Aqueduct Racetrack Notes 02/16

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Aqueduct Racetrack Notes

Sheriff Bianco nets 88 BSF for elusive stakes score in Say Florida Sandy
Martin sees potential stakes future for Ridgewood Runner, My Mitole
Mo Plex works towards G3 Gotham or $125K Gander
Volleyballprincess to return for Listed Busher
Crazy Mason faces litmus test in Friday allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After seven previous placings at the stakes level, A. Bianco Holding Limited’s consistent gelding Sheriff Bianco earned his first stakes victory in career start number 41 on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, landing a 1 3/4-length score in the $125,000 Say Florida Sandy.

Trained by Linda Rice and guided to victory by Ruben Silvera, the 7-year-old son of Speightster tracked in fourth in the early stages of the seven-furlong sprint for older New York-breds, and advanced with purpose into the turn as the pace-pressing Shipsational took over from the retreating Mama’s Gold. Sheriff Bianco inched closer with every stride into the stretch and arrested command from Shipsational inside the eighth pole to stride home first in a final time of 1:24.94. He was awarded an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Sheriff Bianco, who was claimed for just $30,000 in July 2022, has now banked $811,863 through a 41-7-14-9 record, with 24 on-the-board efforts through 32 starts for Rice.

“He looks good and came out of the race in great shape,” Rice said. “We’ve had him so long and he’s earned so much money that I didn’t even realize he hadn’t won a stake. At times, I thought he had maybe lost a step here and there, but yesterday, a New York-bred stake at seven furlongs was really his sweet spot. It turned out great for him.”

Rice added Sheriff Bianco, who was bred in the Empire State by SF Bloodstock, is now likely to target the $125,000 Haynesfield for older state-breds going a one-turn mile on April 6 here.

Shortly after the Say Florida Sandy, Rice sent out Ronald P. Stewart’s St. Benedicts Prep to finish third in the Listed Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park, where she finished 2 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Irish Maxima and a neck back of runner-up Royal Spa.

The 5-year-old Flatter bay has now finished on-the-board in three consecutive stakes within one month, including a nose defeat to Ms. Bucchero in Laurel’s What a Summer on January 18 and a pacesetting second to Scalable in the local Interborough one week later.

Rice nominated the mare to the six-furlong $125,000 Correction on March 2 here, but said she will wait to run her in the seven-furlong Grade 3, $175,000 Distaff on April 5 instead.

“We’ve managed to get some black type with her, so that was really important to me,” Rice said. “The Barbara Fritchie is a really prestigious race, and I thought it was a good opportunity. At this point, we’ll just sit still and wait for the Distaff.”

Rice recently welcomed back undefeated New York-bred filly With the Angels to her barn after a short winter freshening. The daughter of Omaha Beach, whose perfect 4-for-4 record includes local state-bred stakes wins in the Joseph A. Gimma, Maid of the Mist, and Key Cents, had her first breeze since the November 17 Key Cents when covering a half-mile in 51.74 seconds Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

Owned by Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford H. Robbins, With the Angels was a $350,000 purchase at last year’s OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the winning Pulpit mare Sister Margaret.

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Martin sees potential stakes future for Ridgewood Runner, My Mitole

Ridgewood Barns’ Ridgewood Runner topped a salty 11-horse local optional-claimer sprinting seven furlongs on February 8 and trainer Carlos Martin is considering stakes company for his next outing.

The 4-year-old Klimt gelding is possible for the one-mile Listed $150,000 Stymie while also nominated to the six-furlong Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool – both slated for Saturday, March 1.

“There’s the Stymie, that I’m nominated to on March 1st, and there’s an allowance race on March 9th, so if I need some more time,” said Martin. “The Stymie will be an interesting race. I really want to get him up to one mile. He won at seven-eighths the other day and was pretty game.”

In his recent victory, Ridgewood Runner made the early lead under Kendrick Carmouche after breaking from post 10-of-11, battling back to beat Wico a neck after that rival put a head in front within the final furlong.

“I was kidding around with Kendrick. I said, ‘sit third, you are not going to make the lead from that post.’ Kendrick said, ‘I love you boss, but when I break on top, I’m not taking back,’” Martin recalled. “He out broke the gate a little bit, broke really sharp, so I’m glad to have Kendrick Carmouche on our side that day. It worked out good.”

Martin said the Stymie looks like it could be a tough edition featuring the Gustavo Rodriguez-trained stakes winner Phileas Fogg and the meet leader Linda Rice-conditioned graded stakes-placed Yo Daddy, among others.

“Gustavo Rodriguez has a really nice horse [nominated] in there and so does Linda with Yo Daddy, so it is not going to be an easy race, but I’ll keep my options open by nominating to both the Tom Fool and the Stymie, and see how it goes,” Martin said. “He’s a nice horse who seems to be on the improve.”

In past stakes efforts, Ridgewood Runner finished off-the-board in the seven-furlong Listed Bay Shore and the one-mile turf Woodhaven, both in April here.

Martin also commented on My Mitole, who won a one-turn mile starter allowance on Friday here and earned a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure. The sophomore Mitole chestnut may have earned himself a Kentucky Derby trail start, including in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 1 here or the $500,000 Virginia Derby [now a dirt race] on March 15 at Colonial Downs.

Both the one-mile Grade 3 Gotham and the nine-furlong Virginia Derby are 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points events.

“I thought today [Friday] was a good race. I’m not sure who was in there, but I’ll keep my options open and have him nominated to the Gotham and to the Virginia Derby, on March 15. He’s a horse that the distance doesn’t seem like [a problem],” said Martin. “For a Mitole, he has more [broodmare sire] Seeking the Gold, he seems like he’ll go on and run a distance of ground.”

Martin said while the Gotham may be a bit quick back for My Mitole, he remembers that the late great Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens was not afraid to capitalize on a horse’s current form.

“I’m going to keep my options open because he’s here, and when they are doing good Allen Jerkens always said that horses are unfortunately like strawberries, sometimes they’ll get rotten, and Jerkens was one of the greatest trainers,” Martin said. “Him and my grandfather back in the 70s and 80s were two of the best trainers, that era, those old school trainers, there’s something to be said for that… I’ll just go by the horse.”

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Mo Plex works towards G3 Gotham or $125K Gander

R and H Stable’s graded stakes-winner Mo Plex is under consideration for the Grade 3 $300,000 Gotham, a one-mile test for sophomores on March 1 or the $125,000 Gander for New York-bred sophomores at the same distance on March 8, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Gotham awards the top-five finishers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs, but trainer Jeremiah Englehart said the Gander may be preferable for Mo Plex off his respite since a second to the unbeaten Sacrosanct in the one-mile state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 27 here.

“Right now, I’m pointing him towards either the Gotham or the Gander. Probably leaning towards the Gander right now,” said Englehart. “Just to see if I can kind of give him an easier spot first back off the bench.

“Eventually I would like to see him back in open company, if he is good enough, and I do think he is good enough, so I will play it by ear,” Englehart added.

Mo Plex breezed a half-mile in 49.64 seconds in company with Hey Toby on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He’ll have a couple of works going into this, at least one more for the Gotham, two more if it’s the Gander, but it seems like everything is going well,” Englehart said. “In the wintertime, you are looking to keep them against the bridle and not worry so much about times. I thought he worked in a nice fashion. There was an inside horse on the rail and my inside horse had to move out into him, and he seemed to handle it pretty well.”

Mo Plex’s last-out second earned a career-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure, improving one tick from a third to Chancer McPatrick in the Grade 1 Champagne earlier that month. Both were respectable defeats in the eyes of Englehart.

“Chancer McPatrick is a very nice colt, he could be the leading 3-year-old this year at some point,” Englehart said. “Same for Sacrosanct, I know Brad [Cox, trainer] is very high on that horse and he tipped his cap for beating us. I think he is another New York-bred who can go on and do big things.”

Mo Plex, prior to his aforementioned October efforts, began his career 3-for-3 with sprint scores in Saratoga Race Course’s Grade 3 Sanford and state-bred Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, as well as his June debut here.

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Volleyballprincess to return for Listed Busher

Trainer Louis Linder, Jr. cut a recent sojourn to Florida short due to the excitement of a number of stakes horses currently in his Parx Racing barn, including recent Ruthless winner Volleyballprincess, who will return to New York for the Listed $200,000 Busher on March 1, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Busher, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, is part of a lucrative card headlined by the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Also featured on March 1 are the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool, a six-furlong sprint for older horses, and the Listed $150,000 Stymie at a one-turn mile for older horses.

Linder, Jr., who has Concealed Carry and Jamie Dreams nominated to the Stymie, said the anticipation along with recent weather issues wreaking havoc on training opportunities for his horses necessitated a return home.

“I got away to Florida for a few days and actually came back a little early with all the things we have coming up and how excited you get when you have nice horses,” Linder, Jr. said. “You don’t want to be away when you have to get breezes in. It’s exciting and makes it a lot of fun.

“I’ve been trying to get breezes in since Friday and haven’t gotten it done,” added Linder, Jr. “Volleyballprincess is going down to one breeze instead of two and I might run Ourdaydreamingirl without a breeze, but she trains hard, so it’s not a terrible thing. It’s not ideal, but not too far off of what we’d want anyway.”

Ourdaydreaminggirl, runner-up to Volleyballprincess in the Busher, is nominated to the Busher but will instead enter the $100,000 Wide Country at seven furlongs for sophomore fillies on Saturday at Laurel Park.

Both Volleyballprincess and Ourdaydreaminggirl are owned by Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark, who turned down a sizable offer for the Ruthless winner after her 10-length romp in the seven-furlong Ruthless.

“They turned down a lot of money for her after the race from people with the Oaks on their mind,” Linder, Jr. said. “The owners decided to stay with her because that’s what they’re in the game for – fun – and they’re having fun right now.”

Volleyballprincess, a North Carolina-bred daughter of Mo Town, has made all three career starts under Eliseo Ruiz, including a first-out graduation utilizing stalking tactics in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on October 22 at Parx. She followed with a distant third in the seven-furlong Parx Future Stars Filly Division on December 30 which was contested over a sloppy and sealed track.

Linder, Jr. said Volleyballprincess exited her Ruthless coup in good order.

“She’s come out of the race no worse for the effort and she’s training well,” Linder, Jr. said. “Eliseo got on her for me Friday here. He galloped her and was all aglow – he said it was all he could do to keep her at an even gallop because she was so full of herself.”

The same connections also own Concealed Carry and Jamie Dreams, with Linder, Jr. indicating only one will enter and that the former is more likely to make the trip to Aqueduct.

“They’re a similar style and they both want the lead,” said Linder, Jr., who noted that both horses are slated to breeze on Tuesday.

While Linder, Jr. has nominated Happily Delusional to the Gotham, he said the Flatter colt is likely to make his next start around two turns in the $75,000 City of Brotherly Love on March 5.

Happily Delusional graduated last out at fifth asking going one mile and 70 yards on January 28 at Parx, drawing clear by four lengths as the odds-on favorite.

“We have a race here with a little more distance and he’s still a little immature, so we’re trying to let him mature a little bit,” Linder, Jr. said. “He’s a big, good-looking horse but he’s a bit of a ‘Baby Huey’ right now – the light’s just coming on.”

Happily Delusional, a $50,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Purchase, is out of the winning Twirling Candy mare Tattersail – a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Marley’s Freedom.

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Crazy Mason faces litmus test in Friday allowance

Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s multiple stakes-placed Crazy Mason could be on to bigger things should everything go to plan in Race 7 – a six-furlong optional claimer – on Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 4-year-old son of Coal Front holds the highest last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the six-horse field, boasting a career-best 91 for an impressive half-length local allowance score sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on January 18 that saw him rally from last-of-11 to snatch the victory from Radio Red, who exited that effort to trounce a Saturday allowance here.

Sacco said Friday’s sprint could serve as an audition for a return to stakes company in the seven-furlong Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets on April 5 here.

“The race Friday is a hair short, but he’s run well sprinting,” Sacco said. “What we’d like to do is see how he runs here, and if he passes this test, we’d like to run him in the Carter. I think the six weeks [in between] will be perfect for him.”

Crazy Mason was a dominant 9 1/2-length winner at second asking in a restricted maiden sprint in July 2023 at Saratoga Race Course, and made four of his next five starts in stakes company that included a third-place finish in the one-mile Rocky Run at Delaware Park and a closing second in the six-furlong Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs.

As a sophomore, he stretched out and finished off-the-board in a pair of Grade 3 Kentucky Derby preps ahead of a troubled third in Monmouth Park’s one-mile and 70-yard Long Branch where he was bumped at the start and rallied with a wide bid to finish eight lengths behind the victorious Sea Streak.

After a six-month freshening, Crazy Mason returned in November to finish a close fourth in a local allowance tilt ahead of his January win. Sacco said the gray colt has flourished after his time away from the races.

“He was a very immature colt early on for us, and he had a couple setbacks in races with pace scenario or being caught wide, but he ran a very credible race last summer in the Long Branch,” Sacco said. “We decided to give him some time off, and it did him a world of good. He’s a beautiful, strong horse and put on 150 pounds. He’s all there as a 4-year-old, and he’s done everything right.

“His last race was super, he’s had great works coming into this, and you don’t want to look too far ahead, but we’d look to the Carter if he passes this test,” Sacco added.

Eric Cancel will have the call from post 3 on Friday.