OHIO RACING UPDATES MAY – JUNE

2019 Ohio Racing Recap May

ALTISSIMO SMOKES ‘EM ON THE GRASS IN CINCINNATI
Ohio’s 2018 Horse of the Year checked off another box in his storied career on June 8 in the $75,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap. He won the 1 1/16th mile race by 8 lengths last year, and while pleased with the result, trainer Richard Zielinski was disappointed that the race was taken off the turf.
The weather cooperated at Belterra Park this year and the 6-year-old gelding got to race over the greensward for the first time of his career and while the surface was different, the result was the same with a wire to wire leisurely win. Breaking from the 8 post in a full field of 12 he increased his lead at every point of call under regular rider Christian Pilares in 1:40.99. Cape Rojo, making his stakes debut, put in a strong five-wide bid to clearly gain the second spot over Gliding Alone.

Altissimo enjoyed his career turf debut. Photo: Coady Photography

Surprisingly, the betting public made former two-time Ohio Horse of the Year Mo Dont No the 4 to 5 favorite even though he finished second to Altissimo in the Babst/Palacios Memorial on April 27. “Mo” checked at the 5/16th pole and re-rallied to finish fifth. Altissimo, a poster boy for soundness is owned by Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski and was bred by Lavrich and Niknar Farm LLC. Now 6-years-old, Altissimo pushed his career earnings to $564,388 with a record of 35-15-4-4.

PROPER DISCRETION PASSES THE $ 500,000 MARK IN MACKEY/ ANGENORA
There was little left to doubt after the gates opened in the $75,000 6-furlong Michael G. Mackey Memorial Memorial Angenora Stakes at JACK Thistledown on June 1. As a matter of fact, you could have stopped the race after 50 yards as the field never changed positions to the wire. 2 to 5 favorite Proper Discretion and Scott Speith pulled away quickly to win with ease by 9 lengths in 1:10.68. Multiple stakes winner True Cinder held off a stubborn Ali Blue throughout for the minor placings.

Proper Discretion cruises home by nine lengths under Scott Speith. Photo: J.J. Zamaicko

For the Jeffrey Radosevich trainee, there is no place like home. The 6-year-old mare has 15 lifetime wins – 13 of those at the North Randall oval and 10 at six panels. Owned by Ron Paolucci Racing LLC, Proper Discretion has now bankrolled $534,741. The muscular mare is a daughter of Discreetly Mine out of Prizes by Prized and was bred by Bruce Talisman.

ALAN SOBOL BACK IN THE RACING GAME CAPTURES THE GREEN CARPET
If the name Alan Sobol rings a few bells in your racing memory it should. So should the name of multiple Ohio Champion Writin’ Mama, Best of Ohio winner Portentum, graded stakes winner Big Bamboo and Ohio standouts Donnavega and Athenavega to name a few. When the purses began to spiral downward prior to full-card simulcasting an the advent of Racinos in Ohio, Sobol moved into the world of corporate business. He was very good at his job, maybe too good. After he brought back two slumping companies to prominence they were sold. He didn’t go to the races back then, but it was always in the back of his mind.
“Last October I started intently watching the Ohio races on the internet and came up with a list of 20 horses that I wanted get for some younger investors who had disposable income. I reached out to several breeders and ended up getting ten from Dr. George Sikora to train,” said Sobol from his home in Chagrin Falls. “Manga Man (not to be confused with another Ohio-bred currently racing – Magna Man) was one of the horses on my list and I bought him privately for a client in New York. He had conditions left and I thought we could win the price back with a few good wins.” Sharp thinking and training on Sobol’s part.
Manga Man just missed in his first start for his new owner Martha Borland but quickly covered his purchase price with a “good” win in the $75,000 Green Carpet at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. With Luis Gonzalez in the saddle he was 10th and last after 6 furlongs. They angled out into the stretch and he responded with a quickened stride. In front of him the odds-on favorite and 2018 Ohio 2-Year-Old Champion, Diamond Dust looked to be making the winning move when he ducked in sharply from a right-handed whip and dropped rider Luis Colon just short of the rail (both rider and horse came out unscathed). Manga Man was clear of the incident and went on to win by a length in 1:45.44. Send Me On was bothered by the Diamond Dust incident, but rallied to just catch longshot Danefield for the second spot.
Manga Man is a 3-year-old gelded son of the deceased Ohio sire Kingship out of Sligo Knows by Sligo Bay (Ire) and was bred by Joshua Faulkner. He now sports a record of 13-3-4-2 for earnings of $120, 232.

LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER IN $75,000 TOMBOY STAKES
It was a Fair Winds Farm family affair in the Tomboy Stakes at Belterra Park on May 12. Patiently handled by Gerardo Corrales, H. F. Carmel was asked to wait to make her move and then quickly slipped through an opening along the rail to draw off by 4 ¼ lengths. Her dam, Flip Side by Devil His Due won the race just in front of two other Fair Winds raised horses over a decade ago. Dr. Harold Fishman, the father of Lori Williams (who operates Fair Winds with her husband Kim) arranged the matings.

Flip Side beats tablemates Marketable and Nitty Gritty in 2005 Tomboy. Pat Lang Photos

The 2019 edition for 3-year-old fillies was scheduled for 1 1/16th miles on the turf, but rains moved it to the sloppy main oval. Despite three scratches, a field of ten went to post. Undefeated Absorb was favored but had to break from the outside post and was rushed into the first turn, Totally Obsessed, who was 3 for 3 this season was coming out of a win in the $75,000 6 furlong Southern Park Stakes at Mahoning Valley and led just ahead of Absorb for ¾ of a mile. About that point, the two pace setting favorites were passed by H. F. Caramel, Market Success and Drillit for the same order of finish at the wire.

H. F. Caramel enjoyed the sticky going. Photo: Coady Photography

The Tomboy was only the second start of 2019 for H. F. Caramel. Trainer Mike Rone wisely put her in a solid prep for this race finishing a troubled 2nd against older allowance competition on April 17 at Mahoning. H.F. Caramel is a 3-year-old daughter of Revolutionary and is owned and bred by Dr. Harold Fishman covering the sloppy surface in 1:47.27. With her win in her stakes debut, she now has earned $73,730 from only five trips to post.

ALTISSIMO TOPS ALL DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS

ALTISSIMO CROWNED AS 2018 OHIO HORSE OF THE YEAR

ALTISSIMO IS CROWNED AS 2018 OHIO HORSE OF THE YEAR
Trainer Richard Zielinski outlined the most competitive season of 5-year-old Altissimo’s career in 2018 and his well-planned schedule reaped four stakes victories and two stakes placings for earnings of $320,875 and the Horse of the Year title in Ohio. The Annual Awards Banquet was held on May 17 at the historic Darby Dan Farm in Galloway, Ohio.

Altissimo crowned “The Best of the Buckeyes.”

Owned by Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski, the son of Noble Causeway out of Great Goin Gal by Albert the Great was bred by Nancy Lavrich and Niknar Farm LLC. While the bulk of his $519,388 career earnings was earned by racing 6 furlongs, his season started at a mile at Mahoning Valley where he finished fourth after setting the pace. He returned next to face open company at 1 mile and 70 yards and drew off by 6 ¾ lengths. Christian Pilares was in the irons that day and would be his only jockey for the rest of the season.
Altissimo’s next seven starts all came in stakes races, winning five of them. His richest victory came in the $150,000 Best of Ohio Sprint at Thistledown where he drew away from the field by nine lengths over a sloppy track. He closed the season out with back-to-back Beyer Speed figures of 100. Relishing another wet track, he bested two-time Ohio Horse of the Year Mo Dont No by 4 ½ lengths in the Cardinal Handicap at Mahoning Valley.
He forayed out of Ohio for his final start in the $100,000 Dave’s Friend at Laurel. In an impressive effort, he was shuffled back at the start and appeared hopelessly beaten while fifth in the lane. Unleashing a final furlong effort, he rallied to come up a head short at the wire. Altissimo has already returned to his winning ways this season by taking the $75,000 Babst-Memorial at Belterra. Asked about his 2019 campaign, Zielinski replied, “I guess we’ll stick to the same schedule we had last year.”

Experienced farm owners Daryl Duncan (L.) and Craig Powell join the O.T.B.O. Board.

2018 OHIO CHAMPIONS

Owner of the Year
Ron Paolucci

Breeder of the Year
Blazing Meadows Farm (Tim Hamm)

Horse of the Year
Altissimo
Owner: Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski
Breeder: Nancy Lavrich & Niknar Farm LLC

Stallion of the Year
Mobil
Breeder: Gustav Schickedanz
Standing at Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm

Broodmare of the Year
Lilah
Breeder: Beechwood Racing Stable

Champion Handicap Horse
Altissimo
Owner: Altissimo
Breeder: Nancy Lavrich & Niknar Farm LLC

Champion Handicap Mare
Leona’s Reward
Owner: Michael Friedman & Blazing Meadows Farm
Breeder: Blazing Meadows Farm

Champion Sprinter
Altissimo
Owner: Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski
Breeder: Nancy Lavrich & Niknar Farm LLC

Champion Accredited Male
Mobil Solution
Owner: Gerald Silver
Breeder: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm

Champion Accredited Female
Leona’s Reward
Owner: Michael Friedman & Blazing Meadows Farm
Breeder: Blazing Meadows Farm

Champion 3-Year-Old Male
Mobil Solution
Owner: Gerald Silver
Breeder: Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm

Champion 3-Year-Old Filly
Takechargedelilah
Owner: Loooch Racing Stable
Breeder: Steve DeMaiolo.

Champion 2-Year-Old Male
Diamond Dust
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC and Blazing Meadows
Breeder: Blazing Meadows & WinStar Farm LLC

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
Drillit
Owner: Mast Thorouhgbreds
Breeder: Eric Heyman

OTBO Award of Merit
Tom McCann, OTBO immediate past president

OHIO BRED CAPTURES GRADE 2 AT BELMONT AND IN STATE STAKES

2019 OTBO May News

OHIO-BRED HEAVENHASMYNIKKI CAPTURES GRADE 3 $200.000 VAGRANCY HANDICAP AT BELMONT PARK
Leading every step of the way, Heavenhasmynikki outlasted a very talented field in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park on May 11. Breaking on top in the 6 ½ furlong test, she first repelled a challenge from the favored Separationofpowers – winner of $772,500 including the the Grade 1 Test and Frizette Stakes. She extended her lead to three lengths into the stretch and when challenged by three-time graded stakes-placed Pacific Gale “mustered up enough gameness to preserve the decision,” according to the Daily Racing Form.

Heavenhasmynikki in training at Churchill Downs

The well-timed ride by Kendrick Carmouche pushed “Nikki’s” career record to 14-7-0-2 with $374,980 in earnings. Campaigned by Ron Paolucci Racing LLC the striking 4-year-old filly is currently under the care of Robert Hess, Jr. She was purchased at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton October Sale. The daughter of Majestic Warrior is out of Floral Park by Forest Wildcat and was bred by Langsem Farm.
The Vagrancy has been a springboard for numerous national champions in multiple divisions. Conniver won the first running under Hall of Fame rider Ted Atkinson in 1948 and went on to be crowned Champion Older Mare. Other champions that won the Vagrancy were Cicada (’59); My Juliet (’76); Sky Beauty (’90); Xtra Heat (’98) and La Verdad (2010). Good company to be in for a filly foaled in Loveland, Ohio.

CARMEL STICKS TO THE RAIL IN GOOEY $75,000 TOMBOY WIN
It is that time of the racing season where horses are asked to test their mettle around two turns. The $75,000 Tomboy Stakes at Belterra Park was also scheduled to give the 3-year-old fillies an opportunity to perform on the turf. The one and one-sixteenth mile test for Ohio Registered fillies was moved from the turf to the Cincinnati dirt after heavy rains in the area turned the track to a sea of mud earlier in the day on May 12.

Dr. Harold Fishman’s homebred splashes home in the Tomboy Stakes. Photo: Coady Photography – Mystee Jonker

H.F. Carmel was stepping up to stakes competition for the first time in her career. Trained by Mike Rone, he elected to make a rider switch and put Gerardo Corrales up. Corrales, breaking from the rail, made the decision to take the short way home. Patiently handled in seventh for most of the running, H.F. Carmel picked up her cue into the stretch and made a quick move while skimming the rail and seemed to relish the sloppy going to pull away by 4 ¼ lengths at the wire.
The daughter of Revolutionary out of Ohio-bred Flip Side by Devil His Due notched her second career victory and upped her earnings to $73,630 for owner Dr. Harold Fishman. The homebred left the gate at 7-1 odds and was timed in a leisurely 1:47.12. She now has two wins, one second and one third in five lifetime tries.
Gabriel Lagunes guided 25-1 longshot Market Success up for second, while T.D. Houghton was aboard third-place finisher, 6-1 Drillit. Totally Obsessed, at 7-2 odds, was fourth for Luis Quinones. Here Comes Jigs, another Rone-trainee was caught in tight after the start, stumbled and lost jockey Ricardo Feliciano shortly after the start. Both the horse and rider returned unscathed.

$75,000 MICHAEL F. ROWLAND MEMORIAL HANDICAP TO MOBIL SOLUTION
Mobil Solution was recently crowned Ohio’s leading 3-year-old male and Accredited 3-year-old male. In his second start of the season he returned to his winning ways and put forth a solid stretch run to capture the $75,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap on Saturday, May 11 at JACK Thistledown.

Mobil Solution records his fourth career stakes victory in the Rowland Memorial. Photo: J.J. Zamiacko

The 4-year-old son of 2018 Ohio Stallion of the Year Mobil, with Luis Rivera in the irons, relaxed in third for the first half of the race and engaged 6-5 pace setting rival Midnight Mikey (Luis Quinones) into the stretch and prevailed by half a length at the wire in the test for Ohio Accredited foals, 3-year-olds and up. Mobil Solution, the 9-2 choice, was clocked in a respectable 1:11.02 for the six furlongs. Breezing home for a fast, hard-fought third-place finish was 2-1 Direct Deceit (John McKee).
Mobil Solution, a dark bay or brown gelding, is trained by Jeff Radosevich for owner Gerald Silver.
Bred by Mapleton Thoroughbreds, the gelded son of Mobil out of Perfect Solution by Seeking the Gold now has $274,020 in his career coffers, with five wins, five seconds and a trio of thirds in 16 lifetime starts. His other stake triumphs include the 2018 editions of the $75,000 Horizon Stakes and $75,000 Catlaunch Stakes, and the $75,000 Joshua Radosevich Memorial Stakes in 2017.