Market Alert adds a stakes win to his record when capturing the Saginaw Jul 10, 2022 at Belmont (Chelsea Durand)
Stakes Company Under Consideration for Allowance-winning Honey Money
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Michael Dubb’s stakes-winning Market Alert could come under consideration for the $100,000 Haynesfield, a one-mile test for older New York-bred horses, on February 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Rob Atras, Market Alert was last seen posting a game runner-up effort to the multiple stakes-winning Wudda U Think Now in the seven-furlong Say Florida Sandy on January 8. There, the chestnut son of D’Funnybone was ridden by Kendrick Carmouche and went head-to-head with his pacesetting foe around the turn, but came up three-quarters of a length shy after a valiant stretch battle.
Atras said the seasoned gelding, who often shows a reluctance to enter the gate, gave a strong effort despite his pre-race antics.
“He ran a great race,” said Atras. “He’s a tricky horse and has lots of quirks – he’s difficult to train. But his last race went well and Kendrick gave him a great ride following the pace the whole way.”
Market Alert is in search of his first win for his connections after being haltered for $62,500 out of a fourth-place effort in November. He earned three stakes placings for previous conditioner Jim Ryerson before earning his first stakes coup in the state-bred Saginaw in July at Belmont Park. Bred by Wellspring Stables, Market Alert has banked $416,120 through a 25-5-3-5 record.
Next weekend, Atras will look to secure the fifth graded stakes victory of his career as Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Kentucky homebred Law Professor takes aim at the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback Handicap on February 18 at Oaklawn Park.
The 5-year-old son of Constitution was an emphatic winner in his seasonal debut in the Queens County on January 7 here, romping to a 7 1/2-length victory from off-the-pace in the nine-furlong test for older horses. The effort garnered a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.
Law Professor has breezed back twice, most recently covering a half-mile in 50.97 seconds last Sunday over the Belmont dirt training track.
“Right now, we’re pointing him to the Razorback,” Atras said. “He’s going to breeze tomorrow and he’s been breezing well. We haven’t done too much with him because the weather has been a little screwy.”
Law Professor came into Atras’ care last summer after making his first 10 outings for trainer Michael McCarthy, including a Grade 2 score in an off-the-turf edition of the Mathis Mile last December at Santa Anita Park.
He made a winning debut for Atras in September, scoring a half-length victory in the restricted Tapit over the turf at Kentucky Downs before posting a strong runner-up effort to multiple graded stakes-winner Life Is Good in the Grade 1 Woodward on October 1 at Belmont at the Big A. He closed out his campaign with an even fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland.
Atras is also considering a start in stakes company for Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas’ Honey Money, who was an impressive four-length winner of a one-mile state-bred optional claimer on December 29 here. Honey Money is possible for next Sunday’s seven-furlong Broadway, but Atras said a one-turn mile may be a better fit for the daughter of Central Banker.
“We aren’t quite sure yet,” Atras said. “We wanted a ‘2X’ at a mile and an eighth and we entered in a ‘3X,’ but that race was canceled. Now that we are so close to the Broadway, we are considering it. I think a mile is probably a little better for her. There’s a ‘2X’ later on in the month, too, so we’ll see.”
Honey Money’s victory came in both her first start for Atras and her first start at the mile distance since May when she posted a three-length allowance victory at Belmont. Her other outing for Atras was a game runner-up effort in a seven-furlong starter allowance on December 11.
Atras said he believes Honey Money is more effective when she can ease into a race.
“We had the idea to not rush her and let her get settled,” said Atras. “Her last two races, she seemed to run well like that, so we want to keep that going.”
Bred in the Empire State by Klaravich Stables, Honey Money is a full-sister to the multiple stakes-winner Sassy Agnes. Her dam, the unraced Stormy Atlantic mare Bullish Sentiment, is a full-sister to Grade 3-winner Stormy’s Majesty.
