Tag: santa anita

‘There’s No Ceiling’ Eclipse Thoroughbred Team Has Big Hopes For Selenaia

It was hard not to love the performance Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) posted in the GIII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita last weekend. 

One man who loved it more than most was Derek Iceton of Tara Stud in County Meath. Iceton bought the dam [Dettoria (GB) (Declaration Of War)] of the Grade I-bound performer for just 12,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018. 

Dettoria is still based at Tara Stud and has a Space Blues (Ire) colt at foot. She is happily reported to be back in foal to the young Darley stallion by Iceton, who describes America as being a lucky place for him. 

That is largely down to the fact that Tara Stud graduate River Boyne (Ire) recorded his best days on a racecourse in America, notably when landing a Grade I at Santa Anita before returning home to embark on his stallion career, where he currently stands at the Meath outfit for €5,000. 

Iceton is hoping that there will be more Grade I riches to be enjoyed with Selenaia and explained what led him to roll the dice on Dettoria for what looks a bargain price now. 

He said, “I love buying mares off top breeders. Last year for example, I bought a lovely mare off Lady Bamford. They're the type of people I try and buy mares from because I know there will be a few half-sisters floating around the system.”

“Dettoria has a colt foal by Space Blues and, the foal was so good, I took the mare back to him. She's back in foal with Space Blues. It's something I never normally do but, because the foal was so nice, I went back. 

“Redpender Stud has the Earthlight (Ire) yearling [bought for 78,000gns as a foal] and they are more than happy with him. He was a lovely foal now to be honest. I think he's going to Book 1. The Golden Horn (GB) [bought for €50,000 as a yearling by Gerry Hogan] two-year-old filly  is going to Henry de Bromhead.”

He added, “I've been very lucky with America and very fortunate with Red Baron's Farm as well. I hope they will come back and buy a River Boyne off me this year. Interestingly, in the race that Selenaia won last week, I also sold the third Paris Secret (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) at the Goffs Open Yearling Sale for €8,000. It's strange that two fillies who were in the same field at one stage in their lives went on to finish first and third at Santa Anita.”

Selenaia carried the increasingly-recognisable colours of the Eclipse Thoroughbreds to victory for trainer Jonathan Thomas. Although the ownership group tends to shop relatively infrequently at the major yearling sales in Britain and Ireland, its strike-rate is something to behold, with Selenaia a 85,000gns purchase from Baroda Stud at Tattersalls Book 2 in 2021. 

The black, light blue and white colours of Eclipse is perhaps best known in Europe for being carried by Gavin Cromwell's Queen Mary winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) in 2021 and, according to Aron Wellman, the man behind the ownership vehicle, there could be more to shout about at the royal meeting next week. 

Reflecting on Selenaia, he said, “We've dabbled in the yearling market in Europe and fortunately we're starting to hit our stride. We bought one yearling at Tattersalls a couple of years ago with the goal of bringing her to America and thankfully Selenaia delivered. She showed brilliance in her training and it translated to the racetrack which is a pleasure to see. 

 

“We're going to take a deep breath but, based on that performance and that she has now stretched out to nine furlongs, we'll take a look at some options at Saratoga with her and potentially look at going back to California to Del Mar. At this point, there's no ceiling to her and she's completely unexposed in this country.”

Wellman added, “We're really fortunate to be in the position we are in ahead of Royal Ascot. Last year, before we bought Selenaia, which was a one off, Amy Murphy in England did a really nice job with a filly called Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who has since become a stakes winner and Group-placed in the States for us. She took us to Ascot last year.

“This time, we went back and bought three yearlings, and two of the three have run. One is called Passionately (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) [cost 55,000gns from Baroda Stud at Book 2], who won very well at Wetherby and goes to the Albany and the other filly, Geologist (GB) (Territories {Ire}) [cost 35,000gns from Galloway Stud at the Somerville Sale], was just beaten on debut at Redcar. We're going to take a swing at the Queen Mary with her. Two of the three yearlings we purchased are Royal Ascot candidates.”

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‘All Grown Up’ OBS June Sale Starts Tuesday

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training–once an afterthought, but now a destination in its own right–begins its three-day run Tuesday in Ocala with bidding slated to get underway at 10 a.m. The June sale brings the curtain down on the OBS juvenile sales season, which featured a co-record sale topper in March and records for gross and average in April.

“The sales calendar has migrated later [in the year], so I think there is still a demand for 2-year-olds out there for sure,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said of the expected market in Ocala this coming week. “I think we said it last year, the June sale is all grown up. Sellers have confidence that if they have a horse who needs some time, they can bring it to the June sale and there will be people to buy it. And on the other side of that equation, the buyers are confident when they see the quality of the horses that are coming out of the June sale and their performance on the track.”

That performance on the racetrack was in evidence over the weekend when Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), a 2021 graduate of the auction, won the third graded stakes of her career in the GII Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita.

“That's just another indicator that June has become its own sale,” Wojciechowski said. “It's not a clean-up sale, it's not a leftover sale. There are horses that are targeted for the June sale because they are maybe later foals that would benefit from more time,” Wojciechowski said.

A total of 1,081 juveniles have been catalogued for the three-day auction, down slightly from the 1,114-strong 2022 catalogue which produced a record gross when 653 horses sold for $26,986,500 and an average of $41,327. The 2022 auction also produced its highest-ever median of $25,000.

The OBS March and Spring sales produced strong results compared to their 2022 renewals, but drew mixed reviews from consignors who had purchased yearlings in a highly competitive market last fall. The average sales price at last year's bellwether Keeneland September Yearling Sale rose 7.83%, but the course-charting OBS Spring sale this spring saw an average increase of less than 1%.

The yearling market last year was also impacted by a number of high-purchasing partnerships intent on acquiring well-pedigreed two-turn colts. Their activity pushed many pinhookers out of that segment of the market and led to a dearth of those type of horses in the 2-year-old sales this year.

“There has been a shortage of good colts and if you were lucky enough to have one, you got paid,” consignor Ciaran Dunne said last week.

Dunne said he expects to see a continuation of a polarized market at OBS this week.

“The horses who breeze good and vet good, I think there will be plenty of money here for them,” he said. “But I think if you miss here, it's going to be a wide miss.”

Wojciechowski also said he expects to see continued strength at the top of the market at the June sale, while the middle market may hold the key to the ultimate success of the auction.

“I think we will continue to see a flight to quality–or perceived quality,” he said. “The upper end always seems to take care of itself.”

Of the sometimes enigmatic middle market, Wojciechowski said, “I think there is sometimes a disconnect, everyone talks about the middle market and I have yet to hear one person define the middle market the same way as the next person. I think that the middle market is a moving target. Sometimes what the buyer perceives as the middle market and what the seller perceives as the middle market, don't always add up. But I think that the top usually takes care of itself and the devil will be in the details of that perceived middle market.”

During last week's six-session under-tack show ahead of the June sale, a filly by Bucchero (hip 999) turned in the fastest furlong of :9 3/5 and a colt by Chitu (hip 347) had the fastest quarter-mile work of :20 1/5.

“We had fairly consistent weather, although the first couple of days were a little cooler,” Wojciechowski said of conditions at the under-tack show. “The third and fourth and fifth days, we started seeing that westerly wind and it got hot quickly. But all in all, the horses did well, they performed well. And it was a good breeze show.”

The June sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 10 a.m.

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Desormeaux to be Subject to Breathalyzer Before Every Race Day or Morning

As a result of failing a breathalyzer test March 31 before the first race at Santa Anita, Kent Desormeaux will now be subjected to a breathalyzer test before every race day and every time he rides a horse in a morning exercise or work, according to a stewards' ruling posted Friday on the California Horse Racing Board's website.

A complaint posted on the site April 8 read, “On 3/31/2023, Jockey Kent Desormeaux failed an alcohol breathalyzer test administered by CHRB Investigators at Santa Anita Park prior to riding in the 1st race.” Desormeaux did not ride that day, but was back riding the following day, April 1.

A hearing date was set for May 18.

Friday, the stewards ruled: “Jockey KENT DESORMEAUX, having entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) for violation of CHRB rules 1874 (Disorderly Conduct) and 1680 (Jockeys and Drivers to Report) on March 31, 2023, at Santa Anita Park, is placed on probation for the remainder of his license period, subject to the following terms and conditions of probation: He is placed on a testing agreement with the following conditions: (a) He will be tested by a CHRB investigator before entering the racetrack to exercise a horse or participate in a race. (b) On scheduled race days, he will report to the CHRB investigative office no later than 1.5 hours before the scheduled post time. (c) In the event CHRB investigators obtain a PAS reading detecting the presence of alcohol (Anything greater than 0.00) his license will be summarily suspended until a noticed hearing before a Board of Stewards is held and a ruling is issued. (d) Upon renewal of his Jockey license, a testing agreement will be part of his next license period.”

Desormeaux has had a long history of alcohol-related issues on and off the track. He missed most of 2022 after getting into an altercation in a parking lot at Del Mar when intoxicated. He was arrested in January and charged with domestic battery and abuse. He spent time in a rehab facility in 2016, and was back in an in-patient program in 2020.

 

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Candy Ride’s Geaux Rocket Ride Much The Best In Affirmed

Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) checked stakes winner off his list with an off-the-pace victory in the Affirmed S. at The Great Race Place late on Sunday afternoon.

After a sparkling 5 3/4 length debut win Jan. 29 at Santa Anita, the bay colt was second in the GII San Felipe S. to Practical Move (Practical Joke) before he was sidelined with a slightly-elevated fever before the GI Santa Anita Derby.

Off at odds of 1-2 here, Geaux Rocket Ride was determined to live up to his price as he tracked Del Mar Jerry (Mastery) and Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), who were engaged in a speed duel into the clubhouse turn and up the backstretch. Given his cue rounding the far turn, the Richard Mandella trainee ranged up on the pair, went right by both of them and rolled down the lane to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Mr Fisk (Arrogate).

“He's just a classy little dude,” said trainer Richard Mandella. “We will probably look into the [GI] Haskell S. We are going to enjoy this one today, but that will be the one we look to.”

The first to make the races for his dam, who counts MSP Mighty Mo as a full-brother, Geaux Rocket Ride's latest sibling is a filly by Rowayton who was foaled Mar. 6.

AFFIRMED S., $100,000, Santa Anita, 6-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.75, ft.
1–GEAUX ROCKET RIDE, 120, c, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg)
                1st Dam: Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo
                2nd Dam: Flowers Athefinish, by Grand Reward
                3rd Dam: Golden Petal, by Mr. Prospector
($350,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Ramon A. Vazquez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-1-0, $180,200.
2–Mr Fisk, 120, c, 3, Arrogate–Plein Air (Ire), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Sunny Brook Stables (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $20,000.
3–Hard to Figure, 120, c, 3, Hard Spun–Ani La, by Mr. Greeley.
($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman; B-James Heyward (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 6, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 4.10, 6.90.
Also Ran: Ze'bul, Del Mar Jerry. Scratched: Skinner.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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