Sanford Bacon Passes Away

Longtime New York breeder Sanford Bacon passed away Friday. He was 95. Bacon bred hard-knocking Say Florida Sandy (Personal Flag), a multiple graded stakes winner and earner of over $2 million, as well as his half-sister Dancin Renee (Distinctive Pro). Both were named New York-bred champions. Say Florida Sandy was New York Horse of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and a three-time champion sprinter in the state. Graded stakes winner Dancin Renee was named New York Horse of the Year, as well as champion sprinter and champion older female, in 1997.

Bacon bred and campaigned Dancin Renee's six-time stakes-winning daughter Risky Rachel (Limehouse). Risky Rachel produced stakes-placed Risky Mischief (Into Mischief), as well as $1-million Fasig-Tipton March 2-year-old Yale (Scat Daddy).

“He was a great friend and I always enjoyed getting a phone call from him during training in the morning because it was always an interesting conversation, to say the least,” said Steve Venosa, whose SGV Thoroughbreds consigned the seven-figure juvenile to the Gulfstream sale in 2018. “He was definitely one of a kind and there will never be another one like him.”

No services had been announced as of Sunday afternoon.

The post Sanford Bacon Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Lobsta Elevated To Victory In Aqueduct’s Say Florida Sandy

Eddie F's Racing's Lobsta secured his second consecutive stakes win after being elevated to victory when My Boy Tate – who crossed the wire first – was disqualified and placed fourth in Saturday's $100,000 Say Florida Sandy, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-breds 4-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Alpha Chi Rho, piloted by Jose Ortiz, mark off splits of 22.84 seconds and 46.41 over the fast main track. But an eventful stretch run saw Alpha Chi Rho maintain a precarious lead late in the turn as Battle Station, under Kendrick Carmouche, loomed large while applying pressure from the outside.

With five horses in with a chance at the top of the lane, a tiring Alpha Chi Rho took back as Battle Station angled over to establish a head advantage at the stretch call.

The Eric Cancel-piloted My Boy Tate, full of run behind rivals approaching the eighth pole, squeezed through a narrow opening to the inside of Battle Station and to the outside of rail-surging Chestertown [Jose Lezcano], who checked and was forced to take back.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano kept to task aboard Lobsta, who was in the clear outside of the battling rivals, engaging in a stirring duel to the wire with My Boy Tate, who prevailed by a neck in a final time of 1:25.63. Battle Station finished third, four lengths back of Lobsta. Rounding out the order of finish was Chestertown, Saratoga Pal and Alpha Chi Rho.

A stewards' inquiry and multiple claims of foul were launched, including Ortiz claiming foul against Battle Station at the top of the stretch which was disallowed.

A trainer and jockey's objection from the connections of Chestertown against My Boy Tate for interference at the eighth pole was allowed, resulting in My Boy Tate being disqualified from victory and placed fourth. Battle Station and Chestertown each moved up one placing in the order of finish.

Castellano, who flew in from Florida to retain the mount aboard Lobsta, was full of praise for the disqualified winner.

“I think I was a beneficiary [of the disqualification]. I don't want to take anything away from [My Boy Tate]. It seemed to me he was much the best,” Castellano said. “He had a lot of trouble and tried to split horses. But he bothered a couple horses inside and cost the second, third and fourth places. You have to apply the rules. I think the stewards made the right decision. He didn't bother me, but he bothered the rest of the field when he tried to split horses. I believe I got lucky that I was on the outside and in the right place at the right time to finish second.”

Lobsta entered the Say Florida Sandy after earning a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure from a half-length score over My Boy Tate in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 5 at the Big A while carrying six pounds less than his rival. Lobsta and My Boy Tate were on even terms Saturday, carrying a co-field high 124 pounds.

Castellano said Lobsta was game to the wire.

“He got a little tired with the track today,” Castellano said. “Don't get me wrong – he tried really hard and fought all the way to the end. But he got tired a little bit in the end. We didn't have racing yesterday and had a lot of snow. The track had a lot of moisture and I think it seemed the speed carried a bit. They went pretty quick. It's good to see these two New York-breds match each other because I beat him good last time. Now he beat me good. I'm excited for the next race. If the owner wants me, I'll be back.”

Cancel said he tried to maintain his lane while guiding My Boy Tate between rivals.

“Lezcano [aboard No. 2, Chestertown] and I were there. Jose Ortiz [aboard No. 1 Alpha Chi Rho] was on the outside, so we had enough room for both of us, but once they started putting pressure from the outside that's when it got bad,” Cancel said. “I tried to maintain my spot but there wasn't a whole lot I could have done. It was really tight and too little of a spot to play with.”

Despite the disqualification, Cancel said his horse ran a winning race.

“He's a big grinder. He knows what he needs to do. You just have to sit patient on him and time it right and he'll give you everything he's got,” Cancel said. “I wanted to tip out a little bit, but I had three horses on the outside all lined up. I just tried to make the right choice with him. He knows what he needs to do and he can sit behind horses with no problem.”

Lezcano said Chestertown, who was elevated to third, might have won if not impeded.

“I think I had the best horse today, but we got killed. I got my spot taken,” Lezcano said. “There was too much pressure from the horse on the outside [Battle Station].”

For Eddie Fazzone, proprietor of Eddie F's Racing, the victory capped a good day that saw Lobsta's full brother, Chowda, finish a close second in an open seven-furlong allowance sprint in Race 2.

“He ran huge off the 96 [Beyer],” Fazzone said of Lobsta. “There was always a chance for him to bounce, but he didn't. He showed he was the real deal. Chowda ran a great race today too, so we have some real nice horses here. Hopefully, they both continue to do well. I think Lobsta is getting better with every start. My Boy Tate is a great horse. Take nothing away from him, he's a game horse and never runs a bad race.

“This is our third stakes win,” Fazzone added. “We're a small stable with nine horses and it seems like it just gets better and better. I've got his half-brother Oysta who just turned two, so hopefully we see him in the spring or summer. Hopefully, we continue the great ride.”

Bred in the Empire State by Fedwell Farm, Lobsta banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 9-4-1-2. He paid $7.40 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card headlined by the $100,000 Rego Park. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

The post Lobsta Elevated To Victory In Aqueduct’s Say Florida Sandy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rivalry Between My Boy Tate, Lobsta Continues In Saturday’s Say Florida Sandy

Lobsta and My Boy Tate, the respective one-two finishers last out in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble, will square off once more in Saturday's fifth running of the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy for New York-breds 4-years-old and up going seven furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Both Lobsta and My Boy Tate will carry 124 pounds Saturday, six more pounds than each of their four rivals in the six-horse Say Florida Sandy field.

Last out, in the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble on Dec 5 at the Big A, the Gary Sciacca-trained Lobsta, carrying 118 pounds, took command from Post 10 and battled with stablemate and full-brother Chowda to his inside.

My Boy Tate, assigned a co-field high 124 pounds, raced along the rail down the backstretch and launched a menacing bid in upper stretch briefly capturing command. But Lobsta responded to Hall of Famer Javier Castellano's right-handed encouragement, getting the better of his foe by a half-length.

Owned by Eddie Fazzone's Eddie F's Racing, Lobsta earned three stakes placings prior to his last out victory, which came off a nearly five-month layoff.

Following a successful sophomore debut last January at a flat mile, the 4-year-old son of Emcee was a distant second to Nicky the Vest in the Gander before completing the trifecta in the Mike Lee at Belmont Park and the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

“I thought Chowda was going to get the lead, but Lobsta dragged Castellano to the front. I couldn't believe it,” Sciacca recalled. “I was surprised Lobsta broke like he did off a layoff and come out of there like a rocket. Both runners have a lot of fight in them.”

Sciacca said his friendship with Fazzone dates back over three decades.

“He's a good friend that I've known for over 30 years,” Sciacca said. “We just became good friends along the years. Nobody loves racing more than him. He's a loyal, great guy. More owners like him would make the game easier.”

Bred in the Empire State by Fedwell Farm, Lobsta sports a consistent ledger of 8-3-1-2 with earnings of $221,400.

Castellano will pilot Lobsta once more from post 4.

My Boy Tate will seek a second non-consecutive win in the Say Florida Sandy, capturing the event in 2018. Trained, bred and co-owned by Michelle Nevin in partnership with Little Red Feather Racing, the 8-year-old son of Boys At Tosconova arrives as the most accomplished horse in the field with six stakes victories and a field-best $717,788 in earnings.

With 5-of-6 stakes wins taking place at Aqueduct, including dual victories in the Hollie Hughes [2018 and 2021], My Boy Tate will attempt an eighth career win over the Big A oval. He currently boasts a record of 14-7-3-1 when competing at Aqueduct.

Nevin, who has captured three of the four runnings of the Say Florida Sandy saddling Honor Up [2019] and Our Last Buck [2021] to respective victories, said My Boy Tate produced a game effort last out.

“He went out and ran his race. He didn't do anything wrong and he was giving it his best,” Nevin said. “Hopefully, this time he has a better day and gets the best of them. He's a determined horse. He's definitely a fun horse to have around.”

Eric Cancel, who rode My Boy Tate to victory in last year's Haynesfield, will return to the irons from post 5.

Seeking his first stakes coup since the 2020 Albany at Saratoga is Chestertown, a royally-bred son of Tapit out of Grade 1-winner Artemis Agrotera, for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Chestertown, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Chester and Mary Broman, Woodford Racing, Siena Farms and Robert Masiello, kicked off his 2021 campaign with a four-length victory in a nine-furlong allowance at Aqueduct. In his lone stakes start last season, he was a distant second in the Hudson on Oct 30 over a sloppy and sealed Belmont Park main track.

Returning pilot Jose Lezcano will ride from post 2.

Completing the field are Alpha Chi Rho [post 1, Jose Ortiz] – who arrives off two straight wins; graded-stakes placed Battle Station [post 3, Kendrick Carmouche], and five-time winner Saratoga Pal [post 6, Trevor McCarthy].

The Say Florida Sandy honors the late multiple graded stakes winner whose lengthy career saw 98 starts and spanned from 1996-2003. Say Florida Sandy earned New York-bred championship honors multiple times, including three New York champion sprinter titles and New York Horse of the Year honors in 2001-02. Following a 10-year career at stud, Say Florida Sandy was pensioned and retired to Old Friends in 2014.

The Say Florida Sandy is carded as Race 8 on Saturday's nine-race card at the Big A. First post is 12:20 p.m.

The post Rivalry Between My Boy Tate, Lobsta Continues In Saturday’s Say Florida Sandy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights