Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/817947
8 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | May 2017 News NEW YORK Highway Star takes Aqueduct's Distaf Handicap Send It In wins the Excelsior CHELSEA DURAND/NYRA JOE LABOZZETTA/NYRA Bloomin' April: State-Breds Win Five Graded Stakes New York-breds stepped way out into open company during April and brought home some of racing's biggest prizes. Five graded stakes, from Gulfstream, to Oaklawn, to Aqueduct were won by state-breds, and two others appear headed to the Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown. April Fool's day was no joke for breeder/owners Bill Parsons and David Howe as their Summersault stepped up in Gulf- stream's Orchid Stakes (G3T). To read their story, go to page 20. Aqueduct's big weekend, April 8, featuring the Wood Me- morial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2), was fertile hunt- ing ground for state-breds with a pair of New Yorkers proving their mettle on the undercard. The following day Chester and Mary Broman's Highway Star—already a grade 3 winner of last year's Go for Wand Handicap—added the Distaff Handi - cap to her expanding résumé. The Broman's month got started off on the right foot when Highway Star was named champion 3-year-old flly for 2016 and the Bromans added a fourth award as the top breeders in the state. Highway Star, who has now won six of nine starts, began her career at three with back-to-back victories at Belmont last May and July. Unplaced in her frst stakes try, the Statue of Lib - erty division of the NYSS at Saratoga, she fnished third in the Fleet Indian at the Spa before reeling off wins in a second-level allowance race, the Staten Island and Go for Wand. Highway Star has earned $464,000. The chestnut flly out of Stolen Star, a multiple stakes- placed homebred for the Bromans, who is also a half sister to their multiple stakes winner and sire, Friend or Foe. Highway Star's sire Girolamo, a grade 1-winning son of A.P. Indy owned by Darley, began his stud career in 2012 at Becky Thomas and Dennis Narlinger's Sequel Stallions New York before relocating to Kentucky. Jon Clay's Alpha Delta Stables' Long Haul Bay made his way to the winner's circle following the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes (G3) in just his second career start. The backstory to his being an RNA can be found on page 24. Paul Pompa Jr. continues to build on his success, and the suc - cess of New York-based sire Big Brown with Send It In. A two- time stakes winner against state-breds, the 5-year-old gelding ran an excellent 2:02.07 for 10 furlongs in taking the Excelsior Stakes (G3). Send It In was foaled at Vivien Malloy's Edition Farm near Hyde Park and is the frst foal out of Sharp Instinct, a daughter of Awesome Again whom Pompa purchased as a year - ling for $275,000 at Keeneland September in 2008. The biggest winner of the month was Randy Howg's Inside Straight, who roared to a two-length score in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap. SF Bloodstock bred the 4-year-old gelding by Super Sav - er—Dance Alexa, by Southern Halo. He was foaled at Vinery New York at Sugar Maple near Poughquag. Dance Alexa was an $80,000 purchase at the 2010 Keeneland November sale. She's also the dam of Kentucky-bred Dance Daily, winner of the 2006 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2). Inside Straight's full sister, New York-bred Conquest Superstep, ran second in the 2015 Fleet Indian Stakes. Inside Straight made his frst 10 starts in New York for Win - NY-BRED APRIL GRADED STAKES WINNERS Date Race (Grade) Winner April 1 Orchid Stakes (G3T) Summersault April 8 Bay Shore Stakes (G3) Long Haul Bay April 8 Excelsior Stakes (G3) Send It in April 9 Distaff Handicap (G3) Highway Star April 14 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Inside Straight