David Cassidy on the Web
Hoosick Falls roars to 6 1/4-length maiden special victory
September 19, 2004
www.nybreds.com
Twice second in previous outings and coming off four solid Saratoga workouts that included three "bullet" drills, HOOSICK FALLS was nearly even money (1.10-to-1) among eight maiden New York-bred juvenile fillies in Belmont's third race on Sunday, and she proved well worthy of the favoritism. With jockey Cornelio Velasquez race-riding her for the first time, the dark bay speedster was bumped at the start of the $41,000 six-furlong contest by 8-to-1 fourth choice Karakorum Splendor on her inside but quickly gained a length and a half lead with an opening quarter in 22.55. From there on, she was unchallenged, as Hoosick Falls cruised under a hand ride, setting fractions of 46.27 and 58.59 over the "good" track and reaching the finish with a 6 1/4-length margin in 1:11.26. The late-foaled filly (May 28, 2002) was the only May foal in the contest, and she gave jockey Velasquez his first of two winning rides on Belmont's Sunday card.
Hoosick Falls' first victory in three starts over 59 days advanced her earnings by $24,600 to $41,000 for the Our Canterbury Stables of Tom Daly of New Fairfield, Connecticut, television and singing star David Cassidy (whose addresses include Saratoga Springs), Marc Grubard, and Jennifer Contessa of Lincroft, New Jersey. Named for a New York town north of Saratoga Springs, Hoosick Falls campaigns under the care of trainer Gary Contessa, husband of part owner Jennifer Contessa and signer of the sales slip purchasing the filly for $37,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2004 sale of two-year-olds in training.
Bred by the Sez Who Thoroughbreds in Stillwater of Richard Simon of Aventura, Florida, which qualified for a $4,920 breeder award, Hoosick Falls is the ninth juvenile winner of 2004 sired from the first crop of New York stallion Precise End (End Sweep - Precisely, by Summing). She also is the third winner by Precise End bred by Sez Who Thoroughbreds that has won at Saratoga or Belmont on the last three consecutive Sundays -- following colts Accurate (September 5) and Freddy the Cap (September 12). Graded winner Precise End, who stands at Becky Thomas' and Lewis Lakin's Lakland North, LLC in Hudson, where his 2004 fee was $6,000, live foal, continues to rank as North America's eighth-leading first crop sire in 2004 progeny earnings -- a status he held prior to Hoosick Falls' winning effort. As a result of Sunday's victory, the partnership owners of Precise End qualified for a $1,722 stallion award.
Hoosick Falls is the second winner produced from Aaron's Terms, by Private Terms, being a half-sister to stakes-placed Manor Prospect. Dam Aaron's Terms, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Aaron's Concorde ($160,692) and to stakes-placed winner Aaron's Halo, was purchased by Sez Who Thoroughbreds for $34,000 at Keeneland's 2001 January mixed sale in Lexington, Kentucky. A Hypo-Mating check of Hoosick Falls' pedigree reveals that she is an outcross (no inbreeding) through five generations, but her dam Aaron's Terms is inbred 3 x 3 to Bold Ruler and 4 x 4 to Native Dancer.
