Joe Labozzetta Photo

New York-bred Scythian among a plethora of New York-based Breeders' Cup contenders

by NYRA Press Office

The 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships slated for Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California, will see a host of New York-based horses compete across the two-day, 14-race event, including Lawrence Goichman’s New York-homebred Scythian in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which coincides with Closing Weekend of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, kicks off on Friday with five races on its Future Stars program, highlighted by the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Aqueduct will host a nine-race card Friday at Belmont at the Big A, featuring the $135,000 Atlantic Beach in Race 8. First post Friday is 12:40 p.m. with the property open for simulcasting from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, the Big A will host a stakes-laden 11-race card led by a trio of Listed $150,000 stakes in the Nashua [Race 2], Artie Schiller [Race 4] and Tempted [Race 10] as well as the $135,000 Stewart Manor [Race 8]. First post Saturday is 11:20 a.m. Eastern.

The Big A will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday so racing fans can watch and wager on the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup. Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program is headlined by the Grade 1, $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

All Breeders’ Cup races will be available for wagering on NYRABets.com, including multi-race options on both days.

Scythian, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is undefeated in two starts since taking to turf following a runner-up debut effort August 4 sprinting six furlongs over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

For her second outing, Scythian switched surfaces and stretched out to 1 1/16-miles against males on August 30 over firm Spa footing and the talented bay responded with a gritty head win over fellow state-breds under returning rider Junior Alvarado.

“I remember talking to Bill several days before and he had breezed her on the turf and he said it was outstanding,” Goichman recalled. “I don't think he's used that word much, but it really was outstanding. He told me he was going to run her against the boys and although that's a lot to ask, she acted like a pro. She's kind to herself and she made a lovely move to finish first. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Last out, Scythian prevailed in an eventful renewal of the local Grade 2 Miss Grillo, a 1 1/16-mile turf test offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. There, she saved ground in fourth position under Alvarado as the Chad Brown-trained Goichman homebred Marvelous Madison set the tempo in a stacked 12-horse field. But Marvelous Madison bolted at the quarter-pole, causing Grace and Grit and Lavender Disaster to check while being carried wide on the course.

Scythian, unscathed, cut the corner and held a two-length advantage at the stretch call, staying on strong to the wire to score by 2 1/2-lengths over a rallying Virgin Colada, who will reoppose Friday.

“She handled everything so professionally and just spurted away,” Goichman said, noting that Marvelous Madison was sent to Dr. Larry Bramlage after the race for a full evaluation where a knee issue was discovered. As a result, Marvelous Madison will have 60 days of turnout in Ocala, Florida, before resuming her career.

The “Win and You’re In” score is a victory for Goichman’s breeding operation and is a testament to the strength of the New York-bred program with Scythian being a daughter of two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year Tiz the Law, who notched Grade 1 wins in the 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers.

The second generation homebred, who was foaled at Stone Bridge Farm in Gansevoort, N.Y., is out of the stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Dean Henry - a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred Read the Footnotes.

Dean Henry’s dam, the Al Nasr mare Baydon Belle, was acquired by Goichman in Europe. Goichman, the founder and President of SCG Capital Corporation, is a Cornell University graduate and received his MBA from NYU. He said he wanted to be a veterinarian earlier in life and often names his horses after Deans from Cornell.

“Dean Henry was the Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences [CALS} at Cornell University,” Goichman said. “Dean Henry was a stakes-winning horse and was a half-sister to Read the Footnotes.”

Scythian has a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred half-sister named Dancing Dean, who is by Constitution – the sire of Tiz the Law – that is under consideration for the Grade 3, $300,000 Long Island going 11 furlongs on turf on November 10 here.

Goichman noted that Dean Henry, bred to Jack Christopher this year, has enjoyed her best success with descendants of Tapit - the sire of both Constitution and multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Tacitus, who sired a yearling colt out of Dean Henry that is likely to head to Mott.

“Scythian is light on her feet. She's a joy. Her half-sister Dancing Dean has some ability, also. We have some nice black type in that family,” Goichman said. “Tapit was the key. It seemed like what we were getting via Tapit suited her. I believe we'll be sending Dean Henry back to Tiz the Law in 2025. The Tapit line is doing well with that family.”

The 80-year-old Goichman, a New York-native that stepped into horse ownership in the late 1980s, indicated he is proud to represent the Empire State program at the Breeders’ Cup where Scythian is one of two New York-breds competing along with the Mike Maker-trained Out On Bail [Juvenile Turf Sprint].

“It's fulfilling. It's exciting. It makes you smile,” Goichman said. “It's a lot of work and sometimes luck pays off. Each year you make decisions on the broodmare band, and we have about 10 or 11 now. You have to make decisions on culling if you want to improve and upgrade.

“Getting a free ride to the Breeders’ Cup is wonderful and since I breed and sell horses, it makes the pedigree look real good to have that graded win,” Goichman added.

Scythian will mark Goichman's first start at the Breeders' Cup as an owner, as he looks to improve on the finish of his homebred Run Curtis Run, who ran 12th in the 2021 Juvenile Turf Sprint for owners Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb. In 2022, Goichman was to be represented as an owner by his homebred Lachaise in the Juvenile Turf; as well as Alluring Angel in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but neither made their race.

Win or lose on Friday, Goichman said he will hold on tight to the memory of winning the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on home turf at the Big A.

“You keep trying and every so often you get a Scythian,” Goichman said. “No matter what happens at the Breeders’ Cup, I have a picture of a great memory of her finishing up that race at Aqueduct. It's rare that something special like that happens in life and you're there to observe it.”

And if she were to continue her winning trend on Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf?

“Wouldn’t that be a hoot and a half,” said Goichman, with a laugh.

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A closer look at NYRA-based trainers with starters at the Breeders' Cup:

Jorge Abreu: Scottish Lassie [Juvenile Fillies]

Chad Brown: Virgin Colada [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Chancer McPatrick [Juvenile], Zulu Kingdom [Juvenile Turf], Ways and Means [Filly and Mare Sprint], Raging Sea [Distaff], Sierra Leone [Classic], Domestic Product [Dirt Mile], Carl Spackler [Mile], Chili Flag [Mile]

Mark Casse: La Cara [Juvenile Fillies], Abientot [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Nitrogen [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Vixen [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Dream On [Juvenile Turf], Win for the Money [Mile]

Christophe Clement: Big Invasion [Turf Sprint], Far Bridge [Turf]

Brad Cox: Immersive [Juvenile Fillies], Highland Falls [Classic], Federal Judge [Sprint], Saudi Crown [Dirt Mile]

Danny Gargan: Snowyte [Juvenile Fillies]

Saffie Joseph, Jr. : Soul of an Angel [Filly and Mare Sprint], Batucada [Distaff], Honor D Lady [Distaff], Skippylongstocking [Dirt Mile]

Joe Lee: May Day Ready [Juvenile Fillies Turf]

Mike Maker: Out On Bail [Juvenile Turf Sprint]

Kenny McPeek: Thorpedo Anna [Distaff], Rattle N Roll [AE- Classic]

Bill Mott: Scythian [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Scylla [Filly and Mare Sprint], Arthur’s Ride [Classic], War Like Goddess [Filly and Mare Turf]

Todd Pletcher: Gate to Wire [Juvenile Turf Sprint], Mentee [Juvenile Turf], Noble Confessor [Juvenile Turf], Tenacious Leader [Juvenile Turf], Candied [Distaff], Grand Sonata [Turf], Fierceness [Classic], Tapit Trice [Classic]

George Weaver: Governor Sam [Juvenile Turf Sprint]

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New York-based riders will feature prominently at the Breeders' Cup:

Junior Alvarado: Scythian [JFT], Arthur’s Ride [BCC], War Like Goddess [FMT]

Javier Castellano: Ferocious [JUV]

Dylan Davis: Quickick [JF], Abientot [JFT]

Manny Franco: Immersive [JF], Totally Justified [JFT], Isivunguvungu [TS], Sunset Glory [FMT]

Jose Lezcano: Scottish Lassie [JF], Kilwin [JFT]

Irad Ortiz, Jr.: Gate to Wire [JTS], Vodka With a Twist [JF], Acquitted [AE- JFT], Gaming [JUV], Tenacious Leader [JT], Vahva [FMS], Cogburn [TS], Candied [BCD], Tapit Trice [BCC], Full Count Felicia [FMT], Federal Judge [BCS], Chili Flag [BCM], Skippylongstocking [DM]

Jose Ortiz: Nitrogen [JFT], Dream On [JT], Zeitlos [FMS], Rattle N Roll [AE- BCC], Didia [FMT], More Than Looks [BCM], Cagliostro [DM]

Flavien Prat: Nooni [JF], Virgin Colada [JFT], Chancer McPatrick [JUV], Zulu Kingdom [JT]. Ways and Means [FMS], Howard Wolowitz [TS], Raging Sea [BCD], Sierra Leone [BCC], Mullikin [BCS], Goliad [BCM], Domestic Product [DM], Moira [FMT]

Joel Rosario: Anshoda [JFT], Jonathan’s Way [JUV], Arzak [TS], Far Bridge [BCT], Senor Buscador [BCC], Full Serrano [DM]

Ricardo Santana, Jr.: La Cara [JF], Batucada [BCD], Skelly [BCS]

John Velazquez: Vixen [JFT], Mentee [JT], There Goes Harvard [BCT], Fierceness [BCC], Straight No Chaser [BCS], Pipeline [DM]

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A total of 15 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge races were contested at NYRA tracks in 2024:

TRACK – DATE – RACE – WINNER – WAYI

BSRF – June 8 - G1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap – National Treasure – Dirt Mile

BSRF – June 8 - G1 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing – Cogburn – Turf Sprint

BSRF – June 8 - G1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford – Randomized – Distaff

Saratoga – August 3 – G1 Whitney – Arthur’s Ride – Classic

Saratoga – August 11 – G1 FanDuel Fourstardave – Carl Spackler – Mile

Saratoga – August 24 – G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer – Far Bridge – Turf

Saratoga – August 24 – G1 Ballerina – Society – Filly and Mare Sprint

Saratoga – August 31 – G2 Flower Bowl – Idea Generation – Filly and Mare Turf

Saratoga - September 1 – G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup – Highland Falls – Classic

Belmont at the Big A - September 28 – G3 Vosburgh – Mufasa – Sprint

Belmont at the Big A – September 28 – G2 Pilgrim – Zulu Kingdom – Juvenile Turf

Belmont at the Big A – October 4 – G3 Futurity – Mentee – Juvenile Turf Sprint

Belmont at the Big A – October 5 – G1 Champagne – Chancer McPatrick – Juvenile

Belmont at the Big A – October 5 – G1 Frizette – Scottish Lassie – Juvenile Fillies

Belmont at the Big A – October 6 – G2 Miss Grillo – Scythian – Juvenile Fillies Turf

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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