Oaks Winner Plum Pretty Dies At 16

2011's GI Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro) died Monday at Gainesway Farm according to a release from the farm. The 16-year-old was a multiple Grade I winner throughout her career for Peachtree Stable and trainer Bob Baffert and ultimately captured the lilies before retiring in 2012 with earnings of over $1.7m and a final record of 12-5-2-3.

A $130,000 OBS yearling, Plum Pretty would last secure a final bid of $4.2m from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm at KEENOV in 2012.  She produced a total of 8 foals and still has a 2-year-old Speightstown filly and a yearling Charlatan filly to represent her on the track.

“She was a pleasure to be around and always a great mom.” Pope remembered. “We are blessed to have several fillies out of her still to race and one that has already produced a foal. The colts have gone on to secondary careers in the show world and have her awesome personality.”

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After Being Pulled from Keeneland November Sale, Rich Strike Will Be Pointed to Racing

Owner Rick Dawson has changed his mind a few times regarding the career of his GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice). One day he's coming back to the races, another day he's to be sold as a stallion prospect, the next day it's back to trying to get him back to the races.

It's not that Dawson is indecisive, it's more a matter of him reacting to what is a constantly changing situation.

“A few weeks before the sale we had made plans to ship him to Gulfstream Park to Bill Mott to prepare for racing,” Dawson said. “We decided to have him examined one more time at Rood and Riddle and have an ultrasound to play it safe. The previous ultrasound had been really good so we were confident. This ultrasound showed he had regressed in his healing of the suspensory ligament. We had almost replaced all the scar tissue and it seemed to be repaired. We canceled transportation the next morning to Florida.”

So they entered him in the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age sale as a stallion prospect. But Dawson was able to read the room. With Rich Strike coming off dismal performances in the GI Clark S. and in the GII Alysheba, his value as a sire prospect had never been lower.

“Throughout the process and up until a couple days before the sale, the gut feeling I had so far as Rich Strike becoming a stallion at this point in his career was that I was not going to get what I was hoping for,” Dawson said.

So it was on to Plan C., try to get him back to the races after all.

Under the advice of Dr. Larry Bramlage, Rich Strike has been, since exiting the sale, undergoing stem cell treatments aimed at healing the problems he's been having all along with the suspensory ligaments in his two front legs.

“After the sale I was thinking 'what am I going to do now?'” Dawson said. “I started checking options. I started further researching other options. We visited with Dr. Bramlage at Rood and Riddle and we talked about stem cell treatment. We were so close to getting him back before. If stem cells could bring anything to the party it could really make a difference. He's not terribly injured. He just has this on-going nagging-type issue and so we thought if we could get him healed he could race again and do so at a high level and win. That would make his stallion value a lot better. It's not a matter of dollars to me. I just want to get him into a situation where he has access to really good mares and therefore get him to a level playing field to produce great offspring. If you're covering mediocre or less-than-mediocre mares your stallion career is going to be pretty short.”

So the hope is that they can get Rich Strike over his problems and then turn him over to one of the best in the business in Bill Mott.

Rich Strike | Coady

“Bill Mott believes that if we can get him back to 100%, he can return to a similar level as his Derby race, his Travers, the Lukas Classic, races where he did really well,” Dawson said. “Bill doesn't think there's anything that can prevent him from doing that and I tend to agree.

“With the stem cell treatments, I talked to one trainer and owner and they'll tell you they had little or no success with stem cell treatments. Then others tell you they had a lot of success. If I can't get him healed and back to a point where he can withstand training and racing and being safe doing so then I will retire him. As long as I feel like we're improving his health, taking our time and giving him every opportunity to heal I'm all in favor for it. We have no time clock.”

Rich Strike remains at Margaux Farm, where all he is doing is walking and is not yet back under tack. Dawson is aiming for him to join Mott in April and begin serious training. Of course, that plan could go up in smoke if the vets don't like what they see from future ultrasounds. Dawson understands this plan is no sure thing, but believes it's the best possible route to take.

“All this means is that we're going to have a year off and haven't gotten beaten up,” the owner said. “In his age group, every time I look I see that someone else has been retired. The older class just gets smaller and smaller. My hope is that when he turns five, he'll be back in great condition and he'll be in great position. He can be older, bigger and better. I feel like if we get him back well and he could win a race or two will that will not only further his resume as a race horse, but it's also going to increase his value as a stallion. The risk is worth taking.”

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Vekoma Filly Tops KEENOV Book 4 Opener

A filly from the first crop of MGISW Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Hip 2205) shot to the top of the class late in Saturday's opening session of Book 4 of the Keeneland November Sale, bringing $215,000 from Frankie's Stable.

Consigned by Grovendale Sales, she was bred by William Humphries and Altair Farms. The chestnut is out of Truckstop Diamond (Flat Out), a half-sister to SW & GISP Meadow Dance (Jimmy Creed).

“She is a superstar physical,” said Grovendale's Chance Timm. “Those kind bring a premium and breakout.”

This is the first crop for GI Carter H. and GI Met Mile winner Vekoma, who stands at Spendthrift Farm.

“It is surprising how much leg and scope they have,” Timm said of the Vekoma weanlings. “This filly has a lot of leg underneath her and great length. She has a beautiful profile, more so than you would think for the sire line.”

The day's top mare was the 3-year-old Street Slayer (Street Sense) (Hip 2166), purchased by JCB Stables for $170,000. Selling as a broodmare prospect, the bay is a half to GSW Biddy Duke (Bayern).

A total of 246 horses changed hands during the sixth session of Keeneland November for a gross of $9,596,900. During the equivalent session last year, 271 head brought $10,507,100. The average was up a tick from $38,772 in 2021 to $39,012 and the median increased from $26,000 to $30,000. The RNA rate was also up from 18.37% to 23.84%

Through the first six days of selling 1,287 horses have summoned $192,033,900, a large increase from last year when 1,391 head brought $176,713,100. Average increased from $127,040 in 2021 to $149,210 and the median was also up from $75,000 to $77,000. The RNA rate was 20.42% for 2021, but is up to 25.09% this year so far.

“It has definitely slowed down a bit here in Book 4 compared to earlier in the week,” Timm said. “It just doesn't have as much traffic as you'd like to see, but same story. When you lead ones up like that, you can't hide them. Everybody's there for them.”

The Keeneland November Sale continues through Wednesday with sessions starting at 10 a.m. It will be followed by a single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale Thursday.

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Lyon Strikes Again For Proud Emma

PROUD EMMA (Include) (Hip 876) is likely to visit Flightline for her next mating after summoning $1 million Wednesday at KEENOV from that superstar's breeder and part-owner Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm. The Grade III winner sold carrying her first foal by Charlatan. She was consigned by Bedouin Bloodstock.

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