Fri, 12/23/2005 - 00:00

Newcomer Ministers Wild Cat brings pedigree

Horsephotos
Superbly bred, Ministers Wild Cat is out of champion Hollywood Wildcat, the dam of Breeders' Cup Mile winner War Chant and Group 2 winner Ivan Denisovich.

Last winter, Tom Stull was in the market for a new stallion for his breeding farm, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, Calif. Stull came close to purchasing one stallion, but when the financial aspects could not be finalized, he decided to wait a year.

What Stull found for Tommy Town for the 2006 breeding season has more than satisfied his goals.

Ministers Wild Cat, a stakes winner in California and Canada, enters stud in February for a stud fee of $7,500, live foal.

Fri, 12/23/2005 - 00:00

Return to turf should provide quite a show

ARCADIA, Calif. - In a cruel twist, Southern California had one of its driest falls on record, yet there could be no turf racing at Hollywood Park because its new course was declared unsatisfactory. As a result, there has not been any turf racing on this circuit since the Oak Tree meeting ended on Nov. 6.

Tue, 12/20/2005 - 00:00

Expect big things from Officer

Horsephotos
Orientate, winning the 2002 BC Sprint, should produce speedy 2-year-olds.

LAS VEGAS - This is the third installment on the 2006 freshman stallions, featured alphabetically from M through P with particular emphasis on how to bet their offspring. The sires' names are followed by their pedigree, where they stand, the stud fee, and their designation (SP means speed; ST stamina; T turf; HT hidden turf).

Fri, 12/16/2005 - 00:00

A Christmas story that begins with a song

A bit of Christmas magic has swirled around Patricia Runyon ever since she first made the huge leap to become a horse owner back in 1998. And the magic blew in again when the Runyon-bred 2-year-old filly Christmas Stocking shipped to Calder Race Course on Dec. 10 and rallied for her first stakes victory, in the $100,000 Cherokee Frolic Stakes.

Christmas Stocking is the first stakes winner out of the first horse Runyon ever owned.

Fri, 12/16/2005 - 00:00

Read the Footnotes returns north

Read the Footnotes is coming home.

A brilliant New York-bred runner in 2003 and 2004, Read the Footnotes will move from Becky Thomas's Sequel Stallions in Ocala, Fla., to her companion New York farm at Lakland North in Hudson, where he will stand his second season at stud in 2006. Read the Footnotes's fee remains at $8,500.

Fri, 12/16/2005 - 00:00

Two dozen new faces coming to state stallion barns

There will be at least 24 new stallions standing in Florida for 2006. All but a few of these are entering stud for the first time. Six of these newcomers are Grade 1 stakes winners, including Pico Central (by Spend a Buck) and Proud Accolade (Yes It's True), who will stand at Padua Stables. High Fly (Atticus) enters stud at Live Oak Stud. Wildcat Heir (Forest Wildcat) has been retired to CloverLeaf Farm II.

Fri, 12/16/2005 - 00:00

Korea upgrading quality of its stallions

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Korea Racing Association made news last week by completing deals for two young Kentucky stallions, 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi and Grade 1 winner Yankee Affair. The acquisitions were made possible in part by a change in Korean equine import regulations, another sign that Korea's developing racing and breeding industry is upgrading in much the same style that Japan's has under the Japan Racing Association. The KRA is similar to the JRA in that it is a government body that handles its nation's stud book and racing regulations.

Fri, 12/16/2005 - 00:00

Farm offers buyback option for Momentum foals

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Breeders who send mares to Momentum for the 2006 breeding season will be given an opportunity to sell the yearling back to the farm in 2008 for $15,000 without obligation, stallion owner Paul Reddam and Vessels Stallion Farm announced this week.

Momentum, who entered stud in 2005, will stand at Vessels in Bonsall for $5,000 in 2006. The promotion is designed to increase Momentum's book of mares, which Reddam said numbered 58 in 2005.

Thu, 12/15/2005 - 00:00

Society Selection retired from races

Irving and Marjorie Cowan have retired their multiple Grade 1-winning filly Society Selection to Lane's End in Versailles, Ky.

Irving Cowan said that breeding plans for the filly have not been finalized but that the couple is considering sending Society Selection to either Lane's End stallion A.P. Indy or Ashford stud Giant's Causeway. The Cowans own shares in A.P. Indy.

Thu, 12/15/2005 - 00:00

High Fly to stand at Live Oak Stud

Grade 1 winner High Fly, retired in November with a condylar fracture, will stand at his owner and breeder's Live Oak Stud. High Fly will stand for $5,000 in 2006.

High Fly won the 2005 Florida Derby, Fountain of Youth, and Aventura Stakes. He also finished second this year in the Jerome Handicap and third in the Holy Bull Stakes. He retired about two months after finishing second to eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Silver Train in the Jerome and left the track with a 5-1-1 record and $927,300. Nick Zito trained High Fly.