UPDATE: Virginia-bred Dream Voyage wins over a mile at Penn

The Firestone-bred Dream Voyage, a 4-year-old filly by Mizzen Mast out of the Theatrical mare Stage Dream, took connections Pamela Arnola and Janice Stuck into the winner’s circle on January 8 at Penn National. Trained by Arnold, Dream Voyage won the mile claimer by 1 1/2 lengths for her second career win.

Firestone-bred Dream Voyage won by a 1/2 lengths at Penn National on Jan. 8. Photo courtesy of BND Photography.

The ever-reliable Lazy Lane-bred Centrique put in another career double at Gulfstream on January 9, following up on a 1 1/4-length victory in a 7-furlong starter allowance at the same venue on Boxing Day. The daughter of Malibu Moon out of the Sky Classic mare Penny Marie wired a mile starter as the chalk, skimming underneath the wire 3 1/2 lengths to the good.

Lazy Lane-bred Centrique lodges her second back-to-back victory at Gulfstream this winter. Photo courtesy Leslie Martin.

This is her fourth career double (including a hat trick at Belmont in 2012), making this Virginia-bred a great investment for current connections Miller Racing. The Marty Wolfson trainee was a $60,000 purchase at Keeneland September in 2010.

Centrique broke her maiden at Gulfstream in March of her 3-year-old year. She bounced around in allowance and claiming company, stringing together those three Belmont victories in the fall, before giving graded stakes company a try in 2013. She finished fourth in the Grade II Ruffian and seventh in the Grade I Princess Rooney. She placed twice in stakes races at Calder in 2013. Third in the Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap this year, Centrique ran fifth in the Grade III Sugar Swirl Stakes in December.

Virginia-bred and Virginia-sired Rebellious Heart lodged her second career win on January 5 at Turf Paradise, putting away five rivals to score by 5 1/4 lengths as the chalk. The 4-year-old filly out of the Jade Hunter mare Sevruga was bred by Hickory Tree and is now owned and trained by Ardell Sayler.

Hickory Tree-bred Rebellious Heart winning by daylight on January 5. Photo courtesy Coady Photography.

ANNOUNCEMENT: DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER YOUR VIRGINIA STALLIONS BY JANUARY 31. YOU CAN FIND INSTRUCTIONS ONLINE HERE. 

Did you know? Although there is no live racing at Colonial Downs this year, the Virginia Breeders Fund continues to operate year-round and pay out for winners anywhere in the US!

Congress in December passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771) which extends for 2014 tax provisions that benefit the horse industry. Many of the impacted provisions originally expired or were reduced at the close of 2013 (such as three-year depreciation for racehorses purchased or started in 2014). Under the new bill, these provisions are live until December 31, 2014 and expired on January 1.

The following provisions were extended:

179 Expense Deduction, which under the new legislation allows for an expense deduction at $500,000, with a phase-out at $2 million, for all business assets (including horses) purchased and placed in service in 2014.

Bonus Depreciation, allowing for the depreciation of 50% for the cost of new assets purchased and placed in service during 2014.

The Depreciation of Racehorses, which extends the three-year recovery period for all racehorses placed in service during 2014 (irrespective of age). 

Conservation Easements, under which contributions of property for easements are allowed a deduction of up to 100 percent of the donor’s contribution base.

Read more here.

The Ned Evans-bred Union Prayer won a mile and 1/16 allowance at Gulfstream on December 23, finishing strong to win by a clear length. The 3-year-old daughter of Dixie Union out of the Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Lyrics is owned by Los Samanes LLC and trained by Gustavo Delgado. This was her second lifetime win out of six starts.

Union Prayer won an allowance at Gulfstream on December 23. Photo courtesy Leslie Martin

Then, two days later, the Lazy Lane-bred Centrique put in a 1 1/4-length victory in a 7-furlong starter allowance at the same venue.

Centrique has been a reliable performer for current connections Miller Racing. The Marty Wolfson trainee was a $60,000 purchase at Keeneland September in 2010.

Centrique broke her maiden at Gulfstream in in March of her 3-year-old year. She bounced around in allowance and claiming company, stringing together three victories in a row at Belmont in the fall of 2012, before giving graded stakes company a try in 2013. She finished fourth in the Grade II Ruffian and seventh in the Grade I Princess Rooney. She placed twice in stakes races at Calder in 2013. Third in the Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap this year, Centrique was lodging her second victory for 2014 here. She was fifth in the Grade III Sugar Swirl Stakes earlier this month.

Lazy Lane-bred Centrique won a starter on Boxing Day. Photo courtesy Coglianese.

John D. Nissley and family of Catlett have purchased 405 acres of Ned Evan’s Spring Hill Farm estate for $2.2 million. The land, known as the Melrose tract, runs between Routes 602 and 747 and made up about one-sixth of the farm.

The Nissley family run large dairy and crop operations in southern Fauquier.

You may read the entire story at Fauquiernow.com.