Monthly Archives: June 2016

Virginia-Bred Owner Bonus Program Set To Begin July 1

The Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (VHBPA) and the Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) will implement a new Owner’s Bonus program beginning this Friday July 1st that will reward owners of Virginia-bred horses that win an non stakes overnight race at Mid-Atlantic region racetracks.

The new bonus program will add a 25% bonus to the purse earnings of any Virginia-bred that wins an unrestricted overnight race at a Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania track. There will be a $10,000 cap on any single reward. The program, which was unanimously approved by the Virginia Racing Commission at its June 21st meeting, will continue through December 31st.

Early Grey won a $30,000 maiden race for colts June 25th at Pimlico. Photo by Jim McCue.

“It is the responsibility of bonus winning owners to contact the VTA and to submit a W-9 form,” said VTA Executive Director Debbie Easter. “Bonus checks will be sent out at the end of each month, so we encourage winning owners to get us that information by the 20th of each month. Any W-9s received after the 20th will be processed and mailed in the following month’s cycle.” That tax form and additional bonus program details will be available at www.vabred.org , www.virginiahorseracing.com and www.vhbpa.org.

“We hope this new program will help current owners of Virginia-breds while we rebuild our race program in Virginia”, said VHBPA Executive Director Frank Petramalo. “Virginia Breeders have always produced a quality product. This new regional owner’s program added to our nationwide Breeder’s program will help boost the appeal of Virginia-breds in the market place.”

The program does not include Virginia restricted races, of which there is only one scheduled during the bonus program dates — the Old Dominion Turf Championship at Great Meadow October 22nd. The program does apply to Virginia-bred steeplechase horses that compete in a non-stakes pari-mutuel race in a participating Mid-Atlantic state.

Any questions can be directed to Janice Pfund at janice.pfund@easterassociates.com or Debbie Easter at Debbie.easter@easterassociates.com.

Queen Caroline Captures $60,000 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes Saturday At Pimlico

Mike Matz’s Queen Caroline was victorious in the $60,000 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes and gave Virginia-based Amy Moore her first stakes win as a thoroughbred owner.

Queen Caroline gave new Virginia thoroughbred owner Amy Moore her first stakes win. Photo by Jim McCue.

The 3 year daughter of Blame beat 11 other fillies and mares in the 1 1/16th miles race courtesy of a big three wide move in the final turn. Jockey Alex Cintron guided Queen Caroline to the front and she held on to beat Secret or Not. Photo by Jim McCue.

Jockey Alex Cintron was atop Queen Caroline in Saturday’s Nellie Mae Cox Stakes.

Two Notch Road Upsets Exaggerated In Saturday’s White Oak Farm Stakes

Betting favorite Exaggerated may have attracted most of the betting dollars but Two Notch Road stole the show in the $60,000 White Oak Farm Stakes for Virginia-bred horses Saturday at Pimlico.

Two Notch Road wins his second straight Virginia-bred stakes race at Pimlico. Photo by Jim McCue.

Bred by James Hackman and trained by Glenn Thompson, Two Notch Road captured his first win since last fall’s Punch Line Stakes victory and paid a handsome $27.60 to his backers. A field of eight went to post in the five furlong sprint. The winner, by Partner’s Hero out of Capiana by Capote, gained his sixth lifetime and pushed his lifetime bankroll close to the $400,000 mark.

Julian Pimentel directed Two Notch Road to an upset win in the White Oak Stakes. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

“He is a 9 year old but has the spirit of a 2 year old,” said Thompson. “We’ll be back to try for a three-peat this fall in Virginia-bred stakes.” The fall Virginia-bred slate is set for September 24th at Laurel.

Rose Brier Wins Edward P. Evans Stakes At Pimlico Saturday

Rose Brier, sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the $60,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes, ran a textbook perfect race and beat runner-up Special Envoy again in Virginia-bred company. The two clashed last fall in the Bert Allen Stakes where Rose Brier was two lengths better.

Rose Brier gets the best of Special Envoy again in Saturday’s Edward P. Evans Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.

The same held true today in the 1 1/16th miles test for the William Backer bred 7 year old Mizzen Mast gelding. Rose Brier got away third, moved into second at the half behind Cat Fiftyfive, met the front runner stride for stride in the turn and gained control at the head of the stretch. Out of the El Gran Senor mare, Mexicali Rose, Rose Brier won for the fourth time in his last five starts and saw his lifetime bankroll soar past the $400,000 mark.

Jockey Alex Citron brings Rose Brier back to the winner’s circle Saturday. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

Grace Is Ready Kicks Off Virginia & Maryland Bred Day At Pimlico With A Win

Grace Is Ready scored a thrilling come from behind victory in a Virginia-bred maiden special weight race at Pimlico to kick off this afternoon’s Virginia & Maryland Bred Day event in grand style.

Grace Is Ready got her first win in seven lifetime starts to kick off Pimlico’s “all-turf” card. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

Bred by Quest Realty Trust and trained by Susan Cooney, the 3 year old daughter of More Than Ready came out of the final turn a ways back in the field but made a late charge to just nip Tiz Our Time in a photo in the $30,000, 5 furlong kickoff event. Photo courtesy of Jerry Dzierwinski.

Jockey Feargal Lynch guides Grace Is Ready to the winner’s circle. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

Recap of Tuesday’s Virginia Racing Commission Meeting — OTB License Granted; Virginia-bred Owner Bonus Program Approved

The Virginia Racing Commission approved an Off Track Betting Center license for Breakers Sports Grille in Henrico County at its monthly meeting on Tuesday. This is the first one approved since Colonial Downs shut down its remaining OTBs last April. Even at that point, the remaining three were strictly EZ Horseplay Betting Centers — the last true OTBs closed in November, 2014.

The Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) filed for the license for Breakers, which is located at 9127 W. Broad Street in the T.J. Maxx Shopping Center, just several miles east of where the former Colonial Downs OTB at Hurleys and Finn McCools was located. Acting Virginia Racing Commission Executive Secretary David Lermond thought the site could potentially handle $5 million in a year, though the VEA predicted a more conservative estimate of $3,000,000.

No timetable has been set for an opening, though VEA officials want to move as quickly as possible. A couple final details still need to be worked out, and renovations need to be done to the inside of Breakers to accommodate betting terminals and extra televisions that will carry up to eight simulcast feeds from tracks around the country at any one time. Simulcast agreements also need to be executed with all partner tracks as well. Progress updates will be available at www.vabred.org, www.virginiahorseracing.com, and social media platforms of both websites.

In other meeting news, the Commission unanimously approved several initiatives proposed by both the VTA (Virginia Thoroughbred Association) and VAHBPA (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association). A total of $500,000 is being earmarked for a new owners bonus program of Virginia-bred horses that win an overnight race in any of the following Mid-Atlantic region states: Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Owners will receive a 25% bonus on top of their purse earnings for a win from July 1 – December 31. The bonus will be capped at $10,000 per victory. Money for the initiative will come from the HBPA’s restricted funds account. Further details will be up shortly at www.vabred.org.

Funding to run a pair of graded stakes and a Virginia-bred maiden race in Maryland was also approved. The $250,000 Commonwealth Derby (Gr. II) and $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks will both be held at Laurel on September 24th in conjunction with five $60,000 Virginia-bred stakes, which were approved earlier in the year. The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) and Maryland HBPA will combine to split the cost of the two stakes with the Virginia HBPA, so a $200,000 allotment was approved by the VRC. The Virginia horsemen will also receive the share of proceeds from betting on those graded stakes that ordinarily would have gone to the Maryland horsemen.

A $30,000 maiden race for Virginia-bred fillies and mares was also approved to be contested at Pimlico this Saturday, June 25th, as part of a new Mid-Atlantic Day event which includes a trio of $60,000 Virginia-bred stakes, a pair of $75,000 Maryland-bred stakes and a Virginia-bred maiden sprint for colts.

“The key to this expenditure is to keep the graded status of the Derby and Oaks in tact,” said HBPA Executive Director Frank Petramalo. “When pari-mutuel thoroughbred racing returns to Virginia, having a pair of graded stakes races from the outset will give us instant standing nationally, will bring attention to Virginia racing and help us attract horsemen to race here.” If a stakes race is not run in two straight years, it loses its grade.

As part of the agreement, the MJC will offer a similar deal next year (to host and share the cost of the graded Commonwealth stakes) if the race course at Morven Park, future home of Virginia thoroughbred racing, is not for racing in 2017. The MJC will also receive rights to the Commonwealth Turf Cup, a Grade 2 stakes that was held at Laurel last September and had been known as the Colonial Turf Cup prior. They are expected to hold that stakes race as well this fall to keep the grade.

Jeb Hannum, Executive Director of the VEA, provided status reports on work going on at Leesburg’s Morven Park (thoroughbred) and Woodstock’s Shenandoah Downs (harness). Morven is building an equestrian horse park with two show rings in the infield of the racetrack, and work on that project needs to fit in with the VEA’s plans to renovate the race course itself in a cohesive manner, especially from an engineering perspective. Mr. Hannum said it has been a challenging process but on Friday, the VEA signed off on a concept that has been given to an engineer, who will draw up and finalize plans for approval from Loudon County. Renowned track superintendent John Passero has been hired as a consultant to advise on the Morven project. “He visited the facility last week and was excited by the prospects,” noted Mr. Hannum.

Mr. Hannum reported that everything is still on target for a pari-mutuel harness racing meet this fall at Shenandoah Downs. The license application for a ten day meet to be held over five consecutive weekends (from September 10 – October 9) will be submitted for approval at the next Racing Commission meeting. Tom Eshelman, GM of the Shendandoah County Fairgrounds, added that 15 pieces of equipment are currently moving dirt in that renovation project, which will see the track widened and turns banked. “The track was 45 feet wide and when finished, it will be 65-70 feet wide,” said Mr. Eshelman. He added that almost every weekend will have a festival on the grounds in addition to harness races, from a wine theme to chili, seafood and craft beer.

The next meeting of the Virginia Racing Commission was tentatively set for Thursday August 18 at 10 AM.

Preview Of 3 Virginia-Bred Stakes That Will Be Run At Pimlico This Saturday June 25

Twenty days after coming up a length short of his first career graded stakes victory, Panic Stable LLC’s Rose Brier returns to Maryland looking to keep his perfect local record intact in Saturday’s $60,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The 1 1/16-mile Edward P. Evans is one of three stakes restricted to Virginia-bred/sired horses and among five total turf stakes worth $330,000 on the nine-race Maryland-Virginia Breeders’ Day program. It comes on the final weekend of the 28-day Preakness Meet at Pimlico, which wraps up Sunday, June 26.

Also on the card for Virgina-bred/sired horses are the $60,000 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up, also at 1 1/16 miles, and the $60,000 White Oak Farm Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs.

Rose Brier captures the 2015 Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue

Rose Brier, a 7-year-old Mizzen Mast gelding trained by Jane Cibelli, has finished in the top three in 26 of 32 lifetime starts with 12 wins and $386,726 in purse earnings. He has run at nine tracks in seven states and is 3-0 in Maryland, all Laurel Park stakes victories.

Rose Brier, bred by Bill Backer, wins a Delaware Park allowance by 4 lengths on June 25. Photo courtesy of Hoofprints.

In his second start off a six-month layoff, Rose Brier won the Henry S. Clark Stakes April 23. He also won the Bert Allen Stakes in 2014 and 2015, but will be making his first start over the Pimlico turf.

“He does like Maryland, doesn’t he?” Cibelli said. “I think he should be OK. He seems to run well pretty much anywhere. Maybe he just likes to travel.”

Rose Brier put together three straight wins, sandwiching the Allen and Clark around a starter optional claiming victory March 24 at Gulfstream Park, before making his third straight appearance in the Red Bank (G3) June 5 at Monmouth Park.

Under leading Maryland rider Trevor McCarthy, Rose Brier sat just off a solid early pace and had the lead turning for home before being passed late to finish third behind multiple graded stakes winners Middleburg and Vyjack.

“Call me crazy but I don’t think he likes that turf course, honestly. He’s never really ran well over it,” Cibelli said. “Last time it looked like he was going to win the race and then he just kind of flattened the last 20, 30, 40 yards. Trevor came back and said the horse doesn’t like the turf course, and I’ve been saying that for the last three years. He’s very capable of running with those kinds of horses.”

Rose Brier returned with a half-mile work in 49.40 seconds June 17 and will have Alex Cintron aboard from outside post 7 at highweight of 124 pounds.

“He breezed very well the other day so he’s on target for the race. We’ve been kind of circling the Edward Evans because it would seem to be a pretty good spot for him,” Cibelli said. “He’s my favorite horse, of course. He’s just lovely. He’s easy to train; there’s no tricks to him. He just loves to train. He’s a great big massive horse and he’s got a great personality. He knows he’s the big horse. He’s great to have around for sure.”

Cat Fiftyfive, a 4 year old Tale of the Cat colt, beat 9 others in a Preakness Day allowance race at Pimlico. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rounding out the Edward P. Evans field are Grade 3-placed Special Envoy, most recently fifth in the Henry S. Clark Stakes; Cat Fiftyfive, winner of an entry-level allowance May 21 at Pimlico; Willisville, a recent allowance winner at Great Meadow who was third in the 2014 Jamestown Stakes at Laurel in his career debut; Gumper, Officer’s Oath and Thunderinwillie.

The Nellie Mae Cox drew a competitive field of 13 fillies and mares led by the Mike Trombetta-trained trio of Clockstrucktwelve, Gem and Magician’s Vanity, each looking for their first victory of 2016; and Complete St., winner of the 2015 Brookmeade Stakes last fall at Laurel Park.

Also entered are For Finery, a Laurel allowance winner April 24; Queen Caroline, who broke her maiden on the Pimlico turf May 21; Andrasta, Awake the Day, Elegant Breeze, Hooligan, Nancy’s Gone Wild, Secret Or Not and Sweet Sandy.

The White Oak Farm attracted a field of 11 including the cross-entered Awake the Day, Cat Fiftyfive and Hooligan. Giant’s Causeway Stakes winner Exaggerated; Two Notch Road, winner of Laurel’s Punch Line Stakes last fall; Made Bail, fifth in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup June 4; Available, Joe Tess, Moon River, Sir Rockport and Tiger Tank complete the field.

5 Virginia-Bred Races To Be Held At Pimlico This Saturday, June 25

There is still a lot of really great horse racing to look forward to this summer. In fact, on Saturday, June 25th, Pimlico will be hosting a new racing event, “Mid Atlantic Day”.

Middleburg dominating a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Gulfstream on December 21.

Middleburg is shown dominating a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Gulfstream in 2013. He is one of 37 horses to be nominated for Saturday’s Edward P. Evans Stakes.

On the race card are five stakes, three of which are $60,000 ones exclusively for registered Virginia-bred horses — named for Edward P. Evans, White Oak Farms and Nellie Mae Cox. In addition, there will be two Virginia-bred maiden races. Nominations are strong so make plans today to join the fun and experience the excitement of Virginia-bred horse racing at Pimlico.

Horse racing fans that want to have the ultimate “Mid-Atlantic Day” experience, please call (410) 542-9400, for Terrace Dining Room reservations.

Those with horses racing on the 25th, please contact Phoebe Hayes in Horsemen’s Relations at (301) 674-5609.

2015 Champion Virginia-Bred 2 Year Old Colt To Make His 2016 Debut Sunday At Churchill

47 Virginia-bred horses are set to compete in races around the country between today (Friday) and Father’s Day Sunday! 14 are in today, 20 tomorrow and another 13 on Sunday.

“Sticksstatelydude (First Dude) and jockey Joel Rosario win a MSW at Saratoga Racecourse 8/1/15. Trainer: Kieran McLaughlin. Owner: Alvin S. Haynes & Elizabeth Burchell & John Ferris “

Headlining the group is top 2015 Virginia-Bred 2 Year Old Colt, Sticksstatelydude, a old First Dude colt bred by the Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds. Highly regarded throughout his two year old campaign, Sticksstatelydude will make his 2016 season debut at Churchill Downs Sunday against seven other sophomore colts & geldings in a $55,000 allowance optional claiming event. He is third early choice at 9-2 in the 9th race, with a post time set for 4:51 PM.

Sticksstatelydude is by First Dude out of Placerita by Gilded Time.

The Greg Burchell trainee bankrolled $82,860 from just three starts last year before a pre-Breeders’ Cup injury sent him to the sidelines. He is out of the Gilded Time mare, Placerita.

Nominations Set For Evans, White Oak & Cox Stakes June 25 At Pimlico

Nominations closed over the weekend for a trio of $60,000 Virginia-bred stakes that will be run at Pimlico June 25th as part of a new “Mid-Atlantic Day” racing event, and the initial response was strong.

Ned Evans-bred Code West won the Governor's Stake at Remington Park on August 16. Photo Courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.

Ned Evans-bred Code West winning the Governor’s Stake at Remington Park. Photo Courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.

A total of 37 horses nominated to the Edward P. Evans Stakes, which is for three year olds and up at 1 1/16th miles on turf. Two of the four high money earners among nominees are horses bred by Evans — Code West and Noble Moon, the latter of which was bred by his estate. Code West is a 6 year old Lemon Drop Kid gelding that has earned $560,283 but has made just one start on grass in 24 outings. Noble Moon is a 5 year old son of Malibu Moon that has bankrolled $399,790 in 16 career starts, all on dirt.

The second highest earning nominee is Long On Value, who was bred by Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds, at $613,118. The Bill Mott trainee is by Value Plus out of Long Message by Orientate, and has won $536,618 on grass.

Long On Value wins the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs in 2013. Photo by Coady Photography.

Every penny of Middleburg’s $429,760 bankroll has come from turf starts. The consistent 6 year old Lemon Drop Kid gelding has 17 “in the money” finishes from 19 starts and captured the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth most recently.

Other notable nominees include Rose Brier ($386,726), Service For Ten ($373,895), Two Notch Road ($361,433) and Hard Enough ($341,425). One Go All Go, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby, has also nominated.

A total of 33 horses nominated to the White Oak Farm Stakes, set for five furlongs on turf. Service For Ten and Two Notch Road are the two high earners, and both also nominated to the Evans Stakes. The former is a 7 year old gelding by Service Stripe out of Tenacious Cheryl by Wild Zone while the latter is 9 year old gelding by Partner’s Hero out of Capiana by Capote. Service For Ten was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Cox while Two Notch Road was bred by James Hackman. Other notables include Simmstown ($207,015), Exaggerated ($169,660) and Joe Tess ($160,594).

Bred by the Hart Farm, Exaggerated won by 1 1/2 lengths in Saturday's Giant's Causeway Stakes. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Bred by the Hart Farm, Exaggerated won by 1 1/2 lengths in the 2015 Giant’s Causeway Stakes. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

A total of 23 horses nominated to the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes for fillies/mares three years old and up, set for 1 1/16th miles on turf. 2015 Brookmeade Stakes winner Complete St. nominated as did 2015 Jamestown Stakes winner, Away We Go. The former, bred by Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud, LLC, has earned $195,240 from 24 starts, 21 of which have been on grass. She is a 6 year old daughter of St. Averil out of Complete Number by Polish Numbers. The latter is a three year old Tizway filly out of Gone To Utah by Salt lake. She has made only five lifetime starts.

Pauper’s Queen connected in a $17,000 claimer at Presque Isle, boosting her bankroll to $157,900. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Pauper’s Queen, an 8 year old daughter of Royal Academy, also nominated . She has won two straight races and has made 57 career starts. Virginia Rose, who also dropped in, was bred by David Ross, has made 49 starts and her bankroll is just shy of $100,000.

In addition to the three Virginia-bred stakes, a pair of $75,000 Maryland-bred stakes will be on the card — The Find and All Brandy. Two Virginia-bred $30,000 maiden races will also be held at the five furlong distance — one for boys and another for girls, ages three and up.