Ujjayi a First Stakes Winner for Wise

T.L. Wise was still celebrating his first stakes win despite battling the traffic en route from Aqueduct–where he and his family watched Ujjayi (Smarty Jones) battle to victory in the Ruthless S.–to Newark airport Sunday evening.

“First stakes win and it was so exciting,” Wise said while keeping an eye on his GPS. “I was so fortunate to have my grandsons and my daughters and my future son-in-law there with me. It was my first trip to Aqueduct and it was fantastic.”

Asked what it was like watching the filly he bred battle down the Aqueduct stretch, Wise said, “We were up in the clubhouse and it was surreal. I've watched a lot of races and usually the outside horse wears them down, but she was on the inside and when that horse came to her, she still had something in the tank. It was great.”

Wise, a Lexington-based real estate broker, purchased Ujjayi's dam Ocean Road (War Front) for $4,500 as a yearling at the 2009 Keeneland September sale. From War Front's first crop, she earned $111,000 racing in Wise's colors from 2010 through 2013, hitting the board in 13 of 31 races and winning three times.

Ocean Road is Wise's only broodmare. Of the decision to breed her, he explained, “[Trainer] Brad Cox had her for me and he did a great job at the end. She had two wins at Oaklawn. Then we tried her a couple more times in allowance races when she was five and he wanted to drop her into a claiming race. But War Front was starting to take off, so I thought I didn't want to chance it, I'll bring her home and retire her. She was always a game filly with a great attitude. She is well-bred, out of a Pulpit mare and War Front on the top, and she was a runner.”

Ocean Road's first two foals, 5-year-old Appellee (Smarty Jones) and 4-year-old Tremblant (Jump Start), were both winners for Wise. Ujjayi is the mare's third foal. She produced a colt by Fast Anna last year and was bred back to Get Stormy.

“Ocean Road has given me four babies and three have been winners,” Wise said. “I have a yearling at home and she is expecting again. I'm very proud of her and her offspring have all been runners.”

Wise's first experience with race horse ownership came some three decades ago.

“I had a horse when my daughters were babies, 35 years ago, and I think I won $100 finishing fifth at River Downs,” Wise said. “Then I didn't have horses for 20 years.”

But he couldn't stay away from the game forever.

“I always loved it,” Wise said of racing. “I've always been a handicapper, but with my daughters and college and everything, I had to pay bills, so I couldn't afford it. I got my daughters educated and then I got back in the business.”

His first purchase back was Aloha Love (Malabar Gold), purchased for $6,200 at the 2006 Keeneland September sale.

“Aloha Love won a half-dozen races, mostly nickel claimers, and he won a maiden special at Indiana Downs for our first win,” Wise said. “I used to buy two at the sales each year, but then I got to the point I couldn't afford the horses that I needed to win. So I decided to try breeding and this is the result of my four or five year breeding program with my one mare.”

Asked if he was contemplating adding to his select broodmare band, Wise said, “I'm happy with one mare. I'm getting into the golden years, so I can afford to do a little more. And it's the biggest temptation in the world to have a dozen, but I'm also a real estate guy and I've got to watch my Ps and Qs.”

After a brief pause, he added, “But I may get one more mare.”

RUTHLESS S., $101,400, Aqueduct, 1-27, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:25.18, ft.
1–UJJAYI, 120, f, 3, by Smarty Jones
                1st Dam: Ocean Road, by War Front
                2nd Dam: Salally Bella, by Pulpit
                3rd Dam: Sandy's Storm, by Storm Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-T. L. Wise (PA); T-Erin C. McClellan;
J-Tyler Conner. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0, $127,360.
2–Miss Imperial, 120, f, 3, Maclean's Music–Miss Cappy, by
Skip Trial. ($13,000 Ylg '17 FTKOCT). O-Michael Dubb, Madaket
Stables LLC, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC & Susan
Montanye; B-Bob Lewis & Flying H Stables, LLC (KY); T-Jason
Servis. $20,000.
3–Dovey Lovey, 120, f, 3, Include–Mary At the Cove, by Brother
Derek. ($20,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEEJAN; $55,000 Ylg '17 FTKJUL;
$95,000 2yo '18 OBSAPR). O-Lee Pokoik; B-Brereton C. Jones
(KY); T-Gary C. Contessa. $12,900.
Margins: 1 3/4, 4HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 5.50, 0.85, 8.80.
Also Ran: Takecharge Mirella, Enliven, Sheza Diva, She's a Black Belt.
Ujjayi romped by 7 3/4 lengths in her off-turf debut at Laurel Aug. 3 and resurfaced with runner-up efforts behind Please Flatter Me (Munnings) in the Nov. 21 Blue Mountain Juvenile Fillies S. and Dec. 29 Gin Talking S. The dark bay filly contested the pace from the rail, battled Miss Imperial down the lane and drew away in the final strides.

“She was incredible,” trainer Erin McClellan said of the winner. “I thought the trip was good. I was a little worried about her at the top of the stretch, I thought she was getting a little leg weary. But she has a ton of heart and just didn't want to give it up.”

Owner/breeder Thomas Lamarr Wise added, “Turning for home, I was watching [jockey] Tyler [Conner] and it seemed like he was sitting chilly and I felt we had a pretty good chance. We went seven furlongs last race, so she knew what that was and that makes a little difference. I think she improved off of that race. We've got a nice filly.”

McClellan said a return trip to Aqueduct could be in the cards for Ujjayi.

“I know T.L. would like to see her go two turns, so if we're invited back here in March for the [Mar. 9] Busher, we might take a shot at that. We'll give her a couple days and see how she comes out of it before coming up with a game plan.” Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.