Last year, Rich Banca and Barbara and James Boese watched as New Zealand-bred mare Kaitlyn N went on a tear. The American Ideal daughter won her first three starts in the United States at Harrington for trainer Josh Parker and went on to win across the East Coast at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the Meadowlands, and Yonkers.
Although she began her campaign in the non-winners classes, Kaitlyn N worked her way up to Harrington’s Open ranks. She beat the top mares at Harrington four starts in a row last fall and earned $110,875 on the season. Boese, the track’s Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, took notice and bought her, bringing Banca in on the partnership and giving him the horse to train.
“I had seen her at Yonkers. (The Boeses) watched her down there and they liked her. They picked her out and they bought her,” Banca said.
Kaitlyn N is the latest horse the Boeses have teamed with Banca on after their successful partnership began with Adagio de la Tour last summer. The French-bred came to the United States as part of the French American Trotting Club, finished second in the $120,000 final, and went on to earn $122,640 last year.
“I have quite a few horses with them, they’re really good people,” Banca said. “It started with the French trotters. They wanted to buy one of the horses coming from France and they called me up and asked if I would take the horse. I said yes. That’s where it started and I’ve gotten a bunch more since.”
Kaitlyn N made her last start for Parker on Nov. 21, finishing second in the Filly and Mare Open Handicap at Dover Downs. Banca turned her out with the intention of getting her ready for a 2019 campaign. She qualified back in 1:56.2 with Matt Kakaley in the sulky while finishing second to Havefaithinme at Yonkers Feb. 2.
“We bought her, she got turned out for a while, and we brought her back and qualified her last week,” Banca said. “We turned her out for a while after we bought her, gave her a break and got her fresh and well. It was probably about a month and then we trained her back and qualified her.
“I didn’t see it, I wasn’t there, but Kakaley likes her a lot. He said she was very good, so that was enough for me.”
Although it is difficult to gauge her talent without seeing her race, Banca is pleased with Kaitlyn N so far.
“I haven’t had her very long, we haven’t raced her yet. We’ll see how it goes. We’ll see what happens, but so far, I can’t say a bad thing about her,” he said. “She’s nice. She’s a good-looking horse, she doesn’t do a thing wrong. I like her. I’m really happy with her. She’s perfect.”
Kaitlyn N will start from post six in the $44,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Friday night (Feb. 8). She is a 7-1 morning line with Kakaley back in the bike. Her rivals include 5-2 early favourite Delishka N, who won three straight Opens in Delaware in January before finishing fourth and third in her first two tries at the Hilltop, respectively.
Invader Nerida Franco N is 4-1 off two victories in the Filly and Mare Select at Dover, but drew a difficult assignment in post seven. Amateur Hour is also 4-1 and benefits from an assigned inside post after Paul Blumenfeld claimed her for $30,000 two back. Ella Michelle A won the Yonkers distaff feature two starts ago and will start from post three with Joe Bongiorno in the sulky. Shez Sugarsweet A, Shezza GNP N, and Itty Bitty complete the lineup.
“She’s only got one qualifier, she’s been off for quite a while. I’m not expecting to see her best. I think she’ll need a start or two,” Banca said of Kaitlyn N’s prospects first time out. “We’ll try and get her right for the Matchmaker. I hope she’ll be a contender in the series. It’s hard to say, we haven’t raced her yet, but I hope she is. She’s done everything right and part of the reason for buying her was for that race and we’re going to stake her to some other things. Hopefully she’s up to it.”
Live harness racing is featured at Yonkers Raceway every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. First post time is 6:50 p.m.
(SOA of NY)