Shannon Arvin | 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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Pandemic Leads To Declines In Keeneland’s On-Track Wagering, Field Size At Fall Meet

Keeneland concluded its Fall Meet on Saturday, showcasing racing's top equine and human athletes who competed in anticipation of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at the at the Lexington, Ky., track on Nov. 6-7 while continuing its philanthropic mission of supporting the Central Kentucky community and the Thoroughbred industry.

“On behalf of Keeneland, our sincerest thanks to our fans across the country and around the world, and our racing participants, sponsors, industry and community partners and employees who enabled us to hold a safe, competitive Fall Meet during these unprecedented times,” said Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason, who presided over his final race meet before his retirement on Dec. 31. “The silver lining of this pandemic has been the collaboration and creativity of various constituencies in their steadfast support of Thoroughbred racing and our philanthropic mission. There is a true spirit of coming together for the good of all.”

Though the Fall Meet was closed to the general public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans enthusiastically wagered more than $148 million on the 17 days of racing from Oct. 2-24.

“We continue to be humbled by the tremendous support of our fans; their passion for Keeneland is inspiring,” Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin said. “This track was created for people to enjoy the grounds and the thrill of racing in person. I know I speak for the entire Keeneland team and our horsemen when I say we can't wait to welcome our fans back to the track.”

All-sources wagering on live racing during the Fall Meet totaled $148,229,708, for an average daily handle of $8,719,395, down 7.5% from 2019. Last fall, all-sources wagering was a Keeneland record $160,207,916 for the 17-day Fall Meet.

Keeneland established a record Fall Meet Pick 5 handle of $868,303 on Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 3, besting the previous record of $794,689 set on opening Saturday in 2019.

The Fall Meet was conducted with only a limited number of participants and essential personnel in attendance, resulting in total on-track handle of $2,477,890, for average daily on-track handle of $145,758. In comparison, on-track handle totaled $17,320,852 for the 2019 Fall Meet.

“Historically, Keeneland ranks among the top tracks in North America in terms of average daily attendance and enjoys some of the highest on-track handle figures,”Keeneland Vice President of Racing Bob Elliston said. “The difference in all-sources wagering this fall versus last comes down to the loss in on-track wagering.”

Fall Meet racing highlights
Keeneland purses remained among the richest in North America this fall, averaging $682,324 per day. Average starters per race was 8.1 compared to 9.5 during the 2019 Fall Meet. Field size was impacted this fall by pandemic-related travel restrictions and limitations on horses shipping in from other major racing jurisdictions.

Ten horses secured berths in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland with victories in Win & You're In stakes this fall. Among the Grade 1 victors were Darley Alcibiades winner Simply Ravishing (Juvenile Fillies-G1); Shadwell Turf Mile winner Ivar (BRZ) (Mile-G1); First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare winner Uni (GB) (Filly and Mare Turf-G1); Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Essential Quality (Juvenile-G1) and Juddmonte Spinster winner Valiance (Distaff-G1).

In other racing highlights:

Harvey's Lil Goil grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off challengers to win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, the sixth Grade 1 event of the Fall Meet.
Stoll Keenon Ogden, Keeneland's only legal counsel since its founding in the 1930s, celebrated its 10-year milestone sponsorship of the Phoenix (G2), won by Diamond Oops. With the victory, Diamond Oops earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
Aunt Pearl (IRE) took the lead at the break and cruised to a 2½-length victory in stakes-record time to win the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) and win a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

“We appreciate the strong support of our owners, trainers and jockeys; their desire to participate at the highest levels of racing is what makes Keeneland so special,” Elliston said. “We look forward to cheering on many of our Fall Meet contenders at the Breeders' Cup here in two weeks.”

Fall Meet leaders
The Fall Meet featured a battle for the title of leading trainer and leading owner, while Tyler Gaffalione was the clear winner for leading jockey honors.

The race for leading trainer among Brad Cox, Mike Maker and Steve Asmussen was decided on the final day.

Cox won two races on closing day to increase his total to 15 and earn his second title, joining Spring 2018. His wins during the season included the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity with Essential Quality and JPMorgan Chase Jessamine with Aunt Pearl (IRE), two horses expected to return in the Breeders' Cup. Cox also had a three-win day on Oct. 18.

Maker ranked second in the trainer standings with 12 wins, while Asmussen recorded 11 victories to finish third.

Among jockeys, Tyler Gaffalione won 24 races to secure his third leading rider title following Fall 2018 and Summer 2020. Gaffalione's victories included the Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) on Got Stormy, another Breeders' Cup hopeful.

Finishing second and third, respectively, in the standings were Florent Geroux (16 wins) and Ricardo Santana Jr. (13 wins). The two riders each recorded three-win days: Geroux on Oct. 18 and Santana on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22.

Luis Saez won five of the 10 Fall Stars Weekend stakes: the opening-day Darley Alcibiades with Simply Ravishing; Saturday's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Essential Quality and Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select with Leinster; and Sunday's Juddmonte Spinster with Valiance and Bourbon (G3) with Mutasaabeq.

Earning its first title as leading owner was Mike Sisk's M and M Racing, which won five races with eight starters. Robertino Diodoro trained the M and M horses, and David Cohen was aboard every winner. Together, the trio won three races on Oct. 9.

Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton's Silverton Hill won four races during the meet. Five owners notched three wins apiece: Asmussen, Mohammed Al Maktoum et al's Godolphin, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm and Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm.

Nourish Lexington featured Fall Meet charity
Keeneland made it easy for fans no matter their location to watch and wager on the Fall Meet with Keeneland at Home Presented by UK HealthCare and Official Keeneland Watch Parties in Partnership with VisitLEX and the Bluegrass Hospitality Association.

Keeneland at Home fans and Keeneland Watch Party attendees had the opportunity to support Nourish Lexington, Keeneland's featured Fall Meet charity. By using the talents and resources of food service and hospitality employees displaced by the pandemic, Nourish Lexington has provided more than 160,000 scratch-made, nutritious meals for community members in need since April.

Partnerships with a philanthropic connection
True to its mission, Keeneland's commitment to support the community and the Thoroughbred industry remained unchanged as the track teamed with sponsors and racing-related partners to virtually conduct several popular Fall Meet special events and raise much-needed funds for worthwhile causes.

A virtual edition of Make-A-Wish Day on Oct. 8 marked the 13th year that local Thoroughbred farms and organizations joined Keeneland to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This year, Keeneland and TVG along with Airdrie Stud, Ashford Stud, Flaxman Holdings, Gainesway, Godolphin, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lane's End Farm, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Spendthrift Farm participated. Keeneland donated $10,000 to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Keeneland teamed with UPS and City Barbecue to honor front-line health care workers, first responders, members of the military, teachers and others on Heroes Day, Oct. 18. Keeneland fans nominated deserving community heroes online. Three Central Kentuckians – Letitia Roark from Versailles, Laura Stark of Lexington and Thomas Shaddix from Stamping Ground – were selected as grand prize winners to receive a Keeneland Heroes Day at Home Tailgate from City Barbecue, $1,000 Visa gift card provided by UPS and other goodies. Twelve other nominees received $250 Visa gift cards provided by UPS.
College Scholarship Day went digital on Oct. 23, awarding more than $30,000 in scholarships and dozens of prizes to students in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Coca-Cola.
Juddmonte, sponsor of the Juddmonte Spinster, and Keeneland made a combined donation of $10,000 to the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI) program, which provides hands-on internship opportunities for college students interested in careers in the horse industry. Many of the nearly 1,000 graduates of the KEMI program have found rewarding careers in diverse areas of the industry.
Keeneland sponsor Kentucky Utilities challenged Keeneland fans with a matching campaign to support God's Pantry and Nourish Lexington with a $7,500 commitment. To support this initiative, please visit https://godspantry.org/donate/keeneland/
With the help of its corporate partners, Keeneland thanked the hardworking community in the track's stable area on selected days during the Fall Meet with Nourish the Backstretch, an extension of Nourish Lexington. Participating partners include Anthem, Buffalo Trace, Claiborne Farm, Darley, Dixiana, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Juddmonte Farms, Lexus of Lexington, Pin Oak Stud, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Shadwell Farm, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, TVG and UK HealthCare.
Keeneland and Lexus of Lexington, sponsor of the Lexus Raven Run (G2), made a combined commitment of $5,000 to The MAP Foundation/Woodhill Community Center. Lexington Leadership Foundation (LLF) and The MAP Foundation have partnered to provide the children, teens and families involved in LLF's Urban Impact Initiative and throughout the Lexington community a place where they can realize their potential to grow, succeed and lead.

2020 Fall Meet at a Glance (Oct. 2-24)

	Fall 2020	Fall 2019
All-Sources Handle on Keeneland	$148,229,708	$160,207,916

Avg. Daily All-Sources Handle on Keeneland	$8,719,395	$9,423,995

Total On-Track Handle	$2,477,890	$17,320,852

Avg. Daily On-Track Handle	$145,758	$1,018,873

Total Attendance	15,351	262,630

Avg. Daily Attendance	903	15,449

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Four New Members Added To Keeneland’s Advisory Board Of Directors

Keeneland has announced four new additions to its Advisory Board of Directors: Gatewood Bell of Cromwell Bloodstock, Coolmore's Aisling Duignan, Juddmonte Farms' Garrett O'Rourke and Sarah S. Reeves of Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Nick Nicholson, Keeneland President and CEO from 2000-2012, and J. David Smith Jr. of Stoll Keenon Ogden are retiring from the Keeneland Board.

All four new Directors began their service at the recent Advisory Board meeting. Reeves replaces Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin as Secretary of the Board.

“Gatewood, Aisling, Garrett and Sarah each provide the board with unique skill sets and business acumen that will help guide Keeneland as it navigates the future,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank them for their service to Keeneland.”

Gatewood Bell

Gatewood Bell, president of Cromwell Bloodstock, is the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland, following his father, Jimmy Bell, and grandfather, John A. Bell. Bell is a member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and a U.S. representative for Goffs sales agency. He previously worked for Kiaran McLaughlin and Nicoma Bloodstock and served as a jockey's agent for Fernando Jara.

Aisling Duignan

Aisling Duignan is Director of Bloodstock for Coolmore America. Ashford Stud, owned by John Magnier, is Coolmore's headquarters in the U.S. The farm stands Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.

Garrett O'Rourke

Garrett O'Rourke serves as General Manager of Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, where he has helped guide the American operation since 1992. Juddmonte, which has farms in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the U.S., is one of the leading breeders in the world, having bred 26 European and two U.S. classic winners, such as multiple champion and sire Frankel (GB) and Belmont (G1) winner Empire Maker. O'Rourke was named Farm Manager of the Year in 2001 by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club. He serves as a Director Emeritus of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and is on the Board of Trustees for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Sarah S. Reeves

Reeves is a member in Stoll Keenon Ogden's Lexington office and has been with the firm since 2010. She is part of the Business Services practice group and works primarily with clients in the Equine, Health Care and Alcohol & Hospitality industries. Reeves was recognized as a Rising Star by Kentucky Super Lawyers® and is a member of the Women Lawyers' Association of the Fayette County Bar Association. She serves on the board of Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The Keeneland Board comprises leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky community.

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Unicorn Girl, Dam Of Grade 1 Winner Jackie’s Warrior, Supplemented to Keeneland November Sale

Keeneland announced Sunday that Unicorn Girl, dam of undefeated two-time Grade 1 winner and leading TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance candidate Jackie's Warrior, and her weanling colt by American Pharoah have been supplemented to the November Breeding Stock Sale, to be held Nov. 9-18.

Unicorn Girl, who is in foal to leading sire Into Mischief, and her weanling son both are consigned by Beau Lane Bloodstock, agent, in the premier Book 1 on opening day.

Catalog pages for the two horses will be released later this week.

In Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont, Jackie's Warrior dominated his rivals with a front-running 5 1/2-length victory. The effort solidified the colt's status as a favorite in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland and set the graduate of Keeneland's 2019 September Yearling Sale on course for an Eclipse Award as division champion.

“It was a very impressive victory for Jackie's Warrior in the Champagne, and Unicorn Girl in foal to Into Mischief on one cover and carrying a colt will be well received at Keeneland November,” said Carlo Vaccarezza, who owns the mare and weanling with John Williams. “Also selling the weanling half-brother to Jackie's Warrior by American Pharoah will show what she's capable of moving forward. John and I are extremely excited for this opportunity.”

The Champagne continued Jackie's Warrior's roll this year. He won his June 19 career debut by 2 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs and next took the Aug. 7 G2 Saratoga Special Presented by Miller Light by three lengths. On Sept. 7, Jackie's Warrior captured the G1 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga by 2 1/4 lengths in stakes-record time.

Unicorn Girl, by the A.P. Indy stallion A. P. Five Hundred, is in foal to the powerhouse Into Mischief, whose stud fee recently climbed to $225,000 for 2021. His recent headliners include Kentucky Derby hero Authentic and Test Stakes winner Gamine. Into Mischief was the leading sire by gross sales at the recent Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where 19 of his sons and daughters commanded $500,000 or more. Five sold for $1 million or more, including the $1.9 million sale-topping filly.

“There is no telling what Unicorn Girl can do with a foal by Into Mischief,” Beau Lane said. “She is a powerhouse. She tried her heart out every time she raced. She's a quality mare who was an overachiever, and she passes that on to her babies. They have the same attitude. She is the kind that can give you that special horse.”

Unicorn Girl has a pedigree page loaded with quality. Out of stakes winner Horah for Bailey, she is a half-sister to eight winners, including stakes winner Bernie the Maestro, who earned $694,317, and a pair of stakes horses who banked nearly $200,000 each.

On the race track, Unicorn Girl was competitive, classy and sound. Racing on the East Coast, she won 19 races and earned $483,508 in 54 races.

“Jackie's Warrior proved his star power with his dominating performance in the Champagne, and we look forward to seeing him at Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile,” Keeneland President-Elect and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland is especially excited to offer his dam, Unicorn Girl, who is in foal to the popular stallion Into Mischief, and his weanling half-brother in the November Sale.”

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