Off to the Races on The Racing Biz Radio Network returns Saturday, July 15. The roster of guests includes:

• Maryland Jockey Club linemaker and Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle to discuss Laurel Park’s three Saturday stakes;
• Virginia Thoroughbred Association executive director Debbie Easter, to weigh in on the state’s new Virginia Certified Thoroughbred Program
• Delaware Park executive director of racing John Mooney, who will talk about the day’s Delaware Handicap card and the presence of superstar filly Songbird.

As always, Derby Bill Watson and Nick Hahn will be on to handicap.

The one-hour program airs at 10:00 a.m. each Saturday on Richmond’s ESPN 950 AM, and on 102.7 FM and 1240 AM out of Petersburg. Additional stations will be announced as they come online. It also is available via streaming (see link below).

The show will focus on Thoroughbred racing and breeding around the mid-Atlantic region and across the country.

Guests in prior weeks have included trainers Cal Lynch (El Areeb) and Graham Motion (Irish War Cry), as well as jockey Trevor McCarthy, and others.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE AT 10:00 A.M. SATURDAY.

Of the seven wins Virginia-bred horses earned this past weekend, Northern Eclipse was afforded the most breathing room of any while crossing the wire. Five of the seven were by margins of a nose or a neck, and the sixth was by less than a length. The Hugh McMahon trainee won by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths over Sazerac Girl in a $42,000 allowance test at Laurel on Saturday. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the 5 year old Northern Afleet mare won her second of the year and increased her lifetime bankroll to $80,625.

Jockey J.D. Acosta guides Northern Eclipse to her third win July 8th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

A trio of the “close call” horses saw their six digit bankrolls increase even more. 9 year old Simmstown left his race at Prarie Meadows with a $290,508 sum while 10 year old Toccet’s Charm’s ballooned to $248,144 from a claiming race at Hastings. Youngest of the three, 7 year old Titan Alexander, saw his bankroll increase to $161,150 from a triumph at Mountaineer.

Simmstown prevailed by a neck in a $14,500 six furlong starter event where he went five wide in the stretch. The Limehouse gelding has won two straight now at Prarie and has twelve lifetime scores. Out of the Cape Town mare, Ruler’s Charm, Simmstown was bred by the Audley Farm.

Virginia-bred Simmstown is shown dominating the 2013 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap at Calder. Photo Courtesy Coady Photography.

The Audley Farm also bred Toccet’s Charm, who was a nose better than Street Map and Flemings Beach in a tight photo finish in Canada. The Toccet gelding completed a 1 1/16th miles journey in 1:45.92 while making his 78th start. Out of the Cape Town mare, Ruler’s Charm, Toccet’s Charm rallied four wide in the final turn to carve out his 21st victory.

Titan Alexander took the lead of his $12,000, seven furlong race at the half, then held off fast closing Glenstal Abbey by a neck at the wire to record his first win of 2017 and tenth overall. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin and owned by Ernest Haynes, the victor is out Fabulous Fame by Cherokee Colony.

Virginia-bred Street Miz got to the winners circle Sunday at Laurel, crossing nearly a length ahead of Zippity Gal in a $23,000 one mile claiming race. The 4 year old Street Boss filly was bred by Larry Johnson, and gave herself a little breathing room at the wire — three-quarters of a length. She finished strong after entering the lane fourth in the nine horse field. Steet Miz rebounded from an eighth place finish most recently in the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes.

Street Miz’s victory July 9th at Laurel gave owner Dr. Rick Katchuik a 25% bonus from the Mid-Atlantic Incentive Program. Photo by Jim McCue.

Start Winning also scored a Mid-Atlantic victory in a 6 1/2 furlong sprint at Charles Town. The win gave owner, the C and B Stables, a 25% bonus on top of the winner’s share of a $10,000 purse. The 4 year old daughter of Jump Start, also bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, met Becky Kecki head to head at the half and battled to the wire where she was a head to the best. Out of the Runaway Groom mare, Ritual Dance, Start Winning prevailed for the fifth time.

Rounding out the seven winners was Church Monkey, who seems to be enjoying and thriving in his new surroundings at Michigan’s Hazel Park. The 4 year old Ecclesiastic gelding rallied from fifth at the top of the stretch to beat Compulsive by a nose in a 5 1/2 furlong sprint in 1:08.22. In three starts at Hazel this meet, Church Monkey has two wins and a second. He was bred by Thomas Teal and is out of My Little Monkey by Old Trieste.

Besides the C and B Stables, other owners that were awarded a 25% bonus from the Mid-Atlantic Incentive Program included Dr. Rick Katchuik (Street Miz), Ernest Haynes (Titan Alexander) and Toby Roth (Northern Eclipse).

(WARRENTON, VA —- 7/7/17) —- The Virginia Racing Commission yesterday (July 6) voted unanimously to allow the Virginia thoroughbred industry to move forward with and fund a new program that is expected to contribute to the long term economic prosperity of Virginia agriculture, and encourage preservation of Virginia farmland.

The new Virginia-Certified Thoroughbred Program (VACTP) will reward horsemen who board horses at Virginia farms or training centers for six consecutive months prior to December 31st of the horse’s two-year-old year.

Sadler’s Joy is shown here as a yearling at Woodslane Farm in The Plains, Virginia. Photo by Nick Hahn.

The following appeared in The Paulick Report July 10th.

Champion Stellar Wind, winner of the G1 Beholder Mile on June 3, pleased her trainer John Sadler with her work on Sunday at Santa Anita, according to drf.com. The 5-year-old daughter of Curlin is preparing for the G1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 30, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Stellar Wind is shown with jockey Victor Espinoza after winning the Beholder Mile. Photo courtesy of Santa Anita.

“She’s well ahead of the curve,” said Sadler of the six-furlong move in 1:13.40. “She was very relaxed this morning. I’m happy with where she’s at.”

Stellar Wind is scheduled for one more work at Santa Anita before shipping to Del Mar, where she will have her final breeze prior to the Hirsch. She won the 2016 Clement Hirsch over Beholder.

Keith Pendleton Waldrop, beloved father and Pop, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on July 6, 2017. Born February 1, 1932, he was the son of the late Richard Nelson Waldrop and Carrie Bessie Wickham Waldrop. He was predeceased on April 23, 2017 by the love of his life, Barbara Dee Bowles Waldrop, with whom he shared over 64 extraordinary years. Keith was also predeceased by five older brothers, Richard Glen Waldrop, John Allen Waldrop, Claude Gwaltney Waldrop, Raymond Nelson Waldrop and Herbert Franklin Waldrop.

A lifelong resident of Hanover County, Keith was born and raised in Montpelier, Va. on his family’s farm that has been in operation since the mid-19th century, when his great-grandfather purchased the property. A farmer by trade and a consummate gentleman at heart, he was Senior Partner of his beloved Kee-Barb farm, where he and Barbara worked side-by-side. He raised wheat, corn, tobacco, hogs, Black Angus cattle, and sheep. Keith built a thriving hay business in the early 1970s that is still in operation today. He thought of his hay customers as family and their warm-hearted relationships have lasted for over five decades. In addition to farming, Keith worked for The Virginia Crop Reporting Agency and for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as state supervisor for the Virginia Statistician Office for 37 years. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Dark Fired Tobacco Association and a member of the Board of Directors for the Sun-cured Tobacco Marketing Cooperative for 50 years, where he also served as President and Marketing Manager.

Keith was a member of the Virginia Thoroughbred Horse Association, where he enjoyed seeing the horses run. He loved the western Hanover community and was active in many organizations, including: The Hanover Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (ASCS) Agency- Farm Service Agency, the Montpelier Ruritan Club, where he served as president, the Montpelier Jaycees Club, the Hanover County Farm Bureau, and he served on the Board of Directors for The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education.

Keith and Barbara were a remarkable couple. One was rarely seen without the other and they never knew a stranger. They opened their hearts and home to family and friends for countless celebrations. Their fun-loving nature and warm hospitality endeared them to everyone. Together, they raised their two children and over 25 foster children. Keith loved his family more than words can describe and he instilled in his children and grandchildren a deep sense of faith, a strong work ethic, and a cheerful approach to life. He was our rock; the patriarch of our family, and his spirit will continue to live in each of us. Keith is survived by his daughter, Tricia Miller Melton and her husband, Charles; his son, Wayne Keith Waldrop and his wife, Deanna; and Patricia Graham, whom he thought of as a daughter. Keith is also survived by his precious grandchildren, whom he loved dearly and who loved their Pop in return, Lauren Miller Bischoff and her husband, William, Richard Grayson Waldrop, Ashley Brooke Miller, Claire Waldrop Jackson and her husband, Blake, and Taylor McKenzie Miller. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Janie Cross Bowles and Ida Keeton Waldrop. Our family wishes to thank Cindy Adams for her tender care and the vast number of family and friends who brightened his last days with constant visits, food, and prayers. Keith was a faithful member of Hopeful Baptist Church for over 80 years. He sang in the church choir and in the Hopeful Six sextet, which he greatly enjoyed. He also served numerous years as a Deacon, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, Trustee, and on various church committees.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, at Bliley’s-Central, 3801 Augusta Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23230. Funeral services will be held at Hopeful Baptist Church, 14340 Hopeful Church Road, Montpelier, Va. 23192 on Sunday, July 9, at 2 p.m. Interment in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hopeful Baptist Church, 14340 Hopeful Church Road, Montpelier, Va. 23192 or The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education, 17205 Mountain Road, Montpelier, Va. 23192. Please join the family for lunch at Kee-Barb Farm immediately following the funeral service.

Virginia-bred horses will be well represented in stakes races around the country on Saturday, July 8th.

One Go All Go, winner of the Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby in 2015, will compete in the $100,000 Stars and Stripes Stakes (Gr. 3) at Arlington. The 5 year old son of Fairbanks will be making his first start since November 24th. The Albert Coppola bred horse is trained by Pavel Matejka and is out of the Marquetry mare, See Ashleigh Run. He has earned $329,285 from 13 career starts.

Bred by Albert Coppola, One Go All Go returns to the winners circle at Laurel September 19th after winning the 2015 Grade II, Commonwealth Derby. Jockey Ron Higsby directed the effort. Photo by Jim McCue.

Lenstar, a 3 year old Shackleford gelding, is set to compete in the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth. The Nick Zito trainee has five straight “in the money” finishes, including a win, second and two thirds this year. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, Lenstar is out of Cryptos’s Best by Crytpoclearance.

The second and third place finishers from the May 29th Jim Rasmussen Memorial Stakes at Prarie Meadows will return Saturday to square off in a Grade 3 stakes at the same oval. Code West, a classy 7 year old son of Lemon Drop Kid, will look to add to a healthy $711,277 bankroll in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap.  American Dubai, who had a four race win streak earlier this year at Sunland Park, is in the same event. The former was bred by Edward Evans and is out of the Saint Ballado mare, Charitabledonation. The latter was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, and is by E Dubai out of Smash Review by Bates Motel.

Ned Evans-bred Code West won the Governor’s Stake at Remington Park in August. 2014. Photo Courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.

Virginia residents can bet all the action via one of four partner on line betting companies — TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, Twinspires.com and NYRABets.com. The two new Richmond area Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers will carry the Arlington and Monmouth signals on Saturday. The Ponies & Pints OTB is located downtown while the Breakers Sports Grille OTB is located in the west end. Topping the simulcast action Saturday is the Stars & Stripes celebration at Belmont, which features 5 stakes races worth a combined $3.7 million in purses. A pair of Grade I stakes headline the monster card. For more details, visit virginiahorseracing.com.

UNCHAINED MELODY SCORES RIGHTEOUS WIN IN MOTHER GOOSE

By Alicia Wincze Hughes t @BH_AHughes
Reprinted from the Bloodhorse Daily July 2, 2017

Unchained Melody is going to need a harder question asked of her for her next test. Making  just her fourth start and first attempt at the stakes level, the daughter of Smart Strike was in control at every point of call in the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G2), as she turned back six challengers in gate-to-wire fashion at Belmont Park July 1.

Graded accolades were destined to be handed out for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile test, as none of the seven entrants prevailed at that level prior to Saturday. It didn’t take long to figure out which distaffer that would be.

The Brian Lynch-trained Unchained Melody broke sharply from post 2 under jockey Joel Rosario and had a response for every challenge that tried to come at her during her 1:42.45 tour around Big Sandy. After Spanish Harlem chased the pacesetter through an opening quarter in :23.62, Vexatious tried to mount her own bid three-wide through the half-mile in :46.62.

It was then Lockdown’s turn to take a shot at Unchained Melody, as she surged up from sixth on the far outside coming around the turn. The third-place finisher in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) could get no closer than within a couple lengths of the leader, however, as Unchained Melody found more gears in the middle of the lane to cross the wire three lengths in front.

“She’s got such a high cruising speed and there didn’t look like there was going to be a lot of pace in the race, so we hoped she’d get comfortable on the lead,” Lynch said. “Not that those were slow fractions. She cracked out a half in :46, but she’s tough to get by, obviously. ”

“She was enjoying the middle of the track, so I just kept her there where she felt most comfortable,” added Rosario. “I worked her in the morning the other day, so I was able to get a feel for her and she moved very good.”

Bred by Hare Forest Farm, which owns her in partnership with Hidden Brook Farm, Unchained Melody came into the Mother Goose off a two-length win a 1 1/16- mile allowance test at Belmont June 1. She broke her maiden first time out at Gulfstream Park March 19 and came in second going six furlongs at Keeneland in April.

“The (grade 1) Alabama (Aug. 19) would be the next step, I think,” Lynch said. “We’ll give her some time and set her for that. I think she’s certainly stamped her card in that direction today.”

Lockdown held for second, followed by Moana, My Miss Tapit, Vexatious, Lights of Medina, and Spanish Harlem, to complete the order of finish.

Sent off at 2-1 odds, Unchained Melody paid $6.40, $3.50, and $2.90 across the board and improved her earnings to $233,400. She is out of the grade 3-winning Partner’s Hero mare Love Match. BH

Seven Virginia-bred horses created their own fireworks over the July 4th holiday weekend by winning a race at seven different tracks.

Sambrook Edge won on the 4th itself in a $25,000 one mile claiming race at Gulfstream. The 4 year old son of Afleet Alex was best in a field of eleven courtesy of a huge second half comeback. The victor trailed by nine lengths at the half and seven at the top of the stretch but rallied outside to edge Woodburn by a neck in 1:39.30. Sambrook Edge won his second straight and collected his fifth straight “in the money” finish. He was bred by Lazy Lane Farms, and is out of the Mineshaft mare, Kate C.

Trainer Steve Asmussen’s Louise’s Legacy won her third race of the year July 3rd at Lone Star Park just before their annual fireworks show began. Bred by Louise McLean, the 6 year old Medalist mare chased two frontrunners from third through the turn, then got best of them in the stretch. She finished the $22,000 six furlong allowance sprint in 1:11.49. Louise’s Legacy has bankrolled $83,160. She is out of the Mazel Trick mare, Sweetgeorgiabrown.

Aine earned her first lifetime victory July 1st at Laurel in a $22,000 maiden claiming race. Photo by Jim McCue.

A trio of Virginia-breds connected on July 1st, including Aine, All Call and Chas’s Legacy. Aine collected her first lifetime win for owner/trainer/breeder Susan Cooney. The 4 year old Artie Schiller filly crossed a half length ahead of Saturday’s Rein in a $22,000 maiden claiming sprint. In beating the large field of eleven others, Aine completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.08. She is out of In Too Deep by The Deep.

All Call made it two straight with a come from behind win over seven others in a claimer at Arlington. The 6 year old Cowboy Cal gelding was one of three horses to get claimed out of the race for the $20,000 tag. Bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, the winner crossed a half length in front as the betting choice and increased his bankroll to $173,274 with his 9th victory. He is out of the Honor Grades mare, Honorett.

Chas’s Legacy battled with Nick’s Picks head to head for the better part of his one mile race at Arapahoe Park. The 6 year old Bernardini gelding, who was a head shy until late in the stretch, was a head better at the wire. Bred by the Estate of Edward Evans, Chas’s Legacy collected his second win of the year and seventh lifetime score. He is out of Our Legacy by Kingmambo.

Brudda Clyde kicked off the weekend Friday with a win at Lethbridge Racecourse in Alberta, Canada. Bred by James Sumter Carter, the son of Political Force was best in the six furlong claiming sprint. The victor, who was making his 42nd career start, saw his earnings rise to $72,309.

Brindabella collected her first win June 25th at Laurel. The 4 year old daughter of Street Magician won by 1 1/2 lengths and gave owner Super C Racing Inc. a 25% owners bonus. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.

Congratulations to other pre-holiday weekend Virginia-bred winners: Eldarion (Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin), Well Blessed (Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone), Cliffs of Malibu (Kristen Suzanne Wyco), Brindabella (Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Cahir), Stormin Margaret (Rodger Smith), Likeness (James Sumter Carter), Gratzie (Althea Richards), Code West (Edward Evans), Really Boppin (Jackie Hinson), Max Crown (Lady Olivia at North Cliff, LLC), Wild Affair (Vermont Farm) and Simmstown (Audley Farm).

The following appeared in The Paulick Report on July 5th.

Well respected horseman Marvin Little Jr. passed away July 4 after a long battle with cancer. Born July 13, 1937, he died just shy of his 80th birthday.

Widely known as “Junior” within the industry, Little was born in Paintsville, Ky., and was a self-made man who never finished high school. After a stint in the Navy, he was planning to work in a factory but a steel strike meant he took a job at Clovelly Farms in Lexington.

That began his equine education, and he was a devoted student. Farm manager Lars la Cour, along with farm owner Robin Scully, eventually recommended him for a job at the Hardin family’s Newstead Farm in Upperville, Va. Little worked his way up from yearling manager to farm manager of the historic operation.

Marvin Miller Jr. breeder of champion Hansel, passed away at 79 years of age.

When Newstead underwent dispersal in 1985, world records were set. Handled by Fasig-Tipton, the dispersal grossed $46,988,000 and remains one of the largest in history. The highlight was multiple Grade 1 winner Miss Oceana, who had raced as a homebred for Newstead. Offered in foal to Northern Dancer, she was sold for a then world-record price of $7 million.

Little’s success did not end after leaving Newstead. He moved to Kentucky, and when he did, he took his own horses with him. Included in the group was a colt by Woodman. That foal, later named Hansel, would go on to win both the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes and was named champion 3-year-old colt in 1991. Prior to his death on June 13, Hansel was the oldest living winner of a Triple Crown race.

“My dad was a legend, and his dream was to breed the winner of the Kentucky Derby, but he never quite got there,” said Teresa Little. “But he bred the winner of the Preakness and the Belmont. Hansel almost won it all for us, and he was a champion.”

 

 

Little bred a number of notable stakes winners throughout the decades, including Kinsale King, who won the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2010 on Dubai World Cup night. According to his family, though, Hansel and Miss Oceana remained his personal favorites throughout his life.

In addition to horses, Little’s other passion was the New York Yankees, and he was often seen sporting his Yankees cap.

He never retired from the Thoroughbred industry, and at the time of his death, he still owned about 20 broodmares. Little loved the horse business for all the great moments of joy it brought to him and his family as well as for all the truly remarkable people and great friends he made along the way.

Little is survived by his three children, Marilyn, Jeff, and Teresa, as well as five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home in Paris, Ky. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 7, at 1 p.m.

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Copyright © 2017 Paulick Report.

The following appeared on The Racing Biz website and was written by Frank Vespe.

The Big T will offer higher purses — and for the first time in years, stakes-quality racing — during its late summer meeting this year.

It’s all part of an effort to revitalize horse racing at Timonium, offered as part of the Maryland state fair. Timonium, Maryland’s lone bullring track, is also the only Thoroughbred fair meet in the East. Horse racing will take place at Timonium between August 24 and September 4, with live racing on seven of those days.

Under agreements reached over the last several days, the track at Timonium will offer an average of $185,000 per day in overnight purses. That’s an increase of nearly 20 percent from 2016.

During 2016, as an example, maiden special weight races at Timonium offered a purse of $32,000. Those at Maryland’s so-called “mile tracks,” Laurel Park and Pimlico, gave out $40,000 for the same race. This agreement will help close that gap.

Thoroughbred racing at Timonium. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.

During the annual meeting of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which took place June 23, representatives of the State Fair, had sought “purse parity,” that is, to offer the same purses as the mile tracks. Their argument: that, if you considered money earned via parimutuel wagering plus that provided via slots revenue during the 10-day meeting, Timonium actually put money in Maryland’s racing coffers, rather than taking it out, as was widely believed.