Category: Val Murrell

Afternoon Deelites Dies at Old Friends

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Just six days after the passing of his owner Burt Bacharach, Afternoon Deelites, a six-time graded-stakes winner, was euthanized Feb. 14 at Old Friends, the Kentucky-based thoroughbred retirement farm, due to complications from colic. He was 31. Old Friends President and Founder Michael Blowen announced his passing Wednesday morning.

Bred by Blue Seas Music Inc., the son of Private Terms–Intimate Girl, by Medaille d’Or, was foaled in West Virginia on Feb. 28, 1992. For his entire racing career he was owned by Bacharach, trained by Richard Mandella, and ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

Afternoon Deelites opened his racing career in spectacular fashion, winning his first five races between 1994 and 1995, four of them stakes races. After winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight as a 2-year old in 1994, he won the GIII Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup Stakes to earn his first graded stakes win, and followed that up with a win in the GI Hollywood Futurity, defeating future Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch.

In 1995 as a 3-year old, Afternoon Deelites continued his winning streak with victories in the GIII San Vicente Breeders’ Cup S. and the GII San Felipe S. His final win in 1995 was in the GI Malibu S. He was second in the GI Santa Anita Derby, and eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby.

At four, Afternoon Deelites won one of his four races, the GII Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup S. at Keeneland. In his final career start, he finished second in the GI Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park on May 27. Afternoon Deelites retired with seven wins (including six of the 11 graded stakes in which he ran) three seconds, and $1,061,193 in earnings in 12 career starts.

Afternoon Deelites began his stud career in 1997 at Brereton Jones’s Airdrie Stud in Midway, KY, and stood there through 2003. He then moved to Clear Creek Stud, LLC, in Folsom, LA, where he stood the rest of his career. He was pensioned in 2011, and sent to Old Friends courtesy of Val Murrell of Clear Creek Stud. “We were honored to have Afternoon Deelites at Clear Creek Stud,” said Murrell. “We are blessed to see him live on through his many daughters.”

“Afternoon Deelites was a beautiful friend,” said Blowen. “I remember Kent Desormeaux standing in front of his stall a few years ago saying ‘Michael, I won the Kentucky Derby on Real Quiet, Fusaichi Pegasus, and Big Brown, and this is the fastest horse I ever rode.’ And he was one of the best retirees who ever called Old Friends home.

“Thanks to Burt, his ex-wife, Angie Dickinson, and his widow, Jane, for loving Afternoon Deelites as much as we did.”

Mr. Money relocates to Louisiana’s Clear Creek Stud

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Mr. Money relocates to Louisiana’s Clear Creek Stud

‘I’m hoping a lot of people cash in on Mr. Money in Louisiana, me included’

(Photo: Mr. Money/Tandra Downs)

FOLSOM, La. (Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022) — Owner Chester Thomas is following the money: In this case, moving his five-time graded-stakes winner Mr. Money as a stallion from Florida to Louisiana’s Clear Creek Stud for the 2023 breeding season.

Thomas bred 24 mares to Mr. Money in 2021, with 16 foaling in Louisiana this year while they also remain eligible for Florida’s stallion stakes series. Thomas bred 20 mares to Mr. Money this breeding season.

Spendthrift Farm also is a partner in Mr. Money.

A fan of the Louisiana breeding program and racing in the Pelican State, Thomas decided to go all in by relocating Mr. Money to Clear Creek Stud near Folsom. With the breeding industry getting revenue from the state’s legalized sports wagering, the purses for Louisiana-foaled and Louisiana-sired horses are expected to explode. In addition, historical horse racing gaming terminals, which are being installed at tracks and their off-track-betting facilities, will boost purses for all horses racing in the state.

“I just really like the way the Louisiana program is heading,” said Thomas. “I think Mr. Money has everything it takes to be a successful sire, and I believe having him at a top farm in a growing regional market gives him the best chance to show what he can do. Most of my horses race in New Orleans in the winter anyway, and I’m sure going to have a lot of Louisiana-bred Mr. Money babies. I thought I might just as well take advantage of having Louisiana-sired as well as Louisiana-born Mr. Moneys.

“We think he will excel in Louisiana. They have one of the best — if not the best — breeding programs outside of Kentucky. I’m hoping a lot of people cash in on Mr. Money in Louisiana, me included. It’s exciting to have him there with such good people as those at Clear Creek.”

Mr. Money, out of the Tiznow mare Plenty O’Toole, is the son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents and grandson of international super-sire Into Mischief. He won six of 18 starts, including the Grade 3 quintet of the Pat Day Mile, Matt Winn, Indiana Derby and West Virginia Derby as a 3-year-old and Churchill Downs’ Ack Ack at 4. Mr. Money’s earnings of $1.36 million include finishing second by a neck in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. He was fourth in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs off of his maiden victory.

Among the horses that Mr. Money defeated on the racetrack were future Horse of the Year Knicks Go, Preakness winner War of Will and Grade 1 winners Improbable, Spun to Run, Mind Control, Math Wizard and Hog Creek Hustle.

“Mr. Money was an unbelievable racehorse,” Thomas said. He beat a multitude of Grade 1 horses that year, just got a little unlucky and didn’t get the Grade 1 himself. His babies are coming out and are looking like stone-cold runners. They’ve got a lot of leg and their physicals are unbelievable. I’m very, very excited with what we’re seeing.”

Mr. Money’s third-year stud fee will be $3,500 if paid by Sept. 1 or $4,000 live foal. A limited number of lifetime breeding rights are available.

Clear Creek Stud is one of Louisiana’s premier stallion operations, including standing leading Louisiana sire Star Guitar.

“Mr. Money is a very attractive individual,” said Clear Creek general manager Val Murrell, who has been at the breeding farm since 1977. “He’s put together well, which likely explains how he held together so well while successfully competing in top company, retiring clean and sound. Talent and longevity are super significant.

“He complements an already strong roster. It’s a known sire line. Everybody knows Goldencents and Into Mischief. That’s going to appeal to our breeders. He was very successful at middle distances and beyond. Just as important around here is speed, and he had speed. I’ve seen some of his foals that were conceived in Florida. They’re a pretty impressive group. Muscle, bone, balance, put together very well. That goes a long ways. People get to see those, and that will make a difference.  He’s an exciting addition to a pretty great Louisiana program.”

Media contact:

Val Murrell, general manager

Clear Creek Stud

(985) 796-5563

info@clearcreekstud.com
Chester Thomas’ Mr. Money filly out of Very Cherry. Tandra Downs photo
Mr. Money colt out of the Uncle Mo mare Mo Gayle. Tandra Downs photo
Chester Thomas’ Mr. Money winning the Grade 3 Ack Ack as a 4-year-old at Churchill Downs under Gabe Saez. Coady Photography
Mr. Money winning the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park, one of four straight graded stakes he won at 3. Coady Photography

Clear Creek Stud Offers Scholarship for Students from Within the Louisiana Horse Industry

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With an eye toward the future of our industry, Clear Creek Stud will once again be making a $5000 Scholarship Donation in the name of their clients to a college student with Louisiana based connections to the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Breeding and Racing Industry.

Clear Creek Stud recognizes that for many of the people who perform the hard work of this industry day in and day out, the rewards are often not financial. “We want to help the children who come from these families who put in the long hours and hard work that are essential to keep our industry in operation,” says Val Murrell, general manager of Clear Creek Stud. 

The scholarship recipient will be chosen by the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (LaHBPA) and based on their opinion and evaluation of need and merit.

Interested students should send a letter and resume to Eddie Fenasci at the La.H.B.P.A. office by Friday, March 4, 2022. Letters can be mailed to La.H.B.P.A. attention to Eddie Fenasci 1535 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, La. 70119 or email to efenasci@lahbpa.org.

The recipient will be named on the final day of the Fair Grounds meet, Sunday, March 27, 2022.

Four Time Leading Louisiana Stallion Half Ours Euthanized After Paddock Accident

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Four time Louisiana Leading Stallion, Half Ours, was euthanized Saturday, July 17, 2021 following a paddock accident at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom, Louisiana.

“It is a sad day for us all… Half Ours enriched our breeders program in Louisiana and beyond, having touched many who bred and raced,”  said Val Murrell of Clear Creek Stud. “He was obviously an integral part of Clear Creek Stud’s very existence, like a family member that you saw every day.  His loss will be felt by many and his influence will remain for years to come, defined by progeny that always showed up, held together, running on both dirt or grass.”

The grey son of Unbridled’s Song led the Louisiana Sire list from 2014-2017 and is currently leading the state in 2021. Bred by Brilliant Stables, Half Ours won the Three Chimney’s Juvenile Stakes at Keeneland in his second start and added the Grade II Richter Scale Sprint Championship Handicap at Gulfstream Park as a Four Year Old. Half Ours was initially raced by Aaron and Marie Jones in partnership with B.K. Schwartz and later by the Jones’s. Half Ours is the sire of thirty-eight stakes horses of which twenty-one were stakes winners of forty-one stakes races for lifetime earnings of in excess of Twenty Million Dollars. He initially stood at stud at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky before moving to Clear Creek Stud for the 2011 breeding season.

LTBA Announces 2020 Champions; Names No Parole 2020 Louisiana Horse of the Year

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LTBA Announces 2020 Champions; Names No Parole 2020 Louisiana Horse of the Year

 

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association is pleased to announce the selection of Grade 1 Woody Stephens S. winner, No Parole as 2020 Louisiana Horse of the Year.

 

After breaking his maiden in his only start as a juvenile in 2019, No Parole (Violence-Plus One) won a Fair Grounds Allowance race by 13 1/4 lengths in his first start at 3, followed by a 6 1/2 length victory in the Louisiana Premier Night Prince at Delta Downs.  In June, he won the G1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont defeating Echo Town in the process. He had four wins from seven 2020 starts. His year end earnings of $270,866 were the highest of any Louisiana Bred runner last year.

 

Along with overall Louisiana Horse of the Year, the following have been named 2020 Louisiana Champions:

 

2020 Two-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Filly

BIG TIME

Astrology-Kitty’s Got Class

Breeder: Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson

Owner: Valene Farms

Trainer: Dallas Stewart

 

2020 Two-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Colt or Gelding

JIMMY TWO TIMES

Half Ours-Sammy Van Ammy

Breeder: Larry Romero & Cradle Song Farm

Owner: Andrus J. Pellerin

Trainer: Keith G. Bourgeois

 

2020 Three-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Filly

OUR LOST LOVE
Half Ours-Lost Love Baby

Breeder: Tri-Star Racing, LLC

Owner: Tri-Star Racing, LLC

Trainer: Joseph M. Foster

 

2020 Three-Year-Old Accredited Louisiana Bred Colt or Gelding

NO PAROLE

Violence-Plus One

Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms.

Owner: Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin

Trainer: Thomas M. Amoss

 

2020 Four-Year-Old and up Accredited Louisiana Bred Filly or Mare

MARIAH’S GALAXY 

Greeley’s Galaxy-Black Mariah

Breeder: Margie K. Averett

Owner: Riley Blanchet and Todd Matte

Trainer: Victor Arceneaux

 

2020 Four-Year-Old and up Accredited Louisiana Bred Male

MONTE MAN  

Custom For Carlos- Sarah’s My Angel

Breeder: Val C. Murrell

Owner: Ivery Sisters Racing

Trainer: Ron Faucheux

 

2020 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year

SITTIN AT THE BAR

Into Mischief-Fast Liner

Owner:  Brett Brinkman and P. Dale Ladner

 

2020 Andrew L. “Red” Erwin Stallion of the Year

STAR GUITAR

Quiet American-Minit Towinit by Malagra

Owner: Brittlyn Stable Inc

 

2020 Louisiana Leading Breeder by Breeders Awards

BRITTLYN STABLE INC.

 

2020 Louisiana Leading Breeder by Percentage of Stakes Winners

ADCOCK’S RED RIVER FARM & MONTGOMERY EQUINE PARTNERSHIP

 

Champion Accredited Louisiana Bred runners as well as Broodmare of the Year were selected by LTBA memberships votes. Louisiana Horse of the Year is selected by the LTBA Board of Directors. Statistics were used to determine all remaining category winners.

Monte Man Victorious in Louisiana Champions Day Sprint

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Louisiana Champions Day Sprint
Fair Grounds, 12-12-20, 6 furlongs
3YO & Up, Accredited Louisiana Breds, $100,000

Adam Beschizza aboard Monte Man wins the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

MONTE MAN
Custom for Carlos–Sarah’s My Angel
Breeder: Val C. Murrell
Owner: Ivery Sisters Racing
Trainer: Ron Faucheux
Jockey: Adam Beschizza

2nd
Win Ya Win
Star Guitar–Wild About Marie
Breeder: Brittlyn, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Jose M. Camejo
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.

3rd
Silver Galaxy
Flashpoint–Celestial Legend
Breeder: Jason Hall, Jeffrey Neese, and Jon Dean
Owner: Richard B. Benton
Trainer: Joseph M. Foster
Jockey: Mitchell Murrill

Monte Man Scores 14th Career Victory in Costa Rising

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Costa Rising Stakes
Fair Grounds, 3-21-20, 5 1/2 furlongs, turf
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $75,000

 

Monte Man_3-21-2020-F
Adam Beschizza pilots Monte Man to victory in the 10th running of the Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography

MONTE MAN
Custom for Carlos–Sarah’s My Angel
Breeder: Val C. Murrell
Owner: Ivery Sisters Racing,
Trainer: Ron Faucheux
Jockey: Adam Beschizza

2nd
Grand Luwegee
El Corredor–Magical Mia
Breeder: Gerard Perron
Owner: Gerard Perron
Trainer: Gerard Perron
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie

3rd
Yankee Seven
Yankee Gentleman–Real Peace
Breeder: Steve Margolis, Wahl & Assoc., George Messina & Kerima Haddad
Owner: Margolis Racing, LLC and Columbus Circle Partners
Trainer: Steve Margolis
Jockey: Chantal Sutherland

 

(New Orleans – March 21, 2020) — Ivery Sisters Racing’s Monte Man, the beaten favorite by a neck in the $75,000 Costa Rising Stakes one year ago, reclaimed his title in the race he first captured in 2018 when he edged past stubborn pacesetter Letithappencarlos in midstretch to once again prove best in the 5 ½-furlong turf test for Louisiana breds.

The 7-year-old Monte Man has been a thoroughly honest performer, finishing worse than third just twice in 14 subsequent starts since his initial triumph in the Costa Rising Stakes two years ago. The gelded son of Custom of Carlos was recognized for his consistency by the betting public, who made him the 5-2 favorite in the field of 12, and he rewarded that faith with a stalk-and-pounce run over a firm Fair Grounds course Saturday to win by a length and earn his 14th victory from 39 career starts.

When Letithappencarlos was sent to the front in the Costa Rising, Monte Man was kept close to pace by jockey Adam Beschizza who rated his mount to the outside in second through an opening quarter-mile in :21.76. Monte Man began advancing around the far and took dead aim in the stretch at Letithappencarlos, who was still game on the front end after posting a half-mile in :45.59.

Under right-handed urging, Monte Man took over just past the sixteenth and held off Grand Luwegee running on late to hit the wire in 1:03.49.

Yankee Seven got up for third with Letithappencarlos settling for fourth.

Trained by Ron Faucheux, Monte Man was bred by Val C. Murrell out of the Sutter’s Prospect mare Sarah’s My Angel and improved his career bankroll to $582,441.

Clear Creek Stud Hosts Farm Bureau Tour

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January 16, 2019

 

Clear Creek Stud Hosts Farm Bureau Tour

 

On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, Clear Creek Stud LLC, in cooperation with Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture, Mike Strain and Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association President and Farm Bureau Member, Warren Harang III, hosted a farm tour for attendees of the American Farm Bureau Federation 100th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show which was being held in New Orleans. Approximately seventy-five attendees took a bus from New Orleans to Clear Creek Stud in Folsom. First, they watched a short video demonstrating thoroughbred breeding procedures. Next they were shown the stallions and given a brief description of each stallion’s accomplishments. The next stop on the tour was the training track to view some recenlty turned two-year-olds as they worked through their routine. The tour concluded at the foaling barn where, unfortunately, there was yet to be a foal born this year.

Farm Bureau members from the American Farm Bureau Federation 100th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show arrive at Clear Creek Stud in Folsom for a farm tour.
Farm Bureau members from the American Farm Bureau Federation 100th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show
LTBA President Warren Harang, addresses Farm Bureau members

Clear Creek Stud owner Val C. Murrell said of the tour, “I was asked by Mike Strain, associate Fred Bass and Warren [Harang] to host this group and glad to do so. The visitors are real farmers and I’m sure appreciate the business based on their own perspectives, knowing plenty about farming and seeing how labor intensive it is to run a horse farm.”

Each attendee received a small gift bag as they boarded the bus to return to New Orleans.

Farm Bureau visitors tour Clear Creek Stud
Michelle Lavoice (orange jacket) introduces farm bureau visitors to the Clear Creek Stud Stallions

 

Clear Creek Stud to Sponsor Annual Scholarship

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January 6, 2019

 

Val Murrell, Owner and General Manager of Clear Creek Stud LLC in Folsom, La, announced that Clear Creek Stud LLC has decided to sponsor a scholarship in the amount of $5,000. The scholarship was awarded to a student whose family is currently in the thoroughbred industry in Louisiana. A committee consisting of horse industry leaders chose a worthy recipient for the scholarship whose name will be released once she/he is notified. Clear Creek Stud LLC intends to make this an annual scholarship.