Sam-Son Farm | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sam-Son Farm Announces Upcoming Dispersal Of Breeding And Racing Stock

Sam-Son Farm, one of the most celebrated and successful Thoroughbred operations in North America, announced today that it will be dispersing its breeding and racing stock during the next 12-18 months.

Sam-Son is partnering with the Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland organizations to present this rare opportunity for buyers to acquire world-class racing talent and breeding stock from one of the true breed-to-race operations in the business.

Ernie Samuel founded Sam-Son Farm in 1972 and built it into a world-renowned racing and breeding operation. After his death in 2000, his daughter Tammy Samuel-Balaz took over the reins at Sam-Son and led the farm to numerous victories and awards until her own passing in 2008. Today the farm is run by farm manager Dave Whitford and racing manager, Tom Zwiesler, under the leadership of owners, Rick Balaz (President), Mark Samuel (CEO) and Kim Samuel, who have sustained and built upon the farm's sterling reputation and legacy of success. After serious consideration and discussion, the owners have unanimously decided to initiate an orderly dispersal and to step back from active participation in the racing and breeding world.

Sam-Son Farm has bred and raced 44 graded stakes winners in the famed red and gold silks, including 37 classic winners, and 14 Grade 1 winners. The legendary operation has garnered 84 Sovereign Awards and won four Eclipse Awards, including the 2019 Sovereign Awards for Owner and Breeder of the Year.

The Samuel/Balaz families commented as follows; “We are enormously proud of the quality and longevity of Sam-Son Farm and have enjoyed nurturing and celebrating every stage of the equine cycle from breeding, to raising, to racing, to retirement and often, returning to the breeding shed. Our horses have given generations of our family such fulfillment and excitement over the years and we felt that the time had come, after five decades, to now share that legacy with the world. It was a bittersweet decision but one that we are committed to pursuing with integrity, transparency and respect. Our horses and our amazing, dedicated employees deserve no less.”

Sam-Son has seen its iconic red and gold silks carried by such champions as Dance Smartly, the first Canadian-owned and -bred horse to win a Breeders' Cup race and who, in her undefeated 3-year-old season of 1991, became just the second filly in history to win the Canadian Triple Crown.

Other champions include Breeders' Cup winner Chief Bearhart, Eclipse Award winner Sky Classic; Dancethruthedawn, Quiet Resolve, Rainbow's for Life, Ruling Angel, Silken Cat, Soaring Free, Wilderness Song and many more.

Sam-Son also bred and raced Grade 1 winner and influential sire Smart Strike, a half-brother to Dance Smartly. The son of champion Sire Mr. Prospector had a magnificent career at stud. A true sire of sires, Smart Strike topped the American General Sire List in 2007 and 2008 and was inducted into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Sam-Son's dispersal program will debut at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November Sale with two stunning racing/broodmare prospects and two outstanding in-foal mares. This consignment will consist of 2019 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Desert Ride; recent Grade 2 winner Rideforthecause; stakes winner and track record holder Desert Isle in foal to American Pharoah and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account in foal to Speightstown.

Rideforthecause, a lightly raced daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Giant's Causeway mare Danceforthecause notched her first stakes win on Sept. 12 of this year in the G2 Canadian Stakes, at Woodbine. She represents one of the oldest and by far the most successful family in our program, dating back to none other than foundation broodmare, No Class. This filly's star is on the rise, making her a magnificent racing and breeding opportunity.

Woodbine Oaks winner Desert Ride dates back to Oleana through five generations, giving her the unique distinction of being a descendant of the oldest family in our program. She is a daughter of the Distorted Humor mare Fun in the Desert who herself is a half-sister to champion Eye of the Leopard. Desert Isle is by leading broodmare sire Bernardini and is also a member of this family. She is a half-sister to Eye of the Leopard, making her a daughter of the champion filly and broodmare Eye of the Sphynx.

Sam-Son will also offer Shared Account, the first Breeders' Cup winner and dam of a Breeders' Cup winner to ever be offered at public auction. The accomplished daughter of Pleasantly Perfect captured the 2010 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and is in foal to Speightstown, so she is carrying a full sibling to Sharing, winner of the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Incidentally, both Pleasantly Perfect and Speightstown were also Breeders' Cup winners, making this offering a genetic masterpiece that is surely primed and ready to yield future generations of top-class racehorses.

“Sam-Son Farm has been an iconic name in Thoroughbred racing and breeding for nearly half a century. This program has produced numerous Grade 1 winners, champions and Hall of Fame racehorses. Sam-Son horses have had a profound influence in top pedigrees around the world and will continue to do so for many generations. Although saddened to see them dispersing their Thoroughbred holdings, we are honored to assist them in this process.” stated Boyd Browning, president and chief executive officer of Fasig-Tipton Co.

Sam-Son Farm will present its remaining in-foal mares at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale. This consignment currently stands at 21 and will feature a unique audio-video presentation of each individual mare on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 9. This quality group includes Grade 1 producers Danceforthecause and Song of the Lark as well as young stakes-winning mares Checkered Past, Dance Again, Deceptive Vision, Mythical Mission, Smartyfly and Southern Ring. Covering sires include American Pharoah, Candy Ride (ARG), Into Mischief, Kitten's Joy, Speightstown. and Street Sense.

“Keeneland and Sam-Son Farm have enjoyed a long, successful relationship,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales, Shannon Arvin said. “Over the years, a number of Sam-Son horses have raced here, and the farm received the prestigious Keeneland Tray during the 2005 Spring Meet to recognize its graded stakes success – a milestone that only 20 owners have reached in track history. We are privileged that Sam-Son has entrusted Keeneland to offer this distinguished group of mares at the January Sale.”

This announcement represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest into some of the most successful and lasting bloodlines in North-America that, until now, had been very difficult to access.

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Say The Word Closes Late For Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Victory

Smooth sailing and a stellar steer from Emma-Jayne Wilson put the exclamation point on a primetime performance by Say the Word in the $340,200 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1), presented by Pattison, Sunday at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.

Sent off at 5-1, Say the Word, bred and owned by Sam-Son Farm, and trained by Gail Cox, struck front in the late going and fended off a deep stretch surge from Sir Sahib to claim victory in the 1 1/2-mile marathon run over a “good” E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

It was slight mutuel favorite Admiralty Pier who swept to the front soon after the gates opened, with the son of English Channel, under Steve Bahen, leading his rivals into the first turn. Peace of Ekati took up residence in second spot, with Jungle Fighter and Count Again (Say the Word's Sam-Son farm stablemate) sitting in third and fourth, respectively. Say the Word and Wilson were eighth and last.

Admiralty Pier, who took his seven rivals through an opening quarter-mile in :25.25, was still calling the shots after a half-mile clocked in :51.57. Peace of Ekati remained second, while Jungle Fighter and Count Again matched strides 1 1/2 lengths further back.

It was status quo on the front end after 1 1/4 miles, as Say the Word still waited for the word from Wilson.

As the field rounded the turn, Say the Word was given his cue from Wilson and the duo launched their bid on the far outside, as Admiralty Pier clung to a head advantage with challengers beginning to shorten his lead.

Seventh at the stretch call, Say the Word began to methodically pick off his rivals one-by-one, eventually taking over the lead but then quickly tasked with fending off a late-charging Sir Sahib.

At the wire, Say the Word was one length in front of Sir Sahib, while Admiralty Pier finished a head in front of Count Again for third spot.

The final time was 2:29.87.

“It was perfect actually,” said Wilson, who won the 2015 Northern Dancer with 10-1 longshot Interpol. “The first time I rode him, Gail let me know that Junior Alvarado from Saratoga had said that he was funny with his mouth, he could be a little sensitive and to trip him [out] in a certain sort of way. Last time [in the G3 Singspiel Stakes], we got the one-hole going a mile and a quarter, and I just got shuffled back. It took me a bit to just kind of get on the same page with him last time, being as sensitive as he was. I mean, he ran well, he ran third, but he was coming on end.

“So today, I was more confident with him, more ground and I knew where the line was with him for my hands and give and take. He settled for me beautifully; I literally just held the mane for pretty much the first mile and a quarter. Then as I gathered him up, I knew…I just knew. He was gaining on them last time and I just knew when he straightened, he was already in flight and it was going to be tough to beat him.”

Wilson also had high praise for Alvarado.

“And if it wasn't for the other jock's advice and what he knew of him … it's a community thing. If Junior doesn't pass that message onto Gail … it's a team effort. Yes, we're jockeys and we're in competition, but also, he wants to see the horse do well as well. Kudos, Junior; I appreciate it.”

Cox, in the midst of a strong campaign, was thrilled with the outcome.

“I think this horse kind of likes to know the people that he's with, so he's not one that's easy to shift around all the time. He also loves this turf course and he loved the distance. Last year, he was sent to me and we ran him on the Tapeta, and it was not to his liking.”

The E.P. Taylor Turf Course, however, is quite a different story.

An Ontario-bred, Say the Word came into the Northern Dancer off a tough third-place finish, one that saw the dark bay flying late, in the 1 1/4-mile Singspiel Stakes (G3T) on Sept. 19 at Woodbine.

This time, the 5-year-old son of More Than Ready was just that.

A now five-time winner from 25 starts, Say the Word, who contested two-thirds (Queen's Plate and Breeders' Stakes) of the 2018 Canadian Triple Crown, notched his first added-money win in taking the Northern Dancer.

Say the Word paid $13.60, $5.80 and $3.90. The 1-3 exactor with Sir Sahib ($5.40, $3) returned $78.30. Admiralty Pier completed a 1-3-7 triactor worth $364, with fourth-place Count Again completing a $1 superfecta (1-3-7-8) worth $532.55.

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More Than Ready Gelding Has Last ‘Word’ in Northern Dancer

Say the Word uncorked a last-to-first rally in Sunday’s GI Northern Dancer S. at Woodbine to post a mild upset. The dark bay dropped out the back under Emma-Jayne Wilson as favorite Admiralty Pier did as he pleased up front. He was ridden for more to inch slightly closer heading for the home as stablemate and fellow Sam-Son representative Count Again (Awesome Again) took the first run at the pacesetter. Admiralty Pier and Count Again continued to trade jabs to midstretch, but neither had any response for Say the Word as he blew to the front over the top with Sir Sahib (Fort Larned) mirroring that move to complete the exacta.

“It was perfect actually,” Wilson said of her trip. “The first time I rode him, [trainer Gail Cox] let me know that Junior Alvarado from Saratoga had said that he was funny with his mouth, he could be a little sensitive and to trip him [out] in a certain sort of way. Last time, we got the on -hole going a mile and a quarter, and I just got shuffled back. It took me a bit to just kind of get on the same page with him last time, being as sensitive as he was. I mean, he ran well, he ran third, but he was coming on end.

Say the Word upended a 1 3/16-mile Saratoga optional claimer Aug. 14 at 51-1 while being offered up for the $62,500 tag. He was most recently third behind Count Again and Sir Sahib in the 10-panel GIII Singspiel S. here Sept. 19. His lone 1 1/2-mile outing came when second in the 2018 Breeders’ S. here while under the tutelage of Graham Motion. Say the Word made two starts for Gail Cox last fall, including a fourth in the GIII Durham Cup on this main track. He was then off the board in a trio of tries for Neil Howard at Fair Grounds, and returned to the Cox barn to be sixth in a local optional claimer June 20.

“I think this horse kind of likes to know the people that he’s with, so he’s not one that’s easy to shift around all the time,” Cox said. “He also loves this turf course and he loved the distance. Last year, he was sent to me and we ran him on the Tapeta, and it was not to his liking.”

The Samuel family’s Sam-Son Farm upped its record win tally in the Northern Dancer to eight Sunday.

Sunday, Woodbine
NORTHERN DANCER TURF S. PRESENTED BY PATTISON-GI, C$340,200, Woodbine, 10-18, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:29.87, gd.
1–SAY THE WORD, 121, g, 5, by More Than Ready
                1st Dam: Danceforthecause, by Giant’s Causeway
                2nd Dam: Dancethruthestorm, by Thunder Gulch
                3rd Dam: Dance Smartly, by Danzig
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. O/B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Gail Cox; J-Emma-Jayne
Wilson. C$216,000. Lifetime Record: 25-5-2-4, $445,292. *1/2
to Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}), GSW, $291,226. Werk
Nick Rating: B+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sir Sahib, 121, g, 5, Fort Larned–Xs Belle, by Dynaformer.
O-Stronach Stables; B-Adena Springs (KY); T-Kevin Attard.
C$60,000.
3–Admiralty Pier, 123, g, 5, English Channel–Full Steam Ahead,
by Kitten’s Joy. ($100,000 Ylg ’16 FTSAUG). O-Hoolie Racing
Stable, LLC & Bruce Lunsford; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Barbara
Minshall. C$30,000.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 5.80, 5.70, 2.15.
Also Ran: Count Again, Woodbridge, Nakamura, Jungle Fighter, Peace of Ekati. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:

Say the Word is the 25th highest-level winner (92nd graded/group winner) for international sensation More Than Ready) and is out of a Giant’s Causeway mare like MGISW Verrazano. He is one of 26 Grade I/Group 1 winners out of Giant’s Causeway dams. Say the Word’s third dam is none other than legendary Hall of Famer Dance Smartly. This is the extremely productive female family of Smart Strike, Dancethrudawn, et al. Danceforthecause, whose 4-year-old son Rideforthecause was fourth in the GI E.P. Taylor S. two races later on the card, produced a Distorted Humor fily in 2019 and a Street Sense filly this term. She was bred back to Twirling Candy.

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Counting on a Northern Dancer Turf Win

Sam-Son Farm’s Count Again (Awesome Again) will try to add his third win of the season in Sunday’s 12-furlong GI Northern Dancer Turf S. at Woodbine. A second-out winner going a mile for trainer Neil Howard at Keeneland last fall, the gelding won his sole start for Kent Sweezey in a Tampa allowance in April before finishing third for current trainer Gail Cox in an 8 1/2-furlong Woodbine optional claimer in June. Just missing in second behind Woodbridge (Langfuhr) while stretching to 10 panels at the Etobicoke oval Aug. 29, Count Again closed with purpose to take his latest start in the GIII Singspiel S. Sept. 19. Luis Contreras, aboard for the bay’s three most recent starts, returns for the gelding’s Grade I debut.

“He ran great,” said Cox of Count Again’s Singspiel performance. “It was exactly what he wanted to do, which is to go a distance. A mile-and-a-sixteenth was always a little short for him. So, with the added distance..he was really good. He did win pretty easily.”

She continued, “He’s a very nice horse. I know anyone that’s trained him has really liked him. He just had this and that which had bothered him, which led to him having some time off. He needed to get really good and comfortable. He seems to like training [at Woodbine]. He does a fair amount of training on the dirt here, but he’s been happy, and has come out of his races really well.”

Cox and Sam-Son are also represented in the Northern Dancer Turf by Say the Word (More Than Ready). Third to stablemate Count Again in the Singspiel, the dark bay was sixth in the 2018 Queen’s Plate, going on to finish second in the Canadian Triple Crown’s final jewel, the Breeders’ S. Prior to the Singspiel, the gelding closed to win a 9 1/2-furlong Saratoga optional claimer Aug. 14.

“He was closing ground [in the Singspiel] and he didn’t have the easiest of trips,” said Cox. “I think he’ll love this distance. He’s another one that we had to send away to run farther. And that worked out. But he needs the distance and he doesn’t like the Tapeta. He was originally set to run on it, but he just didn’t like it.”

Staghawk Stables’ Nakamura (Animal Kingdom), stakes placed at three, reeled off three consecutive wins for Graham Motion last season, including his most recent victory in an 11-furlong optional claiming test at Saratoga in August. Despite failing to return to the winner’s circle in three remaining starts in 2019, he finished runner-up in the 12-panel GIII Sycamore S. at Keeneland in October. This term, the Maryland-bred came home third in both Keeneland’s GII Elkhorn S. and an 11-furlong optional claimer at Saratoga Aug. 16 before finishing fourth–beaten two lengths–in the Singspiel. Accompanied by Kazushi Kimura last time, the rider gets the return call this time.

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