Monthly Archives: September 2016

Stellar Wind & Dortmund Both Set To Compete In Santa Anita’s Monster Saturday Card

We’re now within a month of thoroughbred racing’s Breeders’ Cup championships and that means early October is “Cup” preview time of year. This weekend, a total of eight Grade I stakes are available to watch and wager between Belmont and Santa Anita!

Santa Anita will play host to five Grade I stakes, each with a purse of $300,000. Featured event is the Awesome Again Stakes, whose field includes the leading active money earning horse — California Chrome — and Dortmund, who is owned by Reston, Virginia businessman Kaleem Shaw. The Zenyatta Stakes features Stellar Wind, 2015 Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year who was bred by the Keswick Stables and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC.

Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund and jockey Martin Garcia, right, hold off Firing Line and jockey Gary Stevens to win the Grade III $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.

Dortmund is a 4 year old son of Big Brown who has won 8 of 12 career starts for trainer Bob Baffert. He has bankrolled $1,872,480. Stellar Wind, a 4 year old daughter of Curlin, has won 6 of 10 in her career, good for earnings if $1,173,200.

Here’s the lineup from Santa Anita. They are running all five stakes consecutively, every 30 minutes:

*$300,000 Front Runner Stakes – Race 6, 6:00 PM

*$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes – Race 7, 6:30 PM

*$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes – Race 8, 7:00 PM

*$300,000 Zenyatta Stakes – Race 9, 7:30 PM

*$300,000 Chandelier Stakes – Race 10, 8:00 PM

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind jockey Victor Espinoza win the Grade III, $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes, Sunday, August 30, 2015 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Belmont is hosting five graded stakes on Saturday, a trio of which are Grade I’s. The best turf horse in the world is racing in the Joe Hirsch Turf Stakes — Flintshire. The Chad Brown trainee has a combined 18 first & second place finishes from 22 starts and is 3-for-3 this year. After winning the 2016 Sword Dancer and Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga and the Manhattan at Belmont, his career bankroll stands at $8,809,910. Here is Belmont’s lineup:

*$500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – Race 6, 3:26 PM

*$350,000 Vosburgh Stakes – Race 9, 5:11 PM

*$400,000 Beldame Stakes – Race 10, 5:45 PM.

NBC Sports Network will have a national broadcast Saturday from 5:30 – 8:00 PM and will show the Awesome Again and Zenyatta Stakes live among others.

Gulfstream features Florida sired freshmen in a pair of $500,000 races, which complements six other stakes on their Saturday card:

*$500,000 My Dear Girl Stakes (2 year old fillies) – Race 10, 4:56 PM

*$500,000 In Reality Stakes (2 year olds) – Race 12, 6:06 PM

For harness fans, The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky heads into the heart of their season with major stakes this week. Their Bluegrass Stakes series features all divisions of two and three year old pacers & trotters, and will be held between September 29th and October 2nd. And in Ohio, the Dayton Pacing and Trotting Derbies will be held the same evening, on Friday September 30th.

Harness races will be held at Shenandoah Downs October 1 & 2 and October 8 & 9. photo by Dee Leftwich.

Virginia residents can wager all the action via one of three on line betting partner companies — TVG.com, XPressBet.com and TwinSpires.com.

If you want to see racing live this weekend, the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) is hosting pari-mutuel harness racing at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock, Virginia. The newly renovated half mile oval will play host to 10 races on Saturday & Sunday. Legendary race caller Roger Huston will be announcing races both days. The track is located off I-81 at Exit 283 halfway between Harrisonburg and Winchester. For more details, visit shenandoahdowns.com or virginiahorseracing.com.

Second Off Track Betting Location In Richmond Is Approved By Virginia Racing Commission

This morning (Tuesday Sept. 27), the Virginia Racing Commission approved the Virginia Equine Alliance’s request to open a second Off Track Betting Center in Richmond.

The OTB will be in a restaurant called “Ponies & Pints”, and is located downtown in Shockoe Bottom at 110 North 18th Street, near the Farmer’s market area, train station, many restaurants and bars, and lots of people. This was the former site of Tiki Bob’s Cantina.

Ponies & Pints has its own 26 car parking lot, is 5,500 square feet and can accommodate 300 people. One room in the restaurant will be dedicated exclusively to horseplayers and in other sections, sports will be mixed in with racing signals. Plans include two manned betting terminals, and seven self bet machines. There will also be 60 craft beers available on tap. Renovations to the building are currently in progress.

The first OTB in Breaker’s Sports Bar in Richmond’s west end is expected to open later this month. Renovations are in full swing. The OTB is located in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center on Broad Street between Parham and Gaskins Road.

Progress updates will be available at www.virginiahorseracing.com.

Virginia-Bred Stakes Recap From Commonwealth Day At Laurel On Saturday

Reprinted from Bloodhorse.com

Panic Stable’s Rose Brier kept his record perfect in Maryland Saturday when he pulled away from eight others to win the $60,000 Bert Allen for the third consecutive year.

The Bert Allen was one of five restricted races for Virginia bred/sired horses contested Saturday at Laurel Park as part of Commonwealth Day.

Rose Brier completed a “three-peat” in Saturday’s Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel. The 7 year old Mizzen Mast gelding won the stakes in ’14 and ’15. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rose Brier is now unbeaten in four stakes at Laurel Park and is unbeaten in five stakes in Maryland. The 7-year-old son of Mizzen Mast, trained by Jane Cibelli and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, went off at 1-9.

Rose Brier broke well under McCarthy and stalked from third around the first turn and down backstretch while Runninginthevale set fractions of :23.51, :47.56 and 1:11.79. Around the final turn, Rose Brier raced to the front and drew away by 4 ½ lengths while covering the 1 1/16 mile course in 1:41.36.

“I just kept him out of trouble,” said McCarthy, who won four races on the 11-race card. “I tucked him in and saved a little ground going into the first turn. When got to backside I took no prisoners. I kept him out three wide and he ran like a 1-9 should run.

“He’s an awesome horse. To have him win three stakes, in the same stakes, three years in a row is awesome. I love this horse. He always shows up.”

Said Cibelli by phone: “It couldn’t have been any better. We could just sit behind the pace and I thought Trevor rode him very well like he always does. It was great.

Moon River Shines Brightest in Punch Line

Moon River, acquired from the estate of late Virginia breeder and owner William Backer by DARRS Inc., rallied down the stretch past favored Turf Monster (G3) runner-up Two North Road to win the $60,000 Punch Line. A 4-year-old by Bluegrass Cat ridden by Feargal Lynch, Moon River covered a firm 5 ½-furlong turf course in 1:02.03.

Moon River, owned by Davis Ross, was victorious in the Punch Line Stakes Saturday at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

After being acquired by DARRS Inc.’s David Ross, Moon River was transferred to the barn of trainer Brendan Walsh where finished fifth at Saratoga and sixth at Belmont in entry-level allowance races over the turf.

“We acquired him from the estate of Bill Backer,” Ross said. “Bill was a very big racing fan out of Virginia and we’re pleased to carry his tradition on. I thought he would get better. I thought he had a lot of potential. I also think he has some diversity, so we look forward to seeing him maybe on the dirt. I think he’s just going to get better.”

Moon River raced fourth past an opening quarter of :22.99 set by Available. Pressed through a half mile in :45.34 by Two Notch Road, Available and Two Notch Road couldn’t hold off Moon River, who moved three-wide entering the stretch and by his opponents inside the final eighth.

As far as the next race for Moon River, a winner of two of 15 starts, Ross said the horse will get a rest.

“He needs a break right now, he’s been racing pretty regularly,” Ross said. “We’ll give him a nice little break and see where Brendan wants to race him.”

Skipalute Drives to Victory in Brookmeade

Skipalute, trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Jose Ortiz, drew off around the turn and then held off Complete St. down the stretch to win the $60,000 Brookmeade by a neck. A 4-year-old daughter of Midnite Lute owned by GoldMark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm, Skipalute covered the 1 1/16 mile course in 1:41.60. The victory was the filly’s second in 17 starts. She had finished second in the Delta Downs Princess (G3) in 2014.

Skipalute, bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, captured the ’16 Brookmeade Stakes Saturday at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Skipalute went to the front and set fractions of :23.87, :47.71 and 1:11.82 before holding off Complete St., who entered the race off a fourth-place finish in the One Dreamer at Kentucky Downs.

Lime House Louie Game in Jamestown Win

Wildcard Stable’s 2-year-old gelding Lime House Louie gamely fought back after being headed down the stretch to win the $60,000 Jamestown

Rated third behind C B Bodemester, who set fractions of :22.4 and :45.62, Lime House Louie took the lead at the head of the stretch, was headed by Hold Me Black inside the final eighth, but fought back along the inside for the victory, covering a 5 ½-furlong course in 1:03.09. Lime House Louie, who broke his maiden at Charles Town in July for trainer Flint Stites, was ridden by Gabriel Saez.

Lime House Louie, bred by Carlos Moore & Gillian Gordon-Moore, won the Jamestrown Stakes for 2 year olds at Laurel Saturday. Gabriel Saez guided the effort up top. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rapid Rhythm Proves Best in Oakley

Rapid Rhythm, eighth down the backstretch, closed down the middle of the track down the stretch to win the $60,000 Oakley. The 4-year-old filly, owned by DARRS Inc., trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, covered the 5 ½-furlong course in 1:02.38. Rapid Rhythm, who has won five of 14 races races across the turf and five of nine at the distance, returned $3.

Rapid Rhythm, owned by David Ross and bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, LLC, won the Oakley Stakes at Laurel Saturday. photo by Jim McCue.

Deeply Undervalued Captures Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby Saturday At Laurel

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Deeply Undervalued boosted his stock in the 3-year-old turf division Saturday at Laurel Park, rallying with a strong stretch run to capture the $200,000 Commonwealth Derby (G2).

The Chad Brown-trained colt, who had won one of five previous starts, prevailed by a length while making his stakes debut in the 1 1/8-mile turf race presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance at Laurel Park.

Deeply Undervalued captures the Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby Saturday at Laurel. photo by Jim McCue.

Ridden by Manuel Franco, the son of Kitten’s Joy settled off the early pace set by Franklin Towers and stalked by He’ll Pay before making a three-wide sweep around the far turn. Turning for home, the 6-1 fourth betting choice was taken five wide for the stretch drive and the Kentucky-bred colt responded with a strong kick to the finish.

“I just let him be comfortable after he stumbled a little bit,” Franco said. “I tried to be covered up, but when it was time to move, I took him to the outside and he made a big run.”

Isotherm, the 3-1 second choice, finished second following a wide stalking trip under Feargal Lynch, a head in front of 19-1 longshot He’ll Pay and jockey Gabriel Saez. American Patriot, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Trevor McCarthy, finished another nose back in fourth.

Deeply Undervalued ran 1 1/8 miles over a firm ‘Dahlia’ turf course in 1:46.63.

“It was a nice win. I’m really proud of Manny and the way he rode this horse,” said Brown from Belmont Park. “We’ve been really high on this horse and it’s nice to get this win following up his summer campaign. He got a great trip and a patient ride.”

Deeply Undervalued ran once last year before returning in the spring with a pair of second-place finishes. He graduated by 3 ¼ lengths at Saratoga July 30, before losing a photo finish in an entry-level allowance to Revved Up, who finished a troubled fifth in the Commonwealth Derby.

Owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, the stretch-running colt was saddled by assistant trainer Dermot Magner.

“He hasn’t raced a lot of times. He doesn’t have that much experience. He has a bright future. He has a lot of options,” Magner said.

Friday’s Virginia-Breds at Keeneland

The last of the Virginia-bred yearlings go through the ring Friday at Keeneland. Listed below are those that are offered:

Hip #3481, a gray colt by Dunkirk out of $596,824 winner Silver Heart
Bred by Nancy Terhune & Ernest Frohboese

Hip #3695, a Mizzen Mast out of Gone Surfin' Bred by the William M. Backer revocable Trust

Hip# 3695, a Mizzen Mast filly out of Gone Surfin
Bred by the William M. Backer revocable Trust

Hip # 3777, Audley Farm Equine, LLC’s Eskendereya filly out of Midtown Miss

Hip # 3861, a colt by Exchange Rate out of Runninglikeandangel bred by Audley Farm Equine

2015 Virginia-Bred Stakes Winners Return Saturday At Laurel For 2016 Editions

The third annual Virginia-Bred Stakes Day at Laurel Racecourse takes place this Saturday, September 24th and will feature eight turf stakes — a trio of graded events that were previously held at Colonial Downs, and a five-pack of $60,000 stakes races for Virginia-bred horses.

The Punch Line is first of the five scheduled on Saturday and features a seven horse field at 5 1/2 furlongs. Two Notch Road, winner of both the 2014 and 2015 Punch Line editions, will go for a three-peat in the program’s third race. The Glenn Thompson trainee also captured the White Oak Stakes during spring’s Virginia-bred stakes event at Pimlico June 25th. The 9 year old Partner’s Hero gelding was bred by James Hackman and will be ridden by Daniel Centeno. Two Notch Road enters the stakes with $465,503 in career earnings.

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

The Brookmeade is for fillies and mares who will compete 1 1/16th miles in the fourth race. A field of ten will go to post including the Lilith Boucher trained Complete St., who captured the 2015 edition. Bred by Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud, LLC, the 6 year old St. Averil mare finished fifth in June’s Nellie Mae Cox Stakes at Pimlico. Forest Boyce will be up top Saturday.

Complete St. wins the 2015 Brookemeade Stakes with all time Virginia leading rider Horacio Karamanos up. Photo by Jim McCue.

An eleven horse field of two-year-olds will go to the gate and vie 5 1/2 furlongs in the Jamestown Stakes, which has been carded as the eighth race. Recent first time winner CB Bodemester earned a maiden special weight score at Timonium September 2nd. The son of Bodemeister is owned by Charles Biggs and was bred by S. Barton, Inc.

CB Bodemester broke his maiden September 2nd at Timonium. Photo by Jim McCue.

2015 Jamestown Stakes winner Away We Go will compete in the Oakley Stakes for fillies and mares, age three and up. Another field of eleven will battle in Laurel’s ninth race. Owned and bred by the Niecewonder Stable, the filly is trained by Rodney Jenkins and is by Tizway. Awake The Day, a close second to Exaggerated in the Oakley a year ago, is back in again.

Away We Go scores in the 2015 Jamestown Stakes at Laurel for trainer Rodney Jenkins. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rose Brier goes for a three-peat in the Bert Allen Stakes, tenth race on the Commonwealth themed card. The 7 year old Mizzen Mast gelding will challenge eight others at 1 1/16th miles distance. Bred by William Backer, Rose Brier won the ’14 and ’15 editions and captured the Edward Evans Stakes earlier this summer at Pimlico. The Jane Cibelli comes into the race with $442,726 in earnings.

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

David A. Ross’ Racing Stable On The Rise

There was a great article in today’s Thoroughbred Daily News on VAHBA President David Ross and his racing operation. Please click on the link below to read the article in the TDN. Article courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News.

Darrs Article

Virginia-Bred Stakes Day At Laurel Is This Saturday; Nominations Are Strong

Sept. 24 Card Offers Eight Stakes, Three Graded, Worth $850,000 in Purses

LAUREL, MD – A total of 219 horses were nominated to eight stakes, three of them graded, worth $850,000 in purses on Commonwealth Day, Saturday Sept. 24, at Laurel Park.

All eight stakes will be contested over Laurel’s world-class turf course, topped by the $200,000 Commonwealth Turf Cup (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at a mile, and the $200,000 Commonwealth Derby (G2) for 3-year-olds and $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks (G3) for 3-year-old fillies, both at 1 1/8 miles.

2015 Commonwealth Derby winner One Go All Go has nominated to the 2016 Bert Allen Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.

Also on tap are five $60,000 stakes for Virginia-bred/sired horses: the Jamestown for 2-year-olds, Punch Line for 3-year-olds and up and Oakley for females 3 and up, all at 5 ½ furlongs; and the Bert Allen for 3-year-olds and up and Brookmeade for females 3 and up, each at 1 1/16 miles.

The Turf Cup (G2) had the most nominations with 36 led by Grade 1 winners Force the Pass and Chiropractor; French Group 1 winner Full Mast; multiple stakes winner A Lot, most recently second in the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga; Grade 3 winners Blacktype, Coalport, Dubai Sky, Long On Value, Reporting Star and Surgical Strike; Ghost Hunter, a winner of four straight for trainer Jamie Ness; March, a multiple graded-stakes winner on dirt last year; Laurel-based multiple stakes winner Phlash Phelps; Rose Brier, undefeated at Laurel with three stakes wins; and 2016 Mervin Muniz (G2) winner Take the Stand.

Rose Brier captures the 2015 Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel. He is nominated to the Grade 2 Turf Cup on Saturday. Photo by Jim McCue

Graded stakes winners American Patriot, Conquest Daddyo, Isotherm, Oscar Nominated; 2015 Maryland Million Nursery winner Corvus; stakes winners Franklin Towers, He’ll Pay, Keystoneforvictory, Rafting and Whatawonderflworld; and Scholar Athlete, fourth in two legs of Canada’s Triple Crown this year, are among the 31 horses nominated to the Commonwealth Derby.

Won last year by Onus, who set the Fort Marcy Turf Course record winning the Lady Baltimore Stakes Sept. 10 at Laurel, the Commonwealth Oaks attracted 29 nominations including Family Tree, a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt this year; graded stakes winners Cheekaboo, Noble Beauty, Pricedtoperfection and Tin Type Gal; graded stakes-placed Elysea’s World and Galileo’s Song; and stakes winners Involuntary, My Impression, On Leave, Shake Down Baby, Super Allison and Try Your Luck.

Trainer Jane Cibelli also made defending champion Rose Brier one of 30 nominees to the Bert Allen, joined by 2015 Commonwealth Derby winner One Go All Go; 2014 Jerome (G2) winner Noble Moon; Cat Fiftyfive, third to Rose Brier in the Edward P. Evans June 25 at Pimlico; and stakes winners Code West and Long On Value.

The Jamestown attracted 25 nominations, while 2015 Jamestown winner Away We Go is among 23 nominees to the Oakley and the top three finishers from the June 25 White Oak Stakes at Pimlico – Two Notch Road, Moon River and Available, top 23 horses nominated to the Punch Line. The Brookmeade had 22 horses nominated led by Queen Caroline, a winner of four straight including the Nellie Mae Cox June 25 at Pimlico.

Book 4 Virginia-Breds at Keeneland

Four Virginia-breds went through the ring on Tuesday:

Hip #2354, a Union Rags colt out of Aristra ( from the family of Hymn Book and Data Link), bred by Mrs. Oliver C. Iselin sold to Oracle Bloodstock, Agt. for $80,000.

Hip #2399, a Colt by Colonel John out of Casanova Story, RNA’d for $14,000.

Hip #2434, a filly out of Delicate Affair by Midnight Lute, bred by Forever Spring Farm was sold to Ruis Racing for $100,000.

Hip #2496, a filly by City Zip out of Hawaiian Love, bred by Mrs. Iselin was sold to Victor Bahna for $20,000

Eight Commonwealth Day Stakes Draw 219 Nominations

Courtesy of LaurelPark.com

Sept. 24 Card Offers Eight Stakes, Three Graded, Worth $850,000 in Purses

LAUREL, MD – A total of 219 horses were nominated to eight stakes, three of them graded, worth $850,000 in purses on Commonwealth Day, Saturday Sept. 24, at Laurel Park.