Joe Labozzetta Photo

Stone Smuggler slips by in time in $500K NYSSS Fifth Avenue

by Mary Eddy

NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and SunsetRidge Racing Stable’s Stone Smuggler made all the right moves to notch her second career stakes victory in Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven-furlong sprint for eligible state-sired juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jorge Abreu, the New York-bred daughter of Honest Mischief gave her sire a sweep of the two stallion stakes on today’s card at the Big A after Sacrosanct captured the $500,000 Great White Way division one race earlier. She adds to a maiden-breaking score in the 5 1/2-furlong state-bred Lady Finger in September at Finger Lakes Racetrack and improved from a prominent third last out in the local state-bred Key Cents on November 17.

Dan Zanatta, co-managing partner of NY Final Furlong Racing Stable, praised Sequel Stallions’ popular young sire Honest Mischief, who will stand in 2025 for $7,500. Stone Smuggler was purchased for $57,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred Preferred Yearling Sale, and hopes are also high for their other Honest Mischief filly Oklahoma Smoke, who broke her maiden impressively one week ago here.

"We ended up buying four Honest Mischiefs pretty early at the weanling and yearling sales. They were all really balanced - maybe a little shorter legged horses, but they all had tremendous hips, great girths, great toplines and great walking motion,” Zanatta said. “We love New York-sired horses to go after because typically we can buy the best ones - we can afford to buy the best ones. We bought Oklahoma Smoke and we bought her as the two best Honest Mischiefs we found of the filly crop and it's worked out for us.”

Guided to victory by Jose Lezcano, Stone Smuggler emerged sharpest-of-11 from the outermost post, but was unhurried as a quartet of foes led by the rail-skimming Bam’s Bliss Kiss all made a dash for the front as the opening quarter-mile elapsed in 22.72 seconds over the fast footing.

Bam’s Bliss Kiss remained in front approaching the turn as Stunning Sugar, Mischief Lady and Blossoming Erudite battled for second position and Stone Smuggler tracked wide and patiently in the middle of the tightly-bunched field. Bam’s Bliss Kiss and Mischief Lady remained at the front entering the turn as Blossoming Erudite toiled and Stunning Sugar quickly backpedaled, making things tight for Queen Atlas and causing her to lose ground significantly and shuffle to the rear of the field.

All the while, Lezcano kept Stone Smuggler in the clear in the four path and commenced his bid past the tiring Blossoming Erudite as Mischief Lady stuck her head in front of a stubborn Bam’s Bliss Kiss through the half-mile in 46.59. Stone Smuggler was no longer alone on the far outside as Princess Mischief and post-time favorite Boston’s Phinest ranged up even wider from well off the pace and gave chase into the lane with Stone Smuggler chipping away at the tiring pacesetters.

Boston’s Phinest spun her wheels and Princess Mischief appeared to be rolling down the center of the course under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, but Stone Smuggler inched clear and dug in valiantly to turn back her foe, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:24.90.

Material Girl found her best stride late under Dylan Davis and bested Princess Mischief for place honors by a neck at the wire. Boston’s Phinest, D’s a Rock, Mischief Lady, Storm Changer, Bam’s Bliss Kiss, Blossoming Erudite, Queen Atlas and Stunning Sugar completed the order of finish. Idyll Gossip was scratched.

Lezcano, aboard for the first time in the afternoon, said the filly was professional in her first start beyond six furlongs.

“She ran a good race. I think the seven-eighths was no problem for her,” Lezcano said. “The post helped my filly today. She broke clean and I sat where I wanted to be. When I asked her, she went on and won the race."

The Fifth Avenue marked the largest purse won this year by Abreu, whose memorable season included his first graded stakes win with Scottish Lassie in the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette in October here.

Abreu said he was pleased with the trip Lezcano worked out.

“She really ran well. I was a little concerned about the seven-eighths with her. I didn't know if she could go that far - but she did it,” Abreu said. “I was a little bit concerned [about the outside post] but the race had a lot of speed inside of her, so that worked out well. I said to Jose, 'whoever takes the lead, just park right outside of them.' Stretching out I didn't want to see her fighting for the lead. Jose rode a great race.”

Zanatta said the Fifth Avenue has been the long-term goal for Stone Smuggler.

"We have never had a horse in this race before. Over the past 2-or-3 years, we specifically went out and bought horses for this race,” Zanatta said. “We bought this filly at the yearling sale with this race in mind. So, 18 months later to be in this race, never mind win it, is a success. Very rarely do you buy a horse a year and half before a race target and actually get there."

Abreu added Stone Smuggler will now head to Florida and prepare for the seven-furlong state-bred $125,000 East View on February 8 here.

Bred in the Empire State by Eaton and Thorne, Inc., Stone Smuggler is out of the winning Bustin Stones mare Bustinattheseams. She banked $275,000 in victory while returning $7.80 on a $2 win ticket.

Dylan Davis, aboard the Chad Brown-trained runner-up Material Girl, said he was proud of the daughter of Central Banker’s effort as a maiden in a competitive stakes in just her third career start.

“She ran great. I breezed her a couple times and she showed that what she was doing in the morning translated to here really nicely,” Davis said. “I was excited for her to run today and she performed well. She came with a good finish and second was really good.”

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a 10-race card. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.

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

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.