Belmont Park Notes

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

Courtlandt Farms’ sophomores gaining ground at Gulfstream
O’Connor notches first career win
Notables on the Belmont Park work tab

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Hennig and long-time owners Courtlandt Farms are loaded with sophomore stakes-caliber stock with Sonneman, Or’effice, Americanus, Kingmeister and Maedean currently in training at Gulfstream Park.

Hennig, who has 16 horses stabled at Belmont Park as well as the above-noted talent among his Gulfstream-based contingent, saw Sonneman return with a sparkling score on Saturday at the Hallandale Beach, Florida oval.

The dark bay son of Curlin, purchased for $375,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, graduated at third asking in October in a one-turn mile at Belmont and made his 3-year-old debut a winning one Saturday when rallying from last-of-eight in a seven-furlong optional-claiming sprint.

“I didn’t expect him to get away so slow and have to come from where he did, but it was nice to see him accomplish what he did. Joel [Rosario] didn’t have much choice the way the horse broke,” said Hennig. “We’d been looking forward to running him all winter and we’re fortunate the meet continued here. He’s a horse that could really benefit from the delay in all these big 3-year-old races.”

Sonneman is out of the Crimson Tide mare Zardana, who won the 2009 Grade 2 Bayakoa at Hollywood Park and more famously bested Rachel Alexandra in the 2010 New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds.

Hennig said Sonneman fit the profile of the classic type of horse he looks to purchase for Donald and Donna Adam’s Courtlandt Farms.

“He was an athletic colt and we thought a lot of him at the sale. He’s by the right sire, Curlin, and out of a mare that beat Rachel Alexandra,” said Hennig. “He had the credentials pedigree-wise and looked the part.”

Hennig said the late-blooming colt is one several in his barn that may benefit with the national stakes schedule in flux due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the Kentucky Derby now moved to the first Saturday in September.

“One race at a time, but he ran well going a mile in the fall and he looked like a horse that would benefit from more ground,” said Hennig. “The other day he was just hitting his best stride at the wire.”

Or’effice, a bay son of Medaglia d’Oro, is the first foal out of four-time graded stakes-winning millionaire Grace Hall, who bested Judy the Beauty to capture the 2011 Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga Race Course.

Bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stable, Or’effice was purchased for $725,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and debuted with an even fourth in December at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Or’effice then shipped to Gulfstream where he was again fourth in a one-mile turf maiden and second in an off-the-turf route of ground before another dramatic second on Friday in a 1 1/16-mile main-track tilt.

Saving ground along the rail under Joe Bravo, Or’effice was advancing with authority around the far turn and in tight quarters when bumping with rival and eventual winner Candy Machine. Or’effice took up and was tipped outside where he boldly re-rallied and came up just 3/4-lengths short, while earning a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

A stewards’ inquiry and claim of foul by Bravo were both dismissed, but Hennig said he was still pleased with the effort from Or’effice.

“Unfortunately the stewards didn’t agree with us, so he’s still a maiden,” said Hennig. “It was a very promising effort and he got a big Beyer number.

“I think it was a tribute to the horse that he battled back after getting stopped,” added Hennig. “It’s the sort of trip a horse sometimes gets in a race like the Derby. A lot of horses get stopped and they’re done, but he was more than willing to re-rally which is always a good sign.”

Hennig said Or’effice was in good order following the troubled trip.

“He came out of the race good. He’s been a work in progress,” said Hennig. “He’s a big-sized colt and he’s really starting to come together. He’s been a fun one to watch develop.”

Americanus, who debuted victoriously in September at Belmont, was off-the-board in the Grade 3 Nashua at Aqueduct in November but was much improved in his sophomore debut in January at Gulfstream when second in a seven-furlong optional-claiming sprint. Last out, the War Front homebred rallied from last-of-seven to win a seven-furlong allowance sprint by a length on February 22.

Kingmeister, a homebred son of Bodemeister, made his first two starts at the Big A including a good second in a one-turn mile on December 7. A half-brother to Grade 3-winner Strike Power, Kingmeister made his sophomore debut a winning one when a half-length the best in a one-mile main track maiden tilt in January at Gulfstream.

Hennig said the quartet of promising Courtlandt Farms colts – two homebreds and two well-meant purchases – are coming around at the right time.

“Those are the type we’re looking to buy and we’re fortunate to have a good group of them,” said Hennig. “They’re not the sort of colts that are going to be Saratoga 2-year-olds, but they’re hopefully Belmont fall or springtime horses and that’s what we’re trying to achieve going to the sale.”
Maedean, who is 31st on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with four points, is also training with Hennig in Florida following an off-the-board effort last out in the Busher Invitational at the Big A.

The Tapit grey, a $450,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, graduated in October at Belmont ahead of a 5 ½-length romp in the Tempted in November at Aqueduct. She picked up her Oaks points when second to Lake Avenue in the Grade 2 Demoiselle in December.

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O’Connor notches first career win

Matthew O’Connor, a 22-year-old native of Manhasset, New York, picked up his first career win when Duellist captured Saturday’s opening race at Gulfstream Park.

The victory occurred at a spectatorless Gulfstream Park but the event was not without its celebrations.

“My mom and dad watched the race in their car from the parking lot with my dog,” laughed O’Connor. “I walked by them on the way to the frontside and I walked back by them a winner and they were cheering for me.”

Purchased privately over the winter by O’Connor’s father Sean O’Connor, Jr., Duellist finished third in his debut for new connections and provided the young conditioner his milestone score with a rallying effort in a one-mile turf maiden.

“He doesn’t have any gate speed, so the longer he goes the better he gets. He’s a big lanky horse at 17 hands. It was an exciting way to win a race,” said O’Connor.

O’Connor grew up a stone’s throw from Belmont Park and learned the ropes walking hots for trainer Dominick Schettino.

“I grew up around New Hyde Park off Jericho Turnpike. I used to ride my bike to the barn when I was working for Schettino,” said O’Connor.

While working for Schettino, the budding trainer was fortunate to work with a number of quality horses including 2015 Grade 1 Champagne victor Greenpointcrusader and was also part of the early development of 2017 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby champ Always Dreaming.

“Being able to see horses like that from phase one was special. When they came in you knew they were good. When a horse like that comes around they stand out,” said O’Connor.

O’Connor was just 18-years-old and working as the barn foreman when he first set hands on Always Dreaming, a dark bay son of Bodemeister out of the In Excess mare Above Perfection, who eventually shifted to Todd Pletcher’s stable ahead for his sophomore season.

“I was very hands-on with him. That crop was very good,” said O’Connor. “We had Toni Tools as well that year, who also went on to win a stake for Todd, but Always Dreaming was the cream of the crop from the moment he came in.

“I still have his old nameplate with Bodemeister and Above Perfection on it as my key chain,” added O’Connor. “I popped it off when they named him to put the new plate on and kept it. I used to call him, ‘Lil Bode’.”

After graduating high school, O’Connor attended college at Long Island University as a business major. During that time he worked with trainer Robert Falcone, Jr. and Hall of Fame conditioner Nick Zito and eventually transferred to the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) at the University of Arizona.

“I was at LIU studying business but the racetrack was always in the back of my mind,” said O’Connor. “My family supported the decision and it was the greatest two years of my life so far.

“The Race Track Industry Program is unique and a great opportunity for people who want to get into the game and develop a future in the industry,” added O’Connor. “They offer a lot of classes on the business side of the game as well as race office and pari-mutuels. You really develop an appreciation for the industry as a whole.”

O’Connor graduated from the RTIP program in December 2019 and is currently overseeing a modest four-horse stable that includes a promising filly purchased for $100,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale.

By Air Force Blue and out of the Pulpit mare Guide, O’Connor said the filly reached the limit of a budget shared by a group of four owners, including his father.

“She was a classy horse at the sale. She had good scope to her and a lot of length and we thought she was in our budget,” said O’Connor. “I actually liked her so much I had to scramble to put a group together. Our budget was $100,000 and we were lucky to get her for that.

“She’s showing signs that she can be a good one,” added O’Connor. “Only time will tell.”

O’Connor’s website boasts the slogan, ‘Meticulous Care. Meticulous Training.’ It’s a mantra he attributes to valuable lessons learned while working for Zito.

“Nick Zito would tell me, ‘it’s the little things that get you beat, so focus on the minute details and you’ll be alright,'” said O’Connor. “I work hard each day at the barn to make sure that everything we do lives up to those standards.”

Ultimately, O’Connor said he is hoping to have stalls on the New York circuit.

“My plan was to get going here in Florida and get stock that would be competitive in New York. I feel we’re on our way to doing that,” said O’Connor. “Racing in New York is what I grew up on. It’s part of my life and I hope I can get enough quality horses to be competitive there.”

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Notables on the Belmont Park work tab

A number of prominent horses appeared on the Belmont Park work tab on Tuesday morning including the Chad Brown-trained trio of More Mischief, Voting Control and Identity Politics.

Wise Racing’s More Mischief, bred in New York by Anlyn Farms, worked four furlongs in 48 flat on Belmont’s dirt training track. The dark bay daughter of Into Mischief won the Biogio’s Rose last out on February 9 at Aqueduct.

Voting Control, a 5-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy owned by Klaravich Stables, covered four furlongs in 48.78. A maiden winner at first asking in 2017 at Belmont Park, Voting Control finished second in the Grade 3 Pilgrim ahead of a good third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Voting Control made one additional start following his Breeders’ Cup effort, winning an allowance at Churchill Downs in 2019. Tuesday’s breeze was his third this winter on the Belmont Park training track.

Klaravich Stables’ Identity Politics, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief, breezed a half-mile in 48.55. The talented bay ran second in the 2018 Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita.

Yellow Moon Stable’s Small Bear, a career-earner of $417,923 who won the 2017 Gio Ponti at the Big A, worked four furlongs in 49.44 for trainer Gary Sciacca.
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