Americanrevolution named 2021 New York-bred of the year

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution was honored as the New York-bred horse of the year on Friday evening at a ceremony at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion.

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.’s annual awards ceremony, which returned to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, fell in the midst of a week highlighting the New York racing and breeding programs during the Saratoga meeting. On Friday, three stakes races for New York-breds were featured on the Saratoga card, and on Sunday and Monday, the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale will be held.

Americanrevolution, by Constitution, is a graduate of the New York-bred sale. The colt, bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding and foaled at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, was a $275,000 purchase by WinStar Farm's Maverick Racing and the China Horse Club in 2019.

Last year, the colt won 5 of 6 outings in a championship season that made him horse of the year and statebred champion 3-year-old for trainer Todd Pletcher. After winning the New York Derby at Finger Lakes in his third career start and the Albany Stakes at Saratoga, both against statebreds, he ventured into deep waters and finished third in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby behind Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon.

Americanrevolution rebounded in his home state by defeating older foes by 11 3/4 lengths in the Empire Classic, then edged Following Sea by a half-length in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in December.

This year, Americanrevolution has raced exclusively against open company, finishing fourth in the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs and second in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster there. He is targeting the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at the end of the Saratoga meet.

Americanrevolution's dam, Polly Freeze, was recognized as the state's broodmare of the year. The winning Super Saver mare, purchased at Keeneland by Hertrich in 2016, is the dam of three winners from as many starters. She was bred to Constitution this year for a full sibling to her Grade 1 winner in 2023.

The other equine honorees were Bank Sting as champion dirt female and female sprinter; Venti Valentine as champion juvenile filly; Senbei as champion juvenile male; Make Mischief as champion 3-year-old filly; Bankit, who won the Evan Shipman Stakes on Friday, as champion older dirt male; Runaway Rumour as champion turf female; Somelikeithotbrown as champion turf male; and My Boy Tate as champion male sprinter.

Chester and Mary Broman, perennial leading New York breeders, were again honored as the state's outstanding breeder by the NYTB. Christophe Clement and Manny Franco were honored as outstanding trainer and jockey of New York-breds, respectively.