New York-Breds at the Races: November 4 to 9 By Bill Heller

Snake Oil Charlie Nips No Texting and Jax Heritage Monday

Saving ground every step of the way under Chris DeCarlo, Douglas Maroun’s three-year-old colt Snake Oil Charlie, trained by George Maroun, slipped past front-running No Texting on the hedge to win a thrilling mile-and-a-sixteenth $57,000 New York-bred grass allowance by a head in a final time of 1:44.14 Monday at Aqueduct. Jax Heritage was just a head behind No Texting in third. Snake Oil Charlie was sent off at odds of 11-1, No Texting, ridden by Jose Ortiz, went off at 7-1 odds, and Jax Heritage was the 9-5 favorite in the field of 12 under Javier Castellano.

Snake Oil Charlie is a son of Freud out of Finlandia by Royal Anthem who was bred by Nyala Farm and was purchased for just $9,000 at the Saratoga Yearling Sale in August 2013.

Snake Oil Charlie got away fourth as No Texting took a three-quarter-length lead on the outside of 4-1 Chasintheblues. Jax Heritage raced on the outside of Snake Oil Charlie in third through an opening quarter-mile in :23.68. No Texting maintained that lead through a half mile in :48.53.

Heading into the far turn, Irad Ortiz, Jr. sent 8-1 Ode to the Hunt, who was adding blinkers, up four-wide to join the leaders. DeCarlo kept Snake Oil Charlie on the hedge.

After three-quarters in 1:13.50, both Chasintheblues and Ode to the Hunt tired, leaving No Texting trying to hold off both Jax Heritage on his outside and Snake Oil Charlie on his inside. No Texting bravely battled to the wire, but Snake Oil Charlie passed him in the final, frantic yards. Jax Heritage was right there in third, and 5-1 gray Hirschbein finished fourth.

Snake Oil Charlie is now two for 11 with one third on grass. He has also raced on dirt six times without hitting the board, and has total earnings of more than $75,000.

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Red-hot jockey Kendrick Carmouche sent Backwards Stable’s homebred, the three-year-old New York-bred filly Juliets Key, to the lead and she went wire-to-wire, winning a mile-and-an- eighth $34,000 conditional $25,000 grass claimer by a length and a half Monday. Sent off at 10- 1 odds in the field of seven, she won in a final time of 1:52.67. Carmouche won with two New York-breds on Sunday as well.

Danny Gargan trains Juliets Key, a daughter of Shakespeare out of Mizzenkey by Mizzen Mast who was ninth in a New York-bred allowance at 120-1 odds in her previous start with blinkers restored. She sure focused Monday, shooting to the lead from the two post and posting splits of :25.60, :51.24, 1:15.47, chased in second the entire way by 25-1 Justice for Sheena.

Juliets Key stretched her lead to three lengths after a mile in 1:40.94 and held on to win comfortably. Justice for Sheena held second, a length and a half ahead of Quarla, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Angel Arroyo. New York-bred Milkyyourway, who went off at 10-1 odds from the rail under Aaron Gryder, finished fourth, two lengths behind Quarla.

Juliets Key improved her grass record to two for six. She has also raced three times on dirt and has total earnings of more than $30,000.

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August Dawn Farm’s three-year-old colt Baby Snacks split horses under Gabriel Saez in deep stretch Monday to edge front-running Miroc by a head in a $41,000 New York-bred maiden $40,000 claimer. He completed the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:19.03. Baby Snacks, who survived a steward’s inquiry before the race became official, was sent off at odds of 13-1, while Miroc and Angel Arroyo went off at 3-1 odds in the field of seven.

Gary Sciacca trains Baby Snacks, a son of Tale of the Cat out of Near and Dear by Red Ransom who was bred by Mrs. Gerald Nielson and was purchased for $105,000 at the Saratoga Yearling Sale in August 2013. He is a full brother to multiple stakes-winning NY-bred Saratoga Snacks. Baby Snacks was dropping into a maiden claimer for the first time while making his fourth career start.

Miroc took an early lead under heavy pressure from Elusive Talmo, the slight 2-1 favorite under John Velazquez. Bustin the Bank, who was sent off at 9-1 odds with Manuel Franco riding, and Interior Secretary, the 2-1 second choice under Jose Ortiz, weren’t far behind, racing three- and four-wide, respectively, through a quarter in :23.45 and a half-mile in :46.25.

Saez kept Baby Snacks on the rail in fifth, and they finally had room to angle out when Elusive Talmo weakened. Baby Snacks surged on the outside and nailed Miroc just before the wire. Elusive Talmo finished third, a length and a quarter behind Miroc. Bustin the Bank was just a head behind Elusive Talmo in fourth.

Shotgun Love Holds Off Golden Gem to Win Sunday at Aqueduct

Joemar Racing Stables’ homebred four-year-old filly Shotgun Love shot to the lead under Junior Alvarado and gamely held off Golden Gem by three-quarters of a length to capture a $57,000 New York-bred allowance race at Aqueduct Sunday afternoon, completing the six-furlong distance in 1:11.40. Shotgun Love was sent off at odds of 4-1 and Golden Gem, who was adding blinkers and Javier Castellano, went off at 3-1 odds in the field of six. Dominick Schettino trains Shotgun Love, a daughter of Posse out of Lemon Drop’s Love by Lemon Drop Kid. After winning a maiden $25,000 claimer by 3 ¼ lengths under Alvarado, Shotgun Love was a strong third by a length on a sloppy track with Jose Ortiz riding.

On Sunday, Alvarado got Shotgun Love away in front as 21-1 Marc the Sky chased in second on the outside of 5-1 Spuntastic through an opening quarter in :23.57. Shotgun Love extended a one-length lead to three as Golden Gem split horses and advanced into second on the inside. Golden Gem finished strongly, but Shotgun Love held on for the victory. There was a gap of nearly four lengths back to Spuntastic in third. My Super Nova, the 4-5 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., was a distant fourth.

Shotgun Love is now two for nine with one second, five thirds and a shade under $100,000 in earnings.

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Kendrick Carmouche rallied Brad Grady’s four-year-old New York-bred filly C d’Cat to a one- length victory over another New York-bred, Khaleesi Kat, in a $50,000 grass starter allowance Sunday. The final time for the one-mile race was 1:37.45. C d’Cat went off at 9-2 odds from the rail and Khaleesi Kat, ridden by Junior Alvarado, was the 5-2 second choice in the field of eight.

Joe Sharp trains C d’Cat, a daughter of D’wildcat out of Unbridled Grace by Unbridled Jet who was bred by Mina Equivest and was purchased for $50,000 as a yearling in Saratoga in August 2012. C d’Cat had finished in the money in her first four starts before finishing fifth in an allowance race at Belmont on October 24th.

C d’Cat settled in second behind front-running 13-1 shot On a Star, and they remained 1-2 through splits of :24.19, :48.91 and 1:13.56. C d’Cat took over the lead readily when asked by Carmouche and then held off Khaleesi Kat, who rallied strongly to finish second. Sky Gem, the 2-1 favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished third, two lengths behind Khaleesi Kat. Another New York-bred filly, Ten Penny Princess, finished fourth, three-quarters of a length behind Khaleesi Kat, at 13-1 odds.

C d’Cat now has two victories, two seconds and a third from her first six starts, for earnings of more than $90,000.

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Kendrick Carmouche returned to the winner’s circle Sunday with another New York-bred, Pat Generazio’s homebred four-year-old gray gelding East Bay Lodge, who rallied from 10th to win a mile-and-three-eighth $47,000 open $25,000 claimer on the grass by three-quarters of a length over another New York-bred, Hidden Vow, in a final time of 2:18.61. In the field of 11, East Bay Lodge was sent off at odds of 3-1 and Hidden Vow went off at 10-1 odds with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard. Jim Ryerson trains East Bay Lodge, a son of Flower Alley out of Pretty Wicked by The Wicked North who was dropping from a New York-bred allowance/optional $40,000 claimer into a $25,000 open claimer.

East Bay Lodge was far back early as a pair of New York-breds, 8-1 All Over Me and 7-1 Hyman Roth, raced in first and second through a mile in 1:41.39. East Bay Lodge rallied three- wide into contention and cleared the lead in deep stretch, then held off Hidden Vow, who closed strongly for second. Utopian finished third.

East Bay Lodge now has three victories and two seconds in his 19 career starts, all on the grass, for earnings of more than $100,000.

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Carl Buhr’s homebred three-year-old gelding Freudian Lights rallied under Luis Saez to win a $41,000 New York-bred maiden $40,000 claimer on the grass by three-quarters of a length Sunday at Aqueduct. He completed the one-mile distance in 1:37.88 as the 5-2 second choice in a field of 12. Mind Magic, the 2-1 favorite under Jose Ortiz, gamely came again to edge 5-1 Street Fightin Man and Chris DeCarlo by a neck for second. Longisland Express was six lengths back in fourth at 8-1 odds.

Billy Turner trains Freudian Lights, a son of Freud out of Light the Lights by D’Accord who had finished third in three straight races.

Colonel Jessup, a 35-1 longshot ridden by Francisco Arrieta, took the early lead before 4-1 Threes Are Wild, who was adding blinkers with Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding, took over the front through a :47.50 half-mile. Mind Magic, Street Fightin Man and Freudian Lights came after Threes Are Wild, two-, three- and four-wide around the far turn, respectively.

After three-quarters in 1:12.59, Street Fightin Man took a narrow led over Freudian Lights on his outside and Mind Magic on the hedge. But Freudian Lights proved the strongest of the trio to get the job done.

Freudian Lights now has a victory and three thirds from four turf tries. He also has raced three times on dirt and has combined earnings of more than $40,000.

Compliance Officer Rolls; Tops $800,000 in Career Earnings

La Marca Stable’s great gray nine-year-old New York-bred gelding Compliance Officer, sent off at 18-1 odds under new jockey Manuel Franco, bolted to the lead out of the starting gate and never looked back, going past $800,000 in career earnings with a three-length romp in a one- mile $50,000 open $32,000 claimer on the grass Saturday at Aqueduct. Compliance Officer is a son of Officer out of Purple Hills by Dynaformer who was bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and is trained by Bruce Brown. Javier Castellano had ridden Compliance Officer in his last five starts and nine of his last 10.

Leaving sharply from the eight post in a field of 10, Compliance Officer took the lead immediately and quickly opened a two-length lead on 11-1 Coturnix. Compliance Officer led Coturnix by a length after a first quarter in :24.46, a half-mile in :49.25 and three-quarters in 1:13.14. Compliance Office had plenty left for the stretch and he won handily in a final time of 1:37.13. Coturnix saved second, a half-length ahead of Mr Rosenthal, a New York-bred who was coupled with Midnight Notes and went off at 4-1 odds.

Compliance Officer’s victory was his 14th in 46 grass starts with eight seconds and seven thirds. He also has raced twice on dirt and has total earnings of just under $810,000.

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Making his first start for his new owners Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable, Michael Dubb and Head of Plains Partners, and for his new trainer Bill Mott, Uncle Sigh gamely held off Send It In by a head Saturday to win a one-mile $57,000 New York-bred allowance in a final time of 1:36.82. Uncle Sigh was sent off at 4-5 odds under Jose Lezcano, while Send It In, ridden by Manuel Franco, went off at 7-2 odds in the field of eight.

Under trainer Gary Contessa, Uncle Sigh won his second career start, a maiden special weight, by 14 ½ lengths on December 27th, 2013. As a three-year-old in 2014, Uncle Sigh finished second in a pair of Grade 3 stakes, the Withers and the Gotham, and was fifth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. He then finished 14th of 19 in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby before suffering a series of injuries that sidelined him for more than 15 months. He was second and fifth in two starts this year before changing hands in mid-October.

Lezcano let Uncle Sigh settle in on the rail in sixth as 13-1 Euros to Dollars and 53-1 Pierce’s Prize dueled on the front end through a quarter in :23.56 and a half-mile in :47.13.

Lehigh Five, who was adding blinkers under Junior Alvarado and went off at 11-1 odds, and Send It In rushed up three- and four-wide, respectively, on the outside on the far turn to join them. Lezcano kept Uncle Sigh inside in fifth, then swung him outside Pierce’s Prize after three quarters in 1:11.96.

Pierce’s Prize kept battling before being passed by Uncle Sigh and Send It In. Send It In had the final sixteenth of a mile to get past Uncle Sigh, who gamely refused to wilt and held on. Repent Twice, who was adding blinkers and went off at 4-1 odds under Jose Ortiz, rallied to finish third, three lengths behind Send It In while five lengths ahead of Pierce’s Prize in fourth.

Uncle Sigh is now two for nine with four seconds and earnings of more than $280,000.

****************************************************** Repole Stable’s homebred gray colt Spooked Out turned Saturday’s finale, a six-furlong $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for two-year-olds, into a tour de force under John Velazquez. Breaking from the rail as the 4-5 favorite in a field of 10, Spooked Out quickly took the lead and rolled to a 9 ½-length victory in a sharp final time of 1:10.36.

Todd Pletcher trains Spooked Out, a son of Catienus out of Spooked by Silver Ghost who was making his second career start after a hard-fought, front-running second by a length and three- quarters at 6-1 odds in his debut on October 10th at Belmont Park.

Spooked Out set splits of :22.96 and :46.31 and was never seriously challenged. Gehrig, a first- time starter who went off at 5-1 odds with Jose Ortiz aboard, edged 45-1 Gaming by a neck for second. Cause for Surprise was another length back in fourth.

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Trainer Rodrigo Ubillo added blinkers to Chester and Mary Broman’s three-year-old gelding Pop the Hood, and he blew away 11 rivals by 10 ½ lengths at 40-1 odds under Elvis Trujillo in a $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight. He completed the one-mile distance in 1:36.86.

Pop the Hood is a son of Street Cry out of Prophetically by Pulpit who had made three previous starts. In his only dirt race, he finished seven in his debut. Switched to turf, he finished ninth. Ubillo added Lasix and Pop the Hood showed speed before tiring to finish 10th. He was making his first dirt start with Lasix Saturday while also adding shades.

Pop the Hood was the remaining half of an entry of Broman homebreds when Aaron Burr was scratched. Departing from the rail, Pop the Hood got away second on the inside of 9-2 Apache Warrior, who was shedding blinkers under Jose Ortiz. Trujillo asked Pop the Hood for a bit more and he accelerated on the rail to take a three-quarter-length lead through a :23.1 first quarter-mile.

Then Pop the Hood opened up. He led by three lengths after a half-mile in :46.90 and by five lengths after three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.41. Pop the Hood poured it on and won by himself in an impressive performance.

Brimstone, who went off at 5-1 odds with Joel Rosario aboard, rallied to finish second, 2 ½ lengths clear of 16-1 Mascarello, who had shed blinkers under apprentice Eric Cancel. Apache Warrior finished fourth.

Beating Heart Baby Returns in Style Friday

Perfectly prepared for her first start since New Year’s Eve by new trainer Michelle Nevin, Dennis Narlinger’s three-year-old filly Beating Heart Baby won a seven-furlong $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight by nearly seven lengths under Jose Ortiz Friday at Aqueduct. Sent off the even-money favorite in a field of eight from the rail, Beating Heart Baby won in a final time of 1:23.84.

Capistrano Bloodstock bred Beating Heart Baby, a daughter of Eskendereya out of Just Fun by Dehere, who raced twice last year, finishing fifth and third for trainer Leah Gyarmati.

Beating Heart Baby worked five furlongs five times for her return, including one in a sharp 1:00 4/5.

The start of the race was eventful. Paw Annie dumped jockey Elvis Trujillo, then smacked the horse inside her, first-time starter Satin Frost, leaving her far back. Paw Annie caused concern, cutting inside front-running horses early, then tiring and racing close to the leaders outside late. Fortunately, she didn’t bother any of the other horses.

Ortiz settled Beating Heart Baby into third as 6-1 Lilikoi led 2-1 Counter Culture, who was adding blinkers, by a length through an opening quarter in :23.84. Lillikoi inched out to a length- and-a-half lead on Counter Culture after a half-mile in :47.22 before both Counter Culture and Beating Heart Baby rallied.

Counter Culture took over the lead at the head of the stretch, but it didn’t last long as Beating Heart Baby blew by her in mid-stretch. Beating Heart Baby then opened up a daylight advantage and cruised home. Counter Culture held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Lillikoi. Lil Renegade was a distant fourth at 8-1 odds.

Beating Heart Baby now has a win and a third from three starts, for earnings of more than $45,000.

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Repole Stable’s homebred Taken by Surprise made her dirt debut a winning one, scoring by nearly three lengths under John Velazquez in a six-furlong $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight Friday. Sent off at 5-1 odds in the field of eight, she won in a final time of 1:11.64.

Todd Pletcher trains Taken by Surprise, a daughter of Giant Surprise out of Poovey by Graeme Hall who had finished fourth and ninth on turf in her first two starts, one at Saratoga and one at Belmont.

Taken by Surprise got away second on the outside of front-running 7-1 Rock Garden. Rock Garden led Taken by Surprise by three-quarters of a length after a quarter in :22.89. Taken by Surprise made her bid for the lead around the far turn and took over after a half-mile in :46.46. She continued on strongly to the wire to win handily.

Absatootly, a first-time starter on the rail who went off at 11-1 odds under Jose Ortiz, rallied to finish second, a length and a half clear of Rock Garden in third. Another firster, 3-1 Super Allison, was another neck back in fourth. ******************************************************

After long stretch battle in Friday’s finale, Cornelio Velasquez rallied Fox Ridge Farm’s homebred Eloweasel to a head victory over game front-runner Lady’s First in a $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight on the grass for two-year-old fillies. She completed the one- mile distance in 1:40.93. Eloweasel, who broke from the outside post in the field of 10, was sent off at odds of 7-1 and Lady’s First, who broke from the two post under apprentice Eric Cancel, was the 3-1 third choice. Eloweasel survived a claim of foul.

Subtle Lady, who went off at 23-1 odds from the rail under Manuel Franco, finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Lady’s First. Rapazza Di Papa was a close fourth at 5-2 odds.

Eloweasel is a daughter of City Zip out of A.P. Test by A.P. Indy who was making her third start for trainer Pat Kelly. She finished fifth in her debut on grass, then fourth with Lasix added in her turf debut.

Velasquez got Eloweasel away fourth as Lady’s First led 78-1 Tiffanys Freud and 4-1 Ally’s Envy through a quarter-mile in :24.55 and a half-mile in :50.90. When Tiffanys Freud and Ally’s Envy tired, Eloweasel rushed up to engage Lady’s First. After three-quarters in 1:16.69, they battled to the wire, with Eloweasel wearing down the front-runner in the final frantic yards.

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A drop in class was all co-owner/trainer Steve Klesaris and Hibiscus Stable’s five-year-old gray speedster The Big Deluxe needed to return to the winner’s circle. The Big Deluxe engaged in an early speed duel and still had plenty left to draw away under Luis Saez and register a 4 ½-length victory as the 3-2 favorite in a six-furlong $47,000 New York-bred $25,000 claimer, registering a sharp final time of 1:09.84.

The Big Deluxe is a son of Silver Wagon out of M’Lady Doc by Doc’s Leader who was bred by Scott Goldsher.

Klesaris and Hibiscus Stable claimed The Big Deluxe for $40,000 when he finished fifth at Saratoga on August 10th. He was second, 10th and sixth in his first three starts for his new connections, the last in a New York-bred $40,000 claimer when he finished sixth at 7-2 odds.

He was taking on a salty group of claimers Friday. Each of the seven horses had won more than $100,000 and, collectively, had more than $2.2 million in earnings.

The Big Deluxe rushed up to take a narrow lead over 8-1 Chapman, ridden by Manuel Franco. The Big Deluxe led Chapman by a neck after an opening quarter in :22.48, then by just a head after a :45.24 half-mile.

At that point, The Big Deluxe spurted away impressively, winning by himself. Joe Mooch, who went off at 6-1 odds from the rail under Kendrick Carmouche, finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 7-2 Star of New York. Pegasus Red was just a nose behind Star of New York in fourth at 8-1 odds.

The Big Deluxe is now eight for 20 at six furlongs and eight for 29 overall on dirt, with three seconds and a pair of thirds. He also has two victories and a second from eight turf tries, for total earnings of more than $370,000.

Wake Up in Malibu Scores Wire-to-Wire Thursday

Beautifully rated on the front end by Jose Ortiz, Saul and Max Kupferberg’s four-year-old gelding Wake Up in Malibu, a recent acquisition, captured a one-mile $59,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $40,000 claimer by two lengths Thursday at Aqueduct. Sent off the 8-5 co- favorite in a field of seven, Wake Up in Malibu won in a final time of 1:35.79.

Beautyinthepulpit, who was making his first start since February 12th, finished second under Luis Saez at 7-2 odds. One Sided, who also went off at 8-5 odds under John Velazquez, finished third, a little more than a length behind Beautyinthepulpit. Johannesburg Smile was a non- threatening fourth at 17-1 odds.

Wake Up in Malibu is a son of Malibu Moon out of Wake Up Kiss by Cure the Blues who was bred by Edition Farm and sold for $100,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in September 2012.

The Kupferbergs and trainer John Parisella claimed Wake Up in Malibu for $35,000 at Saratoga on August 30th, when he won by a nose under Manuel Franco. In his first start for his new connections on October 11th at Belmont Park, Wake Up in Malibu was a front-running third by a half-length, a nose behind One Sided in second, with Ortiz aboard for the first time. That afternoon, Wake Up in Malibu, who had added front bandages, went off at 6-1 odds and One Sided was sent off at odds of 5-2. They both went off at 8-5 odds Thursday.

Breaking from the six post in the field of seven, Wake Up in Malibu made the lead quickly, leading One Sided and Beautyinthepulpit by a length and a half through a :23.55 first quarter- mile. Wake Up in Malibu maintained that margin on One Sided, who continued racing on the outside of Beautyinthepulpit, through a half-mile in :46.81.

Wake Up in Malibu edged away to lead by two lengths through three-quarters in 1:10.81, and continued on strongly to the wire to win.

Wake Up in Malibu is now four for 10 on dirt with four thirds. He also has two seconds and a third from four turf tries, for total earnings of more than $205,000.

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Pounded down to 3-5 favoritism in a field of five, Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence’s three-year-old filly Building Permit overpowered front-running Smilingsundae on the way to a handy 3 ½-length victory under Aaron Gryder in a $57,000 New York-bred allowance in Thursday’s opener. She covered the one-mile distance in 1:39.61.

Chad Brown trains Building Permit, a daughter of Bellamy Road out of Unbridled Blessing by Unbridled’s Song who was bred by William Jones, Frank Antonacci, Geoff Stein, David Reid et al and sold for $80,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in August 2013.

Building Permit has been remarkably consistent. Following a distant fourth in her two-year-old debut at Saratoga, she has finished in the money in every start since.

On Thursday, breaking from the outside post, she settled in second as Joel Rosario gunned Smilingsundae, who went off at 5-1 odds from the rail, to the lead. Smilingsundae led Building Permit by two lengths after an opening quarter in :24.62, then by a length after running a half- mile in :49.19.

Gryder moved Building Permit up on Smilingsundae’s outside around the far turn, and she quickly took over the lead after three-quarters in 1:14.34. Then Building Permit opened up, expanding her lead to win easily. Roman Reign, who went off at 12-1 odds under Luis Saez, finished second, a half-length ahead of Even Bette, the 2-1 second choice under Jose Ortiz. Smilingsundae finished fourth.

Building Permit now has two victories, four seconds and a third from eight starts, for earnings of just under $140,000.

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Racing on just three days’ rest after rallying from 11th to fifth on closing day at Belmont Park Sunday, Gateway Stables’ gelding Dearie scored a three-length victory in Thursday’s finale, a one-mile $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight on the grass for two-year-olds. Receiving a huge rider switch from Francisco Arrieta to John Velazquez, Dearie went off the 5-2 favorite in a field of 12.

Leo O’Brien, Velazquez’ father-in-law, trains Dearie, a son of Cosmonaut out of Countess Imperio by Awesome Again who was bred by Michael Imperio.

Dearie began his career on a sloppy track at Saratoga he couldn’t handle; he was eased. When switched to grass, Dearie finished eighth, then third and fifth, when he broke last in a field of 12 at Belmont on closing day.

Velazquez got Dearie away sixth as 74-1 King Dublin led through a quarter in :23.39 and a half in :48.88. Then 5-1 Ranger’s Coming, who had been third, 29-1 Vino Blanco and Dearie on the far outside all rallied around the far turn.

Ranger’s Coming, ridden by David Amiss, struck the front, but he had no answer for Dearie, who streaked past him in mid-stretch to win in a final time of 1:39.59. Rooftop View, who went off at 80-1 odds under Manuel Franco, rallied to finish second in his turf debut, a length and a half ahead of Ranger’s Coming in third. Vino Blanco finished fourth.

Dearie now has a win and a third from four turf starts, for earnings of more than $40,000.

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Jose Ortiz rallied My Purple Haze Stables’ three-year-old filly Splendid Gold to a half-length victory over Autumn Squall in a six-furlong $50,000 starter allowance in her first start off the claim Thursday. Sent off at 4-1 odds in the field of five, Splendid Gold won in a final time of 1:10.89.

Splendid Gold is a daughter of Mineshaft out of Karakorum Splendor by A.P. Jet who was bred by Gallagher’s Stud and sold for $65,000 as a yearling in October 2013. Splendid Gold was trained by Linda Rice for her first eight starts before My Purple Haze Stable and trainer Chris Englehart claimed her for $40,000 when she won a New York-bred maiden claimer on the grass by 2 ½ lengths under Ortiz at 8-5 odds on October 7th.

She raced in third early as Eta Carinae, the 8-5 favorite under John Velazquez, set the pace while pressured on her outside by 3-1 Autumn Squall through an opening quarter in :22.75. Autumn Squall made her bid for the lead around the far turn and made it at the top of the stretch after a half-mile in :45.85. Then Splendid Gold took her on in the final sixteenth of a mile. Autumn Squall fought on bravely, but Splendid Gold wore her down late. Yes for Success, the 2-1 second choice, finished third, 2 ¼ lengths behind Autumn Squall.

Splendid Gold now has a win and a second from two dirt starts. She is one for seven on grass with two seconds and a third, for total earnings topping $90,000.

Flexibility Finishes Second in the Grade 2 Nashua at the Big A

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s two-year-old New York-bred colt Flexibility finished a strong second to even-money favorite Mohaymen in the 41st running of the one-mile $200,000 Grade 2 Nashua Stakes on opening day at Aqueduct Wednesday afternoon.

Despite being parked in the extreme outside position in the field of seven, Flexibility rallied on the outside to finish second, a little less than two lengths behind Mohaymen, a $2.2 million yearling purchase who upped his record to two-for-two for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and jockey Junior Alvarado by winning in a final time of 1:36.01. Flexibility edged 6-1 Sail Ahoy for second.

Flexibility went off the 5-2 second choice under Manuel Franco. Trained by Chad Brown, Flexibility was making his second start after winning his debut in a New York-bred maiden special weight by a length and three-quarters at Belmont Park on October 10th at 6-5 odds. The son of Bluegrass Cat out of Sanda Vindi by Vindication, bred by WinStar Farm, sold for $185,000 earlier this year.

Flexibility alternated in fourth and fifth early, then followed the rally of Mohaymen on the far turn. Flexibility was passed on the inside by Sail Ahoy, but gamely came again to finish second.

He has already earned $76,000 in two starts.

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Angel Arroyo eventually got Miracle Man Racing Partners’ homebred, the New York-bred four- year-old gelding Lyrical Miracle, to the lead and he overwhelmed seven opponents, taking a one-mile $27,000 conditional $16,000 claimer by five lengths Wednesday at 34-1 odds.

Lyrical Miracle, who was previously trained by Billy Turner, was making his first start for new trainer David Donk after finishing seventh by 25 ½ lengths at Belmont Park on October 11th. Lyrical Miracle is a son of Miracle Man out of Five Songs by Forestry.

Lyrical Miracle, who broke from the five post, was one of three horses who vied for the early lead. An even bigger New York-bred longshot, 45-1 April Color, took an early lead on the outside of Lyrical Miracle. Otis My Man was right there three-wide through an opening quarter in :24.33 and a half-mile in :48.17.

Then Lyrical Miracle broke clear on the rail and began to open up dramatically. He hit three- quarters by himself in 1:12.53 and cruised home in a final time of 1:37.21. Another New York- bred, 8-1 Sugar Gold, finished second, nearly three lengths ahead of Stevie’s Moonshot, the 1-2 favorite under Cornelio Velasquez. Otis My Man finished a distant fourth.

Lyrical Miracle improved his dirt record to two for 20 with a pair of seconds and five thirds. He also has raced three times on dirt for total earnings of more than $90,000.