December, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Horsemen Arrange GoFundMe Campaign For Consignor Morris After Stroke

Stuart Morris, one of North America's leading consignors, has suffered a stroke, and he is hospitalized at the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Ky., where he continues to recover.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Carrie Brogden of Machmer Hall Sales and Jay Goodwin of Eaton Sales to help cover his medical expenses.

According to Brogden on the GoFundMe page, Morris woke up the morning of Christmas Eve with mild paralysis on his left side. He was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed as having had a stroke.

The paralysis worsened, leaving him with no function in his left arm, though it still had feeling and sensation. He also had partial loss of function in his left leg, slurred speech, and mild facial paralysis. However, doctors are optimistic that he can recover from most of the damage. Morris' girlfriend, Patty Mitchell, told BloodHorse that full progress could take up to a year.

On Dec. 26, Mitchell provided an update to Brogden for the GoFundMe page stating that Morris had been released from bed rest, and he was able to stand and walk with assistance. He still didn't have movement in his left arm, but he could feel when someone touched it. Morris underwent an updated CT scan, which showed no new changes, which offered optimism that the stroke was done creating new damage. He remains hospitalized until his blood pressure can be managed without medication.

Morris is the son of Jeffry Morris of Highclere Farm, and they bred Grade 1 Cigar Mile winner Lion Tamer together in partnership. In addition to learning horsemanship at farms in Kentucky, Morris worked abroad in Australia and France before graduating from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.

Morris finished in the top 30 among all North American consignors by gross in 2022, led by a $575,000 Arrogate colt at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, offered as agent for breeder Curtis Green.

To donate to Morris' GoFundMe, click here.

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Breeze Easy Co-Owner Hall Dies At Age 79

Sam Ross, co-owner with Mike Hall of Breeze Easy, LLC, passed on Dec. 22, at the age of 79, in Jupiter, Fla.

Described as a visionary behind many companies, all of which were based in his hometown of Parkersburg, W.V., Ross sold his SBR group in 2006, but continued to own Woodcraft Supply, LLC, a chain of woodworking specialty related stores which operates in 34 states, and to participate in the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

In addition to the sale of SBR, 2006 also marked the formation of the Ross Foundation, which supports charitable efforts in several West Virginia counties.

Ross entered the racing and breeding industry in 2016 when he and business partner, Mike Hall, founded Breeze Easy, LLC.

Quickly becoming a force at the track and in the sale ring – where it is now well represented as both a buyer and seller – Breeze Easy scored a notable racing triumph two years later when the Wesley Ward-trained Shang Shang Shang shipped to Royal Ascot and captured the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. The following year, another Ward trainee, Four Wheel Drive, was undefeated in three juvenile outings, culminating in the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Other standouts to carry the Breeze Easy colors have been multiple graded stakes wining sprint star, Imprimis; Late Night Pow Wow, a West Virginia-bred, who captured the G3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes, and was Grade 1-placed; G3 Marine Stakes scorer Easy Time; multiple stakes winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf third, Outadore; and other stakes winners Curlin's Honor (owned in partnership with John Oxley), Devine Mischief, Curlin's Catch and Karak. Most recently, Boppy O (owned in partnership with John Oxley) captured with 2022 G3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga.

Ross is survived by his wife, Susan Storck Ross, sons Samuel B. “Tres” Ross, III and Spencer Brownell Ross, and four grandchildren. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date to be announced.

The post Breeze Easy Co-Owner Hall Dies At Age 79 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘True Team Effort’: Spooky Channel Returns From 14-Month Layoff To Win Buddy Diliberto Memorial

On October 22, 2021, the $80,000 NBS Stable's claim Spooky Channel rewarded trainer Jason Barkley with his first career graded stakes score in the Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland. After a setback that cost him over a year of racing, “Spooky” rewarded Barkley and his team once again, this time for their patience.

In what was his first start in over 14 months, the 7-year-old gelding captured Monday's $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

Spooky Channel made an early move to engage the pacesetting Gentle Soul through soft fractions of :24.68 and :51.01 over a firm Stall-Wilson turf course with the rails 34 feet out. He took over at the top of the stretch under jockey James Graham and drew clear in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths over the late closing English Tavern. Big Agenda checked in third.

“There was a little concern with him being off so long,” Graham said. “Jason's (trainer Barkley) plan was to have him ready for today and he did a good job. I was able to lean against him (the pacesetter) Gentle Soul the whole way. I picked him up. It took a little while to get to the next gear, but when he did, he accelerated.”

Crossing the finish line in 1:48.41, Spooky Channel paid $9.80, $5.20 and $3.00. The pacesetting 2-1 favorite Gentle Soul, who drew in off the also eligible list, settled for fourth. Temper Tantrum, Risk Manager, Bizzee Channel and Captivating Moon completed the order of finish.

With the win, the gelded son of English Channel now sports a record of 26-12-4-0 and a bankroll of $661,722.

“True team effort,” Barkley said. “James (jockey Graham) didn't fight with him. He let him do what he wanted to do. We have a lot of options. The more options the better as a trainer. We know he can win at 1 1/2 miles. We'll just let him tell us what he wants to do.”

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