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Breeders’ Cup Buzz: Remembering The Previous Del Mar Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders' Cup will be held at Del Mar for the second time in the event's history this year, which makes it the ideal time to look back on the first time the track hosted the races in 2017.

As one of North America's elite racing venues, hosting the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar made perfect sense, and the on-track product lived up to expectations, with plenty of strong winners and exciting finishes.

Ahead of this year's return to Del Mar, we asked some participants in this year's Breeders' Cup to recall what memory stuck out to them the most from the last time the event was held where the turf meets the surf.

Nick Hines – Jockey Agent, Bloodstock Agent, TVG Host

“In regards to the gambling, it really came down to Good Magic (in the Juvenile). He pretty much saved the day for me, because he came in heralded enough, but still considered under the radar, which is kind of surprising for a Chad Brown horse, but it was the turning point for me cashing a pretty sizable return. All the money was in on Bolt d'Oro, Good Magic was a maiden coming in for Chad Brown, and it made me wonder why he'd take a chance with a maiden in the Breeders' Cup. With his pedigree, and coming out of the Breeders' Cup, I thought this horse was going to adore two turns.”

Kate Hunter – Breeders' Cup Japanese Field Representative

“Back in 2017, I unfortunately had the recruit fall through, but I attended anyway for the experience. What I remember most, though, is walking around the grandstand gawking at the photos of Bing Crosby, my all-time favorite singer. Walking in his shoes and being at his track felt really special. It was a feeling I was able to linger in since I was just there as a spectator. I wallowed in it.”

David Meah – Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, Anna Meah Racing Stables

“My memory of that Breeders' Cup was being there with Anna, who I had recently married back in August that year, and sharing the weekend with good friends from around the globe. Breeders' Cup for me is a fantastic occasion, being from England and living in America for such a long time (16 years at that time). It's fantastic when lots of my old friends come into town and we all catch up.

“Beyond that, I remember the weather being perfect, especially for the horses. I think It was around 69 degrees and it wasn't to hot at all. It was heavenly. We were spoiled, as per usual, with these world championship races and one horse that stood out to me was the amazingly handsome Talismanic (in the Turf). When he walked by me in the paddock, I knew where my $2 (maybe a little more) was going, and at 14-1, you'd better believe the drinks were flowing that evening.”

Walker Hancock – Claiborne Farm

“My cousin Lynn talking us out of including Talismanic in our Pick 6, costing us $388,423.”

Aron Wellman – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

“For me, it was a selfish memory of Eclipse's colt Destin winning the Marathon Stakes (on the Breeders' Cup undercard). It was on my home track, and Todd Pletcher's first ever win at Del Mar.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Buzz: Remembering The Previous Del Mar Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tampa Bay Downs: Sam F. Davis Has Served As Major Launch Pad To Grade 1 Glory

Since the Sam F. Davis became a Grade 3 stakes in 2009, it has had a significant impact on the Triple Crown scene on numerous occasions. Whether that will be the case this year is difficult to predict, but there is no doubt the eyes of the Thoroughbred racing world will be on Tampa Bay Downs next Saturday for the 41^st running of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race for 3-year-olds.

The $250,000 Sam F. Davis, contested at a distance of 1 1/16 miles on the main track, is one of three G3 stakes on the Feb. 6 card, along with the $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes for older males on the turf and the $175,000 Lambholm South Endeavour for older fillies and mares on the turf. The fourth stakes on the card is the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes on the dirt for 3-year-old fillies, a “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” points race.

While the 2009 Sam F. Davis winner, General Quarters, later won G1 stakes on dirt and turf (Keeneland actually employed an all-weather synthetic surface when General Quarters won the 2009 Toyota Blue Grass), the third-place Sam F. Davis finisher, Musket Man, was equally as successful later – perhaps more so. The Derek Ryan-trainee returned to win the G3 Tampa Bay Derby and the G2 Illinois Derby and finished third in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. As a 4-year-old, Musket Man was second in two G1 stakes: the Carter Handicap and the Metropolitan Handicap.

Rule won the Sam F. Davis the following year, and although he never reached the top rung of his class, he did amass more than $1-million in earnings. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, won his first Kentucky Derby that spring with Super Saver, who did not run in the Sam F. Davis but finished third in the Tampa Bay Derby.

The Sam F. Davis really started heating up as a Triple Crown prep race in 2016. Destin, under John Velazquez, rewarded Pletcher with his sixth Davis victory, then set a track record in winning the G2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby four weeks later. He finished second by a nose to Creator in one of the most exciting Belmont Stakes in recent history.

Pletcher would not be denied a Belmont victory the following year. After running second to McCracken in the Sam F. Davis, Tapwrit established his bona fides with a stakes-record performance in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. The Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets was the crowning jewel in Tapwrit's career (he failed to win in five subsequent starts).

If you weren't here for the 2019 Sam F. Davis Stakes, well, you don't know what you missed. Trainer Mark Casse's Flameaway won in stakes-record time of 1:42.44 and returned to finish second in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby; he won the Challenger Stakes here as a 4-year-old. But it was the Sam F. Davis second and third-place finishers, Catholic Boy and Vino Rosso, who went on to make their connections rich(er).

Under the tutelage of trainer Jonathan Thomas, Catholic Boy won the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational on turf, then switched back to dirt to capture the G1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga. He earned more than $2.1-million in his career. Vino Rosso, under the masterful Pletcher, won more than $4.8-million, thanks mainly to victories as a 4-year-old in the G1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes and the Longines' Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Information about this year's Sam F. Davis, and the other Festival Preview Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South stakes races, will be forthcoming over the next several days, so stay tuned.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Tampa Bay Downs is limiting general-admission attendance for the Feb. 6 card to 2,500 spectators. Tickets, which are $10 each plus a service fee, are being sold online through Eventbrite.com and at the program stands.

Horsemen, box-seat holders and season-ticket holders do not need to purchase tickets, but must present their passes at the gate to gain admittance.

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless patrons have prior arrangements in the Skye Terrace Dining Room, Sports Gallery, Clubhouse Carrels or Legends Bar, but the purchase of a general-admission ticket is still required to gain admittance.

The track is also selling a limited number of tables in the Backyard Picnic Area for $50 each plus a service fee; that price includes admission for six people.

Here is the link for Festival Preview Day 41 tickets and picnic-area seating:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-preview-day-41-presented-by-lambholm-south-tickets-135338604409

Everyone will be required to wear masks or face coverings and maintain appropriate social distancing.

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First-Year Honest Mischief Heads Sequel New York’s 2021 Stallion Roster

Sequel Stallions New York announces its 2021 stud fees, led by New York's first son of 2020 leading sire Into Mischief, Honest Mischief who will stand for $6,500 LFSN.

The freaky-fast bay is new for the 2021 season and will be backed by a syndicate led by Sequel, with global powerhouse Juddmonte Farms in support.

New York's perennial leading sire Freud will stand for $5,000. Freud, New York's leading sire by number of black type winners, turf, and AEI is the versatile full brother to Giant's Causeway. He has lifetime progeny earnings over $65 million dollars aptly earning his nom de course as the “King Of New York.”

“It is a very tough climate in the sales market anywhere now, but especially in the regional markets. We want to give our breeders a chance to be profitable,” said Sequel's Becky Thomas. “The recent sales in Kentucky have clearly demonstrated breeding in Kentucky does not guarantee a profit. The lower stallion fees, no transportation or boarding costs coupled with the lucrative purse structure NYRA offers and resulting awards will give our breeders the opportunity to recover from the dismal 2020 season.”

Unbridled's Song's Grade 1-performing millionaire, Mission Impazible has led every crop he has had of racing age with progeny earnings over $9 million dollars with just five crops of racing age and 45 percent winners. Twin Creeks Farm and Sequel continue to provide support secondary to his progeny success on the racetrack.

Multiple stakes winner Union Jackson is the first son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin to stand in New York. He is out of Hot Dixie Chick, a Grade 1-winning half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. Standing in New York for a partnership between Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and Sequel New York, his gorgeous first crop are looking to be very fast 2-year-olds of 2021.

Track record-setting, multiple graded stakes winner, Destin, a full brother to Grade 1 sire Creative Cause, was nosed in the Belmont Stakes. He is owned by a syndicate and is supported by Gainesway Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Farm as well as Sequel New York.

The 2021 Sequel New York Roster is:

Destin – $2,500 (Giant's Causeway – Dream Of Summer, by Siberian Summer)
Freud – $5,000 (Storm Cat – Mariah's Storm, by Rahy)
Honest Mischief – $6,500 (Into Mischief – Honest Lady, by Seattle Slew)
Mission Impazible – $2,500 (Unbridled's Song – La Paz, by Hold Your Peace)
Union Jackson – $2,500 (Curlin – Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union)

All fees are Live Foal/Stands & Nurses. Multiple mare discounts are available as well as incentives for repeat breeders.

Due to covid restrictions, it is unlikely there will be a stallion showcase this year. Virtual inspections for all the stallions will be available in the near future.

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Sequel NY Announces 2021 Stud Fees

Officials at Sequel Stallions New York have announced stud fees for its five-strong roster for the 2021 breeding season.

As was reported last week, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honest Mischief (Into Mischief) is new to the Sequel breeding barn and will begin his stud career for an advertised fee of $6,500. He will be backed by a Sequel-led syndicate and his breeder Juddmonte Farm will also support the stallion.

Sequel’s perennial leading New York sire Freud (Storm Cat), the full-brother to Giant’s Causeway whose progeny have earned better than $65 million to date, commands a fee of $5,000, while Mission Impazible (Unbridled’s Song), Destin (Giant’s Causeway) and Union Jackson (Curlin) are each available for $2,500. All fees are Live Foal/Stands & Nurses. Multiple mare discounts are available as well as incentives for repeat breeders.

“It is a very tough climate in the sales market anywhere now, but especially in the regional markets. We want to give our breeders a chance to be profitable. The recent sales in Kentucky have clearly demonstrated breeding in Kentucky does not guarantee a profit. The lower stallion fees, no transportation or boarding costs coupled with the lucrative purse structure NYRA offers and resulting awards will give our breeders the opportunity to recover from the dismal 2020 season,” said Sequel owner Becky Thomas.

The post Sequel NY Announces 2021 Stud Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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