Sophomore sire Orb didn’t make many waves as a freshman sire, but his career has now made a big splash with his first graded stakes winner, two-year-old Sippican Harbor, becoming the longshot winner of the Spinaway S.-G1 at Saratoga on Saturday, September 1. With only 83 starters, Orb now boasts 33 winners, but clearly Sippican Harbor is the belle of this ball, moving her sire up to number 12 on the second crop sires list. Sippican Harbor’s record is now three starts and two wins, for earnings of $242,650.
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Stud Notes: Baffert and Smith Own Travers Day with Abel Tasman and Marley’s Freedom
It’s Bob Baffert’s and Mike Smith’s world – the rest of us are just lucky to be citizens of it. On Travers S.-G1 day, August 25, the so-called undercard featured two grade one races for fillies and mares, the Personal Ensign S. and the Ballerina S., and both were won by the dynamic duo who might as well be Batman and Robin given their unbeatable heroism.
Stud Notes: Unique Bella and Noble Mission
If you are a race horse owner, you know that the highs make you feel like your brain is going to explode, and the lows break your heart, over and over. My own race filly just broke her maiden, and made me the happiest person on earth for a day. August 18, the low happened – millionaire, champion, and multiple grade one winning four-year-old Unique Bella fractured a sesamoid in training and was retired.
The Great Races: The 1984 Breeders’ Cup Classic
On Monday (October 26) morning, a small select group of admirers, family and media gathered around a freshly constructed plaque that was to be unveiled at Thoroughbred Park in downtown Lexington. Although a decade has passed since John R. Gaines passed, his imprint on the legacy and direction of Thoroughbred racing will forever remain. On a day that would commence the countdown to the 32nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup that would be hosted by Lexington for the very first time, it seemed the perfect tribute to the man responsible for the event’s existence.Pedigree Review: Into Mischief’s Del Mar’s Best Pal Stakes Winner – Instagrand
In a weekend full of racing action, one colt stood out – Instagrand, winner of August 11th’s Best Pal S.- G2 at Del Mar. Frequently cynical racing commentators felt their blood pressure rise, and utilized the ultimate compliment when describing him -“freak.” Indeed, he had that man among boys look to him that we’ve become accustomed to seeing in Justify, that aura of professionalism one rarely sees in two-year-olds and that very masculine handsomeness.
Triple Crown Winner Justify Retired From Racing
Press Release: Justify, undefeated winner of the 2018 Triple Crown, has been retired from racing, it was announced today.
“Justify had some filling in his ankle, and he is just not responding quick enough for a fall campaign,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect. Without 60-90 days, I can’t be definite.”
Stud Notes: Ocala Stud’s Uncaptured Sires His First Graded Stakes Winner
North America has a new leading freshman sire: Uncaptured. Who? The unlikely leader is by Lion Heart (who?), a son of Tale of the Cat, not exactly a famed branch of the Storm Cat line in terms of producing sires. Millionaire earner Uncaptured was Canadian Horse of the Year and Two-Year Old Champion, the first horse since Deputy Minister to have that distinction, and was a multiple graded stakes winner at two. But no one expected this relatively unheralded young stud to surpass Goldencents on the leading freshman sires list.
Thoroughbred People’s Equine Legends Series: Dr Fager
While platoons of American Pharoah’s fans are converging on Coolmore’s Ashford Stud over the coming months and rightfully so, there was a horse in 1968 that accomplished a feat no other equine ever had before or likely ever will. According to his Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza and his just as illustrious conditioner John Nerud, the son of 1951 Santa Anita Derby victor Rough’n Tumble could “run a hole in the wind” and was the “fastest horse to ever live.” Stud Notes: 2013 Kentucky Derby Third Revolutionary’s First Winner a Stakes Winner
Revolutionary’s two-year old daughter Maiden Beauty lived up to her name on Sunday, July 15, when, in her debut start, she won the Lynnbrook S. for New York-breds at Belmont by 3 ¼ lengths. A $15,000 weanling at Fasig Tipton November and a $40,000 two-year old buy back at OBS April (though she worked 10 3/5), she defeated the favorite, Tossup, a $230,000 Keeneland September yearling by star sire Pioneer of the Nile.
Stud Notes: Grade 1 Hopeful Victor Strong Mandate Gets His First Winner
Freshman sire Strong Mandate was bound to throw precocity. He himself won the Hopeful S.-G1 at two, and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-G1. Though he underachieved at three, his pedigree is chock full of quality black type on his dams’ side, and sons of Tiznow continue to be well represented as sires.