Month: May 2017

Final Jockey Assignments Confirmed In 2017 Run For The Roses: Includes Three Louisiana Natives

louisianathoroughbred

by | 04.30.2017 | 3:05pm

Always Dreaming works under the Twin Spires with John Velazquez aboard.

The last of the Kentucky Derby riding assignments was confirmed on Sunday morning, and the current field of 20 is all booked up for Saturday’s Run for the Roses. The most recent addition is that of jockey Channing Hill aboard Fast and Accurate for trainer Mike Maker; Hill breezed the colt at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, then announced the decision later in the morning on Twitter.

Tyler Gaffalione will be aboard the Todd Pletcher-trained Patch for Calumet Farm, it was also announced on Twitter Sunday morning. Pletcher’s other riders were announced over the past few weeks, with John Velazquez scheduled to team with Always Dreaming and Jose Ortiz to pilot Tapwrit.

Trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed his final Derby reinsmen on Saturday, naming Ricardo Santana to ride Untrapped and Corey Lanerie to ride Lookin at Lee. Florent Geroux had previously been named to ride Hence.

Late last week, trainer Dale Romans named Luis Saez as the replacement rider for the injured Robby Albarado aboard J Boys Echo.

 

Here is the full list of expected Kentucky Derby contenders and their riders, as of Sunday afternoon:

  • Always Dreaming (John Velazquez)
  • Battle of Midway (Flavien Prat)
  • Classic Empire (Julien Leparoux)
  • Fast and Accurate (Channing Hill)
  • Girvin (Mike Smith)
  • Gormley (Victor Espinoza)
  • Gunnevera (Javier Castellano)
  • Hence (Florent Geroux)
  • Irap (Mario Gutierrez)
  • Irish War Cry (Rajiv Maragh)
  • J Boys Echo (Luis Saez)
  • Lookin At Lee (Corey Lanerie)
  • McCraken (Brian Hernandez Jr.)
  • Patch (Tyler Gaffalione)
  • Practical Joke (Joel Rosario)
  • Sonneteer (Kent Desormeaux)
  • State of Honor (Jose Lezcano)
  • Tapwrit (Jose Ortiz)
  • Thunder Snow (Ire) (Christophe Soumillon)
  • Untrapped (Ricardo Santana Jr.).

Next up in order of preference: Royal Mo (Gary Stevens)

Equine Sales Company Announces the Addition of Supplements to the 2017 2YO In Training Sale

louisianathoroughbred
EQUINE SALES COMPANY

 

ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF THE

CURRENT SUPPLEMENTS TO THE

2017 TWO YEAR OLD IN TRAINING SALE

WITH

RACE AGE HORSES

 

Hip# 68 and Hip #69

 

SALE DATE: MAY 9, 2017– 11:00 AM

BREEZE SHOW: MAY 7, 2017– 10:00 AM

The catalog pages on these supplements are also on our website at www.equinesalesofla.com 

Equine Sales Company would like to invite you to attend the Breeze Show which will be held on Sunday, May 7, 2017, beginning at 10:00 o’clock AM. The sale horses will work on Copper Crowne Training Center’s state of the art training track which is licensed by the Louisiana State Racing Commission. There will be a viewing stand and teletimer located at the finish line for your comfort and convenience. Refreshments will be available.
Dilion Video will have the works available for viewing late Sunday afternoon and will continue playing throughout the day, in the Equine Sales Company pavilion located at 372 Harry Guilbeau Road, Opelousas, LA. They will also be available on the internet at http://www.equinesalesofla.com and on a CD that you can pick up for your personal use.

 
EQUINE SALES OAKS
 
to be run
Friday, May 5, 2017
and
EQUINE SALES DERBY
 
to be run
Saturday, May 6, 2017
at
EVANGELINE DOWNS RACETRACK
 
Equine Sales Company would like to wish all of the connections in the running of these two races the best of luck.

 2017 Consignor Select Yearling Sale
will be held on
Thursday, August 31, 2017
 
Consignment contracts are available on our website or by clicking this link:      2017 Consignor Select Yearling Sale Consignment Contract

Or you can contact Equine Sales Company, 372 Harry Guilbeau Road, Opelousas, LA.
Office:  337-678-3024 * Fax:  337-278-3028 * Email:  www.sales@equinesalesofla.com.
Foster Bridewell:  214-718-7618

Louisiana Breds Fare Well at OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds Sale

louisianathoroughbred

Louisiana bred two year olds did very well at the OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale Sale which concluded Friday, April 28 with across-the-board records.

Of the seventeen Louisiana breds offered, 14 sold through the ring for total of $1,154,000, and an average of $82,429.

Three Louisiana breds sold for prices topping $100,000.

Hip # 1060, a colt by Northern Afleet-Skip Queen consigned by Off the Hook LLC, Agent was purchased by Ed & Susie Orr for $300,000.

Hip #713,  a colt by Into Mischief-Love Catcher consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent was purchased by Gayle Van Leer, Agent for $260,000.

Hip #111, a filly by Soldat-An Absolute Ten consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc., Agent was purchased for $120,000 by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

Political Whit Passes at 24

louisianathoroughbred

Political Whit died Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at the age of 24.

A 1993 Texas bred by Lines Of Power-Political Parody, Political Whit was a graded placed multiple stakes winner. Mike Whitler, who purchased Political Whit as a two-year-old in training, owned him throughout his racing and breeding careers.

His stats show a phenomenal career record of twelve wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 23 starts with $347,190 in earnings, including consecutive wins in the Sam Houston Sprint Championship in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, he ran second in the G3 Maryland Breeders Cup Handicap at Pimlico and the G3 Finger Lakes Breeders Cup Stakes at Finger Lakes.

Political Whit entered stud in 2000. He stood two years each in Texas and Iowa respectively, before moving to Peach Lane Farms in Opelousas, Louisiana where he lived out the rest of his career. He sired 32 runners with total progeny earnings of $575,687 to date. His tope runner was Political Weapon (2001) who had 5 wins and $84,171 in earnings, and recent runner Heza Fox who has 6 wins and $82,300 in earnings through 2016.

He passed at Peach Lane Farm.

Zarbyev, Long Time Among Leading Louisiana Stallions, Succumbs at 33

louisianathoroughbred

The stallion Zarbyev died Friday, April 21, 2017, at Chad and Pat White Farms in Benton. The chestnut was 33 years old.

The stakes placed son of Nureyev out of the Blushing Groom mare, Grand Bonheur stood his entire stud career in Louisiana. Zarbyev entered stud in 1989 at William and Pat Borhem’s Foxwood Plantation in Belcher.

To date, he has sired 303 starters, 211 winners (70%) with total progeny earnings of $16,948,152. His progeny earnings place him among the all time leading sires in Louisiana. Zarbyev sired 12 black type winners, including five Louisiana-bred Champions. His top runners include G2 Arkansas Derby SW Zarb’s Magic who won 8 stakes while earning $893,946, as well as 1996 3YO Louisiana Bred Champion Colt or Gelding honors. Zarb’s Magic’s earnings rank him eleventh among all time Leading Louisiana Bred money earners.

Additionally he is the sire of notable winners multiple stakes winners Zarb’s Luck ($647,744, 2003 4YO & Up Louisiana Bred Champion Male); Zarb’s Dahar ($586,695, 2005 4YO & Up Louisiana Bred Champion Male); Zarb’s Ballerina ($495,440); Zarbycat ($457,729, 1993 3YO Louisiana Bred Champion Colt or Gelding); Ladyzarbridge ($437,714); Silky Zarb ($404,332); Screen Idol ($283,986); St. Zarb ($264,810, 2007 3YO Colt or Gelding), etc.

Zarbyev concluded his career at Chad and Pat White Farms where he will be fondly remembered.