Ben Perkins, Sr., a fixture as a trainer on the New Jersey Thoroughbred racing circuit since 1958 whose 854 career winners included 1981 Haskell Invitational winner Five Star Flight, has passed away at the age of 89. Funeral services are pending.
Perkins, Sr. took out his trainer's license in 1958, the same year he recorded his first career victory at Monmouth Park. He also trained at Garden State Park, Atlantic City Race Course and the Meadowlands before his retirement in 1999. Following his retirement from training, he set up and managed several racing partnerships and stables well into his 80s.
He trained 11 graded stakes winners, with Five Star Flight winning the 1981 Haskell by five lengths over heavily-favored Lord Avie. With career earnings over $13 million, Perkins Sr. also was responsible for Grade I winner Conveyor, who captured the 1995 Meadowlands Cup.
Monmouth Park honored Perkins, Sr., with the track's prestigious Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award in 2007.
Perkins, Sr., is survived by his wife, Geraldine; son Ben Perkins, Jr.; daughter Pinky, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Camila T in a maiden race at Monmouth Park.
Monmouth Suits Filly To A T
First-time starter Camila T (No Nay Never) won on debut at Monmouth Park for R.T Racing Stable and Victoria's Ranch, LLC and trainer Juan Avila (video).
Bred by Barronstown Stud, the January foal was a €120,000 Goffs Orby yearling on the bid of Stripes Stables. The first winner for her dam, Just Imagining (War Front), the filly has a yearling half-brother by Wootton Bassett (GB) and a weanling full-sister. Her second dam Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), herself responsible for five stakes winners led by Group 1-winning juveniles Van Gogh (American Pharoah) and Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), is a daughter of blue hen matriarch Doff The Derby (Master Derby), the dam of standout runner Generous (Ire) (Caerleon).
A total of 39 of Coolmore's No Nay Never's 76 U.S. runners have now won (51%) with the victory of Camila T. Of these, nine, or 12%, have earned at least one black-type score, including GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Meditate (Ire), dual graded winner Nay Lady Nay (Ire), and GIII Palm Beach S. victor Vitalogy (GB).
#6 CAMILA T (IRE) ($4.20) runs 'em off their feet for a flashy career debut sprinting over the turf in the 3rd race at @MonmouthPark.
Robert S. Evans's Poet's Woods (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put it all together in her fifth start, winning at Monmouth Park for trainer Kent Sweezey this past weekend (video).
Bred by SF Bloodstock, the 3-year-old filly was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling buy by P. Lawley-Wakelin and she is a half-sister to a trio of Kitten's Joy stakes winners led by GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero turned Lanwades Stud sire Bobby's Kitten. Yet to race for Celestial Woods (Forestry) is a juvenile filly by Kitten's Joy named Gerwig and a yearling filly by Twirling Candy. The mare was bred back to the last-named sire this spring. This is the extended family of at least four Group/Grade 1 winners and sires anchored by Wild Event (Wild Again).
Ballylinch Stud's Lope De Vega is going from strength to strength, and he has sired 38 winners from 70 runners (54%) in America. His seven stakes winners from that batch (10%) are anchored by Grade I winners Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Aunt Pearl (Ire), and Program Trading (GB), with the latter striking in the Saratoga Derby earlier this summer.
After a disqualification in @MonmouthPark Race 5, the win goes to #1 POET'S WOODS ($4.60). @jockeypacolopez was in the saddle for the @SweezeyK barn and owner Robert Evans.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) is on something of a roll, taking her fourth start in a row in Del Mar's GI Del Mar Oaks on Saturday (video). Trained by Leonard Powell, she first appeared in Making Waves just under two months ago and won the GII San Clemente S. at the seaside track in July.
Per agent Ron Anderson, Joel Rosario is off his mounts Wednesday at Saratoga as he still has soreness in his mouth after requiring stitches Saturday when Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) tragically broke down in the GI Test S., NYRA's Keith McCalmont said in a tweet Wednesday. Rosario will aim for a return to riding on Thursday, Anderson added.
Per agent Ron Anderson, Joel Rosario is off his mounts Wednesday at Saratoga as he still has soreness in his mouth after requiring stitches Saturday. Joel will aim for a Thursday return. https://t.co/0Jc9OkErfe
After being sidelined more than five weeks due to an injury suffered in a spill on July 2 at Monmouth Park, jockey Samy Camacho will resume riding on Friday, the track said in a release Wednesday.
Camacho will ease into his return with three mounts on the eight-race card. The jockey, who remains tied for second (with Jairo Rendon) in the Oceanport standings, suffered a right shoulder injury in the mishap.
Samy Camacho | Monmouth Park Web
“I'm ready to come back,” said Camacho. “I feel good. I'm ready to go again. I'm not 100 percent, but I am close to being completely healed.”
Camacho said he intends to ride through the end of the Monmouth Park meet on Sept. 11 before heading to Florida to ride for the winter.
“His first day back we didn't want to overdo it,” said Mike Moran, Camacho's agent. “But he says he is feeling great and I'm looking forward to seeing him ride again.”
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by Elusive Princess, who won the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. on Friday.
Princess Reigns In Saratoga Oaks
LNJ Foxwoods, Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and NK Racing's Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) made her Stateside debut a winning one at Saratoga for trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois on Friday (video).
Bred by her trainer, she won three of her first four French starts for Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and was runner-up in the G3 Prix Cleopatre. LNJ Foxwoods and Dubois signed on as owners prior to the daughter of Elusive Action (Fr) (Elusive City) running a close second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary in May. Elusive Princess was making her first start since an unplaced run in the G1 Prix de Diane. A full-sister to a yearling filly, Elusive Princess is kin to the Group 3-winning sire Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), who was placed thrice at the highest level.
Elusive Princess is the first runner in the U.S. for her dual Japanese Group 3-winning sire, who stands at Haras de la Baie in France.
Klaravich Stables' Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) won the Listed De La Rose S. at Saratoga for Chad Brown on Wednesday. (video). The quadruple graded winner has been placed in both the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. and the GI Diana S.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the first foal out of her dam was a 200,000gns buy at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Sealife (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})'s latest foals are a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and a weanling full-sister to the winner. G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is under the third dam.
Juddmonte's Kingman has 30 winners from 54 runners (56%) in the U.S. His eight American stakes winners (15%) are anchored by three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) with Technical Analysis a close second.
Filly Continues Klaravich and Brown's Spa Success
GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. heroine McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was the second Saratoga stakes winner in two days for Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown with a victory in the GII Glens Falls S. on Thursday (video).
A 180,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 yearling, the bay was bred by Essafinaat UK, Ltd. The third foal and group/graded winner for G3 Oh So Sharp S. second Astrelle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}), the 4-year-old is a half-sister to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}). A half-sister to G2 Premio Ribot victor Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), Astrelle has the winning 3-year-old colt Lieber Power (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), as well as fillies by Calyx (GB) and Pinatubo (Ire), born in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Frankel's 44 U.S. runners have 25 winners (56%) among them. McKulick is his first Grade I winner in that locale among his 10 American stakes winners (23%), although the Juddmonte stallion does have Canadian Grade I winner Wild Beauty (GB).
Bravo, Mon Amy!
Graded winner Amy C (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) collected her third career stakes victory in the Listed Daisycutter H. at Del Mar at the end of July (video). Representing Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, and Robert LaPenta, the 5-year-old mare took the GIII Las Cienegas S. in January for trainer Phil D'Amato and was placed in the GIII Intercontinental S. at Belmont in June.
A winner in two French starts for Franconson Partners, the D. Curran-bred was trained by Henry Spiller. The fourth foal and third winner for Alzahra (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Amy C has a 2-year-old half-brother named Rebel Empire (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) and a yearling half-sister by Wooded (Ire). Dual Guineas heroine Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is under the third dam.
Charming Thought's leading runner, Amy C is one of two winners from two to race in the U.S. The 11-year-old son of Oasis Dream (GB) stands at March Hare Stud for LM Stallions.
Great Friends Stable, LLC, James Cahill, Mark Davis and Ty Leatherman's Irish import Angiolleta (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) became the first U.S. winner for her Coolmore Stud-based sire with a win at Del Mar for trainer Doug O'Neill recently (video).
Bred by Wardley Bloodstock, the daughter of Angelic Guest (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) changed hands for 20,000gns as a Tattersalls December yearling in 2022. Runner-up in her second start in France for Mrs. R Hillen and trainer Christopher Head, the chestnut was purchased privately by her current connections shortly thereafter. A half-sister to a pair of fillies by New Bay (GB) and Ardad (Ire) born in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Angiolleta's extended family features multiple group winner Sovereign Debt (Ire), a full-brother to the winner's dam, as well as G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 scorer Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Freshman sire Calyx sports an 33% strike rate of 10 winners from 30 runners worldwide anchored by G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine Persian Dreamer. Angiolleta is one of two runners in the U.S.
Dark Angel Colt Is The Vintage Of Choice
Three Chimneys Farm and Stonestreet Stables, LLC's Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) graduated in his Del Mar bow for trainer Wesley Ward on Thursday (video). The KCS Bloodstock Ltd.-bred was third at first asking at Belmont in June.
Knocked down for €170,000 as a Goffs November foal, the grey was resold for 320,000gns as a Book 1 yearling at Tattersalls last October. The second foal and winner for The Mums (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is a half-sister to a pair of black-type horses, the colt has a yearling full-brother. G2 Temple S. winner Priceless (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is under the third dam.
Of Yeomanstown resident Dark Angel's 43 runners in the U.S., 25 (58%) have passed the post in front and six (14%) have landed at least one stakes victory. His trio of top-level winners are three-time Grade I winner-turned Gainesway sire Raging Bull (Fr), dual Grade I winner Althiqa (GB), and GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Hunt (Ire).
Turn On The Jets (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is now a three-time winner in the U.S. after scoring at Del Mar on Friday evening for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). The gelding is owned by the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano.
Bred by Mr. D. Byrne, the chestnut won once on the Dundalk all-weather for Martin and D Moylan and trainer Jack Davison before traveling Stateside. The 2022 Stormy Liberal S. winner is the first foal out of the winning Dandy Man (Ire) mare Chiclet (Ire), who foaled a full-sister to Turn On The Jets in 2022. G1 Coronation Cup winner Pether's Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is under the third dam.
Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas has sired 13 winners from 21 runners (62%) in the U.S. His other three stakes winners besides Turn On The Jets (19%) have all won at the graded level–Grade I winners Going Global (Ire) and Chez Pierre (Fr)–while Quattroelle (Ire) has been placed in the GI Gamely S. besides her graded scores.
Honourable Mentions:
Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC, and Marsha Naify, padded his graded resume with a win in the GII Eddie Read S. at Del Mar on Sunday for trainer Phil D'Amato (video).
Bredman Family Racing LLC and WEBD, LLC's No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) bounced back to take Monmouth Park's Tyro S. after a fruitless Royal Ascot that same day for trainer George Weaver (video). The colt was ninth in the G2 Norfolk S. after taking the Royal Palm Juvenile S. at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
