INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Mike Willman admits to being speechless while watching his McCann's Mojave midway through the $91,350 Ack Ack Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 11.
Willman, the host of intertrack television programs at Del Mar and Hollywood Park and a weekend radio program, was not sure what to think as McCann's Mojave fought with Congrats in early stretch of the race over 7 1/2 furlongs.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Many of the auction world's most prominent breeders and consignors have banded together to form what they are calling a trade association to address sales-related issues.
The new organization, the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association. Inc., will be open to "any dues-paying consignor or commercial breeder who breeds or sells Thoroughbred horses," according to its initial announcement. So far, its membership roster includes representatives from some of the world's most prosperous breeding farms and sales agents.
United has flown, in more ways than one.
In his 13 career starts for Dogwood Stable and Saratoga-based trainer George Weaver, United, a 3-year-old Pennsylvania-bred colt, has raced at 11 tracks in eight states. Fortunately for his breeder, Phil Fanning, United's two stakes wins have come in his home state - where he is undefeated.
"The breeder's awards have been quite substantial, and a welcome boost to our operation," Fanning said after United's dominating victory in the Peppy Addy Stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on June 11 at Philadelphia Park.
The Ocala Breeders' Sale Company's June auction of 2-year-olds in training wraps up the Florida in-training auctions for 2005. The two-day sale begins on Tuesday with a starting time of 10:30 a.m.
There were five 2-year-olds in-training sales, the first in February at Calder Race Course, and Tom Ventura, the general manager and director of sales for OBS, participated in four of them.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo will join the stallion roster at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs operation when he retires from racing, though that retirement is not imminent.
Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, racing manager for the colt's owners, Jerry and Ann Moss, and wife of trainer John Shirreffs, confirmed Friday that the pair had struck a deal with Adena Springs.
"He isn't going to be retired right away, needless to say, but when Mr. Moss and Mr. Shirreffs decide to retire him, he will go to Adena Springs," Ingordo-Shirreffs said.
Ghostzapper, the reigning Horse of the Year, arrived at Adena Springs Farm in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday afternoon in high spirits.
A 5-year-old Awesome Again colt, Ghostzapper was retired earlier this week because of a fractured sesamoid. He stepped off a van and proceeded to rear and play on the end of Adena stallion manager Bill Drury's lead shank.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lyphard, who at 36 was the oldest living elite Thoroughbred sire and one of the oldest horses in the world, died on June 10 at Gainesway Farm in Lexington.
The stallion was euthanized because of the infirmities of old age, a farm official confirmed. "Lyphard has been a part of the Gainesway family for 27 years," Antony Beck, Gainesway's president, said in a statement. "He was a tremendous racehorse and sire. We are saddened by his passing."
Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's Darley organization has privately purchased Consolidator, a Grade 1 winner, from Bob and Beverly Lewis, and will stand him at its Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky., beginning in 2006.
The farm expects to set a fee in the fall.
European champion Seeking the Pearl, the first Japanese-trained horse to win a European Group 1 race, has died in Versailles, Ky., at Lane's End Farm.
An 11-year-old Seeking the Gold mare, Seeking the Pearl was found dead in her pasture on June 10. The exact cause of her death is unknown, according to Reynolds Bell, bloodstock manager for the Jayeff "B" Stables of Richard Santulli and George Prussin. Bell said that the mare showed no signs of injury or struggle, indicating her death had been sudden, perhaps caused by lightning.
Jolie's Halo, the 18-year-old sire of dual Grade 1 winner Hal's Hope and other graded winners, has died after a paddock accident in Japan, according to a Blood-Horse report.
A son of Halo, Jolie's Halo has stood at East Stud on the Japanese island of Hokkaido since the 1997 season. A homebred for Arthur Appleton, Jolie's Halo had started his breeding career at Bridlewood Farm in Florida but was sold privately to Japanese interests in 1996 after standing three seasons in Ocala.
