Tag: Bloodstock

First year stallion and 2020 G1 Santa Anita H. winner Combatant has died suddenly from colic in Chile, Rockridge Stud reported Monday. The 2015 son of Scat Daddy had just begun Southern Hemisphere stud duties at Haras Porta Pia.

Combatant stood his first year at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, NY, and bred 85 mares.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss, for both the syndicate and for New York,” Rockridge Stud's Erin Robinson said.

Combatant (Scat Daddy – Border Dispute by Boundary) retired with a record of 30-4-5-6, and earnings of $1,062,915.

The post Grade 1 Winner Combatant Colics, Dies Suddenly In Chile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

On Aug. 29, at 10 o'clock in the morning, the best group of yearlings ever offered for sale in Texas will begin parading into the sales ring at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Yes, that's a subjective assessment, but it's soundly based on observation, history and precedent. When have you seen sons and daughters of such classic winners as Accelerate, Bernardini, Tonalist, Palace Malice and Tapwrit; when have you seen yearlings by such champions as Mitole, Honor Code, Vino Rosso, Good Magic and Midnight Lute; and when have you ever seen the son of a Triple Crown winner all offered at auction in Texas? Never.

The upcoming Summer Yearling Sale represents the next step on the horse industry's upward trajectory in the state. Ever since 2019, when lawmakers created the Horse Industry Escrow Account, all the metrics have been trending higher. Handle and purses have increased at Texas racetracks. Since 2019, Texas has seen the return of many mares that had exited to Louisiana and Oklahoma, as well as the relocation of several stallions. While the national foal crop — the number of Thoroughbreds foaled in a given year — increased only 0.3 percent in 2020, the Texas foal crop increased 15.8 percent, according to The Jockey Club. And with added incentives has come development, such as the Forks of the Paluxy Farm in Bluff Dale and Danny Pish's 1880 Training Center in Lipan.

The Summer Yearling Sale is one of the more conspicuous markers yet on this upward trend. Consider hip #143, a Florida-bred son of Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown winner of $3,798,000, out of Iroquois Girl, a stakes-placed daughter of Indian Charlie. This is the sort of youngster you'd expect to see in a sale in Kentucky. But he'll be available here in Texas on August 29.

More than 200 yearlings have been catalogued, horses bred in Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois and, of course, Texas. Texas' most popular sires are all represented — Too Much Bling, Competitive Edge, Bradester, Cinco Charlie, Mr Speaker and the late My Golden Song.

Also indicative of the upward trend is the involvement of the Highlander Training Center in Sulphur Springs. For the first time, the state-of-the-industry facility will be represented by a consignment — 21 yearlings, some owned by Highlander, but most by clients.

“We saw this as an excellent opportunity,” said Jeff Hooper, the Highlander Chairman and CEO, “to become even more involved in Texas and the region. We see a strong market here for quality yearlings, and at Highlander, with our staff and our facilities, we think we have the perfect combination to present such horses of quality to the market.”

Trainers Jon Newbold and Shannon Ritter supervise sales-prep at Highlander.

“We have high expectations,” Hooper continued. “We tried to customize the group (of yearlings) for the market here, and we're very excited about the quality we're bringing to the sale.”

Many of the handsome yearlings will turn your head. And many of the catalogue pages will force you to pause. Hip #2, for example, a Louisiana-bred colt by Half Ours, is a full-brother to stakes winner Jimmy Two Times and a half-brother to Streak of Silver, winner of the 2021 Texas Futurity. Hip #9, a Texas-bred colt by Lord Nelson, is a half-brother to Con Lima, a multiple-stakes winner of $884,865. Hip #19 is a full-sister to Bling on the Music, the winner of the 2016 Texas Futurity who went on to finish third in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Hip #103, a Texas-bred filly by the millionaire Include, is a full-sister to Proud Emma, winner of the 2020 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) and $361,658. And hip #107, a Texas-bred colt by the millionaire Tapiture, is a half-brother to six winners, including two stakes winners, Cajun Spirit and Half Cajun.

This outstanding group of yearlings is indicative of the upward trend in the Texas' horse industry. But even more, it means this upward trend will soon be quite evident at the state's racetracks.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association Summer Yearling Sale is open to the public and admission is free on Monday, August 29 at 10 a.m. CT in the Lone Star Park sales pavilion. Click here to download the sale catalogue.

The post Texas Thoroughbred Association’s 2022 Summer Sale Catalogs Over 200 Yearlings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. will honor a quintet of the greatest New York-breds to compete and represent the program at Saratoga Race Course on Saratoga New York Showcase Day Friday.

Connections from all-time New York greats Fio Rito, Commentator, Fourstardave, Funny Cide, and Tiz the Law will each be honored following Friday's fifth race at 3:21 p.m. (ET) on the day with a certificate of achievement for their racing career representing the New York-bred program.

The quintet was chosen by a distinguished panel of New York turf writers and represent the first class of honorees recognizing their importance in setting forth the New York-bred program.

Fio Rito: Two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year best known for his upset victory in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course in 1982. He won 16 stakes overall, including the Grade 2 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap at Detroit Race Course. Bred and owned by Ray LeCesse, a bowling alley owner in Rochester, Fio Rito retired with 28 wins in 50 starts and earnings of $584,142 for trainer Michael S. Ferraro.

Commentator: Voted New York-bred Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2008 – the same seasons he won the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. Bred by Michael Martinez and campaigned by Tracy Farmer, who purchased him for $135,000 at the 2002 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, Commentator won 14 of 24 starts with five other placings and $2,049,845 for trainer Nick Zito. In addition to his Whitney victories he won the Grade 2 Richter Scale Sprint Handicap in 2008 at Gulfstream Park.

Fourstardave: Nicknamed the “Sultan of Saratoga” for his penchant for winning at the Spa, Richard Bomze's homebred Compliance gelding won at least one race in upstate New York annual from 1987 to 1994. The victories included the 1987 Empire Stakes on the dirt as a 2-year-old, three straight editions of the Grade 3 Daryl's Joy Stakes from 1990 to 1993 and the 1989 and 1991 West Point Handicap. He retired with 21 victories in 100 starts, along with 34 placings, and $1,636,737 in earnings for trainer Leo O'Brien.

Funny Cide: Sackatoga Stable's Distorted Humor gelding put the New York breeding program in worldwide headlines with his victories in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He was named New York-bred divisional champion three straight years and New York-bred Horse of the Year during his Eclipse Award-winning season in 2003. Foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs and trained by Barclay Tagg, Funny Cide also won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2004 at Belmont Park and Grade 3 Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap in 2004 at Aqueduct. He retired in 2007 with 11 wins in 38 starts – including nine stakes – and earnings of $3,529,412.

Tiz the Law: Named New York-bred Horse of the Year in 2019 and 2020, Tiz the Law racked up victories in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at 2 at Belmont Park and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes at Belmont and Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga at 3. Foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson and purchased for $110,000 by Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable, the son of Constitution also won the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes – both at Gulfstream – and finished second in the 2020 Kentucky Derby. He retired with six wins in nine starts and $2,735,300 for trainer Barclay Tagg.

The post Legendary New York-Breds To Be Honored Friday On Saratoga New York Showcase Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

You can't tell the story of Canadian Thoroughbred racing without the name Sam-Son Farm.

Established in 1972 by Ernie Samuel, the legendary operation has won five Queen's Plates, as well as bred, and or campaigned Canadian Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly, influential sire Smart Strike, Breeders' Cup winner Chief Bearhart, Eclipse Award winner Sky Classic, and many other champions.

On Sunday, Dancin in Da'nile will attempt to add one final chapter to Sam-Son's story. The Milton, Ont., farm began a dispersal of its breeding and racing stock in 2020, and Dancin in Da'nile is their last chance to win Canada's most storied race.

“It's our last Plate, which is exciting. Words couldn't describe winning at this point, but it's certainly in the back of my mind,” said Sam-Son Racing Manager Tom Zwiesler. “Getting into this race is so tough, but I think for the family, getting here is not what we want. We'd love to see a win, but what will be written after the race is yet to come, and it will be a very exciting day for everyone involved.”

Dancin in Da'nile is directly descended from Sam-Son's greatest champion, Dance Smartly, who is his fourth dam. 

Dance Smartly won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1991 during an undefeated season that was capped with a win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She is in both the Canadian and US Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

As prolific of a racehorse as Dance Smartly was, she was just as outstanding of a broodmare. She produced two Queen's Plate winners, including Dancin in Da'nile's third dam, Dancethrudawn. 

“If you look back at the history,” said Zwiesler. “Any time we have a Dance Smartly line brought down to train you would just have a special appreciation for what the family had done in bringing this line along.”

Dancin in Da'nile is by Dance Again, one of Zwiesler's favourite mares from Sam-Son's distinguished broodmare band. He has a record of 1-1-1 from five career starts and is looking to rebound from a troubled trip last time out in the Plate Trial.

“He took a stumble out of the gate, and was put up near the lead, and I don't think that was his style at all,” said Zwiesler. “So, I'm hoping for a little more relaxed horse. Maybe get buried a little bit and drop his head. He has a beautiful stride when he gallops, so we are hoping to take the edginess off him, have him relax early, and hopefully when they turn for home, he's in a position where he can keep going.”

If Dancin in Da'nile does emerge victorious on Sunday, he will add to Sam-Son Farm's already sterling legacy built by the Samuel-Balaz family.

“They were the most spectacular people to be involved with,” said Zwiesler. “Always the horse was the first thing. Whatever the horse needed, they would do. The family has done more for myself and my family than I could ever imagine. The ride they have taken us on has been spectacular.”

So, when Dancin in Da'nile breaks from post 11 in the 163rd running of the Queen's Plate he'll be carrying 126 pounds like every other colt, but also the weight of the chance to do something special and send a Sam-Son's famous red and gold silks out on top.

“I am hoping for a lot of luck, as far as the racing gods go,” said Zswiesler “I am hoping they look down on us and shine.”

The post Queen’s Plate Breeder Profile: Dancin In Da’Nile Attempts To Add Final Chapter To Sam-Son Story appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post