Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/817947
30 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | May 2017 For the time being Funny Cide will remain as the lone New York-bred to win the Run for the Roses New York-bred Conquest Mo Money winning the Mine Tat Bird Derby THE OWNER OF NEW YORK-BRED CONQUEST MO MONEY, clearly one of the top 3-year-olds in training based on his last two outings, opted not to pay a $200,000 supplement to start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) but is serious about making a run at the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1). Conquest Mo Money, bred by Steve Davison and Randy Gullatt's Twin Creeks Farm and racing for Tom McKenna's Judge Lanier Racing, moved up the sopho - more ladder in his last two efforts. On March 26 the son of Uncle Mo fnished a solid second behind Hence in the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3). Reddam Racing's Irap was fourth in the Sunland Derby and he came back to shock the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) feld at Keene - land. Conquest Mo Money came right back three weeks later and nearly pulled off a major upset in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He fnished just a half-length behind juvenile champion Classic Empire at Oaklawn, which pressed McKenna and trainer Miguel Hernandez toward the Triple Crown although the colt was not nominated. McKenna held a press conference at Sunland Park April 18. "The decision I've made on (Conquest) Mo Money—what I thought about more than anything else is how many people I am going to disappoint if I don't run in the Derby, and everyone in the industry dreams about the day that you can get to the Derby," he said. "I made the choice on what I think is best for the horse...I really believe the best Mo Money May Try Preakness Conquest B Y E VA N H A M M O N D S COADY PHOTOGRAPHY choice for Conquest Mo Money is the Preakness." A supplemental fee of $150,000 will have to be paid for the colt to make a start in the Preakness. "The reason I wore this hat up here was to pass the hat for donations," McKenna joked of his cowboy hat. Twin Creeks purchased Conquest Mo Money's dam Stirring, in foal, for $80,000 at the 2013 Keeneland Novem - ber sale. The purchase was made to help support New York-based stallion Mis - sion Impazible. Stirring has been cov- ered by last year's leading frst-crop New York sire the last three years. Mission Impazible, by Unbridled's Song, stands at Sequel Stallions New York for $7,500. Stirring has an impeccable pedigree. She is a daughter of the stakes-winning Daijin, who ran third in the 1995 Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and produced Canadian champion Serenading and the stakes-winning Handpainted. Daijin is also the second dam of Blue Grass win - ner Brilliant Speed and grade 2-placed stakes winner Souper Speedy. Daijin is a full sister to 1997 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Touch Gold and a half sister to Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval. Also in her immediate family is New York-bred Haynesfeld, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup In - vitational Stakes (G1). A sharp yearling, Conquest Mo Mon - ey brought $180,000 as a yearling at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York preferred sale but slipped through the cracks as part of Conquest Stables' dispersal the following year at the Keeneland Novem - ber sale. McKenna's Judge Lanier Rac- ing was able to pick him up for $8,500. The colt has three wins and two seconds in fve starts, with earnings of $508,900. Before the Sunland and Ar - kansas Derbys, he had won Sunland Park's Riley Allison Stakes by 11 lengths and the Feb. 26 Mine That Bird Derby. Funny Cide is the only Empire State- bred to win the Kentucky Derby, but the quality of the program is such that it might not be long before he has compa - ny. In 2015, three New York-breds made the gate under the Twin Spires, and two runners made the feld in 2014.