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Horse RacingTop-Ranked Freaky Remains Unanimous Choice, Works toward ReturnThe American Quarter Horse Journal, August 11, 2010 – No on-track work impacted this week’s AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com national polls, as the top-10s for both 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and older remain unchanged from a week ago. However, there was morning news at the top of the polls last week for older horses. The unanimous No. 1-ranked Freaky on Saturday fired a signal that he won’t be easy to unseat when he returns to the races. The Adan Farias trainee drilled 350 yards in a blazing :17.40 at Los Alamitos. The Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap on September 10 remains the next target for the 2009 world champion. The rankings for 2-year-olds figure to get a jolt next week when trials are held Thursday, August 19 for the All American Futurity presented by Sentient Jet (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. As for the older horses, this Friday night’s Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic Handicap could put a dent in next week’s poll. Bonnie’s Poker, Dam of Silver Charm, Euthanized at Old FriendsGEORGETOWN, KY – AUGUST 5, 2010 – Bonnie’s Poker, dam of 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, was humanely euthanized today at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY. The 28-year-old mare was suffering from EPM. Trained by Anthony Dutrow, Robert Lake, and others, Bonnie’s Poker (Poker – What a Surprise by Wise Margin) was a hard-knocking claimer in the 1980s, starting 63 times with 11 wins – including three wins in 10 days at Aqueduct in 1986 – and 19 other appearances on the boards. Her earnings totaled $153,960. She made her real claim to racing fame, however, as the dam of the brilliant Kentucky Derby (GR 1) and Preakness (GR 1) winner Silver Charm. “She had the biggest heart,” said Robbie Davis, one of several jockeys to ride Bonnie’s Poker during her 4-year racing career. “She gave her best every time.” Conference Attendees Can Win a Share in a Thoroughbred from Pocket Aces Racing!Pocket Aces Racing to Give Away Partial Ownership in a Thoroughbred as the Grand Door Prize at the Women’s Horse Industry Conference! August 5, 2010 – The Women’s Horse Industry Association is pleased to announce that Pocket Aces Racing will be donating a partial interest in one of their top thoroughbreds as a door prize at the 2nd Annual Women’s Horse Industry Conference. The Conference will be held September 22-23, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It is open to members and non-members. WHIA member Kate Richards Wilt is involved with Pocket Aces and felt that this would be a wonderful prize at the conference. Kate reports that her third try at a racing syndicate has proved a charm. She is a member of the Pocket Aces Racing Stable syndicate along with another WHIA member, Jane Heart of Jane Heart Jewelry. Pocket Aces Racing LLC will donate a half share in their new 2yr old filly by El Corredor. To date, El Corredor has sired over 18 black type winners including; CRISP (2010 Santa Anita Oaks-G 1), DOMINICAN (Blue Grass Stakes-G 1; beating eventual Ky. Derby winner, Street Sense) ADIEU (Frizette Stakes-G 1) and multiple graded stakes winner WANNA RUNNER. To date, EL CORREDOR’s babies have earned a whopping $19,010,537 from just 6 crops! In addition, her mother was a stakes placed earner of over $250,000. Only Medaglio d’Oro has more GI winners in 2010. After the Finish Line Fundraiser to Benefit Thoroughbred Ex-racehorses, August 5thDear Equine Friends, After the Finish Line presents their Annual Charity Fundraiser, “A Tribute to the Majesty of Thoroughbreds,” on Thursday, August 5th at the Hilton Hotel in Del Mar, CA. We will host a reception, silent & live auctions and dinner. ATFL is a funding non-profit dedicated to saving, rehabilitating and caring for rescued Thoroughbred horses who can no longer race or breed. For ticket information please contact Dawn Mellen at dawn@afterthefinishline.org or (858) 945-1371. Please consider a donation if you cannot attend. Our auctioneer is Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg. Our guest speaker is Katherine Brooks, the writer/director of The Boys Club, www.theboysclubmovie.com. We will also show a heart warming video about a rescued Thoroughbred ex-racehorse. Please forward this message to your equine friends and those concerned with the welfare of animals. It will be a FUN evening supporting a worthy cause! Disregard the RSVP date on the invitation. A late fee will not be charged. If you can attend, please print the invitation and return it with your payment. We also accept PayPal through our website, www.afterthefinishline.org. Sincerely, Dawn Mellen, President/Founder After the Finish Line 10153 Riverside Drive, Suite 397 Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Black Tie Affair, Breeders’ Cup Champion and Horse of the Year, Euthanized
 Black Tie Affair by Rick Capone GEORGETOWN, KY – JULY 1, 2010 – Black Tie Affair, the 1991 Horse of the Year, was humanely euthanized today at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY. The 24-year-old stallion was suffering from laminitis, and Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen and veterinarian Dr. Douglas Byars made the decision early this morning. “It was an honor to be associated with such an amazing athlete,” said Blowen. “The Old Friends team, headed by Dr. Byars, did everything we could to help this old warrior. In the end, he exhibited the same class as he did when he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was the best in every way.” Black Tie Affair has been pensioned at Old Friends since July 2009. LANE’S END Brings You THE WEEKENDER PEDIGREE: LIGNOTE DE ORO
BUENOS AIRES – At Saturday’s races for Las Estrellas (Breeders’ Cup equivalent) at Palermo racetrack in the city here, Kentucky shuttle sires Bernstein and Pure Prize sired winners of distinction that will make Storm Cat and his branch of the Northern Dancer line increasingly powerful in South American breeding. But the biggest lick of all came from the Danzig branch of Northern Dancer though a grandson of Lure, who was twice a winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The 4-year-old Lignote de Oro won the Estrellas Classic at 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs) and established his sire Orpen as one of the most consistent sires of speed and class among the vast roster of stallions now on the international shuttle to Argentina. Once an ornament of the vast Coolmore operation in Ireland, Orpen was sold to stand at Haras du Thenney in France after beginning his stud career well but not spectacularly in Ireland. Then he was marketed as a shuttle stallion for South America and picked up to fill a desire for more Northern Dancer blood among Argentine breeders. Click here for the rest of this Lane’s End brings you The Weekender Pedigree. Marquetry, Sire of Artax and Squirtle Squirt, to Retire at Old Friends
 Marquetry Old Friends founder Michael Blowen, photo by Rick Capone GEORGETOWN, KY – JUNE 25, 2010 – Champion sire Marquetry has retired to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Central, KY, president and founder Michael Blowen announced today. Marquetry, by 1982 Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo out of the Vice Regent mare Regent’s Walk, won ten of 36 career starts and earned $3,857,886. He was a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, registering victories in the 1991 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (G1), 1992 Eddie Read Handicap (G1), and 1993 Meadowlands Cup Handicap (G1). He is the sire of Breeders’ Cup winners and sprint champions Artax and Squirtle Squirt. AQHA and Ruidoso Downs Announce Launch of AAFutureWager.comWebsite and social media pages offer an inside look at top contenders, history of All American. The American Quarter Horse Journal, June 22, 2010 – The American Quarter Horse Association and Ruidoso Downs have debuted a new website at www.AAFutureWager.com aimed at providing horseplayers detailed information on the inaugural All American Future Wager and the top 25 2-year-old Quarter Horses in the nation. The website also provides an historic glimpse at the $2-million All American Futurity (G1). In anticipation of the July 15-18 Future Wager pool period, a poll of American Quarter Horse handicappers and players has produced a list of the top 25 horses that are likely to contend for a win in the All American Futurity on September 6. (While every horse on the poll may not yet be entered to run in the All American Futurity trials, all will be eligible to make late payment.) AAFutureWager.com provides past performances and other details for each horse named in the poll. “AAFutureWager.com gives horseplayers an inside look at the history of the All American Futurity and Ruidoso Downs. Plus, the website contains current information and past performances for the best 2-year-old Quarter Horses in the country with detailed Quarter Horse racing handicapping lessons,” remarked Rachel Weber, Director of Marketing for Ruidoso Downs. AQHA Debuts Q-Racing AcesThe American Quarter Horse Journal, June 15, 2010 – The American Quarter Horse Association is proud to announce the formation of a new program to promote and educate the public about American Quarter Horse racing at racetracks in North America. The Q-Racing Aces, which debut in June 2010, is a group of American Quarter Horse know-it-alls who will actively promote the excitement of “America’s Fastest Athletes” at about 35 major racing events this year. The Q-Racing Aces are individuals who have been involved in American Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing as handicappers, racing writers and publicists. The group, consisting of Tom Dawson, Martha Claussen, Jennifer Perkins and others were selected as representatives by AQHA. The major goals of the Q-Racing Aces program are to promote the sport, provide fan education services and help to develop new fan bases. Ryan Moore on Workforce breaks track record at Epsom Derby, England with best Derby winning performance since Generous in 1991
Three times Champion jockey Ryan Moore completed a famous Investec Derby/Oaks Classic double at the weekend, breaking the track record in the process. Saturday’s stunning 7 length victory on Workforce was also the best Derby winning performance since Generous in 1991. This talented but inexperienced colt showed great acceleration on fast ground on this notoriously difficult and undulating course. Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdulla (Juddmonte Farms), Workforce (by King’s Best – USA) carried his famous green and pink silks to a third Derby victory following Quest For Fame in 1990 and Commander In Chief, 1993. Prince Khalid has extensive breeding and racing interests in America, England and Ireland. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who is based in Newmarket, is now the most successful current trainer of the Derby with five wins. The Investec Oaks winner Snow Fairy, owned by Cristina Patino was bought for just 1,800 euros at Tattersall’s Ireland sales in 2008. Winning in determined fashion by a neck, with the rest of the fifteen runners strung out behind, this gutsy filly by Intikhab (USA) was supplemented for the Oaks at a cost of £20,000 after winning a listed race at Goodwood last month. This was trainer Ed Dunlop’s second Oaks victory after previous success with the brilliant Ouija Board six years ago. |
