New York-Breds at the Races: April 6 to 10

Transcription

1 New York-Breds at the Races: April 6 to 10 By Bill Heller Idle Macagone Wins the Danger s Hour Stakes Handily Under Jose Ortiz Sunday Brilliantly prepared for his first start in four months by trainer Michelle Nihei, Trinity Farm s homebred, the five-year-old New York-bred gelding Macagone, took command immediately under Jose Ortiz and cruised to a stunning four-length victory in the second running of the $100,000 Danger s Hour Stakes on a yielding turf course at Aqueduct Sunday afternoon. Sent off at 6-1 odds in the field of six, Macagone won in a final time of 1:36.96, giving Ortiz his third of four winners Sunday. It s good to have speed in a race on the turf because the turns here at Aqueduct are tight, Ortiz said. This is a nice horse, and Michelle Nihei brought him back really well. Macagone is a son of Artie Schiller out of Isabel Away by Skip Away who ran a solid third in the $100,000 El Prado Stakes at Gulfstream Park at 12-1 odds in his final start as a four-year-old on December 12 th. Breaking from the four post, Macagone went straight to the lead. He led 10-1 Fredericksburg by two lengths through a quarter-mile in :24.44, a half-mile in :48.41 and three-quarters in 1: By then, Takeover Target, the 3-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., had rallied from third into second. But Macagone was long gone, winning by himself. Takeover Target finished second, a length and a half ahead of Fredericksburg. Lubash, the outstanding New York-bred millionaire, didn t finish in the money in his nine-year-old debut. Macagone is now five for 18 in his all-grass career with three seconds, four thirds and earnings of more than $295,000. Well-rated by Angel Arroyo, Miracle Man Racing Partners homebred five-year-old gelding Lyrical Miracle withstood a bold challenge by Proletariat, then held off Prophet s Cat to win a one-mile $62,000 New York-bred allowance race switched from the turf to the fast main track by a length and a quarter Sunday at Aqueduct. Lyrical Miracle, a main-track-only horse, was sent off at odds of 5-1, Proletariat and Mike Luzzi were the 9-5 second choice, and Prophet s Cat and Taylor Rice went off at 7-2 odds in the field of seven. David Donk trains Lyrical Miracle, a son of Miracle Man out of Fire Sweep by Forestry who was dropping into allowance company off a tiring fifth in an open stakes on April 2 nd.

2 Breaking well from the two outside posts, both Lyrical Miracle and Proletariat got away sharply from the gate, separating themselves from the rest of the field. Proletariat got a neck ahead of Lyrical Miracle, but Lyrical Miracle surged on the inside to take a clear lead after an opening quarter-mile in : Lyrical Miracle quickly opened a two-length lead, but Proletariat cut into that lead and drew within a head of him after a half-mile in : Lyrical Miracle made another surge and led Proletariat by a half-length after three-quarters in 1: Lyrical Miracle slowly drew away from the favorite to lead by more than a length as Prophet s Cat closed in for second. Lyrical Miracle held him off to win in a final time of 1: Prophet s Cat finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Proletariat in third. Brother O Connell, the 8-5 favorite under Manuel Franco, was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth. Lyrical Miracle is now three for 27 on dirt with two seconds and six thirds. He s also raced three times on turf and has total earnings of more than $145,000. Midwest Thoroughbreds New York-bred Legend of Lorelei withstood an early pace battle and then drew off to take Sunday s opener, a one-mile $47,000 open $25,000 claimer for three-yearold fillies, by 3 ½ lengths under Kendrick Carmouche. Sent off the 8-5 second choice in a field of just five, she won her second consecutive race in a final time of 1: Harris Training Center bred Legend of Lorelei, a daughter of Girolamo out of Cowgirl Lucky by Stephen Got Even who sold for $27,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August Midwest Thoroughbreds and trainer Danny Gargan claimed Legend of Lorelei for $40,000 when she finished a distant sixth in an open maiden claimer on January 8 th. Dropped into maiden $25,000 New York-bred claimers, she finished third and first before returning to open company Sunday. Legend of Lorelei and 23-1 New York-bred The Name s Paddy dueled on the front end through an opening quarter in :24.57 and a half-mile in : The Name s Paddy pushed a nose in front, but Carmouche had yet to really ask Legend of Lorelei, and she quickly spurted clear of the longshot on the way to a handy victory. New York-bred Night Madam, who was sent off at odds of 7-1 under Dylan Davis, finished second, 2 ¾ lengths clear of 5-1 New York-bred Love You Babe and Manuel Franco. The Name s Paddy held on for fourth, another length and a quarter back. Legend of Lorelei is now two for nine with two seconds, a pair of thirds and earnings topping $80,000. Repole Stable s five-year-old New York-bred mare Make Your Point wore down front-running New York-bred She s All Even, then held off New York-bred Keen On Green to capture a $27,000 conditional $14,000 claimer by nearly two lengths Sunday under Jose Ortiz. She

3 covered the six-furlong distance in 1: Make Your Point was the 9-5 second choice, She s All Even was (appropriately) the even-money favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., and Keen On Green was the 23-1 longshot in the field of five. Before the start, Ferzetti, who had been 2-1 on the toteboard, acted up in the gate and was a late scratch. Make Your Point is a daughter of Not For Love out of Tequila and Rum by Storm Broker who was bred by Andy Beadnell and is trained by Gary Gullo. Make Your Point had finished fourth or better in her six previous starts without winning any of them. Jose Ortiz got Make Your Point away in second on the flank of front-running She s All Even. She s All Even led Make Your Point by a neck after an opening quarter in :22.80, then by just a head after a half-mile in : Make Your Point then surged to the lead and drew off, winning comfortably. Keen On Green closed strongly to finish second, three lengths clear of 5-2 Reign in third. She s All Even was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth. Make Your Point is now one for 12 on dirt with two seconds and five thirds. On turf, she is two for 12 with four thirds, for combined earnings of more than $100,000. Repole s Homebred Spooked Out Scores in Opener Saturday John Velazquez sent Repole Stable s homebred three-year-old gray ridgling Spooked Out to the lead on the rail and he rolled to a near-four-length victory in Aqueduct s opener Saturday, a 6 ½- furlong $72,000 New York-bred allowance. Sent off the 5-2 second choice in a field of seven, Spooked Out won in a final time of 1: Todd Pletcher trains Spooked Out, a son of Catienus out of Spooked by Silver Gold who s never been worse than fourth in seven starts. He had to work to take a three-quarter-length lead on the horse who broke next to him, 7-2 David Rocks and Kendrick Carmouche, through a :23.66 first quarter. Spooked Out maintained that margin through a :47.21 half-mile and then opened up as David Rocks began to tire. Spooked Out stretched his lead to four lengths, hitting three quarters in 1:11.60, and won by that margin in an impressive victory. Ganador, who was sent off at odds of 9-1 under Chris DeCarlo, finished a clear second, 4 ½ lengths ahead of Celtic Chaos, the 6-5 favorite under Eric Cancel. Mr Harlan was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth at 31-1 odds under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Spooked Out is now two for seven with one second, two thirds and earnings of more than $110,000.

4 With a breathtaking, extremely wide sweep around the far turn, J Stables and Scott, Hope and Danny Summers idle colt Mind Your Biscuits crushed 11 opponents, taking a 6 ½-furlong $70,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for three-year-olds by 7 ½ lengths to give Irad Ortiz, Jr. his fourth victory in Saturday s first seven races. Sent off a slight favorite at 3-1 odds from the 10 post, Mind Your Biscuits won in a final time of 1:18.80 on a track downgraded to muddy (sealed). Trainer Robert Falcone did an outstanding job getting the son of Posse out of Jazzmane by Toccet, bred by Jumping Jack Racing, ready for his first start since finishing fourth in a maiden special weight on November 14 th at 9-2 odds under Jose Lezcano. In his race before his final start as a two-year-old, Mind Your Biscuits finished a fine third in the $206,000 New York Breeders Futurity at Finger Lakes. Ortiz, who was riding Mind Your Biscuits for the first time, got him away in fifth as 19-1 Indian Soldier led 7-2 Benevolence, who was adding Lasix, narrowly through a quarter in :23.52 and a half-mile in : By then, Ortiz had Mind Your Biscuits rallying on the extreme outside, and he came out of the far turn in front. He then spurted away and poured it on, winning his threeyear-old debut in style. Jet Black, sent off at odds of 4-1 under Kendrick Carmouche, finished second, one length ahead of Benevolence in third. Brooklyn Major, who went off at 8-1 odds from the rail under Manuel Franco, was another length and three-quarters back in fourth. Mind Your Biscuits now has a win, a pair of seconds and a third in five starts, for earnings of more than $95,000. Rallying powerfully from far back under Irad Ortiz, Jr., co-owner/trainer Steve Klesaris and La Marca Stable s six-year-old gelding Saltine Warrior won a 6 ½-furlong $60,000 New Yorkbred starter allowance by a length over Bass River Road and Manuel Franco in a final time of 1: Saltine Warrior was sent off at odds of 12-1 and Bass River Road went off at 3-1 odds in the field of seven. McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds bred Saltine Warrior, a son of Wild Desert out of Via Mizner by Forty Niner. Klesaris and La Marca Stable claimed Saltine Warrior for $35,000 on January 2 nd, when he won by a head at 10-1 odds. After Saltine Warrior finished third in a starter allowance on January 29 th, Klesaris freshened him and made a jockey change from Aaron Gryder to Ortiz. Breaking from the rail Saturday, Saltine Warrior got away sixth as Comandante, the 7-5 favorite under Jose Ortiz, took a half-length lead over Bass River Road through a :23.41 first quarter. Bass River Road then took a brief lead before 8-1 Jeter rushed up from last three-wide to push a head in front through a :46.46 half-mile. Jeter couldn t maintain his rally, and Bass River Road regained the lead. Bass River Road opened up a 2 ½-length lead on Saltine Warrior, who had rushed into contention three-wide. Bass River Road was game, but couldn t hold off Saltine

5 Warrior. Bass River Road held second, 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Comandante in third. Candid Desire was another half-length back in fourth at 7-1 odds. Saltine Warrior is now two for 13 with one second and three thirds on dirt. He is two for 18 on grass with three seconds and four thirds, and has total earnings of a tad under $240,000. Samraat Runs Third in Return at Aqueduct Friday My Meadowview Farm s homebred, the five-year-old New York-bred Samraat, finished a nonthreatening third in a field of five in a one-mile $81,000 allowance/optional $100,000 claimer Friday at Aqueduct. Samraat was making his first start since July 4 th and only his second since June 7 th, Sent off at 2-1 odds under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Samraat finished third by 7 ½ lengths behind 4-1 Matterhorn, who finished first by 2 ½ lengths over 5-2 Stormin Monarcho. Trained by Rick Violette, Jr., Samraat won consecutive Grade 3 stakes, the Withers and Gotham, as a three-year-old in 2014, then finished second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. In his only race last year, he finished fourth in the same company he faced Friday. Clyde Rice s Good Laugh, the 3-5 favorite trained by his daughter Linda and ridden by his grand-niece Taylor, held off Lil Renegade by three-quarters of a length to win Friday s opener, a six-furlong $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer, in a final time of 1: Lil Renegade, ridden by Manuel Franco, went off at 5-1 odds in the field of eight. Kathleen and Mary Jo Herbert bred Good Laugh, a daughter of Posse out of Queen of Humor by Distorted Humor. Good Laugh had finished in the money in all three of her previous starts, the first two in maiden special weights and the last in a maiden $40,000 claimer. Breaking from the outside post, Good Laugh settled in third as Mary s in Utopia, who went off at 11-1 odds under Jaime Rodriguez on the rail, dueled with 22-1 first-time starter True Desire, who broke from the two post under Dylan Davis. True Desire led Mary s in Utopia by a half-length after a :22.65 opening quarter and by just a head after a half-mile in : When True Desire shook off Mary s in Utopia, she was challenged by Good Laugh. Good Laugh wore down the front-runner and opened a clear lead. Lil Renegade found her best stride late and came flying down the outside, but Good Laugh held on to win. Lil Renegade finished second, 6 ¼ lengths clear of True Desire in third. Wiredancer, who went off at 13-1 odds under Jackie Davis, was another half-length back in fourth. Good Laugh now has a win, two seconds and a third in four starts, for earnings topping $40,000.

6 Bing Cherry Racing s gelding Bust Another, the only New York-bred in a field of six, ran down front-running gray Zen Papa then held off Joy Drive to win a six-furlong $72,000 allowance/optional $80,000 claimer for three-year-olds by a half-length Friday under Eric Cancel. Sent off at 4-1 odds, Bust Another won in a final time of 1: Zen Papa, who was adding blinkers, went off at 7-2 odds from the rail under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Joy Drive was sent off at odds of 14-1 with Jose Ortiz aboard. Casey Newick LLC bred Bust Another, a son of Bustin Stones out of I Drink Alone by Intidab who sold for $80,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August Bing Cherry Racing claimed Bust Another for $32,000 on January 7 th, when he won his second straight race by six lengths in his third lifetime start. Bust Another won his first start for his new connections by 5 ½ lengths, then finished a game second by a half-length on March 11 th. Cancel, who has ridden Bust Another in all of his six starts, placed him third early. Zen Papa set the pace with 5-1 Jay s Way and Kendrick Carmouche a close second through a quarter in :23.81 and a half-mile in : Bust Another then rushed past Zen Papa to take the lead. Joy Drive closed strongly, but too late to catch Bust Another. Joy Drive finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Name Changer, the 7-5 favorite. Bust Another is now three for five with one second and earnings of more than $145,000. Just a half-hour after Bust Another s victory in open allowance company Friday, Peachtree Stable s five-year-old New York-bred Sioux streaked to a near-six-length, gate-to-wire victory in a one-mile $72,000 open allowance under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Dispatched at 7-2 odds in the field of eight, Sioux won in a final time of 1: New York-bred Bellamy Way, the 3-5 favorite with Kendrick Carmouche aboard, finished a clear second. Sioux is a son of Awesome Again out of Andraste by Pulpit who is now trained by Rudy Rodriguez. Michelle Nevin was Sioux s trainer in his previous start, when he finished fourth in an open allowance at Laurel Park on February 9 th. Breaking sharply from the two post, Sioux quickly took the lead with Bellamy Way a close second. They remained 1-2 the entire race. Sioux led the favorite by a head after a :23.45 opening quarter, by three-quarters of a length after a :46.42 half, and by a length and a half after three-quarters in 1: Sioux drew off late to score impressively. Sioux is now five for 11 with one third and earnings of more than $220,000.

7 In Friday s finale, a one-mile $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer, owner/trainer Jeremiah Englehart s three-year-old gelding On to Trenton, bred by Jesse Englehart, backed up his 2-1 odds with a length-and-a-half front-end victory in a final time of 1: On to Trenton is a son of Giant Surprise out of Right Note by Point Given who was making just his third career start after finishing 12 th and a close second to begin his career. Breaking from the two post in the field of 11, On to Trenton took a neck lead on the outside of 37-1 For Good Reason. He maintained that advantage through splits of :23.57, :47.33 and 1:13.54 on the way to a solid victory. Shootout, who was sent off at odds of 7-2 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished second, six lengths clear of 10-1 No Tanx Blue Chip and Dylan Davis in third. Touch of Paradise, who went off at 7-1 odds under Manuel Franco, was another two lengths back in fourth. On to Trenton s victory upped his earnings to just under $25,000 in three starts. In a six-furlong $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer, Jonathan Thorne and Stephen Kennedy s front-running three-year-old filly Sweet Peaches, the 8-5 favorite in a field of eight under Kendrick Carmouche, held off 3-1 Baronet and Manuel Franco by a neck to win in a final time of 1: Danny Gargan trains Sweet Peaches, a daughter of D Funnybone out of Spangled by Kris S. who sold for $67,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in January Sweet Peaches was a distant third in her three-year-old debut, her first start since mid-november, in a maiden $40,000 claimer on March 18 th. Carmouche sent her to the lead Friday and she never looked back. She led 56-1 Mind That Diamond and Jackie Davis by two lengths after a :22.57 opening quarter, and by a length after a half-mile in : Sweet Peaches put away Mind That Diamond, then held off a bold rally by Baronet to win. Silly Face, who was adding blinkers and went off at 3-1 odds under Jose Ortiz, finished third, 3 ¼ lengths behind Baronet. Mind That Diamond finished fourth, another length and three-quarters back. Sweet Peaches is now one for five with two thirds and earnings topping $30,000.

8 Eye Luv Lulu Scores Wire-to-Wire in Allowance Company Thursday Razor-sharp off a brief freshening, owner/trainer David Jacobson s five-year-old gelding Eye Luv Lulu powered to a near-five-length, gate-to-wire victory under Cornelio Velasquez in a seven-furlong $75,000 New York-bred allowance race at dreary Aqueduct Thursday. Sent off at 3-2 odds in a field of just four, Eye Luv Lulu won in a sharp final time of 1:22.97 on a muddy track. Notacatbutallama, who went off at 9-2 odds under John Velazquez, finished second, a length and a half ahead of 11-1 Possessed and Chris DeCarlo. Drama King, the 4-5 favorite on the rail under Junior Alvarado, was last of the quartet. Eye Luv Lulu, a son of Pollard s Vision out of Honky Tonk Trick by Phone Trick, was bred by Donald Newman. After Eye Luv Lulu finished a distant sixth in the $100,000 Haynesfield Stakes on February 21 st, Jacobson freshened him, dropped him into allowance company and cut him back to seven furlongs. Before Thursday, Eye Luv Lulu was two for four at seven furlongs. Velasquez hustled him to the lead from the two post, and he took a neck lead on Possessed through a :22.29 quarter-mile. Eye Luv Lulu maintained that neck advantage over Possessed through a :44.83 half-mile. Then Notacatbutallama made a bold rally on the outside to move into second and get within a half-length of the front-runner. Eye Luv Lulu responded immediately, spurting clear and cruising home an easy winner. Eye Luv Lulu improved his dirt record to seven for 24 with five seconds, one third and earnings of a tad below $400,000. Midwest Thoroughbreds seven-year-old gelding Readthebyline charged to the lead under Jose Ortiz, set an extremely fast pace and still held on to win a one-mile $47,000 New York-bred $25,000 claimer by a length and a half Thursday over Igotthediscoinme. Sent off at 8-5 odds in the field of six, Readthebyline won in a final time of 1:37.90 on a good, sealed track. Igotthediscoinme went off at 10-1 odds from the rail under Angel Arroyo. Danny Gargan trains Readthebyline, a son of Readthefootnotes out of Seattle Byline by Slew City Slew who was bred by Gavin Murphy and Catherine Donovan. Readthebyline was dropping from a distant sixth in a New York-bred allowance/optional $40,000 claimer under Kendrick Carmouche. Breaking from the outside post, Readthebyline beat 5-2 Pretension and 13-1 Saturday Appeal to the early lead and opened up a two-length advantage by running a first quarter in : He maintained that margin on Pretension by running a half-mile in : Pretension closed within a length after three-quarters in 1:09.81, but couldn t get closer.

9 Readthebyline remained strong on the lead to the wire. Igotthediscoinme finished second, 2 ½ lengths clear of Pretension in third. Chilton, a 47-1 longshot ridden by Dylan Davis, was another length behind in fourth. Readthebyline is now eight for 46 on dirt with eight seconds and seven thirds. He s also raced twice on turf and has total earnings of nearly $550,000. Beautifully rated on the front end by Manuel Franco, Andrew Sulley s new claim, the six-yearold New York-bred gelding Petrocelli, rolled to a 3 ½-length victory in a one-mile $31,000 open $16,000 claimer Thursday. Sent off at 4-1 odds as the only state-bred in the field of seven, Petrocelli won in a final time of 1:37.22 on a track downgraded from fast to good (sealed). Sage Stables bred Petrocelli, a son of Disco Rico out of Squaw Valley by Indian Charlie who had been claimed in each of his three previous starts. Sulley and trainer Gary Sciacca got him for $12,500 when he finished third on March 26 th at 7-2 odds. Petrocelli took a short lead on the inside of 5-1 Finding Candy and Javier Castellano. They would remain 1-2 the entire way. Petrocelli led Finding Candy by three-quarters of a length after an opening quarter in :23.42, then by a length and a quarter through a :46.90 half-mile. Finding Candy closed within a half-length of Petrocelli, who responded immediately to get clear after three-quarters in 1: Petrocelli won handily and Finding Candy finished a clear second. Petrocelli is now seven for 35 on dirt with four seconds and seven thirds. He has finished in the money in five straight. Petrocelli has also raced six times on grass with one third. He has total earnings of nearly $260,000. Trainer Mike Hushion made a few changes to Barry Schwartz s homebred four-year-old filly Adrestia and she won Thursday s opener, a $41,000 New York-bred maiden $40,000 claimer, virtually wire-to-wire by a length under Jose Ortiz as the 3-5 favorite. She completed the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:19.58 on a fast track. Fast-finishing Cats Halo, who was sent off at odds of 9-2 under Manuel Franco in the field of seven, was a clear second. Hushion freshened his filly for nearly two months, dropped her into a maiden claimer for the first time, and added blinkers for her third career start. The daughter of Mineshaft out of Lamington by Danzig had finished second and fourth in her first two starts in maiden special weights. She broke second behind Cats Halo, but quickly took the lead on her outside through a :23.58 first quarter. Adrestia opened a three-length lead through a :46.60 half-mile, then stretched her cushion to four lengths before Cats Halo took a bold late run on Adrestia s inside. Adrestia held on for the victory. Yenta, a first-time starter who went off at 19-1 odds, finished third, 4 ½ lengths behind Cats Halo. Another longshot firster, 25-1 Making History, was a distant fourth after breaking awkwardly from the rail.

10 Adrestia now has a win and a second from three starts, for earnings of more than $35,000. William Parsons, Jr. and David Howe s homebred, the five-year-old New York-bred mare Blithely, surged to the lead in deep stretch under Junior Alvarado to win a six-furlong $75,000 allowance/optional $62,500 claimer by a length and a half Thursday. Sent off at 9-5 odds in the field of six, Blithely won in a final time of 1: Mark Hennig trains Blithely, a daughter of Exchange Rate out of Merryland Monroe by Allen s Prospect who was freshened off a third-place finish in the $100,000 Broadway Stakes on February 21 st. Blithely raced in fifth early as another New York-bred, 10-1 Non Finisce Mai, set the pace under Jose Ortiz. Jacaranda, sent off at odds of 7-2 from the outside post under Aaron Gryder, raced on the frontrunners flank in second through a fast opening quarter in : Non Finisce Mai led Jacaranda by a half-length through a :45.77 half-mile while Blithely rallied on the far outside. Blithely stormed past Non Finisce Mai in midstretch as Eloquent Tribute, the 3-2 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., rallied after awaiting room. As Blithely opened a clear lead, Non Finisce Mai seemed to be spooked by a shadow in deep stretch, and Jose Ortiz did well to stay on. Blithely won comfortably and Eloquent Tribute finished second, 2 ½ lengths clear of Non Finisce Mai. Jacaranda finished fourth. Blithely is now six for 14 with three seconds, three thirds and earnings topping $300,000. Owner/trainer Charlie Baker added blinkers to his three-year-old filly Riot Worthy, and she ran down huge longshot True Charm to win Thursday s finale, a $60,000 New York-bred maiden special weight, by a half-length under Angel Arroyo as the 9-5 favorite. She covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1: True Charm, who went off at 68-1 odds under Jackie Davis from the extreme outside post in the field of 10, settled for second, six lengths ahead of 12-1 Naked Empress in third. Firestar was another two lengths back in fourth at 7-1 odds. Advantage Training and Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Passaretti bred Riot Worthy, a daughter of Patriot Act out of Silkworth by Distinctive Pro. Riot Worthy had five seconds, a third, a fourth and a fifth in her eight races before Thursday. Dream On, who was making her first start in more than 16 months and went off at 8-1 odds under Gabriel Saez, led True Charm narrowly through a quarter in :22.73 and a half-mile in : Riot Worthy had rallied from fifth into third by then. True Charm then put away Dream On and took a two-length lead as Riot Worthy advanced into second.

11 The two separated themselves from the others down the stretch and Riot Worthy whittled away True Charm s lead, then passed her in deep stretch. In doing so, Riot Worthy upped her career earnings to just under $100,000. Loon River and Jose Ortiz Win the First New York Grass Race in 2016 Jose Ortiz delivered a terrific ride and Daniel Sullivan III s four-year-old filly Loon River, the slight favorite, captured New York s first grass race of 2016, defeating Amazing Anne and Junior Alvarado by a length and a half Wednesday at Aqueduct in a $62,000 New York-bred allowance. She covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:46.60 on a course rated good. Both Loon River and Amazing Anne went off at 5-2 odds in the field of 10. Empire Equines bred Loon River, a daughter of Freud out of Beijio by Dr. Blum who sold for just $20,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August Tom Morley trains Loon River, who had finished fifth in her four-year-old debut in open allowance company at Tampa Bay on March 9 th, her first start in nearly five months. Breaking from the two post, Loon River got away second on the hedge behind Majestic Bloom, who went off at 6-1 odds from the rail under Eric Cancel. Light Years Away, sent off at odds of 18-1 while breaking from the extreme outside post under Davis, was a close third and Amazing Anne, leaving from the eight post, wasn t far back on the outside in fourth. Majestic Bloom led Loon River by a tight length through a half-mile in :49.69 and three-quarters in 1: Ortiz eased Loon River to the outside of Majestic Bloom in early stretch, and she closed ground relentlessly. By then, Amazing Anne had gained into third. Amazing Anne sustained her rally, but Loon River had plenty left to hold her off. Majestic Bloom finished third, a half-length behind Amazing Anne. Bubba Zena, who went off at 70-1 odds under Manuel Franco, finished fourth, another length back. Loon River is now two for 14 on turf with three seconds and two thirds. She has also raced twice on dirt and has combined earnings of a tad under $150,000. Displaying great courage under Dylan Davis, Wellspring Stables homebred New York-bred, the four-year-old gelding Pierce s Prize, survived a wicked three-way speed duel with New Yorkbred Secured Position and Dynamo Flotilla, and still had enough left to hold off fast-finishing Frenchman Bay and Cornelio Velasquez by a head Wednesday in a $40,000 conditional $40,000 claimer. He covered the seven-furlong distance in 1:25.08 on a dirt track rated good. Pierce s Prize was sent off at odds of 7-1, Secured Position went off at 8-1 odds, Dynamo Flotilla was 6-1 and Frenchman Bay was 5-2 in the field of six.

12 Jim Ryerson trains Pierce s Prize, a son of Sky Mesa out of Raffie s Treasure by Raffie s Majesty who hadn t raced since finishing a distant eighth in a New York-bred allowance route under Angel Arroyo on January 22 nd. Breaking from the two, three and five posts, respectively, Secured Position, Pierce s Prize and Dynamo Flotilla hooked up on the lead immediately, producing a sizzling first quarter in : Dynamo Flotilla couldn t keep up as Secured Position maintained a head lead on Pierce s Prize through a testing :44.20 half-mile. Pierce s Prize finally put away Secured Position, then had to deal with Frenchman Bay, who was flying down the center of the track after three-quarters in 1: Though leg-weary, Pierce s Prize gamely held on. Frenchman Bay finished a clear second, five lengths clear of Grey Glory, the 3-2 favorite under Manuel Franco. Secured Position was another length back in fourth. Pierce s Prize improved his dirt record to two for 13 with one second, one third and earnings topping $100,000. In Wednesday s finale, a six-furlong $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer, Jackie Davis kept Sunny Meadow Farm s four-year-old gelding Bear Clause together after making the lead in deep stretch to edge strong-closing Field Sense by a nose in a final time of 1: Bear Clause and Field Sense both went off at 3-1 odds in the field of eight. Mitch Friedman trains Bear Clause, a son of Roaring Fever out of Expiration Day by Gilded Time who was bred by Peter O Connor. Bear Clause was second in his previous start at 5-1 odds with Davis aboard for the first time on March 17 th. El Genio, an 11-1 shot, eventually worked his way past 21-1 Courageous Colonel to make the lead after a :22.82 first quarter. Bear Clause was fourth. El Genio stretched his lead to four lengths by racing a half-mile in :46.22 as Bear Clause rallied into second and went after the leader. When Bear Clause struck the lead, Field Sense, who had rallied into third, was flying. Bear Clause bravely held him off. Field Sense finished second, a length and a half ahead of El Genio in third. Game of Stones, a first-timer who went off as the 8-5 favorite, was fourth. Bear Clause is now one for 14 on dirt with two seconds and more than $40,000 in earnings. In a frantic finish Wednesday at Aqueduct, Kendrick Carmouche got Roddy Valente s idle fouryear-old colt Eye Love Michael up in time to win a six-furlong $41,000 New York-bred maiden $40,000 claimer by a neck over Saratoga Charlie and Irad Ortiz, Jr. Secret Scholar and Jackie Davis were just a neck back in third after Eye Love Michael won in a final time of 1:12.67 on a

13 track rated good. Fleeting Gold finished fourth, another length and a quarter back, under Javier Castellano. Eye Love Michael went off at 5-2 odds in the field of six, Saratoga Charlie was the 3-2 favorite, Secret Scholar was sent off at odds of 6-1 and Fleeting Gold was 7-2. Bruce Levine trains Eye Love Michael, who hadn t raced since finishing fifth in a maiden special weight in his debut on January 27 th, McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds bred Eye Love Michael, a son of Valente s unbeaten Bustin Stones out of Cool Rhythm by Unbridled s Song who sold for $21,000 as a yearling in August Breaking from the rail, Eye Love Michael was fifth early. Secret Scholar set the pace while pressured by Saratoga Charlie through a quarter in :23.66 and a half-mile in : They were still battling head-to-head as Eye Love Michael rushed up on the far outside to join them. The three-way battle continued the length of the stretch before Eye Love Michael pushed his neck in front. Borrowed Dreams, a three-year-old colt bred, owned and trained by Richard Lugovich, drifted out a bit in deep stretch under Mike Luzzi but got the job done Wednesday, taking a six-furlong $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer by a half-length over front-running Blarney Stones and Javier Castellano. Starago closed powerfully under Kendrick Carmouche to finish third, just three-quarters of a length behind Blarney Stones. My Tommy Boy, who was adding blinkers, was a distant fourth. Borrowed Dreams was sent off at odds of 6-1, Blarney Stones was the 2-1 favorite, Starago went off at 9-2 odds and My Tommy Boy was 5-2 in the field of seven. Borrowed Dreams got away third as Blarney Stones and 19-1 first-time starter Our Ben s Brush dueled on the lead through a :22.68 first quarter. Blarney Stones put away Our Ben s Brush, but had to run a half-mile in :46.58 to do so. Borrowed Dreams rushed up three-wide, moved into second and went after the favorite. Blarney Stones dug in gamely, but Borrowed Dreams wore him down to win in a final time of 1: Borrowed Dreams now has a win and a third from four dirt starts. He s also made three grass starts and has total earnings of more than $20,000.