Barese Looking to Bounce Back in NY Stallion Stakes

Paradise Farms and David Staudacher's multiple stakes winner Barese  will cut back in distance in the April 23 $200,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series Times Square division for 3-year-olds racing 6 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack. The main track sprint is for eligible New York-sired sophomores.

Trained by Mike Maker, the New York-bred Laoban  colt finished fifth last out in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) April 9 at the Big A. He entered the nine-furlong Wood Memorial from state-bred stakes wins at Aqueduct in the 6 1/2-furlong Rego Park Stakes in January and the one-turn mile Gander Stakes Feb. 12.

Maker said he was pleased with Barese's Wood Memorial effort after breaking from the outermost post 8 and tracking four-wide through both turns, missing fourth by a nose to A. P.'s Secret .

"I thought he ran a great race, he just wasn't good enough," Maker said. "He continues to train well and we're looking for some class relief."

The conditioner didn't rule out a return to route racing in the future for the $150,000 2001 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, who garnered a career and field-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure in his two-turn debut.

"I think he can get two turns in the right company," Maker said.

Barese is assigned a field-high 123 pounds, five more than each of his six rivals. He will exit post 2 under returning rider Dylan Davis.

Unique Unions , a New York-bred Union Jackson   gelding trained and co-owned by Rick Schosberg with Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable, has kept good company in his last two outings. 

Unique Unions broke his maiden sprinting six furlongs at second asking against fellow state-breds in November at the Big A. He followed in December at Aqueduct with a pacesetting third in the seven-furlong NYSSS Great White Way.

Unique Unions finished fourth last out in the Rego Park, setting the pace under regular pilot Manny Franco in a race won by Barese. 

Schosberg said Unique Unions, who will exit the inside post under Franco, is training well into his return, including a half-mile breeze in :50.66 Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

"He's been doing really well. After his last race we decided to give him a bit of time," Schosberg said. "He's done a lot in a short period of time, and we really like him. We think he has a strong future to be a top New York-bred, so we freshened him up a little bit and let him put some weight on."

Schosberg said Unique Unions possesses natural speed, but doesn't necessarily need the lead.

"I think it will be determined by the competition," Schosberg said. "I don't think he has to be on the lead and he doesn't train that way. He's very relaxed in his training. He's not the type of horse that grabs the bit and goes, he'll go when you ask him to. If someone outbreaks him, which is unlikely, I think he has the opportunity to stalk and not let them get away."

Unique Unions, out of the Eltish  mare Nicole's Miss El , was bred in New York by Larry F. Botting. He was purchased for $60,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. 

Rounding out the field are maiden winners Mo Dancin  and Mister Larry , who adds blinkers; as well as maidens Tommy Gun , Red D G P , and Kazmike .