Chunk of Gold
Preservationist – Play for Gold, by Cairo Prince
Bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones ($2,500 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling purchase by Chris Melton)
Louisiana Derby runner-up Chunk of Gold has never been worse than second and has already earned back more than 139 times his modest purchase price. The colt, a May foal, is from a steady, serviceable pedigree – a good description of Chunk of Gold himself.
Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male Mineshaft has been retired from stud duty at the age of 26. The stallion is in excellent health and will be pensioned at the farm. A leading son of the legendary A.P. Indy, Mineshaft was bred and raced by William S. Farish, James A. Elkins, Jr. and W. Temple Webber, Jr. Foaled at Lane’s End Farm in May of 1999, Mineshaft was produced from the multiple Grade 1 winning and producing mare Prospectors Delite, winner of the Acorn S. (G1) and Ashland S. (G1) and dam of millionaire Tomisue’s Delight, a full sister to Mineshaft.
Puca, the dam of a pair of classic winners, was honored as Kentucky's Broodmare of the Year as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) presented their annual awards Friday night in Lexington, Ky.
The Broodmare of the Year award, first presented in 1946, is the oldest of the KTOB awards, and considered one of the most prestigious accomplishments in Thoroughbred bloodstock.
The Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) has announced that Jill Byrne will take over as the organization's Executive Director. Debbie Easter will remain an integral part of the VTA but will now focus more time and energy on a wider range of industry initiatives with the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) of which she is President. Byrne will also continue to serve in her existing role as Vice-President of Marketing & Strategic Planning for the VEA.
Admire Daytona
Colt by Drefong – Ice Pastel, by Shackleford
Bred in Japan by Northern Racing ($480,276 JRHA select weanling purchase by Junko Kondo)
If Japanese-bred Admire Daytona claims the automatic Kentucky Derby berth he earned by winning the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby – the finale of the European/Mideast Road to the Derby – the late nominee to the Triple Crown will bring in a pedigree full of names familiar to America.
Captain Cook
Colt by Practical Joke – Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie
Bred in Kentucky by Marylou Whitney Stables ($410,000 Keeneland November horses of racing age purchase by Steven Young)
The bloodlines of the vaunted Whitney program have rarely been available in the public marketplace. That changed last year, when John Hendrickson, widower of Marylou Whitney, died.
Journalism, the current favorite on Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch list, will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon his retirement from racing, the farm announced Monday night.
The Coolmore team will also join Journalism’s current ownership partnership – Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, and Robert LaPenta – in his continuing racing career. On Monday, Journalism was entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Eclipse Award champion sprinter Straight No Chaser, currently in the midst of a Middle Eastern campaign, will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement from racing.
WinStar announced Friday that it had entered into a partnership with MyRacehorse to acquire the breeding rights to the 6-year-old son of Speightster, continuing its long association with the sireline. The farm stood the horse’s grandsire, fellow Eclipse champion sprinter Speightstown. It then bred, campaigned, and initially stood graded-stakes winner Speightster.
Rancho San Miguel, one of the West Coast’s leading breeding farms, is for sale, owner Tom Clark said on Tuesday.
Clark said the central California property is being offered for $13.5 million. In an interview, Clark stressed that he hoped a potential buyer would retain the 210-acre parcel for horses. Clark did not dismiss a partial sale.
The 70-year-old Clark cited his age and widespread issues plaguing California racing as two of the reasons the farm is available.
Disruptor
Colt by Gun Runner – Margate Gardens, by Speightstown
Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm and Peter J. Callahan ($1.15 million Keeneland September yearling purchase by Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farm)
Champion Gun Runner ended his career in the month of January at Gulfstream Park, soaring to victory in the 2018 Pegasus World Cup. A few weeks later, he started his smashing stud career.
