Like Father, Like Son: Servises Make It A Family Affair At Parx

Family plays an integral part in both the human and equine history in racing. Like Thoroughbreds, countless horsemen are born into the sport and are descendants of a family filled with a trade and tradition.

Thursday morning, John and Tyler Servis, father and son, stood along the outer rail on the backside of Parx, waiting for their horses to train. Tyler, with his arm draped around his dad's shoulders, talked about their horses.

Saturday, the veteran Parx-based trainer, will be joined by his son, now also a trainer, as they send their horses to the gate amid a stakes-filled program highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

John has five horses entered on the day including stakes runners Precious (Plum Pretty), Leader of the Band (Cotillion G1) and Irish Cork (Alphabet Soup).

Tyler will send two, led by Shooger Ray Too in the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup. It will be just his third time saddling a horse in a graded stakes in his short time as a trainer.

Tyler, 30, went out on his own two years ago after spending the majority of his young life in the shadow of his dad among the 10,744 starts, 1,306 victories and $52 million in earnings. He was about 14 years old with a front row seat when the ever-popular Smarty Jones made a bid for the Triple Crown in 2004, sweeping the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness before falling short as the runner-up in the Belmont Stakes.

Together they worked side-by-side amid the long hours, through good days and bad. The elder horseman, a master at his craft, teaching his son through hands-on experience in the hope that he could one day follow in his footsteps. Now Tyler has 18 horses stabled in the barn alongside his father on the backstretch.

“I started galloping for him when I was 14 at Oaklawn,” Tyler said. “I got on my first horse at the track and then when I turned 16, I was able to get a license and I'd gallop for him before school. I did that for a couple of years, and I'd say probably during my junior year of high school I became his foreman. Then in my senior year when I graduated, I became his assistant. Then two years ago I decided to go out on my own.”

The decision to embark on a training career can happen too soon, too late or not at all as many have failed over the years. For the Servis' the decision for Tyler to remain with his dad or try his own hand wasn't easy decision.

“It was both ways,” Tyler said. “He was pushing me a little bit to try to go out and do my own thing and see what I could do, and I was getting to the point where I think I was ready for that change and that type of task at hand.”

John, the proud dad, recalled one dream his son had over a decade ago. Tyler dreamt about being a jockey when he grew up. As a high school freshman, he was 5-feet-7 and weighed 90 pounds. By his senior year, he was 6-feet tall, and doubled his weight. Now, as they train separately for different clients, the bond still remains.

“He was going to be a jockey, John said. “He was 16. I have pictures of him breezing horses and his mother was so upset, saying 'I don't want him to be a jockey. I said, 'honey, trust me, when he grows into those feet, he's not going to be a jockey.”

“It's fun and it's exciting”, John said. “Every time he runs a horse, he'll call me five minutes after the race and ask, “what did you think?' If he doesn't call it's because the horse won, and he's basking in the glory. So, then I'll call him and say, 'hey, you never called me!' He'll say, 'oh, I was so busy, I didn't have time.'

“We're right next to each other here (on the backside). After a horse runs or after they work, I'll bring them outside the next day and go over them and jog them down the road and stuff like that. He does the same thing, but it's funny that now when we do that, just one of us, the other will come out and look at them too so it's neat. He does it for me and I do it for him,” John said.

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When Tyler saddles Shooger Ray Too in the Greenwood Cup, he will be hoping the third time is the charm after saddling Wentz to a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes in his first year on his own. He then shipped to Aqueduct and finished fifth in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap.

Tyler will need to win 33 graded stakes if he wants to match his dad's mark, but for now he's focused on Saturday, and he likes his horse's chance in the 1 1/2-mile race.

“He is doing very well,” Tyler said. “He came out of his race really well from Saratoga (2nd in the Birdstone, Aug. 5). We have been pointing to this race all year, so obviously, we have high hopes for him. This is his home track, and he will relish the distance in this race and hopefully we'll come out with good results.”

“I'll be taking ten to New York for the winter,” Tyler said. “My first time up there. I want to try and branch out a little bit and generate some business. New face, new opportunity and maybe attract some new people. The experience won't hurt. At least I can say I tried if it doesn't work out.”

Win or lose this Saturday, the future is bright for the young horseman. From great lineage comes great opportunity with hopes of a promising career for years to come.

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Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Nets $26,699 For Winning Tickets

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 featuring action from Saratoga Race Course, Woodbine Race Track, and Monmouth Park, paid $26,699 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $125,652.

Four graded stakes comprised the wager, starting with the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks for 3-year-old fillies in Race 10 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Leader of the Band, a 10-1 selection for trainer John Servis, posted a two-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile contest, hitting the wire in 1:43.44 under jockey Frankie Pennington. Leader of the Band returned $22.60 on a $2 win wager.

Lexitonian provided an even bigger upset in the $350,000 Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt in Saratoga's Race 8. The Jack Sisterson trainee, off at 34-1, dueled Special Reserve from the top of the stretch before kicking away under jockey Jose Lezcano for a half-length win, paying $70. Lexitonian, the biggest price in the nine-horse field, completed the six-furlong sprint in 1:09.38.

Woodbine Race Track in Toronto, Ontario got in on the action when Souper Munnings, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, bested Grey Seal by a neck to win a seven-furlong turf allowance for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in Race 9. Souper Munnings, ridden by Patrick Husbands, won as the favorite, completing the course in 1:23.15 and returning $7.90.

Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., completed the final two legs, starting with Essential Quality's half-length win over Keepmeinmind in the $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles in Race 9. Essential Quality, who entered off a win in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes last out, set himself up for a potential start in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 28 with his Jim Dandy score under jockey Luis Saez. The defending Champion 2-Year-Old paid $2.80 as the favorite, notching a final time of 1:49.92.

Cross Border closed the wager with a 1 1/4-length win in the $250,000 Grade 2 Bowling Green for 4-year-olds and up on the inner turf in Race 10. The Mike Maker trainee repeated as the Bowling Green winner, with Saez aboard, as the son of English Channel won the 1 3/8-mile marathon in 2:16.36. Cross Border paid $14.40.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Leader of the Band Rallies Late To Win Monmouth Oaks

Stretching out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles for the first time, Edie Meeny Miny Mo looked like she would have no trouble with the extra distance, but Leader of the Band made a big run down the stretch to catch the favorite and win the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks by two lengths at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Edie Meeny Miny Mo went into the G3 Monmouth Oaks with two wins in two lifetime starts, ready to try stakes company for the first time. Also in the field of nine for the G3 Monmouth Oaks was Leader of the Band, a last-out third behind Crazy Beautiful in the Delaware Oaks. Under jockey Frankie Pennington, Leader of the Band broke cleanly, running seventh behind early leader Coppelia entering the first turn. Edie Meeny Miny Mo took the lead before the first quarter, striding out to a two-length advantage over Midnight Obsession and Coppelia. Repelling a challenge from Midnight Obsession on the final turn, the favorite looked like she might get an easy win in her first race around two turns.

On the final turn, Pennington took Leader of the Band to the outside, the filly accelerating through the stretch to catch Edie Meeny Miny Mo in the race's final strides. Midnight Obsession held on for third. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.44.

Leader of the Band paid $22.60, $7.40, and $4.40. Edie Meeny Miny Mo paid $4.00 and $2.60. Midnight Obsession paid $2.80 to show.

Find this race's chart here.

“She ran great. Unfortunately, my other horse (third-place finisher Midnight Obsession) came out a little bit and bothered her at the start, so I thought she would be a little bit closer. But it might have worked out for the best. Paco Lopez had Midnight Obsession a little closer than I expected, because I knew Edie Meeny Mino Mo would probably have to show speed coming out of two sprints. But it all worked out in our favor,” Leader of the Band's trainer John Servis commented after G3 Monmouth Oaks.

“The last time she ran in the Delaware Oaks she didn't get off great. Today she made a great run late. When the pace was up ahead of me, she felt pretty good and I was sitting there and every time I nudged her she was giving me something so I felt pretty comfortable coming out of the three-eighths turn.” Frankie Pennington said post-race. “She clipped heels a little bit after the break and I was a little further back than I wanted to be but she is such a nice horse, she kept chugging and she got the job done.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by owner SMD Limited, Leader of the Band is by Bandbox out of the Sir Cat mare Catsuit. The win in the G3 Monmouth Oaks brings Leader of the Band to two wins in five starts in 2021 and a lifetime record of three wins in seven starts for career earnings of $264,540.

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Monmouth Oaks: John Servis Doubling Up Again, Unbeaten Edie Meeny Mino Mo Faces Big Test

As much as trainer John Servis would prefer to keep his promising 3-year-old fillies Midnight Obsession and Leader of the Band on separate paths, he's sending both in the same stakes race for the second time in four weeks.

Midnight Obsession, second in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 3, and Leader of the Band, third in the same race, are part of a nine-horse field for the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks, the headliner on Saturday's 12-race card at Monmouth Park.

“The biggest reason I'm doing this again is because there are not enough 3-year-old races around right now,” said Servis. “But both of these fillies both also deserve this chance. They're both doing really good.”

In the case of Midnight Obsession, who has two wins and two seconds in four career starts, all this year, Servis is also curious to see how the daughter of Overanalyze handles a fast track. She has yet to race on one.

Leader of the Band, with a 2-2-2 line from six career starts, will look to make amends after a poor start in the Delaware Oaks that saw the daughter of Bandbox rally from last in the nine-horse field to get third, though she was beaten 8¾ lengths by race winner Crazy Beautiful.

Midnight Obsession was six lengths behind the winner.

“I think Leader of the Band will improve off her last race,” said Servis. “She got off flat footed and didn't break well at all. And I'm hoping for a fast track for Midnight Obsession to see how she'll handle that. She hasn't run on one yet.”

Midnight Obsession, owned by Main Line Racing Stable, has been more aggressively spotted by Servis to this point. After winning her debut by 5¼ lengths at Parx on March 2, she won an $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Belmont Park. She was then second, beaten just a half-length, in the Lyphard Stakes against older fillies at Penn National on May 28.

The runner-up showing in the Delaware Oaks followed that.

“She has been very forward since day one,” said Servis. “She has run good for us every time so far. When she was second against older fillies (in the Lyphard) she beat the rest of the field pretty good and then hooked a good one in the Delaware Oaks. We're looking for a good race from her.”

The mile and a sixteenth won't be an issue for Midnight Obsession since her last three races have been at that distance.

Paco Lopez is listed to ride.

Leader of the Band, owned by SMD Limited, has had a slower progression to reach this point, though she has never been worse than third in her career.

“I thought she ran well in the Delaware Oaks, all things considered,” said Servis. “She was way back after the break. Quite frankly, I didn't think she had a prayer and she had a nice run to be third. I know she got beat quite a bit. It wasn't her best effort but I expect more from her this time.”

Frankie Pennington has the mount.

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The field also features Penn Oaks winner Orbs Baby Girl, trained by Anthony Margotta; the Joseph Saffie, Jr.-trained Allworthy and Edie Meeny Miny Mo, unbeaten in two career starts, both sprints.

Trainer Miguel Vera is fully aware of the challenges facing his 3-year-old filly Edie Meeny Miny Mo.

She has never been around two turns, nor has she ever tried any stakes company yet. And she's the least experienced filly in the nine-horse field with just two career starts.

But Vera remains confident in her chances in the $250,000 mile and a sixteenth feature for one important reason: Talent. Edie Meeny Miny Mo, he says, oozes it.

“It's a big step up for her but she deserves this chance,” said Vera. “She has shown she has the potential to be a special horse.”

A Maryland-bred daughter of Upstart-Plum by Pure Prize, Edie Meeny Miny Mo was unraced at 2 “because she's a big filly who needed time to grow and develop,” said Vera.

Her debut on April 23 at Pimlico in a six-furlong maiden race was impressive – a 4¼-length win. But her follow-up in an optional $62,000 claimer at Pimlico on June 13 bordered on dazzling. She won that six-furlong dash by six-lengths despite being steadied as Vera used the race to teach her to come off the pace. That effort earned her a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I know there is a question about the distance since her only two races have been six furlongs and she is trying a mile and a sixteenth now,” said the Maryland-based Vera. “I don't think it will be a problem. I feel confident she can go that distance. She's the kind of horse who can go a lot of different distances.

“I'm impressed by what she has done but not surprised by it. She showed she had talent from day one.”

A further endorsement of the filly's ability: Victor Espinoza is coming in to ride. It is the only mount he has scheduled on the 12-race card.

“I'm very confident in her,” said Vera. “I think she is a real race horse. We're going to find out more on Saturday. But she has always shown she should be in these kind of races.

“It's a great race to see where we are with her.”

Owned by Holly Hill Stables LLC, Edie Meeny Miny Mo was purchased for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.

“The day she breezed there she left quite an impression,” said Vera. “She does everything right. Sometimes she does more than I ask her to do. But that's her.”

For Vera, who has been training since 2011, Edie Meeny Mino Mo, also represents the chance for an elusive graded stakes victory. He has yet to get one.

“It would mean a lot to me,” he said. “But just to be in this kind of race, any graded race, is awesome. She has shown me the potential to be the best horse I have ever had.”

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