As 2016 winds down, a trio of Virginia-bred horses earned their maiden victories in the past week from different tracks around the country. Jazz Pizzaz, Bourbon and Beer, and Yes I Win all collected their first career wins at Tampa Bay Downs, Laurel and Hawthorne respectively.

Jazz Pizzaz was dominant in her sixth career start, winning a $13,700 maiden claimer at the seven furlong distance. Bred by Lady Olivia at North Cliff LLC and trained by Keith Nations, the Cosa Vera filly raced in third through the first half of her race December 21st in a field of nine, powered to the outside then pulled away to win going away by 11 3/4 lengths. Out of the Horse Greeley mare, Trending Now, Jazz Pizzaz paid $4.80 and was guided by jockey Daniel Centeno.

Bourbon and Beer was the best of 10 horses in a maiden claimer at Laurel December 16th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Owner/breeder Sam English’s 3 year old gelding, Bourbon and Beer, scored his first career triumph December 16th at Laurel Park in an $18,000 maiden claimer. A son of Pioneerof the Nile, the victor wired the field and beat nine others including a pesky Silver Starship, who batted for first throughout and came with a nose. Bourbon and Beer, who is out of the Orientate mare, She’s a Blue Devil, finished the one mile contest in 1:40.24. The Rob Bailes trainee was ridden by Jevian Toledo.

Owner English will also receive a 25% bonus courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic incentive program, which rewards owners whose horses win an overnite race at any track in the Mid-Atlantic region (Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania). That bonus program has been extended for all of 2017.

Yes I Win, bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, beat ten other foes and captured a four length victory December 16th in a $7800 maiden claiming event. The son of Yes It’s True, sent off as the betting choice, earned his fifth straight “in the money” finish and collected his first lifetime win as a 6 year old. He is out of the Tiznow mare, Thor’s Daughter. Yes I Win made three starts in 2013, then did not race again until this year, where he has made a dozen starts.

Virginia thoroughbred horse owner David Ross won two stakes races Saturday at Fair Grounds. Proforma, a 2 year old son of Munnings, captured the $50,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes and Honorable Duty, his 4 year old Distorted Humor gelding, was victorious in the $75,000 Tenacious Stakes. The wins were Ross’s 29th and 30th this year, and his horses have bankrolled $1,213,382. Here is a piece from Daily Racing Form about Honorable Duty.

It was a strange but successful trip for Honorably Duty, who dueled early, dropped back middle, and surged late to win the $75,000 Tenacious Stakes by three-quarters of a length over 44-1 shot Raagheb on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Breaking from the rail under James Graham, Honorable Duty raced head and head with Financial Modeling around the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in a solid 23.79 seconds. Graham let Financial Modeling take over as Honorable Duty dropped to second on the backside and into the far turn, but when several horses made early moves on the outside, Honorable Duty, still hugging the rail, dropped back to fourth past the three-furlong pole, and still had four horses in front of him at the stretch call.

Graham, though, still had horses in his hands, and after flirting with a final run inside Financial Modeling, he tipped two paths from the fence to come between Financial Modeling and Raagheb at about the sixteenth pole, and Honorable Duty did the rest, beating Raagheb to the finish after he had beaten him to the spot. Brendan Walsh trains the winner, the second stakes winner on the card (following Proforma) for owner DARRS Inc.

“Brendan told me just keep out of his way as much as you can,” Graham said. “He finished off pretty well.”

Raagheb had 2 1/4 lengths on Financial Modeling at the finish. Financial Modeling was followed by Fear the Cowboy, Heisinfront, Great Minds, Dazzling Gem, The Truth Or Else, and Tale of Verve. The winner went 1 mile, 70 yards on a fast track in 1:42.37 and paid $14.

Honorable Duty was racing with blinkers off and was listed Saturday as a first-time gelding. By Distorted Humor and out of the A.P. Indy mare Mesmeric, he – like Buddy Diliberto Stakes winner Western Reserve earlier Saturday – was bred and initially owned by Juddmonte Farm and first trained by Bill Mott.

Honorable Duty won a maiden race and consecutive allowance races this past spring and summer, but had been fourth in the restricted Alydar at Saratoga and fifth in the Lukas Classic at Churchill before winning his first stakes Saturday.

Runner-up Raagheb probably ran the best race of his career, making his first start for trainer Tom Amoss. Dazzling Gem, the 2-1 favorite, raced near the back of the field while slow to settle in the early going, made a wide move into the far turn and reached contention at the head of the homestretch, but flattened out and finished seventh in a disappointing performance.

Golden Mischief drops, turns back, wins easily

Favored Golden Mischief got a favorable setup in the $50,000 Letellier Memorial and made the most of it, winning by 2 1/4 lengths over Flatter Up. Forest Circle finished third in the six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies.

Golden Mischief, trained by Steve Asmussen for Corrine and William Heiligbrodt, had capped a three-race winning streak with a victory in the $100,000 My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta Downs in October, but in the Grade 3 Delta Princess there last month, Golden Mischief never got into the race and finished seventh, beaten more than 20 lengths.

She appeared to be into the bridle from the start Saturday, even while sixth down the backstretch for jockey David Flores, and with Flatter Up going a quick opening quarter-mile in 21.98 seconds and a half in 45.56, Golden Mischief was in good shape. Flores, staying outside, followed Forest Circle into the homestretch, passed her, took aim on Flatter Up, Golden Mischief making the lead past the furlong pole on the way to a comfortable win. She stopped the timer in 1:10.90 for six furlongs and paid $5 to win.

Golden Mischief is by Into Mischief and out of the Carson City mare Lania Mischief. She won for the fourth time in eight starts.

Sticksstatelydude Works Towards $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational

Mr. Jordan a Horse of Interest in Pegasus World Cup Search

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – On a sun-splashed Friday morning at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, graded stakes winner Sticksstatelydude turned in a four-furlong work that his connections hope is a step toward a spot in the gate for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28.

The 3-year-old son of First Dude, who is owned in a partnership that includes brothers, Alvin Haynes Jr. and Mitch Haynes, does not currently have a slot in the gate for the 1 1/8-mile inaugural running of the Pegasus. The colt’s trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, said he has been approached by connections with confirmed berths inquiring about leasing the horse for the Pegasus, but so far no deals have been struck.

“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 “

After Sticksstatelydude covered a half-mile in :49.75 with exercise rider Roger Horgan aboard, McLaughlin said if the Pegasus turns out not to be an option, he is looking at the $400,000 Poseidon, also at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt and part of the undercard, as an alternative.

“He is pointing toward a race on Jan. 28,” McLaughlin said. “There is a $400,000 race on the undercard, or the Pegasus, if someone needs a horse. We could be talked into a lease for that day. He will continue to work weekly and we’ll hope for the best. At least there is the option of the other race if we don’t get into the Pegasus.”

McLaughlin said the story behind Sticksstatelydude, who won the Discovery Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in most recent start on Nov. 12, dates back to when he was a kid, growing up in Kentucky. The horse has also been trained by McLaughlin’s childhood friend, Greg Burchell, who saddled him to finish second in the Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park in September, his start before the Discovery. Burchell also holds an ownership interest in Sticksstatelydude.

“The horse is named for one of the best owners ever in the game, Alvin Haynes, who I trained horses for, and was a lifelong friend with,” McLaughlin explained. “He passed away last year. Alvin’s nickname was ‘Stick’ because he was a really tall man. When he died, his two sons took over,  Alvin Jr. and Mitch, and there are also several partners in the horse, including Greg Burchell, who trains the horse back and forth with me, and is the reason I’m in the business. Greg was my best buddy at 10 years old. Greg’s dad trained horses and that is how I got horses into my system. Greg is here in Florida, too, so we talk daily and he looks after the horse every day.

“Greg and I grew up with Alvin’s sons, Alvin Jr., who we call Scotty, and his brother Mitch,” McLaughlin continued. “Their father was a very good man and it’s sad that he is gone, but the horse is doing well for the whole family. It’s a great story if he keeps going. The horse ran huge in the Discovery last time. He’s just 3 turning 4, and hopefully he just continues to keep improving. He’s a nice horse.”

A winner of three races from eight starts, Sticksstatelydude has earnings of  $326,400. His 1 1/4-length victory in the Discovery marked his first stakes win. The Discovery’s runner-up, Neolithic, was a nine-length winner of an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday. His connections, Starlight Racing, have a slot in the Pegasus.

Mr. Jordan a Horse of Interest in Pegasus World Cup Search

With stakeholders in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup on the lookout for horses to compete in the inaugural running of the world’s richest race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28, Mr. Jordan became a horse of interest when the 4-year-old graded-stakes winner produced a dazzling 3 3/4-length triumph in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Preview at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 12.

Although preliminary inquiries have been made concerning the Pegasus, trainer Eddie Plesa is currently preparing the son of Kantharos for a start in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Jan. 17.

“They’ve got 12 people who have spots and paid a million for them. They have to find horses. I guess my horse is a logical horse for somebody to call and ask about. I’ve had two phone calls,” Plesa said. “The bottom line is for us, he’s probably going to be the favorite in a race with a purse of $250,000, with a $150,000 to the winner. I don’t know the figures and how they work out. How does somebody compensate me? It’s a difficult situation.

“We have all intentions of running in the Sunshine Millions,” he added. “If somebody wants to put a solid offer on the table, myself and my partners would listen and then make a decision. It hasn’t gotten that far just – just inquiries.”

Mr. Jordan, who is owned by Plesa’s wife Laurie and longtime clients David Melin and Leon Ellman, is a multiple stakes winner who has finished in the money in 15 of 17 career starts, including a triumph in the 2015 Pegasus Stakes (G3) at Monmouth and several other graded-stakes placings. The Florida-bred has blossomed in recent starts after being gelded in July and with a chronic foot issue resolved.

“Mr. Jordan’s doing excellent and getting ready for the Sunshine Millions.,” Plesa said. “He came out of his race great, looks great and is doing very well.”

The Plesa-trained Awesome Slew may also become a horse of interest should he be victorious in Saturday’s $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Live Oak Plantation’s 3-year-old colt captured the Smarty Jones (G3) by seven lengths at Parx Sept. 8 in his second start equipped with blinkers. The son of Awesome Again set the pace before finishing fifth in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Parx three weeks later.

“He always showed he was something better than average, and I still have those hopes for him. This will be a race that will get him ready for whatever is in store for him down the road,” Plesa said. “My enthusiasm for the horse really hasn’t diminished. He got sick on us last year before all the big 3-year-old races.”

Awesome Slew, who will be ridden for the first time by Joel Rosario, will meet six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday, including Keen Ice, who upset Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the 2015 Travers (G1), and multiple graded-stakes winners Stanford and Madefromlucky.

The newly graded Harlan’s Holiday will highlight a 11-race program (Noon first-race post) with five stakes, including the $100,000 Sugar Swirl (G3), the $100,000 Rampart (G3), the $100,000 El Prado and $100,000 South Beach.

‘Tis the weekend before Christmas and all through the country, stakes races aplenty are available to watch and wager including a headlining bonus race that just recently materialized.

On Saturday December 17th, California Chrome, the world’s richest active thoroughbred with $14 will be competing in the $180,000 Winter Challenge Stakes at Los Alamitos. The superstar horse most recently appeared in the Breeders’ Cup Classic — the runner-up position — and will next appear in the $12 Million Pegasus World Cup Invitational January 28th at Gulfstream. But on the 17th, he’ll face 11 other competitors at a 1 1/16 miles distance. The Winter Challenge Stakes will go to post at 7:28 PM. and has been carded as Race 9. Los Alamitos will also host the $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for 2 year old fillies at 3:58 PM. That is the 2nd race on their Saturday program. Los Alamitos also has a Pick-6 carryover Pool of $308,191.

Gulfstream’s championship meet is in full swing and they have five stakes on tap Saturday.  The quintet includes a trio of Grade 3 stakes — the Harlan’s Holiday, Rampart, and Sugar Swirl Stakes — and a pair of $100,000 ungraded ones — the El Prado and South Beach Stakes. Staying in Florida, Tampa Bay Downs plays host to the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes and up north, Aqueduct has a showcase pair — the $125,000 Queens County Stakes and $150,000 New York Stallion Series (the Great White Way division) for two year old colts and geldings.

Virginia-bred Taleoftheprincess will compete in the $50,000 Letellier Stakes for 2 year old fillies at Fair Grounds. Bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, the Tale of the Cat filly is 6-1 early in a field of eight. She was a $30,000 purchase at last year’s Keeneland sale and has won two straight heading into action Saturday.

A second Richmond OTB will open next month in the downtown area at Ponies & Pints. The establishment will feature full service dining, 60 craft beers on tap, and horse wagering.

Virginia residents can wager the action at the new Breakers Off Track Betting (OTB) Center in Richmond in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center at 9127 West Broad Street. On line wagering is available via TVG.com, XPressbet.com, TwinSpires.com and NYRABets.com. A second  Richmond area OTB will open in early January in Shockoe Bottom, at 110 N. 18th Street in a new restaurant/bar called Ponies & Pints.

Two year olds take center stage this weekend in stakes race action from tracks around the country, and Virginia residents have two new options on how and where to wager the action.

The Virginia Equine Alliance’s (VEA) first Off Track Betting (OTB) Center opened just over a month ago at Breakers Sports Grille in Richmond. It is conveniently located in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center at 9127 West Broad Street. It is open seven days a week from 12 Noon – 11 PM. And earlier this week, a fourth on line betting company was approved by the Virginia Racing Commission to do business in the Commonwealth. NYRAbets.com is the account wagering arm of the popular New York Thoroughbred racing circuit. Virginia residents have been able to sign up for an account and wager with TVG.com, XPressBet.com and TwinSpires.com, but now have that fourth option available.

Featured stakes on Saturday (December 10th) are a pair of Grade I’s at Los Alamitos, which takes over as the major west coast thoroughbred track until Santa Anita opens December 26th. The $300,000 Cash Call Futurity is for 2 year olds and the $300,000 Starlet is for 2 year old fillies. Both races are at the distance of 1 1/16th miles and will be contested at 5:58 PM and 6:58 PM respectively.

Laurel has a pair of $100,000 stakes for freshmen on Saturday — the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship at 3:00 PM (race 6) and the Maryland Juvenile Futurity at 4:30 PM (race 9). Gulfstream plays host to six 2 year old stakes the same day — all at the $75,000 purse level. Half are for colts and the other half for fillies. Distances for each trio are at 6 furlongs on dirt, one mile on dirt, and one mile on turf.

Hatteras Bound is shown winning a $30,000 claimer at Laurel December 3rd. Photo by Jim McCue.

Virginia-bred Hatteras Bound, fresh off a victory last Saturday at Laurel, will compete in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity. Owned and bred by Douglas Daniels, the Redeemed colt was best in a nine horse field last week that included CB Bodemeister, who finished third. Hatteras Bound went four wide coming out of the turn in the $30,000, one mile claiming race, charged to the lead and crossed 1 1/4 lengths in front of Tactical Hero.

Finally, Fair Grounds will host the $800,000 Louisiana Champions Day on Saturday. A total of eight stakes will showcase top state-bred horses. Enjoy a great mid-December racing day!

For a complete OTB simulcast schedule, visit www.virginiahorseracing.com.