Mon, 04/01/2019 - 12:36

Coal Front first millionaire for sire Stay Thirsty

Erika Rasmussen/Dubai Racing Club
Coal Front, shown winning the Godolphin Mile, is a son of two-time Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty, who now stands in California.

Stay Thirsty was trained by Todd Pletcher to win four graded stakes races, including a pair of Grade 1 events – and the horse wasn’t done giving to his trainer just yet. On Saturday, with Pletcher watching from his Florida office, Stay Thirsty, who now stands in California, was represented more than 8,300 miles away by Coal Front, winner of the Group 2, $1.5 million Godolphin Mile at Meydan. The victory was Pletcher’s first on a Dubai World Cup program.

“He had a fantastic run,” Pletcher said of Coal Front. “Our whole team is very proud of him.”

Fri, 03/29/2019 - 07:36

With help from Rosie Napravnik, New Vocations opens Louisiana facility

Barbara D. Livingston
Retired jockey Rosie Napravnik will work to spread awareness of New Vocation's retirement facility in Louisiana.

The New Vocations Thoroughbred adoption program has announced it has opened a satellite facility in Louisiana with the support of retired jockey Rosie Napravnik.

The New Vocations facility at the Equi-Best Equestrian Center in Covington, La., will focus on taking in horses retiring from Louisiana's four racetracks as well as training centers and farms within the state.

Wed, 03/27/2019 - 14:16

Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Hidden Scroll

Barbara D. Livingston
Hidden Scroll, shown winning his career debut by 14 lengths on Jan. 26, most recently was fourth in the Fountain of Youth after contesting a hot pace.

Hidden Scroll

Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker

Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms

Flashy debut winner Hidden Scroll was the victim of a brutal pace when he faded to fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this month behind Code of Honor. Hidden Scroll, who is from an outstanding family typical of Juddmonte’s program, gets a chance at redemption in Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Mon, 03/25/2019 - 13:20

Sire Tapit having strong year

Barbara D. Livingston
Tapit has already recorded 11 black-type stakes winners less than three months into the 2019 season.

Much has been made about the female side of Chasing Yesterday’s family – after all, the Grade 1 winner is half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. But both sides of the filly’s family are outstanding.

Mon, 03/25/2019 - 13:20

Two Bodemeister daughters dead-heat in Any Limit Stakes

Leslie Martin/Coglianese Photos
Miss Marcela (inside) and Brunette Princess (5) dead heat in the 2019 Any Limit Stakes.

The young stallion Bodemeister already has sired a Kentucky Derby winner, and he added another accomplishment to his growing résumé Saturday when two of his daughters finished in a dead heat for the victory in the $75,000 Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Brunette Princess and Miss Marcela each earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 65 as they hit the wire together in the Any Limit. They finished the six furlongs in 1:12.49 while three lengths clear of the third-place finisher.

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 12:06

Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Country House

Barbara D. Livingston
Country House, shown training at Fair Grounds on March 20, is by Lookin At Lucky.

Country House Lookin At Lucky - Quake Lake, by War Chant

Bred in Kentucky by J.V. Shields, Jr.

Mon, 03/18/2019 - 13:59

Maryland-bred half-siblings win stakes on same card

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Cordmaker was one of two stakes winners out of the broodmare Tanca on last Saturday's card at Laurel.

The broodmare Tanca recorded a rarity on Saturday at Laurel Park, with two of her offspring winning $100,000 stakes races in the span of about an hour. Tanca, a Robert Manfuso and Katy Voss homebred, was first represented by Cordmaker, who won the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial. Shortly afterward, Las Setas won the Beyond the Wire Stakes.

Mon, 03/18/2019 - 13:30

Pioneerof the Nile dies at 13

Barbara D. Livingston
Pioneerof the Nile, who died Monday, will have three more complete crops of foals.

Pioneerof the Nile, sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, died unexpectedly on Monday, WinStar Farm has announced. The son of Empire Maker was 13.

In a release, WinStar said that Pioneerof the Nile covered a mare on Monday morning, but began acting uncomfortably after he was back in his stall. He was en route to a veterinary clinic when he died.

Mon, 03/18/2019 - 12:26

Take Charge Lady's influence felt in Rebel divisions

Barbara D. Livingston
Long Range Toddy got by Improbable in the first division of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

Take Charge Lady raced once at Oaklawn Park, finishing second by a head to Horse of the Year Azeri in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap in 2003. But Take Charge Lady was a big winner last Saturday at the Hot Springs, Ark., track, as the common thread between the winners of the two divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes.

Thu, 03/14/2019 - 11:40

The Big Beast has breakout sale

Barbara D. Livingston
The Big Beast saw several juveniles from his first crop stand out at last week’s under-tack preview show.

The Big Beast, a Grade 1-winning sprinter, may have passed his speed on to his progeny. Several juveniles from his first crop stood out at last week’s under-tack preview show for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March sale.

One of those fillies then stepped up to sell for $850,000 to West Point Thoroughbreds and partners, tying for the top price by a freshman sire and for the fourth-highest price of the sale.