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Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup Team Taking Shape

While life may provide only a handful of certainties, trainer Todd Pletcher showing up with a powerful battalion of runners on Breeders' Cup Day can be counted on to be one of them. The 2022 renewal of the World Championships, slated for Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland, is shaping up to be no different. Since the beginning of the month, the Hall of Famer has annexed seven Grade I or Grade II races, highlighted by Life Is Good (Into Mischief), winner of the Oct. 1 GI Woodward S. Undefeated in four domestic starts this season (he finished fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March), the sparkling winner of the 2021 Dirt Mile was confirmed by Pletcher for a likely showdown with Flightline (Tapit) in next month's GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Also trying to give Pletcher his second Classic winner following Vino Rosso in 2019 is Happy Saver (Super Saver), who finished fourth in a competitive renewal of the GII Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs Oct. 1. Last season's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner hit the board in a trio of preceding starts in 2022, including a second to Flightline in the June 11 GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. and runner-up finish behind Life Is Good in the Aug. 6 GI Whitney S.

Also offering an imposing 1-2 punch on the Breeders' Cup Saturday card are Malathaat (Curlin) and Nest (Curlin), both targeting the GI Distaff. Victorious in last season's GI Kentucky Oaks, Central Bank Ashland S. and GI Alabama S., the Shadwell runner took last Sunday's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland, while her year-younger stablemate–victorious in this summer's Alabama and GI CCA Oaks, and runner-up in the GI Belmont S.–romped in the recent GII Beldame S. in New York.

Pletcher previously won the Distaff with eventual Hall of Famer Ashado (2004) and Stopchargingmaria in 2015.

Always dangerous with his juveniles, Pletcher will be represented by no less than a trio of 2-year-olds, including GI Hopefull S. and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity victor Forte (Violence), targeting the GI TVG Juvenile, and GI Frizette S. heroine Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), slated to contest the GI NetJets Juvenile Fillies. Also set to reappear over the championship weekend is Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), who punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with a victory in the Oct. 2 GII Pilgrim S.

Rounding out Team Pletcher's championship team is Annapolis (War Front). Victorious in the Manila S. at Belmont earlier this summer, the son of My Miss Sophia subsequently added a win in the Saranac S. at Saratoga before earning a Mile berth with a score in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. at Keeneland Oct. 8.

Already responsible for a dozen Breeders' Cup victories since earning his first win in 2004, Pletcher has finished third or better with 43 runners–registering a 28% in-the-money strike rate–while amassing $22.5 million in earnings.

Given the caliber of runners already engaged for this year's showcase next month, it appears likely that those figures will continue their upward trajectory.

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Offerman Named NYRA VP, GM of Operations

Andrew Offerman, who has served Canterbury Park in Minnesota as its senior vice president of racing operations for the last five years, has been appointed to the newly created role of vice president and general manager of operations for the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Offerman, who will assume his new responsibilities beginning Nov. 11, will oversee front-side operations at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga.

“Andrew is a seasoned executive and proven leader who will bring considerable skills to the talented team we have assembled at NYRA,” said Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President and CEO. “He is a strategic thinker who understands that horse racing is rapidly evolving, and we are pleased to welcome him in this wide-ranging new role.”

During his time at Canterbury Park, Offerman was responsible for many of the track's operational departments, including front-sire racing functions. He first joined the Shakopee track as a seasonal employee in college and was engaged full time from 2010, with increasing responsibility. After becoming Canterbury's top racing executive in 2017, he quickly deployed strategies that drove consistent and sustained increased in wagering handle and the associated revenue.

“NYRA sets the gold standard in our sport, and I am deeply appreciative of this opportunity to help shape the future of the organization,” said Offerman. “My experiences at Canterbury Park have prepared me for this next chapter and I'm thrilled it will be at the finest and most important racing organization in the country. I'd like to thank Canterbury Park and its racing community for their support throughout my tenure.”

He holds advisory and governance positions in a number of horse racing organizations including the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) Advisory Committee; Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA); American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Racing Committee, and Vice Chair of the Thoroughbred & Quarter Horse Breeders' Fund Advisory Committees of the Minnesota Racing Commission.

A native of Minneapolis, Offerman earned an M.S. degree from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program and holds a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College.

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The 2022 Foal Crop Dips Again, by 2.2%

The Jockey Club (TJC) announced Wednesday that breedings in 2021 have resulted in 18,609 live foals of 2022. At this same time last year, The Jockey Club reported that the breedings had resulted in 19,021 live foals, which marks a year-over-year decline of 2.2%. The foal crop has declined every year since 2015 and was at 35,274 as recently as 2008.

The Jockey Club estimated that the number of live foals reported so far is 85-90% complete.

In total, 1,303 stallions covered 29,065 mares, according to statistics compiled through Oct. 6. The number of stallions declined from the 1,447 that were active in the preceding year, a drop of 10%, and the number of mares bred declined by 2.1%.

Kentucky was once again the runaway leader when it comes to Thoroughbred breeding activity, accounting for 57.8% of the mares reported to be bred in North America and 61.6 % of the live foals. A total of 16,796 mares were bred to 207 different Kentucky-based stallions, producing 11,460 live foals, for a 0.7% decrease over figures from the previous year. However, the number of mares bred to Kentucky stallions showed a slight increase of 1.9%.

Among the 10 states and provinces that were among the top 10 in terms of mares covered, four–California, Ontario, Oklahoma and Indiana–produced more live foals in 2022 than in 2021. Indiana had the biggest gain, with the number of live foals reported going up by 20.3%.

Outside of Kentucky, California was the leader in number of mares bred with 1,939. Florida was next with 1,617.

The Coolmore stallion Practical Joke (Into Mischief) led all stallions in the category of mares bred. He was bred to 231 mares. Second on the list was Goldencents (Into Mischief) at 230. Showing the popularity of sons of Into Mischief, Authentic (Into Mischief), in what will be his first crop, was next at 229 mares. Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), also a first-crop sire, came in fourth, having been bred to 222 mares. Maclean's Music (Distorted Humor) was next at 221, making a remarkable jump after being bred to 57 mares the prior year.

Still another son of Into Mischief (Honest Mischief) led the way in the category of non-Kentucky-based sires. Standing in New York, he was bred to 127 mares.

Twelve stallions were bred to 200 or more mares and 43 were bred to 140 or mares, which exceeds the cap The Jockey Club had attempted to impose to encourage diversity in the breed.

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Candy Ride’s Business Model Tops October Digital Sale

Business Model (Candy Ride {Arg}-Innovative Idea, by Bernardini), a 4-year-old racing prospect, sold for $130,000 to Fergus Galvin, agent, to top the October Digital Selected Sale, which closed Tuesday afternoon. Godolphin, who bred and raced Business Model, consigned the gelding as Hip 20. A winner at three and four, the gelding has earnings of $146,993 to date. He entered the sale off a runner-up finish in allowance company at Churchill Downs Sept. 16. The 4-year-old is a half-brother to this year's GI Acorn S. winner Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile).

“The October Digital Selected Sale posted a 70% clearance rate with a flurry of bidding across the country,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “It was another successful sale for our clients on our digital platform and we look forward to a strong December sale.”

The October Digital Selected Sale opened for bidding Oct. 6 at noon. Full results are available online.

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