Keeneland-Prepped Contenders Make up a Strong Breeders'
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
October 30, 2015 Keeneland-Prepped Contenders Make Up A Strong Breeders’ Cup ‘Home Team’ By Natalie Voss The Breeders’ Cup is billed as an international champion- Keeneland ever since I started training,” said Jones. “The way ship, and with tough competition shipping to Keeneland from it’s gone, it sure isn’t against us any [to have stabled here for around the United States and the world, some trainers are so long]. We haven’t had the weather where we’ve had to hoping their horses’ familiarity with the track will give them an change any of our works. It could have played an important edge. part, and maybe not as a good thing, if it had been super rainy.” “When we go to California or New York, we’re at a disadvan- I’m a Chatterbox will go against Got Lucky (Grade 1 Spinster tage going there,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “It’s definitely nice winner), Salama (Keeneland allowance runner-up), and Yahil- to have a race over the track.” wa (Spinster third-place finisher). McPeek, a native Kentuckian, sends out two horses in the Owners and breeders have a home team advantage, too, as Breeders’ Cup — Grade 1 Alcibiades runner-up Dothraki Queen the Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland sales begin the day after the goes in the Juvenile Fillies, and third-place Claiborne Breeders’ Breeders’ Cup. Continued on Page 5 Futurity finisher Rated R Superstar starts in the Juvenile. Rated R Superstar will have strong competition from fellow Keeneland-prepped horses in the Juvenile, as Dale Romans sends Breeders’ Futurity winner Brody’s Cause to the post. Second-place Futurity finisher Exaggerator goes to the gate for Keith Desormeaux. Conquest Big E will take the Mark Casse barn into the race after breaking his maiden on Oct. 2 at Keeneland. Dothraki Queen faces one other home team horse in rival Ma Can Do It, who finished behind the McPeek trainee in the Alcibi- ades. The “homecoming” of the Breeders’ Cup is more literal for some trainers than others. Larry Jones, usually based in Dela- ware, brought Distaff contender I’m a Chatterbox in early so the Grade 1 winner could adjust to the surface. “This does kind of feel like home. I’ve been racing at ASK RAY QUESTION: Can you give me one live longshot in the Breeders’ Cup? ANSWER: Unbridled Outlaw in Saturday’s Juve- nile. Trained by Dale Romans (who also has morning line favorite in the race, Brody’s Cause), this Unbridled’s Song colt had a world of trouble last time out and picks up all- time leading Breeders’ Cup jockey Mike “Money” Smith. www.PaulickReport.com Page 2 Broodmare Spotlight Personal Ensign By Frank Mitchell As a means of testing the best racehorses, the the minor stakes winner With Flying Colors (A.P. Indy). Breeders’ Cup serves a purpose akin to the clas- sics, although compressed into a single day, now Personal Ensign produced a third G1 winner in Traditionally two. For this testing process, the Breeders’ Cup is (Mr. Prospector), as well as graded stakes-placed runners one of the best options for sifting the best of the Proud and True (Mr. Prospector) and Salute (Unbridled). best, and one of the maxims of breeding at the top The latter is the dam of G1 winner Mr. Speaker (Pulpit). end of the breed is to mate the best to the best. In addition to Personal Ensign, Among mares who have suc- mares who have won a Breeders’ ceeded on Breeders’ Cup Day, Cup race and produced major few would place any higher racers include Ouija Board and than unbeaten champion Per- Hollywood Wildcat. sonal Ensign (by Private Ac- count). A homebred for Ogden Hollywood Wildcat (Kris S.) won Phipps, Personal Ensign ended the 1993 BC Distaff and was her career, unbeaten in 13 named champion 3-year-old filly. starts, with a dramatic victory At stud, she produced BC Mile in the 1988 BC Distaff. winner War Chant (Danzig). The mare produced three other Personal Ensign defeated Ken- stakes winners, including English tucky Derby winner Winning Colors (Caro) in a thrill- G2 winner Ivan Denisovich (Danehill), who was also G1- ing race to the wire amid deafening cheers from the placed in England, Ireland, and the U.S. crowd at Churchill Downs. The English-bred Ouija Board (Cape Cross) earned more than As a broodmare, Personal Ensign was a major suc- $6 million, and most notably won the English Oaks, Irish Oaks, cess from the start. Her first foal was G1 winner and two runnings of the BC Filly & Mare Turf. With eight G1 Miner’s Mark (Jockey Club Gold Cup), the second victories, she was successful in England, Ireland, the U.S., and was G1-placed Our Emblem (both by Mr. Prospec- Hong Kong. At stud, she first produced Australian G3 winner tor), and the mare’s fourth foal was My Flag (Easy Voodoo Prince (Kingmambo), and her best performer to date Goer), a four-time G1 winner: 1995 BC Juvenile Fil- is three-time G1 winner Australia (Galileo) (English Derby, Irish lies, Ashland, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Derby, and Juddmonte International). Gazelle. As these mares illustrate conclusively, a racing career at At stud, My Flag produced BC Juvenile Fillies winner the highest level is not a barrier to becoming a good pro- Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), who won the division- ducer, and we can cheer on the fine mares of the past for al championship as leading 2-year-old filly in 2002; the current successes of their descendants. PRS graded stakes-placed On Parade (Storm Cat); and Strength of character. Strength of muscle. And, above all… strength of heart. These are the qualities that distance champions from the rest. The same qualities that make John Deere strong. We’re proud to support the equine industry, the land, and your success. For more details on our equine program discounts call NTRA Advantage at 866.678.4289. To experience our strength… visit your local John Deere dealer today. Strength. It’s in our blood. Nothing runs like a Deere. www.PaulickReport.com Page 3 Honor Clarkland Roll Breeds Classy Winnners Dortmund Proves His Worth On By The Scott Track Jagow By Emily White Beholder, a nice mover, but not a standout foal, sold to Spendthrift for $180,000 and has since multiplied her worth to more than $3.6 million. She has won nine Grade 1 events, three of which were this year, and is also the first filly to cap- ture both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (2012) and the Distaff (2013). Mitchell also has high hopes for the half-sister to Beholder who sold for $1.1 million last year. “We thought she moved a little better on the farm than Be- holder did. So, I’m anxious to see her start and see if she has the ability we hope she has.” The sale of the Curlin filly was an emotional moment for the Mitchells, after all the decades of caring for their land and their horses. But as you might expect from this hard-working Left to right: Fred Mitchell and Marty Buckner family, they didn’t do anything fancy to celebrate. This country has repeatedly shown what people can do with They went out and bought a new hay baler. PRS a fertile piece of land and a strong work ethic. For Fred and Nancy Mitchell at Clarkland Farm, that’s been the recipe for producing Thoroughbreds that are a joy to “behold” on the racetrack. Clarkland’s 400 acres near Lexington, Ky., have been in Nancy’s family since 1774, when the farm was granted to her ancestor Lt. James Clark for his service in the French and Indian War. Nancy was raised on the land, and so was 1931 Preakness winner Mate. Under the Mitchells’ care the past four decades, Clarkland has turned out many other high-class winners, including Hall of Fame sprinter House- buster and more recently, two-time Eclipse and Breeders’ Cup champion Beholder. “It’s hard work, but it’s enjoyable work,” said Fred Mitchell. “You don’t mind getting up in the morning and seeing your horses, watching them grow and mature. The other thing is the personal care we give the horses every day. Every time a mare foals, we’re doing it ourselves. It’s a hands-on family.” The Mitchells, along with daughter Marty Buckner and her husband Matt plus three full-time employees, look after 35-40 mares and about 30 foals at a time, some of them owned by the farm’s only boarder, the Klein family (Richard and his father Bertram) of Louisville. The Mitchells have used their study of pedigrees and eyes for talent in numerous ways. In 2006, they purchased Les- lie’s Lady, a Tricky Creek mare, for $100,000. Her 2005 colt, Into Mischief, would become a Grade 1 winner and stout producer at stud for Spendthrift Farm. In 2010, Les- lie’s Lady foaled Beholder, and her 2013 filly by Curlin sold at Keeneland September last year for $1.1 million. www.PaulickReport.com Page 4 Back Ring Getting to know owner/attorney By Mary Schweitzer Clark Brewster of two Breeders’ Cup winners. Name them, and the races Know Your Breeders’ Cup History? they won. 1. This filly still holds the record for the largest winning 12. Beholder is attempting to become just the second filly margin in a Breeders’ Cup race. Name the filly and race. or mare to win the Classic, joining the mighty Zenyatta, who did so in 2009.