Tag: John Oxley

Wonder Again Kicks Off Belmont Stakes Festival

The GII Wonder Again S., which grants a spot in the GI Belmont Oaks starting gate to the top three finishers, kicks off a race week loaded with stakes action Thursday in what NYRA refers to as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Chad Brown has saddled the winners of three of the eight renewals of this event and it is of no surprise that he sends out the race favorite again this year in Klaravich Stables' two-time stakes winner Consumer Spending (More Than Ready). She is a deserving favorite after defeating GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner and recent Hilltop S. victress Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who is now Royal Ascot bound. Her sire More Than Ready was responsible for the winner of the male counterpart of this race, GII Pennine Ridge S. victor Emmanuel.

Brown has won five of the last eight editions of the Belmont Oaks, the first leg of NYRA's Turf Tiara, and two of those victories came with Wonder Again winners Lady Eli (2015) and New Money Honey (2017).

A European-bred runner has only captured the Wonder Again once, but they have taken five of the last 10 Belmont Oaks. A European-bred, but American based contender has the best chance to upset Consumer Spending this year in Andrew Rosen homebred Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Shug McGaughey has won two of four starts and was third last out in the GII Appalachian S. Apr. 9.

“It wasn't the cleanest of trips [in the Appalachian], but I thought she ran a good race,” McGaughey told the NYRA notes team. “The winner was in front the whole way, so whether we'd have caught her or not, I don't know. She's trained really well since and we're looking forward to running her.”

A high chance of thunderstorms Thursday morning could leave the turf course a bit soft, which may change how this race plays out. Consumer Spending broke her maiden on a yielding course however, and there is a main track only entrant waiting in the wings.

There are two listed stakes for juveniles later in the card, which always draw some intrigue. John Oxley's Devious Dame, the first winner for GI Haskell Invitational S. winner, tops the fillies in the Astoria S. off a 5 1/2-length graduation in her Churchill Downs debut May 5.

Meanwhile, Wesley Ward, who has won his fair share of Tremont S. renewals, saddles the favorite in Thursday's edition in one of his early Keeneland winners No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never). The bay graduated by four lengths in Lexington Apr. 28 under John Velazquez, who gets back aboard here.

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Beautiful Empire Streaks Home in Star Shoot

Beautiful Empire (Classic Empire)'s furious kick carried the day for conditioner Mark Casse, rallying from last to lead home a 1-2-3 finish for the Mark Casse barn in a brisk rendition of the Star Shoot S. at Woodbine.

The filly was far back in her first two starts over conventional dirt at Churchill Downs before breaking her maiden Dec. 10 over the synthetic at Turfway Park to conclude her juvenile season. The chestnut began her year with a close runner-up effort Jan. 8 at the venue on first-time Lasix and finished third in a stacked rendition of the Valdale S. Feb. 12 and most recently overcame a bump at the start of a local allowance Apr. 16 to draw clear by four lengths.

Allowed to settle after the break here, the 7-2 third choice tracked from last early and quickly made up ground from that rail spot coming into the lane. Under right-hand urging from Emma-Jayne Wilson, Beautiful Empire kicked into high gear in the final furlong to clear rivals and win by 1 1/2 lengths over Aubrieta (Speightster). Diabolic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) rounded out the Casse trifecta. The time for the six-furlongs was only just off the track record set by the venerable Pink Lloyd (Old Forester).

“I was actually angling to go to the outside, and the rail kind of opened up,” said Wilson post race. “Good horses, when you ask them, they run. And that's exactly what happened. She's been running lights out the whole winter. She was primed for a big effort. It was a big effort last time and she stepped up again today.”

The victress is her dam's first black-type earner and second winner from three to race. She has a 2-year-old half-brother by American Pharoah. Humor Me Colonel is expecting a foal by Munnings this season. She is also the fourth stakes winner for her young sire (by Pioneerof the Nile). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

STAR SHOOT S., C$131,500, Woodbine, 4-30, 3yo, f, 6f (AWT), 1:08.70, ft.
1–BEAUTIFUL EMPIRE, 120, f, 3, by Classic Empire
                1st Dam: Humor Me Colonel, by Colonel John
                2nd Dam: Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor
                3rd Dam: Gilded Halo, by Gilded Time
($320,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-John C. Oxley; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Emma-Jayne Wilson. C$75,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $157,494.
2–Aubrieta, 122, f, 3, Speightster–Amethea, by Henny Hughes. O/B-Manfred & Penny Conrad (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$30,000.
3–Diabolic (Ire), 124, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Seafront (GB), by Foxwedge (Aus). (£90,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-D. J. Stable LLC and Nexus Racing Club; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Mark E. Casse. C$13,750.
Margins: 1HF, HD, 1. Odds: 3.60, 3.45, 2.35.
Also Ran: Howdyoumakeurmoney, Miss Alacrity, Parlance.

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Army Mule Filly on Top in Book 5 Opener

With Wednesday's Keeneland September Book 5 opener winding down, Maddie Matt Miller, agent, went to a session-topping $250,000 to secure a filly from the first crop of Army Mule.

Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, as Hip 3158, the chestnut is out of six-time winner Henny's Hurricane (Henny Hughes), a daughter of GSW Amarillo (Crafty Prospector). Hip 3158 is a half-sister to Amynta (Atreides), a multiple stakes winner in Panama. She was bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings.

The Hill 'n' Dale stallion, standing for $7,500, has also been represented by a $390,000 colt, a $225,000 colt, a $180,000 colt, et al, at Keeneland September. Army Mule has had 15 yearlings sell for $1.766 million at KEESEP, good for an average of $117,733. He had a pair of $400,000 sellers at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga as well.

A total of 325 yearlings sold at Keeneland Wednesday for $12,929,500, good for an average of $39,783 (+55%) and a median of $30,000 (+100%). The RNA rate for the session was a remarkable 9.2%.

During the 2020 Book 5 opener, conducted during the pre-vaccine pandemic, 252 yearlings grossed $6,469,100 for an average of $25,671 and a median of $15,000. The RNA rate was 18.2%.

With two sessions remaining, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,125 horses through the ring for $339,691,500, for an average of $159,855 (+25%) and a median of $90,000 (+45.2%).

John Oxley led all buyers at Wednesday's session, purchasing five yearlings for $382,000. Leading consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 29 horses for $1,279,000.

Glatt Strikes for Arrogate Colt

Southern California-based trainer Mark Glatt, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed client, brought home a son of the late Arrogate for $230,000–the top price paid for a colt–during Wednesday's Book 5 opener at Keeneland September.

The richest North American racehorse in history was humanely euthanized last June at Juddmonte Farms after suffering from an undetermined illness. He currently has two winners from his first crop. Arrogate was also represented by colts that brought $550,000, $500,000, $360,000, etc, earlier in the sale.

Consigned by Woods Edge Farm (Peter O'Callaghan), agent, Hip 3004 is the first foal out of Wicked Lick (Maclean's Music), runner-up in the 2017 GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Barry and Judith Becker purchased Wicked Lick, carrying Hip 3004, for $350,000 at the 2019 KEENOV sale. She subsequently brought $450,000 from Aaron and Marie Jones, in foal to Into Mischief, at the 2021 KEEJAN sale.

“He was a very nice, athletic-looking horse with a lot of size and scope,” Glatt said. “He's bred to have some speed on the bottom side being out of a Maclean's Music mare. He's a very nice individual. Arrogate was a very outstanding horse. He had a good weekend a couple of weeks ago–maybe a little bit later, developing kind of horses. If he hits, it could be a very good thing since there's not going to be very many of them out there.”

Glatt also signed for an $85,000 Runhappy filly (Hip 3015) from the Hunter Valley Farm consignment Wednesday.

“The business seems to be very healthy,” Glatt said. “The numbers don't lie. It makes buying these horses a little tough– you obviously want to buy them for as cheap as you can. But it shows the business is healthy right now and that certainly isn't a bad thing.”

McPeek Continues to Reload

Trainer Ken McPeek continued his Keeneland September shopping spree, purchasing five yearlings, as agent, for a total of $317,000 during Wednesday's session, the second-highest amount spent on the day.

His purchases included:

Throughout the first nine days of trade, McPeek has signed for 23 head for a gross of $2.467 million ($107,261 average), led by a $250,000 Practical Joke filly (Hip 1946).

“We've been cherry picking some horses out of there the last several days and it seems like we're averaging five or six a day– it's been good,” McPeek said. “It's been a lot of work, I'm glad the market has softened from the early books. I've got a lot of really good clients that have given us a budget to work with and we've been fortunate enough to acquire what we wanted.

Of his Wednesday purchases, McPeek said, “I was real pleased with the Mendelssohn colt that we bought. The Shaman Ghost was a beautiful filly. The Tamarkuz was a filly that looked quite fast. Overall, it was good.”

No stranger to finding value at KEESEP, McPeek's honor roll is led by Hall of Famer and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike, $57,000 in 2005); and last year's champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil, $35,000).

“I bought my first Derby horse Tejano Run out of Book 7 [for $20,000],” McPeek concluded. “We don't assume anything.”

 

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Derby Winning Trainer John Ward Jr Passes at 75

John T. Ward Jr., whose many wins included a victory in the 2001 GI Kentucky Derby with Monarchos, passed away Saturday at age 75.

His death was reported by Churchill Downs, which released a statement from track president Mike Anderson.

“John Ward Jr. personified the phrase 'Kentucky hard-boot,'” Anderson said. “He was a third-generation horseman who worked tirelessly throughout his career, culminating with service as Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The dedication to his craft as a trainer was amplified 20 years ago when he patiently prepared Monarchos to a memorable victory in the 2001 Kentucky Derby. Our hearts and prayers will be with Ward's family and friends throughout Derby Week as they grieve during this difficult time.”

It was not immediately known what the cause of death was.

Ward's grandfather, John S. Ward, his father, John T. Ward Sr. and uncle, Sherrill Ward, were also successful horsemen, who helped pave the way for the University of Kentucky graduate. Sherrill Ward is a Hall of Famer and trained Forego.

Ward sent out his first horse in 1976, but his best years would come in the '90s and early 2000s, when he teamed up with owner John Oxley. The two teamed up to win the GI Kentucky Oaks in 1995 with Gal in a Ruckus. They also campaigned Eclipse Award winner Beautiful Pleasure, the winner of the 1999 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Monarchos won the GI Florida Derby.

After starting just six horses in 2012, Ward retired from training, but stayed active in the sport. Shortly after his retirement, Ward became the executive director of the Kentucky Racing Commission and also served as the chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International. He was also a founding member and past president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, as well as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (KTOB). He stepped down from his position at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in 2016.

“John Ward was a true gentleman who loved Thoroughbred racing,” the KTOB said in a statement Sunday. “Our deepest condolences to Donna.”

In a statement released Sunday evening, the Breeders' Cup said, “John T. Ward Jr. was a consummate horseman who enjoyed great success as both a trainer and as an industry executive, and engendered enormous respect among his peers throughout his career. From his training victories of Monarchos in the Kentucky Derby and Beautiful Pleasure in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, to his leadership as president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International and executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, John served our sport with honor and distinction. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.”

Ward retired from training with 568 wins and 37 career black-type winners. He also won the GI Hopeful S. in 2002 with Sky Mesa, the 2002 GII Fountain of Youth S. with Booklet and the 2001 GI Acorn S. with Forest Secrets.

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