Meg’s Foxy Grey graduates in style
Rodman among Alibi Breakfast Honorees
Pimlico Memorabilia Auction Begins May 17
BALTIMORE — Cybertime’s winning streak moved to four on Thursday at Pimlico as the 5-year-old gelding blasted a solid field of starter-optional claiming foes at six furlongs.
Trained by Anthony Farrior, Cybertime went right to the front under jockey Sheldon Russell, shrugged off pace pressure from Backnthewoods, then had plenty left in the tank to best late-running Five Dreams by 3 ¾ lengths in 1:12.30 over a track officially rated good. Equibase described the surface as muddy and sealed.
“I was shocked to see him on the lead,” Farrior said. “Sheldon never asks me. He asked me today if he should go on if he breaks. I told him [if he does], to shoot him out of there.”
Bred by Steven Friedfertig and Saffie Joseph, Cybertime races for the partnership of Friedfertig, Richard Burnsworth, and Joseph’s Shining Stables. Cybertime needed a lot of time to make it to the races, failing to make his debut until last summer.
“He bowed as a 2-year-old,” Farrior said. “We took our time with him. He’s a big, heavy horse. I think he’s getting better.”
By Not This Time, Cybertime won his first two starts last year. After three consecutive losses, Cybertime began his current streak with a length victory against quarter “non-three” claimers at Laurel on Dec. 6.
Farrior’s far-flung stable reaches out to Mahoning Valley in Ohio, and Cybertime took two consecutive starts there by a combined 10 ¾ lengths.
Cybertime will likely hit the road again after this victory.
“We’re running at Delaware next,” Farrior said. “We’ll play around with him a little bit. I might try him on the turf once, and I hate turf.”
By Not This Time, Cybertime returned $4 as the betting favorite.
*Meg’s Foxy Grey graduates in style
“Good to know,” jockey Paco Lopez said when trainer Greg Compton told him before today’s sixth race that Meg’s Foxy Grey had a habit of being slow out of the gate.
Lopez ensured that wasn’t the case at Pimlico on Thursday as he pushed his mount forward from her outside post, pressed the pace three wide, and utilized her superior stamina to win the $47,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.
Bred in Kentucky by Nancy Shuford, Meg’s Foxy Grey sold for $18,000 as a weanling before being purchased for $100,000 by Mag Racing at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Timonium auction.
Unraced at two, Meg’s Foxy Grey ran three times earlier this year against maiden special weight company at Oaklawn Park.
“She actually had the fastest quarter mile [breeze] and gallop-out at Timonium,” Compton said. “She had a little chip in an ankle. We had to take it out and give her a little time, but she’s come back really nice.”
Meg’s Foxy Grey finished seventh in her debut at six furlongs on February 14, ran sixth in a 1 1/16-mile event on March 30, then showed improved form in her final start in Arkansas. In that race, also at 1 1/16 miles, Meg’s Foxy Grey finished in a dead-heat for second, a half-length behind the winner.
“We’re disappointed she didn’t win last time out,” Compton said. “I really thought there was not a single point during the stretch run that I didn’t think she was going to get past that horse. This race came up a little quick, but 3-year-old fillies, short field. Cutting back was really a question, I think she ultimately wants to go a route of ground.”
Meg’s Foxy Grey is by Instilled Regard. Her second dam, Irish Smoke, captured the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga.
Meg’s Foxy Grey completed the distance in 1:13.78 and returned $4.80 to win as the betting favorite. Pneumo Warrior rallied from off the pace to finish second, four lengths behind the winner. Then came Belle Ofthe Wood, Maida and Golden Sword.
The win was Lopez’s third on the program.
*Rodman honored at Alibi Breakfast
Dave Rodman, the popular track announcer for the Maryland Jockey Club and the “voice” of the Preakness Stakes since 1991, was given The Special Award of Merit at the annual Alibi Breakfast on Thursday morning at Pimlico.
A native of New Orleans, Rodman worked as a deejay at various radio stations before calling his first race at Jefferson Downs in 1981. Rodman moved to Louisiana Downs in 1985 before becoming the track announcer for the Maryland Jockey Club.
The Special Award of Merit honors those who have positively impacted the racing industry. Past recipients include D. Wayne Lukas, King Leatherbury, Jerry Bailey, Roman Dominguez, Jim McKay, and Chick Lang.
“I wouldn’t be here without the support of my parents,” Rodman said. “I want to thank my father for bringing me to the track as a young boy. Without a childhood introduction to the races, I might actually have had to work for a living for a while. So, he’s been a constant motivator.”
Hosted by Scott Wykoff and Michelle Yu, the Alibi breakfast gave connections of Preakness contenders time to unwind two days before the race. Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert traded good-natured verbal jabs with each other and with the connections of other Preakness contenders.
Tom Law, the managing editor of ST Publishing, won the Old Hilltop Award for sports media members who have covered Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction.
Ron Flatter, the managing editor of Horse Racing Nation and host of the Ron Flatter Racing Pod, received the David F. Woods Memorial Award for writing the best Preakness story from the previous year. Flatter’s piece centered on trainer Ken McPeek, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.
Tim Suddoth of Eclipse Sportswire earned the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photography Award, sponsored by Nikon. Each year, the award is given for the best Preakness picture. Suddoth’s photo captured Jaime Torres celebrating victory aboard Seize the Grey with hundreds of spectators in the background.
Michael Behrens, the founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, was named Honorary Postmaster for Preakness 150.
*Pimlico memorabilia offered in online auction beginning May 17
The Maryland Department of General Services will auction off items from Pimlico beginning on May 17. Please click here for more details.
Here is your chance to own original memorabilia, stadium seats, and miscellaneous collectibles from historic Pimlico Race Course.