John Thomas, Son Of VEA Track Superintendent, Gets First Graded Stakes Win August 30th
The following appeared in The Paulick Report August 30th. Trainer John Thomas is the son of Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) Track Superintendent John Dale Thomas.
Catholic Boy navigated a tough break and late traffic to win the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday, giving Jonathan Thomas his first graded stakes win as trainer. Jockey Manuel Franco kept the colt tucked along the inside rail in mid-pack for much of the 1 1/16-mile contest after being… Continue reading
Virginia-Breds Score Upset Wins & A Graded Stakes Victory In Late August Action
Since Virginia Day at Laurel Park August 5th, action among Virginia-bred horses has produced some upset victories for some and a first ever graded stakes win for another. And, we are less than a month away from the September 30th “Commonwealth Day” card at Laurel which features five $60,000 Virginia-bred restricted stakes and a trio of open graded ones.

Free Union scored his fourth career win on opening day of the 2017 Timonium meet. Photo by… Continue reading
Virginia-Bred Just Call Kenny Earns First Graded Stakes Victory In Monmouth’s Iselin Stales
ABL Stable, Bassone, Cahill & Donnelly’s Just Call Kenny sat comfortably along the backstretch before making his move on the far turn, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and pulling away to a four-length score in the Grade 3 $100,000 Phillip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Just Call Kenny #2 with Eddie Castro riding won the $100,00 Philip H. Iselin Stakes Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey on Saturday August 26, 2017.… Continue reading
Drefong, Co-Bred By Virginia Anthony Warrender, Wins The Grade I Forego Stakes At Saratoga
Champion sprinter Drefong returned to the scene where he wired the field in last year’s Grade 1 Kings Bishop, and repeated that effort against nine others in the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego on Saturday, Travers Day, at Saratoga Race Course.
Drefrong cut through seven furlongs in a final time of 1:21.12. His four-length victory will earned him a trip to California for the Grade 1, $1.5 million TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint on November 4 at Del Mar.
Sent… Continue reading
Virginia-Breds In Noteworthy Races Saturday August 26th
Virginia-bred Just Call Kenny, winner of over $373,000 in purse monies, will compete in Saturday’s Grade 3 Philip Iselin Stakes at Monmouth. The 6 year old Jump Start horse was third most recently in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes July 30th.

Just Call Kenny, bred by Althea Richards, won by 1 1/4 lengths over Double Whammy April 21st at Laurel. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.
Out of the Green Dancer mare, Green Jeans, Just Call Kenny was bred by… Continue reading
Valid, A Virginia-Bred Million Dollar Earner, Is Officially Retired
The following article appeared in The Paulick Report on August 22nd.
On Tuesday, jockey Nik Juarez officially announced the retirement of multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Valid. The 24-year-old Maryland native spent his own money to track down the 7-year-old gelded son of Medaglia d’Oro, and had him shipped back to a farm in Maryland to live out the rest of his days eating grass and occasionally as Juarez’ personal riding horse.
Valid… Continue reading
Virginia-Bred & Raised Yearlings Attract Interest At Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale
Virginia-Bred & Raised Yearlings Attract Interest At Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale
The Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling sale was held at Saratoga August 7th & 8th and a number of Virginia-breds sold well. An Audley Farms Scat Daddy filly topped the list of Commonwealth-breds at $600,000.

Hip 140 is a Scat Daddy filly that was consigned by Brookdale sales agent for Audley Farm Equine. She sold for $600,000.
A Smitten Farms Violence filly sold for $270,000 along with a… Continue reading
Virginia Horses Test Positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1
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