Tag: Bloodstock

VinLaur Racing Stables, West Paces Racing and Rainbow's End Racing Stable's Cynane [pronounced kee-nah-nay] is likely bound for Royal Ascot off a strong debut victory on Thursday at Belmont Park. Trained by Tom Morley, the daughter of Omaha Beach provided her sire with his first winner in the five-furlong maiden special weight over the Widener turf course.

Omaha Beach stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington.

Ridden to victory by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Cynane led at each point of call under confident handling and kicked clear down the lane to fend off the bid of post-time favorite Sam's Treasure to her outside. She crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths the best and stopped the clock in 57.61 seconds.

Morley said the talented filly will now be pointed to the five-furlong Group 2, £115,000 Queen Mary for juvenile fillies on June 21.

“That's the plan at the moment,” said Morley. “She came out of the race really well and she's got a great mind and really good appetite – she was screaming for her feed tub last night. She jogged sound this morning, so we'll start putting plans in place to go to the Queen Mary.”

Cynane arrived in Morley's barn after starting her training at King's Equine in Ocala, Florida over the winter. Morley said she has impressed him ever since she began breezing over the Belmont training track in March.

“She has never missed a beat – not only with us, but with Raul Reyes in Ocala,” said Morley. “You only get one shot to go to Ascot with these horses and to get there, you have to never miss a day and be good enough to win on debut. Full credit to her, because she has a wonderful temperament and is good as gold.”

Though Cynane's sire was a three-time Grade 1-winner on dirt, her affinity for turf can be attributed to her strong female family. Her dam, the Arch mare Burning Arch, was a two-time winner at one mile on the lawn and is a half-sister to Cat's Claw, who won the Waya at 1 1/2 miles on the Saratoga Race Course turf. Cynane's second dam, the Phipps Stable-bred stakes-placed Chili Cat, is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning turf specialist Point of Entry, as well as Pine Island, a dual Grade 1-winner on dirt.

“She's got a really, really good female family and is from a really good American turf line from the Phipps family,” said Morley. “She has every right to be a good horse and hopefully she can be.”

Cynane's royal pedigree attracted attention at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she hammered for $250,000. Bob Scavetta, the managing partner of Rainbow's End Racing Stable, purchased a minority share in the filly on the recommendation of Morley, who has trained for the partnership since 2016.

“We're very pleased to have that share. Tom is a master of putting personalities of owners together,” Scavetta said, with a laugh. “Tom loved the filly, and his eyes are the best. It's a great relationship.”

The filly is named after the Macedonian princess Cynane, a half-sister to Alexander the Great who was a fierce warrior trained in martial arts. Morley said the name is fitting for a horse who is equally feminine as she is audacious.

“It's quite a sweet name, but if you look up who Cynane was as a person, she was not sweet at all,” Morley said. “It's a warrior name, it's fierce and feminine – I think it's a great name.”

Scavetta said Cynane has the potential to bring him on a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

“We've got to consider going to Ascot with her, but the only hook is we have a grandson graduating that week,” said Scavetta. “I'm sure he would understand if papa wasn't there.”

The post Cynane, First Winner For Omaha Beach, Pointing To Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced plans to significantly enhance opportunities for fans to experience the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour package, which debuted to sold out crowds each Friday in its inaugural season.

Expanded due to its overwhelming popularity in 2022, the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour will this year be offered every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the Saratoga meet and will now feature two active thoroughbred breeding farms. The tours will accommodate up to 52 guests each day beginning Friday, July 14, and will conclude on Friday, September 1.

This year the tours will be offered every Wednesday at Song Hill Thoroughbreds, 290 County Road 75 in Mechanicville, NY; and every Thursday and Friday at Old Tavern Farm, 45 Brown Road, in nearby Stillwater.

The all-inclusive fan experience package, presented by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), features

• Buffet breakfast at Saratoga Race Course;
• Opportunity to watch world-class thoroughbreds during morning training;
• Round-trip, trolley ride from Saratoga Race Course to Song Hill Thoroughbreds on Wednesdays or to Old Tavern Farm on Thursdays and Fridays;
• 60 to 90-minute guided walking tour of an active thoroughbred breeding farm;
• Admission to Saratoga Race Course.

The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm package is $85 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may be purchased at NYRA.com.

“Last year's inaugural Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm package was such a huge success that we have expanded it to three days per week and added a second thoroughbred breeding farm to accommodate demand,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Pat McKenna. “The opportunity for fans to go behind-the-scenes to experience this side of the sport clearly resonated beyond all expectations. We thank Old Tavern Farm for helping us launch this innovative program last summer and welcome them back alongside our newest partner, Song Hill Thoroughbreds, in addition to our presenting sponsor, CDTA.”

The itinerary begins with Breakfast at Saratoga, featuring a buffet at Saratoga Race Course between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. with a backdrop of world-class thoroughbreds participating in morning training. Guests may arrive for breakfast at any time during these hours.

At 9:45 a.m., fans will board one of two CDTA trolleys at the Clubhouse entrance and embark on a picturesque 15-minute ride to Old Tavern Farm or 20-minute excursion to Song Hill Thoroughbreds. Upon arrival, guests will be led on an experiential walking tour by the farm's owners and expert staff. Fans will return to Saratoga Race Course at approximately 11:45 a.m., well before racing gets underway at approximately 1 p.m.

Song Hill Thoroughbreds, owned by Jim and Tina Bond, was established in 2005. The expansive 100-acre horse farm is home to mares, foals, weanlings, yearlings and retired Thoroughbreds. Features include an all-encompassing, sophisticated facility that is detail oriented, meticulously clean and was designed with the horses' comfort in mind. It operates alongside Bond Racing Stables and is focused on breeding, sales and turning out champion thoroughbreds.

“We are truly honored to be part of the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm program as it expands in just its second year of operation,” said Song Hill Thoroughbreds Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner Tina Bond, who is likewise vice president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. “There is something magical about visiting the horses at their earliest stages of life and gaining a better understanding of how they are loved and nurtured as well as prepared for the prospect of a racing career. We look forward to educating and welcoming horse lovers of all ages to Song Hill Thoroughbreds this summer.”

Old Tavern Farm is a private boutique thoroughbred-breeding operation in Saratoga Springs that was founded in 2016 by Walt and Michelle Borisenok. Located just a short distance from historic Saratoga Race Course, Old Tavern Farm has been developed into a state-of-the-art facility focused on the breeding and sale of thoroughbreds to compete at the highest levels of the sport. The name Old Tavern was derived from the 19th century tavern that once graced the property.

“We are honored to once again be part of this exciting program after launching it last year in partnership with NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” said Old Tavern Farm founder and owner Walt Borisenok. “Throughout the inaugural season, we had the opportunity to meet hundreds of fans who gained a new appreciation for what takes place on a working thoroughbred breeding farm. We look forward to welcoming new and returning guests who will walk away with a greater appreciation for how thoroughbred racing and breeding support our local economy.”

“The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour was a fantastic new addition to the Saratoga experience in 2022, highlighting the importance of the New York State breeding industry,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “We were thrilled with its inaugural success that spawned this expansion for the 2023 season and extend our thanks to Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds, two of the leading breeding farms in our state. We also want to thank our partners at NYRA for spearheading this extraordinary opportunity.”

The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour is presented by CDTA. In addition to transporting guests to and from Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds aboard a pair of classic trolleys, CDTA is the presenting sponsor of Breakfast at Saratoga, which is offered daily at Saratoga Race Course from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (excludes Travers Day).

“We are excited to continue our partnership with NYRA and enhance this year's experience alongside Old Tavern Farm and Song Hill Thoroughbreds for the 2023 racing season,” said CDTA's Director of Business Development, Jonathan Scherzer. “This experience is a great way to connect fans and visitors to the historic Saratoga Race Course and the rich history of horse racing. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back on board our iconic trolley for an enjoyable 'Summer in Saratoga' experience.”

Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, September 4. Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2023 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.

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The post Dance Shoes Named Alberta’s 2022 Horse Of The Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hidden Brook Farm and Joseph McMahon have announced their five-time stakes winner Bank Sting has been retired from racing.

Bred in New York by her co-owner Joseph McMahon, Bank Sting won a pair of stakes at Belmont Park and was a three-time stakes winner and graded stakes placed over the Aqueduct Racetrack oval while bankrolling $664,050 in earnings. One of her career highlights came in the listed $120,000 Heavenly Prize Stakes against open company at one mile last year.

The bay daughter of Central Banker out of the Precise End mare Bee in a Bonnet won eight of her 15 lifetime starts, stakes from six furlongs to one-mile and was only off of the board once during her career for trainer John Terranova. Two-time New York champion sire Central Banker stands at Joseph McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

“We had a terrific run with Bank Sting from her first start to her last. She always gave a 100 percent and we could rely on her for that extra effort in the heat of battle. Our partnership is honored that Bank Sting has been recognized twice as champion older mare and sprinter by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” said McMahon.

“Bank Sting is currently being turned out at Hidden Brook Farm in Kentucky. She's remarkably sound and is enjoying retirement. With the breeding season this far along, we'll weigh all of our options and possibly point her to one of the November sales as a maiden broodmare prospect then,” added Hidden Brook racing manager Dan Hall.

The post New York-Bred Star Bank Sting Retired, Broodmare Plans To Be Determined appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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