The decision to go west for Starts Now, the 5-year-old Mucho Macho Man mare out of Very Funny has paid off. After racing exclusively on the NYRA circuit since her debut in 2022, Starts Now appeared to be in top form, winning an Allowance Race at Aqueduct on November 17th and doing so with an 89 Equibase figure, the highest in her career, surpassing the matching 82 figures as the previous high in her career, which occurred in her previous 2 starts. That’s when a difficult decision had to be made, with the turf course closing for the winter in New York, does Starts Now also shut it down for the winter, or do we go elsewhere and see if this the start of something special?
Richard Baltas, a California based trainer got the call and Starts Now shipped off to Santa Anita. On January 4th she debuted in a Starter Allowance at Santa Anita. After sitting mid pack, Starts Now charged down the stretch finishing second, losing to Tirupati who would go on to finish second in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on March 1st. That race would set a new high Equibase figure of 93 and got surpassed with a 94 speed figure in her next race on February 2nd. Despite the fifth-place finish, Starts Now ran a great race hitting the stretch in 2nd and staying within striking distance into the final furlong but couldn’t produce a bid to the wire.
That brings us to Sunday and with all the stars in Hollywood for the Oscars, all the stars aligned perfectly for Starts Now on the March 2nd start. Reigning Eclipse award winning jockey, Flavien Prat, took the mount and Starts Now drew the outside post which would ensure a clean break from the gate. From there everything went according to plan. Starts Now grabbed the early lead and never looked back, scoring an easy 2 1/2 length win in the one and an eighth mile Starter Allowance race in 1:49.16.
The win gave Starts Now a new career high 99 Equibase figure. It marked our stable’s first win at Santa Anita as we have now registered wins at 19 different tracks. It was also our first trip to the Winner’s Circle with jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Richard Baltas. Congratulations to the connections and our partners at Bloom Racing Stable on the win!
Welcome a nice colt born yesterday at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC to one of our mares Bene Pista by first crop stallion Arabian Lion. Bene Pista is a Bernardini mare out of G1 winning dam Carriage Trail, and has so far produced stakes winner Mano Dura and also now 3yo filly Trail of Gold, who won a Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga last summer, and just missed being stakes placed by a head in the fall. Bene Pista’s last two yearlings (by Solomini and Daredevil) were both six figure sales. Glad to welcome this guy to the team!!
Bene Pista is contracted to return to Spendthrift Farm soon and be bred back to Cyberknife.
Welcome to the world a nice Solomini colt out of one of our mares Rox Star Beauty, a Warrior’s Reward mare that is a half-sister to G3 winner Devil by Design, who also happens to be the dam of G1 winner Competitionofideas . She is also a half-sister to black types Kolo and Taima the Hawk. She is owned in partnership with Spruce Lane Farm and will be bred back to Central Banker at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC in New York.
Welcome this handsome Vino Rosso colt out of the Giants Causeway mare Yesshewill who was born at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC recently. Yesshewill is a half sister to G1 winner Stormello, G2 winner My Best Brother, G3 winner Gala Award, and G3 placed Cherry Lodge and Greatest Game. She will be bred back to American Revolution, making this colt a NY Bred.
Our first foal of 2025 has arrived – a nice big filly by Instagrand out of Tanmawwy was born last night at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC. Her half sister Material Girl, a Chad Brown trainee, just recently finished 2nd in the $500,000 NY Stallion Stakes. Tanmawwy will be bred back to American Revolution. She is owned in partnership with Spruce Lane Farm.
Honey in the Bank scored the upset victory in Saturday’s 7th Race at Aqueduct at 18-1 as it also marked our first time winning as both owners and breeders. Honey in the Bank was foaled in 2022 by Central Banker and Homerun Honey, who was among the first ever group of horses in our stable. Luis Rivera, Jr. grabbed his first victory for us as he challenged the pace setter on the back stretch, then backed off and went inside along the rail to take the lead going into the stretch and glide to victory in the 6 1/2 furlong contest. Congratulations to trainer Horacio De Paz, who won back-to-back races and our partners, Saratoga Dreams Racing.
