Tag: Bloodstock

Keeneland has announced that Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel, who has won 15 races, including 13 stakes, and earned nearly $2 million, and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, have been cataloged to Book 1 of the November Breeding Stock Sale on Nov. 8.

Hunter Valley Farm, agent, consigns both Caravel, a 6-year-old mare by Mizzen Mast, and Zeezee Zoomzoom, an 11-year-old winning daughter of Congrats, who is in foal to Justify.

“Both Adrian and I are delighted to be selling such a unique package on the same day,” Fergus Galvin of Hunter Valley said. “We feel both will complement each other well. Obviously Caravel is a world-class turf sprinter, and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, is in foal to Justify, who is having a phenomenal year. We're delighted to be selling this pair.”

Racing against males, Caravel scored a half-length victory in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland during a five-race win streak that began a few weeks earlier with her triumph in the Franklin (now Grade 2). In April at Keeneland, Caravel captured her 2023 debut by defeating males in the Shakertown (G2). She next won the Unbridled Sidney Presented by Turfway Park Racing and Gaming at Churchill Downs and again defeated males in the Jaipur (G1) at Belmont Park.

Caravel also won graded stakes at Belmont (2022 Intercontinental-G3) and Saratoga Race Course (2021 Caress-G3). Her other stakes victories came at Monmouth Park, Pimlico, Presque Isle Downs, Saratoga and Turfway Park.

“Keeneland is excited to welcome back a star the caliber of Caravel, who turned in some of her most memorable performances here and, as a three-time stakes winner, raced into track history,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Both Caravel and her dam, Zeezee Zoomzoom, will attract global attention from owners and breeders.”

Caravel is the first foal out of Zeezee Zoomzoom, who scored her maiden victory on the turf at Saratoga. The mare, who also produced multiple stakes winner Witty, by Great Notion, has four winners from four starters.

“She's not a big mare herself,” said Caravel's breeder, Elizabeth Merryman, about Zeezee Zoomzoom, “but she throws very big foals that are very correct, lovely, good movers – she's a really good mover. They all get a lot of natural speed from her. Some of them want to go long, and some want to sprint. They're really talented, smart, lovely horses that are well put together. I love the nick to Justify; I think it's just right for her.”

The catalog for the November Breeding Stock Sale will be posted on Keeneland.com Oct. 3.

The post Breeders’ Cup Winner Caravel, Dam Zeezee Zoomzoom Entered In Keeneland November Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Airdrie Stud has announced that Shannon Castagnola has been named as the Midway nursery's new Director of Sales.

Helping to head up both the stallion nominations and public sales divisions, Shannon is looking forward to building a strong relationship with Airdrie's loyal breeders and helping to manage the careers of the farm's exciting young stallion roster.

Having managed the yearling and breeding stock consignments for Woodford Thoroughbreds for the past nine years, Shannon will continue to be a major presence on the sales grounds as she leads the various Airdrie Stud consignments throughout the sales season. An industry veteran of the last 23 years, Shannon has previously worked with industry leaders West Point Thoroughbreds and Taylor Made Sales.

“I am thrilled to be working with the incredible Airdrie Stud team,” said Castagnola. “It's energizing to be working with a farm this diversified and with such a tremendous history of success. From the beautifully bred mares whose families have been developed over the past five decades, to the dedication in raising their horses to be tough and sound, I have always been a great admirer of the Airdrie formula. I believe our stallion roster, led by the success stories of Girvin, Upstart, Cairo Prince and Collected is one of the most exciting in the industry and I couldn't be looking more forward to being part of what I believe is a very bright future at Airdrie.”

“I could not be more grateful to Shannon for joining our team,” said Airdrie's Bret Jones. “Smart, kind and honest is an incredible combination and it's those qualities that make Shannon so widely respected within our sport. Our breeders will absolutely love working with her and her insight and ideas will be a major reason for Airdrie's future success. We are exceptionally lucky to have her.”

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Multiple Grade 1 winner Country Grammer, the third-leading North American earner of all time, has been retired and will stand the 2024 breeding season at WinStar Farm. Country Grammer will stand the 2024 season for an introductory fee of $10,000 LFSN.

Campaigned by Commonwealth, WinStar Farm, and Zedan Racing Stables, and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Country Grammer amassed a staggering $14,921,320 in earnings in an illustrious racing career, only the late Arrogate and Gun Runner have earned more in North America.

In 2022, Country Grammer was a resounding winner of the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates, defeating four international Grade 1 winners, including Hot Rod Charlie and Life Is Good. Country Grammer's impressive victory in the 26th renewal of the Dubai World Cup came on the heels of a strong second-place finish in the world's richest race, the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which marked his first start in nearly nine months.

“Being a Grade 1 winner on the biggest stage in Dubai, beating 24 individual Grade 1 winners in his career, and being the third-highest earner of all time, Country Grammer makes for a special stallion prospect,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “He is a real throwback to the great horses of our time, and he retired sound.”

Country Grammer demonstrated his relentless determination in the 2021 G1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita, recording a game win over Grade 1 winners Royal Ship (BRZ) and Express Train. Ridden in the 1 1/4-mile race by Flavien Prat, Country Grammer took command at the three-eighths before being tackled by Royal Ship. Following a stretch-long battle, Country Grammer dug in late, outkicking his rival in the closing strides to prevail by a head at the wire in a brave victory, running a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

In addition to his Grade 1 scores, Country Grammer also captured the 2022 G2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita where he was a clear-cut 4 ½-length victor over a field that included eventual Grade 1 winner Stilleto Boy. In his initial stakes score as a 3-year-old, Country Grammer defeated subsequent Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide in the 2020 G3 Peter Pan Stakes, run that year at Saratoga.

All told, Country Grammer won or placed in 10 graded stakes races and was runner-up consecutive years (2022-'23) in the Saudi Cup. He recorded a career-high 108 Beyer in finishing a close second in the 2021 G2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita and finished second to undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline in the 2022 G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, earning a 100 Beyer. Displaying a rare blend of precocity to go along with his longevity as an older horse, Country Grammer broke his maiden in just his second start at two in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct.

Bred in Kentucky by Scott and Debbie Pierce, Country Grammer is by classic winner and multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist, victorious in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. A half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-placed Joyful Cadence, Country Grammer is out of the winning Forestry mare Arabian Song, and hails from the family of Grade 1 stakes winner Etoile Montante, winner of the G1 Prix de la Foret in France, graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Bonny South, and multiple graded stakes winner Starformer.

A $450,000 graduate of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale as a 2-year-old, Country Grammer was later acquired by WinStar Farm at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale following the passing of original owner Paul Pompa Jr.

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