Month: February 2023

Folklore Colt Makes First Trip to Races at Nakayama

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:

Saturday, February 25, 2023
1st-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($78k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
KEEP SMILING (JPN) (f, 3, Quality Road–Weep No More, by Mineshaft) turned in an auspicious debut over this course and distance Dec. 17, sitting an inside trip before hitting the line strongly to be a sound second (see below, SC 4). The bay is the second foal from her dam, upset winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. in 2016 who was acquired privately after producing a War Front filly in 2019. Weep No More, a half-sister to Grade III winner Current and to the dam of the stakes-winning Half Is Enough (Frosted), is also responsible for a 2-year-old colt by the late Duramente (Jpn) that sold for better than $735,000 at last year's JRHA Select Sale. Keep Smiling's third dam is 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Flute (Seattle Slew). B-Northern Farm

 

 

Sunday, February 26, 2023
2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($78k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
MYSTIC LORE (c, 3, Arrogate–Folklore, by Tiznow) cost DMM Dream Club Co. a half-million dollars at Keeneland September in 2021, and the fact the colt would appeal to Japanese interests is not surprising. Folklore, the champion of her generation and winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2005 for Bob and Beverly Lewis, is a half-sister to Rhodochrosite–by Arrogate's sire Unbridled's Song–whose place in the annals of Japanese racing is secure via the exploits of Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Folklore's Grade III-placed half-sister Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) produced two-time Eclipse Award and four-time Grade I winner Essential Quality (Tapit). B-Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding LLC (KY)

 

 

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TAA Official Charity Partner of Horseplayers Championship

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be on-site to promote aftercare awareness at the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) March 10-12 at Horseshoe Las Vegas., the group has announced. Horseplayers are invited to connect with TAA representatives, learn more about accredited Thoroughbred aftercare, donate to TAA to win tickets to the Florida Derby or for a tour of Old Friends, and take home racing memorabilia.

TAA will also be on site for the Last Chance First Chance NHC Qualifier to which NTRA donated a VIP opportunity through TAA's Off to the Races online auction of VIP race experiences. The winning bidder will compete for their spot to remain at Horseshoe Las Vegas and enter the NHC in the following days.

“The NTRA is proud to recognize the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as an official charity of the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC),” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “The competition and camaraderie among the participants, along with their universal love of the Thoroughbred, are a big part of what makes the NHC such a great event.”

“Thank you to NTRA for once again recognizing and supporting accredited Thoroughbred aftercare on the national stage of the NHC event,” said TAA Office Manager Catherine Flowers. “TAA is proud to be supported by the racing industry, which includes these talented horseplayers, and it is so exciting to celebrate horseplayers giving back to the Thoroughbreds that have given all of us so much.”

Of the eight #NHC2023 eligible racetracks, Aqueduct, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream, Laurel Park, Oaklawn Park, Santa Anita Park, and Tampa Bay Downs are supporters of the TAA.

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Elite Sales To Enter Yearling Consignment Business

Elite Sales, the Thoroughbred consignment business of Liz Crow and Bradley Weisbord, will begin selling yearlings in 2023, adding to their existing business of breeding and racing stock.

“Elite Sales launched in 2017 with the goal of being the number-one consignor of horses of racing age and broodmares/broodmare prospects,” said Weisbord. “With six years under our belts, we have experienced a wide range of success including selling 21 off-the-track broodmare or racing prospects for $1 million or more.”

The addition of yearlings to their lineup is the latest news from Elite, who sold their first two weanlings at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, including a Gun Runner filly for $675,000. They also were represented with a consignment at Tattersalls December for the first time in 2022.

“Since launching Elite, our team has enjoyed building relationships with the most prominent buyers and sellers of bloodstock around the world. We believe that these relationships along with our boutique model, top client support, and ambitious marketing have led to our success. Weisbord said, “The move into yearlings has been long-planned. Liz and I have some of our own homebreds we will sell, we will sell for our existing clients, and we hope to add some large breeding farms into the mix.”

Elite has hired Beth Bayer, the former director of sales for Woodford Thoroughbreds, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, to run the day-to-day consignment, leaving Liz Crow free to continue her scrutiny of yearlings on the sales grounds.

“Liz is one of the leading agents purchasing yearlings each year and we feel her knowledge of the market along with her great eye will be a huge asset to our clients. She will be available for farm inspections as we lead into yearling prep and sales time. We also feel that since our team sees every single horse on the sales grounds at every single yearling sale, she will have a great understanding of where yearlings most appropriately fit in each catalog and sale.”

Fasig-Tipton July would be the first sale the company will target, followed by Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, Keeneland September, and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings.

Weisbord said he would continue to handle client and buyer relationships on and off the sales grounds. Katelyn Jackson, Samantha Bussanich and Jake Memolo will remain with Elite as well, and that the company would continue to be run as a boutique consignment operation.

In its six-year history, Elite has sold over $135 million in horses, averaging over $295,000 per horse. Those sales include Monomoy Girl for Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables, who brought $9.5 million at Fasig-Tipton November 2020; and Paris Lights for WinStar Farm, who topped the 2021 Keeneland November Sale at $3.1 million.

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Frankie Dettori: Country Grammer Has ‘Rock-Solid Saudi Cup Credentials’

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA–Country Grammer (Tonalist) brings rock-solid credentials to the G1 Saudi Cup at Riyadh, according to his legendary rider Frankie Dettori, who says the Bob Baffert-trained 6-year-old can go one better than last year in Saturday's showpiece.

Dettori also described Baffert's other runner in the race, the unexposed Taiba (Gun Runner), as a force to be reckoned with as the 52-year-old spoke alongside fellow luminary in the saddle, Joao Moreira, in the build-up to the world's richest race.

“Country Grammer is very solid and never runs a bad race–touch wood he doesn't start now,” Dettori joked at a media event at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Thursday morning.

“He was second last year, is tough and has travelled before, which is a plus. I would be foolish to say that I am confident but I am very pleased to ride him and he will give his best.”

Baffert has had the Saudi Cup on Country Grammer's agenda for a while now and elected to sidestep taking on the unbeaten champion Flightline (Tapit) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in November, a decision Dettori hopes will be vindicated on Saturday.

He explained, “Bob and the Zedan Racing Stables, they skipped the [Breeders' Cup] Classic because they thought it would be tough to beat the good horse [Flightline]. He has been aimed at these two races, the Saudi Cup and then on to Dubai, so this was always the plan. We have 48 hours to go so fingers crossed we can get there and everything goes to plan.”

On Baffert's other runner Taiba, Dettori added, “He is also very solid. He has very little mileage on the clock and is a horse who I feel is still improving. He will be thereabouts as well.”

Moreira will partner the Noriyuki Hori-trained Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah), a general 14-1 chance for the Saudi Cup, and said that the 6-year-old has been filling him with confidence in track work this week.

“Being realistic, this is probably one of the strongest dirt races in the world,” Moreira said. “However, this horse has impressed me in track work and is taking me into the race with a bit of confidence. I know we are challenging good horses but I am faithful that this horse can give his best.”

The Saudi Cup meeting will be the biggest event that Dettori has ridden at since announcing his farewell tour over Christmas. Like Dettori, Moreira is planning on exiting the stage, but said that he is hopeful of riding for another two seasons before calling time on his career.

He said, “I don't know if many people know but I have developed some health issue, which is pretty much a hip joint. People think I can just go there and get a hip replacement but it's been recommended by the doctors not to do it right now. I am in a great deal of pain and, what's best for me psychologically is to decide to do it [retire] on my terms. I'm not doing it right now and will continue to ride for another year and a half, maybe two years.”

Dettori, who was described as being an “idol” by Moreira, is more definitive on his retirement and explained that the Breeders' Cup remains the most likely curtain call.

He said, “I gave myself a year to do my last farewell. I am in Saudi Arabia just because I was asked to be here, I'd usually be in Dubai, and after that I will do the European programme. Royal Ascot should be my last meeting in England and then possibly the Breeders' Cup will be my last, or if something in the Melbourne Cup or other things materialise. But this year is my last. I will be 53 in December and I will finish on the top. It's hard to choose the right moment and my heart wants to carry on but I want to have another life after racing.”

Asked if he thinks that he will change his mind about retiring this year, Dettori responded, “At the moment, the plan is to stop at the end of the season. I am sure I am going to be asked that question a million times before then.”

On the next chapter, he added, “I have my eye on working in the media. That is the route that I am thinking of taking. There are other things, like buying a few horses and becoming a bloodstock agent, things like that, but I will have a couple of months to sit back and look at the whole picture. Not training, no, I wouldn't have the patience.”

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