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New York connections shine on Future Stars Friday

by Keith McCalmont

Horses exiting New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) stakes races took center stage on Future Stars Friday by winning 3-of-5 races at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.

New York-based rider Luis Saez captured the featured Grade 1 Juvenile with a rallying score aboard the Brad Cox-trained Godolphin homebred Essential Quality to close out Friday’s stakes-laden card.

Ranlo Investments' Golden Pal, with New York-based Irad Ortiz, Jr. up for trainer Wesley Ward, exited a frontrunning score in the Skidmore on August 21 at Saratoga to kick off Friday’s Breeders’ Cup proceedings with a win in the Grade 2 Juvenile Turf Sprint. The victory marked the tenth Breeders’ Cup score for Ortiz, Jr. 

“He’s a really nice horse,” said Ortiz, Jr. “He did the hard job. I just sat on him waiting for the time to go. He ran great. He really has a lot of potential.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr. guided Fire At Will, last-out winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont, to a 30-1 upset score in the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf for trainer Mike Maker. The Declaration of War colt graduated in style this summer at Saratoga in an off-the-turf edition of the With Anticipation. It was the first Breeders’ Cup win for owners Three Diamonds Farm, who finished third in the owner standings at Saratoga.

“I tell you we have been high on him since day one and with each race he’s got better,” said Maker. “It’s very satisfying to get Three Diamonds Farm their very first Breeders’ Cup win.”

Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swilcan Stable's Vequist broke her maiden by 9 1/2-lengths at second asking in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga. Trained by Butch Reid, the Nyquist filly was bested last out in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont by Dayoutoftheoffice, but turned the tables on that rival Friday to capture the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies by two lengths under a rail-skimming ride by New York-based Joel Rosario. The victory marked the 12th Breeders’ Cup win for Rosario.

“I tried to save ground,” said Rosario. “It was hard for her in the turn because I had a horse outside me. But she did great. I never gave up my position. As soon as I asked her she went on with it. It was a very good performance.”

The undefeated Aunt Pearl, trained by Cox for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael E. Kisber, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables, maintained a perfect record through three starts with a commanding score under jockey Florent Geroux in the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf in the penultimate race on the card.

The action will continue Saturday at Keeneland with nine Breeders' Cup races, including the Grade 1, $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic featuring New York-bred Tiz the Law.

Live racing resumes Saturday at the Big A with a 10-race card featuring a special first post time of 10:30 a.m. Eastern. The first graded stakes of the fall meet is slated for Race 3 with the Grade 3, $100,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track, while the $100,000 Stewart Manor for juvenile fillies going six furlongs on the outer turf is carded as Race 8.

Racing fans can watch and wager on all the action with NYRA Bets, the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the 18-day fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.