A panel of New York turf writers, broadcasters, handicappers, racing analysts and photographers will vote on each division and for the New York-bred Horse of the Year. The winners will be announced at the NYTB Awards Dinner sponsored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund on Monday, May 13 from 6-9 p.m. ET. at Sacred Saratoga on the property of GMP Farm in Schuylerville. Former jockey and NYRA TV personality Richard Migliore will again serve as host.

“Our organization is excited to celebrate this year's nominees. All are deserving and represent the best in New York breeding and racing. This year's awards will be a special night at an exciting new location,” said NYTB President Dr. Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M.

Tickets are available–$150 for NYTB Members and $175 for non-members–for purchase by clicking here or by calling the NYTB Office at (518) 587-0777.

“The New York-bred Divisional Championship Awards is a special night because it recognizes the very best in Thoroughbred breeding and racing in New York,” said Brian O'Dwyer, Chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission and New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund. “On behalf of the New York State Gaming Commission and Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund we are proud to work with NYTB and look forward to celebrating the connections of New York-breds who achieved success representing the New York-bred program last year.”

Also to be honored at the Awards Dinner with 2023 awards will be Broodmare of the Year, Champion Steeplechaser, Trainer, Champion Jockey and Outstanding Breeder.

“NYTB's annual awards is our marquee event. This year's nominees are no exception reflecting the quality and strength of the New York-bred program,” said NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson.

A list of the 2023 New York-bred divisional championship nominees by category follows:

Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Antonio of Venice (Laoban), El Grande O (Take Charge Indy), The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso), Wynstock (Solomini).

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Brocknardini (Palace Malice), Caldwell Luvs Gold (Goldencents), Cara's Time (Not This Time), My Mane Squeeze (Audible).

Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Allure of Money (Central Banker), Eye Witness (City of Light), Hejazi (Bernardini), Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy).

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Downtown Mischief (Into Mischief), Gambling Girl (Dialed In), Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), Stonewall Star (Flatter).

Champion Older Dirt Male: Bankit (Central Banker), Dr Ardito (Liam's Map), Sherriff Bianco (Speightster), Straight Arrow (Arrogate).

Champion Older Dirt Female: Classy Edition (Classic Empire), Know It All Audrey (Shackleford), Timeless Journey (Verrazano), Venti Valentine (Firing Line).

Champion Turf Male: City Man (Mucho Macho Man), Red Knight (Pure Prize), Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro), Therapist (Freud).

Champion Turf Female: New Ginya (Tonalist), Runaway Rumour (Flintshire {GB}), Silver Skillet (Liam's Map), Whatlovelookslike (English Channel).

Champion Male Sprinter: Bold Journey (Hard Spun), Today's Flavor (Laoban), Rotknee (Runhappy), Thin White Duke (Dominus).

Champion Female Sprinter: Funny How (Overanalyze), Maple Leaf Mel, Rossa Veloce (Girolamo), Sterling Silver (Cupid).

The post 2023 New York-Bred Divisional Championship Nominees Released By NYTB appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“The best moment from 2023 was the confirmation that the state of New York would be loaning NYRA nearly half a billion dollars to build a modern Belmont Park. I'd rate this occurrence as possibly the most positive development in the sport since the founding of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The seeds of this were planted in the years before VLT revenue started flowing in New York and it was decided NYRA wanted a slice of that revenue to go to a capital expenditure fund instead of just diverting it all to purses. That foresight was so very necessary. The future of the sport in New York is bright and that's monumentally important for every other stakeholder in the sport.”
-Pat Cummings, National Thoroughbred Alliance

The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Pat Cummings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Honest Mischief broke his maiden his second time out as a sophomore at Keeneland by eight lengths and was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' by virtue of that win. In just his fourth career start, he was third behind Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby) in the GII Amsterdam S. at Saratoga. He was also a runner-up to Volatile (Violence) in 2020 at Churchill Downs in the Aristides S. He retired with a record of 9-4-3-1 and earnings of $287,464.

“Honest Mischief showed a lot of early potential as a dirt horse, especially in being rated very highly by TDN as a Rising Star when he broke his maiden by eight lengths,” said Charl Van Der Weshuizen, Stallion Consultant at Sequel. “That race actually gave him a Ragozin rating of two, which is phenomenal in any young horse.”

Van Der Weshuizen said he felt that Honest Mischief had inherited many of the same traits as his sire.

“I do think Honest Mischief has a lot of the same qualities as his sire, Into Mischief,” said Van Der Weshuizen. “If you actually look at the conformation of Honest Mischief, you see the similarities. He's got a nice deep girth. Personally, I like the fact that he's slightly longer in the back, and he has actually got a shorter cannon, which I like in conformation. He has a really good hip to him as well.”

“Honest Mischief has a really fluent walk,” he continued. “I think he has a good overstep, which is a good sign he is a really good, smooth walker. That compliments his whole conformation setup. A horse that walks quite relaxed, with his head down, does well as a racehorse. Especially with the overstep that they have, they possess the ability for a little bit of extra reach, which always comes in handy. I think giving him the right mare, you will breed a lot of speed. Honest Mischief was a speed horse and he hails from a real Classic speed family.”

Honest Mischief is from the signature Juddmonte family of Toussaud (El Gran Senor). The Grade I-winning mare produced Classic winner and top sire Empire Maker (Unbridled), as well as GISW and sire Chester House (Mr. Prospector), GISW Chiselling (Woodman), MGSW, GISP and sire Decarchy (Distant View), and GISW Honest Lady (Seattle Slew), Honest Mischief's dam. Honest Mischief is one of four black-type winners out of Honest Lady.

With his pristine pedigree and speed on the dirt, Honest Mischief's connections said they were anticipating wide support from breeders across the country, many of whom are new to the New York breeding program.

“Honest Mischief has more people outside of New York as shareholders than any other horse we have stood,” said Becky Thomas, owner of Sequel New York. “For these out-of-state people to contact me and say we want to be involved in this horse really means something. Juddmonte retained a number of breeding rights and they'll be sending mares to him. This is the first time that they've utilized the New York program.”

“An Into Mischief who ran as fast as Honest Mischief did, comes from a rock-solid family and has a support team under him is remarkable,” said Thomas. “I could only sell 20 shares and I have a waiting list.”

Honest Mischief arrived at the sprawling Columbia County, New York farm about two and a half months ago. Of the 89 mares on the farm, a good number have shipped in to breed to Honest Mischief.

“The interest in Honest Mischief has been really phenomenal,” said Van Der Weshuizen. “You know, just by looking at the number of views he has had and people inquiring about him, it's a very good sign. We've had mares that were bought at the Keeneland Sale and then shipped here to foal and are booked to Honest Mischief. So it's very exciting.”

“I have to say he's been really, really good settling into his new home,” he added. “At first, we had him in a smaller paddock. I was hand-walking him a few times a day for a couple of weeks, just to actually get him acclimated into the stud life. Then after that, he moved into his big paddock and he's actually been a pleasure and settled in quite nicely.”

In November 2020, Into Mischief set a new Northern Hemisphere record for single-season earnings by a sire, overturning the reign of Tapit as his son Authentic was crowned 2020 Horse of the Year. The Sequel team said that getting the first son of Into Mischief to stand in the state, and at a reasonable price, was an attention getter, particularly when combined with his dam's royal breeding and her success as a broodmare.

Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke told the TDN in November of last year, “Honest Mischief was pegged as a real talent by our exercise riders from the very beginning. He had raw speed, he was sound, and he had desire. He placed behind stars like Shancelot and Volatile at the top of their games and when he won, he won like a Grade I horse. Honest Mischief has such a genetic concentration of classic talent, on top and bottom of his pedigree, that expectation of his success at stud is just a given.”

“Honest Mischief was bred and raced by Juddmonte Farms, which by itself is an extraordinary thing,” said Van Der Weshuizen. “They are globally renowned for their racehorses. To be able to do business with them, and actually have the opportunity that they picked us basically to venture into Honest Mischief with them in New York, by itself, is a big accomplishment. It will be great for Sequel, and I hope for the New York breeding program.”

The post Honest Mischief Brings Blue-Blooded Speed to NY appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“Solomini's first foal out of Another Level is a lovely filly with a lot of body and very nice frame,” said Chris Bernard of Hidden Lake Farm. “3C Stables and Hidden Lake Farm bred 20 mares to Solomini and are committed to his success.”

Solomini, who finished runner up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Front Runner S. in 2017, crossed the wire in first in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity only to be demoted to third via DQ. He also hit the board in a trio of starts at three, including the GI Arkansas Derby.

The chestnut, who covered 123 mares standing at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds lasat season, will stand the 2021 season for $5,000, live foal.

The post First Foal Arrives in NY for MGISP Solomini appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Upon their purchase of the property, they also brought back its original name, Waldorf Farm, and began standing stallions and boarding broodmares.

Today, Bilinski foals between 105 to 110 mares each year.

This year, when Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice) begins his new career at stud, he will join Bustin Stones (City Zip) at Waldorf Farm. Mr. Monomoy will stand as the property of Climax Stallions, LLC, Michael Dubb and Madaket Stables. His initial stud fee has been announced as $5,000.

When Climax Stallions set out to find a prospect to stand in New York, Mr. Monomoy checked all of the boxes as the half-brother to a two-time Distaff winner in seven-time Grade I-winning champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar).

Mr. Monomoy’s sire Palace Malice (Curlin) won more than $2.6 million, raced until age five, and his titles include winner of both the GI Metropolitan H. and GI Belmont S. The Grade I-producing third-crop sire stands at Three Chimneys Farm.

A member of his sire’s first crop to hit the track, Mr. Monomoy broke his maiden under trainer Brad Cox in his second start as a two-year-old at Churchill Downs going 6 1/2 furlongs and winning by 5 1/2 lengths. After finishing in the money in his next two starts, including a third-place effort in the GIII Lecomte S. behind Enforceable (Tapit) and Silver State (Hard Spun), he culminated his career with a 2 1/2-length wire-to-wire victory in the GII Risen Star S., defeating those same rivals he had finished behind in his previous start.

“We are very excited to have such a high-caliber stallion here in New York,” said Jerry Bilinski. “This is a top-notch stallion for this region. We had talked to Sean Feld of Climax Stallions about eventually having a horse that we could stand here at Waldorf. We were just holding our breath that someday, that would happen. A month or two ago, he called, and the rest is history.”

Bilinski said that Mr. Monomoy has a physical that should easily attract breeders.

“He’s got great size to him and he’s got a great stride,” he said. “If you look at his conformation photos, you’ll see exactly what we mean–that he does have what it’s going to take to be a sire.”

Sean Feld, managing partner of Climax Stallions, said that the intention was always to stand the Grade II winner in New York.

“We bought Mr. Monomoy specifically for the New York breeding program,” said Feld. “Mr. Monomoy had speed and he had speed on dirt. In New York, horses race on only dirt for almost half the year. He won going short and long. He broke his maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs and then won a Grade II going nine furlongs.”

He added that both Mr. Monomoy’s sire and his half-sister Monomoy Girl have great name recognition in New York.

“His sire Palace Malice was a monster in New York,” said Feld. “He won the Met Mile and the Belmont S., and his start at stud has been good. He throws stone-cold runners and his crop of mares last year is going to be great after he had Structor win the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Mr. Monomoy will be the first of many sons out there.”

“Our business model has turned into buying siblings of really good horses,” he continued. “We started with Bullet Train (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), a half to Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), then had Curlin to Mischief (Curlin), a half to Into Mischief and Beholder, as well as Editorial (War Front), a half to Uncle Mo, and St Patrick’s Day (Pioneerof the Nile), a full-brother to American Pharoah.”

But Feld said that Mr. Monomoy offers unique appeal compared to most stallions that begin their stud career in the program.

“One difference is that Mr. Monomoy has a really good race record,” he said. “He was able to win going short and then win a major Kentucky Derby prep by carrying his speed around two turns at a mile-and-an-eighth.”

“Those are two major check marks that make a top sire in my opinion,” added Brad Cox, who spoke with the TDN last December.

Feld pointed to the correlation of success at stud for half-brothers of two-time Distaff winners.

“There have only been four two-time Distaff winners,” he said. “The first was Bayakoa (Arg) (Consultant’s Bid), then Royal Delta (Empire Maker), whose half-brother Khozan (Distorted Humor) stands in Florida, next came Beholder (Henny Hughes), who is a half to Into Mischief and Mendelssohn and then the fourth one is Monomoy Girl. It has definitely correlated into stallion success.”

As owners, Feld said, Climax Stallions takes its marketing responsibility seriously for breeding and then later when the stallion’s foals hit the sales.

“Our main source of supporting the stallions we own is our marketing,” he said. “We throw a lot of money into really branding the horse. Success comes not just in breeding. We need people to like him at all points. We will also support him at the yearling sales. Mr. Dubb kept a piece of him as did Mr. Kumin. His team can’t wait for the foals.”

Bilinski reported that Mr. Monomoy has settled in easily at the sprawling upstate Waldorf Farm.

“He arrived approximately at seven in the morning and came off the van happy,” he said. “We put him in the stall. He looked around and started eating hay and it didn’t faze him a bit. He has an excellent mental attitude. My farm manager Kenny Toye says he’s been nothing but a gentle giant. And so, we’re very happy with that.”

The post Mr. Monomoy Brings NY Pedigree to Waldorf Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, Fog of War was purchased by White Birch Farm and raced for his entire career with Chad Brown in Brant’s colors.

“Fog of War has been a horse we’ve been following since early on in his career,” said Christopher Bernhard, general manager at Questroyal and advisor to Three C Stables. “He was a maiden special weight winner here in Saratoga and shipped up to Woodbine for a second start [in the GI Summer S.] and looked pretty hopeless at the top of the stretch. Ultimately, he got free and got ahead of Preakness winner War of Will (War Front) at the wire. He won by about a length and a half. Just to have all that traffic in just his second race and then when he finally got free, he just kind of shook loose. He probably would have been one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup that year if he didn’t come out of the race with some sore shins. And, so they put him away for a little while.”

Brant, speaking to the TDN on Nov. 17, said he was impressed with Fog of War’s two-year-old season as well.

“Fog of War’s win first time out at Saratoga and his Grade I victory in the “Win and You’re In” Summer S. at Woodbine beating War of Will showed us that he was our best colt of that crop and marked him as one of the clear favorites for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf,” said Brant. “Unfortunately, Fog bucked his shins and would not make the race but his undefeated 2-year-old campaign managed to show everyone his brilliant turn of foot and class.”

Said Bernhard, “Fog of War, to me, is probably the nicest pedigree of any horse that’s come to the state. War Front has established himself as a very good sire of sires at this point. His son Declaration of War had a Breeders’ Cup winner with Fire at Will. The Factor has also had numerous Grade I stakes horses. War Front also has several young sons that are at stud now like Omaha Beach who was an incredibly popular horse last year. And, then Claiborne Farm will be standing War of Will for his first season this coming breeding season.”

“Fog of War’s, dam, Say, was a Group Stakes winner, Group 1 Stakes-placed over in Europe,” Bernhard continued. “She had three foals of racing age. All three of them are stakes winners by War Front. The second dam was an incredible race filly here named Riskaverse, who made a little over $2 million dollars and danced every dance here. She was a $5 million broodmare prospect. The female family includes Havre de Grace, who was a $10 million broodmare prospect several years ago and sold to Mandy Pope. And Toll Fee, the third dam, is a brilliant female family with countless number of Group and Graded stakes winners.”

Chris Larsen, founder of Three C Stables, named for himself, his wife Colleen and his son Conner, became interested in horse racing after a serious motorcycle accident. He invested with West Point Thoroughbreds

“I was lucky enough to start off as a partner in Saratoga Russell (Trippi) and Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union),” said Larsen. “They were both outstanding runners and it was great working with West Point and Terry Finley.”

When Larsen decided try his hand at breeding racehorses, he started with the fillies then racing with West Point.

“Instead of selling them all at auction, we would have them appraised and I would decide whether or not to buy them. For instance, I bought and still have Fitz Just Right,” said Larsen. “I enjoy the idea of trying to create something. When you breed a horse that goes on to win a race, it puts you on top of the world.”

Larsen met Bernhard a decade or so ago when he was looking for someone to oversee his mares and advise him on breeding decisions.

“I’ve been doing this for close to a decade with Chris’s help,” said Larsen. “He has been looking for a stallion prospect for New York and when he mentioned Fog of War, I was like ‘that’s the horse.'”

“I am huge believer in the Galileo mare and you can’t take anything away from War Front,” said Larsen. “You have two great sire lines in Fog of War. He could be the horse that really carries on the Danzig line. I feel that strongly about him. I like him so much I decided to invest a lot more in mares and become more of a commercial breeder.”

“It was made even better when we found out we could partner with Peter,” said Larsen. “It’s the right horse with the right guy, with the right partner, and he’s got the right support. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In speaking to the TDN in November, Larsen added: “This will give breeders access to the world’s most successful sire lines… as well as taking advantage of the lucrative New York State breeder awards and restricted racing programs. We think Fog of War is destined to be New York State’s great sire.”

Adjusting to life on the farm at Questroyal seems to be no problem for Fog of War.

“I’ve been really impressed with the way Fog of War has handled coming in off of the racetrack,” said Bernhard. “You know, we’ve had quite a few showings and he’s come right into the breeding shed, stands up like he’s been doing this his whole life.”

“He has been a sweetheart to be around in the stall. I picked him up a Jollyball so he can throw that at me every day. And he’s just been a complete gentleman. We’re really excited to get him turned out in big field and let him do his thing and the breeding shed will open in a few weeks.”

“I’m going to say at this point we’ve got seventy-five in-house mares that are going to Fog of War,” said Bernhard. “When we were able to negotiate a deal with Mr. Brant, who’s also going to be sending a significant number of mares from Kentucky to breed to him, we went to Keeneland and Mr. Larsen bought 31 mares at the Keeneland November sale specifically for the horse. I don’t believe there’s been a horse that’s had that opportunity right off the racetrack with that volume of in-house horses.”

“Fog of War has all the makings of a potentially high-class stallion with his conformation, pedigree and speed,” said Brant in November. “I am so thrilled Fog will have the opportunity to be an exciting freshman stallion in New York and also allow White Birch Farm to be a new player in the New York State breeding and racing program.”

The post Fog of War: The New War Front in Town appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post