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Simply Ravishing Retired, Breeding Plans To Be Determined

Grade 1 winner Simply Ravishing has been retired from racing and will start her broodmare career, with the aim of selling her at one of the major November mixed sales this fall, TVG and BloodHorse report.

The 3-year-old daughter of Laoban finished last of six after setting the early pace in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 3.

“Simply Ravishing cooled out sound,” trainer Kenny McPeek wrote on social media after the retirement was announced. “She has a minor breathing issue that we are unable to resolve in time for the Kentucky Oaks. We are disappointed and will do what's right for her. At her best she has freaky talent and she showed that in the Grade 1 Alcibiades.”

Stallions under consideration for Simply Ravishing's first mating include leading sires Curlin, Into Mischief, and Tapit.

Simply Ravishing won three of six starts during her on-track career for earnings of $422,200.

After winning on debut in Saratoga, Simply Ravishing made her first stakes start in a rained-off-the-turf P. G. Johnson Stakes at the same track, winning by 6 1/2 lengths. She then jumped into the deep end, and proved to be just as dominant, winning the G1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland by 6 1/4 lengths.

After finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Simply Ravishing ended her 2-year-old season with another fourth in the G2 Golden Rod Stakes. The Ashland was her first start of 2021.

Bred in New York by Meg Levy, Simply Ravishing raced for the partnership of Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing, and Nehoc Stables.

Grimthorpe Steps Downs As Juddmonte Farms’ European Racing Manager

Juddmonte announce Thursday that The Lord “Teddy” Grimthorpe has decided to stand down after 22 years as Juddmonte Farms' racing manager.

As racing manager for Juddmonte's late owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, Grimthorpe managed all Juddmonte's European horses in training and played a leading role in Juddmonte's consistent and sustained success worldwide at the very highest level in racing. Teddy will leave Juddmonte after this year's Royal Meeting.

Taking over the racing manager's role in 1999 he has, during his tenure, worked with 24 European trainers looking after over 3,000 horses in training, of which 1,400 won over 2,400 races including very nearly 100 Group 1 wins. The list of famous horses with which Teddy was involved includes such names as Enable, Frankel, Banks Hill, Rail Link, Special Duty, Workforce, Twice Over, Midday, Oasis Dream and Kingman.

Teddy is currently deputy senior steward of the British Jockey Club and, having been chairman of York Racecourse for nine years, remains on the York Racecourse board.

Teddy Grimthorpe said:

“I have always felt that the time for me to stand down from Juddmonte would be when Prince Khalid was no longer involved. It has been a huge privilege to work for the Prince and his family, and with the outstanding Juddmonte team, which has been so successful for so long. Of course I am sad to leave, but, with the Prince's death two months ago and over 20 years as his racing manager, now is the right time. I leave an organization in great shape which is supreme at what it does, and I have no doubt Juddmonte will continue to thrive and produce top-class homebred thoroughbred horses competing at the highest level on racecourses across the world.”

Douglas Erskine Crum, chief executive of Juddmonte, said:

“On behalf of Prince Khalid's family and all of us past and present at Juddmonte, I thank Teddy for all he has done to help the organization be at the very top of its game year after year. He will be sorely missed and we wish him the very best of good fortune for the future.”

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Texas 2-Year-Old Sale Posts Record-Breaking Numbers

Wednesday's Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park recorded the highest gross, average and median since the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star took over operation of the auction in 2016.

A total of 89 horses sold from 104 offered for total sales of $2,907,700, a 66 percent increase from the 2019 auction total of $1,751,400 (the 2020 sale was cancelled due to COVID-19). The average price this year was $32,671, a jump of 39.9 percent from the 2019 average of $23,352, and the median increased by 37.9 percent to $20,000 from $14,500. The buyback rate was 14.4 percent, compared to 31.8 percent in 2019.

“This was one of the best sales we've ever had at Lone Star Park, including the prior years with Fasig-Tipton,” said Tim Boyce, sales director. “We had a big crowd in the sales pavilion and lots of action with online bidding, so that speaks well about the demand for Texas-breds, Louisiana-breds, Oklahoma-breds and racehorses in general in this region. The increased purses and incentives in Texas have made the Southwest an even more desirable place to race than it already was.”

Hip 85, named The Reese Beast, brought a sale-topping bid of $240,000 from Austin Gustafson, agent. Consigned by Asmussen Horse Center, agent, the Virginia-bred Tiznow filly is out of the winning and stakes-producing Jump Start mare Delta Weekend. She galloped at the under tack show held Monday at Lone Star.

Two horses sold for $150,000 as the second-highest price of the sale, and both were Louisiana-breds consigned by Pike Racing, agent. Hip 36, a Louisiana-bred colt by Overanalyze, went to Highlander Training Center after working an eighth-mile in :10 2/5. The colt is a half-brother to multiple Louisiana stakes winner Mirabeau. The fastest horse from the under tack show, hip 57 with a clocking of :10 flat, also brought $150,000 and sold to Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. Named Wupkar, the filly is out of the Songandaprayer mare Anne Margaret, who has produced two stakes-placed runners.

Benchmark Training Center, agent, as the leading consignor by total sales at $622,700. Pike Racing was the leading consignor by average, with four sales for an average of $105,750.

For complete sale results, go to www.ttasales.com.

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Start Of Woodbine Meet Postponed Due To Provincial COVID Restrictions

As a result of the Provincial State of Emergency declared today by the Government of Ontario, which includes a province-wide 28-day stay-at-home order effective Thursday, April 8 at 12:01 a.m., Woodbine Entertainment announced that the 2021 Thoroughbred Meet at Woodbine Racetrack has been postponed.

Woodbine Entertainment also confirmed that it is continuing its efforts with government officials and local health authorities to be permitted to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation which would allow the Thoroughbred season to commence after the stay-at-home order is lifted on May 6. The season was scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 17.

“This is very difficult news to share with our horse people, horse players and fans throughout North America and the world,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “Since the beginning of the pandemic more than a year ago, we have supported the Government of Ontario every step of the way and will continue to do so.

“However, if we do not receive permission to safely operate live racing during a lockdown situation after the stay-at-home is lifted, our industry and business could be greatly impacted as trainers will not bring their horses to Woodbine Racetrack and more horses will be shipped-out to the United States where there are plenty of racing opportunities. This situation has the potential to have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the thoroughbred industry in Ontario.”

During stay-at-home order, Woodbine will continue to operate the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack as an essential service for the stabling, training and care of horses. Active training, including timed workouts, will continue but starting gate and receiving barn training operations will be temporarily suspended for 10 days.

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