Rinaldi Breaks Maiden in New York Stallion Stakes Upset

Trainer James Bond's 3-year-old Rinaldi entered the $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes Spectacular Bid division with only one start to his name. After finishing third on debut this month, the Posse gelding returned to Belmont Park's turf June 23 for a 10-1 upset in the featured race.

Jockey Luis Saez settled Rinaldi in second in the seven-furlong test, sitting a length behind pacesetter Thorny Tale. As the opening fractions went in :22.58 and :45.73 through a half-mile, 2-1 favorite Funny Guy shuffled for position. He started in fourth and dipped to fifth before going three wide in the stretch to make a bid.

Rinaldi was in perfect position once straightened for home and put away Thorny Tale. Funny Guy continued to make up room, but Rinaldi denied him the win by three-quarters of a length. The final time was 1:21.30 on firm ground.

"It was amazing. He broke so sharp, and he was way better in the clear," Saez said. "When we came into the straightaway, I was asking pretty hard, and he responded. Every horse has run well for me, and everything has gone well. The horses have run really well."

Thorny Tale held on for third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Funny Guy. Smooth Tales, Analyzethisandthat, Bettor Bank On It, Magical Tale, Veterans Beach, and Coach Villa completed the order of finish. 

From only two starts, Rinaldi has earned $91,140, more than making up for his $5,000 price tag when Bond purchased him as a weanling from the Pope McLean consignment at The Saratoga Fall Sale, Fasig-Tipton's mixed sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The bay gelding was bred in New York by Barry Ostrager out of the Dynaformer mare Dynamite Cocktail, a winner with earnings of $103,074. Dynamite Cocktail also produced Hollinger, champion 2-year-old colt in Canada and second in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1T), and multiple stakes-placed Hot and Spicy. Rinaldi is her last reported foal.

In the $150,000 NYSS Cupecoy's Joy division, Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Newly Minted was the one to beat with a perfect three-race record. After winning the NYSS Park Avenue division by 7 1/2 lengths on Aqueduct Racetrack's dirt April 20, the daughter of Central Banker  was heavily favored at 3-5 Sunday.

But it was Kelly Mitchell's Kid Is Frosty, a distant second in the Park Avenue two starts back, who pulled off the victory at 6-1 when the two sophomore fillies tried turf for the first time going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

The Cupecoy's Joy was the first stakes victory for the Frost Giant  filly, who has hit the board in all eight of her starts.

Following the break, longshot Parton showed the way through opening fractions of :23.15 and :46.69. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. settled Kid Is Frosty in a comfortable second, one spot ahead of Newly Minted. Parton lost the lead after the field turned for home, and Kid Is Frosty took command. The only threat came from late-running Niko's Dream, who had to settle for second, a neck behind the winner.

The final time was 1:21.49 over firm turf.

"I got a good feeling about her on the grass. I rode her one time before (in the Park Avenue), and she was going so comfortable and showed she can do it on dirt, so I thought she'd be all right on the turf," Ortiz said. "(Trainer Brad Cox) has been working her here and saying she's been doing fine on the grass, so I rode her with confidence. She's good. She always tries. On dirt, she couldn't really show what she has. She improved, but on the turf, she improved a lot."

Newly Minted was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third, followed by Plink Freud, Sterling Beauty, Parton, and Sweet Meadow Mist.

Kid Is Frosty was bred in New York by Bad Boy Racing and is the first foal out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Murmure. She was raced by her breeder and trainer Scott Young her first two starts at Remington Park in late 2018 before Mitchell and Cox took over. 

The Cupecoy's Joy brings Kid Is Frosty's record to 2-4-2 with $198,334 in earnings.

Video: San Juan Capistrano S. (G3T)

Video: American S. (G3T)