Friend Ofthe Devil leads NYSSS Spectacular Bid

Blue Devil Racing Stable and Jerold Zaro’s Friend Ofthe Devil makes his stakes debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Spectacular Bid division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Carlos Martin, the Honest Mischief bay enters from a strong sophomore debut when a pacesetting 3 1/2-length winner over course and distance in a New York-bred allowance versus elders on April 25, which returned a career and field-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure. 

“I’ve been waiting and pointing to this race for quite a while,” said Martin. “His first race as a 3-year-old was such a big effort. We gave him plenty of time to get over that, and this race has been the plan.”

Friend Ofthe Devil is 2-for-2 over course and distance– his only races on turf– both scores coming in gate-to-wire fashion under returning rider Christopher Elliott, who will exit post 5. 

“The horse is doing sensational,” Martin said. “He’s doing great. With this 3-year-old stallion series event, it is almost like this race was waiting for him.” 

Friend Ofthe Devil has three distant misfires in dirt starts, a stark contrast to his form over the local green. He is out of the Bodemeister mare Fabuleux and his second dam is stakes-winner Sluice, the third dam of reigning Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner and recent Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets-victor Sovereignty. 

“He’s got a good pedigree and he seems like a horse that could have an exciting 3-year-old year,” said Martin. “To run an 88 Beyer off a layoff and beat older horses, that was big.” 

Bred in the Empire State by Laurel Least, Farview Farm and Robert M. Tugel DVM, Friend Ofthe Devil was a $145,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale. His third dam is multiple Grade 1-winner Lakeway. 

Martin also sends out Celtic Magic Thoroughbreds, Toga Party Racing Stable, Robert Farina and Britton Peak’s Dancing Bear [post 7, Romero Maragh], who looks to rebound off a seasonal debut misfire over course and distance versus state-bred allowance elders on May 26. 

There, the War Dancer gelding bobbled at the start but recovered to set a rapid pace through an opening quarter-mile in 21.85 seconds over the firm turf, before weakening and finishing last. 

“He went off very fast and they went a half-mile in 43 and four,” said Martin. “It is kind of a funny situation where those numbers against older horses may even be considered a tougher spot than [a stakes] versus straight 3-year-olds, so I might take a chance with him.”

Bred in the Empire State by Celtic Magic Thoroughbreds and Dana J. Schaefer, Dancing Bear is out of the winning Curlin mare Off the Bourbon. His second dam, Laurel Lassie, is a half-sister to 2011 Champion Grass Horse Cape Blanco.

Rachel Gerson’s stakes-placed I’m Due [post 3, Dylan Davis] may be due for a stakes score in his third attempt. Trained by Kent Sweezey, the War Dancer bay enters from a pair of Gulfstream Park stakes, including a third in the 7 1/2-furlong Cutler Bay in March ahead of a sixth in the one-mile English Channel last out on May 3. 

I’m Due now cuts back in distance, his Cutler Bay effort equaling his shortest race to date and returning a career-best 81 Beyer. He graduated fifth-out at that distance there and also won a February starter optional claimer at the Hallandale Beach oval going 1 1/16 miles.

Bred in New York by Cedar Meadow, Inc., I’m Due, a $25,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, is out of the winning Purge mare Candelabra. 

Our Blue Streaks Stable, SGV Thoroughbreds and trainer George Weaver’s stakes-winner Soontobeking [post 6, Manny Franco] enters back quick from a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong state-bred Mike Lee on the main track on June 4 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. 

There, the King for a Day bay closed from fourth but could not reel in Train the Trainer, finishing 2 3/4 lengths back in second for his 11th on-the-board finish in 13 starts, including a win in the one-turn dirt mile Gander in March here. 

The New York-bred Soontobeking has never competed over grass amongst his 13-3-4-4 record with $403,428 in earnings. He is bred by co-owners Our Blue Streaks Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds, out of the Freud mare Swayed, who made 12 turf starts, featuring a six-furlong win for Weaver in 2017 here. 

Roddy J. Valente’s River of Time [post 1, Junior Alvarado] makes his first start for trainer Chad Summers. The Fog of War gelding enters from a starter optional claiming third for trainer Jorge Delgado going 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream Park Tapeta on April 26. 

River of Time cuts back to less than one mile for the first time, his two wins in six starts coming at one-mile and 70-yards over the Tapeta at Gulfstream for different connections. Bred in New York by Hudson Meadows, River of Time is out of the winning El Corredor mare Passage of Time. 

Summers also entered Ducky Medwick for the main track-only. 

Rounding out the field are maidens Strobe Light [post 4, Luis Rivera, Jr.] for trainer James Ferraro and Sunshine Dancer [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for conditioner Michelle Nevin.

The Spectacular Bid is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s 11-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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