Go Get the Basil Rallies to be a Distant Third in the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes
By Bill Heller
Though he may not have even finished in the same zip code as Freedom Child, the
runaway winner of the Grade II $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes by 13 ¼ lengths, John Esposito and
Anthony Logrippo’s home-bred, three-year-old New York-bred colt Go Get the Basil won a
three-horse photo finish for third in the mile-and-an-eighth traditional prep for the mile-and-ahalf Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, on a sloppy track Saturday afternoon at
Belmont Park.
Saint Vigeur finished a clear second 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner, while Go Get the
Basil rallied under Irad Ortiz Jr. to nip Abraham and Incognito for third. Trained by Rick Violette,
Go Get the Basil, a son of Andromeda’s Hero out of Images in Jade by Jade Hunter, was sent off
at 16-1 following his eighth-place finish in the Grade I Wood Memorial in his last start. He now
had three wins, one second and one third in eight career starts.
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Showing no ill effects from being eased in his last start in open company on New
Year’s Day in Florida, Peachtree Stable’s three-year-old colt Amberjack held off a fast-closing
Irish Moon to win a $62,000 New York-bred allowance by a half-length under Joel Rosario for
trainer Mike Hushion.
Sent off the even-money favorite in a field of eight going one mile, Amberjack dueled
Mississippi Duel into defeat after a fast :22.69 opening quarter and a half in :46.20. Quiet
Power, who had taken a ton of late money to go off the 2-1 second choice, made a menacing
move into contention in early stretch, but Amberjack sprinted clear again in hand under Rosario
through three-quarters in 1:11.31.
Rosario, who is leading North American jockeys in both earnings and victories, didn’t
ask Amberjack for any more in the final yards, as Irish Moon surged late into second. He was
gaining, but Rosario had the finish line measured.
Amberjack, a song of Indygo Shiner out of Free as Tristan by Crafty Friend, who was
bred by Dixie Farm, was a $185,000 yearling at Saratoga in 2011 who was originally trained by
Dale Romans. Amberjack finished third in his first start, then won a New York-bred maiden by
more than seven lengths. He was shipped to Florida, where he was eased in his last start at
Gulfstream Park.
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Fresh off a game victory at 38-1, Thomas Mina’s home-bred, three-year-old colt Run
Run Forest won his second straight at 9-1 in a $57,000 state-bred allowance taken off the turf.
With Rajiv Maragh riding, Run Run Forest settled in third as two even bigger longshots,
14-1 Goodtolook and 20-1 Visionandaprayer, dictated a fast pace of :22.40 and :45.52 in the
seven furlong sprint. After Visionandaprayer gained the lead, Run Run Forest made his move,
and Run Run Forest went on to win by a length and a half over Visionandaprayer, who saved
second by a nose over tough-luck Big City Boy, who had a horrendous start.
Joe Aquilino trains Run Run Forest, a son of Dixie Union out of Best Vow by Broken Bow
who has three wins and a second in six starts. His winning time was 1:24.34.
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Charles Stephani’s three-year-old gelding Joe Alan gave his new owner a quick return
on his investment, speeding to an impressive wire-to-wire score in a $45,000 New York-bred
maiden $50,000 claimer in his first start off a tiring third when claimed for $35,000 in his
second lifetime start.
Breaking from the rail as the even-money favorite under Joel Rosario, Joe Alan was
immediately pushed by Gold Buffalo, a first-time starter breaking directly outside him. To
establish the lead, Joe Allen blazed a quarter in :21.86. His lead expanded as he zoomed to the
half in :45.71, before he cruised home to win by 3 ½ lengths over Joe Mooch in 1:12.15 for the
six furlongs.
Now trained by Gregory DiPrima, Joe Alan is a son of Hook and Ladder out of Motley
Bird by Golden Missile. He was bred by Parker Lightfield Farm.
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In a $28,000 New York-bred maiden $20,000 claimer, Arlene Falk and Christopher
Trakas’s five-year-old mare Blonde Blitzen, trained and ridden by Arlene’s daughter Jacqueline,
scored a wire-to-wire win in her 13th career start.
Jacqueline hustled the daughter of Belong to Me, out of Cleverita by Clever Trick, who
was bred by Colleen Catallo, to the lead in the field of eight fillies and mares going six furlongs.
Blonde Blitzen, sent off at 4-1, opened up a four-length lead on 41-1 longshot Mini Muffin after
a quarter in :22.84 and a half in :47.34.
Blonde Blitzen’s biggest threat would come from the 2-5 favorite Group Therapy, who
rallied from fourth into second. She closed well, but Blonde Blitzen held her off by a length in
1:14.38. Group Therapy edged Fu Peggi Sue for second, and Mini Muffin finished fourth.
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At Finger Lakes Saturday, a pair of New York-breds swept the Daily Double. In the
opener, Alphonso Ficarella’s home-bred four-year-old filly One Smart Farrah won a $23,000
allowance by three lengths over another New York-bred, Encryption Code. Chin Yang rode One
Smart Farrah, who was stretching out from 4 ½ furlongs to eight for trainer Larry Salvato and
went off at 5-1. One Smart Farrah is a daughter of Badge, out of One Smart Lady by West Acre.
Blue Top Holding Stable’s five-year-old gelding Power Dreams won the second half of
the Daily Double, a $17,300 conditional $12,500 claimer by five lengths at 2-1. Wilfredo Rohena
rode the son of Powerscourt out of Ascended Dreams by Thunder Gulch, who was bred by
Pegasus Dream Stable and is trained by Rafael Ramos.
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The seventh race, a $10,000 claimer, felt like déjà vu all over again. On April 30 th, Mike
Lecesse's home-bred, six-year-old New York-bred mare One Eyed Fact went off at 2-1 and beat
the 9-5 favored Kentucky-bred Chit Chat Cat by a head. That race was at 4 ½ furlongs.
Saturday’s rematch was at five furlongs. Chit Chat Cat was sent off the slight 6-5 favorite from
the rail and One Eyed Fact 8-5 from the two post. They dueled the length of the stretch again
and One Eyed Fact won again by a head in :59.75. The victory was One Eyed Fact’s eighth in 22
starts. She also has six seconds and five thirds.
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In the Finger Lakes finale, trainer and owner James Kettell’s six-year-old, home-bred
gelding Bob the Pool Man won a $21,000 New York-bred allowance by two lengths. It was the
fourth victory in 17 starts for the son of Griffinite out of Nancy Brow by In One Era.
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At Arlington Park Saturday, Kathy Mitchell’s three-year-old New York-bred gelding
Scot’s Sunnyriver survived a three-way speed duel on the front end, opened a five-length lead
in mid-stretch, then held on to score a three-quarter length victory in a $10,500 maiden
$12,500 claimer. The son of Sunriver out of True Grit by Woodman was making his third career
start.
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Well-Rested Miss Valentine Wins Her Third Straight Stakes
By Bill Heller
Waterville Lake Stable’s home-bred mare Miss Valentine wasn’t going to let a fivemonth vacation interrupt her winning streak. Well-prepared for her five-year-old debut by
trainer Christophe Clement, she held off Clear Pasaj by a half-length to capture the $90,000
New York-bred No Reason Stakes Friday afternoon at Belmont Park, her third straight victory,
all state-bred stakes.
The daughter of 2005 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex, out of
Miss Yiayia by Gilded Time, came to hand late in her four-year-old season when she captured
back-to-back New York-bred stakes, the Chase the Dream and the Lottsa Talc.
She made her 2013 debut off a bullet work while reacquiring the services of the nation’s
hottest jockey, Joel Rosario. Bettors made Miss Valentine the 6-5 favorite in the field of six
fillies and mares racing one mile on a track labeled “good.”
Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado put Harbor Mist, a 10-1 shot, on the lead and she set a
realistic pace as Clear Pasaj stalked in second. Miss Valentine was fifth early and began to move
up heading for the far turn.
Clear Pasaj took over the lead and opened up by a length at the sixteenth pole
before Miss Valentine closed in. Gaining with every stride, she got the job done in 1:37.53. Her
eighth career victory in 19 starts pushed her lifetime earnings to just over $470.000.
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At Finger Lakes Friday, three New York-breds won in open company. In the
featured eighth race, a $23,000 allowance at six furlongs, Mark Valentine’s four-year-old colt
Bellamy, a son of Bellamy Road, out of Forever Dixie by Dixie Brass, put away the 4-5 favorite,
Cool and Quiet, to win by 2 ½ lengths at 7-2. Trainer Sal Iorio Jr. claimed Bellamy two starts
back at Aqueduct for $20,000 when he was a front-running third. He finished an improved
second in his first start for his new connections, then took another step forward Friday for his
third victory in 12 dirt starts. He was bred by Topsmeade LLC and the Bellamy Road Syndicate.
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Trainer Mike LeCesse’s three-year-old, New York home-bred colt Tequila Hero
took down an even bigger favorite in a $22,000 open allowance route. And it wasn’t close. Sent
off at 6-1 under Jeremias Flores, Tequila Hero ran down the 1-9 favorite, Quorum, to win by 3 ½
lengths. Idle since finishing 12th in a New York-bred stakes at Belmont last October, Tequila
Hero, a son of Andromeda’s Hero out of Tequila Lana by Cobra King, is now two-for-six lifetime.
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Making just his third lifetime start, River Card Stable’s four-year-old gelding
Pray for Rain won a $20,000 open maiden sprint by 3 ¼ lengths. The son of Songandaprayer out
of Sun Lucky by Menifee, was bred by Sienna Farm and is trained by James Acquilano.
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On a sloppy track in the finale, Sheila Englehart’s five-year-old mare Ecoach
absolutely destroyed her nine rivals by some eight lengths in a $21,000 New York-bred
allowance for fillies and mares, covering five furlongs in a fast :58.28. John Davila rode the
daughter of Zavata who was bred by Maspeth Stables and is trained by Chris Englehart.