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Clement holds strong pair in G3 Gotham with Deterministic, Capital Idea

by NYRA Press Ofiice

• Clement holds strong pair in G3 Gotham with Deterministic, Capital Idea
• Jody’s Pride looks to give Abreu, Parkland Thoroughbreds third collaborative Busher score
• Coastal Mission a contender in $150K Stymie
• Walden-trained maiden Sicilian Princess looks to graduate in style in $200K Busher; G3 Tom Fool contender Manny Wah nearing $1M in earnings

Trainer Christophe Clement brings the talented duo of Deterministic and Capital Idea to make their stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Gotham awards the top-five finishers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and is one of four stakes on the lucrative 10-race program, including the Listed $200,000 Busher, a 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifier, the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap and the Listed $150,000 Stymie.

St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable’s Deterministic returns from a near seven-month layoff that followed an impressive debut victory in August at Saratoga Race Course. There, he captured the seven-furlong sprint by a half-length with a swift off-the-pace move under returning pilot Joel Rosario and stormed home late with a six-wide bid to collar Hurricane Nelson just in time. The effort garnered an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Clement said the Gotham turned out to be the best place to bring back the talented son of Liam’s Map, who will emerge from post 3.

“We’re excited to see him run again,” said Clement. “I wish I could have run in an allowance race in Florida or New York, but we could not find that race and the Gotham is really the only choice. But, I do like the horse very much.”

The $625,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase has posted a string of eye-catching bullet works at Payson Park in company with Sunday’s Gander-winner Pandagate, including two five-furlong moves in 1:01.80 on February 10 and 17, respectively.

Deterministic is out of the winning Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel and is from the family of graded/group stakes-winners Rainha Da Bateria, Assateague, Rabbit Run and Kindergarden Kid, as well as multiple graded stakes-placed He’s Had Enough.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Capital Idea was a dominant winner at second asking in a one-mile maiden in January here, crossing the wire 8 1/4 lengths in front over a sloppy and sealed main track under returning rider Trevor McCarthy [post 13]. The effort came after a close third on debut in December when defeated a half-length in a similar one-mile tilt at the Big A.

Capital Idea enters off a sharp five-furlong bullet in 1:02.65 on Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He’s been training very well and has been in New York all along,” said Clement. “There’s no reason for him not to run in the race and he deserves a shot in the race. It’s exciting to have two horses and we’ll do the best we can and go from there.”

A $260,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Capital Idea is out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Rever de Vous, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Dreaming of Drew.

Clement reported that Sunday’s $100,000 Gander winner Pandagate emerged well from his strong 5 1/2-length score and has a plethora of options going forward after his successful stakes debut for owners Adelphi Racing Club, Madaket Stables, Corms Racing Stables and On The Rise Again Stable.

“He’s doing great. He came back great and is at Payson Park,” said Clement. “We’re very happy and he ran a great race. We’re going to keep him eligible for three or four stakes coming up. No need to commit now. We were very pleased with the race.”

The sophomore son of Arrogate captured the state-bred one-mile Gander under Dylan Davis, pouncing from last-of-6 early on to make up ground through the turn and come away with a one-length advantage at the stretch call. He powered home to draw clear of Doc Sullivan with ease and complete the course 1:40.67, earning a career-best 86 Beyer for the win.

Clement said there are no firm plans yet for Pandagate, but that possible targets could include the nine-furlong Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifier for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on April 6 here; the nine-furlong Federico Tesio on April 20 at Laurel Park; or even a trip overseas to the Dubai Racing Carnival.

“It’s a bit early and ambitious, but the Wood, some races at Laurel, or Dubai are a possibility,” said Clement. “We have got time. Let’s just let the horse tell us what to do.”

A $130,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale, Pandagate was bred in the Empire State by Fred W. Hertrich, III and is out of the Clement-trained stakes-placed Sky Mesa mare Kitty Panda. He graduated on debut with a nine-length score against fellow state-breds in October at Belmont at the Big A.

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Jody’s Pride looks to give Abreu, Parkland Thoroughbreds third collaborative Busher score

Grade 1-placed Jody’s Pride will vie to provide trainer Jorge Abreu and co-owner Parkland Thoroughbreds with their third $200,000 Busher victory in the last six runnings when taking on six rivals in Saturday’s Listed one-mile test for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Busher awards the top-five finishers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and is one of four stakes one the lucrative 10-race program, highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifier, and supported by the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap and Listed $150,000 Stymie.

Abreu has trained two Busher winners in recent years, saddling Espresso Shot in 2019 and her half-sister Venti Valentine in 2022, both fillies co-owned by Parkland Thoroughbreds. Now, the stakes-winning Jody’s Pride will look to follow in their footsteps and claim the historic race named for the Hall of Famer and 1945 Horse of the Year.

“We’re trying to go for a third one,” Abreu said, with a laugh. “She’s doing pretty well here and is doing everything great.”

Jody’s Pride, co-owned by Sportsmen Stable, makes her seasonal bow on the heels of a game runner-up effort in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies contested around two turns on November 3 at Santa Anita Park. She tracked two lengths off the pace under Flavien Prat in third throughout and was given her cue in the turn while angling wide for an outside run at the topflight. She rallied on gamely down the stretch to come up a neck shy of Just F Y I, who was later named the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.

Abreu expressed his pride in the daughter of American Pharoah as she made the hefty stretch-out from a win in the off-the-turf six-furlong Matron in October at Belmont at the Big A.

“She ran big. I knew she was going to, but my only concern was the two turns,” Abreu said. “She had never stretched out before, but she showed up the right way. She went from five and a half [furlongs], to six, and then to a mile and a sixteenth, and ran that kind of a race. She was training very well into that race.”

Jody’s Pride returns to the scene of her dominant Matron win that saw her take command at the half-mile call and draw off to a comfortable 3 1/4-length score over subsequent stakes-winner Tricky Temper. She graduated on debut in August at Saratoga Race Course with a 10 1/2-length romp in a 5 1/2-furlong off-the-turf maiden.

Abreu said Jody’s Pride should appreciate cutting back to a one-turn mile at Aqueduct, but that she will likely stretch out again in the future.

“I think it will suit her. She’s won on this track already – a lot of little things [help],” said Abreu. “But she can stretch out and distance won’t be a problem. That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Jody’s Pride, tabbed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite, will emerge from post 6 in rein to Jose Lezcano on Saturday.

The Busher proved a gateway to a start in the Kentucky Oaks for NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Venti Valentine in 2022 when she dazzled with a seven-length triumph en route to a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Gazelle one month later.

Though she finished off the board in the Kentucky Oaks, the now 5-year-old daughter of Firing Line has gone on to enjoy tremendous success in the Empire State, and has since won three additional stakes while placing in five others, including a third in the Grade 3 Go for Wand in December and a last-out runner-up effort in the state-bred Broadway when defeated a neck by Security Code.

“She’s doing great,” said Abreu. “She always shows up and she always tries. It makes it worth it to get up in the morning and come to the barn when you have a horse like this.”

In the seven-horse Broadway, Venti Valentine stalked 2 1/2 lengths off the pace under regular pilot Manny Franco and swung seven-wide in the turn to make her run at the pacesetting Kant Hurry Love and the pressing Security Code. Venti Valentine rolled down the center of the course and gained with every stride, but could not catch Security Code in time and settled for place honors.

Abreu said he is eyeing the one-mile $100,000 Biogio’s Rose on March 23 at the Big A for the chestnut’s next outing.

“She was unlucky in her last race and was wide,” Abreu said. “I don’t really know what to think. She was so wide in a short field – you’d expect that in a 10-horse field. I’m going to run her in the New York-bred race at the end of the month.”

Venti Valentine has posted a solid 18-6-4-4 record with total purse earnings of $741,600. Bred in the Empire State by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, she is a half-sister to the aforementioned Espresso Shot, as well as the recently stakes-placed Landed.

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Coastal Mission a contender in $150K Stymie

Owner-trainer Jeff Runco’s Coastal Mission looks to build upon his ultra-consistent 17-11-3-1 record in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Stymie, a one-turn mile for older horses, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Coastal Mission made his graded debut last out in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets here on December 2. The 5-year-old West Virginia-bred son of Great Notion broke slowest of all from the inside post, was hustled to fourth down the backside by returning rider Arnaldo Bocachica, getting all the way up to second in the stretch before tiring and finishing fifth-of-12.

“He likes the mile. That was no problem. He was just standing in the gate for a long time and got off slowly,” Runco said. “He broke poorly and had to rush up early and it cost him doing that.”

The Cigar Mile was contested over a muddy and sealed track, which came on the heels of a 5 3/4-length score in the nine furlong state-bred West Virginia Breeders' Classic over a sloppy and sealed surface in October at Charles Town. Prior to that effort, he won the open-company Russell Road going seven furlongs over a wet and fast track at the same site.

“He’s fine in the mud, he’s won plenty of races in the mud,” said Runco regarding rain in the forecast again for Saturday. “He’s ready to go. We just want a decent position out of the gate - there is some speed in there though.”

In his last outing, the gray finished behind multiple graded-stakes winner Hoist the Gold, recent Group 1 Saudi Cup-victor Senor Buscador, graded-stakes placed returning rival Castle Chaos, and Grade 2-winner Three Technique.

“He ran against some pretty good horses,” Runco said. “He ran against the best back in December, but he is ready.”

Coastal Mission, listed at 9-2 on the morning line, will exit post 4.

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Walden-trained maiden Sicilian Princess looks to graduate in style in $200K Busher; G3 Tom Fool contender Manny Wah nearing $1M in earnings

Trainer Will Walden is sending two horses on opposite ends of the experience spectrum to Aqueduct for Saturday’s lucrative Gotham Day card, seeking Kentucky Oaks points with sophomore maiden filly Sicilian Princess in the one-mile Listed $200,000 Busher and millionaire-status with Manny Wah in the six-furlong Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap.

Cypress Creek Equine and KK Thoroughbred Racing’s Sicilian Princess debuted in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on February 14 at Turfway Park, breaking a step slow from the inside post and trailing the 12-horse field as favorite Sweet Gal of Mine set the tempo. Sicilian Princess made up ground along the rail but was unable to reel in the pacesetter, settling for place-honors beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

“She was the first one of twelve to load. She kind of got caught sleeping there at the break. I think in her second start, she'll be a little quicker there away from the stalls,” said Walden. “She has tactical speed, even though we feel like she is a two-turn horse and that a route distance is what she wants to do. She is not void of tactical speed."

Stretching out to the one-turn mile distance in the Busher is a tall ask for a maiden, but with Sicilian Princess’ pedigree and a solid 74 Beyer Speed Figure upon debut, Walden isn’t afraid to take a shot.

"She is a big, 17-hands high Justify filly. She wants a two-turn or route distance. A route is going to be where she excels,” Walden said. “Based off of the number she got in her first time out, she looks like she can be competitive if she moves forward in her second start. She came out of the race the way you would want her to, her head is on right. She's training forward and we'll see if that progresses to the afternoon."

Bred in Kentucky by Cypress Creek Equine, Sicilian Princess, out of the Street Cry mare Elle Sueno, is a half-sister to Dream Lith, who won the 2021 Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs. Her third dam is Grade 1-winner Mi Sueno.

The Busher offers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the top-five finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Susan Moulton’s Manny Wah boasts a record of 43-5-10-7 with $955,196 in earnings. The 8-year-old Will Take Charge horse last appeared in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Toboggan here on February 3, where he chased the early foot of Super Chow and ultimately settled for second.

​​"I don't know if I'd be as worried about Super Chow this time as much as last time because it was seven-eighths and he kind of got that lead all by himself through three quarters. I think he'll probably get pressed a little harder,” Walden said. “That being said, you can't really take anything away from the horse, he ran great that day and if he is doing well, he is going to be one of the main contenders and tough to beat.”

A win would push Manny Wah over $1 million in earnings for a career highlighted by a neck score in the 2022 Grade 2 Phoenix prior to an impressive run for fourth in that year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland as the longest shot on the board at odds of 55-1.

Saturday will be the third start for Manny Wah in Walden’s barn, his first 41 came under the conditioning of Wayne Catalano. Manny Wah received a pair of 87 Beyers for his first two outings for Walden, the first being a fourth-place finish in the Holiday Cheer sprinting six furlongs over the Turfway Park synthetic on December 30.