River City H. (gr. III)
(gr. IIIT , 9f ,)
RAHYSTRADA
(CH g,
114
lb) $66,382
Rahy —Ministrada , by
Deputy Minister
B—Jaime S. Carrion, Trustee,
KY.;
O—Robert E. Courtney, Jr.;
T—Byron G. Hughes
Rahy's Attorney
(B g,
121
lb) $21,413
Crown Attorney —Rahy's Hope , by
Rahy
B—Ellie-Boje Farm,
ON.;
O—Ellie Boje Farm, Peters, Mitch, Read, Dean and MacLellan, Jim;
T—Ian Black
Pleasant Strike
(DK B/ h,
116
lb) $10,706
Smart Strike —Colonella , by
Pleasant Colony
B—Edward P. Evans,
VA.;
O—Edward P. Evans;
T—Todd A. Pletcher
Margins: 2¼, nose, 3¼. Others: Wicked Style 116($5,353) , Simmard 115($3,211) , Banrock 119($1,127) , Cryptolight 114($1,127) , Karelian 122($1,127) , Wheels Up At Noon 117($1,127) , Brave Tin Soldier 117($1,127) . Winning Jockey, Leandro R. Goncalves.
Dismissed at odds of 56-1, Rahystrada took command at the top of the stretch and was never seriously challenged, drawing off to capture the Nov. 27 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs by 21Ú4 lengths.
Making his first appearance in graded stakes company, Rahystrada belied any apparent inexperience at that level, shooting to the front at the top of the lane under jockey Leandro Goncalves and pulling away from the field for the win. Canadian champion RahyÕs Attorney finished second, holding off Pleasant Strike by a nose.
The victory not only marked the first stakes win for the 5-year-old Rahy gelding, but also the first graded stakes win for trainer Byron Hughes. The win was one of the biggest for jockey Goncalves, who also recorded a victory aboard Satans Quick Chick in the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland Oct. 24.
Rahystrada was bred in Kentucky by Jaime S. Carrion, Trustee, and races for Robert E. Courtney Jr. Courtney and Hughes have known each other since they were young, and Courtney has recently put a few horses in training with Hughes.
CourtneyÕs father, Bob, owned and operated Crestfield Farm for more than 50 years, until his retirement in 2008. It was also at that time that Carrion, a major client of CourtneyÕs, decided to disperse his Thoroughbred holdings. Carrion and Courtney were friends and business associates for many years; champions Meadow Star and Action This Day were both bred by Carrion and raised at Crestfield Farm.
Carrion also bred Ministrada, the dam of Rahystrada. Ministrada, an unraced daughter of Deputy Minister, has produced four winners from six foals to race, including Lone Star Sky (by Conquistador Cielo), winner of the 2002 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III). After producing a filly by Bernardini in 2008, Ministrada was barren for 2009. She has been bred to champion War Pass for 2010.
MinistradaÕs dam, the multiple stakes-winning mare, Funistrada, was bred by John A. Nerud and campaigned by Carrion. Both mares trace directly back to Ride the Trails, the dam of turf champion and BreedersÕ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Cozzene.
Rahy is the sire of 87 stakes winners. In addition to the River City victor, Rahy has also sired additional 2009 added-money winners Pounced (gr. IIT), Lady of the Desert (Eng-II), and Lindelaan. Rahy, who was pensioned in July 2009, stood his entire career at Robert ClayÕs Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.ÑM.J.S.