Fine year for success in open stakes
The increasing strength of New York-breds in open competition continued in the month of September. Topped by Commentator's victory in the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, New York-breds won four open events, bringing the total for the first nine months of 2008 to 31.
Those 31 stakes wins have been recorded by 25 New York-breds. For the same period in 2007 there were 17 New York-bred open stakes winners.
Commentator sent his career earnings to $1,841,936 in the Massachusetts Handicap, with a record of 13-1-2 from 20 starts. He is now third on the list of all-time money-earning New York-breds, behind Funny Cide at $3,529,412 and Say Florida Sandy at $2,085,409.
A 7-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor bred by Michael Martinez and owned by Tracy Farmer, Commentator had won the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap in his previous start. His stellar season also includes a victory in the Grade 2 Richter Scale at Gulfstream Park.
Doremifasollatido won the Grade 2, $250,000 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park to send her career earnings to $217,000 with a record of 2-2-0 from 4 starts.
The juvenile filly was bred by Edward Messina and is owned by Susan Moore and M and M Thoroughbreds.
She is by Bernstein out of Consider It Done, by Green Dancer. Doremifasollatido is a half-sister to Fortunate Damsel, winner of the Grade 3 Pebbles Stakes.
Rollers captured the $250,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Philadelphia Park, a race won last year by New York-bred Premium Wine.
Bred by JoAnne Nielsen and foaled at her Sunnyview Farm in Bedford, N.Y., Rollers is owned by Lael Stables. The 3-year-old colt is by Stormy Atlantic out of Elise', by Distinctive Pro.
He has earned $291,450 with a record of 4-2-0 in 7 starts.
Purchased for $500,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company February 2-year-old sale, Rollers is from a terrific state family.
Elise' is a half-sister to Ashley T. Cole winner Currency Arbitrage and New York Derby winner Copper Mount. This immediate family also includes Grade 1 winner Without Feathers.
R Betty Graybull won the $200,000 filly division of the Monmouth Park NATC Futurity.
A 2-year-old daughter of Holy Bull, R Betty Graybull was bred by Pegasus Farms and is owned by Fantasy Lane Stable. She sent her earnings to $153,200 with a record of 2-0-1 in 3 starts.
R Betty Graybull is out of the Evansville Slew mare Hey Darla, and was purchased for $37,000 at the Fasig-Tipton preferred New York-bred yearling sale. Hey Darla descends from the top mare Greek Victress, whose family includes Grade 1 winners Greek Answer and Perfect Sting.
Three top $2 million for year
State sires Freud, Golden Missile, and Chief Seattle have all passed the $2 million mark in progeny earnings through Sept. 30 for 2008.
Freud, by Storm Cat, stands at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson, where his fee for 2008 was $10,000. His progeny earnings for the period are $2,302,566.
Freud's leading earner this year is Dagnabit, winner of the open Tremont Stakes for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park. Dagnabit, out of the Silver Ghost mare Cool Ghoul, has earned $179,108 and is a member of his sire's fourth crop.
Freud was a leading third-crop sire of 2007, ranking 16th nationally. His other stakes winners this year are Meriwether Jessica, Extra Sexy Psychic, and Flirt for Fame. His 2-year-old sales average for 2008 is $53,000.
Golden Missile is second at $2,292,198. A son of A.P. Indy, he stands at Milfer Farm in Unadilla, where his fee for 2008 was $7,500.
Miss Missile is his leading earner at $143,356, and his other stakes winners this year are Going Wild, Klissura, and Ginger Bay. Miss Missile is out of the Silver Deputy mare Whistling Bullet.
Golden Missile's 2-year-old sales average this year is $38,749.
Rounding out the top three is Chief Seattle at $2,280,718.
A son of Seattle Slew, he stands at Empire Stud in Hudson, where his fee for 2008 was $5,000.
Chief Seattle's leading earner is Bay Meadows Handicap winner Bold Chieftain at $327,522. Bold Chieftain is out of Hooked on Music, by Seattle Dancer.