Wed, 10/27/2004 - 00:00

Seaman selections well represented at Cup

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Cecil Seaman, whose biomechanical analysis firm of the same name is familiar around sales grounds, will have four horses to cheer for at Saturday's Breeders' Cup. Seaman selected the dams of four Breeders' Cup runners: Cherlindrea, dam of Mile favorite Nothing to Lose; Kitten's First, dam of the Turf's heavy favorite, Kitten's Joy; Danzigs Fashion, dam of Distaff hopeful Island Fashion; and Ticket to Houston, who produced Juvenile Fillies contender Runway Model.

Tue, 10/26/2004 - 00:00

Cat Thief colt tops FTK

A day after posting declines across the board at its opener Monday, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's fall yearling sale saw several six-figure lots by late afternoon Tuesday.

As of 5 p.m., the top lot on the final session's result sheets was Hip No. 634, a $140,000 Cat Thief-High Heeled Honey colt that Newtown Farm bought from Tom Evans's Trackside Farm, agent. The colt is a half-brother to a Grade 1-placed stakes winner, High Heeled Hope, Grade 2-placed Solly's Honor, and stakes winner Koennecker.

Tue, 10/26/2004 - 00:00

Tattersalls session up a bit

A half-brother to Pleasantly Perfect, the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 2004 Classic contender, topped day two of the Tattersalls autumn horses-in-training sale in Newmarket, England, on Tuesday and appears headed to the United States.

Patrick Cooper, acting as agent for undisclosed American interests, paid about $425,040 for the 3-year-old Swagger Stick, a Cozzene-Regal State colt sold by Castle Stables. Cooper said the colt, already a winner, would race in the U.S. on the flat before becoming a steeplechaser.

Mon, 10/25/2004 - 00:00

NeverTell Farm buys Marquetry

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Richard and Audrey Haisfield's NeverTell Farm has purchased Marquetry, the sire of champion sprinters Artax and Squirtle Squirt. The 17-year-old Conquistador Cielo stallion was to leave Vinery in Lexington for new quarters on Tuesday, although his destination was not made public as of Monday afternoon.

"NeverTell Farm owned a position in the horse and made an offer to purchase him outright, which the syndicate has accepted," Vinery president Bates Newton said Monday.

Fri, 10/22/2004 - 00:00

Health woes behind, looking like a million

There's a story behind every horse who came home a winner on Maryland Million Day, Oct. 9 at Pimlico. But none could top the tale of Merryland Missy, the 4-year-old daughter of Citidancer who prevailed at more than 15-1 to win the $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff.

Fri, 10/22/2004 - 00:00

Star quality added to Barretts

The late inclusion of seven racehorses, including three major stakes winners, to this week's Barretts October mixed sale should add interest to an event that is otherwise a regional sale featuring horses of moderate value.

The two-day sale will be held Monday and Tuesday at the Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex Park in Pomona, beginning daily at 11 a.m.

Fri, 10/22/2004 - 00:00

Stack outranks big-name sires

The name Stack is not a well-known one in the breeding industry. Not even in his own bailiwick of Ocala, Fla., does mention of this 24-year-old Nijinsky stallion raise many eyebrows. Yet, the numbers show that Stack, an older half-brother to Forty Niner, is more than just a successful stallion. Stack is the international leader in the percentage of stakes winners from starters at approximately 32 percent. That's 8 percent higher than his nearest competitor, Danzig. Mr. Prospector is fifth on this list at roughly 18 percent.

Fri, 10/22/2004 - 00:00

Roman Ruler's kingdom may come

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Just as a Julius Caesar parlayed small victories into great victories and grew to rule the world, racehorses also can parlay their talents into unexpected dominion. Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Roman Ruler stands at the edge of a great divide. If he crosses the Rubicon and, like Caesar before him, meets with great success, Roman Ruler will become the winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby and the most talked-about horse for the races leading up to the Triple Crown next season.

Fri, 10/22/2004 - 00:00

Stallion ranks decline as mare number rises

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Jockey Club has released statistics based on the 2004 Reports of Mares Bred that show fewer stallions are being bred to more mares.

The statistics also show that a record number of stallions - 117, up from 108 in 2003 - were bred to books of 100 mares or more this year.

Wed, 10/20/2004 - 00:00

During, Grade 2 winner, to retire to Claiborne

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Multiple Grade 2 winner During will retire to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., at the end of the season, the farm announced Wednesday.

James McIngvale will continue to campaign the 4-year-old Cherokee Run colt through 2004.

has won 6 of 20 starts in 2003 and 2004, including four graded stakes. The graded wins came in a trio of Grade 2 events - the San Fernando Breeders' Cup, Swaps, and Jerome - and in Grade 3 company in the Discovery Handicap. He has finished second or third in five other stakes, three of those Grade 2's.