New York Watch: Hysterical Cat [01:22]
Talk about a catalogue update. Hysterical Cat, a full-brother to a colt who sells tonight in the second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga NY Bred Preferred Yearling sale, ran away to an impressive debut victory over New York-breds in the second race today at Saratoga Race Course. Hysterical Cat joins the New York Watch series, which profiles up-and-comers that have recently cleared the maiden ranks at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. His page is located at [link]. No secret as the 8-5 favorite in the field of seven, Hysterical Cat was asked for speed early by John Velazquez, and the bay colt delivered by dueling with Read the Contract through an opening quarter of 21.84. Clear at the top of the stretch after his early challenger faltered, Hysterical Cat was kept to task in the stretch and found the wire 3 ½ lengths in front of Crea's Law and stopped the timer in 58.26 for five furlongs. Hysterical Cat is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by WinStar Farm, the same team behind his freshman sire Bluegrass Cat, winner of the 2005 Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct and the 2006 Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Bluegrass Cat, who stands at WinStar Farm, is off to a fast start at stud, having been represented by 11 winners so far in 2010. Offered at last year's Saratoga NY Bred Preferred Yearling sale, Hysterical Cat failed to meet his reserve when the bidding stopped at $72000 and was subsequently acquired privately by WinStar. "We always support our ...
New York Watch: Wine Police [03:26]
Tags: new, york, watch, wine, police, nyra, horse, racing, saratoga, race, course
New York Watch: Position Limit [01:24]
George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees who passed away Tuesday at the age of 80, was renowned for his will to win, and Position Limit helped keep that legacy alive today at Belmont Park when she broke her maiden impressively. Position Limit is a 2-year-old daughter of freshman sire Bellamy Road, who dominated his opponents in the 2005 Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack by 17 ½ lengths while racing for Steinbrenner's Kinsman Stable. "I thought it was interesting timing, and obviously Bellamy Road was one of Mr. Steinbrenner's better horses," said Todd Pletcher, who trains Position Limit for Starlight Partners. "It's nice seeing him getting off to a good start as a stallion, and it's a fitting tribute to the man." The 4-1 third choice in today's fourth race, Position Limit raced four wide in fifth around the far turn, seized command from the pacesetter inside the quarter pole, and drew off under a vigorous hand ride in the stretch to prevail by 6 ¾ lengths. The final time for 5 ½ furlongs in the mud was 1:04.70. Bellamy Road, who finished seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and second in the Grade 1 Travers in his only two efforts following the Wood, stood the 2010 breeding season at Pauls Mill in Versailles, Ky. for a $10000 fee. With today's victory, Position Limit became the second winner for the 8-year-old son of Concerto. "We were very pleased with the way she had trained," said Pletcher. "She was a first-time starter who we thought ...
Tags: new, york, watch, nyra, belmont, park, position, limit, bellamy, road, steinbrenner, todd, pletcher, horse, racing
New York Watch: Sovereign Default [01:32]
Tags: new, york, watch, nyra, horse, racing, Sovereign, Default, violette, alan, garcia, belmont, park
New York Watch: Stopspendingmaria [01:28]
What do you do after you lose a horse you named after a loved one to a claim? If you are Mike Repole, you buy another horse and also name it after that person. Stopspendingmaria, whom Repole named in honor of his wife, drew off in hand to break her maiden by seven lengths on Thursday at Belmont Park and become the first 2-year-old featured in the New York Watch Series, which shines the spotlight on promising colts and fillies that have recently cleared the maiden and allowance ranks at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course. Repole had already named a different horse, No Shopping Maria, after his wife, but was forced to part ways with the 5-year-old mare after she was claimed for $5000 at Laurel Park in January. "My wife doesn't know as much about racing, and she couldn't understand how I could sell her horse," said Repole. "I promised her I'd name another horse after her. She thought I'd name it 'Go Shopping Maria,' but I'd never do that. She thinks [the name is] hysterical. She won't stop shopping, but she thinks it's funny." Repole chose a 2-year-old filly he purchased at this year's OBS February Selected Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training to be the second horse whose name was inspired by his wife's spending habits. "I've got to give the credit to my racing manager Jim Martin and Todd Pletcher," said Repole. "I wasn't at the sale as I was vacationing in the Caribbean. I was really looking for colts who could possibly go long, and I asked Todd if there ...
Tags: New, York, Watch:, Stopspendingmaria, repole, todd, pletcher, maiden, belmont, park, horse, racing, nyra