Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana is hosting its annual stallion presention this Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. with the stallion show beginning at noon.
The event will include a catered cajun style lunch, entertainment, and special guest speakers including state officials and representatives from the Racing Commission and the HBPA. For the kids there will be face painting, pony rides, and a special appearance from Santa Claus. Door prizes will be given throughout the event.
Clear Creek Stud is standing Custom For Carlos, G.W.’s D’Oro, Half Ours, Ole Rebel and Star Guitar for the 2018 breeding season.
Brian Hernandez Jr. registered his 500th Churchill Downs win on Thanksgiving Day
Louisiana native, Brian Hernandez Jr. became the 14th jockey in Churchill Downs history to ride 500 winners at the home of the Kentucky Derby when the 32-year-old won the seventh race on Thanksgiving Day aboard Rock Shandy for trainer Jordan Blair.
“It’s great to have my family here with me for this,” Hernandez said. “I’m thankful for all of the trainers and owners who have supported me throughout my career so far.”
Hernandez, who began riding professionally in 2003, won his first race at Churchill Downs aboard Machine to Tower on May 27, 2004. Overall, the native of Lafayette, La., has won 1,729 races and his mounts have amassed more than $63.8 million from 12,629 starts during a 15-year riding career.
He won the Eclipse Award in 2004 as the nation’s champion apprentice jockey. In 2012, Hernandez won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita aboard Fort Larned for his biggest career win.
Grade 2 winner Big Band Sound notched his first winner as a sire Nov. 21, when his daughter Devilish Sound broke her maiden at Delta Downs Racetrack in her second start.
Owner/trainer Samuel Breaux bred Devilish Sound in Louisiana, out of the winning Ide mare Devilish Pride, who Breaux also trained for owner/breeder Henry McNamara Jr. and later Barry Scott Racing. Devilish Sound is the mare’s first foal to race.
Big Band Sound is a 10-year-old son of Bernstein—Ensnare, by Seeking the Gold, who was bred in Kentucky by Richard Shultz. Raced by Shultz in partnership with Kendel Standlee, Big Band Sound hit his stride at 5, when he won the Play the King Stakes (G2T) on the turf at Woodbine and finished second in three other graded stakes—the King Edward Stakes presented by TVG (G2T), Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T), and the Virgil Stakes (G3) on Woodbine’s all-weather main track.
Ensnare, bred in Kentucky by Ogden Mills Phipps, has also produced black-type winner Silver Prospector and stakes-placed winner Roman’s Run. The first four dams in Big Band Sound’s female family were all bred by Phipps.
Big Band Sound stood at Gulf Coast Equine near Sunset LA., from 2014 through 2017. Ray Paul and Anna Paul currently stand Call Me George, and Koh I Noor.
A strong crop of 2-year-olds in 2017 prompted Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable to raise the stud fee for homebred Star Guitar to $7,500 for the 2018 breeding season.
The four-time Louisiana Horse of the Year and winner of 22 black-type stakes out of 30 starts has been represented this year by 11 juvenile winners from 21 starters. His top 2-year-olds include stakes winners Testing One Two, a daughter out of Yes Sir (Scat Daddy) who won the Louisiana Jewel Stakes, and Aceguitar, a colt out of Cherub Heart (Dehere) who won the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Stakes and finished second in the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity. Star Guitar also sired Givemeaminit, out of Powerful Nation (Turkoman), who finished third in the grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
“Star Guitar is certainly passing on his will to win that he demonstrated with his race record of 24 wins from 30 starts,” said Benoit, who has stood Star Guitar at Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, La., since he entered stud in 2013 at $4,000.
From two crops of racing age, Star Guitar sired 28 winners that have earned more than $1.3 million. He has a third black-type winner in Bermuda Star, who won or placed six times in eight starts as a 3-year-old. One of her wins includes the Equine Sales Oaks at Evangeline Downs. The filly out of Bermuda Bride (Runaway Groom) also placed in the Elge Rasberry Stakes and the Louisiana Legends Soiree Stakes.
Star Guitar is a 12-year-old son of Quiet American—Minit Towinit, by Malagra, and a half brother to black-type winners Favorite Minit and Grand Minit, who were all bred and initially raced by Brittlyn Stable.
Astrology, one of the nation’s leading first- and second-crop stallions, has been relocated to Acadiana Equine @ Copper Crowne in Opelousas, Louisiana, for the 2018 breeding season. The son of Horse of the Year A.P. Indy will stand for a fee of $4,500.
From his first two crops to race, Astrology has sired the earners of $2.1 million, including Arella Rockstar, the winner of last year’s Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park who recently sold for $290,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Astrology has ranked among the top 15 sires nationally by progeny earnings for first- and second-crop sires in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
On the track, Astrology won or placed in six stakes—including five graded races—with a victory in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) during a five-race 2-year-old campaign in which he never finished off the board. As a 3-year-old, he placed in three consecutive graded stakes with a second in both the Sunland Derby (G3) and Jerome Stakes (G2) and then a game third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes (G1) behind Shackleford and Animal Kingdom.
Astrology becomes the second stallion standing at Acadiana Equine @ Copper Crowne, joining five-time Grade 1 winner Court Vision, who currently leads all Louisiana stallions by progeny earnings this year at more than $2.5 million.
“We think Astrology is an up-and-coming sire who checks all the boxes as a son of A.P. Indy with an accomplished race record as a top 2-year-old and a Classic-placed 3-year-old and offspring that have found success on the track and in the sales ring,” said Stallion Manager David Tillson. “We still have a few breeding rights available, and I expect that those will go quickly.”
The Texas Thoroughbred Association, in partnership with Lone Star Park, has announced its sales dates for 2018.
The Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held April 10 with the under tack show set for April 8. Horses will breeze over the Lone Star Park track, and the sale will be held at the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion on the backside.
The entry deadline for the 2-year-old sale is January 15, and all sale graduates will be eligible for nomination to the 2018 Texas Thoroughbred Sales Futurity to be run at Lone Star with two divisions and an estimated purse of $100,000 apiece.
The Texas Summer Yearling Sale has been scheduled for August 27, also at Lone Star.
This will mark the third year for the Texas sales under the operation of TTA and Lone Star Park after taking over for Fasig-Tipton. This year’s 2-year-olds in training sale posted an average of $26,770 and gross sales of $1.874 million, compared to an $18,515 average and $981,300 in gross sales a year earlier.
“We have seen tremendous growth in the 2-year-old sale this year, as I think buyers and consignors from around the Southwest region responded to the stability we have brought to the auction market here,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “I know quite a few buyers who found some nice pinhooking prospects at our yearling sale, so we expect to see some of those horses again.”
Happy Ticket Stakes
Fair Grounds, 11-18-17, 6 furlongs
Three-Year-Old and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred Fillies and Mares
Purse $50,000
My Miss Chiff pulls to the lead in teh Happy Ticket Overnight Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Hodges / Lou Hodges, Jr
MY MISS CHIFF
Into Mischief–Carl’s Frosty Girl
Breeder: Steve E Holliday
Owner: Town and Country Racing, LLC
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Mitchell Murrill
2nd Wheatfield
Lone Star Special–Thistle Bear
Breeder: Tigertail Ranch
Owner: Tigertail Ranch
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Florent Geroux
3rd Look Into My Eyes
City Zip–Burnished Miss
Breeder: Robert McDowell & Bethe Deal
Owner: Amaya, Kathleen and Centofanti, Raffaele
Trainer: Efren Loza, Jr.
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez
Town and Country Racing’s Al Stall Jr.-trained My Miss Chiff was all class in victory in the $50,000 Happy Ticket Stakes for Louisiana-bred sprint fillies and mares on Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ four-stakes Opening Day. Off since a third-place finish in Pimlico’s Grade III Miss Preakness Stakes on May 19, the daughter of Into Mischief showed little rust in a stalk-and-pounce 1¼-length triumph over fellow graded stakes-placed runner Wheatfield, the 3-2 favorite. It was another 1½ lengths back to Look Into My Eyes in third.
Ridden by Mitchell Murrill, My Miss Chiff stopped the clock in 1:10.86 for six furlongs and won for the third time in five starts. She defeated elders for the first time and returned $9.20, $4.20 and $3.40. Wheatfield returned $3.20 and $2.60, while Look Into My Eyes returned $3.60 to show. Stall confirmed after the race that My Miss Chiff will be pointed to the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint in three weeks’ time.
“She broke really sharp and had a pretty good trip the whole way around,” Murrill said. “Going into the turn, we had a little mix-up going into it, but we overcame it and she turned for home and did her thing like she always does. I didn’t have to push her too much down the lane and had a little horse left in the tank.”
Fairwell Tax Break, Ramona’s Wildcat, Play Unified, Sunny Oak, Jo Jo’s Wine and Half a Go Go completed the order of finish.
STAND HIM UP
Time Bandit–Taffy Davenport
Breeder: Hay Hollow Racing Stable LLC (
Owner: Hay Hollow Racing Stables LLC
Trainer: Howard Alonzo
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
2nd Sir Genghis
Tale of the Cat–Staria
Breeder: Randel Stutes
Owner: Harris, Gillian and Kirk L.
Trainer: Kirk Harris
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
3rd Grande Basin
Good and Tough–Silver Rail
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Owner: Deckwa, Jr.,William J. and Carbo, John,
Trainer: Edward J. Johnston
Jockey: Miguel Mena
Two races later in the $50,000 Heitai Stakes, the boys had their turn in the prep for the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint. Gabriel Saez guided Hay Hollow Racing Stables’ consistent Howard Alonzo trainee Stand Him Up ($15, $6.40 and $4) to a powerful 2¼-length victory, stopping the clock in 1:10.05 for six furlongs. The effort was in contrast to last year’s Heitai, in which the son of Time Bandit was eased. Hard-knocking rivals Sir Genghis ($4.20 and $3.80) and Grande Basin ($3.60) finished second and third, separated by 1½ lengths at the wire.
“I couldn’t ask for a better trip,” Saez said. “That was really good. The speed went on and he settled. Turning for home, I asked him for everything he had and he gave it to me. That was great.”
Biblical Strength, Made to Fit, John’s Luck, Philly, Eden Grey’s Kitten and Icy Gentleman completed the order of finish.
Si Cima Stakes
Fair Grounds, 11-18-17, a8f (turf)
Three-Year-Old and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred Fillies and Mares
Purse $50,000
INVENIAM VIAM
Half Ours–Haliburton Honey
Breeder: Paul E Mullen
Owner: Allied Racing Stable, LLC,
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
2nd Pera
Drosselmeyer–Changing Seasons
Breeder: James McIngvale
Owner: HP Thoroughbreds LLC
Trainer: Ricky Courville
Jockey: Chantal Sutherland
The $50,000 Si Cima Stakes for fillies and mares and the $50,000 Mr. Sulu Stakes — each for 3-year-olds and upward — showcased Louisiana-bred grass horses going one mile on the Stall-Wilson turf course.
Allied Racing Stable’s Brad Cox-trained Inveniam Viam ($6.40, $4.60 and $2.40) justified her 7-2 morning-line favoritism with a measured one-length victory under Shaun Bridgmohan in the Si Cima. Longshot Pera ($39 and $13.60) was a game second after setting the pace, finishing 1¼ lengths to the good of post-time favorite Dontmesswithjoanne ($2.40) in third. Finishing up in 1:37.84, the win was the daughter of Half Ours’ fifth victory from eight 2017 starts and sets her up properly for the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies.
“She’s a wonderful filly to ride,” Bridgmohan said. “She’s very reliable and (assistant trainer) Ricky (Giannini) and (trainer) Brad (Cox) have done such a phenomenal job with her. It shows.”
Calamity Jane, Reine des Animaux, Temple Shadow, Vivacious V. V., Pacific Pink, Safari Calamari, Discreetly Grand, Wind Chill Factor and Big Game Baby completed the order of finish.
Mr. Sulu Stakes
Three-Year-Old and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred
Purse $50,000
Fort Pulaski, with Jose Valdivia, Jr aboard, pulls ahead in the Mr. Sulu Overnight Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
FORT PULASKI
Any Given Saturday–Jazznwithcandy
Breeder: Tigertail Ranch
Owner: Tigertail Ranch
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Jose Valdivia, Jr.
2nd Trust Factor
Paddy O’Prado–Mainsail
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Scrivener Stables
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Jockey: Florent Geroux
3rd Mageez
Musket Man–Spaseeba
Breeder: James A. Mcgehee Jr.
Owner: Double Dam Farm LLC
Trainer: Delmar R. Caldwell
Jockey: Mitchell Murrill
Kicking off the quartet of stakes was the Mr. Sulu in which Tigertail Ranch’s Danny Pish-trained Fort Pulaski ($9.20, $3.60 and $2.40) overpowered 1-2 favorite Trust Factor ($2.20 and $2.10) in the final furlong, beating said charge by a half-length under a heady ride by Jose Valdivia Jr. and stopping the clock in 1:36.07. It was another neck back to Mageez ($3.20) in third. Breaking an 0-for-8 record on the year, the son of Any Given Saturday now heads for redemption in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf, a race in which he was a good second in 2016.
“This was extra special having my family here,” Valdivia said. “It’s their first time in the Big Easy and I won a stakes. There’s no better way to start the meet.
“(Fort Pulaski) settled in my hands really well,” Valdivia continued. “He was just waiting to explode. Down the lane he was just looking around and waiting a little bit. Danny Pish really had him ready to run a big race today.”
Extra Credit, Fee Do, Jack Snipe’s, Thunderberg and Culp’s Hill completed the order of finish.
Peter L. “Pete” Orlando, Sr. passed away on Friday, November 17, 2017 while doing what he loved to do, tending to his horses, in Folsom, LA. He was born on March 13, 1941 in New Orleans, LA to the late Lawrence Joseph Orlando, Sr. and Elaine Debelo Orlando. Pete was married to his beloved wife, Pamela Rinck Orlando, for 51 years. He was the loving father of Peter L. Orlando, Jr. (Lisa), Philip J. Orlando (Jamie), and Elaine O. Marquize (Kip). Pete was the proud grandfather of Jacob, Luke, and Nicholas Orlando, Lucy, Jillian, and Kasey Orlando, and Isaac and Rachel Marquize. He was the brother of Lawrence J. Orlando, Jr., Josie O. Adams, Eva O. Vinsanau, and the late Nick H. Orlando.
Pete is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and his beloved aunt, Eve “Aunty” Romano. Relatives and friends are invited to the Funeral Mass at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 12:00 Noon with visitation from 10:00 AM until Mass time. Please Share a Memory on the Tribute Wall at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
Published in TheNewOrleansAdvocate.com from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25, 2017
Two-time defending Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots champion jockey Florent Geroux is ready for an attempt at the hat trick and is stacked with seven rides on the 10-race opening day card. The native of Normandy, France, is fresh off the biggest win in his career when guiding Fair Grounds-based 2016 Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner to victory in the Grade I $6-million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Said victory made the Three Chimneys Farm and Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned and Steve Asmussen-trained son of Candy Ride the likely Horse of the Year for 2017.
“I’m ready for a big season, hopefully, and I feel good,” Geroux said. “The Classic was an amazing experience, but that is the past and now I look forward to the next race, not only with Gun Runner, but with every horse. Every race is important and I’m ready to ride hard no matter where I’m riding.
“I think I come in with the same confidence as the last few years,” Geroux continued. “When you ride the right horses in a good spot, you’re in good shape and hopefully that happens. Today I’m pretty confident. There are a few horses I have never ridden, but I have been on Wheatfield and Don’tmesswithjoanne and they both are good fillies. I also think Trust Factor will be tough. All of my horses have good chances and I look forward to today and the rest of the meet.”
Going into Saturday’s card, Geroux has 159 victories in 2017, has struck at 18% and garnered purses just under $13.5 million. In the last category, he is ranked seventh in the nation in purses, with only Jose Ortiz, Javier Castellano, Irad Ortiz Jr., Mike Smith, John Velazquez and Joel Rosario ahead of him.
Last season, Geroux earned 98 victories, demolishing his competition by a 37-win gap back to Robby Albarado. The year prior, 2015-16, it was a 21-win gap back to Mitchell Murrill when earning 87 victories.
GLADYOUSAWME
Due Date-Flame Run
Breeder: Bertram Klein & Richard Klein
Owner: Klein Racing
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Jockey: Roberto Morales
2nd Cajun Creed
Jimmy Creed-Surprise Squall
Breeder: Danny M. Brown & Donna B. Brown
Owner: Horseplayers Racing Club LLC
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Gerard Melancon
3rd Pound For Pound
Redding Colliery-Buttercup’s Song
Breeder: J. Adcock & B&B Bloodstock
Owner: Israel Flores Horses LLC
Trainer: Jose Grimaldo
Jockey: Gerber Pivaral
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out its fifth week of racing on Saturday night with the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy serving as the featured event. The one-mile test for 2-year-old Louisiana-breds was taken by Klein Racing’s Gladyousawme, who pushed his brief record to three wins in as many starts while taking his stakes debut under jockey Roberto Morales.
After breaking cleanly from the gate in a field of 10, Gladyousawme was determined to set the pace while saving ground the entire trip after breaking from the inner-most post position. The Brad Cox trainee carved out fractional times of 24.11 seconds for the quarter-mile, 49.25 for the half and 1:48.48 for three-quarters while feeling the pressure of Cajun Creed throughout the journey. In the homestretch, Gladyousawme was under tremendous pressure but pulled clear late to score a 1-1/2 length win over Cajun Creed with Pound for Pound settling for third another three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.
Gladyousawme completed the eight-furlong trip over a fast track in a time of 1:40.48 seconds.
Gladyousawme earned $90,000 for his effort in the Louisiana Legacy and has now placed $130,800 in his bankroll during his brief career, which started at Indiana Grand on September 27 in a maiden turf race before defeating allowance foes at Delta Downs one month later.
Bred in Louisiana by Bertram Clein & Richard Klein, Gladyousawme is a 2-year-old chestnut colt by Due Date, out of the Hard Spun mare Flame Run.
Sent to the gate as the 6-5 wagering favorite, Gladyousawme returned $4.40 to win, $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Cajun Creed was worth $4.20 to place and $3.20 to show. Pound for Pound paid $5.60 to show.
Delta Downs will conduct a special Thanksgiving Week of racing next week with special daytime race cards taking place Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 1:35 pm. The track will be dark on Thursday for Thanksgiving Day before returning to the regular post time of 5:30 pmon Friday and Saturday nights.
For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.
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