Lexington Archives - Page 5 of 10

January 8, 2017January 12, 2017

Cold Contemplation

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Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale, 2015 — Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale, 2015

It’s another cold day in the Bluegrass. In fact, it is a frigid day here and in most of the United States. Unfortunately, I am not the most weather adaptable person so I have a tendency to stay in my warm home when faced with tough weather. Then I get the blues considering the opportunities I am missing. Thankfully, through television and a variety of social media I have kept myself mildly entertained and educated. Tomorrow we’re are expecting a break in the freezing temperatures. This is convenient timing for the start of Keeneland’s January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Keeneland, in Lexington Kentucky, will host it’s annual Horses of All Ages Sale from Monday, January 9th thru Friday the 13th! Each day starts at 10 a.m. I love going to the sales and I will make it for some of the dates this year as well. I had intended to go on a Keeneland’s Behind-The-Scenes Sales Tours that kicked off yesterday but alas the single digit temps kept me down. I’m hoping to get in on a tour mid week when it’s wetter but warmer. All of the pictures in this post are from when I first started Thoroughbred U at the Keeneland January Sale. I feel I have come a long way since. I hope you are picking up on some information in my stories. The Thoroughbreds have definitely matured since. Practical Joke was sold at KEEJAN in 2015. He has since won the G1 Hopeful Stakes, the G1 Champagne Stakes and finished 3rd in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He has over $700K in earnings. Not bad for a $135,000 original sale price.

This 59th edition of the sale has 1,893 horses catalogued. Being an all ages sale, they have over 700 yearlings, nearly 300 horses of racing age, almost 900 broodmare and broodmare prospects and 7 stallion and stallion prospects. The broodmares are in foal to over 170 stallions. That provides a nice variety with a lot of strength. There is proven sire power, ex. Tapit, Pioneer of The Nile, Distorted Humor, Union Rags to freshman sires with big hopes, like American Pharoah. In unfortunate news, some horses won’t make the auction due to the ban on Thoroughbreds from Fair Grounds Race Course and training center in Louisiana. A few horses there have developed equine herpes virus so in the interest of safety no horse with potential exposure may ship to Keeneland. Let’s pray for the health of these horses.

The new babies of 2017 have definitely warmed my heart over these last cold days. Since many horses in the sale are in foal, some may give birth prior to the sale and then they walk thru the auction with their mother. I’ve only seen it a few times but it is so cute when I catch it. Carpe Diem had his first foal on New Year’s Day. American Pharoah had his first on 1/3/17. Can’t wait for all the excitement that the new babies bring and I hope to see one at the sale.

Keeneland's Sales Pavilion — Keeneland’s Sales Pavilion

Have a warmer and safe week. I’m looking forward to the break in cabin fever and a nice trip to the Keeneland sale. Drop a comment if you will be attending as well.

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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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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 16, 2016September 16, 2016

Tepin is Pretty in Pink

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She’s sexy and she knows it! Fan favorite, Tepin, will race again on Saturday. This is one special mare. I last saw her win the 28th Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland’s Spring Meet, this past April. I got her picture, above, as she walked towards the paddock with a smile on her face. She raced from post position 8 that day and broke a 20 year stakes record by finishing 5 lengths ahead after covering 1 and 1/16 miles in 1:40.53. She will break from post 8 once again this weekend. Post 8 is assigned a pink saddle cloth. Turf queen, Tepin, will be the only lady in the field. I’m betting we might see Miss Pretty in Pink race on to her 8th straight win.

Tepin was bred in Kentucky and she was born in March of 2011. She is the offspring of Bernstein and Life Happened. Last year, Tepin won the Breeders’ Cup Mile and earned her 1st Eclipse Award. She has won 12 of 20 career starts and she began a winning streak, when I first saw her race, that has not stopped. She won the Grade 1, First Lady Stakes, in October 2015 at Keeneland. That is when she first caught my eye. I saw her win the BC Mile that same month and then I saw her win the Jenny Wiley, all at Keeneland. There have been 4 other wins mixed into the streak. Her last win was on her 1st international trip. Tepin won the Grade 1, Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in England this past June. She was the 1st American based horse to win the Queen Anne and she beat a field of male horses, which is becoming rather usual for her. I have written about her before, so use the search button on my website for additional background information. Now, Tepin has shipped to Canada to continue her reign as an international superstar.

The race I don’t want to miss on Saturday, 9/17/16, is the Ricoh Woodbine Miles Stakes. This race will take place at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto in the Providence of Ontario of Canada. It is the 12th and final race at Woodbine on Saturday. The post time is 6:39 PM EDT, which, conveniently for me, makes it the same time for EST. This race was inaugurated in 1988. It is a 1 mile turf race with a $1 million dollar purse for horses age 3 and older. It is part of the BC “Win and You’re In” challenge for an automatic berth into the BC Mile. Wise Dan holds the speed record, in the Woodbine Mile, with a time of 1:31.75. He won both the Woodbine Mile and BC Mile in 2012 and again in 2013.

Tepin’s regular jockey, Julien Leparoux, won the Woodbine Mile in 2011 with Turallure. Leparoux is an outstanding jockey and he won Eclipse Awards in 2006 and 2009. Tepin’s trainer, Mark E, Casse, nor her owner, Robert E. Masterson have won the Woodmile Mile yet.

The 8 horse field is a follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/age:

Tower of Texas/Eurico Rosa Da Silva/Rodger L. Attfield/5 YO
Mutakayyef/Dane O’Neill/William J. Haggas/5 YO
Arod/Oisin Murphey/Peter W. Chappel-Hyam/5 YO
Glenville Gardens/Gary Boulanger/Sid C. Attard/4 YO
Full Mast/Joel Rosario/William I. Mott/4 YO
Passion for Action/Luis Contreras/Michael P. De Paulo/4 YO
Mr. Owen/Jamie P. Spencer/Francois Rohaut/4 YO
Tepin/Julien Leparoux/Mark E. Casse/5 YO

I hope Tepin beats the boys again! It’s Tepin Time!

Meanwhile, I’m back at the Keeneland Sales in Lexington, KY which continue thru Sunday, September 25th. I was present 2 of the 3 days of Book 1. Today book 2 of 6 is taking place. Book 1 went well with the number of yearlings sold at 346 versus 443 in 2015. The price fell to a little over $120 million dollars versus more than $134 million in the prior year. However the average and median prices rose to more than $347 thousand dollars and $300 thousand dollars respectively. The biggest seller so far went for $3 million dollars. I’ll share more photos and news and the conclusion of the entire yearling sale.

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September 9, 2016September 9, 2016

Buying the Best Breeding

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Get into the game! Do you want to buy or see the graded stakes winners of the future? If so, plan to head to Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale in Lexington, KY. Keeneland prides itself on being the auction company to graduate the best yearlings in the world.

These are a few of the pictures I took at the sale last September. Thoroughbreds sold at Keeneland are having a fantastic year. In 2016, more of their grads have gone on to win Grade or Group 1 stakes races than from any other auction house. Every winner, of each of the 2016 Triple Crown Series, was once sold at Keeneland’s yearling sale in September of 2014. Nyquist won the Kentucky Derby, Exaggerator won the Preakness Stakes and Creator won the Belmont Stakes. It would take too long to name drop all of the talent that came out of that sale. The 73rd annual sale should lead to greatness as well.

The sale starts with Book 1 on Monday, 9/12/16, at 11 am EST. All of Book 1 sale dates start at 11 am. There are 6 books in the sale that concludes on Sunday, 9/25/16. Books 2 thru 6 sales start at 10 am daily with the exception of Thursday 9/15 when there will be no sale. The schedule is as follows by book, dates and hip numbers:

9/12 hips 1-202, 9/13 hips 203-405, 9/14 hips 406-607
9/16 hips 608-1007, 9/17 hips 1008-1407
9/18 hips 1408-1817, 9/19 hips 1818-2227
9/20 hips 2228-2637, 9/21 hips 2638-3047
9/22 hips 3048-3456, 9/23 hips 3457-3861
9/24 hips 3862-4178, 9/25 hips 4179-4479

The sale will include the best sire power. 53 Tapit yearlings will go thru the auction. Pioneer of the Nile is represented by 60 of the yearlings there. Fine yearlings by Scat Daddy, Bodemeister, Tiznow and Violence will be available as well. Several more yearlings by other outstanding sires are also cataloged. Search the entire catalog here: Keeneland September Yearling Sale

If you can’t make the sale you can go to the Keeneland website to watch the entire sale or TVG and TVG2 will show parts of the sale. I will be in attendance on several days and I will post frequent pictures and news to Twitter. Follow me at Thoroughbred U . Check my webpage over the next few weeks to see more photos and sales recap information.

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September 3, 2016September 26, 2016

Celebrating Secretariat

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What would a blog site dedicated to sharing educational information about Thoroughbreds be without multiple references to his legacy and a post all about Secretariat? Without further ado, I bring you a Big Red story.

Secretariat was one of, if not, the greatest Thoroughbred race horses in all of history. Born in Virginia, in March of 1970, this amazingly conformed red chestnut horse by Bold Ruler and Somethingroyal by Princequillo grew to be one of the most treasured animals to ever live. Secretariat became a racing legend. He swept the Triple Crown in 1973, he raked in 5 Eclipse Awards and he became a Hall of Famer. In 21 starts he won 16 races. Secretariat raced from August of 1972 until October of 1973. He ended his racing career on top having won his last 2 races and setting yet another time record.

By 1974, Secretariat produced his first foal and in 1975 he turned out his first crop from his stud career at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. His legacy is strong today. In fact he is in the bloodline in so many of the best horses today including 6 of the 9 horses in today’s Woodward Stakes.

Secretariat was so great that his entire team became rather famous. His connections are his owners, Meadow Stables with Christopher and Penny Chenery, groom, Eddie Sweat, exercise riders, Jim Gaffney and Charlie Davis, trainer, Lucien Laurin and jockey, Roy Turcotte. Some of these folks will be making an appearance at this year’s Secretariat Festival!

The 9th annual festival will be held in downtown Bourbon County September 16-18, 2016. From Thursday thru Sunday Paris, KY is hosting a festival in honor of Big Red. There will be farm tours, art, food, bourbon, a parade, an auction, autographs, entertainment and more. See the full schedule here: Secretariat Festival. Admission to the festival is free but some activities are for ticket holders only and some fees are included with ticketed events. Most event are in Paris but some of the tours are not and require meeting at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Claiborne Farm where Secretariat lived his stud career and was buried in October, 1989 is one of the several farm tours. Ashford Stud where Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah is a stallion is also on the list of tours.

The Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, when it was held at Belmont Park, is one of the few races that Big Red didn’t win. That race took place in 1973. Today is an honor that many of his offspring will run that same race, now held at Saratoga. He is in the pedigree of Tapin Mojo, Catholic Cowboy, Bradester, Samraat, Tale of Verve and Frosted. Frosted is the favorite to win. It would be thrilling to see one of Secretariat’s current racers win today!

The $600,000 Woodward Stakes wild be held at Saratoga today. The race is 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs). It is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” challenge. NBC sports network will televise the Saratoga from 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. EST. The Woodward is the 10th race on the card and will post at 5:46 P.M. EST 9/3/16. It is for horses 3 years and older. The race is named for William Woodward, Sr. who developed Belair Stud producing 2 Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox and Omaha. Be sure to tune in today and thanks for following.

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August 10, 2016August 10, 2016

Tapit On Top

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Tapit, the sire of my favorite horse, Juba, stole the show, once again, at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale. The two day sale ended last evening with 9 Tapit offspring selling. Both his average and median prices beat out the other sire’s yearlings at the sale.

Tapit is a 15 year old super sire. He is a grey horse that has sired many other greys and he is nearly white in appearance. He lives at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, KY. I visited him, at his farm, this past June. Tapit is the son of sire Pulpit and dam Tap Your Heels. Tapit was KY bred at Oldenburg Farms,LLC and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC. His trainer was Michael W. Dickinson. Tapit only had 6 starts in his racing career. 2 of his 3 wins were in graded stakes races. He won the Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park and the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Tapit retired to stud in 2005 and by 2008 his first crop was racing. He immediately shot up to leading freshman sire that year. Tapit was the leading Champion North American sire in 2014 and 2015 and he is leading again in 2016. He holds the highest stud fee in the country at $300,000. He has a slew of successful offspring including Frosted. Frosted won the race I wrote about last week, the Whitney Handicap.

It makes sense, that with the success on the track that Tapit’s offspring have shown it seems everybody wants a Tapit yearling. Fasig-Tipton’s sale on August 8th and 9, 2016 was no different. There were 252 yearlings cataloged in the Saratoga Selected Yearling sale that was held in Saratoga Springs, NY. 11 of those were sired by Tapit. 9 of his yearlings sold with an average price of over $700,000 and a median price of over $600,000. His top seller, hip 140, sold for $1.25 million dollars. Only one horse sold for more in the two day sale. That was Medaglia d’Oro’s, $1.45 million dollar filly, hip 191. Tapit still had Medaglia d’Oro and all the other sires beat with a total of over $6.42 million dollars in sales. Medaglia d’Oro’s yearlings totaled over $3.65 million.

Overall, I wasn’t so pleased in the trend but that may just be a matter of personal opinion. The previous year, the sale sold 156 versus 145 Thoroughbreds. The sale total, despite more horses sold, dropped by more than a million dollars. The average price dropped by more than $30 thousand dollars and the median price dropped by $12.5 thousand dollars. While only 26 horses did not sell in 2015 there were 47 horses that did not get sold this year.

The same auction house will feature the Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearling sale on August 13th and 14, 2016. Tapit is a good ol’ Kentucky boy, thus he won’t have any yearlings in this sale. Perhaps that will give my partnership’s entry an advantage on Sunday. However, Tapit is the dam sire of hip 387, a filly by Violence. Violence has 6 yearlings in this sale and I’m expecting those to do very well. I hope the right matches get made and we all get to enjoy some fantastic racehorses in the following years. Check back next week for more info on Thoroughbred action!

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