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 Churchill Downs, Presque Isle, Mountaineer, Tampa Bay Downs. and even Gulfstream Park. 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 Thoroughbred 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 Animal Kingdom’s OBS Offspring By Frank Mitchell Despite the towering influence of the Kentucky 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 Blushing Groom branch Two Kentucky Derby 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 Eclipse Award 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 Leroidesanimaux) and Orb (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 Lyphard (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 Thoroughbreds 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 Dubai World Cup 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 Keeneland. 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 Wise Dan, 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 (Pulpit), 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 Jockey 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 Curlin, 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.