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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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Malathaat Looms Large in Demoiselle

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Malathaat (Curlin) looks to remain perfect as she steps up to graded company in Saturday’s GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct. A decisive debut winner going seven panels at Belmont Oct. 9, the $1.05-million KEESEP buy romped by 7 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Tempted S. at this oval Nov. 6.

“You would think with her pedigree and the way she won going a mile that a stretch out should not be an issue,” trainer Todd Pletcher told the NYRA notes team. “She’s always trained like a quality filly that wants two turns, so we’re excited about stretching her out. This filly has been a star from day one basically.”

Bill Mott saddles a promising daughter of Curlin in Juddmonte homebred Millefeuille. Runner-up in her one-mile Belmont unveiling Sept. 26, the bay graduated by four lengths over that track and trip Oct. 23.

“It definitely was a nice debut,” said Juddmonte Farms general manager Garrett O’Rourke. “You always want these horses to have ability, but it’s nice to see them know where the line is and have some try in them. She ran hard to the line. Todd’s filly looks like she’s got some possible superstar potential and so we’ll probably have to run a little harder this time around.”

Tom Albertrani also sends out a Curlin filly who graduated at second asking in Malibu Curl. Making a mild late bid to be sixth in her career bow at Saratoga Aug. 2, the chestnut earned her diploma next out in a seven-furlong test at the Spa Sept. 6.

Allen Stable’s Cafe Society (Empire Maker) donned cap and gown on debut at Belmont Oct. 18 and was third last time in the Tempted.

“I was disappointed in her last race, but she’s come back and trained well,” said Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. “She had a really good breeze and galloped out well, so hopefully we’ll see a little better performance than we did the last time. I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

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Performer Seeks Grade I Glory in Cigar Mile

Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm’s Performer (Speightstown) looks to continue his hot streak as he takes his first crack at the highest level Saturday in Aqueduct’s GI Cigar Mile. Graduating at second asking at Belmont in June 2019, the chestnut captured a 6 1/2-panel allowance at Saratoga that August and a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Belmont last September. Closing out his sophomore season with a victory in this venue’s GIII Discovery S. just over a year ago, Performer was subsequently shelved and resurfaced with an optional claimer score in the mud at Belmont Oct. 17.

“He’s training well. It has been a while since he ran, but he’ll be fit enough,” trainer Shug McGaughey told the NYRA notes team. “He’s been over that track before. He seems to be doing as well now as he’s ever done.”

Grade I winner Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) poses one of the biggest threats to likely favorite Performer here. Transferred from Jason Servis to Kelly Breen following the former’s federal indictment, the bay was fourth in the GI Carter H. June 6 and scored his first win for his new barn in Belmont’s GII True North S. June 27. Fourth in Saratoga’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 25, he was a disappointing 11th in a sloppy renewal of that venue’s GI Forego S. Aug. 29. Capturing the GII Vosburgh Invitational S. back at Belmont Sept. 26, Firenze Fire rallied from well back to by third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint S. at Keeneland Nov. 7.

“He’s doing well but right now the main concern is the weather,” admitted Breen. “If the track is sloppy, I don’t think we’re going to run. There are a couple of other options for him. But if the rain misses us, we’re running. He’s ready to go.”

Talented sophomore King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) takes on his elders in this return to action. Graduating in dominant fashion on turf in his second start at Gulfstream West last November, the bay was third in the grassy Pulpit S. in Hallandale Nov. 30. Switched back to the main track, he blew up the tote with a decisive score at 49-1 in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 7 and ran second to Nadal (Blame) in their division of the GI Arkansas Derby May 2. King Guillermo was a late defection from the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby after spiking a fever just days before the race and displays a series of speedy drills at Gulfstream in the interim.

“He’s good. He’s ready,” conditioner Juan Avila said. “He’s getting ready to face that challenge. The mile will be good for him because he’s had seven months without a race.”

Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) could make some noise at a price here. The MGISW has not been at his best since racing resumed in June, but he is four-for-five at Aqueduct, including wins in the GIII Toboggan S. and GIII Tom Fool H. earlier this year.

“He’s been right on cue and has been full of himself and he really loves training at Belmont,” said trainer Greg Sacco. “His energy level was high. We were happy with everything coming into this race.”

Earlier this season, the 4-year-old produced sub-par performance in sloppy renewals of the GI Carter H. at Belmont and Saratoga’s GI Forego S., and according to Sacco, if Saturday’s stormy forecast comes to fruition, the bay would likely bypass Aqueduct’s feature race.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s training as good as ever and came out of the last race well,” Sacco said. “We were just hoping for a fast track and a little wetness on the track isn’t the end of the world, but if the forecast holds true, it doesn’t look like we’ll be running [Saturday].”

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TIF: Federal Bill Funding Cannot Come From Horseplayers

by Thoroughbred Idea Foundation

Editor’s note: The following open letter to the industry was submitted by the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, a think tank and advocacy group which aims to improve the sport of Thoroughbred racing for all stakeholders.

The passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) would signal a prominent turning point for Thoroughbred racing in America.

Regardless of where one has stood on the merits of the legislation over the years, its passage will bring to an end a generation of discord between industry participants, enabling our greater industry the opportunity to focus on long-ignored advancements to better secure the sustainability of horse racing.

At its heart, racing exists because of horse owners and breeders investing in Thoroughbreds and horseplayers wagering on them. Policies which hinder participation, of horseplayers or through ownership, stunt industry growth, and are in opposition to the mission of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, which seeks to grow participation through these two key groups. We want racing’s overall “pie” to grow, but without horse owners and horseplayers voluntarily choosing to participate in the sport, racing would be would be a shell of itself.

The HISA will yield a federally recognized organization to facilitate doping control within the sport while bringing more constituencies under the regulatory fold. Upon its passage, substantial planning and execution will still be required, including identifying the funding mechanism for individual states’ participation in HISA-created programs. The path forward to paying for these programs remains unclear.

In some states, wagering is a main source of funding for racing commissions to regulate the sport. Should HISA programs increase costs to states–a reasonable expectation–it is possible they, in concert with other stakeholder groups, could turn to wagering channels to increase revenues.

This would be a gross miscalculation.

While HISA has earned support because of the undoubted need for racing to be proactive in maintaining its social license to operate, the programs associated with the bill should not be built on the backs of horseplayers.

The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation advocates for sound policies which encourage wagering, racing’s most sustainable source of funding. These policies include reducing bet pricing, modernizing wagering technology and integrity measures, increased transparency and reporting standards as well as introducing fixed-odds betting to complement pari-mutuel wagering.

Increasing costs to horseplayers is a counterproductive measure for the industry, and thus, any increases in bet pricing to pay for the programs associated with the HISA should be a non-starter.

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