Month: January 2021

‘Beautiful And Very Smart’: First Foal Is A Filly For Spendthrift Farm’s Vino Rosso

Spendthrift Farm stallion Vino Rosso, the 2019 Champion Older Male and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero, sired his first reported foal the night of Jan. 5th when a filly was born at Jim and Pam Robinson's Brandywine Farm in Paris, Ky.

“I tell you what, you could not ask for a better foal. She is just beautiful and very smart. Physically, she is a strong filly with good bone. I cannot say enough positive things about her,” said Pam Robinson. “In 46 years of breeding, we have never sent three mares to a first-year stallion before, but we did to Vino Rosso last year. I think that tells you how much we think of the stallion, and we are sending a couple back to him this year.”

Bred by Brandywine, the chestnut filly is the second foal out of the Malibu Moon mare Shine Time, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Royal Mo and the stakes-winning juvenile Tara From the Cape.

Campaigned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Vino Rosso was undefeated as a 2-year-old before going on to capture a major Kentucky Derby prep race – the Grade 2 Wood Memorial – at three. The multiple Grade 1-winning son of Curlin also won the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at four. He retired to Spendthrift after his Breeders' Cup Classic triumph with earnings of $4,803,125, making him Curlin's all-time leading earner to date.

Vino Rosso is out of the multiple stakes-producing Street Cry mare Mythical Bride, a half-sister to Belmont Stakes runner-up and Grade 2 winner Commissioner and Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up and Grade 3 winner Laugh Track. He will stand in 2021 for a fee of $25,000 S&N.

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Keeneland January Horses Of All Ages Sale Begins Monday; Five Supplemental Entries Added

Keeneland's 64th annual January Horses of All Ages Sale begins Monday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. ET with the first of four sessions of the auction, which includes the dispersals of Sam-Son Farm, Paul Pompa Jr. and Spry Family Farm.

A total of 1,608 broodmares and broodmare prospects, newly turned yearlings, horses of racing age and stallions or stallion prospects are cataloged to the sale, which runs through Jan. 14.

To ensure the safest environment possible, Keeneland will employ robust onsite COVID-19 protocols similar to those used during the 2020 September Yearling and November Breeding Stock Sales. Attendance at the January Sale is restricted to credentialed sales participants only.

Keeneland will continue to offer online and phone bidding to enable buyers to participate in the January Sale remotely. On site, the popular third bidding location at the Show Barn next to the Sales Pavilion again will be available to allow for proper social distancing.

Notable dispersals headline January Sale

Three prominent dispersals highlight this year's January Sale. The Sam-Son Farm Dispersal features 21 in-foal broodmares from the Eclipse- and Sovereign Award-winning operation in Ontario. On Sunday, Jan. 9, the Sam-Son mares will be presented to prospective buyers at Keeneland at Barns 12 and 14 at 9 a.m. The parade also will be livestreamed on samson.keeneland.com.

Lane's End, agent, is handling the Pompa dispersal of 39 broodmares, yearlings, broodmare and stallion prospects and horses of racing age.

The Spry dispersal with Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, cataloged 46 broodmares and broodmare prospects, yearlings and racing prospects.

Each session of the January Sale begins at 10 a.m. and will be streamed live on Keeneland.com. TVG2 will feature live coverage of the first two days of the sale from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. The entire sale will be shown on the Watch TVG App.

Five additional supplements announced

Five horses are in the latest round of supplements to the January Sale, increasing the total number of horses supplemented to the sale to 29:

Added to Book 1 on opening day is:

  • A 2-year-old filly by Pioneerof the Nile (Hip 400G) consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, and cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect. She is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Koodori Dawn, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Dance to Bristol and from the family of Grade/Group 1 winners General Assembly, Chief Honcho and Poet's Voice (GB).

Scheduled to sell during Tuesday's second session of Book 1 is:

  • Lucky Jingle (Hip 800M), a stakes-placed, winning 4-year-old filly by Tonalist. Consigned by Gainesway, agent, as a racing or broodmare prospect, she is a half-sister to recent Dania Beach (L) runner-up Fighting Force. Lucky Jingle is out of the Smart Strike mare No Splits and from the family of Grade 1 winner Karlovy Vary, Grade 2 winners Great Intentions and Mean Mary, and Grade 3 winners Country Light and Bye Bye Melvin.

Supplemented to Wednesday's third session is:

  • Vitalogy (GB) (Hip 1199H), a Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed runner cataloged as a stallion prospect. Consigned by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, he is a 4-year-old son of No Nay Never out of the Arch mare Sylvestris (IRE).

Thursday's final session includes these two supplements:

  • American Citizen (Hip 1579A), a 4-year-old colt by American Pharoah who is a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and $5.6 million earner Mucho Macho Man, Grade 2 winner Marconi and stakes winner Southern Girl. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, he is cataloged as a stallion prospect.
  • By Your Side (Hip 1579B), a 4-year-old colt by Constitution out of Revered, by Dixie Union, who was fourth in the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream. Cataloged as a racing or stallion prospect, he is consigned by Paramount Sales, agent.

Leading sires represented

Broodmares cataloged to the January Sale are in foal to a number of notable stallions, including American Pharoah, Bernardini, Candy Ride (ARG), City of Light, Constitution, Distorted Humor, Ghostzapper, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Justify, Kitten's Joy, Malibu Moon, Mastery, Medaglia d'Oro, More Than Ready, Not This Time, Nyquist, Quality Road, Speightstown, Twirling Candy, Uncle Mo and War Front.

Sires represented by their first yearlings in the catalog include Accelerate, Always Dreaming, Bolt d'Oro, City of Light, Collected, Good Magic, Good Samaritan, Justify, Mendelssohn, Mo Town, Oscar Performance, Tapwrit and West Coast.

Additional stallions with yearlings in the catalog include American Pharoah, Arrogate, Bernardini, Candy Ride, Constitution, Distorted Humor, Empire Maker, Frosted, Ghostzapper, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Kitten's Joy, Malibu Moon, Medaglia d'Oro, More Than Ready, Not This Time, Nyquist, Practical Joke, Speightstown, Tapit and Uncle Mo.

Credentials through Virtual Badge again required

From Jan. 9-14, access to the Keeneland grounds will be limited to January Sales participants who are credentialed through the Virtual Badge app. Credentials from the 2020 September and November Sales will not be valid for the January Sale, and participants should reapply for credentials.

Once again, all Keeneland employees, consignors and staff, as well as veterinarians and staff, farriers, van representatives, media and any other essential staff who will be interfacing with the public on a daily basis must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 10 days of their first entry to the Keeneland sales grounds. However, a COVID-19 test does not have to be taken at Keeneland.

Buyers are not required to receive a COVID-19 test but will pass through a daily health screening at the entrance gates.

Remote bidding options available

Keeneland again will provide expanded bidding opportunities for the January Sale to deliver a world-class experience no matter a person's location. Through the Keeneland Sales Portal, bid online or over the phone for real-time access and live video from the sale.

Prospective buyers should register for an account and establish credit within the Keeneland Sales Portal.

Online bidding: Buyers may watch a real-time video view of the live sale and bid simultaneously from Keeneland's online bidding platform accessible through their accounts in the Keeneland Sales Portal.

Phone bidding: Buyers can use the Keeneland Sales Portal to participate in bidding on horses by phone. Please notify Keeneland at least 24 hours prior to bidding. A Keeneland representative will call back prior to the bidding.

The Keeneland Sales team will answer any questions about expanded bidding options and the January Sale. Please contact Director of Sales Accounting Brent Hacker at 859 288-4231 or bhacker@keeneland.com.

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USTA Releases Year End Economic Indicators For Harness Racing

The U.S. Trotting Association released the following information this week regarding harness racing's economic indicators:

With the suspension of racing for about three months during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, total wagering at all U.S. harness tracks for the year was down by 18.39 percent from $1,424,886,558 in 2019 to $1,162,848,201, a decrease of $263,038,357.

In addition, the amount of purses distributed was down significantly by 30.82 percent. In 2020, horsemen earned a total of $304,059,115 a decrease of $135,486,904 from the $439,546,019 in 2019 purses.

The 2,358 race days in 2020 was 1,066 less than the 3,424 race days in 2019, a 31.13 percent decrease.

Despite all of the lost race days, the per race wagering average increased by 10.5 percent from $5,008 in 2019 to $5,534 in 2020.

To better understand the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the lengthy suspension of racing during 2020 had on the numbers, the economic indicators are broken down into three categories.

1. The year-to-year economic indicators for 2020 compared to 2019.

2. The “Before COVID” economic indicators before the shutdowns caused by the pandemic comparing Jan. 1 to March 22, 2020 to the same timeframe in 2019.

3. The “After COVID” economic indicators after tracks resumed racing following the shutdowns comparing June 1 to Dec. 31, 2020 to the same timeframe in 2019.

Following are the comparative economic indicators for U.S. harness racing from 2019 to 2020.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES

YEAR-TO-YEAR COMPARISON

Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2020

2020 2019 % Change
Total Wagered $1,162,848,201 $1,424,886,558 -18.39%
Per Race avg. $45,140 $39,991 +12.87%
Per Betting Interest $5,534 $5,008 +10.50%
Purses $304,059,115 $439,546,019 -30.82%
Race Days 2,358 3,424 -31.13%

 

BEFORE COVID

Jan. 1 – March 22, 2020

2020 2019 % Change
Total Wagered $299,074,258 $315,189,172 -5.11%
Per Race avg. $52,756 $56,976 -7.41%
Per Betting Interest $6,594 $6,975 -5.46%
Purses $53,949,205 $52,804,155 +2.17%
Race Days 474 455 +4.18%

 

AFTER COVID

June 1 – Dec. 31, 2020

2020 2019 % Change
Total Wagered $844,385,389 $796,464,289 +6.02%
Per Race avg. $42,414 $35,097 +20.85%
Per Betting Interest $5,173 $4,414 +17.20%
Purses $248,668,418 $306,707,985 -18.92%
Race Days 1,866 2,339 -20.22%

 

“Obviously it was a very difficult year for everyone in harness racing, especially for our horsemen, racetracks and everyone whose employment depends on our industry,” said USTA Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Tanner. “All of them should be commended for their efforts and compliance with the required health and safety measures that allowed us to return to racing. And we'd like to thank all of our loyal harness racing fans for their continued support through tough times.”

Please note:  The information above includes U.S. and Canadian common and separate pool wagers on races contested in the U.S.

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Meadowlands: Saturday Night’s Pick 5 Pool Guaranteed At $100,000

With the stars in perfect alignment, wagering at The Meadowlands has been booming of late. In fact, with the track dark each of the last two holiday-season Fridays, the Saturdays (Dec. 26 and Jan. 2) that followed saw cumulative handle batter the $8-million barrier.

After $3.7 million – the fourth-highest day or night of business during 2020 – was pushed through the windows Dec. 26, an incredible $4.5 million was put in play on Jan. 2, which sets a high bar to leap over on a “non-event” card during 2021.

Last Saturday's program started with a loud bang and the noise kept on coming as players fired away for all 15 races. The first race 20-cent Pick-5 had a well-publicized carryover and $150,000 guaranteed pool that ended up with a total pool of just over $360,000. In addition, because the $46,000 carryover was not subject to the already low 15 percent takeout, bettors got back precisely 99.87 percent of the Pick-5 action, instead of the usual 85 percent.

Given the tremendous success of one week ago, Big M management – along with the Standardbred Owners Association of New Jersey – will provide $25,000 in seed money and a $100,000 guaranteed pool for the Saturday night 20-cent Pick-5 wager.

In addition – on both Friday and Saturday night – each 50-cent Pick-4 (which begin in races six and race 10, respectively) have guaranteed pools of $50,000.

“The Meadowlands is offering horseplayers a challenging and beatable game featuring low takeout and large pools driving the insatiable demand for these wagers,” said Meadowlands' Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “We thank horseplayers around the world for their increasingly positive response to New Jersey racing at The Meadowlands.”

Big pools were the norm throughout the Saturday card. Four times during the program betting on a single race exceeded the $300,000 mark, with the first-race total of $565,076 representing the evening's most vigorous play on a single dash.

“Historically speaking,” said Settlemoir. “Wagering over $300,000 a race without a stakes event on the program is completely off the charts. We are proud of everyone at The Big M who worked so hard to make a $4.5-million night possible. With no racing either of the last two Fridays, there was obviously a large demand for the Saturday program, and, fortunately for us, the momentum from the last Saturday in December carried over into the first Saturday of January. Another factor was our media relations people helping to fuel a social media fire that burned all night long.”

Other big Saturday pools included the track's two signature Pick-4s, which averaged $111,597 per pool, as well as the mile oval's always popular Exacta, that averaged better than $84,000 a pop. Total Exacta play for the night was better than $1.25 million.

“The Pick-5 carryover of $46,000 brought everyone to the party early,” said Settlemoir. “The Pick-5 pool grew to $360,000 and the first race handle of $565,000 could possibly be a Meadowlands record for an opening race. In addition, now that we are offering free program pages on all Big M races, that provides something else that appeals to our regular customers and may bring us some new clientele as well, and, during the winter months, we have moved our post time to 6 p.m. In essence, we have traded the 11 p.m.-to-midnight hour for the 6-7 p.m. hour. We certainly are happy with the overwhelming response from our racing fans the last two weeks.”

The Big M's six 15 percent takeout wagers accounted for 14 percent of the evening's action on Saturday, with a total of over $650,000. In addition to the Pick-5 and two Pick-4s, players can also choose to get in on the track's 20-cent Survivor Pick-7, 20-cent Pick-6 and 10-cent Hi-Five.

THE SCHEDULE: Live racing at The Meadowlands will be conducted every Friday and Saturday night. First-race post time is 6 p.m.

TUNE IN: Be sure to watch the live “Racing from The Meadowlands” pre-game show, which now begins at 5:27 p.m. every race night.

On Friday, Dave Brower and Dave Little will be at the main desk on the Sam McKee Memorial Broadcast Set while Jessica Otten will be the featured handicapper on the live Television Games Network (tvg.com) presentation. Shades Demsky will provide interviews from the back paddock.

On Saturday night, Demsky will be alongside Brower, Little will shift to TVG and Otten will not only be on interview duty, but will also provide an in-depth look at the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 after the conclusion of the replay of race two.

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