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Friesan Fire Sophomore Commands $400K at Wanamaker’s July

Fiya (Friesan Fire), a progressive 3-year-old gelding who posted a 98 Beyer and 9 Ragozin last time out, was purchased by Robert Masiello for $400,000 at the Wanamaker’s July online sale.

“I’m very happy to be able to sign the ticket for Fiya,” said Masiello. “He’s been really impressive this year and his last race certainly hinted that he might have some star quality. I was a bit nervous about participating in an online auction, but the experience was very seamless and intuitive. I’m really looking forward to getting Fiya into Tom Albertrani’s program and hopefully we can have some fun.”

Fiya was bred and owned by Ann Merryman and trained by her son, Michael Merryman, with Thursday’s sale marking a massive success for the mother and son duo.

“I loved the transparency of putting Fiya for sale for everyone to see,” Ann Merryman said about participating in the online auction. “This enabled me to get market value for a horse without taking it out of training and shipping it to a sale. The team at Wanamaker’s was exceptional and I really believe they are moving the industry in a great direction with their platform; the monthly sales will enable so many more owners to capitalize throughout the year.”

Wanamaker’s second-ever auction was rounded out by the sales of Gymnastic (Pioneerof the Nile) for $25,000, Pupetta (Giant’s Causeway) for $5,000, and Mixology (Old Fashioned) for $4,000.

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Classic Winner War of Will to Claiborne Upon Retirement

Claiborne Farm has purchased an interest in Classic winner War of Will (War Front–Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadlers Wells), who will stand at the Paris, Kentucky farm upon the conclusion of his racing career. The winner of a trio of a trio of graded events at three, including the GI Preakness S., the Gary Barber-campaigned colt most recently scored in the GI Maker’s Mark Mile over the Keeneland turf July 10. War of Will’s 2021 stud fee will be announced following the Breeders’ Cup.

“War of Will has an outstanding pedigree, and combined with his race record, he should be very appealing to breeders,” said Claiborne’s Walker Hancock. “He’s a Classic winner on dirt at three and a Grade I winner on turf at four, which places him in rare company. War Front is one of the most successful sires of his generation and there is no doubt he is becoming a sire of sires. We believe War of Will has the capability to follow his father’s success.”

To date, 4-year-old War of Will has earnings of over $1,796,000 and four graded stakes wins for trainer Mark Casse.

“I am very proud to be standing War of Will at Claiborne alongside his famous father,” said Barber. “War of Will has a special place in my heart having brought so much joy to me and my family. He is a once in a lifetime horse.”

Runner up in the GI Summer S. at Woodbine at two, the bay kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with back-to-back wins in the GIII LeComte S. followed by the GII Risen Star S. Seventh in a roughly-run edition of the GI Kentucky Derby, he took the Preakness by 1 1/4 lengths and added a third-place effort in the GI Pennsylvania Derby later in the season.

“I’ve been fortunate enough in my career to be around a lot of good horses, but I have to put War of Will right there at the top. He has a special place in my heart,” said Casse. “He’s a class act. There’s a reason we call him WOW. It’s not just because of his initials. Everything he does is a WOW. The way he looks. The way he trains, and his pedigree. I’m excited to see him go to Claiborne and follow in his father’s footsteps.”

Looking ahead, Casse added, “Our plan is to point towards the Woodbine Mile next, and then, hopefully, the Breeders’ Cup.”

Bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings, War of Will is out of Visions of Clarity, a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and GI Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Spinning World. Visions of Clarity is also responsible for Group 1 winner Pathfork (Distorted Humor) and multiple stakes winner Tacticus (A.P. Indy). War of Will is one of sire War Front’s 21 Grade I/Group 1 winners.

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10% Purse Increase at Del Mar

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has instituted a 10% purse increase, which will be retroactive to the track’s opening day, July 10. Del Mar has also added a stakes race to its 2020 calendar–the $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Filly Turf–a one-mile grass test for 2-year-old fillies Sept. 6. The race, which had been a regular feature at the seaside oval in the previous eight seasons, had been omitted from the original stakes schedule due to belt tightening measures. From July 10 through July 27, Del Mar conducted seven days of racing, without spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, accounted for $133,841,412 in online wagering, an increase of over 5% over corresponding dates last year.

“Our horsemen have been terrific and our customers have responded very positively to what we’re presenting,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar’s executive vice president for racing. “We’ve been running either 11- or 10-race cards and our field size is up to 8.6 in the early going. We’re very pleased to offer this purse boost in conjunction with how the meet has unfolded so far.”
Last summer the track’s average field size finished at 8.0 per race.

Del Mar’s summer season is scheduled through Labor Day Sept. 7 with racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. However, in response to the cancellation of racing during its second week, the track added Monday racing (July 27) with a 10-race card that drew $11.6 million in wagers. Del Mar indicated the plan is to make up their second and third missing days from week two with an added race day and additional races on scheduled cards.

The track returns to action Friday with six stakes races planned over the three-day weekend, including the GI Bing Crosby S. and GI Kentucky Derby point-earning race, the Shared Belief S. Saturday.

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Grayson-JC, Indiana Grand Launch ‘Grayson Grass Challenge’

The “Grayson Grass Challenge,” a five-week handicapping contest benefitting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and sponsored by Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, kicks off the week of Aug. 10. Participants will submit selections on two specified turf races each week at Indiana Grand through the week of Sept. 7. Each contestant will be given a $500 bankroll provided by Indiana Grand, of which $100 can be wagered each week. The bankroll can be used for win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers. At the end of the five weeks, all remaining bankroll plus winnings from the contestants will go to Grayson.

“Our sport is not possible without healthy horses, and Grayson funds research projects that facilitate wellness among all horses, including racehorses,” said Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing for Indiana Grand. “I wish our expert handicappers the best of luck in their efforts to raise money for such an important cause.”

The field for the Grayson Grass Challenge will consist of four individuals: Nick Luck, international racing broadcaster; Gabe Prewitt, analyst for Scioto Downs and Pompano Park; Ellis Starr, national racing analyst for Equibase; and Daniel Tordjman, America’s Best Racing handicapper and manager of Partnerships & Sponsorships.

Indiana Grand will also participate with an entry of rotating picks from Nancy Holthus, paddock analyst; Rachel McLaughlin, racing analyst and production manager; and track announcer Bill Downes.
For more information, visit www.grayson-jockeyclub.org.

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