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Successful Racing Quarter Horse Now Besting Barrel Competition

Second career racehorse This Is Debt and owner Ty Lloyd receive an award. PHOTO: Courtesy of Brandi Lloyd

A warhorse, in racing parlance, is a horse who has made more than 50 career starts. By its very definition, a warhorse has to be not only talented, but also sound and gritty enough to withstand the rigors of an extended campaign.

This Is Debt, a 2005 sorrel gelding, is a warhorse –and is now a first-race speed event horse.

Bred in Ontario by Brian Farrell, he was campaigned by the Farrell family–owned by Bill, trained by Laurie–exclusively at Ajax Downs in a career that spanned from 2007 to 2011. He won or placed in 15 of his 52 starts, earning $57,698, including appearances in the 2008 Maple Leaf and Ontario Bred and Foaled derbies.

Sired by Royal Evening Snow, he is out of the Pacific Bailey mare Pipe Dream Bailey.

Brandi Lloyd is a lifetime horsewoman and is friends with the Farrell family. She served as a groom for This Is Debt during his racing career and loved his Pacific Bailey bloodlines. She asked the family if she might be able to get him when his racing career was over and train him for speed events like barrel racing and pole bending.

“They called and said he's ready to come and get,” Brandi says. “I picked him up and we gave him about a year off, and then I started him back. He's been super easy. He's light, runs to the snaffle, took to the barrels really easily. He's excelled in pole bending. He keeps getting better and better.”

The horse the family calls “Pretty Boy Roy” or “Roy” has adapted well to his new life. Brandi trained him on the barrel pattern by riding exhibition runs at events while her two sons were running their ponies. She says that Laurie Faurell's horsemanship and early training of Roy made the horse's transition from racing to arena competition especially easy.

When her son, Ty, was old enough, Roy was given to him for a Christmas present. They have been competing together for about four years.

“Roy and Ty just click,” the proud mom says. “They make a great team. I trained the horse, but he runs harder for Ty. Ty motivates differently than I do, too, and kinda hangs it out there, and Roy really tries for him.”

Roy has earned 6.5 points in limited AQHA competition, as well as several Top 10 finishes in barrels and pole bending at the prestigious All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.

The family goes to events together, mainly competing at National Barrel Horse Association and Ontario Barrel Horse Association competitions, with Brandi and Ty riding, and her dad and younger son sitting together in the stands, providing priceless Statler-and-Waldorf-type commentary on their videos.

“He's pretty great,” Brandi says of Roy. “He has an attitude some times, but as far as working with him, he has a great work ethic, he's happy to do his work and do his job.”

While Roy is the family's first second-career racehorse, he's probably not going to be their last. In addition to having a great horse, they've also gotten checks from the Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program, which promotes the careers of Ontario-bred racehorses even after they leave the racetrack.

“Honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat,” Brandi says. “I'd encourage anyone interested to look at one for sure.”

This story, which is part of the Second Career Stars series, originally appeared on the American Quarter Horse News website and is republished here with permission. Second Career Stars is an ongoing series on retired racing American Quarter Horses in new careers. If you know of a horse that should be featured, write to acaudill@aqha.org. AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, “like” Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.

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‘She’ll Run All Day’: Whoa Nellie Ready To Step Up In Broussard Stakes

Saturday's $75,000 Joseph E. Spanky Broussard, run at one mile and 70 yards at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., drew a compact yet stellar field of three and 4-year-old fillies. To hear trainer Larry Jones tell it, Fox Hill Farms Inc's Whoa Nellie will only be getting started when they hit the finish line.

“As we say, her name is Whoa Nellie, so getting her pulled up after her gallops and races is like 'Woah Nellie,'” Jones said. “She'll run all day and her forte is to go two turns.”

Whoa Nellie (post 1 at 8-5 with Florent Geroux) has blossomed since being stretched out over a route of ground and Jones is hoping to use the Broussard as a stepping-stone to what he hopes will be a big 2021 campaign. The 4-year-old daughter of Orb was a solid one-turn allowance performer to start her career but she took her game to a new level last winter when sent two turns. She won the Pippin at Oaklawn Park in January and then was second, beaten just a neck, in a Bayakoa (G3) in February.

“She showed in the Pippin and coming back in the Bayakoa this is what she is and we think her 5-year-old year could be a very big year for her,” Jones said. “She has learned to settle early and sits well now until we're ready to go. Needless to say, being by Orb and (out of a Medaglia d'Oro mare), distance is not an issue for her.”

Whoa Nellie, who is 5-for-11 lifetime, missed nine months after the Bayakoa and came back to run third in Churchill Downs' one-turn Chilukki (G3) Nov. 21, where she spotted recency to local Rachel Alexandra (G2) heroine and multiple graded stakes winner Finite. She made a bold middle-move before flattening out a bit late. The effort left Jones feeling very confident moving forward.

“She's better now than she was then,” Jones said. “Coming into that Chilukki off a nine-month layoff, that was not an easy task, and for her to run that well and against those horses, and to finish as well as she did, that race should tighten her up really well.”

Hoffman Family Racing LLC and Steve Landry's Beautiful Trauma (post 3 at 9-5 with James Graham) looms the one to catch, as she enters off a gate-to-wire win in an optional-claimer November 12 at Churchill for trainer Tom Amoss. The 3-year-old daughter of Tapiture is 3-for-7 lifetime but will make her stakes debut in the Broussard. She is familiar with the local main track, having won an off-the-turf optional-claimer here 370 days ago by 16 lengths.

Phoenix Thoroughbred III Ltd's Lady Apple (post 5 at 3-1 with Adam Beschizza) is looking to find the form that has earlier netted her a quartet of grade 3 wins for trainer Steve Asmussen. The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin was 5-for-7 in 2019, and won the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) at Sam Houston to kick off her season in January, but she is winless in five starts since. Lady Apple is 6-for-17 lifetime, with $1.038 million in earnings, and she gets back to the main track after running fourth in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) Sept. 12.

Completing the Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial from the rail out: Four Lawn Chairs LLC's Longpants Required (post 2 at 20-1 with Shaun Bridgmohan), who broke her maiden two-back at Churchill for trainer Brendan Walsh; La Nora LLC's Joy Epifora (post 4 at 8-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.), a G1 winner in her native Argentina but winless in four U.S. starts for trainer Ignacio Correas; and Rigney Racing LLC's Singita Dreams (post 6 at 12-1 with Miguel Mena), who won an off-the-turf optional-claimer two-back at Churchill for trainer Phil Bauer.

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‘Ultra-Consistent’ Pixelate Headlines Saturday’s Woodchopper At Fair Grounds

Even though Godolphin LLC's homebred Pixelate is be the class of the field in Saturday's $75,000 Woodchopper, he's going to have to earn the victory as he leads the way over a strong field of 3-year-olds. The Woodchopper, run at about one bodemile on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., drew a baker's dozen, including a quintet of stakes winners.

Pixelate (post 5 at 4-1 with Angel Suarez) has been a top-level performer from the start for trainer Mike Stidham. He won the Central Park at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old to conclude a 2-for-4 freshman campaign, and the son of City Zip has only progressed from there. It took him a bit to get over a class hump this year, but Pixelate picked the right time to break through, winning the Del Mar Derby (G2) in September. He followed up with a close fifth in the Belmont Derby (G1) in October, and enters off a closing fourth in Keeneland's Nov. 6 Bryan Station, a race in which he was hung 10-wide on the turn for home. Pixelate is 3-for-13 lifetime and has answered the bell every time, which has been no surprise to Stidham.

“He's been ultra-consistent over the last two years and we've always thought he was very talented,” Stidham said. “In several of his races he was coming up just a little bit short and wasn't quite getting there. He's been running against some really solid, tough horses. Even in the Grade 1 he only got beat a couple lengths, and he's on the cusp of being in the top group of his category.”

Pixelate has run 1 1/8 miles or farther in his last five starts, though he shows a good second at a mile in the War Chant at Churchill Downs in May. While the Woodchopper won't be at his ideal distance, Stidham is hoping Pixelate won't be compromised at a shorter trip.

“I don't think the cutback will be a problem,” Stidham said. “He can lay in a forward position. I would prefer it being 1 1/16 miles but from a class standpoint he's been hooking some tough horses and I think he's in a good spot.”

Contention runs deep in the Woodchopper and Repole Stable's Bodecream (post 2 as Mike Diliberto's lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite with James Graham) enters in career-best form for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Bodemeister started his career 2-for-8 for trainer Danny Pish, and following a private purchase, he was turned over to Maker this summer. He has really blossomed, though he's still looking for his first win for his new connections. Bodecream, 2-for-11 lifetime, was third in Saratoga's Saranac (G3) in August in his first start for Maker, third in Belmont's Hill Prince (G2) in October, and he enters off a nose second in Aqueduct's Nov. 27 Gio Ponti.

Calumet Farm's homebred Blackberry Wine (post 9 at 9-2 with Gabriel Saez) is the wildcard for trainer Joe Sharp. He is winless in three turf starts but enters off an extremely fast optional-claiming win on Dec. 13 here on the main track. The son of Oxbow has been third, however, in all three grass starts, and he hasn't been over the surface since running in an optional-claimer here last December. Blackberry Wine is 2-for-11 lifetime and could prove the one to catch.

Completing the Woodchopper field from the rail out: Kueber Racing LLC, Ten Strike Racing, and Mark Blieden's Pit Boss (20-1 with Mitchell Murrill); P. Dale Ladner's Jack the Umpire (post 3 at 20-1 with Jack Gilligan); Wayne R. Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Spanish Kingdom (post 4 at 8-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.); Paradise Farms Corp's Dynadrive (post 6 at 12-1 with Shaun Bridgmohan); Brian L. Gunder's Top Draw (post 7 at 20-1 with Francisco Arrieta); Stallionaire Enterprises LLC's Doc Boy (post 8 at 12-1 with Florent Geroux); Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Telephone Talker (post 10 at 12-1 with Adam Beschizza); Susan Moulton's Stanford (Ire) (post 11 at 20-1 with Marcelino Pedroza); Rick Rinn and Richard and Karen Boyer's Victory Boulevard (post 12 at 20-1 wit Miguel Mena); and Dixiana Farms LCC's Oak Hill (post 13 at 6-1 with Colby Hernandez).

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Tim Hamm-Trained Juvenile Filly Charge It All Earns Shot At Gasparilla Stakes

These days, when trainer Tim Hamm sends out a 2-year-old filly, Thoroughbred racing followers sit up and take notice. Charge It All gave Tampa Bay Downs fans and simulcast viewers something to keep in mind in Sunday's second race.

The Kentucky-bred juvenile, owned in partnership by Hamm's Blazing Meadows Farm and her breeder, Three Chimneys Farm, moved smartly to the lead on the turn for home and kept her mind on business under jockey Wilmer Garcia en route to a 1 ½-length victory from Special Princess in the 6 ½-furlong, allowance/$75,000 optional claiming event for 2-year-old fillies.

Charge It All's time on a fast track was 1:18.30.

“I like this horse a lot,” Hamm said. “At this time last year, she was really fat and she looked kind of like a cow. I didn't know if she would ever slim down, but after being in Miami in June, July and August, she got some scope to her and has turned into a real nice filly. I'm pleased with her performance. I think there is some upside to her.”

Charge It All benefited from a lively speed duel between pace-setter Splash Cash and R Averie Lynn before Garcia popped the question approaching the 3/8-mile pole and she took off.

Hamm credits his assistant, Julie Hutchison, for getting Charge It All into solid racing shape in south Florida during the summer prior to the filly's first start on Sept. 17 at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Will Take Charge-Invalida, by Street Cry, is now 2-for-3.

Hamm's success earlier this year with his 2-year-old filly Dayoutoftheoffice, owned by Blazing Meadows Farm in partnership with Siena Farm, brought the conditioner widespread attention within the sport. She went 3-for-4 this year, winning the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga and the G1 Frizette at Belmont before settling for a second-place finish to Vequist in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. The Frizette was Hamm's first G1 victory.

Certain to be an Eclipse Award finalist for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, Dayoutoftheoffice is at Siena Farm in Paris, Ky., and will soon be sent to Hamm's Blazing Meadows South in Ocala to begin preparations for her 3-year-old season. She earned $556,500 this year.

Every horse develops at a different rate and Hamm isn't ready to get too far ahead of himself with Charge It All. At the same time, he says the $125,000, seven-furlong Gasparilla Stakes for newly turned 3-year-old fillies on Jan. 16 is a likely next start, provided she rebounds well from Sunday's effort.

“Julie was mad at me because I didn't nominate her for the (six-furlong Sandpiper Stakes on Dec. 5), but we knew this allowance was coming up,” Hamm said. “Now, it's kind of like we have nothing to lose (by racing in the Gasparilla). I'm not too ambitious yet, but I'm ambitious enough to let her tell us where to go next.”

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