Monthly Archives: September 2015

$300,000 Virginia-bred Stakes Day Recap from Sept. 26 at Laurel

Two Notch Road and Rose Brier successfully defended their 2014 titles in Saturday’s $300,000 Virginia-bred Stakes Extravaganza at Laurel Park which featured five $60,000 stakes. The former captured a one length score in the Punch Line Stakes while the latter won by two lengths in the Bert Allen Stakes. Interestingly, the same jockeys that guided both to stakes wins in the 2014 editions were atop in the 2015 stakes — Julian Pimentel with Two Notch Road and Trevor McCarthy with Rose Brier.

Pimentel’s well timed, four wide move atop Two Notch Road in mid-stretch enabled the 3 year old Closing Argument gelding to win the 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint against 8 other foes. The heavy betting choice came into the race with $309,601 in turf earnings though it had been a year since he saw the winner’s circle.

Two Notch Road wins the 2015 Punch Line Stakes for trainer Glenn Thompson

Two Notch Road wins the 2015 Punch Line Stakes for trainer Glenn Thompson

“Julian just fits him like a glove,” said trainer Glenn Thompson after the race. “After the first time he rode him, I wished he could travel around the country with him and ride every race. Two Notch Road looks like a three year old,” added Thompson. “He is solid, robust and has good genes.” Co-owned by breeder James Hackman and Thompson, Two Notch Road has a stakes history in the Commonwealth — he was 4th in the 2012 Virginia Derby & 3rd in the 2013 Colonial Turf Cup. He may have one more start this year, possibly in an allowance race, before he gets a couple months off in Aiken, South Carolina over the winter. Made Bail finished second in the Punch Line and Simmstown was third.

Rose Brier also went off heavily favored in the Bert Allen Stakes and rider Trevor McCarthy guided the victor to a two length triumph again, against six other horses in the 1 1/16th miles test. A year ago, the 6 year old Mizzen Mast gelding won by 3 1/4 lengths. Rose Brier made his move midway through the turn, powered past Curve Of Stones and never looked back, finishing in 1:41.51. “He broke very sharp,” said McCarthy. “There was an opening in the first turn and I took advantage of it and got him outside. The pace was slow and the fractions were easy, so it set up pretty nicely for us.” Rose Brier is trained by Jane Cibelli and was bred by William Backer. He is out Mexicali Rose, by El Gran Senor. Special Envoy was second and Dannhauser finished third.

Rose Brier captures the 2015 Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel

Rose Brier captures the 2015 Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel

 Complete St. kicked off the Virginia-bred action with a come from behind victory in the Brookemeade Stakes, a 1 1/16th miles race for fillies and mares. Fittingly, Horacio Karamanos, leading all time rider in Virginia thoroughbred history (at Colonial Downs) directed the effort for trainer Lilith Boucher. The 5 year old daughter of St. Averil lost by a neck in the same stakes in 2013 but got the better end of a four horse photo at the wire Saturday. She was fourth coming out of the turn and battled with Magician’s Vanity, Secret Or Not and Why Not Be Queen in a thrilling stretch duel. Complete St. won by a half length in 1:42.48. She was bred by the Mede Cahaba Stable and is out of Complete Number, by Polish Numbers. “We’re having a nice run with Virginia-breds this week,” said Richard Boucher in the winner circle. He guided Mushroom King to victory for his wife in the inaugural running of Virginia Downs at Great Meadow last Sunday while their Class Classic finished second to his stablemate. The large 12 horse field attracted a $306,410 all source betting handle, largest of the stakes on Saturday and $200 more than the Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby garnered.

Complete St. wins the 2015 Brookemeade Stakes with all time Virginia leading rider Horacio Karamanos up

Complete St. wins the 2015 Brookemeade Stakes with all time Virginia leading rider Horacio Karamanos up

Away We Go captured the Jamestown Stakes for 2 year olds in another four horse photo at the wire. The Tizway filly came outside from third early in the stretch to challenge Cryptos’ Holiday who was outside but closing fast, and previous leader Holiday Wishes, who was inside. Cherokee Cousin also joined the photo with a strong late kick. Away We Go covered The 5 1/2 furlong sprint in 1:03.94. “She’s been training great and closed really well in her last start at Timonium,” said winning trainer Rodney Jenkins. “She’s just a little thing and figured she’d break third or fourth which is exactly what happened. I told the owners that I had a feeling she would do well today.” The upset winner paid $33.20 and the resulting 3-10 exacta returned $1,079.60. Away We Go  was bred by Carolyn Nicewonder and is out of Gone To Utah, by Salt Lake. Jenkins, who was born in Middleburg, Virginia, said it was gratifying to see a strong showing of Virginia-bred horses, even if it was at Laurel. “Virginia is missing out but it just goes to show you that if you put on a good betting card of Virginia-breds, people will come out. Horses came in here from Saratoga, Belmont and Monmouth to compete”. Over $1.5 million was wagered Saturday on the five stakes combined along with the Oaks.

Away We Go scores in the 2015 Jamestown Stakes at Laurel for trainer Rodney Jenkins

Away We Go scores in the 2015 Jamestown Stakes at Laurel for trainer Rodney Jenkins

Exaggerated, who wasn’t a repeat stakes winner from a year prior and did not end up in a four horse photo, dominated the Oakley Stakes in a stellar gate-to-wire effort, authored by jockey Daniel Centeno. The 3 year old Blame filly crossed 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Awake The Day in the 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint. The Lael Stables, who owned the well known Barbaro and more recently Showing Up, who won the 2006 Colonial Turf Cup, appear to have another talented horse in Exaggerated. The Arnaud Delacour trainee did not race as a 2 year old and only made her lifetime bow August 16th with a maiden special weight victory at Laurel. “To win two in a row with this horse is a bit more than we expected,” said happy owner Roy Jackson. The winner, bred by the Hart Farm, crossed in 1:02.10 and is out of Miz United States, by Valid Appeal.

Exaggerated connects in the 2015 Oakley Stakes for the Lael Stables, who won the '06 Colonial Turf Cup with Showing Up

Exaggerated connects in the 2015 Oakley Stakes for the Lael Stables, who won the ’06 Colonial Turf Cup with Showing Up

Boucher Stable Kicks Off Va-Bred Stakes Day at Laurel By Winning the Brookemeade Stakes

Complete St. came from mid-pack and swept by the front runners in deep stretch to kick off Virginia-bred Stakes Day at Laurel Park Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26) with a victory in the $60,000 Brookemeade.  Fittingly, jockey Horacio Karamanos, leading all time rider at Colonial Downs, guided the effort atop the winner for trainer Lilith Boucher. “We’re having a nice run with Virginia-breds this week,” said husband Richard Boucher. The Boucher stable finished one-two last Sunday in the inaugural Virginia Downs event at Great Meadow with Mushroom King and Class Classic.

A Preview of Virginia-Bred Stakes Day, this Saturday 9/26 at Laurel Park

(Warrenton, VA — 9/25/2015) —- Fields have been drawn and are now set for Saturday’s Virginia-bred Stakes Extravaganza at Laurel Park. The $300,000 event features five Virginia-bred stakes that each carry a $60,000 purse along with the 11th running of the Grade III, $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance.

2014 Punch Line champ Two Notch Road returns Saturday to defend his title as he squares off against nine other turf sprinters in the 2015 edition. The impressive field includes seven starters with over $100,000 in earnings.

The 8 year old Partner’s Hero gelding, an early even money betting choice, has $309,601 in grass earnings from 4 wins and 4 thirds. He won the ’14  edition by going five wide in the turn to win by two lengths in a field of 11. Bred by James Hackman, Two Notch Road is out of the Capote mare, Caplana.  Fresh off an allowance win at Charles Town July 29th, Simmstown is the second pick at 9-2, though the 7 year old Limehouse gelding has had most of his success on dirt. Of his $165,840 bankroll, only $9,821 has come on turf.

Other six digit life earners in the field include Anybodyreallyknow, Cap ‘n Raymond, Jake Rattle N Roll, Pride of the Fleet and Service for Ten.

Mike Trombetta’s Seeking Her Glory is 5-2 chalk in the Brookemeade Stakes, which has attracted a wide open field of 12 fillies and mares that will compete 1 1/16th miles. The 4 year old Giants Causeway filly has been racing against solid company throughout her career including an appearance in the Grade I Ashland Stakes in 2014. This year, she has earned an allowance win at Gulfstream and a close third in the same company at Laurel August 7th. Seeking Her Glory, out of the Seeking The Gold mare, Seeking Atlantis, was bred by the Estate of Edward P. Evans.

Complete St. and Leda’s Swan are the respective next two early selections. Trainer Lilith Boucher, whose Mushroom King kicked off last Sunday’s Virginia Downs event at Great Meadow with a victory, conditions Complete St., a 5 year old St. Averil mare out of Complete Number by Polish Numbers. She, like Seeking Her Glory, has been a stakes and allowance competitor most of the last two years. Leda’s Swan lost the 2014 edition of the Brookemeade by a neck but trainer Reid Nagle’s 6 year old Macho Uno mare will be making her first start since December.

Rose Brier and Special Envoy appear to stand out in the Bert Allen Stakes, which has drawn a field of nine males. The former has been named even money early pick while the latter follows closely at 7-5. Rose Brier won this stakes handily a year ago by 3 1/4 lengths and boasts the highest turf bankroll of any with $257,980. The 6 year old Mizzen Mast gelding has had consistent showings in all 9 starts since that ’14 Allen triumph including tight runner-up efforts in stakes at Gulfstream and Mountaineer Park.

Special Envoy, an Armaud Delacour trainee, has made 11 career starts, all on turf, and has 9 “in the money” finishes. The 4 year old Stroll gelding came up a neck shy in the Grade III Cliffhanger Stakes at Monmouth last month to another Virginia-bred, Middleburg. Special Envoy did kick off August with an allowance win at the Jersey Shore oval, and connected twice in similar company this past winter at Tampa Bay Downs. Rose Brier was bred by William Backer and Special Envoy was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone.

A field of 13 ladies will go to the gate in the Oakley Stakes including the winner of the 2014 Jamestown Stakes, Hooligan. The 2-1 morning line choice made her 2015 bow with a nice allowance win at Pimlico on the Preakness Day card but has finished no better than fifth in a trio of outs since. Bred by the Audley Farm Equine, LLC and owned/trained by Wesley Ward, Hooligan is a 3 year old Exchange rate filly out of Exceptionally by El Prado.

With only one start in her portfolio, Exaggerated is the least experienced filly or mare in the field but was still named second early choice at 5-2. Another Armaud Delacour trainee, the 3 year old Blame filly made a successful lifetime debut August 16th with an impressive 2 1/4 length score at Laurel. That 5 1/2 furlong turf test is the same distance that the Oakley is contested at. Exaggerated was bred by the Hart Farm, is owned by the Lael Stables, and is out of Miz United States by Valid Appeal.

Another 13 horse field will go to post in the Jamestown Stakes, which is exclusively for 2 year olds. Six fillies and seven colts will compete in the 5 1/2 furlong event. Gem, 7-2 early choice, was fifth in her only start thus far on August 25th, an $83,000 maiden special weight sprint at Saratoga. The Elusive Quality filly was bred by the Morgans Ford Farm & Bill Mott, and is out of Skipstone by Montbrook.

Holiday Wishes, a Harlan’s Holiday filly, is second early pick at 4-1. With five starts, she is the most experienced of any freshman in the field. The Gina Rosenthal trainee collected a gate to wire win in maiden special weight company at Delaware August 25th and will shorten by two furlongs in the Jamestown. Holiday Wishes was bred by Audley Farm Equine and has earned $48,215 thus far.

Post time at Laurel is 1:10 PM.

Friday At Keeneland

Friday is the next to last session for the Keeneland September yearling sales. All three Virginia breds to go through the sale Friday are bred by William Backer’s Smitten Farm.

2014 colt out of Brief Encounter by Parading

2014 colt out of Brief Encounter by Parading

2014 filly by Flower Alley out of Sketch Book

2014 filly by Flower Alley out of Sketch Book

2014 Summertime Green colt by Spring at Last

2014 Summertime Green colt by Spring at Last

Viginia Oaks (gr. III) Preview

Saturday’s feature at Laurel, the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks has attracted a full field of 12 fillies. The Oaks headlines a card that includes 6 stakes sponsored by the Virginia Equine Alliance.  Click here for the Commonwealth Oaks preview.

 

Tuesday/Wednesday Keeneland Yearlings

Tapizar filly out of Humorlee

Tapizar filly out of Humorlee

Todd Mostuller bought the above Wolver Hill bred Tapizar filly for $60,000 yesterday at Keeneland.

DE_hip 2971_9992

 

This Audley bred, Exchange Rate filly out of Midtown Miss sells today.

 

DE_hip 2981_9982

 

Also selling today are the above Sky Mesa filly out of Misty Rain bred by Chance Farm and a Morgan’s Ford bred

City Zip Colt out of Thor’s Daughter. He was purchased as  weanling by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock for $75,000.

City Zip colt out of Thor's Daughter

City Zip colt out of Thor’s Daughter

Draw for Saturday’s Virginia-Bred Stakes Day at Laurel is Wednesday, Sept. 23

The draw for Saturday’s (Sept. 26) Virginia-bred Stakes Day at Laurel is Wednesday September 23rd. A total of five $60,000 stakes will be contested for a combined $300,000 in purses, along with the $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks (Gr. III), presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance. This is the second straight year the state-bred stakes bonanza has been held at Laurel.

A total of 149 horses have nominated for the five and another 43 have done so for the Oaks. Heading the count is the Bert Allen Stakes with 34 noms, including the top three finishers from the 2014 race. Jane Cibellie’s Rose Brier won that edition while Luis Duco’s Hard Enough was runner-up and Kathleen O’Connell’s Dannhauser was third. In what looks to be a strong showing Saturday, 15 of the 34 nominees have won over $100,000.

 

The Oakley and Brookemeade Stakes have drawn 33 and 32 nominations respectively. The Oakey, a 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint for females, is headlined by Michael Maker’s Thank You Marylou, who was third in last fall’s $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Filly/Mare Sprint. The 4 year old Birdstone filly also nominated to the Brookemeade, a 1 1/16th miles turf stakes which also attracted Reid Nagle’s Leda’s Swan, who lost by a neck in the 2014 edition.

The Punch Line Stakes,  a 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint for males, drew interest from 27 candidates including 2014 champ Two Notch Road, who has bankrolled $309,601 in grass earnings. The Jamestown, contested at the same distance but restricted to two year olds, has 23 nominations. A pair of hopefuls is fresh off maiden special weight victories on dirt at Saratoga — Barclay Tagg’s Realm, who scored on July 25th and Kiaran McLaughlin’s Sticksstatelydude (shown below) who connected on August 1st.

sticksstatelydude

The Grade III Oaks drew an impressive 43 nominations including 8 from Graham Motion, 6 from Chad Brown, and 3 each from Todd Pletcher, Christophe Clement and Michael Maker. Play The Break, a 3 year old Pleasantly Perfect filly bred in Virginia by Carol Holden, will try to follow last Saturday’s feat when Virginia-bred One Go All Go captured the Grade II Commonwealth Derby.

Sunday’s Results from Keeneland

 

2014 colt out of Pink Pallet by Lemon Drop Kid

2014 colt out of Pink Pallet by Lemon Drop Kid

The above Lemon Drop Kid colt was bred by Smitten Farm and sold to Steve Dowoskin for $75,000 on Saturday.

2014 colt out of Pearls by Mizzen Mast

2014 colt out of Pearls by Mizzen Mast

Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Moss purchased the above Mizzen Mast colt for $90,000 on Sunday. The colt was bred

by Morgan’sFord Farm and was

the reserve grand champion of the September 5th Virginia Breeder’s Fund Yearling Futurity.

2014 Arch colt out of River Fancy

2014 Arch colt out of River Fancy

Hip # 1845 was a $70,000 rna for Morgan’s Ford Farm.

2014 First Samurai fill out of Saxet Heights

2014 First Samurai filly out of Saxet Heights

Wolver Hill bred the First Samurai filly out of Saxet Heights who sold to Klaravich Stables for $125,000 on Sunday.

2014 filly out of Skipstone by Include

2014 filly out of Skipstone by Include

Hip #1884 was the last Virgnia bred yearling through the ring Sunday and he was rna’d by Morgan’s Ford Farm for $22,000.

 

Doyle/Voss Rider/Trainer Duo Connect for Two Wins Sunday at Inaugural Virginia Downs Thoroughbred Event

(The Plains, VA — 9/20/2015) —- Rider Jack Doyle guided a pair of winners for trainer Elizabeth Voss in Sunday’s co-featured $30,000 allowance races at Great Meadow, as the inaugural running of Virginia Downs made its debut. A total of 55 horses competed in six turf races, all presented by the Virginia Equine Alliance.

Virginia Downs action at Great Meadow

Virginia Downs action at Great Meadow

Doyle, who spent the last eight years competing in England, scored with Swoop, a 5 year old Louis Quatorze mare in the female division and with Renown, a 4 year old Champs Elysees gelding, in the colt/gelding division. Swoop competed in a pair of turf claiming events at the Saratoga meet this summer, finishing ninth most recently, while Renown shipped south after a fourth and fifth place finish this summer at Delaware Park. Both thrived Sunday stretching out to the 1 1/4 miles distance.

Renown wins a Virginia Downs allowance at Great  Meadow, Sept. 20 ---photo courtesy of Kurtis Coady

Renown wins a Virginia Downs allowance at Great Meadow, Sept. 20 —photo courtesy of Kurtis Coady

“I had two very nice horses that I loved today,” said Doyle. “There was a nice enough crowd, great atmosphere and the track held up fine.” Doyle, who started his career in Ireland, came to the U.S for the first time last summer and collected two steeplechase wins at the Saratoga meet. He came back again this summer, got another pair of jump wins and on Sunday, got his first flat race wins in the U.S.

A day after a Virginia-bred captured the Grade II Commonwealth Derby, Mushroom King was best in a field of Virginia-breds that kicked off Sunday’s card. A field of seven went to post in a $15,000 maiden starter allowance and trainer Lilith Boucher’s entry finished one-two. Class Classic, top money earner in the field with $32,159, was runner-up to Mushroom King, a 9 year old Brahms gelding out of the Class Secret mare, Class Reality. The winner, who was bred by Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud, covered the 1 1/8 miles race in 2:00.

Horses race for the wire at Virginia Downs September 20th

Horses race for the wire at Virginia Downs September 20th

Other winners on the card were Ice Women, who scored in a $25,000 maiden race for fillies and mares. Jeff Murphy directed the 3 year old Street Sense filly, who finally caught front running Hardly Patient in deep stretch and pulled away to win in 2:01 2/5. Jonathan Thomas trains the victor for JAH Racing.

Irish-bred Bonded won his second straight in a $25,000 colt/gelding maiden event. The Jimmy Day trainee came in fresh off a $65,000 steeplechase allowance triumph at Saratoga and had no problem shortening to 1 1/8 miles from 2 1/16th miles distance of August 13th. Bernald Dalton rode the 8 year old Oasis Dream gelding in both wins.

Horses race down the back side of the one mile turf course at Virginia Downs

Horses race down the back side of the one mile turf course at Virginia Downs

Annawon triumphed in the longest race of the afternoon — a 1 1/2 miles allowance marathon. After back-to-back runner-up efforts at Delaware Park, the 8 year old Smart Strike gelding connected in a tight victory in 2:39 4/5 for trainer/owner LInda Gaudet.

Next up on the Virginia Equine Alliance calendar is the $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks (Gr. III) and five $60,000 Virginia-bred stakes races, all slated for Saturday September 26th at Laurel Park. Fields will be drawn this Wednesday.