Tag: Granny’s Kitten

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When the Stakes are High

Keeneland gained two Grade s stakes for 2018
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La Coronel won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in October, but her April win in the Applachian, both at Keeneland, is now a Grade 2 stakes for 2018
La Coronel won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in October, but her April win in the Applachian, both at Keeneland, is now a Grade 2 stakes for 2018

As November wrapped there was a special meeting in the Horse Capital of the World.  A select group, belonging to the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association met in Lexington, KY.  These members are on the American Graded Stakes Committee.  They were tasked with the annual selection process of grading stakes races in the United States.  After a delicate 2 day process that looked at over 800 stakes races the committee determined 455 worthy stakes for 2018.  Did your favorite track and races meet their standards?

 

Continue reading “When the Stakes are High”

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A Big Fan Of Wise Dan

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Wise Dan will make an appearance at Churchill Downs this Saturday!  Prior to the race, that was named for him, he will parade for his fans.  He has raced at Churchill eleven times and won 7 of those races.  I had the pleasure of watching him parade at Keeneland this past October, as seen above.  He raced there on 10 occasions with a lot of success as well.

Wise Dan was quite a champion at many more tracks during his racing career.  He was bred in Kentucky by Morton Fink, his owner.  He was foaled on 2/20/07 .  Wiseman’s Ferry is his sire and his dam is Lisa Danielle.  He began racing in 2010 and he stayed with the game for 31 starts.  During those years he racked up 6 Eclipse Awards, he was Champion Older Horse, Champion Grass Horse and Horse of the Year all in both 2012 and again in 2013.  He won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in each of those years as well.  He won 23 races total and was second twice as well.  Charles LoPresti was his trainer throughout his career and his latest jockey was  John R. Velazquez.  In 2011 and 2013, Wise Dan won the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Tomorrow, Wise Dan will be present to witness the first ever Wise Dan Stakes!  The Firecracker which was inaugurated in 1991 was renamed for the two time champ Wise Dan this year.  It is a 1 and 1/16th mile (8.5 furlong) race on the grass, the Matt Win Turf Course, for Thoroughbreds 3 years old or older.   The purse in $200,000.

The field is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer:

  1. Thatcher Street/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Ian R. Wilkes
  2. The Pizza Man/Florent Geroux/Roger A. Brueggemann
  3. Granny’s Kitten/Gary L. Stevens/Michael J. Maker
  4. Flatlined/Miguel Mena/Charles. L. Dickey
  5. Conquest Typhoon/Joe Bravo/Mark E. Casse
  6. Potomac River/Juan P. Vargas/Jose L. Lopez
  7. R. Great Adventure/Joseph Rocco, Jr./Brian Williamson
  8. Pleuven/Channing Hill/Philip A. Sims
  9. Za Approval/Julien R. Leparoux/Mark E. Casse
  10. Kasaqui/Robby Albarado/Ignacio Correas, IV
  11. Behesht/Corey Lanerie/George R. Arnold

Watch the Wise Dan Stakes, race 7, at Churchill Downs at 9:05 PM EST on 6/18/16.  Then, stick around for the next race at the same track.  Posting at 9:39 PM is the Stephen Foster Handicap, part of the Breeders’ Cup Win And You’re In series for the Classic.  Effinex will be back in action!

Have a happy Father’s Day!  More to come next week…

 

 

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