Sporting the Madaket Stables’ silks for the first time, Ontario-sired and -bred CIUNAS kept his winning streak going with a last-to-first rush in the $150,000 Overskate Stakes on October 25. The grey four-year-old gelding had won two, inner-turf allowance/optional claiming races for trainer Rachel Halden and owner/breeder Jeff Zlonis and partner Richard Hogan. The son of Silent Name (JPN) – Myrtle’s Grey by Oratory was then sold by co-owner Hogan to a group of owners consisting of Madaket Stables, Steven Bouchey and Brile Family Stable. Zlonis stayed in the ownership.
Making his first start for trainer Miguel Clement, Ciunas had the perfect set-up in the 7 1/2 furlong Overskate on the inner turf, as the early pace was sizzling. Champion Paramount Prince ended up going head-to-head with Hunt Master through wild fractions of :21.92, 44,83 and 1:09.73 around two turns and both faded. Ciunas blew by for a 1 1/2 length win under Pietro Moran. Previously trained by Roger Attfield in 2025, Ciunas has won six of 10 races and over $271,000.
Ciunas had put in two workouts at Saratoga for his new owners since his allowance win in September.
His half brother, Gray’s Fable, raced at Woodbine and many other tracks through age 11 of this year. He won the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Stables and over $677,000. His last race was this past April when he fell in a hurdle race at Foxfield.
Ciunas was one of several horses sold by Ontario interests in recent weeks. Scorching was sold in part by Paul Braverman following the colt’s Elgin Stakes win. The son of Mo Town, racing for new trainer Saffie Jospeh, finished fifth in the $100,000 Wilmington Stakes on Oct. 17.
Brandy and Me, sold by Sue Leslie to St. Elias Stable, Turf Express Racing, Miller Racing and BAG Racing Stables following two big wins to begin her career, finished sixth in the Glen Cove Stakes on Oct. 25. The daughter of Silent Name (JPN) had won the Algoma Stakes in her second career start.
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