Amazing Dave
Update as of 5/12/08

The newDave had a great trip to run 2^nd in a very aggressive race on Sunday. He got beat by a head in the 1 & 1/16^th mile Kingston (we was robbed - they shortened the race this year).  For a replay of the race, click on the below link:

http://www.racereplays.com/nybreds/index.cfm?racename=sunday3

I don't know about you, but I saw a horse with renewed confidence and enthusiasm. The jockey confirmed my suspicion of why Dave was sitting close and kicked into gear at the top of the lane like he did. Eibar said Dave put him into position and took off at the top of the stretch. There we were, making a move to the front to become the horse to catch for a change! Eibar said he was basically just along for the ride. It was so exciting and the two leaders finished well ahead of the pack and really closed on a yielding turf course. They went 1:42 and change, which jumped Dave back up to his customary very good beyer of 97. I am telling you, this is a new horse at 7 years young and I think we will see a lot of exciting things going forward. Eibar Coa apologized for not expecting the ride he got and the response he received from Dave right from the break. He does want to ride him back - now that he's had a race on the Amazing Dave, he's hooked!

Sweet Madness

Wow Wow WOW WOW  WOW

Sweetie kicked ass in the 6^th race today at Belmont. She sat a distant 7^th until the ½ mile pole and just sat there cool as a cucumber and then before entering the turn she kicked into gear and never looked back. Still 6 lengths out of it at the top of the stretch she flew down the stretch, collared the leaders and flew home!. The fractions on yielding turf were phenomenal! 22, 45 and 2, 57 and 3, the 3/4s in 1:10 and 2. That is some filly and boy did she ever move up on the turf!! Tom Bush was as giddy as a school girl and said he was headed to his Limo and won't stop 'till he hits Toga and the bar at the Parting Glass!! Hey guys we are a force to be reckoned with on the turf going short and long!! Winning Move, move over, her comes Parting Glass Racing!!

The streak is alive!!   Congratulations To Everybody Again!!

Ambidaxtrous
Update as of 4/30/08

Congratulations!

Amber was freaking AWESOME in the 7^th race today at Belmont. She broke sharp relaxed in 7^th place going down the backside, made a slow but trepidacious move to the front, got blocked, got checked, had to alter course, kicked into gear and flew home by 3. Rajiv hand rode her to the wire and she just floated over the yielding turf course! When I finally got Tom Bush on the phone he was giggling like a school kid. His words to me" This filly sure has a tiger in her tank!!" And OH Boy she certainly does!! Congratulations to every body! If this isn't Cute Cognac all over again I don't know what is! Yahooooooo!!

Ambidaxtrous
Update as of 4/11/08

Amber WON the 5^th race at Aqueduct today!  She broke from the 7 hole with Rajiv Maragh up, who vindicated himself with a beautiful ride.  She broke in the pack, got a little jostled going down the front side, then settled into position nicely. Rajiv noticed right away that her stride was so much longer and she was so much more comfortable running on the grassy surface. On the backside, a horse shot by Amber but Rajiv was able to hold her in position. When they turned for home, that was ALL SHE WROTE and Amber finished with a 6 length lead in a hand ride. 

Tom Bush says that after this performance, she'll be ripe for her next condition, the A Other Than against NY Breds on the turf going long.  So far she came out of the race fine and we'll keep you posted. And oh boy, do we have a horse headed to Saratoga this year!

One of her owners was lucky enough to see the race live, and sent this note, "It was one of the best experiences I've ever had?.to quote Rajiv "this horse is a freak!" (That's a good thing for those not familiar with this slang!)

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY!

Sweet Madness
Update as of 1/28/08

How SWEET it is!

Sweetie won the 4^th race yesterday at Aqueduct!  With Alan Garcia up, she broke perfectly, sat patiently until the final stretch, then blew by the competition for a solid first place finish!  

Tom said that she's still a handful and is going to need a strong rider because, as you could see as she was coming down the stretch, she was looking around, but winning a race in your 3^rd start is a wonderful thing.  So far, Sweetie came out of the race fine. 

Deewanee
Update as of 1/17/08

Deewanee won her race today at Aqueduct!  It was the first race of the day with Rajiv Maragh up.  Post-race Tom Bush said, "Get the Guinness out ~ I'll be right there!"  Tom Bush has always liked this filly and is delighted that she won the race and will gain some confidence for the future.  She ran without blinkers, the jockey rode her perfectly, and Tom Bush's plan was executed to a "T".  Deewanee came out of her race fine.

And how about this?: if you can't make it to the races, do what owner Paula Hayes did - she sent her sister to Aqueduct, who saw the race and got into the win picture holding up a big photo of Paula! How's that for Parting Glass Racing ingenuity?

Congratulations to everybody!

Amazing Dave
Update as of 11/11/07

"And Dave is roaring down the center of the racetrack!...and here comes Dave!  It's Dave to win!" 

As called by Tom Durkin, November 10, 2007 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Parting Glass Racing is thrilled and proud to report that Dave WON the $150,000 Grade 2 Red Smith H. Stakes Race at Aqueduct on Saturday, November 10^th.  "Jersey Joe" Bravo took Dave on the perfect ride, showing infiinite patience as Bravo watched the top 3 favorites pass him during the first 2/3rds of the race. As he made the last turn, Bravo let Dave "do his thing", and was rewarded with an incredible first place finish.

Dave came out of the race just fine and will ship to Florida for some much deserved R&R.  In the meantime, it'll be champagne for all AGAIN this Thursday at the Parting Glass Pub.  We couldn't be more proud - a Grade 2 stakes win!  Yahooo!

Cute Cognac
Update as of 10/22/07

Congratulations to Everybody!  Cute Cognac won the 5^th race at Belmont on Saturday, October 20^th, in the Office Miss Stakes race. She broke sharply from the gate, relaxed in the rear, and then tried to make her way through the pack with some jostling and jarring. Eibar said, "I show her the hole, and she take me through it.  She a very very nice filly".  Come to our meeting on Thursday night ~ we'll be celebrating her win and watching the replay!

Cute Cognac
Update as of 9/16/07

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!

DOUBLE WOW!!!!!!!

CC WON the 6^th race at Belmont today. It was an allowance optional claimer on the turf going a 1 & 1/8^th . The jockey, Eibar Coa, told Barclay that he had her in on the rail and luckily there were horses on the outside of her because she kept wanting to pull into the middle of the racetrack. Right from the start she was eager to go, and Eibar kept her inside horses until the time was right, and then he let her loose, and she just glided past the finish line and pulled away after the finish line.  What a gutsy little filly! She just loves to run, and she bested her career time by almost a full second, going 149 and 2, so that should move her number up. Now she moves up to the next condition.  CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY!

Amazing Dave
Update as of 9/16/07

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!

DOUBLE WOW!!!!!!!

Dave WON the 9^th race at Belmont today. It was the Ashley T. Cole with Alan Garcia aboard. I was elated to see CC win, just tickeled to death, but our big project was Dave coming up in the 9^th race with a new jockey.  This time, everything worked.  It was a nailbiter with Dave sitting out of the picture almost the entire race. Alan had a ton of patience to a point where he was making me nervous but he did exactly what we wanted him to do! He waited, took Dave to the outside where he had a clear run, and just got there with a photo finish, winning by a whisker!  Dave has vindicated himself, and our decision was vindicated by Alan Garcia by taking him outside and having a clear run to the wire.  It was an incredible race.  CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY!

Cute Cognac
Update as of 7/9/07

CONGRATULATIONS!  Cute Cognac won the 9^th race at Belmont yesterday, a win with many great implications for the future of this gutsy little filly. After Eibar Coa got off the horse, he said the filly took herself out of the gate and sprinted for the first 1/8^th of a mile to put herself in what Barclay described as the "sweet spot" behind the leader down in on the rail. The jockey did not want to fight her so he let her go and do her thing. As soon as she got in position, she relaxed and waited patiently until the magic moment came. She swished her tail and pinned her ears just before the wire because she did not like being hit with the whip. I can't blame her, can you?!! Many thanks to Barclay for spotting the perfect race for Cute Cognac ~ and he's just tickled to death with the way this filly's coming along.

Pouf Positve
Update as of 4/29/07

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Pouf finished first in the 9^th race at Aqueduct today!  It was a maiden claiming race for 3yo and up, going 1 mile on the dirt. After breaking in the air out of the gate with Eibar Coa up, Pouf steadily climbed from the outside, from 4^th, to 3^rd, to 2^nd, and finished in the lead by at least 8 lengths. It was an exciting finish with Pouf acting confident and relaxed.  What a nice win!  And it was so fun to watch on TV those who made it to the winner's circle for the photo.  That's what it's all about.

So far Pouf came out of the race fine. We'll have more details on Pouf and the jockey's version of the race tomorrow ~ in the meantime, congratulations to all the Pouf Positve owners - you deserve it, especially after your long wait to get to this point.  We couldn't be happier. 

HOORAY!

Amazing Dave
Change of Scene Suits Dave and Yields Kingston Victory

By Francis LaBelle Jr.

The Three Colleens Stable and Partingglass Stable's DAVE, making his second start for trainer Barclay Tagg, rallied from off the pace and won Sunday's 28th running of the $114,100 Kingston Handicap for New York-breds at nine furlongs on the "good" inner turf course by a length over Golden Commander.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, the 5-year-old Ends Well gelding bided his time behind dueling leaders Unnerving and Retribution, as they went in fractions of :23.32; :57.50 and 1:11.79, then kicked in late to win comfortably in 1:49.13.

Previously trained by John Hertler for the late Joe Gerrity, Dave was purchased by Tom Gallo for the partnership of Three Colleens Stable and Partingglass Stable who turned him over to their trainer, Barclay Tagg. Away from the races since last October, Dave, making his first start for new owners, finished a close-up second on April 28th, in an open NW-3X condition allowance turf race run at Aqueduct.

"I was worried about running back a little quick after he ran so big off the layoff," Tagg said. "He was feeling good, and the kid rode him perfectly. There were a bunch of nice horses in there. He looked to me like the kind of horse that always wanted to come off the pace and then make a quick burst. Everything worked out great today. We'll talk to the owners and find a race for him."
Castellano did well in giving Dave a patient ride.

"I saw Edgar Prado (aboard Golden Commander) move down the backstretch, but I didn't want to go with him," Castellano said. "It all worked out perfect. I went around horses at the quarter-pole and he was right there. He waits; he wants to hang out. (With) a horse like him, you have to move at the right moment."

Dave returned $12 to win to his backers in the crowd of 6,007 for his fifth victory in 23 career starts.

Golden Commander was strong in his first start since last July.

"He ran big, considering he was coming off a soft-tissue injury," said trainer Phil Serpe. "We're very proud of him and he should move forward off this race."

Pa Pa Da closed late for third, followed by Foreverness, Chestertown Slew, Certifiably Crazy, Irving's Doers, Retribution, No Parole, Charimount and Unnerving.

Spite the Devil, Dynergy, Touchdown Kid and Tergesti were all scratched as they were entered for the main track only.

Soul Possession
Looks like the 7's came up lucky for Soul Possession yesterday

...breaking from the 7th hole in the 7th race at Belmont. Barclay's instructions to Richard were to just sit back off the leaders, let her relax, and collect herself, and then make a run. That's exactly what Richard and Soul did. Richard said he noticed the rider on the horse in front of him lost the inside rein, and when he saw the rein flopping in the wind, he knew that would make room for him on the inside. So he saved ground and shot her in on the rail, and did what he needed to win. 

Soul showed speed and tenacity when the horse outside of her came back right at the end, but she dug in to win the prize. Everybody was real excited because she's coming back after a 9 month layoff and we were really just running her in this race to get her into a race and get her fit. The race went 1:09 and 3, so her numbers should move way up after this, and Barclay said it should set her up perfectly for her usual distance of a mile and 1/16th. She came out of the race fine and everything's good.

King of Clubs
At Mountaineer

There's an old saying in the horse biz: "the best hop is the drop". This adage certainly worked for us with King in the 4th race at Mountaineer tonight. The Jockey said he had so much horse he did not know what to do with him. He won by 8 and the jock really never sat on him. We still have him - Doug thinks the drop to maiden 10 probably scared people away. So he will get to run another time for us and maybe steal another race. He liked the track and never looked back. We will see how he comes out of the race and plan from there, but a win is a win and this one was a long time coming.

Christina's Melody
1st Race - Aqueduct - NW-1X Condition Allowance - State-bred Fillies and Mares, three year-olds and up - One Mile - Purse $44,000

CHRISTINA'S MELODY drew off through the stretch to win by six-lengths against a field of state-bred condition allowance fillies and mares. The NW-1X race was run over the main track at a mile. Owned by Three Colleens Stable, managed by David Stack, and Parting Glass Stable, a racing partnership group managed by Tom Gallo, Christina's Melody is trained by Barclay Tagg and was ridden to victory by leading apprentice jockey Channing Hill, who's winning with 12-percent of his mounts. Bred by Mia Gallo of Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge, N.Y. and Deborah Petrisak, who along with husband Dennis, own the beautiful Langpap Farm in Honeyoye Falls, which is south of Rochester, N.Y., Christina's Melody is by Unbridled's Song, and is out of the Deputy Minister mare, Adorable Minister, who's a half-sister to Gratiaen (Cure the Blues), who won the 2000 Albany Stakes run at Saratoga Race Course. The $26,400 winner's share of the purse qualifies and breeders (Gallo and Petrisak) for a $2,640 breeder's award and boosts the three-year-old gray filly's earnings to $63,395 in seven-lifetime starts.

Bubba Sparks
At Finger Lakes

Bubba WON the 9th race at Finger Lakes today and it was a long time coming. He broke on top from the outside post, dragged the jockey to the lead, and held on with a gutsy battle right down to the wire. You could almost feel the grit and determination of the Bubba man not letting the other horse get past him. It was a heart attack but Bubba is back in the winners circle a place he really likes to be. He won a race this day last year at Belmont when Bruce won the General Douglas McArthur with Clever Electrician. Deja vu all over again!!

Hidden Curves
At Fort Erie

Hidden Curves sat chilly of the leader and overtook her in the stretch and drew off to win by 2 lengths in the7 furlong turf event Tuesday August 9th at Ft. Erie. She handled the distance and the surface well and FINALLY broke her maiden (won her first race). Lane never doubted her ability but had a question about the distance, but she did fine and so far is no worse for the wear. The Equibase comments were "Hidden Curves: pressed pace, vied far turn, inside stretch, proved best". On to A other than maybe at Woodbine and hopefully going a distance. Everybody is proud of her!!

Mikethemoondog
Mikethemoondog shines in Belmont turf mile

Now two-for-two in 2005 over Belmont grass under jockey Richard Migliore, four-year-old MIKETHEMOONDOG led throughout in Belmont's second of two restricted N1X turf mile contests for three-year-olds and up on Saturday, scoring for the second time in 23 days as the 4.90-to-1 third choice among nine starters. After the bay gelding had broken his maiden going a mile and an eighth over Belmont's lawn on June 23, New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) 2003 Trainer of the Year Barclay Tagg had given him two moderate Belmont workouts. The second victory increased the earnings for Mikethemoondog -- whose trainer and jockey both are NYTB champions in their respective professions (Migliore was NYTB 2004 Jockey of the Year) -- by $26,400 to $51,930 while improving his record to two wins in four starts. The gelding has three ownership entities: The Three Colleens Stable of David Stack of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, Fredrick Gorsline's Fred Gorsline Stable, and the Saratoga Springs-based Partingglass Stable of racing partnerships coordinated by Thomas Gallo. He had been consigned to Fasig-Tipton's 2002 Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale by the Thomas J. Gallo Sales Agency, where he initially was purchased by Dennis and Deborah Petrisak's Langpap Stable of Honeoye Falls for $34,000 and then sold privately to the current owners. Mikethemoondog was bred by Patricia Calandro of Barely Able Farm in Holmes in partnership with Mia Gallo, collectively qualifying those two for a $2,640 breeder award. Sired by former New York stallion Belong to Me, Mikethemoondog is among seven starters, all winners, produced from his New York-bred Aqueduct-winning dam, NYTB 2003 Broodmare of the Year Final Accord, by pensioned New York stallion D'Accord. The emerging turf standout's New York-bred half-siblings include Grade 1 winner Buy the Sport ($356,581 in the U.S. and England) and other stakes winners Haggs Castle ($296,262), Try N Sue ($236,590), and Winter Dreams ($142,824). A yearling half-sister to this glittering array of stakes winners and to Mikethemoondog, Hip No. 284 (from the first crop of Eclipse Champion Sprinter Orientate), has been consigned by breeder Calandro to Fasig-Tipton's 2005 Saratoga New York-bred yearling sales and is scheduled to sell Sunday evening, August 14.

Mikethemoondog
MikeTheMoonDog (Photo by Adam Coglianese)

MIKETHEMOONDOG, making his third career start, took the lead coming off the far turn of 1-1/8th turf race and drove to the wire holding off a fast closing Cranky Pants by 3/4s of a length at the wire. Owned by Fred Gorsline Stable, Partingglass Stable and Three Colleens Stable, the four year-old bay gelding had been idle for more than 8 months but was sharp for his return. The state-bred maiden race for three-year-olds and up was run over the inner turf course, listed "firm", and had a field of 10-horses load into the starting gate. Trained by Barclay Tagg, Mikethemoondog broke from the four post position and was ridden to victory under the clever handling of Richard Migliore. Consigned to the 2002 Saratoga Fasig-Tipton New York Preferred Yearling sales by the Thomas J. Gallo Bloodstock agency, Mikethemoondog was initially purchased by Dennis and Deborah Petrisak's Langpap Stable and then sold privately to the current partnership. Bred by Patricia Calandro and Mia Gallo, Mikethemoondog is out of the Grade I and multiple stakes-producing D'accord mare, Final Accord. Her prolific progeny include Buy the Sport (Devil's Bag) winner of the 2003 running Gazelle Handicap - Gr. I, and stakes winners Haggs Castle (Husband), Winter Dreams (Distinctive Pro) and multiple stakes winner Try N Sue (Sir Harry Lewis). 

Jet Pass
Jet Pass Win in June 2005 (© Tom Cooley)

JET PASS is really turning into a professional race horse. He got to the lead, slowed it down, and when horses came to him he let it out a notch and had plenty left to vanquish his opponents. "Bad Boy" Badamo really has his number and told Mike he had a ton of horse under him throughout the race. Now we jump up and try the A other than and go for the gold. What fun this is!

Christina's Melody
Christina's Melody (Photo by Adam Coglianese)

CHRISTINA'S MELODY making her second career start put in a professional performance under jockey Edgar Prado to break her maiden against state-bred fillies and mares in today's finale. Owned by the partnership of The Three Colleens Stable and Partingglass Stable, a racing partnership managed by Thomas J. Gallo, Christina's Melody broke alertly to gain forward positioning in the seven-furlong race run over the main track and when asked glided to the front and held off a late challenge by Precise Strike for a two-length victory. Bred by Mia Gallo of Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge, N.Y. and Deborah Petrisak, who along with husband Dennis, own the beautiful Langpap Farm in Honeyoye Falls, which is south of Rochester, N.Y., Christina's Melody is by Unbridled's Song, and is out of the Deputy Minister mare, Adorable Minister, who's a half-sister to Gratiaen (Cure the Blues) winner of the 2000 Albany Stakes run at Saratoga Race Course.

Soul Possession
Soul Possession wins at first asking for Partingglass Stable

Soul Possession (Photo by Adam Coglianese)

SOUL POSSESSION was an impressive first out maiden winner gamely battling for the lead to the top of the stretch before drawing off to win by more than four lengths. Owned by the racing partnership of Partingglass Stable, managed by Thomas J. Gallo, the three-year-old chestnut filly broke from the three-post in the 9-horse field. The state-bred race for fillies and mares was originally carded for the turf but was moved to Aqueduct's main track, listed "fast," and run at a mile around one-turn. Trainer Barclay Tagg, who recently shipped north from ulfstream Park, worked the filly twice over Belmont's main track and had the first time starter primed for her debut. Tagg, who has won with three of the five horses he's saddled at Aqueduct, named journeyman jockey Shaun Bridgmohan to ride the daughter of Belong to Me out of the multiple stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Try N Sue (Sir Harry Lewis) a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Buy the Sport (Devil's Bag), and stakes winners Winter Dreams (Distinctive Pro) and Haggs Castle (Husband). Soul Possession was foaled at Silvernails Farm in Pine Plains, N.Y. and was bred by Mia Gallo (Blue Stone Farm) and Coffee Pot Stable (Robert Cummings).
 Watch the race

Jet Pass
Jet Pass wins by a length and a ¼ at Finger Lakes

Jet Pass sat off the leaders and made a move to pass them by the time they hit the wire. Joey Badamo rode him with confidence and when they turned for home knew he had enough horse left to get past the two front runners and hand ride him to the wire. No whipping and driving and Jet Pass responded positively to being finessed. JP seemed relaxed and confident and ran like a mature horse who is really getting the hang of it. We will leave Badamo on him for his next start and Jet Pass will get a much deserved and hard earned rest( for 2 weeks at least) before we decide where we will run him next. Congratulations to everybody and kudos to the group of supporters who drove all the way out there to cheer him all around the track right to the wire, I could hear you screaming back in Saratoga!

An email from one of our members who was there for the win:

"OK... I can die now... (Only kidding, God). But really...I am still walking around with a smile on face and the remnants of hives on my forehead (allergic reaction to my kiss on JPs big white face). I knew in the stretch they weren't going to get him and it felt like everything went into slow motion and my feet came floating off the ground. I'm sure the FL crowd of about 80 thought I was some loon who thought I was at the Kentucky Derby and my horse was a sure thing. I hit soprano notes that I never knew existed. My goal when I joined PGR was to experience the thrill of being in the winner's circle as an owner, and, coming down to wire, it happened. I am so glad I did this?? "

Parade Out Front
Parade Out Front breaks his maiden by 12

Parade Out Front won at Pimlico today by 12 and ¼ lengths in a hand ride. The comments were "PARADE OUT FRONT cleared early, set a rated pace towards the inside, opened up a commanding lead nearing the lane and continued to widen while never being asked."

Barclay got stuck in torrential downpours and traffic caused by a tractor trailer accident just over the Delaware Memorial Bridge, arriving just in time to saddle but not enough time to get the colors to the saddle room. As a result, Parade's first win picture will be in Pimlico replacement silks, but it's a win picture just the same. Barclay was tickled to death that the horse won. Barclay was confident that Parade would win the race but was surprised that he won by this much. Barclay thought that this would give him confidence to move up in his next start. For those of you who missed the race, the jockey was looking under his arm for any horses coming to him turning for home, but they were nowhere to be found.

Now Parade is on his way to Gulf Stream Park.

Bubba Sparks
Bubba Sparks guts it out to win open claimer

Partingglass Stable's BUBBA SPARKS, making his first foray against open company horses, defeated a small field of open claimers ($75,000-$65,000) today at Belmont Park in a one-turn one-mile event run over the main track, listed "fast". Trainer Bruce Levine, who's having a super fall meet winning with 35% of the horses he sends to the track, named Richard Migliore to ride the three-year-old dark bay colt. Partingglass Stable is a racing partnership, ably managed by Thomas J. Gallo, III, a bloodstock agent and owner, along with his wife Mia, of Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge, New York.

Coined for Success along with Brush With Fame led the field onto the main track from the chute with the New York-bred Coined for Success taking command in the run down the backstretch through an opening first half-mile in a snappy 46 seconds flat. Bubba Sparks moved into second around the far turn as Coined for Success continued to show the way. Under strong urging by Migliore, Bubba Sparks began to close the gap as Coined for Success valiantly battled back and looked to have won the scrimmage only to lose in the final stride as a gutsy Bubba Sparks put his head in front at the wire. Pay Attention closed for third-money. Final time was 1:38 seconds.

Bred by the late Gerald Nielsen and his wife Joanne at their beautiful Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, New York, Bubba Sparks was purchased privately by the racing partnership of Partingglass Stable, named after a favorite watering spot in Saratoga Springs. With his second consecutive victory and fourth victory in eleven-career starts, Bubba Sparks boosts his lifetime earnings to $126,260 and Joanne Nielsen and Partingglass Stables for $5,280, each, in breeder's and open owner's awards. Out of the Distinctive Pro mare, Elise', who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Copper Mount (Cormorant) and Currency Arbitrage (Green Dancer). The sire, Williamstown, is owned by a syndicate, who qualified for a $1,848 stallion owner's award, and stands at Metropolitan Stud in Pine Plains, New York. With seven-crops to the races, Williamstown has now sired 166 winners including 15-stakes winners of which two were victorious in graded stakes. The son of Seattle Slew has progeny earnings of $1,060,000 in 2004 and over $9,800,000 lifetime in progeny earnings.

Bubba Sparks
Bubba Sparks wires allowance field at Belmont Park

Partingglass Stable's BUBBA SPARKS led at every call of the one-turn 8-1/2-furlong race for NW-2X state-bred allowance horses, today, at Belmont Park. The trainer/jockey team of Bruce Levine and Richard Migliore teamed up for their second winner of the opening day afternoon card as Bubba Sparks put in a gutsy performance. The three-year-old dark bay colt hadn't raced since July 14th, when he first tried NW-2X horses, but was conditioned throughout the month of August at Saratoga Race Course and was sharp in victory. The race was run over a "fast" main track and had a field of 9-horses go to the starting gate.

Yourstocommand gave way to a determined Bubba Sparks nearing the first quarter as the pair opened up by two-lengths on the field. Migliore rated Bubba Sparks through an opening first half-mile in 46.1 seconds and was still in command at the top of the stretch but was under severe pressure from a revved-up River Spirit. Racing head-to-head, Bubba Sparks and River Spirit opened up daylight on the field with Migliore vigorously urging Bubba Sparks to hold off his nemesis in deep stretch, finally drawing clear nearing the wire by 1-3/4-lengths. Tomorrows Banquet was up for third-money. Final time was 1:43.1 seconds.

Bred by the late Gerald Nielsen and his wife Joanne, who qualified for a $5,520 breeder's award, Bubba Sparks was purchased privately by the racing partnership of Partingglass Stable, named after a favorite watering spot in Saratoga Springs, is managed by Thomas J. Gallo III, of Cambridge, New York. With his third victory in tenth-career starts, Bubba Sparks boosts his lifetime earnings over the century mark to $104,520. Out of the Distinctive Pro mare, Elise', who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Copper Mount (Cormorant) and Currency Arbitrage (Green Dancer). The sire, Williamstown, is owned by a syndicate, who qualified for a $1,932 stallion owner's award, and stands at Metropolitan Stud in Pine Plains, New York. With seven-crops to the races, Williamstown has now sired 161 winners including 15-stakes winners of which two were victorious in graded stakes. The son of Seattle Slew has lifetime progeny earnings of over $8,600,000.

Bubba Sparks
Bubba Sparks sparkles at 9 fur. with blinkers on

When Parting Glass Stable's BUBBA SPARKS encounters change, he seems to get better. Stretched out from six furlongs to a mile as a two-year-old at Aqueduct last November, he broke his maiden by 2 1/4 lengths. Outfitted with blinkers for the first time and extended to a one-turn mile and an eighth -- a sixteenth of a mile beyond his longest previous effort -- for Belmont's seventh race on Friday, a $44,000 restricted N1X allowance for three-year-olds and up, the dark bay colt won by 4 3/4 lengths. It was his second start off nearly a four-month layoff and second effort under the care of trainer Bruce Levine, who had given the three-year-old one easy five-furlong drill on Belmont's training track on June 19 following the colt's third-place Belmont finish going 7 1/2 furlongs on May 31.

Race-ridden for the third -- and second consecutive -- time by jockey Michael Luzzi, Bubba Sparks went off as the 2.60-to-1 second choice among eight starters, breaking on top from the outside post position. He contested the early pace that was set by 50.50-to-1 last choice Mike's Greenfields and prompted by 8.30-to-1 fifth choice Finnegans in Again while three wide before taking the lead coming out of the turn, as Finnegans in Again quickly faded but longshot Mike's Greenfields remained in contention. In the stretch, the Parting Glass Stable standard-bearer pulled away, opening up a three-length mid-stretch advantage and then adding almost two more lengths to his margin, as 2.15-to-1 favorite Always a Hero closed from fifth to place second after being bumped at the start, followed by Mike's Greenfields.
Owned by the Parting Glass Stable of racing partnerships that was jointly founded by bloodstock and sales agent Thomas Gallo III, Saratoga Springs pub owner (The Partingglass) Joan Desadora, and pedigree analyst Alan Porter, Bubba Sparks increased his earnings by $26,400 to $71,660. He improved his record to 2 - 1 - 1 in eight starts over seven different distances -- ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to a mile and an eighth -- at all three NYRA tracks. A $2,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2002 August yearling sale, Bubba Sparks qualified his breeders and consignors to that sale, Joanne Nielsen of Darien, Connecticut and Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford and the estate of her late husband, Gerald Nielsen, for a $5,280 breeder award.

Bubba Sparks is by syndicated New York stallion Williamstown and is the first offspring to race that is out of the Nielsens' New York homebred Elise', who won an open allowance race at Aqueduct in her fourth start as a two-year-old and is by New York stallion Distinctive Pro. Elise' is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Without Feathers ($499,866) and to New York-bred multiple stakes winners Currency Arbitrage ($343,902) and Copper Mount ($251,871) and also to the granddam of New York-bred stakes winner Compelling World ($244,585). Currency Arbitrage and Copper Mount both were bred by Gerald Nielsen, who had purchased the dam of those stakes winners (and the dam of Elise'), Damerelle, for $165,000 through Bedford Hills, agent, at Keeneland's 1988 November breeding stock sale.

Bubba Sparks
Bubba Sparks sparkles in maiden mile effort

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Stretched out to a one-turn mile for his first venture beyond six furlongs, Partingglass Stable's two-year-old BUBBA SPARKS scored by 2 1/4 lengths in Aqueduct's fourth race on Sunday, a $42,000 restricted maiden special for New York-bred juveniles, becoming Sunday's second Big A winner bred by Gerald and Joanne Nielsen. Race-ridden for the first time by Shaun Bridgmohan and sent off the 5.20-to-1 third choice among 12 starters, the dark bay colt broke from the seventh post position and briefly led while racing outside of 11.40-to-1 sixth choice Captain Spaulding and 4.80-to-1 second choice Fifty Three Cards. The latter gained command in the second quarter-mile and opened up a length and a half advantage, but Bubba Sparks overcame that margin in the third quarter before drawing off to a 4 1/2-length mid-stretch lead, as 2.50-to-1 favorite Dylans Destiny took up pursuit while the front-runners faded. Still learning how to compete, Bubba Sparks tried to bear out on the latter part of the turn, and he drifted in slightly before switching leads at mid-stretch, but at the finish he was racing like a professional. Dylans Destiny held on to place second by a head in a close three-way finish for runner-up money. For jockey Bridgmohan, it was the first of two winning rides on Aqueduct's Sunday card.

Owned by the Partingglass Stable of racing partnerships that was founded by bloodstock and sales agent Thomas Gallo III, Saratoga Springs pub owner (The Partingglass) Joan Desadora, and pedigree analyst Alan Porter, Bubba Sparks increased his earnings by $25,200 to $38,320. In his first three starts going 5 1/2 furlongs (twice) and six furlongs, the New York-bred had finished fourth at Saratoga on August 27 and second and fourth at Belmont on September 21 and October 13, respectively. During the next 34 days, trainer Joseph Orseno had given the juvenile colt three easy half-mile workouts on Belmont's training track -- the most recent being five days prior to Sunday's race.

A $2,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2002 August yearling sale in Florida, Bubba Sparks qualified his breeders and consignors to that sale, the Nielsens of Darien, Connecticut and Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, for a $5,040 breeder award that is more than 2 1/2 times his yearling price. By New York stallion Williamstown, the noticeably-improving two-year-old is the first starter produced from the Nielsens' New York homebred Elise', who had won an open allowance race at Aqueduct in her fourth start as a two-year-old and is by New York stallion Distinctive Pro. Elise' is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Without Feathers ($499,866) and New York-bred multiple stakes winners Currency Arbitrage ($343,902) and Copper Mount ($251,871) and to the granddam of New York-bred stakes winner Compelling World ($244,585). Currency Arbitrage and Copper Mount both were bred by Gerald Nielsen, who had purchased the dam of those stakes winners (and the dam of Elise'), Damerelle, for $165,000 through Bedford Hills, agent, at Keeneland's 1988 November breeding stock sale.

Bubba Sparks is the third winner from the first New York-conceived crop of Williamstown (Seattle Slew - Winter Sparkle, by Northjet), most of whose progeny improve as three-year-olds and up, and his victory qualified the syndicate owners of that stallion for a $1,764 stallion award. Williamstown, who has been standing at James and Lorna Mack's Silvernails Farm in Pine Plains, is still at that same location, which has been combined with two other stallion farms as Metropolitan Stud under the management of Michael and Debra Lischin. Williamstown was a Grade 2 record-setting miler (1:32 3/5) at Belmont and has sired 15 stakes winners from his first four crops, including three four-year-olds that have won stakes in 2003. A Hypo-Mating check of Bubba Sparks' pedigree indicates that he is inbred 4 x 5 to Hall of Fame member Round Table. Reprinted with permission from Rab Hagin; http://www.nybreds.com/