New York-Breds at the Races: January 14 to 17

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1 New York-Breds at the Races: January 14 to 17 By Bill Heller Drama King Gamely Wins Second Straight in Open Allowance Sunday Benefitting from a fine ride by Junior Alvarado, Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stable, Michael Imperio and David Simon s four-year-old New York-bred colt Drama King wore down frontrunning Jack O Liam to capture a mile-and-a-sixteenth $67,000 allowance for his second straight victory at Aqueduct Sunday. Sent off the slight 5-2 favorite in a field of eight, Drama King defeated Jack O Liam, the 3-1 third choice under Jose Ortiz, by a half-length in a final time of 1: There was an 11-length gap back to 31-1 Piloting in third. Gerald Reid bred Drama King, a son of Nobiz Like Showbiz out of Winters Bell by Winter Glitter who was purchased for just $13,000 as a two-year-old in November Trainer Rudy Rodriguez freshened Drama King a bit off a neck score as the 8-5 favorite in a New York-bred allowance on November 29 th. Jack O Liam shot to the lead from the two post Sunday, and Drama King got away second from the four post. They were 1-2 the entire race. Jack O Liam led by a length and a quarter after a :23.24 first quarter, by three-quarters of a length after a half in :46.92 and by just a half-length after three-quarters in 1: Drama King upped the pressure on Jack O Liam through the lane and eventually wore down the frontrunner, giving Alvarado his fourth winner of the afternoon. Drama King is now five for 15 with three seconds, two thirds and earnings of more than $225,000. Kendrick Carmouche continues to have a strong meet at Aqueduct. On Sunday, he got Millstone Stable s four-year-old filly Spuntastic up in the final yards from the disadvantageous outside post in a field of 10 to win a six-furlong $57,000 New York-bred allowance by a head over Paradise Peak in a final time of 1: Spuntastic was sent off at odds of 3-1 and Paradise Peak, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., went off at 28-1 odds. My Super Nova, who was sent off at 5-1 odds under Manuel Franco, finished a solid third, a length and a quarter behind Paradise Peak while a length and a half clear of 16-1 First Charmer in fourth.

2 Spuntastic is a daughter of Hard Spun out of Thunder Daimon by Thunder Gulch who was bred by John Scott Rogers and is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. In his previous start on December 27 th, Spuntastic finished third by two lengths with Cornelio Velasquez aboard. Spuntastic raced in mid-pack as 4-1 Saluda set the early pace while pressured by My Super Nova through a quarter in :23.64 and a half-mile in : My Super Nova then put away Saluda before both Spuntastic and Paradise Peak came flying on the outside. Spuntastic nipped Paradise Peak late. Spuntastic is now two for seven on dirt with two thirds. She also has one third from three turf tries, for combined earnings of more than $100,000. J and M Racing Stable s four-year-old New York-bred filly Majestic Jessica made it look easy, winning a six-furlong $35,000 conditional $25,000 claimer wire-to-wire by five lengths under Junior Alvarado in a final time of 1:11.57 at 7-1 odds. Another New York-bred, 5-2 Blind Devotion, finished second under Jose Ortiz, a half-length ahead of 5-2 Ducasa in third. Another state-bred, 5-1 Moondance Joy, was another half-length back in fourth. Dutchess Views Farm bred Majestic Jessica, a daughter of Roaring Fever out of Majestic Risk by More Than Ready who is trained by Bobby Barbara. She was claimed by her present connections on December 2 nd, when she finished fifth on a sloppy track. Barbara added blinkers and Majestic Jessica was third at 9-2 odds in her first start for him just eight days later. She ran even better Sunday, quickly taking the race over from the five post in the field of seven. She led by a length and a quarter after an opening quarter in :23.49, stretched her advantage to three lengths through a :47.19 half-mile, and scored by herself. Majestic Jessica is now three for 16 on dirt with one second and three thirds. She has also raced once on grass and has total earnings of more than $135,000. Sunday s finale, a six-furlong $26,000 conditional $14,000 claimer won by Sunny Meadow Farm s five-year-old New York-bred gelding Chief Assignment by a head wire-to-wire under apprentice Harry Hernandez, was marred by a gruesome accident near the head of the stretch. New York-bred Thirty Percent, ridden by Angel Suarez, was pressing for the lead when he clipped Chief Assignment s back heels and fell. Then both New York-bred Tottie Royer, ridden by seven-pound apprentice Katie Davis, and Humbolt Street, ridden by Davis s older brother Dylan, fell over Thirty Percent. All three jockeys were thrown to the track. All three horses appeared to avoid serious injury and Robbie Davis, father of Dylan and Katie, has reported that they are OK as well. Mitch Friedman trains Chief Assignment, a son of Hook and Ladder out of Give and Take by Devil His Due who was bred by Peter O Conner. He was sent off at 9-1 odds in the field of 12.

3 Hernandez sent Chief Assignment to the lead and he was pressured by Thirty Percent, who was adding blinkers. Chief Assignment led Thirty Percent by a half-length through a half-mile in :47.94 before the accident, which affected several horses behind Chief Assignment, leaving him with a clear lead. Easy Comparison, a 5-1 shot ridden by Jose Ortiz, closed strongly but Chief Assignment held him off gamely for the victory. Vancouver, who was sent off at odds of 3-1 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished a distant third. Chief Assignment s victory was his second in his last three starts. He now had two wins, one second and two thirds from 10 dirt starts, for earnings topping $50,000. In Sunday s opener, a one-mile $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer, Amanda Laderer s four-year-old filly Lady Chocolatta, who went off at 3-1 odds under apprentice Harry Hernandez, blew past front-running Awesome Winter, who was adding blinkers and also went off at 3-1 odds under apprentice Eric Cancel, and drew off to a 5 ½-length victory. Gary Sciacca trains Lady Chocolatta, a daughter of Street Hero out of Chocolatta by Aptitude who was bred by Kathy and Mary Jo Herbert. She had finished an improved, though distant, second at 14-1 odds in her prior start. Awesome Winter took the early lead, with Lady Chocolatta not far behind in second through a half-mile in : When Hernandez asked Lady Chocolatta for run, she delivered, taking the lead around the far turn and drawing off to an impressive win in a final time of 1: Valerie s Spirit, who was shedding blinkers and went off at 7-2 odds under Katie Davis, edged 2-1 Double Mane, who was adding blinkers under Angel Arroyo, by a neck for second. There was a gap of six lengths back to Awesome Winter in fourth. Lady Chocolatta now has a win and a second from six starts, for earnings topping $30,000. Chief of State Rallies to Win an Allowance Race Saturday Ruben Silvera rallied Dream Team One Racing Stable s four-year-old gelding Chief of State to a length-and-a-quarter victory in a six-furlong $57,000 New York-bred allowance at Aqueduct Saturday. Sent off at 9-1 odds, Chief of State won in a final time of 1:13.21 on a track that had been upgraded from muddy to good. Here Comes Tommy, the slight 2-1 favorite in the field of nine, finished second, a half-length ahead of 24-1 Mr Harlan in third. There was a gap of three lengths back to 23-1 El Cuadro in fourth. Aracri Stable & Breeding bred Chief of State, a son of Canadian Frontier out of Cool the Economy by Mazel Trick who is trained by Patrick Quick.

4 Leaving from the seven post, Chief of State got away fourth early as the two horses outside of him, 5-1 Saint Joseph, who was adding blinkers under Aaron Gryder, and 69-1 Four Black Even, ridden by Jackie Davis, dueled on the front end. Saint Joseph led Four Black Even by a half-length after a :23.21 first quarter, and by just a head around the far turn. Chief of State went after the front-runners three-wide and cleared both of them after a half-mile in : He then held off a late rally by Here Comes Tommy and Mike Luzzi. Chief of State is now two for nine with two seconds, two thirds and earnings of more than $100,000. My Purple Haze Stable s homebred Freudsalm swept to the early lead from the outside post in a field of seven under Cornelio Velasquez and cruised to a 2 ¼-length victory as the 4-5 favorite in a $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for three-year-old fillies in Saturday s opener. He completed the five and a half furlongs in 1: Chris Englehart now trains Freudsalm, a daughter of Freud out of Songandpsalm by Songandaprayer originally trained by Terri Pompay. After finishing third twice and sixth once, she made her first start for Englehart on December 20 th, finishing a front-running fourth in her first start in 2 ½ months at 14-1 odds. She was pounded at the windows Saturday and didn t disappoint. She shook off early pressure from a pair of firsters, 5-1 Fashion Street and 9-1 Good Laugh, posted splits of :23.28 and :47.74, and was never seriously challenged late. Good Laugh, ridden by Taylor Rice, finished second, nearly three lengths clear of Fashion Street in third. Another firster, 7-1 Gonna Find Her, finished fourth under Kendrick Carmouche, 2 ¼ lengths behind Fashion Street. Freudsalm now has a win and a pair of thirds from four dirt starts, for earnings topping $50,000. Well-rated on the front end by Jackie Davis, Drawing Away Stable s four-year-old New Yorkbred colt Regal Minister won a six-furlong $27,000 conditional $14,000 claimer by a length and a quarter Saturday. Sent off at 5-2 odds in the field of six, Regal Minister won in a final time of 1: John Toscano trains Regal Minister, a son of Posse out of Dattts Regal by Mr. Greeley who was bred by Dattt Farm. Claimed for $14,000 when he finished second by a neck on October 31 st, Regal Minister finished sixth, then a front-running second for his new connections before Saturday.

5 Davis got Regal Minister out to the early lead and he opened a three-length advantage after a quarter in :23.07 and a half-mile in : He won handily. Alysaro finished second at 3-1 odds, four lengths clear of 45-1 New York-bred Can t Catch Me Now in third. Next Right was fourth at 6-1 odds. Regal Minister is now three for 13 with three seconds, one third and earnings topping $160,000. Awesome Gent Wins Second Straight Impressively Friday Burning Sands Stable s homebred three-year-old gelding Awesome Gent followed his 8 ½- length maiden victory with an impressive 6 ¼-length score in a six-furlong $57,000 New Yorkbred allowance/optional $75,000 claimer Friday at Aqueduct. Sent off the 2-5 favorite in a field of just four under Manuel Franco, Awesome Gent won in hand in a final time of 1: Todd Pletcher trains Awesome Gent, a son of Awesome Again out of Pawnee Patti by Sir Richard Lewis. Pletcher freshened Awesome Gent after he finished a tiring eighth as the 2-1 favorite in his debut at Saratoga on September 4 th. Returning on December 19 th at Aqueduct, he broke his maiden with authority, winning easily with Franco riding for the first time. Though he broke his maiden racing on the front end, Awesome Gent settled nicely in second Friday on the outside of 3-1 Gehrig and Jose Ortiz. Gehrig led Awesome Gent by three-quarters of a length after a :23.77 first quarter, and by a half-length after a half-mile in : Awesome Gent went after Gehrig in early stretch, wore him down by mid-stretch and took over, drawing away to win by himself. Gehrig held second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of 3-1 Fumin Newman. Uno Emayo was another neck back in fourth. Awesome Gent is now two for three with earnings topping $75,000. Zilla Racing Stable s five-year-old New York-bred gelding Swell, the slight 9-5 favorite in a field of six under Jose Ortiz, made a mid-race move to take the lead around the far turn, opened a two-length advantage in mid-stretch and then just held off Dreamscometrue, the 2-1 second choice under Angel Arroyo, by a short neck to win a $50,000 starter allowance Friday at Aqueduct. He completed the six-furlong distance in 1: Michelle Nevin trains Swell, a son of Langfuhr out of Beijio by Dr. Blum who was bred by Empire Equines. Zilla Racing Stable claimed Swell for $40,000 when he finished sixth in a grass race at Belmont on May 9 th. Swell didn t make his first start for his new connections until December 3 rd, when he finished a game second by a half-length at 7-2 odds. Ortiz set up Swell in second behind 3-1 Cort and Gabriel Saez. Cort led Swell by two lengths through a quick :22.64 opening quarter-mile. Swell whittled away at the lead heading into the far

6 turn, then took over at the top of the stretch after a :45.68 half-mile. Swell opened a two-length advantage, then was all out to hold off Dreamscometrue. There was a gap of seven lengths back to 3-1 Roman Rival in third. New York-bred Ant and Bee was another length back in fourth at 33-1 odds. Swell is now two for nine on dirt with two seconds and a third. He s also raced twice on turf and has combined earnings of more than $100,000. Tri County Stables idle six-year-old New York-bred, the homebred mare Bi Light of Day, shadowed front-running New York-bred Enduring Touch for three-quarters of a mile then shot past her in mid-stretch under apprentice Eric Cancel to win a one-mile $34,000 conditional $25,000 claimer by a length and three-quarters at 15-1 odds in a field of six. Jademarie, the 3-2 favorite under Angel Arroyo, rallied to finish second, a length ahead of 9-2 Benny s Diamond. Enduring Touch, who was stretching out from six furlongs to eight under Kendrick Carmouche, was a distant fourth at 4-1 odds. John Hertler trains Bi Light of Day, a daughter of Five Star Day out of Lady Bi Bi by Lord Avie who was making her first start since October 28 th, when she was second at 8-1 odds in the same company with Cancel aboard for the first time on a sloppy track. Breaking from the outside post Friday, Bi Light of Day got away second as Enduring Touch broke immediately in front. Enduring Touch quickly opened a three-length lead through a :24.62 quarter, then stretched the margin to 3 ½ by running a half-mile in : But Bi Light of Day narrowed the gap heading into the far turn and, after three-quarters in 1:13.58, took the lead. She won handily in a final time of 1: Bi Light of Day improved her dirt record to two for 14 with three seconds and two thirds. She also has one second and one third from 17 turf tries, for combined earnings of more than $125,000. Manuel Tobio s four-year-old gray New York-bred filly Midnight Champagne won her second straight race Friday, taking a $20,000 open $10,000 claimer by nearly two lengths as the evenmoney favorite under Cornelio Velasquez in a field of seven. She completed the six-furlong distance in 1: Jaime Rodriguez, who finished second on 9-2 Panfila, claimed foul against the winner, but the stewards let the original order of finish stand. Michael Miceli trains Midnight Champagne, a daughter of Noonmark out of Crystal Sweet by Holy Bull who was bred by Hidden Lake Farm. Tobio claimed Midnight Champagne for $20,000 when she finished seventh at Saratoga on August 14 th. In her first three starts, Midnight Champagne finished fifth in a $25,000 claimer and a close third in a conditional $14,000 claimer before dropping to $10,000 and winning by nearly five lengths at 2-5 odds on December 18 th.

7 Breaking from the outside Friday, Midnight Champagne took a half-length lead on the outside of Panfila through a :23.80 first quarter. Midnight Champagne continued to lead by less than a length on the outside of Panfila through a half-mile in :47.24 before clearing her and switching to the rail. The head-on replay showed that Midnight Champagne did drift over in front of Panfila, but she appeared to be clear of her when she did. Midnight Champagne then opened up a threelength lead on Panfila, but Panfila was switched to the outside and closed a bit of ground while finishing a well-clear second, 6 ¼ lengths ahead of 12-1 Rock Show, who edged 9-5 Star of the Forest by a head for third. Midnight Champagne is now four for 13 on dirt with one second, four thirds and earnings of more than $115,000. In Friday s finale, a 5 ½-furlong $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer for three-yearold fillies, Our Sugar Bear Stable s Love You Babe, the 8-5 favorite in a field of 12 and ridden by Jose Ortiz, edged first-time starter Baronet, who went off at 18-1 odds under seven-pound apprentice Katie Davis, by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1: That gave Ortiz his third winner for the day. Front-running Show Giant, who was adding blinkers and went off at 3-1 odds under apprentice Harry Hernandez, finished third, nearly three lengths behind Baronet. For Later, who was part of a 5-1 entry, finished fourth, three-quarters of a length behind Show Giant. Bruce Brown trains Love You Babe, a daughter of Not For Love out of Queen Cat by Mountain Cat who was bred by Saratoga Glen Farm and sold for $27,500 as a two-year-old in April Love You Babe was making her third dirt start. Love You Babe was fourth early as Show Giant took the field through a fast first quarter in :22.61, prompted by 11-1 Champagne Therapy. Show Giant put away Champagne Therapy and opened a three-length lead after a half-mile in :46.92, before Baronet and Love You Baby rallied in tandem two- and three-wide, respectively. Both went by Show Giant, with Love You Babe winning narrowly. Love You Babe now has a win and a second from three dirt starts. She s also raced three times on grass and has earned over $30,000. Blithely Noses Court Dancer in Allowance Thriller Thursday at Aqueduct Two classy five-year-old mares, William Parsons and David Howe s homebred Blithely and Michael Dubb s Court Dancer, put on a heck of a show in a $65,000 New York-bred allowance Thursday at Aqueduct, with Blithely, ridden by Junior Alvarado, winning by a nose on the outside of front-running Court Dancer and Angel Arroyo. She completed the six-furlong distance in a sharp 1:10.80.

8 Willet rallied to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind Court Dancer while a length and a quarter ahead of Make the Moment. Sheriffa finished fifth, another half-length back. Though there were only five mares in the race, each had won more than $200,000 in her career and they had combined earnings of more than $2 million. Bettors sent Blithely off at 4-1 odds, Court Dancer and Willet each went off at odds of 2-1, Make the Moment was 8-1 and Sheriffa was 5-2. This was a two-horse race the entire way. Breaking from the two post, Court Dancer took a narrow lead over Blithely, who broke from the three. Court Dancer led Blithely by a neck after an opening quarter in :23.43, then by a halflength after a half-mile in : The two mares went head-to-head all the way to the finish line, neither one giving an inch. In the nose-bob finish, Blithely prevailed. Mark Hennig trains Blithely, a lightly raced daughter of Exchange Rate out of Merryland Monroe by Allen s Prospect. Blithely is now five for 12 in her career, with three seconds, two thirds and more than $250,000 in earnings. Passed in mid-stretch by first-time starter Adrestia, Harry Landry s striking four-year-old homebred gray mare Irish Heroine gamely came again and drew away under apprentice rider Eric Cancel, winning a $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight by a length and threequarters. Sent off at 1-2 odds in the field of six, she won in a final time of 1: Edward Barker trains Irish Heroine, a daughter of Street Hero out of Irish Ridge by Cactus Bridge who was co-bred by Mrs. Harry Landry. Originally trained by Michael Dilger, Irish Heroine started her career by finishing a close second in a maiden special weight at Saratoga and a solid third as the 5-2 favorite in a $141,000 New York-bred stakes at Finger Lakes on September 6, Irish Heroine didn t return to the races for more than 15 months. With Barker now training her, Irish Heroine roared home six-wide to finish third by a half-length at 2-1 odds with Cancel riding for the first time. She was pounded down at the betting windows Thursday. Adrestia, ridden by Jose Ortiz, was the 2-1 second choice. Breaking from the outside, Irish Heroine took the lead immediately. Adrestia advanced from third into second, three-quarters of a length behind Irish Heroine through a :23.57 first quarter. Adrestia drew closer after a half-mile in :47.13 and then drew even with the favorite. Adrestia pushed a head in front of Irish Heroine in mid-stretch, but Irish Heroine responded immediately and regained the lead. She then started to draw away, winning comfortably. Adrestia finished

9 second, 6 ¼ lengths ahead of 8-1 Rice and Beans. Redemption Queen, a 55-1 firster who broke slowly, finished fourth, 2 ¾ lengths behind Rice and Beans. Irish Heroine now has a win, a second and a pair of thirds from four starts, with earnings of more than $65,000. In Thursday s opener, a six-furlong $41,000 New York-bred maiden claimer for three-year-old fillies, Paradise Farm Corp. s Carysfort Reef, the 1-5 favorite in a field of six under Irad Ortiz, Jr., wore down front-running Big Band Benny in mid-stretch and went on to a 2 ¼-length victory in a final time of 1: Dr. Luber s Kiss, a new gelding sent off at 26-1 odds under Jackie Davis, rallied to finish second, 2 ¼ lengths clear of Big Band Benny, the 5-2 second choice ridden by Manuel Franco. Monhill Farm bred Carysfort Reef, a son of Freud out of Clear Punch by Pembroke who sold for $60,000 as a two-year-old in May After finishing ninth in his debut, he was dropped into maiden claimers, finishing third once and a close second twice, all three times as the favorite. He was claimed in two of them, for $40,000 initially on November 20, then again in his last start by Paradise Farm Corp. and trainer Steve Asmussen, when he finished second by a half-length with Ortiz aboard for the first time on December 5. Departing from the rail Thursday, Ortiz settled Carysfort Reef in third behind Big Band Benny and Whiskey Neat, an 8-1 firster ridden by Cornelio Velasquez. Big Band Benny led by a length after an opening quarter in : Heading into the far turn, Ortiz squeezed Carysfort Reef in between a tiring Whiskey Neat on the outside and Big Band Benny on the rail. After a half-mile in :47.27, Carysfort Reef put the pressure on the frontrunner, who held on until mid-stretch before Cary fort Reef took over. Carysfort Reef now has a win, two seconds and a third from five starts, for earnings of more than $40,000. In a roughly run finale Thursday, Angel Arroyo rallied Twice Worthy Stable and Christine Tesoriero s first-time starter Mystical Song, a four-year-old gelding who went off at 85-1 odds, on the inside of front-running Rich Dalone, who went off at 2-1 odds under Kendrick Carmouche, to win a six-furlong $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer by two lengths. Down Town Kitty, another firster who went off at 30-1 odds, was third, a length behind Rich Dalone. Bear Clause finished fourth, another two lengths back, at 9-2 odds. At the start, Memory Keeper, ridden by Jose Ortiz, went to his knees from the four post and was clobbered by Freedom Seven, who made a right-hand turn at the start. Memory Keeper then tossed Ortiz. There was an inquiry after the race, but no action was taken as none of the top four finishers were involved.

10 Antonio Arriaga trains Mystical Song, a son of Pleasantly Perfect out of Lady Jove by Lord Carson who was bred by Ken Sherman and Tesoriero Stable. Breaking from the nine post in a field of 10, Rich Dalone took the early lead under Kendrick Carmouche, with Mystical Song also getting away well. After a half-mile in :46.90, Mystical Song rallied on the front-runner s inside and went right on by.