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Curlin, Kitten’s Joy Top 2021 Stallion Roster For Hill ‘N’ Dale At Xalapa

A new chapter begins for Hill 'n' Dale as the stallions take up stud duty at Xalapa Farm just outside of Paris, Ky.

The 13-strong stallion roster, led by stalwart breed-shapers Curlin and Kitten's Joy, arrived a week ago to the newly renovated and restored 1,400-acre stallion station and nursery.

“We are aware of the pressures on the market due to the uncertain climate we find ourselves in,” said John G. Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. “Hill 'n' Dale will once again look to be an industry leader by offering exceptional value in its entire roster. We are all in this together and together we will grow stronger as an industry.

“There are two stallions on the roster in particular who embody our effort to provide exceptional value in these challenging times,” Sikura continued. “Maclean's Music is emerging as an important young sire. Jackie's Warrior has been described as the best two year old in the country. He is yet another example of his sire's ability to produce an elite runner. In addition, Violence who has led virtually every category since his runners hit the track is the co-leading sire of Grade 1 winners with the likes of Into Mischief. His future remains bright. I repeat, we are all in this together.”

Below is the 2021 roster along with fees:

Army Mule
2014, Friesian Fire – Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector
$7,500 LFSN

Bayern
2011, Offlee Wild – Alittlebitearly, by Thunder Gulch
$7,500 LFSN

Curlin
2004, Smart Strike – Sherriff's Deputy, by Deputy Minister
$175,000 LFSN

Flintshire
2010, Dansili – Dance Routine, by Sadler's Wells
$10,000 LFSN

Good Magic
2015, Curlin – Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun
$30,000 LFSN

Kantharos
2008, Lion Heart – Contessa Halo, by Southern Halo
$30,000 LFSN

Kitten's Joy
2001, El Prado – Kitten's First, by Lear Fan
$60,000 LFSN

Lost Treasure
2015, War Front – Wading, by Montjeu
$5,000 LFSN

Maclean's Music
2008, Distorted Humor – Forest Music, by Unbridled's Song
$20,000 LFSN*
*Fee valid on contracts signed prior to Breeders' Cup

Midnight Lute
2003, Real Quiet – Candytuft, by Dehere
$15,000 LFSN

Stormy Atlantic
1994, Storm Cat – Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
$10,000 LFSN

Violence
2010, Medaglia d'Oro – Violent Beauty, by Gone West
$25,000 LFSN

World of Trouble
2015, Kantharos – Meets Expectations, by Valid Expectations
$15,000 LFSN

The post Curlin, Kitten’s Joy Top 2021 Stallion Roster For Hill ‘N’ Dale At Xalapa appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Juveniles By Candy Ride, Uncaptured, Empire Maker, Share Fastest Quarter At OBS October Under Tack Show

A filly by Candy Ride, a gelding by Uncaptured and a colt by Empire Maker sped quarters in : 21 1/5 to share honors for the fastest work at the distance at the Under Tack Show for the 2-year-olds and Horses of Racing Age section of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2020 October Sale.

Hip No. 2, consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, is a 2-year-old bay filly by Candy Ride out of stakes placed Garnet Crystals, by Lion Heart, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Rerun.
Hip No. 35, a 2-year-old bay gelding by Uncaptured consigned by Ocala Stud, is out of stakes winner Shining Moment, by Yes It's True,
Hip No. 39, a 2-year-old bay colt by Empire Maker also consigned by Top Line, is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Majestic River out of graded stakes-placed stakes winner Tempus Fugit, by Alphabet Soup.

Hip No. 17, a 2-year-old bay colt by Kitten's Joy consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, turned in a quarter in :21 2/5. He's out of Magicalcarpetride, by Smart Strike, a half sister to grade one stakes winner Smooth Roller.

The fastest three-eighths by a 2-year-old was by Hip No. 44, a colt by Anchor Down consigned by Navas Equine, Agent, who stopped the timer in :33 2/5. He's a half brother to stakes placed Tale Twister out of Abounding Love, by Tale of the Cat.

Hip No. 56, Annette's Humor, a 4-year-old chestnut filly by Shackleford consigned by consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, breezed the day's fastest three eighths, clocked in :33 1/5. She's a half-sister to stakes winner Sweet Juana out of Whimsical Miss, by Distorted Humor.

Hip No. 50, a 2-year-old bay filly by Speightster consigned by Julie Davies LLC, Agent, worked the session's fastest eighth, stopping the timer in :10 1/5. She's out of Bern Legacy, by Bernstein, a daughter of graded stakes placed stakes winner Penny Marie.

Hip No. 58, Slashing, a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, broke his maiden impressively in maiden special weight company this past Wednesday at Gulfstream Park West, leading all the way and winning by 5-1/4 lengths. The bay colt is out of graded stakes placed Proud Pearl, by Proud Citizen, a full sister to champion Proud Spell.

The workouts were recorded and can be viewed on the website, in their entirety or by individual hip number. They are also available in the Video Room as well as several kiosks in the breezeway and covered walking ring. Visitors to Ocala will find the videos available for in-room viewing at The Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Residence Inn and the Ocala Hilton, plus lounge viewing is available at the Hilton. Under Tack Show results are posted on the OBS website.

In addition to Under Tack Videos, Walking Videos and conformation photos may be available for the entire catalog.

To view the full under-tack show results, click here.

The post Juveniles By Candy Ride, Uncaptured, Empire Maker, Share Fastest Quarter At OBS October Under Tack Show appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hill ‘n’ Dale Stallions Settling in at Xalapa

A caravan of four massive Sallee Horse Vans journeyed from Fayette County to Bourbon County today to deliver the 13 members of the Hill ‘n’ Dale stallion roster to their new residence: Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.

While Hill ‘n’ Dale President John Sikura said there was apprehension going into the big move, everything went smoothly.

“It’s kind of like when a horse goes in the starting gate–lots can go wrong,” he said. “But thanks to the quality and class of the horses and the horsemanship of everybody who was all hands on deck, the horses really sort of embarrassed us with our suspense and worry.”

Two-time Horse of the Year and Hill ‘n’ Dale flagbearer Curlin (Smart Strike) settled in quickly in his new stall nearest to the barn entrance.

“As you would expect, Curlin was the leader,” Sikura said. “Within 10 seconds of being in the stall he had his head down eating alfalfa and never turned a hair. Even Kitten’s Joy (El Prado {Ire}), who’s an excitable, high-energy horse hollered once or twice and went to his hay rack.”

For Sikura, today marked the fruition of a dream that has been on his mind for years.

“I first saw Xalapa probably 10 or 12 years ago and when I set foot on the place, it made a lasting impression,” he recalled. “I thought it was the most vivid, natural, spectacular piece of land that I’ve ever seen. I’d often dreamt about this farm and wondered about converting it into a modern, great horse farm. The opportunity came about to buy the place and I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Sikura said that the development of their new acquisition has been ongoing for the past year-and-a-half.

“It’s been overwhelming as far as the depth and scope and amount of projects,” he said. “We’ve been working seven days a week, from dark to dark every day for about 18 months now. I think we’ve converted two farms of nearly 1,400 acres and maybe a decade’s worth of work in 18 months. It’s been a labor of love and emotions from overwhelming to challenging to just now starting to feel the satisfaction of seeing it all come together.”

Sikura shared that Xalapa was acquired by breeder Edward Simms after the turn of the 20th century and that Simms focused heavily on the landscaping of the property with the goal of making the estate “the Biltmore of the South.”

When Prince Palatine (Persimmon), winner of the St. Leger S. who was imported to Xalapa Farm for the later part of his stud career, perished in a stable fire, Sikura said that Simms vowed that all the barns on the property would be fireproof and so he made all the buildings of stone and concrete.

Sikura aims to maintain similar architecture in his renovations.

“I’ve done everything in very natural, earthy tones of the highest-quality material,” he said. “We’ve kept that theme without deferring our standards. It’s a lengthy process because everything is handcrafted. It’s not cookie cutter.”

While most of the heavy lifting on the undertaking is complete, Sikura is now enjoying putting on the finishing touches.

“I’ve very excited and proud of the place,” he said. “Not proud of myself, but proud of the opportunity and the stewardship that we’ve undertaken to bring this farm back to a sense of greatness. We look forward to achieving and succeeding with all that we do in a one-of-a-kind setting and the most unique farm that I believe exists.”

The post Hill ‘n’ Dale Stallions Settling in at Xalapa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Popular At Claim Box, Cupid’s Claws Finds Marathon Distance To His Liking In Tokyo City Cup

Claimed out of his last three starts on turf, 5-year-old gelding Cupid's Claws tried dirt for the first time Sunday, waltzing to a 7 1/4-length win in the marathon Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Flavien Prat, who collected his second stakes win on the day, he got a mile and one half in 2:30.12.

With the starting gate set at about the half mile pole, Cupid's Claws was unhurried in the initial run to the far turn and was fourth, about two lengths off of favored pacesetter Tizamagician as the field crossed under the wire for the first time. From there, Prat was able to save ground while in close attendance to the pace and shifted three-wide outside of Tizamagician and Combatant with a quarter mile to run.

Full of run at the top of the lane, Cupid's Claws gained the advantage a furlong out and darted clear late as much the best.

Claimed out of a third-place finish for $50,000 going a mile and one eighth on turf Sept. 5, Cupid's Claws was trying stakes company for the first time and paid $17.00, $6.20 and $3.00.

Owned by Flawless Racing, Masino Racing Stable, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis, Cupid's Claws, a 5-year-old Kitten's Joy gelding, picked up $60,000 for the win, boosting his earnings to $172,296. A winner of two turf starts and one race on synthetic Tapeta, Cupid's Claws is now 18-4-2-3 overall.

Tizamagician, who was ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, was the narrow second choice at 2-1 and outfinished Combatant by 1 ¼ lengths and returned $3.40 and $2.60.

With $39,101 bet to win on Combatant, he was the actual favorite by just five dollars at 2-1 and paid $2.40 to show with Umberto Rispoli up.

Fractions on the race were 25.22, 49.72, 1:14.82, 1:39.75 and 2:04.52.

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