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Unified Colt Takes Grand Champion Honors At Virginia Yearling Futurity

Knockgriffin Farm's Virginia-Certified 2019 colt out of Causin Commotion took Grand Champion honors in the annual Virginia Breeders Fund 2020 Yearling Futurity, which was held September 9 at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds in Warrenton, Va.

The champion is owned/bred by Jim & Katie Fitzgerald at their Marshall, Va., farm. The dark bay or brown colt is by Unified.

Morgan's Ford Farm's 2019 bay out of Smart Believer, who took top honors in the Virginia-Bred/Sired Fillies division, was named 2020 Reserve Champion. She is a daughter of Animal Kingdom. A total of $22,500 in prize money was distributed between the three divisions. The top two winners from each advanced to the Grand Championship final round.

In the Virginia-Bred/Sired Colt and Gelding class, Althea Richards' 2019 colt out of Darting won top honors. Also named “Best Turned Out”, the dark bay is by Divining Rod.

Susan Cooney's Celtic Sea, a chestnut colt by English Channel out of Embarr by Royal Academy, took second. Rounding out the class in order was Knockgriffin Farms' 2019 colt out of Trishas Even by Street Sense, Becky and Andy Lavin's 2019 chestnut colt out of Falsehood by Madefromlucky, Knockgriffin's 2019 colt out of Looking Great by American Freedom, Daniel Wukich and Quest Realty's E.P Milton by Jack Milton, Darlene Bowlin's 2019 gelding out of Cape Cod Bay by Great Notion and Frazer Hendrick's colt, Maximum Momentum by Koda Chrome.

In the Virginia-Bred/Sired Fillies category, Daybreak Stables' 2019 bay out of Callipepla was runner-up behind the Smart Believer filly. The daughter of Cupid was also named “Best Turned Out” in her class.

The rest of the field in order was Corner Farm and John Behrendt's 2019 bay out of Senate Caucus by Maclean's Music, Morgan's Ford Farms' 2019 Pearls by Super Saver, Doug Daniels' Dulini by Madefromlucky, Daniel Wukich and Quest Realty's Music Queen by Maclean's Music, Eagle Point Farms' Chickahominy by Great Notion and Susan Cooney's Speak Your Mind by Mr Speaker.

In the large Certified class, which saw colts and filles combined, Lorraine and Dennis Johnson's colt out of Bigshot On Nothing and by Mineshaft, finished second and was named “Best Turned Out” horse.

Joanne Krishack's filly New Age Bad Girl by Fiber Sonde was next followed by Ron Sapp's colt Rebel Empire by Sky Kingdom, Kathleen Hamlin's gelding Man of the Cloth by Fiber Sonde, DMG Racing Stables' gelding Freegftwthpurchase by Freedom Child, Daniel Wukich & Quest Realty's filly Lunar Motion by Great Notion and Michael Dalton's colt Quincannon by Buffum.

The judge for this year's Futurity was Rick Abbott, a former longtime Pennsylvania bloodstock agent who along with his wife Dixie, had a successful sales consignment business.

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Key Takeaways from the Weekend’s Racing and a Preakness Update

Tom Pedulla presents five takeaways from the exceptional turf racing at Kentucky Downs on Saturday and other major developments this weekend:

Jockeys And Jeans Fundraiser At Churchill Cancelled Due To COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Churchill Downs and Jockeys and Jeans mutually agreed to cancel the fundraiser for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund that had been planned at the historic track for Nov. 14.

“It's sad because the needs of former jockeys who suffered career ending injuries go on,” said Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl. “But, given the need to battle this deadly disease, it is necessary.”

“Due to the nature of Jockey and Jeans and the way it brings people together from all over the country, we want to ensure that it can be held at Churchill Downs when it can be the biggest and best,” said Mike Ziegler, executive director of racing at Churchill. “We are saddened to postpone the 2020 event, but in full agreement with PDJF and Jockey and Jeans' choice.”

Pearl said the group will be contacting those who already purchased sponsorships and will keep the racing world posted on future fundraising events.

“We all know it has been a most difficult time for the nation as well as the sport we all know and love,” he said. “But I am convinced the family that is horse racing will continue to reach out to help support those who traded a set of stirrups for the foot stands on wheelchairs.”

Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund pays a $1,000 monthly stipend to some 60 former jockeys who suffered catastrophic racing injures. Some 40 are either pari- or quadriplegics, while others suffered severe brain injuries.

The event typically attracts 15 or more jockey Hall of Fame members who gather to honor the six permanently disabled former jockeys who attend. Jockeys and Jeans was founded in late 2014 by a group of former jockeys, which has raised over $1.5 million for the PDJF through six annual events and several stallion season sales.

“We are the ones who walked away intact,” said Pearl, a former jockey. “And our efforts to stand for our fallen brothers and sisters will go on thanks to the heart touching support of the racing community.”

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Non-Competition Award Winners Named by The Jockey Club’s T.I.P.

The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) announced Monday the winners of its two non-competition awards for 2020: the T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year Award, which recognizes a Thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career, and the T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year Award, which recognizes riders 18 or younger who own or lease a Thoroughbred for activities such as 4-H or Pony Club.

The Thoroughbred of the Year Award goes to Sir Gus (Tammany), a 25-year-old gelding known around the barn as “Gus,” who was a six-time winner on the racetrack and now assists with therapeutic programs at Brook Hill Farm near Forest, Va. Gus has worked in both Brook Hill’s at-risk youth program and the therapeutic program, helping children and adults with physical and mental challenges.

“Gus has done it all, from jumping at [a] Pony Club rally to helping children in a therapeutic riding program,” said Jo Anne Miller, executive director of Brook Hill. “He loves to take care of his riders!”

The award includes a $5,000 grant.

The Young Rider of the Year Award for 2020 is split between Kate Brown, who competes in dressage and eventing and has served as a T.I.P. Youth Ambassador; Clara Dendtler, who competes in hunters and was the junior high point rider at the T.I.P. Championships in 2019; Jenna Everhart, who shows in English pleasure and was named champion in T.I.P.’s Junior division and reserve champion in the East division in 2019; and Isabella Wade, who competes in hunters and is a T.I.P. Youth Ambassador.

“I see going to T.I.P. shows and raising awareness for the breed as something I should be doing because I own an [off-the-track Thoroughbred],” said Wade. “I can’t imagine my life without my Thoroughbred and being a T.I.P. Youth Ambassador has added to my experience.”

The post Non-Competition Award Winners Named by The Jockey Club’s T.I.P. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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