Click to Read Article from the Winter 2021 Louisiana Horse
Month: February 2021
Texas Summer Yearling Sale Set for August 30
The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie have announced that the Texas Summer Yearling Sale will be held Monday, August 30, at the Dallas-area track. Entries are now being accepted with a deadline of June 21.
Despite the current health pandemic, last year’s Texas Summer Yearling Sale resulted in an increase in gross sale receipts of more than 166% with approximately twice the number of horses consigned compared to the previous year. Even with the larger catalog, last year’s sale posted an increase in average and median as buyers reacted positively to rising purses and breeders awards in Texas thanks to new legislation.
“Last year’s sale showed how strong the Southwest market is with Texas on the rise and Oklahoma and Louisiana continuing to have solid racing and breeding programs,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We fully expect that upward trend to continue with our upcoming 2-year-olds in training sale followed by this yearling sale.”
Last year the TTA introduced a consignor rebate program that rebates up to 50% of the consignment fee using funding from the passage of HB 2463, and that offer will again be in effect for this sale.
As previously announced, the TTA and Lone Star Park will hold the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on April 7. The breeze show will be held April 5.
For more information, go to www.ttasales.com.
DELTA DOWNS READIES FOR 2021 EDITION OF LOUISIANA PREMIER DAY ON FEBRUARY 10
Don Stevens
DeltaDowns
– $125,000 CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS LUCRATIVE CARD FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS –
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs will host its richest race program of the season on Wednesday, February 10, when the track will award $805,000 in total purse throughout 10 stakes races. The event is called Louisiana Premier Day, and for the first time in its 18-year existence it will take place during the daytime hours with first post time set for 12:55 pm.
The featured race on the card will be the $125,000 Louisiana Premier Day Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the ninth race on the program. This year’s Championship attracted a field of nine talented runners including last year’s winner Underpressure, from the barn of trainer Chris Richard. Underpressure, a 7-year-old gelding, is also the top earner in the field with a bankroll of $763,182 from 39 lifetime starts for owner Mallory Richard. Journeyman jockey Gerard Melancon will pilot Underpressure in the big race.
The Championship field also includes Israel Flores Horses, LLC’s Pound for Pound and Gerard Perron’s Grand Luwegee. Pound for Pound beat Underpressure by a nose in their most recent showdown, an allowance event at Fair Grounds on January 14. Grand Luwegee won the Championship back in 2019 and scored a big win in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds in December of this year.
Fans will also be in for a treat when the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Day Sprint rolls around in the sixth race as grade I winner No Parole makes his second appearance at Delta Downs for owner Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss. The 4-year-old star won last year’s Louisiana Premier Day Prince before going on to take the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park this past June. Diego Saenz will be at the helm when No Parole goes to the starting gate on Wednesday afternoon.
Another race that will get plenty of attention on the program will be the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Day Starlet featuring Brett Brinkman and P. Dale Ladner’s Cilla. The 3-year-old daughter of California Chrome most recently finished third in the Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. Brinkman trains Cilla and Gerard Melancon will get the mount aboard the likely favorite.
In addition to the many local horsemen taking part in Louisiana Premier Day there are also some nationally prominent trainers who will saddle horses on the program. They include Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, as well as W. Bret Calhoun, Tom Amoss and others.
Delta Downs will offer the DRF Bets $50,000 Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 4 wager on the Louisiana Premier Day program. The special wager will take place on race 7 – 10, which includes the afternoon’s richest race, the $125,000 Louisiana Premier Day Championship serving as the penultimate leg.
Delta Downs will also welcome a special guest to its simulcast program during Louisiana Premier Day. Nationally known horse racing analyst and commentator Martha Claussen will join track announcer Don Stevens on the simulcast show as a co-host, handicapper and trackside reporter following the major stakes races.
Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Day stakes races for 2021 in program order.
Race # Purse Stakes Race Distance Age
1 $40,000 LAPD Bon Temps Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM
2 $50,000 LAPD Ladies Starter 1 mile 4yo & up FM
3 $100,000 LAPD Starlet 1 mile 3yo fillies
4 $40,000 LAPD Ragin Cajun Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up
5 $100,000 LAPD Prince 1 mile 3yo
6 $100,000 LAPD Sprint 5 furlongs 4yo & up
7 $100,000 LAPD Distaff 1 mile 4yo & up FM
8 $100,000 LAPD Matron 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM
9 $125,000 LAPD Championship 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
10 $50,000 LAPD Gentlemen Starter 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up
The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be awarding two (2) $1,000 college scholarships via a drawing that will take place on Louisiana Premier Day.
Entries for the LTBA drawing will be taken online only this year at www.louisianabred.com. The deadline to enter is noon on Tuesday, February 9. Winners will be announced after the fifth race at the track and the drawing will be shown live on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Association Facebook page. To qualify for the drawing, entrants must be enrolled full time for spring or summer 2021 classes and in good standing with their Louisiana college or university.
For more information about Louisiana Premier Day and the remainder of Delta Downs’ current season, which runs through April 16, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.
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.
Deadline to Register. Noon. February 9. 🎓 Two Scholarships to be Awarded on Louisiana Premier Day, February 10.
|
|
Farrier Offers Guidance On Shoeing To Protect Sesamoid Bones In Racehorses
by Natalie Voss
A number of questions still surround Justify’s left hind foot ahead of the 143rd Preakness Stakes
It’s no secret that the proximal sesamoid bones, which form the back part of the pastern, are a big vulnerability for racehorses. Fractures of the sesamoid bones or failures of the suspensory ligament apparatus that holds them in place are associated with 30 to 50 percent of fatal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. So, while we wait for better methods to detect impending injury to those structures, how do we better protect those bones?
(Read more about research on sesamoid bones and their role in a horse’s movement in this Paulick Report feature from January 2021.)
Farrier Steve Stanley, who has worked on racing Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds for some four decades, offered a few suggestions at a recent virtual edition of the Tex Cauthen Memorial Seminar focusing on racing safety.
Record Handle at Sam Houston During Houston Racing Festival
TDN News Article
Letruska winning the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. | Coady Photography
Sam Houston Race Park set a record for handle during its 10-race Houston Racing Festival card Sunday, Jan. 31. Besides the $300,000 GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. and $200,000 GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S., the fixture also featured the $200,000 Texas Turf Mil S., $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint S., the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint S. and the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf S. A record total of $5.3 million was wagered at the Houston-area track.
“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Houston Racing Festival and setting a record handle of $5.3 million,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing. “It was a team effort from everyone at Sam Houston and our thanks go out to all the horsemen and owners for supporting our meet. This would not be possible without our horseplayers, both here in Texas and nationally. It was a great day.”
First foal of Graded Stakes Winning Millionaire, Breaking Lucky, is a colt!
Morriston, Florida – January 29, 2021 — The first foal of Graded Stakes Winning Millionaire Breaking Lucky, was born January 29 at Blue Star Racing in Scott, Louisiana. Bred by 4M Ranch and Blue Star Racing, the colt is out of Anea (Unbridled’s Song / Desire to Excel, by Mt. Livermore) – who has already produced one winner out of two starters. Her dam, Desire to Excel, was a multiple stakes winner, graded stakes placed, and was on the board five out seven starts. She has produced three winners out of five starters, including one Black Type Winner.
“If there is one word that I can use to describe this colt, it would be STRONG,” said Blue Star Racing Owner Dex Comardelle. “He is nicely put together, has all the right angles, has good bone, conformation, and lots of leg! If this first colt is any indication of how the rest of Breaking Lucky’s crop will look, it’s going to be an exciting year.”
After breaking his maiden in only his second start, Breaking Lucky went on to win the Black Type Woodbine’s 2015 Prince of Wales Stakes – the second leg of Canada’s Triple. In 2016, he won the G3 Seagram Cup Stakes at Woodbine and went on to place in the G1 Clark Handicap, G1 Whitney Stakes, and G1 Stephen Foster Handicap behind Horse of the Year Gun Runner (Candy Ride). In total, Breaking Lucky was on the board in 10 graded stakes and two black type races, campaigned in two countries, and earned $1,196,376.
“Breaking Lucky had an incredible, quality book of mares in his first year at stud with mares spread across the region,” said Comardelle. “It’s very special to have his first foal born here at Blue Star Racing – where he began his stallion career. We are excited about our new partnership with Pleasant Acres Stallions and will continue to support him with quality mares now that he is in Florida.”
Hailing from the red-hot sire line of Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike), Breaking Lucky also comes from an impressive female family. His dam, Graded Stakes Placed Shooting Party (Sky Classic), broke her maiden in her first race. She was second in the G1 Garden City Breeders’ Cup Handicap and was third in both the G3 Pebbles Handicap and the G2 Nassau County Stakes. She had already produced two winners from her first two foals to race when she foaled Breaking Lucky – who went on to win $1,196,376. Currently, she is the dam of four winners including Quake Lake (War Chant) – the dam of G1 Kentucky Derby winner and G1P Country House (Looking at Lucky) and the G3 Gallorette Stakes winner Mitchell Road (English Channel).
Breaking Lucky’s sire, Lookin at Lucky, stands in Kentucky for $20,000 and is well on his way to becoming a sire of sires. A champion at two and three, he won nine races including the G1 Preakness Stakes, the G1 Izod Haskell Invitational Stakes, the G1 Del Mar Futurity, the G1 Norfolk Stakes, and the G1 CashCall Futurity. Lookin at Lucky was in the money 11 out of 13 starts with career earnings of $3,307,278. He is the sire of G1 Accelerate (standing for $17,500 in KY), G1 Country House (standing for $7,500 in KY), G1 Wow Cat, G2 Madefromlucky, G2 Money Multiplier, G2 Dr Dorr, G2 Diamond Oops, etc.
Breaking Lucky stands for $5000 and joins stallions Amira’s Prince, Bucchero, Curlin’s Honor, Gunnevera, Handsome Mike, Long On Value, Neolithic, Ride On Curlin, Squadron A, and Sweetontheladies, at the 220-acre farm located just northwest of Ocala. Pleasant Acres Stallions has received many accolades for excellence, including 2017 Florida Freshman Sire of the Year for Poseidon’s Warrior, 2017 DRF Florida-bred Beyer Award, 2009 Florida Breeder of the Year, 2009 Florida Broodmare of the Year, Breeder of the 2009 Florida Horse of the Year, and was ranked third in the nation for leading breeders in 2009 by average earnings per starter with 10 or more starters.
For more information on Pleasant Acres Stallions, visit www.pleasantacresstallions.com. Pleasant Acres Stallions is located at 2153 S.E. HWY-41, Morriston, Florida 32668. Owners: Joe Barbazon and Helen Barbazon.
February Calendar of Events from the LTBA
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.