old friends | Horse Racing Free Tips

Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Rocketry Arrives At Old Friends

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, welcomed multiple graded stakes winner Rocketry on Friday.

The son of Hard Spun, now 7, retired from racing in August of this year following a fourth-place effort in the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga. At that time, he was sent to owner Centennial Farms' Middleburg, Va., facility to unwind.

He retired after five seasons on the track with six wins from 29 starts and lifetime earnings of $811,577.

A fan favorite thanks to his thrilling late-running style, Rocketry truly came into his own as a 4-year-old under conditioner Jimmy Jerkens. He captured the 2018 Temperence Hill Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park by crushing a 98-year-old track record for 1 5/8 miles held by Man o' War, and, later that year, he earned his first graded stakes victory in the GR2 Marathon Stakes at Churchill Downs, again setting a new track record for the 1 ¾ miles.

In his 6-year-old campaign Rocketry added a third track record to his resume, this time going 1 5/8 miles in 2:42.57 at Keeneland, and picked up another graded victory in the GR2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes.

“Just like the movie character, Rocketry could not have lived up to his nickname of 'Rocky' any better,” said Don Little, Jr., President of Centennial Farms. “He consistently campaigned in stakes carrying the Centennial flag with honor every time he set foot on the track. He was sound throughout his career while breaking three track records over a distance of ground. Being involved with a horse like this was truly a joy, thrill, and one that will be cherished by all the partners involved,” Little continued. “While he will be missed on the oval, we look forward to him showing off to visitors at Old Friends.”

“Who doesn't love Rocketry?” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “We're very fortunate that Centennial Farms trusts us to care for their great marathoner. Thanks to Don Little, Jr. and Jimmy Jerkins for allowing us to showcase him to his many fans.”

The post Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Rocketry Arrives At Old Friends appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rocketry Arrives at Old Friends

MGSW Rocketry (Hard Spun) retired from racing in August and, after spending a month at Centennial Farms in Virginia, became the newest resident of Old Friends Friday. The 7-year-old 'TDN Rising Star' retired after five seasons on the track with six wins from 29 starts and lifetime earnings of $811,577.

“Who doesn't love Rocketry?” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “We're very fortunate that Centennial Farms trusts us to care for their great marathoner. Thanks to Don Little, Jr. and Jimmy Jerkens for allowing us to showcase him to his many fans.”

The post Rocketry Arrives at Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Old Friends Welcomes Next Shares and Bordonaro

Grade I winners Next Shares (Archarcharch–Two Dot Slew, by Evansville Slew) and Bordonaro (Memo {Chi}–Miss Excitement, by Rajab) are the latest retirees to take up residence at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement home near Georgetown, Ky.

Next Shares, winner of the GI Shadwell Turf Mile S. in 2018 among his trio of graded scores, last raced in July at Del Mar for trainer Richard Baltas, who was also part of his large ownership group. The 8-year-old gelding retires with a record of 41-7-5-5 and earnings of $1,891,971.

Bordonaro, now 20, won the 2006 GI Ancient Title Breeders' Cup S., three other graded events, and earned just shy of $1 million. Trained by William Spawr, he raced as a homebred for Fred Carrillo and Daniel A. Cassella and has been residing at the United Pegasus Foundation near Tehachapi, Calif.

“We're so thrilled to have both of these wonderful athletes,” said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “Richard Baltus, who entered Next Shares in the [2018] Old Friends S. [at Kentucky Downs] because it guaranteed his retirement, and Bill Spawr, who trusted us with Amazombie, are two very special old friends.”

The post Old Friends Welcomes Next Shares and Bordonaro appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Next Shares, Bordonaro Retired To Old Friends

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, has welcomed two new retirees.

Next Shares, winner of the 2018 Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs, and multiple graded stakes winner Bordonaro.

A Richard Baltas trainee and owned in partnership, Next Shares (Archarcharch – Two Dot Slew, Evansville Slew) retires after seven seasons with a record of seven wins from 49 starts and earnings of $1,891,971.

A multiple graded stakes winner, Next Shares also captured the 2018 G1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland, the G2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita, and the G2 Seabiscuit at Del Mar in 2019.

Bordonaro (Memo – Miss Excitment, Rajab), comes to Old Friends through the United Pegasus Foundation in Tehachapi, CA. A William Spawr trainee, the now 20-year-old gelding won the 2006 G1 Ancient Breeders' Cup Stakes at Oak Tree and is a two-time winner of the G3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (2006 and 2007) at Oaklawn Park. He retired with 10 wins from 20 starts and earnings of $938,128.

“We're so thrilled to have both of these wonderful athletes,” said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “Richard Baltus, who entered Next Shares in the Old Friends Stakes because it guaranteed his retirement, and Bill Spawr, who trusted us with Amazombie, are two very special old friends.”

The post Next Shares, Bordonaro Retired To Old Friends appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post