Stonestreet Stables | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ward Duo Target Royal Ascot

Group 1 winner Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Breeders' Cup victor Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) are both targeting the 2021 Royal Ascot meeting trainer Wesley Ward has announced.

The filly, a Stonestreet Stables colourbearer, will line up for the G1 Commonwealth Cup during the Royal Meeting. In 2020, Campanelle captured the G3 Queen Mary S. and then returned to Europe to add the G1 Prix Morny to her haul later in the summer. Although she has been entered in the G1 1000 Guineas and Irish equivalent, it is more likely that the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup holds greater appeal.

“Barbara [Banke, owner of Stonestreet Stables] is really keen on Ascot and I think six furlongs–and that's a stiff six at Ascot for the Commonwealth–with a little weight break for being a filly, that will be our main target,” Ward said via Zoom to the British Horseracing Authorityi's 2-year-old classifications press conference. “I'm kind of working from that race backwards–the Guineas really don't come into play right now unless when she's at the farm, the team gets together and decides to go in another direction.

“Our main goal would be the Commonwealth. Barbara and her whole team are really looking forward to getting back [to Royal Ascot]. She worked last week for the first time at Barbara's farm at Ocala and she looked like she's ready to go, so we're all excited.”

Golden Pal, owned by Ranlow Investments, ran second in the G2 Norfolk S. in just his second start before successful efforts in Saratoga's Skidmore S. on Sept. 21 and the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6. The plan is the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot.

“We're really excited about this guy,” said Ward. “He will come back opening day at Keeneland, which is Apr. 1. Every year they have a straight, 3-year-old, $100-$150,000 stakes race over five and a half furlongs and that will crack off the season for him.

“He's doing fantastic–he came out of the Breeders' Cup in great shape and we're going to try the same route we did with Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) and go to the King's Stand with him. I think the five should see him right between the ears there. He's grown in height and he's broadening out–he's a really beautiful colt right now. I think he's going to be a tremendous sprinter this year.”

However, the King's Stand S. is not the only overseas goal for the colt. The G1 Nunthorpe S. against elders has been set as a longer-term target for Golden Pal.

“The Nunthorpe has eluded me and that will almost be the main goal for this guy,” Ward continued. “We're going back to the King's Stand [first], but as the summer progresses the 3-year-olds catch up to the 4-year-olds and I'm really looking forward to that race at York.

“This guy [Golden Pal] has proven he can go on all types of ground–he's a very exciting sprinter, one of the best I've ever trained and hopefully could be the best with the accomplishments we've set out for him this spring, summer and hopefully culminating in the fall.

“He's a really, really exciting horse to train, so we're looking forward to it. Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a very worthy opponent. The years are hopefully behind him, but I'm a big fan of his and when you get these good sprinters matched together, it just brings excitement to everyone involved in racing.”

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Raven Unexpectedly Busy at OBS

Owner/trainer Kerri Raven, based at Tampa Bay Downs this winter with a string of 10 horses, went to the OBS Winter Mixed Sale Tuesday with the expectation of possibly buying a horse out of the auction's racing age section. The Ontario native returned to Tampa Wednesday with three horses, including the $150,000 session topper Bear Brian (Tiznow) (hip 368).

“I just came up to see the horses of racing age, but I didn't really have a plan,” Raven said on the road back to Tampa Wednesday afternoon. “We brought the trailer, but I thought maybe one or none. I wasn't planning on being that aggressive at all. It was just the individuals that really stuck out.”

Raven's first purchase of the day was Jungle Fighter (Animal Kingdom) (hip 257). She paid $60,000 for the 5-year-old gelding who was third in the 2019 GIII Ontario Derby and was most recently seventh in the GI Northern Dancer S. last October for Stronach Stables and trainer Michael Doyle.

Raven then paid $90,000 for an unraced 3-year-old colt by Distorted Humor (hip 315). The sophomore shared the bullet three-furlong drill (:32 2/5) during Monday's under-tack preview.

Following those two purchases, Raven thought she was done shopping. Until she saw Bear Brian.

“The last hip that I bought, who was the sale topper, when that horse came into the ring, he just had so much presence that I couldn't say no to him,” Raven said. “I was done buying until I saw that horse. I was done buying and I wasn't really paying attention to anything anymore and then I saw him and just had to go see what he was about. I'd never quite seen as good-looking a horse as that. He is so well put-together and he has an intelligent head. He's just beautiful. I went and talked to the people and saw he vetted out really good. And that was it.”

Bear Brian was purchased by Stonestreet Stables for $300,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November sale. In his lone start, the bay colt won on debut at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 9.

“I went and looked at him just because of how he looked as an individual and then found everything else about him,” Raven said. “I thought that was really big, a winner in his only start, that's not easy to do.”

Asked if her session-topping $150,000 bid would have been her last, Raven said, “I wasn't stopping. I'm kind of like that.”

Raven grew up in Ontario, but had to find her own way into the racing world.

“My mother is an artist and my dad was a musician,” Raven said. “I just kind of jumped the fence of the nearest horse farm–it was actually a dairy farm that had a horse. I was just horse crazy right from the time I was a kid. I always knew I wanted to work with horses, but I had to go and find it myself.”

Raven eventually found her way to Woodbine, where she worked as a hot walker and then galloped for trainers like Mac Benson and Paul Buttigieg. She also spent six years working for trainers in Europe.

“I think in a way, they let a horse be a horse over there,” Raven said of what she learned in her time in Europe. “Horses are a lot more relaxed. I like having a round pen and I don't like trying to build them up too much. I think they prepare them mentally better over there. I like to take my time, too. If they need the time, I give them the time they need.”

From Tampa Bay, Raven and her now 13-horse stable will move to Canterbury Park in Minnesota in the spring.

“I train for some guys in Minnesota and a couple people in Canada, but I own quite a few myself,” Raven said of the string.

Asked if she was looking to expand her stable, Raven said, “No. I gallop all of my own horses and I thought 10 was a good number.”

She added with a laugh, “And then I went to Ocala.”

As for her plans for Bear Brian, Raven said, “We will see how he starts training to determine where we will point him. He has the potential to be a lot of fun.”

The post Raven Unexpectedly Busy at OBS appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bear Brian Tops OBS Winter Mixed Sale’s Opening Session

Hip No. 368, Bear Brian, consigned by Summerfield (Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent for Stonestreet Stables LLC, went to Kerri Raven for $150,000 to top the Horses of Racing Age section on the first day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Winter Mixed Sale.

The 3-year-old bay colt by Tiznow, who captured a maiden special at Sam Houston Race Park on Jan. 9, is out of stakes winner Lil Super Bear, by Super Saver.

Hip No. 182, a son of Practical Joke also consigned by Summerfield, was purchased by Ronald Clark Shepherd for $130,000 to top the Consignor Preferred Session. The bay yearling colt is out of Mobeautiful, by Uncle Mo, from the family of graded stakes winner Speed Dialer.

Hip No. 321, Polterer, a 3-year-old son of Ghostzapper, went to Danny W. Brown for $110,000. Consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent, the chestnut colt is out of graded stakes winner Honey Hughes, by Henny Hughes.
J. Stable LLC paid $100,000 for Hip No. 360, Pledge, a 3-year-old filly by Candy Ride consigned by Six K's Training & Sales, Agent. A 6-1/2 length winner of a maiden special at Turfway Park on Jan. 2, she's a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Hello Don Julio out of Faithful, by Vindication.
Hip No. 25, a daughter of Mendelssohn consigned by Stuart Morris, Agent, was sold to Democracy Bloodstock for $95,000. The dark bay or brown yearling filly is out of stakes placed Simply Confection, by Candy Ride (ARG), from the family of champion Ashado.

Hip No. 117, a daughter of Malibu Moon consigned by Kerri Szegi, Agent, went to Windylea Farm – NY LLC for $95,000. The bay yearling filly is out of graded stakes placed Fortunia, by Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), a half sister to grade one stakes winner Dionisia.
Hip No. 315, a son of Distorted Humor consigned by Oscar Brown Stables, was sold to Kerri Raven for $90,000. The 3-year-old bay colt, whose three eighths in :32 2/5 was co-fastest at the distance at the Under Tack Show, is out of graded stakes placed Goldstryke Glory, by Second in Command.
Hip No. 289, Street Ruckus, also consigned by Kaizen, was sold to Holly and David Wilson and Peernboom – Bowyer, LLC for $85,000. The dark bay or brown 3-year-old colt by Street Boss, a half brother to grade one stakes placed Sir Sahib, is out of Xs Belle, by Dynaformer.
Hip No. 307, Waltzing Champ, by Ghoszapper, went to Al and Bill Ulwelling for $85,000. The 4-year-old chestnut gelding, consigned by Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent, is out of First Waltz, by Medaglia d'Oro, a daughter of graded stakes winner Spring Waltz.
Hip No. 338, Brother Brody, consigned by L. G. Agent, was sold to Emerald Sales, Agent for Michael Eiserman for $80,000. The 3-year-old dark bay or brown colt by Brody's Cause, who breezed three eighths in :32 3/5 at the Under Tack Show, is out of Mesa Mist, by Sky Mesa, from the family of graded stakes placed Logan's Mist.
DKW Racing paid $67,000 for Hip No. 90, a daughter of Hard Spun consigned by C & S Thoroughbred Sales, Agent. The dark bay or brown yearling filly is out of Cleo, by Pioneerof the Nile, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Prospective Saint.
Hip No. 63, a daughter of Twirling Candy consigned by Pelican State Thoroughbreds, Agent, was sold for $65,000 to Al and Bill Ulwelling. The bay yearling filly is out of American Kitty, by Tale of the Cat, a half sister to stakes placed American Diva.

For the Consignor Preferred session, 98 horses sold for a total of $1,893,300, compared with 85 horses grossing $1,912,300 in 2020. The average price was $19,319 compared with $22,498 a year ago, while the median price was $10,050 compared with $13,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 30.9 percent; it was 37.9 percent last year.

For the Horses of Racing Age session, 73 horses grossed $1,676,500 compared with 70 selling for a total of $1,366,900 in 2020. The average was $22,966, up from $19,527 a year ago, while the median price was $13,000 compared to $11,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 12 percent; it was 11.4 percent in 2020.

The OBS Winter Mixed Sale continues Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. with Hip No.'s 451 – 805 in the Open Session.

To view the full results, click here.

The post Bear Brian Tops OBS Winter Mixed Sale’s Opening Session appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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GSP Aurelius Maximus to Stud in Louisiana

GSP Aurelius Maximus (Pioneerof the Nile–La Reina, by A.P. Indy) has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2021 at Jay Adcock's Red River Farm in Coushatta, Louisiana. The deal was brokered by Andrew Cary of Cary Bloodstock. The 5-year-old, who will stand in a partnership between Nathan Granger and Stonestreet Stables/George Bolton/Peter Leidel, will stand for $2,000 live foal, with consideration to approved mares.

“Aurelius Maximus is the most exciting horse to retire to Louisiana for many years,” said Cary. “His combination of impeccable pedigree, gorgeous conformation and top-class ability on the racetrack make him a very tantalizing prospect for breeders in the southwest.”

Granger added, “We're very excited to get a horse of such talent and grit–not to mention his great looks. We're just as excited to partner with one of the premier ownership groups in the industry in Stonestreet Stables, Mr. Bolton and Mr. Leidel.”

Aurelius Maximus broke his maiden at Belmont Park by 7 3/4 lengths second time out before finishing fourth in the 2018 GI Champagne S. Sidelined afterwards, he kicked off 2020 with two professional allowance victories at Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs before finishing a neck to Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve) in the GII Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland last October.

Aurelius Maximus was conditioned for his final four races by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

“Aurelius Maximus was an amazing physical,” he said. “He was super athletic and had tremendous heart. If his foals look like him, he'll make an outstanding sire.”

Stonestreet Stables bloodstock advisor John Moynihan, who purchased Aurelius Maximus privately as a 2-year-old, added, “Aurelius Maximus is among the most talented horses we've ever had at Stonestreet. He had legitimate Grade I ability, a ton of natural speed, and has an awesome physical to go with it.”

Aurelius Maximus is one of seven winners produced by the Grade III-winning La Reina, who also produced Grade II winner Chief Havoc (Giant's Causeway) and Grade III-placed Special Event (Arch). La Reina is a half-sister to Grade I winner and sire Brahms (Danzig) and to SW Olympic (Danzig). This represents the female family of Grade I winners Queena, Too Chic, Chic Shirine, Somali Lemonade, Verrazano, etc.

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