Leading rider Dylan Davis won four races on Saturday's lucrative New York Claiming Championship card, which saw New York-breds capture six of the 10 starter stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The New York Claiming Championship series, which is open to horses that started for a prescribed claiming price in 2021-22, featured 10 races, worth a total of $620,000, named after some of the most popular claiming horses to run at the Big A.
Davis, a 27-year-old native of Manhasset, N.Y., now tops the standings with 62 wins, eight more than second-place Trevor McCarthy with one day remaining at the Big A winter meet.
Davis credited the horsemen and his agent, Mike Migliore, for the successful afternoon that saw the young rider win for four different trainers.
“Everyone had their horses ready and were performing. I'm just happy that I was able to get four,” said Davis, who is on the verge of winning his first NYRA meet riding title. “We don't keep our eggs in one basket. We enjoy riding for everyone. We keep open for everyone. You just never know when that trainer is going to come up with a big horse. They give me opportunities, so I keep performing.”
Amsterdam Two Stables' Easy to Bless overcame a slow start to kick off the stakes action in Race 1 with a 9 3/4-length score in the $75,000 Xtra Heat, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.
Shesalittle Edgy marked the opening quarter-mile in 23.24 seconds over the fast main track before Easy to Bless, piloted by Jacqueline Davis, rushed up three-wide to take command through a half-mile in 46.81. Easy to Bless opened up a four-length advantage at the stretch call and never wavered, stopping the clock in 1:18.49. Shesalittle Edgy completed the exacta by two lengths over Sweet Mia.
Trained by James Ferraro, the 4-year-old daughter of Flat Out was claimed for $40,000 in July at Saratoga and has since won three starts for new connections.
Bred in Kentucky by Haymarket Farm, Easy to Bless banked $41,250 in victory while improving her record to 17-8-4-1. She returned $10.80.
Michael S. Foster's Witch Hunter lived up to her 1-5 favoritism with a nine-length score in Race 2, the $45,000 Belle Gallantey, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.
Investment Grade set splits of 23.71 and 48.34 under pressure from Awesomenewyear. Indian Bella rallied through the turn with Witch Hunter following her lead outside rivals and taking control at the top of the lane. Witch Hunter continued to find more, crossing the wire in a final time of 1:27.08.
Indian Bella completed the exacta by a nose over the deep-closing Sniff.
Trained by Charlton Baker and piloted by Dylan Davis, the 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Khozan entered from an impressive state-bred allowance score on February 25 at the Big A.
Bred in the Empire State by Brent Fernung and Crystal Fernung, Witch Hunter banked $24,750 in victory, while improving her record to 25-7-8-2. She paid $2.50.
In Race 3, Flying P Stable's Dark Money backed up his heavy favoritism when capturing the $55,000 Kelly Kip for 4-year-olds and upward travelling six furlongs.
Karen's Cove marked the opening quarter mile in 23.37 seconds under pressure from Tapizearance. Around the far turn, Dark Money, who was off a step slow, launched his bid under no urging from seven-pound apprentice rider Jose Gomez and powered to the front through a half-mile in :47.59. The son of Central Banker held command through the stretch run, holding off a late rally by Belle Tapisserie to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:13.21. Belle Tapisserie finished another two lengths in front of Tapizearance.
Trainer Tom Morley claimed Dark Money for $25,000 last out, where he won by 3 1/2 lengths at the Kelly Kip distance on February 19 at Aqueduct. Bred in New York by Cedar Meadow, Dark Money boasts 13 wins in 31 lifetime starts and $466,207 in earnings. He returned $3.20.
A brief rainstorm soaked the Big A main track ahead of the $60,000 Sis City won by a re-rallying Honey Money in the one-turn mile event for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward in Race 4.
The Trevor McCarthy-piloted Honey Money was in command down the backstretch holding a slight advantage over Gringotts through a quarter-mile in 23.86 seconds over the good and sealed main track. Through a half-mile in :47.91, Gringotts continued to engage the frontrunner with 3-5 favorite Customerexperience looming large to the outside. At the quarter-pole Customerexperience took command but a stubborn Honey Money kept to task at the rail and re-rallied for a four-length victory in a final time of 1:40.17.
Owned by Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas and trained by Wayne Potts, the Central Banker mare arrived off a pair of third-place finishes at one-mile allowance company following a 2022 debut win at the same distance over the Big A main track.
Bred in New York by Klaravich Stables, Honey Money banked $33,000 in victory while enhancing her record to 22-7-3-5. She returned $7.90.
Three Diamonds Farm's Doubly Blessed scored an off-the-pace victory in the $60,000 More To Tell for 4-year-olds and upward travelling a one-turn mile in Race 5.
Trained by Mike Maker, the son of Empire Maker broke from post 3 under jockey Manny Franco and stalked in fourth behind a moderate pace set by Spectatorless. Franco remained steady aboard the 5-year-old gelding through an opening quarter-mile in :23.84 and a half-mile in :47.02. Doubly Blessed was swung wide in the turn and took a three-length advantage, holding off a bid from the late-closing Tiergan to win by two lengths in a final time of 1:38.85. Hammerin Aamer finished another 1 1/2 lengths back to round out the trifecta.
Doubly Blessed entered from a second-place effort last time out in the Stymie at the Big A on February 26 and earned graded black type when finishing third to multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good in the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park in September.
Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Doubly Blessed now boasts a record of 17-6-2-4 and increased his total purse earnings to $301,730. He paid $3.50.
Baby I'm Perfect overtook the lead in midstretch to score a 4 1/2-length victory in Race 6, the $70,000 Peeping Tom for 4-year-olds and older sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs.
Piloted to victory by Dylan Davis for Potts, the 8-year-old Flower Alley gelding broke from post 8 and settled into third as Aristocratic skipped away to lead the field through quick fractions of :22.02 for the first quarter-mile and a half-mile in 45 flat. Davis guided the chestnut to the center of the racetrack at the top of the stretch and made a run at a tiring Aristocratic, taking the advantage just past the sixteenth pole and coming home in a final time of 1:18.40. The rallying Supreme Aura came on late to complete the exacta 1 1/4 lengths over Aristocratic.
Bred in Florida by Happy Alter, Baby I'm Perfect is owned by In Front Racing Stables and improved his record to 42-8-8-4. He earned $38,500 for his winning effort, boosting his total purse earnings to $306,717. He paid $14.60.
Spouty Racing's Awesome Indra, piloted by Gomez for trainer Kelly Breen, powered to an impressive 1 1/4-length score in Race 7, the $55,000 Videogenic at six furlongs for older fillies and mares.
Quality Stones marked the opening quarter-mile in :23.28 with Awesome Indra stalking from second position. Awesome Indra took over through a half-mile in :47.34 and was in command the rest of the way, stopping the clock in 1:12.91. Ok Honey completed the exacta by 2 1/2-lengths over a closing Shasta Star.
Awesome Indra entered from a 4 3/4-length score on February 27 at the Big A from which she was claimed for $20,000.
Bred in Florida by Sue's Farm II and Richard Nancarrow, Awesome Indra banked $30,250 in victory while improving her record to 24-7-6-4. She paid $6.60.
Gus A. Ginesin's Blewitt won for the seventh time at the Big A and provided Davis his third win on the card, taking the $75,000 Stud Muffin, an 11-furlong test for older horses.
Trained by John Toscano, Jr., the 8-year-old Uncle Mo gelding was content to track the early foot of Thereisastormbrewin, who led the field through three-quarters in 1:14.67. Blewitt advanced through the final turn with Air Attack, who won this race last year for Toscano, Jr., preparing to take flight with a wide move.
Blewitt took over at the top of the lane with Air Attack threatening, but there was no reeling in Blewitt who stopped the clock in 2:22.84. It was a further five lengths back to Thereisastormbrewin in third.
Blewitt was claimed for $25,000 out of a winning effort routing nine furlongs on New Year's Eve at the Big A and entered from a similar score at the same distance while in for a $32,000 tag here on March 6.
Bred in New York by Repole Stable, Blewitt banked $41,250 in victory while improving his record to 25-9-3-1. He paid $6.
In Race 9, Epona Racing Stable, Clyde Jasinski and Toga Party Racing Stable's Whistling Birds held off a rail-rallying Zoomer to notch a three-quarter length score in the featured $80,000 Caixa Eletronica, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses.
Trained by Chris Englehart and ridden by Eric Cancel, Whistling Birds tracked from second position as Mexican Wonder Boy led through splits of :23.10 and :46.60. Whistling Birds was in command at the eighth pole and all out to stave off the late run of Zoomer in a final time of 1:25.76. Son of an Ex was a half-length further back in third.
Whistling Birds has now won three straight races, all at the Big A, including a $25,000 state-bred claiming sprint on December 11 and a last-out romp in a state-bred optional claimer on February 20.
Bred in the Empire State by Pinnacle Farms Bloodstock, Whistling Birds banked $44,000 while improving his record to 27-8-7-1. He paid $14.
Davis completed his quartet of victories in the Race 10 finale with No Salt romping to victory as the 3-5 mutuel favorite in the $45,000 Dads Caps at seven furlongs for older horses.
Next Flight led through splits of :23.17 and :46.31 with No Salt tracking comfortably in second position. No Salt loomed large and easily drew off late in the turn to a 4 3/4-length victory in a final time of 1:24.42. Next Flight stayed on strong to hold place honors over Winning Drive.
Trained by Mike Micelli for Irving Kalensky and Joseph Loner, No Salt secured his first win of the year after a productive 2021 campaign in which he posted a record of 9-3-2-0.
Bred in the Empire State by Larry Goichman, the 5-year-old Tonalist gelding banked $24,750 in victory while improving his record to 20-5-4-1. He returned $3.40.
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