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Home , Robbie Davis, Saratoga Race Course

-Breds at the Races: August 14 to 18 By Bill Heller

Ghostly Vision Romps in $77,000 Allowance Sunday

Showing a powerful burst, MeB Racing Stables and Brooklyn Boyz Stables’ three-year-old colt Ghostly Vision captured a mile-and-an-eighth $77,000 New York-bred allowance Sunday afternoon at Saratoga by four lengths under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Ghostly Vision, a son of out of Bergamot by Summer Squall, finished fourth as the 2-1 favorite in his last start at for trainer Domenick Schettino. Bettors sent him off at 9-2 in a field of nine on Sunday. Ortiz kept Ghostly Vision in fourth early as 5-2 Read the Proposal was hustled to the lead by Joel Rosario. Read the Proposal was pressured on the front end by 11-1 Beat of the Drum through splits of :23.17, :47.21 and 1:12.46. Around the far turn, Beat of the Drum took over the lead, opening up by two lengths as Ghostly Vision rallied stoutly into second. Through the stretch, Ghostly Vision powered away to easily in a final time of 1:51.85. Alcolite, a 23-1 longshot, got up for second. Ghostly Vision’s victory was his second in nine starts with two seconds, two thirds and more than $120,000 in career earnings. ************************************************ In a 5 ½-furlong $72,000 New York-bred grass allowance race, Hidden Brook Farm’s three- year-old filly Neck of the Moon, the 7-5 favorite in a field of 10, held off fast-finishing Ave’s Halo by a neck in 1:02.55. Javier Castellano rode Neck of the Moon, a daughter of More Than Ready out Cotopaxi by With Approval, bred by Stone Bridge Farm and trained by Chad Brown. Neck of the Moon was making just her third career start. She won her debut at Saratoga by four lengths last season, then finished third in allowance company here as the 8-5 favorite in her return off a layoff of nearly a year. Castellano positioned Neck of the Moon in fourth early off a battle on the front end between Withhonorandgrace and Therapy. Castellano sent Neck of the Moon up three wide around the far turn and she gained the lead, with enough left to hold off Ave’s Halo. ************************************************ In a one-mile $38,000 conditional $20,000 claimer on grass, Paul Michael Giacopelli’s homebred four-year-old New York-bred colt My Pal of Pals scored an upset at 7-1 odds under Junior Alvarado. Away in fourth, My Pal of Pals moved up between horses into contention around the far turn. With his fellow state-breds Spirit of Peace and Freud’s Debut duking it out on the lead in mid- stretch, My Pal of Pals surged late, winning by a little more than a length over Freud’s Debut in 1:36.89. My Pal of Pals, a son of City Zip out of UR Theweakestlink by Mountain Cat who is trained by Gary Sciacca, is now two-for-12 on grass with one third. **************************************************** Earlier Sunday, Leonard Friedman’s homebred four-year-old filly Broadway Music Gal won her debut by five lengths in a $37,000 New York-bred maiden $20,000 claimer at six furlongs in a final time of 1:12.20. Cornelio Velasquez rode the daughter of Our Nice Cat out of Miss Broad by Broad Brush, who is trained by Chris Englehart.

An Accident After the Finish Line Mars Saturday’s Opener at Saratoga

An impressive length-and-a-half victory by D. Marleigh Stable and Peter Bell’s three-year-old New York-bred filly Fantastic Eyes in a $37,000 conditional $20,000 grass claimer in Saturday’s first race at was tempered by the death of one of the horses she defeated. Heading to Toga, a three-year-old New York-bred filly owned by MeB Racing Stables and Brooklyn Boyz Stable, broke down just after crossing the finish line, fracturing her leg, and had to be euthanized behind a screen meant to shield the public from the grim reminder of the danger of the sport. Trained by Dominick Schettino, she had won one of her previous seven starts, all on grass. Heading to Toga’s Jose Espinoza lay motionless face down after the incident. He was eventually able to move and turn over so he could be carried off on a stretcher. He was taken to Albany Medical Center, where his injuries were found to include a broken nose and a concussion. When Heading to Toga fell, Guyana Star (also a state-bred) clipped heels, sending jockey Rajiv Maragh to the turf. He escaped serious injury and rode the rest of the card. Fantastic Eyes, ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, overcame the outside post in the field of 10 to win her third grass race in 11 starts for trainer Joe Aquilino. The daughter of Midas Eyes, out of Alytazm by Alydeed, was bred by Maspeth Stable. **************************************************** Sandyinthesun, a six-year-old New York-bred gelding co-owned and trained by former outstanding jockey , edged fellow 23-1 longshot of the South by a nose in a wild finish Saturday in a mile-and-three-sixteenths $87,000 allowance/optional $35,000 claimer on grass in 1:56.44. New York-bred Ampersand was just a head behind Lure of the South in third, a neck in front of fellow state-bred Royal Blessing in fourth. In winning under Junior Alvarado, Sandyinthesun, who had given Davis his first winner as a trainer two years ago when he won under Davis’s daughter Jackie, gave Davis his first training win at Saratoga. “I never thought I’d win another race at Saratoga,” a jubilant Davis said in the winner’s circle. “He held on. Yeah, baby!” Sandyinthesun, a son of Say Florida Sandy out of In the Sun by Alleged, improved his grass record to three-for-20 with one third while increasing his earnings to more than $135,000. “We bought him for $700 as a yearling,” Davis said. Sandyinthesun went off at 23-1, the same odds as Lure of the South, who was ridden by Cornelio Velasquez. Royal Blessing was the 2-1 favorite and Ampersand the 3-1 second choice. Like he is in most of his races, Sandyinthesun was well behind early. When he began rallying, he encountered traffic. “He checked, and I’m going to be fifth,” Davis said. Instead, Alvarado found an opening and he hit the finish line barely in front of Lure of the South. After patting Sandyinthesun several times on his neck before he headed back to his barn, Davis shook hands with Alvarado and said, “Thank you, Junior.” **************************************************** Team Clear Stars Stable’s three-year-old gelding Sandy’z Slew outran his 14-1 odds to capture a 5 ½-furlong $72,000 New York-bred allowance race by 2 ¼ lengths in an impressive grass debut. Cornelio Velasquez rode the three-year-old son of out of Charleston Springs by Capote, who was bred by Robert Hahn and is trained by Rick Schosberg. Leaving from the rail, Velasquez hustled Sandy’z Slew away from the gate and was immediately joined by The Big Deluxe and Stoneless. Sandy’z Slew led narrowly through a fast opening quarter in :21.97 and a half in :44.53. At the top of the stretch, he shook off those two challengers and opened a clear lead, one he maintained right to the finish line, hitting the wire in 1:02.21. River Tune edged Ginger’s Joe for second. Sandy’z Slew had one win and one second in six dirt starts before switching surfaces successfully Saturday. **************************************************** In a mile-and-a-sixteenth $70,000 allowance/optional $35,000 claimer on grass, William Schettine’s four-year-old New York-bred gelding Lawyer Jim awaited room on the inside, split horses decisively in mid-stretch, and rolled to a two-length victory under Jose Lezcano in a final time of 1:42.01. Lisa Lewis trains the son of out of Picnic Theme by Northern Idol, who was bred by Steel Your Face Stable. In her prior start, a New York-bred allowance/optional $35,000 claimer, Lawyer Jim finished eighth at 17-1. He went off at 5-1 odds on Saturday. Reserved in seventh on the backstretch, Lawyer Jim moved up on the inside through a mammoth hole at the top of the stretch. Lezcano saw a seam between horses, and Lawyer Jim burst through to win convincingly. Tater Downs rallied to finish second. Lawyer Jim improved his grass record to three-for-seven with one third, while increasing his career earnings to more than $110,000. **************************************************** GW’s Hammer, William Butler’s homebred three-year-old gelding, gamely held off favored Ocala Jim by a neck to win a $37,000 New York-bred maiden $20,000 claimer at six furlongs on the main track Saturday. GW’s Hammer, a gelding by Bustin Stones out of Glitter by Glitterman, is trained by John Hertler and was ridden by Luis Saez, who replaced Espinoza after he was injured. In his previous start, GW’s Hammer was a much-improved second at odds of 31-1. He went off at 9-2 Saturday and got away in fourth early as My Italian Ices set the pace. Saez sent him up to the leaders around the far turn and he collared My Italian Ices to take the lead. Ocala Jim, the 8-5 favorite under Javier Castellano, was closing quickly, but GW’s Hammer held him off gamely, completing the six furlongs in 1:12.87. GW’s Hammer’s victory was his first in 10 starts. **************************************************** Also on Saturday, Westside Corral, a six-year-old New York-bred gelding owned by Winning Move Stable, Bob Petersons Stables and Class Personified Stable, rallied to a one-length win under Javier Castellano in a mile-and-a-sixteenth $40,000 conditional $20,000 claimer. Westside Corral is a son of Bernstein out of Booly by Apalachee who was bred by Delehanty Stock Farm and is trained by Dominic Galluscio. Castellano let Westside Corral settle in seventh early, and he finished strongly for his first grass victory in 12 starts, winning in a final time of 1:43.06. **************************************************** In Saturday’s finale, a seven-furlong $70,000 New York-bred maiden special weight, Harvey Clarke and Paul Braverman’s first-time starter Summer Place to Be made a splash in his debut, winning by 4 ½ lengths under Cornelio Velasquez in 1:23.96. Tony Dutrow trains Summer Place to Be, a three-year-old gelding by Corinthian out of Saratoga Summer by Smart Strike, who was bred by William Parsons, Jr. and David Howe.

Dayatthespa Rolls to a Handy Victory in the Yaddo Stakes You know you’ve got a nice filly when you call a $150,000 stakes a drop in company. But Jerry and Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ four-year-old is more than a nice filly, and she was dropping from a front-running, second-place finish in the Grade III Eatontown Handicap at Monmouth into Friday’s 34th running of the mile-and-a- sixteenth $150,000 Yaddo Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at Saratoga. Sent off the 1-4 favorite in the field of six, Dayatthespa settled nicely into second beneath Javier Castellano, blew by front-running Sally’s Dream in early stretch, and went on to a 1 ¾-length victory over Wholelottashakin in a final time of 1:42.57. “She was awesome,” trainer Chad Brown said. “We wanted her to rate and it worked out perfectly. She had a nice target to run at. It was only her third start of the year. I felt I had to get her back on track. She’ll be in graded stakes the rest of the year.” She’ll likely acquit herself nicely. Last year, her five victories in six starts included wins in a Grade I and two Grade III stakes. The daughter of City Zip out of M’Lady Doc by Doc’s Leader, bred by Castellare DiCracchiolo Stable, Cracchiolo & Goldsher, was making just her 12th career start Friday. The scored her eight victory, and also has a pair of seconds and earnings of just under $750,000. “I liked the way she did it,” Castellano said after the race. “She doesn’t have to be on the lead. The first jump, I let somebody else go to the lead and just stayed tracking. She was pulling me because she wanted to go, but I like how she relaxed into the first turn behind the front-runner. From there, she did the rest.” ************************************************

Awesome Vision Avenges Narrow Loss to Bigger Is Bettor

West Point Thoroughbreds’ four-year-old colt Awesome Vision avenged a loss to Bigger Is Bettor by a head in the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes earlier in the Saratoga meet by defeating him by a length Friday in the mile-and-an-eighth $100,000 Saratoga Sunrise Stakes for New York-breds. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the son of out of Blind Canyon by Valley Crossing, who was bred by Kaz Hill Farm and Adena Springs, to his third victory for trainer Tom Albertrani. Most Happy Fella, who was extremely fractious before loading into the starting gate, set the pace, with Groomedforvictory, Bigger Is Bettor and Awesome Vision following them in second, third and fourth, respectively.

Groomedforvictory was the first to go after the front-runner as both Bigger Is Bettor, who had to weave his way between horses, and Awesome Vision, rallying widest of all, closed in. Awesome Vision, the 8-5 favorite, won in 1:50.99 with Bigger Is Bettor second. Most Happy Fella was another length and a quarter behind in third. Awesome Vision’s victory was his fourth in his last seven starts with one second, one third and one fourth. He improved his career record to six-for-10 and increased his earnings to just under $275,000.

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In a $70,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies at six furlongs, Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred first-time starter Artemis Agrotera was spectacular, beating her entry-mate Star Grazing, also a homebred first-time starter for the Bromans, by 11 ¾ lengths in a sharp 1:10.53. Trained by Mike Hushion, Artemis Agrotera, a daughter of Roman Ruler out of Indy Glory by A.P. indy, had been working sharply, so well that she and her entry-mate went off the 2-5 favorites. She flaunted her early speed under Joel Rosario and quickly took the lead from Don’t Her through a quarter in :22.19. Don’t Blame Her tried to keep up and couldn’t as Artemis Agrotera lengthened her lead, hitting the half in :45.80. From that point, the race was for second, with Star Grazing edging Alwaysinstilettos. "She trained well,” Chester Broman said in the winner’s circle. “Mike was very happy with her. She performed like she was training.” Asked if she had expected a debut victory, Mary Broman said, “We were hoping. We always hope.” ************************************************ In Friday’s opener, a 5 ½-furlong $70,000 New York-bred maiden special weight on the grass, Slimshady edged Poppy’s Watching by a nose. Just a half-length behind was Raglin River, who beat front-running Gentle Jim by a nose for third. Owned by CR , M. Rettig, R. Stavis, J. Rozan, J. Jules and L. Verdier, Slimshady was making his 18th start for trainer Leo O’Brien. The three-year-old gelding by Raffie’s Majesty out of Shady Lane by Peaks and Valleys, who was bred by Wellspring Stables, had two seconds from nine prior grass starts. Gentle Jim, the 8-5 favorite under Joel Rosario on the rail, shot to the lead, one he maintained almost the length of the stretch before finally packing it in. In a wild, five-horse scramble, Slimshady, sent off at 5-1 under Jose Espinoza, prevailed by a nose over Poppy’s Watching, the 5-2 second choice, in a final time of 1:03.79.

Hangover Kid Blows By Them All to Win the West Point Stakes Rolling down the center of the grass course under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Four Tags Stable’s homebred Hangover Kid stormed past Hear the Footsteps, Kharafa and defending champion Lubash to win the 34th running of the mile-and-a-sixteenth $100,000 West Point Stakes for NY-breds at Saratoga Race Course Thursday afternoon by a little more than a length. Jason Servis trains the five-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid out of Absolute Patience by Rakeen. In his previous start, Hangover Kid had rallied strongly to finish third by 2 ¼ lengths under Gabriel Saez in the mile-and-three-eighths Grade I United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park at 47-1 odds. At Saratoga, bettors sent Hangover Kid away at odds of 5-1 in the field of nine under Ortiz, who had ridden Hangover Kid to an allowance victory at Belmont Park two races back. Lubash was installed as the 2-1 favorite with Jose Lezcano aboard. Kharafa, breaking from the outside post in the field of nine, went off the 5-2 second choice under Rajiv Maragh. Leaving from the rail at 7-1 odds under Joel Rosario, Mr. Vegas took the early lead while Maragh sent Kharafa up hard on the far outside, eventually securing second. But Maragh wasn’t content with that position, aggressively moving Kharafa past Mr. Vegas to take the front after an opening quarter in :24.23. Kharafa took the field to the half in :48.90 and the three-quarters in 1:13.17 as Mr. Vegas went after him two-wide and Street Game three-wide on the far turn. Lezcano kept Lubash on the rail behind Kharafa, hoping he’d bear out in the stretch. Lubash eventually found enough room on the inside to challenge Kharafa, who held on stubbornly. Meanwhile, 13-1 shot Hear the Footsteps made a bold move on the outside. Even further outside was Hangover Kid, who kicked in and mowed them all down, winning in a final time of 1:43.34. Hear the Footsteps finished second, Kharafa third and Lubash fourth. “When I came on the turn, I had a lot of horse,” Ortiz said. “There was a lot of traffic on the inside, so I came outside and he went by.” Hangover Kid’s victory was his fifth in 11 grass starts with two seconds and one third, good for earnings of just under $300,000. He also had one win, two seconds and two thirds from seven dirt starts, which push his career earnings to just under $375,000. “Jason has done a tremendous job with this horse,” Steve Taglienti of Four Tags Stable said.

************************************************ Jim and Susan Hill’s two-year-old filly Hot Squeeze made her first career start a winning one, capturing a 5 ½-furlong $70,000 New York-bred maiden special weight on the grass wire-to- wire by a little more than a length under Jose Espinoza. Leaving from the outside post in the field of eight, Hot Squeeze broke on top and dared her seven opponents to catch her. The daughter of Latent Heat out of Snickeez by Mr. Greeley, bred by Carapan Farm and trained by George Weaver, raced through an opening quarter in :22.27 and a half mile in :45.37 pursued by another first time starter, May Shares, ridden by Cornelio Velasquez. Flying KC, who had been fourth in her debut on dirt, remained in third the whole way. Velasquez took May Shares to the outside of Hot Squeeze, but Hot Squeeze kept her lead through the length of the stretch, recording a final time of 1:03.89. May Shares was second and Flying KC third.

Soul Opposition Blows Them Away to Break Her Maiden Wednesday

The Three Colleens Stable and Parting Glass Stable’s Soul Opposition enjoyed a perfect trip under Javier Castellano on the way to a 4 ¼-length romp in a seven-furlong $70,000 New York- bred maiden special weight for fillies and mares Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. It’s hard to imagine there was a happier person in Saratoga Springs than Tom Gallo, the managing partner of Parting Glass Racing whose wife Mia is a co-breeder of the filly. “You don’t walk into the winner’s circle at Saratoga, you float in,” Gallo said after the race. His three-year-old filly, a daughter of Thunder out of Soul Possession by Belong To Me, whose other co-breeders are Arlene Wilkins and Dave Stack, was also being considered for a maiden special weight on the grass by trainer Bruce Levine. Levine chose dirt. “Bruce is a genius,” Tom Gallo said. Soul Opposition was freshened after suffering a foot abscess when she finished seventh in a maiden special weight on the turf at Belmont Park May 26th. “She’s been training a lot better,” Gallo said. Previously on dirt, she had finished sixth, third and second in three starts. Bettors sent her off at 4-1 odds in the field of seven as Rosie’s Song, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, was made the 3-2 favorite over a track labeled “muddy” for the first two races. Longshot Tassinaia broke first under Luis Saez, but was quickly joined by Rosie’s Song on her outside. While they dueled for the lead through a quarter in :22.90 and a half in :46.17, Castellano had Soul Opposition perfectly placed in third, a couple of lengths off that battle up front. “It worked out great,” Castellano said. “She got me in a great spot.” Rosie’s Song eventually put away Tassinaia, but Soul Opposition pounced and roared past her. She hit three-quarters in 1:12.18 and finished the seven furlongs in 1:25.73 with an expanding lead. Rosie’s Song saved second while Carole Lee rallied to finish third. ************************************************ The second half of Wednesday’s Daily Double was another $70,000 New York-bred maiden special weight, which was switched from grass to the main track at the same 5 ½-furlong distance. Scratches reduced the field to five, and this was a two-horse battle from start to finish between co-favorites Carolinian, ridden by Castellano, and Howaboutwe, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard. Both horses went off at odds of 8-5, with NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and trainer Jena Antonucci’s Howaboutwe the slightest of favorites. Howaboutwe broke a neck ahead of Carolinian before Carolinian came back on the inside to claim the early lead. At one point, Carolinian stretched his lead to a length, but Howaboutwe was perfectly placed to go after him, quickly cutting into that margin after a half in :46.11. Through the stretch, Howaboutwe was the stronger of the two, and drew away late to win by 2 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:05.55. Carolinian was second, five lengths clear of Stalagmite in third. Howaboutwe, a colt by Da Stoops out of Corredor’s Wind by El Corredor, bred by Bella Inizio Farm, was making just his second start after finishing third at 34-1 odds in his debut. Antonucci decided to add blinkers for Howaboutwe’s second start, and he clearly responded well to the change. ************************************************ In Wednesday’s finale, James Nolan and Charles Murphy, Jr.’s three-year-old New York-bred filly Brickhouse Baby flew past battling leaders High Inflation and Myperfectvalentine to win a $41,000 open maiden $25,000 claimer, which was switched from the turf to the main track, by two lengths. rode Brickhouse Baby, a daughter of Golden Missile out of Clay’s Run by Chester House who is trained by Rick Violette. Brickhouse Baby had three seconds and three thirds in 11 starts before Wednesday.