Month: July 2022

Baffert Optimistic As Taiba Ships East For Haskell

Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, who was recently reunited with trainer Bob Baffert, is headed to Monmouth Park for the $1-million TVG.com Haskell Stakes as the Hall of Fame conditioner looks to extend his record with a 10th victory in the Grade 1 event for 3-year-olds.

The Haskell, which will be contested for the 55th time on Saturday, July 23, is a “Win and You're In” race in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with the victor guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

“I hadn't seen him in a long time. I'm happy with the way he looks,” said Baffert, who earlier this month welcomed Taiba back into his barn after he served a 90-day suspension for a medication violation involving Medina Spirit, who crossed the wire first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby and was later disqualified.

“I worked Taiba today and he worked really well. He came out of it well. He's happy. I'm happy with him.”

Taiba (pronounced Tay-buh) covered five furlongs handily in 59.40 at Santa Anita and it was the second fastest time of 55 horses working that distance Friday morning.

One week earlier Taiba worked from the gate and covered six furlongs in 1:12-flat.

Taiba was a $1.7 million purchase by Zedan Racing Stables out of the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Selected 2-Year-Olds-in-Training Sale in March 2021, and he is a son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner out of the Ohio-bred Needmore Flattery. She was a racing legend in the Buckeye State, a winner of 17 stakes races while competing against males as well as females, and a two-time Ohio Horse of the Year.

The chestnut colt, who bears a striking resemblance to both his sire and dam, was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in only his second career start and has been idle since a 12th place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, when former Baffert assistant Tim Yatkeen was handling the training duties.

“He's a special horse. He was asked to do a tall task in the Derby. The Derby was crazy. It was a stampede,” Baffert said. “He showed what he could do in the Santa Anita Derby off just one race (a maiden special weight race in March that he won by 7½ lengths).

“This is the time of year when the 3-year-olds start to shine. I think he's up for the Haskell and he's coming to the Haskell.”

Taiba will be the first Monmouth Park starter for Saudi Arabian businessman Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stables, which owned the late Medina Spirit.

While Monmouth Park will be new to the owner, Baffert is very well acquainted with the racetrack.

Taiba will be his 16th Haskell entrant since 1997 and included on the roster of his record nine winners are 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah and 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic.

Champion Point Given earned Baffert's first Haskell trophy in 2001.

“The Haskell is a very important race. I remember going there the first time and seeing the names of those horses who had won it before. It's always been an important race,” said Baffert. “As a matter of fact, when you're thinking of your Kentucky Derby horse you're always thinking, 'Okay, I need a Derby horse and who's going to be my Haskell horse?'

“That's why we've been lucky in this race. I always send the best ones. You're getting the best one (again this year).”

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who was in the irons for the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby, gets the return call on Taiba. Smith is seeking his fourth Haskell win after finding the winner's circle with Authentic (2020), Coronado's Quest (1998) and Hall of Famer Holy Bull (1994).

“It's going to be a tough race, but it's supposed to be a tough race,” said Baffert, who will ship Taiba from his Southern California base to the Jersey Shore on Tuesday morning. “I hope he runs well. I think he will.”

As of Friday afternoon, in addition to Taiba, probable entrants in the Haskell are Grade 1 winners Cyberknife, Jack Christopher, and White Abarrio for trainers Brad Cox, Chad Brown, and Saffie Joseph, Jr., respectively, the Dale Romans-trainee Howling Time, and Benevengo, a recent winner in allowance company last out for the locally-based trainer Jesse Cruz.

The field for the Haskell will be drawn on Wednesday.

The post Baffert Optimistic As Taiba Ships East For Haskell appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Special’ Target for Promising Damon’s Mound

Damon's Mound (c, 2, Girvin–San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll), a jaw-dropping 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs July 2, is targeting the GII Saratoga Special S. at the Spa Aug. 13.

“That's the goal, he's doing great,” former jockey-turned-trainer Michelle Lovell said from her summer base at Colonial Downs. “We've got some weeks to go, so, hopefully all goes good. As long as he's doing great, he deserves the opportunity.”

Does he ever.

Off as the well-backed, third choice at 4-1 in his unveiling, Damon's Mound was off to a slow start from post four in the 11-horse field. He made very quick progress, however, to track under a nice hold in a four-wide fifth through a sharp opening quarter in :21.84.

The handsome bay cruised up four deep beneath Gabriel Saez approaching the quarter pole, gained control in effortless fashion as they straightened and put on a show beneath the Twin Spires to stop the timer for six furlongs in 1:09.84 in 'TDN Rising Star' fashion.

Damon's Mound earned a very strong 84 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“I was in awe of watching him do it,” Lovell said. “We had high hopes that he'd run great, but it really was a special performance from him. It was great to share it with my crew and his owners. Obviously, he brought a lot of attention to himself.”

She continued, “He's always been wonderful training and has done everything perfectly. The only thing we were lacking was him being sharp away from the gates. Hopefully, he learns a little bit more from the race.”

Members of the press aren't the only ones who have been blowing up Lovell's cell phone since Damon's Mound's smashing debut victory.

“There was a high demand for him within minutes of him crossing the wire,” Lovell said. “They haven't stopped asking [if he's for sale], but it's slowed down now because we've said no to so many people. Obviously, when he won, I was thrilled and I was elated how he did it. But soon after, I realized that I may not be training him for his second race. So, it was a roller coaster ride from when he hit the wire. His owners are super. They're excited and want to run their horse.”

Damon's Mound is a homebred for Cliff and Michele Love. The Florida-bred is the first foal out of their multiple stakes-placed mare San Antonio Stroll (Stroll). He is one of five winners for quick-starting freshman sire Girvin (Tale of Ekati). Damon's Mound is the first horse that Lovell has trained for the Texas-based couple.

“His grandparents lived in Texas and that's a place where Mr. Love spent a lot of time with his cousins when he was a child,” Lovell said of Damon's Mound's namesake. “It was a special place for him as a child.”

Lovell began training in 2003 and enjoyed a career-best year in earnings with $1,872,883 in 2021, led by standout sprinters MGSW Change of Control (Fed Biz) and MSW & MGSP Just Might (Justin Phillip). Lovell co-owns and co-bred the latter, an earner of $958,100. She currently trains 30 head, a number she is quite content with.

“We've had a great couple of years,” Lovell said. “One of the reasons why Mr. and Mrs. Love chose me to train, I believe, was right after Just Might won a race for me. Not only did he win seven stakes last year, some wonderful people called me up and said, 'I've got a 2-year-old coming your way if you have empty stalls.'”

She concluded, “It's great obviously to have him in the barn–there's a lot of buzz. He's just super talented and special. It's really fun.”

The post ‘Special’ Target for Promising Damon’s Mound appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Champion, Leading Sire Kitten’s Joy Dies At Age 21

Kitten's Joy, the champion turf male of 2004 and North America's two-time leading general sire, has died at age 21.

The social media accounts of Ramsey Farm, the operation that bred Kitten's Joy, raced him, and stood him at stud for the majority of his career, announced the son of El Prado's death on Friday.

According to a Hill 'n' Dale Farms statement, Kitten's Joy followed his daily routine, which included being turned out in his paddock first thing in the morning. Around 10:30 a.m., the horse was observed to be lifeless in the middle of the field. Though apparently in optimal health with no signs of concern, it is believed that he most likely died of a heart attack.

“It is devastating to lose both my wife and her favorite horse in such a short period of time,” said Ken Ramsey, whose wife Sarah died on May 29. “My wife said 'this horse will bring us a lot of joy,' and he certainly did…Kitten's Joy was the horse of a lifetime. His name will be in pedigrees for generations to come.”

Out of the winning Lear Fan mare Kitten's First, Kitten's Joy was offered by the Ramseys at the 2003 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Spring 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, but he left the ring under his reserve with a final bid of $95,000.

Kitten's Joy was placed in the barn of trainer Dale Romans, and he finished out of the money in his debut as a juvenile on the main track at Saratoga Race Course. He remained on the dirt for his second start at Belmont Park, and was caught deep in the stretch to finish second by a head.

The colt found his calling after being moved to the turf for his third start at Belmont Park, which he won by 4 1/2 lengths. With a newfound purpose on the grass, Kitten's Joy won his next four starts after breaking his maiden, highlighted by victories in the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby at Calder Race Course, the G3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and the G3 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Kitten's Joy would never finish worse than second after moving to the turf. In addition to his trio of Grade 3 scores, his 2004 campaign featured victories in the G3 Virginia Derby and G1 Secretariat Stakes. He then jumped up to face older foes during his 3-year-old season, notching a victory in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes and a runner-up effort in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Lone Star Park. He finished the 2004 season with the Eclipse Award as champion turf male.

At age four, Kitten's Joy kicked off his season with a score in the G2 Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs, and he made his final career start in the G1 Arlington Million, where he finished second.

Kitten's Joy was retired during his 4-year-old campaign after suffering a cartilage injury to his left knee.

The Ramseys had a pair of recently retired stallion prospects, in Kitten's Joy and Dubai World Cup winner Roses in May, both of which were being heavily recruited by Japanese buyers to stand internationally. Ken Ramsey wanted to keep one of the two, and he ultimately decided to sell Roses in May to stand in Japan; a choice that ultimately had dramatic ramifications for the North American stud book.

Kitten's Joy retired to Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Ky., for the 2006 breeding season, where he was advertised for an initial fee of $25,000. His fee would eventually reach $100,000 during the 2014 breeding season.

He was initially supported by mares from the Ramsey family's own broodmare band, with Ken Ramsey claiming several fillies and mares from the racetrack for the express purpose of breeding them to Kitten's Joy.

Because of that strategy, the Ramseys enjoyed the lion's share of the success when Kitten's Joy emerged as one of North America's leading turf sires. After helping the Ramseys earn the Eclipse Award as outstanding owner in 2004, their support of Kitten's Joy at stud helped them earn another owner trophy in 2011 and sweep the outstanding owner and breeder trophies in 2013 and 2014

The Ramseys campaigned Kitten's Joy's lone Eclipse Award winner, Big Blue Kitten, who followed his sire in earning champion turf male honors in 2015.

However, the greatest runner by Kitten's Joy to be born and race under the Ramseys' red and white silks is arguably Stephanie's Kitten, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2011, then came back in 2015 to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Those two victories were among the nine total graded victories by Stephanie's Kitten, who earned $4,292,904 on the racetrack.

Other notable runners by Kitten's Joy raced by the Ramseys include 2014 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Bobby's Kitten, G1 Arlington Million winner Real Solution, and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes winner Kitten's Dumplings.

As Kitten's Joy's reputation continued to build as a national-level sire, he began to attract interest from outside breeders, who raised their own successful runners.

Among them are 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Oscar Performance, Two-time G1 Turf Classic Stakes winner Divisidero, Grade 1 winners Henley's Joy and Sadler's Joy, and Grade 2 winner Catapult.

In total, Kitten's Joy has sired 981 winners, with combined progeny earnings in excess of $128 million. He has sired 58 graded or group stakes winners and 126 total stakes winners.

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Kitten's Joy was a two-time leading general sire in North America, finding his way to the top in different ways each time. He was also North America's leading turf sire seven times.

In 2013, Kitten's Joy was propelled to the top of the general list by high-end domestic turf success from Ramsey runners Big Blue Kitten, Stephanie's Kitten, Real Solution, and Bobby's Kitten. However, his rank-and-file was also bolstered by the last gasps of synthetic-surface racing at meets including Keeneland and Del Mar, which tended to favor turf-leaning runners, and were campaigned heavily by the Ramseys.

Kitten's Joy earned the general sire title in 2018 with an international coalition of runners campaigned by a broader spectrum of owners. Hawkbill made a large contribution to the bankroll with a victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Roaring Lion took home four combined Group 1 races in England and Ireland, and Oscar Performance triumphed in the G1 Woodbine Mile in Canada, among domestic victories by other horses.

In 2017, Hill 'n' Dale Farms acquired a 50 percent interest in Kitten's Joy, and relocated the stallion to their farm for the 2018 breeding season. He remained with Hill 'n' Dale for the rest of his life.

The post Champion, Leading Sire Kitten’s Joy Dies At Age 21 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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After 532-Day Layoff, Barn Favorite Tax Makes Victorious Return To The Races

It was a long road to a comeback for 2019 Grade 2 Jim Dandy-winner Tax, but Gargan's patience was rewarded when the 6-year-old fan favorite returned after 532 days away from the races to post a two-length score in the Battery Park on July 9 at Delaware Park.

A dark bay Arch gelding, Tax had not raced since a distant 10th in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January 2021. He had been working steadily at Saratoga throughout the spring after recovering from a surgery on his sesamoid.

Gargan said he was proud of Tax's return front-running victory, which garnered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He's the barn favorite and he's our baby. It took a lot of patience. To run a 98 Beyer after 532 days is impressive,” said Gargan. “We'll try to figure out where to run him next. I've always wanted to run him on the grass, so there's a big chance for that. I'll start looking for something here in a week or so.”

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