Stephanoatsee’s 2nd Starter – Beg to Differ – His 2nd MSW Mile Winner at Aqueduct – by 6½ Lengths

By Rab Hagin

The first two starters from the first crop sired by STEPHANOATSEE have won or placed in five of six starts to date, with both winning $60,000 Aqueduct maiden special miles by multiple-length margins in 2020 – his latest being BEG TO DIFFER, who cruised by 6½ lengths on March 13. Like Stephanoatsee’s first winner, the filly MY MY MICHELLE at Aqueduct on January 31, Beg to Differ is a homebred for the My Meadowview Farm LLC of Leonard Riggio, which also bred and raced stakes winner Stephanoatsee.

Among New York-based sophomore sires (first foals arrived in 2017), Stephanoatsee has the highest average lifetime earnings per starter and the highest average 2020 earnings per starter. The son of Horse of the Year and multiple leading North American sire A.P. Indy and 2011 Broodmare of the Year Oatsee (by Unbridled) is a half-brother to Preakness and Metropolitan Mile winner Shackleford, a North American top-three second-crop sire in 2017.

Finishing several lengths behind Beg to Differ among his nine rivals on March 13 were sons of Kentucky stallions standing for $60,000 (the 2-1 favorite) and $25,000. Beg to Differ is the first offspring produced from a mare who broke her maiden at Remington Park and placed third in a stakes at Retama Park prior to being purchased by My Meadowview as a not-bred broodmare prospect at Keeneland’s 2015 November sale. Beg to Differ’s victorious stretch-running romp from third place at the half-mile pole suggests he is quite capable of extending out in distance.