MARCH 14, 2017 SPECIAL .COM 2YO SALE

Heart of a Champion By Chelsea Hackbarth

To anyone else, he his legs every morning after training. was just another dark bay race- Captain Genius showed his talent early and granted me horse crossing the the opportunity to travel with him to tracks I’d never wire in front on a dreamed of seeing from an insider’s perspective. We Friday afternoon at went to , Presque Isle, Mountaineer, Tampa Bay Downs. and even .

The self-assured At the end of 2012, Captain Genius’ trainer Joe Wood- way he jogged back ard decided to consolidate his stable, and I was sud- to the winner’s denly out of a job. Months went by without seeing the enclosure hinted horse’s name in the entry box anywhere in the country, at something more, and I grew worried. It wouldn’t be the first time the horse suggesting he knew exactly what he’d accomplished. would disappear. It had been 21 months since Captain Genius was seen on a racetrack, and at eight years old, his comeback Continued on Page 5 didn’t go unnoticed. An email from Tampa Bay Downs’ publicity department appeared in my inbox announc- ing the grand old gelding’s triumph, and opening it, I was overcome with emotions at reading his name once again.

This was the first I ever loved. He was the one that taught me what it meant to offer up every ounce of his heart, reaching beyond the limits of his ability to hit the finish line first. This was the horse that convinced me to pursue a career in racing, and I had nearly given up hope of ever seeing him again.

I flashed back to my first memory of the bright-eyed, solidly-built colt. I was a young groom just learning the ropes at Beulah Park when “Cap-ee-tahn” appeared in one of my stalls. He had recently recovered from what I was told was a hind ankle fracture and was ready to re- sume training. The 2-year-old was a bit mischievous, but mostly kind; he was also forgiving of my early ineptitude and stood like a statue for me to painstakingly bandage ASK RAY QUESTION: Can you explain to me how important dirt races like the Blue Grass and Wood Memorial were made Grade 2 and a turf race like the Hollywood Der- by, run in December and restricted to 3-year-olds, is a Grade 1?

ANSWER: In a word, no. It’s the dumbest thing the American Graded Stakes Committee has ever done. Page 2

Stallion Spotlight ’s OBS Offspring By Frank Mitchell

Despite the towering influence of the Derby in the 3-year-old colt, and there are pedigree elements that sug- narrative of each year’s racing season, winners of the Run for gest Animal Kingdom could be bred in the direction of speed the Roses don’t play an over-sized role in the sales of 2-year- to get quicker, handier horses that would mature earlier, olds in training that present some of the most forward young would be adaptable to 2-year-old racing and preparation. racing prospects at auction each winter and spring. Animal Kingdom is, after all, from the branch Two winners, however, have a sizable seg- of Nasrullah, and the Kentucky Derby winner’s sire earned ment of their first crops in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Com- the as leading turf horse of 2005 for his high pany’s March sale of select 2-year-olds. Both Animal Kingdom form with trainer Bobby Frankel in races at a mile. Further- (by ) and (Malibu Moon) went to stud in more, Animal Kingdom is inbred 4x4 to the top miler and Kentucky the same year, 2014, and top international sire (Northern have juveniles in the March sale. Dancer).

In the case of Animal Kingdom, From the limited evidence of the 2017 2014 was his second covering sales season, Animal Kingdom may season because he initially entered prove quite popular. At the Gulfstream stud at Arrowfield in Australia for sale two weeks ago, an Animal King- the Southern Hemisphere season in dom colt bred by Walter Zent, Tony 2013, then migrated north to Dar- Holmes, and Tim Thornton and sold ley’s Jonabell operation. The rangy through the Eddie Woods consignment, chestnut son of champion turf horse went to West Point for Leroidesanimaux, therefore, has his $300,000. first crop of juveniles already racing in Australia, and he recently had a At the OBS March sale, there are nine sharp-looking maiden winner, Earth Animal Kingdom more juveniles consigned who are sons Angel, who won a maiden special last or daughters of Animal Kingdom. Of these, week. Hip 19 at Halcyon Hammock is a chestnut colt out of the Sky Mesa mare Mesa Fresca, which makes the juvenile a half- Such was the reputation of Animal Kingdom’s great victories brother to 2016 G1 stakes winner Harmonize (Scat Daddy), in the 10-furlong Kentucky Derby and that winner of the G1 Del Mar Oaks and second in the G1 Queen many fans think of him as a pure stayer, but the horse was Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at . Both of those races also a cracking second in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile be- were on turf, and a turf thread is present in several of these hind Horse of the Year , who was essentially invin- precocious young prospects like Hip 227, a chestnut colt cible at the distance. from the Eddie Woods consignment and the first foal of a young Street Cry mare who is a half-sister to Mr. Speaker

So there is form at a mile for the 2011 Eclipse champion (), a G1 winner on turf. PRS SYMPOSIUM MONDAY, APRIL 17

KEENELAND SALES PAVILION Education • Integrity Service Featuring a Roast & Toast honoring Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and many of his protégés. To reserve tickets visit www.consignorsandbreeders.com Also including presentations from Vision 20/20, or for additional information the Godolphin Flying Start, the TAA, The Club and Plusvital. please call 859.243.0033 Page 3 Honor Roll ‘Funny Guy’ Brok Follows His Gut To El Areeb By Chelsea Hackbarth

very strong, and galloped out well,” Brok remembered. “He was a big horse and I loved the way he breezed. Sometimes you’re right, and sometimes you’re not, but this time we got lucky and he turned out to be a nice horse.”

The other colt commanded nearly double El Areeb’s price at $625,000, and the son of , named Un- dulated, won a stakes race at Woodbine and has not finished worse than third in four career starts.

Brok was quick to credit trainer Cathal Lynch for both colts’ successes. Lynch was thoroughly involved in the decision and both horses shipped straight from the OBS grounds to his barn.

2014 Gr/Ro C, Exchange Rate – Feathered “We couldn’t have done it without his hard work and Diamond, by A.P Indy. Consigned by Lane’s End to support,” said Brok. PRS 2015 Keeneland Sept. Sale, purchased by Eisa- man Equine for $100,000. Consigned by Eisaman Equine to 2016 OBS March Sale, bought by MMG Stables for $340,000.

Glenn Brok has an eye for selecting top young race prospects, and he put it to good use at last year’s OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He purchased a pair of colts for Mohammed Al-Gadhi’s MMG Stables for a combined $1 million, and both have turned out to be stakes winners. PRS FEATURED “I’m a funny guy, I like what I like,” Brok laughed. “We’ve YEARLING had a lot of success, and we’ve been very lucky.” SESSION As is so often the case in this game, the more inexpen- sive of his two purchases ($340,000) has shown the most talent on the racetrack. El Areeb (Exchange Rate), from the Arabic word for “skillful,” has won two of his three starts on the Kentucky Derby trail.

“I buy horses that I like, and I just loved this El Areeb horse right from the beginning,” Brok said. “I didn’t think we were going to have to give the money we did, but we MIXED SALE – HORSES OF ALL AGES finally got the horse bought and Mohammed was on the phone he asked, ‘Did we get him? Did we get him?’ I told OCTOBER 8, 2017 him we did, and he responded, ‘Good brother. I’m so happy for you, I know you really wanted this horse.’” Reasonable Rates Serving the Equine Great Facility Industry for 39 Years! With earnings of $364,200, El Areeb has already paid back his purchase price and appears to have much more ahead of him in a promising career. 2829 South MacArthur Blvd., “He was very efficient, and finished his work still strong, www.heritageplace.com Oklahoma City OK 73128 email: [email protected] 405.682.4551 Page 4

An OTTB And Her Black Sheep By Natalie Voss

About

For advertising inquiries please call Emily at 859.913.9633 Ray Paulick - Publisher [email protected] Emily Alberti - Director of Advertising [email protected] Scott Jagow - Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Mary Schweitzer - News Editor [email protected] Natalie Voss - Features Editor [email protected] Chelsea Hackbarth - Asst Editor [email protected] Esther Marr - Custom Publishing Editor Frank Mitchell - Contributing Writer

COPYRIGHT © 2017, BLENHEIM PUBLISHING LLC Page 5

Continued from Page 1

This horse had given me everything he had to offer, all over my laptop. Not only was he healthy, but he was still greeting me every day for over a year with a warm nicker able to find the winner’s circle. and a friendly nibble on my sleeve. He taught me, ever- so-patiently, how to properly handle a racehorse (he was “When we claimed him, we found he had a lot of issues,” always sure to let me know when I’d put the saddle on a Casse told me. “We did surgery to remove chips in both of bit too tight, turning around to take the girth in his teeth his front ankles, and a couple of vets actually told us he prob- and unbuckle it). ably would never run again.”

It was in November of 2013, 11 months after I’d last seen Casse went on to explain that Captain Genius had also him in person, when Captain Genius first resurfaced. He been gelded, in an effort to decrease the amount of muscle was claimed at Churchill that afternoon for $25,000, finish- mass on his relatively small frame. The horse had spent an ing fourth in the first claiming event of his career. entire year turned out in a field after the surgery, relaxing at Casse’s newly-purchased training center in Ocala. Eventually, One of my sharpest memories is of an allowance win sev- he had gotten to feeling pretty good, acting up in his pad- eral months later, in the race just after the 2014 Kentucky dock, so the help at the farm started treating him in their Derby. Captain Genius pressed the pacesetter all the way cold-water therapy spa and swimming him in the condition- around the far turn, drawing even at the head of the lane. ing pool. He found the leader could equal his best stride, and the two came streaking down the long Churchill Downs’ stretch in “He just kept getting better,” Casse said. “We started work- unison. My heart was in my throat as I watched the horse ing him again, just to see if he’d still be interested in running, I’d so meticulously cared for provide that crowd with the and he got tough to keep on the ground. I talked to Gary very definition of the word “try,” lowering his belly to the dirt Barber, who owns him, and we decided that if he wanted to and snaking out his neck. Captain Genius laid every ounce run again, we’d let him. of his enormous heart on the line that day, his lips curling with the effort, and he was just able to get in front at the “It’s special because we recently opened the training wire. center, and he was kind of the guinea pig with the spa work and the swimming,” Casse added. “He became the farm Though he earned his lone graded stake placing later that favorite, and everyone there loves him dearly. Getting him month, the colt suffered from sore ankles afterward and to this point is so rewarding and we are all extremely proud spent six months recuperating at a nearby farm in Ken- of him.” tucky. Again, I didn’t know what had happened to him. To his credit, then-trainer Brad Cox sought me out once Captain As a groom who’d fallen in love with this horse, I could Genius had recovered, knowing the horse was a favorite of understand Casse’s reasoning. Captain Genius loved to mine, and offered him to me at no cost. He even offered to run more than anything in the world and wouldn’t have have him gelded for free. been satisfied standing around in a field for the rest of his life. His hard-headedness would also have made Unfortunately, I was a poor college student at the time finding a good partner to introduce him to a second and already supporting one OTTB; I felt it would have career a particular challenge. been irresponsible to take on the horse, not knowing if I could provide the care he deserved. It was an incredibly On the track, this horse would drag his exercise rider hard decision, one I regretted when he vanished once through the morning training sessions, running off with the again. poor guy more often than not. If he didn’t go to the track that day, he’d stand at the front of his stall and stare longingly out Several starts and claims later, trainer Mark Casse took the corner of the barn, pawing and looking pointedly at me possession of Captain Genius in April, 2015, for a tag of when I would carry the saddle to a different stall. $62,500. But after that race, it was as if the horse simply ceased to exist. I would check his page on Equibase for “He’s such a cool horse to be around,” Casse said. “This was workouts and race entries, but there was no activity listed a horse that, as sore as he was, had won nearly half of his for months on end. starts. He has more heart than most of the horses in my barn.” When I took my job with the Paulick Report in November that year, I considered seeking out Casse and asking him I can’t help but agree. I’m incredibly grateful that although about the horse, point-blank. I could never go through with Captain Genius was lost to me, Mark Casse and his crew it; I think I was afraid of what the answer might be. Captain were caring for him. Maybe one day, I’ll get another chance Genius seemed lost to the pages of time, and I couldn’t help to tell him how very grateful I am to have been a part of but feel that it was my fault. his life. For now, the horse is exactly where he ought to be, surrounded people who love him and allow him the So that day when his name appeared in my inbox, 21 chance to do what he loves best — to run. PRS months after I’d last seen it, I cried big messy tears of relief Page 6

Five to Watch: A look at some of the sale’s top hips By Frank Mitchell Hip 79 Chestnut colt by Speightstown x Pay Lady, by Seeking Factor, Declaration of War, and Air Force Blue, all now at the Gold: A son of champion sprinter and leading sire Speight- stud. stown, this colt is a full brother to G1 winner Lighthouse Bay (Pri- oress Stakes). They are out of the mare Pay Lady, a daughter of Hip 287 Dark bay colt by Point of Entry x Voodoo Dancer, leading sire and broodmare sire Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospec- by Kingmambo: This colt is one of the first crop by Point of tor), making this colt and his sibling inbred 3x3 to the great son Entry, a five-time G1 winner by the massive Roberto stallion of Raise a Native. Dynaformer. This May foal is out of G1 winner Voodoo Dancer, a top daughter of leading international sire Kingmambo (Mr. Hip 123 Bay colt by x Refinement, by Seattle Prospector). The dam has produced stakes winner Voodoo Slew: Winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby and second in the Ken- Storm () and stakes-placed Voodoo Swinge (Un- tucky Derby and Preakness, Bodemeister sired this colt from his bridled’s Song) from seven foals of racing age. second crop. This well-grown youngster is a half-brother to G1 winner Lilacs and Lace (Flower Alley) out of a daughter of Triple Hip 307 Dark brown filly by Run Away and Hide x Yanquee Crown winner . Second dam is the exceptional miler Reign, by Yankee Victor: By the greatly unappreciated stal- Stella Madrid (G1 Acorn, Frizette, Matron, Spinaway), by Alydar. lion Run Away and Hide (City Zip), who won the G2 Saratoga Special as a juvenile, this filly is a half-sister to G1 winner Hip 126 Bay colt by War Front x Rehear, by Coronado’s Melatonin (Kodiak Kowboy). In a sterling campaign in 2016, Quest: By one of the most popular sons of the great Danzig Melatonin won both the G1 Santa Anita Handicap and Gold (), this colt is a half-brother to three stakes Cup, now has earnings of more than $1.3 million. Their dam, winners, including G1 winner Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot), win- the stakes-placed Yanquee Reign, also is dam of Yankee Sov- ner of the Spinaway, and G2 San Felipe winner Hear the Ghost ereign (Successful Appeal), winner of more than a half-million (Ghostzapper). War Front is represented by G1 winners like The in Japan. PRS