Pickin' Time | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jersey-Bred Returns to the Big Apple for Remsen

Pickin’ Time (Stay Thirsty) upset the GIII Nashua S. on his last visit to Aqueduct Nov. 8 and he looks to double up Saturday when he returns to Ozone Park for the GII Remsen S. A debut winner at Monmouth July 4, the Jersey-bred was a non-factor eighth in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7, but was second next out in the Sapling S. back in the Garden State Sept. 6. The dark bay scored a narrow winner in the Smoke Glacken S. at the Jersey Shore Sept. 26 prior to his Nashua victory last time.

Nashua runner-up Ten for Ten (Frosted) romped by eight lengths when extended to two turns in his second start in the slop at Belmont Oct. 16. Favored in the Nashua, he led most of the way, but was run down late by Pickin’ Time.

“He worked in :48 and change and went fine,” conditioner Shug McGaughey told the NYRA notes team. “We’re on the right track. He acts like he’s a pretty nice horse. It will be interesting seeing him go a mile and an eighth. He’s quick so we’ll see how he does on Saturday. He should be able to place himself well.”

Todd Pletcher saddles a live runner in St. Elias Stable homebred Known Agenda (Curlin). Second to next-out Nyquist S. winner Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) in his 6 1/2-panel career bow at Belmont Sept. 27, the chestnut broke through net out when extended to nine furlongs at the Big A Nov. 8.

“I was actually surprised he ran as well as he did sprinting, but it helped him a lot for his maiden win,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He’s designed to run longer. He’s had two good efforts so far.”

Native New Yorker Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong) looks to take the next step up Saturday. A first-out winner in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Delaware Sept. 12, the gelding was third in the state-bred Bertram F. Bongard S. Oct. 2 and captured the NY-bred Sleepy Hollow S. next out Oct. 24 at Belmont.

Rounding out the field of five is Erawan (Rock Hampton), a debut winner at Laurel Nov. 8. He crossed the line fourth, but was promoted to third next out there in a Nov. 22 optional claimer.

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After Third-Place Finish In Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Firenze Fire To Stretch Out In Cigar Mile

Trainer Kelly Breen said Mr. Amore Stable's multiple graded-stakes winner Firenze Fire will make his next start in the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

“He's back at Belmont and that's what we're pointing for,” said Breen.

The 5-year-old Poseidon's Warrior bay rallied from 11th to finish third last out in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Racetrack under Jose Lezcano.

“It was a good race,” said Breen.

Breen said Lezcano, aboard for Firenze Fire's Grade 2 Vosburgh Invitational win on Sept. 26 at Belmont, will retain the mount for the Cigar Mile.

Top contenders confirmed for the Cigar Mile include Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby-winner King Guillermo and 2019 Grade 3 Discovery-winner Performer. Other horses under consideration for the Cigar Mile include New York-bred millionaire Mr. Buff and last-out Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap-winner Majestic Dunhill.

Breen took over training duties for Firenze Fire earlier this year and has saddled the horse to a record of two wins from six starts, including a victory in the Grade 2 True North on June 27 on a fast Belmont main track. Two of Firenze Fire's losses for Breen came in Grade 1 events – the Carter Handicap at Belmont and the Forego at Saratoga – on sloppy tracks.

The Cigar Mile Day card also includes a pair of Grade 2, $150,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares at one mile.

Breen will send out New Jersey-bred Pickin' Time, a John Bowers, Jr. homebred, in the Remsen. The Stay Thirsty colt earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure last out, winning the Grade 3 Nashua at a one-turn mile on the Big A main.

“He came out of it in good order,” said Breen.

Breen said Mr. Amore Stable's New York homebred It's a Gamble could target the $100,000 Central Park, a 1 1/16-mile turf tile for juveniles on Nov. 28 at Aqueduct.

“I'm not sure what we're going to do, but that is a possibility,” said Breen.

The English Channel bay graduated at first asking in a state-bred turf sprint on Aug. 13 at Saratoga ahead of a fourth in the one-mile Nownownow on Oct. 4 on the Monmouth Park turf. Last out, on Oct. 31, It's a Gamble bobbled at the start of the 1 1/16-mile Awad on yielding Belmont turf and failed to menace when seventh.

Gary and Mary West's Full Impact, a 3-year-old Street Sense colt, earned a 94 Beyer for his impressive 4 1/2-length score in a first-level allowance on Nov. 13 contested at 6 1/2-furlongs on a sloppy and sealed Big A main.

Out of the multiple graded stakes winning Even the Score mare Four Gifts, Full Impact was purchased for $140,000 at the Keenland September Yearling Sale.

Breen said no future targets have been set as of yet for the promising colt.

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Pickin’ Time Runs Down Ten For Ten To Win Nashua

Pickin' Time overtook the favorite and pacesetter Ten for Ten in the final furlong and powered home a 2 1/4-length winner to notch his first graded stakes victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Nashua for juveniles at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Owned by John Bowers, Jr., Pickin' Time entered with ample stakes experience for trainer Kelly Breen, following his debut win at 4 ½ furlongs in July at Monmouth Park. After running eighth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 7, Breen returned the Stay Thirsty colt to Monmouth for consecutive stakes appearance, where he ran second in the one-mile Sapling on September 6 before winning the six-furlong Smoke Glacken on September 27.

Stretched back out to a mile for the first time since the Sapling, Pickin' Time broke sharp from post 4 under jockey Trevor McCarthy, who tracked initially in fifth position before moving up to fourth as 6-5 favorite Ten for Ten [pressured by Isolate] led the seven-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds with the half in 46.10 and three-quarters in 1:11.98 over the fast main track.

Out of the turn, jockey Eric Cancel kept Ten for Ten near the rail, while McCarthy made a strong bid from the outside at the top of the stretch. Pickin' Time picked off his rival and finished strong, completing the course in a final time of 1:39.89 to improve to 3-1-0 in five starts.

“We got a great break and that's what I wanted; get him out and make sure he had a comfortable spot, which he did,” said McCarthy, who also won the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm on Saturday at Aqueduct. “Looking down the backside, I was very comfortable where I was. I wasn't getting too much kickback and that seems to be a pretty big key this weekend. I was able to get outside coming to the turn and let him get in his mojo. After that, he really accelerated strong for me and gave me a great effort through the lane. I was delighted.

“Kelly had him ready today,” he added. “He was the most experienced horse in the race, so I was really happy looking into that. Everything worked out perfect.”

Breen said the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen on Cigar Mile Day on December 5 is the next target for the New Jersey homebred. The 1 1/8-mile test offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the 2021 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“He's just growing into himself,” Breen said. “He was kind of a big and gawky 2-year old. When he ran in Saratoga, he ran against that real nice horse of Steve Asmussen's [Jackie's Warrior]. We didn't get off great that day. Today was the right timing and everything worked out well for him. He's staying right where he's at. We'll look forward to the Remsen.”

Off at 9-1, Pickin' Time returned $21.00 on a $2 win bet. He improved his career earnings to $184,025.

Courtlandt Farms' Ten for Ten a $410,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, was 10 ¼ lengths the best of Isolate for second in his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

“I had a really nice trip,” Cancel said. “The pace was a little bit quick at the beginning, but I went on with it. My horse was pretty comfortable, nice and focused and he seemed to be doing it easy until we got to the quarter pole and the other horse got to him quick. He just went by. My horse never gave up. He kept on trying but the other one flew by him.”

Nova Rags, Civil War, Irish Honor and Spectatorless completed the order of finish.

The Nashua, named for the Hall of Famer who won ran second in the 1955 Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes and Preakness, was the final leg of a Cross Country Pick 5 with Churchill Downs, with a payout of $6,424.75 for selecting all five winners. The total pool was $52,913.

There will be a Cross Country Pick 5 offered every day in November that both Aqueduct and Churchill Downs offer live racing.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card that features a first post of 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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McGaughey’s Ten for Ten the One to Beat in Nashua

Aqueduct’s GIII Nashua S., worth $100,000 at a mile, is often a nice target for developing juveniles who may not have been ready to tackle the top competition in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Recent winners include eventual MGISW Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), who was scratched as the favorite from Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and eventual GISW Violence (Medaglia d’Oro), who is making a splash as a sire.

This year’s edition of the Nashua features seven 2-year-olds, with Ten for Ten (Frosted) heavily favored. Second on debut at Saratoga, the gray broke through at second asking with an eight-length, 78 Beyer Speed Figure romp in the slop at 8 1/2 furlongs Oct. 16 at Belmont. The Shug McGaughey-trained, Courtlandt Farm-owned, $410,000 Keeneland September graduate is out of an unraced half-sister to a Giant’s Causeway trifecta in GISWs Vexatious and Creative Cause, as well as to MGSW & GISP Destin.

Ten for Ten will have to get by first-out winner and Michael Shanley homebred Nova Rags (Union Rags), whose 78 Beyer matches nicely with the favorite. Bill Mott debuted him at six furlongs, but if the colt’s sire has anything to do with it, he should relish the extra distance of the Nashua.

Pickin’ Time (Stay Thirsty) is a New Jersey-bred for trainer Kelly Breen, who not only has the most experience in the field with four starts, but is the only stakes winner to enter the Nashua gate. Winner of the six-furlong Smoke Glacken S. at Monmouth Sept. 27, he was also runner-up at this distance three weeks prior in the Sapling S. Connections aren’t afraid of the big guns, but he was well behind MGISW Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music) in the GII Saratoga Special S.

Isolate (Mark Valeski) ships in from Gulfstream with an undefeated record and a 10-length blowout Sept. 12 that got him the highest Beyer of the field at 79, but he’ll have two add two furlongs for trainer Kathy Ritvo. The rest of the field is comprised of double-digit longshots Spectatorless (Mshawish), Civil War (Bodemeister), and Irish Honor (Honor Code).

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