NORTH END LADY (Violence) raced 1 1/16 on the turf at Saratoga to graduate by a nose. She came 7 wide and dueled to the win by a whisker. The filly is owned by My Monarch Stable and was bred by Fred W. Hertrich lll & John D. Fielding   (NY). With on the board finished, she has already earned $101,288.

Courtesy of Horse Racing Nation
Was it really 21 years ago that the gelding Funny Cide, owned by a modest upstate New York partnership known as Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, burst onto the national scene by winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness?

Heck, it was four years ago that Tiz the Law, another New York-bred with the same connections, completed a personal Triple Crown for Tagg by capturing the Belmont Stakes. He later placed second in the Derby in a season turned upside down by the pandemic.

There is something reassuring about seeing Tagg and Robin Smullen, his assistant and life partner, still hard at work at the barn and at the sales, where they are constantly on the prowl for the next Tiz the Law by paying close attention to his progeny. CLICK HEADLINES TO READ MORE

Although still a maiden, COURTLY BANKER (Central Banker) ran on well to be 2nd in the New York Stallion Stakes Cab Calloway racing a mile on the inner turf.at Saratoga  He was second in the  6 furlong Spectacular Bid and on board twice in two prior MSW starts - exciting to have black-type while still a maiden! Watch for him!. The three-year-old gelding is owned by Sackatoga Stable.  Breeder: John Eaton & Steve Laymon

Although still a maiden, COURTLY BANKER (Central Banker) ran on well to be 2nd in the New York Stallion Stakes Spectacular Bid racing six furlongs on the turf.  He has been on the board twice in his two prior MSW starts - exciting to have black-type while still a maiden! Watch for him next out. The three-year-old gelding is owned by Sackatoga Stable.  Breeder: John Eaton & Steve Laymon

Jockey Katie Davis said  Courtly Banker, who was the field’s lone maiden, was game to get by the speedy Bustin Away for second. “When I switched my crop and went to the left hand he dug in a little bit more for me [to secure second],” said Davis. “He gave me his all and that made me really proud of him.”

Courtey of the BloodHorse
Classic winner Tiz the Law   saw his first winner as a sire May 16 when his son Enduring Spirit  posted a front-running score in a five-furlong maiden race for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Winner of the 2020 Belmont Stakes (G1), freshman sire Tiz the Law stands for $20,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. CLICK HEADLINES TO READ MORE

NY Bred UNION TRAIL waited to  get to his home state before an authoritative wire to wire win going 1 1/16 in a MSW on the Aqueduct turf. He won with confidence in hand by 2 1/4. UNION TRAIL is owned by Sackatoga Stable and was no doubt chosen at the Faisig Tipton NY Bred sale because of his sire - Constitution - sire of Sa katoga's  highly successful TIZ THE LAW.
Breeder: Twin Creeks Farm

MARCEAU just made the 2 year old winner stats for his classic sire Distorted Humor. Racing 1 1/16 on the turf at Gulfstream. he was never far off the pace and challenged on the inside to take the lead and win by a head. He was the favorite in the race due to a good 2nd in his last start. MARCEAU  is owned by Carrington Holdings LLC ad was a $270 two year old OBS purchase.
Breeder: Farm III Enterprises

Bonner Young's fifth-generation homebred, HIGHLAND GRACE (American Pharoah) came from off the pace with good energy to be 3rd in the G2 Sands Point and add black-type to her illustrious pedigree. CLICK THE TITLE  to read more about the extended family,

Thoroughbred owner and breeder Bonner Young is hopeful that dual winner Highland Grace can add more prosperity to a highly productive family line in the Grade 3, $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational going 1 3/8 miles, Saturday’s feature at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. CLICK TITLE TO READ MORE

Funny Cide, who died earlier this summer due to complications from colic, earned more than $3.5 million during his six-year racing career, including a history-making victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby when he became the first New York-bred to win the “Run for the Roses” and was later named the 2003 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.

The venerable track-season restaurant Siro’s in Saratoga Springs will host a celebration of Funny Cide, the beloved thoroughbred that captured the national imagination and fueled local pride during a 2003 run for the Triple Crown, starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Funny Cide died July 16 at age 23 at Kentucky Horse Park, a farm in Lexington, Ky.,where the gelding had lived for the past 15 years.

The event, called Funny Cide’s Saratoga Send-Off, will feature appearances by trainer Barclay Tagg, assistant trainer Robin Smullen, owner Jack Knowlton, track announcer Tom Durkin and jockey Jose Santos, who rode Funny Cide to victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. There will be a presentation and a video retrospective of Funny Cide’s life.

SCRAMBLE (Gleneagles (IRE) came within a nose of a Saratoga allowance win going 1 1/16 on the inner turf. He closed strongly once he switched leads but lost by a head bob. He is a homebred for Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds,

If you were at Barn 15 on the backstretch of the Spa, you could add the word depressed to the description. That is the summer workplace of trainer Barclay Tagg and his staff. The mood was somber as word spread through the barn that Funny Cide , the stable star from 20 years ago, was gone.

Courtesy of the TDN
 HIGHLAND GRACE (f, 3, American Pharoah--Caroline Thomas {GSW & GISP, $406,387}, by Giant's Causeway) was a close third behind unbeaten GIII Soaring Softly S. winner Queen Picasso (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a very live Gulfstream maiden Mar. 5, then rallied from far back to finish second as the favorite going 1 1/8 miles over the Belmont lawn May 7. Favored at 4-5 to go one better while getting some additional ground to work with here, she sat a good trip in an outside fourth for most of the way and began to wind up on the far turn. She hit the front as they turned for home and had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the late-running $825,000 FTFMAR graduate She's Mo Bubbly (Uncle Mo). The winner, a granddaughter of GISW Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor), is a full-sister to the 2-year-old filly Katherine Thomas. Lifetime Record: 5-1-1-1, $77,900. O-Joyce B. Young; B-Bonner Young (KY)

Courtesy of the TDN
Racing 1 1/16m on the turf at Aqueduct,  SANURA ( Kitten's Joy) made her first start on the main track away from Gulfstream Park Thursday in pursuit of her third straight win. On the synthetic surface in Florida, she broke her maiden in March 2022 but didn't make it back to the races until just over a year later, winning against optional claimers Mar. 23. Sent away at 9-5, she broke sharply and assumed command to handle the pace. Eased along on the front through fractions of :24.40 and :49.79, she responded well when asked past the quarter pole and held on, winning by a length.  O-Hidden Brook Farm; B-Mia Gallo, Michael Newton, Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (NY),

SCRAMBLE (Gleneagles(IRE)) has been 2nd or 3rd in all 4 of his prior 4 starts and went off the favorite here. He chased the pace 2 then 3 wide and cleared his field in the upper stretch and held for the win by 1 1/2 lengths. He raced 1 1/16 on the Gulfstream turf. SCRAMBLE is a Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbred homebred.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A pair of New York-breds, Truancy and Classy Edition, have come to South Florida for the winter and will meet up as the likely favorites in Wednesday’s $86,000 allowance headliner at Gulfstream Park.

TRUANCY (Run Away and Hide) broke her maiden wire-to-wire win at Saratoga at the end of July. Off the favorite on Belmont at the Big A opening day, she waited tucked into the field and then rallied to win by three lengths. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $110,150. C
The 3 year old filly is owned by Eric Dattner and was bred in NY by Jerry Bilinski.

Two of the five New York Legends honored today at Saratoga:  Funny Cide and Tiz The Law, were picked, purchased, and trained by Barclay Tagg.

“There’s only one person in the whole frickin’ world who should have gotten Doswell – Robin. I’ve seen a lot of riders and a lot of horses and a lot of people and he’d have never made it with anyone else.”
Trainer Barclay Tagg, about difficult graded stakes winner Doswell teaming up with Robin Smullen 

Sackatoga Stable's SARATOGA FLASH (Laoban) overcame a bump at the start and raced towards the back of the pack until asked when he went 8 wide and edged away for the win - his 3rd.  He was claimed out of the race and we wish the new connections good racing luck.

Last month, making her first start, 3-year-old TRUANCY (Run Away and Hide) sustained 3 hard bumps and then set sail to catch the leader. She had to settle for 2nd but was 9 lengths ahead of the 3rd place finisher.  Today TRUANCY quickly overcame a bobble at the start and cleared the field for an exciting graduation at Saratoga. She raced 7 furlongs on the dirt.  The three-year-old filly is owned by Eric Dattner and was bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski. Watch for this one next time.

 SHINSUN (A Shin Forward) raced like a pro winning at first asking. Racing 1 1/16 on the turf, he trailed until he was asked and then cleared the field swinging 7 wide in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He was bred and is co-owned by Edition Farm. His second co-owner is Linda Conroy. 

SARATOGA FLASH (Laoban) broke his maiden last spring and was then on the board in 4 straight allowance starts before a winter break. He has returned with a strong forward win in a salty 1 x allowance race at 1 1/16 on the turf. He is owned by Sackatoga and was bred by McMahon Thoroughbreds,

Barclay and Robin trained SANURA'S dam  Nehantic Kat to become a stakes winner of almost $400.000. Now he has he daughter SANURA poised to break her maiden. Racing 1 1/16 on the all-weather track at Gulfstream, SANURA   (Kitten' Joy) settled well and then made a strong run to be 2nd in her 2nd start.

DOSWELL(Giant's Causeway) ran 2nd in this race last year after a rough trip. Today, he broke sharply saved ground and energy of the rail and sailed to victory in wire to wire fashion.
WATCH THE RACE

DOSWELL has flourished under the care of Barclay and Robin. The 6year old gelding is a homebred for Mr. Joseph Allen LLC.Lifetime:  

(courtesy of XBTV)  CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RACE

2-year-old DREAM OF A DAY (Carpe Diem) has been trying hard to seize the day for the past 3 races - and he had to settle for 2nd in all 3. This last time he missed by a nose going a mile and 70 on the new all-weather track at Gulfstream and a time prior he missed by a head. DREAM OF A DAY  is a homebred for Sure Thing Stables.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Making his 2nd start, HOMBRE (Tourist) overcame a bump at the start and then raced 3 wide close to the pace. He rallied coming into the stretch and drifted in slightly but then switched back to his inside lead and went on for the win by almost 4 lengths. The Ontario bred is owned by  Robert Cudney and was bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds

DOSWELL(Giant's Causeway)  has flourished under the care of Barclay and Robin. He was a horse with a number of "issues" which have been smoothed out under the care of the Tagg barn. He has developed a particular trust in Robin who has worked with him extensively. After breaking his maiden, he followed that up immediately with an allowance victory. Trying a G2 stakes in the Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream, he ran a strong 2nd after being bumped and steadied. Today in the W. L. McKnight Stakes  G3, he was strongly held inside and then found room wide and got up for the show. The 6year old gelding is a homebred for Mr. Joseph Allen LLC.Lifetime:  9  2  5  1   $177,941

Courtesy of HRN
Tiz the Law (Constitution) a four time Grade 1 winner worked 4 furlongs in 51.6 at Palm Meadows Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the 49th fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was 8 days ago going 6 furlongs at Palm Meadows Training Center. In his last start he placed 6th in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Keeneland on November 7 for trainer Barclay Tagg. He is pointed toward the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Tiz The Law arrived Tuesday morning from Saratoga after a routine flight. "He flew in from Albany and we met him here," Tagg said. "He walked off the van, took a couple turns, did his business and started eating hay."

WATCH THE WORK

CLICK HERE

Stakes placed  NIKO'S DREAM (Central Banker) was second in two of the New York Stallion Series Stakes, one at Belmont and one at Saratoga and today added her second allowance win, the first at Saratoga and the newest at Gulfstream. She tugged behind horses early and the came wide to get her nose on the wire firsst.  NIKO'S DREAM  is owned by Sackatoga Stable. She has earned over $196,000

Second in her first two outings, PLEASANT ORB understandably went off the favorite and it was deserved. She raced in 3rd three wide then closed and dueled for the win by 1/2 going a mile on the dirt. She is a Charles Fipke homebred and has pocketed $44.000. She comes from the  deep female family of Point of Entry (Dynaformer), Pine Island (Arch), Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II), Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat).

Making her third start, HIGHLAND GLORY (Sky Mesa) answered her cue and closed when asked to draw away for the victory. In her first outing, she was 2nd at Saratoga and she hot the board in 4th at Belmont next time out of the gate.  HIGHLAND GLORY is owned by  Steadfast Stable and was bred by  Bonner Young.  The 3 year old filly raced a mile on the turf. 

Charles Fipke’s TALE OF SILENCE  made a strong stretch-drive move up the rail, capturing a thrilling blanket finish with three challengers by  a head in  Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester. He tried the same strategy in the Bold Ruler G3 but could not catch Maximum Security and had to settle for 2nd. He has earned over a half a million dollars.

Trainer Barclay Tagg — Tale of Silence (2nd):

“That’s the way he likes to run. He likes to be right on the rail,” Tagg said. “I thought there was plenty of speed in here and that worked out. I wanted to use this as a prep for the Cigar Mile and we can move forward from here.”

GSW DR. EDGAR 3rd in the G2 Knickerbocker Stakes having led in hand for most of the trip. He finished willingly but could not keep the closers at bay. DR EDGAR is owned by Eloise and Peter Canzone, Sr. He has earned $358,505. 

Courtesy of BRISNET

Courtesy of Horse Racing Nation

JAPAN TURF CUP STAKES

• 3yo and up, $100,000 purse, 1 1/2 miles on the turf
• Barclay Tagg, trainer of Highland Sky (9-2), who’ll have Forest Boyce up: “He’s a real nice horse. He comes from a good family, and I’ve been training that family for the owner for probably 30 years now. They were all hard knockers with a few group stakes winners and a couple of Grade 1 winners in there. It’s always been a good family.”

At Colonial Downs FERDINANDA (Giant's Causeway) won the Brookmeade Stakes  - drawing off to score by 6 lengths. She has won or been placed in all but 2 of her last 16  starts,  Saratoga shipper Ferdinanda, who races in the silks of Ann Backer  made easy work disposing of her rivals, coasting to a six-length victory. 

“I knew I was on a pretty nice horse when I looked in the program and saw the name Barclay Tagg,” Boyce said. “The first part (of the race) I just let her find her own position, find her own way. I just waited as long as I could (before making her move to the lead).”

2-year-old TIZ THE LAW (by Constitution - Tizfiz, by Tiznow), owned by Sackatoga Stable, won Saratoga's 5th race by 4 1/4 wrapped up. It was the New York-bred's first start. He raced 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.

In May, NIKO'S DREAM (Central Banker) graduated in a MSW for Sackatoga Stable racing a mile on the grass at Belmont.  In June, trying stakes company for the first time in the NYSSS Cupecoy's Joy, she saved ground initially and then moved out  under a hand ride and finally came charging 5 wide but had to settle for the place by a neck. Today on the last day of July, she added another stakes placing in the NYSSS  Statue of Liberty going a mile on the turf at Sartoga. She raced 3 wide throughout and mounted a challenge to the leader in the stretch. but again had to settle for second. She has now earned over$125,000.

Last month, NIKO'S DREAM (Central Banker) graduated in a MSW for Sackatoga Stable racing a mile on the grass at Belmont.  Trying stakes company for the first time in the NYSSS Cupecoy's Joy, she saved ground initially and then moved out  under a hand ride and finally came charging 5 wide but had to settle for the place by a neck. None-the-less, she now has added black type to her pedigree and raised her earnings over $95,000. 

Dr. Edgar, the Barclay Tagg-trainee who won his graded stakes debut with the Grade 3 Appleton on March 29 at Gulfstream Park, edged out Cullum Road by a nose for second in the Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy. Today he had to settle for 4th in the Poker S G3 but it was a thrilling blanket finihs and he lost by 3 noses! DR EDGAR is owned by Eloise and Peter Canzone, Sr. He has earned $331,505. DR. EDGAR keeps moving forward in each start, including a win in the Grade III Appleton, since being trained by Barclay Tagg.

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Stakes winner of the Alydar S and also a multiple Graded Stakes Placed, REALM (Haynesfield) added another G2 stakes placing n the G2 Brooklyn Invitational at 12 furlongs on the Belmont Stakes card. He ran close to the pace and in a blanket finish only missed by a 1/2 and a neck.

Bred in Virginia by Morgan’s Ford Farm, Realm was selected by Tagg from the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling sale, paying $75,000.  He’s earned just over $421,000.

“Harry and I have had a couple of horses together,” Dattner said, “but this is the first with Barclay. He said he’d like to own a horse but couldn’t afford one, so I paid for the horse and he paid for the upkeep until he caught up.”

VISIT OUR GALLERY FOR PHOTOS

Multiple Graded Stakes Placed HIGHLAND SKY added to his resume running 3rd in the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational G2. He saved ground on the rail early running behind the field then swung out and rallied for third. He is owned by his breeder Bonner Young and Gerald and Jerrie Stewart McManis. 
Lifetime: 23 4-3-5 $668,422,00

Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational

Probable: Amade (Alessandro Botti), Canessar (Delacour), Epical (Jim Cassidy), Focus Group (Chad Brown), Highland Sky (Barclay Tagg), Hunter O'Riley (Jimmy Toner), Mootsadir (Hugo Palmer), Raa Atoll (Luke Comer), Red Knight (Bill Mott)

We are proud to have been part of the backstory which has ended up helping Kelly Rubley have Alwaysmining entered in the Preakness for Runnymede Racing. To read more please CLICK HERE. Kelly gives credit throughout for lessons learned from Barclay Tagg,

Dr. Edgar, the Barclay Tagg-trainee who won his graded stakes debut with the Grade 3 Appleton on March 29 at Gulfstream Park, edged out Cullum Road by a nose for second in the Grade 3, $150,000 Fort Marcy.

“He's a hard-fighting horse and any battle that comes up he gives it a 110 percent,” said Dr. Edgar jockey Dylan Davis. “The favorite [Robert Bruce] went by me but he dug right back in down the lane. I thought I was going to get it, but a late closer came and got him. I thought he ran his 'A' game today.”

We are very proud to announce that BRUCIA  LA TERRA was named  Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly. BRUCIA LA TERRA was bred by Sallyellen M. Hurst and Hugh H. Hurst and is owned by William M. Ferrone. She won her first outing and followed that up with a 2nd in the Frizette G1.