Bloodstock | Horse Racing Free Tips

First Winner For Claiborne Farm’s Runhappy Comes At Indiana Grand

Runhappy, the most heavily-promoted stallion in America, sired his first winner as the 2-year-old Libertyrun rolled to a 6 1/4-length victory in Wednesday's fourth race at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino.

James McIngvale — the Houston furniture magnate and philanthropist known as Mattress Mack — has invested mightily to advertise Runhappy, his 2015 champion sprinter who is a stallion at famed Claiborne Farm. As it turns out, McIngvale got a little piece of his investment back as the owner and breeder of Libertyrun.

“That's the first Runhappy winner, and in Mack's silks as a matter of fact,” said Kelly Wohlers, who serves as assistant to trainer Laura Wohlers, McIngvale's sister in law. The Wohlers oversee McIngvale's racing operation and were very involved in training Runhappy. “So, we're very proud of him. Very happy for Mack.”

Libertyrun — carrying McIngvale's blue, white and red silks to victory four days after Independence Day — was exceedingly professional in his racing debut, breaking from post 12 to press the early pace from the outside and then cruising away in the stretch.

“He's not a very big horse, but he is very professional,” said jockey Miguel Mena. “He came out of the gate great. When we got to the stretch, he had his ears pricked and I hit him once and he took off running. I hit him one more time and he continued on again. I think he is a very nice horse.”

There have been four other 2-year-olds to race so far from Runhappy's first crop, which has 69 named foals.

McIngvale is known for his Texas-sized promotions and charitable works. For instance, he opened up his Gallery Furniture showrooms as shelters in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey. He also received worldwide publicity with his “Win It All” promotion where customers who had purchased mattresses or bases totaling at least $3,000 would get their money back if the Houston Astros won baseball's World Series. Those Gallery Furniture consumers cashed in on the Astros' 2017 championship and lost in seven games last year. (Mattress Mack made headlines there by wagering millions through sports books to hedge his bet.)

McIngvale is every bit as enthusiastic in promoting Runhappy by sponsoring stakes and race meets around the country. There also is a $100,000 bonus if a horse sired by Runhappy wins an open maiden race at Belmont Park, Saratoga, Del Mar or Kentucky Downs this summer.

Asked how much his boss has put into promoting Runhappy, Kelly Wohlers said, “Tons. I'm very emotional right now. It's absolutely wonderful.

“He loves to train,” he said of Libertyrun. “He's a very nice athlete. He's got Runhappy's mind, but he's got a little more pep in his step. Runhappy had pep in his step when he got to the paddock. But this horse is all the time on go. He loves what he does.”

Libertyrun, who was born in Louisiana, likely will be pointed to a stakes for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds, Kelly Wohlers said, though he didn't rule out Ellis Park's $100,000 Runhappy Juvenile on Aug. 9.

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Half Ours Colt Quickest At OBS July Sale’s Third Under Tack Session

Hip No. 383, a son of Half Ours consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, sped a quarter in :20 1/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the third session of the under tack show for Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2020 July Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age.

The bay colt is out of All About Ju Ju, by Into Mischief, a half sister to stakes placed Gregorian Bay.

Hip No. 492, Capri's Son, a gray or roan colt by Shackleford consigned by Fabian Sales, turned in a quarter in :20 2/5. He's out of Capri Song, by More Than Ready, from the family of Grade 1 winner Dispute.

Hip No. 524, I'm a Coco Pebbles, a daughter of He's Had Enough consigned by AVP Training and Sales, Agent, breezed the session's fastest three-eighths, clocked in :33 4/5. The chestnut filly is out of Chocolate Almond, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of champion Hollywood Wildcat.

Five horses shared honors for the day's fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :10 flat.

Hip No. 428, a bay filly by Runhappy consigned by Hartley / DeRenzo Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent, is out of stakes winner Bamboo Dream, by Finality, from the family of sprint champion Amazombie.
Hip No. 473, a bay filly by Palace Malice consigned by Hoppel's Horse and Cattle Co., Inc, is a half-sister to stakes placed Merveilleux out of Breech Inlet, by Holy Bull, a half sister to graded stakes winner Bauble Queen.
Hip No. 502, consigned by Vargas Sales, Agent, is a chestnut filly by Midshipman out of Cat Ten, by Greatness, from the family of Grade 1 winner Geri.
Hip No. 510, a dark bay or brown filly by Not This Time consigned by Oscar Brown Stables, is out of Champagne Sparkle, by Street Boss, a full-sister to Grade 1 winner Danza and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Majestic Harbor.
Hip No. 525, Pretty Lori, a dark bay or brown filly by Maclean's Music consigned by Gene Recio, Agent, is out of Chokonni, by Arch, from the family of champion Althea.

The under tack show continues Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. with Hip No.'s 541 – 720 scheduled to breeze.

To view the full results from Wednesday's under tack show, click here.

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Excelebration Colt Tops Rescheduled Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale

Two lots sold for 100,000 guineas (US$132,471) or more at the postponed Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale. Alan King and Highflyer Bloodstock secured the top lot whilst 13 lots sold for 50,000 guineas (US$66,250) or more.

Highflyer Bloodstock's Anthony Bromley and trainer Alan King have been long standing supporters of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale and the pair purchased four lots at this year's renewal for 258,000 guineas (US$341,854) including the sale topping Excelebration colt at 140,000 guineas (US$185,510).

“We don't go on times, but unfortunately he did a good time which increased interest in him, and pushed his price,” said Bromley. “We just like to look at them as individuals, their strides and general way of going.”

“This is the horse we really wanted and we had to really push the boat out to get him,” added the agent.

King, fresh from his three-timer at Royal Ascot, added: “Delighted and he is for two long-standing supporters of the yard in Max McNeill and Niall Farrell.”

The colt, who is out of the Mark of Esteem mare Open Book, was consigned by Meadowview Stables who purchased him at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale for just 18,000 euros (US$20,405).

Dolmen Bloodstock, the partnership of Justin Timmons and Danny O'Donovan, were celebrating after their Make Believe filly out of Olivia Pope was knocked down for 105,000 guineas (US$139,134) to Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown after he saw off the efforts of David Redvers. The filly received a significant boost on the weekend when her sire's son Mishriff won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club.

“It was massive!” commented Timmons on the classic victory on Sunday.

“She has an engine and we were very happy with her breeze. She has been very busy, but it is always hard to gauge,” said Timmons. “We had the right people on her.”

The Kildare-based Dolmen Bloodstock team enjoyed a mighty pinhooking touch, having purchased the filly out of the mare Olivia Pope for just 10,000 euros (US$11,335) at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale.

At the conclusion of the 2020 Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“In the current climate we are all looking to accentuate the positives and I think we can reflect on solid if unspectacular trade at this year's renewal of the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up. This is, however, a year where 'solid if unspectacular' is a positive outcome and we would like to thank all those who have participated at today's sale for their contribution. The buyers have worked incredibly hard and the Breeze Up consignors have had to endure uniquely difficult conditions in the run up to the 2020 breeze up sales season, but ultimately everyone can look back on sales which have largely exceeded expectations.

“It has been challenging staging events of this nature with the prevailing COVID related regulations still in place but, despite continued travel restrictions, today's Guineas Breeze Up has seen demand from throughout the world including Australia, Bahrain, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Kuwait, Qatar and Spain. The international demand has been accompanied by spirited bidding from the domestic British and Irish buyers and has resulted in some notable pinhooking successes, while the overseas buyers have made use of every possible means at their disposal to participate in the sale, including extensive use of our new live internet bidding platform as well as telephone bidding. It is a tribute to the resilience of the global bloodstock market that we continue to experience this level of international demand and we expect to see further widespread use of the live internet bidding platform at our two-day July Sale which commences tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.”

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Baytown Bear Notches First Win For Airdrie Stud’s Upstart

Multiple graded stakes winner Upstart was represented by his first winner Tuesday at Indiana Grand when Baytown Bear romped to a 9 3/4-length victory in a one-mile maiden special weight for 2-year-old.

The gray/roan juvenile chased Onenightstandards through six furlongs, and then despite being floated very wide into the stretch when the pacesetter drifted out severely, drew away impressively in the final furlong to win geared down under the wire.

Baytown Bear is owned by McEntree Racing, Inc. and was bred in Kentucky by Airdrie's owner Brereton C. Jones. He is the second foal out of And You Can, who is a half-sister to Jones' Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can.

Upstart won or placed in 10 graded stakes in his stellar career, retiring with more than $1.7 million in earnings. He has been one of the leading first-crop sires at this year's 2-year-old sales, topping all freshman sires by median price and ranking third by average, at $130,555, more than 13 times his stud fee.

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