$77,000 In Owner Bonus Monies Won By Virginia-Bred, Sired Horses In July

Over $77,000 in bonus monies were won by owners of Virginia-bred or sired horses that won an overnight race in the month of July at pari-mutuel tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region. The new incentive program, sponsored by the Virginia HBPA and VTA, began July 1st and rewards owners a 25% bonus on top of purse winnings for victories in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New York and New Jersey.

The largest single award in the first month was $10,000 and went to the ownership group of highly regarded Sticksstatelydude, who won honors as top Virginia-Bred 2 Year Old Colt in 2015. He captured his second career victory July 15th in a $77,000 allowance race at Belmont. The First Dude colt, who stumbled at the start but recovered quickly enough to still go gate to wire, won the mile race by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:34.04. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Joel Rosario, Sticksstatelydude has now earned $138,400 from just five starts. Out of the Gilded Time mare, Placerita, he was bred by Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds.

Sticksstatelydude shown in the Belmont paddock area before his race July 15. Photo by Pack Pride Racing.

Code Red, a Virginia sire, earned a $9,000 bonus for owner/breeder Chester Broman & Mary Broman by winning a $60,000 maiden special weight race at Belmont July 8th in her first lifetime outing. The 2 year old filly was foaled in New York and is by Friend Or Foe out of Dash Dot Cash by Put It Back. She trailed by six lengths through 3/8ths, moved to within a length at the top of the stretch, angled five wide in the lane and won by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:05.90. Code Red paid $36.60 for the upset score over eight other two year olds.

Code Red, a Virginia sired horse, earned a $9,000 bonus for a win at Belmont Park July 8. Photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese.

Third largest July bonus of $6,412 went to Mark Lapidus LLC’s Service for Ten, who captured a $45,000 allowance optional claiming race July 24th at Laurel with a last to first second half. The 7 year old Service Stripe gelding, bred by Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Cox, competed against six others at the six furlong distance. The upset winner was last at the half but came outside in the stretch, gained the lead with 1/16th to go and crossed four lengths ahead of Struth in 1:10.65. Out of the Wild Zone mare, Tenacious Cheryl, Service for Ten paid $25.60. After going more than two years without a win, he has won two straight and bankrolled $416,645.

Service for Ten’s lifetime bankroll soared over the $400,000 mark thanks to an allowance win July 24th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Available’s win July 10th at Laurel gave owner, trainer and breeder Suzanne Dempsey a $5,985 bonus. The beneficiary of a disqualification, Available finished a head behind original winner Thirteenth Avenue, but got placed first after a stewards review. The 7 year old Bop gelding ran second throughout the $42,000 allowance sprint but was bumped in mid-stretch and moved up as a result, gaining his first win of 2016 and second career triumph. He is out of the Star Trace mare, Morelias Star, and has now earned $123,556.

Available (#7) lost to Thirteenth Avenue by a head July 10, but got bumped up to the wining slot after a stewards review. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rounding out the top five was Tough Weather who stayed hot by winning for the fourth time in her last five starts. Bred by Sam English II and trained by Scott Lake, the 5 year old daughter of Wiseman’s Ferry beat four other foes in the six furlong, $36,000 allowance optional claiming race at Delaware Park. Tough Weather went gate to wire and crossed in 1:11.32 as the heavy betting choice. The victor, out of the Montreal Red mare, Soft Weather, has 7 wins, a second and a third in ten starts this year alone, good for $90,420 in earnings. The win gave owner Thomas Reynolds a $5,400 bonus.

Other July Virginia-bred and sired winners who provided their owners with a bonus included Picked ($4,050), Runningthevale ($3,990), Rebellious Warrior ($3,847), Lime House Louie ($3,405), Joe Tess ($3,285), Manakin Road ($3,135), Porte Cochere ($3,135), Galaxy Express ($2,760), Money Tree ($2,220), True Cost ($2,145), What a Wildcat ($1,800), Hooping ($1,650), Explore ($913) and Ghost Is Fine ($913).

Galaxy Express wins at Delaware Park on 7/27/16 and earned a $2,760 bonus. photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.

Six of the 19 bonus earning wins came in Maryland (Laurel Park), six in Pennsylvania (3 at Penn National, 2 at Presque Isle, 1 at Parx), three in West Virginia (2 at Mountaineer, 1 at Charles Town), two in New York (Belmont) and two at Delaware Park.