Breeder Majestic View Farms relishes Withers win from Talk to Me Jimmy

• Breeder Majestic View Farms relishes Withers win from Talk to Me Jimmy
• G1-placed Talkin possible to return in G3 Gotham
• Royal Riddle set for stakes debut in $135K Damon Runyon; Creole Chrome points to G3 Gotham
• The Wine Steward fits $135K Say Florida Sandy
• Combat Mission on the improve for $135K Damon Runyon

Bob and Bonnie Roth’s Majestic View Farms in Gardiner, N.Y. has seen a number of talented horses foaled and raised on the property, but has reached a new milestone as the breeder of Talk to Me Jimmy, winner of Friday’s Listed $200,000 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack. Talk to Me Jimmy is tied for fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with his 20 points earned for the 11-length romp for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

“We were shocked when we saw him win like that,” said Beth Sickler, assistant farm manager. “We’ve had a few horses from here that have gone on to win stakes races, but when he turned for home, he did it for fun.”

Talk to Me Jimmy became the first stakes-winner for his sire Modernist, and is out of the 10-time winning Trippi mare Prairie Trip, who passed away in April 2024. Talk to Me Jimmy is her last foal, but the farm has a half-sister to the colt named God Still Loves Me, whose first foal is a yearling filly by Solomini named Walk in Faith. 

“I foaled him, and that mare was special,” Sickler said. “Talk to Me Jimmy got stepped on during the race, but he still ran a massive race, and I know where he gets it from because that mare was tough right up until the day she died.”

Sickler said the then-first-year stallion Modernist, a son of Uncle Mo who stands at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky, was an attractive offering as a graded stakes-winner both as a sophomore and 4-year-old.

“We saw Modernist standing his first year and thought to give him a shot,” Sickler said. “We like to breed proven mares to beginning stallions. He complimented this mare, and I knew she would bring the durability, but she would tend to throw smaller foals, so he [Modernist] added the size to it.” 

The result was a foal that immediately flashed his class to Sickler and the entire Majestic View Farms team.

“Out of all the foals – and I’m not just saying this because he’s on the Derby trail – he was by far the nicest,” Sickler said. “You could tell right away how smart he is. His second day with a halter on, he was all business. You would walk him, and he was special. He was by far the best-put-together foal from the mare. He came out as perfect as you’d want and just got better and better.”

Talk to Me Jimmy went on to sell to Rodriguez for $31,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and graduated at second asking, scoring by 5 1/2 lengths in a state-bred maiden in November at the Big A ahead of his Withers score.

As a New York-bred, Talk to Me Jimmy has plenty of options going forward, both in open company and in the lucrative series of state-bred stakes on offer on The New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit. Sickler said the New York program is the best offered in North American racing.

“It’s by far a huge benefit to be in New York. We get half the breeders’ awards for him [Talk to Me Jimmy] because he’s by a Kentucky stallion, but even so, it’s a monstrous amount of money compared to other states,” Sickler said. “You can’t beat the New York program, and that’s why we were excited Rudy bought him at Keeneland – we knew he would bring him back to New York.”

Sickler said Talk to My Jimmy’s performance caused a buzz around the farm that still hasn’t quieted days later.

“My boss always says we’re kind of the underdogs compared to some of the bigger farms in New York, but he said, ‘see, we’re going to come out of nowhere and surprise everybody,’” Sickler said. “It’s been very special.”

Majestic View Farms currently stands two stallions privately: Shatak, a 16-year-old Grade 3-placed son of Cryptoclearance; and Hangover Kid, a Grade 2-winning son of Lemon Drop Kid who produced multiple stakes-winner Miss J McKay. The farm is also the foaling site of dual Grade 1-winner Diversify, Grade 3-placed Vacation Dance, and stakes-winners A Bit o’Irish Sass and Wait a Minute.

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G1-placed Talkin possible to return in G3 Gotham

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding and R.A. Hill Stable’s Talkin has been away from the races since a distant ninth in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen on December 6, but could make his return in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on February 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack, according to trainer Danny Gargan.

“It’s back to one-turn and who knows who will show up there,” Gargan said of the 50-25-15-10-5 qualifier for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. “It’s an option.”

Talkin was a debut winner sprinting seven furlongs in August at Saratoga Race Course, in a race that saw subsequent Grade 3-winner and well-regarded Kentucky Derby hopeful Further Ado finish third. Talkin went on to finish second to runaway winner Napoleon Solo in the Grade 1 Champagne going a one-turn mile in October at Belmont at the Big A ahead of the Remsen, where he contested two turns for the first time and was well-beaten after tracking in fourth early.

Gargan said he felt Talkin, who is currently training at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, was not in peak form for the Remsen.

“He’s doing really good right now,” Gargan said. “I babied him and had some slow works in him, and I think I just brought over a real flat horse. He just wasn’t himself.”

Talkin, a $600,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is by Good Magic and out of the winning Tiznow mare Rote, who also produced Grade 2-placed Royal Obsession – dam of last year’s Grade 1 Cotillion winner Clicquot – and dual stakes-placed Jumby Bay.

Another talented Good Magic progeny currently in Gargan’s barn is 4-year-old filly Snowyte, who was an eye-catching 11 1/4-length optional claiming winner traveling 1 1/16 miles on February 1 at Gulfstream Park, an effort that garnered a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Kentucky homebred for Don Alberto Stable was second to Scottish Lassie in the 2024 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont at the Big A, and has finished first or second in 3-of-4 starts around two turns.

Gargan said Snowyte could head to the Big A for the nine-furlong Listed $175,000 Top Flight on March 29 as a possible stepping-stone to the Grade 2 Doubledogdare on April 17 at Keeneland.

“She won impressively the other day, and she’s really gotten better with age,” Gargan said. “She ran the biggest number she’s ever run, and in her two-turn races, she’s never run worse than second other than the Breeders’ Cup. We could go from there to the Doubledogdare or something like that.”

Out of the dual stakes-winning War Front mare Snow Fall, Snowyte is a half-sister to Snow Dancer, dam of Dancing Groom, who finished third in the Grade 1 Champagne in 2023.

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Royal Riddle set for stakes debut in $135K Damon Runyon; Creole Chrome points to G3 Gotham

Jordan Wycoff’s Royal Riddle will look to make his stakes debut a winning one in Saturday’s $135,000 Damon Runyon, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Damon Runyon [Race 4] and East View [Race 2] were both re-scheduled from the canceled February 7 program here and join the featured Say Florida Sandy [Race 9] on Saturday’s 10-race card. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

Royal Riddle has made all five starts in state-bred company at the Big A, including a fifth-place effort on November 9 to eventual Listed Withers-winner Talk to Me Jimmy. The Practical Joke colt raced with blinkers off and overcame a stumbled start in a strong follow-up effort on December 5 to finish second to Fourth and One traveling a one-turn mile.

The improving bay broke through last out with a cutback to six furlongs, stalking and pouncing to a half-length score over Hurricane Kaz and earning a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure. The third-place finisher of that event, B Thedonald, returned to win a similar state-bred sprint here last week and earn a 78 Beyer.

“He’s a really big colt. There’s a lot to him. He was immature and it’s taken him awhile to grow into himself,” Sharp said. “I still don’t think he’s there yet, but he’s come a long way as far as his physical progression and getting that frame to tighten up a little bit.

“Last time, I thought he finally looked like a horse that was fit,” Sharp continued. “He’s a big, heavy horse and it’s taken awhile to get him to the fitness level we want and get him muscled up like he should be. I think he’ll take another step forward and with what he’s in against, he’s going to have to.”

Sharp noted that he felt Royal Riddle didn’t need blinkers after putting them on for two starts following a runner-up try on debut here in September.

“We put them on because he lacked engagement, but that was probably more a testament to his lack of maturity,” Sharp said. “I thought a couple of those races; he made a middle move and didn’t finish like he should have. So, I took them off and I was much happier with the way he ran.”

Manny Franco will pilot Royal Riddle from post 5-of-6 on Saturday, taking over from Kendrick Carmouche, who has the call on stakes-placed Combat Mission.

Sharp credited Carmouche with cutting Royal Riddle back in distance last out.

“I thought the horse was a little more two-turns, more of a route horse, and Kendrick was the one that asked me to cut him back in distance. He seemed to do well on the cutback last time,” Sharp said. “He’s a horse that’s taken a little time to figure out what he wants to do, but I think we’re honing in on it a little bit now. Hopefully, he takes another step forward.”

Sharp is making arrangements to send Three Diamonds Farm’s Louisiana-bred Creole Chrome to New York for the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on February 28 here.

The one-turn mile for sophomores provides 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and headlines a lucrative card that includes the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs, the Listed $150,000 Stymie at one mile for older horses, and the Listed one-mile $200,000 Busher for 3-year-old fillies, offering 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

Creole Chrome, by Volatile and out of 2009 Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks-winner Funny Moon, was purchased for $55,000 at the Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale.

“He’s a Louisiana-bred but he doesn’t know it. He acts like a nice horse, so we’re going to give him a chance in the Gotham,” Sharp said. “I think he’s a horse that will definitely respond well to more distance. He’s an exciting horse to have in the barn. The waters will get a little deeper for him, but hopefully he can rise to the occasion.”

He has made three career starts, all in six-furlong sprints versus fellow state-breds at Fair Grounds, beginning with a 4 3/4-length debut romp on November 20 over next-out winners Dickie T [2nd], Wherethehitsare [3rd], and Go Get Trae [7th].

Creole Chrome returned on December 13 and finished a hard fought one-length third in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile.

“I think he was a little quick back off his maiden,” Sharp said. “We might have surprised him by asking a lot of him in a short time, that’s all.”

Creole Chrome scored a redemptive effort last out in a second-level allowance on January 18, posting a head score over Tiz Mary’s Comet. The winning effort earned an 87 Beyer.

“He has a lot of heart. I do think with a little more distance he won’t have to chase as much,” Sharp said. “He’s still figuring it out. I expect him to show some maturity on the stretch-out, for sure.”

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The Wine Steward fits $135K Say Florida Sandy

David Staudacher and Paradise Farms Corp.’s Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward is back against fellow New York-breds in Saturday’s $135,000 Say Florida Sandy, a seven-furlong sprint for older state-breds, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Mike Maker, the 5-year-old Vino Rosso bay last ran an unthreatening sixth versus open company in the six-furlong Thanksgiving Classic in November at Fair Grounds Race Course. He was last-of-9 through the half-mile and made a mild late rally for a six-length defeat to Wendelssohn.

The Wine Steward’s last two efforts versus state-bred company were far more successful, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure for a 2 1/4-length score in the 6 1/2-furlong Hudson in October at Belmont at the Big A and finishing a head second to Doc Sullivan in the seven-furlong John Morrissey in July at Saratoga Race Course. Between these efforts was a sixth in the open 1 1/16-mile Presque Isle Mile over synthetic in September.

“He’s doing good,” Staudacher said. “Last time, he should’ve been in it a little earlier. It’s nice to get him back in New York. We are excited about this race. He loves New York, so that is why we are back here. And we love the state-bred purses, they’re excellent.”

The Wine Steward is 3-for-4 in New York-bred races, including a head victory in the Funny Cide as a juvenile at Saratoga. He followed that performance with a half-length second to Locked in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and two more close seconds in a pair of Grade 3s as a sophomore. He scored an open-company stakes victory last year in Oaklawn Park’s Listed Fifth Season traveling a two-turn mile.

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward was a $340,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He has banked $747,010 through a lifetime record of 14-5-4-1.

The Say Florida Sandy is slated as Race 9 on Saturday’s 10-race card, which also features two rescheduled state-bred stakes from February 7 with the Damon Runyon in Race 4 and the East View in Race 2. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, Zilla Racing Stables, P Shooter Stable and Staudacher’s Arctic Beast headlines the $135,000 Damon Runyon, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred sophomores.

Trained by Maker, the Yaupon dark bay is 3-for-3 versus fellow state-breds, including romps in the 5 1/2-furlong Aspirant and six-furlong New York Breeders’ Futurity in the fall at Finger Lakes Racetrack after a debut graduation at Saratoga. Most recently, Arctic Beast was second behind gate-to-wire winner Express Kid in the Listed Springboard Mile around two turns on December 20 at Remington Park.

“He ran a great race last time,” said Staudacher. “This will be a pretty good spot for him. We’re excited to get him back there to New York and take advantage of the New York-bred purses. I think this is the perfect distance for him. I think he will be right there.”

Bred by Rockridge Stud, Saratoga Glen Farm and Beal’s Racing Stable, Arctic Beast, a $275,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale, is out of the dual stakes-winning Frost Giant mare Frostie Anne – a half-sister to dual stakes-winner Freudie Anne.

One to keep an eye on is Paradise Farms Corp., Hooties Racing and Staudacher’s Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye. The Yaupon bay, also trained by Maker, set the pace last out in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Lecomte on January 17 at Fair Grounds before fading to eighth. He was previously a close third over that course and distance in the Listed Gun Runner in December, after restricted stakes wins in the Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten in August at Thistledown and the Best of Ohio Juvenile in October at Mahoning Valley.

“We’re just going to kind of reevaluate and see what’s next,” Staudacher said. “He’s had some tough races. He goes out in front. We need to find a nice spot for him.”

The Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile on February 28 at Aqueduct and a 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifier, could come under consideration.

“Probably yes,” said Staudacher. “That’s probably his best distance, I would think.”

Staudacher claimed Light the Way out of a second in January here and the 6-year-old Justify gelding’s first effort for him was a pacesetting fourth in Friday’s seven-furlong Listed $150,000 Toboggan here. Trained by Maker, Light the Way was pressured by Victory Way through the half-mile in 45.73 seconds and finished a 4 1/4-length fourth to Be You.

“He ran a good race. He really doesn’t stop,” Staudacher said. “That race, those were all just pretty tough horses, so we’ll kind of see how he comes out of it and reevaluate.”

Light the Way posted an 11-5-2-1 record for his previous conditioner Linda Rice among a 13-6-2-1 ledger last year. Overall, he is 27-7-4-6 with $472,202 in earnings and was haltered for $100,000 by Staudacher. He may be considered for the one-turn mile Listed Stymie on Gotham Day at Aqueduct.

“We just liked how competitive he was,” Staudacher said. “He tries hard every time. He really just doesn’t stop on the lead. He keeps on going. It’s just that he’s got to get a better trip.” 

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Combat Mission on the improve for $135K Damon Runyon

Whisper Hill Farm’s stakes-placed Combat Mission will look to build upon his sharp maiden score in Saturday’s $135,000 Damon Runyon, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Damon Runyon [Race 4] and East View [Race 2] were both re-scheduled from the canceled February 7 program here and join the featured Say Florida Sandy [Race 9] on Saturday’s 10-race card. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by John Kimmel, Combat Mission added blinkers two starts back on December 6 here and finished a game second in the $500,000 Great White Way, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible state-sired juveniles. There, he briefly took command inside the eighth pole but could not fend off the wide-rallying Sunday Boy, who scored by 2 3/4-lengths.

“I don't think he saw that horse [Sunday Boy] on his outside, but I think he's even better now than he was then,” Kimmel said. “He's been a high-energy horse his whole life, but I think he's finally figuring it out now. The blinkers definitely seem to focus him.”

The Combatant colt followed that effort by graduating at fifth asking traveling a one-turn mile on December 31 here versus fellow state-breds, stalking and pouncing to an early lead inside the five-sixteenths. He opened up a sizable advantage from the top of the lane and widened to win by 5 3/4-lengths in a final time of 1:39.85. The winning effort garnered a career-best 77 Beyer Speed Figure.

He has worked back four times, including a bullet three-eighths in 35 seconds flat this morning over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He's doing real well. He's improved and now he really knows what's going on. I think he fits well in that spot,” Kimmel said. “He blew out in 35 this morning and galloped out in hand. He's eating great and feeling great, so let's see if he continues the forward move.”

Kendrick Carmouche has piloted Combat Mission through all five career starts and retains the mount from post 2-of-6 on Saturday here.

“Kendrick likes him. He's been breezing him since last summer and he's been thrown off at least once - he knows the horse very well,” Kimmel said. “We decided that [adding blinkers] was what we needed to do. It might have prevented him from seeing that horse coming, but the long and the short of it is he's better with the blinkers on.

“I think eventually he'll be better going longer - two turns will help him,” Kimmel added. “He's very rateable and he's got a lot of stamina. He has so much energy and just never seems to be tired.”

Combat Mission, out of the Liam’s Map mare Karley O, was purchased for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale. He was bred in the Empire State by Ivery Sisters Racing and Flying P Stable.

“He's a nice-sized horse, bigger than average. He stands over a lot of ground. Knock wood, he's been very sound,” Kimmel said. “We've never had any issues with him, which is a blessing. We'll see after this race if we think he has the ability to go to open company.”