City Man returns to his home state and keys New York-bred exacta in Saturday’s Danger’s Hour Stakes at Aqueduct. Janet Garaguso/NYRA Photo.

The connections of City Man probably couldn’t have drawn up a pace scenario any better than the one that unfolded in Saturday’s $100,000 Danger’s Hour Stakes at Aqueduct.

Coming off a four-month freshening and facing a strong field of Grade 3-type turf horses, City Man raced comfortably just behind a pair of dueling frontrunners before taking over in the stretch on the way to his fourth stakes victory. City Man won by 2 1/4 lengths over Sanctuary City, triggering a 1-2 finish for New York-breds in the first turf stakes of the year on the NYRA circuit.

Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles and trained by Christophe Clement, City Man made his first start since a second in an allowance-optional Dec. 5 at Aqueduct in the 1-mile Danger’s Hour. Freshened in Florida after that December effort, he returned to serious work with Clement’s string at Belmont Park in March, turning in four breezes over the training track to set him up for the Danger’s Hour.

“That’s what good horses do,” Clement said of the 5-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man winning off the bench. “He came back well from Florida where he had a little break. He shipped up here well in good shape and everything worked out. He’s always been a nice horse. He’s been at stakes level since he was a 2-year-old.”

City Man became a stakes winner in his second start, taking the Funny Cide on Saratoga Showcase Day a little more than a month after winning his debut at the Spa. A $185,000 purchase by Dean and Patti Reeves’ Reeves Thoroughbred Racing out of the 2019 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training, City Man made his first six starts on dirt and never finished worse than fourth before finding his niche on the grass.

Fourth in the Grade 3 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes during the pandemic summer meeting at Keeneland in July 2020, City Man has since compiled a record of 3-3-1 in 11 starts on the grass. All three victories came in stakes – the Gio Ponti against open company in November 2020 at Aqueduct, the West Point last summer at Saratoga and now the Danger’s Hour again over open company.

The 5-2 second choice in the field of seven behind 6-5 favorite Value Proposition, City Man raced behind that rival and Rinaldi through the opening splits of :24.01 and :49.15 over the turf labeled good. Rinaldi, winner of last year’s Grade 3 Forbidden Apple on the grass, was expected to be in front but Manny Franco, aboard Value Proposition, hustled his mount to the lead from the break.

Value Proposition eventually shook off Rinaldi but couldn’t hold the lead from City Man and jockey Joel Rosario, who liked what he saw early.

“It looked like the set up with the pace was good for him, and after that it looked like I had the best horse in the race,” Rosario said. “With the way the race unfolded, he was in a perfect spot and did a good job after that. I look forward to the next one.”

City Man, who improved to 5-for-18 and boosted his bankroll to $543,550, won in 1:37.58. Sanctuary City, making his first start since the Grade 2 Red Smith last November at Aqueduct, finished a clear second and 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Value Proposition. New York-breds Therapist and It’s a Gamble finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with Price Talk and Rinaldi completing the field.

Bred by Moonstar Farm, City Man is the fourth foal out of the winning City Zip mare City Scamper. A half-sister to New York stakes winner Alysinstilettos and stakes-placed Always For You, City Scamper is also the dam of the winning New York-bred Laoban ridgling El Mayor, entered in the third race Sunday at Aqueduct; and the five-time winning and $105,017-earning New York-bred Majestic Warrior mare Go Kelly Go.

City Man was purchased by Off the Hook, agent, as a weanling for $20,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale. He proved a profitable pinhook for Off the Hook, which sold him at the 2019 OBS April sale.

Barese, winner of the Rego Park and Gander this winter at Aqueduct, takes step up in Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo.

The New York-bred program will be well represented in this weekend’s major races, including with at least one runner in each of the six stakes on Aqueduct’s Wood Memorial Day card.

The group includes a pair in the headlining Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino in Barese and Golden Code and a trio for the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes in Venti Valentine, Classy Edition and Caragate.

Two-time stakes winner Barese, an undefeated son of Laoban bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC and Lakland Farm, is the 8-1 fourth choice for the 9-furlong Wood Memorial. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and trained by Mike Maker, Barese comes off a victory in the 1-mile Gander Stakes Feb. 12 at Aqueduct.

Calumet Farm’s Golden Code, a son of Honor Code bred by Barry Ostrager, is part of a three-horse entry for trainer Todd Pletcher. A 10 3/4-length maiden winner Feb. 5, Golden Code comes into the Wood Memorial off a third in the Grade 3 Gotham last month. He’s 15-1 on the morning line.

The $750,000 Wood Memorial offers 100 points to the winner toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby, with 40 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth.

The trio of fillies in the $250,000 Gazelle look to punch their tickets for Louisville and the Kentucky Oaks. The 9-furlong Gazelle offers the same points breakdown for the Oaks and Venti Valentine and Classy Edition are the two top choices on the morning line.

Venti Valentine dominated the Busher Invitational and looks to lock up Kentucky Oaks berth Saturday in the Gazelle. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo.

NY Final Furlong Racing Stable’s and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Venti Valentine, 7-length winner of the Busher Invitational last time out for trainer Jorge Abreu, is the 7-5 favorite. Bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, the daughter of Firing Line is 3-for-4 in her career including a victory in last year’s Maid of the Mist Stakes on Empire Showcase Day.

Robert and Lawana Low’s Classy Edition, second last time out in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park, is 5-2 on the morning line. The daughter of Classic Empire, bred by Chester and Mary Broman, also sports a 3-for-4 record for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Richard Greeley’s homebred Caragate, third last time out in the Maddie May at Aqueduct, adds blinkers for her first start around two turns. Trained by Mitch Frriedman, Caragate is 30-1 on the morning line.

Kept Waiting, winner of the Broadway last time out, returns to open company and kicks off the run of New York-breds in Aqueduct’s stakes. Bred by John Lauriello, the 5-year-old Broken Vow mare runs in the $150,000 Grade 3 Distaff Handicap for owners Sanford Goldfarb, Irwin Goldfarb and Nice Guys Stables and trainer Robert Falcone Jr.

The largest contingent in any of the stakes comes next in the $100,000 Danger’s Hour going 1 mile on the grass. Six New York-breds make up the field – 5-2 second choice Rinaldi, 7-2 third choice City Man, Therapist, It’s a Gamble and Sanctuary City.

Bank On Shea seeks Grade 1 success in Saturday’s Carter Handicap. SV Photography.

Shea D Boys Stable’s Bank On Shea will attempt to become the 62nd New York-bred Grade 1 winner when he takes on seven others in the $300,000 Carter Handicap at 7 furlongs. Bred by Dr. Scott Piece, the 5-year-old son of New York-based sire Central Banker comes off an open-company victory in the Pelican Stakes last time out at Tampa Bay Downs. Trained by Carlos Davis, Bank On Shea is 2-1-1 in four starts at Aqueduct, with both victories at 7 furlongs.

Perez Stable’s Juggler closes out the day at Aqueduct for New York-breds in the finale, the Grade 3 Bay Shore for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs. The son of Lord Nelson, bred by Sequel Stallions NY and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, broke his maiden two starts back and finished third in an allowance-optional March 13 at Aqueduct for trainer Juan Vazquez.

Gainesway Stable’s homebred 3-year-old Karakontie filly Spendarella flies the flag for her native state in the Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes presented by the Japan Racing Association at Keeneland Race Course. The 7-5 favorite on the morning line, Spendarella comes into the 1-mile turf stakes off a gate-to-wire victory at the same trip in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride last month at Gulfstream for trainer H. Graham Motion.

A pair of New York-breds look to kick off the potentially big weekend on Friday’s Opening Day card at Keeneland.

Coinage looks to build growing turf resume in Keeneland’s Transylvania. Lauren King/Gulfstream Park Photo

Coinage, winner of Gulfstream’s Palm Beach Stakes last time out for D J Stable and Chester and Mary Broman, goes in the $400,000 Grade 3 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. The son of Tapit, bred by the Bromans, is 3-1 on the morning line for trainer Mark Casse.

Mark Anderson’s Sterling Silver looks to rebound from her fifth in the Busher in the featured Grade 1 $600,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Bred by Mallory and Karen Mort, the daughter of Cupid won the Franklin Square two starts back. She’s 15-1 on the morning line in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland for trainer Tom Albertrani.

Two New York-bred mares could cap a big weekend in Sunday’s $100,000 Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct. Maiden Beauty, a daughter of Revolutionary bred by Sandy Glenn Stables; and Ice Princess, a daughter of Palace Malice bred by Mina Equivest, are part of the six-member field for the 9-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.

Yo Cuz rolls to third straight stakes victory in Sunday’s East View at Aqueduct. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Tom Gallo didn’t want to leave last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training empty handed.

The head of Dream Maker Racing, who tested out Fasig-Tipton’s internet bidding system early in the sale, set a budget and waited for a New York-bred filly selling as Hip 209 to come through the ring. The daughter of Laoban, who galloped during the presale under-tack show, eventually arrived and bidding quickly passed that threshold.

“The budget was $75,000,” Gallop said. “I wound up going almost double the budget, but we liked her enough. We had scoped out several of the other horses, but we were not in the ballpark for the ones that were coming up. But we didn’t want to leave without one. We liked her and liked the fact that the horse didn’t breeze.”

Gallo and his team, which included Andrew Calvano, ultimately bought the filly now named Yo Cuz using the internet bidding system for $125,000. She’s since won three times – all stakes – in four starts and banked just shy of $400,000 for the Dream Maker partnership.

The latest victory came Sunday in the $100,000 East View, the Closing-Day feature for the Aqueduct winter meeting. Yo Cuz and jockey Jose Ortiz, riding back in New York after returning from the Dubai World Cup card Saturday at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, won the 7-furlong East View by 5 1/4 lengths over Stone Creator. Yo Cuz won in 1:26.94.

“I’ve been in on a few of their horses and she is clearly the best so far,” said Dave Wagman, a member of the Dream Maker partnership that owns Yo Cuz. “The New York program is what they preach and it’s a lot of fun to get the chance to come out and run in a stakes race like this. She’s now won three of them. It’s a fabulous program and we love it.

“I enjoy it. There’s a lot more to learn from what you see on TV and being a fan is a tiny glimpse of it. I’ve enjoyed getting to see behind the curtain. She’s a really, nice filly.”

Yo Cuz continues to impress jockey Jose Ortiz after latest stakes victory in Aqueduct’s East View. NYRA Photo.

Yo Cuz, the 3-5 favorite in the field of six from post five, expected to have some company on the lead with Silver Fist making her first start from the rail for trainer Chuck Lawrence and the multiple stakes-placed Sandy’s Garden just to her inside. Silver Fist stumbled bad at the break, going to her nose and spotting the field several lengths. Sandy’s Garden broke well but not as well as Yo Cuz, who led up the backstretch on Ortiz’s quite hold.

Silver Fist regrouped enough to come up the inside to get within a half-length of Yo Cuz to the quarter in :23.97, with Sandy’s Garden and Stone Creator not far back.

Yo Cuz continued to lead through the half in :47.99, a half-length in front of Stone Creator and Kendrick Carmouche. Around the turn it boiled down to Yo Cuz and Stone Creator, before the former cut the corner turning for home and opened up. She led by 4 1/2 lengths past the eighth pole and 6 furlongs in :13.52 and after a crew cracks of Ortiz’s left-handed whip in deep stretch Yo Cuz cruised home.

Stone Creator held second by a neck from the late-running Captainsdaughter, who finished third and 9 1/2 lengths in front of Sandy’s Garden. Salsa a Parte and Silver Fist completed the field.

“She’s a nice filly. I was expecting [Sandy’s Garden] to show some speed, too,” Ortiz said. “I broke good and did my thing and ended up by ourself up there [on the lead], so I took it. She did the rest. She finished up well. It’s very windy around the turn, so I think you’ll see a lot of slow times today, but she did everything right. She keeps moving forward. It’s a heavy track. I know she’ll be a lot better when she gets to Belmont; the track will suit her a little better.”

Yo Cuz added the East View to her maiden-breaking victory in the 7-furlong Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes Dec. 18 at Aqueduct and the 1-mile Maddie May Stakes Feb. 21 at Aqueduct.

Bred by Maggie Seidman’s Seidman Stables and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, Yo Cuz is the second foal out of the Tale of Ekati mare Steve’s Philly. A $50,000 purchase by Seidman Stables at the 2015 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training, Steve’s Philly is out of the Gone West mare Striking Wonder, who is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Wonder Again from the family of Grade 1 winners Colonel Liam, Tribulation and Graceful Darby.

Steve’s Philly is also the dam of the 3-year-old New York-bred Palace Malice gelding Uncle Jerome, who is in training in Maryland with owner and trainer Michael Gorham. Seidman, through McMahon of Saratoga, sold Steve’s Philly’s short yearling colt by Laoban for $160,000 at the OBS winter mixed sale in January. Steve’s Philly wasn’t bred in 2021 and was bred in early February to Connect.

Honey Money, one of two winners on the day for Central Banker, romps in the $60,000 Sis City Saturday at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Owners and breeders of New York-breds enjoyed a bountiful day Saturday at Aqueduct, pocketing more than $71,000 in awards for wins alone on the New York Claiming Championship program.

Six New York-breds won on the 10-race $620,000 Claiming Championship card, open to horses that started for a prescribed claiming price in 2021-22. The breeders’ awards totaled $39,187.50 on the day, while owners’ awards came to $26,125. Stallion owner awards for the day’s two winners totaled $6,325.

Central Banker, New York’s leading sire in 2021 who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, sired two winners on the card with Honey Money in the $60,000 Sis City Starter Stakes and Dark Money in the $55,000 Kelly Kip Starter Stakes.

Honey Money, a 5-year-old daughter of Central Banker out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Bullish Sentiment bred by Klaravich Stables, won the 1-mile Sis City by 4 lengths under Trevor McCarthy. Trained by Wayne Potts for owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas, Honey Money improved to 7-for-22 with $330,870 in earnings in the Sis City.

“She’s game and she always gives 100 percent,” McCarthy said. “She’s a much better filly on the lead but she would get there and just wait. I worked her the other morning with blinkers on and she worked like a gorilla.”

Dark Money, gave Central Banker his first winner in the Kelly Kip. NYRA Photo.

Dark Money, a 6-year-old gelding by Central Banker out of the Purge mare Candelabra bred by Cedar Meadow Inc., won his third straight race in the Kelly Kip. Sent off the 3-5 favorite in the 6-furlong event, Dark Money won for owner Flying P Stable, trainer Tom Morley and jockey Jose Gomez. Morley claimed Dark Money for $25,000 out of his win Feb. 19 in his prior start. The gelding improved to 13-for-31 with $466,207 in earnings.

“He’s a really cool horse,” Morley said. “We’ve had him before and we claimed him back with this race in mind. It was the owner’s idea. He came into the race in super shape. Jose said he just rocked back when they opened the gate and he missed the break, which is very unlike him for a horse who shows that amount of speed.”

Michael Foster’s Witch Hunter started the big day for New York-breds with a dominating victory in the second race on the card, the $45,000 Belle Gallantey Starter. The 5-year-old daughter of Khozan out of the Congrats mare Wave Bye Bye won the 7-furlong Belle Gallantey by 9 lengths as the 1-4 favorite. Dylan Davis, who rode four winners on the day, rode Witch Hunter for trainer Charlton Baker. She improved to 7-for-25 with $158,330 in earnings.

Witch Hunter, Central Banker’s first winner on the card, gave Dylan Davis one of his four wins Saturday at Aqueduct in the Belle Gallantey. Joe Labozzetta/NYRA Photo.

“She handled it the way she should have. It was easy all the way,” Baker said. “The owner claimed her in Florida (for $8,000 May 21, 2021, at Gulfstream) and she improved a lot for him. We’ve just maintained where she was at. She’s a nice filly. She’s a hard-knocker and she tries.”

Davis also rode Gus Ginesin’s Blewitt to victory in the $75,000 Stud Muffin Starter. Sent off the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10 in the 11-furlong Stud Muffin, Blewitt won by 4 1/2 lengths over Air Attack for his ninth win in 25 starts to boost his bankroll to $350,765. Bred by Repole Stable, Blewitt is an 8-year-old by Uncle Mo out of the Montbrook mare Stopspendingmaria. Toscano claimed Blewitt for $25,000 out of a victory going 9 furlongs Dec. 31 at Aqueduct.

“I had Air Attack [win this race] last year and this year I had Blewitt,” said winning trainer John Toscano Jr. “The old man got good. He’s peaking now as an 8-year-old. He loves two turns. If you look at his form, his one-turn races aren’t as good.”

Whistling Birds scores mild upset in the $80,000 Caixa Eletronica. NYRA Photo.

Epona Racing Stable’s, Clyde Jasinki’s and Toga Party Racing Stable’s Whistling Birds won the day’s biggest purse, taking the $80,000 Caixa Eletronica by three-quarters of a length over Zoomer. Bred by Pinnacle Farms Bloodstock LLC, the 6-year-old Jimmy Creed gelding out of the Unbridled mare Unshuttered improved to 8-for-27 with seven seconds and earnings of $333,958. Chris Englehart claimed Whistling Birds for $40,000 out of a runner-up effort going 1 mile last May at Belmont Park.

“He’s a very decent horse and has a big heart,” said winning jockey Eric Cancel.

Irving Kalensky’s and Joseph Loner’s No Salt closed the card and gave Davis his fourth victory in the $45,000 Dads Caps Starter as the 7-10 favorite. Bred by Larry Goichman, the 5-year-old gelding by Tonalist out of the Street Sense mare Shea Derby improved to 5-for-20 and $172,321 in earnings. Mike Miceli took over the gelding’s training last fall and he’s won or placed in five of six starts since.

“He’s been a very consistent and pleasurable horse to train,” Miceli said. “He was cut out to be a decent horse and it’s a little late in the game for him, but he’s making up for it now.”

Water’s Edge gets a big pat from jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. after winning Sunday’s Haynesfield at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Empire Equines’ second-generation homebred Water’s Edge, shortening back up to a trip he liked in three prior starts, delivered a big effort Sunday in his stakes debut with a victory in the $100,000 Haynesfield at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old son of Candy Ride did nearly all the work on the lead in the 1-mile stakes for older New York-breds, fended off multiple challenges around the far turn and to the top of the stretch and won by 4 1/4 lengths over stakes winner Chestertown. Jorge Vargas Jr., aboard for Water’s Edge’s three prior races, rode the colt again for trainer David Donk and Empire Equines’ John and Sandy Crowe.

Vargas summed up the colt out of the stakes-placed Bluegrass Cat mare Sandra in three simple words.

“He’s a fighter,” he said with a wide smile.

Vargas saw that fight three starts before the Haynesfield when Water’s Edge came back from a short two-month freshening to win a 1-mile allowance Nov. 28 at Aqueduct. He finished a close second in allowance company at the same distance Jan. 14 before Donk stretched him out to 9 furlongs and a victory in a state-bred optional Feb. 10.

Donk admitted the jump to the Haynesfield was a step up in class, but Water’s Edge handled it just as he’d handled his previous seven starts. He also improved to four wins with four seconds.

“He’s a really nice horse that’s continued to improve,” Donk said. “A big credit to John and Sandy Crowe, they let us be patient with him. Credit to everyone in the barn, really. They’ve done a great job with this horse. It’s fun to run in stakes races and obviously it’s a lot of fun to run well.”

Lobsta, the 9-5 favorite in the field of six coming in off back-to-back stakes victories, got away the quickest before Javier Castellano took a tight hold. Vargas let Water’s Edge slide through to Lobsta’s inside a few strides into the Haynesfield and they led that foe through the opening furlong as Our Last Buck and Chestertown quickly joined the mix approaching the first quarter-mile in :23.35.

Water’s Edge maintained a half-length lead up the backstretch and to the half-mile mark in :46.01. Lobsta made the first run at the leader on the turn but was easily repelled. Chestertown came next, ranging up in the four path to get within less than a length midway on the turn.

Our Last Buck joined the fray to Chestertown’s outside approaching the end of the bend and just when it looked like Water’s Edge might tire down on the inside he responded and opened up 1 1/2 lengths past the eighth pole. The advantaged widened from there under Vargas strong hand ride.

“That was the plan,” Vargas said of taking the lead early. “We drew the inside and I wanted to have him on his game. I was aggressive and he fought all the way.

“He was waiting on them. He was getting ready for them and when they came up, he took off again. Last time, he ran hard and was pretty keen on me, but he still managed to fight and win at the end. I was pretty confident about the cut back today. I knew I was going to have horse to dig in.”

Chestertown held second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Our Last Buck, with Lobsta, My Boy Tate and Brew Pup completing the field. Water’s Edge won in 1:36.93.

Water’s Edge picked up $55,000 for the win to boost his bankroll to $240,350.

Water’s Edge joined Donk’s stable late in his 2-year-old season in the fall of 2020. He finished second by a neck in his debut behind eventual Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution in a 6-furlong state-bred maiden last June at Belmont Park. Water’s Edge won his next start in a similar maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs before back-to-back seconds in allowance company – once after getting caught in a speed duel at Saratoga and another after breaking through the gate before the start at Belmont.

Well before Water’s Edge ran those latter to races at Saratoga and Belmont, Donk talked about the colt’s background in his visit with The Saratoga Special’s Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour.

“They had him here in the yearling sale, but they said he was small and not much to look at,” Donk said last July. “He came to me last fall and John called and asked if he was kind of on the small side. He’s not small, he’s a nice horse, really classy.

“We’re looking at them as yearlings and trying to see things, but they change so much. The first time out he got beat a neck in a really good maiden race and then came back and won pretty impressively. When he ran back, everyone on the (NYRA) show was worried because he was coming back in 20 days. He buried his fed tub, he breezed once in :48 and change. Am I supposed to wait another three or four weeks to run? He did go forward, but there’s a reason. He’s a nice kind of horse to have.”

Foaled at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, Water’s Edge is the second foal out of Sandra, who won once and finished second in the 2014 Key Cents Stakes at Aqueduct for Empire Equines. Sandra’s first foal, the New York-bred Mineshaft mare, placed five times and earned $61,942 for Empire Equines. Sandra is also the dam of the New York-bred 3-year-old Frosted colt Qarnas, who sold for $65,000 at the 2021 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training. He’s 1-1-2 in four starts, including a third in the Saudi Derby Qualifier Jan. 28 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in his most recent start. Sandra is the dam of a 2-year-old New York-bred Bernardini colt and a yearling New York-bred Bernardini filly.