A sly grin crept across trainer Peter Millers face when he recalled what Gary Broad paid for the 2-year-old filly Wendoffer in March.
It was cheap, he said.
Wendoffer went through the ring at the Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training in Pomona earlier this year, but was reported unsold for $15,000. She was consigned by NexStar, agent for breeder Carl VanBurger. After the sale, Broad bought Wendoffer in a private deal, and the filly joined Millers stable at San Luis Rey Downs.
Hes no John Henry, not yet. But with age have come riches and honors. The 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding sports the unusual name of Presious Passion. In the past seven months, the son of Royal Anthem, racing in the colors of Patricia Generazio, has won the Grade 3 William L. McKnight Handicap at Calder Race Course, the Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream, and this past Saturday he added the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth
Heatseeker, who retired late last month with a suspensory injury, will join the 2009 stallion roster at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms with a $20,000 fee.
The horse's owner, William de Burgh, announced Wednesday that the Lexington, Ky., farm has purchased what it termed "a significant interest" in Heatseeker.
Legendary Windfields Farm is closing its commercial doors after 72 years of serving the world's racing industry with some of the best bloodlines and horse care in the sport.
The Oshawa, Ontario, farm, which was the birthplace of the great Northern Dancer, will revert to being a family enterprise of breeding mares and racing foals as of Nov. 1.
"We are shutting down our stallion station and returning to a private farm," said Noreen Taylor, the vice president of Windfields. "The commercial nature, and the community of staff that goes with it, is coming to a close."
LEXINGTON, Ky. - What would the classic scene look like without A.P. Indy? Much less competitive and exciting, no doubt.
Over the past decade, A.P. Indy is the sire of last year's Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini, plus Jilbab (winner of the 2002 Coaching Club American Oaks) and Secret Status (2000 Kentucky Oaks). Then there are such major winners and classic contenders as A.P. Valentine (second 2001 Preakness) and Aptitude (second 2000 Belmont and Kentucky Derby).
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Momentum, the California-based first-year stallion, cracked the national top 10 in progeny earnings earlier this week when the colt Lidstrom won his debut in a maiden race Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
The stallion's success is even more remarkable considering he has sired three winners from just six starters in a crop of 27 registered foals.
Momentum, who stands at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, Calif., will have larger crops of 2-year-olds in 2009 and 2010, and many of them are likely to race for the stallion's owner, Paul Reddam.
Six Maryland-bred yearlings stood in the middle of the horse show ring at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on the afternoon of June 29, as top Maryland trainer Mike Trombetta, the judge for this year's 74th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association yearling show, made his final selections.
Four New York stallions, led by Chief Seattle, have progeny earnings of more than $1 million for the first half of 2008.
Through June 30, Chief Seattle topped the list at $1,321,345. He was the second-leading sire in New York for 2007, with progeny earnings of $2,788,562.
The 11-year-old son of the great Seattle Slew stands at Empire Stud in Hudson, N.Y., for a fee of $5,000. Chief Seattle had 54 winners from 120 runners at the midpoint of the season. His current earnings leader is Bay Meadows Handicap winner Bold Chieftain at $168,952.
Floridas numbers are positive when reviewing the first half of 2008. Florida stallions are siring their share of graded stakes winners. Several of the freshman stallions are off to a quick start. The mare population has stabilized at approximately 7,100. The market, considering the rough economic times, held firm at the states six 2-year-olds in training sales. There were 1,645 2-year-olds sold at Floridas six sales in 2008 and they grossed $118.1 million.