Author Archives: Darrell Wood

David Ross’s Extravagant Kid Seeks To Become Racing’s Newest Millionaire on Saturday

The following article appeared at Horseracingnation.com. Extravagant Kid, owned by Virginia businessman David Ross — who is President of the Virginia HBPA — will become a million dollar earner with a first or second place finish in Saturday’s (Feb. 13) Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds.  

Extravagant Kid will look to become racing’s newest millionaire when he makes his Fair Grounds debut in an extremely tough renewal of the $100,000 Colonel Power. Run at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course, the Colonel Power drew a field of nine, including a quintet of turf sprint stakes winners.

The Colonel Power is Race 7 and is one of six stakes on a 13-race card dubbed Louisiana Derby Day Preview, which is highlighted by the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) and the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2). The Risen Star is by far the deepest and most competitive Kentucky Derby (G1) prep to date and will offer a total of 85 Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5). The Rachel Alexandra will be offered for 3-year-old fillies, with the same 85 qualifying points up for grabs for the Kentucky Oaks (G1). There is also an “All Stakes Late Pick Five” (races 9-13) with an estimated pool of $400,000, and an “All Stakes Late Pick Four” (races 10-13) with an estimated pool of $750,000.

Extravagant Kid won for the third time in his last four starts, May 29 last year at Churchill Downs. Photo by Coady Photography.

DARRS’ Extravagant Kid (post 3 at 5-2 on Mike Diliberto’s morning line with Florent Geroux to ride) has been a gem of consistency in his career for trainer Brendan Walsh, who has had him for 25 of his 48 career starts. The 8-year-old son of Kiss the Kid has basically run in any meaningful graded turf stakes over the past three years and has more than held his own, which includes a close fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November.

“He shows up every time and I think the stronger the opposition the better he runs,” Walsh said. “He was only beaten a length in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and has been an unbelievable horse for us.”

Extravagant Kid has won 14 times and run second 15 more in his 48 races, but oddly enough none of them have come at Fair Grounds, where Walsh has the majority of his horses during the winter. Extravagant Kid has spent every winter of his life, like a lot of elder citizens, in Florida, including earlier in his career when he was with trainers Bill Kaplan and Mand Milton Wolfson. He twice ran second there this winter at Gulfstream Park, including the Sunshine Sprint on dirt Jan. 16, when Walsh decided it was time for a change of scenery.

David and Dana Ross are shown with the Da Hoss trophy courtesy of Extravagant Kid’s 2019 win at Colonial Downs.

“I thought we’d change things up a bit and bring him to the Fair Grounds just because he’s getting a little older and to give him something else to think about mentally,” Walsh said. “He’s in great order and I think the long stretch will suit him. It’s a good race. There are some nice horses, and he’ll have to have his running shoes on to beat them.”

Running shoes are something Extravagant Kid has always had on, as he’s won a combined eight stakes on turf and dirt in his career. Should he run second or better in the Colonel Power he’ll check off another box on an already storied career.

“To get to a million dollars, that’s pretty amazing,” Walsh said. “He’s one of those horses you wish you had a dozen of. He’s never missed a beat and he’s been in all the big ones.”

D.J. Stable, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Turned Aside (post 5 at 4-1 with Adam Beschizza) is the polar opposite of Extravagant Kid, having run just nine times in his career. The 4-year-old son of American Pharoah won four of those starts when with trainer Linda Rice, including the Turf Sprint Championship at Aqueduct on Nov. 28. He was purchased privately Jan. 14 for $725,000 out of a dispersal sale from the Estate of the late Paul Pompa and turned over to trainer Mark Casse. Assistant Dave Carroll oversees Casse’s Fair Grounds string and has been impressed with what he’s seen so far.”

“He had the one work with us but obviously his race card speaks for himself,” Carroll said. “Just in the short time we’ve had him, he’s a lovely horse and as Mark says, this is the logical spot to start him in. Linda did a great job with him and he came to us in great shape. We’re looking forward to getting him going and are hoping to keep up his good form.”

Extravagant Kid wins the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs in 2019. Photo by Coady Photography.

The two new shooters will face a deep and talented cast of locals who have a “the gang’s all here” feel to them. Susan Moulton’s Manny Wah (post 1 at 9-2 with Miguel Mena) won the local Jan. 16 Duncan F. Kenner in his turf debut for trainer Wayne Catalano, defeating trainer Michelle Lovell and Griffon’s Farms’ homebred Just Might (post 3 at 9-2 with Colby Hernandez), who won the Colonel Power last year and was also second in the local Richard R. Scherer Memorial in December. Crawford Farms’ Racing’s Archidust (post 7 at 6-1 with Joe Talamo) won the Scherer but was just seventh as the favorite in the Kenner for trainer Steve Asmussen, but he could easily bounce back in a group that has clearly relished turning the tables on each other.

Completing the Colonel Power field from the rail out: Tamaroak Partners’ Bango (post 2 at 12-1 with Gabriel Saez), a stakes winner over the Tapeta at Turfway Park in 2020 but winless in his only turf start for trainer Greg Foley; Dale Ladner’s homebred Jack the Umpire (post 6 at 15-1 with James Graham), a close seventh going long in the local Dec. 26 Woodchopper for trainer Brett Brinkman; Lothenbach Stable’s homebred Captivating Moon (post 8 at 12-1 with Marcelino Pedroza), who is also entered in Race 11 in the Fair Grounds (G3) for trainer Chris Block; and owner-trainer Louie Roussel’s Went West (post 9 at 12-1), who is 5-3-2-0 in his career but makes his turf debut.

 

2021 Colonel Power (LS)

 

Extravagant Kid Brendan P. Walsh Fair Grounds Race Course Colonel Power Colonel Power (2021)

Grey Swallow, Hollywood Handsome To Stand At Willow Hill Equestrian In Virginia

by  | 02.08.2021 | 1:40pm

Hollywood Handsome scores an allowance win at Churchill Downs

Willow Hill Equestrian in Orange, Va. will add two new members to its stallion roster in 2021, in veteran Grey Swallow and newcomer Hollywood Handsome.

Grey Swallow, the winner of the 2004 Irish Derby, will stand the upcoming breeding season for an advertised fee of $3,000.

The 20-year-old son of Daylami previously stood at Calumet Farm in Kentucky. Before that, he stood in Australia and his native Ireland.

Grey Swallow has sired 10 crops of racing age, with 51 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $2.4 million. He has Grade/Group 1-placed runners in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with Ungrateful Ellen finishing second in Australia’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Cadet Connelly running second in Canada’s Grade 1 Summer Stakes.

Grey Swallow won six of 15 starts during his own on-track career for earnings of $1,607,293.

In addition to his Irish Derby score, his 2004 campaign featured a win in the listed Two Thousand Guineas Trial Stakes and a third-place finish in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas itself. As a 2-year-old, he won the G3 Killavullan Stakes.

 

 

Grey Swallow continued to run at a high level when he reached the older horse division, including a victory in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland. He then became a globetrotter, competing in the U.S., Canada and Australia. His biggest success came in the U.S., where he won the G2 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap and finished third in the G1 Manhattan Handicap.

Bred in Ireland by Mrs. C. L. Weld, Grey Swallow is out of the winning The Minstrel mare Style of Life, who was named Ireland’s Broodmare of the Year in 2004. His siblings include Group 3 winner Moonlight Dance, and Group 3-placed Central Lobby, Stylish Ways, and Rustic.

The stallion’s extended family includes Italian Group 1 winner Night Style.

Hollywood Handsome, a Grade 2-placed son of Tapizar, will debut at stud in 2021 for an advertised fee of $1,000.

The 7-year-old retired with four wins in 36 starts for earnings of $269,989. After just missing the board in a pair of Kentucky Derby prep races, Hollywood Handsome entered the the 2017 Belmont Stakes but he was pulled up after he clipped heels and the rider lost his irons.

Hollywood Handsome earned his most notable black type at age four, when he finished second in the G2 New Orelans Handicap.

Bred in Kentucky by North Hanover Bloodstock, Hollywood Handsome is out of the winning Forestry mare Ladyflickerflacker, who is the dam of two winners from three foals to race. His second dam is the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Harbor Blues, and his extended family features Grade 2 winner Night Patrol.

Selected Virginia Stallion Season Auction Offerings To Benefit Kentucky HHR Lobbying Efforts

The following appeared in The Paulick Report February 5 and was written by Joe Nevills.

The developing situation regarding the status of historical horse racing (HHR) in Kentucky has created an “all hands on deck” scenario within the state’s racing industry to ensure the crucial revenue source remains in place.

That call has been heard outside the state as well. The Virginia Thoroughbred Association will feature a group of offerings during its upcoming stallion season auction where the full proceeds will benefit the Kentucky Equine Education Project’s lobbying efforts toward restoring HHR in the state and putting it on firmer legal ground.

Horse of the year Gun Runner at Three Chimneys Farm. Photo by EquiSport.

The auction, set to take place Wednesday, Feb. 10, features four seasons donated thus far by Kentucky stallion operations where the money will go toward the KEEP Alliance, a branch of KEEP specifically dedicated to lobbying, grassroots campaigns, and otherwise raising awareness among key people and groups about the importance of HHR in Kentucky.

As of Friday morning, the seasons benefitting the KEEP Alliance come from Airdrie Stud‘s Complexity, Spendthrift Farm‘s Goldencents, Gun Runner of Three Chimneys, and Not This Time of Taylor Made Stallions. Farms are welcome to donate further seasons to benefit the KEEP Alliance prior to the auction.

VTA executive director Debbie Easter said the seasons were added to the auction in recent weeks, helping push the total number of different stallions on offer near 220 from 11 different states.

“Obviously, it’s a good cause,” Easter said. “Everybody gets too regionalized sometimes, and it’s important for us to work together to help each other. This is an important thing for Kentucky, and helping keeping things going along is important. Horse people working together always do better than working apart, so we’re trying to move the needle a little bit.”

Virginia’s Thoroughbred economy is familiar with the benefits HHR can have on a program.

Gov. Ralph Northam signed an HHR bill into law in 2018, which set into motion the re-opening of Colonial Downs and significant funding sources to fuel purses and incentive programs on and off the racetrack. The Virginia-Certified program paid out a record $1.77 million in awards in 2020, and Easter said HHR revenues have just started to kick into that pool, leaving even more room for growth in the future.

“We certainly know how important HHR is going to be to us,” Easter said, “and we’ve certainly seen what it’s done for Kentucky, and they can’t afford to lose that.”

While Virginia has been able to show positive growth with the help of HHR, it’s widely accepted that Kentucky’s Thoroughbred market is the tide that lifts and sinks the other regional-market boats in North America.

Even the largest foal-producing jurisdictions outside of the Bluegrass State are supported heavily by Kentucky stallions, and its starting gates are filled by Kentucky-breds. A weakened Kentucky racing industry would have ripple effects on the state’s breeding program, and the rest of North America would feel the aftershock whether they race or breed in the state or not.

“Debbie was very enthusiastic about helping us,” said Elizabeth Jensen, KEEP’s executive vice president. “I think everybody realizes as goes Kentucky, so goes the rest of the country’s racing industry, so we need to keep it strong and vibrant here. We’re happy that our counterparts in Virginia are willing to help us out and support us.”

Beyond the season donations, Jensen said Kentucky’s major stallion operations have supportive of the advocacy measures to preserve HHR in the state. She noted that farms including Ashford Stud and WinStar Farm have made cash donations, and many stallion stations have sent out emails to their client lists urging them to take action.

“Preserving historical horse racing has to be the entire industry in Kentucky’s priority right now,” Jensen said. “If we lose that, we lose 1,400 jobs overnight, and losing those purses and the horses that we’re getting at Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs during summer racing, and just the whole racing circuit in Kentucky will be severely impacted if we don’t get this done.”

Nearly $1.8 Million In Certified Residency Awards Given Out In 2020

Virginia’s Certified Residency program took another big step forward last year, paying out a record $1.77 million in rewards versus $1.35 a year prior despite a Covid-19 pandemic that limited racing opportunities in spring and saw reduced purse levels in some cases.

A total of 486 wins in 2020 came from 328 individual horses, versus respective numbers of 338 and 212 in the prior.

“These are exciting times to do business in Virginia,” said VTA Executive Director Debbie Easter. “This is the most lucrative of the three year-round incentive programs we offer. Despite the issues everyone faced in a challenging year, we still distributed almost $1.8 million in residency awards. And we expect that to grow to $3.1 million in 2021. Historical horse racing revenues have just started kicking in as well so there is lots of growth still to come. It’s exciting,” she added. “Doing business in Virginia really pays right now.”

Sunny Dell Farm in Barboursville is one of many farms and training centers in Virginia that welcomes Certified horses to spend a six month residency prior to December 31st of its 2-year-old year.

The average Certified win award was $3,644. 173 bonuses went to 4-year-old horses, 257 to 3-year-olds and 56 to 2-year-olds. 225 of the 486 wins came in West Virginia, tops among the Mid-Atlantic states. 104 came in Pennsylvania, 87 in Maryland, 36 in New York, 19 in Delaware, 10 in New Jersey and 5 in Virginia, but the 2020 Colonial Downs meet was cancelled after six days to Covid-related issues.

Top owner from bonus monies paid out was Taylor Mountain Farm, with $80,1260. They had six horses earn multiple awards topped by Rush to the Castle with four. The 5-year-old Windsor Castle gelding won four straight allowance races at Charles Town. Their College Kid, with three wins, scored in back-to-back Charles Town allowance races in October while Sweetin Bread had three too including an allowance score. Candyforacause, Hero’s Man and Lufty’s Kisses won two each.

 

The training track at Virginia-Certified Legacy Farm in Bluemont — located 15 miles north of Upperville — on a winter morning.

Runner-up John Casey bankrolled $62,658 in bonuses led by Coach Rube, a 4-year-old Windsor Castle filly who had four wins at Charles Town. Three of those came in consecutive allowance events during August and September. Casey’s Love Happy and Take Time each won three while Fancy Castle, Wish in the Castle, and Feisty and Sassy collected a pair.

Four stakes wins by Maryland-bred Street Lute pushed Lucky 7 Stables’ reward total to $46,000, third best among recipients. After breaking her maiden September 7 at Delaware, the 3-year-old Street Magician filly won the Small Wonder Stakes there, then captured the Gin Talking, Sweet Halo and Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship Stakes at Laurel. She was one of four Virginia-certified horses to win five races last year.

 

Street Lute wins the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship December 5 at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Huntertown Farm’s Star of Night was the winningest Certified horse with six, all at Charles Town, which resulted in $43,488 in bonus monies. The 4-year-old Creative Cause filly was 6-for-7 in 2020 and her only blemish was in an allowance race where she lost by a head. She finished the year with three stakes victories in the Sylvia Bishop Memorial, West Virginia Tourism Office Breeders Classic and My Sister Pearl Stakes.

O’Sullivan Farms finished fifth in the bonus standings courtesy of a big year from their 5-year-old Midshipman mare, Dubai Was Lit. The consistent West Virginia-bred, responsible for much of the $41,818 in awards, won a four-pack of allowance races at Charles Town, and finished second in another four.

The rest of the top ten owners, by earnings, includes Larry Johnson ($38,975), Corrales Racing ($26,653), Nancy Heil ($26,237), Javier Contreras ($23,531) and James Wolf ($21,506). Both O’Sullivan Farms and Larry Johnson had other partnerships that produced wins and bonuses on top of their individual totals.

Air Token spent his six month Virginia residency at Horseshoe Hill Farm in Ashland.

Other Certified horses that won $100,000 stakes, and capped $10,000 awards, include Larry Johnson’s Never Enough Time, who won a pair — the Alma North at Laurel and Skipat at Pimlico. Corrales Racing’s Air Token won five races, highlighted by Laurel’s Concern Stakes. Others at Laurel included Karan’s Notion in the Maryland Million Sprint Handicap for Nancy Heil, and Miss Leslie in the Anne Arundel County Stakes for BB Horses. Eddie F’s Racing’s Chowda captured the Gander Stakes at Aqueduct.

Two others earned a capped award from maiden special weight wins in New York. A One A Racing’s Apurate was best October 22 at Belmont while Woodslane Farm’s Wolfie’s Dynaghost crossed first November 14 at Aqueduct.

Chowda wins the $100,000 Gander Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 16. Photo by Coglianese Photography.

Joining Street Lute and Air Token with five wins each were Ronney Brown & John Cefalu’s Bold Valor and Robert Cole’s Sniff. The victories all came at Charles Town except Sniff’s most recent, which was at Mountaineer.

For more details on the lucrative Residency program, visit vabred.org.

$300,000 In Bonus Monies Awarded To Owners of Virginia-Bred/Sired Horses In 2020

Nearly $300,000 in bonus monies was awarded to owners of Virginia-bred and sired horses in 2020 courtesy of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association’s (VTA) Mid-Atlantic Incentive program. A total of 57 owners, whose horses won at tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region, shared $299,574.75.

The initiative is just one of three offered annually by the VTA. Almost $​​​1.8 million was awarded in the popular Certified Residency program while another $1 million was doled out to breeders in the Commonwealth via the Virginia Breeders Fund program.

“These are exciting times to do business in Virginia,” said VTA Executive Director Debbie Easter. “Even though Colonial Downs will offer seven weeks of racing this summer, these three incentive programs offer year-round bonus opportunities for breeders and owners. The 2020 monies awarded are all very positive developments. Historical horse racing revenues have just started kicking in so there is lots of growth still to come. We anticipate awarding $3.1 million this year in the Certified program alone. Doing business in Virginia really pays right now.”

Mr. Buff, who has won three straight editions of the Jazil Stakes, kicked off his run in January, 2019 at Aqueduct. Photo by Elsa Lorieul.

Top award of $30,000 went to Chester & Mary Broman, whose Virginia-sired homebred Mr. Buff — with career earnings of $1,295,786 — had a trio of stakes victories in 2020. The 7-year-old New York-bred prevailed in the Empire Classic Handicap, Haynesfield and Jazil Stakes, all at Aqueduct or Belmont. The 7-year-old gelding is by Friend of Foe, who stands at Robin Mellen’s Smallwood Farm in Crozet. Mr. Buff kept right on winning as 2021 kicked off with a dominant seven-length triumph in the Jazil again, on January 23.

Louis Ulman and Neil Glasser’s Kenny Had a Notion’s three wins translated into a $16,000 reward, second among the 57 recipient owners. The 3-year-old Great Notion gelding had victories in a maiden special weight at Delaware and in the Maryland Million Nursery and Jamestown Stakes at Laurel. Bred by Althea Richards, Kenny Had a Notion started out the new year — just like Mr. Buff — with a stakes win in the Spectacular Bid Stakes.

Kenny Had A Notion won the Jamestown Stakes for 2-year-olds at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Sir Rockport’s six wins, as an 8-year-old, provided the Sola Dei Gloria Stable with $14,100 in reward monies. The ageless Rockport Harbor gelding won four at Penn National and one each at Monmouth and Laurel. Bred by Legacy Farm and Larry Johnson, Sir Rockport also kicked off 2021 with a victory — an impressive four length, gate-to-wire effort at Penn National. That was his 12th win in just over 24 months.

New Farm in Marlton, New Jersey had two nice wins with their 4-year-old Summer Front gelding, Reconvene, which triggered a $13,762 bonus. Both victories came at Monmouth and were maiden special weight and allowance scores. Reconvene was bred by Lazy Lane Farms.
Rounding out the top five was Gillian Gordon-Moore and a trio of co-owners who earned $11,835 in awards courtesy of Great Camanoe’s two wins last year. The 4-year-old Tonalist gelding, bred by Corner Farm and Patrick Lawley Wakelin, won a maiden special weight at Delaware and an allowance at Laurel.

Great Camanoe wins a $47,586 allowance race at Laurel under jockey Victor Carrasco. Photo by Jim McCue.

Paul Hirsimaki’s 8-year-old gelding, Divine Interventio, earned over $62,000 in purse monies and a $9,832 incentive bonus last year from three claiming wins at Laurel. The son of Malibu Moon was bred by the William Backer Revocable Estate. His career bankroll of $376,000 has come from 30 “top three” finishes.

Michael Overfelt’s Goodluckchuck had a pair of claiming wins at Laurel which spearheaded $9,712 in bonus earnings. The 5-year-old Big Picture gelding was bred by Heidi Overfelt and ushered in the new year with a wire-to-wire allowance victory at Charles Town at 16-1 odds.

Rob Bailes trainee Goodluckchuck went 5-wide in the stretch to win November 26 at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

My Meadowview Farms was 8th in bonus monies with $9,625 courtesy of Lenstar’s win in a $70,000 allowance optional claimer at Belmont. The 7-year-old Shackleford gelding is trained by Nick Zito and was bred by Lazy Lane Farms.

Reiley McDonald’s Passion Play was best in a $66,178 allowance at Delaware Park, which led to a $9,450 reward. The 5-year-old Hold Me back gelding was bred by Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III.
Finishing out the top ten in bonus awards is eFive Racing Thoroughbreds, whose Tan and Tight prevailed in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct last January. The 5-year-old Uncle Mo mare was bred by Jim and Katie FitzGerald. She followed up that success with runner-ups in a Monmouth allowance and the Camptown Stakes at Colonial Downs.

For specific details on any of the VTA’s incentive programs, visit vabred.org.

Virginia-Bred Stakes Winner Largent Is Second Favorite in Saturday’s $1 Million Pegasus World Cup Turf

Virginia-bred Largent, winner of the Edward P. Evans stakes last summer at Colonial Downs, will compete in Saturday’s (January 23) prestigious Grade I, Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes, which has a purse of $1 Million. The stakes will be held on the same card as the $3 Million Pegasus World Cup Invitational and five additional graded stakes at Miami’s Gulfstream Park.

Largent (#1) en route to a tight victory in the Bert Allen Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.

The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding is the second early favorite at 9-2, behind only Colonel Liam, another Pletcher trainee, who is 7-2. A total of 12 horses will compete 1 3/16th miles in Gulfstream’s 11th race, scheduled for 4:59 PM.

Largent is a Todd Pletcher trainee and was bred by Lazy Lane Farms in Upperville, Virginia. After breaking his maiden in 2019 and winning two allowance races at Gulfstream early in 2020, Largent captured the stakes win on Colonial’s Secretariat Turf Course last summer. He followed that with another Virginia-bred stakes triumph in the Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel last October and most recently, authored a come from behind win in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream after being sent off at odds of nearly 17-1.

Largent wins the 2020 Edward P. Evans Stakes at Colonial Downs July 29. Photo by Coady Photography.

Overall, Largent has six wins and three runner-up finishes from nine career starts, good for purse earnings of $314,470. He is owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and was purchased for $460,000 at the 2017 Keeneland Yearling Sale. He is out of the Unbridled mare, Life in Seattle.

Fans can wager the race at any Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, Vinton and Dumfries, at any VA-Horseplay OTB in Henrico (Breakers Sports Grille), Chesapeake (Buckets Bar & Grill) and Collinsville (Windmill OTB Sports Grill), and online at TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, Twinspires.com and NYRAbets.com. Both Pegasus stakes can be seen on NBC between 4:30 – 6:00 PM.

Largent is shown after winning the Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Colonial Downs opens its third season of pari-mutuel thoroughbred racing under the ownership of the Colonial Downs Group on July 19, and will continue a seven week meet every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday through September 1. The track’s signature race — the Grade 3 Virginia Derby — will be held on August 31.

Central Virginia Horse Farms Continue to Thrive In Cold Weather Months

Here are pictures from a recent tour of thoroughbred horse farms in Central Virginia while checking on horses in the VTA’s lucrative Certified Residency program. Meet the farm owners below and check out their surroundings. This trip was made on a recent January day, probably the coldest of the season so far. The farms are located in Free Union (Ruxton Farm), Charlottesville (Big Lick Farm), Crozet (Braeburn Training Center), Somerset, New Canton (Southwoods Farm) and Palmyra (Byrd Hill Farm). A complete list of farms in the Certified program is available at vabred.org.

Ruxton Farm is in Free Union, about 15 miles north of Charlottesville.

Ruxton Farm owner Raleigh Minor with her “go-to” assistant Wilson Steppe.

Raleigh Minor with a 2020 Munnings colt at Ruxton Farm.

Horse owner William Dove II is based in Somerset and shares barn space with trainer David Bourke.

Attorney and horse owner William Dove II is with a 2020 colt by Palace Malice out of Southern Belle, who he nicknamed “Pigpen”.

Big Lick Farm is located in Charlottesville and currently houses 27 horses.

Virginia-Certified horses Graft and Lothario enjoy time at Big Lick Farm. The 2020 colts are by Gun Runner and The Factor respectively.

Big Lick Farm, owned by Reid & Sarah Nagle, features beautifully manicured grounds.

Braeburn Training Center in Crozet is owned by Patrick Nuesch.

Braeburn features a training track, two large barns and plenty of turnout areas nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains.

Patrick Nuesch stays busy tending to 25-plus horses at Braeburn.

Owner Jeanette Reck and her son, trainer Chris Reck at Southwoods Farm in New Canton with Virginia-Certified Zitrone and Sara The Great.

Chris Reck comes back from Penn National to spend winters at the family farm in New Canton to help with upkeep. It is located just south of Fork Union Military Academy.  

A view looking out from the barn at Southwoods Farm.

Polly Bance of Byrd Hill Farm in Palmyra has four Certified horses on her grounds for Howard Brown of Brown Dog Racing.

The entrance to 350 acre Byrd Hill Farm in Palmyra. There is plenty of room on site to accommodate more horses in the Virginia-Certified program.

A 2019 Uncle Lino gelding, 2020 Hoppertunity colt and 2020 Hoppertunity filly enjoy a meal at Byrd Hill Farm.

‘Favorable Setup’ Allows Virginia-Bred Bella Aurora To Prevail In Aqueduct’s Interborough Stakes

by  | 01.18.2021 | 5:06pm

Congratulations to Virginia-Bred Bella Aurora, who won the $100,000 Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct on January 18 after being sent off at odds of 37-1! The 4-year-old Carpe Diem filly was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm and got her second stakes victory — she previously won the 2019 Gin Talking Stakes at Laurel. Overall, she has earnings of $223,140 from 12  career starts and four wins. The following recap appeared in The Paulick Report.

Bella Aurora captured the Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct Jan. 18. Photo by Alysse Jacobs.

Country Life Farm’s Bella Aurora made her first start in New York a memorable one, surging up the rail in the stretch and finishing a one-length winner as a 37-1 longshot in Monday’s $100,000 Interborough for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Bella Aurora, a mainstay at Laurel Park in Maryland, hit the wire first for the first time in 13 months, notching her second career stakes score.

Making her 4-year-old debut, the Michael Trombetta trainee rallied from last-of-six, as Alisio led the six-horse field through a contested opening quarter-mile in 22.78 seconds and the half in 46.50 on the fast main track.

Interborough Stakes winner Bella Aurora was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm. Photo by Joe Labozzetta.

Out of the turn, jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. altered his initial plans to tip-out wide and instead capitalized on an open seam inside. His charge thrived with running room in front, powering down the lane to overtake a bunched-up field. Vargas, Jr. kept Bella Aurora to task as she completed the seven-furlong sprint in 1:25.63 for her first victory since the Gin Talking in December 2019 at Laurel.

“I just tried to get her relaxed and make one move,” Vargas, Jr. said. “By the turn, she was taking me places and I thought if she kept doing that well we’ll be all right. When the rail opened up, she went through there and just went for it.

“At the turn, I was trying to save some ground and then work my way out,” he added. “But the hole opened up so big I just went straight in there and got the job done.”

Bella Aurora, the longest shot on the board, returned $76.50 on a $2 win wager. Bred in Virginia by Morgan’s Ford Farm, the Carpe Diem filly increased her career earnings to $223,140.

“Today, she got a favorable set up,” Trombetta said. “Jorge did such a good job with her. He saved ground and was patient enough that when the opportunity along the rail became available, he had enough horse to grab it.”

Bella Aurora has $223,140 in earnings after winning her second career stakes. Photo by Chelsea Durand.

Bella Aurora improved to 4-1-4 in 12 career starts.

“This was such a nice surprise,” Trombetta said. “We’re going to have to figure out what the new plan looks like.”

Needs Supervision, an 8-1 choice, bested Saguaro Row by a neck to complete the high-priced exacta [$195.50] in her first start at the Big A since finishing fourth in the 2019 Grade 3 Go for Wand.

“I thought I was in a good spot, but they got me pinched there around the turn and I lost my momentum a little bit,” Needs Supervision jockey Manny Franco said. “When I came out, my filly started running.”

Portal Creek, the 4-5 favorite, Call On Mischief and Alisio completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

Virginia-Certified Street Lute, Virginia-Bred Kenny Had a Notion, Both Win Laurel Stakes

Congratulations to Virginia-Certified Street Lute and Virginia-Bred Kenny Had a Notion, who both had $100,000 stakes wins at Laurel on January 16! The former collected her 6th win from 7 career starts — and 4th stakes win in a row — while the latter earned his 4th win from 7 starts. Three-year-old Street Lute, whose Virginia residency was spent at at Diana McClure’s DMC Carousel Racing Stable in Berryville, increased her bankroll to $350,000 by winning the Xtra Heat Stakes. Kenny Had a Notion, who was bred by Althea Richards, increased his lifetime earnings to $211,175 with a victory in the Spectacular Bid Stakes. The following recap appeared in The Racing Biz and came from a Laurel press release.

Street Lute cruised in the Xtra Heat. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

  • Press Release
  • January 16, 2021

Lucky 7 Stables’ Street Lute, cutting back to six furlongs for the first time in two months, ran her win streak to four races, all in stakes, with a dominant five-length triumph in the $100,000 Xtra Heat.

A neck shy of being undefeated in seven career starts, Street Lute ($2.80) ran six furlongs in 1:10.31 over a fast main track under regular rider Xavier Perez in her 3-year-old season opener.

“The horses, they all improve after they win and she’s done nothing but win, so she expects to win,” winning trainer John ‘Jerry’ Robb said. “I think that helps.”

Perez and Street Lute were outrun for the early lead by Trip to Freedom, the Maryland Million Lassie show finisher who went the first quarter-mile in 22.51 seconds. Street Lute, racing in the clear two wide, eased up to take over the top spot following a half in 45.64 and kept rolling, opening up by five lengths heading for home.

“It’s easy to say now, but I kept looking for the fractions to make sure [Perez] was going easy and apparently he was,” Robb said. “I was confident coming into today but after watching the races today and all the closers were winning every race, I was a little nervous from that.”

Miss Leslie, winner of the 1 1/16-mile Ann Arundel County in her previous start, ran second to snap her three-race win streak. It was 3 ¾ lengths back to 30-1 long shot Breeze Off the Bay, who edged Whiskey and Rye by a neck for third. It Can, Plane Drunk, Trip to Freedom and Incomparable completed the order of finish.

Street Lute overcame an eye injury and subsequent surgery to win her debut, delayed to September at Delaware Park. The Street Magician filly won the Small Wonder in her second start and got caught at the wire in the Maryland Million Lassie before reeling off consecutive wins in the Smart Halo, Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship and Gin Talking, the latter Dec. 26.

Robb tied Mike Trombetta for second overall among all trainers with 43 wins in Maryland last year. It was Trombetta’s Miss Nondescript that edged Street Lute in the Lassie.

Kenny Had a Notion proved narrowly best in the Spectacular Bid. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

“The whole barn’s been doing good, not just her,” Robb said. “We’ve been having a great meet, thanks to everyone.”

Last run at Pimlico in 2007, the Xtra Heat honors the Maryland-based Hall of Fame mare and champion 3-year-old filly of 2001 that won 26 of 35 career starts, captured 25 stakes including the Prioress (G1), and was second against the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), both during her championship season.

In the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid, for sophomores, Kenny Had a Notion gutted out a neck victory over favored Maythehorsebewithu. It was the Virginia-bred Great Notion gelding’s third stakes win.

“He’s just gotten better,” winning trainer Dale Capuano said. “His first race when he won at Delaware, he ran a decent race but not that fast. Then the next time was on an off track and he didn’t run well. Then he won on the turf and in the Maryland Million. The turf race seemed to turn him around.”

 

2020 Online Betting Handle On Horse Racing In Virginia Rose 56% Over Prior Year

A Covid-pandemic world changed the way horseplayers wagered in 2020. When much of the industry came to a standstill in mid-March, a handful of tracks still operating reaped benefits as a move to online wagering became the new norm.

Handle figures from Virginia’s four partner Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) companies — TVG, Xpressbet, Twinspires and NYRABets — began to grow markedly in early spring then continued to surge throughout the rest of the year as more tracks came on board. Even when Virginia OTBs and simulcast centers in Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums reopened in early July, online wagering continued to blossom. By year’s end, online handle had grown by 56.4% over 2019’s figures with $135,486,989 in wagers placed, versus $86,629,347 the year prior.

A ribbon cutting was held January 8 to usher the newest Rosie’s is Dumfries.

Top handle producer of the ADWs was TVG, whose $70,827,157 handle represented a 70.80% gain over last year’s $41,468,459. Despite the fact that all three legs of the Triple Crown were delayed — including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness which are normally held in May — TVG’s biggest handle producing month was May with $8,362,852. TVG averaged $193,487 in bets per day, highest of the four ADWs.

Twinspires was next with $39,771,460, a 32.69% increase over last year’s $29,972,433. They had their best month in July, handling $4,812,192 in wagers. On average, Twinspires took in wagers of $108,661 per day.

Up to 20 tracks per day are available to wager in every OTB/simulcast center.

Xpressbet, third in overall handle, experienced a 53.07% boost while accepting $18,209,171 in wagers compared with $11,896,242 in 2019. Their most successful month was July as well when they handled $2,022,934. Xpressbet’s daily average take was $49,771.

NYRABets, newest of the four online partners, had a triple digit business increase over 2019. Their 2020 handle of $6,679,199 was 102.8% better than last year’s $3,292,212. Their biggest producing month on thoroughbreds came in August ($815,413) when the annual Saratoga meet was in full swing and major graded stakes were scheduled there each weekend.

Turning to brick and mortar sites, $2,089,784 million was wagered in December on horse racing action at Virginia’s seven OTBs — the four at Rosie’s Gaming Centers in New Kent, Vinton, Richmond and Hampton, and the three VA-Horseplay sites in Henrico (Breakers), Chesapeake (Buckets) and Collinsville (The Windmill). Breakers was the top handle producing venue with $486,010 and for the year, handled $5,048,467. Buckets was next with $494,526 and for the year, handled $4,824,197. The Rosie’s in Hampton was third with $318,604 and overall, handled $3,641,887 in 2020.

Breakers is located in the Ollie’s Shopping Center in Henrico, at 9127 W. Broad Street between Parham and Gaskins Roads.

Heading into mid-January, wagering should continue to remain strong with winter’s biggest stake race coming up and Kentucky Derby prep race season about to hit full stride.

The $3 Million Pegasus World Cup (Gr. I) is slated for Gulfstream Park on Saturday January 23. The stakes-filled card also includes the $1 Million Pegasus World Cup Turf (Gr. I), $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (Gr. 2), $150,000 William McKnight (Gr. 2), $150,000 Marshua’s River (Gr. 3), $150,000 La Prevoyante (Gr. 3) and $150,000 Fred Hooper (Gr. 3).

Major upcoming Derby preps include the Holy Bull and Robert Lewis (Jan. 30), Withers and Sam Davis (Feb. 6), San Vicente (Feb. 7), Risen Star and El Camino Real Derby (Feb. 13), Southwest (Feb. 15) and Fountain of Youth (Feb. 27).