Provided courtesy of Ronnie Betor Photo

Belmont Park Notes 5.10.20

by Keith McCalmont

• Checking in with trainer Amira Chichakly
• Water White under consideration for $100,000 Tepin at Churchill Downs
• Notables on the Belmont work tab 

Amira Chichakly, a longtime assistant to recently retired trainer Gary Contessa, said she is looking forward to saddling her first starter when live racing is able to resume at Belmont Park.

The veteran horsewoman spent 10 years working on and off with Contessa in addition to a one-year stint as an assistant for trainer Wayne Catalano in Kentucky.

She is currently overseeing a bustling stable of 17 horses at Belmont Park, mostly inherited from Contessa's stock, which employs up to 11 staff at any given time. Rather than dreaming of Triple Crown glory, Chichakly said she has set her sights on a more attainable goal.

"I would just like to race. Can we start there?" laughed Chichakly. "My first goal is to get in the paddock to saddle a horse.

"Beyond that, it's hard to think too far ahead right now," she added. "I'd like to always have a tight barn. I'm not looking to become a big trainer right away. I'd like to keep my stock around the number it is right now and know that I'm doing everything right with those horses and watch them grow to their potential. I'd like to see each horse I work with perform to the best of their ability."

The New Hampshire native comes by her horsemanship naturally.

"I grew up around horses. My family had started out breeding Arabians as trail horses, but they stopped that very shortly after having children because Arabians are tough horses to work with," said Chichakly. "When I was around 10, we started breeding Welsh ponies to retrain. We would travel around the country looking at horses and conformation of the horses and deciding what broodmares we would get for our breeding program. We bought a stallion and four broodmares and sold a bunch of those babies. Mostly, I was responsible for the training.

"I did a lot of dressage riding," added Chichakly. "But I also did a lot of breaking younger horses, getting them started so they could be bomb-proof horses."

A trip to Saratoga inspired Chichakly to consider trying her hand with thoroughbreds. She started out as a hot walker and eventually began to gallop horses, climbing the ladder up to assistant trainer. "I grew up running barefoot in the fields next to Arabians and thoroughbred-crosses and quarter horses, so I never hesitated...thoroughbreds just seemed like the next step," said Chichakly.

Chichakly enjoyed great success with the Contessa barn, including a special score with Sippican Harbor in the 2018 Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga Race Course. Chichakly said she learned a lot of important trainer traits from working with Contessa and Catalano.

"Being patient is a big one," said Chichakly. "Every horse is different and there are some horses where you have to stop yourself and realize they're not going to move at your pace on your schedule. And there are others that will make you realize you're babying them too much and they're ready to move on.

"Horses have good days and bad days, just like people do. They aren't machines," added Chichakly. "I remember watching Catalano on the rail in the mornings, watching sets of horses come out, and he would call the exercise riders over and change instructions, 'back this one up...gallop around once and come back...' It was all based on what he felt the horse needed that day, rather than just relying on what his notes had set out for the morning."

Chichakly said she wants to bring this type of natural horsemanship to her stable.

"It ties into having patience with horses and it's something I like to see with all my staff and how I handle my horses," said Chichakly. "These horses are very strong and quick but they don't necessarily act out without cause, so I like to be able to react calmly and pause and figure out what really is going on in each horse's mind.

"It's good to have a plan and to set everything up as a business, but you have to keep in mind that you're working with living creatures," she added. "You can't remove that from the equation or you won't get them to their full potential."

One horse she's looking forward to helping realize its full potential is Virginia-bred Liam's Fire, a dark bay son of Bayern who graduated at third asking in December at Laurel Park for owners Shawn Thomas and Richard Levy.

"He broke his maiden on the dirt and Gary always wanted to try him on the turf," said Chichakly. "I got on him a week or two ago and he's one of the nicest horses I've ever ridden. They were laughing at me in the barn because once I got on him, I couldn't stop talking about him.

"We're going to try and get him in a turf race and hopefully he'll perform the way we think he can," added Chichakly. "Getting on him, he's so powerful and there's just so much horse there. He has a beautiful stride and you can feel something in him. It's hard to describe, but you know it when you know it."

Another promising individual ready to strut his stuff for Chichakly is Bustin Bieber. Bred in New York by Linda and Bruce McConnell, the 2-year-old son of Bustin Stones has breezed twice at Belmont.

"He's a very typical 2-year-old colt. He has plenty of attitude and no idea where to put it, but when he gets into a work he's like an older horse and knows what he's doing," said Chichakly. "I've enjoyed watching him train. Although he's only worked a couple times thus far, I'm liking his potential.

"It's a fun process to watch them grow and figure things out," added Chichakly. "He's a Bustin Stones colt and he looks every bit the part - stocky, big behind and strong muscles. He's out of a mare I worked with for Gary named Classical Fashion."

The hard-working trainer boasts a wide array of talents and has worked as a photographer during the past two Belmont Stakes while assisting NYRA's Adam Coglianese. She also is handy with a paint brush having created a wonderful portrait for Lady Sheila Stable of their 2015 Eclipse Award-winning Champion Female Sprinter La Verdad with her 2018 Tapit foal.

"When I'm not at the barn, I don't like to sit idle. I've done paintings on commission of horses we have in the barn and of famous horses too," said Chichakly. "I'll paint horses that are appealing to me because of their action or motion. I also do a lot of anatomical drawings. I think it helps me as a trainer to keep my mind on things, just thinking in the rhythm of the everyday, but from a different angle."

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Water White under consideration for $100K Tepin at Churchill Downs

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who is currently caring for a stable of 55 horses, said he is keen to get back to business at Belmont Park where the spring/summer meet is under delay due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Live racing was last conducted on the NYRA circuit on Sunday, March 15 at Aqueduct.

"This is our livelihood and we can't keep just training the horses up. The horses are ready to run," said Rodriguez. "We're following all the protocols and taking precautions. We've been washing our hands, wearing face masks and trying to do everything we can to stay safe."

Rodriguez sent out stakes winners Water White (1:02.23) and Not That Brady (1:02.36) to breeze five furlongs Wednesday on the dirt training track at Belmont.E.V. Racing Stable's Water White, last out winner of the Busher Invitational on March 7 at the Big A, has worked steadily for the veteran conditioner. 

Bred in Kentucky by Richard Forbush, the 3-year-old Conveyance gray graduated at third asking in November at Aqueduct ahead of a fifth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at nine furlongs in December. She followed up with a five-wide second in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda in her seasonal debut in February ahead of her Busher breakthrough.

Rodriguez said he is considering entering Water White in the $100,000 Tepin, a one-mile turf test slated for May 23 at Churchill Downs.

"Right now, I'm taking a look at the condition book for Churchill Downs. Our owners have been very patient," said Rodriguez. "She (Water White) is training very well right now. I'll nominate her to the Tepin and see. She's ready to go."

Rodriguez said he would also consider the Grade 1 Acorn, a one-mile test for sophomore fillies, currently scheduled for June 6 at the delayed Belmont meet.

Not That Brady, co-owned by Rodriguez with Michael Imperio, Lianna Stables, and R. A. Hill Stable, made his name with a victory in the 2018 Damon Runyon.Bred in New York by KatieRich Farms, the Big Brown chestnut finished second in the 2019 Grade 3 Withers and was a pace-setting fifth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. After stepping off the Kentucky Derby trail, he would finish second in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes in July, but was off-the-board in his final three starts of his sophomore season.

Rodriguez said Not That Brady had throat surgery during his time off following a fifth-place finish in the Empire Classic in October at Belmont. The popular chestnut resumed training in April where he has breezed four times.

"He's doing good. He had throat surgery to improve his airways and hopefully that will help him," said Rodriguez. "We'll see how he comes back. When we open here, he'll be ready to run."

Mr. Shortandsimple, who was off-the-board in the Grade 3 Withers in February, bounced back with a good second in a starter-optional claiming event in March at the Big A that garnered a career-best 71 Beyer Speed Figure. Owned and trained by Rodriguez, the veteran conditioner breezed the Kentucky-bred son of Pioneerof the Nile five furlongs in 1:04.01 on May 6 on the Belmont Park dirt training track.

Rodriguez said Mr. Shortandsimple is likely to make his next start in allowance company in Kentucky.

"He ran a pretty good race last time," said Rodriguez. "I'm looking at a couple of races at Churchill for him. I'll enter and take a look. He has been breezing very well.."

Rodriguez said Repole Stable's Dream Bigger, a grey son of Mission Impazible bred in the Empire State by Sequel New York, Twin Creeks Racing and Pamela Zielinski, is currently taking time off on the farm. The talented sophomore boasts a trio of stakes wins includes scores in the Breeders' Futurity at Finger Lakes and the Notebook and Damon Runyon at Aqueduct Racetrack.

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Notables on the Belmont work tab

With rain in the forecast for Saturday, trainers sent 174 horses to breeze on the Belmont Park dirt training track on Friday led by Montauk Traffic went six furlongs in 1:13.79.

The Linda Rice-trained Montauk Traffic, who captured the Jimmy Winkfield in February at the Big A ahead of a rallying fourth in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 7, was returning to the work tab for the first time since April 16.

Reigning Grade 1 Belmont Stakes champ Sir Winston and Grade 1 Spinaway winner Perfect Alibi were both clocked a half-mile in 51.13 for trainer Mark Casse, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.

New York-bred Fierce Lady, winner of the 2019 Seeking the Ante at Saratoga, worked a half-mile in 49.98 for trainer Dermot Magner.

Trainer John Morrison sent out stable star Carrera Cat, winner of the 2019 Union Avenue at the Spa, for a swift half-mile in 47.86.

Wednesday, May 6, was also a busy day for training at Belmont with 194 horses gracing the work tab including the Rice-trained Nicodemus who worked a half-mile in 50.66.

The 5-year-old Candy Ride horse, bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, won the 2019 renewal of the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont Park. Last out, Nicodemus, owned by Everything's Cricket Racing and Lawrence Goichman, was second in the Grade 3 Toboggan at the Big A.

New York-bred City Man, trained by Christophe Clement for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles, and Patty Searles worked five furlongs in 1:03.49 on Wednesday. The dark bay Mucho Macho Man sophomore, bred in the Empire State by Moonstar Farm, went undefeated at Saratoga last summer with a first-out maiden win in July followed by a score in the Funny Cide in August.

Graded-stakes winner Skyler's Scramjet (1:02.06) and New York-bred graded-stakes placed Honor Up (1:02.23) each worked five furlongs for trainer Michelle Nevin on Wednesday.

SJB Stable and Marcello Micozzi's Skyler's Scramjet, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Creative Cause, won the 2018 edition of the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct. Saratoga Seven Racing Partners' Honor Up, bred in New York by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, enjoyed a productive 2019 winning the Say Florida Sandy and Haynesfield ahead of a good third in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap all at the Big A.

On Tuesday, May 5, 173 horses graced the Belmont work tab, led by Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables' Pat On the Back who breezed a half-mile in 49.03. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, last year's Grade 2 Kelso champ was bred in New York by Sugar Maple Farm.

Trainer John Terranova was represented by a talented quartet of stable stars Tuesday with Curragh Stables' graded-stakes winner Killybegs Captain and Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable's multiple stakes winner Funny Guy both clocking six furlongs in 1:15.09.

Terranova also sent out graded-stakes placed Stan the man for a half-mile effort in 48.89 and New York-bred stakes-placed Three Jokers for a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.29.

The main track at Belmont Park will open for training on Tuesday as preparations continue for the spring/summer meet which is currently under delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.