SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s Americanrevolution rallied to victory under meet-leading rider Luis Saez to capture the featured $250,000 Albany on Friday’s New York Showcase Day at Saratoga Race Course.
The special 11-race card devoted to horses bred in the Empire State boasted six stakes worth a combined $1.15 million.
“This day is important because it enables us to highlight our state’s breeders, owners, horsemen and every participant in the New York-bred program,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “Since the inaugural Saratoga New York bred Showcase Day in 2014, this day has only continued to grow. Not only in the purses offered showing the strength and incentives of the New York-bred program, but also the quality of equine athletes on display. We’re happy to continue partnering with NYRA to showcase the best of the Empire State on each of our three New York-bred Showcase days throughout the year and especially here at Saratoga.”
Americanrevolution kicked clear through the lane under Saez, who won three races on the day, to take the 44th running of the $250,000 Albany in Race 9.The talented chestnut won his third straight race, and second consecutive New York-bred stakes race following his New York Derby score.
Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Constitution out of the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze covered the 1 1/8 miles race for three-year-olds in 1:49.94 on a fast main track and was five lengths the better of Bobby Bo, while It’s a Gamble was another 11 1/2 lengths behind in third. The chestnut colt, bred by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, was the favorite in the field and returned $3.40 for a $2 wager. Our Man Mike, Anejo, Joey Loose Lips, It’s Gravy, and Bingo John completed the order of finish. Purple Hearted was scratched.
Pletcher said Americanrevolution will consider targeting the $300,000 Empire Classic, a nine-furlong test for state-bred sophomores, on October 30 at Belmont Park.
“We’ll look at the calendar. I think this horse has the ability to win an open stake, but we’ll also try to take advantage of his New York eligibility,” Pletcher said.
November Rein backed up her 4-5 favoritism when commanding the field through every point of call in the $200,000 Seeking the Ante for 2-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track at the Spa to kick off the stakes action in Race 2.
Owned by Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable and trained by Kelly Breen, the dark bay or brown daughter of Street Boss, piloted by Jose Ortiz, stumbled leaving the gate but recovered quickly and registered opening fractions of 22.47 and 45.98 with Velvet Sister tracking a close second. At the top of the stretch, November Rein maintained her advantage and crossed the wire a 1 ¾-length winner over Velvet Sister in a final time of 1:17.74 over a fast main track. It was another 19 ¼ lengths back to Laoban’s Legacy, who finished third. Succulent rounded out the order of finish. Miss Alacrity and Hideout were scratched.
Bred in New York by her owner, November Rein is out of the multiple stakes-winning Gators N Bears mare Ju Ju Eyeballs. She returned $3.60 for a $2 win bet while nearly tripling her lifetime earnings to $185,250.
In Race 4, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski’s Senbei started off a step slow in the 8th running of the $200,000 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Hospital for juvenile runners but then made every pole a winning one to remain undefeated in two starts for trainer Christophe Clement.
The son of Candy Ride, bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, set fleet fractions 22, 44.88, and 1.10.97 before crossing the wire in 1:18.09 to complete the 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track. The chestnut colt out of Sweet Aloha finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Montebello and Happy Happy B was another nose behind. Sent off at 8-1 in the eight horse field, Senbei paid $19.20, with Manny Franco at the reins. Shipsational, Who Hoo Thats Me, Daufuskie Island, Bourbon’s Hope, and Run Curtis Run completed the order of finish.
Jupiter Stable’s Byhubbyhellomoney surged up the rail in the stretch to overtake 4-5 favorite Make Mischief and post a victory by a neck in the $200,000 Fleet Indian for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles in Race 7.
Byhubbyhellomoney, trained by Bob Dunham, returned to the dirt after running third last out in the New York Stallion Stakes Series Statue of Liberty on the Saratoga turf on August 4. The Effinex filly, bred by Anderson Boulton Thoroughbreds, became a dual-surface winner with her first main track score, tracking in fourth position under jockey Joel Rosario before finding a seam along the rail and completing the course in a 1:52.07 final time.
Off at 13-1, Byhubbyhellomoney paid $28.40. Following Make Mischief was Pay Grade, A Bit o’Irish Sass, U Guys Are No Fun, Epona’s Dream and Coffee Bar. Betsy Blue and Out First scratched.
In Race 8, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles’ City Man powered past tiring pacesetting favorite Rinaldi in mid-stretch and held off fast-closing Christophe Clement-trained stablemate Therapist by a nose at the wire in the $150,000 West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank for 3-year-olds and up.
City Man [$11], bred by Moonstar Farm, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.30 over a firm inner turf course to give Rosario his third win of the day and second straight in a stakes. Clement and Reeves also teamed to win earlier on the card with Senbei in the Funny Cide.
Sanctuary City ran third, followed by Graded On a Curve, Rinaldi, Mo Ready and Microsecond. Lord Flintshire was scratched.
Bond Racing Stable’s Giacosa made a strong move from the outside and outkicked the charging Myhartblongstodady to win the $150,000 Yaddo by three-quarters of a length in the 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf contest for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in Race 10. The Yaddo’s 42nd edition closed the curtain on the slate’s half-dozen state-bred stakes.
Owner and trainer Jimmy Bond, a stalwart on the NYRA circuit, earned his second win of the meet as the 4-year-old Giacosa, bred by Song Hill Thoroughbreds and Roderick Towle, earned her first stakes win in 11 career starts. The Tizway filly, off at 9-1, paid $20.80 as Saez earned his third win on the card, guiding Giacosa to victory in a final time of 1:42.54.
Classic Lady finished third, with Pecatonica, Chocolate Cookie, Dancing Kiki, Dancingwthdaffodls, Kreesie, Kilkea and Mike’s Girl completed the order of finish.
The Albany Replay
Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga with the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers for 3-year-olds contesting the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. The packed 13-race card features seven graded stakes among six Grade 1 contests. First post is set for 11:35 a.m.
For the third consecutive year, FOX will air the Runhappy Travers as the centerpiece of a 90-minute telecast beginning at 5 p.m. The networks of FOX and FOX Sports will air 7 1/2 total hours of live racing and analysis on Runhappy Travers Day, with coverage scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on FS1.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Americanrevolution earning Black Type while proudly winning the Albany at Saratoga with Luis Saez in the irons. (NYRA/Coglianese)
