October, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ransom the Moon Colt Leads OBS October Open Session

A colt by Ransom the Moon (Hip 442) topped the day's trade at the OBS October Open Yearling Sale Wednesday, bringing $170,000 from Redwings, a pinhooking group led by Ciaran Dunne and Paul Reddam.

Redwings was the top buyer by gross with their single purchase and Grassroots Training & Sales LLC was next with six yearlings bought for a total of $135,000.

Bred by Calumet Farm, which stands Ransom the Moon, hip 442 was offered by Lisa McGreevy's Abbie Road Farm, which also consigned Tuesday's Selected Yearling portion topper, a $170,000 colt by Midnight Storm. Abbie Road Farm was the second leading consignor with 33 head bringing $758,500. The day's top seller was Summerfield, which sold 45 yearlings for $821,000.

“I think it just demonstrated the strength of both days,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said. “It was a good day overall. There was a lot of activity from a variety of buyers.”

Hip 442 is out of Bold Lady (Aikenite), who is a half-sister to SW & GISP Mambo in Seattle (Kingmambo) and the dams of GSWs Stay in Seattle (Stay Gold) and Sky Kingdom (Empire Maker). The Apr. 10 foal, who cost just $11,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale, hails from the extended female family of the legendary A.P. Indy, Summer Squall, Wolfhound, et al.

Wednesday's most expensive filly was a $100,000 daughter of Awesome Slew (Hip 406), who was purchased by Brandon and Ali Rice's RiceHorse from the consignment of Camelot Acres Racing and Sales, agent. A late May foal, hip 406 is a half-sister to two-time turf-sprint stakes winner Hear My Prayer (The Big Beast), victorious in a salty Del Mar turf sprint allowance for owners David and Holly Wilson and trainer Vladimir Cerin Aug. 26.

A total of 273 yearlings changed hands for $5,135,500 with an average of $18,811 and a median of $15,000. Sixty-four horses left the ring unsold.

During last year's renewal of the auction, 258 yearlings grossed $2,811,900 with an average of $10,899 and a median of $7,500. There were 68 RNAs.

ENDSLEY OAKS RESTOCKS AT OBS

by Jessica Martini

Jill and Robert Jones's Endsley Oaks Farm, based in Brooksville, Florida, typically has about 10 homebreds to look forward to each year, but with only weanlings on the ground this year and no mares in foal, the couple decided to try out the yearling market. They were able to acquire a filly by Kantharos (hip 2087) for $25,000 at last month's competitive Keeneland September sale and purchased an additional seven yearlings at this week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October sale. The most expensive of the group was a $62,000 daughter of Kantharos (hip 28) and a $60,000 daughter of first-crop Florida sire Tunwoo (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 49).

“We have been involved in racing, mostly in Florida, but also some other states, for about 10 years,” Jill Jones said. “I grew up with Thoroughbreds because I used to get them off the track and do eventing when I was younger. In the '80s, my husband had a string of Thoroughbreds to race in Massachusetts. So when we moved to Florida, we thought, 'We're here, we both like Thoroughbreds, so we decided to slowly get into it. And the next thing you know we have a huge stable of horses.”

Endsley Oaks, a 1200-acre farm in Hernando County, is home to some 80 horses, including broodmares, lay-ups and retirees. The operation has about 25 horses in training.

“We just came back from Monmouth for the summer and we are giving them a break before Tampa Bay Downs,” Jones said of the racing stable.

The star of the Endsley Oaks stable is the multiple stakes placed No Mercy Percy (Put It Back). The 7-year-old homebred mare has earned over $121,000 to date.

Rafael Schistl trains for the couple and was involved in picking out the OBS yearlings. A licensed trainer in the U.S. since January, the Brazilian former jockey rode in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, as well as Dubai, Germany, France, New Zealand, Italy and Switzerland.

“I met up with him when he came to my farm to ride some of my horses and I just really liked him,” Jones said of the trainer. “He did really well for us at Tampa and pretty well for us at Monmouth as well.”

Of the yearling buying spree, Jones explained, “I breed a bunch, but I didn't breed any last year. So I have weanlings, but I wanted something coming up. I have bought 2-year-olds–and I can't tell you I haven't had good luck with them–but I don't really like the 2-year-olds in training sales. I think it puts too much stress on the 2-year-olds, so I thought I would try the yearling route to see how that worked out. So I guess it's a little bit of a new direction.”

The Joneses are semi-retired from Composite Motors, Inc., a company founded by Robert Jones which produces high-quality and high-precision electronic products for extreme environments.

“My husband started it and I am the General Counsel,” Jill Jones said of the company. “He's the brains behind it, but we are both a little older so his kids are running the day-to-day of it. So he and I have more time to enjoy the farm.”

The post Ransom the Moon Colt Leads OBS October Open Session appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Extraordinary Trade Fuels Record Breaking Book 2 At Tattersalls October Yearling Sale

Trade at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale continued in record-breaking fashion with turnover of 17,016,000 guineas on the final day pushing the sale turnover past 50 million guineas for the first time in the sale's history whilst the average and median also recorded new highs. The clearance rate for the sale was a remarkable 88%.

A Time Test colt out of the Rainbow Quest mare Aurelia became the latest successful pinhook for John Foley's Ballyvolane Stud when knocked down for 400,000 guineas to Alastair Donald of SackvilleDonald, following a prolonged bidding duel with trainer Richard Hughes. Ballyvolane Stud has enjoyed significant pinhook success at Book 2 in recent years, selling colts by Lope de Vega and No Nay Never for 325,000 guineas in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The top-priced foal by his sire in 2020 when purchased for 56,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, the Time Test colt became the stallion's highest-priced horse sold in the ring to date. He is a half-brother to Harlequeen, who finished third in both the English and Irish Oaks, and comes from the family of Grade 1 winner Forte Dei Marmi.

A delighted John Foley commented:

“He has been very popular this week, he had 20 vets. He is an amazing horse, he has never missed a beat all week. Since we have had him he has been amazing. He is a special horse, the best we have ever had. His attitude, his presence, he is a 'wow' horse.

“He was a lovely, quality, straightforward foal and very well produced by the National Stud – there is a reason he was the dearest Time Test foal. There are some that are nice foals who come back as nice yearlings, but he has done better than we thought. He has developed and he has improved the whole way through.”

Foley had signed for the colt as 'Otilia' last December and revealed: “Otilia is myself and three friends, it is the first one we have pinhooked together. We wanted to take a punt on the stallion, we knew that this lad as foal would cost a few quid and, if he did not work out, we thought with three of us involved the pain wouldn't be too much. It was a fair throw for him as a foal, we were taking a punt on him as a stallion, but sons of Dubawi have done well.

“Time Test has had a great year, he looks very good. His stats are good and I will definitely be using him next year! He will be very popular with breeders.”

Foley continued: “It is amazing to get a result like this as we all work hard – this is a very tough business and there are more hard days than good days. We have great help at home, Donnacha Higgins helps me at home and gives me a hand with the yearlings, and John, my dad, who is 77, mucks out six or seven boxes every day. We have great staff here too, and everyone is doing their best – it makes a huge difference when you have staff who want it to do well, and when it works out it is great.”

Ben McElroy has already demonstrated his admiration for the progeny of Kodiac this week and struck again at 285,000 guineas for a son of Tally-Ho Stud's star stallion. The Croom House Stud consigned colt is out of the Born to Sea mare Taste the Salt, whose first foal Cashew is a winner at two this year. Taste the Salt is a half-sister to the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes winner Baitha Alga.

“For me he is the best colt in the sale, if not maybe the best horse I have seen since I have been at European sales,” enthused the U.S.-based bloodstock agent.

“That's my quintessential horse there. He is a great mover, he has plenty of scope, and the way he behaved out the back, I am delighted to get him. A bit like the filly yesterday, I was worried what he'd cost. I could see him making 400,000 to 500,000 just as easily, but I really think he is a special horse. He goes to the States. There is a bit of stamina there too as the second dam is by Fantastic Light, and goes back to a nice family.”

Of staying in Newmarket for Book 2, McElroy added: “I am done now. I stayed for Book 2 last year, and I just said I'd take a look around and see what was here and I obviously really liked the filly last night and this colt. They were worth staying for. I have bought a wide range of prices, all similar types, but horses in different price ranges.”

The purchase of the Kodiac colt, and a filly by the same sire for 340,000 guineas during Tuesday's session, in addition to five lots purchased during Book 1 brought McElroy's total spend during the October Yearling Sale to over 2 million guineas.

At the conclusion of Book 2 of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“At the end of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week we referenced the depth and diversity of the demand, and the momentum established at Book 1 has been very much sustained throughout the three days of a record – breaking Book 2.

“New record turnover at any sale is always an achievement, but for Europe's largest yearling sale to reach new levels as we all strive to return to normality after 18 months of turmoil is pretty extraordinary. Only ten years ago Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale had turnover of a fraction over 25 million guineas and an average price below 40,000 guineas. This year's October Book 2 has broken the 50 million guineas mark for the first time, produced a record average in excess of 80,000 guineas and also an unprecedented median.

“Similar to Book 1, international buyers have again made a massive contribution to the market, with notable participation from American and Australian interests as well as from Hong Kong, Japan and throughout the Gulf region, but perhaps the most encouraging feature of the record – breaking sale has been the domestic demand. British and Irish trainers have been the backbone of the sale and to see such a voracious appetite for quality yearlings, not only at Books 1 and 2 of the October Yearling Sale, but also at our Newmarket based yearling sales last month, has been fantastic.

“As ever, we are hugely indebted to the consignors from Britain, Ireland and further afield, who make Books 1 and 2 of the October Yearling Sale the showcase for so many of the finest yearlings to be found in Europe. Consistent quality is the key to attracting the buyers in such numbers and we now turn our attention to Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale where buyers will continue to find yearlings of the highest caliber.”

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14.

The post Extraordinary Trade Fuels Record Breaking Book 2 At Tattersalls October Yearling Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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California Angel Gives Trainer George Leonard First Graded Victory In Jessamine

California Angel is going to California.

So said trainer George Leonard III after Chris Walsh's daughter of California Chrome rallied from far back to post a head victory over Diamond Wow in the 31st running of the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) for 2-year-old fillies Wednesday afternoon at Keeneland.

With the victory, California Angel earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The JPMorgan Chase Jessamine was the 10th and final Breeders' Cup Challenge race offered by Keeneland to start the 17-day Fall Meet.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, California Angel covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course labeled as good in 1:44.30.

California Angel was Leonard's first starter in a graded stakes. She netted Bejarano his 19th Keeneland stakes win and first here since Oct. 8, 2010, aboard Wickedly Perfect in the Darley Alcibiades (G1).

Favored Turnerloose quickly bounded out for the lead in the field of 13 as California Angel raced near the rear of the field. With Florent Geroux aboard, Turnerloose maintained a daylight advantage until upper stretch when Diamond Wow applied pressure.

At the head of the lane, California Angel had one horse beat as Bejarano swung her eight wide for a clear run at the field. She was still 5 lengths back at the eighth pole and got up in the final yards to ease by Diamond Wow and Turnerloose.

Now 2-for-2 on the turf, California Angel is a Kentucky-bred daughter of California Chrome out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Sea Mona. California Angel increased her career earnings to $213,700 with Wednesday's $120,000 check.

California Angel returned $37.60, $14 and $5.60. Diamond Wow, ridden by Mike Smith, returned $10 and $5.40 and finished a neck in front of Turnerloose, who paid $2.60 to show.

It was another length back to Dressed, who was followed in order by Opalina, Roughly a Diamond, Misthaven (IRE), Kneesnhips, Bhoma, Queen Judith, Rigby, Boxing Day and Ontheonesandtwos.

Racing continues Thursday with a 10-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

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NBC, NYRA TV Host Laffit Pincay Joins Writers’ Room

As one of the most recognizable television personalities in racing, Laffit Pincay has a front-row seat to some of the grandest spectacles in the sport, and as the son of one of the greatest jockeys who ever lived, he also has had first-hand experience with some of racing's most iconic moments from a very young age. Wednesday, the excellent broadcaster for NBC and the New York Racing Association joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to preview next month's Breeders' Cup, relive some of his favorite memories from growing up in a household steeped in racing and talk about how his perspective has shifted as he has become one of the faces of the sport.

Asked about his upbringing and when he figured out that he wanted to work in racing, Pincay said, “I didn't grow up following [racing] all that closely. I was a huge baseball, football, basketball fan. I always knew I wanted to be involved in sports in some capacity. Riding was never an option. I was wearing my dad's suits to the track on the rare occasion when I would go when I was 12 or 13. Even if I wanted to ride, he wouldn't have allowed it. He said, 'If you do it, you'd better be really good, because it's a really difficult life.' It's not quite what it's made out to be. The way he had to starve himself. No offseason.

“It wasn't something, even if I was built to be a jockey, that he would have allowed. It wasn't until my teenage years that I took an interest in the sport and that was just father and son figuring out a way to bond. It was me taking an interest in his business. I found cabinets full of VHS tapes of big races he had won. I watched those over and over and over again. So I kind of taught myself the history of the sport in that way. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do for a living, as much as I love sports, I wasn't going to be an athlete. Television seemed like the right avenue. My first job was at News 12 in The Bronx. Covering high school sports and occasionally the Yankees. Then I fell into horse racing just looking for a job when I got back from New York, and it's gone on from there.”

Pincay also reflected on the importance of being able to broadcast racing last year during the COVID-induced shutdown, saying, “We were going through such a trying time and the anxiety that comes with that, with no other sports going on. So many people told us that was their escape on a day-to-day basis. To just check out. We didn't have to watch the news and worry about everything for those few hours during the course of an afternoon and what a difference that made to [people], it was special for us to hear that. If ever there was a sport designed to thrive during the course of the pandemic, it was horse racing, where you don't have a lot of human-to-human contact. We were fortunate to be distracted and be able to do our jobs. I can't tell you how many people I know in the media, in sports media specifically, who weren't able to work or who were laid off or lost jobs, adding more anxiety to an already anxious situation.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers appreciated the consistency of presumptive champion Letruska (Super Saver), debated the idea of penalizing trainers for equine fatalities and discussed the alleged Gulfstream betting coup that led to a jockey suspension. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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