Lobsta Outfinishes My Boy Tate To Upset NYSSS Thunder Rumble

Lobsta pulled a 28-1 upset in Sunday's $150,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series for eligible state-sired horses 3-years-old and upward going seven furlongs over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The 3-year-old son of Emcee earned the first stakes win of his career for trainer Gary Sciacca, who also saddled Lobsta's 4-year-old full brother Chowda for owner Eddie F's Racing. Both horses were bred in New York by John Jayko's Fedwell Farm.

Guided to victory by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano from post 10, Lobsta broke sharply and dueled for the lead with Chowda, who was piloted by Eric Cancel. As the two brothers led the field of 11 through a half-mile in :46.85, 3-2 post-time favorite My Boy Tate was urged by jockey Manny Franco to make his move for the lead and found room between the pacesetters at the top of the stretch.

With Chowda tiring to his inside, My Boy Tate, trained by Michelle Nevin, poked his nose to the front as the field straightened for the drive to the wire. Lobsta responded to urging from Castellano and battled back on the outside, both horses refusing to relinquish the lead. A few strides before the wire, Lobsta was able to claw his way to victory by a half-length in a final time of 1:24.87 over the fast track.

The Nevin-conditioned Our Last Buck angled to the outside and found his best stride late to finish four lengths behind the top two finishers and six lengths the better of Chowda, who rounded out the superfecta. Captain Bombastic, Jemography, Hold the Salsa, Wild Banker, Market Alert, Devious Mo, and Rinaldi completed the order of finish. Straight Skinny was scratched.

Getting a leg up on Lobsta for the first time, Castellano said was determined to give his all to help the colt run his best race.

“You can't give up in this business,” said the veteran rider. “You have to keep pushing hard and I felt that the horse was going to get by. He [My Boy Tate] passed me already but I didn't give up. I let the horse get his stride and he finished really well.”

Castellano said he needed to be patient aboard Lobsta, who was making his first start since finishing third in the New York Derby in July at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racing in Farmington, N.Y.

“I was concerned about the layoff, that's the reason I didn't want to move too soon at the quarter pole,” he said. “I rode with a lot of patience. The other horse got the jump. He moved a little quick but I didn't get bothered, I let him get his momentum and get his stride and it paid off.”

Sciacca said he was surprised the two siblings vie for the early lead.

“I never thought that would happen,” said Sciacca. “I thought Lobsta would sit back a little bit and Chowda was going to go. He [Castellano] said he broke so good with Lobsta, he was just sitting on him. He [Cancel] had to hustle Chowda to stay up in there and the two brothers were battling.”

There was more surprise for Sciacca when My Boy Tate made his move to split horses at the top of the lane.

“Why did they let him through. I thought they'd at least block him a little bit,” Sciacca said, with a laugh. “When he got through, I thought that's tough. He showed some fight – Lobsta – to come back and get the horse.”

Sciacca said he gave Lobsta the layoff to allow the colt time to mature. “He's a big horse and just trying to get himself together,” Sciacca said. “He was training well up to this spot.”

Eddie Fazzone, managing partner of Eddie F's Racing, agreed with Sciacca that seeing the two siblings go together was not what he had in mind going into the race.

“When we talked in the paddock, we thought Chowda was going to go and Lobsta was going to sit,” said Fazzone. “But Javier said when he broke like that, they had to go. I was a little surprised to see them both fighting up there, but Lobsta is a nice horse and was training lights out.”

Chowda had provided Fazzone with a stakes victory in last year's Gander at Aqueduct. Now with both brothers having earned stakes wins, Fazzone said he is grateful for all his horses have given him.

“I was jumping up and down like crazy. Both of these horses have been such a joy and brought a lot of excitement for me as a small stable,” Fazzone said. “Now, they're both stakes winners. I'm overwhelmed right now. I'm really happy for Gary and John Jayko.”

Fazzone said he was also proud of Chowda's fourth-place effort.

“Chowda fought like that to win the Gander and Lobsta – he's a fighter, too,” Fazzone said.

Lobsta, who finished third in the Mike Lee at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., and second in the Gander at Aqueduct this year, banked $82,500 in victory to boost his career purse winnings to $221,400. Lobsta now boasts a record of 8-3-1-2. A $2 win ticket returned $58.

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My Mary Stables' Salty Heir [by Micromanage], a 2-year-old half-brother to Lobsta and Chowda, also raced on Sunday's card for Sciacca, finishing sixth in Race 7 – a 6 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden special weight.

Live racing resumes Thursday with an eight-race card to kick off the winter meet at the Big A. First post is 12:50 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 fall 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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Russell Brings Wondrwherecraigis To Saratoga In Search Of First Stakes Win

Four-time winner Wondrwherecraigis will attempt to secure his first career stakes score in Friday's eighth running of the $120,000 Tale of the Cat at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Brittany Russell, Wondrwherecraigis enters the six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up who have not won a graded race in 2021 from a 5 3/4-length optional claiming score on July 18 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

The 4-year-old dark bay or brown son of Munnings, who garnered a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in his most recent effort, returns to stakes company on the NYRA circuit after being disqualified from second to third in the Gold Fever in July 2020 at Belmont Park ahead of finishing fourth behind three next-out winners in the Grade 2 Amsterdam last August at Saratoga.

Wondrwherecraigis is owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables.

“It was a big race. He's doing really well,” said Russell. “We figured we would take a look. It looks like the race will set up for him, so we're shipping him up and giving him a chance.”

Jockey Sheldon Russell will ride from post 5.

Trainer Ray Handal will saddle last-out stakes winner Foolish Ghost, who defeated his New York-bred counterparts in the John Morrissey on July 29. The son of Mineshaft was claimed by Handal and owner Ken Russell and Richard Newman Racing last August and has since won four times for his current trainer.

“He's doing well,” Handal said. “There aren't too many sprints for him in the northeast area. On his best day, he can run with some of the good ones, so we'll see.”

Jockey Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 6.

Daniel Alonso's Wind of Change arrives at the Tale of the Cat off a sharp win in the Mr. Prospector on May 29 at Monmouth Park for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The Brazilian-bred Forestry bay seeks his sixth stakes victory, which include four triumphs at such level in his native land.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride from post 4.

My Boy Tate will seek a sixth stakes victory for Little Red Feather Racing and trainer, breeder, and co-owner Michelle Nevin. The 7-year-old son of Boys At Tosconova was second in the 2018 and 2020 Tale of the Cat.

Breaking from post 1, My Boy Tate will be ridden by Manny Franco.

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Multiple stakes-winner Bon Raison [post 3, Jorge Vargas, Jr.] seeks a non-consecutive win in the Tale of the Cat, previously scoring in 2019. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Bon Raison brags the highest bankroll in the field with $685,874.

Completing the field is David Bernsen's Shashashakemeup [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], a four-time winner for trainer Peter Walder.

The Tale of the Cat is carded as Race 9 on Friday's 10-race program at Saratoga Race Course. First post is 1:05 p.m. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Nevin Sends Our Last Buck, My Boy Tate In John Morrissey

Trainer Michelle Nevin will send out stakes-winning veterans Our Last Buck and My Boy Tate in Thursday's $100,000 John Morrissey, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for New York-breds 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

My Boy Tate, bred, trained, and co-owned by Nevin with Little Red Feather Racing boasts a ledger of 24-9-5-2 with purse earnings of $584,988. The Boys At Tosconova gelding is a five-time stakes winner at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., including scores in the Hollie Hughes and Haynesfield earlier this year.

The hard-knocking 7-year-old has also enjoyed success at Saratoga, posting a perfect in-the-money record of 4-1-2-1, including a third-place finish in last year's Morrissey.

Last seen finishing fourth in an open allowance sprint at Parx in May, My Boy Tate has reeled off six weekly works dating to June 13, including a five-eighths effort in 1:01.54 on July 20 on the Saratoga main track.

“He's doing good. He had a little bit of a freshening and he's right on track,” Nevin said. “I would say Aqueduct is his favorite track, but Saratoga is a track he's shown an affinity for, too.”

Nevin said that My Boy Tate, who has finished no worse than fourth in his last nine starts dating back to running third in last year's Morrissey, continues to thrive.

“He seems like he's still the same old fella,” Nevin said. “He's definitely a barn favorite. He always tries. We've had him since he was two and he's seven now and is just a great horse to have.”

J and N Stables' Our Last Buck, a 7-year-old Courageous Cat gelding bred by Gerardus S. Jameson, enjoyed a productive 2020 campaign with a record of 8-4-2-0. The success continued into January with a first stakes score in the seven-furlong Say Florida Sandy last out at the Big A.

Our Last Buck has breezed weekly at Belmont dating back to June 3, including a five-eighths effort in 1:02.23 on the dirt training track on July 20.

Nevin said the lengthy freshening was by design.

“He had plenty of races last year and we were looking to give him a little break,” Nevin said. “After his big win, we decided to give him some time and he's been back on the track getting ready and we finally feel like we're ready to go.

“He got very good last year and was running very consistently,” Nevin continued. “He was showing up every time. He's definitely improved as he's gotten older.”

Manny Franco will guide My Boy Tate from post 3, while Our Last Buck will emerge from post 4 under Luis Saez.

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Charles Hallas' Morning Breez sports a ledger of 42-5-12-11 with purse earnings of $569,929, but has yet to secure an elusive first stakes win.

The 6-year-old Morning Line gelding, bred by Hart Farm and Rhapsody Farm, has flourished in his last three starts sprinting six furlongs in open allowance company, including a last-out half-length score on May 13 at Belmont that garnered an 87 Beyer.

Transferred to the care of trainer Pat Reynolds, Morning Breez will be piloted by returning rider Jose Lezcano from post 6.

Team Hanley's multiple stakes-winner Captain Bombastic, bred by Chester and Mary Broman, won a pair of stakes last season, including the seven-furlong Mike Lee at Belmont and the 6 1/2-furlong NYSSS Times Square in August at Saratoga for former conditioner Jeremiah Englehart.

Transferred to Chad Brown to launch his 4-year-old campaign, the Forty Tales chestnut finished off-the-board in a pair of state-bred stakes at Belmont and will now race for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen from post 2 under Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Rounding out a competitive field are Wow Brown [post 1, Michael Davila, Jr.], Wudda U Think Now [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Foolish Ghost [post 7, Joel Rosario], Jemography [post 8, Dylan Davis] and Runningwscissors [post 9, Tyler Gaffalione].

The John Morrissey is slated as Race 9 on Thursday's 10-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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My Boy Tate Capitalizes On ‘Perfect Setup’ To Win Hollie Hughes

My Boy Tate, perfectly piloted by Manny Franco, saved ground before tipping out and rallying for a 1 1/4-length score in Monday's $100,000 Hollie Hughes, a six-furlong sprint for state-breds 4-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained, bred and co-owned by Michelle Nevin with Little Red Feather Racing, the 7-year-old son of Boys At Tosconova was making his third Hollie Hughes appearance, which included a win in 2018 and a runner-up effort last year to returning foe Amundson.

Tribecca, the 7-5 mutuel favorite, was hustled out of the inside post by Trevor McCarthy to take command in the compact four-horse field but Amundson, off a step slow under Jorge Vargas, Jr. from the outside post, was quickly asked to engage and marked the opening quarter-mile in 22.98 seconds on the main track rated fast.

Tribecca got the better of a pace battle that resulted in a 46.71 half-mile with My Boy Tate content to save ground inside of Big Ticket. The field traveled two-by-two into the turn with just two lengths covering the field at the quarter pole as Tribecca put away Amundson and prepared for a test from the rallying Big Ticket, who was looking to get the jump on My Boy Tate.

But it was My Boy Tate, angled off the rail and outside rivals, who was full of run late to secure a comfortable score in a final time of 1:10.85. Big Engine earned place by three-quarters of a length over Tribecca. Amundson completed the order of finish. The Nevin-trained Our Last Buck was scratched.

Nevin was full of praise for My Boy Tate, who also owns stakes triumphs in the 2018 Say Florida Sandy and the 2019 NYSSS Thunder Rumble.

“It's great to see him run,” said Nevin. “He's been a fun horse since he was a baby. He keeps showing up for me and keeps trying.”

My Boy Tate entered the Hollie Hughes from a disappointing fourth of five in the Say Florida Sandy on January 9 at the Big A.

“I was mad at myself last month, but the temptation of coming back against a small field made me come back too quick,” said Nevin. “The scenario of the race looked like it was void of speed and he has speed. But as he has gotten older, he's changed his ways. He's happier to let them go a little bit, settle in, and then come with a run.

“It was the perfect setup,” added Nevin. “Manny did the right thing. He sat chilly and let them come back to him.”

It was the third stakes win of the Big A winter meet for Franco, who captured the Rego Park with Perfect Munnings and the Busanda with The Grass Is Blue last month.

“I had the perfect pace scenario in front of me,” said Franco, who was aboard for My Boy Tate's Thunder Rumble score. “I just took my time with him. I've been riding him and I'm usually close to the pace, but today, with a short field, I just let them go to the front and the move worked out because they came back to me. It settled perfect and we got it done.”

Bred in the Empire State by Nevin, My Boy Tate banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 22-8-5-2. He returned $6 for a $2 win wager.

Live racing will continue Thursday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

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