National Identity tops trio of Saturday stakes winners at the Big A with 96 BSF

• National Identity tops trio of Saturday stakes winners at the Big A with 96 BSF
• G1-winner Napoleon Solo works for February 28 Kentucky Derby prep
• Honor Marie back to win column in Dust Commander, Beckman updates on Kentucky Derby/Oaks-trail contenders

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Of three seven-furlong, $135,000 stakes for New York-breds on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, the Say Florida Sandy for older horses produced the highest Beyer Speed Figure as Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s National Identity netted a 96, just one point shy of his career-best.

Trained by Danny Gargan, the 4-year-old son of Solomini brought his win streak to four in-a-row after a trio of local allowance-level scores, including against open-company two starts back on January 4. The colt’s run of form makes him perfect since returning in September from a five-month respite wherein he had a tieback procedure performed on his throat.

In the Say Florida Sandy, National Identity took to the front in an early scramble for command and was pressured by a trio of rivals, but dispatched them with ease in the turn and kicked clear to a three-length lead at the stretch call. He faced a challenge from Acoustic Ave in the lane, but repelled it with relative ease to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:24.80.

Gargan said the bay colt emerged well from his first stakes win, which came after four previous placings at that level.

“He ran good and did everything perfect,” Gargan said. “He broke good and sat the trip three or four wide. He’s better now that he had the throat surgery.”

The next state-bred spot offered at Aqueduct is the one-turn mile $135,000 Haynesfield on March 29, which Gargan said is a possibility.

“The next one is a mile, and I don’t really know if wants to go a mile, but against the right horses, he may want to,” Gargan said. “The good thing about him is he’s a big, strong horse and he eats everything. He’s good.”

Bred by Hunter Valley Farm, National Identity was a $150,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale and he banked $74,250 in victory.

Earlier on the card, sophomore state-breds took center stage in the East View and Damon Runyon, with respective favorites Galinda and Arctic Beast putting forth open-length romps.

Waterville Lake Stables’ Galinda is now a perfect 2-for-2 for trainer Miguel Clement, owning a three-quarter-length debut win against state-breds sprinting six furlongs on January 10 here ahead of her 9 1/4-length stroll when wiring the East View under Jaime Rodriguez in her stakes debut. She earned an 80 Beyer for the effort.

Since her arrival in the Empire State in early January, Galinda has trained under the watchful eye of assistant Amanda Villafranco, who – along with her paint pony, Sunny – has worked for the Clement barn for about two years and has an extensive background in equine care and training.

Raised on a ranch in the Heartland between South Dakota and Nebraska, Villafranco has been around horses for as long as she can remember, and went on to work on several claiming circuits around the country, including Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas and Minnesota.

Two summers ago, an opportunity arose for Villafranco to head East to New York and be introduced to the Clement barn. She said she knew almost immediately she made the right choice.

“I didn’t grow up with racing, but with horses. I went to college in Minnesota and missed the horses, so I eased on over to the racetrack. I worked all around the country and then I got a chance to work at Saratoga,” Villafranco said. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep galloping, but I didn’t want to regret not taking the chance. I love this barn and horse racing has been very good to me. I think I landed in a great spot here.”

With about 20 horses to oversee at Belmont Park, Villafranco gallops many of them herself, and got a feel for Galinda when she first arrived from Payson Park in Florida. The daughter of Good Magic soon captured the hearts of everyone in the barn, and is described as one of the most gentle and lovable horses in the stall, while also bringing strength and determination on the racetrack.

“She’s always been very nice to deal with. She’s settled in and she knows her groom and her rider, and she’s very sweet,” said Villafranco, who cradled the petite filly’s head in her arms. “I love her. She’s still growing and I know they adored her in Florida, too. She’s very happy and doing well.”

Following the race, Clement mentioned a possible next target for Galinda could be the one-turn 1 1/16-mile Virginia Oaks on March 14 at Colonial Down, which offers 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

“I don’t know how distance-limited she is, to be frank, but we shall see,” he said. “She’s a good filly.”

Villafranco said she is excited for what appears to be a very bright future for Galinda.

“We’ll see if she wants to stretch out a little bit more – it wasn’t a problem for her yesterday,” Villafranco said.

Bred by Daniel J. Burke and Kathleen Burke Schweizer, Galinda was a $120,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred Preferred Yearling Sale and is out of the stakes-winning Super Saver mare Super Humor.

Two races later, Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher, Zilla Racing Stables and P Shooter Stable’s Arctic Beast was as dominant in the Damon Runyon, leading wire-to-wire and galloping home a 9 3/4-length winner under Ricardo Santana, Jr. for trainer Mike Maker. The effort garnered an 85 Beyer, one point off his career-best. 

The win was the dark bay son of Yaupon’s third state-bred stakes conquest of his young career, adding to a pair of dominant victories last year at Finger Lakes Racetrack in the Aspirant [7 1/4 lengths] and the New York Breeders’ Futurity [5 3/4 lengths]. He entered the Damon Runyon from a runner-up effort in the two-turn Listed Springboard Mile on December 20 at Remington Park in his lone effort both around two turns and outside the Empire State.

Dermot Magner, Maker’s New York-based assistant, said the colt emerged from the effort in good order.

“He’s a beautiful colt and everything is good with him,” Magner said. “He’s got a lot of talent.”

On Saturday, Peter Proscia of Paradise Farms Corp. said he anticipates Arctic Beast could try open company next.

“We’ll see what happens from here. If he comes back good, we’ll look for maybe something [with] a little more competition – perhaps open,” Proscia said. “One race at a time.”

Bred by Rockridge Stud, Saratoga Glen Farm and Beal’s Racing Stable, Arctic Beast is out of the dual stakes-winning Frost Giant mare Frostie Anne – a half-sister to dual stakes-winner Freudie Anne.

 

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G1-winner Napoleon Solo works for February 28 Kentucky Derby prep

Grade 1 Champagne-winner Napoleon Solo worked at Palm Meadows on Friday in preparation for a 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifier on February 28 – the question is, will the Liam’s Map gray stay in Florida for the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park or ship back to New York for the one-turn mile Gotham, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Chad Summers for owner Al Gold’s Gold Square, Napoleon Solo worked five-eighths in company in 1:01.45 to the outside of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.’s Ruleroftheuniverse [1:02.15].

“I couldn’t be happier with how he’s coming along,” Summers said. “When we decided not to go to the Breeders’ Cup and put this plan together, you need everything to go perfect – so far, everything is on track. He’s scheduled to run on February 28, and he’ll make one more start after that.

“Both the Gotham and Fountain of Youth are on the radar,” Summers added. “We’ll keep an eye on the weather in New York. The Gotham makes sense as he’s had success over the track, it’s a one-turn mile and possibly easier competition off the freshening, but it’s also a 26-hour van ride.”

The $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase graduated on debut in August at Saratoga Race Course in a six-furlong maiden auction event that earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He returned with a powerful frontrunning performance in the Grade 1 Champagne in October here, drawing away to a 6 1/2-length score over Talkin to earn a 95 Beyer and 10 Kentucky Derby points in the one-turn mile.

“He’s flourishing at Palm Meadows. He loves his round pen before he trains, it takes a little bit of the steam out of him before he goes to the track because he’s not an easy actor on the track,” Summers said. “Do I take him out of his rhythm? I don’t know. If you run in the Fountain of Youth, all the options remain on the table for the next race. If you run in the Gotham, you miss a few days shipping out there and those March 28 races [Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby] go away and you’re looking at the April 4 races [Blue Grass, Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino.] It’s something Al and I go back and forth on about seven times a day. Hopefully, we’ll make a decision here in the next few days.”

Gold Square’s Two Out Hero, trained by Kevin Attard, drew the outermost post 12 for the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial on February 21 at Turfway Park – a 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifier.

Summers noted that the Grade 1-placed War Front bay, a winner on turf and Tapeta at Woodbine last year, could also come under consideration for the Gotham.

“Unfortunately, he got post 12 so that’s something that will be a conversation with the team at Gold Square and Kevin if we want to go there or weigh your options somewhere else,” Summers said. “I don’t think it will be a 12-horse field in the Gotham, so it may be of interest to come up here.”

Two Out Hero graduated by 12 lengths on debut in July while sprinting six furlongs over Tapeta and followed with a victory on turf in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Soaring Free one month later. The talented bay completed his campaign with a one-length third in the Grade 1 Summer, a one-mile turf test on September 13 won by Argos.

“He’s always worked well enough on the dirt that we wanted to give him an opportunity to be on the Derby trail,” Summers said. “We thought the Turfway angle made sense because of the success he had on the Tapeta, but post 12 has not exactly been kind to horses at Turfway. We’ll see.”

Game for It, owned and trained by Summers with Gold Square and Wynnstay, is off the Derby trail having exited his recent fourth in the Listed Sam F. Davis on February 7 at Tampa Bay Downs with an injury to his right hind.

“He got bumped pretty hard in the race,” Summer said. “He had surgery and hopefully will be back for Saratoga. He got bumped and his shoe got clipped – it was half on, half off, the last eighth of a mile.

“Dr. Madison did a great job with the surgery at Ocala Equine and he’s on the mend now in Ocala,” Summers added.

Gold Square’s I Love Giraffes, a 3-year-old daughter of Charlatan, put a long neck in front to win on debut on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, stalking and pouncing to a three-quarter length score under Katie Davis in a five-furlong turf sprint.

“She’s fun. It was good to get her to the races,” Summers said. “Katie gave her a great ride. Anytime a horse wins first time out – it’s not easy to do. She’s a filly I think will appreciate a little more distance.”

I Love Giraffes had trained in New York over the Belmont Park dirt training track from late October through mid-December before shipping to Palm Meadows where she fired off a pair of bullet breezes – one on turf, another on dirt – ahead of her win.

“She was working really well at Belmont and when the weather got colder and they put more clay on the track and made it deeper, she didn’t handle that as well,” Summers said. “We got her down to Florida and experimented on the grass and she showed an affinity for it. Obviously, Charlatan never tried it, but she seemed to like it. We’re super proud of how she ran yesterday.”

Summers indicated I Love Giraffes could stretch out in distance for the one-mile turf $150,000 Memories of Silver on April 26 here.

“It’s something to look at. We’ll let her tell us as she goes along,” Summers said.

Roddy Valente’s stakes-placed Daniella Marie, a New York-bred and sired daughter of Honest Mischief, impressed with a four-length optional-claiming score under Kendrick Carmouche in open company on February 4 here.

“What a cool horse she is, she shows up every time,” Summers said. “Kendrick gave her a great ride the other day and he was able to wear down those other horses.”

Summers indicated the next logical step for Daniella Marie would be the New York-bred ‘a-other-than’ on March 5 here, but he would also consider a try on turf in the aforementioned Memories of Silver.

Daniella Marie, bred by Sequel Stallions and Scott Miller, has made all five of her career starts at the Big A, graduating at second asking in a maiden optional-claimer in November ahead of a good third in the $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue in December. She was third in a state-bred optional-claimer in January ahead of her recent score.

Eric Dattner and Gary Dattner’s Makes Sense earned a career-best 95 Beyer for a frontrunning five-length score in a nine-furlong optional-claiming route with Luis Rivera, Jr. at the helm on February 6 here.

“We’ve had a lot of success with Luis,” Summers said. “He comes out and does the work whether it’s a Monday, a Tuesday or a Saturday – if we need him to fly to Florida or Ohio, he’s willing to do it. I’m thankful the owners give him an opportunity to ride in some of these races; he did a great job the other day in the Sam F. Davis with Game for It. He’s a kid I’ve believed in for a long time. I think he’s a rising star.”

Summers haltered the 4-year-old Street Sense colt for $50,000 in October here with the bay returning to action in December to finish sixth in a similar local nine-furlong route.

Makes Sense was initially purchased for $375,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and was campaigned by Centennial Farms with Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. He was haltered for $50,000 out of a winning effort in July at the Spa by trainer Bruce Brown and won next up for new connections there.

“He’s a horse I’ve always been in love with. I wanted to claim him when he ran for the tag at Saratoga but couldn’t convince an owner to go for it,” Summers said. “The horse is doing so good right now, he looks great.

“He’s a horse you can look at moving forward for those marathon races,” Summers added. “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.”

 

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Honor Marie back to win column in Dust Commander, Beckman updates on Kentucky Derby/Oaks-trail contenders

Ribble Farms and Lighthouse Racing’s Honor Marie was back to the win column in Saturday’s $125,000 Dust Commander, a 1 1/16-mile route for older horses over the Turfway Park synthetic.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the 5-year-old Honor Code gelding was making his second start on synthetic after a fifth in the 1 1/4-mile Boone County in December there, and closed from last-of-10 to win by 4 1/2 lengths under Joe Ramos, earning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure in victory. The bay is 15-4-2-1 overall with $867,015 in earnings, including a win in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November 2023 at Churchill Downs.

“The first time we ran him on the poly, he didn’t get much of a trip. He kind of got bottled up on the turn. Told Joe last night, no matter what, just keep him moving forward,” Beckman said. “He drew off and won in fine fashion, so I’m really happy with the effort. He’s a barn favorite and was my first Kentucky Derby horse. We just appreciate him always showing up for us.”

Honor Marie was eighth to Mystik Dan in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and Beckman sent out Flying Mohawk to 18th last year in the Run for the Roses. The trainer hopes to make it three years in a row with a contender in the starting gate, and is eyeing the Derby-trail with Hulkamania and continuing on with Ocelli, who was off-the-board last out in the Listed Sam F. Davis on February 7 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Hoolie Racing Stable, Blue Mist Racing and Icon Racing Stable’s Hulkamania has made one start, a four-length maiden victory sprinting seven furlongs on February 8 at Tampa. The McKinzie bay will be nominated to Aqueduct Racetrack’s one-turn mile Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on February 28, a 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifier, but may need more time.

“We have to breeze first, so I don’t know about the Gotham. It’s back a little quick, a long ship, I’ll see how the field is shaping up and make decisions closer to post time,” Beckman said. “It’d be logical to take him back to Tampa, some of the Florida preps might be more attractive from a shipping standpoint. We will see how he comes back, get him breezing, and make a decision. Between Arkansas, Florida, New York, Virginia… I mean there’s so many options.”

Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian’s Ocelli is still a maiden having made three starts prior to his last out 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis try. The plan could be the $500,000 Virginia Derby on March 14 at Colonial Downs, a 50-25-15-10-5 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby.

“Nominated him to the Gotham prior to his last race just in case,” Beckman said. “We may look at Virginia with him.”

On the Gotham undercard is also the Listed $200,000 Busher, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies, which awards 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers. Beckman captured this race last year with Drexel Hill [2nd in the Kentucky Oaks] and nominated Blazing Brat and stakes-placed Nycon to this year’s edition.

Blazing Meadows Farm’s Blazing Brat was second last out in the six-furlong Sandpiper on December 6 at Tampa. The Beau Liam dark bay was making her first dirt start following four outings on synthetic including a third-out graduation in August at Presque Isle Downs.

“If either of them come [for the Busher], it’d be Blazing Brat. Nycon, I think she probably wants to go two turns next time. For her, to capitalize on points we may have to wait for a race that’s a little longer,” Beckman said. “Blazing Brat may really like it so she is a possibility.”