Tag: blackadder

Acting Out Tops Keeneland April HORA Sale

Acting Out (Blame), who most recently caused a 6-1 upset of the Carousel S. at Oaklawn Park Apr. 2 (video), was hammered down to Bill Farish, acting as agent for his parents Will and Sarah, to lead the way at Friday's Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale held following the conclusion of the closing-day program at the racetrack a handful of steps up the hill.

Previously trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer for the ownership group of Sherman Racing Inc., Zivka Akin and Robert Hawkins, Acting Out won three of 10 starts in California and was placed in the Camila Urso S. sprinting on the turf at Golden Gate last year, but switched to the Arkansas oval this term and was a wire-to-wire allowance winner Mar. 11 before besting heavily favored 'TDN Rising Star' Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief) in the Carousel. She was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency as hip 23.

“She is a six-furlong specialist, so she will [continue] sprinting and hopefully be back here to [race in] the [GII] Thoroughbred Club of America S. in the fall,” said Farish. “We hope we can make some of the purchase price back [by racing her] before retiring her at the end of the year.

“When the catalog came out, she was one that just stood out in the catalog,” Farish added. “When we saw her–she looked fabulous, a beautiful mare, really correct. She looks like one who would have nice babies. [Her pedigree] goes back to a Stuart Janney III family, and we hope to breed her one day.”

Acting Out is out of a half-sister to Janney III's Grade III-winning turf mare Onus, also a daughter of Blame, and to the dam of the promising 3-year-old multiple graded-placed turf colt Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy), who flew home to win a grass allowance at Keeneland Apr. 16. The stakes-placed third dam Meghan's Joy (A.P. Indy) has left behind the likes of graded winners Ironicus (Distorted Humor), On Leave (War Front), Norumbega (Tiznow), Hunting (Coronado's Quest) and Quiet Harbor (Silver Deputy).

 

WATCH: Acting Out sells for $600,000 at Friday's Keeneland April Sale

 

The ELiTE-consigned Blue Devil (Uncle Mo) was the most coveted of the male racing prospects, selling to Rocket Ship Racing LLC, agent/William Denzik for $260,000. The 3-year-old was offered as hip 32 on behalf of his previous owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Golconda Stable and trainer Rodolphe Brisset and made a favorable impression in his lone racetrack appearance to date, missing by a neck in a six-furlong maiden over the Turfway synthetic Apr. 2. The same connections were also represented by Blackadder (Quality Road) (hip 89), who was purchased by Claiborne Farm, agent, for $250,000. Hailing from a Stone Farm family, the colt holds an entry for the GI Preakness S. by virtue of his victory in the El Camino Real Derby Feb. 12.

Another Brisset trainee made his way down to the sales pavilion only hours after winning his maiden at the track a few hours earlier. Summer Anthem (Temple City) was offered by Gainesway, agent, as hip 104, and was snapped up by Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm for $150,000 to continue his career. The 3-year-old gelding proved a tenacious winner of Friday's fourth race in a meet-fastest clocking for the 8 1/2-furlongs on turf.

Other offerings to have won during the meet and sold Friday were the I.C. Racing-consigned Shannon (Nyquist) (hip 100), who broke her maiden at 24-1 in an Apr. 22 turf sprint and was purchased for $240,000 by Hidden Brook, agent; and Atras (Astern {Aus}) (hip 102), a 3-year-old gelding who graduated by 2 1/2 lengths in an Apr. 23 turf sprint and fetched $150,000 from Clay Scherer.

As reported earlier, a share in Airdrie Stud's Upstart sold for $450,000 as the final hip up for bidding.

For the single-session auction, a total of 58 horses were reported as sold for $5,349,000, good for an average of $92,224 and a median price of $50,000. The 2021 event saw 37 horses sell for $2,440,000 for an average of $65,946 and a $45,000 median.

“From start to finish of the sale, the energy was strong and the enthusiasm at every level was really encouraging,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Joining the race meet and sale and having them on one day really, really worked. The atmosphere was incredible with a real buzz. That's something we want to replicate and build on not just for the April Sale, but all sales moving forward.”

Added Keeneland's Director of Sales Cormac Breathnach: “It's so important to us to have the brick-and-mortar event built around the race meet and have the support we got up front from so many consignors and owners with really good horses. That first group–the 73 horses that were initially entered–really turned heads. We are incredibly grateful to them. That feeds into the race meet, and people see a chance to cash in or a chance to buy. And to be able to accommodate those horses that had run well during the meet in the sale showed our flexibility. To see it all come together is very rewarding.”

Keeneland will welcome buyers and sellers back to Lexington for its benchmark September Yearling Sale Sept. 12-23.

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Rudolphe Brisset Confident in New Trainee Blackadder

Rodolphe Brisset has been training on his own for just five years, but he has already come close to what many dream of in starting a horse in the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. First he trained Quip (Distorted Humor), the 2018 GII Tampa Bay Derby winner who was pulled from Kentucky Derby contention a few weeks out from the race. Then the next year GII Demoiselle S. winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile) clipped heels and fell at the start of the Kentucky Oaks, walking away relatively unscathed but leaving her connections wondering what could have been.

Brisset is due for his share of good luck as Derby week approaches and this spring he could be holding his best hand yet with GIII Fantasy S. winner Yuugiri (Shackleford) training for a probable start in the Kentucky Oaks and Blackadder (Quality Road) preparing for this weekend's GI Blue Grass S.

Three weeks ago Blackadder, who is owned by the partnership that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Siena Farm LLC and Golconda Stable, transferred to Brisset from Bob Baffert's barn while Baffert serves a suspension ordered by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. So far, Brisset is happy with what he sees from the sophomore son of Quality Road.

“We have been able to breeze him twice and he's doing pretty good,” Brisset said. “He is averaged-sized and a pretty stocky horse, but a nice mover. We are happy with the way he is coming up to the race.”

Asked about the difficulties in taking on a horse mid-way through a campaign, Brisset said the situation depends on the horse.

“For him, the transition was pretty easy,” he said. “He's a very easy horse to be around, so we didn't have to overthink it too much. It's more about how they develop and change. With colts, from December to March is usually where they start to change from 2-year-olds to 3-year-olds. That's what you want to see.”

A $620,000 Keeneland September purchase bred by Stone Farm, Blackadder was third to 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker) on debut and broke slow in his second start to finish fifth, but put the pieces together to win his third start, a one-mile, off-the-turf contest last December at Santa Anita. In his sophomore debut, the colt won with a late rally in the El Camino Real Derby.

Blackadder breaks his maiden at Santa Anita | Benoit

When Blackadder first transferred to Brisset, his connections were initially favoring the GIII Jeff Ruby S. for the colt's next start. But after drawing an outside post at Turfway Park, they opted for the GI Blue Grass. Unfortunately, they drew the 11 post of 12 starters on Saturday, but Brisset is still content with their decision to stay at Keeneland.

“I do think the composition of the race is a little bit different,” he said. “It looks like all the speed is on the inside of us. Also, this ownership we train for is looking to win a Grade I with this colt and is trying to make stallions, so it was an easy decision.”

Brisset is still riding a high from last weekend at Oaklawn Park. While the GI Arkansas Derby didn't pan out as hoped for his promising colt We The People (Constitution), everything went right for his other trainee Yuugiri. After placing in her first two graded starts in the GII Golden Rod S. and GIII Honeybee S., the Shackleford filly made it to the winner's circle for the GIII Fantasy S.

“She came out of the race in pretty good shape,” Brisset said. “It was a long battle in the stretch but she dug in really hard and we're proud of her. It looked like she has matured. After the Honeybee, we really saw a difference where she got bigger, she was eating even more and training well.”

A homebred for Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara, Yuugiri is now at Keeneland with the majority of Brisset's string.

“I'm always pretty conservative, but obviously the ownership wants to take a shot at the Oaks and it makes sense to try,” her trainer said. “She showed a lot of heart so we are going to keep her at Keeneland for two weeks and then maybe switch to Churchill.”

Brisset has a intimate knowledge of the inner workings of his stable's trainees as he makes it a habit of riding his own horses every morning.

“It may be a little advantageous for me, but I don't think it makes a huge difference,” he said when asked if this practice was beneficial to his training abilities. “I just don't see myself on the ground. I've been riding since I was five, so maybe it's me being selfish and wanting to be on the horse myself. At the same time, I guess I can use all the experience I've gotten from it over the years. When you know the feeling of a good one, you try to find another one with the same feeling.”

Brisset has been around plenty of good horses over the years. He came to the U.S. in 2005 after being invited by Patrick Biancone and fellow Frenchman–and now close friend–Julien Leparoux. He worked for Biancone for two years and then moved to Bill Mott's barn. He assisted the Hall of Fame trainer for 12 years before taking the plunge to open up his own stable in 2017.

Brisset has accomplished much already after five years of training, but with a focus on bringing in well-bred talent, there is certainly more to come.

“We try to maximize to get the best group of horses we can,” Brisset said. “We try to get quality over quantity. We're lucky enough to have some good ones behind us now. It's been working and hopefully we keep doing that.”

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Baffert’s Ownership Group Clarifies Move of Horses

SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan, representing the ownership group which moved four top three-year-olds to other barns last week, posted a statement on Twitter Friday night clarifying the impetus of the move.

“In light of recent commentary, our ownership group wishes to clear up a couple of misconceptions that have arisen about the transfer of our potential Derby horses to Rodolphe Brisset and Tim Yakteen,” Ryan wrote. “The owners alone made this decision, and they did so in order to give the horses the opportunity they deserve to compete in this year's Kentucky Derby. There has been some suggestion that Bob Baffert might obtain a financial benefit from the transfer of these horses and that he may somehow remain involved in their management. Both are incorrect. Bob has no financial or other interest in any of the horses, nor will he act in any direct or indirect advisory role for their training or racing while they are in the hands of other trainers. We understand the conditions Churchill Downs has established for the future accrual of Derby points and entry into the Derby and we intend to fully comply with them.”

'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), 'Rising Star' Doppelganger (Into Mischief) and McLaren Vale (Gun Runner) were sent to trainer Tim Yakteen, and will remain in Southern California. Blackadder (Quality Road) has been sent to the barn of Rodolphe Brisset in Kentucky.

 

 

Under the suspension imposed upon Baffert by Churchill Downs, the four horses would not have been eligible to earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points or to race in the Derby had they remained with Baffert.

All four are owned in partnership by the conglomerate nicknamed The Avengers, which includes SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al. Doppelganger is scheduled to run in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby, while Messier and McLaren Vale are expected to run in the Apr. 9 GI Santa Anita Derby.

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Four Baffert Derby Hopefuls Moving to Other Trainers

Four of Bob Baffert's GI Kentucky Derby prospects will be transferred to other trainers, according to a press release issued by Baffert Thursday morning.

'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker), 'Rising Star' Doppelganger (Into Mischief) and McLaren Vale (Gun Runner) are being sent to trainer Tim Yakteen, and will remain in Southern California. Blackadder (Quality Road) has already left California and will be sent to the barn of Rodolphe Brissett in Kentucky.

Yakteen is a longtime former assistant of Baffert's, having last worked for him in 2004.

Under the suspension imposed upon Baffert by Churchill Downs, the four horses would not have been eligible to earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points or to race in the Derby had they remained with Baffert.

All four are owned in partnership by the conglomerate nicknamed The Avengers, which includes SF Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al.

“The most important thing to me is that Messier, Doppelganger, McLaren Vale, and Blackadder–some of the top talents in racing this year–are able to compete,” said Baffert

“I encouraged the owners to move them, not only because it is best for these horses and their future in racing but also for fans of the sport who are excited to watch them run. I know that they are in good hands training with Tim and Rudy, and I look forward to cheering them on,” Baffert added.

Reached by phone Thursday, SF's Tom Ryan said that the decision came at the behest of Baffert.

“Bob was very influential in this decision,” he said. “He felt these horses were primed to take on the challenges ahead in the next round of Derby preps, and Bob felt strongly that for the horses–first and foremost–and for the sport that if these horses have the level of talent they believe they have it's only right that they have a berth in the starting gate the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Derby is an important race.”

Messier, the winner of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. in dominating fashion, is expected to go next in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9 at Santa Anita; McLaren Vale, third in the GII San Vicente S., will likely head to the same race, said Ryan. Doppelganger, coming off a second-place finish in the March 5 GII San Felipe S., is being pointed to the Apr. 2 GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

“The Santa Anita Derby will probably be the best prep of the season,” said Ryan. “McLaren Vale is a big, 16′ 3″, 1,300-pound colt and he's quite claustrophobic. We tried to put him on an airplane to Arkansas and he didn't tolerate it, so he'll probably stay home and run there.”

The Arkansas Derby was also once under consideration for Messier.

“Part of the decision was would Doppelganger or Messier go there,” said Ryan. “The right thing to do is to give them individual targets. He's a very nice colt, and it feels like he's come out of his last race very well and is moving forward. Johnny [Velazquez] will ride.”

Blackadder, who broke his maiden on the dirt and won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate on synthetic, will either target the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 9 on the former or the Apr. 2 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway on the latter.

“He's a versatile colt, bred to go on both surfaces,” said Ryan, noting that the team was probably leaning toward the Turfway race.

As for the long-term future of the horses, Ryan said he couldn't predict if they would return to Baffert or stay in their new barns.

“This is week by week,” he said. “It's a big decision. For today, we'll continue to monitor the situation as time unfolds. We'll see what happens.”

Baffert and his legal team have filed suit against Churchill Downs over the ban, along with Churchill CEO Alex Rankin.

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