2025 kicks off in Keeneland’s sales ring in Lexington, Kentucky! Mares in-foal and broodmare prospects are offered right before the 2025 breeding and foaling season begins. Short yearlings will also be seen in this sale. The schedule for this 2 book session is as follows:
Book 1 Session 1 – Monday, January 13, 10:00AM Hips 1-458
Book 2 Session 2 – Tuesday January 14, 10:00AM Hips 461-880
Book 2 Session 3 – Wednesday, January 15, 10:00AM Hips 891-1318
See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified horses listed in the sale.
Josep Bassaganya-Riera of Covilar LLC Acquires 50% Ownership of Five Star General in Partnership with Kenny Alhadeff of Elttaes Stables
Stallion to Stand at Covilar’s Owl Hollow Farm in Floyd, Virginia for 2025 Breeding Season
Floyd, Virginia — December 9, 2024 — Covilar LLC (“Covilar”) is pleased to announce acquisition of 50% ownership in Five Star General through a strategic partnership with existing owner Kenny Alhadeff. Five Star General, whose nickname is “Ike,” after U.S. President and five-star general Dwight D. Eisenhower, will stand at Covilar’s Owl Hollow Farm in 2025, offering breeders in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region unique access to Kentucky-quality, high-profile genetics at a competitive price. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Covilar’s mission to establish itself as the premier breeding and racing facility in Virginia.
Since acquiring Owl Hollow Farm in 2021, Covilar has worked to transform the sprawling property into a modern, world-class breeding facility. With facility upgrades complete, Covilar’s founder Dr. Josep Bassaganya-Riera sought a stallion of exceptional caliber to launch Owl Hollow Farm as a top-tier Thoroughbred breeding and racing destination. Five Star General’s pedigree, performance and versatility aligns with Dr. Bassaganya-Riera’s long-term vision for Owl Hollow Farm.
“Five Star General is the ideal stallion to begin expanding Covilar and Owl Hollow Farm,” said Dr. Bassaganya-Riera. “Thanks to our partnership with Kenny Alhadeff, we’re thrilled to offer breeders a top-class stallion right here in Virginia. Our unique breeding program has already produced two crops of foals from Snapy Halo (ARG), sired by top southern hemisphere producer Southern Halo. Our breeding programs are designed to maximize performance, speed and stamina of the offspring. We believe that the addition of ‘Ike’ as our leading stallion is a natural choice and excellent complement to our emerging Thoroughbred breeding program.”
“We’ve been thrilled with the success of Five Star General, one of the most special horses our family has had the privilege of owning. We’re looking forward to partnering with Covilar to launch ‘Ike’ as a sire and to bring this accomplished stallion prospect to breeders in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Alhadeff. “The partnership is exceptionally beneficial to our family, to Covilar and Owl Hollow Farm’s plans, and to breeders in the Virginia and mid-Atlantic region. I am elated to be partnering with Dr. Josep Bassaganya-Riera, and his determination to improve the breed is thrilling. What better place than Virginia?”
“Five Star General is what all breeders should be looking for: speed, soundness, exceptional looks and a stallions’ pedigree. We have great confidence in his ability to pass on those sought-after traits,” said international bloodstock agent Chad Schumer.
Alhadeff said, “I’ve been in Thoroughbred horse racing my entire life. My grandfather, Joe Gottstein, founded Longacres Racetrack in the Seattle area in 1933. In 1935, he created the Longacres mile with a purse of $10,000, the richest race at the distance at the time. Winning back-to-back Longacres miles with Five Star General is a highlight of my entire career as an owner. I’ve had the privilege of racing over 100 Thoroughbreds, and Five Star General’s continued display of endurance, desire and courage has been breathtaking. His improbable stretch run in the last race before retirement is best described by legendary jockey, Joe Bravo, who said ‘The horse willed it. He’s a warrior.’ When a Thoroughbred runs from ages 2 through 8—winning every year— it tells you something very important about their durability and desire.”
Five Star General ran five years in a row in the historic Longacres Mile, placing all five years and winning the last two years to finish out his racing campaign.
2025 Breeding Season Details and Incentives Craig Whitlow announced that Five Star General will stand for an introductory fee of $6,000 for the 2025 breeding season. He added, “In the very near future, we will release a very lucrative incentive program specifically designed to benefit breeders in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.” Covilar’s planned incentives will support broodmare owners with proven racing or stakes potential, ensuring access to Five Star General’s exceptional racing bloodlines.
About Five Star General and His Exceptional Bloodlines Five Star General (Distorted Humor x Party of Interest) is the product of a superior lineage. His sire, Distorted Humor, has produced numerous champions known for their versatility and racing prowess. His dam, Party of Interest, hails from the prestigious Bernardini, a Champion 3-year-old colt and classic winner whose influence extends deeply into the Thoroughbred racing world.
Party of Interest’s strong pedigree includes a lineage tied to notable names like Seeking the Gold and Deputy Minister, known for producing durable and competitive racehorses. Five Star General’s siblings have also showcased talent, further supporting the genetic strength he brings to the breeding program. Party of Interest’s most recent foals have been sired by multiple G1 winning stallions including Charlaton, Gunite and Jack Christopher.
Five Star General has amassed career earnings of $902,202, highlighted by victories in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings and back-to-back wins in the Longacres Mile, demonstrating his resilience and competitive spirit. In 2024 alone, he earned $224,773 and secured a 33%-win rate, with an impressive 72% top-three finish rate across all races. His career-best equibase speed figure of 114, competitive spirit and adaptability underscore his quality as both a racehorse and a top-quality stallion prospect.
Key Details: Sire: Distorted Humor Dam: Party of Interest Career Earnings: $902,202 2024 Earnings: $224,773 Wins: 39 starts with 13 wins, 6 second-place finishes and 9 third-place finishes, including wins at the Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct and Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings, and two Longacres Mile wins. Top-3 finish rate across all races: 72% Win Rate: 33% Equibase Speed Figure: 114 2025 Stud Fee: $6,000
Booking Information Breeders interested in booking with Five Star General or learning more about Covilar’s’ 2025 incentives are encouraged to contact Covilar LLC at craig@covilar.com or visit www.covilar.com.
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About Covilar LLC
Located in Floyd, Virginia, Covilar was founded by Dr. Josep Bassaganya-Riera with the goal of creating a premier Thoroughbred breeding and racing program in the Mid-Atlantic region. Recently renovated and meticulously designed, Covilar’s Owl Hollow Farm provides a world-class environment for top breeding quality Thoroughbreds. Five Star General is a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred stallion that exemplifies the vision of Covilar, demonstrating our commitment to offering elite genetics to establish a progeny of race winners and outstanding service to Thoroughbred breeders.
This Sale will take place in Lexington, Kentucky on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Two-hundred and thirty-four horses will make their way to the sales ring by the end of the day.
See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified horses listed in the sale.
The grand opening/ribbon cutting of The Rose is today, November 7, 2024! This is another big and important step forward for Virginia’s horse racing and breeding industry.
Virginia Thoroughbred Association President Amy Moore has called a Special Meeting of the membership for November 26, 2024, at 12:00 pm. The meeting will be held at Airlie House, 6809 Airlie Road, Warrenton, Virginia, 20187. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on changes recently approved by the VTA’s Board of Directors to the organization’s Articles of Incorporation.
Currently, the VTA’s Articles of Incorporation provide that directors of the VTA are elected to two-year terms, with half of the directors elected each year. If adopted by the members, the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation would provide that directors are elected to four-year terms, with half of the directors elected every two years. (The amendment also provides transition rules for current directors.) The proposed amendment and the current Articles language are listed below.
Proposed language for Articles of Incorporation Change Article VII Directors
The number and qualifications for directors of the Association shall be fixed in the Bylaws. The current directors shall be divided into two classes: Class A directors shall be those directors who were elected to office in 2024; Class B directors shall be the remaining one-half of the directors. The current two-year term of Class A Directors shall be extended for an additional year to end at the 2027 annual meeting of the members. The current two-year term of the Class B directors shall not change but shall end at the 2025 annual meeting of the members. Thereafter each class of directors shall serve four-year terms so that, as near as possible, every two years one-half of the Directors are elected to four-year terms.
Current language for Article VII Directors
The number of and qualifications for directors of the Association shall be fixed in the Bylaws. The number of directors shall be divided into two groups with each group containing one-half of the total, as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors shall be elected to two (2) year terms to serve on the Board of Directors. The terms of the two groups of directors shall be staggered so that the terms of one group expire each year. At each annual meeting of the Members one group shall be elected for a term of two years to succeed those whose terms expire. All elections for Directors shall be decided by a plurality of the votes cast by Members entitled to vote.
The VTA Board believes that this change will enhance the recruitment of Board members, reduce turnover in the VTA’s leadership, and allow the VTA to benefit from the experience of directors who have more familiarity with the issues facing the organization. The Board recommends that members vote FOR the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.
WE NEED YOUR VOTE: Our Bylaws require a quorum of more than one third of the membership to approve these changes. You are welcome to attend the Special Meeting and vote on the changes in person. If you choose not to attend the meeting, we ask that you please vote by proxy or electronically through the email sent to you. If you have any questions or you have not received a proxy in the mail or a Constant Contact email detailing how to vote, please email me or call our office so we may get you the materials you need to vote.
Debbie Easter Executive Director Virginia Thoroughbred Association (434) 531-2480 Debbie.easter@easterassociates.com
The November Sale will take place in Lexington, Kentucky on Monday, November 4, 2024. Starting at 2:00pm, 309 horses will make their way to the sales ring by the end of the night.
See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified horses listed in the sale.
The grand finale of the yearlings’ sales will take place in Lexington, Kentucky. The schedule for this four-day sale is as follows: hips 1-404 will head to the ring on October 21st. October 22nd hips 405-808 will sell. On October 23rd hips 809-1212 will sell. Lastly, on October 24th, the sale will conclude with hips 1213-1614 at the sales pavilion. Each day will begin at 10:00am.
See the file below for all Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified horses listed in the sale.
Up next is the OBS yearlings sale in Ocala, Florida . This two day sale that will begin at 11:30AM on Tuesday, October 8th with hips 1-266 and the supplements. The sale will continue on Wednesday, October 9th at 11:30AM with hips 301-569 and conclude with the supplements.
See the file below for all Virginia-Bred horses listed in the sale. Please note there are no Virginia-Certified horses.
