Americanrevolution (Constitution)'s rapid development last season earned him New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male honors during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.'s Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 12 at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion. Bred by Fred Hertrich and John Fielding and owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, Americanrevolution went from a maiden in June to a Grade I winner by December to lock up his championships.
The 2021 New York-bred Horse of the Year and divisional champions were chosen by a vote of New York turf writers, handicappers, photographers and television and radio hosts and analysts conducted by the NYTB. The Awards Ceremony returned to an in-person event for the first time since 2019.
Other 2020 honorees were: Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Venti Valentine (Firing Line), Champion Two-Year-Old Male, Senbei (Candy Ride {Arg}), Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Make Mischief (Into Mischief), Champion Older Dirt Female and Champion Female Sprinter Bank Sting (Central Banker), Champion Older Dirt Male Bankit (Central Banker), Champion Turf Female Runaway Rumour (Flintshire {GB}), Champion Turf Male Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown), Champion Male Sprinter My Boy Tate (Boys At Tosconova), Broodmare of the Year: Polly Freeze (Super Saver), dam of Americanrevolution, New York-Bred Trainer of the Year Christophe Clement, New York-Bred Jockey of the Year Manuel Franco and New York Breeder of the Year Chester and Mary Broman.
The 13-2 longest price on the board in a compact field of four, Klaravich Stables' Gerrymander (Into Mischief) sat a perfect inside trip and responded when push came to shove to comfortably take out Saturday's GII Mother Goose S. at Belmont Park, becoming the 50th winner at the graded level for her outstanding sire.
Quickly into stride for Joel Rosario, the $375,000 Keeneland September acquisition set the pace in advance of heavily favored Juju's Map (Liam's Map), but last year's GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up counterpunched and was in front after an opening quarter that was posted in an easy :24.09. 'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings), who had to pick herself up after a stumbling beginning, raced inside early, but was guided into the three path by Flavien Prat and the bald-faced May foal chased Juju's Map through four furlongs in :46.90. Shahama was asked to come after the front-runner in earnest and looked to be going the better of that duo as they raced into the final five-sixteenths of a mile, but Gerrymander was pushed off the inside to deliver her challenge three wide at the head of the stretch, pinched a break and ran out a facile winner. Juju's Map retreated tamely into third, ahead of Venti Valentine (Firing Line).
“She broke well and it looked like they didn't want the lead,” said Rosario, winning the Mother Goose for the third time in its last five runnings and second in succession. “So, I kind of went and they wanted it [the lead] down the backside a little bit, so I just had to be where I was. She handled everything fine and she was able to come into the last turn and get the jump. She seemed really comfortable and it worked out good. It set up well.”
Gerrymander belied odds of 10-1 to graduate at second asking at Saratoga last Aug. 29, then kept company with 'TDN Rising Star' and future champion Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in this track's GI Frizette S. before finishing 7 1/4 lengths adrift in second. The bay went one better in the Nov. 5 Tempted S., defeating future GI Central Bank Ashland winner and recent GI Belmont S. runner-up Nest (Curlin) into third, and she was a troubled sixth behind last-out GI Acorn S. romper Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GII Eight Belles S. at Churchill May 6. According to trainer Chad Brown, the near-term objective for Gerrymander is the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 20.
Pedigree Notes:
Kiki Courtelis's Town & County Farms teamed with Pollock Farms to acquire Ruby Lips–third in the 2012 Tempted when contested as a Grade III–for $180,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Her first produce is Lone Rock, a multiple graded stakes-winning dirt marathoner, while Gerrymander's year-older full-sister Public Information was an allowance winner at Gulfstream Park June 19. Her homebred 2-year-old half-sister Sivako (More Than Ready) debuted this past Thursday at Churchill Downs.
Ruby Lips is a half-sister to Canadian Classic winner Like a Gem (Tactical Cat), herself the dam of three-time Grade I-winning turf mare Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun), SW Credit River (More Than Ready) and SP Time to Travel (Hard Spun). The mare foaled a Tapit filly in 2021 and a colt by Constitution this season after failing to meet her reserve at $725,000 at last year's FTKNOV sale.
Saturday, Belmont Park MOTHER GOOSE S.-GII, $232,500, Belmont, 6-25, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.74, ft.
1–GERRYMANDER, 122, f, 3, by Into Mischief                1st Dam: Ruby Lips (GSP), by Hard Spun                2nd Dam: Its a Ruby, by Rubiano                3rd Dam: Likeashot, by Gun Shot 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($375,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Pollock Farms (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Joel Rosario. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISP, 6-3-2-0, $378,000. *1/2 to Lone Rock (Majestic Warrior), MGSW, $1,388,541. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Shahama, 122, f, 3, Munnings–Private Feeling, by Belong to Me. ($425,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-KHK Racing; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $50,000.
3–Juju's Map, 122, f, 3, Liam's Map–Nagambie, by Flatter. ($190,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $30,000.
Margins: 3, 4 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 6.50, 2.55, 0.50.
Also Ran: Venti Valentine. Scratched: Midnight Stroll. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
A pair of graded stakes for 3-year-olds highlight Saturday's racing action, starting with the GII Mother Goose S. at Belmont. Two of the five fillies are looking to rebound after off-the-board finishes in the May 6 GI Kentucky Oaks, 'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings) (sixth) and Venti Valentine (Firing Line) (14th).
Shahama is making just her second U.S. start after starting her career with a perfect four-for-four record during her time in Dubai. Her trainer Todd Pletcher is looking for his seventh Mother Goose victory here.
“It was hard to gauge her racing form. The one thing we felt pretty good about was the way she had trained in company with some of our other horses,” said Pletcher. “To me, she's proven she belongs in races like that, and I thought her Oaks was maybe a better race than it looks on paper. She was still closing at the end. She drew an outside post and it took her a little while to get on track. I thought it was a solid effort.”
Meanwhile, Venti Valentine is a native New Yorker and has never been worse than second in her home state.
“She came out of the Oaks in good shape,” trainer Jorge Abreu said. “I'm going to cross a line through that race and just regroup with her. She's been doing everything well here. I think one turn will suit her better, not that she can't go two turns because she proved she can go two turns. But I think the mile and a sixteenth and cutting back in distance will be better for her.”
GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Juju's Map (Liam's Map) skipped the Oaks and instead dominated an optional claimer on the undercard in her first start since finishing second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She returns to stakes action in this five-horse field.
Just under an hour later at Thistledown, a trio of GI Kentucky Derby also-rans and a good-looking winner on the GI Preakness S. undercard will line up in the GIII Ohio Derby. GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. victor Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) finished best of the three when seventh on the First Saturday in May for Brad Cox, who won this event in 2019.
GII Tampa Bay Derby hero Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) was a few spots behind him in 11th that day. Previously trained by Brian Lynch, the chestnut–one of just three from his outstanding sire's final crop–makes his first start for Ken McPeek Saturday.
Ethereal Road | Jim McCue/MJC
White Abarrio (Race Day) finished 16th in the Derby after winning both the GIII Holy Bull S. and GI Curlin Florida Derby. The gray receives Lasix for the first time in this event.
GII Rebel S. runner-up Ethereal Road (Quality Road) was a late defection from the Run for the Roses, allowing winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) into the field some 36 hours before post time. His GI Kentucky Oaks-winning stablemate Secret Oath (Arrogate) went on to the Preakness, while Ethereal Road was re-routed to the Sir Barton S. earlier on the card. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee produced an eye-catching late rally, charging home to a decisive victory.
Also worth a look at a price is New York-bred Barese (Laoban), who gets Lasix for the first time here. He thrashed his fellow native New Yorkers in his first three starts, but could only manage fifth behind eventual GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GII Wood Memorial S. and could only manage third as the heavy favorite back against locals in an NYSS event Apr. 23.
Right in the middle of those sophomore races is a competitive sprint for older fillies and mares, the GIII Chicago S. at Churchill Downs. This test has attracted a pair of Grade I winners in Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) and Kalypso (Brody's Cause), as well as Sconsin (Include), who enters off wins in the Open Mind S. and GIII Winning Colors S. Don't count out GIII Go For Wand H. romper Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) or GI Derby City Distaff runner-up Four Graces (Majesticperfection).
A trio of GI Kentucky Derby contenders put in their final works ahead of next weekend's Run for the Roses. The only one of the three to work at Churchill Downs was GI Toyota Blue Grass S. winner Zandon (Upstart).
Working on his own at 7:30 a.m. over a fast track with regular morning partner Kriss Bon aboard, the Chad Brown pupil completed the five furlongs in 1:00.40 (7/43). Churchill Downs clockers caught Zandon in fractions of :12.80, :25, :36.80, 1:00.40 and out in 1:12.80 and 1:26.40.
“I just didn't want to take any chances with the weather forecast, even though it looks better for tomorrow,” Brown said. “The track is in fabulous shape. You're not going to get a better track to train over than we got this morning.
Working about the same time at Gulfstream Park was GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Simplification (Not This Time), who worked five furlongs in 1:00.44 (1/10) for trainer Antonio Sano over a muddy track. Junior Alvarado was aboard for the work.
“I'm very happy with the work,” Sano said. “He went very easy and handled everything. The jockey said he was better than last week. It was a really, really good work for the horse…I am 100% confident in my horse. I know the race is very strong, but I'm confident in the horse. I think this is a better horse than Gunnevera (Dialed In).”
A few hours later at Santa Anita, Messier (Empire Maker), the runner-up in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 for trainer Tim Yakteen.
Six GI Longines Kentucky Oaks contenders had their final works Friday morning, including the Todd Pletcher-trained trip of Nest (Curlin) (4f :48.60), Shahama (Munnings) (5f 1:01.2) and Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft) (5f 1:01) for next Friday's $1.25 million race over a fast track.
Working first during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks runners was GI Central Bank Ashland S. victress Nest with Irad Ortiz in the irons. Working in company, Nest produced fractions of :24.20 and :48.60 and galloped out in 1:01 and 1:14.
“It's 21 days after the Ashland and it was a solid work,” Pletcher said. “She finished good and galloped out strong.”
Working together were GII Gulfstream Park Oaks runner-up Goodess of Fire with Humberto Zamora aboard and G3 UAE Oaks winner Shahama with Oaks rider Flavien Prat aboard.
Shahama was on the inside with fractions of :25.40, :37.20, :49.20, 1:01.20 and out in 1:13.60, 1:26.20 and 1:40.40. Goddess of Fire had fractions of :25.20, :37, :49, 1:01 and out in 1:13.40, 1:26 and 1:40.20.
“I wanted them to do a little more than Nest,” Pletcher said. “They both finished well and galloped out strong.”
GII Fair Grounds Oaks runner-up Hidden Connection (Connect) breezed a half-mile in :50.20 for trainer Bret Calhoun Friday at Churchill under jockey Reylu Gutierrez.
“Her work last week was great and today, even though it was easier, it was just as impressive,” Gutierrez said.
GII Rachel Alexandra S. heroine Turnerloose (Nyquist) covered five panels in 1:01.20 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas.
“She's fit and ready to go,” trainer Brad Cox simply stated.
Also on the Churchill worktab was GIII Gazelle S. runner-up Venti Valentine (Firing Line). She worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, with splits of :13, :24.80 and :36.80, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.
“That's the way she gallops,” said Francisco Abreu, brother to trainer Jorge Abreu, who supervised the filly's workout. “The first part, she's a little anxious, then she calms down a little. It was just a maintenance work for her; she had a strong final work was a week ago.”
