Tag: Kentucky

Gandharvi Adds Case Clay To Its Team As Business Consultant

Amid the speed-filled tempo of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale this week, it's all about equine and human partnerships for Gandharvi Racing as they add Case Clay as a Business Consultant to their team.

Mind you, this isn't about making a splash or just putting together some haphazard deal. No, the intent behind this organization's latest move tunnels much deeper into the recesses of history.

As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was a racing stable. Like city-planning in the ancient world or otherwise, success just doesn't come easy. When it comes to competing in international racing circles, it takes a multipolar pivot across continents.

The underpinnings of such a capital venture were stabilized for Gandharvi founder Kuldeep Singh Rajput the moment he found out that he had deep family ties to racing's past in India.

“I have the horse racing and breeding bug, which was probably given to me by my great-grandparents, who were breeders,” said Rajput.

Though he is based in Boston, Massachusetts, Rajput is just such an internationalist. He built a successful career in biotech, and now he's parlaying his good business sense by carefully assembling a team with the intent to draw in more fans into the world of bloodstock and racing partnerships.

Gandharvi, which invested in its first horse in 2021, has aspirations to build a very strong broodmare band and has made no bones that it will focus its operations on developing fillies, which could yield a farm in the future. For now, the tailwinds are behind Rajput. Considering the current equine climate across the poles of this sport, holding your line in this game becomes a tall order for a solo yachtsman, but he isn't going alone.

To get there, the outfit's vessel is fitted with a strong frame of experience. Led by the Lexington, Kentucky-based Kiwi, Mick Wallace as their full-time Chief Operating Officer and Godolphin Flying Start grad Caitlin Smith, who anchors several of their operations from her base in Sydney, Australia, they are lending a hand in the growth department.

As the team assembled this week in Saratoga Springs, Gandharvi is expanding their roster by announcing Clay would be coming on as a blue chip adviser.

“I want Gandharvi to be around for the long term, and Case [Clay] will help us with that, beginning with the development of our five-year-plan,” said Rajput. “Also, he has relationships all over the world in this business and we respect that he will service them as well.”

With his diverse background, which was honed while working for his family at the fabled Three Chimneys Farm and even after it was sold to the Torrealba Family as their Chief Commercial Officer, Clay made the move last year to go out on his own as the principal of Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, LLC. For Gandharvi, part of Clay's specialty will be to focus on building toward the future.

“I'm excited about the opportunity to lend a hand to Gandharvi with their strategic plan and advice from a business standpoint. My current clients and business relationships are very important to me, so I'm glad that Kuldeep and I could arrange it so my current Case Clay Thoroughbred Management will run as business as usual, while still being able to help his organization in whatever way I can.”

With the addition of Clay, Gandharvi is continuing to pursue expanding global partnerships. Rajput himself has connections who regularly reach out with interest, but they might not have the foggiest how they can participate. He knows that if you make racing fun for everyone, including friends, family, etc., you can offer them a high-quality experience with both racing and breeding. Gandharvi will be searching for partnerships with the more well-established Thoroughbred operations to share in this journey.

They've already accrued progress along the way down under and in North America. In New Zealand, Ulanova (Santos {Aus}), a 2-year-old chestnut filly who won a Group 3 back in February at New Plymouth before running second in the G1 Sistema S. at Pukekohe Park, is continuing to make a name for herself. She is a finalist for the Champion 2-year-old category for New Zealand's Horse of the Year Awards.

The stable also established part-ownership in Australia's MG1SW Forbidden Love (All Too Hard {Aus}). Also of note, at the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale, Gandharvi purchased Nomothaj (Snitzel) for $1.1 million. The Listed winner has produced only one foal so far, a colt by Exceed And Excel, who sold at this year's Magic Millions National Yearling sale for $575,000.

When it comes to their North American activities, Gandharvi Racing bought into GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Aloha West (Hard Spun) through a partnership with Eclipse Thoroughbreds, and in conjunction with Michael Dubb, they campaigned GSW Battle Bling (Vancouver {Aus}). The stable made news last year when they purchased 18 yearlings during the Keeneland September sale for $7.605 million.

Back at the Saratoga Yearling Sale on Monday evening, in the spirit of budding partnerships, Gandharvi got on the board with Brook Smith's Rocket Ship Racing to land for $900,000 a filly by Constitution (hip 118).

“Gandharvi is all about bringing partners together and having fun racing,” said Rajput to TDN's Jessica Martini after the ticket was signed. “And I think it's a match made in heaven. We agreed on the same filly. It's all about partnerships and we are looking forward to it.”

Hopeful that North American success will come with a budding equine portfolio that will likely include a boutique broodmare band, Gandharvi will look to continue to add fillies and colts to race within a bevy of expanding partnerships. Now with Case Clay's assistance, the future is looking even more bright, but Gandharvi is always mindful that a racing stable isn't built in a day.

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Charges Dropped Against Maria Borell

More than seven years after Maria Borell, trainer of 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy, was accused of animal cruelty to animals in the second degree, charges against her were officially dismissed Thursday in district court in Mercer County, Kentucky.

Daily Racing Form reported Wednesday that Borell's attorney Russell Baldani had indicated that a proposed dismissal order had been filed earlier in the week that would lift the ban that forbade Borell from caring for horses. The Blood-Horse confirmed Thursday that the case had come to a conclusion.

Borell, who was fired as the trainer of Runhappy one day after his victory in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, was allegedly in Florida at the time that dozens of horses were located on a farm in Mercer Country in a substandard state of health. Her father Charles was questioned by authorities and detained and was released from custody two days later after posting bail. He would subsequently plead guilty to nine counts of animal cruelty.

A jury trial was set to begin July 12, but was delayed after Baldani and local prosecutor Ted Dean began discussing an out-of-court arrangement, Baldani told DRF, adding that he argued that the charges against Borell would be 'difficult to prove' at trial given that the affected horses were not under her immediate care at the time. Baldani told the Form that Charles Borell was prepared to testify to the same. Charles Borell was sentenced to nine concurrent days of 179 days, of which 176 were conditionally discharged and three were credited for time served.

Under the deal reached, Borell will pay her $7,500 bail bond to Thoroughbred Charities of America, which laid out as much as $13,000 towards caring for the horses, according to the Blood-Horse story. The publication says an additional $2,500 being held in escrow by Baldani would also go to the TCA.

In a Facebook post following the dismissal of the charges, Borell wrote, in part, “To all my past clients, my friends, my attorney Russ Baldani, everyone that has stood behind me in this battle, I love you and appreciate you more than you can ever imagine. Thank you for keeping me strong enough to never give up and to keep fighting. For the first time in years, my heart is full.

“Those who know me know I would never knowingly harm any animal. No animal in my personal care has ever been mistreated in any way. I am happily forfeiting my bail money to Thoroughbred Charities of America in thanks for helping all Thoroughbreds then, now and in the future.”

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Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland Announce Fixed Monday-Tuesday November Dates

Starting in 2024, the Kentucky November breeding stock sales dates will be fixed on the Monday and Tuesday after the Breeders' Cup, despite the location of the event, according to a joint press release from Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland, who said that the goal was providing “stability and the strongest market possible.”

This year, the Fasig-Tipton November auction will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7, and Keeneland November will open Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Beginning in November 2024, the Fasig-Tipton November Sale will take place on the Monday following the Breeders' Cup, while the November Breeding Stock Sale at Keeneland will begin on Tuesday. The Monday/Tuesday schedule will remain in place regardless of where the Breeders' Cup is staged. The 2024 World Championships will take place Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2, 2024, at Del Mar. Accordingly, the Fasig-Tipton November Sale will commence Monday, Nov. 4 and Keeneland November will open Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In the past few years, the sales dates have varied based on the location of the Breeders' Cup and the interruption caused by the Covid pandemic.

“Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton share a commitment to do what is best for the health and vibrancy of our industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “This schedule not only provides clarity, but capitalizes on the momentum from Breeders' Cup, maximizes the opportunity for international buyers to participate and creates positive energy surrounding both sales. We've listened to the thoughtful feedback from our clients and members of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association and worked to determine an outcome that is beneficial for everyone.”

“Both sales companies share a vision and commitment to serve the marketplace in the most effective manner,” Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. said. “This announcement provides all industry participants a defined and consistent schedule for the November sales.”

Walker Hancock, the president of the Consignors and Breeders Association, said, “I want to thank the sales companies for getting together and figuring out this path forward that benefits the whole industry. It's great to see them working together. It's a solution that benefits all.”

Elite Sales co-owner Liz Crow, a member of the board of the CBA and who frequently sells mares at the two sales who have competed in the Breeders' Cup just days before, said, “When the Breeders' Cup is in Kentucky, I think Monday-Tuesday is great. When it's in California, I would prefer Tuesday-Wednesday. I found that when buyers have more time they can gather more information and do their homework, and it's less stressful on everyone, including our equine athletes, which are the most important factor here. Flying these mares home and then having them sell right off the plane is harsh and not very safe for them. I have had a few instances of horses colicking, and it's hard to get them rehydrated after a hard race like the Breeders' Cup. The buyers are rushed through the process when you have the Breeders' Cup in California. I am very happy that we're not doing Sunday any more. And I am happy the sales companies worked together and were able to figure something out this year before the entry deadline.”

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After A Chilly Reception From Stallion Farms, Rombauer Is Making His Way Back To The Races

Back in early 2022 when John and Diane Fradkin announced that their homebred GI Preakness winner Rombauer (Twirling Candy) was being retired after suffering a soft tissue injury they went to work to find him his new home. The horse has a good pedigree and is a Grade I winner, so the expectations were that he'd stand at stud in Kentucky. Regional markets were also considered. Another option was Japan. But no matter where their horse might land, the Fradkins decided that Rombauer's racing career was over.

That was the plan, until the plan went awry. Rombauer's current home is not in Central Kentucky but in South Florida. Based at Gulfstream Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Rombauer is in training and could make his next start some time next month. He has not raced since finishing third more than two years ago in the 2021 GI Belmont S.

“I never expected this,” John Fradkin said.

The calls began after the decision was made to retire Rombauer and the Fradkins reached out to all the usual suspects. While they were willing to listen to any offers, they felt their horse had done enough to have earned the right to stand in Kentucky. He had also won the El Camino Real Derby and finished second in the GI American Pharoah S. and third in the GII Blue Grass S. while earning $1,040,500. He was a winner on dirt, turf and synthetic. Those are solid credentials, but the Kentucky farms weren't sold.

“The only real market in this country is Kentucky and Kentucky wasn't interested in him, which shocked me,” Fradkin said. “I never received a real offer in writing at any price. I did offer the horse to several places for what I thought was a spectacular deal, where they would almost be guaranteed to get their money back in one year, and they still didn't take it.”

The Japanese weren't interested, either, Fradkin said. He might have been able to find a farm outside of Kentucky to take Rombauer, but he didn't aggressively pursue that avenue. Whether it was from Kentucky, Japan, New York, California, Maryland, Fradkin said he never received an official offer in writing for the horse from anyone.

“The plan was to have him stand in Kentucky,” Fradkin said. “Plan B was Japan. Plan C was to run him again, and that's what we are doing. To borrow a quote from Jena Antonucci, 'when there's no seat at the table, you have to build your own table.'”

Fradkin admits that not everyone among the group that teamed up to win the Preakness was on board with the comeback. Rombauer was trained by Michael McCarthy and the Fradkins offered to give him the horse back. He declined.

“Michael wasn't that receptive to training him for a comeback,” Fradkin said. “His exact comment was that he had done enough and should be a stallion. I don't disagree with that, but the stallion farms weren't interested in him. We couldn't force them to take the horse. Michael is a conservative guy and I respect that. He just didn't want to be responsible if something goes wrong.  I have two trainers and Saffie is my East Coast trainer. Saffie was up for it. So he's with Saffie now.”

After the Belmont, Rombauer was training at Del Mar and the Fradkins were looking at races like the GI Haskell S. and the GI Travers S. After McCarthy expressed concerns that the horse wasn't 100 percent, they gave him 90 days off. Back in training and gearing up for a 4-year-old campaign, Rombauer suffered the soft tissue injury and the decision was made to retire him.

After deciding to regroup because of the lack of interest from the stallion farms, the Fradkins put Rombauer back into light training at WinStar Farm on Dec. 1. The next stop was Ocala and from there he went to Joseph's barn at Gulfstream, where he arrived in mid-June. He has had two official workouts for Joseph, both at three furlongs. Fradkin is thrilled with how the horse is doing.

“Rombauer is happy and thriving at the racetrack,” he said. “I am sure that he enjoys being back in training.”

Should Rombauer make it back to the races in August that will mean a gap of about 26 months between races. Fradkin believes it's an obstacle he can overcome.

“The world is going to get to see a bigger, faster version of Rombauer,” he said. “One thing people may remember about him is that in his moment of glory in the Preakness he looked like this little horse galloping by these much bigger horses. I think people will be surprised by how big he is now. It's not for sure that we'll make it back. Things could always go wrong. But if he makes it back he's going to make it back at a high level.”

For the Fradkins, the ideal scenario would be for the now 5-year-old to win some major races during his comeback, to do enough that next time around the major Kentucky stallion farms will come knocking on their door. If not, Fradkin is confident he will be able to work out a deal with a farm in another state.

“He will be a stallion some day,” he said. “So far as where, we'll just have to see how things turn out. In the meantime, we're ready to try him on the big stage once again.”

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