A Bit o’Irish Sass back in training for Schosberg
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Unique Unions, trained and co-owned by Rick Schosberg with Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable, put in his final work Saturday for next Saturday’s seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way for eligible state-sired juveniles.
The Union Jackson gelding breezed a half-mile in 50.08 seconds over the Belmont dirt training track.
“It was hard to see because it was so foggy, but he did fine,” Schosberg said. “He doesn’t need a whole lot coming off of his last race and I’m very pleased with the way he’s coming along.”
Entering the Great White Way off a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight victory on November 20 at Aqueduct, Schosberg said the gelding is ready for stakes company.
“We always thought he was a real quality horse and he’s proving it,” said Schosberg. “He’s got a wonderful personality and a good way of going. He stays low to the ground and I was impressed with his maiden victory.”
Unique Union’s owners and Schosberg earned a stakes victory this year when A Bit o’Irish Sass won the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes Racetrack in July, geared down and 4 1/2-lengths clear of runner-up U Guys Are No Fun.
The 3-year-old daughter of Laoban made her next in start in the Fleet Indian at Saratoga on August 27, finishing a non-threatening fourth in the field of six. Away from the track since the Fleet Indian, Schosberg said the filly is making steady progress back to the races.
“She had a little issue after her last start and she just needed some time,” said Schosberg. “I was hoping I would have her back in time for the [NYSSS Staten Island] last weekend, but she needed more time. She’s coming back to the barn from the farm [Saturday] and we are looking forward to having her back.”
Bossmakinbossmoves, a 2-year-old gelded son of Laoban, most recently finished fifth in a 6 ½-furlong state-bred maiden special weight at Aqueduct on December 5 after a pair of runner-up efforts earlier this year at Belmont.
Schosberg said the gelding could be a special one going forward.
“I was going to run him in the Great White Way also because he’s eligible, but that race is going to be too short for him and he wants to stretch out,” Schosberg said. “He’s going to be a nice horse; he just needs to cover some ground. He ran a good race last out, but I didn’t want to run him in a stakes.”
Schosberg also serves as the president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s Take The Lead program, which helps to facilitate the transition of racehorses from the track to new homes in retirement. Now in its eighth year, Schosberg says the program is continuing to see strong support.
“We are approaching our 900th horse [through the program] very rapidly,” said Schosberg. “At the moment, I have 12 horses who are transitioning off the track. At any time of the week, we have anywhere from five to 10 horses on our list in different phases of transition. We are very busy and have horses leaving for retirement all the time.”
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NYRA Press Office
Photo: Unique Unions breaking maiden at Aqueduct under Manny Franco on Nov. 20, 2021. (NYRA/ Coglianese)
