Accelerate filly The Couples Girl and a weanling colt by Catalina Cruiser born Feb. 25.

Down Royal (right) leads City Dreamer (red cap) and Going Country over the final fence in Saturday’s Grade 2 David “Zeke” Ferguson at Great Meadow. Tod Marks Photo.

By Sean Clancy 

Kate Dalton rolled a leather shank, picked up two bandages and then stopped and stared.

“Princess.”

Down Royal, a white light 8-year-old mare stood across the back wall of a temporary tent stall at the International Gold Cup races, the sixth whistle stop on a 10-stop fall steeplechase champaign. Hours earlier, the New York-bred daughter of Alphabet Soup earned her third stakes win in 2022, rallying past City Dreamer over the last hurdle and holding off Going Country in Saturday’s Grade 2 David “Zeke” Ferguson stakes at the Great Meadow course in The Plains, Virginia.

Bred by Kate and her husband/jockey, Bernie, foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs and owned by Joe Fowler Jr., the daughter of Alphabet Soup continued a revitalization which has copped six wins and a second in seven starts since coming off Lasix for her first start in 2021.

Consistent and steady before that, Down Royal has put together a string of success and a story for the ages.

Trained year-round in Camden, S.C., by the hard-working couple, Down Royal increased her lifetime earnings to $322,474 and yet again proved her durability and resiliency. She upset the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga this summer, running her win streak to four and then finished off the board in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard. Undeterred, the Daltons regrouped and aimed at the Ferguson two months later.

She did the rest, settling in the back of the four-horse field before slipping through the inside to win on her own.

A fan leaned on the post and rail fence outside the winner’s circle and said it best.

“They’re good people.”

He was talking about the breeders, the owner, the trainer, the jockey and certainly the horse.

The Daltons campaigned her dam, Miss Crown, to two wins and a bunch of stakes placings over a 17-race career. They bred her to Alphabet Soup and started the journey. Where does the journey go next?

“What a star. Maybe you’ll see her next year,” Bernie Dalton said on his way to the scale after the stakes win.

Back at the barn at the end of the day, Kate Dalton wasn’t committing to anything.

“We always wanted to send her to Ireland to breed her to a National Hunt sire, she’s earned over $300,000,” Dalton said. “I took her out to show her to Joe and his wife after the race and she jumped up in the air and got her leg over the shank. Princess…”

Acoustic Ave (inside) gets up in time to edge Andiamo a Firenze (6) to win Monday’s Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing were active buyers at Monday’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga October mixed sale, shopping for racing prospects to join the likes of their latest established New York-bred star in Acoustic Ave.

Acoustic Ave, three weeks removed from a victory in the Aspirant Stakes, collected a second Finger Lakes stakes victory for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, trainer Christophe Clement and jockey Manny Franco in Monday’s $158,579 New York Breeders’ Futurity. The 2-year-old son of Maclean’s Music edged odds-on favorite Andiamo a Firenze by a nose to win the 6-furlong Breeders’ Futurity and improve to 3-for-4.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and purchased by the Reeves Thoroughbred Racing for $200,000 at the OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training, Acoustic Ave also turned the tables on Andiamo a Firenze after finishing a distant third behind that foe in the $200,000 Funny Cide Stakes on Saratoga Showcase Day in late August.

Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of eight behind the 1-2 Andiamo a Firenze, Acoustic Ave came away well under Franco and slid through the inside to take the lead. Acoustic Ave led through the opening quarter-mile in :21.90, just ahead of Andiamo a Firenze and Jose Lezcano with the filly Stonewall Star and Jose Ortiz tracking the two leaders from third.

Acoustic Star and Andiamo a Firenze continued as a team around the far turn, to the half in :45.01 with the latter poking a head in front approaching the top of the stretch. Stonewall Star, an open-length maiden winner Sept. 22 during the at the Big A at Aqueduct, also made a big run toward the lead approaching the stretch.

The trio raced as a team from the top of the lane to the finish, with Acoustic Ave eventually edging Andiamo a Firenze in the final stride. Stonewall Star finished another length back in third with Mshindi fourth. Acoustic Ave won in 1:11.78. Gold in Them Hills, Mo Trump, The Catillac Kid and Tiz Lucky completed the field.

Foaled at the Broman’s Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Acoustic Ave is the first foal out of the winning Street Boss mare Rock Ave. Road. He breezed an eighth in :10 during OBS presale workouts before selling as Hip 975 through the Sequel Bloodstock consignment.

Rock Ave. Road is out of the Broman-bred multiple stakes winner and $270,550-earner Mineralogist, a daughter of Mineshaft out of the Broman’s homebred Grade 2 winner Seeking the Ante. A daughter of Seeking the Gold, Seeking the Ante is out of Grade 1 Antespend, who Broman bought as a 4-year-old for $900,000 at the 1997 Keeneland April sale.

Acoustic Ave, who earned $58,712 for the win to boost his bankroll to $131,112, is a half-brother to a New York-bred yearling colt by West Coast and a New York-bred weanling colt by New York-bred champion and Grade 1 winner Audible born in April.

Acoustic Ave breezed once between his win in the Aspirant and the Breeders’ Futurity – going 5 furlongs in 1:01.70 on Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma Training Track Oct. 9. He earned $95,148 for the Breeders’ Futurity win, boosting his bankroll to $226,260.