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Month: February 2024
Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Catalogs 124 Horses
One-hundred-twenty-four horses are catalogued for the 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April.
“This is a solid, quality group of two-year-olds coming to our sale,” Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “We have an array of national and regional stallions represented in the book and stakes-quality pedigrees to match.”
Juveniles by Bolt d’Oro, Frosted, Game Winner, Global Campaign, Instagrand, Jimmy Creed, Medaglia d’Oro, Mitole, More Than Ready, Twirling Candy, Vino Rosso, and Violence are catalogued this year, as well as regional stallions like Aurelius Maximus, Cinco Charlie, Competitive Edge, My Golden Song, Star Guitar, and Too Much Bling.
“We have two-year-olds by well-known stallions, out of stakes winners, and half siblings to stakes runners currently on tracks around the area and nation,” Bridewell said. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase these horses in April at Lone Star Park and we’re grateful to our breeders, owners, and consignors for trusting in us to put on a quality sale.”
Recent Texas Two-Year-Old Sale graduates include multiple stakes-winner Strong Promise, who won the 2023 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity, and our 2023 sales-topper Blue Squall, who broke her maiden at Oaklawn Park and followed it up with a second in a photo finish in the 2024 Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn.
The breeze show is set for Monday, April 1st on the Lone Star Park dirt, starting at 8am. The sale will be held Wednesday, April 3rd inside the sales pavilion, starting at 10am.
CATALOGUE: CLICK HERE
The 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale Catalogue is available now at www.TTAsales.com. Paper catalogues will be mailed soon. Supplements are expected.
DEL CID, BROBERG AND END ZONE ATHLETICS REPEAT AS LEADING HORSEMEN FOR 2023-24 THOROUGHBRED SEASON AT DELTA DOWNS
TOP HONORS WERE AWARDED ON CLOSING NIGHT, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
VINTON, LA. – The 2023-24 Thoroughbred season at Delta Downs wrapped up on Saturday and the leading horsemen awards were handed out during the nine-race program. Top honors for leading jockey, trainer and owner mirrored those of last year as Vicente Del Cid finished atop the rider standings; Karl Broberg retained his grip on the leading trainer crown; and End Zone Athletics, Inc. won another leading owner title.
Del Cid won his second consecutive title as leading rider with 116 wins from 438 mounts and $2,624,265 in mount earnings. He won with 26% of his mounts and his horses finished in the money a season high 58% of the time.
The Guatemala native’s first career win came at Delta Downs on October 21, 2021, and he finished second in the voting for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2022. In addition, Del Cid also won the title of leading jockey at Boyd Gaming’s Evangeline Downs in 2022 and 2023
Following Del Cid in the jockey standings this season were Tim Thornton (83 wins), Juan Vargas (56), Joel Dominguez (56), Thomas Pompell (49), Jansen Melancon (44), Alex Birzer (26), Carlos Lozada (21), Joe Stokes (21), and Casey Fuselier (20).
Broberg continued his dominance at Delta Downs in 2023-24 by sending out 65 winners and totaling $1,353,610 in barn earnings to lead each category. It was the 13th straight time the Broberg barn has led the standings dating back to the 2011-12 season. During the 2018-19 season his horses set the current records for Thoroughbred trainers with 107 wins and earnings of $2,017,120.
Rounding out the list of leading trainers for the Delta Downs meeting were Allen Landry (40), Brett Brinkman (27), Eduardo Ramirez (26), Juan Larrosa (23), Sam Breaux (19), Jon Arnett (18), Kent Knudsen (16), Justin Evans (14), and Tom Amoss (14).
End Zone Athletics, Inc. saw 50 of their runners win and earn a total of $983,560 during the meeting to lead both categories for owners. It was the ninth consecutive title and 12th overall for End Zone, which includes trainer Karl Broberg and Matt Johanson.
Rounding out the top owners for the season were Elite Thoroughbred Racing, LLC (Michele Rodriguez) (11), Norman Stables, LLC (Robert A. Norman) (11), Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (Jack Lothenbach) (11), Redwood QH Racing LLC (Jose Barrientos) (8), Mark N. Hibdon (7), Gerald L. Averett, Jr. (7), World War IV Racing (Warren McFatter & John Christmann) (7), L and G Racing Stables (Silvia & Genesis Castillo) (6), and Israel Flores Horses LLC (Israel Flores) (6).
Delta Downs now looks forward to its upcoming American Quarter Horse season which gets underway on April 26 and runs through July 13. The 46-day meeting will feature live racing each Wednesday through Saturday night with first post time set for 6:15 pm Central Time.
For more information about the Delta Downs Quarter Horse season, including specific race days, go to the track’s website at www.deltadowns.com/race. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.
Louisiana-Bred Manama Gold Scores In Dubai, Earns 50 Kentucky Oaks Points
Daughter of Star Guitar remains undefeated following front-running victory in UAE Oaks at Meydan
Manama Gold has been one of the stars of the Dubai season so far and Fawzi Nass’s filly took her unbeaten record to three with a 1 1/4-length victory in the UAE Oaks (G3) presented by Longines on Friday at Meydan.
Ridden by Adrie De Vries, the Louisiana-bred daughter of Star Guitar disputed the pace along the rail and went clear in the straight, but then had to be kept up to her work to see off the Justify filly Mizzyaan, who was closing again at the line. Lightning Paradise finished third, with Kobo Misaki, Fatinahy, and Sensatiable completing the order of finish.
Time of the race was 2:00.81 for 1 3/16 miles.
The Oaks is a qualifying points race for the Kentucky Oaks, with the winner receiving 50 points and the second through fifth-place finishers earning 25-15-10-5 points, respectively.
“I’m very pleased; I have a lot to do with her in the mornings and she’s a very special filly,” said De Vries. “At the moment, I think she’s not at her best – she’s growing a lot – but she has a lot of class.
“I didn’t really have a plan to make [the running] but no-one really wanted it. You can see when she gets in front she pricks her ears. I think she’ll be a better filly next year, but I’ll leave it to Fawzi and [owner] Sheikh Nasser to make a plan.”
Bred by Brittlyn, Inc., Manama Gold was produced from the stakes winning mare Charged Cotton, a daughter of Dehere. Sold by Taylor Made Sales Agency for $100,000 to Kevin Knuckley at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Manama Gold was pinhooked by Richardson Bloodstock at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, where she was purchased by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock for $200,000.
Accommodate Eva Proves Herself Going Two Turns in the Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Stakes
Valene Farms’ Accommodate Eva proved convincingly she can win going a route of ground, scoring in Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year “Lipstick Junky” Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Beating seven 3-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies, the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie victress covered one mile in 1:38.51 under jockey Corey Lanerie.
Troubled early, Emily’s Bullet ran well late to get up for second over a tough-trip Lightofmaine.
Accommodate Eva is trained by Dallas Stewart, who was with Hoist the Gold at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh for the $20 million Saudi Cup. Owner Murray Valene was on hand for the win.
“That was terrific,” Valene said. “She’s a nice filly, who tries hard. She’s learning how to run right now and she continues to get better.”
Powering through tight quarters out of the gate, Accommodate Eva relaxed in midpack and began tracking co-favorite Clearly a Test and the leader Wonderrand who clicked through moderate fractions of :24.39 and :48.65. As the forward group of fillies bunched up at the top of the stretch, Accommodate Eva saw an opening and shot through it to take the lead with a furlong to go. From there, she poured it on under a handride, pulling away by open lengths.
“Dallas and her team brought her over here ready,” Lanerie said. “I’d like to thank Murray Valene for letting me ride her. I was just a passenger, sitting on the inside waiting for room. I positioned myself right behind Clearly a Test. I thought she was the filly to beat and she’d take me at least to the 1/8th pole and after that I could hopefully find some running room. At the quarter pole I had to push my way out but once I found daylight it was over.”
Having broken her maiden going seven furlongs at Keeneland in October, Accommodate Eva was entered ambitiously going two turns first in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and later in the Silverbulletday, where she failed to contend in either contest. Witnessing her resolute win going long on Saturday, after the race Valene said the daughter of Munnings could try open company again.
“We may try the (Fair Grounds) Oaks, we don’t know,” Valene said. “She was pretty impressive today so we’ll see what happens.”
With two stakes wins on her resume, Accommodate Eva’s career record stands at 8-3-0-1 with $189,230 in the bank. Her backers were rewarded with $6.20, $3.80, and $3.00.
Brittany’s Dream Rallies to Top of Division with Win in Louisiana Stallion of the Year “Star Guitar” Stakes
New Orleans, La (Feb. 24, 2024) – After eating dirt early and muscling through tight quarters late, Thomas Holyfield’s homebred Brittany’s Dream rallied up the rail to win the $100,000 Louisiana Stallion of the Year “Star Guitar” Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Going 1 mile 70 yards and stopping the clock at 1:44.43, Brittany’s Dream’s asserted himself atop the division of 3-year-old Louisiana-bred male routers.
Piloted by Jose Guerrero and trained by the current meet-leader Shane Wilson, the son of Always Dreaming out of Brittany’s Tuition won by 3/4 length over the public’s top pick El Dinero, who outdueled Good and Stout through the final furlong.
“We were disappointed with his first start sprinting,” Wilson said. “He had been doing everything right, and he’d worked like babies had never worked for me before. He came back in his second start and he ate dirt before running a big race once he got to the rail. All the mare’s foals got better going further, so we knew more distance would be key. When he broke his maiden, he pulled up after making the lead so today we wanted to bury him and give him some horses to chase. We knew he’d eat the dirt. After being so high on him from the beginning, it’s really rewarding to see him put it all together.”
As several got caught in a scuffle out of the gates, two front-runners emerged unscathed as Carpis set out to lead the field of ten through :23.59 and :47.18 quick opening quarters. With Spinning Aces in hot pursuit, a duel down the backstretch unfolded as Brittany’s Dream navigated a rail run taking kickback under a strong hold from his rider. Encroaching on the fading front runners in the far turn, Good and Stout emerged from the crowd with run as El Dinero saw out his wide bid, and the two engaged down the stretch. Brittany’s Dream held the rail before delivering a blow to an outer foe to make room and measure up the leaders. Slashing back to the rail at the 1/16th pole, Brittany’s Dream rallied triumphantly.
“I want to give thanks to Shane (Wilson) for this opportunity,” Guerrero said. “The race went well, I knew what kind of horse I had after he had run so well going long last time. Today he sat in a good position and I was satisfied with how he was going throughout.”
With both wins coming at two turns, Brittany’s Dream tallies a career record of 4-2-1-0 and $106,200 in earnings. A generous $13.40, $5.60, and $3.80 was paid out to his market supporters.
Water Hazards: What Shouldn’t Be In Your Horse’s Water?
Horse owners who live in areas that have experienced weather extremes are encouraged to have their water tested for pollutants
BREEDERS’ CUP LATE FOAL NOMINATION DEADLINE CLOSES FEBRUARY 28
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 20, 2024) ― The Breeders’ Cup issued a reminder today that Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the last opportunity to nominate foals born in 2023 to the Breeders’ Cup program for a one-time late nomination fee of $1,500 USD.
The $1,500 nomination entitles each foal with lifetime eligibility to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the Breeders’ Cup racing programs. All foals sired by a fully nominated North American Breeders’ Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders’ Cup program in their year of birth and up to Feb. 28 of their yearling year.
Breeders’ Cup Limited has been Thoroughbred racing’s most significant international program for over 40 years. During this time, Breeders’ Cup has allocated purses and awards of more than $900 million to owners, foal nominators, and stallion nominators through its programs, including the annual $31 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships showcasing the best Thoroughbreds, owners, trainers, and jockeys to a global audience.
Breeders’ Cup foal nominators will earn $10,000 for every victory in the worldwide Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, and every horse that starts in a Breeders’ Cup World Championship race will earn a nominator award. The individual nominating the foal receives these nominator awards even though the horse may change hands throughout its racing career.
For more information and to nominate online visit members.breederscup.com.
The Jockey Club Releases Industry Initiatives Impact Report
The Jockey Club has traditionally shared information about the initiatives it supports at its annual Round Table Conference in August. Beginning in 2024, early each year The Jockey Club will publish an annual report about how it supports the Thoroughbred industry. The inaugural report is here: The Jockey Club 2024 Industry Impact Report.
Since 2010, The Jockey Club has invested more than $100 million in the Thoroughbred industry. This year, it will invest at least $7 million to support initiatives ranging from equine safety and aftercare to industry promotion and national and international collaboration.
“The initiatives supported by The Jockey Club, together with others or wholly backed by The Jockey Club, have increased substantially in the last decade and a half,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO, The Jockey Club. “They reflect the commitment by the board of stewards to invest our profits into a wide array of projects and activities that may serve as catalysts for growth of the sport and for ensuring the safety and welfare of its participants.”
As the Thoroughbred breed registry for the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, The Jockey Club Registry is a not-for-profit organization with the primary responsibility of maintaining The American Stud Book to ensure the integrity of the breed.
In line with its mission of being dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, The Jockey Club developed a group of for-profit subsidiaries and partnerships to further support the industry, its horses, and the people who work within it: The Jockey Club Information Systems (TJCIS), InCompass Solutions, Equibase Company, and The Jockey Club Technology Services (TJCTS). These companies serve the industry with technology services and products, and the profits they create are dispersed to The Jockey Club for investment back into the sport.
The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans, and farms. It founded America’s Best Racing (americasbestracing.net), the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing, and in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, operates OwnerView (ownerview.com), the ownership resource. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.
Napravnik Returns to Fair Grounds for Fourth Annual New Vocations Day at The Races
New Orleans, La (Feb. 21, 2024) – On Saturday, Feb. 24, retired jockey and horse advocate Rosie Napravnik will be on site at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to spearhead the fourth annual “New Vocations Day at the Races.”
A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories, and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare.
“I am thrilled to be part of our fourth annual New Vocation’s Day at the Fairgrounds!” Napravnik said. “The Event has been a huge help in spreading awareness to our local horseman as to how New Vocations is aiding the Louisiana racing community. We hope to continue to raise funds and awareness so that we can help more horsemen and more horses!”
Recognizing the need for expanded Thoroughbred aftercare in Louisiana, Napravnik reached out to New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption program in the country, in the fall of 2019. Held for the first time at Fair Grounds in 2021, the “New Vocations Day at the Races” has raised over $12,500 in unique donations from fans and people within the industry, including horsemen, horse owners, and jockeys.
“New Vocations is an organization the Fair Grounds is proud to support each year,” said Fair Grounds president Doug Shipley. “Their dedication to rehabilitating, retraining and rehoming horses deserves the utmost respect. We encourage everyone interested to support this amazing cause.”
Owners, jockeys and trainers can contribute a financial donation to the Louisiana chapter of New Vocations directly through the horsemen’s bookkeeper. Contact Emily Miller or Diana Bosco at 504-948-1254. In addition, contributions are welcome through the New Vocations website — visit https://newvocations.org/donate and click the button with Rosie’s picture on it in the top row to complete the process.
“Moving into our fifth year, our Louisiana facility continues to thrive, and our team has done a wonderful job with each horse that has entered the program,” said New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford. “The continued support from the Louisiana HBPA has played a huge role in the facility’s success. We are also seeing more and more local owners, breeders and trainers reach out to utilize our services as well as support our efforts. We are grateful to have the Fair Grounds hosting another New Vocations Day at the Races. We hope the event will continue to raise awareness about our Louisiana facility and the services we provide to the racing community.”
Napravnik, who won 1,878 races in her ten-year career, retired in 2014 following her Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) win with Untapable. In 2012 she became the first female rider to capture the Kentucky Oaks (G1), guiding Believe You Can to victory, and she won the race again just two years later with Untapable. She is married to trainer Joe Sharp and together they have two sons, Carson and Tucker.
“I’m blown away by the success of our team at the New Vocations satellite facility in Covington, Louisiana over the past five years and am grateful to the LAHBPA and the Fair Grounds for their support,” Napravnik said.
In addition to promoting Thoroughbred aftercare awareness, Napravnik will also offer her race-by-race selections via the “expert picks” videos on twinspires.com and the Twin Spires app, and on the simulcast feed.
“During my riding career, I never handicapped to pick the winner, I handicapped to make my horse the winner,” Napravnik said. “But there’s a lot of insight I can give on how each of the riders could see the race unfolding and how it might play out from a pace and trip perspective. I truly enjoy being on the show and handicapping the races with Joe so it will be another fun and exciting day as we raise awareness and funds for aftercare in Louisiana!”
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