05/27/2011 3:12PM

Open Mind, Safely Kept and Sky Beauty: Welcome to the Hall of Fame!

By Barbara Livingston
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Please excuse the down time for this blog (which results in a not so timely Hall of Fame blog!). New features were being added to DRF.com and it wasn't possible to add photos correctly. I think we're good to go again....  

A heartfelt congratulations to three incredibly talented fillies on their long overdue entry into the Hall of Fame! (Congratulations also to the deserving trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, of course). The remarkable equine trio consists of Open Mind, Safely Kept and Sky Beauty.  

View Slideshow

Open Mind (ch. m. 1986 - 1998, by Deputy Minister - Stage Luck, by Stage Door Johnny).  Bred by Due Process Stable in New Jersey, owned by Eugene Klein and trained by D. Wayne Lukas.  Record: 19-12-2-2  $1,844,372.

Winner of two Grade Is at age 2, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Wayne Lukas trained the top 3 finishers).  Champion 2-year-old filly of 1988.  Among Open Mind's wins at 3 were the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama.  Won 10 consecutive stakes. Filly Triple Crown winner.  Champion 3-year-old filly of 1989.

Safely Kept (b. m. 1986, by Horatius - Safely Home, by Winning Hit).  Bred by David and JoAnn Hayden in Maryland, Safely Kept was trained by Alan Goldberg for owners Jayeff B Stable and Barry Weisbord (first three starts were for Dark Hollow Farm).   Safely Kept's record:  31-24-2-3, $2,194,206.  

At 2, Safely Kept's biggest win was the Playpen S.  At 3, won 8 stakes (four graded) including the G1 Test.  Ran 2nd that year in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.  Won 7 stakes at 4 (five graded), including the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint over Dayjur (at odds of 12-1).  Won 5 stakes at age 5 (three graded).  Won carrying 130 pounds (Distaff H./Pimlico). Odds-on favorite 26 times. Champion sprinter of 1989.

The only one of the three new Hall of Fame horses still alive, Safely Kept is a pampered pensioner, 25, at Lyn Burleson's Burleson Farms near Midway, Kentucky.

Sky Beauty (b. m. 1990 - 2004, by Blushing Groom - Maplejinsky, by Nijinsky II).  Bred by Sugar Maple Farm and trained by H. Allen Jerkens for Georgia Hoffman.  Record: 21-15-2-2, $1,336,000. Odds-on in 17 starts.  9-time Grade I winner.

Finished first in two Grade Is as a juvenile (DQed in Spinaway). G1 wins at 3:  Acorn, Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama.  G1 wins at 4: Ruffian, Shuvee, Hempstead and Go For Wand.  Won carrying 130 pounds (G1 Ruffian/Belmont).  Filly Triple Crown winner 1993.  Champion older female 1994.

Please click on the View Slideshow link above to see photos of these great new Hall of Famers.

Ann More than 1 year ago
Why are there no jockeys in the hall of fame this year less vote or something just put Calvin Borel ,John Velazquez, Garrett Gomez and Jean Cruguet(he never got in the hall of fame he should of) they also should be in the hall of fame but any ways congrats to everyone who went into the hall of fame today Jerry, Sky beauty, Open mind and Safety kept
judy and russ berube More than 1 year ago
Dear Barbara: Thanks once again for another beautiful set of photos. Loved them. Judy and Russ Berube
NancyP More than 1 year ago
Hi Barbara, So glad you are back at the DRF blog. Thank you so very much for the article and your ever gorgeous pictures of Sky Beauty, Safely Kept and Open Mind in the slide show. I did not know about these three fantastic mares and their fabulous records on the track, as I didn't start following horse racing until 2004. I have never seen their names in the numerous books I have accumulated on Thoroughbred Racing. This honor has been long over due! They ran many more races than today's fillies and colts and were off the board only a few times each! They earned millions for their connections. Spectacular! Open Mind and Sky Beauty had short lives. I imagine it was due to foaling complications? Who would be some of their offspring and were they successful as their mothers? It would absolutely fantastic if you created a book containing all three of their lives, racing records and foals. I think horse racing fans would gobble it up given your name on it. I always look for your articles and pictures, thank you from the bottom of my heart for them. Best, Nancy >
ripfinch More than 1 year ago
seems like just yesterday these wonderful ladies were running. thanks again for all your wonderful photos. it's just a matter of time before the Barbara Livingston exhibit is unveiled at the Hall.
Lin More than 1 year ago
I've been coming to DRF every day, hoping for one of your blogs. Welcome back! And as always, thank you for your gorgeous photos of 3 very deserving ladies. I was especially happy for Sky Beauty: it was looking she might never make the HOF.
hialeah More than 1 year ago
Hi Barbara, Down time can be good, but it is nice to see your blog, again. Going to the slideshow now. Just wanted to express what I am so sure so many feel. Glad to see you back. Thanks, as always! 3xw/e woho
Abigail (Terlingua lady) More than 1 year ago
Barbara: Great to see Sky Beauty especially through your lens. I'm a big Nijinsky groupie and adored Maplejinsky. I have a terrific photo of Sky Beauty that I finally got -- by sublime accident -- from a magazine in England called The Pacemaker, who were selling off all their photos to go digital. I was just delighted because like her dam she so reminded me of Nijinsky...she even got half of the heart-shaped marking of her grandsire. I knew less about these other 2 fillies. Thrilling that they're all going into the Hall of Fame! A great read as usual & most welcome on a stormy, windy Friday in Montreal!!!! Hugs, Abigail