Hot Currency gets the money in NYSSS Fourstar Crook
Winning Move Stable, Sanford Robbins, Lady Sheila Stable, Silverwood Stables and IEE Racing’s Hot Currency was money when an easy winner of Saturday’s $200,000 Fourstar Crook division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for eligible state-sired sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by the spring meet’s early leader Linda Rice, the Central Banker bay entered from close runner-up finishes in the local seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Fifth Avenue on December 6 and a state-bred optional claimer over course and distance last out on January 10.
Hot Currency, prior to her other NYSSS event, graduated third-out over course and distance by 6 1/2 lengths in November when adding blinkers. She extended that margin to 8 1/4 lengths on Saturday to earn her first stakes score in her second attempt.
Piloted by the spring meet's leading rider thus far Manny Franco, aboard in the afternoon for the first time in her last effort, Hot Currency exited post 3 sharply and settled alongside Miss Jane Hathaway, who set an opening quarter-mile of 22.77 seconds over the fast dirt from the inside post.
“That was my plan. I knew the one from the one-hole was going to try and send and try to go,” Franco said. “That’s what he did, and I was happy. I just sat second, and she was traveling comfortable the whole way.”
The front pack was Miss Jane Hathaway, a tracking Hot Currency, a ground-saving Greek Goddess and Irish Fortune outside heading into the turn through the half-mile in 46.73.
With no movement from her rider, Hot Currency passed Miss Jane Hathaway rounding the turn and Franco took a confident look back to see Greek Goddess improving with a wide bid under Jaime Rodriguez to loom the main challenger.
Franco tapped Hot Currency once inside the final eighth, and before imploring her for more, he took another peek back to see they were running away with the race, gearing his charge down for victory over Greek Goddess in a final time of 1:17.32.
Irish Fortune finished third another 2 1/2 lengths back, with Miss Jane Hathaway completing the superfecta and Rock Steady Babe rounding out the order of finish. Clap Back, entered in a Friday claimer at Oaklawn Park, Power of Women and Hip Hop Dancer were scratched.
Rodriguez said the Dimitrios Synnefias-trained Greek Goddess was game as she stepped up off a state-bred debut win over course and distance in February.
“I let the speed go and got stuck behind the speed. She never got dirt in the face first time when she run, so I think it was a good experience for her today,” Rodriguez said. “She was running, getting dirt and took it like a champ. Once I got to the quarter-pole, I tried to surprise him, but he [Franco] had more than me. My filly kept going. She kept holding her position and gave me everything today.”
Bred in New York by BHMFR, Hot Currency was a $200,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the winning Spring At Last mare Calidez. She earned $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 6-2-3-0 and returning $3.68 for a $2 win bet as the 4-5 post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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