Tag: Bloodstock

New York-bred It's a Gamble made a successful foray to the island nation of Barbados last weekend and came away with a victory in the $214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah Racetrack in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Recognized as a Barbadian Grade 1 event and contested at 1,800 meters on the turf, the Barbados Gold Cup also made its return after not being run in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sent off as the 5-2 co-favorite in the field of nine under Jalon Samuel, It's a Gamble won by three quarters of a length over Tallahatchiebridge with So Suave another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. The 5-year-old son of English Channel won in 1:50.2 over the firm ground.

Bred by Ron Lombardi and out of the Yes It's True mare Yes It's Pink, previously raced for his breeder's Mr. Amore Stable. He went 3-2-3 in 21 starts, including a victory over open company in the 2021 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park, and earned $260,437 in the U.S. It's a Gamble was claimed out of his prior start before the Barbados Gold Cup for $35,000 at Gulfstream Park in mid-January by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and Paraiso Investments.

It's a Gamble won his debut during the 2020 meet at Saratoga Race Course before adding an allowance-optional score later that year at Aqueduct. He also placed in two stakes on the NYRA circuit – and won the Jersey Derby – as a 3-year-old.

It's a Gamble won the Barbados Gold Cup for owner Mark Goodridge and trainer Rommell Lovell. The victory also marked Samuel's sixth victory in the race, along with scores aboard Dancin David (2012), Dorsett (2016 and 2017), Sir Dudley Digges (2018) and Night Prowler (2020).

The winner of three of her 13 starts with just two off-the-board finishes, Yes It's Pink was claimed at Belmont Park by Lombardi for $50,000 in October of 2013 and raced three more times before retirement.

Joining the Mr. Amore broodmare band, Yes It's Pink's first foal was an unraced New York-bred colt named Always Will. Her second foal, the New York-bred Verrazano mare Misty Tate is 7-1-5 in 28 starts – the most recent in early January at Laurel Park – with earnings of $200,021.

Itsalittlebitfunny, a 4-year-old New York-bred gelding by Algorithms, won his debut for Mr. Amore and Breen; and Yes It's Pink's fifth foal, the 3-year-old New York-bred Union Jackson filly, has made two starts for Mr. Amore and Breen this year at Aqueduct.

The post Watch: New York-Bred It’s A Gamble Wins Barbados Gold Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a Pedigree and Conformation Clinic on Sunday and Monday, March 19-20 in Ocala, Fla.

Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of Thoroughbred auctions, bloodstock, pedigree, and conformation analysis, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoy a day at the sales.

The topics and speakers at the clinic include:

– Overview of the Florida Thoroughbred Industry, presented by George Isaacs (FTBOA, President) and Tammy Gantt (FTBOA, Associate Vice President/Member Services & Events)

– Overview of the Breeding Process, presented by Crystal Fernung (Journeyman Bloodstock Services, Inc.)

– Role of the Bloodstock Agent at the Sale, presented by Alistair Roden (Alistair Roden Bloodstock LLC)

– Pinhooking at the Sales, Equine Conformation/Evaluation & the Derby Experience with Simplification, presented by Tami Bobo (First Finds)

– Tour of Ocala Stud, presented by David O'Farrell (Ocala Stud, Farm Manager)

– Equine Insurance, presented by Tyler Clarke (Clay Ward Agency)

– The Legacy of Perennial Leading Consignor: Summerfield Sales, presented by Francis Vanlangendonck (Summerfield Sales, and Ocala Breeders' Sales, Chairman)

– Grayson-Jockey Club Current Research, presented by Jamie Haydon (Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, President) and Johnny Mac Smith, DVM (Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Veterinary Advisor)

– Role of the Veterinarian at the Sale, presented by Nathan Mitts, DVM (Peterson Smith Equine Hospital)

– Selection for the Sales, presented by Marette Farrell (Exhale Enterprises LLC)

The TOBA Pedigree and Conformation Clinic is aimed towards all levels of experience – from beginners to knowledgeable owners and breeders looking to continue their education. The clinic is open to the general public, with a special discount for TOBA and FTBOA members. Meals, educational materials, and a TOBA gift bag are included in registration.

The post Speakers Announced For TOBA Pedigree, Conformation Clinic At OBS appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Xtra Heat, a Hall of Famer and stakes-producing broodmare, died at age 24, owner Woodford Thoroughbreds announced on Thursday.

Foaled in 1998, by Dixieland Heat out of Begin, Xtra Heat was bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean. The diminutive bay mare outsized every and all expectations by winning 26 career starts, 25 of those in black-type races, including a win the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes and six Grade 2 races. In 2001 she ran second by a neck in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and in 2002, she finished third in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen both of which were gutsy efforts against the boys. She set a new track record for six furlongs at Pimlico Race Course in 2001.

In her races, though short in stature, Xtra Heat was all grit and determination winning 26 of 35 lifetime starts and earning $2,189,635 for her efforts. Due to her accomplishments on the track Xtra Heat was named 2001 champion 3-year-old-filly and was further recognized for her superior talent when inducted into the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame on Aug. 7, 2015.

Upon completing her racing career, Xtra Heat was sent through the Fasig-Tipton Night of Stars sale in November 2002 where she RNA'd for $1.7 million. This was a far cry from her previous trips through the auction ring where she sold for $9,100 as a weanling, $4,700 as a yearling and $5,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In the end, owners Kenneth Taylor and Harry Deitchman sold her privately to the ClassicStar partnership for an undisclosed amount. Woodford Thoroughbreds purchased Xtra Heat privately through a ClassicStar dispersal in 2006.

As a broodmare, Xtra Heat produced stakes winner Southwestern Heat who went to stud in Australia as well as the stakes placed X Rated Cat who went to stud in Texas. In addition the mare produced Elusive Heat, a $750,000 Fasig-Tipton February 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale grad who became a stakes winner. With her commercial appeal waning, Woodford retired Xtra Heat after she foaled her 2019 Outwork colt. Since that time, she has led a life of leisure, enjoying a large paddock of green grass in the sunshine state at Woodford Thoroughbreds, located in Reddick, Fla.

John Sykes, owner of Woodford Thoroughbreds, spoke about her in 2022, saying, “Xtra Heat knows her place in the world and is always first at feed time. Xtra Heat is confident in her bearing, but easy to be around. The little brown mare with a great big heart inspires our team to look for potential in every horse.”

Today, Sykes said, “I have always been proud to have the privilege of owning and being responsible for a Hall of Fame horse. She will be greatly missed on the farm and by the team.”

The post ‘The Little Brown Mare With The Great Big Heart’: Hall Of Famer Xtra Heat Dies At Age 24 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A stakes-caliber campaign in her home state and around the country earned Free Like a Girl 2022 Horse of the Year honors from the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the group announced on March 7.

Free Like a Girl was one of several equine divisional champions voted on by the LTBA board of directors, while human awards were largely based on earnings and percentages. The awards are tentatively planned to be presented on June 3 at Evangeline Downs.

A daughter of El Deal, Free Like a Girl won four of 11 starts during her 3-year-old season, racing for owners Gerald Bruno Jr., Carl Deville, Chasey Deville Pomier (who also trains the horse), and Jerry Caroom.

Her season started with a front-running 4 1/2-length score in the Louisiana Bred Premier Starlet Stakes at Delta Downs, followed by her first graded stakes attempt in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park, where she finished fourth.

Free Like a Girl made a winning return to her home state in the Louisiana Legends Soiree Stakes at Evangeline Downs, which she won by 1 1/4 lengths, followed by another graded sojourn across state lines to finish third in the G3 Iowa Oaks.

After another successful return home to win the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Stakes at Louisiana Downs by 6 1/2 lengths, Free Like a Girl ventured outward once again, finishing second in both the G3 Charles Town Oaks and Remington Park Oaks. She then came back to Louisiana for the final four starts of her season, highlighted by a 1 1/2 length score in the Magnoila Stakes at Delta Downs.

The Breeder of the Year award, which is decided by the highest earner of breeder's awards in a calendar year, went to Brittlyn Inc., which brought in $221,442.

The High Percentage Breeder award went to Allied Racing Stables, which posted 38 percent stakes winners from starters.

Perennial leading sire Star Guitar picked up Stallion of the Year honors, with his runners earning over $2.3 million.

Following is the complete list of 2022 Louisiana divisional winners:

2-Year-Old Filly: Janet is Ready

2-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Late September

3-Year-Old Filly & Horse of the Year: Free Like a Girl

3-Year-Old Colt or Gelding: Touchuponastar

Older Female: Net A Bear

Older Male: Who Took the Money

Broodmare of the Year: Lipstick Junky

Leading Breeder of the Year: Brittlyn Inc.

Stallion of the Year: Star Guitar

Leading Breeder By Percentage Stakes Winners: Allied Racing Stables

The post Free Like A Girl Named Louisiana’s 2022 Horse Of The Year appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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