November 2019

LEGENDARY HORSEMAN AND BASKETBALL STANDOUT JAMES E. MORGAN PASSES AWAY AT 85

horoughbred trainer James E. (Jim) Morgan may be the greatest Ttrainer you may have never heard of, with one of the most interesting sports backgrounds. A native of the coal mine region of Eastern Kentucky, the first horse race he ever witnessed was when Dark Star upset the great in the when working part-time as a Andy Frain usher. While born in the bluegrass he made a reputa- tion on the hardwood basketball floors of Dayton, Ohio, where the 6-foot-1-all- city guard he led Stivers High School to be ranked #1 in the state in the early 50’s. He chose the University of Louisville over the University of Dayton and went on to become a standout player. Morgan played on some very good Louisville teams, including the 1956 National Invi- tation Tournament championship over the University of Dayton. During his ca- reer there he became the team captain and amassed 1,105 points. He was induct- ed into their Hall of Fame and his num- ber retired. The Syracuse Nationals of the NBA (eventually the Philadelphia ‘76ers) made him their #1 draft pick, but he elected to return to Dayton to teach and coach high school basketball at Stebbins Jim Morgan at River Downs. High School, as the salaries (believe it or not) were comparable. “Guess I was born a few years early,” Morgan laughed while ner of Belmont’s Imperatice Stakes and champions. Brent’s Prince, who he trained discussing the subject. “It was just a few third in the Kentucky Oaks; and his for Dr. T.F. Classen of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, years after that NBA salaries started to standout Ohio-bred Brent’s Prince, who not only won the Ohio Derby, but went skyrocket.” captured Arlington Park’s Round Table on to be the leading sire in the state eight After nine years, Morgan switched to and the Ohio Derby at Thistledown. times. In the later stages of his career, coaching equine athletes and became one Morgan trainees won multiple runnings Morgan went on to become the President of the Midwest’s preeminent Thorough- of the La Troienne, Golden Rod and of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and bred trainers winning over 300 stakes. Kentucky Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Protective Association and served the role Based primarily in Kentucky and Ohio, Downs and the Lafayette Handicap at as a trustee in the Horse- he trained Costly Dream, who defeated Keeneland. men’s Health Fund since 1998. champion Susan’s Girl in the Berlo Hand- In Ohio he dominated the stakes ranks icap at Aqueduct; Bold Rendezvous, win- by developing six Horse of the Year ITSMYLUCKYDAY RELOCATED TO OHIO

The quality of the stallion ranks in the Itsmyluckyday is the first stallion ven- Itsmyluckyday hams it up in the mirror with ESPN’s Michelle Beadle while training at Buckeye State continues to grow and reproduc- ture for Chiandussi, who was entrenched . tion specialist Robert J. Maro D.V.M. and his in international dressage competition on partner Gigi Chiandussi are bringing a graded German Warmbloods prior to attend- lion. He was a two-time listed winner at stakes-winning track record-setter to the state. ing her first Thoroughbred auction six 2, and at 3 made a bid for the Grade 1 Itsmyluckyday earned more than $1.7 million years ago at the 2013 Ocala Breeders’ Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! at the track and will stand at Maro Veterinary Sales January Winter Mixed Sale. Brands by winning the 2013 Holy Bull Services in Lowellville for an introductory fee A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, Stakes-G3 at Gulfstream Park in a 1 of $2,000. Eric Mitchell wrote the following Chiandussi has since jumped feet first track-record 1:41.81 for 8 ⁄2 furlongs be- story that appeared in The Blood-Horse. into the commercial Thoroughbred fore finishing second in the Besilu Stables breeding business. Over the past six years, -G1. He didn’t place in the she has steadily built a 26-head brood- Kentucky Derby but was runner-up in The stallion is a part of mare band and had been mulling standing the -G1. a stallion. While visiting Spendthrift Farm At 4, Itsmyluckyday was at his best. He equestrian Gigi Chiandussi’s near Lexington, she learned Itsmylucky- won or placed in six of his eight starts in growing breeding program. day was available and said it took her 2014, getting victories in the Woodward By Eric Mitchell about a minute to make an offer. Stakes-G1, Salvator Mile Stakes-G3 and “I want to support the Ohio market Majestic Light Stakes. He was runner-up lassic-placed Grade 1 winner and the Ohio-bred program with a good in the Whitney Stakes-G1 and third in the Itsmyluckyday has been sold and horse,” she said. “The market is getting Kelso Handicap-G2. Crelocated to Ohio to bolster the better every day, and there is an opportu- Itsmyluckyday has sired 45 winners to growing state-bred program there, ac- nity to be a part of that growth curve. I date. His best runners are multiple stakes cording to the stallion’s new owner, Gigi want a horse that can race to the top of winner Itsmyluckycharm and stakes- Chiandussi. the market.” placed winners Drinkatthecreek and “What the Ohio market needs is, first, Itsmyluckyday, a 9-year-old son of Bebo Lucky Road. conformation, and, second, it needs Lawyer Ron out of the stakes-placed Do- The stallion will stand for $2,000 next speed,” Chiandussi said. “This stallion has neraile Court mare Viva La Slew, was a year at Dr. Robert Maro’s Maro Veteri- both. He’s gorgeous, and he set a track re- top-class performer across three seasons nary Services, which is off McCartney cord.” of racing and earned more than $1.7 mil- Road east of Youngstown DIFFERENT PATHS TAKEN TO THE “BEST OF OHIO”

2017 Ohio Mixed Sale Grad Edge of Night holds off the closers in Heavenhasmynikki was an easy winner in Diana Stakes the Emerald Necklace. Photo: J.J. Zamaicko on October 5. Photo: J.J. Zamaicko hile the stakes program in the maiden against eventual stakes winner “The Best of Ohio” with $90,000 in earn- state leading up to “The Best Edge of Night and then went on to cap- ings from five trips to post. The bay daugh- Wof Ohio” series is concluded, ture the Kevin Goemmer Tah Dah Stakes ter of Added Edge out of Cargo Jet, by two horses who stand out in their respec- in her next start. She now sports a record Discreet Cat, was bred by Steve DeMaiolo, tive divisions elected to take different paths of 5-3-0-0 for earnings of $92,050. who earned Breeder of the Year honors last to Mahoning Valley in late October. In the The connections of 2018 Horse of the year. On behalf of Mast , 2-year-old filly division, Charlie Williams Year Altissimo were not about to lick their trainer Robert Gorham put in the final bid owned and trained Moonlit Mission now wounds after suffering the upset of the year at the Majestic Farm sale facility. has added experience up her sleeve. On in Ohio with a second-place finish in the In her second start Edge of Night fin- Sept. 28 at Thistledown she did four things Honey Jay. With no sprint stakes left in the ished second to Valley of Mo’ara in the she had never done before: took on male state for males, trainer Richard Zielinski Miss Ohio Stakes at Thistledown. Her rivals; raced against open company; went opted for a shot at Grade 3 competition in third outing saw her just miss to eventual around two turns; and won by more than 2 the $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memori- stakes winner Moonlit Mission. She grad- lengths. al Dash at Laurel Park Sept. 21. uated from the maiden ranks as the odds- “It’s hard to find a two-turn race for No one would fault owners Nancy on choice at Thistledown Sept. 3. Her fan 2-year-olds,” said Williams. “There was one Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski for saying base showed up at the windows for the at Belterra that didn’t fill, so we entered “We was robbed!” after the 6-furlong af- Oct. 5 Emerald Necklace, where accredit- her here.” It was an eventful trip with fair. Regular rider Christian Pilares put Al- ed-breds were dashing 6 furlongs, and Moonlit Mission shifting out leaving the tissimo into the race’s early running be- made her the 4-to-5 favorite. first turn, had a bead on undefeated Ohio- hind pacesetter Old Time Revival. After She got the job done, but it was a bred Wicked Warrior, rallied three wide on allowing the leader a 4-length lead Pilares nail-biting finish. After gaining a clear lead the far turn, drifted to the five path enter- went after him going three-wide in what in mid-stretch jockey Christian Pilares had ing the stretch, drifted in to the rail when looked like the winning move. Suddenly, to let her know the race wasn’t over and Ricardo Mejias corrected her with a right Old Time Revival ducked out sharply urged her to a tight victory in a photo fin- handed whip and then drew clear. Wicked from left-handed urging and impeded the ish. Rallying from mid-pack were long- Warrior was 14½ lengths ahead of Snake rally of Altissimo. Killibegs Captain went shots Cristalinda (31-1) and Succotash Bite. inside, avoiding incident and held on by (25-1) – with two necks separating the top Williams purchased the chestnut three-quarters of a length over a re-rallying finishers. The final time was 1:13.88. daughter of Shackleford out of Moonlit Altissimo. The Grade 3 second-place earn- River, by Maria’s Mon, for $18,000 at the ings of $50,000 pushed Altissimo’s bankroll GRADED STAKES WINNER Fasig-Tipton yearling sale in October to $689,388 and makes the 6-year-old 2018. “Give the credit to Dennis Stiff, who gelding the horse to beat in “The Best of HEAVENHASMYNIKKI ROMPS looks at every last one on our list. He Ohio” Sprint. IN DIANA makes sure the walk is good and the repos- You may not see her in “The Best of itory checks out. We set our ceiling at OHIO MIXED SALE GRADUATE Ohio Distaff” but if you witnessed the $30,000 so now it looks like we got a deal. EDGE OF NIGHT CAPTURES $75,000 Diana Stakes Oct. 5, you may have She’s angular, long-framed and her third seen Heavenhasmynikki’s final prep for the dam won a Breeders’ Cup – plus I love Ma- $75,000 EMERALD NECKLACE Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. In her last ria’s Mon in the pedigree. They have to She cost only $6,500 at the Ohio start back in May, Heavenhasmynikki went have the genetics and with Maria’s Mon Mixed Sale as a weanling and now the wire-to-wire in the 6½-furlong Grade 3 she should go the distance.” Bred by Belve- 2-year-old Edge of Night, who has never Vagrancy at Belmont Park. Hard to tell if dere Farm, Moonlit Mission broke her finished worse than second, is heading to her presence had an effect, but four trainers scratched their horses out of the Diana, tablishing a clear distance, Bracho hand tic Warrior out of Floral Park, by Forest leaving a field of four in the gate. rode the striking chestnut filly to a 5¼ lead Wildcat, and was sold at Fasig-Tipton Jose Bracho was chosen to pilot the over Magna Rose at the wire, with Ali Kentucky October sale in 2016 for prohibitive favorite and he just let the Bob Blue back in third. The final time was $150,000. Owned by Ron Paolucci Rac- Hess trainee follow the leaders until they 1:11.46. Bred by Langsem Farm Inc., ing LLC, Heavenhasmynikki has now won hit the turn. After gaining the lead and es- Heavenhasmynikki is a daughter of Majes- eight of her 15 starts for $423,730.

O.T.B.O. MEMBERS PETER SHEPPELL AND LANGSEM FARM FARE WELL AT KEENELAND SALE A native of Fort Mitchell, Ky., who es- Interestingly. Peter Sheppell’s top seller tablished Langsem in the late 1980s with has influence from Langsem Farm. The her husband, Klosterman was named 1992 third dam of his Kantharos filly that sold Ohio Breeder of the Year and 1999 Mid- for $170,000 to M & A Racing is Enticed, west region Breeder of the Year by the a multiple stakes winner trained by Jim Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders As- Morgan and owned by Judy Klosterman, sociation. She bred and raced individually and a half sister to Heavenliness ($343,760), or in partnership two-time Ohio champi- Time ($341,889), Conjuress on Naughty, along with stakes winners and Hiho Heaven. Crusie, Brushy Fork, Enticed, Heavenliness The top Ohio yearling through the sale and Conjuress. was a chestnut filly by Macho Uno out of Her foundation mare, Haveaheavenly- Camielee by Ohio Horse of the Year Har- time, was named the Ohio Broodmare of lan’s Holiday. Consigned by Cross Keys the Year and is present in many of the ped- Sales LLC she brought a final bid of igrees of Langsem-bred horses. Kloster- $250,000 from Exclusive Equine Invest- man also has the distinction of having sold ments. You can filter Ohio-breds at the The last of an era. Chip Chop won first time the most expensive Ohio-bred in history, Keeneland September Sale at www.keene- out on October 14 for Langsem Farm and land.com For full story on Langsem Dis- trainer Doug Cowans. multiple stakes winner Unbridled Time, who was purchased by Bob and Beverly persal written by Meredith Daugherty go Lewis for $1.15 million at the 1999 Keene- to BloodHorse.com. land September sale. GALLOPING OUT: Ohio Stallion Indy Wind (A.P. Indy—Zagora, by King- he Keeneland September Yearling The Langsem sales topper at Keeneland mambo) is making headlines in Canada Sale brought a smile to Peter was a chestnut colt from the first crop of through his daughter Starship Jubilee. She Sheppell and his team, and was champion sprinter Runhappy out of Floral recently captured the Grade 1 $600,000 T Park, by Forest Wildcat. He is a half-broth- met with mixed feelings by those connect- E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine after win- ed with Langsem Farm. It’s been almost er to three stakes winners, most notably ning the Grade 2 Canadian. Canada’s two- three years since Ohio Thoroughbred Grade 3 winner and multiple graded time champion turf mare, Starship Jubilee owner and breeder Judy Klosterman suc- stakes-placed runner Heavenhasmynikki. now has a bankroll of $1,138,487. Indy cumbed to complications from Parkinson’s He brought a final bid of $230,000 by Wind stands at Poplar Creek Horse Center disease. In passing, Klosterman left behind Martin Anthony. in Bethel for $2,000…Congratulations to her husband, Ken, three children, and an The Klostermans have decided to keep trainer Gary Johnson who recently sent ever-growing family. While initial plans a 2-year-old gelding by Twirling Can- out his 1,500 winner at JACK Thistle- were made to continue breeding following dy out of Floral Park named Chip Chop, down. The now 61-year-old Johnson start- Klosterman’s death in 2016, the family has who will remain in training and race for ed working at the track when he was 16 decided to disperse the remaining stock, the family. “That is the one horse that the and in addition to his wins, he has 1,372 close to 30 horses, across the Keeneland kids will hold on to and finish out his ca- seconds and 1,172 thirds from his 9,807 September Yearling Sale and Keeneland reer,” said Scott. “The kids do enjoy racing, starters for purse earnings of nearly $14.8 November Breeding Stock Sale. so they’ll hold on to that for a little while.” million. Johnson holds 28 training titles.

OHIO THOROUGHBRED O.T.B.O. OFFICERS O.T.B.O. BOARD MEMBERS BREEDERS & OWNERS President – John Royer Ed Crothers Robin Murphy Vice-President – James Fraser Dr. Tod Beckett Craig Powell (937) 723-6026 Treasurer – Bruce Ryan Daryl Duncan Chris Rosell Website: www.otbo.com Secretary – Diane Tieman Gary Falter James Yaegel Executive Director – John Engelhardt Bobby McMichael E-mail: [email protected]