Monthly Archives: January 2017

Four Virginia-Bred Victories Last Week Result In Owner’s Bonuses Courtesy of HBPA/VTA Incentive Program

Four Virginia-bred horses collected an owner’s bonus last week via the HBPA/VTA incentive program, courtesy of wins in the Mid-Atlantic region. Tiz Unbeatable, Jo Pye Weed, Nice Try and Simmstown all connected in their respective outings.

Tiz Unbeatable is a 4 year old Tiz Wonderful colt bred and owned by Sam English II. He earned a 1 1/2 length win last Saturday at Laurel in a $15,000 claiming event. The victor chased the pace early, advanced three wide to bid for the lead exiting the turn, and then drove clear. The Rob Bailes trainee is out of the Johannesburg mare, Xai Xai.  Mr. English earned a 25%  bonus on top of the purse winnings for the Mid-Atlantic triumph.

Jockey Gilberto Delgado guides Tiz Unbeatable to his second lifetime win January 20th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Jockey Gilberto Delgado guides Tiz Unbeatable to his second lifetime win January 20th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Joy Pye Weed is a 6 year old mare, but made just her fifth career start January 19th at Charles Town. Bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, the Liam McVicar trainee broke through and got her first lifetime win in a 4 1/2 furlong maiden claimer. She went gate to wire in the nine horse field, but was just a nose in front at the finish. Owned by the Crookston Castle Stable, Jo Pye Weed is out of Crab Grass by Known Fact.

Joe Pye Weed (inside) held off Slew By The Fool by a nose at the wire January 19th at Charles Town. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Joe Pye Weed (inside) held off Slew By The Fool by a nose at the wire January 19th at Charles Town. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Nice Try, also bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, got his first career win at the same track as Jo Pye Weed, at the same distance and for the same $10,000 purse.  The 4 year old Giant’s Causeway gelding got away fourth but quickly caught the pacesetter inside and won convincingly by 6 1/2 lengths. The heavy betting choice is out of the Not For Love mare, Blind Date.

Nice Try's win at Charles Town January 17th gave owners, the Clover Hill Racing LLC, an owner's bonus from the Mid-Atlantic incentive program. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Nice Try’s win at Charles Town January 17th gave owners, the Clover Hill Racing LLC, a bonus from the Mid-Atlantic incentive program. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Simmstown got his 10th lifetime win and pushed his bankroll to the $266,000 mark by beating eight others at Parx January 17th in a 5 1/2 furlong claiming sprint. The 9 year old Limehouse gelding was actually one of three horses claimed out of the event for $12,500. Bred by the Audley Farms, Simmstown’s victory gave his pre-race owners, the Ho Dee Boy Stable, an owner’s bonus but the new owners — Patrick Sullivan and J.R. Boesen — will get a chance at future bonuses. Simmstown is aging well — he has three wins and a pair of seconds in his last five starts, all at Parx. The streak began November 5th.

Virginia Connected Horses Are Well Represented In Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup Card This Saturday (Jan. 28)

Virginia connected horses will be well represented this Saturday (January 28th) at Gulfstream Park, which hosts the inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup that afternoon. There are 12 races on the card, which begins at 11:30 AM. The Pegasus itself is at 5:40 PM, and will be broadcast live on NBC from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.

Virginia-bred Long On Value, with career earnings of $679,486, is slated to compete in the $125,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes. The 6 year old Value Plus horse was bred by Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds and has 7 wins from 25 lifetime starts. The Bill Mott trainee is out of the Orientate mare, Long Message.

Long On Value wins the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs in 2013. Photo by Coady Photography.

Long On Value wins the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs in 2013. Photo by Coady Photography.

Virginia-bred Homespun Hero will appear in the day’s kickoff race. The 4 year old Hard Spun colt is trained by Michael Maker and is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Out of the First Samurai mare, Nicky’s Way, Homespun Hero will compete in an allowance optional claiming event with a purse of $58,000. He was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin and brings a bankroll of $93,600 into the race from a dozen starts.

Homespun Hero is shown working out in fall, 2015. Courtesy of Barclay Tagg website. Michael Maker now trains the 3 year old son of Hard Spun.

Homespun Hero is shown working out in fall, 2015. Courtesy of Barclay Tagg website. Michael Maker now trains the 3 year old son of Hard Spun.

Virginian Rene and Lauren Woolcott, who own and operate Woodslane Farm in Middleburg, have a pair of horses entered as well — Sadler’s Joy and Lunaire. Both are out of the Dynaformer mare, Dynaire, and were bred in Kentucky but raised in Virginia. The former will compete in the $125,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (Gr. 3), where he is set to depart from post position 11 in a field of 12. The 4 year old Kitten’s Joy colt has won three straight races and heads into his first stakes action with nice momentum. The streak began with a maiden special weight triumph August 22nd at Saratoga and was followed with allowance wins at Belmont (September 24th) and at Aqueduct (November 9th).

Lauren Woolcott at Woodslane Farm, where she and husband Rene raised Tonalist. Photo courtesy of the Woolcott's.

Lauren Woolcott at Woodslane Farm, where she and husband Rene raised Tonalist. Photo courtesy of the Woolcott’s.

Lunaire, a three year old son of Malibu Moon, has a second and third  from a trio of life starts. He will face 13 other foes in a $56,000 maiden special weight test. The Thomas Albertrani trainee competes in the 8th race.

Virginia race fans can wager the day’s action via TVG, XPressBet and NYRABets, and at the two new Richmond area Off Track Betting Centers. Breakers Sports Grille is in the west end area and Ponies & Pints is in downtown’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. Both are in full service restaurants complete with a large bar.

Board Of Director Election Results Announced

On the 18th, VTA Board of Director election results were announced at the Board/Annual Meeting in Warrenton. The newly elected Board Members listed below will serve from January 2017 through December 2019:

Capital District:  Richard (Dick) Freer, Richmond
Potomac District:  Jim Fitzgerald, Marshall
Blue Ridge District: Sue Hart, Charlottesville

At-Large Directors:
Wayne Chatfield-Taylor, Front Royal
Donna Dennehy, Ashland
Gillian (Jill) Gordon-Moore, Berryville
Tommy Lee Jones, Warrenton
Brooke Royster, Gordonsville
Cynthia (Cindy) Tucker Curtis, Upperville

VTA Board members may serve two consecutive terms(4 years total) before they are required to step down. They may run again after a one year hiatus.

 

Eclipse Award Winning Male Sprinter Co-Bred By Virginian Anthony Warrender

Drefong won the Eclipse Award as top male sprinter Saturday night. He was co-bred by Virginian Anthony Warrender of Middleburg. Here is a recap courtesy of America’s Best Racing.

With his Eclipse Award for male sprinter awarded Jan. 21, Drefong joins Lost in the Fog (2005), Trinniberg (2012), and Runhappy (2015) as the only 3-year-olds who earned the honor this century.

In most cases the top male sprinter of the year has a “body of work” for the year that elevates him to the top honor. However, in the case of Drefong, it was brilliance in two career-defining efforts at the end of the year that landed him the Eclipse statue.

Drefong, who won the 2016 Eclipse Award as Top Male Turf Sprinter, is shown in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint. Photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Drefong, who won the 2016 Eclipse Award as Top Male Turf Sprinter, is shown in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Photo by Eclipse Sportswire

On May 30 and July 4, Drefong imposed his will on optional-claiming allowance runners at Santa Anita Park, winning both sprints by open-length margins and earning top-line Equibase Speed Figures.

Shipped to Saratoga Race Course, along with stablemate Arrogate, Drefong wound up being the 3-1 favorite for the Aug. 27 Ketel One King’s Bishop Stakes. Taking the field wire to wire going seven furlongs, he extended his advantage in the lane to two lengths at the eighth pole and 31/4 at the wire under Mike Smith in 1:21.25.

Drefong, after being off 10 weeks, won the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint by 1 1/4 lengths over a small but select field.

Bred by Frederick Allor, Michael Barnett, and Anthony Warrender, Drefong was sold by Barnett’s Blackburn Farm for $200,000 as a weanling and purchased by Susan Chu’s Tanma Corp. as a $450,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2014. Thirty-six yearlings from the first crop of three-time champion Gio Ponti were sold at Keeneland that year and Drefong was the highest-priced.

“(Bloodstock agent) Donato Lanni and I work together,” trainer Bob Baffert said after the Breeders’ Cup. “We don’t do anything without each other’s OK. This horse was so beautiful. He was a perfect specimen.”—Evan Hammonds

Virginia Racing Commission Meeting Recap From January 17th

The Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) outlined its vision for 2017 at this week’s meeting of the Virginia Racing Commission, which was held Tuesday in downtown Richmond.

VEA President Debbie Easter provided details on the first two Off Track Betting Centers that recently opened in Richmond — in the west end at Breakers Sports Grille (opened November 2nd) and in downtown Richmond at Ponies & Pints, which opened on Monday. There are plans to expand the OTB network this year into Chesapeake, Hampton and possibly a fifth location in southwest Virginia.

Country style racing will continue at both the spring and fall Gold Cup events with a slate of steeplechase and flat races, and a ten day harness meet will be held again this fall over a five week period in September/October at Shenandoah Downs. Negotiations continue for future thoroughbred racing at Morven Park in Leesburg. An addendum to the original Morven lease is being addressed as is the permitting process. The Virginia-bred Mid-Atlantic owners bonus program, which was approved at the last VRC meeting, will continue throughout all of 2017 and provide increased value for Virginia-bred horses. At the next VRC meeting, scheduled for early March, the VEA will probably request to conduct some Virginia-bred stakes races in Maryland again this year.

In an OTB update, Ms. Easter noted that after two months, the Breakers OTB is running at double its revenue projections. The VEA did not include any ADW in its 2017 revenue forecast, however it is working on a potential kiosk project with one of the ADW companies that currently operates in Virginia. Ms. Easter finished by saying that there are many positives heading into the year.

Darrell Wood talked about plans to market the OTBs. Much of the focus early will be on the $12 million Pegasus World Cup simulcast from Gulfstream on January 28th, followed by the weekly prep races leading up to the May 6th Kentucky Derby.

After the 2017 forecast, Ms. Easter and HBPA Executive Frank Petramalo went into more detail about the status of Morven Park and the challenges they face moving forward with the project. The three main discussion points are water availability (for the turf course), a second crossing (to get horses & trailers across the turf course and into the infield show rings), and availability of racing dates (to have a schedule like Shenandoah Downs where racing occurs on a series of consecutive weekends). Commissioner Van Clief noted that most everyone agrees Morven is the best location and noted the VRC is available to help in any way possible.

In new business, the VEA made a formal request to the VRC for approval of a $1.5 million interest bearing loan from the HBPA purse account to be used for excavation work at Morven Park once current negotiations are finalized. Mr. Petramalo noted the entire cost of the Morven project would run between $3 – $3.5 million. The purse account currently has $3 million in it and is projected to rise by $2.5 million in 2017 from ADW and OTB commissions. The loan would be in effect only if the project moves forward. The motion passed unanimously.

VEA Controller Bill Murrill presented the Alliance’s proposed budget for 2017. It is based on $18 million in handle from the two Richmond OTBs and another $8 million each from succeeding OTBs that come on board in Chesapeake, Hampton and possibly southwest Virginia. Commissioner Van Clief asked if the Gold Cup pari-mutuel steeplechase and flat races had become a profit center. Dr. Allison said they had a five year break even plan when the pari-mutuel aspect first started and they are currently on target to meet that goal. They are increasing wifi band width at Great Meadow to accommodate more wagering via personal devices this year, and a key is turning Gold Cup fans into bettors. Ms. Easter noted the VEA is looking to broadcast the Shenandoah Downs harness races into its OTB network this fall as another potential profit center. The VRC unanimously passed the VEA expenditures/budget.

In closing comments, Commissioner Reynolds thanked the VEA for its hard work and echoed that the VRC is available to help in any way they can. Commissioner Van Clief added that Virginia racing is building a brand. Commissioner Steger suggested that perhaps the Governor’s Economic Impact Fund could help with the Morven Park project.

The next VRC meeting will take place in early March, on the 6th, 7th or 8th.

Backer Virginia’s Leading Breeder in 2016

At the beginning of February award checks will be distributed to Virginia Breeders and Stallion owners for wins during the 2016 racing year. $400,000 in Breeder’s Fund award money will be split among Virginia Breeders, while stallion owners will split a total of $20,000.

Mr. William Backer’s Smitten Farm was Virginia’s leading breeder in 2016, with 35 wins, including stakes winners Sweet Victory, Rose Brier and Moon River. Mr. Backer’s passion was breeding and racing Thoroughbred horses, unfortunately he passed away in 2016 before he could enjoy his leading breeder status. Backer bred horses such as Chorus Line, who was second in Friday’s $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct, will continue to uphold the Smitten Farm legacy in 2017 and beyond. Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor’s Morgan’s Ford Farm was Virginia’s second leading breeder with 33 wins. Queen Caroline, winner of three stakes in 2016 was Morgan’s Ford’s highest earner.

bill backer - HOV PhotographyBill Backer and Wayne Chatfield-Taylor at the 2015 VTA Breeder’s Awards party

2015 Virginia Horse of the Year, Stellar Wind was the leading Virginia earner in 2016 with $540,000 in purse money. The Curlin filly, co-bred by Peggy Augustas’ Keswick Stables and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, did all of her running in grade one company in 2016. She beat champion Beholder to win the Clement L. Hirsh and the Zenyatta stakes while placing second in the Vanity and fourth in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff.

Tough Weather, bred by Sam English, was the leading Virginia-bred winner. The six year old Wiseman’s Ferry mare had 8 wins in 2016 and earned $119,989.

Leading freshman sire, Friend or Foe earned $7,048.11 in stallion awards for Smallwood Farm with two New York winners from two starters. Lady Olivia at Northcliff’s, Cosa Vera was the second leading earner and was the sire of 5 winners in 2016.

Mr. Buff by Friend or Foe breaks his maiden at Belmont on September 23, 2016

Mr. Buff by Friend or Foe breaks his maiden at Belmont on September 23, 2016

Below is the list of Breeder and Stallion award winners:

                                                   BREEDER’S AWARDS

William M. Backer Revocable Trust
$56,524.00
Sara E. Collette
$3,120.00
Morgan’s Ford Farm
$47,903.00
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney B. Cox Jr.
$3,102.00
Morgans Ford Farm & William Mott
$1,117.00
Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud, LLC
$2,752.00
Larry Johnson
$26,703.00
S. Barton Inc.
$2,717.00
Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone
$26,543.00
James H. Falk, Sr.
$2,699.00
Keswick Stables & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
$26,122.00
Christopher Kuhn
$2,489.00
Keswick Stables
$265.00
James M. Hackman
$2,482.00
Estate of Edward P. Evans
$23,516.00
Anne N. Tucker
$2,053.00
Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin
$19,387.00
James Sumter Carter
$2,027.00
Lazy Lane Farms, LLC.
$17,532.00
Susan S. Cooney
$1,861.00
Sam E. English II
$11,680.00
Susan S. Cooney and Partners
$566.00
Lady Olivia at North Cliff, LLC
$11,169.00
Thomas L. Teal
$1,829.00
Audley Farm
$10,304.00
Suzanne A. Dempsey
$1,737.00
Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds
$9,883.00
Susan Minor
$1,689.00
Hart Farm
$7,924.00
Atkins Homes, Inc.
$1,263.00
Henry L. Carroll
$6,705.00
Nancy M. Rizer & Eric A. Rizer
$1,117.00
Quest Realty
$5,442.00
Hickory Tree Farm LLC
$1,045.00
Magalen O. Bryant
$5,377.00
Eagle Point Farm
$993.00
Corner Farm (Carlos S. E. Moore & Gillian Gordon-Moore)
$5,266.00
Jackie Hinson
$993.00
Corner Farm & Stormy Atlantic Syndicate
$470.00
Vermont Farm LLC
$862.00
Corner Farm & John T. Behrendt
$2,151.00
Tim Hulings
$853.00
Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds
$5,048.00
Carol Holden
$784.00
Daybreak Stables, Inc.
$4,950.00
Falls Church Racing Stables, LLC
$744.00
Johnson Brothers Stable
$4,262.00
Rose Ann Howell
$744.00
Mary Slade
$3,940.00
Belinda Whitson
$740.00
Althea D. Richards
$3,762.00
Mr. & Mrs. C. W. McNeely III
$740.00
Althea D. Richards & Adena Springs
$265.00
Dr. James E Bryant & Linda P Davis
$707.00
Blue Lotus Breeding and Racing LLC
$3,708.00
David A. Ross
$457.00
Douglas Kent Daniels
$3,583.00
Big Lick Farm
$431.00
Albert P. Coppola
$3,195.00
Terry Allen Corbin
$427.00
Albert Coppola & The Stormy Atlantic Syndicate
$859.00
Darlene H Bowlin
$422.00

                                                    STALLION AWARDS

Smallwood Farm (Friend or Foe)…………………….$7,048.11
Lady Olivia at Northcliff, LLC (Cosa Vera)……………$5,553.33
Sara E. Collette (Xenodon)……………………………$4,209.29
Susan Minor (Fierce Wind)……………………………$2,278.89
Lazy Lane Farm (Hanzel)………………………………$  910.38

 

 

 

 

 

Horseplayers Holiday Weekend Preview For Jan 14 – 16

Another holiday weekend is upon us and there is plenty of stakes race action to keep players engaged Saturday thru Monday. Saturday (Jan. 14) features a four pack of graded stakes and a pair are on tap holiday Monday (Jan. 16). And speaking of on tap, the Virginia Equine Alliance’s newest Off Track Betting Center — at Ponies & Pints — will open in downtown Richmond Monday at 12 Noon. The OTB is located at 110 N. 18th Street in Shockoe Bottom in the former Tiki Bob’s Cantina building. The restaurant/bar, which will make its debut Monday as well, has over 50 beers on tap in addition to full service dining.

Ponies & Pints features a horseplayers exclusive room with 4 self betting terminals, 2 manned teller stations and 13 flat screen TVs

Ponies & Pints features a horseplayers exclusive room with 4 self betting terminals, 2 manned teller stations and 13 flat screen TVs

The main focus Saturday is at Gulfstream Park where in two weeks, the $12 million Pegasus World Cup will be contested. This weekend, three graded stakes go to post — -the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (Gr. 2), $150,000 Hal’s Hope (Gr. 3) and $150,000 Marshua’s River (Gr. 3). Santa Anita hosts the Grade 2, $200,000 La Canada Stakes the same day and Oaklawn chips in with the $125,000 Pippin Stakes as part of their opening weekend festivities.

On Sunday, Aqueduct hosts the $125,000 Busanda Stakes for 3 year old fillies then on Monday, they’ll present the Grade 3, $125,000 Toboggan Stakes. Oaklawn has the only Derby prep race this weekend — the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3 year olds, which takes place on Monday. Santa Anita finishes out the holiday weekend with the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (Gr. 3), also on Monday.

All the action is available to wager at the Breakers Off Track Betting Center as well in Richmond’s west end (9127 W. Broad Street in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center). Virginia residents can also play via one of four on liner partner sites — TVG.com, XPressBet.com, TwinSpires.com and NYRABets.com.

New Richmond OTB At Ponies & Pints Restaurant To Open Monday Jan. 16th

The Virginia Equine Alliance’s (VEA) second Off Track Betting (OTB) Center in Richmond, which was scheduled to open at a new restaurant called Ponies & Pints on Wednesday January 11th, will open Monday January 16th instead.

Monday is a federal holiday and many of the major tracks in the country are racing including Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Laurel, Oaklawn and Santa Anita. Three stakes races will be contested that afternoon including a Derby prep race — the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn. Area horseplayers can still wager at the Breakers Sports Grille OTB at 9127 West Broad Street in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center. the VEA’s betting sites are open seven days a week from 12 Noon – 11 PM.

The Ponies & Pints restaurant/bar itself, which was slated to open  Wednesday too, will delay its debut until Monday so it can open in conjunction with the OTB and provide a full service experience to horseplayers and restaurant patrons from the outset

New Off Track Betting Center Set To Open In Downtown Richmond Monday, January 16th

The Virginia Equine Alliance will open its second Off Track Betting Center in Virginia this Monday, January 16th in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood of downtown Richmond.  The OTB is in a new restaurant/bar called Ponies & Pints, and simulcast signals from up to 20 horse racetracks around the country will be available to watch and wager daily. A grand opening celebration is slated for January 28th to coincide with the simulcast of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.
Ponies & Pints will feature full service dining and have 60 beers on tap.

           Ponies & Pints will feature full service dining and have 60 beers on tap.

The Ponies & Pints complex is 5500 square feet and has 35 flat screen televisions which show a combination of horse races and sports throughout the facility. There is a horse racing only room where signals from as many as ten different tracks can be displayed at the same time. There are two manned betting stations and eight self  betting terminals. The restaurant has over 50 beers on tap and a full service menu that emphasizes a Midwest style of open face sandwiches. Ponies & Pints is non-smoking but has an outdoor fenced patio area, complete with a bar and tables, where smokers can go.
Ponies & Pints features a horseplayers exclusive room with 4 self betting terminals, 2 manned teller stations and 13 flat screen TVs

Ponies & Pints features a horse players exclusive room with 4 self betting terminals, 2 manned teller stations and 13 flat screen TVs

The VEA’s first OTB opened November 2nd in the west end area of Richmond inside Breakers Sports Grille. Monday is a federal holiday and many of the major tracks in the country are racing including Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Laurel, Oaklawn and Santa Anita. Three stakes races will be contested that afternoon including a Derby prep race — the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn. Area horseplayers can still wager at the Breakers Sports Grille OTB at 9127 West Broad Street in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center. The VEA’s betting sites are open seven days a week from 12 Noon – 11 PM. As 2017 continues, the VEA will seek an OTB partner restaurant/bar in both the Chesapeake and Hampton areas to expand the network of off track sites.