Sharp Starr (Munnings) became the second New York-bred to defeat open company in a graded event at Aqueduct Saturday, defeating her elders in the GIII Go for Wand H. Co-favored at 6-5, the Barry Schwartz homebred pressed from second, glued to the outside hip of leader Portal Creek (Shanghai Bobby) through opening splits of :23.26 and :46.72. Scrubbed on by Jose Ortiz turning for home, the bay was the only one chasing after Portal Creek in the stretch as they pulled well clear of the others. Sharp Starr dug deep to collar the pacesetter late for a neck success. It was the first graded victory for her trainer Horacio DePaz.
“She definitely likes the track, but I think she likes the one-turn mile a little bit better,” said DePaz. “It set up for her. I was happy she could repeat that last effort. Even in her two-turn races, she wants to put herself there, but she has those bad starts and afterwards she can’t get up there. She’s breaking so much better and getting herself into the race. The way she breaks and gets herself close, she’s able to finish up nicely.”
“They were running her two turns and she was breaking a little slow,” said winning pilot Jose Ortiz. “Last time, when we brought her back to a one-turn mile, she broke well and that suited her better. They stuck with that racing style today. She broke sharp. She was there for me every time I asked her.”
Breaking her maiden at fourth asking in a state-bred event at Belmont July 2, Sharp Starr was second in an NY-bred allowance at Saratoga 20 days later and was third next out in the Empire-bred Fleet Indian S. at the Spa Sept. 4. Seventh in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico Oct. 3, she demolished a New York-bred allowance over track and trip Nov. 7, winning by 15 3/4 lengths.
Pedigree Notes:
Sharp Starr is the 43rd black-type winner and 18th graded stakes winner for her sire Munnings. The victor is a half-sibling to MSP Papa Shot (Distorted Humor). Their dam Mindy Gold–a half-sister to GISP Noble Causeway (Giant’s Causeway)–is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt V Pattern (Street Sense); a yearling filly by Twirling Candy; and a weanling colt by Cairo Prince. The 13-year-old mare was bred back to Cairo Prince this spring. Sharp Starr’s third dam is MGISW Classy Cathy (Private Account). This is also the family of Grade I-winning New York-bred Audible (Into Mischief).
Saturday, Aqueduct
GO FOR WAND H.-GIII, $100,000, Aqueduct, 12-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.75, sy.
1–SHARP STARR, 117, f, 3, by Munnings
1st Dam: Mindy Gold, by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Mimi’s Golden Girl, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Classy Cathy, by Private Account
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Barry K.
Schwartz; B-Stonewall Farm (NY); T-Horacio DePaz; J-Jose L.
Ortiz. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-2, $174,015. *1/2 to
Papa Shot (Distorted Humor), MSP, $510,668. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Portal Creek, 119, f, 4, Shanghai Bobby–Silent Stream, by
Tricky Creek. ($22,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Ten Strike Racing;
B-White Fox Farm (KY); T-Juan Carlos Guerrero. $20,000.
3–Nonna Madeline, 123, f, 4, Candy Ride (Arg)–Cool Storm, by
Storm Cat. ($130,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Teresa Viola Racing
Stables & St. Elias Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. $12,000.
Margins: NK, 12, HF. Odds: 1.25, 7.60, 1.25.
Also Ran: Stand for the Flag, Graceful Princess, Overheated.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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