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Another Sam-Son Mare Sparks Fireworks at KEEJAN

Shortly after her barnmate Danceforthecause (Giant’s Causeway) summoned $925,000, Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy) provided Sam-Son Farm with another lucrative sale when summoning $900,000 from John Sikura, who signed as Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa. Hip 598 is part of the dispersal of Sam-Son’s broodmare band. The 11-year-old mare sold in foal to War Front.

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Gainesway Strikes for Danceforthecause

Grade I producer Danceforthecause (Giant’s Causeway) was the second mare of the day to reach $925,000 when selling to Gainesway Farm as Hip 587 from the Sam-Son Farm broodmare dispersal. MGSW Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (Hip 403) brought the same price at the start of the session as part of the dispersal of the Estate of Paul Pompa, Jr.

The unraced Danceforthecause’s first foal was GI Northern Dancer Turf S. winner Say the Word (More Than Ready) and her next foal was GII Canadian S. victor Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}). She did not produce foals in 2017 or 2018, but had a Distorted Humor filly in 2019 and a Street Sense filly in 2020. The 10-year-old mare is currently in foal to Twirling Candy.

Hailing from a deep Sam-Son family, Danceforthecause

is a full-sister to SW Grand Style. Her second dam is Horse of the Year Dance Smartly (Danzig), who is the dam of Canadian champion and Grade I winner Dancethruthedawn (Mr. Prospector) and GSE Dance With Ravens (A.P. Indy).

“Right off the bat, her produce has been phenomenal,” said Gaiesway’s Alex Solis, II. “The first foal is a Grade I winner, the second foal is a Grade II winner. It is the family of Smart Strike and, of course, her second dam is Dance Smartly.”

As for the price, Solis said, “Being 10-years-old and the dam of a Grade I winner, you know you are going to have to be in this range or even more.” –@CDeBernardisTDN

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Power Down The Protein: What A Horse Eats Impacts The Air

Though changing what a horse eats may seem an odd thing to adjust for air quality, research has shown that reducing the amount of protein in a horse's diet can protect his respiratory health. Protein is broken down into nitrogen in the horse's small intestine and then excreted as urea, which becomes ammonia in a horse's stall.

Ammonia can irritate nose and lung tissue, causing excess mucus production and respiratory issues like heaves. Drs. Jessie Weir-Chouinard, Hong Li, Lori Warren and Erica Macon created a study that fed nine horses forage-based diets with three different levels of protein. The highest-protein diet was 12 percent.

The study horses wore harnesses that collected their urine, which was then combined with wood shavings or straw and tested for ammonia levels. Study results showed that the higher-protein diets led to significant increases in nitrogen levels in urine. Straw bedding had higher levels of ammonia emissions than shavings no matter the diet. Shavings absorbed more of the urine, and ammonia, than the straw did.

The scientists concluded that lowering the protein in a horse's diet can decrease the amount of ammonia in his stall. This, coupled with cleaning stalls regularly and thoroughly, can combat ammonia and help keep horses airways safe. Proper ventilation is also key.

Ralph Biszantz Passes Away at 78

Retired trainer Ralph Biszantz passed away Tuesday in Ocala, Florida after a brief battle with melanoma. Biszantz was 78.

His death was confirmed by his brother, owner and breeder Gary Biszantz.

“He was living in Ocala and he had a couple of ex-race horses that he took care of,” Gary Biszantz said.

“The cancer came on him pretty quickly. It only took about three months and the melanoma spread through his lungs. It was a sad way to go, but he wasn’t in a lot of pain. It was a quiet ending.”

According to Equibase records, Biszantz started his training career in 1978 and competed in both Northern and Southern California and in Florida. His last starters came at Tampa Bay Downs in 2012.

“He retired when he did because he got discouraged because he could never get the kind of horses that he wanted,” Biszantz said. “He never got that quality horse. He trained a little bit for me and we had a good run together. He was good at what he did.”

Biszantz said his brother made many a friend at the racetrack.

“He had a lot of friends and a lot of guys knew him,” Biszantz said. “He was around a long time. He got his license that same day that Richard Mandella got his license. They walked out of the office at Santa Anita on the same day with their trainer’s licenses. The guys all know him. Any trainer in America who has been around will say, ‘Oh, I knew Ralph Biszantz.’ He was a character. He loved the game. He loved the sport. It was his whole life.”

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