Tapit Archives - Page 4 of 5

December 31, 2016January 1, 2017

Birthday Bash Betting

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Silver Charm at Old Friends in Ky — **Silver Charm** at Old Friends, in KY

Happy Birthday celebrations are coming up for all Thoroughbreds in North America. On January 1st, our country’s race horses will all turn one year older, as does this blog, Thoroughbred U. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing weekly over the past 2 years and am readily looking forward to all that 2017 has to bring. Not to delay, the first day of 2017 brings us an opportunity to indulge in one of our very favorite sports, horse racing. When your eating your traditional cabbage, potatoes and black-eyed peas you’ll be getting lucky. No better way to test that new luck than a wager in the San Pasqual Stakes!

Santa Anita, now in Arcadia, California, was first constructed in 1907. It has experienced many changes but has retained a strong and rich racing history. In 1935 the Santa Anita Handicap was inaugurated. This race has seen many famous contenders. That same year, the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes got its start. This stakes race has proven to be a great prep race for many fine horses.

The 2017 edition of the San Pasqual will take place on 1/1/17 at 4 P.M. live in California or at 7 P.M. in my EST zone. Gates open at 10:30 A.M. and the 1st race is at 12:30 P.M. The 8th race on a card of 9 is the San Pasqual. It is a dirt race of 1 and 1/16 miles, 8.5 furlongs, for Thoroughbreds 4 years and older. The purse is set at $200,000. Last year, California Chrome won the San Pasqual and began a fantastic streak of many wins.

In the history of the San Pasqual, Bob Baffert is the trainer with the most wins. He started gathering his San Pasqual successes in 1999 with Silver Charm. I visited Silver Charm on one warm and wet day where he lives at Old Friends in Kentucky. Baffert won again in 2002 and 2003 with Wooden Phone and Congaree respectively. He won in 2013 with Coil and in 2015 with Hoppertunity. This year he has hopes of winning again with the favorite, Arrogate. Then he plans to race Arrogate against the amazing California Chrome in the first ever, Pegasus World Cup on 1/28/17 at Gulfstream Park, in Florida.

The 2017 running of the San Pasqual Stakes has a small field as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning line odds:

Prospect Park/Norberto Arroyo, Jr./Clifford w. Sise, Jr./Pam and Martin Wygod/10/1
Accelerate/Tyler Baze/John W. Sadler/Hronis Racing, LLC./8/1
Dalmore/Kent Desormeaux/J. Keith Desormeaux/Big Chief Racing, Head of PlainsPartners, LLC., Rocker O Ranch, LLC, et al./20/1
Midnight Storm/Rafael Bejarano/Philip D’ Amato/A Venneri Racing, Inc. and Little Red Feather Racing/4/1
Arrogate/Mike E. Smith/Bob Baffert/Juddmonte Farms/1/5

Prospect Park is sired by Tapit, though he is not grey himself. His dam is Quiet Romance and he was foaled in 2012. He has only won 3 of his 14 starts and none of those wins were made in 2016. He has raced exclusively in CA and many times at Santa Anita.

Accelerate is the 2013 offspring of Lookin at Lucky and Issues. He has 2 stakes races in his career, the The Los Alamitos Derby Stakes, where he won and the BC Dirt Mile where he finished 3rd. He has finished first in 3 of his 7 races.

Dalmore has a record of 3 wins in 14 starts, just like Prospect Park. Dalmore is the product of Colonel John and Silver Breeze, delivered in 2013. He frequents the CA racing circuit and he won the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on 7/2/16.

Midnight Storm was born to Pioneer of The Nile and My Tina in 2011. He has won 9 of 20 starts and his last 5 starts were in California. He last raced at Del Mar in the Native Diver Stakes on 11/27/16 and he won after finishing 3rd in the BC Mile earlier that month. It find it noteworthy that Native Diver won the San Pasqual in 1966.

Arrogate was foaled to Unbridled’s Song and Bubbler in 2013. He is a lovely grey horse. He has won the last 5 of his 6 races, 3 of those wins were at Santa Anita. 2 of his wins were in stakes races, The Traver’s Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He had a work out on 12/27/16 and he was looking fine covering 6 furlongs in 1.12:20.

Happy New Year, Happy birthday and all the other happy that I wish for each of you! May all of you have safe passage into the new year and many blessings throughout. I’ll continue to post my Thoroughbred thoughts and experiences as we continue to grow.

Update: Arrogate scratched due to rain.

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December 15, 2016December 15, 2016

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.

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:

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

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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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 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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August 25, 2016August 28, 2016

Transfixed by the Travers

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This year’s Travers stakes is going to be huge! This race is literally massive in terms of both entries and talent. The 147th running of the Travers Stakes has 14 contestants. It is tied for the highest number of entries, that record was established in 1977. 6 of the 14 horses in this field were in the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Saratoga’s “Midsummer Derby” is shaping up to be one of the finest races of the season.

The Travers Stakes was inaugurated in 1864. It is held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. The race has varied historically but this year the crowd capacity will be capped at 50 thousand fans to watch the $1.25 million dollar Grade 1, of 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs), dirt race for 3 year-old Thoroughbreds. One of Saratoga’s finest races, the Travers, has acquired the name of the “Midsummer Derby”, traditionally held in August. The track itself has the nicknames of ” The Graveyard of Champions ” due to the frequency of major upsets that have occurred at this track and “The Spa” because of the areas historical and rich mineral springs. The Travers is named for William R. Travers. He was the owner of the 1st horse to win this race, Kentucky. Travers was also president of the Saratoga Racing Association.

In 1941 there was a Superfecta won by Whirlaway. A Superfecta is the combination of winning all of the Triple Crown legs and the Travers Stakes. One recent example of an upset at the Travers happened just last year. After American Pharoah went on an 8 race winning streak, that included sweeping the Triple Crown series, he was 2nd in the 2015 Travers, losing to Keen Ice. This win by Keen Ice gave his rider the title. Javier Castellano is the jockey with the most Travers wins, at a total of 5. American Pharoah redeemed himself in his next race, as if he needed to, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The combo of the Triple Crown plus the BC Classic is called a Grandslam and American Pharoah is the only horse to have ever achieved the Grandslam. Whirlaway is the only Superfecta winner.

Another very special horse won the Travers in 1920, Man o’ War. In his honor, Tiffany and Co. created a trophy, a gold plated replica Man o’ War Cup is given to the winner of the Travers annually.

Please, allow me one more interesting historical fact before we get to the 2016 entries. There is a nice goose pond infield of the Saratoga track. A canoe was placed there in 1926. Since 1961, the canoe is painted in the silk colors of the Travers winner each year.

Finally, here is our enormous field by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner:

Arrogate/Mike Smith/Bob Baffert/Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
American Freedom/Rafael Bejarano/Bob Baffert/Gary and Mary West
My Man Sam/Manuel Franco/Chad C. Brown/Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables, LLC. and Jay W. Bligh
Governor Malibu/Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement/Jump Sucker Stable and Oak Bull Stables
Forever d’Oro/Luis Saez/Dallas Stewart/Charles E. Fipke
Anaximandros/Leonel Reyes/Mikhail Yanakov/Mikhail Yanakov
Exaggerator/Kent Desormeaux/J. Keith Desormeaux/ Big Chief Racing, LLC., Head of Plains Partners, LLC., Rocker O Ranch, LLC, et al.
Destin/Javier Castellano/Todd A. Pletcher/Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC. and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Gift Box/Junior Alvarado/Chad C. Brown/W.S. Farish
Connect/John R. Velazquez/Chad C. Brown/Warren A. Croll, Jr
Majesto/Ricardo Santana Jr./Gustavo Delgado/Grupo Seven C Stable
Creator/Irad Ortiz Jr./Steven M. Asmusen/WinStar Farm and Bobby Flay
Laoban/Jose L. Ortiz/Eric J. Guillot/McCormick Racing, LLC. and Southern Equine Stable, LLC.
Gun Runner/Florent Geroux/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC., Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables LLC.

Arrogate is the KY bred grey son of Unbridled’s Song and Bubbler. He has won the last 3 of his 4 career races. He has never been entered in a stakes race. Smith has not won the Travers since 1998 and Baffert has not won this race since 2001. Arrogate has never raced at The Spa.

American Freedom is a KY bred colt, sired by Pulpit, his dam is Gottcha Last. He has won 3 of his 5 races. He won 1 of 3 graded stakes. American Freedom has not raced at Saratoga but while he shares a trainer with Arrogate he has more East coast experience. Bejarano has not won the Travers.

Another KY bred is in post 3. My Man Sam is the offspring of Trappe Shot and Lauren Byrd. He has won once in his 6 starts and he participated in 2 graded stakes races including the KY Derby. He often runs second and he could probably do that once again. In his last race he was second and that was at Saratoga. Trappe Shot finished 9th in the 2010 Travers. Franco nor Brown have historical wins in the Travers. Brown is on a roll at Saratoga. He got his 1,000th win while racing there on Wednesday. Brown has 3 entries in the Travers.

Governor Malibu is a NY bred with NY racing experience. He was 2nd his last trip out and that was at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy Stakes. He is the son of Malibu Moon and Akilina. Governor Malibu has won 2 of his 9 starts. He has placed in 2 of 3 graded stakes. Neither Rosario or Clement have won the Travers.

Forever d’ Oro is the KY bred Colt of Medaglia d’ Oro and Lemons Forever. He recently finished 3rd at Saratoga. This was one of his 5 races. He has won once. He participated in the Belmont Stakes. His sire, Medaglia d’ Oro, won the Travers in 2002. His dam sire, Lemon Drop Kid, won the Travers in 1999. Forever d’ Oro’s jockey, Saez, won the Travers in 2013.

Anaximandros is a colt by Hard Spun and Dragon Fly. He is KY bred with a French dam. He has won 2 of 5 races. He was 4th his last race which is his only graded stakes experience. He has not raced at Saratoga. His jockey nor trainer have ever won the Travers.

Right in the middle sits the favorite, Exaggerator! Sired by Curlin he is the KY bred colt born to Dawn Raid. He has more experience then the preceding post positions with 6 wins in 13 starts. He ran all three legs of the 2015 Triple Crown finishing 2nd, 1st then a disappointing 11th respectively. He had a triumphant rebound in his very next race when he finished 1st in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Kent Desormeaux won the Travers in 2009.

Destin is a grey colt by Giant’s Causeway and Dream of Summer. One of my favorite farms, Taylor Made, had a part in his KY breeding. He has won 3 of 8 races. He finished 3rd at Saratoga behind Governor Malibu in his last race. He participated in the KY Derby and the Belmont Stakes. He finished 2nd to Creator in the Belmont. He is a multiple graded stakes winner. Pletcher last won the Travers in 2011. Castellano has won the Travers the most.

Gift Box is a grey ridgling. In his pedigree are Twirling Candy and Special Me. He has 2 wins of 5 races. He recently finished 2nd at Saratoga. He was 3rd in his only graded stakes race. The jockey nor the trainer has won a Travers Stakes race.

Connect is another colt by Curlin. He is a KY bred horse with Bullville Bell as his dam. He is on a streak winning his past 3 races out of a career 4 starts. He just won at Saratoga last month, besting Gift Box. He has not entered a graded stakes before. Connect’s dam sire, Holly Bull, won the Travers in 1994. Mike Smith was the jockey for Holy Bull’s win. Smith is Arrogate’s jockey this time.

Majesto is a KY bred ridgling. He was born to Tiznow and Unacloud. He has only finished first in one of his 8 races. He has two graded stakes races in his resume and one of those was the KY Derby. His last race was at Saratoga where he finished 6th. His connections have not won the Travers. Majesto’s dam sire, Unaccounted For was 4th in the 1994 Travers Stakes.

Creator is a grey colt sired by Tapit, thus another KY bred. His dam is Morena. He has finished first place in 3 of his 11 starts. It was not his day in the KY Derby but he was 1st place in the Belmont Stakes. Most recently he finished 6th at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy. He has the ability but not the consistency. His jockey and trainer haven’t won a Travers before.

In the lucky 13 post position stands Laoban. He is the son of Uncle Mo and Chattertown. He is a KY bred colt. He won one time in a career 8 races. That one time counts big for this race as it was right at Saratoga last month when he conquered the Jim Dandy Stakes. He has raced in 6 stakes races including the Preakness. He has the experience. His trainer and his jockey are looking for their first Travers wins too.

Finally, we end the field with Gun Runner. Bred in KY by Candy Ride and Quiet Giant this colt has a 5 in 8 record for wins. He was 3rd in the KY Derby but holds multiple graded stakes wins. He has not raced at Saratoga. Geroux would be happy to get his first Travers title.

Be sure to buy tickets now if you are fortunate enough to be planning to attend. It is expected to be a sell out. The card includes 13 nice races. Four BC Win and You’re In races are up for grabs. The Travers is the 11th race on Saturday 8/27/16. It will post at 5:44 P.M. EST. NBC will provide television coverage from 4:30 to 6 PM.

Thank you to our regular handicapper for allowing me use of his photos. I fully rely on my own photos and those of close friends and family. I really appreciate having access to pictures of horses and places I haven’t experienced yet. Check back regularly for new Thoroughbred posts.

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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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August 5, 2016August 8, 2016

Waiting on the Whitney

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Woo hoo for the Whitney! The 87th running of the Whitney Handicap will take place tomorrow, August 6,2016 at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, NY. If I could click my heels and go anywhere right now, I’d be at “The Spa”.

The Whitney Handicap was inaugurated in 1928. It has been at various tracks for different genders, ages and distances historically. Tomorrow, the Whitney will take place on Saratoga’s dirt track. It will be a race of 9 furlongs (1 and 1/8 mile) for horses 3 years old and upwards. 6 Thoroughbreds will compete for the “Win and You’re In” automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the $1.25 million dollar purse. The winner will also receive a blanket made of Marylou Whitney pink roses and a sterling silver chalice trophy with the Whitney family crest.

Considered one of the top Grade 1 races, the Whitney is named for the Whitney family. Historically this family’s contributions to Thoroughbred racing have shaped the industry and blessed us with a vast number of graded stakes winners. Marylou Whitney continues the tradition. She has a home in Saratoga as well as a farm in my hometown, Lexington, KY. The Whitney’s have won their own stakes race 4 times.

Last year’s Whitney winner was Honor Code. Kelso and Discovery each won the race 3 times.

The 2016 Whitney field is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/age:

El Kabeir/Ricardo Santana, Jr./John P. Terranova/Zayat Stables, LCC./4
Comfort/John R, Velazquez/Todd A. Pletcher/Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners/4
Upstart/Irad Ortiz Jr./Richard A. Violette, Jr./Ralph M. Evans and WinStar/4
Frosted/Joel Rosario/Kiaran P. McLaughlin/Godolphin Racing, LCC./4
Noble Bird/Julien R. Leparoux/Mark E. Casse/John C. Oxley/5
Effinex/Mike E. Smith/James A. Jerkens/Tri-Bone Stables/5

El Kabeir is a beautiful grey colt by Scat Daddy and Great Venue. El Kabeir ran his first 2 of 15 career starts at Saratoga. He is a multiple graded stakes winner though he has not won in 2016.

Comfort is a colt by Indian Charlie and Unkatzable. Comfort has only raced 7 times and never at Saratoga nor has he won a graded stakes. His jockey/trainer combo won the Whitney in 2013 with Cross Traffic.

Upstart is the son of Flatter, whom I wrote about in my last story when I met him while touring the stallions at Claiborne Farm. Upstart’s dam is Party Silks. Upstart won his maiden at Saratoga on his first start. He has raced at that track 3 times of his 14 career races. He is a multiple graded stakes winner. He was fourth in last year’s Travers.

Frosted is the favorite for the Whitney. He is another lovely grey colt. He is the offspring of Tapit and Fast Cookie. He raced at Saratoga in 3 of his 16 starts. He placed 2nd the 1st two times at that track and third the last time out there. Those races were a maiden, the Jim Dandy and the Travers respectively. He is coming off a strong win at Belmont in June. In 2015 he finished the Belmont 2nd to our Grand Slam winner, American Pharoah. Frosted’s trainer, McLaughlin, won the Whitney with Invasor in 2006.

Noble Bird is the gorgeous horse in the photo. I met him at Keeneland this past April. I caught him with his tongue out as he ate a peppermint. He is the son of Birdstone and Anyhow. Noble Bird is trained by Casse, whom works with one of my favorite fillies, Tepin! She is a Saratoga sales grad. Noble Bird has raced at Saratoga once before in his 16 starts. He is a multiple graded stakes winner.

Effinex is the son of Mineshaft and What A Pear. Effinex has the most experience with 24 career starts. He has raced twice at Saratoga, where he finished 2nd in the Woodward Stakes. He is a multiple graded stakes winner. He was second to American Pharoah in last years BC Classic. His jockey, Smith, won the Whitney in 1993 with Brunswick. The father of James A. Jerkens, the trainer of Effinex, trained Onion who beat the amazing Secretariat in 1973’s Whitney.

As if the Whitney isn’t enough action, there are 11 races on the card Saturday. 5 of those are stakes races and there is another stakes on Sunday. Then the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale takes place August 8th and 9th while my most favorite horse, Juba, races at Saratoga on the 8th as well.

I part own 5 horses that will be auctioned off at the sale. 3 will go on Monday and the 4th and 5th on Tuesday. This sale is one of the first of the season and finest of sales for yearlings. 252 select yearlings have been catalogued for the 96th Saratoga Sale.

Juba is trained by Jerkens, just like Effinex and has the same jockey, Velazquez ,as Comfort. Juba is a 5 year-old grey son of Tapit and Adoradancer. That is the same sire that Frosted has.

If you are at Saratoga tell me all about it. If you’re watching from a television or computer tune in to NBC Sports for race 10, the Whitney, at 6:18 pm EST on 8/6/16. Find Juba, in race 8 at 5:02 pm EST on 8/8/16. I’m hoping to see it on TVG. Finally, follow along with the Fasig-Tipton sale on http://www.fasigtipton.com

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July 9, 2016July 9, 2016

Who’s Who At Age 2

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So, Thoroughbred U, who’s who at age 2? Well, I would be rich if I knew for sure. I was fortunate to explore that question a bit last Saturday (7/2/16) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. I saw eleven races that day, two of which were stakes for 2-year-olds.

Race 7 was the 115th running of The Bashford Manor. This race is the 1st chance race for 2-year-old colts to compete in a graded stakes race. Classic Empire, wearing the red blanket above, and owned by John C. Oxley was the winner. I will definitely follow this horse. He is trained by Mark E. Casse and Julien Leparoux is his jockey. Classic Empire is sired by Pioneer of the Nile, the same sire as American Pharoah. Sambuca Classica by Cat Thief is the dam of Classic Empire. He won by 3/4 of a length, finishing 6 furlongs in a fast 1:09.39. Recruiting Ready finished 2nd and Tip Tap Tapizar was 3rd.

The 8th race, the 116th running of The Debutante, had a lot of similarities. This is the 1st opportunity 2-year-old fillies have at a graded stakes win. The same owner, jockey and trainer won as in the Bashford. Pretty City Dancer was the winner. She is a filly by Tapit and Carson City. Pretty City Dancer covered the 6 furlongs of dirt in 1:11.01. She is the lovely gray horse in the 2nd picture grouping on the right. Anna’s Bandit took 2nd place and Country Candy finished 3rd.

Mark E. Casse won the title of leading trainer at Churchill for the Spring meet. The night I attended was the last day of the meet. He has a barn at Churchill where my beloved Tepin lives! If you love Tepin check my site out for several good Tepin stories.

Not a 2-year-old but I threw in a picture of The Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes winner Alsvid just to complete my re-cap of my Churchill adventure.

Next week I’ll be visiting at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY. Monday (7/11/16) will feature the July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. The sale begins at 5 p.m. EST. There are over 100 entries and there has to be some big winners in the catalogue. This sale historically turns out graded stakes winners. Might this be where the next best 2 year-old is?

The following day is the July Selected Yearling Sale. This sale will be especially meaningful to me because it will mark the 1st time I’ve ever owned a horse at an auction. I bought into a pinhooking partnership last Fall and I’m excited to see how the 1st of my group’s 12 yearlings sells.

Thank you for following and look for my Fasig-Tipton story next week. If you are going to the auction, leave a comment.

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June 24, 2016June 24, 2016

Greetings from Gainesway

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It is my first day of vacation and I started it out on the right ~~hoof~~ foot! Earlier in the week I logged on to Horse Country and booked a tour to Gainesway Farm. This is the home of many Thoroughbreds including Tapit, seen above!

The tour started in the office before 12:30 pm. Marilyn Brashear, the receptionist, and two sweet dogs offered a warm welcome as we collected in the seating area. We were surrounded by lovely equine art and many framed cover shots from Bloodhorse magazine. Ian Tapp, with Sales and Bloodstock Development, fetched us and led us onto the beautifully maintained grounds. He explained that the area had once belonged to the Shawnee Indians. Several generations of horseman have owned the land, Ben Ali Haggin, C.V. Whitney, John Hay Whitney, John R. Gaines, Graham Beck and Antony Beck. The farm has rolling hills and plenty of bluegrass, clover and rye making it a great place for Thoroughbreds to thrive.

During the 1980s, the eight stone barns, a few seen above, housed as many as 52 stallions. Now they have eight available sires living on the farm. These lucky sires are Afleet Alex, Afleet Express, Birdstone, Empire Maker, Hat Trick, Karakontie, Tapit and Tapizar. The stalls are clean and well ventilated to keep a comfortable environment for their tenants year round.

Entering barn three, I met Afleet Alex. When he raced he won the 2nd and third legs of the Triple Crown after a third place finish in the 2005 Kentucky Derby. He won an Eclipse Award that same year. His progeny include Texas Red, Materiality, Afleet Express and many more.

Next, I had the pleasure of viewing Birdstone. He was a Belmont Stakes winner in 2004. Swipe, Mine That Bird and Summer Bird are some of his well know offspring.

Then, Empire Maker made an appearance. The name is so appropriate. The empire he produced includes Bodemeister and Pioneer of the Nile. The later is the sire of the only Grand Slam winner, American Pharoah. When Empire Maker was racing he was 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and he won the Belmont Stakes.

With much built up anticipation, Tapit finally hoofed it on over. He is the beloved sire of Juba, Twitter’s favorite horse! Tapit is stunning, as he looks snow white. He is the leading sire for 2014 and 2015. He is well on his way to the 2016 title as well. He sired the adorable, Lani. Some of his other crops include Creator, Frosted, Tapizar, Tonalist, Untapable, Mohaymen, Cupid and many more.

Our next stop was the breading shed. As MTV Cribs would have put it, “this is where the magic happens”. Tapp went into a lot more in depth information on that subject. I admit, it is quite the process and it was educational. We learned about resident teasing stallion, Bud. He has an important job to do up to three times per day during the busiest of seasons.

As the tour was about to wrap we walked thru the barn that houses Afleet Express and To Honor and Serve. Afleet Express is a multiple graded stakes winner including both the Pegasus Stakes and the Travers Stakes in 2010. He began his stud career in 2011. His graded stakes winning filly Diva Express frequents Churchill Downs.

To Honor and Serve won the Cigar Mile in 2011 and the Woodward Stakes in 2012 as well as a few more multiple graded stakes. He came to Gainesway in 2013 and his crop produced some pricey Thoroughbreds at the sales.

The Gainesway tour was wonderful. I would love to see their mares, weanlings and yearlings too. It was such a neat experience to view these champion sires up-close. If you find yourself in Lexington, KY, I recommend checking the place out yourself. Enjoy my photos and check back soon for my next Thoroughbred story.

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May 18, 2016May 19, 2016

Preview Pimlico’s Preakness

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The 141st running of the Grade I Preakness Stakes will take place this Saturday, 5/21/16. I will be betting on Nyquist (update: that is him pictured above), our latest Kentucky Derby winner! He was just announced as the morning line favorite with 3/5 morning-line odds immediately following the post position draw. Here is the full field:

Post Position: Horse/Jockey/Trainer/Owner/M-L Odds

Cherry Wine/Corey Lanerie/Dale Romans/William Pacella and Frank L. Jones, Jr./20-1
Uncle Lino/Fernando Hernandez Perez/Gary Sherlock/Tom Mansor, Purple Shamrock Racing and Gary Sherlock/20-1
Nyquist/Mario Gutierrez/Doug O’Neill/Reddham Racing/3/5
Awesome Speed/Jevian Toledo/Alan Golberg/Colts Neck Stables/30-1
Exaggerator/Kent Desormeaux/Keith Dersormeaux/Big Cheif Racing, Head of Plains Parteners, Rocker O Ranch, et al./3-1
Lani/Yutaka Take/Mikio Matsunaga/Yoko Maeda/30-1
Collected/Javier Castellano/Bob Baffert/Speedway Stable/10-1
Laoban/Florent Geroux/Eric Guillot/McCormick Racing and Southern Equine Stable/30-1
Abiding Star/J.D. Acosta/Edward Allard/Stonehinge, LLC/30-1
Fellowship/Jose Lezcanno/Mark Casse/Jacks or Better Farm/30-1
Stradivari/John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher/John Gunther, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier/8-1

While the Preakness Stakes is eligible to 14 Thoroughbreds only these 11 will be participating. That is 3 more than last year’s small field when American Pharoah became the 14th horse to take the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He went on to win at the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic to become our 12th Triple Crown winner and our first Grand Slam winner. The competition is tough to see if Nyquist can follow in those horseshoes.

Cherry Wine was an “also eligible” as the 22nd horse in a 20 post position race for the Kentucky Derby but he did not get his chance that day. He is a lovely grey late bloomer. It took him 5 starts to break his maiden. His last 2 of 8 career races were graded stakes. He finished 4th in the Rebel Stakes and then 3rd in the Blue Grass Stakes. In all he has 2 wins, 1 place and has come in third twice. American Pharoah won from post position 1 in last year’s Preakness.

Uncle Lino wasn’t in the Kentucky Derby. His last race out was the California Chrome Stakes. He finished 1st place with his only win since he broke his maiden his second start. Out of his 7 races he has been twice at each 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. He has has finished in the top four of all three of his graded stakes, Robert B. Lewis, San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. His sire is Uncle Mo, making him a half brother to Nyquist and Laoban and Abiding Star.

Nyquist is the favorite and I have written about him a few times if you want a more complete history on him check on my webpage, ThoroughbredU.com. He is undefeated in 8 starts and he wants to keep that title. He just won the KY Derby by 1 and 1/4 lengths on 5/7/16. California Chrome won the Preakness from post position 3 in 2014. Secretariat liked this post in 1973.

Awesome Speed has finished 1st in 4 of his 6 career starts however, he was 4th in his only graded stakes race, the Fountain of Youth. His connections have noted that he has bumped around a lot in his last couple of races. He is a pacemaker in his running style.

Exaggerator ran an exciting late sprint to earn 2nd to Nyquist in the KY Derby. He is 1 of only 3 horses from that race to step up to the Preakness challenge. His sire, Curlin, won the 2007 Preakness. To read more about Exaggerator, look back to my KY derby story.

Lani is the final horse to return from this past KY Derby. This lovely grey son of Tapit finished 9th in the KY Derby. Lani is described in more detail in my former KY Derby story. His dam sire, Sunday Silence, won the Preakness in 1989.

Collected is trained by Bob Baffert. Baffert has won the Preakness with Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Point Given, War Emblem, Lookin At Lucky and American Pharoah. In 6 career starts, Collected has 4 wins and a finish in 2nd place as well. He has won 2 of his 4 graded stakes races. These were the Cecile B. DeMille, Sham, Southwest and Lexington Stakes.

Laoban was the other “also eligible” that missed the KY Derby by a post. One of the 4 sired by Uncle Mo he is a front runner but also he has never won a race! Despite that, his connections have raced him 5 times and 3 of those where graded stakes, the Sham, Gotham and Blue Grass Stakes.

Abiding Star is the 4th and final horse sired by Uncle Mo in this race. He has had an amazing 11 career starts in which he has won 5 times and finished at 2nd and 3rd place each once. It took him 7 times to break his maiden. He has never ran in a graded stakes race, however he is on a five race winning streak.

Fellowship is trained by Mark Casse. He is the trainer of one of my favorite Thoroughbreds, Tepin. Fellowship has had a total of 12 starts. He has finished 1st two times and 2nd and 3rd three times each. He raced at Churchill Downs on KY Derby day in the Pat Day Mile where he finished fourth. That race was his fourth graded stakes race. He is of the Secretariat lineage.

Stradivari is the final horse in the Preakness. He has only been in 3 races. He won the last two. These were not stakes races. To my personal surprise, his trainer Todd Pletcher, despite all his fame, has never won the Preakness. Pletcher was 3rd in 2000 with Impeachment.

Preakness Fun Facts:

the food of the day, crabcakes
the flower, Black-Eyed Susans
the blanket is actually made of Viking Poms
the race is “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans”
the song, “Maryland, My Maryland”
the trophy, a silver replica of the 1860 Woodlawn Vase
the track record, 1:55 set by Secretariat
the drink is also the Black-Eyed Susan
post time is 6:45 PM EST
NBCSN will televise starting at 2:30 PM EST
NBC will televise starting at 6:30 PM EST
Pimlico starts racing at 10:30 AM EST that day and the Preakness is the 13th race
the race is 1 and 3/16 miles or 9.5 furlongs on the dirt
the race is for 3YO Thoroughbreds

I hope everyone finds this info useful and helpful for their Preakness Stakes planning. Check back after the race for another blog post. Go, Nyquist, go! Let’s wish the rain holds off this year.

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