Walter Wlodarczyk Photo

Sisters Katie and Jackie Davis to compete in Camarero’s “Jockette Challenge”

by NYRA Press Office

• Sisters Katie and Jackie Davis to compete in Camarero’s “Jockette Challenge”
• Donk speaks on the modernization of Belmont Park; Thin White Duke, Yes and Yes on the work tab
• Funny How returns to work tab for G3 Distaff; Promiseher America targets G3 Gazelle
• Aqueduct Racetrack Week 12 stakes probables

Jockeys Katie and Jackie Davis, both regular riders on the NYRA circuit, will head to Puerto Rico on Sunday to compete in Camarero Race Track’s 2nd annual Jockette Challenge, a multi-race competition for female jockeys on the eight-race card.

The Jockette Challenge, which was first contested in March 2020, returns after being canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 17 women have been invited to participate in the four all-female races that make up the competition. The top-five finishers will receive points on a 15-10-7-4-2 scale with the winner determined by the jockey who has scored the most points. A trophy will be presented to the winner at the conclusion of the card.

“I’m all for women riding races and pushing to keep striving forward,” said Katie Davis, whose five North American victories this year include a stakes triumph aboard Funny How in the Broadway at Aqueduct. “A lot of females in the sport are up against each other because we’re all competing, but if we can stick together, we can move further along.”

Jackie Davis has also won five races this year, led by a strong allowance optional claiming victory on January 5 aboard Easy to Bless, who she rides again in Saturday’s $100,000 Correction at the Big A.

Jackie said she is looking forward to competing against both the seasoned veterans and the next generation of female riders.

“I get really excited about going to new places and environments and seeing how they ride there,” Jackie said. “It’s very empowering to ride with all women and with some of the bug girls coming out of the school.”

The challenge was co-founded by retired jockey Wilfredo “Willie” Lozano, Jr., who is now an instructor at the Escuela Vocacional Hipica Agustin Mercado Reveron Jockey School at Camarero, located in Canóvanas.

Lozano, Jr. won 967 races in his career and met Jackie when they were riding together at Suffolk Downs. He invited her and Katie to compete and represent the mainland’s talented pool of female jockeys, a group who continue to inspire the growing number of young women enrolling in Camarero’s jockey school.

“I invited them because they’re doing really good and we wanted to invite women from the States, too,” said Lozano, Jr. “We didn’t have the challenge in 2021 and 2022, but we’re going to do it this year and next year and try to keep it going. We have eight women in the school with two graduating this year and six next year. The colony of women is growing, and every year more come to the school. They’ve been watching more and more women involved in the sport and they’ve become interested in it.”

Jackie said she feels privileged to meet and help teach students in the school.

“Willie told me a lot of these girls follow me on Instagram and look up to us,” said Jackie. “Katie and I are engaged in our own careers and sometimes we don’t realize how well we’ve done, so being able to take a step back and be a role model is very exciting.”

Katie is slated to ride in Races 1 [No. 3, Knievel] and 7 [No. 7, Dulce Mariana] on Sunday with Jackie set to ride in Races 1 [No. 1, Ninetydaysofwinter], 4 [No. 1, Ofrenda] and 7 [No. 5, Vida Real]. Other mainland jockeys on the card include Carol Cedeno and Rebecca LaBarre.

“It’s all come together and I want to take advantage of the opportunity,” said Katie. “I’ve ridden with Carol Cedeno and I rode with Rebecca LaBarre in Maryland. I’ve never been to Puerto Rico, so I’m going to enjoy it.”

Jackie echoed her sister’s sentiments and said she looks forward to reuniting with some of their old friends.

“Katie and I feel like kids again riding lately. Carol and Rebecca are good friends of ours and I haven’t ridden with them in a long time,” said Jackie. “It’s going to be an amazing opportunity and a great way to promote women in racing.”

***

Donk speaks on the modernization of Belmont Park; Thin White Duke, Yes and Yes on the work tab

Trainer David Donk, a New York native, who also serves on the board of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, will attend a rally at the State Capitol in Albany on Monday in support of NYRA’s plan to re-imagine and modernize Belmont Park.

Earlier this year, Gov. Hochul proposed loaning NYRA $455 million to build a new grandstand and additional facilities to develop a world-class venue at Belmont. As budget negotiations continue, racing stakeholders will be joined by members of organized labor and the business community to encourage the legislature to advance this transformational project.

During construction, the project will create $1 billion in economic impact and sustain 3,700 temporary jobs. All construction work will be done using union labor paying a prevailing wage. Following completion, a new Belmont Park will generate $155 million in annual economic impact and support 740 permanent full-time jobs and $51 million in annual labor income. The $455 million loan will be paid back in full, with interest.

Donk spoke in support of the continued development of the Belmont property located adjacent to the 18,000-seat UBS Arena, the home of the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders, which opened in November 2021.

“I'll be there to support the initiative of Dave O'Rourke and his team. The whole project - and it's not just the building - has been done with the mindset of what is best for the next 50 years,” Donk said. “The building is old and obsolete and this project will be the final phase of the whole development project. It will go hand-in-hand with the new train stop and the UBS Arena. They did a tremendous job with the arena and a lot of the facade looks like Belmont Park.

“So, this is part of completing that process,” Donk continued. “At the end of the day, racing is here for the long term. This is a political position where they're just trying to borrow the money and we're not asking the tax payers to pay for it. Hopefully, it goes through. I think it's a great business move to own two facilities versus three. You're going to have Belmont and Saratoga and for myself personally, as a New Yorker, there's no two better places to be.”

Along with a new grandstand, ongoing development of the Belmont property includes a Tapeta pony track which opened in December and scheduled renovation of both turf courses and the main track, all overseen by Glen Kozak, NYRA’s Senior Vice President, Operations and Capital Projects.

In addition to developing a world-class facility capable of hosting year-round racing and mega events like the Breeders’ Cup, NYRA will continue to devote the resources, time, and attention necessary to support the backstretch community at Belmont Park. This means the construction of more new backstretch housing in the coming years than at any point in NYRA history along with unprecedented overall investments in backstretch facilities.

“At the end of the day, they could rename the place after Glen for all the work he's put in to these facilities. He's an amazing person and communicator,” Donk said. “Those projects are in motion. We just need the ability to have the final plan of what to do with the building and go from there.”

For more info on the modernization of Belmont Park, visit https://www.nyhorseracing.com/.

Donk’s most recent stakes winner, Thin White Duke, who captured the Lucky Coin in September at Saratoga, was on the Belmont dirt training track work tab Thursday along with fellow turf sprinter Yes and Yes. The graded-stakes placed siblings were last seen on November 25 competing in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, finishing third and 10th respectively.

The duo wintered upstate at Mill Creek Farm and will target a turf allowance sprint here as a stepping stone to the seven-furlong $150,000 Elusive Quality on May 6 at Belmont.

“They came back in great shape. Yesterday was the second breeze back for both of them,” Donk said. “They're doing well and I'm happy with the way they're training. They breezed well and galloped out well and both are targeted for a run on the turf when we get back on the grass at Aqueduct.”

Phil Gleaves, Joseph Straus, Jr. and Hugh Fitzsimons’ graded-stakes placed Kentucky-bred Yes and Yes covered three-eighths solo in 36.49, while Gleaves, Steven Crist, Ken deRegt and Bryan Hilliard’s New York-bred Thin White Duke went the same distance in 36.67 in company.

Thin White Duke, bred and previously conditioned by the retired Gleaves, posted a record of 11-3-1-2 last year for Donk, including a close third in the Grade 3 Troy in August at the Spa when a neck back of the victorious Golden Pal, a dual Breeders’ Cup winner, and runner-up True Valour, a multiple graded-stakes winner, in a dramatic photo finish.

“I'm looking forward to getting Thin White Duke back to the races,” Donk said. “He got quite good last summer and fall and I'll be curious to see if he can contend to be one of the better turf sprinters in New York. It looks like there's a lot of upside with him.”

Yes and Yes, also bred and previously trained by Gleaves, went 8-3-1-1 last year led by a trio of scores against winners over turf at the Belmont spring meet, along with a troubled third in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint in October at Belmont at the Big A.

“Yes and Yes really has an affinity for the course at Belmont,” Donk said. “That meet is obviously going to be shorter with us racing in the summer there and not in the fall. We'll take advantage of as much grass as we can at Belmont with him.”

Robert Spiegel’s determined maiden winner Register, who garnered a 93 Beyer in his third-out graduation, worked a half-mile in 49.66 Friday over the Belmont dirt training track in preparation for the 1 1/16 mile Private Terms, a two-turn test on March 18 at Laurel Park. He was piloted in the breeze by his regular exercise rider and will be ridden at Laurel by Jorge Vargas, Jr.

Donk said he was interested in trying the Super Saver ridgling around two turns following his maiden score in a one-turn mile on February 18 here.

“He breezed a half last week and breezed back well today,” said Donk. “I like the timing of the race. I'm not sure down the road how far he wants to go, but it's within his realm. I've always felt he's a horse that could stretch out a bit. The timing is four weeks and I'm not on the Derby trail, so I'm not chasing Derby points. This will be a little better company without being in too deep of waters. I think he's a nice colt, it's just a matter of how nice he's going to be.”

In his maiden score, Register dueled gamely for the lead with Asmodeus through splits of 23.50 seconds and 47.01 over the fast main track. The duo battled the length of the lane with the Katie Davis-piloted Register putting his nose on the wire first to secure the win in a final time of 1:36.69. It was a further 10 1/4-lengths back to the third-place finisher Ride Up, who is entered in a maiden tilt here Saturday.

“I thought it was a really big effort for him,” Donk said. “Katie gave him a phenomenal ride. She made a great decision early to let him be engaged and not get sucked back in. She kept her position. At the same time, the horse that finished second ran a heck of a race also. He got a very nice speed figure and that validated the effort and what it looked like visually. He's definitely moving forward. It's been a nice progression. I'm trying to develop him and hopefully he'll be a pretty nice horse for the summer. He'll tell us.”

While Register is not on the Derby trail, Donk said he wouldn’t mind having a contender for the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 at Saratoga

"If he can go a mile and a quarter, he can go a mile and a quarter in the Travers," Donk said. "He's a big, strong colt. The way he trains, he acts like he would go long. I never looked at him like a sprinter. It's always a question of how far that is - is he better a one-turn mile or will he better two turns. He's a really kind, smart horse and I'm looking forward to the next step with him."

Register has kept good company through three starts at the Big A – both with Vargas, Jr. up - finishing second to Uncorrelated in his January 6 debut sprinting six furlongs before again completing the exacta on January 28 in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint won by Mr. Swagger. Both Mr. Swagger [6th] and Uncorrelated [12th] returned to compete in Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham, a Kentucky Derby qualifier won by Raise Cain.

The $170,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale is out of the Elusive Quality mare Champagne Sue, who is a half-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Sapphire n’ Silk and graded-stakes winner Golden Itiz. Register’s 4-year-old half-brother High Oak, by Gormley, captured the 2021 Grade 2 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite at the Spa.

***

Funny How returns to work tab for G3 Distaff; Promiseher America targets G3 Gazelle

Red-hot New York-bred Funny How, a winner of her last five starts, returned to the work tab on Friday, registering a sharp half-mile breeze in 48.05 seconds over a fast Belmont Park dirt training track.

With Katie Davis aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Overanalyze worked to the inside of stable mate Fromanothamutha in her first breeze since a triumphant stakes debut in the February 12 Broadway at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Despite a slow break, Funny How handled her stakes debut with vigor, making a five wide bid in upper stretch to collar pacesetter November Rein and stride away to a 4 1/4-length conquest. The win garnered a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Funny How is targeting the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs on April 7 at the Big A.

Trainer Ray Handal said he was pleased with the swift work.

“They did it really nicely. They galloped out strong and I told them on the radio to slow it down, but they kept on going,” Handal said. “It was a good first work back and hopefully we get a few more. We have three more works to go. It was a little quicker than I wanted, but she’s fresh off the race. The first eighth was nice and they went a little quick that second eighth of a mile and I told them on the radio to stay together. She did it nicely in hand and they galloped out well together.”

Handal added he would likely work Funny How solo next week.

“I’ll probably split her up next week. I won’t put her in company and hopefully do something a little closer to a 50,” Handal said. “I gave her an extra week. She’s been going at it since she’s been in training. I would have breezed her normally last week with three weeks’ rest. I gave her four weeks this time. I didn’t feel we needed a fifth one. I think that might have been why she was a little more fresh.”

Funny How has been on a tear since breaking her maiden going six furlongs against open company in September at Belmont at the Big A, defeating next-out winners Arrogant Lady and Kitten’s Appeal. She defeated fellow New York-breds in her following two efforts before stretching out to seven furlongs against open allowance company on January 7 ahead of her stakes coup.

Handal said Funny How is easily adaptable in race situations.

“She can show speed if you want and come off if she needs to. She listens to whatever you need,” Handal said.

A half-sister to graded-stakes placed New York-bred Funny Guy, Funny How is out of the multiple stakes-winning Distorted Humor mare Heavenly Humor. She was purchased for $120,000 by Joe Migliore from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale.

Handal also has third-out maiden winner Promiseher America in contention for the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle on April 8 at the Big A. The nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies is the final local qualifier for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and awards the top-five finishers 100-40-30-20-10 points.

The chestnut daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah was a 6 1/4-length winner at third asking in a local one-turn mile maiden on February 19, where she ran a 73 Beyer.

“I think she’s going to do really well going longer,” said Handal. “These American Pharoah progeny seem to excel going route distances. She has gotten better the more I stretch her out. I think she’ll keep on getting better.”

Owned by Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom McCrocklin, Promiseher America was a $75,000 acquisition from the 2022 OBS April Sale and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Promisedyouheaven. Her third dam, Deceptive, produced Mizdirection, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in 2012-13.

Handal also provided an update on stakes-winner Sweetlou’sgotaces, who has gone unplaced in both of her starts this year at graded stakes level over the Gulfstream Park turf. The sophomore Constitution filly broke her maiden in Aqueduct’s Tepin in November under a gate-to-wire ride by Joel Rosario and has now returned to Handal’s primary New York division.

“We’ll maybe go for a ‘1x’ and get her confidence back,” Handal said. “I don’t know what it was. She wasn’t happy though. She was not her typical self. The first race you can make an excuse for because she got pressed. She just was not herself down there overall. So, we got her back home and we’ll give her a routine and go from there.” 

Sweetlou’sgotaces, owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Twin Sports Racing, is out of the Lonhro mare Kayce Lu, whose dam Kayce Ace is a full sister to 2008 Grade 1 Travers winner Colonel John as well as Mr. Hot Stuff – a multiple Grade 1 winner over the hurdles. She was bought for $60,000 from the 2022 OBS April Sale.

***

Aqueduct Racetrack Week 12 stakes probables

Saturday, March 18

$100K Cicada

Probable: Downtown Mischief (Linda Rice), Fancy Azteca (Rice), Hot Little Thing (Rodolphe Brisset)

Possible: Fabulously Funny (Anthony Dutrow), Parody (Brisset), Tappin Josie (Horacio De Paz)

Sunday, March 19

$100K Damon Runyon (NYB)

Probable: Andiamo a Firenze (Kelly Breen), Bobby Ride (Karl Grusmark), D’ont Lose Cruz (David Duggan), East Coast Girl (Breen), What’s Up Bro (Robert Klesaris)

Possible: Looms Boldly (Brad Cox)