Sharing with you my fascinating discoveries about Thoroughbred racing, sales, fashion, food, beverage, tips and more.
At long last, there was a nice break in the Bluegrass winter that allowed me to get out and enjoy some of the top stallions that the Horse Capital of the World has to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Darley at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, KY.
Continue reading “Dazzled by Darley”
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Photo: a picture from a print from the Keeneland Jockey Collector Series featuring Mike Smith. The series, released in 2005 and 2006, includes Pat Day, Jerry Baily, Edgar Prado, Robby Albarado and Craig Perret as well. I have all of the prints except the Albarado, darn!
Thoroughbred U is wholeheartedly dedicated to Sport of Kings. I have such a personal passion for the horses that I have a tendency to make the Thoroughbreds the focus. On the day when we remember Zenyatta’s retirement from racing I think it is an important moment to pay due respect to the jockey.
First a bit on Zenyatta, because I simply must. Zenyatta is a Kentucky bred mare born in 2004 to Street Cry and Vertigineux. Zenyatta won 4 Eclipse Awards and 19 of her 20 starts. She is a mare that won both the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic and was 1st and 2nd in the BC Classic itself. On November 17, 2010 she retired to the life of a broodmare at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky. Mike Smith was her jockey for 16 of her outstanding wins. Without further delay, let’s focus on a man behind the mare.
Michael Earl Smith was born in Roswell, New Mexico on 8/10/1965. His father was a jockey. Mike E. Smith took to the sport at a very young age and obtained his license to ride by the time he was only 15 years old. It didn’t take long until Smith was on the move, earning leading jockey titles nationally and additionally finding success overseas.
By 1992, Smith was a Breeders’ Cup winner. He won the BC Mile riding Lure in 1992 and 1993. Two BC wins are enough to impress me. After all, the BC is designed to be the World Champion event for Thoroughbred racing. Smith wasn’t stopping. He holds the record for BC wins now with 25 victories. He has won the BC Classic an outstanding 4 times, including this year’s ride on Arrogate. His BC Classic winners also include, Drosselmeyer, Zenyatta and Skip Away. Smith did so well at the BC this year, he received his third Bill Shoemaker Award, given to the jockey with the most BC points. Scoring provides 10 points to win, 5 to place, 3 to show and 1 point for fourth place. This year, Smith won the BC Dirt Mile with Tamarkuz, the BC Filly and Mare Sprint with Finest City and the BC Classic with Arrogate. Smith was 2nd in the BC Distaff with Songbird, in the BC Juvenile Filles with Coasted and the BC Sprint with Masochistic. He picked up his last 3 points, with a third place finish, in the BC Juvenile Fillies with American Girl.
Smith has won every leg of the Triple Crown. He has won internationally 4 times and there is talk he may be slated to head to Europe with Arrogate in 2017. Smith obtained his 5000th win in 2012, while on Eclipse Award 2011 Champion Sprinter, Amazombie. He is very selective of who he rides for now. He now has 5,360 wins in 32,674 starts. At 51 years old he is going strong.
Photo: From my visit to and story about Old Friends in September of 2015. BC Sprint winner, Amazombie, in the mask and Rapid Redux, who had 22 consecutive wins, thus more than Zenyatta.
Smith obtained his own Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey in 1993 and 1994. 1994 also brought him an ESPY Award for Best Jockey. He holds several other honors and awards and in 2003 he was inducted into the National Museum and Hall of Fame.
Big Money Mike is his nickname due to his success in earnings. Mike E. Smith is entered in several races at Del Mar on 11/18 and 19. Will you bet him to be your money maker? I’ll be keeping my eye on him. He sure caught me by surprise with the romp over California Chrome in the BC Classic. Check back soon for more Thoroughbred related information!
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Undefeated in 2016, our happy boy, California Chrome, is preparing for the last “Cup”le races of his career. Chrome will race for the Breeders’ “Cup” and the Pegasus World “Cup” before retiring to stud.
California Chrome is the favorite to win the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Chrome has had an amazing career that has done so much for the Thoroughbred industry and for charity. California Chrome has only improved with time over his 5 year life span.
Chrome, also known as Junior, was foaled on 2/18/11. He was born of Lucky Pulpit and Love the Chase. Junior has won 15 of 24 career starts. He is trained by Art Sherman, and his jockey is Victor Espinoza. Bred by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn he is now owned by California Chrome, LLC.
Chrome has won many races and awards. In 2014, after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, he was given Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year and Champion 3 Year-Old Colt. He was 4th in the Belmont Stakes in 2014, thus missing a Triple Crown achievement. Chrome ran 3rd in the BC Classic in 2014 and he was recovering from a bruised cannon bone when BC15 took place. I had a couple of visits with him during the end of his recovery, at Taylor Made Farm, in Nicholasville, KY. Taylor Made is part of his current LLC. group of owners and it will be this farm that keeps him in his retirement.
California Chrome has won all 6 of his 2016 races. He won the San Pasqual Stakes, the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy, the Dubai World Cup, the San Diego Handicap, the Pacific Classic Stakes and the Awesome Again Stakes.
I am very interested in California Chrome’s return to KY for two reasons. I will enjoy the ease of local visits and second I am so excited for Chrome babies. I won’t be attending BC16. I did take the week off from work. I’ll head out to see the races at The Red Mile, near home. Unfortunately, I have never seen Junior race live thus I want to slow down time and enjoy the last of his races. He has 2 to go with the BC Classic at Santa Anita in CA on 11/5/15 at PDT 5:35 PM (8:35 PM EST) and the first ever Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in FL on 1/28/17.
While in CA, California Chrome and his connections are continuing to raise money for charity. Chrome is the richest Thoroughbred in North American history but he gives back too. Espinoza is a very charitable jockey. He generally gives up a percentage of his earning and when he won the Triple Crown last year on American Pharoah he gave all of his earnings away. Taylor Made is also generous with charity. They use Chrome power to raise money for multiple charities. Tomorrow they are allowing for a very nice “An Evening With Team California Chrome” where Perry Martin, Art Sherman, Frank Taylor and Victor Espinoza will all speak and donate all the money from the event to Thoroughbred Charities of America. Chrome has the influence to win the hearts of racing fans and to bring attention and funding to many works of charity.
Without further ado, here are the post positions for the Grade 1 BC16 Classic by post/horse/jockey/trainer:
The BC16 Classic is a dirt race of 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) with a $6,000,000 dollar purse for Thoroughbreds age 3 and upward. I wish all ten horses a safe ride and I will be pulling for Chrome to win.
Don’t miss a race. There are 13 Breeders’ Cup races in 2016. NBC and NBC Sports Network will cover them all. TVG will show select races. On Friday, 11/4, the Juvenile Turf posts at 2:25 PM PDT, the Dirt Mile at 3:05, the Fillies Turf at 3:50 and the Distaff at 4:35. On Saturday, 11/5, all posted in Pacific Time, is the 12:05 PM Juvenile Fillies, 12:45 Filly and Mare Turf, 1:21 Sprint, 2:05 Turf Sprint, 2:43 Sentient Jet Juvenile, 3:22 Longines Turf, 4:01 Filly and Mare Sprint, 4:40 Mile, and finally the 5:35 Classic. The NBC Sport Network will host a 3 hour show on Friday and a 6 and 1/2 hour program on Saturday. The Classic has a special show from 8 to 9 P.M. EST on NBC. Be careful to watch for variances in time zones!
Please, enjoy the last of California Chrome’s races and all of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup. If you are lucky enough to attend live, share a picture or a comment. Check back for results and more adventures.
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Turn a pity party into paradise! That’s what one trip to the world famous Kentucky Horse Park can do. I finished up a glorious Fall Meet at Keeneland Friday and Saturday which left me pining for more equine action today. Thus I headed out to the KY Horse Park. I wanted to see the progress on the Man o’ War statue at his final resting place.
Born on March 29, 1917 it will soon be time to celebrate the 100th year since this legendary horse was foaled. Man o’ War is one of the very best Thoroughbreds to ever race. “Big Red”, as he was affectionately named, won 20 of 21 career races. He was bred and born in Kentucky at Nursery Stud owned by August Belmont II. Man o’ War was sired by Fair Play, his dam was Mahubah. Man o’ War was sold to Samuel Riddle and lived at Glenn Riddle farm in Maryland. Big Red was trained by Louis Feustel. His jockeys were John P. Loftus and later, Clarence Kummer.
Man o’ War won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Colt in 1990 and 3 Year Old Colt in 1920. He won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1920 as well. He then retired to Faraway Farm in Lexington, KY and had a highly successful stud career, siring 62 graded stakes winners. His son, War Admiral, won the Triple Crown in 1937. War Admiral died on this very date, 10/30, in 1959. Before that, Man o’ War passed away 11/01/1947 of a heart attack. He was buried at Faraway and later moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY in 1977. Man o’ War was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957. In many publications of Thoroughbred rankings, Big Red is listed as number 1.
When Man o’ War was exhumed his 3,000 pound bronze statue was moved with him. Herbert Haseltine created the bronze sculpture dated 1948 but commissioned as early as 1934. It sits on a marble base. Casting Arts and Technology is currently in the process of removing the original patina to restore the statue.
Man o’ War’s statue is still a beautiful site to behold even while it is a work in progress. The statue and his grave are in the Man o’ War Memorial area just beyond the main gate and to the left. Isaac Murphy, a famous jockey and several of Man o’ War’s descendants are buried there as well.
I really enjoyed my time at the Kentucky Horse Park this morning. I especially loved seeing the retired horses that live in the Hall of Champions and petting a sweet horse in a paddock on the property. Big Red’s statue should be restored any day now and the park is already preparing for their Southern Lights attraction which I posted about last December. I sure do miss Keeneland racing but I’m glad to have the Kentucky Horse Park open on most days annually. There is always something new to see. Check back soon as I post about the upcoming Breeders’ Cup.
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California Chrome is ready again to prove that he is the most awesome male in Thoroughbred racing today! Tomorrow, 10/1/16, Chrome will race in the Xpressbet Awesome Again Stakes. Chrome is undefeated in all 5 of his 2016 races and based on his recent workouts he is looking like every bit of the champ that will keep the wins coming. He is 5 at 5!
California Chrome is the flashy 5 year old son of Lucky Pulpit and Love The Chase. Chrome is a California bred Thoroughbred with some Kentucky connections. In 23 starts he has won 14 times. He won 2 of the 3 legs of the Triple Crown in 2014. He finished 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a 3 year old, as well. Chrome earned 2 Eclipse Awards that same year, Horse of the Year and Champion 3 Year Old Colt. With 2 nice finishes at 2nd in 2015, Chrome traveled a bit and then got some rest and relaxation at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky. That is where I visited him on 2 occasions. He will retire there soon to make beautiful Chrome babies. He is affectionately called Junior and he is both an amazing race horse and just a joy of an animal at the same time. He loves his cookies and hamming it up for the camera and his fans, even babies. Chrome will race in the Awesome Again Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Pegasus World Cup before he returns to his old Kentucky home, to stay.
One race at a time, California Chrome is focused on another win in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Chrome calls nearby Los Alamitos Race Course his current home. His last race was 8/20/16 when he won the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar. He has been resting and prepping nicely ever since then. He got in a fast 7 furlongs at Los Alamitos on 9/24/16. This morning he galloped and schooled at Santa Anita. All signs show, Chrome is at his best at age 5. It is worth noting that the Stronach group put up a $1 million dollar bonus for the connections of the horse that could sweep the Pacific Classic, the Awesome Again and the BC Classic. 1 down, 2 to go!
The Awesome Again Stakes was inaugurated as the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap in 1982. The Goodwood name came from England’s Goodwood Racecourse. In 2008 the race became the Goodwood Stakes. Named once again in 2012, it became the Awesome Again Stakes for Awesome Again, the horse that won the BC Classic in 2008. The race is 9 furlongs (1 and 1/8 mile) on the dirt for Thoroughbreds age 3 and up with a purse of $300,000. Some of my personal winners include Ferdinand and Silver Charm. Last year, Smooth Roller won. Posting at 3:37 P.M PDT (6:37 EST) , the Grade 1, Awesome Again Stakes is the 7th race on a card of 11. The first post is at 12:30 P.M. PDT. It is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” berth race for the 2016 BC Classic. NBC will begin its television coverage at 5:30 P.M. EST. The preceding race, the G1 FrontRunner Stakes, brings a BC berth into the BC Juvenile Division race. Actually, every race from the 6th to the 10th is a BC berth. Those should be fun to watch and/or bet as well.
The field for the Awesome Again Stakes is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner:
I’ll be pulling for California Chrome for his 6th straight win while I’m praying for a safe ride for all. I believe Chrome will be awesome again. My bet will be placed from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY where I will be simulcasting and taking in some live racing. Mr. Z returns in race 9 at Churchill Downs tomorrow and I love him. He hasn’t raced since November, 2015. I will always remember the day I met Mr. Z, at D. Wayne Lukas’ barn, in the early morning hours and he gave my bestie a love bite on the arm. That is just too funny for me. Check back soon for more photos and commentary from my adventures and education in racing.
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A dream was fulfilled yesterday when I finally got to meet American Pharoah. I was lucky enough to be present at Keeneland, this past October, when Pharoah worked his way thru the paddock and then flashed past me to win his final race. He won the first and only Grand Slam, the combination of all 3 legs of the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. With that, Pharoah retired just a few miles further down the road at Ashford Stud in Versailles,KY.
Ashford Stud is the American division of Coolmore. Coolmore America acquired the Ashford farm in the 1980s. The land was developed for cattle farming around 1912 and was called Hereford Farm until the late 1970s. As the cattle were replaced by stallions some great bloodlines began to prosper here. I was very impressed from the time I traveled thru the gated entry and down the tree lined car path passing lush fields that led us to the start of the tour. Everything we saw was built with beauty and there is a lot of stone work.
Coolmore added Thunder Gulch to the roster in 1996. He still lives there today, having retired last year. He serves as a calming factor to American Pharoah in the paddock now. Thunder Gulch is the offspring of Gulch and Line of Thunder. Thunder Gulch was born in March of 1992. He won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in 1995. He was 3rd in the Preakness Stakes that year. He was the Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3 Year Old Colt that same year. By 2001 he was the top sire. He has produced many fine Thoroughbreds.
A farm favorite and North America’s leading sire in lifetime earnings, still standing at Ashford, is Giant’s Causeway. He shares a barn with American Pharoah but it is Giant’s Causeway’s large statue that is featured just outside of the barn door. He is accredited with producing 31 Grade 1 winners. He is the son of Storm Cat and Mariah’s Storm, born in 1997. Giant’s Causeway had a nice career as a runner but the stud life is for him. He earned the champion sire title in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
Shanghai Bobby said it was much too pretty to look inward towards the barn. He was enjoying the view of the lovely farm. His very 1st crop of yearlings are selling now and he has had some nice prices on his Keeneland September Sale grads. Shanghai Bobby won the BC Juvenile and and Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Colt both in 2012. He himself is the son of Harlan’s Holiday and Steelin’. He was foaled in 2010.
Munnings wasn’t having it either. He left the hamming to American Pharoah. Munnings is the 2006 offspring of Speightstown and La Comete. Munnings was a nice race horse and he is producing great foals. I’m A Chatterbox is one of my favorite of his progeny.
Uncle Mo is having a very significant impact on the industry right now. He is the sire of our last KY Derby winner, Nyquist. Indian Charlie and Playa Maya produced Uncle Mo in 2008. He was the winner of the 2010 BC Juvenile and subsequently the winner of the Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year Old Colt that same year.
Declaration of War was born to War Front and Tempo West in 2009. His sire, War Front along with Tapit took the lead at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as they have for years. Declaration of War’s first crop are currently yearlings.
Lookin At Lucky wasn’t necessarily looking at me. This 2007 son of Smart Strike and Private Feeling was a nice racehorse. Lookin at Lucky won the Preakness in 2010. In 2009 and 2010 he took the Eclipse Award for Champion Colt. Madefromlucky is one of his many graded stakes winning offspring.
The name plaques on the walls and the gravestones in the cemetery remind us of the great horses that have called Ashford Stud home. Cigar and Scat Daddy are among those memorialized. Scat Daddy died way to soon. His last crop of yearlings are making there way through this year’s sales. Hip 454 at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale was his son. He was the sale topper hammering $3 million dollars.
The property is stuffed with awards and memorabilia affiliated with the champion sires that have called Ashford home. Pictured here are just a few of the wonderful collection I saw.
The least fancy building on the tour holds the most important rooms. This is the breeding shed where every live mount at Coolmore America takes place.
I’ll conclude the tour recap with a few more photos of Ashford’s and America’s champ. American Pharoah brought an end to our 37 year quest for a Triple Crown Winner. He is our only living champion horse of just 12 Thoroughbreds to ever win the series. American Pharoah was born in 2012. He is the son of Pioneerof the Nile and Littleprincessemma. Pharoah began breeding for the 1st time this year. I can not wait to see his foals. I hope they inherit every bit of his talent. He has put on a little weight and he seemed calm and comfortable for a stallion. To arrange for your own tour go to Horse Country Tours
In other news, California Chrome races again Saturday. Look for my Chrome story any day now.
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Get into the game! Do you want to buy or see the graded stakes winners of the future? If so, plan to head to Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale in Lexington, KY. Keeneland prides itself on being the auction company to graduate the best yearlings in the world.
These are a few of the pictures I took at the sale last September. Thoroughbreds sold at Keeneland are having a fantastic year. In 2016, more of their grads have gone on to win Grade or Group 1 stakes races than from any other auction house. Every winner, of each of the 2016 Triple Crown Series, was once sold at Keeneland’s yearling sale in September of 2014. Nyquist won the Kentucky Derby, Exaggerator won the Preakness Stakes and Creator won the Belmont Stakes. It would take too long to name drop all of the talent that came out of that sale. The 73rd annual sale should lead to greatness as well.
The sale starts with Book 1 on Monday, 9/12/16, at 11 am EST. All of Book 1 sale dates start at 11 am. There are 6 books in the sale that concludes on Sunday, 9/25/16. Books 2 thru 6 sales start at 10 am daily with the exception of Thursday 9/15 when there will be no sale. The schedule is as follows by book, dates and hip numbers:
The sale will include the best sire power. 53 Tapit yearlings will go thru the auction. Pioneer of the Nile is represented by 60 of the yearlings there. Fine yearlings by Scat Daddy, Bodemeister, Tiznow and Violence will be available as well. Several more yearlings by other outstanding sires are also cataloged. Search the entire catalog here: Keeneland September Yearling Sale
If you can’t make the sale you can go to the Keeneland website to watch the entire sale or TVG and TVG2 will show parts of the sale. I will be in attendance on several days and I will post frequent pictures and news to Twitter. Follow me at Thoroughbred U . Check my webpage over the next few weeks to see more photos and sales recap information.
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What would a blog site dedicated to sharing educational information about Thoroughbreds be without multiple references to his legacy and a post all about Secretariat? Without further ado, I bring you a Big Red story.
Secretariat was one of, if not, the greatest Thoroughbred race horses in all of history. Born in Virginia, in March of 1970, this amazingly conformed red chestnut horse by Bold Ruler and Somethingroyal by Princequillo grew to be one of the most treasured animals to ever live. Secretariat became a racing legend. He swept the Triple Crown in 1973, he raked in 5 Eclipse Awards and he became a Hall of Famer. In 21 starts he won 16 races. Secretariat raced from August of 1972 until October of 1973. He ended his racing career on top having won his last 2 races and setting yet another time record.
By 1974, Secretariat produced his first foal and in 1975 he turned out his first crop from his stud career at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. His legacy is strong today. In fact he is in the bloodline in so many of the best horses today including 6 of the 9 horses in today’s Woodward Stakes.
Secretariat was so great that his entire team became rather famous. His connections are his owners, Meadow Stables with Christopher and Penny Chenery, groom, Eddie Sweat, exercise riders, Jim Gaffney and Charlie Davis, trainer, Lucien Laurin and jockey, Roy Turcotte. Some of these folks will be making an appearance at this year’s Secretariat Festival!
The 9th annual festival will be held in downtown Bourbon County September 16-18, 2016. From Thursday thru Sunday Paris, KY is hosting a festival in honor of Big Red. There will be farm tours, art, food, bourbon, a parade, an auction, autographs, entertainment and more. See the full schedule here: Secretariat Festival. Admission to the festival is free but some activities are for ticket holders only and some fees are included with ticketed events. Most event are in Paris but some of the tours are not and require meeting at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Claiborne Farm where Secretariat lived his stud career and was buried in October, 1989 is one of the several farm tours. Ashford Stud where Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah is a stallion is also on the list of tours.
The Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, when it was held at Belmont Park, is one of the few races that Big Red didn’t win. That race took place in 1973. Today is an honor that many of his offspring will run that same race, now held at Saratoga. He is in the pedigree of Tapin Mojo, Catholic Cowboy, Bradester, Samraat, Tale of Verve and Frosted. Frosted is the favorite to win. It would be thrilling to see one of Secretariat’s current racers win today!
The $600,000 Woodward Stakes wild be held at Saratoga today. The race is 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs). It is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” challenge. NBC sports network will televise the Saratoga from 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. EST. The Woodward is the 10th race on the card and will post at 5:46 P.M. EST 9/3/16. It is for horses 3 years and older. The race is named for William Woodward, Sr. who developed Belair Stud producing 2 Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox and Omaha. Be sure to tune in today and thanks for following.
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This year’s Travers stakes is going to be huge! This race is literally massive in terms of both entries and talent. The 147th running of the Travers Stakes has 14 contestants. It is tied for the highest number of entries, that record was established in 1977. 6 of the 14 horses in this field were in the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Saratoga’s “Midsummer Derby” is shaping up to be one of the finest races of the season.
The Travers Stakes was inaugurated in 1864. It is held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY. The race has varied historically but this year the crowd capacity will be capped at 50 thousand fans to watch the $1.25 million dollar Grade 1, of 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs), dirt race for 3 year-old Thoroughbreds. One of Saratoga’s finest races, the Travers, has acquired the name of the “Midsummer Derby”, traditionally held in August. The track itself has the nicknames of ” The Graveyard of Champions ” due to the frequency of major upsets that have occurred at this track and “The Spa” because of the areas historical and rich mineral springs. The Travers is named for William R. Travers. He was the owner of the 1st horse to win this race, Kentucky. Travers was also president of the Saratoga Racing Association.
In 1941 there was a Superfecta won by Whirlaway. A Superfecta is the combination of winning all of the Triple Crown legs and the Travers Stakes. One recent example of an upset at the Travers happened just last year. After American Pharoah went on an 8 race winning streak, that included sweeping the Triple Crown series, he was 2nd in the 2015 Travers, losing to Keen Ice. This win by Keen Ice gave his rider the title. Javier Castellano is the jockey with the most Travers wins, at a total of 5. American Pharoah redeemed himself in his next race, as if he needed to, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The combo of the Triple Crown plus the BC Classic is called a Grandslam and American Pharoah is the only horse to have ever achieved the Grandslam. Whirlaway is the only Superfecta winner.
Another very special horse won the Travers in 1920, Man o’ War. In his honor, Tiffany and Co. created a trophy, a gold plated replica Man o’ War Cup is given to the winner of the Travers annually.
Please, allow me one more interesting historical fact before we get to the 2016 entries. There is a nice goose pond infield of the Saratoga track. A canoe was placed there in 1926. Since 1961, the canoe is painted in the silk colors of the Travers winner each year.
Finally, here is our enormous field by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner:
Arrogate is the KY bred grey son of Unbridled’s Song and Bubbler. He has won the last 3 of his 4 career races. He has never been entered in a stakes race. Smith has not won the Travers since 1998 and Baffert has not won this race since 2001. Arrogate has never raced at The Spa.
American Freedom is a KY bred colt, sired by Pulpit, his dam is Gottcha Last. He has won 3 of his 5 races. He won 1 of 3 graded stakes. American Freedom has not raced at Saratoga but while he shares a trainer with Arrogate he has more East coast experience. Bejarano has not won the Travers.
Another KY bred is in post 3. My Man Sam is the offspring of Trappe Shot and Lauren Byrd. He has won once in his 6 starts and he participated in 2 graded stakes races including the KY Derby. He often runs second and he could probably do that once again. In his last race he was second and that was at Saratoga. Trappe Shot finished 9th in the 2010 Travers. Franco nor Brown have historical wins in the Travers. Brown is on a roll at Saratoga. He got his 1,000th win while racing there on Wednesday. Brown has 3 entries in the Travers.
Governor Malibu is a NY bred with NY racing experience. He was 2nd his last trip out and that was at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy Stakes. He is the son of Malibu Moon and Akilina. Governor Malibu has won 2 of his 9 starts. He has placed in 2 of 3 graded stakes. Neither Rosario or Clement have won the Travers.
Forever d’ Oro is the KY bred Colt of Medaglia d’ Oro and Lemons Forever. He recently finished 3rd at Saratoga. This was one of his 5 races. He has won once. He participated in the Belmont Stakes. His sire, Medaglia d’ Oro, won the Travers in 2002. His dam sire, Lemon Drop Kid, won the Travers in 1999. Forever d’ Oro’s jockey, Saez, won the Travers in 2013.
Anaximandros is a colt by Hard Spun and Dragon Fly. He is KY bred with a French dam. He has won 2 of 5 races. He was 4th his last race which is his only graded stakes experience. He has not raced at Saratoga. His jockey nor trainer have ever won the Travers.
Right in the middle sits the favorite, Exaggerator! Sired by Curlin he is the KY bred colt born to Dawn Raid. He has more experience then the preceding post positions with 6 wins in 13 starts. He ran all three legs of the 2015 Triple Crown finishing 2nd, 1st then a disappointing 11th respectively. He had a triumphant rebound in his very next race when he finished 1st in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Kent Desormeaux won the Travers in 2009.
Destin is a grey colt by Giant’s Causeway and Dream of Summer. One of my favorite farms, Taylor Made, had a part in his KY breeding. He has won 3 of 8 races. He finished 3rd at Saratoga behind Governor Malibu in his last race. He participated in the KY Derby and the Belmont Stakes. He finished 2nd to Creator in the Belmont. He is a multiple graded stakes winner. Pletcher last won the Travers in 2011. Castellano has won the Travers the most.
Gift Box is a grey ridgling. In his pedigree are Twirling Candy and Special Me. He has 2 wins of 5 races. He recently finished 2nd at Saratoga. He was 3rd in his only graded stakes race. The jockey nor the trainer has won a Travers Stakes race.
Connect is another colt by Curlin. He is a KY bred horse with Bullville Bell as his dam. He is on a streak winning his past 3 races out of a career 4 starts. He just won at Saratoga last month, besting Gift Box. He has not entered a graded stakes before. Connect’s dam sire, Holly Bull, won the Travers in 1994. Mike Smith was the jockey for Holy Bull’s win. Smith is Arrogate’s jockey this time.
Majesto is a KY bred ridgling. He was born to Tiznow and Unacloud. He has only finished first in one of his 8 races. He has two graded stakes races in his resume and one of those was the KY Derby. His last race was at Saratoga where he finished 6th. His connections have not won the Travers. Majesto’s dam sire, Unaccounted For was 4th in the 1994 Travers Stakes.
Creator is a grey colt sired by Tapit, thus another KY bred. His dam is Morena. He has finished first place in 3 of his 11 starts. It was not his day in the KY Derby but he was 1st place in the Belmont Stakes. Most recently he finished 6th at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy. He has the ability but not the consistency. His jockey and trainer haven’t won a Travers before.
In the lucky 13 post position stands Laoban. He is the son of Uncle Mo and Chattertown. He is a KY bred colt. He won one time in a career 8 races. That one time counts big for this race as it was right at Saratoga last month when he conquered the Jim Dandy Stakes. He has raced in 6 stakes races including the Preakness. He has the experience. His trainer and his jockey are looking for their first Travers wins too.
Finally, we end the field with Gun Runner. Bred in KY by Candy Ride and Quiet Giant this colt has a 5 in 8 record for wins. He was 3rd in the KY Derby but holds multiple graded stakes wins. He has not raced at Saratoga. Geroux would be happy to get his first Travers title.
Be sure to buy tickets now if you are fortunate enough to be planning to attend. It is expected to be a sell out. The card includes 13 nice races. Four BC Win and You’re In races are up for grabs. The Travers is the 11th race on Saturday 8/27/16. It will post at 5:44 P.M. EST. NBC will provide television coverage from 4:30 to 6 PM.
Thank you to our regular handicapper for allowing me use of his photos. I fully rely on my own photos and those of close friends and family. I really appreciate having access to pictures of horses and places I haven’t experienced yet. Check back regularly for new Thoroughbred posts.
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The official start of the yearling sales season kicked off yesterday, 7/12/16, at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY. This sale came one day after the Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. I was especially excited to attend day 2 because it marked the first time I part owned a Thoroughbred at an auction.
I was not on hand, due to my day job, for the horses of racing age sale. That sale was quite a success. Compared to last year, more horses were sold fetching a higher overall price, a higher average price and far fewer unsold horses. 72 horses sold versus 65 the prior year. The total sale brought in over $5 million dollars compared to less than $4 million in 2015. The average price per horse rose by over $8.5 thousand dollars. Finally, only 19 horses did not get sold this July, where as last year 31 did not sell. The sale topper was the 7-year-old mare, Storm Lucy at $575,000. Malibu Moon and War Front sired 5 Thoroughbreds each in that sale making them the top sires by numbers in the sale. Taylor Made Sales Agency was the top consignor.
The July Selected Yearling sale did not exceed 2015’s results. The number of horses sold declined, as did the total price as well as the average price while the number of horses that failed to meet the reserved price increased. The 2016 sale sold 183 Thoroughbreds versus 205 the year before. Last year’s sale made over $20 million dollars while this year brought just over $17.6. On average horses dropped from $97 thousand dollars to $86 thousand each. This year 110 horses were not sold versus only 83 the prior Summer sale. Seen above is the sales ring screen showing an Uncle Mo filly bringing in $250,000. A colt sired by Curlin, hip 222, was the sale topper at a price of $475,000.
Wearing hip 235, pictured above, is a horse that I part owned thru a pinhook partnership I bought into last Fall. He came in with a 4 way tie of top selling horses. This colt, sired by Graydar, brought a price of $200,000. He sold to Twin Creeks Racing Stable, LLC. I loved his unique coloring, best seen in the sunlight. I can not wait to see how well he does on the track later in life!
Hips 338 seen at top left was sired by Speightstown and sold for $350,000. On the right is hip 326, another horse sired by Curlin, who sold for just $90,000. He is in front of the walking ring screens as hip 324 by Stay Thirsty who sold for $260,000.
Touring the grounds a bit I saw some interesting reminders of the exciting sales graduates that Fasig-Tipton has sold before. On July 19, 1975 the Lexington location of this great auction company sold the amazing Seattle Slew for just $17,500. He went on to win the Triple Crown in 1977. He has a whole building complete with art named for him as seen above. Below, we see a reminder of American Pharaoh, our last Triple Crown winner. He was featured as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in New York in 2013 and bought back by his owner. This is where the next major yearling sale will take place on August 8 and 9th, The Saratoga Sale. My group has several horses in that auction so I will be following it closely.
I hope you all enjoy the yearling auctions. Check back with me weekly for more Thoroughbred news or adventures.
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