Fri, 01/31/2014 - 11:19

Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program recognizes award winners

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) has announced the winners of its 2013 performance awards pilot program.

The T.I.P is designed to encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon the completion of their careers. The program sponsors Thoroughbred classes and high-point awards at sanctioned horse shows. The performance awards recognize Thoroughbreds accumulating the most points at shows in each of the respective award categories and divisions throughout the year.

Thu, 01/30/2014 - 15:19

Corfu retired to Bridlewood Farm in Florida

Barbara D. Livingston
Corfu, who won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in August, might go in the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes on Saturday.

Grade 2 winner Corfu has been retired from racing, and will stand the 2014 breeding season at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., for an advertised fee of $3,500.

The 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon finishes his career with two wins in six starts for earnings of $214,200, highlighted by a win in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes. He also finished second in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes as a juvenile.

Thu, 01/30/2014 - 11:40

Danedream produces first foal, Frankel filly

Japan Racing Association
Danedream is trying to become the first Arc victor to win the Japan Cup.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and champion Danedream produced her first foal, a filly from the first crop of the unbeaten Frankel, Jan. 27 at Newsells Park Stud in England.

Wed, 01/29/2014 - 13:24

Deputy Storm to R Star Stallions in Indiana

Multiple stakes-winning sire Deputy Storm has been relocated to R Star Stallions at RichWine in Anderson, Ind., for an advertised fee of $1,500 in 2014.

The 13-year-old son of Forestry previously stood at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md. He has sired five crops of racing age, led by multiple stakes winners Deputy Fling and Twelve Pack Shelly, as well as stakes-placed Stormy Adventure.

Tue, 01/28/2014 - 16:56

WinStar launches Fantasy Derby Contest

WinStar Farm has launched its annual Fantasy Derby Contest, for which the grand prize is a pair of box seats to the 2014 Kentucky Derby.

Mon, 01/27/2014 - 12:28

Domasca Dan, Grade 2 winner and Canadian sire, dies at 28

Grade 2 winner Domasca Dan, who was placed in multiple Canadian classics, died Jan. 21 at Mapleville Farms in Caledon, Ontario, Canada. He was 28.

The son of Same Direction rose from the claiming ranks to national-level racing after being claimed for a $32,000 tag by owner Frank Di Gulio and trainer Bob Tiller in his third career start at Woodbine. Earlier that year, Domasca Dan had been walked out of the sale ring at the 1988 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society of Ontario sale of 2-year-olds in training with no bid.

Mon, 01/27/2014 - 12:02

Smart Strike reaches 100 stakes winners

Perennial leading sire Smart Strike reached a noteworthy milestone on Jan. 25, as his daughter Cloud Scapes prevailed in the Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs for the stallion’s 100th career stakes winner. The 22-year-old Mr. Prospector horse stands at Lane’s End near Versailles, Ky.

Under Erick Rodriguez, Cloud Scapes tracked pacesetter Wholelottashakin, took over in upper stretch, and held on to win by a neck, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.75 on turf rated firm.

Mon, 01/27/2014 - 11:32

WinStar Farm “Breed to Win” drawings offer free stallion seasons

WinStar Farm’s “Breed to Win” promotion will return for a second year, with drawings for 13 free stallion seasons in 2014.
This year’s drawings will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, and breeders who have signed and returned a 2014 live foal contract to one of WinStar’s participating 13 stallions by Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. Eastern will be eligible to win.

The stallions included in the promotion are Bellamy Road, Colonel John, Drosselmeyer, Gemologist, Hold Me Back, Kodiak Kowboy, Maimonides, Overanalyze, Sidney’s Candy, Spring At Last, Street Hero, Super Saver, and U.S. Ranger.

Fri, 01/24/2014 - 17:13

The mares who made Kitten's Joy

Barbara D. Livingston
The dams of the best runners by leading sire Kitten’s Joy largely include horses claimed by owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, or purchased privately for a modest fee.

An old saying goes, “Behind every great man, there’s a great woman.” For Kitten’s Joy, there have been several.

Kitten’s Joy is undoubtedly the driving force behind the rise of owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s breeding program, based in Nicholasville, Ky. In 2013, an army of racehorses by Kitten’s Joy carried the Ramseys to a pair of Eclipse Awards, as the couple won both outstanding owner and outstanding breeder by landslide margins.

Fri, 01/24/2014 - 17:01

Three classic winners highlight new Kentucky sires for 2014

Barbara D. Livingston
Kentucky Derby winner Orb returns to his birthplace, Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., to begin his stud career. He is one of three classic winners entering stud in Kentucky in 2014.

In many ways, Orb is back where he started – literally and figuratively.

The son of Malibu Moon was foaled and raised at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., and headed out into the world needing to prove himself among the other 28,259 Thoroughbreds foaled in North America in 2010.

Orb returns to Claiborne among the most celebrated members of his generation after splashing home on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs to become the first Kentucky Derby winner for the Phipps and Janney families.