New York Thoroughbred Breeders

Arzak, multiple Grade 2 winner, track record setter, and millionaire son of Not This Time, will be available for inspection in Amsterdam Two’s brand new stallion barn on Jan. 10. Photo credit EquiSport Photo

Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, NY will hold its inaugural stallion show from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday, January 10.

Arzak, the farm’s multiple Grade 2 winner, track record setter, and millionaire son of Not This Time, will be available for inspection in Amsterdam Two’s brand new stallion barn in advance of his first season at stud in 2026.

A $575,000 OBS Spring 2-year-old who was precocious enough to win gate-to-wire second time out as a juvenile going 6 furlongs over Woodbine’s all-weather surface, Arzak also proved durable and classy enough to win stakes races at 3, 4, 5 and 6 — recording 90-plus Beyer speed figures on 17 occasions. 

“We’re thrilled to be standing New York’s only son of Not This Time, arguably the hottest stallion on the planet right now,” said Amsterdam Two manager Ken Williams. “Arzak has the pedigree and race record to be an elite stallion, and as breeders will see at our open house, an incredible physical to back it up, as well.”

Arzak’s career highlights included wins in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes, earning a lofty 101 Beyer figure, and Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes — both times going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Keeneland. He also scored victories in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes and Thorncliffe Stakes at Woodbine at respective distances of 6 furlongs and 5 1/2 furlongs — setting a new track record of 1:02.62 in the latter event — and the Tom Ridge Stakes going 6 furlongs at Presque Isle Downs. Arzak, who is out of the Tapit mare Delightful Melody, also ran second in the Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Saratoga, just behind fellow Not This Time son Cogburn. He retired with a record of (36) 8-5-3 $1,081,294.

“This horse was so sound and so willing — I never had a moment’s problem with him, and I say that with 100 percent sincerity,” said Michael Trombetta, who trained the horse throughout his career for owner Sonata Stables. “Arzak was as clean-legged on retirement as the day he came to the barn. And I think based on his sire’s accomplishments and Arzak’s own win going a mile at Tampa Bay in his third career start, his offspring will be well-suited to most distances and all three surfaces offered at the new Belmont Park.”

For more information on Arzak or the farm, please call Amsterdam Two at (570) 604-3657.

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Usha joins ranks of New York-bred Grade 1 winners in Sunday’s La Brea at Santa Anita. Benoit Photo.

Usha added her name to the list of New York-bred Grade 1 winners with a dazzling performance in the $302,500 La Brea Stakes Sunday on the belated Opening Day card at Santa Anita Park.

The co-second highest-priced juvenile out of last year’s OBS April sale, Usha also landed her first stakes victory in the 7-furlong La Brea under jockey Juan Hernandez for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The 3-year-old daughter of two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year Tiz the Law made a powerful middle and stretch run to win by 5 1/4 lengths over 2-1 second choice Formula Rossa.

Usha went to post as the 5-1 third choice in the field of 10 in the traditional co-feature on Santa Anita’s Opening Day card, which was pushed from Friday to Sunday because of wet weather in Southern California around the Christmas holiday. She broke well before backing off just a bit to race alongside fellow New York-bred and 5-2 second choice Five G up the backstretch.

Artisma and Usha’s stablemate Silent Law battled through the opening quarter-mile in :21.85. Usha raced into sixth position as the tight pack headed to the far turn. Artisma continued to lead midway around the bend, past the half in :44.43, before Hernandez gave Usha her cue to attack the leaders.

Usha raced up to the leaders approaching the stretch, took command in the straight and powered home from there, drawing away through the lane to win in 1:21.68. Formula Rossa outfinished 16-1 longshot Simply Joking for second with Brilliantly third at 7-1.

“She broke good but and then she got in tight a little bit and had a little pressure from the outside,” Hernandez said. “That’s why I had to check a little bit, but it worked out really good. She is really good. She liked that style because she can be a little nervous and leaves some of the race in the post parade but today she was really calm. Jimmy and the guys in the barn did a really good job with her and kept her calm. It worked out really well.”

Usha came into the La Brea off more than two months off, after finishing a distant seventh in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland. She won her previous two starts in late July and in early September at Del Mar. Usha started her career with four defeats in the maiden ranks, her first three for Baffert in California and her fourth start in late October 2024 for John Terranova at Aqueduct. Usha improved to 3-for-8 with two seconds and two thirds in the La Brea and boosted her bankroll to $328,350.

“Usha showed up today,” Baffert said. “I shipped her to Kentucky for her last race and she lost it in the paddock. She came back here and that worked well. Juan knows her really well I didn’t have to say anything to him. We expected this when I shipped her to Kentucky, and didn’t win a race, but today she showed up.”

Bred by Elser & Raine and a $30,000 buy out of the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale, Usha is out of the stakes-placed Leroidesanimaux mare Animal Appeal. Offered out of the On Point Training & Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS April sale, Usha sold for $600,000 to Three Amigos to spark the final session and finish as the co-second top seller for the entire sale.

Animal Appeal is the dam of New York-bred winners Ableton (by Twirling Candy) and Sandy Sweet Tooth (by Blame), who were also bred by Elser & Raine.

Animal Appeal, a New York-bred who won four of 14 starts and $220,298, sold in foal to Twirling Candy for $35,000 to Thirty Year Farm at the 2018 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She sold in foal to Solomini for $9,000 to Rachid Brothers at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Animal Appeal produced a filly by Solomini in Saudi Arabia in February 2024

Tiz the Law, named New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male in 2020, won six of nine starts and earned $2,735,300. He won the Grade 1 Champagne at 2 before a sophomore campaign – interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic – highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 1 Travers Stakes.

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Bernietakescharge cruises to victory in Sunday’s Bay Ridge for her third stakes win of 2025. Coglianese Photo.

Robert Rosenthal and Brad Bernstein’s homebred Bernietakescharge put a cap on a strong 2025 campaign with a victory in Sunday’s $125,000 Bay Ridge Stakes at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy collected her third stakes win of the season in the Bay Ridge, adding the 1-mile event to victories in the 1-mile Heavenly Prize against open company in February at Aqueduct and 1 1/8-mile Critical Eye versus New York-breds in June at Saratoga Race Course.

Bernietakescharge, who improved to 4-for-7 in the Bay Ridge, also finished second last time out in the Empire Distaff Stakes at Aqueduct.

Ruben Silvera rode Bernietakescharge to her 2 1/4-length victory over late-running Cupid’s Heart with 6-5 favorite Landed third in the field of seven. Bernietakescharge won in 1:37.77.

“She was training super,” winning trainer Dominick Schettino said. “She ran gutsy today, I’m proud of her. She ran the way she was training. She ran a gutsy race.”

The 2-1 second choice in the field of seven, Bernietakescharge was sent to the front to duel for command with Landed. Those two skipped ahead of the field past the opening quarter-mile in :22.96 over the fast main track.

“I just tried to break good because she likes to be in front; she likes the competition,” said Silvera, who was also aboard for Bernietakescharge’s Empire Distaff runner-up finish. “I put her in the game in the beginning, and she kept running. She’s a good filly.”

Bernietakescharge and Landed continued to battle through the half in :45.59 and the two widened their advantage from the field around the far turn. Landed and Bernietakescharge were stride-for-stride through 6 furlongs in 1:10.05 while Cupid’s Heart altered course to attempt to go around them, but Bernietakescharge dug in gamely to inch past Landed passing the eighth pole.

Bernietakescharge kept Cupid’s Heart at bay and finished clear at the finish. Cupid’s Heart finished three-quarters of a length in front of Landed for the place spot. Landed came to the Bay Ridge for trainer Wesley Ward after scratching out of last week’s My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park.

“I was worried about her,” Schettino said. “She was in at Turfway, I was hoping she ran there actually. That didn’t happen, but then I told Ruben, ‘you can’t take away from her running style. Landed will probably go, let the best filly win.’ ”

Bernietakescharge is the second foal out of the stakes winning mare Berning Rose, who Schettino trained in 2017 to win the Maid of the Mist Stakes at Belmont Park.

Berning Rose, a daughter of Freud, has also produced multiple stakes winner and $255,750-earner Bernieandtherose, winning mare Berning Honor and the placed 2-year-old Always Dreaming filly Roseberns Dream. Rosenthal and Bernstein are also the breeders of Berning Rose’s yearling colt by four-time leading New York sire Central Banker and breeders with William Entenmann of her weanling New York-bred filly by New York-bred Horse of the Year Americanrevolution

Bernietakescharge is now a winner of seven of 20 starts and with a bankroll to $595,830.

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Sterling Silver storms through the lane to win Friday’s Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Coglianese Photo/Ryan Thompson

Sterling Silver ventured back into open company, to South Florida for the first time and came away with a victory in the $125,000 Rampart Stakes Friday at Gulfstream Park.

Mark Anderson’s 6-year-old Cupid mare overcame a wide trip from her outside post in the 1-mile Rampart to win her seventh stakes. Javier Castellano rode Sterling Silver for trainer Anthony Margotta Jr., who took over conditioning the New York-bred mare in November from Bill Mott.

“I just recently got her. This filly has won long, short, sprinting, a mile-and-an-eighth,” Margotta said. “She’s a very versatile mare. You couldn’t ask for a better trip than that. I was comfortable about it the whole way. When they turned for home, I was pretty confident.”

Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of eight behind 6-5 favorite One Magic Philly, Sterling Silver came away well and stayed in the clear on the outside as the field left the chute onto the main track.

Dazzling Move and One Magic Philly dueled through the opening quarter-mile in :24.63 and half in :47.51, just ahead of Necessity, Sterling Silver, Luvumorgan and Claret Beret. Castellano kept Sterling Silver wide on the far turn then guided the multiple New York-bred championship finalist toward the lead approaching the stretch.

Sterling Silver took over just outside the eighth pole, past 7 furlongs in 1:24.54. She widened her advantage from there to win by 1 1/4 lengths from Necessity in 1:37.28 over the fast track. Claret Beret finished third with One Magic Philly fourth.

“Beautiful trip,” Castellano said. “The way I handicapped the race, when the overnight came out, I thought I had a big chance because I had the outside post and all the inside horses had plenty of speed.

“I was really surprised we didn’t go that fast. The first quarter went in 24 and change, so I was laying up close to the pace. She’s doing really good. I (rode) the horse before in New York and she always performed pretty well. It seemed to me to be wide open race and she performed great. She was amazing, the way she blew by the field. She’s a pro.”

Bred by Mallory and Karen Mort and foaled at Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent, Sterling Silver is out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor. A half-sister to New York-bred Grade 1 winner and 2025 Breeders’ Cup Mile contender Rhetorical, Sterling Silver improved to 11-for-36 with seven seconds and seven thirds and boosted her bankroll to $1,328,226 in the Rampart.

Sterling Silver earned New York-bred championship consideration in the female sprinter category in 2022, 2023 and 2024, along with a finalist nod in the 3-year-old filly division in 2022. She improved to 3-for-8, added the Rampart to victories in the Iroquois Stakes at Aqueduct on Empire Showcase Day in late October and the Biogio’s Rose Stakes at Aqueduct in early April.

A $13,000 purchase by Anderson Acres at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase, Sterling Silver was a $975,000 RNA at this year’s Fasig-Tipton November “Night of the Stars” sale in Kentucky. She breezed four half miles for Margotta at Gulfstream for the Rampart – November 29 and December 6, 13 and 21.

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Doc Sullivan picks up third stakes victory of 2025 in Friday’s Alex M. Robb at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Doc Sullivan capped a strong second half of 2025 Friday with a victory in the $121,250 Alex M. Robb Stakes for older New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Tristar Farm’s 4-year-old son of Solomini added the Alex M. Robb to wins in the John Morrissey Stakes in late July at Saratoga Race Course and the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes last time out in late November at Aqueduct. Trained by John Ortiz, Doc Sullivan also finished second in the Empire Classic Stakes on Empire Showcase Day and fourth in a pair of graded stakes on the NYRA circuit this summer and fall.

Doc Sullivan, who won the 1-mile Alex M. Robb by a length over Quick to Accuse, made his first start for Ortiz and his brother and assistant David in the Morrissey. Previously trained by Mike Miceli, Doc Sullivan improved to 7-for-20 with six seconds and two thirds while boosting his bankroll to $726,590 in the Alex M. Robb.

“The instructions are usually the same, let him break and rush him out a little bit because we don’t want him to hang too far back,” John Ortiz said. “Once he gets his feet underneath him, he’s push button. You can tell Ricardo [Santana Jr.] stood all the way up and just waited and waited. Had me a little too nervous waiting around too much, but he’s worked this horse several times in the morning for Joel [Rosario], so he knows this horse really well.”

Doc Sullivan and Bank Frenzy vied for favoritism while the field of five warmed up in the paddock, both coming on the track at 4-5 with a minute to post. Gamblers bet Doc Sullivan down to 3-5 by post time, with Bank Frenzy going as the second choice at 7-5 while making his first start for trainer Miguel Clement.

Quick to Accuse came away best and led the field out of the chute with Share the Ludt giving chase to the outside with Doc Sullivan down on the rail. Quick to Accuse clicked off the opening quarter-mile in :23.79 and the half in :47.17.

Ricardo Santana Jr. slid Doc Sullivan to the inside of Share the Ludt heading to the far turn and they were a clear second around the far turn. Quick to Accuse still led by == after 6 furlongs in 1:11.63, with Doc Sullivan starting to cut into the lead and Bank Frenzy inching into third.

Doc Sullivan collared the leader in midstretch and edged away from there to win in 1:37.23 over the fast track. Quick to Accuse, the 8-1 fourth choice, held second with Bank Frenzy third, Locke and Key fourth and Share the Ludt fifth. The Wine Steward and General Banker were scratched.

“This horse is so classy,” Santana said. “I’ve breezed him so many times and every time we breeze him behind [horses] he knows when it’s time to go. I sat behind them and at the three-eighths – I think it was [Share the Ludt] there – and as soon as I got out, he was taking me right there to the leader. He was much the best.”

Bred by Seamus Coughlan and foaled at his Sleepy Hollow Farm about 10 minutes from Saratoga Race Course, Doc Sullivan originally sold for $85,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Tristar Farm’s Glen Lostritto acquired the colt as a 2-year-old for $59,000 at the OBS June sale in 2023. He’s out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Queen Frostine and is a half-brother to four-time winner Seaver, 12-time winner and $284,905-earner Fix Me A Sandwich and the 3-year-old New York-bred Lookin At Lee filly Last Of My Kind, who has a win and two thirds in eight starts for $27,422 in earnings.

Solomini, a 10-year-old son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Cat, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. He came into the day ranked third on the New York general sire list with progeny earnings of nearly $4.1 million.

 

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Dear Members:

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) election process is currently underway. All election ballots have been mailed. If you have not yet received a ballot, it should be arriving shortly. All current NYTB members in good standing who renewed their membership by November 1, 2025, are eligible to vote and will receive a ballot. Due to increased mail volume during the holiday season, there may be delays in receiving your ballot. We appreciate your patience during this time. NYTB’s independent election auditor, Battaglia & Associates, CPAs PLLC (Halfmoon, NY), has confirmed that ballots received by their office through January 15, 2026, will be accepted and tabulated, provided they are otherwise completed in accordance with the election instructions. Battaglia & Associates will independently verify and tabulate all ballots and will notify NYTB of the elected candidates during the first week of January. This clarification is intended to ensure all eligible members have sufficient time for ballot delivery and return while preserving the integrity and independence of the election process. If you have any questions, please contact the NYTB office at 518.587.0777 or info@nytbreeders.org

 

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Press release courtesy of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced its 2026 racing schedule, which includes 196 live race days at Aqueduct Racetrack, Saratoga Race Course and the new Belmont Park.

In addition, NYRA has reached a multi-year agreement with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) designed to provide racing participants with additional certainty regarding racing opportunities and underscores NYRA’s commitment to year-round racing during the transition to a re-imagined Belmont Park.

Accordingly, NYRA has established the foundation of a 2027 racing schedule to include 203 live race days at Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. The 2027 racing calendar will mark the return of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets to Long Island. And for the first time since 2005, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be contested at Belmont Park on October 29 & 30, 2027.

Following a three-year period of temporary adjustments to the schedule of racing at Saratoga [2024-2026], NYRA will return to the traditional 40-day summer meet in 2027.

“NYRA has arrived at a schedule for the next two years that provides continuity in 2026 and significantly expands racing opportunities in 2027,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations. “The two-year plan reflects NYRA’s investment in a revitalized winter racing product at the new Belmont Park, where the availability of a Tapeta surface will improve field size and increase the quality of racing year-round. We will soon be entering a new era for racing downstate, and this agreement allows NYRA to focus its efforts on planning and implementing these racing calendars, continuing to improve the quality of racing opportunities for all participants in New York, and successfully reopening Belmont Park.”

As part of the same forward-looking agreement, NYRA will be accelerating the implementation of comprehensive purse increases for all New York-bred overnight races. Originally scheduled for January 2027, these purse increases in races restricted to New York-breds will now be fully enacted in September 2026 to coincide with the re-opening of Belmont Park. Throughout the 2026 calendar year, as previously announced, NYRA will increase purses in all New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds.

“This two-year agreement represents a significant step forward for every participant in the New York-bred program,” said Najja Thompson, NYTB Executive Director. “The significant increase in purses for all New York-breds with the reopening of Belmont Park will be enormously beneficial for breeding and racing in New York, which drives a broad and growing industry across the state. We’re proud to have the best regional breeding program in the nation, and this announcement further strengthens our position.”

Specific purse levels and details relative to these increases will be published in the first condition book for the summer meet at Saratoga and the first condition book for the fall meet at Belmont Park.

“We are very pleased to announce a landmark two-year calendar for New York racing,” said Tina Marie Bond, NYTHA President. “This ensures stability for New York owners, trainers, and other major stakeholders as we prepare to transition to the brand-new surfaces of the redeveloped Belmont Park. We will continue to work closely with NYRA to secure a healthy future for horse racing in the Empire State.”

The ongoing construction of a new Belmont Park, which will re-open in September, will require certain adjustments to the customary NYRA racing schedule throughout 2026. The spring/summer meets traditionally held at Belmont Park will again take place at Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time.

Highlighted by the 158th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 6, the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at Saratoga from Wednesday, June 3 through Sunday, June 7. *

The 2026 Aqueduct winter meet will open Wednesday, January 1 and continue through Sunday, March 30. Except for January 8, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday until February 15 and Friday-Sunday from February 20 through the end of March. The winter meet will offer 45 live race days in total.

The 2026 spring meet at Aqueduct will open Thursday, April 2 and continue through Sunday, April 26 with live racing conducted Thursday-Sunday. The spring meet will offer 15 live race days in total.

The 2026 Belmont at the Big A spring summer meet will open Thursday, April 30 and continue through Sunday, June 28. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday-Sunday except for Memorial Day weekend and a period of dark days prior to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. The Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet will offer 33 live race days in total.

NYRA will honor the legacy of Aqueduct throughout 2026 and bid farewell to the storied venue with a series of events culminating on June 28. Additional details will be provided in early 2026.

At the conclusion of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet, the NYRA circuit will return to Saratoga for a 46-day summer meet to open with the July 4th Racing Festival from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5.

To accommodate the 2026 calendar, Saratoga will then host a series of four-day racing weeks, Thursday through Sunday, from Thursday, July 9, through Sunday, July 26 prior to the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning Wednesday, July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Wednesday, September 2, through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

NYRA will unveil the new and re-imagined Belmont Park when live racing returns to Elmont, N.Y. in September. Centered around a new grandstand and paddock, Belmont Park will offer four newly constructed racing surfaces including a one-mile Tapeta track to be used for winter racing, off-the-turf races and for training year-round.

Tentatively scheduled to begin on Friday, September 18, the Belmont Park fall meet will continue through Sunday, December 6 and offer 46 live race days in total. NYRA will provide additional details in the coming weeks and months regarding Opening Day events and festivities to celebrate the new Belmont Park.

The 2026/27 Belmont Park winter meet will open on Thursday, December 10 and will continue into 2027 following 11 days of live racing in December.

For the 2026 calendar of live race dates, which is pending New York State Gaming Commission approval, visit https://www.nyra.com/inc/schedule/.

*Please note, statistics for the 33-day Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet will include the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

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New York’s stallion farms will be busy Saturday, the day after members of the Empire State’s Thoroughbred industry gather for the annual New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc.’s annual Holiday Party.

The stallion operations with open houses scheduled for Saturday:

• McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. All stallions—including multiple New York leading sire Central Banker, nationally ranked third-crop sire Solomini, Grade 2 stakes winner Showcase and Grade-1 placed Provocateur—will be available for inspection. Noon to 3 p.m.
• Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. Stallions Honest Mischief, Mullion and newcomer Newgrange will be available. Light food and beverages provided. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Ironhorse Stallions in Schuylerville. The first open house, featuring Bucchero, at new location in Schuylerville. Please enter at the intersection of Stonebride Road and Sherman Lane. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions in Stillwater. Come see new additions Rich Strike and Manny Wah, along with Peace and Justice, Mind Control, King for a Day, Petulante, Warrior’s Charge, Waiting and Lookin At Lee. Light refreshments and free season raffle to most stallions. Noon-2 p.m.

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Grade 1 winner Mixto will enter stud in 2026 at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater. Benoit Photo.

Chris Bernhard of Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater announced the addition of Good Magic’s leading earner and Grade 1-winning son Mixto to the farm’s stallion roster for the 2026 season.

Mixto, a 5-year-old out of the Concerto mare Musical Mystery, will stand as the property of a syndicate for $10,000 LFSN. The deal was brokered by The Stallion Company.

“Champion 2 year-old Good Magic is off to a great start as a sire of sires with Grade 1-winning sons Muth, Mage and Dornoch at stud,” Bernhard said. “To have a Grade 1 winner and Good Magic’s leading money earner of $3,330,680 standing in New York is a true testament to the strength of the New York program.

We believe standing top-class runners by Candy Ride, Gun Runner and now Good Magic for the 2026 season is perfect timing with the new Belmont Park and New York-breds running for purse parity in the near future.”

Campaigned by Calumet Farm and trained by Doug O’Neill, Mixto won the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes in 2024 at Del Mar. He placed in six other stakes, including a runner-up finish by a half-length to Hit Show in the $10 million Dubai World Cup, along with placings in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in 2023 and Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes in 2024.

“Mixto was a top-class runner,” said Calumet Farm’s Eddie Kane. “His race in the 2025 Dubai World Cup was incredible. Mixto challenged the pace most of the race, unleashed a powerful move in the stretch and was nailed at the wire while beating the 2025 Breeders Cup Classic winner. We look forward to supporting Mixto in New York in 2026.”

A champion pedigree top and bottom, Mixto’s first dam is sister to Grade 1 winner Rigoletta, the dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire Battle of Midway; and track record-setter Evening Concerto. There are 20 stakes winners under the first three dams, with 10 Grade 1 or Grade 2 performers including champion and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Musical Romance.

For information about acquiring shares or seasons, contact Chris Bernhard at (914) 850-9769 or via email at cjbern@hotmail.com.

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Sunday Boy cruises to victory in Saturday’s $500,000 NYSS Great White Way at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Sunday Boy picked the right time and the right day – Saturday – to land his first victory.

Storming through the lane in his sixth start, Sunday Boy collected his first win in the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct. The son of four-time leading New York sire Central Banker won at 12-1 under Christopher Elliott for owner Joe DiRico’s DiRico Racing and Breeding LLC and trainer Jim Ryerson.

Bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Spruce Lane Farm and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, Sunday Boy became the second stakes winner and fourth winner out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Lady Daphne. She’s also the dam of Sunday Boy’s full sister, three-time stakes winner and $496,363-earner Sunday Girl.

Sunday Boy came into the Great White Way with a pair of seconds – one at Saratoga in his debut sprinting on the dirt and another last time out going 1 mile at Aqueduct. He also made two starts on grass for Ryerson, who changed surfaces after a disappointing second start for the bay colt.

“The second time, it discouraged me on whether he wanted to dirt or not,” Ryerson said. “Sunday Girl had shown that she could do both, so we ran him on the turf. He’s been a bit of a trip trying to figure out what he wants to do. His last really put him in a good spot for here.”

Ryerson watched the 7-furlong Great White Way unfold, with Elliott keeping Sunday Boy in  the clear on the outside, and liked what he saw.

“It didn’t matter [being wide],” he said. “You don’t want to have to get stopped. In a turf race two back, he ran up right behind a horse and got stopped, and then he got a little lucky to get running late again, but this horse you probably don’t want to get stopped. At this point, to go wide is probably the trip.”

Odds-on favorite Parker Boone, a son of Solomini coming off a 12 1/4-length debut maiden score at Parx Racing, set a strong pace with some pressure through splits of :22.50 and :45.71. Parker Boone continued to lead into the stretch with Combat Mission making the first run at the lead.

Combat Mission snatched the lead just past the eighth pole through 6 furlongs in 1:11.94 until Sunday Boy rolled past on the outside. Sunday Boy lengthened his lead from there, winning by 2 3/4 lengths from Combat Mission. Muscle Shoals finished 6 lengths back in third, a neck ahead of Parker Boone in fourth. Dinghy Bar, Hurricane Kaz, Spirit of New York, Sicilian Dancer, Hey Pal, Froutien, Takahama, Chummers, Diamond Child and True Legend completed the field.

“I knew there was a lot of speed,” Elliott said. “I was hoping they’d go fast and they did. It was perfect, I tipped him out and he responded. It was great. There were a lot of tired horses at the quarter-pole about when I tipped him out.”

Sunday Boy, who won in 1:24.90, picked up $275,000 for his first win and boosted his bankroll to $319,600.

DiRico purchased Sunday Boy for $65,000 out of the opening session this year’s the OBS April sale. Lady Daphne is also the dam of two other winners, including $101,988-earner Lady Jasmine, and a yearling full brother to Sunday Boy and Sunday Girl.

A $100,000 purchase out of the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, Sunday Girl sports a 7-1-1 record in 13 starts. Entered in Sunday’s Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct, Sunday Girl won this year’s John Hettinger Stakes and Correction Stakes at Aqueduct and the 2024 NYSS Park Avenue.

Sunday Boy also became the latest stakes winner for Central Banker, a 15-year-old son of Speightstown who stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. He’s topped the New York general sire list for the last four seasons and came into Saturday with more than $4.5 million in progeny earnings.

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Tristar Farm’s Braverthanubelieve improves to 2-for-2 in the NYSS Fifth Avenue at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Braverthanubelieve showed all the signs of potential last summer, most notably to brothers John and Daniel Ortiz with a big work in early August at Saratoga Race Course.

The daughter of Honest Mischief breezed twice at Saratoga for the Ortiz brothers and owner Tristar Farm but didn’t get a chance to show her talents at the NYRA circuit’s most important meet after going to the sidelines with a minor illness.

Braverthanubelieve did make the races in late November and by early December, with a victory in Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes, showed she’ll be a player in the New York-bred filly ranks going forward. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Braverthanubelieve improved to 2-for-2 with her 1 1/4-length win over 3-2 favorite Hot Currency in the Fifth Avenue.

“We believed this filly was very special from the beginning,” said John Ortiz, who trains filly with his brother and assistant overseeing her conditioning in New York. “She came to us at Saratoga and gave us a workout that we knew was not just a New York-bred, this was a competitive racehorse. She did get sick on us. We gave her the right time, brought her back correctly. She jumped right back into training like she never missed anything.”

Braverthanubelieve, 8-1 in the field of 11, closed on dueling leaders Hot Currency and Daniella Marie through the stretch to collect $275,000.

“She ran one time and won and [it] looked like the way she did it, she did it the right way,” Rosario said. “She has some talent. … She actually moved really well. We were just waiting for the right time [to make a move] and I had to kind of get after her a bit. The other couple kept moving in front, but the whole time, it looked like I had horse. She ran a big race.”

Brothers Daniel Ortiz and John Ortiz meet Braverthanubelieve and Joel Rosario after the win. Coglianese Photo/Janet- Napolitano.

Braverthanubelieve won her debut November 22 racing just off the lead early before digging in gam in the stretch to win at 6 furlongs on a sloppy track. Stretched out to 7 furlongs in the Fifth Avenue, Braverthanubelieve closed from fifth after a quarter-mile and fourth after a half. Braverthanubelieve rolled through the stretch to win in 1:23.92, validating her connections’ high opinion and delivering on a plan that started not long after she bounced back from her illness.

“I told Mr. Glenn (Lostritto of Tristar Farm) that we should just point to this race,” Ortiz said. “That’s how high I thought about her. As good as she was training, I was like, ‘let’s go to the maiden, win, lose or draw, we were going to come here anyways.’ This was marked, planned and well-executed.”

Hot Currency finished second in the Fifth Avenue, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Daniella Marie in third with Unmiztaken fourth. Fancy Lights, Lifeisbutadream, Kaz Farm Girl, Greyjoy, Oh and Galileans Girl completed the field.

Bred by Paul Michael Giacopelli MD, Braverthanubelieve is the third foal out of the winning New York-bred Teuflesberg mare Hundred Acre Wood.

Hundred Acre Wood won four of 22 starts and earned $179,026 for Giacopelli from 2012 to 2015. She’s out of the Tactical Advantage mare True Advantage, who Giacopelli bought for $22,000 at the 1999 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Hundred Acre Wood’s first foal, the New York-bred Bayern mare Pot of Hunny, won once in five starts. She’s also the dam of the 3-year-old New York-bred Lookin At Lucky colt Lucky Dragon, who is entered in a maiden race Sunday at Aqueduct, and a yearling New York-bred colt by Maximum Security.

Braverthanubelieve is the eighth stakes winner sired by Honest Mischief, a 9-year-old son of Into Mischief out of the Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Honest Lady who stands for $7,500 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. New York’s leading freshman sire in 2025, Honest Mischief came into Saturday ranked sixth on this year’s general sire list in the Empire State.

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Showcase, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes, joins the stallion roster for 2026 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. Coglianese Photo.

McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs will hold its annual stallion show from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 13.

All stallions—including multiple New York leading sire Central Banker, nationally ranked third-crop sire Solomini, Grade 2 stakes winner Showcase and Grade-1 placed Provocateur—will be available for inspection.

Showcase, the brilliantly talented son of Uncle Mo, will stand his first season at stud in 2026.

A $300,000 Keeneland September yearling, Showcase quickly fulfilled his early promise on the racetrack. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, he broke his maiden on debut by open lengths to become a TDN Rising Star. He returned and dominated his second start in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special by 3 1/2 lengths.

Pletcher offered high praise for the colt’s natural talent.

“Showcase had enormous ability combined with an explosive kick of speed,” he said. “He was my best 2-year-old that year. He should be a huge asset to the New York breeding program, returning to Saratoga where he showed so much talent on the racetrack.”

Showcase’s talent, pedigree, and proven Saratoga form make him a standout addition to the roster. Showcase joins leading stallions Central Banker, Solomini, and sophomore Provocateur.

Provocateur was a multiple stakes winner at 3, taking Gulfstream Park’s $100,000 Hutcheson Stakes in 1:09.60 for 6 furlongs and Monmouth Park’s $104,000 Jersey Shore Stakes in 1:09.81. He also finished second in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa, Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park, and the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard.

For more information on the stallions or details on the holiday stallion show, please call the McMahon of Saratoga farm office at (518) 587-3426.

 

 

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Ironhorse Stallions is thrilled to invite the breeding community to the first open house at our brand-new location in Schuylerville. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 13, the day following the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Holiday Party.

We are proud to stand the leading stallion in New York, Bucchero. Known for his blistering speed and durability, Bucchero has rapidly ascended the ranks to become a Grade 1-producing sire with progeny that display exceptional precocity and class. In 2025 he was led by Eclipse Award contender Book’em Danno, multiple graded stakes winner Queen Maxima and one of the fastest 2-year-olds, Acknowledgemeplz.

Bucchero offers New York breeders a proven, elite option that consistently produces runners capable of winning at the highest levels in open company at tracks and all surfaces across the country. He also gives breeders the opportunity to take advantage of up to 40 percent breeder awards only available for New York-sired runners.

The Ironhorse team is excited to welcome New York breeders to see our new location and Bucchero and enjoy light refreshments.

Event Details:

• Date: December 13th
• Time: 10 a.m. – 2 m.
• Location: Ironhorse Stallions, Schuylerville
• Directions: Please enter at the intersection of Stonebridge Road and Sherman Lane

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New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) will conduct its annual Stallion Season Auction from Wednesday, February 4, through Friday, February 6.

The annual auction raises funds that enable NYTB to carry out its two-fold mission: promoting New York breeding and racing, and protecting the welfare of industry stakeholders.

Each year, more than $60 million is distributed in purse money, breeding incentives, and awards for New York-breds eligible to compete in more than 600 New York-bred races run on the New York Racing Association circuit and at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

The auction routinely attracts donated seasons from farms in the Empire State, Kentucky, and the greater Northeast region.

“Each year, the proceeds from our stallion season auction support NYTB and the interests of our members and breeders who participate in the New York-bred program,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “The auction offers breeders a diverse selection of stallions based in New York, Kentucky, and additional states, allowing them to match their mares appropriately.”

If you are interested in donating a season, please complete the donation form here and email it to NYTB at info@nytbreeders.org, or contact the NYTB office at 518-587-0777.

 

 

 

 

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Khali Magic fends off Soloshot to win Saturday’s NYSS Staten Island at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

Khali Magic, a daughter of Al Khali making her third start off the claim, scored a 12-1 upset over six other fillies and mares in Saturday’s $125,000 Staten Island division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Aqueduct.

Ridden by Ruben Silvera and sent off as the fifth longest price on the board, Khali Magic relished the sloppy and sealed track and won the 7-furlong restricted stakes by a half-length over 30-1 longshot Soloshot with the 9-1 Intentious third. Trained and co-owned by Rudy Rodriguez, Khali Magic won in 1:23.84.

“Since we claimed her, she’s been a very straightforward filly,” said Rodriguez, who owns the 7-year-old mare with Steven Speranza. “She’s run three times for us now, so maybe third time was the charm. I’m lucky for the owner to give me the opportunity to put the claim up.”

Rodriguez and Speranza claimed Khali Magic for $45,000 out of a fourth in a 1-mile state-bred allowance-optional in late August at Saratoga. She finished second in a similar spot Sept. 21 at Aqueduct before a fifth in the Iroquois Stakes on Empire Showcase Day in late October at Aqueduct.

Stone Smuggler was hustled out of the inside post by Manny Franco, but Silvera soon had Khali Magic in charge to show the way through an opening quarter-mile in :23.15.

“I tried to break good, because she loves the sloppy track,” Silvera said. “I try to take the lead easy and wait for the end and see what happens.”

Sunday Girl, the 2-5 post-time favorite, tracked from third position to the outside of Soloshot as Khali Magic led through the turn and the half in :46.38 as Stone Smuggler retreated. Khali Magic took the field into the lane with Soloshot surging up the fence and Sunday Girl spinning her wheels.

Khali Magic stayed on strong and held her lane down the stretch as Soloshot tried to finish along the inside before switching to an outside path inside the final sixteenth. Soloshot was resurgent once switched out, but Khali Magic held sway to score by a half-length. Soloshot finished 3 length ahead of Intentious with Midtown Lights, Stone Smuggler, Sunday Girl and Storm Changer rounding out the field.

A rider’s objection by Jaime Rodriguez against Silvera and Khali Magic for interference in the stretch run was disallowed.

“The wet track [helped], and she looked like seven-eighths [would suit her],” Rodriguez said. “When they went 23, with the way the track has been playing the last few days, it was amazing. When I saw that, I thought we were very live. Maybe it wasn’t [Sunday Girl’s] day today and maybe she didn’t handle the sloppy track, so when I saw her outside nice, I said, ‘this is good.’ It worked out for us.”

Bred by Wachtel Stable and the sixth foal out of the Smokin Mel mare Smokin Sue, Khali Magic improved to 12-for-48 with nine seconds and seven thirds with earnings of $776,768 in the Staten Island. She’s won two of 10 starts this season, with earnings of $174,550.

Al Khali, a multiple graded stakes winner and earner of $1,019,510, stood for three seasons from 2022 to 2024 at Rockridge Stud in Hudson. The son of Medagalia d’Oro succumbed to a bout of colic in September 2024.

A full brother to former New York stallion Japan, Al Khali retired to Keane Stud in 2016. He won eight of 41 starts with five seconds and five thirds, including the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap in 2010 at Belmont Park and Grade 3 Saranac Stakes in 2009 at Saratoga Race Course.

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Doc Sullivan, a son of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds’ Solomini, scores his third stakes win in Saturday’s Thunder Rumble division of the NYSS. Coglianese Photo.

Tristar Farms Doc Sullivan ran to his connection’s confidence Saturday at Aqueduct with a dominating 5 1/2-lenth victory in the $125,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, the 4-year-old son of Solomini bounced back from a neck defeat to Bank Frenzy last time out with an authoritative win over that same foe and four others in the 7-furlong Thunder Rumble for eligible New York-sired 3-year-olds and up. Doc Sullivan won ran the 7 furlongs in 1:22.31 over the sloppy and sealed track. Dr. Kraft finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bank Frenzy with Jackson Heights and General Banker completing the field.

“He always tries hard, this horse, and I thought seven-eighths was perfect for him,” Rosario said. “He won going that distance before, so that was good. He ran great. He always breaks sharp, and he was the best horse in the race.”

Doc Sullivan, second to Bank Frenzy in the 9-furlong Empire Classic on Empire Showcase Day last month at Aqueduct, picked up his third stakes win following state-bred scores sprinting 7 furlongs at Saratoga Race Course in last year’s Mike Lee and this year’s John Morrissey.

Daniel Ortiz, assistant and brother of winning trainer John Ortiz, came away pleased with the effort.

“We came into this really confident after a big effort last time, and kudos to Bank Frenzy – it’s always fun when you have another horse to rival you,” Ortiz said. “We’re so happy he got the job done. He showed a lot of confidence and I’m glad he did it with ease. It’s great for the whole [team].”

Bred by Seamus Coughlan and foaled at his Sleepy Hollow Farm about 10 minutes from Saratoga Race Course, Doc Sullivan originally sold for $85,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Tristar Farm’s Glen Lostritto acquired the colt as a 2-year-old for $59,000 at the OBS June sale in 2023. He’s out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Queen Frostine and is a half-brother to four-time winner Seaver, 12-time winner and $284,905-earner Fix Me A Sandwich and the 3-year-old New York-bred Lookin At Lee filly Last Of My Kind, who has a win and two thirds in seven starts for $26,522 in earnings.

Doc Sullivan improved to 6-6-2 in 19 starts with the NYSS Thunder Rumble victory and boosted his bankroll to $657,840. He’s won two of seven starts this season and earned $263,290.

Solomini, a 10-year-old son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Cat, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. He came into the day ranked third on the New York general sire list with progeny earnings of $3,601,971.

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Multiple graded stakes winner Leinster, here winning the Grade 2 Troy in 2019 at Saratoga, will return to the Empire State to stand at Mountain View Farm in Gansevoort for the 2026 season. Coglianese Photo/Janet Garaguso.

Multiple graded stakes winner Leinster, off to a strong start at stud and ranked eighth on the most recent North American freshman sire list, will relocate to New York for the 2026 season and join another promising young stallion from the Empire State at the new Mountain View Farm in Gansevoort.

“We’re spreading our wings a little bit,” said David Cannizzo, who runs Mountain View Farm with his wife Carolyn. “We outgrew our other farm. Thanks to the partnerships we have with our clients we were able to purchase a farm and have some upgrades planned, including a training track, training barn, the whole nine. We’ve already started building onto the breeding shed.”

Leinster, who relocates to New York from Pleasant Acres Stallions in Ocala, will stand alongside Grade 1 winner Fire At Will at Mountain View Farm. The new stallion operation is an extension of the Cannizzo’s Willow Brook Stables, a full-service operation specializing in lay-ups, rehabilitation, breaking and training in Gansevoort.

“We needed more room,” Cannizzo said. “The new farm gives us the opportunity to bring stallions to New York, to try and improve the New York stallion game. We want to see the operation grow and see the New York breeding program gain even more strength.

Leinster, winner of the 2021 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in his career finale, is already off to a strong start at stud. Coglianese Photo/Ryan Thompson.

“Hopefully we can upgrade the stallion quality, upgrade the mare quality and bring in some real-deal animals from other states to try and get the program even more improved than it already is. Our clients run so much in New York already, so why not have the stallions right here where we can make some money, get more foals to New York and improve the product here in the state.”

Leinster, a 10-year-old son of Majestic Warrior out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar, will stand for $7,500 LFSN. Fire At Will, a 7-year-old son of Declaration of War out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Flirt, will stand for $2,500 LFSN. Fire At Will, winner of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, stood the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson.

Leinster has already sired seven winners and the earners of nearly $700,000 in his first crop. That group is led by multiple stakes-winning filly Lennilu, the winner of four of six starts and $216,489.

Lennilu won her first two starts, including the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream Park, to earn a spot in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. She finished third in the Queen Mary, then returned to win back-to-back stakes at Gulfstream in September in the FTBOA Florida Sire Desert Vixen and Leinster Hollywood Beach. Lennilu finished seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Leinster is also the sire of the multiple stakes-placed $129,991-earner Monster and the multiple stakes-placed $116,720-earner Squire.

Leinster went 6-6-5 in 24 starts and earned $764,971. He won the Grade 3 Troy Stakes in 2-19 at Saratoga and Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes and Grade 2 Woodford Stakes in 2020 at Keeneland before retiring after a victory in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in early 2021.

Fire At Will, a stakes winner on dirt and turf, relocates to Mountain View Farm for the 2026 season. Coglianese Photo.

Campaigned by Three Diamonds Farm, Fire At Will won three of six starts and earned $675,932. In addition to his Breeders’ Cup score, Fire At Will won the off-the-turf With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes on the turf at Belmont Park in 2020.

Trainer Mike Maker called Fire At Will “absolutely the fastest 2-year-old I have ever trained on the turf” when he retired for the 2023 season. Fire At Will is the first foal out of Flirt, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Decorated Invader (by Declaration of War), stakes winner Jubliant Girl and stakes-placed Cabral. Flirt is also from the family of top sire Stormy Atlantic.

Cannizzo said he’s actively pursuing deals to bring additional stallions to Mountain View and that “in a perfect world we’d have four or five and go from there.”

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The New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc. is pleased to announce the return of its annual Holiday Party on Friday, December 12, at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, NY, from 7-10 p.m. ET.

The evening will feature exquisite hors d’oeuvres, chef-attended dinner stations, an open bar, and live musical entertainment. Tickets can be purchased by visiting nytbreeders.org/events and are $125 for NYTB members and $150 for non-members.

“Our annual holiday party brings together NYTB members and New York-bred program participants to celebrate our community ahead of the holidays and the new breeding season,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “This year’s gathering will carry added excitement as we reflect on the remarkable growth and continued advancement of the New York-bred program.”

Please note that the holiday party is a sellout event! You must RSVP by purchasing tickets directly at nytbreeder.org/events or calling the NYTB office at 518.587.0777.

 

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Jaxer, a 2-year-old son of New York stallion Slumber, wins Friday’s Notebook Stakes under Flavien Prat. Coglianese Photo.

Head of Plains’ homebred Jaxer slid through an opening in deep stretch to score his first stakes victory in Friday’s $125,000 Notebook for 2-year-old New York-breds on the turf at Aqueduct.

Under Flavien Prat, the son of New York-based sire Slumber won by a length over Caroline St. Beat for his second straight victory. Jaxer came into the 1-mile Notebook off a 1 3/4-length victory in a 1 1/16-mile maiden win on the turf at Aqueduct for trainer Graham Motion.

Prat rode Jaxer in that maiden score, which came after an eighth in his debut sprinting on the turf July 16 at Saratoga Race Course and a close second in a two-turn maiden on the grass at Delaware Park in late August.

“I was comfortable the whole way,” Prat said. “He traveled good the whole way around. I was able to save ground, and we got to the stretch and it seemed like the other horses kind of shifted out and I was able to go through. He was very professional today.”

Jaxer, who is out of the winning More Than Ready mare Lost Ticket, became the fifth stakes winner for Slumber. A 17-year-old son of Cacique owned by Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains, Slumber stands for $7,500 at Rockridge Stud in Hudson.

Sent off as the 3-1 second choice in the field of 10 behind the 8-5 choice Caroline St. Beat, Jaxer settled off the pace early into the first turn. Twirling Lad set the pace, clicking of opening splits of :23.31 and :48.17 just ahead of Truman’s Commander and Spirit of New York. Twirling Lad, a maiden coming into the Notebook off a narrow loss Oct. 16 at Aqueduct, continued to lead through 6 furlongs in 1:13.26 and in midstretch while the closers engaged in deep stretch.

Spirit of New York came away with the lead inside the eighth pole but couldn’t hold off the late runs of Jaxer, Caroline St. Beat and Funny Factor late to finish fourth. Jaxer won in 1:36.87. Caroline St. Beat, a maiden winner in his debut Aug. 16 for Miguel Clement, finished second under Manny Franco, a nose in front of Funny Factor.

“I had the trip that I wanted,” Franco said. “I wanted to save ground in the first turn and from the three-eighths to the quarter-pole, I just wanted to get a clear run. He responded well, but he probably needed one [a race].”

Foaled at Rockridge Stud, Jaxer is the first foal out of Lost Ticket. Out of the Empire Maker mare Shapely, Lost Ticket sold as a yearling for $400,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings. She won two of seven starts and earned $94,570 for Staghawk Stables and trainer Bill Mott.

Madaket Stables purchased Lost Ticket for $8,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Lost Ticket is also the dam of a yearling New York-bred full brother to Jaxer, also bred by Head of Plains LLC.

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Showcase, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes, joins the stallion roster for 2026 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. Coglianese Photo.

McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs is proud to announce that Showcase, the brilliantly talented son of Uncle Mo, will stand his first season at stud in 2026 for a fee of $5,000.

A $300,000 Keeneland September yearling, Showcase quickly fulfilled his early promise on the racetrack. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, he broke his maiden on debut by open lengths to become a TDN Rising Star. He returned and dominated his second start in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special by 3 1/2 lengths.

Pletcher offered high praise for the colt’s natural talent.

“Showcase had enormous ability combined with an explosive kick of speed,” he said. “He was my best 2-year-old that year. He should be a huge asset to the New York breeding program, returning to Saratoga where he showed so much talent on the racetrack.”

McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds is excited to welcome Showcase for the 2026 season.

Showcase’s talent, pedigree and proven Saratoga form make him a standout addition to the roster. Showcase joins leading stallions Central Banker, Solomini and sophomore Provocateur.

For booking inquiries, contact:

McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC

180 Fitch Rd Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Ph: 518-587-3426 | F: 518-587-4393

www.mcmahonthoroughbreds.com

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