The following appeared on Bloodhorse.com September 17th.

Helen “Penny” Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat and a well-loved figure in her own right as a champion of Thoroughbreds and women in business and sports, died Sept. 16, in her Colorado home following complications from a stroke. She was 95.

Chenery’s children announced her death through Leonard Lusky, her longtime friend and business partner.

Penny Chenery passed away September 18th at the age of 95.

Following Secretariat’s retirement from racing, Chenery became an ambassador for Thoroughbred racing and remained so, even after the champion’s death in 1989. She served as the first female president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.

She became one of the first women admitted to The Jockey Club, helped found the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and created the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, annually honoring racing’s most popular horse, as well as the Secretariat Foundation, which assists and supports various charities within the racing community. Chenery received the 2006 Eclipse Award of Merit for lifetime contributions to the Thoroughbred industry, and in recent years, she advocated for laminitis research and care advancement as well as efforts to ban the use of performance-enhancing drugs in racing.

Secretariat’s Triple Crown campaign and Chenery’s meteoric rise in the sport were featured in the 2010 Disney Studios film Secretariat, in which she was portrayed by Diane Lane.

Chenery is survived by four children: Sarah Manning, Chris Tweedy, Kate Tweedy, and John Tweedy; and by seven grandchildren: Elena Grath, Alice McGrath, Chris Manning, Amanda Tweedy, Paige Tweedy, and Marcus Tweedy; and one stepson Jon Ringquist.

“We are deeply proud of our mother, her accomplishments, and her courage.” said daughter Kate Tweedy. “As we mourn her loss, the example of her strength, her intelligence, and her enduring spirit continue to inspire us.”

While the family requests that its privacy be respected for an initial week of mourning, Lusky says that plans for a future public memorial service will be announced soon.

“We have always been overwhelmed and amazed by the love and support Mom received from her many fans,” John Tweedy said. “We look forward to a time soon when we can celebrate her life in a way that honors that legacy.”

In lieu of flowers, the Secretariat Foundation is offering special Penny Chenery Memorial fundraising projects on behalf of selected equine-related charities. For details, visit Secretariat.com.

Chenery was born on Jan. 27, 1922, in New Rochelle, N.Y., to Christopher and Helen Chenery. Chris Chenery was a New York utilities tycoon, whose first love was his small but esteemed racing stable in his native Virginia. As a girl, Chenery inherited her father’s passion for horses and rode constantly, both at home and at the Virginia horse farm, The Meadow. “I had the horse bug,” she recalled. “I wasn’t ‘National Velvet.’ Horses were just my friends.”

Chenery attended the Madeira School and graduated from Smith College in 1943. Eager to aid the war effort, she joined a naval architecture firm that designed Normandy landing craft, then served as a nurse’s aide in a stateside hospital. In 1946, Chenery went to France and Germany with the American Red Cross, working with demobilizing GIs—one of her most formative experiences. “You had to be 23 to go,” she recalled. “They thought younger girls weren’t mature enough. And they were right!”

Coming home, Chenery entered Columbia Business School, one of only 20 women in her class. Only six months shy of graduation she was engaged to Columbia Law graduate John Bayard “Jack” Tweedy. Penny’s father, who had initially encouraged her to go to business school, now told her to quit and concentrate on her wedding. With deep ambivalence, she complied.

The Tweedys settled in Denver in 1950. They had four children: Sarah (1950), Kate (1952), Chris (1955), and John (1960). She threw herself into every social, charitable, civic, educational and political pursuit to which a respectable housewife was allowed, from the Junior League to Planned Parenthood. She and Jack helped found and raise the initial capital for the Vail ski resort in the early 1960s, where Jack was the first Board Chairman and General Counsel, and Penny’s father was a major investor. They built a house in Vail, and skiing became her young family’s passion. But it was only a matter of time before her thwarted energy and ambition would split the confines of motherhood and volunteering.

That chance to break free came in the form of a phone call on a November afternoon. Chenery’s father Chris had been building a Thoroughbred racing stable since the 1940s based on carefully-selected broodmares. He had come close, twice, to achieving his life’s dream of winning the Kentucky Derby. But by 1967 his health and mind were starting to fail. That fall his wife Helen died, and when Chenery received the call to return home for her mother’s funeral, she realized her father needed help.

She took over management of the racing stable, with the help of her siblings, Margaret Carmichael and Hollis Chenery, and her father’s business secretary, Elizabeth Ham.

The operation was losing money and nobody took her seriously. She poured herself into the work, commuting every month from Colorado to Virginia, but after two more years in the red, selling the stable seemed almost inevitable.

In 1971 her colt Riva Ridge swept the juvenile stakes and was named champion 2-year-old colt. In 1972, ‘Riva’ won the Kentucky Derby, fulfilling Chris Chenery’s dream in the last year of his life.

That same year, Secretariat burst onto the scene, so dominating the 2-year-old races that he won Horse of the Year honors. Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown season unfolded with record-setting performances that still stand, culminating in one of the most celebrated athletic performances of all time, a 31-length victory in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Thrust into national prominence as the owner of Riva Ridge and Secretariat, Mrs. Tweedy—as she was known at the time—charmed the nation as an engaging and quick-witted owner, who represented her equine champions with poise, dignity, and keen business sense.

She quickly grasped her role as the voice of the silent equine hero. As she put it, “The horse can’t talk—but I can.”

Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs said in a statement, “Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby family join all in Thoroughbred racing in mourning the passing of Penny Chenery. Fans embraced her as the owner of Secretariat, her legendary Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner and American sports icon, along with her ongoing role as the protector of his legacy and lifelong supporter of causes that promote the health and welfare of retired Thoroughbreds.

“Whether as the owner of Secretariat, the brilliant Triple Crown champion she campaigned nearly a half-century ago, or as a leader and ambassador for the sport she loved, Penny Chenery led an extraordinary life that touched Thoroughbred racing fans and others in a unique and personal way,” said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. “Thankfully, her legacy will live on for many generations to come.”

“We at Churchill Downs also fondly recall her 1972 Kentucky Derby victory with Riva Ridge and other occasions when horses carried her famed blue-and-white blocked silks in races beneath our Twin Spires. Mrs. Chenery’s wonderful life had a deep and lasting impact on all in Thoroughbred racing and to countless individuals beyond our industry. If anyone ever deserved the title “First Lady of American Racing,” it was Penny Chenery, and our thoughts are with her family, friends and all who loved her.”

“Keeneland joins the Thoroughbred community worldwide in mourning the passing of Penny Chenery,” Bill Thomason president and CEO of Keeneland said. “Mrs. Chenery exemplified the very best of our sport, serving as one of its most beloved and passionate ambassadors. She was a generous owner, tirelessly sharing the legacy of her great Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, with generations of fans that extended far beyond racing. Keeneland is honored to have played a role in the movie Secretariat, and to remember her 1972 Blue Grass Stakes winner Riva Ridge. We are thankful for her extraordinary contributions to racing, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends.”

“Penny Chenery was a true pioneer in our sport and, on behalf of the women and men of the New York Racing Association, we mourn her loss and offer our condolences to the Chenery family,” NYRA president & CEO Chris Kay said. “Belmont Park is where champions are crowned and there was no greater champion for women in racing than Penny Chenery. We look forward to honoring her memory and celebrating the life and legacy of a woman so important to the fabric of racing in New York.”

The following appeared in The Racing Biz.

Looking to continue the momentum that has seen an increase in average daily handle for eight consecutive meets dating back to 2015, Laurel Park kicks off its 60-day fall stand with a nine-race program Friday, Sept. 8.

A total of 92 horses were entered, an average of 10.2 starters per race, with a first-race post time of 1:10 p.m. Five races are scheduled for Laurel’s world-class turf course, with the remainder over its newly refurbished main track.

Photo by Jim McCue.

Ring Knocker and Gratzie, a pair of hot Virginia-bred horses, continued their winning ways over Labor Day weekend.

Ring Knocker helped usher out the Saratoga meet on its closing day with a tight allowance optional claiming victory over Your Love by a neck. The 5 year old Birdstone mare was in for a $62,500 claiming price and covered the 6 1/2 furlong race in 1:17.29. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, Ring Knocker has yet to finish out of the money in nine starts this year. She has three wins, three seconds and three third place finishes good for earnings of $195,388.   With the victory, her career bankroll went over the $400,000 mark. The consistent filly is out of the Black Tie Affair mare, Pearls, and is owned by the Bob Petersons Stables, LLC, Frank Bellavia and Gary Gullo. The ownership trio also received a 25% owners bonus for the win courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic bonus incentive program.

Ring Knocker, who won a year ago at Saratoga (shown here), came back to win a $90,000 race September 4th. Photo by Adam Coglianese.

Gratzie, a 6 year old Two Punch mare bred by Althea Richards, didn’t have to compete all that far distance-wise to win her third race in just four starts this year. She crossed the two furlong marker in :21.59 at Canterbury Park on Monday, then proceeded directly to the winner’s circle. The short distance claiming race had a $25,000 purse and attracted a modest field of four. Gratzie had another win at Canterbury and one at Oaklawn earlier this year. She is out of Dosh by Victory Gallop, and has earned $46,020 this year and $128,055 lifetime.

West End Gambler completed a Labor Day trifecta for Commonwealth-breds with a claiming triumph at Belterra Park. The 3 year old Spring At Last colt won handily by 7 1/4 lengths in a $10,400 six furlong sprint. Bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, the victor was sent off as the 3-2 favorite in a field of eight. West End Gambler, who did not race a 2 year old, is out of the Empire Maker mare, Summertime Green. He now has two wins and a runner-up finish in four career starts.

Just before holiday weekend, Cash Cannon prevailed at Golden Gate Fields in her first career start — a $15,000 one mile maiden claiming race. The 2 year old daughter of Eskendereya was seventh early on but rallied in the second turn, circled four wide into the stretch and won by 1 3/4 lengths. She was bred by Audley Farm Equine, LLC and is out of the Yes It’s True mare, Midtown Miss.

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 bumped at the start, then found a gap on the final turn to overtake tiring early leaders Earth and Trumpi. The final time was 1:40.94 for the race, which was Franco’s third win on the card.

Catholic Boy’s win in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes gave trainer John Thomas his first graded stakes win. Photo by Chelsea Durand.

The race was the second career start for Catholic Boy, who won a maiden special weight for owner Robert LaPenta at Gulfstream Park in July.

Thomas, former assistant to Todd Pletcher and Christophe Clement, is a retired jockey who piloted two graded stakes winners in his professional career, which was cut short in 2000 due to an injury.

Catholic Boy is the son of More Than Ready and Bernardini mare Song of Bernadette and was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Heitrich III and John D. Fielding.

Irish Territory (IRE) finished second, followed by Untamed Domain.

See the full chart here.

 

 

With Anticipation Quotes, courtesy NYRA press office

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Copyright © 2017 Paulick Report.

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 Jim McCue.

Free Union won his second race of the year in upset fashion August 26th at Timonium’s opening day program.  The 4 year old Fierce Wind gelding, bred by Susan Minor, was best in a field of nine and returned $43.40 after being sent off at odds of 20-1. He raced outside the field throughout in the 1 1/16th miles claimer, took the lead turning for home and crossed 1 1/2 lengths in front of Supah Czech. Free Union, who is out of the Buddha mare, Big Bad Buddha, earned his fourth lifetime victory. The victor is owned by the Lawrence Stable, who received a 25% bonus courtesy of the HBPA/VTA Mid-Atlantic owner’s incentive program.

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. Photo By Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Horner Man also collected his fourth lifetime win in a 6 1/2 furlong claiming sprint at Gulfstream. The 4 year old Congrats gelding battled Fifth Avenue Flash head to head through the second half and prevailed in 1:17.42. Sent off at 25-1, the winner returned $52.80. Bred by S. Barton, Inc., Horner Man earned his fifth “in the money” effort of 2017 and saw his current year bankroll increase to $25,480. He is out of Cee’s Irish by Cee’s Tizzy.

A pair of Virginia-breds chocked up recent six-plus length scores. Beachtown Benny and Turks and Chaos beat their respective fields handily at Ellis Park and Penn National. Both were in claiming events and both were contested at around the one mile distance. The former went gate to wire in a field of twelve while the latter raced close to the front in a field of eight, ran clear at the head of the stretch and finished with a flurry. Beachtown Benny was the betting choice while Turks and Chaos paid $19.40.

Beachtown Benny was bred by Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin and has bankrolled $30,311 from eight starts this year. The three year old is by Discreetly Mine out of Enterprise Beach by El Prado. Turks and Chaos is a five year old daughter of Oratory and was bred by Mary Iselin. She is out of the Citidancer mare, Hat Dancer.

Virginia-bred Cryptos’ Holiday won the $35,000 Old Dominion Turf Championship at Great Meadow October 22nd. Photo by Douglas Lees

Most recently, Cryptos’ Holiday won his first race since capturing a thrilling allowance flat during last fall’s International Gold Cup card at Great Meadow. The 4 year old Harlan’s Holiday gelding best of seven in a $36,000, one mile allowance optional claimer at Delaware Park. He won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:38.64. The winner, out of the Cryptoclearance mare, Cryptos’ Best,  was bred by Lazy Lane Farms and is owned by Magalen Bryant. He has earned a respectable $77,240 from 11 career outs.

Eight year old Brudda Clyde made his 46th lifetime start August 27th at Grande Prarie and won his second straight at the Canadian track in Alberta. Bred by James Sumter Carter, the Political Force gelding reached the winners circle for the 14th time. He is out of the Lord Carson mare, Flying Kitty.

And kudos to breeder Robin Richards and Just Call Kenny, who collected a solid Grade 3 stakes win August 26th in the $100,000 Philip Iselin Stakes. That race recap appears separately on the vabred.org website. The 6 year old Jump Start horse has bankrolled $141,830 this year alone from 7 “top three” finishes which includes that first ever stakes triumph. His career bankroll increased to $433,000 with that victory. Just Call Kenny has competed in a trio of consecutive Grade 3 stakes at Monmouth this summer. He was second in the Salvator Mile Stakes June 17th and third in the Monmouth Cup Stakes July 30th.

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. Photo By Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Trained by Pat McBurney, Just Call Kenny stopped the timer at 1:47.73 over a fast main track and paid $10.80 and $3.20 in the field that scratched to four with the defection of Discreet Lover.  Eagle closed resolutely to complete the $22.20 exacta as the 3/2 favorite. It was nearly another length to Mr. Jordan who checked in third with pacesetter Conquest Big E rounding out the quartet.

“I knew there was plenty of speed in the race so we just sat back and waited in third,” said winning rider Eddie Castro. “I asked him at the 3/8ths pole and he really responded.  The only one behind me was Eagle so I had to watch for him, but I got first run and my horse kept running hard all the way through the stretch.”

The 6-year-old horse by Jump Start out of the Green Dancer mare Green Jeans improved his record to 5-5-7 in 29 career starts, boosting his earnings to $433,565. It was his first career graded stakes victory.

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 out immediately upon the gate opening, Drefong, ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, opened a quick two-length lead followed in pursuit by Stallwalkin’ Dude. The son of Gio Ponti rolled through an opening quarter mile in 22.89 seconds and then the half-mile in 45.58 while holding a length advantage.

Drefong, co-bred by Virginia Anthony Warrender, won the Grade I Forego at Saratoga August 26th. Photo courtesy of NYRA.

“We just saw the real Drefong,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said from California. “It’s a good thing that everything turned out all right because otherwise, I would have never brought him to the Forego. I was going to run him once there [Del Mar and then bring him into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint], or maybe twice [in California]. I’d rather win the Forego than that other race. He’s a great horse and he’s always been a champion. When he hit that third gear there, I was really happy, and happy to hear the cheers. We put a lot of time into that horse.”

Drefong extended his win mark to six. Sent off at even money, returned $4.30 to win.

“I was hoping that he would run like he did last year here,” Smith said. “He really likes that summer breeze here. I knew that he was liking it today, and I was just thinking positive. I think he ran even better than last year.”

Awesome Slew, running eighth down the backside, got up for the runner-up spot over longshot Tom’s Ready, who had been last in the early going.

“I can’t complain. He ran good,” Awesome Slew trainer Mark Casse said. “I was hoping the pace would be a little quicker, but Johnny [Velazquez] said everybody broke and decided to take back.”

Diving Rod, Tale of S’avall, Mind Your Biscuits, Tommy Macho, Stallwalkin’ Dude, Very Very Stella and Ross completed the order of finish.

Mind Your Biscuits, off of a 3 ½ length victory in the Belmont Sprint which followed a 3 length win in the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai failed to fire after his mid-pack run and finished a disappointing sixth.

Drefong, now 2-for-2 at Saratoga, will return to California, but his next spot will be decided in the upcoming days.

“We gave him a lot of time off [almost nine months] and brought him back, said Baffert. “It was a lot of patience there. To bring him back to the Breeders’ Cup we wanted to get two good runs in him. Sometimes things work out for the best. This was pretty exciting. He’s a beautiful horse. I’ll probably get him home and maybe run him at Santa Anita. We’ll bring him back home and play it by ear.”

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 Robin Richards. He has four wins, five runner-ups and seven thirds in 28 career starts. The Iselin is the 7th race on Monmouth’s card Saturday.

Virginia-bred Sticksstatelydude will make his 2017 debut this Saturday as part of Saratoga’s powerful Travers Day program. The 4 year old First Dude colt will compete in a $93,000 allowance optional claiming event which has been carded as the fourth race.

“Sticksstatelydude (First Dude) and jockey Joel Rosario win a MSW at Saratoga Racecourse 8/1/15. Trainer: Kieran McLaughlin. Owner: Alvin S. Haynes & Elizabeth Burchell & John Ferris “

In just six lifetime starts, Sticksstatelydude has three wins and three runner-up finishes, good for $326,000 in earnings. He most recently won the Grade 3 Discovery Stakes last November at Aqueduct. Bred by Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds, the talented colt is out of the Gilded Time mare, Placerita, Joel Rosario will ride Saturday for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Photo courtesy of Susie Raisher.

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 is shown with jockey Nik Juarez.

Valid was the first horse Juarez rode to victory in stakes competition, winning the 2015 Grade 3 Phillip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park; the milestone occurred just three days after the jockey lost his bug boy status.

“He was a big part of my career,” Juarez said. “It’s hard to explain but for those that knew him, he was such a joy to be around and had his own very unique personality. I rode him and could just feel how much will he had to fight and to win. It’s very heartwarming to see him happy, eating grass and just being a horse. He deserves it.”

Valid winning the Grade II Monmouth Cup in July. Photo courtesy Coady Photography.

Bred in Virginia by Edward P. Evans, Valid was originally a $500,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September sale. Selected by John Ferguson, Valid began his career under the Darley colors, but went to auction again at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall mixed sale with just one win from seven career starts. Purchased by Carolyn Vogel for $115,000, Valid went on to compete for trainer Marcus Vitali and ownership Crossed Sabres Farm.

Valid with Nik Juarez riding won the $150,000 Grade III Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey on Sunday August 30, 2015. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

His first stakes win came in the 2014 G2 Monmouth Cup, and he would go on to add wins in the 2015 G3 Fred W. Hooper, the 2015 G3 Phillip H. Iselin, and the 2016 G3 Skip Away. Throughout his career, Valid was incredibly consistent, rarely finishing off the board in both allowance and stakes company. His final start for Crossed Sabres was the Skip Away win in April of 2016, at which point his record stood at 12 wins, nine seconds and seven thirds from 37 career starts, with earnings of $1,101,647.

Valid was later sold to Tom W. Thurman in the 2017 Keeneland January mixed sale for $15,000. In April, his first start in about a year, Valid ran ninth in a listed stake at Nebraska’s Fonner Park. The gelding ran twice more at Arapahoe, his best finish a second in an allowance race, to earn a grand total of $3,000 for those three starts.

Today, Valid belongs to Juarez, and the gelding can “finally rest,” said the jockey. Currently the leading rider at Monmouth Park by a big margin, Juarez is preparing to move his tack to Belmont Park this fall. Still, he plans to come home to Maryland to spend time with Valid whenever possible.

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