N HONORING T N US I HE 20 JOI 13 new york-bred dIvISIONal CHaMPIONS aT THE NEw YORk THOROUGHbREd bREEdERS aNNUal awaRdS baNqUET

TUESdaY, aPRIl 1, 2014 SaRaTOGa NaTIONal GOlf ClUb SaRaTOGa SPRINGS, NEw YORk

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3 A MESSAGE FROM THE NYTB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR very year on this special night we take time out to celebrate the biggest racetrack success stories of the New York Thoroughbred breeding pro- gram. EAs we have come to expect in recent years, New York-breds competed suc- cessfully at the highest levels of our sport in 2013. Last year, New York-breds won 17 graded stakes from coast to coast, led by Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks win- ner Discreet Marq and Grade 1 Frizette winner Artemis Agrotera. In all New York-breds won 30 open-company stakes races. Our program also reached a long overdue milestone in 2013 when Grade 2 Marathon winner London Bridge became the first New York-bred to win a race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Last year saw the inaugural Big Apple Showcase at Belmont, an all-New York-bred card featuring seven stakes races. This new Showcase Day drew na- tional attention to our program the week before the running of the Belmont Stakes and reaffirmed the importance of New York-breds to the NYRA racing program. The event will have an even higher profile in 2014, as NYRA stages its first $8 million Belmont Stakes Day, the second richest on the North Amer- ican racing calendar behind only Breeders’ Cup Saturday. While New York-breds generated positive press all year long on the racetrack, breeders had other reasons to celebrate. In 2013, New York-breds earned unprecedented awards from the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund. Breeders’ awards increased 18 percent, stallion owners’ awards rose 26 percent and open company owners’ awards were up 48 percent. At auction, total New York-bred yearling sales skyrocketed 82 percent. For the second year in a row New York reported an increase in both the mare population and number of foals born in 2013. The New York breeding program is flourishing by any measure. Tonight 47 deserving and accomplished nominees, representing nearly as many breeders, are under consid- eration for 10 divisional championships (with an 11th, the steeplechase crown, already decided). In the mix are 14 graded stakes winners of 17 graded stakes and 26 multiple stakes winners in all. Fourteen of the nominees are homebreds. Often one standout emerges as the clear-cut frontrunner for New York-bred Horse of the Year, but several individuals had accomplishments in 2013 that make them worthy of the honor. As we review the nominees in each division and honor the champions tonight, every breeder in this room should feel proud of the individual and collective accomplishments of the best regional breeding program in the country.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey A. Cannizzo Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.

4 NY THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry R. Ostrager – President

Thomas J. Gallo III – Vice President

Vivien Malloy – Secretary/Treasurer Jerry Bilinski Mallory Mort

Chester Broman Joanne Nielsen

Lois Engel Suzie O’Cain

Michael Lischin Chris Purdy

Directors Emeritus John Nerud, Paul A. Schosberg

Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director New York Thoroughbred Breeders 57 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 587-0777. www.nytbreeders.org

NY BREEDING & DEVELOPMENT FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Sample, Gaming Commissioner Chair, NYS Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund

Richard Ball, Commissioner, NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets

Jeffrey A. Cannizzo, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.

John A. Crotty, Gaming Commissioner

John Graziano Jr., Breeder • Edward Kelly, Breeder

Joseph G. McMahon, Breeder • Sen. Howard C. Nolan Jr., Breeder

John J. Poklemba, Gaming Commissioner • Todd R. Snyder, Gaming Commissioner

Dr. William B. Wilmot, Breeder

Tracy Egan, Executive Director New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund Corp. 1 Broadway Center, Suite 601, Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 395-5492. www.nybreds.com 5 ORDER OF EVENTS WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Jeffrey A. Cannizzo, NYTB Executive Director

DINNER

PRESENTATION OF AWARDS , Master of Ceremonies

AWARDS CATEGORIES New York-Bred Champion Two-Year-Old Filly New York-Bred Champion Two-Year-Old Male New York-Bred Champion Three-Year-Old Filly New York-Bred Champion Three-Year-Old Male New York-Bred Champion Turf Female New York-Bred Champion Turf Male New York-Bred Champion Female Sprinter New York-Bred Champion Male Sprinter New York-Bred Champion Older Female New York-Bred Champion Older Male New York-Bred Champion Steeplechase Horse New York-Bred Horse of the Year New York-Bred Broodmare of the Year New York-Bred Trainer of the Year New York-Bred Jockey of the Year New York Breeder of the Year

Awards Dinner Program produced by ST Publishing, the team behind The Saratoga Special and thisishorseracing.com Articles by Joe Clancy, Sean Clancy, Tom Law and Catlyn Spivey. Photos by Coglianese/NYRA Photos unless otherwise noted. ST Publishing, Inc. (410) 392-5867 • www.thisishorseracing.com

6 ABOUT OUR EMCEE

ichard Migliore is currently a broadcast analyst for The New York Racing Association, Inc. and works as an analyst on The Jockey Club Tour on Fox rac- ing series on Fox Sports 1. Known best for a stellar career as a jockey, Migliore won more than 4,400 races over a career spanning three decades. RMigliore, who was born in 1964 and grew up on Long Island, got a job on a horse farm near his home and decided he was going to be a jockey at age 12. He began riding in 1980, and in 1981 won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top apprentice with 298 victories. Twice the leading rider in New York – in 1981 and 1985 – Migliore won or tied as leading rider at 10 different NYRA meets, most recently taking the 2005 Aqueduct spring meet. A fixture on the NYRA circuit, Migliore announced his retirement on June 2, 2010. “The Mig,” as he was known, rode 4,450 winners and the earners of more than $160 mil- lion in purses. Some of his biggest victories came later in his career, taking his first Breeders’ Cup race in 2008 aboard Turf Sprint winner Desert Code, and in 2009 capturing the Grade 1 Gazelle and Grade 1 Test aboard Flashing. In all, Migliore won 362 stakes, including 25 Grade 1 races.

7 TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY FINALISTS Artemis Agrotera B. f., Roman Ruler—Indy Glory, A.P. Indy. Breeder/Owner: Chester and Mary Broman. Trainer: Mike Hushion. 2013 record: 3-2-0-0; $402,000. 2013 stakes: Frizette (G1).

rtemis Agrotera possessed nearly all the tools to get her connections enamored and her rivals envious from the moment she walked into trainer Mike Hushion’s barn on the backstretch. AOne glance is all that was needed to realize the Roman Ruler filly had all the tools – looks, athleticism, pedigree (by a grandson of Mr. Prospector out of an A.P. Indy mare) and plenty of rev in her engine – that lead to success. Word traveled fast, it always does, and she wasn’t even 1-2 when she blasted six state-bred rivals in a maiden going 6 furlongs half- way through the Saratoga meet. “We liked her a lot from the beginning,” said Hushion, who Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in 2001. trains the homebred out of the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Indy Her first two foals, Time Squared and Submerge, were stakes- Glory for Chester and Mary Broman. “She was so big that we ques- placed, and two others were winners racing for the Chestertown, tioned whether she would be a good 2-year-old. She’s got a ped- N.Y., couple. igree to go long and it wasn’t until we took her over there in the The Frizette win earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fil- afternoon that we were sure about what we’ve got. lies, where she finished fifth. More Grade 1 stakes starts are on tap “We were pretty confident going over,” Hushion said. “We didn’t for Artemis Agrotera, who wintered in Florida and got going with know she’d be a Grade 1 horse, but we liked her.” a few short breezes in early March at Palm Meadows. Artemis Agrotera turned into a Grade 1 horse about two months “Long-term it’s Grade Ones,” Hushion said of plans for the filly later when she won the Frizette at Belmont. in 2014. “Immediately we’ve got nothing picked out for sure. We’re She also became the first stakes winner from six foals to race out just going to see. Once I get a couple halves into her I’ll nose around of Indy Glory, a Broman-bred stakes winner who was second in the a little bit. We’ll let her bring us to the races.”

Flipcup B. f., Milwaukee Brew—Dream Affair, Touch Gold. Breeder/Owner: Team Penney Racing. Trainers: George Weaver, Brian Lynch. 2013 record: 4-3-0-1; $131,159. 2013 stakes: East View.

ong before Flipcup made her first appearance in a mid-Sep- tember maiden race on the Polytrack at Woodbine for trainer Brian Lynch, George Weaver had already had his eye on the bay filly. L“I looked at her as yearling at the sale and she didn’t bring what the owners wanted so they kept her,” Weaver said of the daughter of Milwaukee Brew, who was cataloged but withdrawn from the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred sale of New York-bred yearlings in 2012. “She was originally supposed to come to New York, but she was also eligible for the Ontario-sired series, so when it came time to ship to the track they thought that was something that she would be good at and the competition would be easier.” “She did well in Canada and they decided they wanted to send Flipcup found the competition to her liking in Toronto and she her to New York to take advantage of her New York-bred status,” won her first two starts by open lengths. She was third in the South Weaver said. “Even though we had her for a short time I was always Ocean Stakes in late November before joining Weaver’s New York- familiar with her and followed her. She’s always done things pretty based stable in December. easy and she’s a nice filly.” The East View in late December marked her return to the Em- Flipcup was foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham and is pire State and while a showdown with fellow champion 2-year- the first stakes winner out of the unraced Dream Affair, who traces old filly nominee Miss Narcissist never materialized – because to the prolific and successful producer Battle Creek Girl. that rival was scratched following a starting gate incident – Flip- Dream Affair, the dam of two other winners, is the dam of cup left a lasting impression again with a 4 1/2-length win as the a yearling filly by Giant Surprise and was bred in 2013 to Sim- favorite. mard.

8 97 TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY FINALISTS Miss Narcissist B. f. by Freud—Mighty Good, Good and Tough. Breeder: Tony Grey. Owner: Acqua Nova Stable, Winter Park Partners and Linda Rice. Trainer: Linda Rice. 2013 record: 4-3-0-0, $224,100. 2013 stakes: Joseph A. Gimma, New York Stallion Series.

bit on the small side and not carrying too much weight as she went through the rigors of the auction process, Miss Narcissist physically blended in easily with the 249 other juveniles on the Maryland State Fairgrounds last May. ASave one significant exception. Seventeen juveniles breezed 3 furlongs around the tight turn and into the stretch of Timonium’s 5-furlong racetrack before the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training. None were as fast as Miss Narcissist. Miss Narcissist’s first start didn’t go well – she finished fifth as None were even as close to as fast as Miss Narcissist. the favorite in a Saratoga maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs – but she Miss Narcissist zipped 3 furlongs in :33 3/5, catching the eye of didn’t lose again the rest of the year. She broke her maiden by the trainer Linda Rice as she watched in the stands. A few days later the end of Saratoga, then added the Joseph A. Gimma on New York bay daughter of leading New York sire Freud was hammered down Showcase Day and the New York Stallion Series in late November. for $97,000. A few weeks later the speedy filly was in Rice’s care and The East View in late December looked like hers for the taking, less than three months later was embarking on a campaign that saw but she was scratched following an incident in the starting gate that her shine on one of the state’s biggest stages. left jockey Junior Alvarado with a broken ankle. “She did nothing but gain weight and flourish since she arrived “That was very disappointing and we felt bad for Junior, break- from the Maryland sale,” said Rice, who sold an interest in the filly ing his ankle,” Rice said. “Aside from that she’s been a really nice to Acqua Nova Stable and Winter Park Partners. “I was very happy filly. She was difficult, kind of a high-strung and difficult filly to with that. I’ve had a lot of luck with Freud as a stallion. That was manage, but she’s done very well since. I’m looking forward to a attractive for me as well.” good season with her this year as well.”

10 11 TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE FINALISTS Empire Dreams Dk. b. or br. c., Patriot Act—Ascended Dreams, Thunder Gulch. Breeder: Pegasus Dream Stable. Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds. Trainer: Tom Albertrani. 2013 record: 5-2-2-0, $173,500. 2013 stakes: New York Stallion Series.

erry Finley and Tom Albertrani were talking a few days be- fore the 2013 Saratoga meet opened when the subject came around to Empire Dreams. TThe son of Patriot Act showed up in Albertrani’s barn about three months earlier, fresh from the OBS April 2-year-olds in train- ing sale. He brought $35,000, an amount Finley felt was reasonable and “well worth the investment” when he considered the colt’s up- side. So Finley can be excused a bit for being caught slightly by sur- prise when Albertrani suggested that Empire Dreams would be ready not only for Saratoga but early Saratoga. Not bad for one that might have fallen through the cracks at the “Tom Albertrani, he’s not a guy who usually runs them very ear- OBS sale. ly at Saratoga,” Finley said. “So it was a pleasant surprise when we “Jimmy Crupi sold him and he was just kind of a plain horse,” were talking one morning and he said, ‘You know, I have him fit Finley said. “The sale was very strong and I had a pretty good sense enough to run early in the meet.’ It’s always nice to run a 2-year-old that he might get overlooked. And he did get overlooked. Crupi early in the meet, especially nice when they’re a New York-bred. He had sold some nice horses at the first couple of sales and he was showed enough that we thought we’d have a shot with him.” owned by a guy who was getting out of the business, so it was one Empire Dreams finished fourth that day, the only time he was of those things that I knew he wasn’t going to have a real aggressive worse than second in five starts on the year. reserve. He broke his maiden in his third start and then capped his ju- “He looked like a nice, athletic kind of tidy horse. He turned out venile campaign with a stakes placing and a win in the New York to be all right. Hopefully he takes a step forward and can be an even Stallion Series at Aqueduct. better 3-year-old.”

Marvin’s Miracle Gr. or ro. c. Cosmonaut—Idle Gossip, Western Expression. Breeder: Flying Zee Stables. Owner: Bacon Barn. Trainer: Juan Coronel. 2013 race record: 5-1-2-1; $100,000.

uan “Manny” Coronel remembers the day he first set his eyes on Marvin’s Miracle like it was yesterday. The day was fairly typical for the late winter and early spring Jin Florida, nice weather and a busy schedule looking at young horses, checking in with others rehabbing and gearing up for the coming campaign and networking. “We bought him for Mr. Sanford [Bacon] and were down in Oc- ala going to a few different farms,” Coronel said. “This particular farm, the owner’s name is Steve Venosa and he’s trained for Mr. walking with the hotwalker in the barn and I loved him. Every mo- Sanford. We looked at three babies there. The first time I saw this ment I spent that day watching him I loved him even more.” horse galloping I told Mr. Sanford, ‘This is the horse, I love him.’ ” A deal was eventually struck, Bacon bought the colt and Coro- Coronel, who started working with horses at a young age in his nel got him later that spring. Marvin’s Miracle continued to prog- native Argentina and former assistant to Angel Penna Jr. and Jim ress and broke his maiden second time out going 1 1/16 miles on Bond, liked what he saw in the charcoal gray son of Cosmonaut. turf at Saratoga. Grass was always in the cards for Marvin’s Miracle Venosa liked him, too, enough to pay $62,000 for the colt about and he added a couple stakes placings later in the summer and fall seven months earlier at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga preferred New in Saratoga’s Grade 2 With Anticipation against open company and York-bred yearling sale. the Virgo Libra at Belmont against fellow state-breds. “Most babies . . . they like to play around, look around at ev- “He ran so huge in the Grade 2,” Coronel said. “We knew then erything,” Coronel said. “This baby, he headed to the track and he he had the talent and the fight. At one point at the eighth pole it didn’t pay attention to nobody. The only thing he paid attention to looked like maybe he wasn’t going to win but finish second. Then was the track. Very focused. at the end he got a little tired. But again, after the race he ran so well “We watched him after he came back from training, cooled out, we felt like we won the race.” 12 Divisional Nominee from First Crop!

MARVIN'S MIRACLE Cosmonaut —Idle Gossip , by Western Expression At 2, 2013 5 starts 1-2-1 $100,000 2ND VIRGO LIBRA S. 3RD WITH ANTICIPATION S.-G2 Congratulations to: Breeder: Flying Zee Stables , NY Owner: Bacon Barn Trainer: Juan M. Coronel COSMONAUT Lemon Drop Kid - Cosmic Fire, by Capote | $5,000 live foal

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13 TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE FINALISTS Samraat Dk. b or b. c. Noble Causeway—Little Indian Girl, Indian Charlie. Breeder/Owner: My Meadowview Farm. Trainer: Rick Violette Jr. 2013 record: 3-3-0-0; $133,200. 2013 stakes: Damon Runyon Stakes.

ong before he was a major player on the 2014 Triple Crown trail and even before he capped his juvenile season with an emphatic win in the Damon Runyon Stakes, Samraat showed himself as a colt with talent who treaded the fine Lline between professional and immature. Samraat walked into trainer Rick Violette’s barn at Belmont Park in early July and immediately made a meaningful impression. The good ones usually do. He trained like a colt with a promis- ing future. Other times he got a little rambunctious. Not bad, but enough that his trainer still made a point to remember nearly eight months later. bred 2-year-old – he quickly made up for lost time. He broke his “We knew he could run a little bit,” Violette said a few days be- maiden four days after New York Showcase day and added an al- fore Samraat won his fifth straight in Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Gotham lowance win a month later. March 1. “He’s got some chronic shins that I have to deal with and Then he did something big. Really big. Less than two weeks be- was a little on the nervous side, kind of wound up and it took him a fore 2013 came to a close and in one of the final stakes of the year in little while to chill. You can still fire him up a little bit. New York, Samraat showed how good he was and hinted at prom- “In the stall he’s a gentleman, in the barn he’s a gentleman and ise for the year ahead. even in the paddock, when we put the tack on him and walk him “I’d say tepid dreams so to speak,” Violette said of what he and around, he’s very cool. On game day he does put his game face on. owner/breeder Leonard Riggio were left with after Samraat won He’s very much professional.” the Damon Runyon Stakes by 16 3/4 lengths without the touch of Samraat got more and more professional as the days wore on Jose Ortiz’s whip. “The Damon Runyon was quite impressive and and even though he got a later start than many of his contempo- yeah, you start thinking [about the Triple Crown] but we knew he raries – including the three other finalists for champion New York- had to step up significantly into open company.”

Wired Bryan Gr. or ro. c. Stormy Atlantic—Red Melody, Runaway Groom. Breeder: Anstu Farm. Owner: Anstu Stables. Trainer: Michael Dilger. 2013 record: 6-4-1-0; $537,474. 2013 stakes: Sanford (G2), Bertram F. Bongard, N.Y. Breeders’ Futurity.

he people involved with the inner workings of Stuart and Anita Subotnick’s Anstu Stables were hopeful. Mike Dilg- er was hopeful, too, not to mention confident and opti- mistic. Three ever-lasting emotions in the world of racing, Tespecially when it comes to 2-year-olds. In Wired Bryan’s case, the hope, confidence and optimism were pointed in the right direction. Wired Bryan delivered on the aspi- rations in 2013, winning four of six, including the Grade 2 Sanford and capping the season with emphatic victories over fellow New York-breds in rich stakes. But back to all that hope, confidence and optimism; where did it come from anyway? ma Training Track. Wired Bryan arrived in Barn 56 in May, made Anstu’s was easily justified. They bred the gray colt, mating the a quick impression that bolstered what Dilger heard from Anstu’s Florida-based Stormy Atlantic with their Runaway Groom mare people about his talents. What you hear and what you see are still Red Melody, who won two races carrying the stable’s black and two very different things for a trainer, new to his trade or not. white colors and was stakes placed late in her 4-year-old season. “Until you get up here and start to train them a little bit you just “His mother obviously was a talented runner for Anstu,” Dilg- don’t know,” Dilger said. er said, a few days before the Sanford. “They were hopeful, as any Everyone now knows what Wired Bryan was capable of in 2013. breeder is with a 2-year-old in March. Hopeful. But he had done He went from a maiden victory going 5 furlongs in :56.64, to win- everything right and he was one they liked.” ning the Sanford, to finishing a gutsy second by a nose to Corfu in Dilger, a graduate of the Darley Flying Start program and a sev- the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, to bouncing back from a loss in the en-year assistant to Todd Pletcher, took out his license in January Grade 1 Hopeful to winning back-to-back starts in the New York and set up shop for the spring and summer at Saratoga’s Oklaho- Breeders’ Futurity and Bertram F. Bongard to cap the season. 14 NOBLE CAUSEWAY

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15 THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY FINALISTS Discreet Marq Gr. or r. f., Discreet Cat—To Marquet, Marquetry. Breeder/Owner: Patricia Generazio. Trainer: , Jane Cibelli. 2013 record: 8-4-3-1; $657,500. 2013 stakes: Del Mar Oaks (G1), Sands Point (G2), Pebbles, Eventail.

atricia and Frank Generazio admit they weren’t quite sure what type of talent they had even after their homebred Dis- creet Marq made a successful start to her racing career. The gray filly gave some inclination of her talents, win- Pning going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass in her second start at Sara- toga and winning and placing in small stakes in New York in the fall of her 2-year-old year. The owners still weren’t totally sure, even after a couple more stakes-placings in South Florida to start 2013. Discreet Marq thrived at Payson and back in her native New “She got a break after those races. We normally stop on our grass York. She went from a useful stakes-caliber filly to a leader in the horses during the winter so we sent her to Ocala, just to give her a 3-year-old filly grass division, winning the Grade 2 Sands Point in rest,” said Patricia Generazio, who bred the filly out of the family’s late May, Eventail for state-breds in July and the Grade 1 Del Mar Marquetry mare To Marquet. “Frank said to me one day, ‘I think Oaks in mid-August. She nearly won two other Grade 1s, finishing this filly is better than we realize. In order to get the best out of her second in the Garden City at Belmont and Matriarch at Hollywood Christophe Clement should train her.’ before and after a victory in the Pebbles at Belmont. “So Frank took a ride out there one morning, and when he ran The mating that produced Discreet Marq was born from the into him, Christophe said, ‘Where is that gray filly of yours?’ Frank Generazios longtime friendship with Joyce Robsham and her late said, ‘As a matter of fact I came up here to talk to you about her. husband E. Paul Robsham, who bred and raced Grade 1 winner She’s in Ocala, I just put her back in training and I wanted to see if Discreet Cat. To Marquet, gray like her Grade 1-winning daughter, you would like to train her.’ ” was moved to New York to get out of the bright sunshine Gener- The next day Discreet Marq, who raced for Jim Ryserson at 2 azio said was bothering the mare and Discreet Marq was her first and Jane Cibelli for her first two starts at 3, made the short van ride foal born in the state. To Marquet produced full-brothers in 2013 from Ocala to Payson Park. and 2014 and is booked to Ghostzapper for 2014.

Effie Trinket Dk. b. or br. f. Freud—Maya’s Note, Editor’s Note. Breeder: McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. Owner: Patsy Symons Trainer: Rick Violette Jr. 2013 record: 7-4-2-1, $368,628. 2013 stakes: Diamondrella, John Hettinger, Ticonderoga.

he torch was passed out on the turf one morning at Belmont Park in the fall of 2012. The thing is, nobody realized it at the time. TGitchee Goomie, a graded stakes winner with earnings ap- proaching $700,000 as her career and 5-year-old campaign wound down, and promising 2-year-old stakes winner Effie Trinket just completed a workout on the turf. Patsy Symons owned and Rick Violette trained the pair. Effie Trinket got the better of her older ninth in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo and a fourth in the Chelsea Flower stablemate that morning, giving every indication she was ready that Violette chalked up to fall turf with a bit of give in the ground to take the torch and run through the stakes ranks the same way – and she hasn’t done anything similar since. Gitchee Goomie did for years. Effie Trinket showed what she could do in 2013, rattling off four The turf work that day came not far removed from Effie Trinket wins in seven starts and ending the season with a hard-luck second winning twice on the dirt at Saratoga, a maiden and the Aristie in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs. Stakes. Simply put, she was Gitchee Goomie-esque. “She breezed well enough on the dirt to certainly run her there,” “She’s a really cool filly and had some big shoes to fill since we Violette said earlier this year as he prepared Effie Trinket for her sold Gitchee Goomie that fall,” Violette said. “Gitchee was really seasonal debut. “Then after those two dirt starts I breezed her on good to us, made some $600,000 and was a graded stakes winner. the turf, once at Belmont and once at Aqueduct. She actually out- They’re the same type of filly in that every time you led her over breezed Gitchee Goomie that fall on the turf and ran her twice on there she’d give her best for you. the turf and she was really, really disappointing.” “We’ve been very, very fortunate. And Effie’s kind of accom- The losses were the worst efforts of Effie Trinket’s career – a plished more than Gitchee did at this stage of the game.” 16 Of the nominees sired by NY stallions, 79% were bred by Sequel Stallions!

Congratulations to the Sequel Breeders who are nominated to the New york Bred Championships: Aliyuee Ben J Stable, Berkshire Stud and Waterville Lake Stables Limited, Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman, Howard Nolan Jr., Joemar Racing Stables, McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, My Meadowview and Tony Grey Follow The Leaders!

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17 THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY FINALISTS Lovely Syn B. f., Freud–Lemon Drop’s Love, Lemon Drop Kid. Breeder/Owner: Joemar Racing Stables. Trainer: Dominick Schettino. 2013 record: 4-4-0-0; $202,200. 2013 stakes: New York Stallion Series, Bouwerie.

he came. She went. Lovely Syn started four times. And won four times. Then retired. Bred and owned by Joemar Stable, Lovely Syn burst on the Sscene with a facile win in her debut, a 6-length win in an Aque- duct maiden. The daughter of Freud backed that up with another comfortable win a month later. Trainer Dominick Schettino teed up the New York Stallion Series Stakes for her next start and she Drop’s Love produced multiple winners Lemon Tiger and Mighty- won again, this time in a 9 ½-length waltz. A month later, she did it lover before Lovely Syn. The family will continue as Lovely Syn is again with a 10 ¼-length score in the Bouwerie. in foal to Uncle Mo. As fast as the match was lit, it was snuffed, when she fractured “It’s tough. You’re on top of the world one day and you get a a sesamoid in her left foreleg during a half-mile workout over phone call the next day saying she broke down,” said Michael Pa- Belmont’s main track. Lovely Syn began her career in March and risi. “I didn’t expect her to race that well, you hype yourself up and called her career in June. then you get deflated, but that’s the game. I’ve been in the harness Owner Michael Parisi’s grandfather started Joemar Stable, game my whole life and then I’ve had Thoroughbreds. That’s the naming it after Parisi’s father, Joe, and his aunt, Marie. Originally game. We were lucky to save her. Now, I look forward to her foals.” a Standardbred operation, Joe Parisi branched out to Thorough- Lovely Syn is one of five nominees by Freud, Giant’s Causeway’s breds and that approach continues into the third generation with full-brother who stands at Sequel Stallions New York. The five Michael Parisi. nominees are the most for any stallion in 2013. Freud was New Parisi’s father bought Lovely Syn’s dam, Lemon Drop’s Love, as York’s leading sire for the seventh consecutive time in 2013 and Jo- a yearling for $125,000. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid made emar continued its support of the state’s resident stallions. Lemon one start for Schettino and Joe Parisi. Sent off the favorite against Drop’s Love is the dam of a now 2-year-old Stonesider colt named five debuting 2-year-old fillies, she faded to finish fourth. Lemon Lemon Iceking and a yearling filly by Bluegrass Cat. Unbelievable Dream Ch. f., by Kitalpha–A Perfect Weekend, Stephen Got Even. Breeder/Owner: Sure Thing Stables. Trainer: Barclay Tagg. 2013 record: 8-2-0-1, $110,535. 2013 stakes: Appalachian (G3).

hat’s unbelievable.” Try it. You’ll say the same thing. Watch the replay of the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland last spring. Right at the moment when you’re thinking announcer Kurt Becker is calling the wrong horse, Un- Tbelievable Dream and jockey Joel Rosario flash from last to first, passing six horses inside the eighth pole. “That’s unbelievable.” The unintentional pun rolls off the tongue.

Sure Thing Stable’s Wonderful Dream earned her first stakes win Keeneland Association in the 3-year-old turf stakes. Trained by Barclay Tagg, the daugh- lievable Dream returned for her 4-year-old season, finishing eighth ter of Kitalpha made her career debut in November 2012, upset- and second in allowance races at Gulfstream Park in February. ting a maiden turf race at Aqueduct. The homebred filly lunged at Founded by McGuire, Mike Springer, Roland Dancy, Pat Do- the start before rallying from last to win by a cool 3 lengths. Tagg nahue and Scott Latimer, Sure Thing won its first race in 2005 and shipped her south to Gulfstream Park, where she finished fifth in owned Unbelievable Dream’s unraced dam, A Perfect Weekend. a turf allowance before winning her next start. That victory set her “We are a small operation and can’t afford the bigger stallion up for her foray to Keeneland to earn her first line of black type. fees so we bred her to Kitalpha because he was a full-brother to After the Appalachian, Tagg put it simply, “She likes to win.” Kingmambo,” McGuire said. “We loved the match and decided to Rosario wasn’t sure until late. “I was really worried,” he said. “I go with that and got Unbelievable Dream.” said, ‘Oh my God.’ But Barclay said that’s how she wanted to run.” A Perfect Weekend died early last year but produced a now Owner Mike McGuire watched in hope. “We were hoping – 2-year-old filly by Sun King. Named Weekend Hottie; she was due praying – she would kick into gear,” he said. “It was an unbelievable to ship to Tagg this spring. run, it was amazing. I’ve watched it a million times since then.” “We expect big things but you never know until they hit the The chestnut filly failed to win again but produced quality ef- track,” McGuire said. “We’re having fun with it. It’s tough but it’s forts all year, including a third in the Riskaverse at Saratoga. Unbe- worth all the heartache.” 18 The New York Thoroughbred breeder of The Year award

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19 14-500-086 JD NYTB of the Year Award Prog Ad_7.5x10_BW.indd 1 2/28/14 2:11 PM THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE FINALISTS Amberjack Ch. c., by Indygo Shiner—Free as Tristan, Crafty Friend Breeder: Dixie Farm. Owner: Peachtree Stable. Trainer: Mike Hushion. 2013 record: 5-3-1-0, $239,115. 2013 stakes: Mike Lee, New York Derby.

ust as the old saying goes, good looks only go so far in life. Thankfully for Peachtree Stable and trainer Mike Hushion, Amberjack’s got plenty of talent to compliment his powerful and stylish chestnut physique. JAmberjack has always made a good impression. He was the second most expensive yearling sold at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred sale of New York-bred yearlings, bringing $185,000, a price nearly four times the sale’s average at a market showing a significant uptick. And he was plenty attractive on the day he arrived in New York from Florida early last year. His return to his native state came “His works were extremely solid, very impressive,” Hushion shortly after the one time he didn’t look so great, competing in a said. “He always had impressive gallop outs, so there was a lot to two-turn optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park and not being like about him.” able to finish. There was even more when he returned with an allowance win Amberjack was sent to New York by Peachtree’s John Fort short- that set him up for back-to-back victories in the first two legs of the ly after that race, landing in Hushion’s barn at Belmont Park to start Big Apple Triple – the Mike Lee at Belmont and New York Derby over. at Finger Lakes. “Handsome horse,” was how Hushion remembers Amberjack’s He finished second in Saratoga’s Albany, giving five pounds to early days in his shedrow. “John Fort picks out good-looking hors- the winner, in his final start of the season. es, so I wasn’t surprised by that.” “It wasn’t his A race … he was probably feeling the effects of the During four months away from the races with Hushion, Am- first two,” Hushion said. “The campaign may have gotten to him a berjack trained as well as he looked and that’s when things got ex- little bit. He didn’t show it in the mornings but that happens quite citing. often.”

Comandante B. g., Frost Giant–Slew Motion, Slew Gin Fizz. Breeders: Andrew Cohen, IEAH Stable & Partners. Owner: Three Diamonds Farm. Trainers: Mike Trombetta, Todd Pletcher. 2013 record: 10-3-1-2; $204,968. 2013 stakes: New York Stallion Series, Alex M. Robb.

n early November, Comandante looked like anything but a fi- nalist for a New York-bred championship. Owned by Three Diamonds Farm, the son of Frost Giant had lost his first seven starts in 2013 while switching from trainer Mike Trombetta to ITodd Pletcher. On Nov. 3, everything changed. Comandante won a New York-bred optional claimer. It was a routine win. He returned 20 days later and captured the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct and a month later made it three bay gelding pegged closer with a second against New York-breds in a row when routing the Alex M. Robb at Aqueduct. The three- before returning to the winner’s circle with an easy score at Aque- race skein salvaged his year and placed him on the ballot. duct in November. Comandante was purchased for $35,000 at OBS April 2012. He The story had been rewritten. Jordan Wycoff, son of owners began his career with three consecutive seconds before breaking his Kirk and Debra Wycoff, explained the transformation. maiden at Aqueduct in December. He returned a month later to fin- “We’ve had issues with horses being at Fair Hill, where it’s such a ish third in his 3-year-old debut before Trombetta freshened him. quiet environment and then making the transition to the racetrack, In five starts, he had failed to miss the board. A promising 3-year- especially when they’re high strung. That was a problem with him,” old season awaited. Four months later, he returned to finish eighth, Wycoff said. “Once we got him to Todd’s, and we did geld him right then eighth again, then 13th before dropping to the $35,000 claiming before the 35 race, and was training in and around horses, large ranks at Saratoga where he finished fourth. Three Diamonds moved packs of eight or 10, instead of Fair Hill where it’s real quiet, that him to Pletcher after Saratoga and things started to improve. really helped him get more used to the racetrack.” Comandante battled on the lead before finishing third in an op- Comandante lost his first two starts of 2014 and is being fresh- tional claimer against open company at Belmont in September. The ened at Fair Hill Equine Therapy. 20 G1 Winner THE LUMBER GUY

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21 THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE FINALISTS Escapefromreality B. g. Read the Footnotes—Queen of the City, Medaglia d’Oro. Breeder: Brooklyn Boyz Stables. Owner: MeB Racing Stables and Brooklyn Boyz Stables. Trainer: Dominick Schettino. 2013 record: 4-2-1-0, $168,534. 2013 stakes: Albany.

wners and trainers are quickly forgiven for getting caught up in the moment when a talented 3-year-old shows promise in a graded stakes in the first few months of the year. OEscapefromreality got Mary Ellen and Anthony Bonomo Sr. and trainer Dominick Schettino thinking big, maybe not Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes big, but pretty large nonethe- less after a strong second behind the highly regarded Revolution- ary in the Grade 3 Withers going two turns early last February at An early July allowance race was pegged for a comeback and the Aqueduct. Albany Stakes the ultimate goal. They took the next step, entered the Read the Footnotes gelding “We wanted enough time between races,” Schettino said. “That’s in the Grade 3 Gotham and took some lumps, finishing ninth after what we learned in the Gotham.” a rough trip. Lessons learned, the connections of Escapefromreality celebrat- Schettino blamed the Gotham loss on timing and decided to ed in the Saratoga winner’s circle when they denied Amberjack a take his time before bringing Escapefromreality back. sweep of the Big Apple Triple with a two-length victory. “I ran him back too soon in the Gotham, he ran hard coming “He’s a versatile horse, he’ll sprint, he’ll go long, he doesn’t have off a sprint race into a mile-and-a-sixteenth, he breezed good, but to be on the lead, he can come from off the pace, he’ll do anything sometimes they fool you,” Schettino said. you ask him to do,” Schettino said. The Triple Crown dream gone, Escapefromreality’s connections Escapefromreality was foaled at Meadow View Thoroughbreds learned from the Gotham and put the homebred gelding who races in Canajoharie and is the first foal out of the unraced Medaglia for Anthony Bonomo Sr.’s Brooklyn Boyz Stables and Mary Ellen’s d’Oro mare Queen of the City. She is also the dam of an unraced MeB Racing Stables, away for a bit. Utopia filly Utopias Irish Rose.

London Bridge B. c. by Arch—Kindness, Indian Ridge. Breeder: Patricia Purdy. Owner: Waratah Thoroughbreds. Trainer: Jo Hughes. 2013 record: 8-4-0-1; $307,969. 2013 stakes: Breeders’ Cup Marathon.

he early editions of the Breeders’ Cup – the ones true to the vision of John Gaines on a single day at a different track from year to year – coincided with the latter stages of dental school for the husband and wife duo of Chris Tand Patricia Purdy. They watched back then with interest, aspiring to either get

there one day or breed a horse good enough to compete in one of Breeders’ Cup American racing’s signature events. London Bridge was always meant to be a good one. He’s out of A few days after the 2013 edition wrapped and thousands of the Indian Ridge mare Kindness, who was bred by Queen Elizabeth miles away from the couple’s Ivy League Farm in Ithaca, Patricia II and purchased at the 2005 Tattersalls December mares sale in Purdy basked in the glow of what transpired as London Bridge 2005. He brought $130,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale, rumbled home to win the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. a price nearly double the sale’s average. Although he never raced on The victory by the Arch colt was a landmark for the New York dirt in eight starts before the 1 3/4-mile Marathon, it didn’t show Thoroughbred breeding program and a reward for Purdy. and he won by a length. “We sacrificed plenty of vacations for doing things related to “He was always a nice looking individual, not exceptionally ro- the farm,” Purdy said, reflecting on what it meant to breed the first bust but conformationally very nice,” Purdy said. New York-bred Breeders’ Cup winner. “Oh well, at times it does Described by Purdy as “a bit of a quirky breeder” who needs come back to you and wins like that say, ‘You’ve done a good job.’ ” a year off between breeding seasons, Kindness is the dam of two London Bridge certainly wasn’t the first product of the small other foals. The now 3-year-old Ghostzapper filly Letterfromamer- breeding operation to do a good job. They also bred and raced ica, co-bred by Adena Springs, was a winner at 2 in Ireland and Grade 1 winner Carson Hollow and Sharp Humor, a Grade 2 win- started her 3-year-old campaign at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. ner who ran in Barbaro’s Kentucky Derby. Kindness was not bred in 2012 and bred to Paddy O’Prado in 2013. 22 CELEBRATING NEW YORK-BREDS With World-Renowned Sales and Racing

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23 THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE FINALIST Notacatbutallama B. c., by Harlan’s Holiday–Self Rising, Hansel. Breeder: Happy Hill Farm. Owner: Repole Stable. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. 2013 record: 9-3-2-2; $376,334. 2013 stakes: Hill Prince (G3), Solar Splendor, Hall of Fame (G3).

onathan Thomas walked to the winner’s circle after Notacat- butallama won the Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga and shook hands with his old boss. “Hey, I haven’t been in the winner’s circle for a long time…” Thomas said. JTodd Pletcher shook Thomas’ hand, thanked him and welcomed him back aboard the mother ship. A former assistant to Pletcher, Thomas purchased Notacatbutallama as a 2-year-old for Repole Stable. The son of Harlan’s Holiday notched his sixth career victory in the Hall of Fame, his third and final win of 2013. Originally scheduled for the turf, the $200,000 stakes switched in the Jamaica, third in the Mohawk and second in the Duluth. to once around the sloppy main track at Saratoga and Notacatbu- Notacatbutallama faced New York-breds just once in 2013, fin- tallama showed his versatility with another professional effort. ishing behind older horses King Kreesa and Lubash. Thomas bought Notacatbutallama for $105,000 at OBS April. “He’s a tough little horse. He’s right on the verge of being a really Bred by Happy Hill Farm, the efficient-moving colt broke his maiden top class turf horse, so sometimes you hate to run one like that on on the turf at Saratoga. He finished his 2-year-old season with three an off track, but I thought he actually worked really well on the wins, including the Super Mario and Incurable Optimist stakes. dirt,” Pletcher said after the Hall of Fame. “We did it once before In 2013, Notacatbutallama tried the Jerome, a Grade 2 stakes on in the Damon Runyon, he finished second and ran a winning race. the dirt in January, before freshening for a spring turf campaign. My biggest concern is that he was really developing into a top-class He finished third in the James Murphy at Pimlico in May, then won 3-year-old on the turf, so you hate to mess with that, but at the the Grade 3 Hill Prince and the Solar Splendor at Belmont in July. same time, he’s not one of those horses that’s hopeless on the dirt.” The Hall of Fame made it three in a row. Back on turf, he closed Prepping for his 4-year-old campaign, Notacatbutallama has 2013 with consistent efforts, finishing second in the Saranac, fourth posted three workouts at Crupi’s New Castle Farm this winter.

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25 14-500-087 JD My Adv-Blue-NYTB_8.5x10_bw.indd 1 3/4/14 1:56 PM THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE FINALIST West Hills Giant Ch. c., by Frost Giant—Outtawesthills, Take Me Out. Breeder: Robert Castelli. Owner: Long Island Racing Stables, Sunrise Stables and Gina Bentivegna. Trainer: John Terranova II. 2013 record: 10-2-2-2; $261,996. 2013 stakes: New York Stallion Series Spectacular Bid, New York Stallion Series Cab Calloway.

hrow a challenge in the direction of West Hills Giant, just about any challenge, and the son of Frost Giant will be up for it. TDirt, turf, synthetic, fast tracks, sloppy tracks, inner tracks, long rest, short rest . . . well, you get the picture. He didn’t always win under those scenarios mind you, but he did twice and finished sec- ond and third on four other occasions in 10 starts in 2013. Simply put, West Hills Giant earns his way and the $261,996 he banked last year buys plenty of grain and hay. “He’s a nice sweet-moving horse, a throwback kind of horse,” West Hills Giant’s rugged constitution came into play when he said John Terranova, who trains West Hills Giant for the partner- registered the second of two stakes wins of the season in Saratoga’s ship of Long Island Racing Stables, Sunrise Stables and Gina Ben- Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes. tivegna. “He just does it all, he likes to run and is a clean-legged Coming off just 18 days rest following a non-threatening third horse. in the New York Derby in the slop at Finger Lakes, West Hills Giant “And he eats everything. Always has. Ever since he was a 2-year- was second under the wire in the Cab Calloway. He tried to make old he ate more than any 2-year-old that I had [in 2012]. I had to a move up the inside and got squeezed by unofficial winner Orino. keep feeding him. He just kept growing. One good thing about him West Hills Giant was put up, giving him a stakes double to go is he’s never out of the tub, so he’s able to recover quickly. He’s got a with an earlier win going 7 furlongs on the grass in the New York good solid constitution inside of him.” Stallion Spectacular Bid Stakes at Belmont Park.

26 27 TURF FEMALE FINALISTS Dayattthespa Ch. f., City Zip—M’Lady Doc, Doc’s Leader. Breeders: Castellare DiCracchiolo Stable, Cracchiolo and Goldsher. Owners: Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon & Bradley Thoroughbreds. Trainer: Chad Brown. 2013 record: 5-2-2-0; $259,000. 2013 stakes: Yaddo, You Go West Girl.

scary incident in the Grade 1 Matriarch back in November 2012 left the connections of Dayatthespa with a tough deci- sion heading into the 2013 season. AThe daughter of City Zip had already won three graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, and New York-bred crowns as champion 3-year-old filly and turf female. She appeared to try and jump the rail going around the first turn, nearly lost jockey Javier Castellano and suffered a deep gash to her right front leg requiring six stitches. Retirement would have been Belmont and the Yaddo at Saratoga with a good second behind justified, especially considering the filly’s touch-and-go recovery. Laughing in the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth in between Fortunately the injury proved mainly superficial and the own- those wins. Dayatthespa not only made it back to Grade 1 compa- ership quartet of Jerry Frankel, Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and ny but to the same race where she suffered the injury a year earlier, Pete Bradley made the decision to bring Dayatthespa back in 2013. finishing fourth in the 2013 Matriarch. The decision paid off. “She’s been a rock solid horse for us at age 2, 3 and 4, which is “She luckily came back from that scary incident in the Matri- rare,” Brown said. “And I think she has some good races in her at arch, where she could have been retired,” Brown said. “I was proud age 5 before she starts her second career as a broodmare. of the way she bounced back and made it all the way back to Grade “She was actually scheduled to race again as a 5-year-old, al- 1 competition with a narrow loss in the First Lady at Keeneland. though she’s still on a break at the farm. She should be OK to race “We didn’t get to run her as much as we wanted to in 2013, but at least part of the year as a 5-year-old. So we hope she comes back the fact that she made it back at all was remarkable.” and tacks a few more stakes wins on her resume before we retire Dayatthespa won twice in 2013, taking an overnight stakes at her. I’m looking forward to getting her back in our stable.”

Discreet Marq Gr. or r. f., Discreet Cat—To Marquet, Marquetry. Breeder/Owner: Patricia Generazio. Trainer: Christophe Clement, Jane Cibelli. 2013 record: 8-4-3-1; $657,500. 2013 stakes: Del Mar Oaks (G1), Sands Point (G2), Pebbles, Eventail.

atricia and Frank Generazio admit they weren’t quite sure what type of talent they had even after their homebred Dis- creet Marq made a successful start to her racing career. The gray filly gave some inclination of her talents, win- Pning going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass in her second start at Sara- toga and winning and placing in small stakes in New York in the fall of her 2-year-old year. The owners still weren’t totally sure, even after a couple more stakes-placings in South Florida to start 2013. Discreet Marq thrived at Payson and back in her native New “She got a break after those races. We normally stop on our grass York. She went from a useful stakes-caliber filly to a leader in the horses during the winter so we sent her to Ocala, just to give her a 3-year-old filly grass division, winning the Grade 2 Sands Point in rest,” said Patricia Generazio, who bred the filly out of the family’s late May, Eventail for state-breds in July and the Grade 1 Del Mar Marquetry mare To Marquet. “Frank said to me one day, ‘I think Oaks in mid-August. She nearly won two other Grade 1s, finishing this filly is better than we realize. In order to get the best out of her second in the Garden City at Belmont and Matriarch at Hollywood Christophe Clement should train her.’ before and after a victory in the Pebbles at Belmont. “So Frank took a ride out there one morning, and when he ran The mating that produced Discreet Marq was born from the into him, Christophe said, ‘Where is that gray filly of yours?’ Frank Generazios longtime friendship with Joyce Robsham and her late said, ‘As a matter of fact I came up here to talk to you about her. husband E. Paul Robsham, who bred and raced Grade 1 winner She’s in Ocala, I just put her back in training and I wanted to see if Discreet Cat. To Marquet, gray like her Grade 1-winning daughter, you would like to train her.’ ” was moved to New York to get out of the bright sunshine Gener- The next day Discreet Marq, who raced for Jim Ryserson at 2 azio said was bothering the mare and Discreet Marq was her first and Jane Cibelli for her first two starts at 3, made the short van ride foal born in the state. To Marquet produced full-brothers in 2013 from Ocala to Payson Park. and 2014 and is booked to Ghostzapper for 2014. 28 TURF FEMALE FINALIST Effie Trinket Dk. b. or br. f. Freud—Maya’s Note, Editor’s Note. Breeder: McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. Owner: Patsy Symons Trainer: Rick Violette Jr. 2013 record: 7-4-2-1, $368,628. 2013 stakes: Diamondrella, John Hettinger, Ticonderoga.

he torch was passed out on the turf one morning at Belmont Park in the fall of 2012. The thing is, nobody realized it at the time. TGitchee Goomie, a graded stakes winner with earnings ap- proaching $700,000 as her career and 5-year-old campaign wound down, and promising 2-year-old stakes winner Effie Trinket just completed a workout on the turf. Patsy Symons owned and Rick Violette trained the pair. Effie Trinket got the better of her older ninth in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo and a fourth in the Chelsea Flower stablemate that morning, giving every indication she was ready that Violette chalked up to fall turf with a bit of give in the ground to take the torch and run through the stakes ranks the same way – and she hasn’t done anything similar since. Gitchee Goomie did for years. Effie Trinket showed what she could do in 2013, rattling off four The turf work that day came not far removed from Effie Trinket wins in seven starts and ending the season with a hard-luck second winning twice on the dirt at Saratoga, a maiden and the Aristie in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs. Stakes. Simply put, she was Gitchee Goomie-esque. “She breezed well enough on the dirt to certainly run her there,” “She’s a really cool filly and had some big shoes to fill since we Violette said earlier this year as he prepared Effie Trinket for her sold Gitchee Goomie that fall,” Violette said. “Gitchee was really seasonal debut. “Then after those two dirt starts I breezed her on good to us, made some $600,000 and was a graded stakes winner. the turf, once at Belmont and once at Aqueduct. She actually out- They’re the same type of filly in that every time you led her over breezed Gitchee Goomie that fall on the turf and ran her twice on there she’d give her best for you. the turf and she was really, really disappointing.” “We’ve been very, very fortunate. And Effie’s kind of accom- The losses were the worst efforts of Effie Trinket’s career – a plished more than Gitchee did at this stage of the game.”

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3241 Pisgah Pike • Versailles, KY 40383

29 TURF FEMALE FINALISTS Hessonite Ch. m., 2008, Freud—Lakab, Manila. Breeders: Berkshire Stud and Waterville Lake Stables. Owners: William Punk Jr. and Philip DiLeo. Trainer: David Donk. 2013 record: 4-2-0-0; $166,334. 2013 stakes: Beaugay (G3), On The Bus.

ocal girl makes good. Such a headline comes out when the high school field hockey player signs a Division 1 letter of intent or when the luger from Lake Placid gets a medal at the Olympics. LThe statement fits Hessonite, too. The chestnut mare built a gaudy race record by winning half her 22 starts and earning more than $879,000 in four racing sea- sons. She was a graded stakes winner on the turf and a multiple New York-bred champion. When her racing career ended last year, she sold as a broodmare prospect for $750,000 at Fasig-Tipton in After closing 2012 with a win in the Ticonderoga Stakes at Bel- Kentucky. mont, her 2013 was typically superb – albeit brief. The now 6-year-old mare was a valuable addition to the brood- She opened with a triumph in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont mare band at Dattt Stable. Park in May. Two sub-par efforts, for her, followed in the Sheeps- It all started in 2008 at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, where head Bay and Dr. James Penny Memorial. Soft turf and a hot, tiring Hessonite was foaled and raised. Bred by Berkshire and Waterville ship to Parx Racing took some of the blame for the defeats but Hes- Lake Stable, she was purchased as a yearling for $27,000 at Keene- sonite went right back to winning with a score in Saratoga’s On The land September by Bill Punk. Trained for Punk and Philip DiLeo Bus Stakes on Opening Day at Saratoga. by David Donk, Hessonite broke her maiden in her second start As it turned out, that was her final race. Donk stopped with her, at 2, and then rolled right up to the biggest stages in the state in- and Hessonite (named for a type of garnet gemstone) was retired. cluding a memorable 2012 season where she won four stakes and She was part of a star-studded class of mares at Fasig-Tipton No- earned $441,000. vember and didn’t disappoint.

Inimitable Romanee Gr./ro. m., Maria’s Mon—Cellars Shiraz, Kissin Kris. Breeder: Gallagher’s Shiraz. Owner: Gallagher’s Stud. Trainer: H. Graham Motion. 2013 record: 7-1-2-3; $202,200. 2013 stakes: Long Island Handicap (G3).

he’s always right there. She’s always competitive and always runs her race. I think she just needs to get a little lucky. I’d like to be able to win one of those.” And thus trainer Graham Motion summed up Inimitable SRomanee, whose 13-start American career to that point had in- cluded nine seconds and thirds to go with a single win. The next day she was third in Saratoga’s Yaddo Stakes. The next month, she finished third (again) in the John Hettinger Stakes at Belmont Park and then an uncharacteristic eighth in the Ticond- eroga. Then she got hers. maybe she’d get a piece of a graded stakes,” said Gallagher’s Stud In her last start of 2013, Inimitable Romanee wired six others in farm manager Mallory Mort. “That’s why we entered in the Long the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap at Aqueduct in November. The Island. She looks like she’s found a niche.” daughter of Maria’s Mon, racing for Gallagher’s Stud, went wire- The half-sister to six-time English winner Classic Vintage comes to-wire that day to pull an upset at better than 28-1. The victory by the turf form naturally. Their dam, Cellars Shiraz, won 10 races ended an 11-race losing streak, rewarded the faith of Motion and and more than $700,000 – mostly on turf. Gallagher’s bought Cel- everyone at Gallagher’s Stud, and put her into the picture for New lars Shiraz at Keeneland in 2004. Inimitable Romanee was bred by a York-bred turf female of the year. partnership of Gallagher’s and five farm employees. At the Saratoga Jockey Chris DeCarlo put her on the lead in the Long Island, sale in 2009, Gallagher’s bought out the partnership for $210,000. and she enjoyed winning so much she made it two in a row with Inimitable Romanee began her racing career in England with another Grade 3 score in Gulfstream Park’s Stakes three starts for trainer Amanda Perrett, breaking her maiden at to start 2014. Bath before joining Motion’s barn in 2012. “She was running against some pretty nice New York-breds and Cellars Shiraz has a yearling colt by Giant’s Causeway and was after the Yaddo Graham said he wanted to stretch her out and that due to deliver a Kitten’s Joy foal in May. 30 TURF FEMALE FINALIST Unbelievable Dream Ch. f., by Kitalpha–A Perfect Weekend, Stephen Got Even. Breeder/Owner: Sure Thing Stables. Trainer: Barclay Tagg. 2013 record: 8-2-0-1, $110,535. 2013 stakes: Appalachian (G3).

hat’s unbelievable.” Try it. You’ll say the same thing. Watch the replay of the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland last spring. Right at the moment when you’re thinking announcer Kurt Becker is calling the wrong horse, Un- Tbelievable Dream and jockey Joel Rosario flash from last to first, passing six horses inside the eighth pole. “That’s unbelievable.” The unintentional pun rolls off the tongue.

Sure Thing Stable’s Wonderful Dream earned her first stakes win Keeneland Association in the 3-year-old turf stakes. Trained by Barclay Tagg, the daugh- lievable Dream returned for her 4-year-old season, finishing eighth ter of Kitalpha made her career debut in November 2012, upset- and second in allowance races at Gulfstream Park in February. ting a maiden turf race at Aqueduct. The homebred filly lunged at Founded by McGuire, Mike Springer, Roland Dancy, Pat Do- the start before rallying from last to win by a cool 3 lengths. Tagg nahue and Scott Latimer, Sure Thing won its first race in 2005 and shipped her south to Gulfstream Park, where she finished fifth in owned Unbelievable Dream’s unraced dam, A Perfect Weekend. a turf allowance before winning her next start. That victory set her “We are a small operation and can’t afford the bigger stallion up for her foray to Keeneland to earn her first line of black type. fees so we bred her to Kitalpha because he was a full-brother to After the Appalachian, Tagg put it simply, “She likes to win.” Kingmambo,” McGuire said. “We loved the match and decided to Rosario wasn’t sure until late. “I was really worried,” he said. “I go with that and got Unbelievable Dream.” said, ‘Oh my God.’ But Barclay said that’s how she wanted to run.” A Perfect Weekend died early last year but produced a now Owner Mike McGuire watched in hope. “We were hoping – 2-year-old filly by Sun King. Named Weekend Hottie; she was due praying – she would kick into gear,” he said. “It was an unbelievable to ship to Tagg this spring. run, it was amazing. I’ve watched it a million times since then.” “We expect big things but you never know until they hit the The chestnut filly failed to win again but produced quality ef- track,” McGuire said. “We’re having fun with it. It’s tough but it’s forts all year, including a third in the Riskaverse at Saratoga. Unbe- worth all the heartache.”

31 TURF MALE FINALISTS Hangover Kid B. h., Lemon Drop Kid—Absolute Patience, Rakeen. Breeder: Steve Taglienti. Owner: Four Tags Stable. Trainer: Jason Servis. 2013 record: 6-2-1-1, $241,850. 2013 stakes: West Point.

pecial moments in racing come in all shapes and sizes. Few are as big and bright as celebrating with a glass of cham- pagne in the trustees room at the oldest and most presti- gious racetrack in the country, with your parents on hand Sto help you toast a homebred stakes winner. And your first stakes winner, to boot. Such was the place Steve Taglienti found himself in halfway through Saratoga’s 2013 meet as Hangover Kid uncorked a pow- erful kick to run down Hear the Footsteps, Kharafa and Lubash in the West Point Stakes. Hangover Kid, a now 6-year-old by Lemon Drop Kid, was third ert and Christina. Bruce Grossman, Taglienti’s stable manager who in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park before the West handles many of the operation’s matings, co-bred Hangover Kid’s Point and a close second in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct to dam, the unraced Rakeen mare Absolute Patience. end the season. Those were good runs, but nothing compares to The decision to go to Lemon Drop Kid was all Taglienti and winning. the rewards, like the bubbly that day at Saratoga, were everlastingly “We couldn’t be any more happy with our first stakes win,” Ta- sweet. glienti, an owner for about 20 years, said after the West Point. “Ob- Absolute Patience is out of the Diesis mare I’m Harriet, whose first viously it’s the best meet of the year, the history that’s involved with foal was Grade 2 winner Who Did It and Run. She was co-bred by Saratoga and racing here, to have our first stakes win here is just a Grossman. I’m Harriet was sold, Absolute Patience stayed in the fold. dream come true. I’m just very proud and very emotional.” “Right now we have three,” Grossman said of the Four Tags Hangover Kid’s breakthrough win in the West Point was a big broodmare band. “It’s work. Breeding horses, everyone has their one for nearly everyone associated with the Four Tags Stable, own way. It takes me months of stewing, of weighing the pros and named by Taglienti for his four children Michael, Carolyn, Rob- cons of who to breed to.”

Kharafa B. g., Kitalpha—Exquisite Cassie, King of Kings. Breeder: High Meadow Farm. Owners: Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch. Trainer: Tim Hills. 2013 record: 7-3-2-1, $252,267. 2013 stakes: Ashley T. Cole, Three Coins Up.

im Hills didn’t know much about Kharafa when the 2-year-old walked in the barn. The trainer quickly noticed the gelding’s large, flat feet however, and recognized a po- tential affinity for racing on the turf. T“As a young horse he trained really well on the dirt, but I didn’t have much of a line on him,” Hills said. “His sire Kitalpha is pri- marily turf, but I ran him on the dirt first time out. He ran poorly because, in my opinion, he was just spinning his wheels on the dirt so we backed off of him and didn’t run him again until the fall on the grass. That was when we realized he was definitely a grass horse.” when he came back and won for his new connections.” Since then Kharafa has been on the board in 13 of his next 17 Kharafa was foaled at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, the fourth starts and become a multiple stakes winner. He won two stakes in foal out of the unraced Exquisite Cassie, a half-sister to multiple 2013, including the Three Coins Up to cap the season for new own- stakes-winning New York-bred Lovely Amanda. ers Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch. Kharafa is one of two divisional finalists sired by the Mr. Pros- Kharafa was previously campaigned by his breeder, Larry Du- pector stallion Kitalpha, who died of cancer in September 2012. rocher, who passed away in the spring. Kharafa continued run- Now 5, Kharafa is gearing up for his 2014 campaign at Gulfst- ning in the name of Durocher before being sold to Braverman ream Park. The Grade 3 Appleton Stakes was an initial target and and Pinch not long after winning the Ashley T. Cole in mid-Sep- one Hills hopes will be useful once Kharafa gets back to the North- tember. east. “Larry Durocher was the breeder and he was a wonderful man, “It will be a good prep for him to get going in the New York-bred so this horse is really close to my heart,” Hills said. “I was so happy series coming up this year,” Hills said. 32 Congratulations to the nominees! BLUEGRASS CAT D’ FUNNYBONE By Storm Cat $7,500 By D’wildcat $2,500 GIANT SURPRISE POMEROY By Giant’s Causeway $2,500 By Boundary $3,500 POSSE SAN PABLO By Silver Deputy $5,000 By Jump Start $2,500 SOARING EMPIRE TRINNIBERG By Empire Maker $3,500 By Teuflesberg $7,500

259 East Ave Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Phone: (518) 584-4900 Erin Robinson 859.421.7531 Lere Visagie 518.851.6616 5384 Route 9H-23, Hudson, New York 12534 Fax: (518) 584-9122 www.rockridgestud.com Email: [email protected]

Effie Trinket 2013 Turf Female finalist

Proud to be part of the New York-bred Program Where the “odds are ever in your favor!” Special thanks to Rick Viollete, Jr. and his awesome barn crew working together to make us look good every race day. – Patsy C. Symons Coglianese/NYRA Photo

33 TURF MALE FINALISTS King Kreesa Dk. b. or br. g. King Cugat—Storm’s Advance, Storm Creek. Breeder: Horse Partners. Owners: Gerald and Susan Kresa. Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart. 2013 record: 9-3-1-2; $413,000. 2013 stakes: Poker (G3), Mohawk, Kingston.

wo years removed from getting King Kreesa ready at Finger Lakes in Farmington, Jeremiah Englehart found himself in Hong Kong beneath the behemoth skyscrapers that ring Sha Tin racecourse. He was there to check on Tthe final preparations for the King Cugat gelding as he completed a successful season in the Longines Hong Kong Mile King Kreesa didn’t fare well, finishing 12th of 14, not altogether different from his fifth in his debut in an inner track maiden claim- er going 6 furlongs way back in March 2012. It’s what happened in between, and specifically from March to October 2013, that left a lasting impression. The Fourstardave gave Englehart the idea to try and avoid Wise “He was a horse that didn’t surprise me, but he’s gotten very Dan if they were to even contemplate the Breeders’ Cup, so King consistent,” said Englehart, who trains King Kreesa for Gerald and Kreesa tried the 12 furlongs of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. When Susan Kresa. “At the beginning of the year I really wasn’t expecting that didn’t work they faced New York-breds for the second time him to run that good. I thought he’d be a little short in the Apple- in 2013 and won for the second time, taking the Mohawk on New ton. I just remember all the speed in the race and how big he ran York Showcase Day. in that race. To this day that is still one of his most impressive races “We only had the two bad races last year, the Joe Hirsch, that in my eyes.” was just a trial to stay away from Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup King Kreesa was third in the Grade 3 Appleton, one of six appear- and to see if he wanted to go any further,” Englehart said. “And then ances and four wins or placings in graded stakes on the season. Anoth- the Hong Kong race, it might have hurt him not being on Lasix. He er that might have been his best was a non-win, a second to eventual didn’t show any signs of bleeding, but you never know how they’ll Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga. handle it when they’re coming off it.”

Lubash B. h., 2007, Freud—Nasty Cure, Cure the Blues. Breeder: Aliyuee Ben J Stable. Owner: Aliyu Ben J Stables. Trainer: Christophe Clement. 2013 record: 8-1-3-2; $209,500. 2013 stakes: Fort Marcy (G3).

ubash won a single race in 2013, but he made it count – triumphing in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park in May. The veteran ousted Bombaguia, King Kreesa and Real Solution in the $150,000 open stakes, digging in Llate to score by a half-length. And somewhere Arnold Lubasch smiled. Lubasch and Leonard Pivnick were childhood friends in New York City. They went to Yankee Stadium and Ebbett’s Field, attend- ed a Babe Ruth farewell ceremony. Lubasch grew up to write for the New York Times, covering the mafia beat among others. Pivnick grew up to success in real estate and the Thoroughbred business, of Freud broke his maiden for a $35,000 claiming tag as a 3-year- and named a horse for his old friend, even if the spelling is a little old in 2010. The bay won four more by the end of that season, in- off kilter. cluding three stakes. Since moving to Christophe Clement’s barn Pivnick went all the way to the Kentucky Derby with Meadow before the 2012 season, the turf specialist has run in nothing but Flight in 1994 and campaigned the stakes-placed mare Nasty Cure stakes with three wins, four seconds, two thirds and more than during the same time frame. Nasty Cure, a daughter of Cure the $433,000 in earnings. Blues, won five races and more than $153,000. Early in her career The 2013 campaign started in April with a second in the Dave as a broodmare, she produced full-brothers Netcong and Pine Stakes at Aqueduct. Next came the Fort Marcy. He lost his next six, Brook by Meadow Flight. They weren’t stars, but proved durable but was far from disgraced with placings in the Kingston, Ashley T. enough to make 87 and 80 starts respectively. Netcong won 10 Cole, Mohawk and Three Coins Up stakes. times and placed in a stakes. Pine Brook collected 13 victories over Now 7, Lubash has $698,879 in his career bankroll and is back nine seasons. for more in 2014, showing up on the worktab at Clement’s winter Their younger half-brother, Lubash, outdid them both. The son base at Payson Park in Florida. 34 TURF MALE FINALIST Notacatbutallama B. c., Harlan’s Holiday–Self Rising, Hansel. Breeder: Happy Hill Farm. Owner: Repole Stable. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. 2013 record: 9-3-2-2; $376,334. 2013 stakes: Hill Prince (G3), Solar Splendor, Hall of Fame (G3).

onathan Thomas walked to the winner’s circle after Notacat- butallama won the Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga and shook hands with his old boss. “Hey, I haven’t been in the winner’s circle for a long time…” Thomas said. JTodd Pletcher shook Thomas’ hand, thanked him and welcomed him back aboard the mother ship. A former assistant to Pletcher, Thomas purchased Notacatbutallama as a 2-year-old for Repole Stable. The son of Harlan’s Holiday notched his sixth career victory in the Hall of Fame, his third and final win of 2013. Originally scheduled for the turf, the $200,000 stakes switched in the Jamaica, third in the Mohawk and second in the Duluth. to once around the sloppy main track at Saratoga and Notacatbu- Notacatbutallama faced New York-breds just once in 2013, fin- tallama showed his versatility with another professional effort. ishing behind older horses King Kreesa and Lubash. Thomas bought Notacatbutallama for $105,000 at OBS April. “He’s a tough little horse. He’s right on the verge of being a really Bred by Happy Hill Farm, the efficient-moving colt broke his maiden top class turf horse, so sometimes you hate to run one like that on on the turf at Saratoga. He finished his 2-year-old season with three an off track, but I thought he actually worked really well on the wins, including the Super Mario and Incurable Optimist stakes. dirt,” Pletcher said after the Hall of Fame. “We did it once before In 2013, Notacatbutallama tried the Jerome, a Grade 2 stakes on in the Damon Runyon, he finished second and ran a winning race. the dirt in January, before freshening for a spring turf campaign. My biggest concern is that he was really developing into a top-class He finished third in the James Murphy at Pimlico in May, then won 3-year-old on the turf, so you hate to mess with that, but at the the Grade 3 Hill Prince and the Solar Splendor at Belmont in July. same time, he’s not one of those horses that’s hopeless on the dirt.” The Hall of Fame made it three in a row. Back on turf, he closed Prepping for his 4-year-old campaign, Notacatbutallama has 2013 with consistent efforts, finishing second in the Saranac, fourth posted three workouts at Crupi’s New Castle Farm this winter.

35 FEMALE SPRINTER FINALISTS Clear Pasaj Gr. or ro., f., Smoke Glacken—Saintly Scholar, Danzig. Breeder/Owner: Anjes Farm. Trainer: Bruce Levine. 2013 record: 7-3-4-0; $223,000. 2013 stakes: Dancing Renee, Lottsa Talc.

here are times when horses walk into a barn and carry with them a certain level of expectation. Some do everything with ease and you just hope it transfers to the races. TClear Pasaj, one of four nominees for champion New York-bred female sprinter, followed a different path. So much of a different path that trainer Bruce Levine thought little of the gray filly ini- tially. Levine eventually changed that way of thinking and said the Smoke Glacken filly’s gradual improvement and a change in surface were the keys to her jumping from the allowance ranks to stakes competition and ultimately a stakes winner. “In the beginning she was just all right,” Levine said of Clear nominee Willet in late July. Pasaj, owned and bred by Donald Schupak’s Anjes Farm. “We tried The now 5-year-old homebred for Anjes Farm got a much-de- her on the grass. I thought with the Danzig mare [Clear Pasaj is out served rest for the fall and winter, following a runner-up in the of Saintly Scholar, by Danzig] she would run well, but she didn’t. Union Avenue in late August. She recently resumed training in “We switched her to the dirt in her third start and she just got New York and Levine is gearing her up for a 2014 campaign. better a little bit at a time. She’s very consistent and she finally made “She will probably be ready around the end of April or begin- her way up to a stakes horse, but I never thought she was going to ning of May,” Levine said. “She likes Belmont and Saratoga so we be a stakes horse early on.” will probably point somewhere along those lines.” Since breaking her maiden at Saratoga Race Course in her Clear Pasaj was one of two winners and two stakes competitors fourth start during her 3-year-old campaign in 2012, Clear Pas- out of Saintly Scholar in 2013. She was also represented by the now aj has finished off the board only once since. She became a stakes 3-year-old Scat Daddy filly Daddy’s Lil Saint, a first-out winner in winner in June when she won the Dancing Renee in front-running late September for Anjes and Levine who finished sixth in the Jo- fashion and added Saratoga’s Lottsa Talc in a mild upset over fellow seph A. Gimma on New York Showcase Day.

Cluster of Stars B. f., Greeley’s Galaxy—Babyurthegreatest, Honour and Glory. Breeders: Michael McPoland and Sean Finn. Owner: Turtle Bird Stable. Trainer: Steve Asmussen 2013 record: 6-6-0-0; $519,600. 2013 stakes: Gallant Bloom (G2), Distaff (G2), Correction, Iroquois.

mall in stature, big on attitude. That was the gist of the as- sessment given Cluster of Stars by one of the people who spent plenty of time with the daughter of Greeley’s Galaxy during her spectacular racing career that stretched from SFebruary 2012 to October 2013. “She wasn’t without her issues, like most good racehorses are,” said Toby Sheets, Steve Assmusen’s New York-based assistant train- case Day and the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom over a field that included er. “She was the boss. She was little but she didn’t think she was Grade 1 winners Dance to Bristol and Dance Card. little. She was like 15.1 (hands), but had no idea about that. She was “We were a little disappointed we didn’t get to run in a Grade pretty sassy.” 1,” Sheets said then, lamenting about the win in the Gallant Bloom Cluster of Stars’ rivals found her plenty sassy, too, and the seven that came off a five-month layoff. “We beat some Grade 1 winners times they tried her they went home without a trip to the winner’s there. That was probably one of her best races. She never ran a bad circle. That spot was reserved for Cluster of Stars, including six race, so it’s very hard to say which was her best. She was just a joy times in 2013. to have in the barn. She was just a cool chick. They’re hard to find.” Collecting all those wins didn’t come easy though as Sheets and Cluster of Stars, the third foal and one of two winners out of his crew constantly worked through plaguing issues to get Cluster Babyurthegreatest, was foaled at Rockmount in Sauagerties. The of Stars to the races. Harvey Weinstein, who raced the now 5-year- broodmare prospect was purchased for $300,000 by Louise and old mare in the name of his Turtle Bird Stable, was patient, heed- Kiki Courtelis’ Town and Country Farms at the Fasig-Tipton Ken- ing the advice of Asmussen and Sheets that if they took their time tucky winter mixed sale in February. Town and Country said Clus- results would follow. Cluster of Stars won four stakes in 2013, in- ter of Stars was scheduled to be bred to Grade 1 winner Graydar cluding a career-ending score in the Iroquois on New York Show- this season. 36 FEMALE SPRINTER FINALIST Lovely Syn B. f., Freud–Lemon Drop’s Love, Lemon Drop Kid. Breeder/Owner: Joemar Racing Stables. Trainer: Dominick Schettino. 2013 record: 4-4-0-0; $202,200. 2013 stakes: New York Stallion Series, Bouwerie.

he came. She went. Lovely Syn started four times. And won four times. Then retired. Bred and owned by Joemar Stable, Lovely Syn burst on the Sscene with a facile win in her debut, a 6-length win in an Aque- duct maiden. The daughter of Freud backed that up with another comfortable win a month later. Trainer Dominick Schettino teed up the New York Stallion Series Stakes for her next start and she Drop’s Love produced multiple winners Lemon Tiger and Mighty- won again, this time in a 9 ½-length waltz. A month later, she did it lover before Lovely Syn. The family will continue as Lovely Syn is again with a 10 ¼-length score in the Bouwerie. in foal to Uncle Mo. As fast as the match was lit, it was snuffed, when she fractured “It’s tough. You’re on top of the world one day and you get a a sesamoid in her left foreleg during a half-mile workout over phone call the next day saying she broke down,” said Michael Pa- Belmont’s main track. Lovely Syn began her career in March and risi. “I didn’t expect her to race that well, you hype yourself up and called her career in June. then you get deflated, but that’s the game. I’ve been in the harness Owner Michael Parisi’s grandfather started Joemar Stable, game my whole life and then I’ve had Thoroughbreds. That’s the naming it after Parisi’s father, Joe, and his aunt, Marie. Originally game. We were lucky to save her. Now, I look forward to her foals.” a Standardbred operation, Joe Parisi branched out to Thorough- Lovely Syn is one of five nominees by Freud, Giant’s Causeway’s breds and that approach continues into the third generation with full-brother who stands at Sequel Stallions New York. The five Michael Parisi. nominees are the most for any stallion in 2013. Freud was New Parisi’s father bought Lovely Syn’s dam, Lemon Drop’s Love, as York’s leading sire for the seventh consecutive time in 2013 and Jo- a yearling for $125,000. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid made emar continued its support of the state’s resident stallions. Lemon one start for Schettino and Joe Parisi. Sent off the favorite against Drop’s Love is the dam of a now 2-year-old Stonesider colt named five debuting 2-year-old fillies, she faded to finish fourth. Lemon Lemon Iceking and a yearling filly by Bluegrass Cat.

Willet B. m., Jump Start—Katina K, Distinctive Pro. Breeder: Michael Martin. Owners: Jimmy Iselin, Charlotte Assoulin and Eli Gindi. Trainer: Jimmy Iselin. 2013 record: 7-3-2-0, $249,500. 2013 stakes: Union Avenue, Princess Dixie, Touch of Love.

immy Iselin has worked for some of the best trainers in history – Charlie Whittingham, and Jimmy Jones to name three – and acquired a good bit of knowledge through the years. JIselin always remembers Jones telling him, “Always keep your best horse under your eyes.” Iselin does just that with the now 6-year-old Jump Start mare Willet, keeping the best horse in his small seven-horse stable at Aqueduct. “Instead of sending her to Palm Meadows, Payson Park or some farm somewhere, I keep her right here,” he said over the winter. the rest is history. But she is very smart, she’s charismatic and she’s “Even if it’s like this and extreme conditions, because nobody has got that type of personality.” the interest of your horse like you do and nobody knows your horse That type of personality shows when Willet steps foot on the like you do. So if you send her to a beautiful farm, they might mean track. She’s only finished worse than third twice in 15 career starts well, but they just don’t have the instincts and they don’t have the and her three 2013 stakes wins give her four for her career. Head- same interests as you do.” ing to a 2014 campaign, she’s sitting just shy of $500,000 in career Iselin didn’t feel inclined to push Willet when she first arrived in earnings. his care, mainly due to her size. Bred by the late Michael Martin and foaled at Highcliff Farm in “She was a very large 2-year-old, so I thought ‘What was the Delanson, Willet is one of four winners out of Katina K. Bred to sense in rushing her?’ ” Iselin said. “So she made her 3-year-old Majestic Warrior in 2013, Katina K. is out of New York-bred Grade debut at Saratoga [in 2011] and just got beat on the wire at 11-1 and 3 winner Darlin Momma. 37 MALE SPRINTER FINALISTS Head Heart Hoof Gr. or r., g., Intidab—Trustees Gray, Flying Chevron. Breeders: Rhapsody Farm, Alan Alcon and Dora Alcon. Owners: Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Gary Aisquith & Scott Akman. Trainers: Rudy Rodriguez, Gustavo Rodriguez 2013 record: 7-2-0-2; $164,066 2013 stakes: Toboggan (G3), True and Blue.

ead Heart Hoof bounced around to and from quite a few barns in his first six seasons on the racetrack. Not until the Intidab gelding landed in the hands of Rudy Rodriguez, first in the summer of 2012 and later into H2013, did he really find his best stride. “He had some issues along the way, but he’s 8 years old,” Rodri- guez said earlier this year. “We got lucky to win some nice races February by David Jacobson and Drawing Away Stable. with him.” “We just lost him a couple weeks ago so it was a shame to lose The nice races included a starter stakes to start the 2013 sea- him, but we just put him where he could win and we lost him,” son, the aptly named True and Blue Stakes going 6 furlongs. True Rodriguez said. “We will miss him for sure.” and Blue made 113 starts from 1987 to 1993, including 16 graded Head Heart Hoof landed in the ownership group of Michael stakes tries. One of the races True and Blue started in three times Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Gary Aisquith and Scott Akman after but didn’t win – the Toboggan Handicap, from 1989 to 1991 – was he was claimed for $35,000 in January 2012. He ran a few times at the very same race Head Heart Hoof won in his second start of Aqueduct, then made some stops in the Mid-Atlantic. At the time 2013. he was claimed, Dubb thought he’d be a useful “two-other-than- Run under stakes conditions now, the Grade 3 Toboggan at 6 type” of horse that would fit well at Aqueduct, so he eventually sent furlongs was the first graded score for Head Heart Hoof. He was a him back to Rodriguez. close third in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap a month later, start- Head Heart Hoof, foaled at his co-breeders Rhapsody Farm, is ing a string of five losses to finish out the year. one of five winners out of Trustees Gray. The other winners include Despite the losses, Head Heart Hoof made an impression in Ro- Myrtle’s Gray, a stakes-placed winner with earnings of $186,209 driguez’s barn before he was claimed yet again for $30,000 in late through the end of 2013.

Palace B. c., City Zip—Receivership, End Sweep. Breeder: The Peter J. Callahan Revocable Trust. Owner: Antonino Miuccio. Trainer: Linda Rice. 2013 record: 8-4-3-0; $424,250. 2013 stakes: Fall Highweight (G3), Hudson, Chowder’s First.

alace fell to the turf, hard, in the late stages of his third career start and first outing on grass as a 2-year-old back in September 2012. He fell after a light bump with another ri- val backing through the field and fortunately popped right Pback up, essentially no worse for the wear. The son of City Zip was back in the entries a month later, this time for a $20,000 claiming tag and back on the main track. Linda Rice put in a claim slip for the colt, unnerved by the fall and with the confidence that Bill Mott and owner WinStar Farm wouldn’t send out one that was even slightly compromised. “Most of the City Zips like the grass and I did not allow [the Highweight – and a runner-up in the Gravesend. fall] to deter me,” Rice said of the colt she now trains for Antonino “He has been just a delight,” Rice said. “I trained his father Miuccio. “I really thought it was an isolated incident and that he and he was just a tremendous racehorse for me as well. Since we would run well on the grass down the road. claimed him we had a terrific year with him. Just a very nice horse “Of course there was a lot of skepticism, claiming a horse who and so much fun for my barn, my staff and his owner, Mr. Miuccio.” fell like that, but he got through it like a champ. He’s like his father, Foaled at Stone Bridge Farm in Gansevoort and raised in Flor- and can run on anything.” ida, Palace is one of three winners out of the seven-time winner Palace ran mostly on the main track during his 4-year-old sea- and $198,300-earner Receivership. She is the dam of a 2-year-old son, winning four of eight overall and finishing the season with Badge of Silver colt Wincoma, a yearling colt by Posse and was bred a string of three straight stakes wins – including the Grade 3 Fall to Pomeroy in 2013.

38 MALE SPRINTER FINALIST Saginaw B. g., Peruvian—Devilzene, Devil’s Bag. Breeder: Ted Taylor. Owner: Drawing Away Stable and David Jacobson. Trainer: David Jacobson. 2013 record: 6-5-0-0; $228,000. 2013 stakes: Affirmed Success, John Morrissey, Hollie Hughes, Compelling Word.

he story of Saginaw would not be complete without a chapter on his fatal breakdown that late August afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, yet the gelding’s tale isn’t domi- nated by that singular moment. TSaginaw’s narrative is one with many angles, most involving the son of Peruvian winning more than he lost, picking off stakes by the handful and showing tremendous courage, consistency and class. Saginaw won five straight before suffering injuries that cost him his life, in a starter allowance Aug. 30, including four stakes against fellow state-breds. The last of the five wins came in the John Morrissey at Saratoga, a race where he remarkably wasn’t the favorite. That role went to “Once he gets to galloping and breezing he’s all business,” train- fellow older male nominee Saratoga Snacks. No matter, Saginaw er and co-owner David Jacobson said at the time. “A lot of good got the job done again. horses use their energy then. They know it’s time to run. Not that Saginaw made a career of doing his job. He did his serious work they know; it’s just their instinct. He’s become a pro from instinct, in the afternoons, winning 21 of 41 overall, and didn’t draw heap- and again, it’s just like the top athletes. After a while it’s your in- ing amounts of enthusiasm in the mornings. stincts that make you scoop the ball off the turf. You don’t know to Before breezing for the final time before the Morrissey, Sagi- do it, you just do it.” naw was somewhere between bored and going through the mo- Foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Saginaw was tions. The intensity picked up during the breeze and revved up one of three winners and two stakes winners out of Devilzene. 10-fold by the time he went to the gate for the 6 1/2-furlong Mor- Devilzene produced a dead foal in 2011, no foal in 2012 and is now rissey. the dam of a yearling filly by Majestic Warrior.

39 143934-DenaliStud-half-NYTBprogram.indd 1 3/19/14 3:48 PM OLDER FEMALE FINALISTS Cluster of Stars B. f., Greeley’s Galaxy—Babyurthegreatest, Honour and Glory. Breeders: Michael McPoland and Sean Finn. Owner: Turtle Bird Stable. Trainer: Steve Asmussen 2013 record: 6-6-0-0; $519,600. 2013 stakes: Gallant Bloom (G2), Distaff (G2), Correction, Iroquois.

mall in stature, big on attitude. That was the gist of the as- sessment given Cluster of Stars by one of the people who spent plenty of time with the daughter of Greeley’s Galaxy during her spectacular racing career that stretched from SFebruary 2012 to October 2013. “She wasn’t without her issues, like most good racehorses are,” said Toby Sheets, Steve Assmusen’s New York-based assistant train- case Day and the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom over a field that included er. “She was the boss. She was little but she didn’t think she was Grade 1 winners Dance to Bristol and Dance Card. little. She was like 15.1 (hands), but had no idea about that. She was “We were a little disappointed we didn’t get to run in a Grade pretty sassy.” 1,” Sheets said then, lamenting about the win in the Gallant Bloom Cluster of Stars’ rivals found her plenty sassy, too, and the seven that came off a five-month layoff. “We beat some Grade 1 winners times they tried her they went home without a trip to the winner’s there. That was probably one of her best races. She never ran a bad circle. That spot was reserved for Cluster of Stars, including six race, so it’s very hard to say which was her best. She was just a joy times in 2013. to have in the barn. She was just a cool chick. They’re hard to find.” Collecting all those wins didn’t come easy though as Sheets and Cluster of Stars, the third foal and one of two winners out of his crew constantly worked through plaguing issues to get Cluster Babyurthegreatest, was foaled at Rockmount in Sauagerties. The of Stars to the races. Harvey Weinstein, who raced the now 5-year- broodmare prospect was purchased for $300,000 by Louise and old mare in the name of his Turtle Bird Stable, was patient, heed- Kiki Courtelis’ Town and Country Farms at the Fasig-Tipton Ken- ing the advice of Asmussen and Sheets that if they took their time tucky winter mixed sale in February. Town and Country said Clus- results would follow. Cluster of Stars won four stakes in 2013, in- ter of Stars was scheduled to be bred to Grade 1 winner Graydar cluding a career-ending score in the Iroquois on New York Show- this season.

Dayattthespa Ch. f., City Zip—M’Lady Doc, Doc’s Leader. Breeders: Castellare DiCracchiolo Stable, Cracchiolo and Goldsher. Owners: Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon & Bradley Thoroughbreds. Trainer: Chad Brown 2013 record: 5-2-2-0; $259,000. 2013 stakes: Yaddo, You Go West Girl.

scary incident in the Grade 1 Matriarch back in November 2012 left the connections of Dayatthespa with a tough deci- sion heading into the 2013 season. AThe daughter of City Zip had already won three graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, and New York-bred crowns as champion 3-year-old filly and turf female. She appeared to try and jump the rail going around the first turn, nearly lost jockey Javier Castellano and suffered a deep gash to her right front leg requiring six stitches. Retirement would have been Belmont and the Yaddo at Saratoga with a good second behind justified, especially considering the filly’s touch-and-go recovery. Laughing in the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth in between Fortunately the injury proved mainly superficial and the own- those wins. Dayatthespa not only made it back to Grade 1 compa- ership quartet of Jerry Frankel, Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and ny but to the same race where she suffered the injury a year earlier, Pete Bradley made the decision to bring Dayatthespa back in 2013. finishing fourth in the 2013 Matriarch. The decision paid off. “She’s been a rock solid horse for us at age 2, 3 and 4, which is “She luckily came back from that scary incident in the Matri- rare,” Brown said. “And I think she has some good races in her at arch, where she could have been retired,” Brown said. “I was proud age 5 before she starts her second career as a broodmare. of the way she bounced back and made it all the way back to Grade “She was actually scheduled to race again as a 5-year-old, al- 1 competition with a narrow loss in the First Lady at Keeneland. though she’s still on a break at the farm. She should be OK to race “We didn’t get to run her as much as we wanted to in 2013, but at least part of the year as a 5-year-old. So we hope she comes back the fact that she made it back at all was remarkable.” and tacks a few more stakes wins on her resume before we retire Dayatthespa won twice in 2013, taking an overnight stakes at her. I’m looking forward to getting her back in our stable.” 40 Congratulations 2013 New York-Bred Champion nominees Dayatthespa and Palace

DaYatthesPa Turf Female, Older Female nominee Graduate of our consignment at 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale Champion NY-Bred Turf Female in 2012

PalaCe Male Sprinter, Older Male nominee Foaled at Stone Bridge for longtime client and breeder Peter J. Callahan Three-time stakes winner in 2013

Stone Bridge Farm is a full-service breeding and training operation located just 10 miles from Saratoga Race Course.

Year-round operation on 425 acres in three separate locations Sherman Lane training FaciLity Purinton road Broodmare FaciLity 245 Purinton Road, Gansevoort, NY 12831 cLark road Broodmare & yearLing comPLex Office (518) 788-6741 [email protected] Jeffrey Tucker - Owner Sue Vitro - Farm Manager Sara Dunham - Farm Trainer Ron Mattia - Facilities Manager

41 OLDER FEMALE FINALISTS Hessonite Ch. m., 2008, Freud—Lakab, Manila. Breeders: Berkshire Stud and Waterville Lake Stables. Owners: William Punk Jr. and Philip DiLeo. Trainer: David Donk. 2013 record: 4-2-0-0; $166,334. 2013 stakes: Beaugay (G3), On The Bus.

ocal girl makes good. Such a headline comes out when the high school field hockey player signs a Division 1 letter of intent or when the luger from Lake Placid gets a medal at the Olympics. LThe statement fits Hessonite, too. The chestnut mare built a gaudy race record by winning half her 22 starts and earning more than $879,000 in four racing sea- sons. She was a graded stakes winner on the turf and a multiple New York-bred champion. When her racing career ended last year, she sold as a broodmare prospect for $750,000 at Fasig-Tipton in After closing 2012 with a win in the Ticonderoga Stakes at Bel- Kentucky. mont, her 2013 was typically superb – albeit brief. The now 6-year-old mare was a valuable addition to the brood- She opened with a triumph in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont mare band at Datt Stable. Park in May. Two sub-par efforts, for her, followed in the Sheeps- It all started in 2008 at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, where head Bay and Dr. James Penny Memorial. Soft turf and a hot, tiring Hessonite was foaled and raised. Bred by Berkshire and Waterville ship to Parx Racing took some of the blame for the defeats but Hes- Lake Stable, she was purchased as a yearling for $27,000 at Keene- sonite went right back to winning with a score in Saratoga’s On The land September by Bill Punk. Trained for Punk and Philip DiLeo Bus Stakes on Opening Day at Saratoga. by David Donk, Hessonite broke her maiden in her second start As it turned out, that was her final race. Donk stopped with her, at 2, and then rolled right up to the biggest stages in the state in- and Hessonite (named for a type of garnet gemstone) was retired. cluding a memorable 2012 season where she won four stakes and She was part of a star-studded class of mares at Fasig-Tipton No- earned $441,000. vember and didn’t disappoint.

Sunny Desert Ch. m., Wild Desert—Hoping for Sun, Louis Quatorze. Breeder: Breed of Characters LLC. Owner: Saul and Max Kupferberg. Trainer: John Parisella. 2013 record: 4-3-0-1; $155,000. 2013 stakes: Broadway, Cat Cay, Shot Berry.

aul Kupferberg called Sunny Desert a “once-in-a-lifetime claim” in April 2013, not long after the filly won her third stakes of the year. A quick look at what Sunny Desert has accomplished Ssince trainer John Parisella filled out a claim slip and Kupferberg and his father, Max Kupferberg, put up $35,000 for the then 2-year- old gives validity to that statement. The daughter of Wild Desert needed three more maiden rac- es – one in claiming company – before she really got rolling. She Sunny Desert is the second foal out of the winning mare Hoping finally graduated in start No. 6, walloping in a 1-mile race by 15 for Sun, whose first foal was the stakes-placed Sharp Humor colt 1/4 lengths. By the time the year was out Sunny Desert was a three- Bound by Humor. He returned to the races in March at Gulfstream time stakes winner riding a five-race win streak. after nearly two years on the sidelines. Parisella preferred to give the chestnut filly plenty of time be- Sunny Desert is from the first crop of Canadian classic winner tween races, ideally two months in his opinion, and she won her Wild Desert, who started his stud career in New York at McMahon 2014 debut off about that much rest in the Cat Cay. About two of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Schuylerville and later at Unbridled months later she was third, beaten just 3 lengths to Summer Ap- Racing Stable in Greenville. plause, in the Grade 2 Top Flight. Bred by Breed of Characters LLC and foaled at McMahon of The spacing got a little tighter from there, but Sunny Desert Saratoga, Sunny Desert was bought as a weanling for $2,000 by K. continued to deliver and won the 6-furlong Broadway and 1-mile K. and Vilasini D. Jayaraman at the 2009 OBS fall mixed sale. The Shot Berry with just two weeks rest. Kupferbergs claimed Sunny Desert from the Jayaramans.

42 OLDER FEMALE FINALIST Willet B. m., Jump Start—Katina K, Distinctive Pro. Breeder: Michael Martin. Owners: Jimmy Iselin, Charlotte Assoulin and Eli Gindi. Trainer: Jimmy Iselin. 2013 record: 7-3-2-0; $249,500. 2013 stakes: Union Avenue, Princess Dixie, Touch of Love.

immy Iselin has worked for some of the best trainers in history – Charlie Whittingham, Woody Stephens and Jimmy Jones to name three – and acquired a good bit of knowledge through the years. JIselin always remembers Jones telling him, “Always keep your best horse under your eyes.” Iselin does just that with the now 6-year-old Jump Start mare Willet, keeping the best horse in his small seven-horse stable at Aqueduct. “Instead of sending her to Palm Meadows, Payson Park or some farm somewhere, I keep her right here,” he said over the winter. the rest is history. But she is very smart, she’s charismatic and she’s “Even if it’s like this and extreme conditions, because nobody has got that type of personality.” the interest of your horse like you do and nobody knows your horse That type of personality shows when Willet steps foot on the like you do. So if you send her to a beautiful farm, they might mean track. She’s only finished worse than third twice in 15 career starts well, but they just don’t have the instincts and they don’t have the and her three 2013 stakes wins give her four for her career. Head- same interests as you do.” ing to a 2014 campaign, she’s sitting just shy of $500,000 in career Iselin didn’t feel inclined to push Willet when she first arrived in earnings. his care, mainly due to her size. Bred by the late Michael Martin and foaled at Highcliff Farm in “She was a very large 2-year-old, so I thought ‘What was the Delanson, Willet is one of four winners out of Katina K. Bred to sense in rushing her?’ ” Iselin said. “So she made her 3-year-old Majestic Warrior in 2013, Katina K. is out of New York-bred Grade debut at Saratoga [in 2011] and just got beat on the wire at 11-1 and 3 winner Darlin Momma.

43 OLDER MALE FINALIST Awesome Vision Dk. b. or br. c., Awesome Again—Blind Canyon, Valley Crossing. Breeder: Kaz Hill Farm & Adena Springs. Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds. Trainer: Tom Albertrani. 2013 record: 11-5-1-2; $277,317. 2013 stakes: Saratoga Sunrise, Move It Now, Compelling Word.

wesome Vision was the ultimate throwback horse for West Point Thoroughbreds in 2013. The ledger of final- ists for New York-bred championship honors consists of 37 individual horses nominated in 11 categories. None Amade more starts than the 11 Awesome Vision made in 2013. Only one – Cluster of Stars, with six wins – won more races than Awe- some Vision. The now 5-year-old son of Awesome Again won five times in 2013, the same number of wins as fellow older male nom- inees Saginaw and Readtheprospectus. “As Tommy Bellhouse [West Point Thoroughbreds’ chief op- back to work and so did Awesome Vision with three consecutive erating officer] likes to say, ‘He’s never going to embarrass us,’ ” wins early in 2013. Three losses followed, then a significant win in said Terry Finley, West Point’s president and founder. “It’s the same the Saratoga Sunrise at Saratoga, reversing a loss to Bigger Is Bettor thing with this horse. He’s always going to show up. He’s kind of a in the Evan Shipman about a month earlier. lunch-pail type of horse.” “It’s always good to win at Saratoga,” Finley said. “It was really Getting Awesome Vision to that point wasn’t easy. great to get the chance to get your partners into the winner’s circle. The $65,000 purchase from the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga pre- When they’re from New York or the Northeast, one of the reasons ferred sale of New York-bred yearlings had a chip removed from that I hear time and time again is that they got into the business so an ankle that delayed his racing debut. He got started early in his they could run a horse at Saratoga and then certainly the next step 3-year-old season, winning two of his first three starts before an is to stand in the winner’s circle at Saratoga. So when you finally ankle and knee chip put the brakes on again. do win a race at Saratoga, you’re checking off a dream for a lot of Once those issues were cleared up, trainer Tom Albertrani got p e op l e .”

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44 45 OLDER MALE FINALISTS Bigger Is Bettor Gr. or r. h., Grand Reward—Regal Angela, Regal Intention. Breeders/Owners: Chester and Mary Broman. Trainer: Rodrigo Ubillo. 2013 record: 10-3-4-2; $267,300. 2013 stakes: Evan Shipman, Slew o’ Gold.

ick the superlative and it probably applies to Bigger Is Bet- tor. Consistent? Check. Versatile? Indeed. Tough? That, too. Star of the stable and maybe even a bit of a showoff? Yes and yes. PThe son of Grand Reward is also plenty fond of Saratoga Race Course, a good trait considering the lucrative opportunities each year for New York-breds at the Spa. He won again at Saratoga in 2013, taking the Evan Shipman in a blanket finish early in the meet, and while it might be a little early Bigger Is Bettor didn’t add another Saratoga stakes win later in to proclaim the big gray as a pure horse-for-the-course he’s certain- the meeting – finishing second to fellow older male nominee Awe- ly on his way. some Vision in the Saratoga Sunrise – but did get another to end Bigger Is Bettor, who won the 2011 Albany at Saratoga and the season against open company in the Slew o’ Gold at Aqueduct. didn’t race there in 2012, landed the Evan Shipman on a perfectly All just part of a year’s work for a horse with a mark of consis- timed rail-skimming ride from Joe Rocco Jr. Four days into the tency. 2013 Saratoga season and Rocco was still a relatively unknown “He’s very jolly,” Ubillo said. “All the girls ask who he is, they all name to many. want him as a pony when he retires. He stands out there, he looks Not to Chester Broman, who bred Bigger Is Bettor with his wife around and he’s showing off all the time.” Mary and celebrated a victory by another homebred just two days Bigger Is Bettor is one of two winners produced by stakes win- earlier with Rocco in the saddle. Rocco delivered the ride and sent ner Regal Angela, who joined the Broman broodmare band when Broman to the winner’s circle and then to the mutuel lines to cash they purchased her for $335,000 out of the 2001 Keeneland January some tickets. horses of all ages sale.

King Kreesa Dk. b. or br. g. King Cugat—Storm’s Advance, Storm Creek. Breeder: Horse Partners. Owners: Gerald and Susan Kresa. Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart. 2013 record: 9-3-1-2; $413,000. 2013 stakes: Poker (G3), Mohawk, Kingston.

wo years removed from getting King Kreesa ready at Finger Lakes in Farmington, Jeremiah Englehart found himself in Hong Kong beneath the behemoth skyscrapers that ring Sha Tin racecourse. He was there to check on Tthe final preparations for the King Cugat gelding as he completed a successful season in the Longines Hong Kong Mile King Kreesa didn’t fare well, finishing 12th of 14, not altogether different from his fifth in his debut in an inner track maiden claim- er going 6 furlongs way back in March 2012. It’s what happened in between, and specifically from March to October 2013, that left a lasting impression. The Fourstardave gave Englehart the idea to try and avoid Wise “He was a horse that didn’t surprise me, but he’s gotten very Dan if they were to even contemplate the Breeders’ Cup, so King consistent,” said Englehart, who trains King Kreesa for Gerald and Kreesa tried the 12 furlongs of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. When Susan Kresa. “At the beginning of the year I really wasn’t expecting that didn’t work they faced New York-breds for the second time him to run that good. I thought he’d be a little short in the Apple- in 2013 and won for the second time, taking the Mohawk on New ton. I just remember all the speed in the race and how big he ran York Showcase Day. in that race. To this day that is still one of his most impressive races “We only had the two bad races last year, the Joe Hirsch, that in my eyes.” was just a trial to stay away from Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup King Kreesa was third in the Grade 3 Appleton, one of six appear- and to see if he wanted to go any further,” Englehart said. “And then ances and four wins or placings in graded stakes on the season. Anoth- the Hong Kong race, it might have hurt him not being on Lasix. He er that might have been his best was a non-win, a second to eventual didn’t show any signs of bleeding, but you never know how they’ll Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga. handle it when they’re coming off it.” 46 OLDER MALE FINALISTS Palace B. c., City Zip—Receivership, End Sweep. Breeder: The Peter J. Callahan Revocable Trust. Owner: Antonino Miuccio. Trainer: Linda Rice. 2013 record: 8-4-3-0; $424,250. 2013 stakes: Fall Highweight (G3), Hudson, Chowder’s First.

alace fell to the turf, hard, in the late stages of his third career start and first outing on grass as a 2-year-old back in September 2012. He fell after a light bump with another ri- val backing through the field and fortunately popped right Pback up, essentially no worse for the wear. The son of City Zip was back in the entries a month later, this time for a $20,000 claiming tag and back on the main track. Linda Rice put in a claim slip for the colt, unnerved by the fall and with the confidence that Bill Mott and owner WinStar Farm wouldn’t send out one that was even slightly compromised. “Most of the City Zips like the grass and I did not allow [the Highweight – and a runner-up in the Gravesend. fall] to deter me,” Rice said of the colt she now trains for Antonino “He has been just a delight,” Rice said. “I trained his father Miuccio. “I really thought it was an isolated incident and that he and he was just a tremendous racehorse for me as well. Since we would run well on the grass down the road. claimed him we had a terrific year with him. Just a very nice horse “Of course there was a lot of skepticism, claiming a horse who and so much fun for my barn, my staff and his owner, Mr. Miuccio.” fell like that, but he got through it like a champ. He’s like his father, Foaled at Stone Bridge Farm in Gansevoort and raised in Flor- and can run on anything.” ida, Palace is one of three winners out of the seven-time winner Palace ran mostly on the main track during his 4-year-old sea- and $198,300-earner Receivership. She is the dam of a 2-year-old son, winning four of eight overall and finishing the season with Badge of Silver colt Wincoma, a yearling colt by Posse and was bred a string of three straight stakes wins – including the Grade 3 Fall to Pomeroy in 2013.

www.roodandriddlesaratoga.com Congratulations to All of EQUINE HOSPITAL IN SARATOGA Tonight's Nominees! Our team of expert veterinarians and technicians provides the highest level of Standing: care to all breeds and uses of horses. DISCO RICO DUBLIN FROST GIANT THE LUMBER GUY

We offer services in: Ambulatory • Diagnostic Imaging • Laboratory Podiatry • Regenerative Medicine • Reproduction Sports Medicine • Surgery Winslow B. Stevens, DVM, General Manager Philippe Lasseur, Farm Manager 217 Depot Hill Road / Amenia, NY 12501 (845) 373-9601 / Fax: (845) 373-8954 63 Henning Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Email: [email protected] / www.keanestud.com (518) 583-7273 • Fax (518) 583-4388 47 OLDER MALE FINALISTS Readtheprospectus B. g., Read the Footnotes—Near Bethany, Affirmed. Breeder: Howard Nolan Jr. Owners: Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence. Trainer: Chad Brown. 2013 record: 6-5-0-0; $268,667. 2013 stakes: Commentator, Spite The Devil.

eadtheprospectus didn’t exactly have an aversion to sprinting – after all he ran well going 6 and 7 furlongs in his first few starts – he was just a little better when the races were a touch longer. Check that, a lot better. RThe first time Chad Brown sent the Read the Footnotes gelding farther than 7 furlongs was a 1 1/16-mile turf race in the fall of his 3-year-old season in 2012. He won and he kept on winning. Readtheprospectus won seven races in a row overall, including a string of five straight from early January through mid-September The roll ended in the Empire Classic on New York Showcase 2013. Day, a victory in that most certainly would have locked up older Two stakes came in the skein, the 1 1/16-mile Commentator male and possibly even New York-bred Horse of the Year honors. and 1-mile Spite The Devil in September. Five wins from six starts is nothing to sneeze at though, and a case “It was just the matter of learning more about the horse,” said can be made for Readtheprospectus against the other older male Brown, who trains Readtheprospectus for Seth Klarman’s Klara- nominees. vich Stables and William Lawrence. “It’s distance not surface. He is “Unfortunately we couldn’t end the year the way we wanted to pretty versatile, and can run on the dirt or the turf. We ended up in the Empire Classic, but up to that point the year was terrific for finding out he could run on both, but it was more the distance of him,” Brown said. “He had been on quite a roll. I thought he had the races that mattered. Once we got him to those longer distances one more in him before shutting down for the year and just didn’t. he was very effective. As it turns out he was starting to tail off in that race and needed “He really did do well for us. He’s a very consistent horse and the break. He put so many Ws together, so I’ll forgive him for that. got on quite a roll there.” Hopefully we can regroup with him and have a great year this year.”

Saginaw B. g., Peruvian—Devilzene, Devil’s Bag. Breeder: Ted Taylor. Owner: Drawing Away Stable and David Jacobson. Trainer: David Jacobson. 2013 record: 6-5-0-0; $228,000. 2013 stakes: Affirmed Success, John Morrissey, Hollie Hughes, Compelling Word.

he story of Saginaw would not be complete without a chapter on his fatal breakdown that late August afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, yet the gelding’s tale isn’t domi- nated by that singular moment. TSaginaw’s narrative is one with many angles, most involving the son of Peruvian winning more than he lost, picking off stakes by the handful and showing tremendous courage, consistency and class. Saginaw won five straight before suffering injuries that cost him his life, in a starter allowance Aug. 30, including four stakes against fellow state-breds. The last of the five wins came in the John Morrissey at Saratoga, a race where he remarkably wasn’t the favorite. That role went to “Once he gets to galloping and breezing he’s all business,” train- fellow older male nominee Saratoga Snacks. No matter, Saginaw er and co-owner David Jacobson said at the time. “A lot of good got the job done again. horses use their energy then. They know it’s time to run. Not that Saginaw made a career of doing his job. He did his serious work they know; it’s just their instinct. He’s become a pro from instinct, in the afternoons, winning 21 of 41 overall, and didn’t draw heap- and again, it’s just like the top athletes. After a while it’s your in- ing amounts of enthusiasm in the mornings. stincts that make you scoop the ball off the turf. You don’t know to Before breezing for the final time before the Morrissey, Sagi- do it, you just do it.” naw was somewhere between bored and going through the mo- Foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Saginaw was tions. The intensity picked up during the breeze and revved up one of three winners and two stakes winners out of Devilzene. 10-fold by the time he went to the gate for the 6 1/2-furlong Mor- Devilzene produced a dead foal in 2011, no foal in 2012 and is now rissey. the dam of a yearling filly by Majestic Warrior. 48 Congratulations Wavertree graduate READTHEPROSPECTUS Champion Older Male Finalist Sold out of our OBS April consignment

Best of luck to owners Klaravich Stables Inc. and William Lawrence, trainer Chad Brown and breeder Howard Nolan Jr.

Ciaran and Amy Dunne 14850 W Hwy 40 Ocala, FL 34481‎ (352) 489-8440

49 OLDER MALE FINALIST Saratoga Snacks B. r., Tale of the Cat—Near and Dear, Red Ransom. Breeder: Mrs. Gerald A. Nielsen. Owner: August Dawn Farm. Trainer: Gary Sciacca. 2013 record: 4-2-0-1; $222,000. 2013 stakes: Empire Classic, Shy Groom.

ill Parcells was pumped up. Maybe not as pumped up as he was during the clip that NFL Films loves to show where the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach is in his player’s faces, telling them, “This is what you work all off season Bfor. This is why you lift all them weights,” but still plenty enthused for July 1. Parcells wasn’t contemplating a comeback with football season about two months away, nor was he excited at that moment over his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the coming weeks. Saratoga Snacks finished third after a troubled trip in the Mor- He was invigorated by what happened a little more than 12 rissey, with fellow older male nominee Saginaw winning. Saratoga hours earlier – Saratoga Snacks winning his first start in more than Snacks, a ridgling by Tale of the Cat Parcells bought for $60,000 at six months in the Shy Groom Stakes at Belmont Park. And Parcells the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred sale of New York-bred might have been a little miffed, too, because a friend didn’t stop by yearlings, rebounded from that loss and won the Empire Classic Saratoga National to watch the race with him. Handicap on New York Showcase Day. The Empire Classic win also “I know just enough now to be dangerous,” Parcells joked with made amends for a loss in that same race a year earlier. that friend, Shug McGaughey’s assistant trainer Robbie Medina, as Saratoga Snacks, one of four winners out of Near and Dear, was they talked about where Saratoga Snacks should run next. also under consideration for the 6-furlong Hudson earlier on the Parcells and his trainer, Gary Sciacca, eventually settled on the New York Showcase card but Sciacca opted for the Empire Classic. John Morrissey a month later. Parcells figured it wouldn’t be such Near and Dear is also the dam of a now 3-year-old Stormy Atlan- a bad thing to emulate Saginaw, winner of the 2012 Morrissey, so tic filly named Red Menace, a 2-year-old fully brother to Saratoga why not follow that foe before taking on bigger challenges down Snacks named Baby Snacks and a yearling colt by Henrythenavi- the road. gator. The Stadium Cafe Would like to Congratulate the 2013 NY - Bred Champions & Nominees Come visit our two locations The Stadium Cafe - Westside Stadium Cafe 389 Broadway - 112 Congress St Saratoga Springs, NY THE

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51 STEEPLECHASE CHAMPION Sunshine Numbers Dk. b. or br. g., Polish Numbers—Saturday Sunshine, Dahar. Breeder: Dresden Farm. Owner: Sue Sensor. Trainer: Arch Kingsley Jr. 2013 Record: 1-1-0-0; $30,000. 2013 Stakes: Imperial Cup Hurdle.

ow this is a career. Sunshine Numbers started racing way back in 2004 at Finger Lakes, winning his debut going 6 furlongs on the dirt for breeder Dresden Farm and trainer John Progno. NThe 2-year-old was going places. Then he wasn’t. Sunshine Numbers lost his next 18 starts over parts of three seasons. The losing streak ended on the turf at Colonial Downs in 2006, for a $16,000 tag. By then owned by Warwick Stable and trainer Ferris Allen via the claim box, the big, strong, powerful gelding returned

to Colonial the next season and won again, this time at the bottom Marks Tod $5,000 level. In between, he frustrated Allen and his staff. won six of his final eight starts including stakes in 2011 and 2013. “He was always very talented, but he was a very rank horse for He finished with nine wins and $168,200 earned over jumps, retir- the flat racing and would run off on the front end going a mile or ing at age 11 last year. The victory was enough to garner his third a mile-and-a-sixteenth and it would just get to be a mess,” said the New York-bred steeplechase championship. trainer in 2013. “We worked real hard.” Kingsley loved training Sunshine Numbers, even if there were After three more losses in low-level claimers, Sunshine Num- headaches. bers needed a new job. Allen called steeplechase trainer Arch King- “It’s so rare, he’s got the ability to overcome his soundness is- sley, who had seen the horse at Colonial and had galloped his dam sues,” the trainer (and sometimes jockey) said in 2013. “Mentally (steeplechase stakes winner Saturday Sunshine). Allen gave his best he rises to the occasion when put under pressure. It’s the combina- sales pitch, and asked $5,000 for the then 5-year-old. Kingsley hes- tion of qualities you look for in a horse that you can’t identify in the itated, thought about it, then figured the price tag minimized the sales ring or even articulate very well, but when you get one, you risk. can tell. He’s got that elusive ‘it’ that we look for in a good horse.” In 2008, Sunshine Numbers won his steeplechase debut by 13 As for Sunshine Numbers, he’ll let Kingsley keep looking. The lengths for Kingsley and owner Sue Sensor. He won twice more champion is retired in South Carolina – “happy, shiny and sound” the next season. Though limited by tender legs, Sunshine Numbers according to his trainer.

A HEARTFELT THANKS TO Our Events Planning Committee: Lois Engel, Thomas J. Gallo III, Vivien Malloy, Joanne Nielsen, Suzie O’Cain. Kara Bluvas, NYTB Executive Assistant • Sarah Mace, NYTB Communications Manager

Our Wonderful Partners • Our Event Patrons Our Emcee Richard Migliore • John Imbriale, NYRA • Saratoga National Golf Club

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS William B. Wilmot, D.V.M. • Joan M. Taylor, D.V.M. George Sensor • Arch Kingsley • Will Phipps Carol and Leon Aronowitz II • Cortright Wetherill III

Tune in to find out … New York-Bred Horse of the Year, New York Broodmare of the Year, New York-Bred Trainer of the Year, New York-Bred Jockey of the Year New York Breeder of the Year

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54 LET’S GIVE A HAND To All theNominees! MCMAHON OF SARATOGA WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE CONNECTIONS

McMahon bred, foaled & raised EFFIE TRINKET 3YO Filly & Turf Female nominee

SUNNY DESERT bred, foaled & raised at McMahon of Saratoga, nominee Older Female

SAGINAW bred, foaled & raised at McMahon of Saratoga, nominated for Older Male & Male Sprinter

Inquiries to Joe or John McMahon / 180 Fitch Road / Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 587-3426 / [email protected] / www.mcmahonthoroughbreds.com

55 The New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund is proud to be a major sponsor of the

By breeding and racing these quality NY-breds, the nominees set the example for horsemen and horsewomen across the state and help the Fund achieve its mission:

“To promote by monetary incentives the responsible breeding of quality thoroughbred racehorses in keeping with the founding legislation to preserve New York's irreplaceable farmland.”

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