aqueduct | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nevin Taking Her Time With Happy Medium

Jay Em Ess Stable's Happy Medium (Runhappy) equaled his career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure for 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy allowance victory (video) at Aqueduct Saturday. Happy Medium has gone 3-for-4 this year, his only loss coming in his debut where he finished third going seven furlongs at Aqueduct in March.

“He's doing all the right things,” trainer Michelle Nevin said of the sophomore. “We're very happy with him and we are taking each logical step as he's gone along and he's really shown up.”

Happy Medium earned his first 103 Beyer with a 9 1/4-length maiden special weight victory at Belmont in his second start. He followed with a five-length victory over a sloppy and sealed main track at Aqueduct Nov. 13.

Nevin said Happy Medium's effort Saturday was the best of his career.

“Yesterday, he looked more in control of the race every step of the way,” Nevin said. “When he broke his maiden, he did it easily, but it maybe didn't look as impressive as yesterday.”

Looking ahead for Happy Medium, Nevin said, “We'll just get past this, get back to training, and see how we are and then we'll make our decisions down the road a little bit. We're going to have to see how he comes out of this race. It was a huge effort, so I'm not in a rush to pick a spot. Once I feel like he's back on his feet again, we'll see what's available to us.”

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Unique Unions Tries Winners In NYSSS Great White Way

Unique Unions will vie for his first victory against winners in Saturday's NYSSS Great White Way for eligible state-sired juveniles going seven furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The first of two New York Stallion Stakes Series races on Saturday's nine-race card, the Great White Way division is slated as Race 6 with the Fifth Avenue division set for Race 8. With each division offering a purse of $500,000, the New York Stallion Stakes Series rewards owners and breeders for their efforts to breed mares to stallions in the Empire State.

“The New York Stallion Stakes Series works to directly benefit and promote stakeholders in the New York-bred program, especially New York stallion owners and everyone who invests in their progeny,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. which administers the NYSSS. “We're thankful the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund and NYRA continue to partner in supporting this 10-race series totaling $2,300,000 in purses and the ability to earn 20 percent in addition to purse earnings with Open Owner's Awards for finishers first through third.

“The opportunity to breed or purchase a New York-sired New York-bred at auction and compete in the richest juvenile sire stakes races in the country with the $500,000 Great White Way for males and Fifth Avenue for fillies provides tremendous value for New York Sired progeny,” Thompson added. “It's a great example of the opportunities and incentives available by participating in the New York-bred program and NYSSS races.”

Unique Unions, trained and co-owned by Rick Schosberg with Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable enters the Great White Way off an impressive 4 ¼ length maiden special weight romp at Aqueduct on November 20.

Battling for the lead down the backstretch with two foes to his inside, the son of second-crop sire Union Jackson was asked by jockey Manny Franco to make his move rounding the turn and found a new gear, steadily widening his advantage and stopping the clock in a final time of 1:12.08.

“I was expecting him to run big,” said Schosberg. “Manny worked him for us to get a feel for him and he really liked him. We have had some really nice horses come through this barn and he sure acts the part.”

Unique Union's maiden score came on the heels of a troubled first start at Belmont Park on Sept. 25 when he briefly made a bid for the lead after the break but took an awkward step and was pulled up and vanned off rounding the turn. Schosberg said that the gelding sustained no injuries and was vanned as a precautionary measure.

“There was nothing wrong with him,” Schosberg said “He was bright and standing well. The jockey said he took some funny steps when he tried to switch leads and just wasn't in sync. It's fine he pulled him up. He thought the horse was having an issue and you err on the side of caution no matter what when it comes to the health and welfare of the horse.”

A $60,000 purchase by his owners at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale in May, Unique Unions caught the eye of his connections when he posted a 10.1 second furlong at the sale. Schosberg said that the colt has shown enough in the mornings and in his maiden score to warrant a start in stakes company.

“I don't think it's overstepping looking at the nominations,” he said. “I see no reason why we shouldn't be in there. He has not regressed one bit since he broke his maiden. He has moved forward and gained weight. His works have been what we want to see.”

Schosberg also spoke to the purse money offered by the New York Stallion Stakes Series, emphasizing the importance of awarding breeders for their dedication to the New York program.

“These stallion stakes are a huge plus for us,” said Schosberg. “It's fantastic that they can have a purse like this. It's a great opportunity to earn some big money with some horses that have connections that took the time and resources to get through the process. The idea is to keep good stallions here in New York, which is key to our breeding industry. We need mares to breed to New York sires as opposed to shipping elsewhere as it helps the economy here in New York. This is a great way to promote it.”

A win with Unique Unions would provide Schosberg with his second Great White Way victory after conditioning Rush Chairman Bill to take the 1992 edition.

Unique Unions will exit Post 1 with Franco in the irons again.

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Trainer Genevieve Londono will ship in Stirdatpot off a second-place 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight effort at Churchill Downs on November 20.

Stalking the pace in third under Alex Achard, Stirdatpot had some trouble switching his leads in the stretch but held on gamely to secure place honors by a neck.

“Scott Kent broke him in Ocala and he has been growing and maturing ever since” said Londono. “He was a little green in his last race and was rambunctious in the post parade, but he's improving. His dam had a lot of heart too.”

A homebred son of Trinniberg for Londono and Charlie Hancock, Stirdatpot will look to become Londono's second stakes winner from 13 starters.

Stirdatpot breaks from Post 8 with Edgar Morales up.

Iron Lion in Zion also enters the Great White Way off a maiden special weight score last out for trainer Tom Morley in a state-bred seven-furlong contest at Belmont Park November 5.

Fifth on debut after bumping with his inside foe leaving the gate and weakening in the stretch, the son of Bellamy Road took a step forward in his next start, putting together a last-to-first effort to break his maiden.

Positioned at the rear of the field by Dylan Davis in the early stages, Iron Lion in Zion came under a ride at the three-eighths pole before taking command at the sixteenth pole and keeping to task with right-handed encouragement from Davis to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

On Friday, Iron Lion in Zion posted his final work for the Great White Way, breezing a half-mile in 50.85 seconds over Belmont's dirt training track.

A homebred for owner DutchessViews Farm, Iron Lion in Zion will exit Post 9 with Davis aboard.

Cypress Creek Equine's Un Ojo will look to improve off a game fourth-place effort last out in the Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs on November 20. A maiden special weight winner on November 5 at Delta, the gelded son of Laoban gave a stalking performance in the Jean Lafitte with Devin Magnon up.

Roused in the final turn and sent up the middle lane to split horses, Un Ojo weaved his way back down to the inside path to make a final drive to the finish in the stretch, finishing five lengths behind the top three to round out the superfecta.

Now in the barn of Anthony Dutrow after making his first three starts with Ricky Courville, the dark bay breezed five furlongs in 1:02.54 over the main track at Belmont on Sunday.

Trevor McCarthy will guide Un Ojo from Post 11.

The Bruce Levine-trained Bustin Pietre faced a tall order last time out when stepping up from a debut maiden claiming victory to face multiple stakes winner Senbei in the Notebook at Belmont on November 21.

Tracking in second behind Senbei throughout the six furlongs, the Bustin Stones gelding finished well to hold off a late bid from Daufuskie Island to secure second by a half-length at the wire.

Breezing five furlongs over Belmont Park's dirt training track on Friday, Bustin Pietre's time of 1:02.01 was the third-best of 14 works that day.

Kendrick Carmouche gets the call to ride from Post 2.

Completing the field for the Great White Way are stakes-placed Maseta [Post 3, Eric Cancel], maidens Safalow's Mission [Post 4, Jose Ortiz] and Hot Stepper [Post 5, Samuel Camacho, Jr.] Awad runner-up Geno [Post 6, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], Flying P Stable's Hoboken Jack [Post 7, Jose Lezcano], and Morris E. Kerman, Jr.'s and Jagger Inc.'s Kenner [Post 10, Ruben Silvera].

Named for Broadway in Manhattan's theater district, the Great White Way offers a 3:09 p.m. Eastern post. First post for the card is set for 12:20 p.m.

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.

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Morning Matcha Tops Field Of 11 For NYSSS Fifth Avenue

Cash Is King Racing, LC Racing and Gary Barber's two-time winner Morning Matcha headlines a field of 11 for Saturday's 35th running of the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The seven-furlong test for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies is one of two stakes races on Saturday afternoon for state-sired 2-year-olds, along with its counterpart race, the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way.

“We're pleased to be offering these important races – the richest juvenile sire stakes races in the country – which demonstrate the strength of the New York-sired program and offer a great incentive to breed to New York stallions,” said NYRA racing secretary Keith Doleshel. “Our New York-sired and New York-bred programs are integral to NYRA racing and we look forward to continuing to support the New York breeding industry.”

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Morning Matcha will cut back a furlong after defeating winners by 6 ¼ lengths going a two-turn mile on Nov. 16 at Parx. She registered a field-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure last out, saving ground along the rail before angling several paths wide around the far turn and drawing off to a 6 ¼-length victory as the 1-9 favorite.

The daughter of leading New York stallion Central Banker, who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for a $7,500 stud fee, has never finished out of the money in six career starts.

The consistent bay earned a stakes-placing in the Finest City on Sept. 13 at Presque Isle Downs en route to a 6 ½ furlong Parx maiden score 12 days later.

Reid, Jr. kept a small division of horses at Saratoga this past summer, including Morning Matcha, and said he had been looking forward to more ground since watching her train at the Spa. Morning Matcha sprinted against restricted maiden company twice at Saratoga, finishing a respective third and second.

“No doubt the longer distances have helped,” said Reid, Jr. “We've been waiting to stretch her out in distance since we had her at Saratoga. A mile was perfect for her so this won't be out of reach either.”

Reid, Jr. will have five stalls at Gulfstream Park this winter. Following the NYSSS Fifth Avenue, Morning Matcha is scheduled to join his small South Florida division.

“After this, we'll stretch her back out. She'll head to Florida after this and train in some nicer weather,” Reid, Jr. said.

Kendrick Carmouche, the pilot in both victories, will return aboard Morning Matcha from post 6.

“It'll be up to the jock wherever she's most comfortable,” Reid, Jr. said. “Inside or outside, she appears to have no qualms with anything. Kendrick has done a great job with her.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Crane Thoroughbred Services, Morning Matcha is out of the stakes-placed Iam the Iceman mare Home Ice and was bought for $18,000 out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Mid Atlantic Sale.

Trainer Michael Trombetta will send out Howdyoumakeurmoney, a dual-surface winner and the lone stakes-winner in the Fifth Avenue field.

The Commonwealth New Era Racing-owned Freud bay graduated at second asking on turf against fellow New York-breds on September 3 at Saratoga and one month later captured the 6 ½-furlong Presque Isle Downs Debutante, defeating next-out winner Battle Charge.

Howdyoumakeyourmoney, bred in New York by Davie Bloodstock and Peter Colon, arrives from a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Glorious Song on Oct. 30 at Woodbine.

Mychel Sanchez will be aboard from post 7.

Joseph Bucci's Laoban's Legacy will seek her first stakes victory, coming off a runner-up effort against open company winners for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Bred in New York by Sequel Thoroughbreds, the daughter of the late Laoban was a dazzling 7 ¾-length winner in July over a sloppy and sealed Saratoga main track on debut en route to a distant third in the Seeking the Ante the following month at the Spa.

Breaking from post 3, Laoban's Legacy will be ridden by Manny Franco – a two-time winner of the NYSSS Fifth Avenue.

Trainer Christophe Clement will send out Barry Schwartz's Shigeko following a 6 ¾-length maiden win at second asking. Bred in New York by Schwartz's Stonewall Farm, the daughter of Japan found the winner's circle on Oct. 30 over a sloppy and sealed main track in an off-the-turf mile for state-breds at Belmont Park.

Dylan Davis will ride Shigeko from post 11.

Completing the field are She's a Big Deal [post 1, Raul Mena], Alicia's Way [post 2, Benjamin Hernandez], Laochi [post 4, Eric Cancel], Yo Cuz [post 5, Jose Ortiz], Half Birthday [post 8, Trevor McCarthy], Bank On Anna [post 9, Jose Lezcano], and Mrs. Banks [post 10, Mike Luzzi].

The NYSSS Fifth Avenue is carded as the penultimate event on Saturday's nine-race program. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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Baffert vs. NYRA Fight Grinds On

Bob Baffert filed a legal response Friday to the New York Racing Association (NYRA)'s recent attempt to dismiss his amended civil complaint, in which the Hall-of-Fame trainer is fighting an allegedly “sham” hearing process initiated by NYRA to determine if he will be excluded from New York's premier tracks.

The Dec. 10 filing in United States District Court (Eastern District of New York) rebutted and reargued a number of legal points that have already been volleyed back and forth by both sides since Baffert filed the initial version of his lawsuit June 14.

But one updated section lets the judge know about the Dec. 3 urine test results that the trainer's legal team claims “have confirmed scientifically” that the betamethasone in Medina Spirit's system after the colt won the GI Kentucky Derby came from a topical ointment and not an intra-articular injection.

Yet this new information about Medina Spirit's urine was imparted in the filing without any mention of the tragic turn of events that took place about 72 hours after those test results were made public, when the Derby winner collapsed and died after laboring through a workout at Santa Anita Park.

It's understandable that Medina Spirit's Dec. 6 death is not a legal point that Baffert's counsel considers relevant to the case, which deals primarily with allegations and incidents that occurred months ago.

But to a layman reading the court filing with the knowledge that Medina Sprit's untimely and sudden passing rocked the sports world and dominated the international racing news this week, it does come across as a jarring omission of context in the overall saga.

“Unfortunately, NYRA refused to wait for the results of the aforementioned testing or to otherwise allow the comprehensive administrative process which must take place in Kentucky to play out,” Baffert's filing stated.

“Instead, on May 17, 2021, prior to the initiation of any administrative processes in Kentucky, NYRA took the unprecedented step of announcing that it was immediately and indefinitely suspending Baffert from entering horses in racetracks that it operates, including Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Aqueduct Racetrack,” the filing continued.

NYRA had banished the seven-time GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer 16 days after Medina Spirit tested positive for a betamethasone. But NYRA's stated desire to rule off Baffert goes beyond Medina Spirit's still-in-limbo Derby penalization status, which has not yet even resulted in a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission hearing.

In the 12 months prior to Medina Spirit's positive, four other Baffert trainees also tested positive for medication overages, two of them in Grade I stakes, and this has been a key plank in NYRA's argument.

On July 14, the court granted Baffert a preliminary injunction that currently allows him to race at New York's premier tracks until his lawsuit gets adjudicated in full.

But the judge also wrote in that ruling that “Baffert should have been given notice of all of the reasons that NYRA intended to suspend him.”

So in the wake of that decision, NYRA drafted a new set of procedures for holding hearings and issuing determinations designed to suspend licensees who engage in injurious conduct. On Sept. 10, NYRA then summoned Baffert to appear at an exclusion hearing.

Baffert first filed a motion asking the judge to hold NYRA in civil contempt for trying to schedule such a hearing and to stay the hearing itself. When those requests were denied, he amended his original complaint to try and keep that hearing process from moving forward (it's currently scheduled to begin Jan. 24).

When NYRA previously addressed the issue of the hearing in court documents, it termed Baffert's characterization of the process as “misguided,” noting that “Plaintiff s argument that he had no notice of the conduct prohibited by NYRA likewise fails given that common law has long recognized the standards and interests NYRA intends to uphold.”

NYRA had also previously pointed out to the judge that it was “providing Plaintiff exactly what he argued he was entitled to in support of his motion for a preliminary injunction–notice and an opportunity to be heard.”

On Friday, Baffert's filing contended that, “Shockingly, NYRA's Motion to Dismiss even asks this Court to dismiss the [civil action for deprivation of rights claim] on which Baffert has already prevailed. Baffert's Amended Complaint states valid claims for each of the five causes of action…NYRA's Motion to Dismiss should be denied in its entirety.”

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