Then under consideration for G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

• Then under consideration for G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
• Luna Louska registers career-best 97 BSF for Floral Park score
• Crazy Mason works at Belmont in prep for G3 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule
• Ryerson enters two for Friday’s $150K Joseph A. Gimma

Lindy Farms and Greathorse Racing’s Then has closed to win his last two starts and is under consideration to step up in class for the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a 12-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds and up, on September 27 at Belmont at the Big A.

The Joe Hirsch is one of five graded stakes slated for the Saturday, September 27 card, which is supported by the Grade 2, $300,000 Woodward at nine furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up that awards a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar. Also featured are the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom at 6 1/2-furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up. 

Trained by Philip Antonacci, Then was as many as 22 lengths back of a runaway Be of Courage in a nine-furlong allowance on July 20 at Saratoga Race Course before rallying to defeat that rival by 2 1/4 lengths. The performance earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure which Then improved to a career-best 95 when capturing a 1 3/16-mile optional claimer last out on August 23 at the Spa.

“I think all options are open right now, but we have to decide between a mile or a mile and a half this time of year. We are probably leaning toward the mile and a half route,” Antonacci said. “We will nominate to the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the [Grade 2] Sycamore at Keeneland, but wherever we think he has the best shot of stretching out without being in over his head.”

The 4-year-old Not This Time bay was a $150,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age sale. He is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning millionaire Du Jour out of the Bernardini mare Guiltless. His third dam, the reine-de-course broodmare Baby Zip, produced Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, Grade 1-winner City Zip and Grade 3-winner City Wolf.

“He’s got such a great mind on him, too, it gives me encouragement that he can stretch out because he can sit off the pace and relax,” said Antonacci. “He has really learned to listen to his rider’s cues and go when he is told. I think that is extremely important going a mile and a half, because you can’t waste any energy.

“I think all of these things could lead to some success at that longer distance,” Antonacci added.

Then boasts a 7-3-0-3 record with $183,180 in earnings. His longest start to date was his last race at 1 3/16 miles.

Antonacci was pleased with the debut from Lindy Farm’s Irish-homebred No Pressure on Saturday at Belmont at the Big A. The No Nay Never bay was a neck second to Expressway sprinting six furlongs on the outer turf after hitting the gate at the break, steadying near the quarter-pole and closing fast to land place honors. The performance earned a 69 Beyer.

“This time of year, 2-year-olds can take huge steps forward,” Antonacci said. “I think that race was extremely impressive and professional. He just missed at the wire. I think we are going to take that race like we won, and if you win this time of year, you’ve got to step up to stakes.”

On October 3, Belmont at the Big A hosts the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Pilgrim and the six-furlong Grade 3 Futurity. The races offer “Win and You’re In” berths to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and Juvenile Turf Sprint, respectively.

“We will nominate to both the Pilgrim and Futurity and see where to go,”
Antonacci said. “You have to dream with horses who debut like that. It may be a big ask, but we will take him one step at a time and until he disappoints, just keep on dreaming.”

No Pressure is out of the First Defence mare Compression, and his second dam is multiple Group 1-winner Special Duty, the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in Europe in 2009.

***
Luna Louska registers career-best 97 BSF for Floral Park score

JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock and High Step Racing’s Luna Louska sped gate-to-wire to capture Saturday’s $150,000 Floral Park, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Gustavo Delgado trainee was hustled to the lead from the inside post by Kendrick Carmouche, who piloted four winners on the card, and zipped through splits of 21.44 seconds and 43.55 over the firm turf. Luna Louska opened up a 2 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call and stayed on strong to the wire to score by 1 3/4-lengths over the slow-starting Love Appeals in a final time of 1:08.13. The winning effort earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

The sophomore Complexity bay is now 4-for-4 since shifting from dirt to synthetic or turf, having entered from a trio of frontrunning five-furlong sprint scores when graduating at third asking over the Gulfstream Tapeta in May and following with turf scores in a Gulfstream optional-claimer in June and 2 3/4-length win in the Clarksville Handicap in July at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Ramiro Restrepo [Marquee Bloodstock], who selected Luna Louska for $140,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, said he was pleased to see the talented bay step up in distance after a series of strong works over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course under the watchful eye of assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr.

“It was a stiff race, and we had confidence in our horse, but you need to see them do it on the track, especially stepping up in class and distance. Luckily, Gustavo and Junior had her ready and Kendrick rode a great race,” said Restrepo, who enjoyed notable previous success with the Delgados with 2023 Kentucky Derby-winner Mage.

Restrepo said there was lots to like about Luna Louska at first inspection being from a family he remembered well as both a fan and a bloodstock agent.

Luna Louska is out of the Grade 1-placed Latent Heat mare Jamaican Smoke. Her third dam Rose Ransom – a half-sister to dual Grade 1-winner Stop Traffic – produced Shekky Shebaz, who captured the Spa’s 2019 Lucky Coin en route to a third-place finish in that year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

“Mage stands at Airdrie Stud where Complexity stands as well. Complexity was a really fast racehorse in his own right, and I can remember several Complexity performances that stand out, even in defeat,” Restrepo said of the 2018 Grade 1 Champagne victor.

Luna Louska’s dam, Jamaican Smoke, was campaigned by the Glencrest Farm of the late David Greathouse and utilized her early speed to earn graded placings when second in the 2012 Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park and third in the following year’s Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.

“The dam, she was a real runner, she was super-fast and multiple graded stakes-placed. She belonged to David Greathouse, a very respected horseman and it was the last filly he owned with Eddie Kenneally,” recalled Restrepo. “I remembered her as a runner, and I knew how talented she was.

“She [Luna Louska] looked quick and was bred at Ashview Farm, who bred Mo Donegal, Nest and Runhappy - good land and a good program from the mating on down,” Restrepo added. “When I saw her, she looked like a really fast filly. When shopping for freshman sires, you have to project and hope that their babies can run like they did. I saw speed on speed and her build, and we were able to get her for $140,000. I'm happy to own a percentage of her to stick along for the ride.”

Luna Louska, who has banked $194,330 via a 6-4-0-0 record, had to scratch from the Spa’s Listed Galway in August at Saratoga Race Course due to a superficial scrape on her hip, but Restrepo said Saturday’s performance was well worth the wait – especially with a large group of owners on hand to enjoy the experience.

“I'm so happy they came in,” Restrepo said. “Your clients back you at the sales and this is why they fly up with their families and make time from their careers to enjoy moments like this.

“Sometimes, the whole plan comes together,” Restrepo added. “The good thing is that every time we’ve stepped her up the ladder, she’s been there for us.”

***
Crazy Mason works at Belmont in prep for G3 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule

Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s graded stakes-winner Crazy Mason worked on Saturday at Belmont Park in preparation for the Grade 3, $200,000 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule on September 27 at Belmont at the Big A, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint on November 1 at Del Mar.

Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 4-year-old Coal Front colt covered a half-mile in 49.63 seconds over the Belmont dirt training track, his first move since a deep-closing third in the Grade 1 Forego on August 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

Sacco said he was pleased with the work, and that the grey is slated to work again on Saturday at Belmont in his final prep for the Vosburgh.

“He breezed really good and came out of the work well,” Sacco said. “He’ll work again next Saturday and if all goes well, we’ll point him to the Vosburgh."

Crazy Mason showed bravery in the Forego when rallying from last-of-10 under Manny Franco and was forced to angle nine-wide in the final turn to make his bid. He picked off rivals and landed 1 3/4 lengths back of multiple Grade 1-winner Book’em Danno.

“Book’em Danno is at the top of our division, and he [Crazy Mason] closed while having to go nine-wide. It was another very good effort, and the main thing is he came out of that race great,” Sacco said. “He’s been a model of consistency for us all year and we’re super proud of him. This is back on his favorite track, and he’s really run some great races at Aqueduct, so we’re happy to get back there with him.”

Aqueduct was the site of Crazy Mason’s most significant win in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets in April, which came with another deep-closing performance to rally from last-of-7 and edge Quint’s Brew by a neck in a final time of 1:21.95. He also notched two allowance-level victories in January and February, the latter effort coming with a visually-impressive turn of foot after being bumped soundly at the start and dropping back to 12 lengths behind in last before inhaling his foes late and winning by 2 1/2 lengths.

“Everything’s been on cue with him all year,” Sacco said. “We considered this race, but not unless everything has gone perfect. His appetite is great, his coat is shiny, and everything is good. He hasn’t taken a step back, so we’re looking forward to the Vosburgh.”

Along with Crazy Mason, Sacco’s upcoming stakes contenders at Belmont at the Big A could include debut-winner Patty’s Girl, who captured a 5 1/2-furlong maiden sprint on August 30 at Monmouth Park.

Campaigned by Martin Weis, the Silver State bay was pressured by Meemasemptypockets through an opening quarter-mile in 22.75 seconds before Legal Lightning inched closer to be the main danger through the half-mile in 46.66. Patty’s Girl responded to urging from Samy Camacho and put one length between her and her rival at the stretch call before driving home to a 3 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:05.75. She was awarded a 53 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Sacco said Patty’s Girl will be nominated to the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette on October 4 at Belmont at the Big A, a “Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen” race that offers the first, second, and third-place finishers a tiered bonus bankroll which can be utilized towards pre-entry and entry fees at the World Championships.

“My son Will picked her out in Ocala and she won impressively first out at Monmouth. We ran her there because the race for her at Saratoga was seven-eighths and we didn’t want to run her seven-eighths first time out,” Sacco explained. “She’ll be nominated to the Frizette. It’s a big jump from breaking your maiden to a Grade 1, but most of these horses haven’t run that many times. She’ll also work on Saturday. She’s a very nice, talented filly.”

A $25,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Patty’s Girl is out of the winning Curlin mare Curluck, a full-sister to dual graded stakes-placed Lucky Curlin. 

***
Ryerson enters two for Friday’s Joseph A. Gimma

Trainer Jim Ryerson has entered a pair of contenders for owner DiRico Racing and Breeding in Sweet Montreal and Saint Margaret for Friday’s $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

While the conditioner said he’s not certain that the maiden Saint Margaret will run, he noted that both fillies – who were purchased at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training – are in good order following summer debuts sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Sweet Montreal [post 5, Christopher Elliott] was hammered down for $120,000 after working in 10 seconds flat at the sale and provided a memorable 42-1 upset with a half-length score over Atenea, who is entered in Race 2 here Sunday.

“She's got to step up. She has to improve but we think that she can and we're happy with her. We're looking forward to leading her over there,” Ryerson said.

Sweet Montreal, an Instagrand grey bred by Torie D. Gladwell, is a half-sister to dual stakes-placed Sohana. She is out of the Rockport Harbor mare Passeporta – a half-sister to Nike Ahead, who banked more than $1.4 million [64-7-10-1] in Japan.

Saint Margaret [post 6, Javier Castellano], by Honest Mischief, worked in a rapid 9.4 at the sale and was bought for $425,000.

Saint Margaret, out of the winning Street Boss mare Sugar Boss, was bred by Sequel Stallions New York. Her second dam, Marwood, is a four-time stakes winner with a pair of graded placings going long on turf.

She exited post 9-of-10 on debut and closed willingly under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano to finish a two-length third to Gimma aspirant Arinata.

Ryerson said Saint Margaret made a strong impression at the sale.

“She just had a great stride and covered the ground well - a great disposition,” Ryerson said. “This filly has a turf foot. I don't know if she'll be turf only, but she has that look that she's turfy and she handled it real well that first time.

“Her first race, she was a little green, but she galloped out real well,” Ryerson added. “We're still pleased with her even though she got beat in the first one. She's a nice filly.”