February, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Affirmed Success Euthanized at Old Friends

Affirmed Success (Affirmed–Towering Succes, by Irish Tower), a three-time Grade I winner at seven and eight furlongs and back-to-back winner of the GIII Poker H. on the turf, was euthanized Feb. 16 at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was 28 years old and according to attending veterinarians, was suffering from chronic hoof infections.

A homebred for Al Fried, Jr. and trained throughout by Rich Schosberg, Affirmed Success won the first three starts of his career and was third to Awesome Again in the 1997 GII Jim Dandy S., but made his name as a top-class sprinter/miler on the dirt, winning the GI Vosburgh S. and the GI Carter H. at seven furlongs and the GI Cigar Mile H. In his first of eight appearances on the turf, Affirmed Success won the first of his two Pokers in 2000 and was beaten a neck and two noses behind War Chant, North East Bound and Dansili (GB) in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He became the oldest winner of the GIII Toboggan H. at the age of eight in 2003. He retired with 17 wins overall from 42 career starts and earnings in excess of $2.2 million. Affirmed Success was originally retired to the Kentucky Horse Park and featured in the daily 'Parade of Breeds' show, but when soundness issues precluded his continued participation, he was transferred to Old Friends.

“He was such an incredible race horse, and he had such a great personality,” said Schosberg. “Beside his obvious talent, he had class, was brilliant, and was a joy to train. He always put in his best effort. And with his high cruising speed and running style he was exciting for the fans to watch, too.

“You think of a horse like that as the iron horse, as indestructible,” Schosberg added, “but being in this business my entire life, you know that day is going to come. But he had an incredible life. He had a great life on the track and an incredible life in his aftercare at Old Friends.”

“I like my horses the way I like my people, honest and hardworking, and Affirmed Success completely embodied that,” said jockey Richard Migliore, who rode Affirmed Success to four victories, including the 2002 Carter. “He was as hard-working and tenacious as any horse that I've ever been around, and I am happy to have been a small part of his history. I take comfort in knowing that he had a great twilight of his life.”

“He was one of my first horses, and he was a great champion,” said owner-breeder Al Fried, Jr. “I am so sorry to lose him.”

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My Boy Tate Bidding for Third Hollie Hughes Victory At Big A

Veteran New York-bred My Boy Tate will seek an eighth career victory at Aqueduct Racetrack when he bursts from the gate at the Ozone Park, N.Y., racetrack on Saturday in search of a third triumph in the $100,000 Hollie Hughes.

Trained, bred and co-owned by Michelle Nevin with Little Red Feather Racing, My Boy Tate is one of seven horses to have conquered multiple editions of the six-furlong event for New York-breds 4-year-olds and up.

The 8-year-old Boys At Tosconova gelding scored non-consecutive wins in the Hollie Hughes, starting with a one-length victory in 2018 which produced a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. My Boy Tate repeated the accomplishment last year, saving ground around the far turn and launching a winning rally in deep stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths. A victory in this year's race would make My Boy Tate the second horse to win three runnings of the Hollie Hughes, joining Papua [2003-'05].

My Boy Tate's resume includes six stakes victories against his Empire State counterparts, five of which took place at the Big A. In addition to his Hollie Hughes scores, My Boy Tate has captured the Say Florida Sandy [2018], the NYSSS Thunder Rumble [2019], and the Haynesfield [2021] at the Big A. My Boy Tate also captured the Leon Reed Memorial last year at Finger Lakes.

The dark bay enters the Hollie Hughes in search of redemption after being disqualified from first and placed fourth in the seven-furlong Say Florida Sandy on Jan. 8, at Aqueduct.

Since then, My Boy Tate has made regular appearances on the work tab, most recently breezing an easy half-mile in 51.57 seconds on Feb. 9 over the Belmont dirt training track.

“He's the same old fella in the morning,” Nevin said. “He's always been a hard working horse and hopefully he can continue on like that for a little bit.”

Billy Koch of Little Red Feather Racing spoke volumes of Nevin's job managing the seasoned veteran's career.

“He's been amazing, he's an amazing animal. The credit really goes to Michelle. She's done a great job managing him, keeping him sound, fresh and happy,” Koch said. “He's not easy to train. I hear amazing stories from Michelle about his antics when he's not on the track. She's done a terrific job of keeping him going. It's a testament of how great a trainer she really is. We have great admiration and respect for what she's been able to do. Every time he runs, it's exciting for all of us.”

Koch expressed a sense of pride in campaigning My Boy Tate, who he said has taken the partners on a fun ride.

“For our partnership, he's just been the king for the past several years. He's really just a neat horse,” Koch said. “He's not the biggest horse in the world and not the fastest in the world, but he has a giant heart and he's really tough as he proved last time before he got disqualified when he came in between horses. It's a blessing and all of the Little Red Feather partners that are a part of My Boy Tate. They just love him to death.”

Manny Franco, who piloted My Boy Tate to victory in his second Hollie Hughes win, has the call from post 4.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez will saddle Wudda U Think Now, who arrives off a 10 1/2-length optional-claiming romp against open company on Jan. 16. The five-time winning son of Fast Anna earned a 104 Beyer travelling six furlongs over the Big A main track, defeating stakes-placed Secret Rules and Competitive Saint.

“He looks like he's in top form and hopefully he can keep getting better,” said Rodriguez, who saddled Drama King to victory in the 2016 Hollie Hughes. “It's a little quick coming back, but he's training well right now.”

Owned by Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group, Wudda U Think Now was bred by Mina Equivest.

Trevor McCarthy will return to the irons from post 2.

Windylea Farm's Jemography will make his seasonal debut for trainer Mark Hennig. The 6-year-old son of Big Brown, bred by Golden Goose Enterprises, captured the George W. Barker in August at Finger Lakes in his lone stakes coup.

Jorge Vargas, Jr. will ride from post 3.

Completing the field are Kaz's Beach [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche], South Africa [post 5, Eric Cancel] and Runningwscissors [post 6, Andre Worrie].

The Hollie Hughes honors the late Hall of Fame trainer, who captured six editions of the American Grand National. A conditioner of both flat and steeplechase runners, Hughes saddled George Smith to victory in the 1916 Kentucky Derby.

The Hollie Hughes is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's nine-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Affirmed Success Euthanized At 28 Due To Chronic Hoof Issues

Affirmed Success, multiple Grade 1 winner and a true warrior on the New York racing circuit, was euthanized today at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Ky., where he had been pensioned since 2007.

According to attending veterinarians the 28-year-old gelding was suffering from chronic hoof infections.

Owned and bred by Albert Fried, Jr., and trained by Richard Schosberg, Affirmed Success was among the best sons of Triple Crown winner Affirmed. He showed his mettle with his first jump from the gate, capturing his first three career starts in 1997 at Aqueduct and Belmont Park.

The following year, the bay gelding earned his first graded stakes, the Grade 2 Forego Handicap, at Saratoga, setting off a string of stakes wins on both dirt and turf, among them the G1 Vosburg Stakes, the G1 Cigar Mile, and back-to-back runnings of the G3 Poker Handicap.

In 2002, at the age of eight, Affirmed Success became the oldest horse to win the Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct, a victory he followed a few weeks later with a spectacular win the G1 Carter Handicap.

Making his last start in 2003, again in the Carter, Affirmed Success was originally retired to the Kentucky Horse Park where he was featured in the daily “Parade of Breeds” show. When soundness issues prevented his continued participation, he was retired to Old Friends.

Affirmed Success ended his career with 17 wins from his 42 starts and earnings of more than $2.2 million.

“He was such an incredible race horse, and he had such a great personality,” said trainer Rick Schosberg. “Beside his obvious talent he had class, was brilliant, and was a joy to train. He always put in his best effort. And with his high cruising speed and running style he was exciting for the fans to watch, too.

“I like my horses the way I like my people — honest and hardworking, and Affirmed Success completely embodied that,” said jockey Richard Migliore, who rode Affirmed Success to numerous victories. “He was as hardworking and tenacious as any horse that I've ever been around, and I am happy to have been a small part of his history. I take comfort in knowing that he had a great twilight of his life.”

“He was one of my first horses, and he was a great champion,” said owner-breeder Al Fried, Jr. “I am so sorry to lose him.”

“As a handicapper, I adored Affirmed Success,” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “Wet, dry, turf or dirt, he gave his best every time, earning 38 triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in 42 lifetime starts. He remains the oldest competitor to win the Carter Handicap, a race that's been run for more than 100 years. But I didn't really know him until he arrived at Old Friends, where his personality continued to blossom. Kind, intelligent, and self-sufficient. He gave us nearly 15 years of pure pleasure.”

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Per Capita Retired To Alvarez Racing Stables In Arizona

Alvarez Racing Stables will stand Per Capita (Tapit — Successful Outlook by Orientate) in partnership with Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC in Willcox, Ariz.

The 6-year-old chestnut horse will be the first son of leading sire Tapit to take up stud duty in the Grand Canyon State. His 2022 introductory fee is $2,000 LFSN.

Bred by Gainesway out of Successful Outlook, a graded stakes winning juvenile by champion sprinter Orientate, Per Capita boasts an impeccable stallion pedigree. He is a full-brother to sires Anchor Down (Grade 2 winner) and Iron Fist (Grade 3 winner) and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu (by Mr. Greeley).

Per Capita was initially trained by Chad Brown and later transferred into Todd Pletcher's barn after selling for $325,000, the second-highest horse sold, at Fasig-Tipton's July Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2020. Raced exclusively on dirt at Belmont Park, Saratoga, Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Aqueduct over distances from seven to nine furlongs, he earned $134,140 from eight starts for a 2-2-2 record and posted a career-best 105 Equibase speed figure.

“We are excited to offer a horse from one of the strongest Gainesway families to breeders in Arizona,” said Dylon Alvarez, who together with his father Freddy founded the racing stable in June 2019 and quickly expanded into the breeding business. “We will strongly support Per Capita with our broodmare band and plan to privately acquire a few more mares specifically to complement his pedigree.”

“Through recent legislation, the incentives for Arizona's breeders have improved significantly, a new stallion like Per Capita will further grow the market,” says Marvin Fleming, manager of Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC.

Also new for the 2022 stallion roster is stakes winning and multiple stakes placed, Arizona Moon (Macho Uno – Phoenician Moon by Malibu Moon), property of John J Campo III. Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC also stands Lotsa Mischief (Into Mischief), Ez Effort (In Excess (IRE)), and Distorted Reality (Distorted Humor).

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