February, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

First Foal Is A Filly For Darby Dan Farm’s Higher Power

Darby Dan Farm's Higher Power, a Grade 1-winning millionaire by Medaglia d'Oro, sired his first reported foal on Jan. 26 when a filly out of the Curlin mare Curlita was born at Julie Rini's Crowning Point Farm.

Bred by Deann Baer, the filly hails from the family of stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Daring Reality and Grade 3 stakes winner Ski Dancer.

Higher Power, a dominant 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar with a career-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure, was a five-time winner of nearly $1.6 million. In addition to his scintillating score in the Pacific Classic, he also placed in the Breeders' Cup Classic, G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, and G1 Awesome Again Stakes for owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.

While his biggest career victory was achieved at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, Higher Power was also precocious. He broke his maiden at two and captured his 3-year-old debut at Oaklawn Park, defeating subsequent graded stakes-winning millionaire New York Central.

By elite sire Medaglia d'Oro, Higher Power was bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud. He is produced from the multiple stakes-winning Seattle Slew mare Alternate, who is also the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Alternation and multiple stakes winner Interrupted. Alternate is a half-sister to 1995 Canadian Horse of the Year and multiple Grade 1 winner Peaks and Valleys from the family of Grade 1 winner Mucho Gusto.

Higher Power bred 152 mares in his first season at stud and will stand the upcoming breeding season for $10,000 S&N.

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Thursday’s Insights: Pricey Classic Empire Colt Debuts at Big A

Sponsored by Alex Nichols

4th-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 2:18 p.m.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens sends out firster CAPONE (Classic Empire) for the partnership of Gainesway, LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing. The dark bay sold for $400,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale following an adventurous work in :10 2/5, accomplished despite the saddle slipping under rider Susan Montanye. TJCIS PPs

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Francis Vanlangendonck Named Chairman of OBS

Francis Vanlangendonck of Summerfield Sales has been elected chairman of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS) board, succeeding Mike O'Farrell, who had been in the position since 2007. The fifth chairman in OBS history, Vanlangendonck has been on the board since 1990. He previously served as secretary/treasurer and was vice president under O'Farrell from 2007-2021.

“I am honored by the trust and confidence the board has shown by voting me OBS chairman,” said Vanlangendonck. “I certainly have a big pair of shoes to fill following Mike O'Farrell. His integrity and foresight has put OBS into an extremely solid position, both financially and within the Thoroughbred Industry.”

Vanlangendonck's Summerfield Sales, which he operates with his wife, Barbara, is annually among the leading consignors at OBS yearling and mixed sales. In 2021, Summerfield ranked 15th nationally with yearling sales of nearly $9 million. Their full-service farm includes a swimming pond for rehabilitation and facilities to prep yearlings.

O'Farrell spent nearly 40 years as an OBS board member. He tenure as chairman followed George Onett, Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., and Norman Casse. The O'Farrell family's Ocala Stud has been a leader in Ocala since 1956. O'Farrell's father, Joe, was one of the founding members of OBS in 1974 and served as the organization's first vice president.

In additional board changes, Dr. Barry Eisaman, whose Eisaman Equine is a leader at the OBS 2-year-old sales, was elected vice president. He had served as secretary/treasurer of OBS since 2010 and was first elected to the OBS board in 1996. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was elected secretary/treasurer. Casse, whose operation is based in Ocala, has been on the OBS board since 2001. His father, Norman, was a founding member of OBS and chairman of the board for more than 20 years.

Joining the OBS board for the first time are David O'Farrell of Ocala Stud and Paul Sharp of Paul Sharp Stables. The rest of the board includes Tom Ventura, President; Carl Bowling; Nick de Meric, de Meric Sales; Jimbo Gladwell, Top Line Sales; Jesse Hoppel, Coastal Equine; John Penn, Pennston Farm; Bryan Rice, Woodside Ranch; and Eddie Woods.

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Raabihah Joins Shadwell Broodmare Band

Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a group winner at three and four for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget in the Shadwell blue, is among the fillies to join the Shadwell broodmare band this year; the 5-year-old will be bred to Dubawi (Ire). The winner of three of her first four starts in 2020, including the G3 Prix de Psyche and the Listed Prix de la Seine, Raabihah was second to Tarnawa (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille before finishing fifth behind Sottsass (Fr) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Raabihah returned last year to add the G2 Prix de Pomone and was retired after finishing 12th in the latest renewal of the Arc.

Another of Shadwell's daughters of Sea The Stars, the G1 Oaks and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Taghrooda (GB), produced a Kingman (GB) filly last year and is due to foal this season to Lope De Vega (Ire) on a late cover, after which she will be rested. It was announced last week that Taghrooda's second foal, the twice-winning Almighwar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), would take up stud duties at Garryrichard Stud.

Shadwell sends its five-length G1 Prix Saint Alary winner Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) to Sea The Stars this year after she foals a Dubawi.

Among the Shadwell mares expecting Kingman babies this season are the five-time group-winning stayer Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}); Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the dam of the dual Group 1-winning Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}); and the multiple group-winning Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Handassa is booked back to Kingman for 2022, while Tarfasha visits Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Enbihaar visits Mohaather (GB). She is among a handful of high-quality mares that Shadwell is sending to its G1 Sussex S. winner, and those also include the aforementioned Nazeef.

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