November 2, 2015 www.PaulickReport.com SPECIAL

Greatest Show in Racing By Ray Paulick

Let me start by saying that I never met a Breeders’ Cup I Horse of the Year was likely settled with most didn’t like – and I’ve been to 28 of them. Some years have voters when became the first horse to win been better than others, both in the competition on the race- the Triple Crown since in 1978. The only horse with track and the customer service delivered to the participants any chance to overtake him was the two-time champion and paying customers in the grandstand. , who ultimately was scratched from the Classic after a post-gallop endoscopic examination showed she had bled. Having said that, I loved almost everything about the “home- coming” Breeders’ Cup at on Friday and Saturday. With his demonstration of complete superiority in the Classic, In a word, it was spectacular. There was one outstanding per- American Pharoah will be the unanimous choice for Horse of formance after another on the Keeneland dirt and turf, and the Year. the management, staff and outside security, traffic control and customer service team representing Keeneland and Breeders’ At the 2014 Keeneland September Sale, I ran into Fox Hill Cup were incredibly organized and efficient in helping put on the Farm’s Rick Porter, who mentioned that he was going to send Greatest Show in Racing. some young horses out to California for the first time. Continued on Page 5 American Pharoah’s overpowering performance in the Classic gave the 50,155 fans in attendance on Saturday something to tell their children and grandchildren. The Zayat Stables run- ner by goes to stud at Coolmore/Ashford with a record unlike any other horse in history: victories in the , Preakness, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The winning margins in those four races were one length, seven lengths, 5 1/2 lengths and 6 1/2 lengths, re- spectively. He retires with a record of nine wins from 11 starts, his lone defeats coming in his career debut at Del Mar in Au- gust 2014 and in the Travers at Saratoga in August 2015. Maybe he doesn’t like August.

While watching American Pharoah train for Hall of Famer at Del Mar this summer, I’ll never forget what another trainer said about the colt as he breezed by in effortless fashion: “He has an insanely perfect way of going.”

ASK RAY

QUESTION: Aside from American Pharoah, what Breeders’ Cup winner impressed you the most?

ANSWER: That’s a three-way filly dead-heat: Song- bird was sensational in the Juvenile Fillies, Tepin ran a monster race in the Mile and , running in her fourth Grade 1 over seven weeks in four countries, beat a very good and game in the Turf. www.PaulickReport.com Page 2

Stallion Spotlight Pioneerof the Nile By Frank Mitchell

Siring a superhorse takes a stallion to another level Then when American Pharoah showed his G1 form in in the estimation of buyers and breeders, not to men- the latter part of 2014, Pioneerof the Nile took a very tion the general public. Even with a fully proven stallion healthy bump in stud fee, and now the Triple Crown and like Ruler, we saw the effect in the sales price of Breeders’ Cup Classic of 2015 are part of racing $600,000 when Wajima topped the Keeneland July sale history. as a yearling in 1973 after had won the first Triple Crown in 25 years, and Bold Reasoning and Ex- Right in step with that rise in fee, we will see a rise in clusive Native became household names for major buy- both demand and price for stock by Pioneerof the Nile. ers when and Affirmed showed their class. We have already seen it with the stallion’s yearlings of Ironically, two of the three sires of Triple Crown winners 2015, and the weanlings will certainly follow suit. in the 1970s, and Bold Reasoning, were dead by the time their sons won the Among the 2015 foals by Pio- classic series. neerof the Nile cataloged for Keeneland November is a full Only Exclusive Native was alive brother to Cairo Prince, Hip 84. and well, but his experience of This gray colt is a February foal the Triple Crown effect is impor- and, in addition to Cairo Prince, tant. Somewhat like Pioneerof is a half-brother to two stakes the Nile, Exclusive Native was performers, including G1-placed clearly a sire of substance, even Nonna Mia, by Pioneerof the before the Triple Crown winner Nile’s sire . They came along. Like Exclusive Na- are out of the stakes-winning tive, Pioneerof the Nile will re- Holy Bull mare Holy Bubbette. ceive a hefty hike in stud fee, in this case to $125,000, and you Three hips earlier is a bay Pio- can say they both earned the neerof the Nile colt out of a distinction because it isn’t every Pioneerof the Nile half-sister to those three stakes horse who is suited to siring classic stock. horses. Hip 81 is out of the Forestry mare Heavenly Vi- sion, a good winner and dam of a winner from her only Even before American Pharoah made his debut last season, other foal. And later in the sale is Hip 134, a full broth- one of the talking points among the stallions with first-crop er to G2 stakes winner Midnight Storm, winner of the racers was that Pioneerof the Nile was getting genuine two- Del Mar Derby and second in the G1 Shoemaker Mile. turn horses with class. The first-crop class leader for the stal- lion was Cairo Prince, a scopy and grand-looking gray who had These Book 1 offerings will draw plenty of lookers, and won the Stakes at the end of his juvenile season. But with the stallion’s increasing celebrity, the sky is the other sons and daughters of the stallion quickly came to hand limit for him. PRS at 3, showing speed, showing stamina, showing class. THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS! Join our stable and be a part of the most unique sales program in all of sports.

NTRA generates over $50 million in new sales annually for its partners. For 2016 Partnership Opportunities, call toll-free 866-678-4289. www.PaulickReport.com Page 3

Honor Roll Lovely Maria: From $5,000 RNA To Millionaire By Scott Jagow

A few weeks later, Clark and Lovely Maria, named by Brere- ton Jones after a special needs child affiliated with the staff member of a family resort destination, capped off a fairy tale month, winning the G1 .

“I didn’t think this was ever going to happen to me,” said Clark. “This was just a blessing. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

“We’ve named seven horses for people at the Sea View Hotel (in Florida),” Jones said afterwards. “Six of those be- came stakes horses.”

After Lovely Maria struggled in three subsequent starts, Larry Jones decided she might need a vacation as well, so at the moment, she’s on hold until 2016. 2012 Bay Filly, Majesticperfection - Thundercup, by Thunder . Consigned by VanMeter Sales to 2012 “She’s won two Grade 1s, she’s a millionaire, and she’s KEE Nov., $5,000 RNA earned a rest,” he told reporters. “So they’re going to rest PRS Good relationships can go a long way in the her up a little bit and see what happens from there.” business. When Lovely Maria, as a weanling, failed to at- tract a worthy bid in the 2012 Keeneland November Sale, co-breeder Thomas Gaines thought a deal might be in or- der.

“In lieu of the stud fee, we asked Brere (Brereton Jones, whose Airdrie Stud stands her sire) if we could give him the filly,” said Gaines. “To his credit, he said ‘Fine, I’ll take her.’”

Jones wanted to support his stallion Majesticperfection. Despite what Lovely Maria has become since then, Gaines has no regrets. In fact, Gaines and his breeding partner Olin Gentry, ended up selling Lovely Maria’s dam, Thunder- cup, privately before the Kentucky Oaks, at least reaping some benefit from the weanling they gave away.

“She brought a fair price,” Gaines said.

As for Lovely Maria, her career on the racetrack so far has been more than fair.

After winning her debut race at Delaware Park Sept. 4, 2014, she showed promise to trainer Larry Jones in allow- ance company for the rest of her 2-year-old season. Then, she flashed signs of having top-class potential as a sopho- more, finishing second to stablemate and future Grade 1 winner I’m a Chatterbox in the G3 Stakes at Fair Grounds.

In her next start, she proved Grade 1 worthy, winning by more than three lengths in the at Keenel- and, giving her 56-year-old Kerwin Clark his first G1 victory. www.PaulickReport.com Page 4

Breeders’ Cup Buzz Comments from Breeders’ Cup Champions

Bob Baffert, trainer of Classic winner American Pharoah: Edgar Prado, jockey of : “From the first time “It’s probably the greatest horse I’ll ever be involved with and I got on this horse, I knew he was special. He keeps get- I’ve had some really nice horses. But I just have never seen ting better and better. For me, he’s second to anything like him, never trained anything like him…he is a gift .” from God.” Chad Brown, trainer of Filly & Mare Turf winner , owner of American Pharoah: “A Triple Crown Stephanie’s Kitten: “She’s winner should go out in a way that is appropriate of how he tough, I’ll tell you. Mr. and was embraced by the fans and the sport. We’ll sit together and Mrs. Ramsey deserve a discuss what is an appropriate farewell sendoff in order to pay lot of credit because they tribute to such a special animal.” had a chance to sell her last year and they bought Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Turf winner Found: “She’s a very spe- her back and raced her as cial mare. To run in two (Irish and English), an a 6-year-old, which isn’t a Arc and then to come and win the Breeders’ Cup Turf is quite popular thing to do. They remarkable.” were rewarded today.”

Doug O’Neill, trainer of Juvenile winner Nyquist: “From day Chad Brown, trainer of one, he had the mind and the stride of a two-turn horse. When Filly & Mare Sprint win- he debuted, (winning at 5 furlongs), like, ‘wow.’” ner Wavell Avenue: “I have to give Steve Young a lot of credit – he found the Mark Casse, trainer of Mile winner Tepin: “To be in the same filly at the farm and put her in our care. It was a great company with , and , beating find.” the boys in the Mile, I’m not sure I have the words. Am I dream- ing? She just continues to amaze me.” Ganbaatar Dagvadorj, owner of Mongolian Saturday: “It’s a big dream as Mongolians to participate in this Robert Masterson, owner of Tepin: “I told everyone that she big event. And as a Mongolian, we ride horses starting was the best filly in the country and she proved it today. She’s at age 4… Being a Mongolian, it’s part of our tradition.” great. She’s a Breeders’ Cup champion and she deserves it.” Mike Smith, jockey of Juvenile Fillies winner : “Once Maria Borell, trainer of Sprint winner Runhappy: “I think he’s we jumped out the gate, it was just a matter of me staying on. going to be a brilliant miler. Our plan is to stretch him out. She’s so talented and she gives you so much confidence. I al- I also want to say we won Lasix free, drug free. I want us most felt like yawning as we went along. I don’t mean that in a to have stronger horses that can run 30, 40 times in the bragging way. She gives me that much confidence.” PRS future, like they used to be able to, and not be masked by drugs.”” About

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Continued from Page 1

“Who’s going to train them?” I asked.

“Jerry Hollendorfer,” Porter said with a chuckle. “I called him up and asked if he was interested in training a few horses for me. Your dollar is exceptionally Jerry said, ‘Sure, send ‘em out.’ I said, ‘Don’t you even want to know anything about them?’ He says, ‘If they’re coming from you, I’ll take ‘em.’” $trong in Europe

One of those Porter sent was a filly by Medaglia d’Oro picked out of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale by bloodstock agent Tom McGreevy for $400,000. Named Songbird, she came to the Breeders’ Cup unbeaten and unchallenged in three starts, two of them G1 victories at Del Mar and Santa Anita. Under Mike Smith, Songbird made short work of the Juvenile Fillies field, defeating Rachel Alexandra’s undefeated daughter by , Rachel’s Valentina, by an emphatic 5 3/4 lengths. With Rick Porter not afraid to run fillies against colts, people are already talking about Songbird as a poten- tial 2016 Kentucky Derby contender.

“I think we’re a long way off from thinking about that,” Porter said, adding, “but she’s big enough, and she’s showed that she’s tal- In Ireland, France and Germany: ented enough.” Fall 2014 Fall 2015 Saturday was a huge day for fillies. Robert “Bat” Masterson’s €100,000 purchase price $131,900 $115,400 Tepin, a 4-year-old daughter of Bernstein trained by Mark Casse, €25,000 annual training fees $33,000 $28,900 destroyed a very good field of turf milers from North America and €20,000 stallion nomination $26,400 $23,000 Europe in the Mile, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. She was coming off a seven-length win in Keeneland’s G1 First Lady. The Mile was the first time she competed against males. In Britain: Then the 3-year-old filly Found carried ’s Fall 2014 Fall 2015 orange and blue colors to a hard-earned Turf victory over £100,000 purchase price $166,100 $158,000 Golden Horn, a Cape Cross 3-year-old colt who won the G1 £20,000 annual training fees $33,200 $31,600 English Derby and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. £25,000 stallion nomination $41,500 $39,500

Most amazing about Found was the fact that she was com- Continued from Page 1 peting in her fourth G1 race in four countries in seven weeks for trainer Aidan O’Brien. That is an Iron Lady. “Who’s going to train them?” I asked. Another 3-year-old filly, Lady Shipman, a daughter of Midship- “Jerry Hollendorfer,” Porter said with a chuckle. “I called him up and man trained by Kathleen O’Connell, just missed against males in asked if he was interpretation of pre-sale X-rays is just that. the Turf Sprint, losing to Mongolian Saturday by a neck. There’s no absolute right or wrong in this endeavor, of course. Speaking of Mongolian Saturday, does anything say “world Jackson said the best defense is to hire a veterinarian who is up championships” better than a winning owner and trainer on their reading. from Mongolia wearing colorful outfits from their native country? Their post-race press conference was easily the “Buying a horse is risky – buyers can reduce some of that risk by most amusing part of the day, though no one was doubting undertaking a pre-purchase exam, including radiographic exami- nation,Contact: but it does not eliminate the risk, and buyers need to con- the heritage of horsemanship they brought with them. Eimear Chance (ITM) + 353 45 44 3072 sider what risk they are prepared to take,”[email protected] she said. “Veterinarians examiningCarter repository (GBRI) radiographs + 44 207 152 0197 should consider the published Eleven of the Breeders’ Cup race winners on Friday and Satur- Capucine Houel (FRBC) + 33 1 49 10 23 33 www.destinationeuroperacing.com day were bred in Kentucky, with one each bred in Ireland and evidence,Daniel Krüger such (GTM) as the + 49studies 162 733 by2339 Kane et al (Equine Veterinary Ontario, Canada. Winners came from all over: four had their Journal,Kerry Murphy 2003), (EBF) and Spike-Pierce + 44 1638 667960 and Bramlage (Equine Veteri- last races in New York, three in California, three at Keeneland, two in Ireland and one at Woodbine in Canada. PRS www.PaulickReport.com Page 6

Five to Watch A look at some of the sale’s top hips By Frank Mitchell

Hip 41 Don’t Tell Sophia (dark bay mare 2008 by Congaree Named Canada’s Horse of the Year, champion 3-year-old filly, x Lost Expectations, by Valid Expectations): One of the stun- and champion turf horse in 2014, she has earned $1.4 million ning facts about this Grade 1-winning mare is that she sold for and sells as a racing or broodmare prospect. $1,000 as a yearling at the 2009 Keeneland September year- ling sale. She has now captured 11 of 24 races, including the Hip 142 On Parade (chestnut mare 1999 by x G1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. Also placing second in the My Flag, by ): A full sister to champion Storm Flag Fly- 2014 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she has earned more than $1.3 ing, On Parade was G3 stakes-placed. Their dam My Flag won million. Don’t Tell Sophia is out of stakes-placed Lost Expecta- the G1 CCA Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was tions, dam of one other stakes winner. In foal to Medaglia d’Oro. one of three G1 winners for the great racehorse and brood- mare Personal Ensign, who retired unbeaten. On Parade has Hip 79 Hard Not to Like (Gray mare 2009 by Hard Spun x produced G2 winner Parading (Pulpit) and G2-placed Protest- Like a Gem, by Tactical Cat): A winner three times at the G1 ing (A.P. Indy). She is in foal to War Front on a February cover. level, Hard Not to Like is by the highly accomplished interna- tional stallion Hard Spun, out of stakes winner $580,000-plus Hip 199 Spring in the Air (bay mare 2010 by Spring at Last earner Like a Gem. Second dam produced two stakes winners x Run, by Unbridled): Winner of the G1 Alcibiades and is a half-sister to G1 winner Firery Ensign. and G2 , Spring in the Air was champion 2-year-old filly in Canada in 2012. She has earned $930,318. Spring in the Hip 114 Lexie Lou (bay filly 2011 by Sligo Bay x Oneexces- Air is out of Unbridled Run, a half-sister to G2 stakes winners sivenite, by ): Winner of the Queen’s Plate and Wood- Tejano Run and More Royal. All are out of Runnymede Farm’s bine Oaks, Lexie Lou also ran second in the G1 great broodmare Royal Run (Wavering Monarch). Spring in the last year to subsequent Horse of the Year . Air is in foal on a March cover to War Front. PRS