Uriah's Beginning gets sire Semoran off to winning start

Double Diamond Farm stallion Semoran became the first Florida freshman sire off the mark, when his son, the chestnut colt Uriah's Beginning, won his maiden March 21 at Delta Downs. Uriah's Beginning, out of the Crusader Sword producer Avenging Aly, was an easy winner, running the half-mile distance in 47 seconds.

"Semoran will have 28 other registered 2-year-olds going for him this year," said Double Diamond Farm spokeswoman Louise Copley. "And it looks like he will cover 50 mares this year. That's a normal book at Double Diamond Farm."

Semoran is by Phone Trick out of Silk Brocade, by The Minstrel, and is one of the few of his sire line to stand in Florida. Although built like a Quarter Horse, Semoran was more at home around two turns and competitive through nine furlongs. At 3 he won the Remington Park Derby, and he placed twice, including in the Grade 3 Affirmed at Hollywood Park. At 4, he won the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic at nine furlongs, the Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap at nine furlongs, and was third in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster Handicap at nine furlongs. The following year, he again tried the Stephen Foster, and settled for a repeat third, this time behind the brilliant pair of Awesome Again and Silver Charm. Semoran retired with eight victories, four of them stakes, and earnings of $860,035.

Uriah's Beginning was bred in Florida by Glen Ridge Farm LLC. Both Uriah's Beginning and his dam, Avenging Aly, were sold at the Ocala Breeders' fall mixed sale, Uriah's Beginning for $6,500. Three months later, Uriah's Beginning was re-sold at the OBS winter mixed sale, bringing a bid of $1,200 from owner-trainer Floyd Pitzer.

"The info I have," said Copley, "is that Uriah's Beginning is going for the Jean Lafitte Futurity, a $100,000 stakes at Delta Downs on April 7."

Dr. Chak relocating in Pedro

Veterinarian Dr. Ron Chak has been a fixture in the Ocala area since the mid 1960's when he came down from Kentucky to be the broodmare vet at Ocala Stud. Subsequently, he started his own commercial breeding operation and named it Newchance Farm.

"I bought property south of Ocala when that area was the real boondocks," said Chak, who revealed that he had sold the 90 remaining acres and was moving farther south, to Pedro, and would start anew with a 55-acre stallion station and nursery.

"I will be taking my stallions Light of Morn, Win M All, Kuetch, and, of course, Fire Dancer with me. Fire Dancer is 27 now and was retired from breeding several years ago. He was good to me and good for Florida. He sired 22 stakes winners and the winners of $14 million."

Honor Glide retires at 8

Originally, it was hoped that last week's renewal of the Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream would rekindle the competitive fires of 8-year-old Grade 1 stakes winner and millionaire Honor Glide. Instead, Honor Glide finished seventh.

So, Honor Glide, a grandson of Danzig, has been retired with his future stud activities undecided at this point.

o The Bonnie Heath Farm-bred Outstander came out of winter quarters to win the Horatius at Laurel. He's the second stakes winner this year from Outflanker's first crop.