Tag: joel politi

Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders And Owners Stallion Season Auction Opens December 7

The Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association is pleased to announce their annual Stallion Season Auction Sale on Dec. 7-10. Detailed information and a complete list of stallions offered can be found on Starquine.com and on the OTBO web site – www.otbo.com.

A total of 134 stallions are included that will appeal to breeders of all types – from those looking for commercial opportunities to those managing breed-to-race operations.

Entered in the auction are leading stallions in Kentucky from Airdrie Stud, Buck Pond Farm, Calumet Farm, Darby Dan Farm, Darley, Gainesway, Lane's End, Spendthrift Farm, WinStar Farm, and many others. Leading stallions represented include Tapiture, Gift Box, Liam's Map, Candy Ride, Union Rags, West Coast, Dialed In, Kentucky Derby winner Country House, Midshipman, Take Charge Indy, Alternation, Jack Milton, Creative Cause, and a host of others.

Leading stallions in Ohio (from Raimonde Farms, Duncan Farms, Poplar Creek, Mapleton, Win Row, Fair Winds, Blazing Meadows, and others) are well represented including first-year stallion Air Strike.

Fantastic stallions standing in Pennsylvania (from WynOaks, Diamond B, Godstone, etc.) including leading Pennsylvania stallion Warrior's Reward.

Quality stallions in Indiana (from Breakway Farm, Indiana Stallion Station, and Swifty Farms); New York (Sequel New York, Questroyal North, Rockridge Stud, etc.); and Maryland (Anchor and Hope) are also available for bidding.  More stallions will be added daily up to the sale starting date of Dec. 7.

With the auction being hosted by the OTBO, all top stallions in Ohio are offered, giving breeders access to participate in the lucrative Ohio-restricted program, which features 43 stakes races for Ohio-bred and Ohio-accredited horses each year.

“We are excited to offer such incredible depth and value in our sale this year. With the help and support of all the participating farms, we feel we are providing breeders with a tremendous opportunity to produce outstanding foals, said Mike Annechino, executive director of the OTBO. “Many of the leading sires by earnings from the entire region are represented in our sale, plus multiple up and coming first-crop stallions that are sure to reward breeders with commercial success.”

Also included in this year's sale is an actual halter worn by Kentucky Oaks winner, Serengeti Empress. Her owner, Dr. Joel Politi, and his family are long supporters of Ohio racing and his donation of this halter adds a little extra fun to the proceedings.

The auction is online and hosted by Starquine. Preview days are Dec. 7-8. Bidding opens on Dec. 9 and continues until 9 p.m. on Dec. 10. Complete information can be found on www.Starquine.com and the OTBO website – www.otbo.com. All proceeds benefit the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, the leading not for profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting Thoroughbred racing at all levels in the Buckeye State.

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Serengeti Empress Retires to Taylor Made

Taylor Made Farm welcomed dual Grade I winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) home to her birthplace on Monday afternoon. The 2019 Kentucky Oaks victress will be bred to red hot sire Into Mischief.

Shipping in from the Tom Amoss barn at Churchill Downs, Serengeti Empress will become barnmates with several other high-profile maiden mares, including Larry Best’s recent $1.95 million Keeneland November purchase Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy).

“It’s just special,” said Frank Taylor, the Vice President of Boarding Operations for Taylor Made. “When you get these Grade I winners come to the farm, it’s what we thrive on. We’ve had some great ones here, but we’ve now raised close to 110 Grade I winners, and she’s one of them. So whenever they get to come back home, it’s special.”

Serengeti Empress was bred by Tri Eques Bloodstock, a group made up of agent Jacob West, Mike Hardig and Val Henson. Henson, Taylor shared, is the Director of Maintenance and Special Projects at Taylor Made Farm and Serengeti Empress was the first mating he was a part of.

“Unfortunately, I talked him into selling her because I thought the bills she would bring in would be too high to keep her,” Taylor admitted. “But he’s gotten a few checks along the way. That makes it even more special. Our team takes great pride in raising horses like this. And to have another Oaks winner here is special.”

The daughter of Alternation was a $25,000 weanling-turned-$70,000 yearling pinhook.

“She was a very good foal when she was born here, a great individual,” Taylor said. “She was a standout. She sold pretty well for her pedigree, but every time out she just exceeded expectations.”
A 5½-length winner first time out, Serengeti Empress was a dual stakes winner by the end of her juvenile season. At three, she took the GII Rachel Alexandra S. before giving trainer Tom Amoss his first GI Kentucky Oaks victory. Also as a sophomore, she ran second in two Grade I races in the Acorn S. and Test S. and then wrapped up the season with a third-place effort in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

This year, the fleet-footed bay added wins in the GII Azeri S. and the GI Ballerina S. to her resume before finishing out her racing career with a runner-up effort behind Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

The over-$2.1 million dollar earner is the first graded stakes winner for owner Joel Politi, an orthopedic surgeon from Columbus, Ohio. Upon her retirement, Politi opted to retain the mare instead of offering her at this fall’s breeding stock sales.

“She’s become part of his family,” Taylor said of Politi’s relationship with the talented filly. “Joel and his daughter and wife are all very excited to be part of her broodmare career. Joel is a super guy, and it’s going to be exciting to get that Into Mischief baby and see what happens.”

Of the stallion choice, Taylor added, “Basically you’re breeding the best to the best. I guess there’s no better choice to go with. You know, she got beat by Gamine in her last start so that just makes it more important to breed to Into Mischief. He’s a stallion that’s in his own league.”

The post Serengeti Empress Retires to Taylor Made appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Serengeti Empress Retired; To Be Bred To Into Mischief In 2021

Serengeti Empress, the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Oaks, has been retired from racing and will be bred to leading sire Into Mischief during the 2021 breeding season.

The news was announced via a social media interaction between Hayley Amoss – the daughter of trainer Tom Amoss – and Spendthrift Farm's Mark Toothaker. Per Amoss' tweet, the 4-year-old daughter of Alternation will be boarded at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Ky., for owner Joel Politi.

Serengeti Empress finishes her racing career with seven wins in 19 career starts for earnings of $2,175,653. While the Oaks was a career highlight, the filly proved herself an elite runner around one turn or two, notching additional victories in the G1 Ballerina Stakes, and the G2 Pocahontas Stakes, Rachel Alexandra Stakes, and Azeri Stakes.

She finished third in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff, and second in this year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Into Mischief, a resident of Spendthrift Farm, was North America's leading general sire by earnings in 2019, and he continues to function at a high level in 2020, led by Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Authentic. He will stand the upcoming breeding season for an advertised fee of $225,000.

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‘The Greatest Gift Ever’: Serengeti Empress Will Conclude Her Career In Breeders’ Cup

Joel Politi's Serengeti Empress galloped one mile on Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs before shipping to Keeneland's Barn 68, where she will prepare for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The Kentucky Oaks champion of 2019 concludes her career in the race.

Trained by Tom Amoss, the dark bay daughter of Alternation has done her best running on the lead, including a gate-to-wire win in the Oaks and a gritty victory in August's Ballerina, her seventh career, sixth stakes and second Grade 1 win. Unraced since a nose loss to Bell's the One in the Derby City Distaff on Sept. 5, she breaks from post seven of nine in Saturday's seven furlong contest.

“I wasn't really too fixated on the post before the draw,” Politi said. “The reality is that (7-5 morning line favorite) Gamine has only shown one style of running, but (Bob) Baffert has said she doesn't have to be on the lead. I don't know what they'll do. All I know is that we're going for the lead. She's done that every time and she can go at a breakneck pace. If someone is going with her, they're on a suicide mission that might tire us all out and a closer wins. I hope that doesn't happen. She'll go as fast as she needs to.”

Politi, an orthopedic surgeon based in Columbus, Ohio, purchased the Kentucky-bred at Keeneland's September 2017 yearling sale for $70,000. Including the Derby City Distaff, she has placed in four G1 races, including last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff behind Blue Prize and Midnight Bisou. One year prior, she was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Known for her very kind and laid-back personality, Serengeti Empress has coupled said off-track disposition with a fierce will to win when competing. Such has resulted in a considerable following among racing fans.

“She's been the greatest gift ever,” he said. “We've had two years with consecutive Breeders' Cups and all the travel and great races. It's a dream come true having a horse like this, especially for a relatively small owner like me. My kids can go into the stall with her and stand and pet her and she is just a big old lover.

“On Saturday, we will celebrate her,” Politi continued. “She means the world to me and my family, as well as Tom, his career and personally for him. He's with her every day and I know she'll be really missed. I'll still have her and go see her anytime I want. She going to (Spendthrift stallion) Into Mischief and headed back to Taylor Made Farm, where she was born. She crosses so well with so many stallions, so we just hope she passes on her talent.”

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