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America’s Repole Starts to Make His Mark in Europe

DEAUVILLE, France– On Nov. 19 at Aqueduct, Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}) by Galileo {Ire}) made a spectacular debut, demolishing the competition by almost 10 lengths, becoming her sire's 42nd 'TDN Rising Star'. Nothing new there. But the Into Mischief cross with a Galileo mare got Mike Repole thinking.

Repole, the American entrepreneur who looks set to earn his second straight Eclipse Award with a champion juvenile, this time with his homebred GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness (City of Light), has become more and more invested in the breeding end of the business over the past few years, and is now looking to Europe for strains of soundness and stamina, according to the team of Eddie Rosen and Alex Solis who represented him at the Arqana December sale this week.

“Mike is a student of the game and he's very forward-thinking,” said Solis, who has worked as an advisor to Repole for several years. “In the U.S., the medication rules are changing, and becoming more like they have been in Europe for a long time, so jumping into those European pedigrees where horses are more durable and have stamina makes sense to him. So we're mixing up the bloodlines and trying new things. The mares we bought over here are really of a shape that works on the dirt.”

“Now that we're more involved in breeding, Mike has realized that the infusion of bloodlines from all over the world would be helpful to our breeding program,” said Eddie Rosen, who serves as General Manager of his Repole Stable. “We participated at Goffs and Tattersalls this year, and while Alex has been here many times, it's my first time at Deauville and Mike thought it would be a good experience for me to be here.”

Solis said that the win by Leslie's Rose in such an impressive performance made Repole think that the mixing of American and European bloodlines was the way forward for his breeding program. He has since spent €450,000 at Goffs on four mares through Jacob West, and bought three more at Tattersalls for 480,000gns. But he saved most of his powder for France. From Arqana, the team will bring back five purchases; four in-foal mares and one 2-year-filly, for a total of €875,000.

“He started buying European mares at Goffs because of the Niarchos reduction,” said Solis. “He then purchased three mares at Tattersalls. Along the same theory with the European mares, he'd like to find some South American mares.”

Repole's father was born in Nice, France, and it wouldn't be surprising to have him turn up personally in Deauville in the future, Solis said. “I have helped Mike at the sales for the last three years, and he has turned from someone I advise to a friend. It's amazing how motivating he is and the thing I really appreciate about Mike is that he's willing to try all kinds of things.”

All five of his Arqana purchases will be sent home to America. Repole keeps mares at Lane's End, Brookdale Farm, and WinStar.

Lot 45, All Grace (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), is a 7-year-old mare in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB), and brought €250,000. Lot 97, Baltic Duchess (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), is nine, and in foal to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), and sold for €180,000. Lot 104, Pamplemousse (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), is a 9-year-old also in foal to Too Darn Hot and brought €100,000. Deep Impact (Jpn) mare Tempel (Fr) (lot 482), an 8-year-old winner who ran fourth in the G3 Prix Penelope, joined the Repole fold for €95,000 in foal to successful Grey Sovereign (GB)-line sire Kendargent (Fr) during Sunday's session.

While Repole retired his potential turf champion Up To The Mark to Lane's End Farm this winter, matings for the mares have not yet been determined, said Rosen. “They are all by sires that we like, out of very strong female families, in foal to young, very promising sires. Kingman is a sire that we have great respect for and he's had a lot of success in America, so he's appealing to us,” said Rosen of All Grace. “And this mare is from an excellent female family and we believe that Too Darn Hot is a young sire and we have confidence in him succeeding.”

“Lope de Vega, much like Kingman, has had tremendous success in America. She's in foal to St Mark's Basilica, another young sire that we think is a good prospect, and this mare [Baltic Duchess] is stakes-placed from a strong family.”

Of Pamplemousse, Rosen said, “Siyouni is another that Mike really, really likes, a successful sire, and the kind of blood we want to bring to America. It's another strong female family, and again, in foal to an excellent young prospect.”

His fourth Saturday purchase, the 2-year-old filly High Handed (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) will be shipped home to America and pointed to a racing career. She was purchased for €250,000.

Rosen, a lawyer by trade, has served as a pedigree advisor to various clients for years, selecting horses such as Tale of the Cat and More Than Ready, among others, and recently gave up his law career to work for Repole full time. He said that Repole was very involved in the selection process, and ran up an international phone bill talking to Solis and Rosen throughout the day as he watched the sale from home in America.

“We haven't had a breeding program for a long time, but we have now bred the presumptive 2-year-old champion, and Mike likes to participate in every aspect of the business. I think that he's found that the breeding side of it is appealing to him. We have tried to upgrade the quality of the broodmare band, and have sold quite a few and purchased a few others, in order to have an exclusive broodmare band to breed from. Part of that plan was acquiring bloodlines outside of American breeding.”

“Mike is directly involved in every aspect of the program,” said Rosen. “He's very hands-on, he's brilliant and he thinks outside the box. That's why this appealed to him. He likes to try different approaches in an attempt to succeed at every level.”

Rosen tried to make the most of his first visit to Deauville, taking a D-Day tour on the Thursday before the sale with his wife, Barbara. “It has been a wonderful experience. Deauville itself is an incredible place. The D Day tour was a very emotional and educational experience. The food is fantastic, from breakfast to dinner, and meeting new people is a great part of the experience. And Arqana has been wonderful. They have been very warm and welcoming and made our stay really incredible.”

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Spotlight on the Night of the Stars: Onshore

With a star-studded lineup preparing to go through the ring on a night showcasing some of racing's most prestigious broodmares and broodmare prospects, Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning has high praise for Onshore (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire) — Kalima {GB}, by Kahyasi {Ire}), a royally-bred Group I producer who will sell as Hip 216 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

“I believe Onshore is one of the most exciting broodmare offerings that we've had the privilege of selling in my lifetime at Fasig-Tipton,” Browning said. “She embodies everything you look for in the Thoroughbred industry. She has an amazing Juddmonte family. She's in foal to Wootton Bassett, who is a very influential rising star in the European stallion ranks. She has produced a Grade I winner in Onesto (Ire) (Frankel), who has demonstrated tremendous ability on the racetrack. I can't imagine any mare having a brighter future with the resume she has put together thus far.”

The Sea The Stars mare now has five foals on her produce record led by her brilliant son Onesto, the winner of this year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris. At the 'Night of the Stars' sale, Onshore will be consigned by Gainesway.

“It's a privilege to be able to offer a mare like Onshore,” said Gainesway's Alex Solis. “To be just nine years old and the dam of a French Classic winner with your second foal, that's pretty remarkable. She could be the cornerstone of any broodmare band wherever she goes.”

Onshore was one of the first remunerative Thoroughbred purchases for Adam Bowden's Diamond Creek Farm (profiled by Chris McGrath here). Diamond Creek launched as a Standardbred operation in 2005, when Bowden was just 24, and then made its foray into the Thoroughbred business several years ago. During one of Bowden's first buying trips overseas, he found Onshore at the 2016 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

“She fit the bill for what we were looking for,” he recalled. “She had a well-bred pedigree and physically, she fit the European style of racing. She was in foal to Frankel, who was young at the time but I was a huge fan of his.”

Bowden purchased the maiden mare from Juddmonte for 320,000gns. Diamond Creek liked her resulting filly so much that the next year, Onshore returned to Frankel. That mating producing Onesto.

“I actually never got to see him as a foal because it was during the COVID year,” Bowden explained. “My advisor there, Eddie Fitzpatrick at Coolmore, told me that he was a nice horse and that I shouldn't give him away.”

When the colt failed to meet his reserve as a yearling, he shipped to Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables and sold for $535,000 to Hubert Guy at the 2021 OBS April Sale before making his way back to Europe. Onesto landed with trainer Fabrice Chappet and earned the 'TDN Rising Star' nod when he broke his maiden on debut as a juvenile. This year, he took the G2 Prix Greffulhe before claiming his Group 1 score in the Grand Prix de Paris while also placing second in the G1 Irish Champion S.

“Anyone who has watched Onesto run has to be impressed by his turn of foot,” Browning noted. “He's explosive when he makes his move. He demonstrates the brilliance that is so critical to racing around the world, but especially in Europe.”

Onshore's produce record also includes an unraced juvenile filly by Australia (GB), a yearling Gleanagles (Ire) filly that sold for €460,000 to Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock at Arqana this summer, as well as a another filly by American Pharaoh.

“To have four daughters working for her going forward is pretty awesome, but really the big appeal to her is that it's such an international family,” said Solis. “She comes from an amazing Juddmonte family anchored by Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi), who threw five Group 1 winners herself and two other graded stakes horses including the very influential stallion Dansili (GB). Onshore is even a half to an international Group 3 winner Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross), who went to Australia and proved himself there.”

“It's literally the who's who of the Thoroughbred breeding industry all combined into one package,” added Browning of Onshore's pedigree. “She's also in foal to Wootton Bassett, who produced a champion in his first crop. More importantly, he's a sire that Coolmore has made a significant commitment to. So you've got the Juddmonte pedigree with the Coolmore influence in the covering sire, and if that's not a good bet in the Thoroughbred industry, I can't think of a better set of circumstances.”

Bowden is looking forward to seizing the moment with Onshore while Onesto is in the limelight, but he said that the mare has forever made her mark on Diamond Creek's story.

Sara Gordon

“I think we're in the business to make money,” he explained when asked why Onshore is for sale. “The money we make from Onshore will be put right back in the market to try to do it again. She's really the first big-time horse for us to sell back to the market so there's a soft spot in my heart for her and part of me doesn't want to sell her, but the other part of me knows that it's the right financial decision and one that could provide us with more and more capital to go back to the market.”

This year has been a fruitful era for Diamond Creek with the likes of Bashford Manor S. winner and GI Hopeful S. runner-up Gulfport (Uncle Mo) and three-time Grade I-placed Family Way (Uncle Mo) both representing their breeder at the highest levels of the sport in the U.S. while Onesto carries the banner abroad.

“I don't know that we were originally planning on having Group 1 winners,” Bowden admitted. “I think we were looking for sales and racing success, and whatever grew out of that would be great. To have this kind of success this quickly was obviously not what we had planned, but we're very happy with it.”

As for Onshore, Browning said he believes the mare could wind up starting the next chapter of her story anywhere in the world.

“I think Onshore truly has international appeal,” he said. “She's a collector's pedigree. I don't know if the new buyer will reside in Europe or Japan or America, but I do know that the new buyer will have an opportunity to have a tremendously accomplished mare with a tremendous amount of potential in front of her.”

“This mare could go anywhere and be a standout,” added Solis. “It will be exciting to see who shows up.”

To take a look at more 'Spotlight on the Night of the Stars' features, click here.

The post Spotlight on the Night of the Stars: Onshore appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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CHRB Backs Blea Ahead of ‘Dangerousness’ Hearing

Three members of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), plus the agency's executive director, on Thursday advocated for the reinstatement of temporarily suspended CHRB equine medical director Jeff Blea on the eve of his hearing before the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) to rule on a list of allegations that include administering “dangerous drugs” to racehorses without examination or medical necessity.

“For my own two cents as chairman, I think that the issues surrounding Dr. Jeff Blea brought forth by the veterinary medical board are both ill-advised and slanderous,” said CHRB chair Gregory Ferraro, who is also a licensed veterinarian.

“Unfortunately, he has now become a pawn in a politically driven agenda to disparage horse racing in California,” Ferraro said. “The people behind this effort are willing to sully and besmirch Dr. Blea's reputation to achieve their ends. And while they are in the process of achieving these goals, the health and safety of racehorses are being compromised every day that Dr. Blea is not allowed to perform his duties.

“Personally, I am dismayed that no one in authority is willing to step forward and call out this ordeal for what it is–an unwarranted and unfair vendetta,” Ferraro summed up.

No members of the CHRB voiced criticisms of Blea. But when the topic was opened up to hear the opinions of nine members of the public who had requested commentary time, sentiment turned against Blea and the CHRB's backing of him by an 8-1 margin.

Among the public opinions voiced were some that advocated for letting the VMB process play out so Blea's allegedly “reckless” behavior could be properly adjudicated. One speaker also called for Ferraro to go on the record by naming the people or entities he believes are slandering Blea.

After the public portion of the Jan. 20 CHRB meeting, the board was scheduled to discuss the case in greater detail while operating in a closed executive session.

TDN reported last week how the VMB also claims that Blea presents a “danger to public health, safety and welfare” due to his oversight of the high-profile investigation into the death of the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, the GI Kentucky Derby winner who collapsed and died after a scheduled workout Dec. 6 at Santa Anita Park.

The alleged medication violations occurred before Blea's tenure began at the CHRB, when he was previously employed as an attending veterinarian who treated racehorses.

“Although I question the veracity of those allegations, what is particularly disturbing is the desire to suspend his veterinary license in advance of his hearing, and more to the point, prevent him from working in his role as equine medical director,” said Scott Chaney, the CHRB's executive director.

“I am sorry for Dr. Blea and his family. And although he has been professional and hopeful throughout this ordeal, it is not right that his excellent reputation be besmirched in this way,” Chaney said.

Chaney said the CHRB has hired outside legal counsel to represent its interests in the case and to “right this wrong.” He added that acting veterinary personnel have been appointed to ensure that the equine medical director's duties get covered, but that the CHRB is “less effective without him.”

CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales said, “In order for the CHRB to keep moving in the right direction, we need Dr. Blea as equine medical director.”

Commissioner Alex Solis also spoke out in defense of Blea's character and competence.

None of the four CHRB-affiliated speakers directly addressed the charges against Blea. They largely chose to cite declining equine fatality statistics at the state's racetracks, which they said underscored the importance of having their chosen equine medical director in place to further those efforts.

Gonzales cited “outdated standards and regulations” as a factor in Blea's case, and he implored the CHRB and VMB to meet “as soon as possible” to update such standards to prevent similar “unintended consequences.”

Public commenter Lynn Freudenberg, who signed up to speak as a member of an organization called “Kill Racing, Not Horses,” advocated for the CHRB to take an introspective look at its defense of Blea.

“I know you guys have a personal relationship with Dr. Blea. And I can see why you like him. He's your veterinarian–of course you like him,” Freudenberg said. “But you have to realize that the veterinary board has reason and they have evidence, and they're asking for this to be debated if [Blea's conduct] is wrong.

“Dr. Blea is being charged with negligence. He's administering drugs, medications [and applying] treatment to animals without performing an examination or performing a diagnosis. He's just blindly giving things out. There's six cases, and they have a list of drugs that go with it,” Freudenberg said.

“These are all recent [allegations]. This is nothing from the past,” Freudenberg said. “I don't know why you would stand behind somebody when his own veterinary board is going against him. I think you have to open your eyes and see what's going on and why this is happening.”

A Jan. 11 TDN investigation into the accusations against Blea found a broad consensus among veterinary medical experts that the alleged infractions are largely matters of poor record keeping that rarely, if ever, rise to the level of a suspended license.

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‘Ill Advised And Slanderous’: CHRB Chairman Unloads On Vet Board Over Blea Investigation

Dr. Gregory Ferraro, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, called the recent investigation and action by the California Veterinary Medical Board to temporarily suspend the license of the CHRB's equine medical director, Dr. Jeff Blea, an “unwarranted and unfair vendetta” that is “ill advised and slanderous.” Ferraro said Blea has become a “pawn in a politically driven effort” to hurt horse racing in California. As a result of Blea having to be put on administrative leave from his post with the CHRB, Ferraro added, “the health and safety of racehorses are being compromised.”

Ferraro, formerly a racetrack practitioner and director of the University of California-Davis Center for Equine Health, made the remarks during Thursday's regularly scheduled meeting of the CHRB following a report by the regulatory agency's executive director, Scott Chaney. Chaney, a one-time assistant trainer at Southern California racetracks, also defended Blea's integrity and professionalism, as did CHRB vice chairman Oscar Gonzalez and commissioner Alex Solis, a retired jockey.

Chaney's comments to the board follow:

“As you know, the California Veterinary Medical Board has filed accusations against our Equine Medical Director, Dr. Jeff Blea last month alleging violations from his previous employment as an attending veterinarian. Although I question the veracity of those allegations, what is particularly disturbing is the desire to suspend his veterinary license in advance of his hearing and more to the point, prevent him from working in his role as Equine Medical Director.

“The CHRB has hired outside counsel to represent our interests and in the interim, UC Davis, for which Dr. Blea works, has appointed acting EMDs to fulfill the statutory and regulatory roles. On a personal note, I would like to say that I have known and worked with Dr. Blea for more than 20 years. He is the one of the finest and most ethical veterinarians I have met and more importantly, one of the finest humans with whom I have interacted. I am sorry for Dr. Blea and his family, and although he has been professional and hopeful throughout this ordeal, it is not right that his excellent reputation be besmirched in this way.

“The CHRB is doing everything in its legal power to right this wrong. And while we are making do for the time being, in a very real way, the CHRB is less effective at protecting animal welfare without him.“

Chaney gave a promising report on the decline in California horse racing fatalities in recent years, particularly in 2021. The 0.63 deaths per thousand starts for California racing in 2021 may be the lowest in the country, Chaney said, adding that it is difficult to compare data to other states that are far less transparent than California.

“Our reform efforts are working,” said Gonzalez, suggesting the CHRB will push to have Blea reinstated. “We need Dr. Blea as equine medical director.”

“I know how much he cares about horses,” said Solis.

Blea is among several racetrack veterinarians being investigated following anonymous complaints to the Veterinary Medical Board that certain regulations were not being followed. Other racetrack practitioners have called those regulations outdated and ill-suited to equine practice. Dr. Rick Arthur, the CHRB's former equine medical director, said his experiences with the Veterinary Medical Board have led him to believe some board members are anti-horse racing.

Blea is the only veterinarian being investigated whose license was temporarily suspended.

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