Fri, 11/01/2013 - 20:42

Smoke Glacken pensioned from stud duty

Smoke Glacken, the champion sprinter of 1997 and sire of 16 graded or group stakes winners, has been pensioned from stallion duty at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky.

The 19-year-old son of Two Punch had declined in fertility, which, combined with his advanced age, led to his pensioning. He stood the 2013 season for an advertised fee of $10,000.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 20:39

Court ruling clears way for horse slaughter in U.S.

A federal judge in New Mexico issued a ruling Friday allowing two horsemeat facilities to begin operations next week, striking down a lawsuit filed by The Humane Society of the United States and other groups and clearing the way for horse slaughter to resume in the U.S. for the first time since 2007.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 20:09

Fort Larned to stand at Adena Springs

Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs
Fort Larned, with Brian Hernandez aboard, will move on to a defense of his title in the Breeders' Cup Classic after a front-running victory in the Homecoming.

Fort Larned, winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic, has been purchased by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs and will stand at Adena Springs Kentucky in Paris, Ky. after his final career start on Saturday in the 2013 Classic.

The purchase of the 5-year-old E Dubai horse will be effective following his start in the Classic, which he won last year by a hard-fought half-length.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 15:17

Sparkman: Mastercraftsman a master of the turf

Sea The Stars, Europe’s Horse of the Year in 2009, naturally dominated the hype machine surrounding prospects for leading European freshman sire this year, and, indeed, he has done well enough, with 10 winners through last Monday, including Group 3 winner My Titania.

However, the standout among first-year sires in Europe has been the horse who came closest to beating Sea The Stars during his undefeated 3-year-old season: Mastercraftsman, who forced the champion into an all-out drive for his one-length victory in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 14:58

Breeders’ Cup participants pledge percentage of earnings to aftercare

A number of participants in the Breeders’ Cup have pledged a percentage of their purse earnings in their respective races to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.

This is the fifth consecutive year the aftercare organization, which rehabilitates, retrains, and rehomes racehorses, has partnered with Breeders’ Cup horsemen. In the past four years, the pledge initiative has raised nearly $200,000.

Fri, 11/01/2013 - 13:20

Cool Coal Man relocated to Journeyman Stud

Grade 2 winner Cool Coal Man will relocate to Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla., for the 2014 breeding season, and will stand for an advertised fee of $3,500 when the foal stands and nurses.

The 8-year-old son of Mineshaft had previously stood at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala, where he began his stallion career in 2011. His first foals are yearlings of 2013.

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 00:19

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Pedigree profiles

Barbara D. Livingston
Bobby's Kitten, winner of the Grade 3 Pilgrim, is the likely favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Thirteen 2-year-olds will line up for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Friday at Santa Anita Park, in which morning-line favorite Bobby's Kitten could help cap off a huge year for sire Kitten's Joy with a victory.

A closer look at the pedigrees and backgrounds of the contenders, in post position order.

1. All Cash
English Channel – Andover the Money, by Dynaformer

Breeder: Bluegrass Hall (Ky.)

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 00:11

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Pedigree profiles

Keeneland/Coady Photography
Alcibiades winner My Conquestadory is at Churchill Downs and will work over the dirt surface there so Casse can evaluate her ability on that surface and decide whether she will start in the Juvenile Fillies or Juvenile Fillies Turf.

A full field of 14 2-year-old fillies, including Grade 1 winner My Conquestadory and European Group 1 winners Vorda and Chriselliam, will contest the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday at Santa Anita Park.

Below is a closer look at the individual pedigrees and backgrounds of the contenders, in post position order. 

1. Nesso
Roman Ruler – Devotedness, by Anet

Breeder: Donald Dizney (Fla.)

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 00:00

The Haiku Handicapper: 2013 Breeders’ Cup card

Tom Keyser
Big Blue Kitten wins the Sword Dancer Invitational last month for his second straight Grade 1 score.

DRF Breeding staff writer Joe Nevills analyzes each race of the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

Friday, Nov. 1

Marathon
Close eyes, throw a dart

Indian Jones whips the field

But watch for Worldly

Juvenile Turf

Lots of ways to go

But when in doubt, just default

To the Ramsey horse

Wed, 10/30/2013 - 17:09

Ocala Stud releases 2014 roster with fees

J. Michael O’Farrell’s Ocala Stud released its advertised stud fees for the 2014 breeding season Wednesday, with the fees for all of its returning stallions unchanged from last year, and a new addition in Grade 2 winner Prospective.