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G1 Carter remains a likely target for Green Light Go following Stymie win

by NYRA Press Office

• G1 Carter remains a likely target for Green Light Go following Stymie win
• Gyarmati eyes April return for Sail By
• Multiple stakes-placed winner Big Engine may target stakes for next start
• Big Package works toward return
• Week 12 probables

Following a triumph in Saturday’s $125,000 Stymie at Aqueduct, Stronach Stables’ Green Light Go may have earned himself a return engagement in the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap on April 9. 

The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure from his Stymie coup, where he built on his advantage through every point of call to win by 3 1/4 lengths. He arrived at the one-turn mile off a sharp nine-length romp in a January 13 allowance optional claimer at the same distance and track, where he garnered a career-best 101 Beyer. Both victories were earned in similar frontrunning fashion for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who said the horse appears to relish a fast track. 

“I think he does, but most of them do,” Jerkens said. “He looks good, and he ate up well this morning. Cutting back to seven furlongs might be alright.”

Green Light Go, who boasts a ledger of 13-5-3-1 and earnings in excess of a half-million, hit the ground running during his juvenile campaign which included a debut victory and a win in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special en route to finishing second to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park. 

After stints with Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Michael Doyle, Green Light Go rejoined Jerkens late last summer at Saratoga. He made his first start back for his trainer when a late-closing second in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight on November 28 at Aqueduct. 

“I think he would have won the Fall Highweight if the track was a little faster that day,” Jerkens said. “He really kicked in and got strong when we got him back which was what he needed. When he was three, he couldn’t quite handle the workload and the pressure.”

Green Light Go added two stakes placings to his resume early his 3-year-old year at Gulfstream Park when a distant third in the Grade 3 Swale and a close second in the Roar. Jerkens said Green Light Go may have developed a little too quickly during his 2-year-old year. 

“He probably came to hand too quickly, some horses do that,” Jerkens said. “He got too nervous and couldn’t hold his flush. He’s got a big frame to him. When he was three, we took him to Florida. He didn’t do as well until the very end and ran in [the Roar]. I still can’t believe he got beat that day.” 

Gyarmati eyes April return for Sail By

Graded stakes-winner Sail By is scheduled to return to the stable of trainer Leah Gyarmati in the next couple of days, but her sophomore debut likely wont take place until April, her trainer says. 

The Treadway Racing Stable homebred daughter of Astern has recorded several works at Hidden Brook South in Ocala, Florida this month. A winner of the Grade 2 Miss Grillo in October at Belmont Park, Sail By was last seen finishing 13th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar. 

Gyarmati said the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Memories of Silver on April 24 at Aqueduct is the target for her return to action. 

“We’re hoping to have her ready in late April,” Gyarmati said. “It looks like she’s been going three-eighths and out a good half. They’re really happy with her down there, and the texts I’ve been getting say she’s ready to be back.”

A 28-1 upset winner on debut, Sail By earned black type with placings in the Colleen at Monmouth Park and the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga en route to her Miss Grillo score. She is the first progeny out of the Johar mare Fly By. 

Multiple stakes-placed Big Engine may return to stakes company for next start

McCourt Racing’s recent allowance winner Big Engine may step back up to stakes company after returning to winning form in an optional claiming sprint on February 19 at the Big A. 

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the son of Not For Love earned a pair of stakes placings in 2021 for former trainer Linda Rice, finishing second to My Boy Tate in the Hollie Hughes and third to Bank On Shea and eventual 2022 Hollie Hughes winner Wudda U Think Now in the Affirmed Success. 

In his second start for Rodriguez, Big Engine was held off the pace by Trevor McCarthy throughout the six furlongs, allowing pacesetter Smooth B to cruise through an opening quarter-mile in 22.99 seconds and a half-mile in 46.34 as he and Cost Basis went head-to-head down the backstretch. Big Engine was coaxed by McCarthy rounding the turn and made steady progress down the stretch, passing the tiring frontrunners and taking command around the sixteenth pole to win by one length. 

Big Engine’s latest win was his ninth in 25 lifetime starts, amassing $397,565 in earnings over five seasons of racing with ten other in-the-money finishes.

“He’s a nice, solid horse – he’s been like a piggybank for everyone who has had him. He’s made money for everyone,” Rodriguez said. “He came back good and hopefully he’ll continue improving.”

Rodriguez said a step back up to stakes company makes sense for Big Engine, who already has three stakes placings on his resume. 

“I will talk to the owners and see about it. I know they really want to try,” said Rodriguez. “I don’t want to say no; the horse looked like he improved big time. The next logical spot would be to run him with New York-breds in a stake. We’ll see what comes up.” 

Big Engine is the sixth foal from the multiple stakes winning Lord Avie mare Lady Bi Bi, who won the 2003 Ticonderoga Handicap and 2005 Mount Vernon at Belmont Park. 

Big Package works toward return

Five-time winner Big Package resumed serious business on Thursday morning with an easy three-eighths breeze in 38.68 seconds over the Belmont training track. 

Owned by trainer David Donk in partnership with Sean Carney, the New York-bred son of Big Brown found the winner’s circle three times last season, including twice against open company. 

Last seen in November finishing sixth in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, Big Package earned a victory as the lukewarm favorite in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance win over the Mellon turf in August at Saratoga. He stretched out to seven furlongs to win at 11-1 odds over the Belmont Widener turf in November. 

“He had his first work back the other day, it was just an easy three-eighths,” Donk said. “He looked good and we’ll be looking for a grass race in April.”

Mendham Racing Stable’s Geno was humanely euthanized Saturday after incurring an injury while galloping on the dirt training track at Belmont Park.

The 3-year-old New York-bred son of Big Brown captured the NYSSS Great White Way in December at Aqueduct. He finished third last out in the Gander on February 12 at Aqueduct.

“We’re devastated for the horse, the owner and everyone in the barn. Every time you lose a horse it’s devastating, but he was a very special horse,” Donk said. 

Geno launched his career on turf at Belmont, winning on debut in September ahead of a close second in the Awad in November. Bred in New York by Pete Martine, Geno banked $349,250 through a career ledger of 5-2-1-1.

***

Aqueduct Racetrack Week 12 stakes probables

Saturday, March 5

$300K Grade 3 Gotham [50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifier]

Probable: Dean’s List (Todd Pletcher), Eagle in Love (Rob Atras), Fromanothamutha (Ray Handal), Glider (Mark Casse), Golden Code (Todd Pletcher), Morello (Steve Asmussen), Noneedtoworry (Herold Whylie), Rockefeller (Bob Baffert) 

Possible: Bold Journey (Bill Mott), High Oak (Bill Mott), Life Is Great (Robert Klesaris)

$250K Busher Invitational [50-20-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifier]

Probable: Champagne Poetry (Chad Summers), Magic Circle (Rudy Rodriguez), Radio Days (Shug McGaughey), Shotgun Hottie (William Morey), Sterling Silver (Tom Albertrani), Venti Valentine (Jorge Abreu)

Possible: Diamond Collector (Carlos Martin), Nostalgic (Bill Mott) 

$125K Heavenly Prize Invitational

Probable: Battle Bling (Rob Atras), Finding Fame (Michael Trombetta) Search Results (Chad Brown) Truth Hurts (Chad Summers)

Possible: Miss Leslie (Claudio Gonzalez), Obligatory (Bill Mott), 

$200K Grade 3 Tom Fool

Probable: Chateau (Rob Atras), Prime Factor (Cherie DeVaux), Repo Rocks (Juan C. Vazquez), Timeless Bounty (David Wilson, Jr.) 

Possible: Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), Officiating (Saffie Joseph, Jr.)

Sunday, March 6 

$100K Biogio’s Rose (NYB)

Probable: Bank Sting (John Terranova), Love and Love (Michael Miceli), Maiden Beauty (Robert Falcone, Jr.), Sharp Starr (Horacio De Paz)