Wandering Eyes

The final entry stage for the Haras de Bouquetot – Criterium de la Vente d’Octobre Arqana ends on Sept. 27. The Criterium, which takes place over a mile at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 5, is worth €275,000 and is open to graduates of the prior year’s Arqana’s October Yearling Sale. Full race conditions are available here. Only horses kept eligible at the prior May 31 declaration stage may be entered at this final stage, and the full list of horses that remain eligible is available here. No fee will be charged until declarations on Oct. 3, when a cost of €500 per horse will be charged. In addition to the €275,000 on offer in prizemoney-which will be paid out to eighth place–coverings to Bouquetot stallions Shalaa (Ire), Olympic Glory (Ire) and Zelzal (Fr) will be awarded to the breeders of the first three horses past the post. The first two runnings of the Criterium have highlighted talented runners: the inaugural winner Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) went on to win the G3 Prix Djebel and was third in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains, while last year’s winner Master Brewer (Fr) (Reliable Man {GB}) was subsequently exported to Hong Kong. The post Final Entry Stage For October Sale Criterium appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mare Of The Moment is a TDN feature that highlights the success of a broodmare and gives her and her owner recognition for those achievements. In association with the Irish National Stud the mare will receive a personalised headcollar and this month Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {FR}) is the recipient of Mare Of The Moment. Around the world there are many breeders who deserve respect and admiration, and among those are Paul and Marie McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud in Ireland. In a short space of time, and from a relatively small band of broodmares, the McCartans have bred a number of champions which include Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). It is for the latter that Paul and Marie as well as the mare Anna Law are being recognised as August’s Mare Of The Moment. Although Anna Law was no superstar on the racetrack–she raced a total of four times never entering the fray–she has certainly produced a horse who simply burns up the course whenever he does battle in Battaash. When she went through the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale she may have proved of little interest to those looking for a racing prospect but to the shrewd members of Ballyphilip Stud the 14,000gns price tag is looking like extreme value. Anna Law was quick to repay Paul and Marie as upon her first cover with Dark Angel she produced a colt who went on to sell for 200,000gns and who then went on to become Battaash, the horse who recently crumbled Dayjur’s track record in the G1 Nunthorpe S. during York’s Ebor meeting-a record which had been steadfast for 29 years. Among his other accomplishments for trainer Charlie Hills and owner Sheikh Hamdan of Shadwell Stud, Battaash has won 10 of his 19 starts including the G1 Prix de l’Abbaye, where he heads next, and the G2 Qatar King George S. three times. On a mating with Gutaifan (Ire) Anna Law produced a filly who brought 180,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1, from Phoenix Thoroughbreds which no doubt saw her value as a broodmare as well as a racehorse. The filly is in training with John Quinn and has been named Valletta Gold. With the 2019 edition of that sale to happen in a few weeks’ time we can only wonder what the full-sister to Battaash, who is catalogued as lot 166, will bring when she walks into the Park Paddocks sale ring. The post Mare Of The Moment: Anna Law appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses, including the return of G1SW Mr Melody (Scat Daddy): Saturday, September 7, 2019 11th-NAK, Shion S.-G3, ¥66,600,000 ($623k), 3yo, f, 2000mT MAKE HAPPY (f, 3, Square Eddie–Silar Rules, by Ten Most Wanted), a $650K graduate of last year’s Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale, has won half of her six tries to date, all on the dirt, including a game last-out success at Hakodate June 30 (video, gate 5). The full-sister to 2015 GI Hopeful S. hero Ralis and to MSW & MGSP B Squared tries the turf and 2000m for the first time, but has some turf and stamina influences on both sides of her pedigree. B-Reddam Racing LLC (CA) Sunday, September 8, 2019 3rd-NAK, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m IMMORTAL SMOKE (c, 2, Into Mischief–Bellini Sunrise, by Machiavellian) was a $375K Keeneland September acquisition last year and is out of winning daughter of SW & MGISP Harbour Club (Danzig), whose other produce include MSW & MGSP Holzmeister (Woodman) and the dams of GISW Game Face (Menifee) and GSW Verdana Bold (Rahy). Mirco Demuro takes the call on the April foal, whose full-brother is cataloged as hip 260 next week at Keeneland September. B-Edward A Seltzer & Beverly Anderson (KY) 11th-HSN, Centaur S.-G2, ¥112.8m ($1.05m), 3yo/up, 1200mT Freshened up following an impressive score in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March (see below, gate 3), MR MELODY (c, 4, Scat Daddy–Trusty Lady, by Deputy Minister) resumes in this stepping-stone to the G1 Sprinters’ S. in three weeks’ time. A maternal grandson of MGSW & MGISP Klassy Kim (Silent Screen), Mr Melody is a half-brother to GSP Trendy Lady (Unbridled’s Song) and was bought back for $75K when offered as a foal at KEENOV in 2015. A $100K KEESEP yearling, he blossomed into a $400K OBSAPR breezer. B-Bell Tower Thoroughbreds (KY) MATERA SKY (h, 5, Speightstown–Mostaqelah, by Rahy), a $140K KEENOV weanling and $350K KEESEP yearling, is a Group 3 winner and track-record holder on dirt and was a bang-up second to X Y Jet (Kantharos) in this year’s G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. He has the right to come on from a fifth in defense of his title in the G3 Procyon S. July 7, but tries the turf for just the second time in his career. On pedigree, he is a candidate to handle the surface switch, as his female family includes the likes of champion Bahri (Riverman) and Bahhare (Woodman). B-Lynch Bages Ltd (KY) The post Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sept. 7 & 8, 2019 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), the five-time Grade I winner and 11-time graded stakes winner, will be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale’s Night of the Stars Nov. 4, according to a press release issued by Elite Sales, who will consign the filly. Campaigned by Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing, the four-year-old Midnight Bisou is currently undefeated in six starts in 2019 and has never finished off the board in 17 career starts while earning $3,245,000. “Very rarely is an in-form, young, set-to-be crowned champion offered at public auction,” said Elite Sales’ Bradley Weisbord. “Here is an opportunity to buy the best filly in training, a five-time Grade I winner, and a superstar physical. We’re honored that Bloom Racing has chosen Elite to consign her.” In 2019, Midnight Bisou has scored in the GI Personal Ensign S., running down Elate in a dramatic stretch duel. She has also won the GI Ogden Phipps S., the GI Apple Blossom H., the GII Azeri S., the GIII Molly Pitcher S. and the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S.. Last year at three, after breaking her maiden in the GII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita, she rattled off wins in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. and the GI Santa Anita Oaks while under the care of trainer Bill Spawr. Switched to the barn of Steve Asmussen to target the big 3-year-old filly races in the east, she added the GII Mother Goose S. and the GI Cotillion S. Additionally, she placed in four Grade I stakes, including the Coaching Club American Oaks, the Kentucky Oaks, the Alabama S., and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Midnight Bisou is out of GIII Florida Oaks winner Diva Delite (Repent). An RNA at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, she was purchased by Jeff Bloom at the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale in 2017 for $80,000. “Midnight Bisou has truly been a dream come true for me, my family, and our partners,” said Bloom. “She exemplifies class, beauty, and elegance, and she consistently displays unrivaled determination and dominance on the racetrack. She has an incredibly intelligent eye and confident presence, combined with an engaging and warm personality. She has taken us all on the ride of a lifetime and has forever changed our lives.” The post Midnight Bisou To Sell at Fasig-Tipton November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This week on the TDN Writers’ Room podcast, Joe Bianca, Brian DiDonato and Bill Finley welcome Jon Green from DJ Stables to the TDN studios. Green co-authors the TDN’s popular tax column, Proven Strategies, with his father Len Green as part of the accounting firm The Green Group. Their stable will send out A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun) in this weekend’s $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont. Green also provides the team with an update on their Eclipse Champion Jaywalk (Cross Traffic). The quartet discusses the recently concluded Saratoga and Del Mar meets, the latest TDN Rising Star, Three Technique (Mr Speaker), how the first-crop sires are faring, and the upcoming Keeneland September Sales. Listen to it here. The post Listen to the September 5 TDN Writers Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

This week's BackTrack feature offers coverage of the Sept. 2, 1961 Washington Park Futurity at Arlington Park won by Ridan. The story, written by Joe Agrella, appeared in the Sept. 9, 1961 edition of The Blood-Horse. View the full article

Addressing your thoughts, questions and statements about Hong Kong racing. Have something to say? Send a tweet to @SCMPRacingPost.Four placings from eight rides for Blake Shinn in his first meeting at Sha Tin – @LeeMingDonaldWhile he didn’t land a winner, Shinn made an impressive start to his Hong Kong career and he looks set for a big season.Shinn’s horses responded to his efficient style (he gets very low and there are no wasted movements) – finishing second with his first three rides.The 31… View the full article

Just over a year ago, Grant van Niekerk was the toast of Hong Kong racing after landing a winner with his very first ride in the city, a feat he shared with trainer Jimmy Ting Koon-ho in the opening race of last season.Fast forward 12 months and the South African jockey is experiencing a far more modest start to proceedings as he looks to back up an impressive debut season that netted 31 winners.He had only four rides on opening day for a best finish of fifth and his book of six for this Sunday… View the full article

Nunes, Machado to ride at upcoming Group meetings, including Raffles Cup day View the full article

Top Melbourne vets make no bones about horses needing longer rest time View the full article

Early scratching September 6 View the full article

While the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks lost much of its luster when Concrete Rose was sidelined after winning the first two legs of NYRA's new Turf Tiara series, her lamented absence has created a grand opportunity for eight other 3-year-old fillies. View the full article

After rallying to a half-length victory a year ago, Arklow is back to defend his title in the $1 million Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G3T) Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs, for 3-year-olds and older going 1 1/2 miles. View the full article

The late trainer Rick Violette, a fierce advocate for horsemen throughout the country, will be honored posthumously, along with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Tim Wilkin and Caton Bredar during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters 60th annual Awards Dinner Oct. 30. The awards dinner, held during Breeders’ Cup week, will be at The Derby World Famous Restaurant in Arcadia, California. Violette, the trainer of 2018 GI Whitney S. winner Diversify (Bellamy Road) and dozens of other graded stakes winners, will be honored with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing. Lukas, one of racing’s most recognized names and faces, will receive the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing. Wilkin, the longtime racing voice of the Albany Times-Union, will be honored with the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in Turf writing, and Bredar, a decorated journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in print, radio and television, will receive the Jim McKay Award for career excellence in broadcasting. The NTWAB Awards Dinner, traditionally held during Breeders’ Cup week, is the organization’s only fundraiser, and a portion of the proceeds from the event go towards scholarships for prospective Thoroughbred racing journalists and to support Thoroughbred industry charities. For tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-turf-writers-broadcasters-annual-awards-dinner-tickets-71549732175. The post Violette, Lukas Honored with ’19 NTWAB Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Of the three 3-year-olds in the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes who made their last start overseas, there's at least one of them that fits into an atypical mold. View the full article

The Headley-Whitney Museum of Art in Lexington will host Andre Pater: An American Journey, an exhibit of the artist’s work from Sept. 14 through Nov. 17. This retrospective exhibition will feature 80 pieces from private collections that highlight various periods of the artist’s career. Subjects range from his sporting pieces, genre and historical works, and his more recent foray into Native American subjects. The exhibition’s opening event will take place Sept. 13 from 5-8 p.m. and there will be an artist talk Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. The book Andre Pater: A Matter of Light will be released in conjunction with the exhibit and will be available in October. The post Headley-Whitney to Host Pater Exhibit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After finishing fourth in his stakes debut at Saratoga Race Course, Peruvian Boy will return to Arlington International Racecourse in search of his first stakes win when he starts in the $75,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity Sept. 7. View the full article

Half brothers Stormy Liberal and Leinster are expected to meet for the first time Sept. 7 in the $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs, and the two have taken different paths until this point. View the full article

Everett Dobson’s Candy Meadows Farm has launched a sales division and will offer its first consignment at next week’s Keeneland September sale. The farm’s September consignment will feature 11 yearlings by sires such as Into Mischief, Curlin, American Pharoah, More Than Ready, Uncle Mo, and Twirling Candy. “We’re very optimistic about our Keeneland consignment,” said Candy Meadows’ Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Matt Lyons. “We have a good group of horses, including some really nice colts in Books 1 and 2. We’re excited about the horses we’re bringing to the market. A lot of the yearlings we are offering are out of young stakes mares that were bought as yearlings, raced, and have come back as broodmares.” Lyons served as Vice President and General Manager of Woodford Thoroughbreds for 10 years before joining Candy Meadows in January. Dobson operates a racing stable under the banner of Cheyenne Stables and is a member of the board of stewards for The Jockey Club and a member of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. He is on the Board of Trustees for TOBA, and Chairman of the American Graded Stakes Committee, as well as Trustee to the Keeneland Association. “We have a diverse operation with quite a large racing stable and we’re building a nice broodmare band,” Lyons said. “We’re looking forward to our first sales consignment and growing the farm and our brand.” The post Candy Meadows Farm to Offer First Consignment at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

“Inside the Winner’s Circle, Presented by Keeneland” is a series showcasing graduates of the Keeneland September sale who have gone on to achieve success on racing’s biggest stages. Patience and perseverance–both in the auction marketplace and on the racetrack–have anchored the Centennial Farms syndication strategy for nearly four decades, and that modus operandi paid off handsomely last Saturday when Preservationist (Arch) fought through Saratoga stretch traffic to win the GI Woodward S. by a gutsy half length. The victory was even more impressive when you consider that Preservationist, a $485,000 buy at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, is six years old, has only started 10 times, and two months ago had never raced in a stakes at any level. Emory Hamilton, who bred Preservationist (and his first three dams; her grandfather’s King Ranch bred his fourth and fifth dam) said she’s followed Preservationist’s career closely, partly because his dam, Flying Dixie (Dixieland Band), died later in the same year after foaling Preservationist. “I think what would strike anybody is the incredible patience Centennial has had with him,” Hamilton said. “He was a beautiful foal. Jimmy Jerkens has done an amazing job with this horse. I’m not sure anyone else would have kept the horse in training this long. Who knows where he might have ended up in other hands, and for that I’m eternally grateful.” “Preservationist is a big guy,” Don Little, Jr., Centennial’s president and co-owner, told TDN via phone on Tuesday. “He’s got a lot of size in terms of bulk, but he’s very athletic. When you look at him in the paddock compared to other horses, he catches everybody’s eye. He’s imposing, but he’s well put together. He’s more like a football fullback than a halfback.” Little said Preservationist’s light résumé is the result of a series of minor setbacks that the Centennial team always believed could be overcome with a wait-and-see approach. “There was never anything of major concern, but being a rangy, athletic horse of his size, he just needed a little extra time,” Little said. “We always knew the potential was there. Some people could have pushed through [the minor issues]. And I wouldn’t be surprised that if this horse had been in another barn, they might have done that. But that’s not the way we approach it. We were very patient to do what we needed to do, and luckily, it’s come to fruition.” Since its founding in 1982 by the late Don Little, Sr., the Massachusetts-based Centennial has opened the door for numerous owners to enjoy the sport through its partnerships. The syndicate’s strategy is simple, but not always easy to execute: Purchase high-class prospects at the most prestigious public sales, develop them into top-level racehorses, and retire them to successful stallion careers. Little credits Centennial’s racing manager/veterinarian, Dr. Stephen Carr, and its trainer, Jimmy Jerkens, with identifying Preservationist as an auction prospect five years ago. “Preservationist was on our list because he was big, attractive and athletic for his size. Great walk, great presence,” Little recalled. “He had a really strong King Ranch blue-hen type family. In the past, there were numerous times that we weren’t able to afford those types of horses.” But by the time Preservationist, at Hip 643, came up for bidding, Little explained that “Dr. Carr had left the pavilion to look at other horses to keep ahead in the sale, and I was left to bid on him. I literally jumped in at one bid and was fortunate enough that it was $485,000. That was more than we initially going to [pay]. But the way the sale played out, we were able to budget it into the five-horse group that we bought, and when I told Dr. Carr we got him, he was absolutely elated.” Preservationist debuted as the 6-5 favorite the day before the 2016 GI Belmont S, ran second, then didn’t race for more than 18 months. He finally broke his maiden in career start number three at Aqueduct on Jan. 20, 2018, won an allowance race a month later, then was shelved again until early 2019, when he won consecutive 2X and 3X allowance conditions. Preservationist Wins the Woodward | Sarah K Andrew photo That upward trend warranted a Grade II start in the July 6 Suburban S. over 1 1/4 miles at Belmont, which Preservationist won by an emphatic 4 ½ lengths while on the lead for most of the trip under a heady ride by Junior Alvarado, a departure from the horse’s stalking style. But did Preservationist really want to be positioned on the front end for subsequent graded races? That was a topic of shedrow debate between Little and Jerkens going into the nine-furlong GI Whitney S. at Saratoga. In that race, Preservationist was allowed to make the pace, but ended up getting collared by MGISW McKinzie, a ‘TDN Rising Star’ who was the odds-on favorite. “In the Whitney, as Jimmy says, we didn’t quite agree on strategy,” Little said on Tuesday with a laugh. “You can say the horse was green going into that race, even though it’s hard to say that with a 6-year-old. But that was his first time in front of a big crowd in the Saratoga paddock, and he had never gone two turns [the 10-furlong Suburban at Belmont started on the clubhouse bend]. Coming back in the Woodward, it was obvious that he learned from it. That tells you how intelligent a horse he is.” Preservationist was rated back into a ground-saving stalking trip in third for most of the nine-furlong Woodward. He was boxed and blocked for a good portion of the stretch between the quarter and eighth poles, then kicked clear with good energy to win. “Jimmy pointed this horse in the right direction and made some adjustments, and when Preservationist is right, he’s an imposing individual, very competitive, and he rarely lets horses get by him. But he likes to have a target, that’s now obvious,” Little said. The GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sep. 28 is penciled in as Preservationist’s next likely race. Little said he would not commit to pointing ahead to the Breeders’ Cup at the moment. In the meantime, Team Centennial is strategizing anew for this month’s Keeneland yearling sale. “Last year we bought four horses and I think we’re on track to do exactly the same thing this year to try to come up with another Preservationist, Mihos (Cairo Prince), or Wicked Strong (Hard Spun),” Little said, alluding to two other Centennial stakes winners this decade that were purchased as Keeneland yearlings for $320,000 and $375,000, respectively. “We’ve had great success there,” Little said. “And if it takes going into Book 2 or 3, which could very well happen, we’ll take our time to find the ones that we think will fit our program.” The post Patience, Perseverance, and Preservationist appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has announced it is opening a new sanctuary farm in Taneytown, Maryland. The new farm will provide a home for five of the TRF horses in partnership with Renaissance Equestrian Foundation with the goal of raising visibility for Thoroughbred aftercare, retired racehorses’ potential for second careers and fundraising for the work of the TRF. Renaissance Equestrian Foundation Founder, Stacie Nichols said, “My husband, Tom, and I are very excited about this opportunity to provide a home for these five TRF horses. They each have a story to tell and we will look forward to sharing them through the educational programs of the Renaissance Equestrian Foundation. The TRF horses will serve as teachers to educate the dynamic and diverse horse community of Maryland about the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the value of these wonderful animals in a wide variety of second careers– from Pony Club, to trail riding, to companion animals. We plan to reach out to Pony Clubs across Maryland, 4H groups, FFA clubs, boy scouts, girl scouts, school groups and more to raise awareness of the Thoroughbred breed, their unique characteristics, and the opportunities for meaningful careers within the Thoroughbred industry.” Located at 4206 Brown Road, Taneytown, Maryland, the new TRF Sanctuary Farm at Renaissance Farm will open its doors to the public at an inaugural “Open Barn” Sept. 15 from 1-5 p.m. This event is free to attend, family-friendly, and will provide visitors with the chance to meet the Thoroughbreds and learn about Thoroughbred aftercare. For more information, visit: https://www.trfinc.org/event/opening-renaissance-farm/ The post TRF Opens Maryland Sanctuary Farm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Graded stakes winner Niagara Causeway (Giant’s Causeway–Theoretically, by Theatrical {Ire}), who had been standing at Buck Pond Farm, was euthanized Tuesday after suffering complications from colic surgery. He was 16. Niagara Causeway won the 2008 GIII Tokyo City H. for owner La Bahia Stud, Inc., equaling the track record of 2:29.00 for 12 furlongs. He was also second in the 2006 GIII Cinema Breeders’ Cup H. Niagara Causeway is the sire of 2017 Tropical Park Derby winner Durocher. His final crop of foals is due in 2020. The post Niagara Causeway Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dr. Laurie Bohannon has been named to the newly created position of Senior Veterinarian at Santa Anita, The Stronach Group announced Wednesday. Bohannon will serve at the direction of TSG Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Dionne Benson going into Santa Anita’s 23-day Autumn Meet which opens Sept. 27. “In addition to Dr. Bohannon, we have a wealth of veterinary expertise working as part of our team here at Santa Anita,” said Benson. “Dr. Bohannon’s day-to-day role will be to work with our Association veterinarians to ensure the best possible on-track coverage during training and racing. She will often cover on-track training in the morning as well as assist our primary Track Veterinarian, Dr. [Dana] Stead, in order to provide coverage during live racing. Additionally, she will assist with morning examinations for both racing and training.” Bohannon, who received her DVM from Colorado State University, completed her internship at Pioneer Equine Hospital in Oakdale, and completed her residency in Surgery at UC Davis. Along with a Clinical Fellowship at Oregon State University, Bohannon has practiced in both private and regulatory veterinary medicine at California racetracks. In further discussing the assignments of Santa Anita’s team of vets, Benson said, “Dr. Stead will be returning as our primary on-track veterinarian in the afternoons. He brings years of experience to this important task as well as the pre-race and pre-work examinations. Dr. Tim Grande [representing the CHRB] will also perform pre-race and pre-work exams on behalf of Santa Anita. Dr. Grande has been performing these examinations for many years in Southern California and is an invaluable member of our team. Additionally, we hired Dr. April Chitrakar last year to assist in the mornings and she will be returning. Finally, we have Dr. Debbie Lamparter, who leads the Breeders’ Cup veterinary team. She’ll be assisting for several days during morning training prior to opening day here to ensure we have extra coverage.” The post Santa Anita Adds Bohannon to Vet Team appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

George Papaprodromou doesn’t believe that training horses is all that difficult. “All you need is to have the horse,” he said. “If you don’t have good horses forget about it. A good horse makes you a good trainer.” Not all owners believe that, which is why so many of the bigger owners virtually never give someone Papaprodromou a chance. He’s lucky that there are still a few owners left like Rustin Kretz, who see the advantages of having a trainer with a smaller stable who is more hands on than the so called super trainers. That’s why he picked Papaprodromou to train American Theorem (American Pharoah), a professional 1 1/2-length winner over a tough group of maidens Saturday at Del Mar. The horse gave every indication that he belongs at the very top of anyone’s list of the best 2-year-old males in California. Papaprodromou and Kretz don’t know what they have yet and probably won’t until the colt runs back in the GI American Pharoah S. Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. But there’s one thing Kretz is certain of: he picked the right guy to train this horse. “George is really passionate about what he does,” Kretz said. “Though, I have a number of horses, I am still a smaller owner. I’m not one of the type of clients that a Bob Baffert takes on. George gives you a lot of insights about how the horses are doing and he cares a lot. I appreciate the partnerships with George. George is a really hard worker and it looks like the two of us have gotten lucky with this one.” There is certainly some truth to Papaprodromou’s theory that good horses make good trainers and not vice versa, but for years he had a hard time finding anyone who would give him a horse who could run. Training since 2003, through Sunday, he’s had 132 winners from 1,494 starters. He’s also had two graded stakes wins, with Mr. Roary (Scat Daddy) in the 2017 GIII Eddie D. S. and with Imperative (Bernardini) in the GII 2014 Charles Town Classic. He learned under his father, Andreas Papaprodromou, and then took over the family stable in 2003. In his first four years out on his own, he won just nine races. But, thanks in large part to Kretz, his stable has grown in recent years and he says he now has about 30 horses. “It’s a great feeling,” Papaprodromou said of Saturday’s win. “Every year with Mr. Kretz we’ve been buying babies and trying to come up with a good one. I have a small barn and it’s not easy when you run against Baffert and those other guys with the $1-million horses.” Bred by Sierra Farm, American Theorem RNA’d at $190,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale. Kretz later reached a deal to buy the horse privately from the breeder for $200,000 “We were at Keeneland, where I normally shop for fillies, but this year I decided I wanted a colt,” Kretz said. “I always use Gayle Van Leer as our advisor and always ask her to go back and take a second look at the horses who were RNAs. Usually, with the ones I ask about, she says they’re not horses you want to buy. But with this one, she really liked him and said we ought to go for it. I was a big American Pharoah fan. I thinking getting a colt by him that’s like this one was a steal.” “There are a lot of American Pharoahs who sold for more than him, but $200,000, that’s not that cheap,” said Papaprodromou ” We liked him. My owner isn’t like some of the owners who have the big-name trainers. He can’t spend $1 million for a horse, so he was perfect for our budget.” To no one’s surprise, Baffert had two starters in the race, first-timer Backshot (Tapiture) and Hydrogen (Violence), who finished third in his debut. Even with his breeding, American Theorem, considering the competition and the lack of exposure Papaprodromou gets, figured to be an afterthought with the bettors. Instead, he was the 2-1 favorite. “George was going up against two Bafferts and he’s notorious for not cranking his horses up for their first starts,” Kretz said. “When I walked into the paddock we weren’t the favorite and then a few minutes later we were. I thought then, ‘Geez, this is true. This is not just George talking this horse up. This horse is for real.'” With jockey Tiago Pereira aboard, American Theorem was seventh early, had to wait for room and then took off when he got clear. Hydrogen was second for Baffert. Click for video replay. “I think he learned a lot,” Kretz said. “It was perfect. He was behind a wall of horses, got dirt in his face. Everything about his race was good for him. He’s a classy guy. You go by the barn and he’s not trying to rip your head off. He’s super calm and he let’s you hug on him. I understand that personality-wise American Pharoah was the exact same way.” As expected, after the race, Papaprodromou’s phone started to blow up, with multiple people offering to buy the horse or buy a piece of him. Kretz said they can stop calling. “He’s not for sale.” said Kretz, who has about 25 horses in training. “George doesn’t really get a horse ready for their first start and look what he did. I think we have something pretty special. My dream isn’t to flip the horse, it’s to go to the [GI] Kentucky Derby. That’s how I got passionate about racing, going to the Derby for the first time as a fan in 2010. After that experience, all I wanted was to have a horse of my own in the race.” There’s a long way to go, but should American Theorem make the Derby, Papaprodromou will be a rookie in the race. But don’t expect him to lack confidence or be overwhelmed by the many Hall of Famers he’ll be going up against. Remember his theory: “it’s the horse that makes the trainer.” “I know with a yearling there’s only so much you can see,” he said. “I really wanted an American Pharoah out of that sale. And, I think, we’ve come up with a good one. I think we might just get lucky with this one.” The post Unheralded Trainer Papaprodromou Unleashes a Pharoah Monster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There has been a good run of records tumbling since the start of the European yearling sales season and the trend continued at the Osarus Yearling Sale at La Teste de Buch, where a filly by Myboycharlie (Ire) set a new high for the sale when selling for €170,000. Conisgned by Haras de Montaigu, lot 270 has been the recipient of update after update this season courtesy of her half-sister Soffia (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), who has progressed from listed success to victory in the G3 Ballyogan S. and then the G2 Sapphire S. Her next target for trainer Eddie Lynam and owner Lady O’Reilly will be the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five during the Longines Irish Champions Weeekend. The daughter of the listed-placed Rime A Rien (GB) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) was bought by Nicolas de Watrigant for a new partnership which will include Haras de Montaigu and she will go into training with Frederic Rossi. The filly was one of three six-figure lots across the two days, with Tuesday’s Bated Breath (GB) filly being joined by the top-priced colt of the sale from the first crop of Shalaa (Ire) (lot 211). Offered by Yann Creff, the half-brother to listed winner Mambomiss (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was another on the list of Mandore International’s purchases, this time in partnership with AGV Karwin, at €100,000. One of the smartest pedigrees in the catalogue was that of the son of Kendargent (Fr) and the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}). Offered by Hubert Honore as lot 247 on behalf of breeder Andreas Putsch’s Haras de Saint Pair, the colt was bought by Marc-Antoine Berghgracht for €80,000. Despite a new record top price, the sale average dropped slightly from last year to €21,056, while the median held steady at €17,000. With 21 private purchases added to those sold in the ring, 200 yearlings changed hands at a clearance rate of 78% and for a two-day total of €4,091,000—again a slight shortfall from last year but from 12 fewer horses sold. The post Soffia’s Sister Sets New Osarus Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article