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Wudda U Think Now registers 104BSF in Hollie Hughes score

by NYRA Press Office

• Wudda U Think Now registers 104BSF in Hollie Hughes score
• Waxman breezes for $125K Stymie; GoFundMe organized for family of Maria Isabel
• Glass Ceiling wins G3 Barbara Fritchie for in-form Charlton Baker barn
• Milton the Monster on point for $125K Stymie
• Green Light Go breezes for $125K Stymie
• Apprentice rider Jose Gomez enjoying a strong start at Big A winter meet

The Elkstone Group’s Wudda U Think Now bounded away to a 4 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Hollie Hughes at Aqueduct Racetrack, leading at every point of call in the six-furlong sprint for older state-breds to secure the first stakes win of his career. 

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the son of Fast Anna earned a second consecutive 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort, earning the same figure for a dominating 10 1/2-length romp in an optional claimer at the Big A on January 16. 

“He came back great and ate up good last night. He’s a very solid horse,” said Rodriguez, who celebrated a three-win day on Saturday. “He doesn’t miss anything. I was kind of surprised at how he ran. According to the numbers and times, he should have bounced; I had that in the back of my mind. But thank God he did it all the right way.” 

Though Wudda U Think Now has recently shown career-best form at sprint distances, Rodriguez said he would like to bring the 5-year-old back to a mile in his next start for the first time since a win in an optional claimer around one turn at Aqueduct last March. 

“I think even at a mile he’s competitive. He’s won at seven furlongs and a mile and is a useful horse,” Rodriguez said. “I’m not sure what race will be next. I’ll talk to the owner about it. We will see what’s coming up. Even if something open comes up, I would like to keep my options open and see where we’re at.”

The highlight of the 2021 season for Rodriguez was a Grade 1 triumph with Bella Sofia in the Longines Test at Saratoga Race Course, the seventh Grade 1 win of the 49-year-old’s training career. A daughter of Awesome Patriot, Bella Sofia also took down the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park before finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Del Mar to close out her sophomore campaign. 

“She’s on the farm right now and we’re expecting her back the first week of March,” said Rodriguez. “She’s doing very good and is in the warm weather in Ocala. She’s a big, strong filly and we’re looking forward to getting her back to the barn to get her going again. It’s too early to say where she’ll come back, but there’s plenty of action in New York. I’d like to keep her here for sure. If everything goes well, our plan is to bring her back to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Rodriguez enters Sunday’s card as the leading trainer at the Big A winter meet with 22 wins, eight ahead of Rob Atras. The Hollie Hughes was the second stakes win of the meet for Rodriguez, who won the Busanda with Magic Circle on January 23. 

Rodriguez said he is thankful for the success he has seen this winter and throughout the year on the NYRA circuit. 

“I give a lot of respect to these guys who have so many good horses. It’s unbelievable what they do. For me, I want to stay around 60 horses and that’s a lot,” Rodriguez said. “But this is what we look forward to; to be here in the winter and come out on top. There’s a lot of competition, but it’s why we’re here. I don’t even want to go to Florida; I just want to try and concentrate what we’re doing in one place. I know it’s a little cold, but we’re getting results and that’s the key. If you go to warm weather and don’t get results, it’s no use.”

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Waxman breezes for $125K Stymie; GoFundMe organized for family of Maria Isabel

Wertheimer and Frere homebred Waxman worked a half-mile in 49.99 seconds Saturday in preparation for this Saturday's $125,000 Stymie, a one-turn mile for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Waxman breezed in company with graded stakes placed Too Boss.

“He breezed well,” said Pletcher’s New York-based assistant Byron Hughes. “It was a somewhat deep and slow track, but it was a good, solid breeze to the wire with a good gallop out. He was showing good energy. I'm happy with the way he's training.”

The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Empire Maker, out of the Pulpit mare Glycine, boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 5-2-3-0. He will make his stakes debut out of a 1 3/4-length allowance score traveling nine furlongs on January 9 at the Big A that registered a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

Calumet Farm's Golden Code worked a half-mile in 51.23 over the Belmont dirt training track Saturday in his first breeze back since a dominant second-out maiden score on February 5 at the Big A.

“He breezed well. He got into a nice rhythm and had a nice gallop out,” Hughes said. “His weight is good and his energy level is good, so I'm happy with where he's at right now.”

The Honor Code bay, bred in the Empire State by Barry Ostrager, earned a 69 Beyer Speed Figure, drawing away to a 10 3/4-length win under Kendrick Carmouche in the seven-furlong state-bred maiden special weight.

Hughes said the second-out effort demonstrated a strong improvement over a distant second on debut sprinting six furlongs on December 18 at Aqueduct.

“I think him being more focused and having that experience under his belt helped,” Hughes said. “Kendrick said first time out he was still pretty green and I think his second start he really jumped up and improved tremendously.”

Golden Code will target the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores on March 5 at Aqueduct offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

“It's deeper water and everybody wants to make the Derby, so it will be a tough ask but he won nicely enough that we should consider taking a shot as long as he trains well up to it,” Hughes said.

Out of the stakes winning Banker's Gold mare Jb's Golden Regret, Golden Code was purchased for $95,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

Also under consideration for the Gotham is WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Dean's List. The Speightstown chestnut, out of the multiple stakes winning Sharp Humor mare Mildly Offensive, is undefeated in two starts traveling six furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He scored by 5 1/2-lengths in his December 11 debut and followed with a gate-to-wire neck score in an optional-claimer on January 8.

Dean's List breezed five-eighths in 1:01.79 Saturday over the Palm Beach Downs dirt.

The Pletcher barn is mourning the loss of hotwalker Maria Isabel, who was killed in an accident last week near Palm Beach Downs in Florida, leaving behind her boyfriend, Edin, and a 1-year-old daughter, Lupita.

A GoFundMe to benefit Lupita has been organized by the Pletcher team and donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/child-care-expenses-for-maria-isabels-baby.

***

Glass Ceiling wins G3 Barbara Fritchie for in-form Charlton Baker barn

Glass Ceiling, co-owned by trainer Charlton Baker with Michael S. Foster, dug in gamely to overtake a stubborn Jakarta and make the grade in Saturday's Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park. 

With regular pilot Dylan Davis up, Glass Ceiling was put into the race early and tracked the pacesetting Jakarta through swift splits before engaging in a thrilling stretch duel to win by a head. The 5-year-old Constitution bay garnered a 93 Beyer for her half-length score in the seven-furlong test.

"She was very game. I know she's a fighter and that she was going to dig in, so I was confident in her," Baker said.

Baker credited Davis, who boasts a record of 6-4-1-1 aboard Glass Ceiling, with a sharp ride.

“Dylan knows her so well and he's a smart rider,” Baker said. “He knew there was speed that was going to be loose and he put himself in the right spot to win the race. It was great to have him there. If there was a new rider on her, it might have been a different outcome."

Baker said he was pleased to see the mare garner graded black type.

"That was my main goal going into the race. We've been planning that race from three months ago,” Baker said.

Glass Ceiling has won four of her last five starts, dating to an allowance score in September at Belmont ahead of a game second in the seven-furlong Pumpkin Pie in October at the same track. Glass Ceiling followed with a win in the six-furlong Garland of Roses in December at the Big A before romping to a 5 1/4-length optional-claiming score on January 23 at Aqueduct.

Baker said Glass Ceiling is in good order and will now target the seven-furlong Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap on April 9 at the Big A.

“She might get a small break,” Baker said. “We'll evaluate her over the next couple days and go from there. Right now, if everything goes well, we might go to the Distaff.”

Baker, who oversees a stable of 25 horses, is enjoying a tremendous Big A winter meet, currently in fifth position in the trainer standings [10 wins] and tied for third in the owner standings [5 wins]. In February, Baker's charges have posted a record of 11-3-0-2 at the Big A.

“My horses have been running pretty good. It keeps my head above water,” Baker said, with a laugh.

Baker will look to double his weekend stakes tally on Monday at the Big A when he sends out Roddy Valente's homebred Stone Creator in the $100,000 Maddie May, a one-turn mile for state-bred sophomore fillies.

The Creative Cause grey enters from a five-length debut romp out of post 1 sprinting seven furlongs against fellow state-breds on January 16 at Aqueduct. 

Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount from the inside post.

“She's only had the one race and got a bad post again, but that's the hand you're dealt,” Baker said. “She's doing well and I think distance shouldn't be a problem for her.”

Forty Two Ace, claimed by Baker for $25,000 out of a state-bred maiden score over muddy going in January at the Big A, returned to notch a prominent 2 1/4-length score in an open allowance mile February 4 over a sloppy and sealed main track, garnering a career-best 86 Beyer.

The 4-year-old Goldencents colt breezed a half-mile in 49.49 seconds Thursday over the Belmont dirt training track and will return to action in Race 6 Thursday at the Big A, a one-turn mile state-bred allowance for older horses.

“His last two races were good, especially his last race off the claim, but both those races were on off tracks,” Baker said. “So, it will be interesting to see how he does on a dry track. He trains great no matter what but is he a slop specialist or is he real? There's supposed to be no rain on Thursday, so we'll get a good idea where he's at. He's doing good and I like the horse a lot.”

Baker said a good result Thursday could propel Forty Two Ace into stakes company.

“If he keeps progressing,” Baker said. “I’m not going to take him there - it's about where he's going to take me.”

***

Milton the Monster on point for $125K Stymie

Trainer John Servis said Milton the Monster, who garnered a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure last out in a 12 3/4-length romp at Parx, will make his stakes debut in next Saturday's $125,000 Stymie, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Owned by Robert Brittingham, James Wasserson and Louis A. Bisso, Jr., the 5-year-old Jack Milton chestnut drew off to an open-lengths romp last out under Frankie Pennington on January 17 in a seven-furlong optional-claiming sprint, besting a field of nine over a sloppy and sealed main track.

The Kentucky-bred Milton the Monster joined the Servis stable in September and has posted a record of 2-2-1 in five starts, including a 6 3/4-length score in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer in October over a sloppy and sealed Parx main track.

Milton the Monster was hampered by awkward starts in two of his non-winning efforts, including on November 8 at Parx when he broke outward from the outermost post 6 in a six-furlong optional-claiming sprint before closing to finish third.

“In a couple of the starts in between those wins he didn't break great,” Servis said. “In the one race, he had an outside post and broke to the right. Frankie had to grab him and subsequently it cost him quite a bit of momentum."

Servis said Pennington will retain the mount aboard Milton the Monster, who breezed a bullet five-eighths in 59.04 seconds Wednesday at Parx.

“Frankie worked him and was very happy with him. He's training very well,” Servis said.

SMD Limited's graded stakes winning Pennsylvania homebred Leader of the Band will make her seasonal debut in Race 11 on Wednesday at Parx, a one-mile allowance against fellow state-bred mares 4-years-old and up.

“She's doing great. It's a good starting spot for her to come back in,” Servis said.

By Bandbox and out of the Sir Cat mare Catsuit, the 4-year-old bay captured the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks in July, one start after a distant third in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. Leader of the Band closed to finish second in the Cathryn Sophia in August at Parx and completed her sophomore season with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Cotillion in September at the same track.

Leader of the Band wintered in Florida at Palm Meadows Training Center where she has breezed steadily, including a five-eighths effort in 1:01.05 on February 11.

“The way she's trained, she's acting like she's got better,” Servis said. “She's made a good transition from 3-year-old to 4-year-old, so hopefully she'll be able to compete with the older horses.”

Pennington will retain the mount Wednesday from post 7.

Main Line Racing Stable's multiple graded stakes placed Midnight Obsessionis also wintering at Palm Meadows Training Center. The 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Overanalyze won her first two career starts, including a March debut against fellow state-breds at Parx and an open optional-claimer in April at Belmont Park. 

“She's still in Florida and is getting closer to making her 2022 debut,” Servis said. “She's taken a little longer than Leader of the Band - they were both turned out together in South Carolina for a little ‘R & R’ and she's taking a little longer to come around.”

Midnight Obsession finished second in her stakes debut in May in the off-the-turf Lyphard at Penn National ahead of a second in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks and a third in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks.

***

Green Light Go breezes for $125K Stymie

Stronach Stables’ Green Light Go posted a bullet five-furlong work in 1:01.98 Saturday over the Belmont training track in preparation for the $125,000 Stymie at Aqueduct. 

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the 5-year-old Hard Spun bay was a last-out winner going a one-turn mile on January 13 at the Big A, drawing off to a nine-length victory in a final time of 1:35.19.

“He went by himself with a little blinker cup on,” Jerkens said of the work. “I thought it was good. He was well off the fence. Going 48 and a couple [to the half-mile] and 1:01 and change was a good work for yesterday, especially being that far off the fence.”

Jerkens previously won the Stymie with Berkshire Stud’s Snake Mountain in 2003. 

***

Apprentice rider Jose Gomez enjoying a strong start at Big A winter meet

Apprentice rider Jose Gomez has made a strong impression at the Aqueduct winter meet in his first full year riding. Heading into Sunday’s card, the 21-year-old Gomez is seventh in the winter meet jockey standings with 18 victories from 110 mounts, finishing in the money at a 41 percent clip. 

Gomez said having Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero, Jr. as his agent gave him confidence to compete with a jockey colony that boasts many of the nation’s top riders.

“I’ve always wanted to ride, but I thought I would just start out at a smaller track. I never imagined I would be in New York right away,” Gomez said. “It was a little nerve racking, but if Angel had enough confidence to take me in and he believed in me, I must be doing pretty well.”

Gomez, born in Michigan, grew up around the racetrack with his father working as an exercise rider and his mother as a groom. He spent much of his childhood moving around from Florida to Kentucky on the racing circuit, but spent most of his time at Penn National. As he got older, he moved to Ocala, Florida, to work for De Meric Stables.

“My parents worked for a lot of different trainers, but I was always around the horses,” Gomez said. “After I graduated school, I went to Ocala to break babies, just learning from the ground up. You’re teaching them and they’re teaching you.”

Before riding professionally, Gomez also was getting on horses for trainer Kelly Breen at Monmouth Park and Palm Meadows in the winter. A broken arm in January 2021 put Gomez’s riding debut on hold, but Breen assisted Gomez in getting back into a routine upon his return. 

The Breen-conditioned Top Gun Tommy provided Gomez with his first winner on October 28 at Belmont Park.

“He was putting me on one or two horses every month just so I could get some experience,” Gomez said. “After that, he told me, ‘Let’s go to New York’. He put me on a horse, won easy.”

But it wasn’t until January 6 that Gomez would find the winner’s circle once more, piloting Guns Blazing to victory at the Big A for Oscar Barrera, III. So far this year, Gomez has registered 20 total victories. 

Gomez said Breen and Cordero, Jr. have both been highly instrumental to his recent success. 

“I have to give a lot of credit to Kelly, he’s the one that brought me over here. I’ve just been learning day-by-day,” Gomez said. “Angel has been teaching me a lot. He’s putting me on the Equicizer, giving me tips and helping me out. Little by little, we’ve been picking things up. He’s a Hall of Fame rider, and he’s won over 7,000 races. He’s real smart and sees things in a race that you normally wouldn’t see. The rail is a big thing that Angel tells me. He says to save ground, stick to the rail, and it’s worked out for us so far.”

Gomez visited the winner’s circle twice on Saturday, including a triumph aboard Uno for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, defeating waiver claiming company by 11 1/4 lengths. He also piloted Dark Money to a ground-saving victory for trainer Rudy Rodriguez later on the program. 

“That was a great blessing,” Gomez said of winning for the Hall of Fame trainer. “He normally doesn’t ride apprentices, but he gave me a chance. I was just surprised he put me on such a nice horse who won so easily. I work horses for Rudy in the morning and I’m grateful to be riding for them.”

Cordero, Jr., who took Gomez’s book on the advice of Breen, said he is relishing the opportunity to groom a young rider with plenty of potential. 

“A lot of the good jockeys come from the riding school Puerto Rico, but this kid learned it all in the stable area,” Cordero, Jr. said. “I told him I want to be your agent and your coach, but I also want to be your friend. He’s been doing very, very well. 

“Kelly Breen came to Belmont last year at the end of the year and asked me to watch him work a horse,” Cordero, Jr. added. “So, I took him and we won a race for Kelly. We talked strategy and got him on the Equicizer. Kelly has been like a father to him. He’s very supportive and he’s very proud of him.”

Cordero, Jr. said he is particularly impressed with the young rider's ability to hustle a horse out of the gate. 

“A lot of bug boys aren’t as good about coming of the gate, but he is very good out of the gate,” Cordero, Jr. said. “He’s good when he comes from behind and saves ground. Riding horses is like life - if you save money, you’ll have money; if you save ground, you’ll have horse. This young man is very smart, when he does something wrong, he knows.”

Cordero, Jr. said he would like to take Gomez to Saratoga for the summer meet.

“I took Eric Cancel to Saratoga as a bug boy one year and he did really well,” Cordero, Jr. recalled. “That will open the door for him if he goes to Saratoga. People will ride him when they come back. Wherever he goes, he’s going to be a top rider.”