Big A wrapup: Controversy punctuates N.Y. Stallion Stakes

After a lengthy inquiry into the stretch run of the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, Antonio of Venice retained his victory in Saturday’s seven-furlong test for eligible state-sired 2-year-olds at Aqueduct.

Owned by Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone, Hibiscus Stables and trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Antonio of Venice weaved his way out from the inside under Manny Franco to post his first stakes score as Brick Ambush crossed the wire second and the Rodriguez-trained Heavyweight Champs finished third. But after a 12-minute stewards’ review into the eventful stretch run, Brick Ambush was disqualified and placed last due to interference, giving Rodriguez the top-two finishers in the lucrative race and $375,000 of the available purse money.

Click here for Aqueduct entries and results.

“It’s one of the bucket list things that we got one-two in the $500,000 race. That’s what we work so hard for,” Rodriguez said. “All the credit goes to the help in the barn, they do an amazing job. The grooms, the hotwalkers, my assistants, we have a very good team. I’m so happy to be around in the mornings with them. We have a lot of laughs, a lot of cries, but I’m just so happy to see this happen to us.”

The bay son of Laoban emerged from the inside post in the field of 12 and was asked by Franco to join the fray at the front of the pack, racing in third along the rail as first-time starter Heavyweight Champs marked an opening quarter-mile in 22.49 seconds over the fast main track.

Entering the turn, Solo’s Fury, who tracked in second to the outside of Heavyweight Champs down the backstretch, inched closer as the Junior Alvarado-piloted Brick Ambush was asked for his best from fifth and loomed large widest of all with the half-mile in 45.78. Meanwhile, the Javier Castellano-piloted The Big Torpedo attempted to make his run between Solo’s Fury and Antonio of Venice, but steadied abruptly as Solo’s Fury came in and Antonio of Venice was angled out and off the rail to make his run at the lead into the stretch.

Solo’s Fury backpedaled quickly and a game Heavyweight Champs dug in under Ruben Silvera as Brick Ambush prepared to take charge, but Antonio of Venice found his best stride once in the clear down the center of the course to make it three across the track at the sixteenth marker. Heavyweight Champs was the first to concede and Brick Ambush ran on bravely, but there was no denying the momentum of Antonio of Venice, who crossed the wire three-quarter lengths in front in a final time of 1:24.40.

Brick Ambush finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Heavyweight Champs before his subsequent disqualification with The Big Torpedo crossing the wire fourth one length back. Liberty Central, B D Saints, Profitability, King Freud, Solo in Paris, Palace Boss, Solo Empire and Solo’s Fury completed the order of finish. Wo Hop and also-eligible entrant Kaz’ Mega Bank were scratched.

The stewards’ official ruling on the stretch run determined that Brick Ambush, racing widest of all at the quarter-pole, came in and caused a chain reaction that pushed Solo's Fury down into The Big Torpedo. As a result, Brick Ambush was disqualified and placed behind Solo's Fury.

Rodriguez, who won his first Great White Way, expressed pride in both of his top finishers.

“He (Antonio of Venice) ran unbelievable. I’m just very, very happy with the way he was,” Rodriguez said. “The other horse (Heavyweight Champs) went, so I was just rooting for any of my horses. I saw him coming up the outside and thought, ‘Oh, it’s the other one.’ We’re very excited and very happy with the way they ran.”

Rodriguez added that no future plans have been made just yet for Antonio of Venice.

“Maybe he wants to run from behind. He got a lot of kickback along the rail and then was able to come outside. I don’t know (what’s next). These guys (the owners) want to bet him in the pool for the Derby,” Rodriguez said with a laugh.

Franco, who piloted Antonio of Venice to a close pacesetting fourth-place effort last out in the Aspirant at Finger Lakes, said he kept to the rail at the top of the stretch until it was time to make his move around Brick Ambush.

“I held my spot inside and the pressure was coming from outside,” said Franco. “I was just trying to hold my spot because the twelve (Brick Ambush) is coming, so I knew when he comes I'm going to go around him. I held my spot there.

“I had to work the trip late. He got it done, but I had to ride hard.”

Bred in the New York by Cypress Creek Equine, Antonio of Venice banked $275,000 in victory, increasing his total purse earnings to $350,744 through a record of 6: 2-1-1. He returned $14.60 for a $2 win ticket.

Immediately after the race, Alvarado was full of praise for Brick Ambush as he made the third start of his career off a strong maiden win in November for trainer Danny Gargan.

“He ran a hell of a race and just got beat the last few jumps to the wire,” Alvarado said. “He gave a great effort. He might have moved a little early with the quick pace, but we just tried to make sure to get the jump on everybody. He stayed on the outside, and that helped.”

Tom Morley-trained The Big Torpedo was making just his second start and is still in search of his first victory. Castellano said his main focus in the turn was safely maneuvering the son of Big Brown through the traffic.

“The three (Heavyweight Champs), he tried to get out and the one (Antonio of Venice) came out and the eleven (Solo’s Fury) was squeezing,” Castellano said. “I was right in the middle with no place to go. I had to eat it, basically. In my mind in that moment, just hold it together and don't go down.”

My Shea D Lady is best in Fifth Avenue

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano added to his incredible 2023 campaign by guiding Shea D Boy’s Stable’s My Shea D Lady to a 2 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSSS, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies.

Castellano has enjoyed a career resurgence by winning his first Kentucky Derby aboard Mage before teaming up with Arcangelo to secure his first victory in the Belmont Stakes and a record-extending seventh score in the Travers (G1). His more than $18 million in purse earnings this year marks his best season since 2019 when his mounts banked more than $25.1 million.

“I’ve been blessed. It’s been a great year for me and (agent) P.J. Campo, he puts a lot of effort in to hustle the horses for me to ride the races in the afternoon,” Castellano said. “All the trainers and owners have given me support. It's been a blessed year. I don't have the words to describe my year, it's been one of the best years of my career. At my age, 46, to be blessed with all those Triple Crown races and all the Grade 1 races and especially the New York-bred races here in New York.”

Carlos David-trained My Shea D Lady, one of five Solomini progeny entered at Aqueduct, was hustled out of the gate from post 2 to stalk in third position as Soloshot set splits of 22.99 seconds and 46.91 over the fast main track under pressure from long shot Sun and Wind. Soloshot maintained a precarious lead late in the turn with Elite Status launching a four-wide wide bid and My Shea D Lady saving ground and patiently waiting for room.

Daylight appeared for My Shea D Lady as the field straightened away and she surged up the rail to take command inside the eighth pole as the Ruben Silvera-piloted Sun and Wind pressed on to the inside of Elite Status and Walk With Me launched a wide, late bid under Dylan Davis. But there was no denying My Shea D Lady, who stayed on strong to the wire to stop the clock in a final time of 1:25.91.

Walk With Me arrived in time to complete the exacta by three-quarter lengths over Elite Status with Sun and Wind, Miss Lao, Artemis Girl, My Perfect Mistake, Soloshot, Book of Wisdom, E Stormy, Holder Close and Tour Jete completing the order of finish. A claim of foul by Rudy Rodriguez, trainer of Sun and Wind, against the winner for alleged interference at the furlong marker was disallowed by the stewards.

Castellano, aboard My Shea D Lady for the first time in the afternoon, said his filly was much the best.

“My filly was just a little bit intimidated along the rail behind horses. It was really tight and she don't want to go, but as soon as she got through, she took off,” Castellano said. “She started getting tired a little bit at the end. I had to keep her straight but I didn't interfere with nobody else. You could see I was clear and I didn't bother nobody in the race.”

My Shea D Lady, bred in the Empire State by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, graduated at first asking in July at Gulfstream Park and made her next three starts in state-bred stakes company topped by a third-place finish in the Seeking the Ante in August at Saratoga Race Course.

David, who was winning a stakes in New York for the first time, said My Shea D Lady benefited from Castellano’s experience.

“They’re still babies. They’re still trying to figure it out. I know it’s another month and they’ll be three, but she’s only run five times and there’s been a couple races where she just kind of hangs,” David said. “The jockeys weren’t as aggressive as I wanted them to be, and I told Javier, ‘I think it’s a great spot and if she doesn’t get in trouble, we should be able to come through; don’t feel scared to just kind of push a little bit and encourage her to get in the spot.’ ”

Trainer David Duggan said he was thrilled with the effort of jockey Dylan Davis aboard Walk With Me, who entered from a first-out maiden win against fellow state-breds at Aqueduct on Nov. 9.

“You can’t be disappointed with that. She just needed to get into a rhythm,” Duggan said. “She took a little bit of dirt and she probably lacked a little bit of seasoning, but he gave her a chance and she got her feet underneath her and made a huge run. The winner had obviously gone from us but I think going forward we could have a better filly once we get another added furlong. She showed us she belongs and that she's legitimate in the New York program.”

My Shea D Lady was a $100,000 OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds-in-training purchase. She is out of the Teuflesberg mare Ladyberg, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Hoosick Falls and stakes-placed Manor Prospect.

David said the talented dark bay will now enjoy a short winter break.

“She’s been running good. I’m going to talk to the guys and maybe send her to the warm weather for a couple of months. I’ll leave it up to them,” David said. “She’s great and has done good for us. I always like to give them a little break, maybe run her one time in Florida. She’s a New York-bred, but after a race like this, maybe we just give her a couple months off and let her refresh.”

My Shea D Lady banked $275,000 in victory, while improving her record to 5: 2-0-1. She returned $7.50 for a $2 win bet.