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Ontario Mare Purchase Program Receives $200,000 Funding Boost

Ontario Racing's Thoroughbred Improvement Program Committee has approved an additional $200,000 for its innovative Mare Purchase Program, bringing the total to $700,000.

An enthusiastic response by Ontario breeders to the program has nearly exhausted the initial $500,000 commitment.

The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale begins on January 11, and the committee wants to provide more Ontario breeders with the opportunity to maximize their investment at the sale.

“The main focus of this program is to give Ontario horsepeople the opportunity to buy a better mare, and higher quality stock,” said David Anderson, Breeder Representative on the Board of Ontario Racing and member of the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee. “There are people who still want to buy horses, and this will help them.”

Ontario residents who purchase an in-foal broodmare are eligible for a rebate of 50 percent of the purchase price to a maximum of $25,000 CAD.

In-foal mares must be purchased for a minimum purchase price of $10,000 USD, with no maximum, and be purchased at an Ontario Racing-recognized public auction. There is a maximum distribution of $75,000 CAD to any one individual, partnership, corporation or other ownership group.

“This is one of the best breeder programs in North America, and the world. We want more people to know about it, and participate in it,” said Anderson.

The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and purchasers must submit their application within 30 days of the purchase date. Breeders interested in accessing this funding can download the application form here.

Mares must meet the Mare Residency Program criteria. Copies of registration papers and a paid invoice from the recognized sale the in-foal mare was purchased from, are also required.

Breeders are also eligible for a $2,500 (CAD) incentive for all enrolled mares who are then bred to a registered Ontario Sire in 2022.

In addition to the Keeneland Sale, remaining Ontario Racing recognized public auctions are the OBS Winter Mixed Sale, and the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Jan. 9 & 10, 2022

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday and Monday running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses, with a pair of newly turned 3-year-old fillies taking a step up into Group 3 competition off maiden-breaking victories:

Sunday, January 9, 2022
3rd-CKO, ¥9,900,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m
THE KING (JPN) (c, 3, Curlin–Alluring Star, by Exchange Rate) is the first foal from his dam, second to Caledonia Road (Quality Road) in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and purchased by Katsumi Yoshida with this colt in utero for $925K at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. A Jan. 28 foal, The King was offered at the 2019 JRHA Select Sale and repaid a fair bit of the investment, hammering for ¥82 million ($754,400), while the now 2-year-old half-sister by Heart's Cry (Jpn) made ¥40 million ($372,820) at the same event in 2020. The King was a useful fifth on his career debut at this venue back in September. B-Northern Racing

11th-CKO, Shinzan Kinen-G3, ¥76.8m ($664k), 3yo, 1600mT
MOZU GOLD BARREL (f, 3, Optimizer–Sweeter Still {Ire}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), a $1,500 in utero purchase at KEENOV in 2018, ran to the money in her debut to score by a measured half-length at long odds-on going 1400 meters over this course Dec. 19 (see below, SC 1). The $190K KEESEP acquisition is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) and opts for this over Monday's sex-restricted G3 Fairy S. (see below). B-Timothy Lesley Thompson (KY)

Monday, January 10, 2022
4th-CKO, ¥11,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
Neither US-bred or -sired, MODICA (AUS) (f, 2, American Pharoah–More Than Real, by More Than Ready) has plenty of appeal to an American audience. The early September foal, who spots her Northern Hemisphere rivals a fair bit of maturity, is the latest produce out of Bobby Flay's 2010 GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine, who was acquired by Australian bloodstock agent James Bester for $675,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November sale. All five of the mare's previous starters are winners, including SW Miss Debutante (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Modica, an A$260,000 ($201,089) purchase out of last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, is a maternal granddaughter of MSW Miss Seffens (Dehere), whose daughter Miss Always Ready (More Than Ready) produced GI BC Juvenile Turf hero Structor (Palace Malice) and GSP 'TDN Rising Star' Always Carina (Malibu Moon). B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd (NSW)

11th-NKY, Fairy S.-G3, ¥70.6m ($611k), 3yo, f, 1600mT
SPEED GLAMOUR (f, 3, Into Mischief–Island Escape, by Petionville) failed to run a poor race in four appearances at two and earned a crack at this level with a narrow graduation going this trip at Chukyo Dec. 5 (see below, SC 14). A half-sister to MGSW Tricky Escape (Hat Trick {Jpn}), the February-foaled bay was bought back on a bid of $250K at Keeneland September in 2020 but blossomed into a $500K purchase at last year's OBS March Sale. B-Machmer Hall (KY)

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Trainer Brad Cox Chasing Second Straight Pippin Victory With Coach

A few inches separated trainer Brad Cox from sweeping Oaklawn's two-turn stakes series for older fillies and mares in 2021. Now, Cox will try to pick up where he left off when he sends out program favorite Coach in Saturday's $150,000 Pippin at one mile.

Probable post time for the Pippin, the eighth of nine races, is 3:46 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:30 p.m.

Cox won the last year's Pippin with Getridofwhatailesu, then captured the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl and the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) with Shedaresthedevil. Monomoy Girl, in what would be her final career start, was beaten a nose by Letruska in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) to deny Cox a four-race sweep.

Cox bids for his second Pippin victory with Kueber Racing LLC's Coach, the early 9-5 choice who retains eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. Coach exits a sharp two-length allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 17, which marked her first start since finishing ninth in the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) for 3-year-old fillies April 30 at Churchill Downs.

“She was just a horse that we had run a lot, her 2-year-old season and then throughout her 3-year-old season, trying to get her into the Oaks,” Cox said. “We got her to the Oaks. She just needed a break and she got it.”

Coach began her career with three consecutive victories, including the $98,000 Rags to Riches Stakes in October 2020 at Churchill Downs. Coach went through Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Oaks points races last year, finishing second in the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes, fifth in the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and third in the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3). Her allowance victory last month at Oaklawn snapped a five-race losing streak.

“She ran good,” said Cox, leading trainer at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting. “Tough, tough field.”

The projected seven-horse Pippin lineup from the rail out: Coach, Ricardo Santana Jr., 122 pounds, 9-5 on the morning line; Breeze Rider, E.T. Baird, 122, 5-1; W W Fitzy, David Cohen, 122, 8-1; Itsallinthenotes, Kelsi Harr, 122, 20-1; Josie, Ramon Vazquez, 122, 5-2; Miss Bigly, Martin Garcia, 122, 5-2; and Wellington Wonder, David Cabrera, 117, 12-1.

Miss Bigly has kept fast company in her career, facing the likes of Monomoy Girl, As Time Goes By and Envoutante in the Midwest and Southern California.

An allowance winner at one mile last April at Oaklawn, Miss Bigly exits a third-place finish in the $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (G3) Nov. 20 at Churchill Downs. The Chilukki was also a mile. Miss Bigly has five published workouts at Oaklawn since Dec. 4.

“I think she's coming into the race in good shape,” said Miss Bigly's Southern California-based trainer, Phil D'Amato, who has nine horses at Oaklawn. “I believe she won on a wet-fast track at Oaklawn last year, so I don't think if it rains, we'll have any issues there. Her last couple of breezes have been very sharp, with Martin Garcia breezing her.”

Multiple stakes winner Breeze Rider won seven races in 2021, but has done her best work on turf or a synthetic surface for trainer Steve Manley. Josie was an allowance winner at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting for Cox. She is now with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

W W Fitzy adds blinkers for 2020 Oaklawn training champion Robertino Diodoro after running fourth behind Coach and Wellington Wonder Dec. 17 at Oaklawn. She was claimed out of the race for $62,500.

“We're trying to get some speed back in her,” Diodoro said, referring to the equipment change. “Training good. We'll see.”

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: Say It Ain’t Snow

While most of the Northeast has been blanketed by snow and endured sub-freezing temperatures during the week, the horse racing action will help heat things up a bit this weekend with graded stakes action from coast to coast.

Saturday offers up a Grade 3 on the turf at Gulfstream Park, while older fillies and mares battle in the Pippin at Oaklawn and sophomore fillies go head-to-head in the G2 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita. Sunday's offerings include the G3 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita, an exciting down-the-hill turf race with a wide-open field of eight fillies and mares.

Here's a brief look at the graded stakes action (all times Eastern).

Saturday

3:37 PM – G3 Tropical Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Grade 2 winner Largent, unraced since being beaten a neck in last year's Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), returns to Gulfstream Park to launch his long-awaited comeback. The Tropical Turf would be Largent's first race in 351 days, but comes over a course where he has raced six times with four wins and two seconds. He broke his maiden in debut at Gulfstream in March 2019, won a pair of allowance races during the 2019-2020 Championship Meet as well as the Fort Lauderdale.

Value Proposition is a British-bred ridgling that won three of his first four career starts and has matched that total over his last nine, including victories in the one-mile Red Bank and seven-furlong Oyster Bay last fall. The 5-year-old was second in the 2021 Forbidden Apple (G3) and third in the 2020 Poker (G3), and enters the Tropical Turf having finished fifth in the six-furlong Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship Nov. 27.

Another graded winner in the field is Phat Man, who captured the 2020 Fred W. Hooper (G3) at Gulfstream. The 7-year-old gelding has two seconds in five lifetime tries on grass, but was last on the surface in the October 2017 Hawthorne Derby for previous connections.

Flying Scotsman will be making his second start off a layoff in the Tropical Turf. He ran fifth in a one-mile, 70-yard optional claiming allowance Dec. 19 that was moved off the Gulfstream turf to its Tapeta surface. Promoted winner of the 2019 Woodchopper at Fair Grounds, it was his first race since setting the pace before finishing sixth by 2 ¼ lengths in the Dinner Party (G2) at Pimlico Race Course.

7:06 PM – G2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park

An impressive maiden winner in her most recent start, Bob Baffert-trained Under the Stars heads a field of six sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in this $200,000 contest. A respectable third, beaten three quarters of a length by the well regarded Tonito's in the 6 ½ furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes two starts back on Nov. 13, Under the Stars came back earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 80 when registering an impressive three-length maiden win at Los Alamitos going six furlongs on Dec. 11.

Reddam Racing's Awake At Midnyte, a close second in a one mile turf stakes on Nov. 27, also rates a big look, as do California-bred stakes winner Big Switch and recent turf maiden winner Miss Mattie B.

A $320,000 March 2-year-old in training sale purchase, Awake At Midnyte pressed the pace and came away a game neck first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Oct. 31 here at Santa Anita and then stretched out to a mile on turf in the G3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 27. A close second early, she wrested control a sixteenth of a mile out but lost a desperate photo by a nose in a huge effort.

A California-bred by hot sire Mr. Big, John Sadler's Big Switch, a first-out maiden winner going six furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 20, followed that up with a 2 ¾ length win going seven furlongs in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. In what will be her first try in open company, she'll get the services of John Velazquez.

Trained by Bob Hess, Jr., Miss Mattie B rallied from far back to break her maiden going one mile on turf Nov. 27 and will hope to have a similar late kick as she switched back to dirt and shortens up a furlong. Miss Mattie B will be ridden back by Mike Smith.

Sunday

6:30 PM – G3 Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita Park

A stakes winner over the course, Zero Tolerance heads a field of eight older fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf this Sunday. Zero Tolerance stalked the pace and rallied impressively to take the ungraded Unzip Me Stakes over the course three starts back on Oct. 3 and was subsequently a close fourth going one mile on turf in the G3 Autumn Miss Stakes on Oct. 30. She sped to a 1 ¼ length win at 3-5 in a second condition allowance on Nov. 20 at Del Mar. Originally trained by Peter Miller, she'll be saddled by Ruben Alvarado on Sunday as she seeks her first graded win and her fourth overall from six starts.

Vladimir Cerin's Hear My Prayer and Bob Baffert's Ginja, a pair of distaffers in good recent form, also rate big chances in what will be their initial tries down Santa Anita's unique hillside layout. Throw in Baffert's classy comebacker Beautiful Gift and John Sadler's newcomer, Gold for Kitten, as well as his veteran stakes winner Constantia, and the Las Cienegas has the look of a wide open affair.

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