Preliminary Competition Complete At Thoroughbred Makeover; Finalists Set For The Weekend

The culmination of ten months — or, for the 2020 horses, almost two years — of hard work came to fruition today at the Kentucky Horse Park as the final day of preliminary competition came to a close. All ten Makeover disciplines have now set their Finale fields: the five top-scoring horses in each discipline will return for one more test in their respective competition years to determine final placings. The winner of each discipline will then be eligible to be named Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, sponsored by Churchill Downs, by a panel of all Makeover judges.

View preliminary round standings and see the Finale fields here. Learn more about the discipline leaders from today's competition:

2020 Competitive Trail Leader: Thunderous Affair, trained by Lindsey Partridge

Thunderous Affair (Liaison – Thunder Fan, by Thunder Gulch) is a 2017 16.2-hand gray/roan mare bred in Kentucky by Jim Williams. She never made a start, but did train to race, and last worked in September of 2019. CANTER Michigan aided in her transition.

Lindsey Partridge is a professional based in Pontypool, Ontario.

2021 Competitive Trail Leader: Super Terrific, trained by Abbey Blair

Super Terrific (Super Saver – Tiz Terrific, by Tiznow) is a 2014 16.2-hand bay gelding bred in Kentucky by T. F. Van Meter & Fanfare. He sold as a weanling at Keeneland November for $110,000, then again as a yearling at Keeneland September for $85,000. He went on to make 19 starts with two wins, earning $60,907 over his career. His last race was in June of 2020 at Belmont Park.

Abbey Blair is a professional from London, Ky.

2020 Dressage Leader: Dispatcher, trained by Stephanie Calendrillo

Dispatcher (Distorted Humor – Charity Belle, by Empire Maker) is a 2015 16.3-hand chestnut gelding, bred in Kentucky by Godolphin. He made four starts with one win, retiring with $13,145 in earnings. His last start was in June of 2019 at Belmont Park.

Stephanie Calendrillo is a professional from Georgetown, Ky.

2021 Dressage Leader: Kubo Cat, trained by Alison O'Dwyer

Kubo Cat (D'Wildcat – Golden Diva, by Gold Fever) is a 2016 16.0-hand chestnut gelding, bred in Louisiana by Carrol Castille. He made 16 starts, but never broke his maiden, retiring with $24,895 after his last start in December of 2019 at Delta Downs.

Alison O'Dwyer is a professional based in Severn, Md.

2020 Eventing Leader: Legend's Hope, trained by Jazz Napravnik

Legend's Hope (Not For Love – Lunar's Legend, by Polish Numbers) is a 2013 17.1-hand chestnut gelding who is a three-time contender in the Maryland Million Classic. He made 45 starts with four wins, earning $156,388 in his career. His last race was in November of 2019, retiring from Laurel Park.

Jazz Napravnik is a professional from Monkton, Md.

2021 Eventing Leader: Fleet Stepper, trained by Hillary Irwin

Fleet Stepper (Midshipman – Raven's Rockette, by Raven's Pass) is a 2017 16.2-hand bay mare  who made three career starts but never broke her maiden, retiring after her last start in August of 2020. She's a Kentucky-bred by 81 Gotham LLC.

Hillary Irwin is a professional based in Ocala, Fla.

2020 Field Hunter Leader: Zapper, trained by Cameron Sadler

Zapper (Ghostzapper – Doryphar, by Gone West) sold as a 2-year-old through Ocala Breeders' Sale in April of 2017 for $25,000, and went on to make 15 career starts with one win. He retired with $8,141 in earnings after his last race in August of 2019 at Indiana Grand Race Course. The 2015 15.3-hand bay gelding was bred in Kentucky by Kendall E. Hansen, M.D. Racing, LLC.

Cameron Sadler is an amateur from Southern Pines, N.C.

2021 Field Hunter Leader: Forthegreatergood, trained by Laura Sloan

Forthegreatergood (Scipion – No Peeking, by Langfuhr) earned $46,734 in his 22-race career, most recently running at Laurel Park in June of 2020. He raced his entire career for his Maryland-based breeder/owner/trainer Donna B. Lockard. Forthegreatergood is a 2015 16.1 hand gray/roan gelding, bred by Donna Verrilli.

Laura Sloan is a professional from Southern Pines, N.C.

2020 Freestyle Leader: Thunderous Affair, trained by Lindsey Partridge

Thunderous Affair (Liaison – Thunder Fan, by Thunder Gulch) is a 2017 16.2-hand gray/roan mare bred in Kentucky by Jim Williams. She never made a start, but did train to race, and last worked in September of 2019. CANTER Michigan aided in her transition.

Lindsey Partridge is a professional based in Pontypool, Ontario.

2021 Freestyle Leader: Papa Al, trained by Jody Busch

Papa Al (Papa Clem – Morell's Love, by Cutlass Reality) is a 2012 16.1-hand bay gelding bred in California by Salah Said Al-Mudarris. He made 36 starts with three wins for total career earnings of $26,831. His last start was in September of 2019 at Assiniboia.

Jody Busch is a professional from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

2020 Polo Leader: That's My Bertie, trained by the Willowbrook Polo team

That's My Bertie (Baptistry – Fat Cat Bertie, by Tactical Cat) is a 2017 15.0-hand dark bay/brown mare bred in Ohio by Carol Rettele. She made two lifetime starts and never git the board, retiring with $599 in earnings. Her last race was November of 2019 at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

Willowbrook Polo team is captained by Michael Groubert and based in Canfield, Ohio.

2021 Polo Leader: Ramses, trained by Benjamin Lynch

Ramses (Pioneerof the Nile – Dancing House, by Tapit) was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin. The 2018 15.0-hand bay gelding made just two career starts for owner/breeder, failing to hit the board and retiring with $248 in career earnings. His last race was in December of 2020 at Tampa Bay.

Benjamin Lynch is an amateur from Fallston, Md.

2020 Show Hunter Leader: Still Dreaming, trained by Charles Hairfield

Still Dreaming (Flatter – Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry) is a 2016 16.2-hand chestnut gelding bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms. He was a $460,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September in 2017, and went on to make seven starts with two wins. He made two graded stakes starts but failed to place in either. He retired with $63,140 in earnings after his last race, the 2019 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park.

Charles Hairfield is professional from Johns Island, S.C.

2021 Show Hunter Leader: Ironic, trained by Lara Van Der Heiden

Ironic (Five Iron – Only, by Salt Lake) is a 2017 16.2-hand gray/roan gelding bred in Arkansas by Starfish Stable, LLC. He made six starts but never hit the board, retiring with $859 in earnings after his last start in September of 2020 at Louisiana Downs.

Lara Van Der Heiden is an amateur from Carlisle, Ky.

2020 Show Jumper Leader: Canton Comet, trained by Samantha Fawcett

Canton Comet (Shanghai Bobby – Katie's Ten, by Rock Hard Ten) is a 2016 16.3-hand black mare bred in Kentucky by Kirby Chua. She sold for $80,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2017, and went on to make nine starts with one win. Her final start was in August of 2019 at Arlington, where she retired with $20,698 in earnings.

Samantha Fawcett is a professional from Alton, Ontario.

2021 Show Jumper Leader: Highest Rank, trained by Kamerra Brown Allen

Highest Rank (Courageous Cat – Hipshootinmomma, by Successful Appeal) is a 2016 16.1 hand bay gelding bred in New York by John T. Behrendt. He made 23 career starts, but never broke his maiden; he retired with $16,893 in career starts after his final race in October of 2020 at Finger Lakes.

Kamerra Brown Allen is a professional from Fulton, Mo.

The post Preliminary Competition Complete At Thoroughbred Makeover; Finalists Set For The Weekend appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Thoroughbred Incentive Program Announcers Winners Of Polo Awards

The Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) and United States Polo Association (USPA) announced today the winners of its awards to recognize Thoroughbreds that have excelled in a career as a polo horse.

  • High-Goal Horse: “Cubana,” registered with The Jockey Club as “Total Regs”
  • Low-Goal Horse: “Cajun Colonel”
  • Arena Polo Horse: “Wild 2 Me” (unnamed with The Jockey Club)
  • Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Horse: “Annie,” registered with The Jockey Club as “Grada a Annie”
  • Lesson Horse: “Dolly,” registered with The Jockey Club as “Little Doll”
  • Women's Polo Horse: “Rocket,” registered with The Jockey Club as “My Mom's Pretty”

Cubana is owned by Nic Roldan. “Cubana is a key player in my string and a bit of a fave in the barn due to her super kind demeanor,” Roldan said. “I played her in spring and fall polo at Grand Champions Polo Club getting her used to the game before her graduating to high goal, where she is now a firm fixture in my string.”

Cajun Colonel is owned by Cheryl Arnold and now ridden by her son Daniel. “Cajun Colonel embodies what amazing athletes Thoroughbreds are and demonstrates how the breed can successfully transition off of the track to becoming winners on the polo field,” Daniel said.

Wild 2 Me is owned by Wendy Stover and was bought as an unraced 2-year-old. “She has excellent bloodlines, and she can play both arena and grass polo with equal prowess,” said Stover. “I can always count on her to give me an awesome chukker.”

Annie is owned by Sherry Sheldon Gibson / Polodeo Ranch LLC. According to Zachary Cobbs, an interscholastic polo player, “Annie is an exceptional multilevel equestrian athlete. She tops the charts with her speed, agility, and her intuition regardless of which level rider she is with. She is the best babysitter for beginning riders while effortlessly transitioning to a skilled polo player.”

Dolly, owned by Laura Goddard, has been used as a lesson horse for nine years. “Dolly continues to be one of our staple beginner horses and has traveled to play USPA arena tournaments, field tournaments, and USPA interscholastic games across three states,” said Goddard. “Dolly's calm temperament, endless patience, and athleticism are a perfect fit for our polo school.”

Rocket is owned by Stephanie Colburn. “Rocket has not only shown that Thoroughbreds can transition into a career as a polo horse, but she has also shown that they can be completely phenomenal as polo horses,” Colburn said. “In my heart, Rocket is the best polo horse; she is brave, courageous, fast, strong, dedicated, and completely in tune with her rider.”

As part of T.I.P.'s effort to encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds for careers playing polo, it will be offering awards at up to 50 USPA tournaments in 2021 and at the National Arena Amateur Cup.

“Our inaugural class of winners of our polo awards demonstrates the success that Thoroughbreds can have as polo horses,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel of The Jockey Club and coordinator of T.I.P. “When individuals are considering careers for their Thoroughbred beyond the racetrack or breeding shed, we hope they add polo to the long list of potential disciplines in which their horse can excel.”

“Thoroughbreds are proven talents on the polo field, and we are excited to expand our partnership with T.I.P. to reward these athletes,” said Justin Powers, executive director of the United States Polo Association Polo Development LLC.

Created and announced in October 2011, T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards. Additional information about T.I.P. is available at tjctip.com and on the T.I.P. Facebook page at facebook.com/tjctip.

The post Thoroughbred Incentive Program Announcers Winners Of Polo Awards appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Thoroughbred Incentive Program to Add Polo Awards

The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which recognizes the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of classes, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards, announced Tuesday jointly with the United States Polo Association (USPA) that Thoroughbreds excelling as polo horses will also be recognized. Six awards will be offered annually, starting this year.

“Polo is just one of many disciplines in which Thoroughbreds can succeed following their racing careers, and T.I.P. is pleased to partner with the USPA to honor the accomplishments of these horses at all levels of polo,” said Kristin Werner, senior counsel of The Jockey Club and coordinator of T.I.P.

Applications will be open Nov. 1-30, with the winners announced in January and selected based on the application and an essay. For more information, visit tjctip.com.

The post Thoroughbred Incentive Program to Add Polo Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights