Owner Michael Dubb, Ortiz brothers, trainers Rice and Servis big winners on New York Showcase Day

by Jenny Kellner

Owner Michael Dubb made three appearances in the winner's circle, while trainers Linda Rice and Jason Servis both saddled two stakes winners and jockeys Jose and Irad Ortiz, Jr. each won two stakes on New York Showcase Day Monday at Belmont Park.

Dubb's Feeling Bossy started the day’s stakes action with a gate-to-wire win in the 40th running of the $125,000 Mount Vernon for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in Race 3.

Ortiz, Jr. sent the 5-year-old Courageous Cat mare to the front, where she separated from Frosty Margarita to go a quarter-mile in 24.26 seconds and the half in 48.77 on the Widener turf listed as good.

Out of the turn, Feeling Bossy was geared down, fending off even-money favorite Fifty Five’s challenge from the rail to win by a neck, completing one mile in 1:36.42.

Off at 8-1, the Jason Servis trainee paid $19.20 on a $2 win bet and improved her career bankroll to $351,790.

Dubb, who claimed Feeling Bossy last fall for $62,500 and won one of two starts, said he thought the mare might have needed a race.

"Credit to Irad, he saw that nobody went to the lead, and she was fit it enough to gut it out against a really good horse," he said.

Following Fifty Five was War Canoe, JC’s Shooting Star, Frosty Margarita, Table for Six and Tizzelle. Epping Forest and Hardly Mate were scratched, as was main-track only entrant Frostie Anne.

Lady Sheila Stable's Holiday Disguise poked a nose in front of favored Highway Star in deep stretch after a furious duel to win the $200,000 Critical Eye for fillies and mares.

Under Irad Ortiz, Jr., the 4-year-old Harlan's Holiday filly settled in fourth behind the leaders as Verdant Pastures took the field through blistering fractions of 22.21 for the opening quarter-mile and 44.96 for the half. Targeting Highway Star as she moved up to take command on the turn, Holiday Disguise latched onto the favorite approaching the three-sixteenths pole and prevailed to hit the wire in 1:36.12 for the mile.

"She's such a gritty filly," said Rice. "Talking to Irad, he said at the quarter pole he felt very confident because she's so tough and so gritty and has no quit in her. They put up pretty good fractions early and that helps.

"The [Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One] Ballerina [August 25] is in the back of our mind," she added. "Whether she can compete with that type of caliber, I don't think you can count her out."

Holiday Disguise, who earlier this year won the Bioggio's Rose and the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap, returned $6.50 as the second choice and earned $180,000. Overall, she is 6-1-1 from nine starts with a bankroll of $529,150.

Completing the order of finish were Playinwiththeboys, Might Be, Bluegrass Flag, Jcs American Dream, Verdant Pastures, No Hayne No Gayne, and Frost Wise.

Midnight Disguise ($6.20), patiently handled by Jose Ortiz, came charging down the middle of the stretch to pass the pacesetters and go on to an emphatic 2 3/4-length victory in the $125,000 Bouwerie for 3-year-old fillies, giving Rice her second stakes victory of the afternoon.

The win was the fifth in seven starts for the Midnight Lute filly - a half-sister to Holiday Disguise - who was sporting blinkers for the first time. Earlier this year she won the Busanda and Busher at Aqueduct Racetrack, but missed the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan after finishing a dull fourth in the Grade 2 Gazelle.

"That was a pretty lackluster performance in the Gazelle, so I just wanted to use this race to get her back on track," said Rice of Midnight Disguise, whose winning time was 1:22.86. "I think the blinkers were a good addition and this, hopefully, will set us up for the [Grade 2] Mother Goose [June 30]."

Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Midnight Disguise returned $6.20 for a $2 win bet and earned $75,000 for her owners, WIlliam B. WIlmot, Joan M. Tayor and Devin T. WIlmot.

English Soul finished second with Split Time checking in third. Completing the order of finish were Baby Boss, Aunt Babe, Our Super Nova, She's Quiet, Pure Silver, and Letmetakethiscall. Indy's Lady and Orchid Party were scratched.

Analyze the Odds, claimed for $80,000 in April by Michael Dubb, gave Servis and Dubb their second upset win on the card, rallying late to edge Morning Breez by three-quarters of a length to take the $125,000 Mike Lee for 3-year-olds.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, the son of Overanalyze was content to sit well off the pace as Aveenu Malcainu led before being overtaken by Morning Breez in the stretch. Given his cue on the turn, Analyze the Odds came running widest of all to strike the fore approaching the furlong marker and go on to his second victory of the year.

His winning time for seven furlongs was 1:22.58, and he returned $42 for a $2 win bet.

"When I claimed him, I was looking for a two-turns Saratoga type of horse,' said Dubb. "It wasn't our [original] plan to run him today, but he was doing so well that Jason said, 'let's take a shot and see if we can get a piece.'

"I never dreamed that piece would be the big piece. Jason has done an incredible job with this horse."

Four lengths behind Morning Breez in third was Retonova, who in turn was followed by Sea Foam, Aveenu Malcainu, What a Catch, Presence of Mind, and Ultimateenticement. Inalienable Rights and A True Giant were scratched, the latter at the gate.

Dubb, who owns Offering Plan in partnership with Nantucket Thoroughbred Partners, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith, made his trip to the winner's circle following the $125,000 Kingston, when the 4-5 favorite barreled from last on the turn to a 1 3/4-length victory over Rapt.

Ridden by Javier Castellano and trained by Chad Brown, the 6-year-old son of Spring At Last hit the wire in 1:35.11 for a mile over a turf course rated good, an almost identical effort to his victory in last year's Kingston. The win, worth $75,000, was his second in as many starts this year.

He returned $3.80 for a $2 win bet.

Following Rapt in third was Kharafa, with Dot Matrix fourth. Completing the order of finish were Fox Rules, Tapitation, The Crocheron Kid, Mo Maverick and Yummy Bear. Main Track Only Hit It Once More was scratched, as was Black Tide and Voodoo Song.

Lauren Evans and Ralph M. Evans' Diversify wrapped up the afternoon's stakes action, taking the lead coming out of the turn after stumbling at the start and holding off a determined late charge from Pat On the Back to take the $200,000 Commentator by a nose.

Stalking Mr. Buff and Jewel Can Disco through a quarter-mile in 22.57 and a half in 45.22, the gelded son of Bellamy Road moved up to collar the leaders approaching the quarter-pole and had enough left to turn back Pat On the Back and hit the wire in front in 1:34.34 for the mile.

"At the three-eighths pole, I went after them, and when he made the lead, he pricked his ears, so I knew he had something left in the tank," said Ortiz. "The other horse [Pat On the Back] ran a very good race. Any other day, we would’ve won by ten."

The win was the first of the year for the Grade 1-winning Diversify ($6), who was seventh in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in his 2018 debut.

“His last race was a little bit of a concern," said Ortiz. "Charles Town is a weird track. So, when I came today, I asked [trainer Rick Violette] if the horse came out OK and he was like, ‘Yes, he came back like he didn’t run.’ I guess he didn’t want to run there, three turns.  He’s used to this, one turn. This is where he’s run his best races.”

Uncle Sigh, making his third start off the claim by Repole Stable, was along for third, followed by Can You Diggit. Completing the order of finish were Control Group, Jewel Can Disco, Papa Shot, Mr. Buff, and T Loves a Fight. Weekend Hideaway was scratched.