Educational Archives - Page 21 of 34

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016

Big Money Mike

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Photo: a picture from a print from the Keeneland Jockey Collector Series featuring Mike Smith. The series, released in 2005 and 2006, includes Pat Day, Jerry Baily, Edgar Prado, Robby Albarado and Craig Perret as well. I have all of the prints except the Albarado, darn!

Thoroughbred U is wholeheartedly dedicated to Sport of Kings. I have such a personal passion for the horses that I have a tendency to make the Thoroughbreds the focus. On the day when we remember Zenyatta’s retirement from racing I think it is an important moment to pay due respect to the jockey.

First a bit on Zenyatta, because I simply must. Zenyatta is a Kentucky bred mare born in 2004 to Street Cry and Vertigineux. Zenyatta won 4 Eclipse Awards and 19 of her 20 starts. She is a mare that won both the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic and was 1st and 2nd in the BC Classic itself. On November 17, 2010 she retired to the life of a broodmare at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky. Mike Smith was her jockey for 16 of her outstanding wins. Without further delay, let’s focus on a man behind the mare.

Michael Earl Smith was born in Roswell, New Mexico on 8/10/1965. His father was a jockey. Mike E. Smith took to the sport at a very young age and obtained his license to ride by the time he was only 15 years old. It didn’t take long until Smith was on the move, earning leading jockey titles nationally and additionally finding success overseas.

By 1992, Smith was a Breeders’ Cup winner. He won the BC Mile riding Lure in 1992 and 1993. Two BC wins are enough to impress me. After all, the BC is designed to be the World Champion event for Thoroughbred racing. Smith wasn’t stopping. He holds the record for BC wins now with 25 victories. He has won the BC Classic an outstanding 4 times, including this year’s ride on Arrogate. His BC Classic winners also include, Drosselmeyer, Zenyatta and Skip Away. Smith did so well at the BC this year, he received his third Bill Shoemaker Award, given to the jockey with the most BC points. Scoring provides 10 points to win, 5 to place, 3 to show and 1 point for fourth place. This year, Smith won the BC Dirt Mile with Tamarkuz, the BC Filly and Mare Sprint with Finest City and the BC Classic with Arrogate. Smith was 2nd in the BC Distaff with Songbird, in the BC Juvenile Filles with Coasted and the BC Sprint with Masochistic. He picked up his last 3 points, with a third place finish, in the BC Juvenile Fillies with American Girl.

Smith has won every leg of the Triple Crown. He has won internationally 4 times and there is talk he may be slated to head to Europe with Arrogate in 2017. Smith obtained his 5000th win in 2012, while on Eclipse Award 2011 Champion Sprinter, Amazombie. He is very selective of who he rides for now. He now has 5,360 wins in 32,674 starts. At 51 years old he is going strong.

Photo: From my visit to and story about Old Friends in September of 2015. BC Sprint winner, Amazombie, in the mask and Rapid Redux, who had 22 consecutive wins, thus more than Zenyatta.

Smith obtained his own Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey in 1993 and 1994. 1994 also brought him an ESPY Award for Best Jockey. He holds several other honors and awards and in 2003 he was inducted into the National Museum and Hall of Fame.

Big Money Mike is his nickname due to his success in earnings. Mike E. Smith is entered in several races at Del Mar on 11/18 and 19. Will you bet him to be your money maker? I’ll be keeping my eye on him. He sure caught me by surprise with the romp over California Chrome in the BC Classic. Check back soon for more Thoroughbred related information!

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November 9, 2016November 9, 2016

Knockout November

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Photo: Love The Chase

Don’t blink! The 2016 Breeders’ Cup finished up on Saturday and in the next moment the Thoroughbreds shipped away. Some we will see on the track again, some retired and others were sent promptly to Kentucky for the November sales.

Photo: Stopchargingmaria

On November 4th and 5th, Santa Anita Park in California hosted the Breeders’ Cup. 13 races took place yielding the following results by race and winning Thoroughbreds:

Juvenile Turf: Oscar Performance
Las Vegas Dirt Mile: Tamarkuz
Juvenile Fillies Turf: New Money Honey
Longines Distaff: Beholder
14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies: Champagne Room
Filly and Mare Turf: Queen’s Trust
Twin Spires Sprint: Drefong
Turf Sprint: Obviously
Sentient Jet Juvenile: Classic Empire
Longines Turf: Highland Reel
Filly and Mare Sprint: Finest City
Mile: Tourist
Classic: Arrogate

Photo: Baffled

There were a whole lot of upsets and close calls but it is all part of the game! The results of these races lead to updates in bloodlines all over the world and the new information was influential at the following sales.

Photo: Cassett

The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY was quite the success. Held at 4 P.M. EST on 11/7/16 there were 175 hips cataloged. 88 horses were sold and 34 did not meet the reserve. The others scratched prior to the sale. The auction grossed over $54 million dollars which is up over 22% versus the prior year. The average price rose nearly 30% versus last year to about $615 thousand dollars. The median price went up almost 60% to more than $377 thousand dollars. The horses that didn’t make the reserve, the minimum price per the seller, was down to less than 28% versus 34% in 2015. 15 horses sold for a million dollars or more.

Baffled $3.5 M
Curalina $3M
Stopchargingmaria $2.8M
Cassatt $2.5M
Embellish The Lace $2.4M
Lady Zuzu $2.35M
Jacaranda $2M
Love The Chase $1.95M – oh my goodness, it’s California Chrome’s mom!
Whatdreamsrmadeof $1.65M
Cover Song $1.6M
Cathryn Sophia $1.4M
Tapas $1.3M
Paid Up Subscriber $1.1M
Haveyougoneaway $1.1M
Luminance $1M

Photo: Peace And War

The 2016 November Breeding Stock Sale at Keeneland in Lexington, KY was held starting at 11am on 11/8/16. It will continue thru November 20th. Day 1 of Book 1 went very nicely. Day 1 included 239 hips. 115 Thoroughbreds were sold. Over $50 million dollars were grossed. The average price was more than $436 thousand dollars. The median was $260 thousand. 10 horses sold for 7 figures.

Secret Gesture $3.5M
Celestine $2.55M
Tapicat $2.2M
My Conquestadory $1.5M
Peace And War $1.45M
Princess Sylvia $1.4M
Summer Soiree $1.3M
Yellow Ribbon $1.3M
Lexie Lou $1M
Dust and Diamonds $1M

Photo: from left to right Dust And Diamonds, Celestine, Tapicat

It was a good couple of days to catch the action in Lexington, KY. I can’t wait to see what the remainder of the sales yield. I hope we have a knockout November! Check back at least weekly and I’ll do my best to keep you updated on new adventures with race horses.

Photo: clockwise from top left Summer Soiree, Secret Gesture, Princess Sylvia, My Conquestadory

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November 1, 2016November 1, 2016

A “Cup”le More Wins for Chrome and Other BC16 News

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Undefeated in 2016, our happy boy, California Chrome, is preparing for the last “Cup”le races of his career. Chrome will race for the Breeders’ “Cup” and the Pegasus World “Cup” before retiring to stud.

California Chrome is the favorite to win the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Chrome has had an amazing career that has done so much for the Thoroughbred industry and for charity. California Chrome has only improved with time over his 5 year life span.

Chrome, also known as Junior, was foaled on 2/18/11. He was born of Lucky Pulpit and Love the Chase. Junior has won 15 of 24 career starts. He is trained by Art Sherman, and his jockey is Victor Espinoza. Bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn he is now owned by California Chrome, LLC.

Chrome has won many races and awards. In 2014, after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, he was given Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year and Champion 3 Year-Old Colt. He was 4th in the Belmont Stakes in 2014, thus missing a Triple Crown achievement. Chrome ran 3rd in the BC Classic in 2014 and he was recovering from a bruised cannon bone when BC15 took place. I had a couple of visits with him during the end of his recovery, at Taylor Made Farm, in Nicholasville, KY. Taylor Made is part of his current LLC. group of owners and it will be this farm that keeps him in his retirement.

California Chrome has won all 6 of his 2016 races. He won the San Pasqual Stakes, the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy, the Dubai World Cup, the San Diego Handicap, the Pacific Classic Stakes and the Awesome Again Stakes.

I am very interested in California Chrome’s return to KY for two reasons. I will enjoy the ease of local visits and second I am so excited for Chrome babies. I won’t be attending BC16. I did take the week off from work. I’ll head out to see the races at The Red Mile, near home. Unfortunately, I have never seen Junior race live thus I want to slow down time and enjoy the last of his races. He has 2 to go with the BC Classic at Santa Anita in CA on 11/5/15 at PDT 5:35 PM (8:35 PM EST) and the first ever Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in FL on 1/28/17.

While in CA, California Chrome and his connections are continuing to raise money for charity. Chrome is the richest Thoroughbred in North American history but he gives back too. Espinoza is a very charitable jockey. He generally gives up a percentage of his earning and when he won the Triple Crown last year on American Pharoah he gave all of his earnings away. Taylor Made is also generous with charity. They use Chrome power to raise money for multiple charities. Tomorrow they are allowing for a very nice “An Evening With Team California Chrome” where Perry Martin, Art Sherman, Frank Taylor and Victor Espinoza will all speak and donate all the money from the event to Thoroughbred Charities of America. Chrome has the influence to win the hearts of racing fans and to bring attention and funding to many works of charity.

Without further ado, here are the post positions for the Grade 1 BC16 Classic by post/horse/jockey/trainer:

Effinex/Flavien Prat/James A. Jerkins
Frosted/Joel Rosario/Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Keen Ice/Javier Castellano/Todd A. Pletcher
California Chrome/Victor Espinoza/Art Sherman
Win the Space/Gary L. Stevens/George Papadromou
Melatonin/Joseph Talamo/David E. Hofmans
War Story/Scott Spieth/Mario Serey, Jr.
Shaman Ghost/Irad Ortiz, Jr./James A. Jerkens
Hopportunity/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert
Arrogate/Mike E. Smith/Bob Baffert

The BC16 Classic is a dirt race of 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) with a $6,000,000 dollar purse for Thoroughbreds age 3 and upward. I wish all ten horses a safe ride and I will be pulling for Chrome to win.

Don’t miss a race. There are 13 Breeders’ Cup races in 2016. NBC and NBC Sports Network will cover them all. TVG will show select races. On Friday, 11/4, the Juvenile Turf posts at 2:25 PM PDT, the Dirt Mile at 3:05, the Fillies Turf at 3:50 and the Distaff at 4:35. On Saturday, 11/5, all posted in Pacific Time, is the 12:05 PM Juvenile Fillies, 12:45 Filly and Mare Turf, 1:21 Sprint, 2:05 Turf Sprint, 2:43 Sentient Jet Juvenile, 3:22 Longines Turf, 4:01 Filly and Mare Sprint, 4:40 Mile, and finally the 5:35 Classic. The NBC Sport Network will host a 3 hour show on Friday and a 6 and 1/2 hour program on Saturday. The Classic has a special show from 8 to 9 P.M. EST on NBC. Be careful to watch for variances in time zones!

Please, enjoy the last of California Chrome’s races and all of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup. If you are lucky enough to attend live, share a picture or a comment. Check back for results and more adventures.

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October 30, 2016October 31, 2016

Man o’ War Memorial

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Turn a pity party into paradise! That’s what one trip to the world famous Kentucky Horse Park can do. I finished up a glorious Fall Meet at Keeneland Friday and Saturday which left me pining for more equine action today. Thus I headed out to the KY Horse Park. I wanted to see the progress on the Man o’ War statue at his final resting place.

Born on March 29, 1917 it will soon be time to celebrate the 100th year since this legendary horse was foaled. Man o’ War is one of the very best Thoroughbreds to ever race. “Big Red”, as he was affectionately named, won 20 of 21 career races. He was bred and born in Kentucky at Nursery Stud owned by August Belmont II. Man o’ War was sired by Fair Play, his dam was Mahubah. Man o’ War was sold to Samuel Riddle and lived at Glenn Riddle farm in Maryland. Big Red was trained by Louis Feustel. His jockeys were John P. Loftus and later, Clarence Kummer.

Man o’ War won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Colt in 1990 and 3 Year Old Colt in 1920. He won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1920 as well. He then retired to Faraway Farm in Lexington, KY and had a highly successful stud career, siring 62 graded stakes winners. His son, War Admiral, won the Triple Crown in 1937. War Admiral died on this very date, 10/30, in 1959. Before that, Man o’ War passed away 11/01/1947 of a heart attack. He was buried at Faraway and later moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY in 1977. Man o’ War was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957. In many publications of Thoroughbred rankings, Big Red is listed as number 1.

When Man o’ War was exhumed his 3,000 pound bronze statue was moved with him. Herbert Haseltine created the bronze sculpture dated 1948 but commissioned as early as 1934. It sits on a marble base. Casting Arts and Technology is currently in the process of removing the original patina to restore the statue.

Man o’ War’s statue is still a beautiful site to behold even while it is a work in progress. The statue and his grave are in the Man o’ War Memorial area just beyond the main gate and to the left. Isaac Murphy, a famous jockey and several of Man o’ War’s descendants are buried there as well.

I really enjoyed my time at the Kentucky Horse Park this morning. I especially loved seeing the retired horses that live in the Hall of Champions and petting a sweet horse in a paddock on the property. Big Red’s statue should be restored any day now and the park is already preparing for their Southern Lights attraction which I posted about last December. I sure do miss Keeneland racing but I’m glad to have the Kentucky Horse Park open on most days annually. There is always something new to see. Check back soon as I post about the upcoming Breeders’ Cup.

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October 21, 2016

Kings of Keeneland

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On the 10th day of racing my true love sent to me, another win thanks to the Ramseys! Sarah and Kenneth Ramsey are the leading owners of Keeneland’s Fall meet currently. The Ramsey’s have earned the leading owner title at 17 prior Keeneland meets. So far, the Ramsey’s have 6 horses win at Keeneland this October.

On opening day, the Ramsey’s opened up their winning streak with two wins. Walking the Kitten won the 7th race on 10/7/16. Walking the Kitten is trained by Michael Maker and riden by Julien Laparoux.

That same day, race 10, Global Entry won. Maker was the trainer and Jose Ortiz was the jockey.

I witnessed my first Ramsey win of the Fall on 10/15 with Homespun Hero, seen above, in race 4. Maker was the trainer and Ortiz was the jockey.

Later that day, race 7, I was fortunate to see Coalport with another consistent win for the Ramseys. Coalport is seen in the above picture.

On Sunday, 10/16, the Ramsey family won again with Hunka Burning Love in the 2nd race. That day the Ramseys won their 100th race of 2016. Regular trainer, Maker won that with Robby Albarado in the saddle.

Yesterday, 10/20, I watched as another Ramsey horse won. Kitten’s Roar won the 3rd race with Maker and Leparoux.

It should be of no surprise that Mike Maker is the current leading trainer at Keeneland. He now has 7 wins for the meet. The other leading trainers are Graham Motion, Mark Casse, Todd Pletcher and Ian Wilkes.

Julien Leparaox leads the jockeys, several wins coming from Ramsey horses. Leparoux has won 11 times this meet. Other top jockeys include Jose Ortiz, Florent Geroux, Ricardo Santana Jr., Corey Lanerie and Robby Albarado.

Following the Ramseys, the top owners include John Oxley, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Maggi Moss, W.S. Farish, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Jim and Susan Hill.

With 7 days to go in the Fall Meet all titles are still up for grabs! I can’t make it out this weekend but be sure I will be there the last 2 days of the meet. If you have anything you would like to share with me about Keeneland, leave me a comment.

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October 11, 2016October 11, 2016

Kentucky Racing: Roots to Right Now

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And they’re off! Keeneland, enjoying its 80th anniversary, began their Fall Meet on October 7, 2016. Starting with Fall Stars Weekend, Keeneland had 7 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races and 9 graded stakes races. One of these stakes is the oldest stakes race in the United States. That race was the 164th running of the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes.

A.P. Indian won this year’s Grade 2, Phoenix Stakes of 6 furlongs on the dirt. The race carried a $250,000 purse and an automatic berth into the BC Sprint this coming November. A.P. Indian didn’t even need the berth, as his win in the Forego had already secured that. A. P. Indian was a disappointing 6th place finisher in the Phoenix last year. He rebounded in style and has won all 6 of his races since! In total he has won 11 of his 17 career starts. Green Lantern Stables is his owner and breeder. Arnaud Delacour is his trainer and Joe Bravo is his jockey. A.P. Indian is the KY bred son of Indian Charlie and Ender’s Sister. At 6 year’s old, A.P. Indian is going strong, as is the legacy of America’s oldest race.

To prepare for the Fall Meet there was the 1st ever Phoenix Festival held on 10/6/16. A group named Phoenix Rising hosted the free event in the Isaac Murphy Memorial Garden on the East End of Lexington, KY. Phoenix Rising, named for the Phoenix Stakes, is an organization dedicated to promoting the rich history of the horse racing industry in Lexington.

The Phoenix Stakes was named for the historical Phoenix Hotel, a place in Lexington where people from all over the world would gather to talk Thoroughbred racing. The hotel wasn’t too far from the Kentucky Association’s track where we now have Race Street. The KY Association racetrack originated in 1831 and held some fantastic racing until it closed in 1933. When Keeneland opened in 1936, several KY Association assets were transferred to the new Lexington track, including the gate posts. The site where the Isaac Murphy Memoriall Garden now exists is the original location of the home of Isaac Murphy. The house’s foundation forms the amphitheater shape. This property was on the edge of the KY Association track.

Isaac Burns Murphy, winning jockey of 3 Kentucky Derbies is a historically famed jockey. Part of the park and presentation paid homage to the strong African American influence in Thoroughbred racing. There was a wealth of information on important African Americans in racing. That material will be shared and expanded upon in a separate, future post.

Donna Brothers, former jockey and current NBC Sports racing reporter was one of the speakers at the festival. Yvonne Giles, historian, James Long, retired jockey and Eugene Carter, trainer and handler were some of the other guest speakers. The event was a success as it provided education and entertainment. I am looking forward to more Phoenix Rising activities but as I head into this weekend I can’t wait to attend the Keeneland meet.

My “day job” prevented me from attending Keeneland’s opening weekend but later this week I will finally get my crack at visiting my favorite track. There is nothing like experiencing a live meet in the Horse Capital of the World. I’ll be checking my comments to see if you have any favorite Thoroughbreds for me to try to follow on my visits. Racing at Keeneland starts again tomorrow. Good luck to us all!

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October 5, 2016October 5, 2016

Racing with Runhappy

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There’s an old Irish saying that says just about anything you want it to. One of those being, “The best horse doesn’t always win the race.” I know of a few of the very best horses that even when they don’t win, they at least run happy. I caught up with Runhappy, himself, this weekend at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. He was head bobbing along through the paddock with a smile on his face. He is featured in the 1st three pictures.

Runhappy is a 4 year old colt sired by Super Saver. His dam is Bella Jolie. Hap, as he is affectionately named, is a Kentucky bred horse. He usually lives at the Thoroughbred Training Center with his cat, Sancho, in my hometown of Lexington, KY. Hap, is owned by James McIngvale. He had Edgar S. Prado for a jockey in his last race. He will use Gary Stevens in his next race. Laura Wohlers is his current trainer. Runhappy has had 9 career starts and he has won 7 times. He was sidelined for all of this year until the G3, Ack Ack Handicap this past Saturday, 10/1/16. He finished up a 6 race winning streak in December with a win in the Grade 1, Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. He spent most of this summer healing from a bruised cannon bone. Hap returned to racing this past weekend in preparation for the $1 million dollar Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Mile this November at Santa Anita. Last year, Runhappy won the BC Sprint and earned himself an Eclipse Award for 2015 Champion Sprinter. His connections are working with him to do the same with the BC Mile.

The 24th running of the Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs was a stakes race for horses 3 years olds and upward. It was a 1 mile race on the dirt and carried a purse of $100,000. The race is named for Ack Ack, a 1986 United States Racing Hall of Fame inductee and three time 1971 Eclipse Award winner. Ack Ack also went on to be a wonderful stallion at Claiborne Farm producing many more stakes winners.

Hap was one of 6 horses in the race this year. He unfortunately came in 4th, after a lead near the start. His connections still intend to ship him to California for the November BC Mile. Many feel he will continue to improve. Runhappy will also race in the 1st ever Pegasus World Cup on 1/28/17. The Pegasus will carry a $12million dollar purse, the world’s richest horse race.

Tom’s Ready, seen above, was the winner of the Ack Ack Handicap. He will also be targeting the BC Mile this year.

Tepin won the BC Mile last year. She is a contender to do so again. Tepin will race at Keeneland, in Lexington, KY, on opening weekend. She is entered in the First Lady Stakes, race 7 on 10/8/16. Post time is 4:35 P.M. EST. Tepin won the First Lady last year.

My beloved, Mr. Z, seen above, finished 6th in the Ack Ack on Saturday. It was his first race of this year but his 21st career start. He raced in the BC Mile last year as well. I was really pulling for him in the Ack Ack and he was leading at the half-mile. I do not know the current plans for his next race.

Churchill’s September Meet ended on October 2nd but thankfully Keeneland’s Fall Meet starts on the 7th and will continue thru the 29th. I will attend as often as possible to bring you more photos and stories. If there is any Thoroughbred in the Keeneland meet that you really want pictures of, please comment and I’ll give it a try. Thank you and check back for a new post each week.

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September 30, 2016October 1, 2016

Chrome Again

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California Chrome is ready again to prove that he is the most awesome male in Thoroughbred racing today! Tomorrow, 10/1/16, Chrome will race in the Xpressbet Awesome Again Stakes. Chrome is undefeated in all 5 of his 2016 races and based on his recent workouts he is looking like every bit of the champ that will keep the wins coming. He is 5 at 5!

California Chrome is the flashy 5 year old son of Lucky Pulpit and Love The Chase. Chrome is a California bred Thoroughbred with some Kentucky connections. In 23 starts he has won 14 times. He won 2 of the 3 legs of the Triple Crown in 2014. He finished 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a 3 year old, as well. Chrome earned 2 Eclipse Awards that same year, Horse of the Year and Champion 3 Year Old Colt. With 2 nice finishes at 2nd in 2015, Chrome traveled a bit and then got some rest and relaxation at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky. That is where I visited him on 2 occasions. He will retire there soon to make beautiful Chrome babies. He is affectionately called Junior and he is both an amazing race horse and just a joy of an animal at the same time. He loves his cookies and hamming it up for the camera and his fans, even babies. Chrome will race in the Awesome Again Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Pegasus World Cup before he returns to his ~~old~~ Kentucky home, to stay.

One race at a time, California Chrome is focused on another win in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Chrome calls nearby Los Alamitos Race Course his current home. His last race was 8/20/16 when he won the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar. He has been resting and prepping nicely ever since then. He got in a fast 7 furlongs at Los Alamitos on 9/24/16. This morning he galloped and schooled at Santa Anita. All signs show, Chrome is at his best at age 5. It is worth noting that the Stronach group put up a $1 million dollar bonus for the connections of the horse that could sweep the Pacific Classic, the Awesome Again and the BC Classic. 1 down, 2 to go!

The Awesome Again Stakes was inaugurated as the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap in 1982. The Goodwood name came from England’s Goodwood Racecourse. In 2008 the race became the Goodwood Stakes. Named once again in 2012, it became the Awesome Again Stakes for Awesome Again, the horse that won the BC Classic in 2008. The race is 9 furlongs (1 and 1/8 mile) on the dirt for Thoroughbreds age 3 and up with a purse of $300,000. Some of my personal winners include Ferdinand and Silver Charm. Last year, Smooth Roller won. Posting at 3:37 P.M PDT (6:37 EST) , the Grade 1, Awesome Again Stakes is the 7th race on a card of 11. The first post is at 12:30 P.M. PDT. It is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” berth race for the 2016 BC Classic. NBC will begin its television coverage at 5:30 P.M. EST. The preceding race, the G1 FrontRunner Stakes, brings a BC berth into the BC Juvenile Division race. Actually, every race from the 6th to the 10th is a BC berth. Those should be fun to watch and/or bet as well.

The field for the Awesome Again Stakes is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner:

California Chrome/Victor Espinoza/Art Sherman/California Chrome LLC.
Dortmund/Rafael Bejarano/Bob Baffert/Kaleem Shah
Hoppertunity/Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert/Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman
Win the Space/Gary Stevens/George Papaprodromou/Kretz Racing LLC
Soi Phet/Kent Desormeaux/Leonard Powell/Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell and Paul A. Viskovich
El Huerfano/Martin Pedroza/Peter Miller/Wachtel Stabel and Gary Barber
Hard Aces/Santiago Gonzalez/John Sadler/Hronis Racing LLC.

I’ll be pulling for California Chrome for his 6th straight win while I’m praying for a safe ride for all. I believe Chrome will be awesome again. My bet will be placed from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY where I will be simulcasting and taking in some live racing. Mr. Z returns in race 9 at Churchill Downs tomorrow and I love him. He hasn’t raced since November, 2015. I will always remember the day I met Mr. Z, at D. Wayne Lukas’ barn, in the early morning hours and he gave my bestie a love bite on the arm. That is just too funny for me. Check back soon for more photos and commentary from my adventures and education in racing.

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September 27, 2016September 27, 2016

Photogenic Pharoah

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A dream was fulfilled yesterday when I finally got to meet American Pharoah. I was lucky enough to be present at Keeneland, this past October, when Pharoah worked his way thru the paddock and then flashed past me to win his final race. He won the first and only Grand Slam, the combination of all 3 legs of the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. With that, Pharoah retired just a few miles further down the road at Ashford Stud in Versailles,KY.

Ashford Stud is the American division of Coolmore. Coolmore America acquired the Ashford farm in the 1980s. The land was developed for cattle farming around 1912 and was called Hereford Farm until the late 1970s. As the cattle were replaced by stallions some great bloodlines began to prosper here. I was very impressed from the time I traveled thru the gated entry and down the tree lined car path passing lush fields that led us to the start of the tour. Everything we saw was built with beauty and there is a lot of stone work.

Coolmore added Thunder Gulch to the roster in 1996. He still lives there today, having retired last year. He serves as a calming factor to American Pharoah in the paddock now. Thunder Gulch is the offspring of Gulch and Line of Thunder. Thunder Gulch was born in March of 1992. He won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1995. He was 3rd in the Preakness Stakes that year. He was the Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3 Year Old Colt that same year. By 2001 he was the top sire. He has produced many fine Thoroughbreds.

A farm favorite and North America’s leading sire in lifetime earnings, still standing at Ashford, is Giant’s Causeway. He shares a barn with American Pharoah but it is Giant’s Causeway’s large statue that is featured just outside of the barn door. He is accredited with producing 31 Grade 1 winners. He is the son of Storm Cat and Mariah’s Storm, born in 1997. Giant’s Causeway had a nice career as a runner but the stud life is for him. He earned the champion sire title in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Shanghai Bobby said it was much too pretty to look inward towards the barn. He was enjoying the view of the lovely farm. His very 1st crop of yearlings are selling now and he has had some nice prices on his Keeneland September Sale grads. Shanghai Bobby won the BC Juvenile and and Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Colt both in 2012. He himself is the son of Harlan’s Holiday and Steelin’. He was foaled in 2010.

Munnings wasn’t having it either. He left the hamming to American Pharoah. Munnings is the 2006 offspring of Speightstown and La Comete. Munnings was a nice race horse and he is producing great foals. I’m A Chatterbox is one of my favorite of his progeny.

Uncle Mo is having a very significant impact on the industry right now. He is the sire of our last KY Derby winner, Nyquist. Indian Charlie and Playa Maya produced Uncle Mo in 2008. He was the winner of the 2010 BC Juvenile and subsequently the winner of the Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Colt that same year.

Declaration of War was born to War Front and Tempo West in 2009. His sire, War Front along with Tapit took the lead at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as they have for years. Declaration of War’s first crop are currently yearlings.

Lookin At Lucky wasn’t necessarily looking at me. This 2007 son of Smart Strike and Private Feeling was a nice racehorse. Lookin at Lucky won the Preakness in 2010. In 2009 and 2010 he took the Eclipse Award for Champion Colt. Madefromlucky is one of his many graded stakes winning offspring.

The name plaques on the walls and the gravestones in the cemetery remind us of the great horses that have called Ashford Stud home. Cigar and Scat Daddy are among those memorialized. Scat Daddy died way to soon. His last crop of yearlings are making there way through this year’s sales. Hip 454 at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale was his son. He was the sale topper hammering $3 million dollars.

The property is stuffed with awards and memorabilia affiliated with the champion sires that have called Ashford home. Pictured here are just a few of the wonderful collection I saw.

The least fancy building on the tour holds the most important rooms. This is the breeding shed where every live mount at Coolmore America takes place.

I’ll conclude the tour recap with a few more photos of Ashford’s and America’s champ. American Pharoah brought an end to our 37 year quest for a Triple Crown Winner. He is our only living champion horse of just 12 Thoroughbreds to ever win the series. American Pharoah was born in 2012. He is the son of Pioneerof the Nile and Littleprincessemma. Pharoah began breeding for the 1st time this year. I can not wait to see his foals. I hope they inherit every bit of his talent. He has put on a little weight and he seemed calm and comfortable for a stallion. To arrange for your own tour go to Horse Country Tours

In other news, California Chrome races again Saturday. Look for my Chrome story any day now.

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September 23, 2016September 23, 2016

Parlay The Pennsylvania Way At Parx

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The party is in Pennsylvania this weekend! As we inch ever closer to the 2016 Breeders’ Cup, much of the talent has gone north for the biggest day in racing that Pennsylvania has ever created. Parx Racing will host 12 races on Saturday, 9/24/16, including 3 stakes, the Gallant Bob Stakes, the Cotillion Stakes and the Pennsylvania Derby! A fan and friend attended Parx this time last year and shared her photos above.

Parx Racing and Casino is located in Bensalem, PA. The track originated in 1974 and it was called Keystone Racetrack until 1984. At that time, the name changed to Philadelphia Park until 2010 and then the name was changed again to Parx, as it is today. The combination of the stakes races, that take place at Parx this Saturday, will make PA Derby Day, the biggest purse day ever for this track. I met To Honor and Serve this past June. He won the PA Derby in 2011 and he holds the record finish time at 1:47:1. He is now a stallion at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, KY.

Gates open at Parx at 10 A.M. EST with the 1st race posting at 12:25 P.M.. Race 9 is the 1st stakes race of the day. It is the 25th running of the Grade 3, Gallant Bob Stakes, with a post time of 4:14 P.M. The Gallant Bob was inaugurated in 1979. It is a 6 furlong dirt race with a purse of $300,000. 12 horses are entered, listed by post:

Full Salute
Yellow Chips
Mind Your Biscuits
Threefiveindia
Navy Hymn
Noholdingback Bear
Counterforce
Awesome Speed
Cocked and Loaded
Cardio Cowboy
Klingon Warrior
Who’s Out

Race 10 posts next, at 4:55 P.M. This is the 50th running of the Grade 1, Cotillion Stakes. The Cotillion was 1st ran in 1969. The 1 and 1/16th mile (8.5 furlongs) dirt race is for 3 year old fillies. It carries a purse of $1 million dollars. I’m a Chatterbox won in 2015. 6 fillies are entered. Keeneland’s September Yearling Sales Graduate, Carina Mia will race. Her banner as is the former winner’s, are shown in the photo above. The full field is listed by post position:

Carina Mia
Cathryn Sophia
Disco Rose
Land Over Sea
Songbird
Queen Esther

Songbird is the favorite. She is undefeated in 10 starts, 9 of which were graded stakes wins. She earned the 2015 Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Filly. That same year Songbird won the 14 Hands Winery BC Juvenile Fillies race.

Finally, race 11, posting at 5:45 P.M., is the 40th running of the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby! Inaugurated in 1979, this year’s PA Derby has it’s largest purse ever at $1.25 million dollars. The race is 1 and 1/8th miles (9 furlongs) on dirt for horses age 3. Frosted won in 2015. 12 horses are entered with the favorites being more Keeneland September Yearling Sales Grads, Exaggerator and Nyquist. The two have raced against one another 6 times prior. Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, won the 1st 4 times. Preakness winner, Exaggerator, has won the last 2 in the ongoing duel. The entire field by post is as follows:

Awesome Slew
Exaggerator
Summer Revolution
Connect
Cupid
Wild About Deb
Gun Runner
My Man Sam
Nyquist
Sunny Ridge
Discreet Lover
Hit It Once More

There are still a few days left in the Keeneland sale where I have had the privilege of attending on several sessions. The sale ends Sunday, September 25th. I hope that the pictures I captured of the 2016 yearlings will be the Thoroughbreds that go on to race in favorite prep races for the BC like those happening at Parx this weekend. I will keep posting on the events I can make it to, like the sale, and I would appreciate some feedback from those who can make it to races I won’t be at this time, like the PA Derby Day. KY bred horses have won the PA Derby more than horses from any other state. I’m attending something pretty huge on Monday. Any guesses? I’ll let you know after I make the trip!

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