Category: Educational

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A Gift Horse

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California Chrome, a very charitable horse himself, gets a tickle from me
California Chrome, a very charitable horse himself, gets a tickle from me

Merry Christmas to racing fans everywhere!  I hope that all of you have something special to celebrate this time of year.  I am very blessed myself (I’ve petted California Chrome on two occasions) and I’m enjoying all of the usual holiday customs.  With this post, I wish to continue my personal tradition of sharing my favorite charities for both horses, barn cats and jockeys.

When you are exchanging gifts or planning for the end of this tax season, don’t forget that giving is better than receiving.  Last year, in my post, “A Season For Giving”  I included some background info on the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Old Friends, One Last Race and Thoroughbred Charities of America.  Here is the full post below and after that, the links to donate.  I still highly recommend all 4 of these charities:

A Season For Giving

If you want to add a few more to the list, here are some I’m donating to:

  • Lexington Humane Society  Founded in 1889, this organization adopts out a variety of animals, including occasional horses and has a Horse Country Barn Cats program.  Nearly 5,000 animals have found forever homes this year thru this one organization.
  • Woodford Humane Society  This organization originated in 1975.  They have placed thousands of animals with an amazing 92% re-homing rate.  This group has the occasional horse and is plenty helpful with the cats.  I got my beloved Garfield there.  They also have fun equine themed fundraisers.  Keep them on your radar for Thoroughbred events.
  • New Vocations  Founded in 1992 this is the largest racehorse adoption program in the United States.  They operate at several locations and have adopted out over 6,000 horses.
Garfield, my rainbow bridge cat
Garfield, my rainbow bridge cat

I hope you have all you need and plenty to share this season.  Keep those in need close to your hearts and share what you have.  Be grateful of your blessings and “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”  It literally means that if you are given a horse don’t check it’s teeth first to see if it is an old horse. This is an odd but applicable saying that originated from John Heywood in 1546 to remind us to appreciate rather than question the gifts we are given.  I’ll be posting before the year ends.  Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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A New Challenge for Chrome

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California Chrome at Taylor Made Farm, 2015
California Chrome at Taylor Made Farm, 2015

What a nice surprise!  It has been well known that California Chrome would have the last race of his career in the Pegasus World Cup but it came as an unforeseen announcement that we would get to see Chrome race this December too!  In fact, this race was created just for Junior (A.K.A. California Chrome) and his Chromies.  The mighty Chrome will race at home!

Before Chrome established a home in Kentucky for rest and his future retirement from racing, he was bred and raised in California.  He stayed at Harris Farms until the ripe racing age of 2.  Then, he moved to the barn of trainer, Art Sherman, at Los Alamitos Race Course.  He worked at Los Alamitos but never raced there in all 25 of his career starts.  Despite that oversight, Chrome has had so much success at other CA tracks and worldwide that he attracts a large group of dedicated fans, Chromies, when he does his preps and gallops at his home base of Los Alamitos.

California Chrome
California Chrome

Knowing that his trainer had some interest in keeping Chrome’s head in the game and that Junior’s local fans would love to watch him, the track officials of Los Alamitos decided to design a race to suit Chrome’s needs, The Winter Challenge Stakes.  Chrome last raced in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on 11/5/16.  It was a shock to most that he lost his first race as a five year old that day.  Arrogate managed to surpass Chrome and thus he came in second.  If they face off in the Pegasus on 1/28/16, I don’t think that will happen again.  Chrome will use his Los Alamitos race for one more practice, as a winner.  In his final prep for the Winter Challenge, Chrome worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60.

Why would any horse compete against Chrome at home?  In fact 33 nominations were made for The Winter Challenge.  12 Thoroughbreds stepped up as entries, only 9 will be permitted to face off with Chrome.  With a purse of $180,000 (if 10 horses race, $100,000 if less) and a guaranteed $10,000 to any horse that finishes, the race looked too good to miss for these contenders by post/horse/jockey trainer:

  1. Howdy/Chantal Sutherland/Peter Eurton
  2. Wrightwood/Jose L. Verenzuela/Brian J. Koriner
  3. Presidentsky/Brayan Pena/John Brocklebank
  4. Point PiperMario Gutierrez/Jerry Hollendorfer
  5. Ain’t Misbehavin/Kent J. Desormeaux/Vladimir Cerin
  6. Lucky J Lane/Jamie Theriot/Brian J. Koriner
  7. Avanti Bello/Drayden Van Dyke/Doug F. O’Neill
  8. Unusual Meeting/Tiago Jose Pereira/Gary Stute
  9. Papacoolpapacool/Tyler Baze/Phillip D’Amato
  10. California ChromeVictor Espinoza/Art Sherman
  11. Air Pocket/Noberto Arroyo, Jr./Rafael DeLeon
  12. Ground Rules/Noberto Arroyo, Jr./Clifford W. Sise, Jr.

Please, note the final two entries are actually just “also eligible”  should a horse have to scratch.  Unfortunately, if it rains we may see that.  I even read a rumor Chrome could forfeit if the track became sloppy, let’s hope that doesn’t happen.  Recent material has suggested the weather should improve prior to post time.

California Chrome
California Chrome

The Winter Challenge will post on Saturday 12/17/16.  It is race 9 on the card that day,at Los Alamitos.  The distance is 1 and 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on dirt for horses 3 years old and upward.  Post time is 4:28 P.M. for CA locals (7:28 P.M. EST).

Following the Winter Challenge, Chrome will work at Los Alamitos around 12/31/16 again and then ship to Gulfstream in Florida on 1/6/17 to prepare for the Pegasus.

Chrome's future home
Chrome’s future home

Go, Chrome Go!  I will be pulling for California Chrome in The Winter Challenge and I will be posting more about him prior to the Pegasus.  In other Chrome related news.  His dam, Love the Chase, who is currently in foal to Tapit, North America’s leading sire for years, will be bred in 2017 to Pioneer of the Nile, American Pharoah’s sire.  We can look forward to some well bred Chrome siblings soon.

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Field of Fillies

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Farrell at Churchill Downs
Farrell at Churchill Downs

Christmas came early for 8 lucky Thoroughbreds yesterday.  Two races held at Los Alamitos, in California, on December 10th were the end of the road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks for this year.  Fortunately, on 1/7/17 prep races continue as they will until mid April.

I covered the top of the KY Derby leaderboard in my last post.  The Grade 1 CashCall Futurity held yesterday awarded 10 points to Mastery, 4 points to Irap, 2 points for Dangerfield and 1 point to Bobby Abu Dhabi.  This resulted in some changes in the top of the leaderboard bumping Mastery into 5th place and knocking Klimt out of the top ten.  The KY Derby top ten as 2016 ends:

  1. Classic Empire
  2. Practical Joke
  3. Gunnevera
  4. Lookin At Lee
  5. Mastery
  6. Gormley
  7. Mo Town
  8. McCraken
  9. Wild Shot
  10. No Dozing

Changes in the top ten KY Oaks contenders were similar.  The Grade 1 Starlet Stakes gifted 10 points to Abel Tasman, 4 to American Gal, 2 to Mopotism and 1 point for Tapped.  This moved Farrell from the 8th to 9th position as Abel Tasman took over the 8 spot and Ever So Clever fell to 12th as American Gal filled in the 11th position.  The current KY Oaks contenders:

  1. Champagne Room
  2. Daddys Lil Darling
  3. Miss Sky Warrior
  4. Dancing Rags
  5. Yellow Agate
  6. Shane’s Girlfriend
  7. Noted and Quoted
  8. Abel Tasman
  9. Farrell
  10. Valadorna

Unlike the KY Derby where the favorite is my favorite, Classic Empire, I’m uncertain as to which filly in this field I’m a fan of?  The KY Oaks was inaugurated on 5/19/1875.  The 143rd Oaks will be held 5/5/17.

Champagne Room won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and that is where she picked up 20 of her 21 points. Valadorna was second, American Girl was third , Daddys Lil Darling finished fourth, Noted and Quoted was 7th, Dancing Rags ran 8th and Yellow Agate finished 10th.  Therefore, Champagne Room beat many in this field once but she didn’t win it by lengths.  She has finished in the top 4 in her 5 career races, 4 of which were graded stakes.  She got just 1 point when she finished fourth in the Chandelier Stakes.  Noted and Quoted won that race.

Daddys Lil Darling has worked hard for her 20 points.  She has finished in the top 4 of 4 KY Oaks prep races.  She was 1st in the Pohahontas, 2nd in the Alcibiades and the Golden Rod and 4th in the BC Juvenile.

Miss Sky Warrior has finished 1st in the last 3 of her 4 starts.  The last 2 were graded stakes and she took her Oaks points when she won the Demoiselle Stakes.

Dancing Rags won the Alcibiades but finished near the back in the BC Juvenile.  She has won 2 of her 4 starts.

Yellow Agate has only raced 3 times.  She won the Frizette Stakes grabbing 10 points but then did poorly in the BC Juvenile.

Shane’s Girlfriend is undefeated in her 2 starts.  She won the Delta Downs Princess Stakes less than a month after breaking her maiden.

Noted and Quoted has raced 5 times.  She got her Oaks points when she won the Chandelier but she did not excel in the BC Juvenile.

Abel Tasman won the Starlet yesterday.  It was her 1st graded stakes race.  She has won 3 of her 4 lifetime races.

Farrell is my homegirl, LOL.  All 4 of her starts have been at Churchill Downs.  I saw her there this Fall.  It is her picture at the top of the post.  She broke her maiden that day.  The following month she won the Golden Rod Stakes.

Valadorna broke her maiden her 2nd time out.  That was on opening day at Keeneland.  Her next race was the BC Juvenile Fillies where she took 2nd place.  She has not raced since.

With just 9 preps finished and 21 to go I have a while to go before I pick my favorite KY Oaks horse.  2017 is going to be very interesting!  Keep checking my page out as we continue down the road.  Who do you like?

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Commentary on Classic Empire

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Classic Empire

Classic Empire, takes to the dirt at Churchill Downs for the Bashford Manor Stakes. 

In the days leading up to the 2016 Kentucky Derby some 2 year-old Thoroughbreds were already in training for 2017’s big race.  3 days short of the 142nd Run for the Roses, on May 4, 2016, Classic Empire broke his maiden at Churchill Downs.

Classic Empire was foaled to Pioneer of the Nile and Sambuca Classica on 3/21/14.   Classic Empire has an outstanding pedigree.  He is the half brother of American Pharoah by his sire.  His dam carries Secretariat in her genes.  Classic Empire was bred in KY by Steven and Brandi Nicholson.  He is owned by John C. Oxley who purchased him for $475,000 in the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.  Oxley’s silks are gold and blue blocks with white stripes on the sleeves and a gold cap.  This colt is trained by Mark E. Casse and his current jockey is Julien R. Leparoux.

2016 Bashford Manor Stakes

Classic Empire parades out before the 2016 Bashford Manor Stakes. 

Classic Empire is at the top of the leaderboard for the $2 million dollar, Grade 1, 143rd KY Derby.  The KY Derby selects its field of 20 horses using a tiered point system they apply to certain qualifying races.  Most of the early races award 10 points to win, 4 to place, 2 to show and 1 point for a finish at 4th place.  Some important stakes and the later races carry more points, except for the final prep.  Nine of these 37 races have already taken place.  The first race was held at Churchill on 9/17/16.  The last will be held at Keeneland on 4/15/17 and the KY Derby will take place on 5/6/17.

Classic Empire has 30 points.  In second, on the leaderboard, is Practical Joke with 14 points.  The next 5 horses have half as many points as Classic Empire.  I first saw Classic Empire when I went to Churchill Downs for my extended birthday celebration.  On 7/2/16, Classic Empire won the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes. He has finished 1st in 4 of his 5 career starts.  He did not finish the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes when he was stopped by the outriders after unseating his jockey, Irad Ortiz, Jr.  That allowed Practical Joke to win the Hopeful.  Classic Empire got his 1st 10 points when he won the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on 10/8/16.  He gathered a whopping 20 points when he won the Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Classic Empire wins the Bashford Manor

Classic Empire blurs through the finish in the Bashford Manor.

The next KY Derby prep race in on 12/10/16.  5 preps take place throughout January.  Trainer Casse has reportedly said that Classic Empire will winter in Florida.  He will be stabled at Gulfstream Park.  The Holly Bull, another KY Derby prep race, takes place at Gulfstream on 2/4/17.  Perhaps that will be Classic Empire’s next race?

In the mean time, I will be looking forward to racing at Los Alamitos, in Cypress, California.  The 12/10/16 Grade 1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity is a one and 1/16th mile race that carries a $300,000 purse and KY Derby points.  It is a dirt race for 2 year old colts. Who will pick up the next 10/4/2/1 points and how will the leaderboard change?  Then on 12/17/16,  California Chrome, who has stabled at Los Alamitos for 3 years will race there himself for the first time.  This was a tremendous surprise to Chrome’s fans, after the BC Classic, as we thought his next and last race would be the Pegasus World Cup in January.  The Winter Challenge is a race that Los Alamitos developed specifically to attract Chrome to race there once before he headed off for the Pegasus and following retirement.  I can never get enough of California Chrome.  Check back, you know I will roll out a nice story for my fellow Chromies!

 

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Clinching the Clark

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Mr. Z

Mr. Z, above, lovable and yet a bit of a nibbler.  In the D. Wayne Lukas stable in June, 2015. The benefit is worth the risk if you are lucky enough to meet him.

Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much to be thankful for this year and the blessings will keep coming.  Churchill Downs has a very nice closing weekend lined up for us.  11/24-11/27 brings 4 days of racing with 7 nice stakes including the Grade 1 Clark Handicap!

Mr. Z in the Ack-Ack

Mr. Z, above, in the Ack-Ack Handicap in October, 2016.

The Clark Handicap is one of America’s older races.  Occurring annually in the Fall, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, this year’s addition takes place on Friday, 11/25/16.  The race is named for the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club, Colonel M. Lewis Clark.  The Louisville Jockey Club built much of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.  The 142nd running of the Clark Handicap is a dirt race of 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) for horses age 3 or older.  The purse is $500,000.  The Clark Handicap will post at 6:24 p.m. EST.  We will be treated to a field of 10 horses on a card of 12 races.  The competition is as follows by post, horse, jockey,trainer and morning line odds :

  1. Gun Runner/Florent Geroux/Steven M. Asmussen/4/1
  2. Effinex/Junior Alvarado/James A. Jerkens/4/1
  3. Are You Kidding Me/Alan Garcia/Roger L. Attfield/15/1
  4. Shaman Ghost/Javier Castellano/James A. Jerkens/8/1
  5. Hawaakom/Miguel Mena/Wesley E. Hawley/20/1
  6. Noble Bird/Julien R. Leparoux/Mark E. Casse/7/2
  7. Breaking Lucky/Luis Contreras/Reade Baker/8/1
  8. Mr. Z/Ricardo Santana, Jr./D. Wayne Lukas/30/1
  9. Hoppertunity/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert/5/2
  10. Prayer for Relief/Robby Albarado/Dale L. Romans/30/1

There are a lot of big talent horses in this race and a few more obscure Thoroughbreds as well.  Any horse will be lucky to win but historically some Clark winners have really clinched the title and hit it twice.  Hodge won in 1915 and 1916.  Bold Favorite was 1st in both 1968 and 1969 and Bob’s Dusty won in 1977 and again in 1978.  Hoppertunity and Effinex will both have the chance to win their second Clark Handicap in tomorrow’s race.  Looking to the trainers, Bob Baffert will have a chance to win his 4th Clark Handicap, which would make him the trainer with the most wins.  Currently, Ben Jones, Smiley Adams and Bob Baffert have all won the Clark thrice.

Mr. Z in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes

Mr. Z, above in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes in October 2016.

Gun Runner is the KY bred colt of Candy Ride and Quiet Giant.  He is 3 years old.  Gun Runner has won 5 of his 11 career starts.  He is experienced at Churchill Downs and was 3rd in the 2016 KY Derby.

Effinex is the 5 year old son of Mineshaft and What a Pear.  Bred in NY, he has won 9 of his 27 races.  His only race at Churchill has been the Clark Handicap in which he dominated in 2015.  He had a surprisingly late finish in the BC Classic this year.  Can he win the Clark again?

Are You Kidding Me is a KY bred 6 year-old.  He was born to Run Away and Hide and Sweet Awakening.  He has won 9 of 31 races and holds the 2015 Sovereign Award for Champion Older Horse.  He has primarily raced at Woodbine but he finished 5th at Churchill in the Stephen Foster Handicap this past June.

Shaman Ghost has not raced in 3 months.  He had to scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a brief illness. He is a ON bred colt by Ghostzapper and Getback Time.  Shaman Ghost is trained by Jerkens, winner of the 2015 Clark.  He has won half of his 12 starts and he holds the Sovereign Award for 2015 Champion 3 year Old Colt.

Hawaakom is a 6 year-old KY bred gelding born to Jazil and Nafisah.  Hawaakom has won 7 of his 30 career starts.  He has experience at Churchill, including a second place finish in the Lukas Classic in October.

Noble Bird is trained by Casse and I have had the extreme pleasure of visiting this KY bred horse while he was stabled at Keeneland.   This 5 year old colt is sired by Birdstone.  His dam is Anyhow.  Noble Bird’s jockey, Leparoux, won the Clark in 2008 with Einstein. Noble Bird has won 7 of 19 starts.  He frequents both Keeneland and Churchill.  He won stakes races at both in October.

Breaking Lucky is another ON bred colt.  He is the 4 year-old son of Lookin At Lucky and Shooting Party.  He has won 3 of 15 career starts.  His last time out was his only Churchill race where he finished 8th in the Lukas Classic.

Mr. Z is the KY bred 4 year-old colt of Malibu Moon and Stormy Bear.  He has had 22 career starts including two Breeders’ Cup entries.  Mr. Z broke his maiden in his first race, that was at Churchill Downs in 2014.  He also won the Ohio Derby.  He is clearly my favorite horse in this race and trained by my favorite trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.  If Lukas wins this race and Baffert does not, it would put Lukas in as one of the few 3 time Clark winning trainers.  Lukas won the 2013 Clark with Will Take Charge.

Hoppertunity won the Clark in 2014 and finished second in 2015.  He is a KY bred horse by Any Given Saturday and Refugee.  Hoppertunity has won 6 of 23 starts.  He recently finished 4th in the BC Classic.  Is it his turn to clinch a second Clark?

Prayer for Relief is the oldest horse in the race at 8 years-old.  He is a KY bred horse by Jump Start and Sparklin Lil.  He has raced an amazing 44 times with 8 wins.  He raced in the Clark Handicap in 2011, 2013 and 2014.  It must be a favorite race for him by now.  His trainer, Romans, won with Shackleford in 2012.

Ack-Ack 2016 with Mr. Z

Mr. Z, above, in the paddock before the 2016 Ack-Ack at Churchill Downs.

I hope everyone has plenty of blessings that they can be thankful for today.  Enjoy your family, friends, lots of food and the last live races at Churchill Downs of 2016.  I’ll be rooting for Mr. Z.  I enjoy watching some of the more experienced horses in the game taking another shot at a nice stakes race.  Happy Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for all of my readers and the support you have shown me.  Thank you!

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Big Money Mike

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Mike E. Smith

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.

Amazombie

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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Knockout November

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Love The Chase

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.

Stopchargingmaria

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

Baffled

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.

Cassett

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.

  1. Baffled $3.5 M
  2. Curalina $3M
  3. Stopchargingmaria $2.8M
  4. Cassatt $2.5M
  5. Embellish The Lace $2.4M
  6. Lady Zuzu $2.35M
  7. Jacaranda $2M
  8. Love The Chase $1.95M – oh my goodness, it’s California Chrome’s mom!
  9. Whatdreamsrmadeof $1.65M
  10. Cover Song $1.6M
  11. Cathryn Sophia $1.4M
  12. Tapas $1.3M
  13. Paid Up Subscriber $1.1M
  14. Haveyougoneaway $1.1M
  15. Luminance $1M

Peace And War

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.

  1. Secret Gesture $3.5M
  2. Celestine $2.55M
  3. Tapicat $2.2M
  4. My Conquestadory $1.5M
  5. Peace And War  $1.45M
  6. Princess Sylvia  $1.4M
  7. Summer Soiree $1.3M
  8. Yellow Ribbon $1.3M
  9. Lexie Lou $1M
  10. Dust and Diamonds $1M

Keenekand November Sale

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.

Top Book 1 Keeneland November

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

 

 

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

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California Chrome for Breeders' Cup

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:

  1. Effinex/Flavien Prat/James A. Jerkins
  2. Frosted/Joel Rosario/Kiaran P. McLaughlin
  3. Keen Ice/Javier Castellano/Todd A. Pletcher
  4. California Chrome/Victor Espinoza/Art Sherman
  5. Win the Space/Gary L. Stevens/George Papadromou
  6. Melatonin/Joseph Talamo/David E. Hofmans
  7. War Story/Scott Spieth/Mario Serey, Jr.
  8. Shaman Ghost/Irad Ortiz, Jr./James A. Jerkens
  9. Hopportunity/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert
  10. 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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Man o’ War Memorial

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Man o' War

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.

Man o' War bronze

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.

Statue of Man o' War

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.

Man o' War plaque

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.

Kentucky Horse Park

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.

KY Horse Park

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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Kings of Keeneland

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Crown at Keeneland

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.

Homespun Hero

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.

Coalport

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.

Kitten's Roar

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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