Rain Fails To Dampen Best Of Ohio Friday At Belterra Park

Despite a heavy rain and muddy track, five $100,000 Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund (OTRF) stakes went off without a hitch on Best of Ohio day at Belterra Park on Friday, May 28.

Capturing the Sydney Gendelman Stakes was none other than the 9-5 choice Wicked Warrior, a Benny Feliciano-trainee owned by Bruce Tallisman, who demolished his competition by more than ten lengths. This 4-year-old bay gelding by Wicked Strong covered the one and one-sixteenth mile event for Registered Ohio-breds, 3-year-olds and up in 1:43.68 with Ricardo Feliciano in the saddle. Wicked Warrior now has $215,790 in career earnings from six wins, four seconds and one third in 13 starts. Forewarned (6-5) was second for Sonny Leon, with 18-1 Mobil Solution (Erik Barbaran) third and 90-1 Candy Exchange (David Haldar) fourth.

Altissimo captured the Palacious Memorial, a six-furlong sprint, for the third straight time (having won this stake in 2018 & 2019). Owned by Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski, the homebred 8-year-old son of Noble Causeway is trained by Richard Zielinski and now has $894,534 in earnings from 19 wins, eight seconds and six thirds in 48 career starts. Altissimo was clocked in 1:10.42 with rider Ronald Dale Allen, Jr., in the irons, with 19-1 Chief Randel (Fernando Becerra) second, 9-2 Going with Style (Sonny Leon) third and 9-2 I Wanna Win (Erik Barbaran) fourth.

Buckeye Magic captured his third career start in five tries as the 6-5 favorite by whipping his rivals in the Green Carpet Stakes. The son of Trappe Shot-Lady Buckeye, by Quiet American covered the one and one-sixteenth miles in 1:45.92 over the slop for rider John McKee. Thomas Drury, Jr., trained the winner for owners-breeders Maccabee Farm. Buckeye Magic upped his career earnings to $142,220 with this latest victory. Henry Mac (Luis Batista) was second at 40-1, while 8-1 Big Truck was third for Perry Ouzts and 3-1 choice Brig was fourth for Christian Pilares.

Last year's Galbreath Memorial winner Alexandria, notched her fifth lifetime triumph in her ninth start in the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks, a one and one-sixteenth test for Ohio-registered 3-year-old fillies. The chestnut daughter by Constitution-Spring Water, by Spring at Last is conditioned by Tim Hamm for her breeders and owners WinStar Farm, Blazing Meadows Farm and Michael Lewis. To date has Alexandria has amassed earnings of $261,945. She was clocked in 1:45.03 as the 2-5 choice with Santiago Gonzalez riding. Shez Shacked up (David Haldar) was second at 40-1, with 25-1 Angel's Sassy (Frank Reyes) third and 25-1 Lemon Deelite (John McKee) fourth.

Esplanande obliterated her rivals in the 4th running of the six-furlong Diana Stakes for Ohio-registered fillies, 3-year-old and up. The dark bay daughter of Daredevil-Southern Silence, by Dixie Union was clocked in 1:10.58 for trainer by Tim Hamm for breeders-owners Winstar Farm, Blazing Meadows Farm and Michael Lewis. This homebred, who left the gate at 2-5 odds, now has career earnings of $281,880. Drillit was second at 9-2 for Christian Pilares, with 14-1 Valley of Mo'ara (Frank Reyes) third and 18-1 Edge of Night (Ronald Dale Allen, Jr.) fourth.

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Esplanande Named Ohio’s 2020 Horse Of The Year

Esplanande, who bested all challengers in her home state, and made an impact on the national stage was named 2020 Ohio Horse of the Year by the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners.

The Daredevil filly won three of four starts last year, winning on debut by 6 1/4 lengths at Belterra Park, then taking the Hoover Stakes at the same track with a front-running trip. Esplanande then shipped north to Thistledown for the Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes, where she once again led at every point of call to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

The filly then tested deeper waters, shipping to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes in her final start of the season. She led through the early fractions, but ultimately finished second to future Eclipse Award winner Vequist.

Esplanande is owned by the partnership of Winstar Farm LLC, Blazing Meadows Farm LLC, and Michael Lewis. She was also bred by WinStar and Blazing Meadows, and she is trained by Tim Hamm.

The filly's ownership group was also named Ohio Owners of the Year, and Esplanande took home additional honors as Ohio's champion 2-year-old filly. Southern Silence, the dam of Esplanande was also named Ohio's Broodmare of the Year.

This year's winners were selected by a committee composed of Lawrence “Bill” Couch, Ed Vomacka, and Hugh Drexler – the racing secretaries at each Ohio Thoroughbred track – and Bob “Railbird” Roberts, the award-winning former turf writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Following is the full list of winners from the OTBO's 2020 year-end awards.

Owner of the Year: Winstar Farm LLC., Blazing Meadows LLC and Michael Lewis

Breeder of the Year: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm

Horse of the Year: Esplanande
Owner: Winstar Farm LLC., Tim Hamm and Michael Lewis
Breeder: Blazing Meadows Farm & WinStar Farm LLC
Trainer: Tim Hamm

Stallion of the Year: Mobil
Owner: George Sikora
Standing at: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm

Broodmare of the Year: Southern Silence
Owner: Blazing Meadow and Winstar Farm LLC

Champion Handicap Horse: Mobil Solution
Owner: Danielle Agnello
Breeder: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm
Trainer: Jeffrey Skerrett

Champion Handicap Mare: Circus Rings
Owner: Knights A to Z Racing LLC
Breeder: Michael E. Lauer & Penny S. Lauer
Trainer: Valerie K. Shanyfelt

Ohio-Bred Claimer of the Year: Star Mabee
Owner: Michael J. Annechino
Breeder: Lake Shore Farm, LLC
Trainer: Jeffrey A. Radosevich

Champion Sprinter: Chief Randel
Owner: Harry D. Waite
Breeder: Harry D. Waite & Ronald C. Waite
Trainer: Jose A. Romero

Champion Accredited Male: Mobil Solution
Owner: Danielle Agnello
Breeder: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm
Trainer: Jeffrey Skerrett

Champion Accredited Female: Grizabella
Owner: Michael J. Annechino
Breeder: Mapleton Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Jeffrey A. Radosevich

Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Chief Randel
Owner: Harry D. Waite
Breeder: Harry D. Waite & Ronald C. Waite
Trainer: Jose A. Romero

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Moonlit Mission
Owner: Charlie J. Williams LLC
Breeder: Belvedere Farm Inc.
Trainer: Silvano M. Gonzalez

Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Buckeye Magic
Owner: Maccabee Farm LLC
Breeder: Maccabee Farm
Trainer: Thomas Drury Jr.

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Esplanande
Owner: Winstar Farm LLC., Tim Hamm and Michael Lewis
Breeder: Blazing Meadows Farm LLC & WinStar Farm, LLC
Trainer: Tim Hamm

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Esplanande Brings Perfect Record Into Sunday’s Grade 1 Spinaway

A field of six juvenile fillies will seek Grade 1 black type in Sunday's 129th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Spinaway going seven furlongs over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

The historic event, which is the first Grade 1 event for 2-year-old fillies on the East Coast, has been won by Eclipse Award winning debutantes Before Dawn (1981), Family Style (1985), Meadow Star (1990), Flanders (1994), Golden Attraction (1995) and Countess Diana (1997). In its earlier years, the Spinaway was won by all-time great fillies Miss Woodford (1883), Maskette (1908), Top Flight (1930), Affectionately (1962), Numbered Account (1971), La Prevoyante (1972) and Ruffian (1974).

The prestigious race is named in honor of George Lorillard's talented chestnut who won seven of her nine starts, including stakes wins at the defunct Jerome Park and Sheepshead Bay Park. Successful in her career as a broodmare, Spinaway was the granddam of Tanya, who won her grandmother's namesake race in 1904 before defeating colts in the Belmont Stakes the following year. Other prominent descendants of Spinaway include multiple champion producing stallion Giant's Causeway, prolific broodmare Hasili and European Champion Gleneagles.

Trainer Tim Hamm shipped Dayoutoftheoffice for a victory in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day at the Spa and will invade for another stakes engagement for juvenile fillies with Esplanande, who is unbeaten in three starts all against Ohio-breds.

Owned and bred by Hamm's Blazing Meadows Farm and WinStar Farm, the dark bay daughter of Daredevil won her debut by 6 ¼ lengths at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio before defeating Buckeye State native colts in the Hoover on July 3 at Belterra and the Cleveland Kindergarten on August 8 at Thistledown.

“This horse has dominated state bred competition. She's beaten the boys in Ohio, but she'll get a test this time, and we'll see how she handles the step up in competition,” Hamm said. “She's done nothing wrong and her Beyer and Thoro-Graph numbers put her to where she deserves a chance.”

Because he knows how tough it can be to win at Saratoga, Hamm doesn't bring just any horse to the Spa and said that a horse has to prove themselves worthy of the engagement.

“They have to show that they have some class and can handle themselves under some stress,” Hamm said. “They got to go out there and perform. If they're on their 'A' game, you feel like you have a shot. The horses we're bringing up there have shown that.”

Esplanande will stretch out to seven furlongs for the first time, with her longest race taking place last out at six furlongs.

“It looks like she'll carry her speed seven eighths and I'm not convinced she can't get a mile. She's been a classy filly,” Hamm said.

Hamm boasts three graded stakes victories on his resume, but a Spinaway triumph would give him his first at the Grade 1 level.

“It would be outstanding especially with a homebred filly like that,” Hamm said. “I'm still looking for that first Grade 1. It would be super. We have the mare and Daredevil is a WinStar stallion so it would mean a whole lot to the whole operation.”

Hamm conditions numerous horses for WinStar, including dual stakes winner Alexandria, who also is unbeaten in three starts.

“We have a great relationship with WinStar,” Hamm said. “We have about 20 yearlings which will be 2-year-olds next year with WinStar, and we have about a dozen in training. The relationship started about 10 years ago and it's grown each year. We breed together and we do some training together on certain horses.”

Jockey Junior Alvarado, who piloted Dayoutoftheoffice to victory in the Schuylerville for Hamm, has the mount from post 4.

Trainer Mark Casse will attempt a third triumph in the Spinaway with Beautiful Memories.

A John C Oxley Kentucky homebred, the chestnut daughter of Hard Spun was an emphatic 10-length runaway winner of her debut on May 28 at Churchill Downs before being pulled up in the last out Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 16.

In her first work since being eased, Beautiful Memories drilled through a bullet half-mile in 46.20 seconds on August 5 over the Saratoga main track. She has continued to train forwardly and worked a half-mile in 49.40 on August 28.

Beautiful Memories is out of the stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Dream Dancing. Her fourth dam is 1999 Champion Older Female Beautiful Pleasure, who was a six-time Grade 1-winner.
Jockey Jose Ortiz was aboard for both of her two starts and will be back aboard from post 5.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen earned his first Grade 1 at the Spa when Cashier's Dream strolled home to a six-length triumph in the 2001 Spinaway. This year, he will send out Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Lady Lilly.

The bay daughter of freshman sire and 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was a narrow winner on debut going six furlongs over the main track on August 2 at Saratoga.

Bred in Kentucky by Mueller Thoroughbred Stable, Lady Lilly is the fourth progeny out of the Pulpit mare Miss Inclined, whose previous three offspring are all winners. She was bought for $280,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Elm Tree Farm.

Jockey Joel Rosario will have the return engagement as he seeks an 11th stakes victory this meet from post 3.

Rounding out the field are Irish Constitution [post 1, Dylan Davis], Vequist [post 2, Luis Saez], and Guana Cay [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr].

The Spinaway is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 12-race program, which offers a first post of 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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