Coglianese / NYRA Photo Photo

It's all about "horse racing and cooking" for Eddie F's Racing

by Keith McCalmont

Ed and Lisa Fazzone, proprietors of Eddie F's Eatery in Saratoga Springs, New York, are serving up a lot of early success with their Eddie F's Racing partnership.

The third-generation restaurateurs won the Gander on February 16 with Chowda, who will look to double-up that success in Sunday's $100,000 Damon Runyon for New York-bred sophomores at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"Chowda is a very popular horse here in Saratoga," said the 56-year-old Ed Fazzone, who noted it was their customers who picked out the unique name for the New York-bred son of Emcee. "I put a poll up on our Facebook page with a few names and the customers voted on it. Everyone in the restaurant asks about him. They're really enjoying the ride so far."

The couple share duties at their popular eatery with Lisa working front of house and Ed cooking up clams, scallops, lobster rolls, fish and chips, and of course New England and Manhattan chowder.

"Horse racing and cooking - that's my thing," said Ed. "I never went to school for it. I've been in the restaurant business for a long time. I learned a lot watching my father and grandmother and really have a passion for it."

It was also through family that Ed developed his passion for horse racing.

"I've been going to the racetrack with my family since I was a little kid. At 3-years-old, I was running around the trees in the backyard at Saratoga. I was the kid getting jockey goggles and autographs," laughed Ed.

The Fazzones first ventured into horse ownership in the early 1990s with trainer Gary Sciacca, a longtime friend of the family. But the Fazzones moved to Florida to open up a restaurant where they spent 15 years away from the horse racing paradise of Saratoga.

"I hated being away from Saratoga," said Ed. "I'd pick my spots to come back and visit, but it's really good to be home again."

They opened Eddie F's Eatery on their return in 2016 and launched Eddie F's Racing partnership with the claims of New York-bred Wicked Macho and Kentucky-bred Jasminesque in August 2018.

"We claimed Wicked Macho with Gary and he ended up winning two races for us, and then we bought Chowda," said Ed. "Gary told me Woodberry Payne had a horse in Virginia we might be interested in. We purchased him in March of last year as a 2-year-old and got him going."

The Eddie F's Racing's partnership includes Fazzone's brother-in-law Don Wilock, Ross Lackey and retired schoolteacher William Stanley.

"I met William at my restaurant. His lifelong dream was to own a racehorse," said Ed. "We got him in the partnership and he couldn't be more thrilled. He was a teacher here in Saratoga."

Chowda, who proudly sported a lobster-emblazoned cooler following his Gander coup, is certainly the stable star. The dark bay colt, bred by Fedwell Farm, graduated at third asking in November at the Big A, and captured a first-level state-bred allowance on January 17 before winning the Gander.

"We're so proud of Chowda," said Ed. "We never expected to be in stakes races - it's something you only dream of. This partnership has only been together a year and a half or so, but we've won five races. Even Jasminesque, who is 0-for-18 in her career, has been fun. She runs second or third every time.."

While the partnership is having a great time in racing, there's a bigger sense of purpose growing with the community rallying around the Fazzones following the death of their son, Edward Fazzone III, at the age of 33 in July under tragic circumstances.

"He had a drug overdose of Fentanyl. It's something that's happened to a lot of kids across America," said Fazzone.

Shortly after his son's death, the Fazzones lost another member of their restaurant family when one of their workers succumbed to an addiction issue.

In 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 28,000 deaths involving synthetic opioids (other than methadone), including drugs such as Tramadol and Fentanyl, occurred in the United States, which is more deaths than from any other type of opioid. In that same year, the largest increase in synthetic opioid overdose death rates was in males aged 25-44.

The Fazzones, by way of their restaurant and racing partnership, have plans to not only honor the memory of their late son, but also to give back to others in the Saratoga community who may be struggling.

"We have another 2-year-old that we've named R Boy Little Eddie," said Ed. "And on July 14, we're doing a fundraiser in support of addiction recovery at our restaurant in our son's honor."

The fundraiser will provide awareness for Healing Springs Recovery Community and Outreach Center, a Saratoga Springs-based community center with peer-driven, peer-delivered services, offering hope to those in recovery from addiction.

"I've met with Healing Springs and they do good work with kids and adults struggling with addiction," said Ed. "We'll try to help with that. We've had great feedback so far."

The New York-bred R Boy Little Eddie, who Fazzone hopes will continue to raise awareness in his son's honor, is currently on a farm in Virginia learning the ropes with Chowda's full brother - the aptly named, Lobsta - with both juveniles expected to hit the track later this summer.

Racing, good food and a strong sense of community have brought hope and a smile to the faces of all involved in Eddie F's Racing. Win or lose in the Damon Runyon, Chowda will have the full support of a growing fan base.

"I'm so happy we're having success in the racing. We're hoping Chowda runs his race on Sunday," said Ed.

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For more information about Healing Springs Recovery Community and Outreach Center, please visit http://www.sararecovery.org/healing-springs/