DECEMBER 2002
(12/29) Tom's Thunder sets all splits in Alex M. Robb
A born-again sprinter throughout most of 2002, winning three six-furlong
dashes in under 1:10 and placing second in Belmont's six-furlong Hudson
Handicap on New York Showcase Day, Michael Dubb's newly acquired
TOM'S THUNDER returned to two-turn routing to capture Aqueduct's
$85,500 Alex M. Robb Handicap for New York-breds on Sunday. Sent off
the 4.40-to-1 third choice among 10 starters for the mile and a sixteenth
event -- his first outing at beyond seven furlongs since placing second
in Aqueduct's mile and an eighth Kings Point Handicap on April 28
-- the four-year-old gelding was out quickly from the third post position.
He outran 3.70-to-1 favorite John Paul Too to his immediate outside
to get the lead and the rail, where he set honest early fractions
of 23.70 and 23.80. After a third quarter in 24.52, John Paul Too
pulled to within a head of Tom's Thunder, and the two entered the
stretch almost abreast while covering the fourth quarter in 24.50.
Both were hesitant to switch to their right leads on the drying-out
track that had been listed as "good" for the day's first
three races, but John Paul Too switched first and appeared ready to
take command before Tom's Thunder dug in under urging from jockey
Charles Lopez. Switching leads in mid-stretch, Tom's Thunder held
off John Paul Too, running his final sixteenth of a mile in 6.40 seconds
to win by half a length in 1:42.92. John Paul Too placed a neck in
front of 4.50-to-1 fourth choice Mount Intrepid, who rallied four
wide to finish third.
The winning time for Tom's Thunder was just .13 off the stakes record
of 1:42.79, set in January of 2001 by Turnofthecentury. The Alex M.
Robb has had 24 consecutive runnings at a mile and a sixteenth, but
the 2000 renewal was postponed to January because of weather, and
the event was run again on December 30 of 2001. The 2002 Alex M. Robb
marked the second stakes victory at Aqueduct for Tom's Thunder, who
won the New York Stallion Times Square Stakes at a one-turn mile there
for breeder Herbert Schwartz in April of 2001, and it was his fourth
two-turn win on Aqueduct's winterized inner track. The stakes score
increased the dark bay gelding's earnings by $51,300 to $407,625 and
improved his record to 8 - 9 - 3 in 38 starts. It was his second victory
under Lopez, who has now been aboard Tom's Thunder in five races,
including a 7 1/4-length first-place Aqueduct maiden finish in December
of 2000 that resulted in a disqualification and an Aqueduct score
in December of 2001 when the gelding was claimed for $60,000. Tom's
Thunder was claimed a second time in his previous start on December
1 at Aqueduct, when he placed second while racing at six furlongs
and was haltered for $75,000 by trainer Patrick Reynolds on behalf
of new owner Michael Dubb.
Reynolds obviously felt the claim was a wise move: "We were well
drawn, and it's so hard to take back with that short run to the first
turn," explained Reynolds. "C.C. Lopez has done the cat
and mouse game once or twice before. Being loose helps this horse,
but that's not to take away from him. He shows up every time and is
really game. We paid a lot for him, but that $75,000 price tag doesn't
look so big right now."
Lopez, whose last previous ride aboard Tom's Thunder was in the victory
a year earlier when the gelding was claimed the first time, has long
held the New York-bred in high regard: "He's always been a nice
horse," Lopez pointed out. "Every time John Paul Too got
even, my horse would give me a little more. I'm always tough on the
front end."
Bred by Herbert Schwartz of Woodmere, the 2001 Small Breeder of the
Year (20 or fewer runners) who qualified for the maximum $10,000 breeder
award as a result of the 2002 Robb, Tom's Thunder is by former leading
New York-bred money-earner Thunder Puddles ($791,695), whom Schwartz
also bred and raced. That New York-based stallion (Speak John - Big
Puddles, by Delta Judge) stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's
Highcliff Farm in Delanson and qualified his syndicate owners
for a $3,591 stallion award. Tom's Thunder is the only offspring of
racing age produced from New York-bred Smart Holly ($187,227), a multiple
Aqueduct allowance-winning daughter of Smarten out of New York-bred
stakes winner Fast Holly ($188,278) whose trainer at the conclusion
of her career was Scott Schwartz, son of breeder Herb Schwartz.
NOVEMBER 2002
(11/9) 2YO Mr. Meso Is NY Stallion Mesopotamia's 1st Stakes Winner
- Out of State
Laurine Barreira's two-year-old Mr. Meso went head-to-head with 1.10-to-1
favorite Wellfleet in Suffolk's open black-type Anthony DeSpirito
Stakes on Saturday, November 9, wearing down his highly-regarded rival
in the stretch to pull away to a three-length victory and become the
first stakes winner sired by New York stallion MESOPOTAMIA.
Ridden for the fourth consecutive time by Winston Albert Thompson,
the late-foaled (April 29, 2000) bay colt improved his record to two
wins in four starts, which includes an 8 1/2-length open maiden special
victory going five furlongs at Rockingham on September 9. The Lori
Lockhart trainee went off as the 6.90-to-1 fourth choice among seven
starters in the featured six-furlong DeSpirito and was the second
consecutive winner for Thompson on Suffolk's November 9 card.
Bred by Cedar Lock Farm & Racing Stable, Mr. Meso is the fifth
winner produced from Suffolk stakes winner Miss Lavish, who is by
Banquet Table and is a half-sister to stakes winner Eastman Star (dam
of Grade 3 winner Fuller's Folly) and to the dam of stakes winner
Pulled Through. The colt is among 10 winners (of 19 races) sired by
Mesopotamia, an Aqueduct-winning son of Deputy Minister - Mesappiano,
by Fappiano, owned by Seymour Cohn and standing at Carl Lizza Jr.'s
and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson at private
contract. Mesopotamia's winning dam is a full sister to stakes winners
Funistrada ($479,404) and Wakonda ($415,400), and his second dam is
a half-sister to Eclipse Champion Cozzene ($978,152), who still is
the only sire of winners of both the Breeders' Cup Classic and Breeders'
Cup Turf.
(11/29)
Jelly Roll Rock rolls to break maiden
Trainer Joe Orseno equipped JELLY ROLL ROCK with blinkers today
and that seemed to be the catalyst for Jelly Roll Rock to break his
maiden. Racing in his 20th career start, last four with Orseno, Jelly
Roll Rock had the 12 post in the seven-furlong affair for state-bred
maidens, which was run over the main track at Aqueduct. Orseno named
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. to ride the four year-old dark bay colt.
Breaking alertly, Jelly Roll Rock sat just off the early pace set
by Life At Sea with Captain Smith another length back in third. Midway
in the last turn, Jelly Roll Rock was sent up to engage the leader
and had the lead shortly after the field straightened for home. Once
in front, Jelly Roll Rock drew off from the field, winning while under
a drive by four and one-half lengths.
Bred by the Billings Partnership, Jelly Roll Rock is by Prosper Fager,
out of the Green Dancer mare, Winelight, who is the first foal out
of Cherokee Frolic (Cherokee Fellow) winner of 9 stakes races including
the Grade 2-Test Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and the Grade 3 -
Railbird stakes at Hollywood Park. Unraced, Winelight has produced
13 foals, including the graded stakes placed and stakes winner Jelly
Roll Jive (Prosper Fager) and Japan stakes-placed winner Eishin Windom
(Peteski).
Jelly Roll Rock has hit the board in half of his lifetime starts and
has now earned $102,540. The Billings Partnership has collected breeder
(20%) and stallion (7%) awards amounting to $27,686. Breeder and stallion
awards are part of the incentives provided by the New York Breeding
and Racing Program. The stallion, Prosper Fager, stands at Highcliff
Farm in Delanson, New York.
(11/23)
Rate Base ($47.40) refuses to quit against open claimers
Although his published past performance lines did not go back far
enough to indicate it, C'est Tout Stable's homebred RATE BASE
is at least as accomplished -- and possibly more so -- on dirt as
he is on turf. The six-year-old New York-bred had been unplaced in
five previous NYRA starts on grass -- the last three with a $35,000
claiming tag -- and was coming off a layoff of seven weeks and a day
for Aqueduct's second race on Saturday, a mile and an eighth main
track contest. Once again he had a $35,000 claiming price, as did
five of his competitors with another three in for $25,000, and since
the majority of his starts had been on turf, the dark bay gelding
was dismissed as the 22.70-to-1 sixth choice among eight wagering
interests (nine starters). With apprentice jockey Luis Chavez up for
the first time -- Rate Base's 14th jockey over a five-year career
-- and carrying only 112 pounds because of Chavez's five-pound apprentice
allowance -- the stage was set for Rate Base's fourth NYRA main track
victory.
New York-breds led the way almost from the start, as Empire State-bred
Gunning gunned out to a seven-length lead in the first half-mile with
Rate Base tracking him. After three-quarters of a mile, Rate Base
had whittled Gunning's margin down to three lengths but was joined
by 1.35-to-1 favorite Inky Lawson, who took over second place coming
out of the second turn. By mid-stretch, Inky Lawson and Rate Base
had overtaken Gunning, with Inky Lawson leading by a head on the outside,
but those two then were joined in the final furlong by 4.80-to-1 third
choice Gail's Drive on a ground-saving trip next to the rail. In tight
quarters with rivals on either side of him, Rate Base dug in and pushed
his nose in front, winning narrowly. Inky Lawson, who placed third
-- a head behind Gail's Drive -- was claimed out of the contest by
owner-trainer Scott Lake for $35,000.
Rate Base, whose NYRA wins also include an open allowance score on
Aqueduct's main track two years earlier and a mile and a quarter turf
tally (his second at that distance) with a $50,000 claiming price
at Belmont in May, picked up $19,500 for his victory in the $32,500
contest. In addition to boosting his career earnings to $238,198 and
improving his record to 6 - 2 - 9 in 54 starts, he also qualified
his owner-breeder, Howard Read's C'est Tout Stable of Albany, for
an open race owner award of $3,900 and a breeder award of $3,900.
The Michael Daggett trainee is by New York-bred champion and New York
stallion Thunder Puddles ($791,695), who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s
and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson and whose syndicate
owners qualified for a $1,365 stallion award.
Rate Base is among four New York-bred starters, all allowance winners,
bred by Read from New York-bred Belmont-Aqueduct allowance winner
Madame Mystique ($123,161), who also raced for C'est Tout Stable.
The gelding's half-siblings include Power Choice ($133,590), who has
won Aqueduct allowance races at seven furlongs and a mile and a sixteenth
(in 2002), and Maltbie, who won Belmont and Aqueduct allowance races
at six furlongs. Madame Mystique, who is by the late New York stallion
Sir Wimborne, is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Higgler ($397,175).
OCTOBER 2002
 |
|
WELL FANCIED
|
(10/19) Well Fancied squeezes through to win Hudson
Four-year-old WELL FANCIED had first tried stakes competition
in Belmont's Hudson Handicap during New York Showcase of 2001, placing
third behind Impeachthepro and leading New York-bred earner Say Florida
Sandy. He scored his first stakes victory by beating those two and
seven others in Belmont's seven-furlong General Douglas MacArthur
Handicap on September 6, winning by 4 1/4 lengths, and off that effort
was made the 1.35-to-1 favorite among 13 starters (12 wagering interests)
for Belmont's $125,000 Hudson Handicap. Ridden in the six-furlong
event by John Velazquez, who had first been aboard for the MacArthur,
the bay gelding broke from the inside post position and raced close
behind a wall of three and then four front-runners, as three-year-old
Smokieisabandit set or forced fractions of 22.08, 45.24 and 57.31.
By mid-stretch, Well Fancied was still behind Tom's Thunder and Smokieisabandit
while pinched in next to the rail, bumping with the latter several
times before squeezing through to get the lead and win by a length
over Tom's Thunder, who finished a nose in front of late closer Vodka.
Say Florida Sandy finished fourth to boost his earnings to $1,937,855.
Well Fancied's winning time in his second consecutive stakes victory
was 1:09.82. He was the first of three stakes winners on the card
ridden by Velazquez, who did not seem all that impressed with his
own daring riding performance: "We actually had a pretty good
trip in behind horses," Velazquez modestly pointed out. "The
problem was no hole opened up until we were in mid-stretch. There
was a little room on the rail, and I went for it. Things were a little
tight. We got bumped around -- he actually hit the rail -- and it
knocked his confidence and mine, too. I squeezed him again, and he
had an extra gear and got through."
Sanford Goldfarb of Old Westbury, who owns Well Fancied in partnership
with Stewart Hoffman and Jonathan Flesig, gave credit to both Velazquez
and the gelding's trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr.: "Johnny's boot
was all scuffed up from hitting the rail. I give Rick (Dutrow) the
credit for this one. When we got this horse, his will wasn't there.
Rick said this horse would be the next Say Florida Sandy. Johnny (Velazquez)
is a real big key, too. He's gotten this horse to relax."
Trainer Dutrow expressed relief and optimism: "The only way I
saw him getting beat today was the trip -- and that almost happened.
He's really come together for us. This horse is really moving forward.
Patience and getting to know him has really worked well. The only
thing we've changed with him was -- after he bled one day -- we put
him on shavings. You could see he was in really tight at the rail,
but he didn't care. He wanted to win. He's been beat a couple of close
ones; today, he showed he really wants to win. We got lucky to get
through."
For his second consecutive stakes victory, Well Fancied picked up
$75,000 to put his earnings at $288,942 and improve his record to
6 - 3 - 3 in 18 starts. He also qualified his breeder and former owner
(prior to 2002), Seymour Cohn of New York City, for the maximum $10,000
breeder award. Well Fancied is the fifth stakes winner sired by New
York stallion Prosper Fager (Mr. Prospector - Princess Fager, by Dr.
Fager), who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff
Farm in Delanson and whose connections at the time of Well Fancied's
conception qualified for a $5,250 stallion award. The Hudson Handicap
winner is the only offspring produced by Patty's Fancy Tric, a Tricky
Creek mare who placed once at Aqueduct in two starts as a two-year-old
for Cohn. Well Fancied's second dam is Elpaso Patty, who won three
stakes at Suffolk Downs.
(10/7) NY-Bred Grasp the Moment Wins Mountaineer
Feature
Mountaineer fans still have not totally caught on to the angle of
New York-breds shipping in to the Chester, West Virginia track to
score upsets, but they might be learning. Latest example of this phenomenon
was GRASP THE MOMENT, racing for the Flying Zee Stables of
Carl Lizza Jr. of Wharton, New Jersey, who won Mountaineer's allowance
feature for three-year-old fillies (non-winners of two races lifetime)
on Monday evening, October 7, as the 6.40-to-1 fifth choice among
nine starters. Ridden for the second time by Pedro Rodriguez, the
chestnut filly was reserved back in fifth place for the first half-mile
of the two-turn one-mile contest, then advanced on the second turn
to get the lead by mid-stretch and won edging away by three-quarters
of a length. Favored Lindsey's Pride (2-to-1), who was coming off
a mile-and-70-yard maiden special victory at Mountaineer in August
and had finished in the top three in her last six previous starts,
was never a factor.
Trained by Oscar Barrera Jr., Grasp the Moment is a Flying Zee Stable
homebred foaled at the Highcliff Farm in Delanson that is owned
by Lizza and Joseph Bartone. Her sire is syndicated New York stallion
Key Contender, a Grade 1-winning multiple NYRA record-setter
who stands at Highcliff Farm, and her dam is Flying Zee Stable New
York homebred Groovy's Fairest, by Groovy. Grasp the Moment has a
multiple open allowance-winning full brother, New York-bred Apt Contender
($130,638), who also races for Flying Zee Stable under the care of
trainer Barrera and is the first offspring produced from Groovy's
Fairest, who has an unraced two-year-old full sister to Grasp the
Moment named Fairchild.
SEPTEMBER 2002
(9/28) Millionaire Sprinter Kelly Kip to Stand 2003 at NY's Highcliff
Hobeau Farm's homebred millionaire graded winner and multiple track
record-setter, KELLY KIP ($1,157,142), arrived at Carl Lizza
Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm on Saturday, September
28, where he will stand his third season at stud in 2003. Fee for
the seven-time graded winner, whose four track records included six
furlongs in 1:07.54 and 1:07.61 under top weight in successive renewals
of Aqueduct's Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap, will be $2,500, live foal.
He remains the property of his breeder, the Florida-based Hobeau Farm
of Jack Dreyfus, who founded the Dreyfus Mutual Fund.
Winner of 10 stakes, including three Grade 2 events and five Grade
3 contests, Kelly Kip has a racing record that is unique by any standards.
He won graded stakes at ages two, three, four and five and is one
of the few horses ever to have gone under 1:08 for six furlongs twice
-- a feat even Mr. Prospector never accomplished. Kelly Kip is the
only sprinter to have run Daily Racing Form Beyer speed figures of
120 or higher for three successive years (1997, 1998, 1999), and he
compiled his record of bone-shattering times while racing with virtually
no medication. In 31 starts, he never competed on Lasix medication
and only once ran on Phenylbutazone (Bute) while winning the Suffolk
Downs Breeders' Cup under top weight during a four-month span when
he won five stakes -- four graded -- and set two track records.
"He was very generous, and awfully good to us" recalled
Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, who conditioned Kelly Kip for
the horse's entire racing career. Jerkens observed that of all the
standout sprinters he had trained, Kelly Kip "could probably
top them all," putting him in the same class with Vosburgh winner
Duck Dance.
As a two-year-old, Kelly Kip won his first start by 6 1/2 lengths
in the slop at Belmont in 55 3/5 for five furlongs -- setting a track
record that still stands. Victories by 4 1/2 lengths and 10 1/2 lengths
followed in Belmont's Grade 3 Tremont Stakes and Saratoga's Grade
3 Sanford Stakes, respectively, and he concluded his juvenile season
with a two-length tally in Aqueduct's Huntington Stakes. As a three-year-old,
Kelly Kip won Belmont's Grade 2 Forest Hills Handicap against older
horses in 1:08 4/5 for six furlongs and a 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga allowance
on an off track in 1:14 4/5 for a 120 Beyer figure that was the year's
highest for a three-year-old. His stakes wins at four included Saratoga's
Grade 2 A Phenomenon under top weight, Laurel's Grade 2 Frank J. De
Francis Memorial Dash while spotting seven pounds to Affirmed Success,
Aqueduct's Grade 3 Bold Ruler by six lengths under top weight in a
track record 1:07.61 for six furlongs, and the Grade 3 Finger Lakes
Breeders' Cup under top weight in record time.
Kelly Kip won both of his starts the following year, breaking his
own Aqueduct track record by winning the Grade 3 Bold Ruler under
top weight by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:07.54 while spotting eight pounds
to future Eclipse Champion Sprinter Artax. He later developed a nagging
hock infection which eventually led to his retirement to stud, standing
his first two seasons in Florida. Offspring from his first crop are
current weanlings.
By the Valid Appeal stallion Kipper Kelly, who has sired 83 percent
winners from starters, Kelly Kip is a full brother to the rapidly
improving Terry Kelly ($156,039), who won a $67,600 seven-furlong
Woodbine allowance by 4 3/4 lengths on September 29. His winning half-siblings
include the dam of Meadow Gem ($208,012), who won Woodbine's seven-furlong
Grade 3 Duchess Stakes last year by 2 1/4 lengths. Kipper Kelly's
dam, Marianne Theresa ($101,479), by John's Gold, was a NYRA allowance
winner at both seven furlongs and a mile and a sixteenth who finished
a close fourth in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Interborough Handicap.
(9/18)
Scarlet Billows wins first time out at Belmont Park
Inis Fada Farm's SCARLET BILLOWS made her first career start
a winning one today at Belmont Park. Racing against 2 year-old state-bred
fillies in a six-furlong affair, Scarlet Billows was overlooked by
the betting public, going to the post at 14-1. Trained by Michael
Nevin, the two year-old bay filly was given a heady ride by Dale Whittaker.
Four fillies vied for the early lead with Katies Danza and Special
Girl coming away with the lead. The leaders were racing well off the
rail heading into the last turn, and Whittaker decided to send the
brave little filly throw an inviting opening along the rail to gain
command at the top of the stretch. Once clear, Scarlet Billows drew
off from the field to win by three lengths. Katies Danza closed strongly
in the late stages to finish second by a neck over Bird Key.
Bred by Barbara A. Fausner at her Country Gentleman Farm in Nassau,
New York, Scarlet Billows is by Scarlet Ibis, out of Harvard Mistress,
by Harvard Man. Harvard Mistress has had four foal to race including
Slightly Scarlet (Scarlet Ibis) winner of $192,702 and College Point
(Noble Nashua) winner of $149,549. Scarlet Ibis stands at Carl Lizza
and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York.
(9/7) NY-Bred Illegal Steals Charles Town MSW by 11 1/2 lengths
- Out of state
Scuderia Montese Stable's New York-bred two-year-old, ILLEGAL,
was no surprise when he shipped into Charles Town for a 4 1/2-furlong
maiden special contest on Saturday, September 7, going off the .60-to-1
favorite among 10 starters, but few could have predicted he would
dominate as overwhelmingly as he did. With jockey Juan Ortega up for
the third time in as many starts, the dark bay broke on top and had
a 3 1/2-length lead while in hand after a quarter-mile, and he extended
his margin all the way to the wire, winning by 11 1/2 lengths in 53.21.
Illegal made his racing debut at Saratoga on July 26 and competed
at Timonium on August 24, and in both of those unplaced efforts the
lead half-mile fractions were slower than what Illegal set (46.54)
for four furlongs while cruising to his first victory. Trained by
Raimondo Schiano-DiCola, the New York-bred was a $3,300 weanling purchase
out of Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 2000 December mixed sale in Timonium,
Maryland, where Michele Schiano-DiCola signed the sales slip. Illegal's
breeder is Juliana Garofalo, and he is the first starter from the
fourth crop of New York stallion and Grade 1 winner Key Contender
(Fit to Fight - Key Witness, by Key to the Mint), who stands at Carl
Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson.
Illegal also is the first offspring produced by nine-time winner Irish
Weekend ($111 ,316), a Mehmet mare that won allowance races on dirt
and turf at Pimlico and was purchased for $4,500 by Dr. Francis Garofalo
at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's 1998 mixed sale at Timonium as a five-year-old
not-bred broodmare prospect. A half-brother to Irish Weekend, Tory
Sound, set a six-furlong track record of 1:09 flat at Sportsman's
Park in 1993.
AUGUST 2002
(8/24)
Fromheretoheaven by 4 from off pace in slop
Paul Pompa Jr.'s three-year-old filly, FROMHERETOHEAVEN, might
not have been ready to go two turns back in May, but in Saratoga's
seven-furlong opener on Saturday, a $43,000 restricted N1X allowance
for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, she looked more than
ready for another stab at route running. The 2.85-to-1 second choice
among nine starters with Norberto Arroyo Jr. up for the second consecutive
time and encountering her initial racing experience on a sloppy track,
the chestnut New York-bred lagged back in eighth place through the
first quarter-mile while sixth choice Lady Commando set the pace.
She rallied four-wide on the turn after passing two competitors, then
angled to the inside for the stretch drive, getting up to within half
a length of Lady Commando by mid-stretch and drawing clear late to
win by four lengths. Favored Love On Hold (2.15-to-1), the only four-year-old
in the contest and a stakes-placed juvenile in 2000 who had broken
her maiden in the slop at Saratoga, tired in the stretch in her second
start off a 14-month layoff.
Fromheretoheaven missed her chance to avenge a narrow third-place
neck decision to Whispered Call in her previous start on August 3
at Saratoga, when she was bumped at the start and ran four-wide to
finish less than a length off the winner, since Whispered Call was
scratched from the contest. That race still might have been a harbinger
of Saturday's performance, because it had been Fromheretoheaven's
best effort since winning a seven-furlong Belmont contest on June
2 with a $20,000 claiming price for her owner-breeder, Carl Lizza
Jr.'s Flying Zee Stable. Eighteen days later, she was in again for
$20,000 going six furlongs at Belmont and was claimed while finishing
a close third. Promoted to the $25,000 claiming level for another
six-furlong Belmont contest just six days later, she had a bobbled
start and obviously was not running on fresh legs, finishing unplaced,
but again was claimed -- this time by trainer Rene Araya on behalf
of Pompa -- and given a 38-day "respite."
Fromheretoheaven's latest victory increased her earnings by $25,800
to $75,015 and improved her record to 3 - 0 - 3 in 11 starts, and
it also qualified breeder Lizza's Flying Zee Stable of Wharton, New
Jersey, for a $5,160 breeder award.
By New York stallion Key Contender, a Belmont Grade 1 winner who stands
at Lizza's and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson
and whose syndicate owners qualified for a $1,806 stallion award,
Fromheretoheaven is the second of two offspring, both winning daughters
of Key Contender, produced from nine-year-old Heavenly Glance. Fromheretoheaven's
five-year-old New York-bred full sister, Flirtingwithangels, has won
four races. Her dam, Heavenly Glance, by Citidancer, won at Aqueduct
for Team Martin Stable and was trained by Carlos Martin, who also
conditioned Fromheretoheaven for her first eight starts while she
was racing for Flying Zee Stable.
(8/9)
Tamusky takes Spa opener
Raymond Cameron's homebred, TAMUSKY, broke his maiden today
in his fifteenth attempt. Trained by Cameron, Tamusky was coming off
a respectable third on the turf against open company before being
dropped into today's race, a one and one-eighth mile affair over the
main track at Saratoga Race Course.
Breaking from the rail position, jockey Mark Guidry, aboard Tamusky,
went to the lead with Indougherty'shonor in behind. Still leading
around the last turn to the top of the stretch, Tamusky opened up
daylight on the field at the top of the stretch and coasted under
the wire by five and one-half lengths over Capn Nathan.
Tamusky is a three year-old bay colt by Key Contender, out of Ah Kilimanjaro,
by Forever Silver. The sire, Key Contender, stands at Highcliff
Farm in Delanson, New York, and his progeny's earnings for 2002
is over $640,000.
(8/2)
Go Going Gone leaves field behind in last
Flying Zee Stable's homebred, GO GOING GONE romped in today's
finale at Saratoga Race Course. The finale was carded for 3 year-olds
and upward state-bred maiden fillies and mares going six furlongs
over the main track, which was listed 'sloppy'. Trainer Carlos Martin
had the 3 year-old chestnut filly sharp as a tack, and named Edgar
Prado to ride.
Budapest Girl and Lottsa Appeal battled for the early lead with the
former taking command down the backside. Go Going Gone raced close
to the pace while on the inside. At the top of the stretch, Prado
angled Go Going Gone to the middle of the track, sweeping to the lead
and drew off convincingly by 9 lengths crossing the wire. Pocahaba
finished second and Biogio's Love was up for third.
Foaled at Carl Lizza and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in
Delanson, New York, Go Going Gone is by Mesopotamia, out of Brainy
Sue, by Say I'm Smart. Mesopotamia, owned by Seymour Cohn, is a son
of Deputy Minister, out of a Fappiano mare and stands at Highcliff
Farm.
JULY 2002
(7/27) Offspring of New York sires run 1-2-3 in Saratoga
nightcap
As Saratoga nightcap races go following a couple of graded stakes,
this was a good one. Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey rode his fourth
winner of the day by guiding Dixie Run, a five-year-old son of deceased
New York stallion DIXIE BRASS, to a 2 1/4-length victory in a mile
and a sixteenth turf race for four-year-olds and up with claiming
prices of $35,000. Placing second was Spring Street (earnings now
$171,729), a son of New York stallion WILLIAMSTOWN. And placing
third was New York-bred THUNDERS LUCK (earnings now $126,500), a son
of New York stallion THUNDER PUDDLES. The winning time was
1:41.54, and the mile fraction was 1:35.27.
For his third-place finish, homebred Thunders Luck earned $3,575 and
also qualified his owner, co-breeders, and sire's owners for a combined
$1,680 in owner, breeder, and stallion awards, since his owner is
the Flying Zee Stable of Carl Lizza Jr., who co-bred Thunders Luck
along with Dr. Lynwood O'Cain. Lizza is the co-owner with Joseph Bartone
of Highcliff Farm in Delanson, where Dr. O'Cain is the resident
veterinarian, and Highcliff is where syndicated New York-bred champion
and Grade 1 sire Thunder Puddles stands. Dixie Brass, who has four
New York-conceived crops, including two-year-olds and three-year-olds
of 2002, was standing at James Edwards' The Stallion Park in Millbrook
at the time of his death this past January and was owned during his
racing and breeding career by Michael Watral of Central Islip, Long
Island. Syndicated Williamstown, a Seattle Slew stallion, still holds
the record for the fastest main track mile (1:32 3/5) ever run at
Belmont Park when he won the Grade 2 Withers Stakes, and he stands
at James and Lorna Mack's Silvernails Farm in Pine Plains.
 |
| SEEYOUINMYDREAMS winning last December. |
(7/21) Seeyouinmydreams sees her way to
another victory
In eight starts, Flying Zee Stables' homebred stakes winner, SEEYOUINMYDREAMS,
has tried just about everything -- and picked up purse money doing
it. The three-year-old New York-bred filly won first out by 4 1/4
lengths as a juvenile last year going 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont. She
scored her second victory in Aqueduct's East View Stakes at a mile
and a sixteenth around two turns in December, and in her most recent
previous outing tried a mile and a quarter on turf against older fillies
and mares at Belmont on May 22, finishing fourth among eight. Coming
off a two-month layoff, Seeyouinmydreams was made the 3.40-to-1 second
choice among six starters in Belmont's sixth race on Sunday, a $45,000
restricted N2X allowance for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and
up, going seven furlongs on dirt.
Ridden for the third time by Edgar Prado, who had guided her to her
first-out victory and also had ridden a New York-bred maiden winner
in Belmont's third race, Seeyouinmydreams broke from the number one
post position and was rated inside in fourth and fifth place for half
a mile. In the stretch run, she got through along the rail to close
within 2 1/2 lengths of new leader Ora at the eighth pole, then drove
by Ora on the inside in the final strides to win by half a length.
Trained by Philip Serpe, Seeyouinmydreams earned $27,000 for her third
rail-skimming victory at a different distance, pushing her career
bankroll into six figures at $109,650 and also qualifying her owner-breeder,
Carl Lizza Jr.'s Flying Zee Stables of Wharton, New Jersey, for a
$5,400 breeder award. The dark bay filly is by former New York stallion
Comet Shine, whose New York connections qualified for a $1,890 stallion
award, and is the first winner produced by New York-bred Flippant,
a daughter of New York-bred-and-based stallion Thunder Puddles. Lizza,
who co-owns Highcliff Farm in Delanson, also is the breeder
of Flippant.
(7/20)
Tom's Thunder tallies again in open allowance
As a sprinter, Richard Englander's New York-bred TOM'S THUNDER
has found new life, and his amazing journey to the top level of open
NYRA allowance runners at six furlongs continued in Belmont's fourth
race on Saturday, a $49,000 open N3X ("other then" including
restricted) allowance for three-year-olds and up. Sent off the .80-to-1
favorite among five starters with star Belmont rider John Velazquez
up for the ninth (and sixth consecutive) time, the four-year-old gelding
raced close behind the early pace on the inside after breaking from
the number one post position. When 12.60-to-1 fifth choice All That
Magic had completed a front-running half-mile in 45.16, Tom's Thunder
came through an opening along the rail and took command in mid-stretch
with a five-eighths fraction of 56.80. In the final furlong, the dark
bay gelding extended his margin to a full length while continuing
to run on his left lead through the stretch -- just as he had done
while winning an open N2X allowance at Belmont on May 19. For Velazquez,
it was the second of four consecutive winning rides on Saturday at
Belmont.
New York-bred Value Line placed third in the same race -- a neck behind
second-place finisher All That Magic -- as New York-breds picked up
74 percent of the race's total purse.
Tom's Thunder's six-furlong clocking was 1:09.14. When he had won
eased up at Belmont on June 16 with an $80,000 claiming tag, his six-furlong
time had been 1:09.33, and in his May 19 allowance victory, his time
was 1:09 flat. In his last six starts, the dark bay gelding has three
wins, two seconds and a third, with his only losses by more than a
head coming in Aqueduct's mile and an eighth Kings Point for New York-breds
and a seven-furlong open allowance at Belmont on July 3. His latest
victory was worth $29,400, pushing his earnings over the $300K mark
to $307,325 and improving his record to 7 - 6 - 3 in 32 starts.
Trained by Scott Lake, Tom's Thunder was claimed by Englander for
$60,000 on December 19 and since then has earned $126,205 in purse
money. For Englander, a stock trader resident of Westchester County
who is North America's leading owner in races won in 2002, Tom's Thunder
also has qualified for an additional $21,718 in open race owner awards,
including $5,880 for his victory on Saturday. He likewise has qualified
his breeder and former co-owner, Herbert Schwartz of Woodmere, for
$24,965 in breeder awards since Schwartz lost him for the $60,000
claiming tag, including $5,880 for this latest victory.
By former leading New York-bred money-earner Thunder Puddles ($791,695),
who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm
in Delanson and whose syndicate owners qualified for a $2,058 stallion
award, Tom's Thunder is the only offspring of racing age produced
by New York-bred Smart Holly ($187,227). Smart Holly is a multiple
Aqueduct allowance-winning daughter of Smarten out of New York-bred
stakes winner Fast Holly ($188,278), and her trainer at the conclusion
of her career was Scott Schwartz, son of breeder Herb Schwartz.
JUNE 2002
(6/16)
Tom's Thunder tallies another open win at 6F
Continuing to thrive in his new-found capacity as a sprinter, Richard
Englander's New York-bred TOM'S THUNDER captured Belmont's
seventh race on Sunday, a $46,000 six-furlong contest for older horses
with claiming prices ranging from $80,000 (Tom's Thunder and four
others) to $70,000, looking easily the best among five starters. Kept
under a tight early hold by jockey John Velazquez, who was riding
the four-year-old for the seventh -- and fourth consecutive -- time,
the dark bay gelding was pumped up and ready to roll on the outside
going down the backstretch in second place off early leader Port Herman.
When Velazquez loosened his hold on the turn, Tom's Thunder seized
command and drew off by 5 1/2 lengths at mid-stretch, then was ridden
out and eased in the final strides, winning by a length and a half
in 1:09.33 on a drying-out fast track listed muddy four races earlier.
The gelding pushed the race's second quarter-mile split to 22.79,
and he ran the third quarter on his own with no urging in 23.83.
For Velazquez, who has been Tom's Thunder's regular rider since mid-April,
it was the second winning ride on Belmont's Sunday card. Placing second
was multiple stakes winner P Day (now $469,719), the 1.75-to-1 favorite,
appearing to be in his best form ever and claimed for $80,000 by the
trainer of Tom's Thunder, Scott Lake, who has one of the best win
percentages (30 percent through Thursday) of Belmont's current meeting.
Coming off a six-furlong open N2X allowance score in 1:09 flat at
Belmont on May 19, Tom's Thunder's second consecutive sprint victory
was worth $27,600, boosting his career earnings to $272,535 and improving
his record to 6 - 6 - 2 in 30 starts.
Stock trader Richard Englander of Westchester County, the nation's
leading owner in races won in 2002, claimed Tom's Thunder for $60,000
when the gelding won at a mile and 70 yards at Aqueduct in December,
and for this latest win Englander also qualified for a $5,520 open
race owner award. Tom's Thunder's former co-owner and breeder is Herbert
Schwartz of Woodmere, who lost the New York-bred for the $60,000 tag
but still qualified for a $5,520 breeder award.
Tom's Thunder is the first offspring produced by New York-bred multiple
allowance winner Smart Holly ($187,227), who won seven six-furlong
races at Belmont and Aqueduct, including an N2X allowance on a muddy
track, and her trainer at the end of her career was Scott Schwartz,
son of breeder Herbert Schwartz. By Smarten, Smart Holly is out of
New York-bred Fast Holly ($188,278), who won Saratoga's inaugural
Yaddo Stakes as a five-year-old in 1980 when it was seven furlongs
on the main track, prior to which she had placed second in the seven-furlong
Bouwerie Stakes (then at Aqueduct) as a three-year-old.
The sire of Tom's Thunder is former leading New York-bred money-earner
Thunder Puddles ($791,695), who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s
and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson and whose syndicate
owners qualified for a $1,932 stallion award. A multiple Grade 2-winning
turf router, Thunder Puddles (Speak John - Big Puddles, by Delta Judge)
has sired two-turn graded winners on dirt and turf, including New
York-bred Travers winner Thunder Rumble ($1,047,552), but his stakes
winners also include Grade 2 seven-furlong winner Thunder Achiever.
(6/2)
Caught Cheatin' charges up on outside
When trainer John Hertler teamed up Seymour Cohn's homebred CAUGHT
CHEATIN' with jockey Michael Luzzi two weeks earlier on May 19,
the three-year-old filly responded with her best performance yet,
finishing strongly on the outside to place second in a seven-furlong
restricted maiden special at Belmont. With Luzzi again up for Belmont's
fifth race on Sunday, another $41,000 restricted maiden special for
fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, going seven furlongs, Caught
Cheatin' was made the 1.80-to-1 favorite among eight starters and
did not disappoint her backers.
Allowed to hang back in fifth and then fourth place behind a wall
of early front-runners for half a mile, Caught Cheatin' raced three
wide around the turn and was still two lengths behind the two leaders
at mid-stretch, with 2.60-to-1 second choice Irrepressible Joy showing
the way. In the final furlong, the dark bay filly charged past Irrepressible
Joy and tiring Zat Darn Cat to win drawing clear by a length and a
quarter despite switching back to her left lead late in the stretch.
The victory increased the New York-bred's earnings by $24,600 to $52,680
and gives her a record of 1 - 2 - 2 in six starts, with her only out-of-the-money
finish being a fourth-place effort in her career debut in early January
when she was pinched back at the start. Caught Cheatin' was the second
New York-bred maiden winner saddled on Sunday by trainer Hertler.
Owner-breeder Cohn of Manhattan, who also qualified for a $4,920 breeder
award, bred Caught Cheatin' as the fifth New York-bred offspring and
fifth winner produced by Open Marriage, a Deputy Minister mare whose
other progeny include Cohn homebred stakes winners Chasin' Wimmin
($341,225) and Pentelis ($239,925). A four-year-old half-brother to
Caught Cheatin', Cohn homebred Affair in the Air, won a $46,000 restricted
N2X allowance at Belmont on May 4. Cohn purchased Open Marriage, who
is a full sister to the dam of 2000 California Derby winner Bet On
Red ($318,289) and a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Crafty
Wife ($235,920) -- she the dam of Japanese stakes winner Big Shori
($2,984,808) -- for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 1990 Saratoga select
yearling sale.
A May 4 foal, Caught Cheatin' is the fourth non-claiming three-year-old
filly winner within 23 days to represent New York-bred champion and
New York-based stallion Scarlet Ibis (Cormorant - Fifties Galore,
by Cornish Prince), whose owner, Michael Martin of Manhattan, qualified
for a $1,722 stallion award. Another recent three-year-old filly winner
by Scarlet Ibis, who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph
Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson, is Little Time, winner
of Suffolk's Boston Common Stakes on May 18 and second while making
her turf debut in Suffolk's Beacon Hill Stakes on May 26. On May 30,
a three-year-old Scarlet Ibis filly named Brianna Grace won a $44,000
restricted N1X allowance at Belmont by 3 1/2 lengths.
MAY 2002
(5/30)
Brianna Grace easy allowance winner
Flying Zee Stable's homebred, BRIANNA GRACE, a three year-old
bay filly by Scarlet Ibis - Kelly Martin, easily beat state-bred non-winners
of 1X allowance fillies and mares today at Belmont Park. Raced at
a distance of one mile, a one-turn event over the huge Belmont main
track, trainer Carlos Martin named David Carr to ride in the 10 horse
field.
Totally Selfish went to the lead and set the pace down the backside
through a half in a quick 45.1 with Brianna Grace tracking close behind.
Around the last turn, Brianna Grace drew closer to the leader and
blew past before the top of the stretch, opening up a six length lead
and was kept to a drive to win by three and one-half lengths over
Lady Commando.
Brianna Grace was bred at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York,
and has now earned $75,710 in 9 lifetime starts. Mr. Carl Lizza's
Flying Zee Stables as breeder has now earned breeder's awards of 20%
of Brianna Grace's earnings or $15,420. Breeder's awards are one of
the incentives provided by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.
(5/27)
Rate Base rallies for another 10-furlong win
Coming off a five-month layoff on May 8 at Belmont, C'est Tout Stable's
New York homebred RATE BASE placed second between rivals with
a $35,000 claiming price going a mile and a sixteenth on turf, beaten
less than a length with jockey Jose Espinoza up at odds of 18.80-to-1.
Off that effort, trainer Michael Daggett obviously felt justified
in promoting his route-running charge to the $50,000 claiming level
for his next outing 19 days later, saddling him for Belmont's seventh
race, a $38,000 contest, on Monday Memorial Day at a mile and a quarter
on the inner turf course. With Espinoza on board for his 10th career
ride on the six-year-old gelding, Rate Base was made the 11.90-to-1
fifth choice among 12 starters, four-year-olds and up, with claiming
prices ranging from $50,000 (Rate Base and two others) down to $40,000.
Rated on the outside in seventh and eighth place off casual fractions
of 24.95, 50.03 and 1:14.20, Rate Base rallied five wide approaching
the stretch and dug in, moving past six rivals in the final quarter-mile
even though mid-stretch leader Carpenter's Halo covered that distance
in about 24 seconds flat. At the wire, the dark bay gelding had a
neck margin over 3.20-to-1 second choice Carpenter's Halo, who is
a turf stakes winner and Grade 2-placed at Belmont with earnings now
totaling $246,580. Finishing a close third was Grade 2-placed American
Falcon (now $284,854), the 6.70-to-1 fourth choice. Favorite Ravaro,
a Group 3-placed winner in Brazil, was claimed for $50,000. Time for
the race was 2:02.47.
Rate Base also has won at a mile and a quarter on dirt at Belmont,
accomplishing that feat after a turf allowance race was switched to
dirt, and he earned fourth-place money in Aqueduct's Grade 3 Gallant
Fox Handicap at a mile and five-eighths on the main track in 2001.
His latest victory -- and his second career tally on turf -- added
$22,800 to his bankroll, giving him total earnings of $215,743 and
improving his record to 5 - 2 - 9 in 48 starts. He also qualified
his owner-breeder, Howard Read's C'est Tout Stable of Albany, for
a $4,560 open race owner award and for a $4,560 breeder award.
The sire of Rate Base is New York-bred champion and New York stallion
Thunder Puddles ($791,695), who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s
and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson and whose syndicate
owners qualified for a $1,596 stallion award. Rate Base is among four
New York-bred starters, all allowance winners, bred by Read from New
York-bred Belmont-Aqueduct allowance winner Madame Mystique ($123,161),
who also raced for C'est Tout Stable. The gelding's half-siblings
include Power Choice ($132,330), who has won Aqueduct allowance races
at seven furlongs and a mile and a sixteenth (in 2002), and Maltbie,
who won Belmont and Aqueduct allowance races at six furlongs. Madame
Mystique, who is by the late New York stallion Sir Wimborne, is a
half-sister to multiple stakes winner Higgler ($397,175).
(5/20) New York Stallion Scarlet Ibis Gets New Stakes Winner
May 18 - Out of State
New York stallion SCARLET IBIS picked up a new stakes winner
on Saturday, May 18, when his lightly-raced three-year-old daughter,
Little Time, won the black-type Boston Common Stakes at Suffolk Downs
over odds-on multiple stakes winner African Princess as the 4.60-to-1
second choice among seven starters. Ridden by Winston Albert Thompson,
who rode three winners at Suffolk that day, the May-foaled filly gained
a brief lead entering the first turn of the one-mile event, then stalked
the pace on the inside before easing outside and hooking up with African
Princess at the head of the stretch. African Princess drew off, but
Little Time would not be denied, wearing down the favorite in the
final sixteenth, as the stretch battle carried the two more than eight
lengths beyond their next closest competitor, with Little Time prevailing
by three-quarters of a length on the sloppy track.
Now with a record of 2 - 1 - 0 in six starts, which also includes
a second-place finish in Suffolk's Mystery Jet Stakes on March 30,
Little Time races for Laurine Barreira under the care of trainer Lori
Lockhart. Bred by Lloyd Lockhart, the daughter of broodmare Time to
Ask, by L'Amour Rullah, is the first stakes winner from the 1999 crop
of Scarlet Ibis, whose other stakes winners in recent years include
NYRA graded winner Ruby Rubles ($475,547), Frankly My Dear ($350,547)
and Laken ($209,655). Champion New York-Bred Juvenile Male during
his two-year-old season, Scarlet Ibis (Cormorant - Fifties
Galore, by Cornish Prince) is owned by Michael T. Martin and stands
at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in
Delanson, where his 2002 fee is $3,500, live foal.
(5/19)
Tom's Thunder discovers sprinting, wins open allowance
Prior to Sunday's third race at Belmont, a $47,000 open N2X ("other
than" including restricted) allowance for three-year-olds and
up going six furlongs, Richard Englander's New York-bred TOM'S
THUNDER had never won any race at less than a mile. He broke his
maiden at a mile and an eighth, won a restricted N1X allowance at
a mile and a sixteenth, captured the New York Stallion Times Square
Stakes at a mile, and won at a mile and 70 yards with a $60,000 tag
on December 19 -- all at Aqueduct. In that most recent win, trainer
Scott Lake was on hand to claim the now four-year-old gelding on behalf
of stock trader Richard Englander of Westchester County, who is the
nation's leading owner in number of races won in 2002.
Lake put Tom's Thunder in open N2X allowance competition at a variety
of distances, and although the gelding did not win, he twice placed
second with excuses for not winning in six-furlong sprints at Aqueduct
in March and April. The most recent of those placings -- when Tom's
Thunder missed by only a head to New York-bred Conman Cunningham --
reunited the gelding with John Velazquez, who had ridden him three
previous times, including his 3 1/4-length victory in the 2001 Times
Square. Velazquez next rode Tom's Thunder to a second-place finish
in Aqueduct's mile-and-an-eighth Kings Point Handicap on April 28
before getting on him again for Belmont's third race on Sunday, for
which the dark bay gelding was made the 4.20-to-1 fourth choice among
six starters.
Showing a new dimension, Tom's Thunder raced close up on the outside
of New York-bred Well Fancied, the 1.90-to-1 favorite, then rallied
three-wide approaching the stretch and got his head in front at the
eighth pole with a five-furlong fraction of 56.82. In the final furlong,
the versatile gelding remained on his left lead, drifting left under
right-handed urging from Velazquez and bumping with Well Fancied,
who fought his fellow New York-bred all the way to the wire, where
Tom's Thunder's head was still in front. Tom's Thunder's winning time
of 1:09 flat was the fastest for six furlongs (either his clocking
or any other horse's final time or split) in any of his races during
his entire 29-start career. A claim of foul lodged by Jorge Chevez,
rider of Well Fancied, alleging interference by Tom's Thunder in the
stretch was not allowed, as New York-breds Tom's Thunder, Well Fancied
and Magic and Bird (finishing fourth) earned 86 percent of the race's
total purse.
With $28,200 for his latest victory, Tom's Thunder now has career
earnings of $244,935 and a record of 5 - 6 - 2 in 29 starts, having
taken in $63,815 in purse money since being claimed for $60,000. His
tally also qualified Englander for a $5,640 open race owner award,
and it qualified his breeder and former co-owner, Herbert Schwartz
of Woodmere, who had lost the gelding for $60,000 in the Aqueduct
claiming race in December, for a $5,640 breeder award. Schwartz also
is the breeder and co-owner with his wife Carol of two-time New York-bred
champion Critical Eye, who won the seventh race on Belmont's Sunday
card.
Tom's Thunder's sire is New York-bred champion and New York-based
stallion Thunder Puddles (Speak John - Big Puddles, by Delta
Judge), who stands at Carl Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff
Farm in Delanson -- and whose syndicate owners qualified for a
$1,974 stallion award. The gelding is the first offspring (and only
one of racing age) produced by New York-bred Smart Holly ($187,227),
a multiple Aqueduct allowance winner whose trainer at the end of her
career was Scott Schwartz, son of Tom's Thunder's breeder and former
co-owners. By Smarten, Smart Holly was produced from New York-bred
stakes-winning mare Fast Holly.
(5/10)
Well Educated graduates with honors
Making his second lifetime start, WELL EDUCATED, equipped with
blinkers for the first time, went wire to wire to break his maiden.
The Flying Zee Stable homebred is trained by Carlos Martin and was
ridden again by David Carr in the nine horse state-bred field going
one and one-sixteenth of a mile around one-turn at Belmont Park.
Eased to the lead by Carr, Well Educated rated kindly setting slow
fractions and had plenty left when asked down the stretch holding
off a late challenge by Joint Custody by three-quarters of a length.
Bred at Carl Lizza and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson,
New York, the three year-old dark bay gelding is by Tank's Number,
out of Factuallychallenge by Triocala.
APRIL 2002
(4/24)
Fromheretoheaven sharp in return
After a two and half month respite, FROMHERETOHEAVEN was right
as rain for her return beating state-bred three year-old fillies in
the second division of today's MSW run at 6 furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Flying Zee Stables' homebred is trained by Carlos Martin and was
cleverly ridden by Dennis Carr.
Forwardly placed in the early going, Carr took hold approaching the
far turn choosing to rate the chestnut filly off the front runner,
race-time favorite Mac Lady. As the field turned for home, Fromheretoheaven
was put to a drive and chased down the leader by the eighth pole before
holding off late challenges from Irrepressible Joy and Promise Of
Love by a half-length.
Foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York, Fromheretoheaven
is by Key Contender, out of Heavenly Glance, by Citidancer.
The sire, Key Contender stands at Highcliff Farm for $5,000. In 2001,
his progeny earned $862,339 and thus far in 2002 they have earned
$337,567 placing him 8th on the New York Stallion earnings list of
living sires.
(4/6)
Mischief Boy moves ahead in the stretch
Running wide in his March 10 debut at Aqueduct, Thomas Crosby's three-year-old
MISCHIEF BOY had finished fourth in a field of 12 under jockey
Jose Espinoza while a 21.90-to-1 shot, Majestic Miesque, had placed
second. In the second start for both New York-bred geldings in Saturday's
fifth race at Aqueduct, a $41,000 restricted maiden special for 11
three-year-olds going six furlongs, Crosby's charge showed noticeable
improvement, contesting the early pace with Majestic Miesque while
between rivals and edging ahead entering the stretch. Throughout most
of the final drive, favored Mischief Boy, at 1.95-to-1, was locked
side-by-side on the outside with second choice Majestic Miesque, at
2.20-to-1, before Espinoza got his mount to move ahead, winning by
a length and three-quarters, with Majestic Miesque placing 4 1/2 lengths
ahead of third.
Earning $24,600 for his first victory, Mischief Boy put his bankroll
in two starts at $27,060. Bred by Rachel Crosby, who qualified for
a $4,920 breeder award, the Barclay Tagg trainee is the first runner
produced by hard-knocking Luv to Mombo Jumbo, a Mombo Jumbo mare who
won 17 races (seven at Belmont, three at Aqueduct) and earned $172,824.
Luv to Mombo Jumbo is a full sister to stakes-placed winner We Love
Mombo (13 wins).
Mischief Boy's sire is syndicated New York stallion Key Contender,
whose connections qualified for a $1,722 stallion award. A Grade 1
winner at Belmont and a track record-setter at both Saratoga (where
his mile record still stands) and Belmont, Key Contender stands Carl
Lizza Jr.'s and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson.
MARCH 2002
(3/22)
Perty Number captures $44K allowance by 3 3/4
After breaking her maiden by 6 3/4 lengths at Finger Lakes on November
20, Francis Paolangeli's PERTY NUMBER graduated to Aqueduct
to take on NYRA competition under the care of trainer Dominic Galluscio,
who following a fifth-place effort at six furlongs on January 12 decided
on some changes. The four-year-old New York-bred's next outing was
in a $44,000 restricted N1X allowance at a new distance of a mile
and a sixteenth, where she wore blinkers for the first time and finished
fourth while running wide. Five weeks later, Galluscio put the bay
filly on Lasix for another N1X allowance at a mile and a sixteenth
and saw her place second, beaten a diminishing half-length following
a four-wide move on the second turn. For Aqueduct's second race on
Friday, a $44,000 restricted N1X allowance for seven fillies (all
four-year-olds) going a one-turn mile, Perty Number was made the .75-to-1
favorite under jockey Javier Castellano, who had ridden her in her
three previous Aqueduct starts.
Although bumped at the start, Perty Number raced close up inside,
drafting behind front-runners Astickyproposition, Jettalyn, and Irish
Ginger as the field rounded the turn into a northwesterly headwind
that ranged from 20 to 25 mph. Entering the stretch, Castellano sent
the filly wide, where she drove past the pacesetters to take command
at the eighth-mile pole and draw clear by 3 3/4 lengths under a hand
ride. It was the first of two winners on the day's card for Castellano.
The track, which had been speed-favoring prior to heavy rain in the
Northeast and was classified muddy for most of the previous day, was
rated fast but clearly was not as speed-biased as previously. The
weather was partly cloudy and windy with temperatures in the low-to-mid
30s.
Perty Number's first allowance victory earned $26,400, bringing her
total bankroll to $51,250 with a record of 2 - 4 - 0 in eight starts.
Bred by Frank Inserra's In's Way Horse Farm, which qualified for a
$5,280 breeder award, she was foaled at the late Harold Brozyna's
Hi Mount Farm in Schenectady. Perty Number's sire is New York stallion
Tank's Number, a Saratoga stakes record-setter owned by the
Flying Zee Stable of Carl Lizza Jr., who qualified for a $1,848 stallion
award, and standing at Lizza's and Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm
in Delanson. The filly is the first winner produced by Chenette Cozette,
a two-time winning (including first start) Exclusive Era mare who
is a half-sister to black-type winner Celtic Venture and to the dam
of graded stakes winner A. V. Eight ($217,740).
(3/8)
Realitize - no longer a bridesmaid
REALITIZE, who had placed in 2 of her first 3 lifetime starts
put it all together today under a heads-up ride by Javier Castellano
to break her maiden. Eight three year-old state-bred fillies went
to the gate in the one and one-sixteenth mile affair run over the
inner-track at Aqueduct.
Discreet Passion went to the front and lead the way down the backside
with Realitize and Silver Seraph in close pursuit. Nearing the far
turn Realitize moved to Discreet Passion and ran by easily to take
command and opened up daylight on Silver Seraph through the stretch.
Silver Seraph gamely made up the margin but fell short by one and
one-quarter lengths to Realitize.
Bred and owned by Carl Lizza's Flying Zee Stable, and trained by Philip
Serpe, Realitize is a chestnut filly by Key Contender, out of Facing
Reality, by Triocala. Facing Reality was an allowance winner and is
a half-sister to Granite Island (Say I'm Smart), dam of graded stakes
winner Ruby Rubles (Scarlet Ibis).
Key Contender stands at Lizza's and Joe Bartone's Highcliff Farm in
Delanson, New York. Key Contender's progeny earned $862,339 in 2001
and is presently in the top ten earnings list for stallions standing
in New York.
 |
| Fager Chic (inside) leads a posse of horses
to the finish line |
(3/1) Fager Chic holds on to break maiden
Pamela Edel's FAGER CHIC gamely fought off a host of late
challengers to break her maiden in her 10th lifetime start. Carded
as the last race on Aqueduct's Friday race card, the state-bred maiden
race was for three year-old fillies going six furlongs. Trainer Russell
Mueller named Jose Velez, Jr. to ride the bay filly.
Budapest Girl and Fager Chic vied for the early lead with neither
filly giving way to the top of the stretch. Budapest Girl on the inside
and Fager Chic on the outside battled fiercely to the wire with several
fillies drawing closer as they neared the wire. Fager Chic gamely
prevailed by a half-length in a tight finish with Dusting Powder and
Budapest Girl hanging on for third.
Bred by the Billings Partnership, Fager Chic is by Prosper Fager,
out of French Hen, by Nain Bleu (Fr.) and sold as a yearling at the
2000 OBS August Yearling sale for $8,000. Prosper Fager stands at
Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York.
FEBRUARY 2002
(2/28)
Rodeo James breaks maiden
Flying Zee's homebred, RODEO JAMES, beat maidens today in his
first start against state-breds after three maiden claiming races.
Nine three year-olds went postward.
Grandstandsuperman, sporting blinkers for the first time and ridden
by the leading apprentice Lorenzo Lezcano went to the front with Rodeo
James settling in behind the early pace setter. Spurting clear nearing
the far turn, Grandstandsuperman had a comfortable lead as Rodeo James,
with Juan Pezua aboard moved down along the rail.
As the field straightened for the homestretch, Grandstandsuperman
veered over to the inside rail and Rodeo James moved to the his outside,
driving past in the final 100 yards to win by three-quarters of a
length. Timopocusm making his first start closed strongly to finish
third by a nose.
Rodeo James is by Key Contender, out of Templeton, by Hansel.
The sire Key Contender stands at Highcliff Farm in Delanson,
New York. Mr. Carl Lizza and Mr. Joseph Bartone own Highcliff Farm,
which is managed by Dr. Lynwood O'Cain, DVM.
(2/21) Beyond Chance easily breaks maiden
John Michelotti's homebred, BEYOND CHANCE, making his fourth
career start easily beat a field of state-bred maiden three year-olds
today at the Big A. Raced at a distance of six furlongs over the inner
track, a field of seven went postward after Battier scratched.
House of Emiress went to the front after the break and was challenged
along the inside by Say Cousin Lenny, a half-brother to millionaire
Say Florida Sandy. Filiberto Leon, aboard Beyond Chance, bided his
time in third position before engaging House of Emiress in the last
turn. At the top of the stretch Beyond Chance easily moved to the
lead, holding off Alicias Quick Draw comfortably by almost three lengths
with Say Cousin Lenny finishing third after a troubled trip.
Beyond Chance is a three year-old dark bay colt by Obligato, out of
the Cormorant mare, M.J. Bean, who is a full sister to multiple stakes
winner Scarlet Ibis and a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner
Claramount (Policeman). Scarlet Ibis and Claramount both stand
stud in New York at Highcliff Farm and The Stallion Park, respectively.
(2/16)
Golden Contender keeps improving, wins by 2 1/4
Like New York sire Key Contender, a useful two-year-old who eventually
became a Grade 1-winning seven-year-old, Flying Zee Stable's homebred
GOLDEN CONTENDER just gets better, which he showed in Aqueduct's
second race on Saturday, a $46,000 restricted N2X allowance for six
older horses at a mile. Although the four-year-old broke on top for
the two-turn race, apprentice jockey Roberto Villafan immediately
allowed him to drop back to last, after which Golden Contender was
moved to the outside and confidently advanced on front-running 1.10-to-1
favorite Salute Him going down the backstretch. A wide outside move
on the second turn brought the dark bay colt up to second place entering
the stretch, after which he moved past Salute Him and drew clear following
a late lead change and intermittent urging from Villafan, who was
riding Golden Contender for the second consecutive time.
J S Mosby, the 2.70-to-1 second choice who has now lost to Golden
Contender four times, came again on the inside to get past Salute
Him for second, 2 1/4 lengths behind Golden Contender, who went off
the third choice at 3.75-to-1. It was a commanding performance on
a balmy February afternoon over an Aqueduct inner track that seemed
not nearly as speed favoring as it had earlier this year. Jockey Villafan,
who rides with a five-pound apprentice allowance, also piloted the
winner of the ninth race on Saturday's Aqueduct card.
Trained by Luis Barrera, Golden Contender picked up $27,600 in purse
money for his latest victory, giving him career earnings of $141,915
and a record of 3 - 3 - 3 in 27 starts. In three previous starts this
year under restricted N2X allowance conditions going two turns on
Aqueduct's inner track, he had placed second twice and third once,
and last year he had broken his maiden going two turns on the Big
A inner track in January. He races for his breeder, Carl Lizza Jr.'s
Flying Zee Stable, which also qualified for a $5,520 breeder award.
Along with Joseph Bartone, Lizza co-owns Highcliff Farm in
Delanson, which stands Golden Contender's sire, syndicated Key
Contender, whose connections qualified for a $1,932 stallion award.
A half-brother to New York-bred stakes winner Noble Sweetheart and
to stakes-placed winner Blondie Logic, dam of stakes-placed winner
Sunday Driver (by Key Contender), Golden Contender is the fifth winner
produced by Calder allowance winner Golden Sweetheart, by Strike Gold.
Golden Sweetheart is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Double
No ($337,042).
(2/7)
Huntcountrycorner overcomes post position to beat allowance company
Felix J. Nuesch's homebred, HUNTCOUNTRYCORNER,breaking from
the far outside post position in a one mile - seventy yards race over
Aqueduct's inner track lead at every call to beat state-bred allowance
company. The non-winner of 1X condition had a full field of 12 horses.
Breaking sharply from the far outside, Huntcountrycorner hooked up
briefly with Anties Boy as they raced into the first turn with Hope
to Prosper having to veer to the outside when impeded by Anties Boy.
As they raced down the backside, Huntcountrycorner racing on the outside
of Anties Boy had a short lead before taking command of the race in
the last turn. As the field hit the top of the stretch, jockey Jose
Espinoza, aboard Huntcountrycorner, worked feverishly to keep the
four year-old gelding on the lead and held off Gunning by a length
for the victory.
After the race a steward's inquiry resulted in a disqualification
from third to fourth for Anties Boy with Hope to Prosper being placed
third.
Huntcountrycorner is by Key Contender, out of Fatherless, by Tarleton
Oak, and has now earned $56,850 with a Lifetime Record: 7-2-0-0. As
the breeder, Mr. Neusch, has also received 20% of Huntcountrycorner's
earnings or $11,370 which are part of the rich incentives provided
by the New York Breeding and Racing Program.
Key Contender's owner, Carl Lizza, has earned 7% in stallion owner
awards from the 'Program' or $3,979. Key Contender stands at
Mr. Lizza and Mr. Joseph Bartone's Highcliff Farm in Delanson,
New York.
 |
| Rousing Past streaks by Truly Obliging for maide
victory |
(2/1) Rousing Past lives up to name
Flying Zee Stable's homebred, ROUSING PAST, a four year-old
gelded son of Key Contender, staged a late rally to break his maiden
today at Aqueduct Racetrack, which was engulfed with fog. Trainer
Philip Serpe named Lorenzo Lexcano, who recently lost his bug, to
ride as eight state-breds went postward. The maiden was written for
four year-olds and upward going six furlongs over the inner-track.
Sky Wars took command early in the race and showed the way to the
top of the stretch before battling with Truly Obliging in the race
to the wire. Truly Obliging started to edge his way clear when literally
out of the clouds came a charging Rousing Past to run by him by a
half-length crossing the wire.
Rousing Past, who started his career very late in his three year-old
year, is out of the Nijinsky II mare, Bon Search, who raced
only one time before being sent to the broodmare barn at Mr. Carl
Lizza's Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York. Bon Search has
also produced stakes-placed winner Twenty Three Red (Scarlet Ibis).
Key Contender, purchased out of Paul Mellon's partial consignment
by Mr. Lizza, won the Grade I - Surburban Handicap racing in Flying
Zee Stables colors before retiring to stud Highcliff Farm.
Key Contender's progeny earned a very respectable $862,339 in 2001.
JANUARY 2002
(1/27) Brianna Grace swings wide, draws off
Flying
Zee Stable's homebred BRIANNA GRACE handled seven rivals in
Aqueduct's first race on Sunday, a $41,000 restricted maiden special
for three-year-old fillies going six furlongs, with surprising ease
-- despite the fact that she practically was overlooked as the 10.30-to-1
sixth choice. With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan up for the first time,
the New York-bred filly raced close to the pace on the outside, then
rallied five-wide rounding out of the turn and drew clear under a
hand ride to win by 4 3/4 lengths over 1.95-to-1 favorite Charliezard,
who placed second.
It was the second career start for Brianna Grace, who had finished
seventh on a muddy track at Aqueduct while making her debut on January
9, in which she tired after chasing the early pace three-wide. The
Carlos Martin-trained runner earned $24,600 for her first victory,
and she also qualified Flying Zee Stable owner Carl Lizza Jr. for
a $4,920 breeder award. The bay filly is a daughter of New York stallion
Scarlet Ibis, who stands at Highcliff Farm in Delanson,
which Lizza owns in partnership with Joseph Bartone. Scarlet Ibis,
the Champion New York-Bred Juvenile Male of 1988, is the property
of Michael Martin, who qualified for a $1,722 stallion award as a
result of Brianna Grace's victory. Scarlet Ibis's progeny are noted
for a tendency to break their maidens within their first three starts.
Brianna Grace is the fourth winner produced by Kelly Martin, a daughter
of Chromite, and her full sister, Zack's Ibis, has won six races to
date on the Mid-Atlantic circuit. One of her half-sisters is the dam
of a two-year-old stakes-placed winner of 2001. Dam Kelly Martin is
a full sister to Kristen's Baby ($371,519), who won 11 races and placed
in four stakes, including Belmont's graded Lawrence Realization Handicap.
