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City Man waves the banner for New York and small breeders in G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational

by NYRA Press Office

• City Man waves the banner for New York and small breeders in G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational
• Three Two Zone ready for graded test in G3 Toboggan; Royal Poppy on to Ruthless
• Aqueduct winter meet Week 6 stakes probables

Breeder Christina Deronda of Moonstar Farm is riding high with multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred City Man, who strives for his first Grade 1 score in Saturday’s $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Located in Pawling, New York, Moonstar Farm is operated by Deronda alongside her mother Patricia Calandro, who was the former stallion manager at Sugar Maple Farm, and sister, Angela Colyard. The farm currently owns only two broodmares, including City Man’s mother, City Scamper, who is by City Zip. Their other broodmare is Raffie’s Chance, a daughter of Raffie’s Majesty who produced dual stakes-winner Laobanonaprayer. 

Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles, City Man boasts a 26-9-5-3 record with earnings of $987,120. The 6-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man has won a stakes race every year since his juvenile season, starting with a 4 3/4-length romp against fellow state-breds in the 2019 Funny Cide at Saratoga Race Course. But last year proved to be a banner year for City Man as he captured 5-of-8 starts, including three straight victories heading into the Pegasus World Cup Turf. 

Following wins against state-breds in the Ashley T. Cole on September 24 and Mohawk on October 30 – both at Belmont at the Big A – he secured his second graded stakes coup last out in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale on December 31 at Gulfstream. He commenced last season with a triumph in the open-company Danger’s Hour on April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack, three starts before earning a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure with a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple on July 15 at Saratoga for trainer Christophe Clement. 

A self-proclaimed “backyard breeder,” Deronda said she takes a strong sense of pride in owning a pound-for-pound strong broodmare band. 

“Some bigger breeders haven’t had as much luck as we have had for what we have. We only have a couple of mares and we’re a small operation, so to have an outstanding horse like him is not easy for a small breeder. We’re just very proud of him,” Deronda said. “My mom actually picked Mucho Macho Man for City Scamper. We’ve all been so astounded. We live in a small town, so the whole town is excited for us. We’re excited for Christophe, the Reeves and of course for City Man himself. Every year, he grows to be a bigger, stronger and better horse. Last year, he did so well.”

In the Fort Lauderdale, City Man maintained rail-riding position down the backstretch in third under Joel Rosario to the inside of multiple Grade 1-winner Colonel Liam. Saving ground around the far turn, City Man found a seam along the rail and powered through to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Grade 1-winning stablemate Decorated Invader.

“It was an amazing run for him and an amazing ride by Joel Rosario. He did an amazing job on him,” Deronda said. “As he gets older, he seems to have a good focus and has figured it out for himself. I was shocked he got through that small hole because he’s such a big horse. That was all he needed. He looked forward and never looked back. For us, it’s been an exciting ride. He just gets better and more relaxed and professional every time he runs.”

Rosario retains the mount Saturday from the outermost post 12 aboard City Man, who Deronda said was an affectionate foal with a lot of personality.

“We had three or four broodmares at the time. He was the first one up to the fence that wanted to be petted and played with. He was always a very easy-going foal,” Deronda recalled. “He was smart and he was easy to handle. He was a little bit on the gawky side because he was going to get so big. He was more leg than chest, but of course he grew into himself. He was a great foal with a very good personality.”

City Man impressed his breeders even more as he grew into his frame. He brought $20,000 as a weanling at the 2017 Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale, where he was purchased by the Off The Hook pinhooking venture and was then sold for $185,000 at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He did not disappoint during his 2-year-old year, beginning his career with two open-lengths scores at Saratoga, including a three-length graduation in July 2019 en route to his prominent Funny Cide score. 

“We watched him in the under tack show and we were amazed at how well he looked and how well he did,” Deronda recalled. “Then we saw him run as a 2-year-old at Saratoga and that was very exciting. We were there for all his races his 2-year-old year. He did well that year with still plenty of growing to do.”

Deronda said having a small operation is beneficial for the resulting foals.

“The good part about being small breeders is that our foals get handled a lot. We do a lot with them. They get a lot of one-on-one time,” Deronda said. “We have kids and grandkids and they’re always fussing over them, so they get a lot of attention, which I think helps in their focus later on. They feel less threatened.”

Fans of City Man can look forward to seeing his 2-year-old full-sister, Miss City Girl, make her anticipated debut sometime this year. Miss City Girl was bought by owners Dean and Patti Reeves right off the farm. 

“Every time I talk to Mr. Reeves he just raves about her. She’s smart and big and a lot like City Man, so I wish him luck with her as well,” Deronda said. “She didn’t have to go through the sale. It was nice for her because she remained in that relaxed environment. I’m sure that helped. She went from our farm to his partner’s farm in Florida, where she was turned out, grew up and went through training. She was actually very settled for a very long time before she had to start working. I think that helped her mental state.”

Deronda spoke volumes of the New York breeding program.

“The breeders awards are great in New York which is nice, it keeps us going a bit. Just to be able to go and watch our horses race is nice since we’re here in New York. We go down to Belmont and Aqueduct as well. It’s just a whole lot of fun,” Deronda said. “The program is great and the breeders around here are great people. We’re friends and we all stick together. It’s nice when you’re going to Saratoga and going to the sale and you know everyone. It’s good camaraderie for everybody.”

Deronda offered words of encouragement for her fellow small breeders, citing Maryland-bred Knicks Go – the 2021 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Dirt Male – by way of example.

“Don’t stop trying. Just look at Knicks Go and his breeder [Angie Moore] and what they ended up doing and look where his career went,” she said. “You never know what you’re going to get, so enjoy it. Sometimes, it’s hit or miss with horses. You could have the two best bloodlines and produce nothing or go with your gut and produce something like we did. We loved Mucho Macho Man and it was a good cross with City Scamper and he ended up being a great horse. We’ve had a lot that didn’t make it and then we’ve had these guys that have done well.”

Deronda will have to plenty to cheer for when she makes her maiden voyage to Gulfstream on Saturday.

“We couldn’t be prouder. This is a big to-do for us, so my mother and I will be down there for the race. It means a lot to us,” Deronda said. 

***

Three Two Zone ready for graded test in G3 Toboggan; Royal Poppy on to Ruthless

Alonzo Racing, Michael Bagnoli and Jacqueline Bagnoli’s multiple stakes-placed Three Two Zone will look to make the grade for trainer Ray Handal in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Three Two Zone drew post 1 with Dylan Davis up in the nine-horse field that includes defending winner Drafted and the speedy Pirate Rick, who earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for an allowance victory on Sunday at the Big A.

“I’m a little bummed about the draw, but that’s how it goes,” Handal said. “But, he’s been doing great and I think he’s a better six and a half [furlong] or seven-eighths horse than he is a true six-furlong sprinter.” 

Three Two Zone arrives from an even fifth-place finish in the six-furlong Gravesend on December 30 at the Big A. There, he gave chase from fourth position but lacked the needed kick to collar his foes and finished 3 1/2 lengths in arrears of the victorious Drafted. 

Handal said Three Two Zone had his last work for the Gravesend delayed due to weather and was forced to cut the work down from a half-mile to three furlongs. 

“He was missing that one last punch in that race and I have to think it [was due to] his last workout before being moved to four days out,” Handal said. “I just went an easy three-eighths because he always tries to do too much and I didn’t want to overdo it. I think he was a little short from not having that last half-mile work in him.” 

The Gravesend was Three Two Zone’s first start off a fourth-month respite after he finished off-the-board in the Grade 1 Forego in August at Saratoga Race Course. Handal said Three Two Zone should be ready to give a strong effort in his second start off the layoff. 

“He’s got a start under his belt, it’s a better distance, and we haven’t missed a beat coming into this one,” Handal said. “I hope that we can turn the tables and get the ‘W’ tomorrow.”

The 5-year-old dark bay son of Street Sense put together a productive 4-year-old season, making five starts for Handal after being transferred from the barn of Marya Montoya last spring. He made his first start for his new conditioner a winning one, scoring a dominant 8 1/2-length optional claiming victory sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in May at Belmont. He followed with a narrow defeat to Happy Farm in a June 17 sprint over the same course before notching another optional claiming score in July at Saratoga Race Course. 

Handal said Three Two Zone, whose other two starts at the graded level were off-the-board finishes in the 2021 Grade 2 Pat Day Mile and the aforementioned Forego, is ready for another shot at making the grade. 

“I feel a lot more confident than when we took a shot in the Forego and he’s shown us a lot of talent,” said Handal. “He’s a horse who can still be graded stakes quality from what I’ve seen in the mornings and in his race progression. I think he’ll make a good showing and be competitive.” 

Handal already boasts a victory this week at Aqueduct after Timeless Journey scored an off-the-pace coup for owner/breeder Merrylegs Farm in Thursday’s seventh race, a nine-furlong open-company optional claimer. Ridden to victory by Dylan Davis, the New York-bred daughter of Verrazano equaled a career-best 84 Beyer for the 1 1/2-length victory over a field that included stakes winners Let Her Inspire U and Ice Princess. 

Handal said the dark bay mare, who finished third in the state-bred Ticonderoga over the Belmont Park turf in November 2021, could try stakes company again in the one-mile $100,000 Biogio’s Rose facing New York-breds on March 12 at the Big A. 

“She’s nice and she’s got a will to win,” said Handal. “We’re going to try a stakes with her. Those were some nice fillies yesterday and we got a beautiful ride by Dylan. I think she likes to go long and has a lot of tactical speed. I don’t think she wants to go much further and a mile is probably her best distance.” 

Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing’s Funny How will also look to test stakes company in her next start after stringing together an impressive four-race win streak. The 4-year-old daughter of Overanalyze will target the $100,000 Broadway, a seven-furlong sprint for state-bred fillies and mares aged 4-years-old and up, on February 12. 

“Four in-a-row is hard to do, so we’re testing some pretty deep waters in the Broadway in a couple of weeks,” Handal said. “She’ll breeze tomorrow and is doing great.” 

Funny How’s latest victory was a determined nose score in an open-company allowance on January 7 here, stalking the pace in fourth-of-8 under Katie Davis before making a two-wide bid to nail Dame Cinco at the wire by a nose. 

“It was a little nerve-racking, but she eked it out and that’s what good horses do – they find ways to win,” Handal said. “Katie will ride her again and she’s done a great job on her.” 

Funny How, out of the multiple stakes winning Distorted Humor mare Heavenly Humor, is a half-sister to graded-stakes placed Funny Guy.

Handal added he is looking forward to the next start from Adelphi Racing Club, Pavilion Racing, Zilla Racing Stables and Surrey Lane Stables’ Royal Poppy, who broke her maiden at fifth asking on December 15 here after adding blinkers for the first time. The Florida-bred daughter of Classic Empire will turn her attention to the $100,000 Ruthless on February 4 after earning a 72 Beyer for her winning effort. 

“She broke her maiden pretty impressively and she’ll breeze tomorrow,” Handal said. “She’s in great form and I think she needed the blinkers. I think she’ll be a nice filly.”

***

Aqueduct winter meet Week 6 stakes probables

Saturday, February 4

G3 Withers – Offering 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Probable: Arctic Arrogance (Linda Rice), Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher), General Banker (James Ferraro), Hit Show (Brad Cox)

Possible: Classic Legacy (Bill Mott), Lord Miles (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), Mr Bob (Robert Falcone, Jr.), Mr. Ripple (Joseph, Jr.) 

$100K Ruthless

Probable: Girl Trouble (Robert Reid, Jr.), Lady Shylock (Falcone, Jr.), Malibu Moonshine (Charlton Baker), Royal Poppy (Ray Handal), Senior Prank (Chad Brown)

Possible: Pharoahs Baby Gyal (Brittany Russell)