New York-Breds at the Races: December 27 to January 2

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1 New York-Breds at the Races: December 27 to January 2 By Bill Heller Beautiful Ride by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Gets Cape Cod Carol Home Irad Ortiz, Jr. pushed Patricia Generazio s five-year-old New York-bred mare Cape Cod Carol through an inviting opening on the rail and she went on to a four-length romp in a 5 ½-furlong $62,000 allowance for fillies and mares Thursday at Aqueduct. The only New York-bred in a well-matched field of six went off the 3-1 third choice. Kara s Match Point was the slight favorite at 5-2 with Sister City also at 5-2. Talent N Passion, a 5-1 shot ridden by apprentice Emmanuel Esquivel, set the pace, getting the first quarter in : Heading into the far turn, Sister City moved on her outside and 15-1 longshot Two Hearts advanced three-wide. Ortiz saw the opportunity on the inside and Cape Cod Carol shot past the three fillies in front of her, winning easily in 1: Sister City was second and Kara s Match Point third. Cape Cod Carol has now won four of 18 dirt starts with four seconds and six thirds. She also has one third in seven turf tries and career earnings now exceeding $255,000. The daughter of Rockport Harbor out of Expect Becky by Valid Expectations was bred by Joseph and Helen Barbazon and is trained by Jim Ryerson. Leo O Brien added blinkers to Eyes of Midas two starts back and the four-year-old filly won her second straight race powerfully, giving the veteran trainer his third win in six starts on the inner dirt track, with one third. Owned by CR Thoroughbreds, G. Beraka, M. Rettig, R. Stavis and I. Perlman and bred by Bowman Mill, Eyes of Midas won a six-furlong $54,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $25,000 claimer by two lengths under Mike Luzzi in a final time of 1:13.04 Thursday. In her previous start, she won an allowance/optional $14,000 claimer for state-breds by nearly five lengths at 12-1 odds. Sent off at 7-2 odds in a field of just six, Eyes of Midas broke well and set up in third as She s Stones Sis, the favorite at 2-1, and 6-1 Quiet Sunshine dueled on the lead through a quarter in : She s Stones Sis finally put away Quiet Sunshine after a half in :48.46, but she was quickly challenged by Eyes of Midas, who powered past her for her third dirt victory in nine starts with one second, two thirds and earnings of more than $115,000. She is a daughter of Midas Eyes out of Temper Time by Vicar. Christopher Nupp s seven-year-old gelding Game Token kicked off Thursday s card with a bang, getting up in the final strides to win a mile-and-70-yard $25,000 conditional $12,500

2 claimer at 26-1 odds by a short head over Grand Rapport, half of the favored 6-5 entry in a field of seven. Nupp claimed Game Token for $15,000 on June 13 th, and his best finish in nine subsequent starts was a sixth by 13 ½ lengths. His record the past two years was one-for-31 with three seconds and four thirds. But Thursday was the second day of a new year, and Game Token made a sensational rally under Eddie Castro to win. He was still sixth at the eighth pole and fifth at the sixteenth pole behind front-running New York-bred Pin Number, who went off at odds of 9-2. Pin Number stopped and Grand Rapport, who came up the inside, took over. Game Token came charging at him late and got up just before the wire. Game Token is a son of Gold Token out of Road to Mandalay, bred by Seth Gregory and trained by Rene Araya. He now has eight victories, 11 seconds and 12 thirds in 65 dirt starts, with more than $310,000 in earnings. Trainer John Kimmel, Eddie Gelsman and Niall Brennan s four-year-old New York-bred gelding Wise Guide nosed New York-bred Grahamandwithers to win a one-mile $25,000 conditional $16,000 claimer Thursday. Pablo Morales rode Wise Guide, who was sent off at 2-1 from the outside post in a field of eight. Wise Guide got away seventh as One for Don, the 8-5 favorite, tried going gate-to-wire under David Cohen. One for Don led through splits of :23.51, :48.85 and 1:15.00 before Wise Guide made his move. Wise Guide was relentless on One for Don s outside and put him away late just as Grahamandwithers came charging three-wide. Wise Guide held on, winning in a final time of 1: Grahamandwithers was second and One for Done third. Wise Guide is a son of Freud out of American Journey by Quiet American, and was bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and A. Lakin & Sons. He improved his dirt record to two-for-nine with three thirds. Winning Move Stable and Our Winners Circle Stable s first-time starter Three for Me raced like an old pro Thursday, winning a six-furlong $35,000 New York-bred maiden $35,000 claimer by 3 ½ lengths over Executive Office, the even-money favorite. Jose Ortiz rode Three for Me, a colt by Frost Giant out of Sly Isabella by Majestic Light, who was bred by James Lamonica and Empire Stud, is trained by Dominic Galluscio, and went off at 4-1 odds. Morales sent Three for Me up four-wide on the far turn as Executive Office put away a challenge from 22-1 Where s Elliot. Three for Me attacked Executive Office and struck the lead in midstretch, going on to win in a final time of 1: Executive Office finished second. First Ranger, a 48-1 first-time starter on the rail, finished third, and 4-1 Pete s Fleet was fourth.

3 Apprentice rider Emmanuel Esquivel guided Anthony Parisi s homebred, New York-bred fouryear-old filly My Lucky Lieu to a three-length victory over front-running Lil Tiffy in a one-mile $21,000 maiden $12,500 claimer Thursday. Lil Tiffy was 7-2 and My Lucky Lieu was sent off at 5-1 odds. Breaking from the nine post in a field of 10, My Lucky Lieu got out of the gate first before Esquivel dropped her back to mid-pack as Lil Tiffy took control. Lil Tiffy had a clear lead before My Lucky Lieu rushed up on the far outside on the far turn. My Lucky Lieu gained the lead in mid-stretch and drew off to her first victory in 10 starts with one second and three thirds. Apprentice Manuel Franco rallied Mark Todaro s three-year-old gelding and 4-5 favorite Cool It up the rail from next-to-last to win Thursday s finale, a six-furlong $23,000 New York-bred maiden $16,000 claimer for three-year-olds by nearly four lengths in a final time of 1: Island Therapy finished second and Texas Town was third. Tell It to the Man, a 62-longshot in the field of 10, set the pace before faltering. Once Franco got Cool It through on the inside, the race was his. A son of Repent out of Pierpont Account by Private Account, Cool It was bred by Bill Terrill and is trained by Bruce Brown. He was making just his third dirt start and seventh start overall. Writingonthewall Wins Fourth Straight on New Year s Day Trainer David Jacobson and Drawing Away Stable s amazing New York-bred gelding Writingonthewall didn t let turning nine on New Year s Day interrupt his winning streak Wednesday at Aqueduct. As the only state-bred in a field of six in a mile-and-70-yard $69,000 allowance/optional $50,000 claimer at odds of 5-1, he grimly held off even-money favorite Mr Palmer by a head for his fourth consecutive wire-to-wire victory since his connections claimed him for $20,000 on July 27 th at Saratoga, when he finished third by a neck. In doing so, he pushed his career earnings past $550,000, while improving his dirt record to nine wins, six seconds and three thirds in 27 starts. He s also won five of 21 turf tries with two seconds and a pair of thirds. David Cohen got the son of E Dubai out of Old Emotions by Wild Again, bred by Flying Zee Stables, where he likes to be: on the lead. But he couldn t clear Rush Now, a 7-2 contender who not only pushed Writingonthewall nearly the entire way, but took a lead of almost a length heading into the far turn. By the head of the stretch, Writingonthewall had surged on the inside to re-take the lead. When Rush Now wilted, Writingonthewall was confronted by Mr Palmer, who d been close to the pace in third. From mid-stretch to the wire, Mr Palmer looked like he would pass Writingonthewall. But he never did.

4 With utter determination, Writingonthewall held on for career victory No. 14 in a final time of 1: Earlier Wednesday, another versatile New York-bred, Barry Ostrager s six-year-old mare Princess Mara, wired seven rivals to take a one-mile $49,000 starter allowance by 3 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1: Abel Castellano, who picked up the mount on Wednesday, rode the daughter of Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) out of Joyjoyjoy by Smart Strike, who was bred by Patricia Purdy and Edwin Edelberg and is trained by David Cannizzo. Princess Mara repelled a mid-race challenge by fellow New York-bred Sus Annmaries Gold, opened a clear lead and maintained it to the wire for her fifth dirt victory in 16 starts, with two seconds and one third. She is also two-for-six on grass and boasts career earnings topping a quarter of a million dollars. Michael Imperio and Nassau CC Stables eight-year-old gelding Pure Attitude edged Street Lord by three-quarters of a length in a mile-and-70-yard $59,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $25,000 claimer Wednesday to win in 1: Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the son of Aptitude out of Quietly Elegant by Quiet American, who was bred by Pal Giacopelli and Raymond Chan. Go Get the Basil, the even-money favorite, finished third, 3 ½ lengths behind Street Lord. Pure Attitude was 4-1 and Street Lord was sent off at 11-1 odds. They both came from well off the pace set by 21-1 longshot Sandy z Slew. Pure Attitude s victory was her 11 th in 56 career starts with six seconds, five thirds and earnings of more than $380,000. Rallying up the rail, Tristar Farms four-year-old colt Between the Lines made his second career start a winning one, scoring a length-and-a-half victory over Horatio in Wednesday s finale, a 5 ½-furlong $50,000 New York-bred race, in a final time of 1: Handy Stan edged Ronnie s Whey for third. Between the Lines is by Read the Footnotes out of Vintage Love by Alydeed, was bred by Thomas-Narlinger, AR Properties and Tristar Stables, and is trained by Joseph Lostritto. Breaking from the rail, Between the Lines went off at 9-2 odds under apprentice rider Jonathan Zayas. Horatio was the 2-1 favorite in the field of 11. Brass Pear, a 15-1 longshot, led early under pressure from 5-1 Handy Stan. Handy Stan gained the lead but couldn t hold off Between the Lines, who had finished fourth in his debut at 8-1 odds, or Horatio.

5 Sooklal Jadoo s six-year-old New York-bred mare Tatoo Me lit up the toteboard when she edged another New York-bred, 5-1 Julesco, by three-quarters of a length in a six-furlong $22,000 conditional $12,500 claimer for fillies and mares at 48-1 odds in a final time of 1: Tatoo Me, a daughter of True Direction out of Tatooma by Lycius, was bred by David Cassidy and is trained by Doodnauth Shivmangal. Her ninth-place finish by 45 ¼ lengths at 64-1 odds in her prior start left her one-for-34 in her career with two seconds and four thirds. She got the job done Wednesday, however, under apprentice Laura Carson. Tycoon Cat Dominates the Final Race of 2013 at 8-1 With stunning ease, Michael Imperio and Nassau CC Stables five-year-old gelding Tycoon Cat rolled to a gaping victory at 8-1 odds in a mile-and-70-yard $67,000 New York-bred allowance/$14,000 claimer in Tuesday s finale at Aqueduct, the final race of Ridden aggressively by Angel Arroyo, Tycoon Cat swooped three-wide around front-running 5-1 Petrocelli and 9-2 Chilton to win by some eight lengths in a final time of 1: Petrocelli saved second with 43-1 Ten Ed third and 35-1 Awesome Heart fourth. Tycoon Cat, who raced with a $14,000 claiming tag, was a solid second at 5-2 in a conditional open $20,000 claimer in his previous start. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Tycoon Cat is a son of Belong to Me out of Valentine Kisses by Candy Stripes, and was bred by Dr. Frank and Peggy Ariosta. He now has four victories, 10 seconds and five thirds in 55 starts, with earnings of more than $230,000. Donald Newman s homebred Eye Luv Lulu gamely dueled favored Sol the Freud into defeat, winning a 5 ½-furlong $62,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $75,000 claimer for twoyear-olds by a half-length Tuesday in a final time of 1:05.80 for his second straight win. Sidearm came flying on the outside to finish third, just a long nose behind Sol the Freud. Sol the Freud was the 7-5 favorite, Sidearm was 9-2, and Eye Luv Lulu was 7-1 under Phil Teator. Sol the Freud, 6-1 Bourbon Therapy and Eye Luv Lulu went to war with each other on the front end through a testing :22.60 first quarter and a half in : Bourbon Therapy couldn t keep up with the other two. As Eye Luv Lulu finally put away Sol the Freud, Sidearm made an explosive rush, coming up just short. Eye Luv Lulu, a gelding by Pollard s Vision out of Honky Tonk Trick by Phone Trick, gave trainer Carlos Martin his second winner of the day. After finishing a distant fourth in his debut in a New York-bred maiden special weight, Eye Luv Lulu won an open maiden $50,000 claimer by 3 ½ lengths.

6 Sunrise Stables and Golden Goose Enterprises colt Frost Jordan, the 4-5 favorite in a field of 12, ran past 21-1 longshot Hampden Fiveone to win a six-furlong $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for two-year-olds Tuesday by a length and a quarter under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Thrill Hill, a first-time starter sent off at 5-1 odds, was just a neck behind Hampden Fiveone in third after Forest Jordan won in 1: Frost Jordan, who is trained by Mike Hushion, had finished second by a neck at 7-2 odds in an impressive debut on Nov. 23 rd. He drew the rail in the bulky field of a dozen Tuesday, but came from off the pace to break his maiden. Forged, sent off at 4-1 odds off an extremely distant fourth in his debut, set a pressured pace as 8-1 American Creed, Hampden Fiveone and 46-1 Horse With No Name forced the issue two-, three- and four-wide through a quarter in :23.69 and a half in : Frost Jordan was in behind the quartet ready to strike. Hampden Fiveone and Thrill Hill continued to battle head-to-head as Frost Jordan rolled up on their outside and then passed them late. Frost Jordan, a colt by Frost Giant out of She Might Call by Family Calling, was bred by James Lamonica and Empire Stud. He was a $60,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April. Rose Stable s three-year-old New York-bred filly Maxana ran down front-running Bargaining Table then held off fellow state-bred Sheedbdawon by a length and a quarter in a one-mile $25,000 conditional $12,500 claimer in Tuesday s opener. Guillermo Rodriguez rode Maxana, a daughter of Anasheed out of Devilish Max by Gold Token, who was bred by John Hertler and Edward Messina and is trained by Carlos Martin. She went off at 5-1 odds. Sheedbdawon is also a daughter of Anasheed, and went off at 7-2 odds under apprentice Manuel Franco. Bargaining Table, a 7-1 shot breaking from the outside post in the field of eight, made the lead immediately and opened up a five-length lead. Bargaining Table hit the quarter in :24.01, the half in :49.07 and three-quarters in 1:15.34 still in front by two lengths. Bargaining Table put away a bid by 29-1 Ivanovna, but couldn t fend off Maxana, who took over the lead in mid-stretch and won in a final time of 1: Kate Is a Ten, the 4-5 New York-bred favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., was still last after a half-mile and rallied for third, nearly five lengths behind the winner. Bargaining Table finished fourth. Maxana improved her dirt record to two-for-16 with three thirds. She has earned more than $55,000 in her career.

7 Unbeaten Bridget Moloney Blows Them Away for Her Third Straight Victory Trainer Gary Gullo, WAIS Stable, Tony Borusso and Russ Regan s unbeaten Bridget Moloney flew past front-running Summerdale and went on to a 9 ¼-length victory in Sunday s opener at Aqueduct, a 5 ½-furlong $62,000 allowance/optional $75,000 claimer for New York-bred twoyear-old fillies. C.C. Lopez rode the daughter of Pollard s Vision out of Margarita Nites by Distorted Humor, who was bred by Spruce Lane Farm and is now three-for-three in her career. Bridget Moloney made her debut in a $25,000 open maiden claimer, scoring wire-to-wire from the 11 post at 11-1 odds. Moved up to open allowance/optional claimer company, she won her second straight on the lead by a head as the 3-2 favorite. Making her first start against New York-breds Sunday, she went off the fourth choice in a field of six at odds of 4-1. She got away fourth, roared up to the lead three-wide on the far turn and kept going, drawing off to a gaping victory in a final time of 1:07.27 on a track rated good before rain made it into a sloppy mess. Cryptic Comet finished second. RC Racing Stable s five-year-old gelding Modern Child, the only New York-bred in the field of seven, made his first start on a wet track a successful one Sunday, splashing to a two-length victory at 18-1 odds in a mile-and-a-sixteenth $77,000 allowance/optional $25,000 claimer over Pass the Tap, part of the 9-5 favored entry. He won in a final time of 1:47.39 on the sloppy track. Rajiv Maragh rode Modern Child, a son of Prime Timber out of Modern Toughness by Good and Tough, bred by Jill and Dominique Imperio and trained by Joe Imperio. Modern Child lay off the pace set by Mighty Ian, the 2-1 second choice. Pass the Tap sat in second, then took over the lead while Modern Child rallied into third. Modern Child sustained his momentum for his fourth dirt win in 16 starts with two seconds and two thirds. He has just under $200,000 in career earnings. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez and Andrew Gordon s four-year-old filly Rodinia, who had finished second in both of her starts on a wet track before Sunday, scored by 4 ½ lengths in a mile-and- 70-yard $67,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $14,000 claimer at 2-1 odds Sunday. With Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding, Rodinia rallied from third to win in a final time of 1:46.57 over Concealed, who went off at 3-1 odds. Rodinia is a daughter of Bluegrass Cat out of Fahamore by Gulch who was bred by Oak Bluff Stable. She is now three-for-22 with five seconds, a pair of thirds and earnings approaching $150,000. Comandante Makes It Three Straight in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes Three Diamond Farms three-year-old gelding Comandante scored a dominating, 4 ½-length wire-to-wire victory under Cornelio Velasquez in the 35 th running of the $100,000 Alex M. Robb

8 Stakes for New York-breds Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct. Sent off the 3-2 second choice in the field of six, Comandante covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.15 for his third consecutive victory for trainer Todd Pletcher. He was never under pressure, even when that other horse came to him, and he had plenty left at the end, Velasquez said afterwards. The other horse was 19-1 longshot Moneyinyour Pocket, who nosed out even-money favorite Awesome Vision, who was seeking his fifth victory in seven starts on the inner dirt track, for second. Previously trained by Mike Trombetta, Comandante was switched to the Pletcher barn after finishing a front-running fourth in a $35,000 open claimer at Saratoga Aug. 18. After finishing third and second in his first two starts for Pletcher, Comandante pushed the pace to win a statebred allowance race at Aqueduct, then settled in third and won the $125,000 restricted New York Stallion Series by a length and a half. Comandante broke sharply Saturday and immediately assumed the lead. His closest pursuer through splits of :24.42, :48.55 and 1:12.55 was Moneyinyour Pocket. Late-running Awesome Vision tried making a three-wide rush under Irad Ortiz, Jr., but he had all he could handle trying to move into second. Comandante never had an anxious moment, improving his dirt record to four wins, four seconds and two thirds in 13 starts, with earnings topping a quarter of a million dollars. The son of Frost Giant out of Slew Motion by Slew Gin Fizz was bred by Andrew Cohen and IEAH Stables and Partners. Another talented New York-bred three-year-old also won his third straight race gate-to-wire Saturday. Bernard McKenna s gray colt The Big Deluxe backed up his 4-5 odds under Jose Ortiz to win a six-furlong $48,000 allowance/optional $20,000 claimer by nearly two lengths over 17-1 longshot Forest Jingles. Hebert Hall finished third after The Big Deluxe won in a final time of 1: The Big Deluxe is versatile. He s won two of five turf starts and is now three-for-eight on dirt, with career earnings topping $140,000. Trainer Gullo claimed The Big Deluxe for $16,000 on July 13 th, and the son of Silver Wagon out of M Lady Doc by Doc s Leader, bred by Scott Goldsher, followed a badly tiring ninth with three consecutive trips to the winner s circle for his current connections. Hebert Hall tried staying with The Big Deluxe early as he posted a quarter in :23.11 and a half in : The Big Deluxe continued strongly through the stretch to win handily. In a six-furlong $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies Saturday, Sequel Racing s homebred first-time starter Molly the Freud buried nine opponents, winning by nearly five lengths at 9-1 odds in a final time of 1: Keep Right, part of the 8-5 favored entry, edged another firster, Happy Recap, for second.

9 Irad Ortiz, Jr. got Molly the Freud away third as Mia Missile, the 2-1 second choice, scrimmaged on the front end with Happy Recap. When Happy Recap put away Mia Missile, Molly the Freud came flying by and she opened a gaping lead. A daughter of Freud out of Desired Trait by E Dubai, Molly the Freud is trained by Dominick Schettino. Later Saturday, in a $65,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies at a mile and 70 yards, Mike Luzzi delivered a superb ride on MeB Racing Stable and Brooklyn Boyz Stable s 11-1 Fee and Sugar, who nailed the 4-5 favorite It s Easy right before the wire to win by a neck in 1: There was a gap of more than six lengths back to 69-1 Jcs American Dream in third. It s Easy, breaking from the rail under Jose Ortiz, had finished a close third in her debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. She tried going wire-to-wire Saturday and nearly got the job done. Luzzi rated Fee and Sugar in second as It s Easy set a modest pace, travelling six furlongs in 1: It s Easy still led by two lengths in mid-stretch and Ortiz looked back over his right shoulder. When he did, he saw Fee and Sugar bearing down relentlessly. Fee and Sugar surged past to break her maiden by a neck in her fifth career start for trainer Dominick Schettino. The daughter of Northern Afleet out of Dixieland Dance by Dixieland Band was bred by R.S. Evans. In an exciting opener Saturday, a six-furlong $62,000 allowance/optional $14,000 claimer for New York-breds, apprentice jockey Manuel Franco got Mulberry Stable s seven-year-old gelding Won Great Classic up by a head over Ed s Magic in a final time of 1: More than six lengths back, William Thomas edged Half Nelson for third. Half Nelson was the 8-5 favorite in the field of seven. Both Won Great Classic and William Thomas were sent off at odds of 5-2, and Ed s Magic went off at 4-1. William Thomas, breaking from the rail, and Half Nelson dueled on the front end through a snappy opening quarter of : William Thomas edged a neck in front through a half in :46.05 while Ed s Magic made a strong, three-wide brush for the lead. Won Great Classic was fourth behind them. Ed s Magic worked his way past William Thomas and Half Nelson to take over the lead as Won Great Classic closed in quickly. Ed s Magic tried fending him off right to the wire, coming up barely short in a tough beat. A son of Regal Classic out of Won More by Air Forbes Won, Won Great Classic was bred by Bada Bing Stable and is now trained by Linda Rice, who claimed him for $14,000 last Jan. 21. He now has a win and two seconds in five starts for Rice. In his career, Won Great Classic has seven victories, 11 seconds and three thirds in 41 starts, with earnings of more than $280,000.

10 In Saturday s finale, a $25,000 conditional $12,500 claimer at six furlongs, apprentice rider Wilmer Garcia rallied Mark Valentine s four-year-old New York-bred gelding Bellamy up the inside to win by a length and a half over another New York-bred, Say Mr. Sandman, in 1: Bellamy was sent off at 7-1 odds and Say Mr. Sandman was Bellamy, a son of Bellamy Road out of Forever Dixie by Dixie Brass, was bred by Topsmeade LLC and Bellamy Road Syndicate and is trained by Gary Contessa. He finished second by a head at 26-1 odds in his previous start. Bellamy now has five wins, four seconds and four thirds from 25 dirt starts, with more than $110,000 in earnings. Uncle Sigh Leaves Them Gasping in Route Rout Friday at Aqueduct Wounded Warrior Stables Uncle Sigh, sent off at 1-2 odds after finishing second an impressive sprint debut, stretched out to a route Friday and delivered a powerful performance, taking a mileand-70-yard $65,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for two-year-olds by 14 ½ lengths under Pablo Morales in a final time of 1: Gary Contessa trains the colt by Indian Charlie out of Cradlesong by Pine Bluff, who was bred by Milfer Farm and was originally a $270,000 purchase at the 2012 Saratoga Yearling Sale. When he failed to reach his reserve bid in a two-year-olds-in-training sale this spring, Contessa purchased him privately for Wounded Warrior Stables. I loved him from the day I got him, Contessa said after the race. My next race is going to be the Jerome and the ultimate goal is the Wood Memorial. I ve been saying from day one. This horse belongs in a classic. Sent off at 4-1 odds in his six-furlong debut on a muddy track Dec. 7, Uncle Sigh dueled on the lead before barely losing by a head to Groupthink while 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field. Even in defeat, he earned a high Beyer speed figure of 95. Though he broke sharply from the four post Friday, he was tested early by 53-1 Metropolitan Storm, who was intent on making the lead from the rail. Morales let him go briefly before sending Uncle Sigh up on the outside to take over, which he did readily. Uncle Sigh had a short lead on Pax in Terra around the far turn, but once the horses hit the top of the stretch he was gone. The only question was the margin. Pax in Terra finished second. There was another gap of more than nine lengths to Harbor King in third. James Patrick Delaney s homebred New York-bred three-year-old filly Kilnockagain surged past front-running New York-bred Bit Bustin to win a $39,000 conditional $35,000 claimer at six furlongs in a final time of 1:12.71 Friday. They were the only state-breds in the field of eight. Kilnockagain, who improved her career record to three-for-four, was sent off at 2-1 odds; Bit Bustin was 10-1.

11 Kilnockagain, a daughter of Midas Eyes out of Capitess by Dignitas, co-bred by Kieran Bourke, is now trained by Michelle Nevin. She hadn t raced since May 5, when she finished sixth in the New York Stallion Stakes. She d won her previous two starts by near identical margins of 9 ¾ and 9 ¼ lengths. Jose Ortiz rode Kilnockagain for the first time Friday, and he got her away third. Bit Bustin, ridden by apprentice Wilmer Garcia, took the field through a quarter in :23.51 and a half in : At the top of the stretch, Bit Bustin opened a three-length lead, but that margin evaporated quickly once Kilnockagain got into gear. She was drawing away late. Bit Bustin saved second by a length over Off My Cloud, who also went off at odds of 2-1. Kilnockagain has now earned more than $71,000 in her four-race career. Blue Sapphire Farms three-year-old colt Acigarisjustacigar followed a much-improved second in his second dirt start with a three-length victory over Six Drivers in a six-furlong $26,000 New York-bred maiden $16,000 claimer as the 2-1 favorite in a field of eight. Breaking from the outside post under Rosario Montanez, Acigarisjustacigar got away first, but settled in third as Bob and Jim set the pace with Bird Hunter second. Bird Hunter, who went off at 7-2 odds, went after Bob and Jim and passed him around the far turn. Then Acigarisjustacigar quickly moved up to take over the lead and won handily in a final time of 1: Acigarisjustacigar, a colt by Freud out of Oh Livie by Event of the Year, was bred by Sequel Stallions New York and Liberty Hill and is trained by Jim Ryerson. He made his first eight starts on grass without hitting the board once before finding a surface he preferred.