Pay the Juice steps up for $125K Bertram F. Bongard; Joseph Gimma Stakes Preview

Posted On 19 Sep 2024

By Mary Eddy —-

Pay the Juice steps up for $125K Bertram F. Bongard

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – August Dawn Farm’s Pay the Juice will make his first effort in stakes company in Sunday’s $125,000 Bertram F. Bongard, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the Omaha Beach dark bay enters from a 2 1/4-length victory in an off-the-turf state-bred maiden on August 16 at Saratoga Race Course. There, he pressed the pace early in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint before driving clear in the turn and widening his margin in the lane under Flavien Prat. The effort was awarded a 64 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pay the Juice debuted with a close third when sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Saratoga, finishing a half-length back of the victorious Out On Bail, who exited that effort to win the Skidmore at Saratoga and finish second in the Rosie’s at Colonial Downs.

McGaughey said the talented colt’s future may still lie on turf despite graduating on dirt.

“I think in the long run that he is probably going to be better on the turf,” McGaughey said. “But there aren’t any turf races here for him, so we will run him in there. I think he can be very effective on the dirt, too.”

McGaughey said the added distance in the Bongard “shouldn’t be an issue,” and that he was pleased with Pay the Juice’s most recent breeze when covering three furlongs in 36.42 seconds over Belmont Park’s dirt training track Sunday.

“He had a really good work,” said McGaughey. “I’m looking forward to running him.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Pay the Juice initially sold for $230,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and was later purchased by his owner for $200,000 at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He is out of the stakes-winning Malibu Moon mare Out of Orbit.

Prat returns to the irons from post 3.

Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Angelo Carlesimo and JP Racing Stable’s Smilensaycheese [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] seeks to have his picture taken again after finishing seventh last out in the state-bred Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital won by Mo Plex on August 25 at the Spa.

Trained by Mike Maker, the son of Solomini was an impressive 4 1/2-length winner on debut with a frontrunning trip in a six-furlong state-bred maiden on August 3 at Saratoga, where he earned a field-best 73 Beyer. He contested the same distance in the Funny Cide, but broke out at the start to bump with rivals and never made up ground when eight-wide in the latter stages.

The $50,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase was bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Greenleaf Farm, and is out of the eight-time winning Include mare Picture Day.

Werner J. Stable, Dream Walkin Farms and Baccari Racing Stable’s McDiesel [post 7, Ruben Silvera] also looks to rebound from an off-the-board finish in the Funny Cide, where he finished fifth after a troubled trip that saw him hit the gate and race wide in the turn to finish 6 1/4 lengths behind Mo Plex.

Trained by Rudy Rodgriguez, the son of Twirling Candy dead-heated for second on debut in July on the Big A turf and exited to graduate by a neck in an off-the-turf state-bred maiden going one mile from the Wilson Chute at the Spa.

McDiesel was bred by EKQ Stables Corp. and was a $55,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall Yearling Sale. He is out of the Bernardini mare Delay of Game, a half-sister to the dam of multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Stanford.

MyRacehorse and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Manhattan Twist [post 4, Jose Ortiz] was a pacesetting winner on debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs against fellow state-breds on August 15 at the Spa.

Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the son of Liam’s Map showed the way through splits of 22.47 seconds, 46.40 and 1:11.52 over the fast footing before keeping on comfortably in the lane to cross the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:18.21. He earned a 70 Beyer for the win.

Bred by Chesapeake Farm and W. S. Farish, Manhattan Twist was purchased for $150,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and is out of the dual stakes-placed Lemon Drop Kid mare Bitter Lemon – a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Blind Date.

Like Manhattan Twist, Lady Sheila Stable, Jon Hansen and Schwing Thoroughbreds’ Sacrosanct [post 1, Manny Franco] enters from an impressive debut victory at Saratoga, capturing a six-furlong state-bred sprint on August 21 by 3 1/4 lengths after a stalking trip engineered by returning pilot Manny Franco.

Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Honest Mischief bay earned a 64 Beyer for the win and looks to find success in the stakes ranks as his half-sister Navit did in Puerto Rico when capturing the Grade 3 Clasico Accion de Gracias in 2021 at Camarero.

Bred by Burleson Farms, Mckenzie Bloodstock and Sequel Thoroughbreds, Sacrosanct was a $260,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Completing the field are Eddie F’s Racing’s Buttah [post 6, Lane Luzzi], who graduated by 5 1/2 lengths last out on September 2 at the Spa for trainer Gary Sciacca; and horseOlogy Racing, Fred Rosen, Rome Boys Stable and Attara Glen Farm’s maiden Oath of Omerta [post 2, Dylan Davis], who finished third on debut for conditioner Jena Antonucci in the race won by Buttah.

The Bertram F. Bongard is slated as Race 3 on Sunday’s nine-race card, which co-features the $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma in Race 1. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

With the Angels set for stakes debut in $125K Joseph A. Gimma

By Keith McCalmont

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Impressive maiden winner With the Angels will make her stakes debut in Sunday’s $125,000 Joseph A. Gimma, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Linda Rice for owners Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable and Rideau Racers, the Omaha Beach dark bay registered a field-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure for her frontrunning 11 1/2-length debut romp on August 22 at Saratoga Race Course.

There, With the Angels broke outward from post 7-of-8 in the six-furlong state-bred sprint but was immediately in command under returning rider Jose Ortiz through splits of 22.51 seconds, 45.62 and 57.57 en route to a ridden-out score in a final time of 1:10.40.

“We were very happy with her debut,” Rice said. “In her training, she’s very professional and does everything well. So, we’re pleased with her and not surprised because she handled everything so nicely all along.

“Jose said he let her gallop out strong,” added Rice. “She was doing it easily and sometimes that helps you move on to the next race and you won’t have as much work to do. Hopefully, the seven furlongs won’t be a problem for her.”

With the Angels was bought by agent Justin Casse for $350,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training where she worked in 9.4.

“She’s average sized, but she has a tremendous way of moving. She’s very easy to be around,” Rice said.

Rice noted that she was part of a group that was the underbidder on With the Angels.

“She went through the ring and brought more than we could afford,” Rice recalled. “Afterwards, there was a collaboration, and we all decided to go ahead and partner. Steve Sigler of Winning Move jumped in – he loved her and was excited about it. Mr. Oxley, Lady Sheila and Rideau Racers are all a part of it. It’s an interesting group but nowadays it’s not uncommon for partnerships to come together like this.”

With the Angels, bred by Joseph DeRico, is out of the winning Pulpit mare Sister Margaret. Her second dam is the multiple stakes-winning Disco Rico mare Dance Gal Dance, who won 6-of-9 starts led by four New York-bred stakes wins.

Ortiz retains the mount from the inside post.

Pavilion Racing’s Valtellina [post 3, Dylan Davis] posted a professional debut win sprinting seven furlongs against fellow state-breds on August 30 at the Spa for trainer Ray Handal.

The Complexity chestnut exited post 4-of-10 under returning rider Dylan Davis and was hustled into a stalking position in fourth through a half-mile in 46.54 over the fast main track. Davis gave Valtellina her cue for a four-wide bid on the turn and she responded well to put away the favored Off Script and prevail by a half-length in a final time of 1:25.23. The winning effort registered a 68 Beyer.

The $67,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase, bred by Thorostock, is out of the winning Take Charge Indy mare Take Charge Sue. Her second dam, the stakes-placed Quiet American mare W W American, is a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Sean Avery.

Repole Stable homebred Carmen’s Candy Jar [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] will make her third consecutive stakes start for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Vino Rosso bay rallied to a one-length score in her June 23 debut here in a five-furlong state-bred maiden special weight that garnered a 70 Beyer. She made two stakes appearances sprinting six furlongs over the summer at the Spa, finishing fourth in the Listed Schuylerville on July 11 and second in the state-bred Seeking the Ante on August 25.

Carmen’s Candy Jar is the first foal out of the unraced Uncle Mo mare No Mo Shopping, who is a half-sister to dual graded stakes-winner Always Shopping and a full sister to graded stakes-placed Mo Shopping. Her second dam is multiple graded stakes-placed Stopshoppingmaria. She is named in honor of Carmen M. Barrera, NYRA’s longtime director of horsemen’s relations who passed unexpectedly in 2019.

Trainer David Donk will saddle state-bred maiden winner Trail of Gold [post 2, John Velazquez, blinkers ON], who enters from a distant fourth-place finish in the Seeking the Ante.

Campaigned by Donk in partnership with John Behrendt, Charles Marquis, Gerald Donk, William Punk, Jr., Philip DiLeo, Peter Hayes and Suzanne Haslup, the Solomini chestnut graduated at second asking on August 8 in a 6 1/2-furlong state-bred sprint. There, she tracked from third position through a half-mile in 46.32 before angling five-wide for the stretch run to take command inside the eighth pole and score by 1 3/4-lengths over Endless Vow in a final time of 1:19.66.

“I really think she wants to go longer. This is seven-eighths versus the six last time,” Donk said. “I think she is going to improve. One, she wants more distance. Two, she might be a grass horse, but I’m not going to find that out until next year. We are going to explore the dirt options for now and give her a chance.”

The $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase, a half-sister to stakes-winner Mano Dura, is out of the Bernardini mare Bene Pista. Bred by Spruce Lane Farm, America’s Pastime Stable, and Copper Beech Stable, et al., her second dam is Grade 1-winner Carriage Trail.

Rounding out a talented group is Gary Anderson and Janet Anderson’s maiden winner She’s Our Tiz [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Michelle Giangiulio.

The Munnings bay made her first two starts on turf, winning impressively on debut against fellow state-breds in a six-furlong sprint on July 5 here. She stepped into open company in the Listed P.G. Johnson traveling 1 1/16-miles over firm Spa turf on August 28 and finished an even fifth.

The $170,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, bred by Triumphant Trio, will look to improve in her dirt debut. She is out of the Tizway mare Tizsomethingroyal, who posted both her wins in dirt routes at Delaware Park.

The Joseph A. Gimma is slated as Race 1 on Sunday’s nine-race card which also features the $125,000 Bertram F. Bongard in Race 3. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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Contact: Keith McCalmont