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Seidman Ecstatic After Wins By Yo Cuz, Bold Journey At Aqueduct

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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Yo Cuz Graduates To Stakes Winner In NYSSS Fifth Avenue

Dream Maker Racing's Yo Cuz made every pole a winning one in Saturday's $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Laoban bay, who entered from a debut fifth in a state-bred maiden special weight sprint on November 21 at the Big A, broke third and was hustled to the lead by returning rider Jose Ortiz from post 5 to mark the opening quarter-mile in :22.96.

Yo Cuz maintained her lead down the backstretch through an easy half-mile in :47.10, a length in front of Bank On Anna with Laochi stalking another length back in third under Eric Cancel.

Morning Matcha, the 8-5 morning-line favorite piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, settled last of-11 through the opening quarter-mile but was keen to follow the rallying Shigeko through the turn as Yo Cuz attempted to kick clear of the field.

Yo Cuz opened up a four-length lead over Laochi at the stretch call as Morning Matcha overtook Shigeko and powered into contention down the center of the track. A game and determined Morning Matcha continued to find more but there was no reeling in Yo Cuz, who crossed the wire 1 3/4-lengths in front in a final time of 1:25.34.

Ortiz said Yo Cuz was much improved at second asking after experiencing trouble at the gate on debut.

“She was squeezed out of there and she was very green, too,” Ortiz said of the first-out effort. “I just sat patiently and tried to teach her some stuff. I didn't want to rush her. She's a big filly and she closed well last time. I was very happy with the race. I knew second time she was going to be a lot better. I expected she was going to win a maiden; I didn't know she was going to run in here. I knew this race was going to be a little bit tougher, but she proved that she belongs.

“She was ready today. She broke well today and he [Mott] worked on what she needed – breaking better, which she did,” Ortiz added. “She broke very clean and when I went to take position and looked around me, nobody could keep up with me in the first quarter. So, when I took [the lead] I slowed it down nicely and she was very relaxed.”

Ortiz, a three-time winner on the card, continued a solid run of form after going 3-for-3 on Friday night at Remington Park Oklahoma City, Okla., winning the She's All In with Casual, the Trapeze with Optionality, and the Springboard Mile with Make It Big.

“When you ride good horses, this is what happens. You get more chances to win races,” Ortiz said. “I appreciate all the opportunities I have been getting with big owners and big trainers supporting my career. That's what it's all about. You have to have the horse to win.”

Tom Gallo, managing partner of Dream Maker Racing, said he always had high hopes for Yo Cuz.

“When we first gave Bill the horse, we had this race in mind,” Gallo said. “When I mentioned it to Bill, he looked at me and laughed a little bit because he had just got her. But then she started to breeze at Saratoga and was training really well. We wanted to get one race in her before this and she ran fifth about four weeks ago. She broke bad, trailed the field but then weaved her way between horses and galloped out past the leader. When we spoke to Jose Ortiz after the race, he said that he really liked the horse. It's nice to have continuity because he knew her.”

Gallo said the $125,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase made a good first impression.

“The thing that stood out for us was that she was one of the few in that sale who galloped and didn't breeze,” Gallo said. “We like when people take time with their horses. The fact that she was a good size and came out of a good consignment [Hidden Brook] was appealing.”

Morning Matcha completed the exacta by five lengths over Laochi with Shigeko, Bank On Anna, Laoban's Legacy, She's a Big Deal, Alicia's Way, Howdyoumakeurmoney, Mrs. Banks, and Half Birthday rounding out the order of finish.

Carmouche said the slow-starting Morning Matcha, who maintained a perfect in-the-money record of 7-2-3-2, will not be hustled.

“She breaks a little slow and gets herself together, but you can't rush her,” Carmouche said. “She's going to pick up the bit when she wants. Today, we were just second best.”

Bred in New York by Seidman Stables, Yo Cuz, out of the Tale of Ekati mare Steve's Philly, banked $275,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-1-0-0. She paid $8.00 for a $2.00 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card featuring the $100,000 Gravesend in Race 7 and the $125,000 Queens County in Race 8. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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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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