Mon, 09/11/2006 - 00:00

Investors sue ClassicStar for fraud

Investor groups have filed two separate lawsuits against ClassicStar, the Kentucky-based commercial breeding company that was to begin dispersing its broodmares in November.

In the lawsuits, which were filed in Kentucky and Washington state, four groups of investors have accused ClassicStar of defrauding them of $500 million in a mare-lease program.

Mon, 09/11/2006 - 00:00

CTHS sale topped by $55K filly

Executive Redhead, a $55,000 purchase by Bill Farish Jr., topped the preferred session of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's Canadian-bred yearling sale at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion on Saturday. Gardiner Farm Limited, as agent, consigned Executive Redhead, a daughter of Bold Executive and the Personal Flag mare Costa Brava. The sale's average, $8,810, was down nine percent from last year's average of $9,701.

Mon, 09/11/2006 - 00:00

Storm Cat colt brings $8.2 million

A Storm Cat colt out of the Distorted Humor mare Awesome Humor brought $8.2 million late Monday afternoon to become the early leader of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum purchased the colt, which brought the second-highest price of any yearling sold at the September sale. The underbidder on the colt was the international breeding operation Coolmore Farm, which had been the underbidder on the second-highest priced colt at the sale as well.

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

At biggest sale yet, anything's possible

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The two-week Keeneland September yearling sale, which runs from Sept. 11 to Sept. 25, will offer a record 5,161 yearlings this season. But will it bring record returns?

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

Greelys hit it big with small operation

LEXINGTON, Ky. - John Greely IV and his brother Beau have done something unusual. With a relatively small roster of stallions, half of them homebreds, they have two young horses, Five Star Day and Ecton Park, who rank among the nation's top 15 second-crop sires.

And their commercial stallion operation, Wintergreen Stallion Station in Midway, Ky., has only existed since 2001.

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

Unlike sire, Circular Quay shows early skill

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Circular Quay became the second son of Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch to win a Grade 1 stakes in North America with a thoroughly confident and impressive victory in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga.

In a bit of fortunate timing, the other Grade 1-winning son of Thunder Gulch, Point Given, is the sire of last weekend's winner of the Del Mar Debutante, Point Ashley. Point Ashley is the first Grade 1 winner for Point Given, whose first crop of racers are now 3 and showed their best form this year, rather than as 2-year-olds.

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

Vessels tests new market

The comfort of being a leading breeder of Thoroughbreds in a regional market is no longer adequate at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, Calif.

This month, Vessels is testing the bloodstock market by offering seven California-breds in the marathon Keeneland September yearling sale that begins on Monday.

The Vessels consignment, offered through Eaton Sales, includes four yearlings sired by In Excess, the stallion who has established the farm as a leading Thoroughbred venue in the state, and three yearlings sired by Kentucky-based stallions.

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

At the biggest sale yet, anything is possible

The two-week Keeneland September yearling sale, which runs from Sept. 11 to Sept. 25 in Lexington, will offer a record 5,161 yearlings this season.

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

West Virginia is Sheikh Rashid's new gem

Sheikh Rashid al-Maktoum, 25, the son of Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, added another good horse to his already strong Zabeel Racing International stable last month when he purchased top New York-bred older runner West Virginia.

A 5-year-old horse by New York sire Tomorrows Cat, West Virginia had been racing for his breeders, Donald and Mary Zuckerman.

Fri, 09/08/2006 - 00:00

Several share in weekend stakes scores

The Labor Day weekend was a good one for Florida-breds, and particularly for those who breed them, sell them, and market them. Horses with close Florida connections did well in three Grade 1 races at Saratoga, as well as four more graded stakes and a host of overnight stakes elsewhere.