Four Virginia-bred horses recently reached the winner’s circle at Charles Town including a consistent mare that was making her 70th career start.

Storming Margaret, an 8 year old Here’s Zealous mare, made her 70th start quite memorable in kicking off the month. She came four wide from fourth in the final turn of her $10,000 claiming race to nip Mrs. Sport by a neck at the wire and record her 12th victory. Bred by Rodger Smith, Stormin Margaret has been a model of consistency in her career. She has 15 runner-up finishes to go with 13 thirds, and has recorded 31 consecutive “top five” finishes, a streak that goes back over 2 1/2 years. Her career earnings stand at $175,905. She is out of the Smoke Glacken mare, Storm in Philly.

Stormin Margaret earned win number 12 from start number 70 in early February. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Max James orchestrated a nice comeback to reach the winner’s circle at Charles Town early in the month. The 4 year old Union Rags gelding was ninth at the halfway mark of his 1 1/8th miles claimer amongst a field of ten before stepping up. He advanced to seventh at the third fraction, though still nearly ten lengths off the pace, before a huge rally. Max James crossed 2 1/2 lengths to the best in 1:56.46.  He was bred by Audley Farm, is out of Pink Champagne by Awesome Again, and has now earned $40,940 from 14 starts.

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Despite being bumped at the start, Max James prevailed at Charles Town. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Girlwthewrngtattoo authored a gate to wire effort at the West Virginia oval for owner/breeder Donna  Hayes. The 4 year old daughter of Fiber Sonde beat runner-up Charitable Bound by 1 3/4 lengths in her $24,000, 6 1/2 furlong allowance. She is out of the Housebuster mare, Miss Morgana and has $36,700 in winnings from 7 starts.

Girlwthewrngtattoo went gate to wire in a $24,000 allowance raced at Charles Town. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Braxton was the most recent Charles Town victor, connecting on Valentine’s Day in a $24,500 allowance sprint. Sent off as the betting favorite, the 4 year old Peak Dancer gelding trailed early in the 4 1/2 furlong event, got to within 1 1/2 lengths of the leader at the top of the stretch and within 1/16th of the finish, finally gained control. Braxton crossed in :52.66, 3 1/4 lengths the best. Owned and bred by the Eagle Point Farm in Ashland, the Javier Contreras trainee won for the third time in six career outings. He is out of Toccoa by Purple Comet.

Other recent Virginia-bred triumphs occurred at Tampa Bay Downs, Gulfstream and Laurel.

Black Prong, owned and bred by Sarah Nagle and trained by Reid Nagle, came back from ninth at the half in his one mile, $14,700 claimer at Tampa to win by a half length over Indy Forest. The 4 year old Wiseman’s Ferry gelding rallied inside early in the stretch then went outside late. Out of Talented Nut by Horse Chestnut, Black Prong has finished out of the money just once in his eight career starts. He has bankrolled $37,330.

Gamer Girl collected her first lifetime win at Gulfstream in a six furlong, $21,000 maiden claimer. The 4 year old Jersey Town filly went gate to wire in 1:12.27 and crossed 1 1/4 lengths the best. She is out of the Meadowlake mare, Speedwell, and was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm. In her last three starts, all at Gulfstream, she has a pair of seconds and a win.

Porte Cochere’s win at Laurel gave the 5 year old 6 in 24 starts. Photo by Jim McCue.

Porte Cochere, bred by Legacy Farm and Larry Johnson, prevailed in a $15,000 claiming sprint at Laurel. The 5 year old Street Sense mare won for the sixth time. She had 12 “in the money” finishes in 24 starts before finishing sixth earlier this week. She is out of the Partner’s Hero mare, Wonderous Woman.

A Virginia owned Kentucky-bred horse also was victorious at Laurel this past week. Rumor Ridge made her second lifetime start and collected her first win — by 4 1/2 lengths — for the Burning Daylight Farms and trainer Ferris Allen. The three year old Yes It’s True filly, who did not race as a two year old, beat ten others in a $40,000 maiden special weight race.

Kentucky-bred Rumor Ridge, shown winning at Laurel February 9th, is owned by Burning Daylight farms of Virginia. Photo by Jim McCue.

In recent stakes competition, Virginia-bred One Go All Go competed in his first Grade I event — the Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes — and did quite respectably. The 6 year old horse finished fourth but only lost by 1 3/4 lengths. Bred by Albert Coppola, the solid outing enabled One Go All Go’s bankroll to surge over the $400,000 mark.

Tyfosha, a three year old filly bred by Lazy Lane Farms, also took fourth in a stakes at Oaklawn — the $125,000 Martha Washington. She has now bankrolled $86,050 from just five races.

The following appeared in The Racing Biz February 13th. 

by Frank Vespe

Live racing is a big step closer to returning to Virginia’s Colonial Downs.

The Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly – 79-21 – in favor of HB 1609, a bill that would allow “historical horse racing” machines in the Commonwealth. Now the bill heads to the state Senate, which is expected to begin the process of considering it as early as next week.

Historical racing machines, which to users feel essentially like slot machines, use previously contested races to generate the winning numbers. They have been critical to the success enjoyed in recent years by tracks like Oaklawn Park and Kentucky Downs.

And, if HB 1609 becomes law, they could be critical to what advocates hope will be the rebirth of Colonial Downs in New Kent County, east of Richmond – perhaps hosting a live Thoroughbred meet as early as 2019.

“I think the nice thing about that vote and the size of the vote in favor was that people recognize that something significant has to be done to reopen Colonial Downs,” said Jeb Hannum, executive director of the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA), the all-breed racing umbrella group. “I feel like we made our case, and now we move forward to the Senate.”

The bill would allow historical racing machines at a racetrack and also at any off-track wagering facilities owned by either the track or by the VEA, which currently has three OTBs in operation, with a fourth, in Collinsville, VA, slated to open in March.

Debbie Easter, president of the VEA and executive director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA), which represents the state’s Thoroughbred breeders, said that estimates indicated that the passage of a historical racing machine bill would mean that the Thoroughbred industry would “possibly do $6 million to $10 million more than we could do ourselves” via off-track wagering facilities and advance deposit wagering.

“It’s more money for the entire industry, not just Thoroughbred racing,” she emphasized.

Colonial Downs, which opened in 1997, last conducted live Thoroughbred racing in 2013. Its 2014 season – and subsequent racing years – was scuttled by an acrimonious dispute between Virginia horsemen and Colonial’s owner, Jeff Jacobs.

A Chicago-based group called Revolutionary Racing now reportedly has an agreement to purchase Colonial Downs. But that group believes that Colonial is only financially viable if additional revenue, such as from historical racing, is added.

According to a study commissioned by Revolutionary, which envisions the revitalized Colonial’s operations fully ramped up by 2022, the company by then would host approximately 25 days of live racing at Colonial Downs and have a fully built-out network of 10 off-track wagering facilities.

The study, conducted by Chmura Economics and Analytics, projects that the company’s 2022 revenue will exceed $200 million, of which about 80 percent would come from historical racing. It further estimates that the company will employ more than 400 people.

Easter said that she believed the recent state House elections – which included the retirement of speaker William Howell (R-Stafford County), a longtime foe of expanded gaming, as well as a Democratic wave which came within a whisker of giving that party a majority in the House – played an important role in today’s vote.

She also thought that Revolutionary’s economic message was critical.

“I think also you’ve got the whole economic development thing about New Kent County, and you’ve got Colonial Downs sitting there shuttered, and the jobs that would be really important to the locality,” she pointed out.

And, she acknowledged, passage of historical racing and the rejuvenation of Colonial would be beneficial to the breeders and horsemen her group represents.

“I think it’s huge,” she said. “First off, we get some live racing back in Virginia. The other thing it’s going to let us do is shore up our incentive program (for breeding and raising horses in Virginia), so I think it’s helpful to make sure we can do those and hopefully expand them a little bit.

“It’s added money, so it’s a good thing.”

Off to the Races on The Racing Biz Radio Network returns for its 2018 season Saturday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m. The program will air on over terrestrial radio on ESPN Richmond (VA) — 950 AM, 99.5 FM, and 102.7 FM — and via internet streaming.

The show will air every Saturday morning from February 10 through July 21.

“We are excited to kick off the 2018 season of Off to the Races,” said Frank Vespe, owner-publisher of The Racing Biz and host of the program. “We look forward to sharing with our listeners some of the most interesting voices in mid-Atlantic racing over the coming months.”

Saturday’s show features four guests:

• Familiar voices Derby Bill Watson and Nick Hahn will return once again, with Watson, the former on-air handicapper at Colonial Downs, providing his handicapping insights and Hahn sharing his persepctives on the Virginia, mid-Atlantic, and national racing scenes;
• Debbie Easter, executive director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and president of the Virginia Equine Alliance, will discuss recent developments in Virginia, including the VTA stallion auction; and
• Dr. Patty Hogan will share her thoughts on the future of racing and how animal welfare issues may impact that.

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

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

The following appeared in The Paulick Report February 8th. Catholic Boy is trained by Jonathan Thomas, son of the Virginia Equine Alliance’s Track Superintendent, John Dale Thomas. In addition to the Sam Davis Stakes Saturday, fans can make advance wagers on the May 5th Kentucky Derby from Friday Feb. 9 – Sunday Feb. 11. Virginia’s 3 OTBs will accept those bets — at Breakers Sports Grille and Ponies & Pints in Richmond, and  at Buckets Bar & Grill in Chesapeake. The four on line betting partner websites will also accept wagers — TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, Twinspires.com and NYRABets.com.    

Seven 3-year-old colts and geldings take their next steps Saturday toward a potential date with Thoroughbred racing destiny in the 38th edition of the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, the showcase of a 12-race Festival Preview Day Presented by Lambholm South card at Tampa Bay Downs beginning at 12:13 p.m.

The mile-and-a-sixteenth Sam F. Davis on the main dirt track is a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve points race, awarding 10-4-2-1 points to the first four finishers toward eligibility for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 5. The Sam F. Davis is the 10th race.

Manny Franco cools down Catholic Boy after winning the Remsen Stakes.

Saturday’s program is also highlighted by the return to the Oldsmar oval of two-time Florida Cup winner World Approval, this time as an Eclipse Award winner. The 6-year-old gray Champion Turf Male and Breeders’ Cup Mile winner is a sturdy favorite against nine rivals in the 32nd annual Grade III, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes for older horses at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf course.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will make the trip to Tampa Bay Downs to renew acquaintances with World Approval, who drew the No. 7 post.

Also slated are the 19th edition of the Grade III, $175,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes for older fillies and mares at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf and the 38th running of the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-40-yards on the main track.

The Suncoast awards 10-4-2-1 points to the top four finishers toward eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks on May 4.

The likely favorites for the Sam F. Davis are Catholic Boy, who won the Grade II Remsen Stakes at on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct in his most recent start, and Hollywood Star, who finished second as a 2-year-old in both the Grade II Saratoga Special at Saratoga and the Grade III Iroquois at Churchill Downs.

The full field for the Sam F. Davis in post position order is as follows, with trainer and jockey:

1. Navy Armed Guard, Joan Scott, Jesus Castanon
2. Flameaway, Mark Casse, Jose Lezcano
3. Vino Rosso, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez
4. Septimius Severus, George Weaver, Jose Ortiz
5. Hollywood Star, Dale Romans, Joel Rosario
6. Catholic Boy, Jonathan Thomas, Manuel Franco
7. Vouch, Arnaud Delacour, Daniel Centeno.

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Copyright © 2018 Paulick Report.

The Secretariat Team announced today that Charlie Davis, the charismatic exercise rider for 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, died early this morning from complications of lung cancer. He was 78.

Davis, who was born on Feb. 2, 1940, in Orangeburg, S.C., started his vocation by cutting elementary school to watch the Thoroughbreds train on the farm where his father worked. Small in stature but tough and determined, Davis learned how to exercise horses and eventually went to work for legendary trainer Lucien Laurin, becoming a member of the famed “Holly Hills” crew that also included storied groom Eddie Sweat.

Davis exercised some of the era’s top racing stars of the 1960s, including champion filly Quill and Belmont Stakes winner Amberoid. In 1971, when Laurin took over Christopher Chenery’s Meadow string, Davis was assigned as exercise rider for the stable’s champion colt Riva Ridge and later Secretariat. He continued exercising horses until 1981, when he was thrown and suffered a career-ending back injury. Davis later worked as a foaling manager for several farms in the Ocala, Fla., area, and was known throughout the industry as a well-rounded horseman.

In a recent interview with Tim Sullivan of the Louisville Courier-Journal, Davis reflected, “I just wanted to be Charlie, no more than the good Lord let me,” he said. “I don’t want to be more than what I is.”

Ron Turcotte, the Hall of Fame jockey who rode both Riva Ridge and Secretariat, said that Davis’ passing is a great loss for the Secretariat Team and for the sport of horse racing.

“Charlie was a great friend to me personally and a great friend to the sport,” Turcotte said. “He and Eddie [Sweat] knew Secretariat better than any of us, and Charlie became a walking history book about those days. He was a wonderful exercise rider with a true horseman’s touch, and the achievements of both Riva Ridge and Secretariat were a result of Charlie’s work with them.”

Davis regularly made appearances at racing venues, the Secretariat Festival and other events to the delight of generations of fans, always willing to share stories of Secretariat and his first-hand experiences as a member of the Meadow Stable Team. Following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis last month, friends and fans rallied around Davis, raising funds to cover his medical expenses.

Davis is survived by his wife of 51 years, Caroline, as well as seven children and several grandchildren. His daughter, Katina Davis, said the family has been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received.

“We are heartbroken that we lost him,” Ms. Davis said. “He was always so generous with whatever he had, especially his time. He loved talking about his days as an exercise rider, and he loved Secretariat. We are very grateful to all of his friends and fans who have offered messages of support and contributed to his GoFundMe campaign. That financial assistance has eased our worries as we cover Dad’s final expenses.”

Funeral arrangements for Charlie Davis are pending. Written condolences may be sent to:

The Davis Family
P.O. Box 831072
Ocala, FL 34483

Davis never missed an opportunity to brag on his champion Secretariat, whom he simply called ‘The Man,’ yet always humble about his own undeniable contributions to the colt’s legendary success and content to stand in Big Red’s massive shadow.

“I’d like people to say about me, ‘I knew a guy that galloped Secretariat.’ That is good enough for me.”

This piece appeared in The Paulick Report on February 8th.

“Charlie was a great friend to me personally and a great friend to the sport,” Turcotte said. “He and Eddie [Sweat] knew Secretariat better than any of us, and Charlie became a walking history book about those days. He was a wonderful exercise rider with a true horseman’s touch, and the achievements of both Riva Ridge and Secretariat were a result of Charlie’s work with them.”

Davis regularly made appearances at racing venues, the Secretariat Festival and other events to the delight of generations of fans, always willing to share stories of Secretariat and his first-hand experiences as a member of the Meadow Stable Team. Following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis last month, friends and fans rallied around Davis, raising funds to cover his medical expenses.

Davis is survived by his wife of 51 years, Caroline, as well as seven children and several grandchildren. His daughter, Katina Davis, said the family has been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received.

“We are heartbroken that we lost him,” Ms. Davis said. “He was always so generous with whatever he had, especially his time. He loved talking about his days as an exercise rider, and he loved Secretariat. We are very grateful to all of his friends and fans who have offered messages of support and contributed to his GoFundMe campaign. That financial assistance has eased our worries as we cover Dad’s final expenses.”

Funeral arrangements for Charlie Davis are pending. Written condolences may be sent to:

The Davis Family
P.O. Box 831072
Ocala, FL 34483

Davis never missed an opportunity to brag on his champion Secretariat, whom he simply called ‘The Man,’ yet always humble about his own undeniable contributions to the colt’s legendary success and content to stand in Big Red’s massive shadow.

“I’d like people to say about me, ‘I knew a guy that galloped Secretariat.’ That is good enough for me.”

Breeders Fund award winners for 2017 have been announced, and a total of $525,000 will be distributed among 53 different thoroughbred breeders. 248 Virginia-bred victories were recorded from 2,231 starts, which translated into $3,926,079 in purse winnings.

Highest money earning breeder was the Keswick Stable & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings at $70,631 thanks to three time stakes winner and top bonus money earner last year, Stellar Wind. The 6 year old Curlin mare collected a trio of Grade I stakes wins in the Clement Hirsch,  Apple Blossom Handicap and Beholder Mile. Stellar Wind earned a capped bonus of $25,000 each from the last two, and $20,631 from the first stakes win. In 2017 Stellar Wind won $800,000 in purse monies, and her career earnings now stand at $2,253,200.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, left, outleg Vale Dori (Mike Smith), right, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Sunday July 30, 2017 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA.© BENOIT PHOTO

The leading breeder by sheer number of wins was Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, who had 35 individual awards that totaled $69,447. Their American Dubai was one of two Virginia-breds that had five wins in 2017. The 5 year E Dubai horse’s triumph in the Downs at Albequerque Handicap produced a $13,066 bonus alone. He also prevailed in the Sunland Park Handicap and totaled five wins from ten starts last year, good for $332,310 in earnings.

Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone were next with 22 wins. Their 7 year old Stroll gelding, Special Envoy, won a three pack of Virginia-bred stakes in 2017 — the Edward Evans, Hansel and Bert Allen Stakes.  The combined trio of efforts added up to $14,349 in bonus monies. He completed the year with $129,510 in purse earnings, and has amassed a career bankroll of $287,650.

Special Envoy turned the tables on Rose Brier as the two battle to the wire in the Edward Evans Stakes. photo by Jim McCue.

Morgan’s Ford Fam was third highest by wins, with 20. Four of those came courtesy of River Deep, who was bred in conjunction with F and F Stables and won $119,300 in purse monies from nine starts last year. Queen Caroline had wins in the Nellie Mae Cox and Brookmeade Stakes, both for Virginia-breds, and each resulted in a bonus of over $4,000. The 5 year old Blame mare earned $115,318 from eight starts and now has $375,613 in life earnings.

Larry Johnson-bred horses reached the winner’s circle 18 times including Do What I Say, who scored in the Commonwealth-bred Tyson Gilpin Stakes and generated a $4,900 bonus. The 5 year old Street Magician mare has bankrolled $114,935 from just nine starts. Johnson’s Greek God had four wins, Porte Cochere connected three times and Street Miz chipped in with a pair.

Do What I Say captured the inaugural Tyson Gilpin Stakes June 24th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

The William Backer Revocable Trust was fifth with 17 wins, followed by Lazy Lane Farms (13) and Audley Farm Equine (11). The Backer-bred West End Gambler had three triumphs to complement a pair each from Nice Try and Alabama Slim. Lazy Lane’s Rapid Rhythm won two stakes in 2017 —the Mardi Gras and the Richard Scherer Memorial — good for over $7,500 in combined bonuses. Audley Farm bred the impressive Greyvitos, who was named Remington Park’s Horse of the Year. The 3 year old son of Malibu Moon earned a $25,000 bonus from a win in their $400,000 Springboard Mile. Greyvitos earned $306,345 from just four outings.

Another horse in the top ten by award winnings was Just Call Kenny, who captured the Philip Iselin Stakes at Monmouth. The 7 year old son of Jump Start was bred by Althea Richards, won twice in 2017 and had four additional “in the money” finishes from various stakes. He earned $197,830 last year and has accumulated $479,565 in his career.

Just Call Kenny, bred by Althea Richards, won by 1 1/4 lengths over Double Whammy April 21st at Laurel. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.

 

Five different breeders shared $25,000 in stallion awards from a total of 20 wins and $298,290 in purse money earned. Phyllis Jones netted the highest amount, collecting $10,762 in awards from four wins via their stallion Friend or Foe. Those victories were by On the Fringe and Mr. Buff, both with two each. Lady Olivia at North Cliff was next with $8,449 from seven wins courtesy of their stallion Cosa Vera. Rounding out the top five were Susan Minor ($3,981- Fierce Wind), Sara Collette ($1,006 – Xenodon), and Lazy Lane Farms ($805 – Hansel).

Renovations continue at the site of the Virginia Equine Alliance’s (VEA) fourth Off Track Betting (OTB ) Center inside the Quality Inn in Collinsville (just outside of Martinsville).

Work on the bar area continues at The Windmill OTB. Televisions will be plentiful for customers sitting at the bar and those seated at tables throughout the restaurant/lounge.

The OTB will be called “The Windmill”, since the hotel’s exterior has a giant windmill on its façade. Locals have referred to the property as the Dutch Inn for years.

Once renovations are complete, the second floor combination sports bar/OTB will feature 47 televisions. A blend of live horse races from tracks around the country along with sports programming will be shown seven days and evenings per week. Up to 20 tracks will be simulcast daily. A combination of ten betting terminals will be available for fans to wager the horse racing action — 7 will be self bet machines and the other 3 can be utilized as either a manned or self bet terminal. Two of the televisions will be a 75-inch screen format while the other 45 will be of the 55-inch variety.

The OTB will is scheduled to open in late winter, in time for key Derby prep race weekends and of course, the Triple Crown.

The centerpiece of the Windmill OTB is a square area that will feature large TVs on two intersecting walls and a bank of five self bet terminals.

The Quality Inn  is located on heavily traveled Route 220 and has a large amount of free parking spaces. Progress updates will be available at www.virginiahorseracing.com.

The following appeared in The Daily Racing Form January 22nd and was written by Nicole Russo. Stellar Wind will compete in Saturday’s (Jan. 27) $16 Million Pegasus World Cup At Gulfstream Park.  Wagering will be available at all 3 Virginia Bets OTBs — at Ponies & Pints and Breakers Sports Grille in Richmond, and at Buckets Bar & Grill in Chesapeake. Advance betting on Gulfstream’s entire Saturday card will be available all day and evening on Friday. Virginia residents can also bet via four on line partner companies — TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, Twinspires.com and NYRABets.com.

There are few downsides to having a seasoned champion walk into a trainer’s barn in racing form. But trainer Chad Brown has just one regret about his association with Stellar Wind.

“The most disappointing thing is only having her for one start,” Brown told Gulfstream Park publicity. “We’ll try to make the most of that one start.”

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, left, overpower Beholder (Gary Stevens), right, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Stellar Wind was purchased for a sale-topping $6 million by the Coolmore partnership at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale as a mate for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who is based at the international outfit’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky. First, though, she will get the opportunity to recoup some of the investment in that one start for Brown, the $16 million Pegasus World Cup on Saturday. She will be the first female to start in the Pegasus, now in its second year.

:: PEGASUS PLAYER’S PACKAGE: Save on PPs, Clocker Reports, Pace Projectors, and more!

“She came into us in really good shape to begin with,” Brown said of Stellar Wind, trained for the majority of her career by John Sadler. “It’s a tall order. It’s going to be a really, really hard race, as it should be. . . . [But] it is a horse race. Anything could happen.”

Stellar Wind breezing at Santa Anita October 14th. Photo by Zoe Metz.

Stellar Wind, a daughter of Curlin, has won nine graded stakes, six of those Grade 1 events, and was honored with the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old female of 2015. Her pedigree also attracted Coolmore, as she is from the immediate family of the dams of Grade 1 winners Mor Spirit and Great Hunter, and shares common ancestry with multiple stakes producer Life Happened, the dam of champion Tepin.

“She’s a very good-looking mare,” Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier said after making the purchase. “She’s a champion. Most of her life, she was brilliant. Let’s hope we can do a good a good job with her, and she’s as good as a broodmare.”

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Stellar Wind will be among the highlights of American Pharoah’s third Northern Hemisphere book. Other mares already committed to the Pioneerof the Nile horse include Grade 2 winner Miss Sky Warrior; Grade 1-placed stakes winner Indy Groove and her Grade 3-placed daughter Emphatically; and Spring Eclipse, the dam of stakes winner Bet She Wins.

American Pharoah has been among the most active stallions in North America in his first two seasons, covering 208 mares in 2016 and 214 in 2017 according to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred. The stallion is averaging $467,308 from 13 members of his first crop sold at public auction late last year and early this year.

Pari-mutuel handle on horse racing in the Commonwealth surged over the $100 million mark in 2017 thanks to a 5.6% increase in Advance Deposit Wagering and the addition of two new Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers.

Of the four ADW — or on line betting  — partners, TVG led the way with a handle of $37,543,768, an increase of 7.3% over 2016 figures. Twin Spires was next with $28,864,384 in handle, a 3.28% bump over the prior year. XPress Bet followed with $12,959,739, a 6.1% drop, while NYRA Bets, which just completed its first full year accepting wagers from Virginia horseplayers, handled $1,708,643. The four combined to handle $81,076,535, including over $5.5 million in December.

The Buckets OTB in Chesapeake has averaged over $32,000 in handle daily since it opened in mid-November.

The three OTBs combined to handle $20,803,619. Breakers Sports Grille in Richmond’s west end led the way with $10,931,061, good for a daily average handle of $30,279. Ponies & Pints, located downtown in the Shockoe Bottom entertainment district, took in $8,215,369 in wagers, a $23,675 average, and Buckets Bar & Grill accepted $1,352,264 in horse race bets. Of the three, only Breakers operated the entire year. Ponies & Pints opened in mid-January while Buckets had a mid-November bow. In its first 1 1/2 months of business, Buckets averaged $32,196 in handle.

Over $179,000 in handle was bet at the spring and fall Gold Cup races at Great Meadow in 2017.

Virginia Gold Cup races at Great Meadow and harness races at Shenandoah Downs both added to the $101,880,154 total handle figure. $179,930 was bet on a combination of steeplechase and flat races overt two days at the Gold Cup, while $124,993 was handled in ten days of harness action at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock.