Thu, 01/17/2013 - 15:01

Unusual Heat maintains stranglehold on California sire lists in 2012

Benoit & Associates
Acclamation, Unusual Heat's best son, won two Grade 1 stakes last year, the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park and the Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar (above).

Unusual Heat continued his reign as California’s leading sire for the fifth consecutive year in 2012. Judging from his attitude in recent weeks, there may be no change to the rankings in the near future.

On a recent visit to Harris Farms in central California, stallion owner Madeline Auerbach witnessed firsthand the vivacity of the 23-year-old son of Nureyev.

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 17:52

New stallion Calimonco booked to recent Keeneland purchases

Benoit & Associates
Calimonco wins the Wickerr Stakes under Victor Espinoza.

First-year stallion Calimonco will be bred to ten fillies and mares purchased by Donald Cohn and Martin Wygod at the recently concluded Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, according to officials at Cohn’s Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, California. Calimonco, a 7-year-old Storm Cat horse, will stand the 2013 season at Ballena Vista Farm for a fee of $1,500 when the foal stands and nurses.

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 15:49

Brisnet.com to publish American Produce Records online

Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet.com) announced on Wednesday that it has made its American Produce Records archive available online, and will offer free trial access to Brisnet.com members until January 31.

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 14:23

English classic winner and sire Generous dies

Generous, who was voted Irish Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old in 1991 following three consecutive dominant Group 1 wins—two of them classics—died on Jan. 15 in Ireland at age 25.

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 14:23

Wilburn’s first foal born in Ohio

Grade 2 winner Wilburn was represented by his first foal Jan. 9, a filly born at Justice Farm in Ohio.

The dark bay or brown filly, bred and owned by Justice Farm, is out of the unraced Lemon Drop Kid mare Kaygee Ess Free, a half-sister to stakes winners Dixie Pearl and Cornish Snow. It is the family of Grade 1 winners Load The Cannons and Point Ashley.

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 13:25

Giant Oak's first foal arrives

Barbara D. Livingston
Giant Oak was injured while training for the Clark Handicap.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Giant Oak was represented by his first foal on Jan. 8, a filly born at Jacob Nance’s I.R. Bloodstock at Dearborn Farm in Midway, Ky.

The chestnut filly, out of the stakes winning Ghazi mare Silent Emotion, is a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Unspoken Word. Silent Emotion is a half-sister to No Deadline, dam of Group 1-placed stakes winner Cannonball.

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 13:21

Paddy O'Prado's first foal born at Spendthrift

Grade 1 winner Paddy O'Prado was represented by his first foal on Jan. 13, a colt born at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky.

The chestnut colt is out of the Orpen mare True Passion, a Group 1 winner in Argentina. True Passion is out of Group 3 winner Tolerada.

“He's an athletic foal with a lot of substance,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. “It's a great start for Paddy O'Prado as a sire.”

Wed, 01/16/2013 - 13:15

Remaining Vinery stallions, including More Than Ready, relocate to WinStar

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
More Than Ready, shown in his racing days, has progeny earnings of over $91 million.

The remaining stallions at Vinery Ltd. in Lexington, Ky., including leading sires More Than Ready and Congrats, have relocated to WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky.  Also making the move are Kodiak Kowboy, Pure Prize, and Street Hero.

Tue, 01/15/2013 - 12:22

The Brooke charity organization opens Lexington office

The Brooke, a British-based equine welfare charity with global operations, will open an office in Lexington, Ky., the organization has announced.

The Brooke’s North American office will focus on “awareness, partnership, and support,” including formation of the 501(c)(3) American Friends of the Brooke to support its efforts for working equids and their owners in developing countries.

The Brook has hired fundraising development manager Cindy Rullman to coordinate its fundraising efforts for American Friends of the Brooke.

Tue, 01/15/2013 - 10:56

Canford Cliffs’ first foal born at Lynn Lodge Stud

Canford Cliffs, a five-time Group 1 winner in England and Ireland, was represented by his first foal Jan. 9, a bay colt born at Lynn Lodge Stud in County Westmeath, Ireland.

The colt is out of the winning Exceed and Excel mare Smartest, a half sister to Group 2 winner and sire Captain Marvelous.

“[The foal] is a really good, strong colt with plenty of quality and a great color,” Lynn Lodge Stud owner Eddie O’Leary said.