Monthly Archives: October 2016

Virginia-Breds Bird Call, What a Wildcat & Alabama Slim Boost 2016 Bankrolls to $30,000 Levels With Recent Wins

Here’s a recap of recent Virginia-bred wins since the big Commonwealth Stakes Day at Laurel September 24th and of course, Stellar Wind’s victory over Beholder in the Grade I Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita.

A trio of recent Virginia-bred winners — Bird Call, What a Wildcat and Alabama Slim — all saw their 2016 bankrolls approach or surpass the $30,000 level.

Bird Call, a 4 year old Birdstone gelding who didn’t race as a 2 or 3 year old, scored a ten length, gate to wire blowout victory in his six furlong claimer at Penn National. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, the victor crossed in 1:10.77 and earned his second win of the year from 7 starts. Out of the Secret Hello mare, Silent Greeting, Bird Call now has earned $29,290 this year for owner, the Lawrence Stable, Inc.

Bird Call, bred by the Lazy lane Farms, dominated October 7th at Penn, winning by 10 lengths. photo by B&D Photography.

Bird Call, bred by the Lazy lane Farms, dominated October 7th at Penn, winning by 10 lengths. photo by B&D Photography.

What a Wildcat didn’t have it as easy, but the 9 year old Wildcat Heir gelding prevailed at Presque Isle in his 60th career start. Outrun early in the 11 horse field, the Larry Johnson bred and owned veteran split rivals in the turn of the 6 1/2 furlong claimer and surged late to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The winner was 8th at the half and crossed in 1:17.17. In 11 starts this year, he has 3 wins and $31,675 in earnings.

Alabama Slim collected his 7th “top three” finish of the year and boosted his earnings to $29,255 by connecting in a claiming race at Churchill Downs. The 4 year old son of Flatter was claimed out of the race for $8,000 by Randy Patterson. The winner, bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, stayed within striking distance through the half before jockey Robby Albarado directed him three wide in the turn. Out of the Lion Hearted mare, Brief Encounter, Alabama Slim has collected a 1st, 2nd or 3rd in 2016 at five different tracks:  Gulfstream, Indiana Grand, Churchill, Keeneland and Ellis Park.

River Date, bred by Henry Carroll, went inside to score a win by a head over Do Share at Belmont October 2nd. Courtesy of Coglianese Photo.

River Date, bred by Henry Carroll, went inside to score a win by a head over Do Share at Belmont October 2nd. Courtesy of Coglianese Photo.

Virginia-bred River Date made it 2-for-3 this year October 2nd at Belmont when the 4 year old Pioneerof the Nile gelding eeked out a tight inside victory over Do Share in a $34,000 claiming race. The victor took the lead halfway through the seven furlong race and held off a late challenge. Out of the Proud Citizen mare, How Bout Tonight, River Date boosted his ’16 earnings to $46,900. He was claimed out of the race though by Five Racing Thoroughbreds.

Town Leader, bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, has won 2 at Laurel & 2 at Charles Town this year. Photo by Coady Photography.

Town Leader, bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, has won 2 at Laurel & 2 at Charles Town this year. Photo by Coady Photography.

Town Leader continued to roll by scoring her 4th win and 10th “in the money” finish of 2016 the day prior in a filly/mare claiming race at Charles Town. The 5 year old daughter of Proud Citizen was dominant in a gate-to-wire performance that saw her carry a 10 length lead halfway through the 1 1/16th miles race. She crossed the wire in 1:49.00, nearly five lengths in front of the runner-up. Town Leader was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone and is owned by Michael Miller, Out of the Theatrical mare, Theme, the winner has earned $40,037 this year from 11 starts. of a $10,000 purse. Start Winning is out of the Runaway Groom mare, Ritual Dance.

All horses noted above that won their race in the Mid-Atlantic region, will collect a 25% owners bonus on top of their purse earnings as part of the VTA/HBPA owners bonus initiative that began July 1st.

 

 

8 Grade I Stakes On Tap Saturday; 2 Virginia-Breds To Compete In Stakes Under Cards

It’s another great day to be a horse racing fan! Between Belmont, Santa Anita and Keeneland, there are 8 Grade I stakes that Virginia residents can watch and wager via TVG.com, XPressBet.com and TwinSpires.com.

At Belmont, it’s the Champagne, Flower Bowl, Frizette and Jockey Club Gold Cup while at Keeneland’s opening weekend, they host the Claiborne Breeders Futurity, Shadwell Turf Mile and First Lady Stakes. Later, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship goes to post.

Virginia-bred Long On Value (shown here), bred by the Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds, competes in the $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes at 3:38 PM today (Race 7). The 5 year old horse has alrteady won $116,920 this year alone.

Long On Value, winner of $116,920 this year alone, is in a $150,000 stakes at Belmont October 8th.

Long On Value, winner of $116,920 this year alone, is in a $150,000 stakes at Belmont October 8th.

Want more? Charles Town hosts the stakes filled West Virginia Breeders’ Classic card this evening! Lime House Louie, a 2 year old Virginia-bred gelding, will compete in the $75,000 Vincent Muscarella Memorial Breeders’ Classic. The race is second on Charles Town’s card and will go off at 7:32 PM. Bred by Carlos S.E. Moore and Gillian Gordon-Moore, LIme House Louis won the Jamestown Stakes last out, September 24th at Laurel.

Lime House Louie, bred  by Carlos Moore & Gillian Gordon-Moore, won the Jamestrown Stakes for 2 year olds at Laurel Saturday. Gabriel Saez guided the effort up top. Photo by Jim McCue.

Lime House Louie, bred by Carlos Moore & Gillian Gordon-Moore, won the Jamestrown Stakes for 2 year olds at Laurel Saturday. Gabriel Saez guided the effort up top. Photo by Jim McCue.

Closing Weekend Of Shenandoah Downs Harness Season Is This Weekend (Oct. 8, 9)

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 10/4/2016) —- The inaugural five week harness racing season at Shenandoah Downs will come to an end this coming weekend (October 8 & 9) with programs scheduled Saturday and Sunday along with a slate of added value events.

Saturday is “Seafest” Day, where three popular seafood vendors will be on the grounds and situated outside the main grandstand selling their fare. Pro Shuckers from Annapolis, Maryland will have oysters prepared three ways, along with fried shrimp. Po’ Greens LLC from Strasburg specializes in fish dinners, crab cakes and pulled Q while Cuz & ’em Seafood from Harrisonburg will offer shrimp, crab cakes and soft shell crabs.

shenandoah cover 1

Admission is $5 to “Seafest”, and kids 12 and under are free. As part of closing weekend festivities, the Virginia Harness Horsemen’s Association (VHHA) will be giving the first 1,000 fans (18 & older) a free $5 betting voucher both Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s a way that we can say thank you to the fans for their support,” said Dr. Scott Woogen, VHHA President and an active harness horse owner and driver. “The crowds have been very enthusiastic over the past month, and all the participants recognize and appreciate that. We hope to end the meet on a strong note to build momentum for the future.”

Sunday, closing day, will feature free admission and a Shenandoah Downs souvenir baseball cap giveaway to the first 200 fans. The first 1,000 patrons will also receive that free $5 betting voucher.

Gates open at 11 AM both days and races begin at 1 PM. Shenandoah Downs is located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock off I-81 at Exit 283, halfway between Winchester and Harrisonburg. For mlore details, visit www.shenandoahdowns.com. A list of the horses entered this weekend will be available at www.virginiahorseracing.com later in the week.

2015 Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year Stellar Wind Beats Beholder In the Grade I Zenyatta Stakes

Reprinted from Bloodhorse.com

In close to a carbon copy of their previous meeting, Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind again got the measure of Beholder in the $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita ParkWatch Video

Just like the Clement L. Hirsch (gr. I) July 30 at Del Mar, Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza stalked, then applied pressure to the front-running three-time champion in the turn and grinded out a victory in a stretch duel to the wire.

Hronis Racing's Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, outside, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA. © BENOIT PHOTO

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, outside, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

“I worked harder in her last race … than I did today,” Espinoza said. “It’s always good to be next to Beholder—next to the queen. It’s always a plus. To be able to pull away the last eighth—it’s not easy. It’s hard, but Stellar Wind is an incredible (filly) and she will continue to be good.”

The 4-year-old Curlin   filly trained by John Sadler edged her rival by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile Zenyatta, which followed a half-length score in the Hirsch. On Sunday, the top pair finished 11 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Vale Dori.

“We thought she’d be a better 4-year-old,” Sadler said of Stellar Wind, who earned 3-year-old champion filly honors in 2015. “These mares peak at 4 and she’s a bigger, stronger horse this year. She’s relatively fresh and we get to go into the Breeders’ Cup off three starts. We’re looking forward to it.”

Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.  ©Benoit Photo

Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
©Benoit Photo

Beholder set fractions of :23.55, :46.23, and 1:09.75 through six furlongs. Stellar Wind took over to cover a mile in 1:35.06 and hit the wire in 1:41.80.

“Nothing really went wrong, except I was on the lead and a sitting duck once again,” said Beholder’s jockey, Gary Stevens. “No pace except for me, and realistic fractions. I flat got outrun. I have no excuses.”

After the race Beholder’s trainer, Richard Mandella, committed to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) over a run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I). In the Distaff, she’s likely to face Stellar Wind and Songbird, another champion.

“We’ll go to the Distaff from here,” the Hall of Fame conditioner said. “My mare didn’t look like she ever gave up and those two finished well clear of the rest of them. We really didn’t intend to go to the lead, but with a five-horse field, what are you going to do?

“Not to make excuses, but yes, I think a full field will help us next time.”

Hronis Racing's Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, left, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), right, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA. © BENOIT PHOTO

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, left, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), right, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Stellar Wind, the 2-1 second choice, paid $6, $2.20, and $2.10 across the board. Beholder brought $2.10 and $2.10, and Vale Dori paid $2.40 to show. Tara’s Tango finished an even fourth, followed by Off the Road, to complete the order of finish.

Bred in Virginia, out of the Malibu Moon mare Evening Star, Stellar Wind now has a 7-2-1 record from 11 starts with more than $1.3 million in earnings.