California Chrome Before He Roams From Home

California Chrome strikes a regal pose in front of his barn.
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California Chrome is simply glowing in the sunshine.
California Chrome is simply glowing in the sunshine.

I’ve been chilling with my Chromies this week.  A gracious friend invited me along for her birthday party and The Chrome Experience and what an experience it was!  Two time Horse of the Year, California Chrome will soon be shipping to Chile for their breeding season.  There are just a few more dates to visit with Chrome while he is still at home, in America.

 

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Happy Marether’s Day!

Loving mares watch over their foals in a pasture at Taylor Made Farm.
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Loving mares watch over their foals in a pasture at Taylor Made Farm.
Loving mares watch over their foals in a pasture at Taylor Made Farm.

Happy Marether’s Day to everyone!  This weekend we celebrate a special holiday to honor all of the mothers who brought us into this world and cared for us so dearly.  I am especially thankful to have a great mom myself.  Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and it seemed a fitting time to focus on some of the outstanding broodmares.  Thoroughbreds have mothers too and they are important to the pedigree and to the emotional and physical soundness of the foals that grow up to be the best racing champions.

 

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Graydar’s Groundbreaker

Graydar looks great for fan day at Taylor Made Farm
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Graydar is happy to welcome visitors at Taylor Made Farm
Graydar is happy to welcome visitors at Taylor Made Farm

As the Road to the Kentucky Derby winds its way through Europe this week I’m taking a moment to evaluate the top of the leaderboard to look for patterns and new talent.  I must say, I am overjoyed to have trainer D. Wayne Lukas, with Bravazo and Sporting Chance, back in the running.  Also, I am struck by the presence  of second-crop sires Poseidon’s Warrior, Violence and Graydar.  It is refreshing to see the new breath of young sire power blowing into Thoroughbred racing.  Graydar is the leading second-crop sire in North America by winners.  Watch out for his offspring in the Kentucky Derby and other Classic races.

 

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Tales from the Sales

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Graydar, he has a tale to tell with a swoosh of his tail!
Graydar, he has a tale to tell with a swoosh of his tail!

The first American Thoroughbred Auction results are in!  Premier auction house, Keeneland, wrapped its annual January Horses of All Ages sale (#KeeJan) this past Friday evening.  It was Friday the 13th and the results were a little spooky.

Graydar grins.
Graydar grins.

The 59th edition of the sale had catalogued 1,893 horses.  961 head sold with across-the-board declines.  Nearly 500 horses were withdrawn and over 400 more did not meet the reserve prices, set by the sellers.  Some speculated reasons included, harsh winter weather, the equine herpes quarantines and no farm dispersals.  A dispersal is when an owner sells off all or many of their horses to reduce inventory for various reasons.  The most likely factor is the increasing desire by the buyers to only purchase the most select of pedigrees.  One of my favorite take away quotes was by Bob Elliston, Keeneland’s Vice President of Racing and Sales, “Breeders need to take note moving forward.”  That is a responsible statement.  This sale grossed over $28 million dollars with an average sales price of nearly $30 thousand dollars.

Graydar, looking a bit more regal.
Graydar, looking a bit more regal.

On the bright side.  Some Thoroughbreds were found very desirable.  The highest price horse in the sale was Siren Serenade.  She sold for $1,025,000!  She is a 11 year-old mare born to Unbridled’s Song and Versailles Treaty Siren Serenade is in foal by Tapit, the gorgeous grey number one sire for over 3 years and the leading sire and covering sire of the #KeeJan sale.  Covering sire is another name for a sire when the mare is believed to be pregnant but the foal is yet to be born.  The breeding of Tapit with another Unbridled’s Song daughter, Unrivaled Belle, led to the birth of Unique Bella in 2014.  Unique Bella is turning heads after her romp in the G2 Santa Ynez Stakes, at Santa Anita, earlier this month.  Put this filly in your virtual barn!

Unbridled's Song Grave Marker.
Unbridled’s Song Grave Marker.

Keeping the bloodlines of Tapit and Unbridled’s Song in mind, feel free to search my webpage for former Tapit posts while I spend more of this post focusing on Unbridled’s Song and perhaps his most promising son as a stallion, Graydar Tapit was the sire to 10 horses in #KeeJan, right behind him was Unbridled’s Song with 9 Thoroughbreds that sold.  Much further down the list was Graydar whom sired 2 horses that sold.  Unfortunately,  you won’t find a listing for Unbridled’s Song as a covering sire.  He was euthanized at 20 years-old due to an inoperable mass.  He crossed the rainbow bridge too soon in July of 2013.  Graydar was the covering sire for 5 horses that sold in the sale.

Unbridled's Song Stall Plate.
Unbridled’s Song Stall Plate.

Both Unbridled’s Song and Graydar are Taylor Made Farm stallions.  Taylor Made Sales Agency was the leading consignor at #KeeJan and they typically are.  This year they sold 100 horses, in this one sale.  Unbridled’s Song was a stallion on their farm, in Kentucky, for 17 seasons.  Before that, this grey horse was born in February of 1993 to Unbridled, the winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Trolley SongUnbridled’s Song had a nice racing career.  He won 5 of 12 starts including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the Florida Derby, the Wood Memorial and the Olympic Handicap.  The Olympic was his last race due to a broken cannon bone.  He was training to go on to the Donn Handicap.  For racing fans, it is probably best that he made it to the breeding shed as quick as he did.  He has created so many powerful stakes winners.  Names like Arrogate, Midshipman, Will Take Charge and so many more winners are his offspring.  Unbridled’s Song was credited with siring his 100th stakes winner the day his son, Graydar, won the Donn Handicap.

Graydar smiles.
Graydar smiles.

Fortunately,  not only can Unbridled’s Song’s offspring race, they are doing well as sires and broodmares themselves.  His lineage lives on and there is a lot of hope that his grey son, Graydar, may be the best to carry on those great genes.  Graydar was born to Sweetest Smile in May of 2009.  He won 5 of 6 starts including the Donn, the New Orleans and the Kelso Handicaps.  He went to stud in 2014 and he has had 2 crops of offspirng thus far.  His first crop is eligible to race this year.  He has produced 157 foals and 99 of those just became of racing age.  The other 58 are yearlings.  His fee is a mere $12,500 for a live foal.  His next crops will sell at the Fasig-Tipton 2017 Winter Mixed Sale and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company 2017 Winter Mixed Sale.  I expect great things of his 2 year-olds and I think his price will sky rocket once he is proven.  I feel very lucky for those who are buying into Graydar now.  He is a beautiful and sweet horse.  He lives in the same two stall barn as California Chrome.  I had the pleasure of meeting Graydar twice when I visited Chrome while he was recovering from a cannon bone bruise.  I also, briefly part owned a colt by Graydar and Heavenly Ghost.  I am looking forward to following that colt’s racing career.

Graydar's stall.
Graydar’s stall.

Please, enjoy the pictures I took while I was visiting Graydar at Taylor Made Farm.  He has a tale to tell with a swish of his tail.  I hope his progeny sweep the races this year and he keeps on bringing us more of that great Unbridled’s Song legacy.  Between these two and Tapit the whole industry may be turning up grey!

 

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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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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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Yearning For Yearlings

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The official start of the yearling sales season kicked off yesterday, 7/12/16, at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY.  This sale came one day after the Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.  I was especially excited to attend day 2 because it marked the first time I part owned a Thoroughbred at an auction.

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I was not on hand, due to my day job, for the horses of racing age sale.  That sale was quite a success.  Compared to last year, more horses were sold fetching a higher overall price, a higher average price and far fewer unsold horses.  72 horses sold versus 65 the prior year.  The total sale brought in over $5 million dollars compared to less than $4 million in 2015.  The average price per horse rose by over $8.5 thousand dollars.  Finally, only 19 horses did not get sold this July, where as last year 31 did not sell.  The sale topper was the 7-year-old mare, Storm Lucy at $575,000.  Malibu Moon and War Front sired 5 Thoroughbreds each in that sale making them the top sires by numbers in the sale.  Taylor Made Sales Agency was the top consignor.

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The July Selected Yearling sale did not exceed 2015’s results.  The number of horses sold declined, as did the total price as well as the average price while the number of horses that failed to meet the reserved price increased.  The 2016 sale sold 183 Thoroughbreds versus 205 the year before.  Last year’s sale made over $20 million dollars while this year brought just over $17.6.  On average horses dropped from $97 thousand dollars to $86 thousand each.  This year 110 horses were not sold versus only 83 the prior Summer sale.  Seen above is the sales ring screen showing an Uncle Mo filly bringing in $250,000.  A colt sired by Curlin, hip 222, was the sale topper at a price of $475,000.

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Wearing hip 235, pictured above, is a horse that I part owned thru a pinhook partnership I bought into last Fall.  He came in with a 4 way tie of top selling horses.  This colt, sired by Graydar, brought a price of $200,000.  He sold to Twin Creeks Racing Stable, LLC.  I loved his unique coloring, best seen in the sunlight.  I can not wait to see how well he does on the track later in life!

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Hips 338 seen at top left was sired by Speightstown and sold for $350,000.  On the right is hip 326, another horse sired by Curlin, who sold for just $90,000.  He is in front of the walking ring screens as hip 324 by Stay Thirsty who sold for $260,000.

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Touring the grounds a bit I saw some interesting reminders of the exciting sales graduates that Fasig-Tipton has sold before.  On July 19, 1975 the Lexington location of this great auction company sold the amazing Seattle Slew for just $17,500.  He went on to win the Triple Crown in 1977.  He has a whole building complete with art named for him as seen above.  Below, we see a reminder of American Pharaoh, our last Triple Crown winner.  He was featured as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in New York in 2013 and bought back by his owner.  This is where the next major yearling sale will take place on August 8 and 9th, The Saratoga Sale.  My group has several horses in that auction so I will be following it closely.

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I hope you all enjoy the yearling auctions.  Check back with me weekly for more Thoroughbred news or adventures.

 

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California Chrome Concisely

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It’s back to work for California Chrome!  Today, 5/14/16, Chrome returned to the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse track in California to work 3 furlongs.  He was clocked on the fast dirt with a time of 36.20 and rank 13/36.  This is his first workout since he won the $10 million dollar Dubai World Cup on 3/26/16.

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California Chrome was foaled at Harris Farms in California on 2/18/11.  He is the champion son of Lucky Pulpit and Love the Chase by Not For Love.  His breeders are Perry Martin and Steve Coburn.  Martin and Taylor Made Farm are his current owners. Chrome is trained by Art Sherman and his jockey is Victor Espinoza.  California Chrome is a good looking and well behaved horse.  That made him attractive to fans early on.  Chrome, also known as Junior, was thrust into stardom when he won the Kentucky Derby in 2014.  He has had 21 career starts that have made him the wealthiest in earnings for any Thoroughbred in North America, in all of racing history.  He has earned $12,532,650 in his lifetime.  He holds two Eclipse Awards.  Following the Dubai World Cup, Junior came to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky to rest up but after last weekend’s Kentucky Derby he headed back to California.

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California Chrome has many more races to win before he retires to stud.  His connections have him pointed towards a 3 race bonus opportunity. Santa Anita and Del Mar tracks will reward an additional $1 million dollars to the horse that can win the Pacific Classic, the Awesome Again Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Chrome was third in the 2014 BC Classic.  To prepare for the bonus threesome Chrome will first take on the $200,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap. Following the BC Classic he may race in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup.  This race will top the Dubai World Cup by becoming the world’s richest race, offering a purse of $12 million dollars.  Here is Chrome’s predicted path:

  • San Diego Handicap 7/23/16 at Del Mar in California
  • Pacific Classic 8/20/16 at Del Mar
  • Awesome Again Stakes 10/1/16 at Santa Anita in California
  • Breeders’ Cup Classic 11/5/16 at Santa Anita
  • Pegasus World Cup 1/28/17 at Gulfstream Park in Florida

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Earlier this week Longines announced that California Chrome is still tied for the World’s Best Racehorse with Winx.  They are both ranked number one with a rating of 126.  Last week’s KY Derby win by another California bred horse put Nyquist on the chart in a 4 way tie for rank 2 and an 124 rating.

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Let’s hope Chrome continues to be all smiles as he continues his impressive career.  I wish that he will sweep all of these races and then I look forward to the day he begins his stud career at Taylor Made.  I can’t wait to cast my eyes upon some Chrome babies!  Until then keep sharing and as always, thank you for reading my posts!

 

 

 

 

 

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Chrome Shall Transcend

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California Chrome is set to transcend in tomorrow’s Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy race!  Chrome has traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the 2nd time in his brief but exciting 5 years.  Tomorrow’s (2/25/16) prep race is a handicap race meant to give Chrome both the practice he needs and the rest time he wants prior to his second chance at bringing home the Dubai World Cup!

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The Dubai World Cup (DWC), operated by Emirates Racing Authority,  was created in 1996 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.  He is the ruler of Dubai, the founder of Godolphin Racing and the owner of Darley.  The DWC is the end of the UAE racing season at Meydan Racecourse. The season is from 11/5/15 to 3/26/16 this time.  Prior to 2010, this race was held at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on the same grounds.  Since the remodel, Meydan has a hotel with suites that face the racecourse, golf, a museum, dining and a theatre.  The grandstands hold 60,000 fans.  There is a dirt track and a turf track.  Prior to 2015 the Meydan dirt track was a synthetic material called Tapeta.  The DWC is the world’s richest race. The purse money on DWC day, the last Saturday of March annually, is $30 million dollars of which $10 million is the prize for just the one race!  The entire DWC Carnival has a purse of $40 million dollars.  The Carnival is mixed in with the regular season and is featured on 11 days of international racing ending with the DWC, sponsored by Emirates.  Admission to the grandstands and paddock views are free through the regular racing season.

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California Chrome is the 5 year old champ of sire, Lucky Pulpit, and dam, Love the Chase.   He has had 19 career starts.  He is owned by California Chrome, LCC, which is Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm.  He was bred by Martin and Steve Coburn.  Chrome ran second in the DWC in 2015.  Prince Bishop was the 2015 winner.  Chrome was with his regular jockey, Victor Espinoza, when he last raced in Dubai as he will again this year.  Chrome has won the 2014 Kentucky Derby, the 2014 Preakness Stakes, the 2014 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year Award and the 2014 Eclipse Award Champion 3 Year Old Colt Award.  He ran 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2014.  After he ran at Meydan on 3/28/15 he suffered a few injuries and some time in recovery,  He raced again on 1/9/16 and was victorious in the Santa Anita San Pasqual Stakes (G2).

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Last year Chrome did not participate in a prep race in Dubai prior to his effort in the DWC.  The most popular prep race is Super Saturday, ran at Meydan 3 weeks prior to the DWC.  Chrome will not race on Super Saturday.  Tomorrow, the feature race is The Zabeel Mile (G1).  Chrome won’t be in that race either.  Rather, his connections have chosen the same prep race used by Curlin who won the DWC in 2008.  Chrome will race the 6th race tomorrow, the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy Race (TGET).  The purse is $150,000 dollars.  His owners thought that since he didn’t have a prep last year and placed 2nd they would prep him this time but they didn’t want a race that was too difficult and they wanted him to have more recovery time.  The 2016 TGET is a 1 and 1/4 mile (about 10 furlongs) dirt handicap race for horses 3 years old and upwards.  Chrome will carry the most weight, about 15 pounds more than his 7 competitors.  Chrome drew the rail in the following field:

  1. California Chrome(USA)-5YO
  2. El Tren(IRE)-5YO
  3. Good Contact(USA)-4YO
  4. Hunting Ground(USA)-6YO
  5. Pit Stop(IRE)-5YO
  6. Plantagenet(SPA)-9YO
  7. Storm Belt(USA)-7YO
  8. Success Story(KOR)-5YO

Look out for Hunting Ground whose sire, Street Cry, won the DWC in 2002!

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I have faith that Chrome can win the TGET and then he will be ready for the DWC this time!  Several Thoroughbreds with USA roots have won the DWC.  The inaugural race in 1996 was won by Cigar.  In 1998 Silver Charm won.  Captain Steve took the Cup in 2001.  Pleasantly Perfect was victorious in 2004.  Roses In May was the big winner in 2005.  Electrocutionist who won in 2006 was foaled in the USA.  2007 saw USA trained Invasor win.  Curlin grabbed the title in 2008.  Well Armed was the champ in 2009.  Finally, 2013 shared ownership with the Australian’s with Animal Kingdom.

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Let’s hope it is time for California Chrome to win some more!  Victor Espinoza wants to be the 1st jockey to win the Triple Crown and the DBC.  He is already the 1st jockey to win the Grand Slam, the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Chrome’s owners want him the win the TGET and the DWC followed by the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita to make him the USA’s #1 Thoroughbred in all time earnings and then to stand stud at Taylor Made Farm.  I wish Chrome all the success in the world and I am looking forward to his return to Taylor Made.  I will be watching TVG at 12:55 P.M. EST on 2/25/16 to see Chrome transcend!

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Purrfect Pest Control

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I woke up to more snow and more shoveling this morning.  It is yet another chilly day here on the Bluegrass.  On the real cold nights I say some extra prayers for all of the homeless people and animals.  I know they have it tough living outside.  When I visit barns I am just as excited to hunt down the cats as I am the beautiful horses.  I think that the barn cats have it best.  They have all the shelter and food they could want and interaction with horses, people and other such animals when they choose to allow it.  The cats are a benefit to us as well.  They provide pesticide free rodent control and companionship to our horses and equestrians.

image(169) Sancho, is one of the better known barn cats.  He has the honor of being the barn cat for RunhappyRunhappy is a champion runner but he likes his sleep and he wants Sancho in his stall when he drifts off.  Watch Sancho creep into position here:  Sancho with Runhappy.

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Another well known barn cat is the Twitter sensation, Gator Kitten.  He is the resident handicatter (that’s right, this cat can handicap races) at Woodbine Race Track but he is spending the winter with a lot of his favorite Thoroughbreds at a barn near Gulfstream Park.  He frequently visits with Juba.  Follow him here: Gator Kitten.  He posts often and has followers as far as New Zealand.

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Do you want to know how can you help the barn cats?  When you are packing in the peppermints to see your favorite horse put some cat treats in your pockets too.  Mice aren’t the only snacks barn cats enjoy.  Also, you can re-home feral cats this way too.  Check out these links to animal shelters with specific barn cat programs in many states.  My city has Horse Country Barn Cats ran by the Lexington Humane Society.  A cat from the program comes vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered.  Horse County Barn Cats .  See the other states listed here or Google to find a resource near you: Texas , Minnesota , California, Michigan, Illinois, Massachutes, New York

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Did you know that cats were domesticated around 7500 BC for the purpose of pest control, not for pets?  Cats must keep down the rodent population that are drawn to barns for food and warmth.  Rodents like to eat the same grain as the horses but they can spread disease and cause trouble if they aren’t controlled.  There are over 70 varieties of domesticated cats ready to do the job.  In the United States cats are the second most common pet behind fish.  In most barns I have seen have one or more resident felines.

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Get creative when searching for cats in a barn.  They can hide pretty good and the cat just might be an image on your horse’s face.  I’m always looking to learn and share and when I saw the picture of American Pharoah’s half-sister, I discovered something new.  American Pharoah’s dam, Littleprincessemma, gave birth to a filly sired by Tapit on 2/13/16.  It has a lovely stripe of white chrome on it’s nose that looks like a long tailed cat.  This marking is referred to as a Kitty Blaze!  See her cute face here: Littleprincessemma/Tapit filly

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I hope you have enjoyed these barn cat photos.  I have not met Sancho or Gator Kitten so I don’t have their pictures yet but my collection is from Old Friends, Churchill Downs, Taylor Made Farm, Keeneland and The Thoroughbred Center.  Please, share pictures of your favorite barn cats and return for next week’s post too.  Thank you!

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