LEXINGTON, Ky. - Funny Cide's quest for the Triple Crown has generated some new publicity for Thoroughbred ownership, and that has partnership managers and breeders' organizations reaping the benefits.
Triple Crown media coverage frequently has highlighted the fact that Funny Cide is owned by a 10-man partnership from New York that bought their future Derby winner for $75,000.
Spite the Devil's win in the $150,000 Withers at Aqueduct on May 3 was a family affair in every sense of the word.
A 3-year-old New York-bred, Spite the Devil is trained by Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens and owned and bred by Jerkens's wife, Elisabeth. Allen Jerkens also trained Spite the Devil's sire, Grade 1 winner Devil His Due, and the colt's dam, Samantha D.
Spite the Devil, who is not nominated to the Triple Crown, was expected to run in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan at Belmont Park.
The 5-year-old Maryland-bred horse Dr. Brendler ran the race of his life to win the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes before the Preakness Day crowd at Pimlico on May 17.
The Dixie, a Pimlico fixture even older than the Preakness itself, has over the years showcased winning performances by the likes of Equipoise, Whirlaway, Assault, Fort Marcy, and Paradise Creek.
Two more well-known Ocala horsemen died recently. The first was Robert Gaudio Jr. A former Cleveland Browns lineman, he died May 10 in south Florida at the age of 77. The next was Robert Candow, founder of Southeast Bloodstock Agency, who died May 15 in Ocala's Munroe Regional Medical Center at the age of 62.
These deaths come on the heels of the recently departed Elmer F. Heubeck Jr., Scott Dudley, and Frank "Buddy" Yates - all prominent Florida breeders and farm owners.
The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-old auction ended Tuesday with a sale record of $9,805,300 in gross receipts for two sessions in Timonium, Md.
In all, 322 lots were sold, surpassing the total of $9,658,600 in 1998, when 319 lots were sold. Last year's total was $9,312,600 for 282 lots sold.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's May 2-year-old sale, which posted gains for gross receipts and median price in Monday's opener, continued into its second and final day with strong early results.
A $320,000 Smoke Glacken colt led all selling Tuesday at 5 p.m. Klaravich Stables bought the colt, a bay son of Baydon Belle, from Niall Brennan Stables, agent. Baydon Belle is by Al Nasr. The colt, who sold as Hip No. 402, breezed the fastest three-eighths on May 18, covering the distance in 33.20 seconds.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Grade 1 winner Booklet has been retired from racing because of an ankle injury sustained in a workout at Keeneland earlier this month, his trainer, John Ward, said Monday. Booklet, a 4-year-old Notebook colt, is at Ward's barn at Keeneland while his owner, John Oxley, explores stud options for him.
Trainer Bruce Headley attended the Barretts May sale in Pomona last week more as an observer than a potential buyer. Jess Jackson, the founder and proprietor of the well-known Kendall-Jackson winery, traveled from his home in Sonoma, Calif., with the intent of buying a few racing prospects.
By the end of the sale on Tuesday evening, the two men had not only become acquainted, but were partners on the sale topper - a French Deputy filly purchased for $375,000.
Mayakovsky, a track-record holder at Saratoga Race Course, has been retired and will stand the 2004 breeding season at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, N.Y.
Phil Birsh, a New York-based breeder and owner, bought Mayakovsky for an undisclosed price from the horse's owner, Michael Tabor. Birsh said he plans on syndicating Mayakovsky, who will stand for $3,000. The horse arrived at Mill Creek Farm about 10 days ago. Mill Creek Farm, owned by Tim Little and Anne Morgan and located near Saratoga Springs, is also home to stallions Lycius and Storm of Angels.