BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his latest Derby Dozen for 2022, with a look at his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 7.
Month: February 2022
Grade 2 Winner Bodhicitta Tops Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale Opener
Inclement weather postponed the first session of the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed sale by a day, but the level of activity Tuesday in Lexington, Ky., proved worth the wait. A healthy market for broodmares, racing and broodmare prospects, and short yearlings showed itself in vibrant first-session results.
Grade 2 winner Bodhicitta (GB) (Hip 177) topped Tuesday's session when sold for $450,000 to K I Farm (video).
The 6-year-old daughter of Showcasing (GB) was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect by St George Sales, agent. Bodhicitta won the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar at foiur and placed in back-to-back editions of the G1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita at four and five. Bodhicitta has earned $370,808 to date. She was campaigned by owner Calvin Nguyen and trainer Richard Baltas.
“The market's healthy right now,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There's a vibrancy to it. (It's) a very encouraging market for short yearlings (with) great demand for both in-foal mares and broodmare prospects. Just a tremendously healthy market.”
Hip 42, a colt from the second crop of multiple Grade 1 winner City of Light, sold for $260,000 to lead the short yearling contingent (video).
The dark bay or brown colt was purchased by Peter Pugh, agent for Cherry Knoll from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Hip 42 is a half-brother to stakes placed winner Eloquent Speaker (Flatter) out of the unraced Broken Vow mare Spoken Now Broken, from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Behrens. The colt was bred in New York by John W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding.
The session's highest-priced broodmare came in the form of Cocktail Party (Hip 218), sold for $240,000 to Dash C. Goff from the consignment of James B. Keogh (Grovendale), agent (video).
The 7-year-old winning daughter of Mizzen Mast was sold carrying her second foal, by Liam's Map. The gray or roan mare is a full sister to multiple stakes winner, graded stakes placed Barrier Reef and a half-sister to nine other winners. Cocktail Party hails from the immediate family of champion Kiss A Native and Grade 1 winner Yes It's True.
Hip 38, a filly by last year's champion first-crop sire Gun Runner, sold for $225,000 to round out the session's top four prices (video).
The bay filly was purchased by Stock Thoroughbreds LLC from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. Hip 38 is the second foal out of Sororitysweetheart (Discreetly Mine), a full sister to stakes winner Classy Class. The filly was bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment Inc.
“The fireworks are always going to take care of themselves,” Browning said when asked about the session's top sellers. “The fireworks are great, but it's the trading of 90 percent of the horses that walk through here (that's promising). The base and backbone of the industry is being able to support the men and women that are in the trenches. There's a lot of good horses tomorrow as well.”
During Tuesday's opening session, 198 horses sold for $6,598,800. The average was $33,327, up 13.3 percent over the two-day sale average in 2021, while the median rose 45 percent to $14,500 from $10,000. The session RNA rate was 16.1 percent.
The Kentucky Winter Mixed sale resumes Wednesday at 10 a.m. Results are available online.
Online Texas Holdem Poker
There are many reasons why people are turning to online Texas holdem as a way to enjoy their favorite game. Prior to playing Internet Texas hold em, you had to go to a casino, a bar, or a friend’s house to play Texas holdem. These are not always options to players though.
Many players will turn to a Texas holdem poker game online because there is not a casino nearby. Even if there is a casino nearby, a Texas holdem player may not want to go there because of the typically high level of competition and large buy in requirements.
Going to a bar to practice your Texas holdem strategy is a decent option, but if your goal is to improve your game this may not be the best place to do so. At these games few people tend to take it seriously because they are generally not playing for real money.
If you go to a friend’s house to play Texas holdem you can have an enjoyable time. The main problem with playing Texas holdem at a friend’s house is that you do not face a variable level of competition. When you play against your friends, you pick up on their playing styles and do not gain skills to improve your game.
Playing Texas holdem online is a better option for many people. When you play Texas holdem online you get to face a variety of players and see how to play Texas holdem against varying strategies. You also can play for real money for a minimal buy in amount. If you choose to, you can even play free online Texas hold em poker.
The biggest reason that people turn to online Texas holdem is out of the pure convenience of it. Playing online means that you can play at any time that is convenient for you and you can play from the comfort of your own home. Many players prefer playing online because there is no waiting, no distractions, and it is available twenty-four hours a day.
You can visit your favorite online Texas holdem websites and start playing today. You can play free Texas holdem online or you can play for real money and have an enjoyable and convenient game.
Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: Best bets for Wednesday, February 9
Sportsmail' s racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Wednesday's meetings at Ludlow, Sedgefield, Fakenham and Kempton.
