There are few certainties in life or in the sport of horse racing. But just as you could count on the changing of the seasons, you could count on Jonathan Sheppard sending out winners by the dozen, year after year, in tests of both pure speed and dexterity over jumps. He retired from training in the U.S. before the 2021 season, but maintains a small stable in Ireland.
Month: July 2022
Pennsylvania Leaderboard Presented By Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: Fortheluvofbourbon Posting A Lucrative Campaign In 2022
Fortheluvofbourbon has been one of Pennsylvania's best around one turn over the past few years, and his success has proven lucrative for several connections tied to the horse in 2022.
The 5-year-old gelding by Bourbon Courage was Pennsylvania's leading earner of state-bred incentives through the end of April, raking in a combined $94,512 due to his status as a Pennsylvania-bred.
The bulk of that money went to owner Smart Angle LLP in the form of earnings from Pennsylvania-bred stakes races. Fortheluvofbourbon took home the winner's share of the purse in the Page McKenney Handicap on April 25 at Parx Racing, giving the gelding his second career stakes victory.
In the Page McKenney, jockey Kendrick Carmouche engaged in a wire-to-wire duel with prominent Pennsylvania-bred Beren, eventually taking command in the stretch of the seven-furlong race and holding on by a neck.
Fortheluvofbourbon has also brought in $15,360 in owner bonuses, a 40 percent bonus on overnight purses at Parx for Pennsylvania-breds, through the end of April.
The Michael Pino trainee has raced his entire 2022 campaign at Parx, beginning with a narrow runner-up effort in a seven-furlong allowance on Feb. 1. He followed that up with a 4 1/2-length score in a six-furlong allowance on Feb. 16, before notching his only out-of-the-money effort three weeks later in the Fishtown Stakes, where he ran sixth. The gelding bounced back a month later to win the Page McKenney.
Fortheluvofbourbon was bred by Hidden Acres 4-D Farm, out of the Not For Love mare Nosubstituteforluv. He is the first foal out of the dam, who produced another colt by Bourbon Courage in 2021. Nosubstituteforluv most recently had a colt by Bold Thunder.
Hidden Acres 4-D Farm has made $22,152 in breeder awards from Fortheluvofbourbon this year through April.
As a Pennsylvania-bred non-maiden by an out-of-state sire, Fortheluvofbourbon is eligible for a breeder's award of 20 percent of purse earnings from in-state races.
The post Pennsylvania Leaderboard Presented By Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: Fortheluvofbourbon Posting A Lucrative Campaign In 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Background Check: Schuylerville
Good or bad, stallion careers are almost always well documented with hard facts at the ready. It's no secret certain races–for instance, the GI Met Mile–have historically been known as stallion-making races, with that race in particular flaunting the lethal combination of both speed and stamina on a big stage. Fappiano (1981), Buckpasser (1967), and Native Dancer (1954) were among the Met Mile winners who later made incredible impacts at stud, whether through their sons or daughters or both. Quality Road (2010) is currently doing the same. This year's winner, Flightline (Tapit), will undoubtedly be one of the hottest stallions on the market when he retires.
But what about the mares? Are there any black-type events that stand out as key producer races? In this new series, we'll examine the past of upcoming filly/mare races and take a look at how the winners fared as broodmares.
We begin with Saratoga's traditional opening day feature, the GIII Schuylerville S. for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the dirt. Like many races dating back a century (it was first run in 1918), it's been run at different distances and occasionally even at different tracks. There were years it was run in two divisions (1959, 1965, and 1974) and one year it didn't run at all (2005). Overall, there have been 106 winners of the Schuylerville.
The Schuylerville winners are an illustrious bunch. Every single victress from 2015 to 1918 is a producer of winners, with the exception of six who died before getting their broodmare careers started and another seven (from 1941 and earlier) for whom records are sketchy. That alone is a phenomenal statistic.
There were two consecutive glory decades, a remarkable 20-year streak from 1985-2004 where every winner (except one who passed away before visiting the breeding shed) became a stakes producer.
Four future Broodmares of the Year won the Schuylerville. There are the ancestresses of future significant sires, like Exclusive Native; forebearers of blue hens like Leslie's Lady; and direct female lines leading to recent Saratoga winners like 2021's GI Flower Bowl/GII Glens Falls winner War Like Goddess (English Channel).
Who knew an early-summer race for 2-year-old fillies often making just their second career start, currently worth $175,000 and ranked as a Grade III, would weld such influence on the breed? Such is the power of Saratoga.
Following are the most significant winners of the Schuylerville in reverse chronological order. They haven't been reviewed by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what lasting impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.
Hot Dixie Chick (2007, Dixie Union–Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}): From five foals to race, this Stonestreet mare has produced 2022 GI La Troienne S. winner Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), MSW & GSP Union Jackson (Curlin), and 2022 'TDN Rising Star' Marsalis (Curlin).
Meadow Star (1988, Meadowlake–Inreality Star, by In Reality): At first glance, this eye-catching chestnut hadn't produced much of note among her five lifetime foals. However, the six stakes winners already produced by her daughters and granddaughters include brilliant champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and MGISW Belle Gallantey (After Market).
Weekend Surprise (1980, Secretariat–Lassie Dear, by Buckpasser): The 1992 Broodmare of the Year produced Horse of the Year and leading sire A.P. Indy, MGISW Summer Squall, and GSW Welcome Surprise. Her descendants include MGISW Court Vision, GISW Happy Saver, and Canadian champion Moonlit Promise.
Mystical Mood (1979, Roberto–Mystery Mood, by Night Invader): She kicked off her broodmare career with U.S./Irish/English Grade/Group winner Fair Judgment, while her daughters and granddaughters went on to produce champions Stevie Wonderboy and Big Blue Kitten.
Talking Picture (1971, Speak John–Poster Girl, by Nasrullah): This mare produced five stakes winners, including Irish champions Easy to Copy and Trusted Partner, and is the ancestress of nearly 30 more, including Grade I/Group 1 winners Gallante (Ire), Dress To Thrill (Ire), Search For A Song (Ire), Free Eagle (Ire), Kyprios (Ire), Thunder Moon (Ire), and Vert de Grece (Ire).
Numbered Account (1969, Buckpasser–Intriguing, by Swaps): Her foals included MGISW and sire Private Account, as well as GISW Dance Number. Her female descendants have produced champion Rhythm, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, and GISWs Imagining, Girolamo, Bluegrass Cat, and Frost Giant. The family remains active: Becca Taylor, winner of her second Grade II event on the 4th of July, is part of it.
Patelin (1968, Cornish Prince–Pontivy, by Battlefield): This mare is ancestor to 10 Grade I winners, including champion Pleasant Stage, plus A Phenomenon and Marsh Side. However, her pièce de ré·sis·tance has got to be 2016 Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady, dam of current breed shaper Into Mischief.
Pocahontas (1955, Roman–How, by Princequillo): The 1965 Broodmare of the Year left champion and important sire Tom Rolfe, as well as four more stakes winners (including sire Chieftain), and a long list of accomplished runners tracing to her.
Striking (1947, War Admiral–Baby League, by Bubbling Over): This Phipps family mare might be the most influential of all the Schuylerville winners. Named Broodmare of the Year in 1961, she produced five stakes winners, including Test S. winners Glamour. The sheer number of thriving families that trace to her boggles the mind. They include Numbered Account, whose own accomplishments are listed above, as well as the families of important sire Woodman, Horse of the Year Mineshaft, champion Smarty Jones, and so many more.
Red Shoes (1943, Easton {Fr}–Mistress Grier, by John P. Grier): This mare produced Ballerina (yes, the one who has the Grade I event at the Spa named after her) and champion Nasrina.
Ace Card (1942, Case Ace–Furlough, by Man o' War): Horse of the Year One Count was one of four stakes winners for this mare, who was named Broodmare of the Year in 1952. Among her best descendants were 1979-80 English champion Mrs. Penny.
Parade Girl (1933, Display–Panoply, by Peter Pan): A number of high-caliber runners trace to this mare, but she only needed one to cement her name in pedigrees: her great-grandson Exclusive Native. The dual stakes winner was the leading sire in the U.S. in 1978-79. Another two-time leading sire, Deputy Minister, also traces to this grand girl.
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Goodwood Goals For Walker Fillies
Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) will both be aimed at the Goodwood Festival later this month, trainer Ed Walker has revealed. The former, who races in the silks of J. Fill, ran third in last season's G1 Sun Chariot S. before posting a win in the May 1 G2 Dahlia S. and, in a new career best, the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp on May 29. She was sixth last out at the Curragh in the G1 Pretty Polly S. on June 26 and is bound for the July 28 G1 Nassau S.
“She's great, thankfully she's come out of the Curragh really well,” said Walker. “It was a bit of a no show really and if I had my time again, I would have scratched her. It was a bit of a shame as we ummed and ahed over whether to go. We were always going to the Pretty Polly, then changed our minds and were thinking [G1] Falmouth [S.] and then back to the Pretty Polly and as it turned out the Falmouth on very fast ground would have been the better spot probably.
“But that's life and she's come out of the race good and now we'll head to the Nassau S. and hope this weather holds good and we get some good summer ground. An easy 10 furlongs should be ideal for her.”
A winner at listed level in 2021, Primo Bacio ran third to Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. The David Ward colourbearer returned in the July 8 G1 Falmouth S. but could only manage fourth after showing some early interest and fading in the final furlong. The G3 Oak Tree S. is next on her agenda.
Walker added, “It was a solid run [in the Falmouth], if not slightly disappointing. It probably wasn't up to the same level as her performance in it the previous year, but she ran fine. It was hard to make up ground and the pace held up well.
“We're going to lower our sights with her a little bit and bring her back in trip. We could head to the Oak Tree at Goodwood.”
The post Goodwood Goals For Walker Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
