Principal duo in NJ Classic

June 01, 2007

High school principal John Fodera waved goodbye to the St. Peter's Boys High School Class of 2007 this week, and on Saturday night, he will watch a graduation of another kind as a pair of young horses he owns embark on their 3-year-old stakes campaigns.

Fodera co-owns both Yankee Skyscaper and Kinetic Yankee, the entry rated as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The duo will start side by side in Saturday's final: Yankee Skyscaper from post four with George Brennan in the sulky and Kinetic Yankee from post five with Andy Miller.

The richest stakes in harness racing for state-bred racehorses, the New Jersey Classic is carded as race five, with an estimated 8:49 p.m. post time. The companion event for fillies, the $200,000 Thomas D'Altrui Miss New Jersey, is slotted as race three with an estimated 8:09 p.m. post time.

Fodera, 62, has been the principal of St. Peter's Boys High School in Staten Island, N.Y., since 1990, and previously served as assistant principal since 1968. During his 17 years as principal, Fodera has supervised the building of a $5 million new wing with science, library and computer centers and a $2 million athletic field, which have contributed to St. Peter's status as one of the area's most prestigious private high schools.

"I just let 200 seniors graduate singing their alma mater, so I guess I can put my feet up and enjoy the stakes season now," said Fodera, who holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from St. John's University and an M.A. from Georgetown University. "I'm in my 39th year at St. Peter's. The kids here keep me perpetually young and I just love coming to work. I get so excited around graduation time and this is where I want to be."

Though he has owned racehorses for 40 years, Fodera did not make a significant foray into buying yearlings until the fall of 2004, with the hope of competing in the sport's top events for two and three-year-olds. Recognizing the weight of such an investment, he enlisted the help of seasoned pro Myron Bell of Brittany Farms.

"We have sat an owners box apart (in the Meadowlands grandstand) for a number of years and I knew him through his association with Brittany Farms," Fodera explained. "Over the past few years we started talking more and he discussed putting together these groups (of owners). He said the goal was to purchase anywhere from five to eight yearlings, and he wasn't looking for sires stakes colts or overnight horses. His ultimate goal is to find stallions for Brittany Farms. That may be like trying to hit the lottery, but you want to aim for the home run first before you hit singles. Myron does his research and deserves so much credit. He never misses a qualifier, a baby race and any race for 2 and 3 year olds. He keeps notes on every horse. It's a full-time business for him and he does it well. He has unbelievable interest in it and his success speaks for itself."

The fruits of Fodera's yearling investments began with 2006 Little Brown Jug winner Mr. Feelgood, whom he purchased in partnership with Bell, Lindy Farms, Doug Hyatt and Alberto Imbrogno in 2004.

"There was some irony in the Jug situation," he noted. "I had prepared to go out to the sales in Kentucky and had just come back from Canada, and noted Mr. Feelgood was like 50-1 in one of those future odds pools. Mr. Feelgood was better on a bigger track. I had no thought of going (to Ohio for the Jug), so I watched it with a group of students in my office on the Internet. Our trainer, Jimmy Takter, said with our speed we had a good shot at making the second heat, and I should come out there. I had an obligation to school first. After we won the first heat, Takter told me if we draw the rail, we're going to win. Then, we draw the rail, and the rest is history.

"They call me the 'First Time' man," he added. "The first time I entered several stakes I happened to win. I won the Isle Of Capri and Dan Patch with Luckisasluckydoes, the Breeders Crown, the Metro, the Classic and the Jug."

In 2005, Fodera purchased another half-dozen yearlings in partnership with Bell, Brittany Farms, Martha Frank and Fred Mansoor. They included Yankee Skyscaper, Kinetic Yankee and Tell All, who is the early favorite for Canada's premier event, the North America Cup.

In his second start of the season, Yankee Skyscaper rallied from off the pace to win his New Jersey Classic elimination in a career-best 1:50.3 effort. The son of Artiscape enters Saturday's final with a record of five wins in 11 career starts for trainer Chris Ryder. He was the leading money-winner of the 2006 freshman class with $545,000 earned and counted the $900,000 Metro in Canada among his victories.

"Yankee Skyscaper finished sixth in his last start as a freshman and came out of the race with a little sickness," Fodera said. "The best way to protect this horse was to shut him down at that point. (Driver) George Brennan said he's come back exceptionally well after training giant over the winter for Chris Ryder. In his first race of the season (a New Jersey Sire Stakes division on May 19), he paced his last three quarters in 1:22 and a piece, yet there was some concern. Then last week, he showed his true colors."

Kinetic Yankee also captured his New Jersey Classic elimination, pacing to a personal best 1:51 with Andy Miller in the sulky. Trained by Erv Miller, the lightly raced son of Western Ideal is three-for-three this season at the Meadowlands.

"Erv Miller loved Kinetic Yankee as a 2 year old," Fodera said. "Training down, he said this horse was going to be something special. He had a ton coming home in his first start at Lexington last year (Sept. 28, 2006). Then he just showed some colt soreness, so Erv pulled his shoes off and turned him out. He stepped up big against these horses and he's still very green. He may turn out to be a better horse than Yankee Skyscaper down the road. Who knows? Andy Miller said he doesn't feel like a 3 year old because of his strength. He's really built. Both trainers have done their job. Now it's up to the horses."

Fodera resides in Staten Island with his wife, Barbara, who retired after 35 years as a special education instructor. The Foderas have three children, a son and two daughters.

"My son, Christopher served in Iraq as a Communications Officer in the Marines, and he's now studying for his masters degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. My youngest daughter, Elizabeth, works as a buyer for Bloomingdales. My oldest daughter, Jennifer, is an occupational therapist in Manhattan."

Staten Island was dominated by farmland when Fodera was growing up and he got his first experience working with horses from his cousin, Jim McGovern, who lived on a farm with a training track just a half-mile away. In 1961, when he was just 16, Fodera purchased his first horse, a $2,000 claimer named Sir Carlith, whom McGovern trained and drove. Fodera later formed a partnership with trainer-driver Rejean Daigneault and raced horses at Yonkers and Roosevelt before the Meadowlands opened in 1976. He has owned part or all of more than 300 horses through the years. He readily admits that claiming horses is his forte.

"My claim to fame, so to speak is my $25,000 claimer, Natural Talent," he said. "He's gone on to win $130,000 since we claimed him last December. He's in again on Saturday night (at the Meadowlands)."

Boulder Creek, whom Fodera co-owns with Lee Wasserman and Cliff Siegel, has been his most successful horse by far. Trained by Mark Silva, the 2005 Older Pacer of the Year has earned $2.7 million and counts two Breeders Crown titles among his long list of accomplishments.

"Boulder Creek will always be my pride and joy," he said. "Mark and Tammy Silva are close friends, and they have always been very upfront with the horse. You can't ask more from this one, from Breeders Crowns to Classic Series finals. We're hoping for a good 7-year-old campaign. Is he a Lis Mara? It's going to be difficult because he doesn't have age on his side anymore. He's in the Open on Saturday and he has to work harder now. He's closing in on $3 million and whenever Mark tells us it's time, we'll find a very good home for him." (Meadowlands)

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