Breeder Maggie Seidman expressed a sense of pride when Dream Maker Racing's Yo Cuz captured Saturday's $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue in gate-to-wire fashion over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the daughter of Laoban asserted command down the backstretch, fending off a late rally from two-time winner Morning Matcha to win by 1 ¾ lengths. The win in the seven-furlong sprint for eligible state-sired juvenile fillies garnered a 68 Beyer.
Seidman said the victory was a sentimental one as she named the dam of Yo Cuz, Steve's Philly, after her late husband.
“When my husband passed, I named her Steve's Philly because my husband grew up in Philadelphia and went to school there. Because she was in memory of my husband, she meant a lot to me.” Seidman said. “Yo Cuz was born on the farm and that was the second foal. They said she got up right away and was looking around. She has a nice personality, and I was so excited to see her win convincingly.
“As a youngster, the mare was pretty feisty and this one was just as feisty,” Seidman added. “She'd be in the field and no one bumped her. She was bossy.”
Yo Cuz sold for $125,000 last May to Tom Gallo of Dream Maker Racing out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale. Seidman credited consignor Hidden Brook Farm for doing a professional job with the filly during the sale.
“I kept her and this is the second foal,” Seidman said. “I put her in the 2-year-old sale and only galloped her, she did not breeze. Mark Roberts at Hidden Brook, who had her, is all for that and he did a great job with her. The mare has a good pedigree. She comes from the same family as Wonder Again. I was one of the partners in Laoban, so I bred her to Laoban.”
Seidman said she was happy Yo Cuz was purchased by well-respected connections.
“I was so excited because I really loved the connections. They're a good group,” Seidman said. “They supported the fact that she galloped, which is important to me as a breeder. I am very involved with aftercare. You take care of the horse first, that's how I am. They know Mark Roberts and Hidden Brook is a quality organization.
“I wanted to buy back into her, and I was with a group of people. I think we went up to about half of what she went for and bowed out,” Seidman added. “I felt that she was an excellent horse. She's a New York-bred and the New York program is amazing. If you're an owner, you get points, and if you're an owner-breeder and have a horse that wins, it helps because it's an expensive sport.”
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One race prior to Yo Cuz capturing the NYSSS Fifth Avenue, Bold Journey, a 2-year-old half-brother to Grade 1-winner Americanrevolution, broke his maiden by 6 ¾ lengths going six furlongs.
An $80,000 purchase at the April Ocala Breeders' Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, Bold Journey, bred in New York by Fred Hertrich and John Fielding, posted a runner-up debut effort in November at the Big A in the care of trainer Carlos Martin for Seidman Stables.
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and Team Penney Racing bought into Bold Journey following the debut effort and the horse was transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“It's really exciting. I bought his horse in April before Americanrevolution started doing well,” Seidman said. “They took their time with him [Americanrevolution] and we're going to the same thing with this guy. I don't like to rush my 2-year-olds. I got a call from the three other partners, very good people. We'll see how he does going forward. There are some nice races at Aqueduct.”
Bold Journey was bought at the OBS April Sale by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock.
“I use Mike McMahon as my stable manager and I have all my horses at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds,” Seidman said. “It's interesting because his mother Anne and I were in the same freshman class at Skidmore years ago. My husband has been gone for eight years, so I go to Mike for advice. When we try to buy or sell a horse, he's there for me.”
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