September 10, 2014 www.PaulickReport.com SPECIAL

The Power of Collaboration By Ray Paulick

Talk to most people in American about the Club got involved, putting together an “industry al- challenges the industry faces, and the conversation almost liance” of different organizations that we have come to always winds up focusing on the lack of structure and lead- know as the alphabet soups. The National ership. It’s been that way for a long time. The most suc- Racing Association was formed in 1998 to great fanfare cessful racing programs in the world, notably those con- and widespread optimism. Over the next decade, however, ducted under the auspices of the Hong Kong Jockey Club the NTRA’s vision and mission were dramatically reduced and Japan Racing Association, have clearly defined struc- from its original purpose: a centralized office to organize ture and governance. The HKJC and JRA, with the blessing and grow the sport. of their national governments, are in control and command of virtually everything within the sport: licensing, facilities, The problem with the NTRA was that it was trying to rep- marketing, scheduling, regulations, medication, technology, resent everything in horse racing from the Breeders’ Cup and wagering. to the $2,500 claiming races at Podunk Downs. Getting all the different racetracks, horsemen’s groups and other or- That is never going to happen in the United States. ganizations to agree on something substantive brought the NTRA back to the same challenge Brian McGrath faced: This is not to say horse racing cannot make incremental herding cats. progress toward some form of unifying national organiza- Continued on Page 5 tion. But rather than having it occur through governmental intervention, voluntary collaboration and cooperation will be necessary for horse racing to get organized beyond what exists today. It’s been tried before. In 1994, the Associations, an organization of 39 different North Ameri- can racetracks, said it was forming a “commissioner’s of- fice” and hired Brian McGrath, an experienced sports mar- keting executive, to work on television programming and national initiatives. That deal imploded after a little more than a year because McGrath quickly discovered organiz- ing all those different racetracks was like herding cats. A couple years later, the late John Gaines, working with Lexington advertising executive Fred Pope, took a different approach, attempting to form a league office controlled by horse owners. That initiative morphed into something different when The ASK RAY

QUESTION: Who’s the front-runner for Horse of the Year?

ANSWER: That’s an easy one. If runs the table in the Pennsylvania Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, I don’t see how anyone could vote against him. It’s his championship to lose. But winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be easier said than done.

148027-LookfortheStar-cvrBanner-PRS.indd 1 9/5/14 4:40 PM www.PaulickReport.com Page 2 Stallion Spotlight By Frank Mitchell

One of the sobering moments at the yearling sales comes From 75 stakes winners to date, Pulpit has 45 graded when we see the final crop by a really good sire coming stakes winners, and as that latter figure suggests, quality through the ring. This has happened recently with Dynafor- and class are hallmarks of the Pulpit stock. They also have mer and with A.P. Indy; this year we are looking at the last speed, and from the sire’s third crop came , an un- yearlings by Pulpit, a horse who distinguished himself as a defeated 2-year-old who progressed to win the G1 Wood sire and will genuinely be missed. Memorial at 3. As a sire, Tapit has been his sire’s most notable contribution to the breed because Tapit is even From the first crop by Horse of the better than Pulpit. Year A.P. Indy, Pulpit did not race at 2 but came to hand readily at 3, ris- Other sire sons of Pulpit in- ing through the ranks from maiden clude Hopeful Stakes winner to graded stakes winner in Florida, Sky Mesa, who has sired 33 then scoring well for owner-breeder stakes winners; the consistent in the Blue Grass value sire Stroll, a G1 winner; Stakes at , which was his graded winner Sightseeing, prep for the 1997 Derby. who sired a Stakes winner before his unfortu- In the feature race on the first Sat- nate death; and Lucky Pulpit, urday in May, Pulpit showed serious whose son California Chrome courage and ability but still finished won the and fourth behind , Cap- Preakness this year. tain Bodgit, and Free House. That was a trio of racehorses who each As a sire, Pulpit has contrib- earned more than $1 million, but uted soundness and a high the Derby was Pulpit’s last race. A degree of competitiveness knee fracture put the talented bay to the succeeding generation. on the sidelines, then eventually sent him into retirement From current statistics supplied by Equineline, Pulpit has at Claiborne, where he spent the rest of his life. 79 percent starters from foals and 56 percent winners. Both of those figures far exceed the pars for the breed, As a sire, however, Pulpit outshone all his contemporaries, and Pulpit’s average winning distance for his progeny is and he was the first indicator of the impact that A.P. Indy nearly a mile at 7.7 furlongs. would come to have as a sire not just of racehorses but also of breeding stock. Pulpit sired G1 winner Essence of Pulpit has 58 foals among his current crop of 2-year-olds, Dubai as a member of his freshman crop and never looked but there are only 26 yearlings in the stallion’s last crop. Of back. those, 11 are consigned as part of Book 1 at the Keenel- and September sale. PRS

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Call us toll-free at 866-678-4289 or visit NTRAadvantage.com. www.PaulickReport.com Page 3 Honor Roll makes the most of breeders’ second chance By Ray Paulick

by the stallion , sold for $375,000 to Cen- tennial Farms from the Three Chimneys Sales consignment at the 2012 Keeneland September Sale. Lynn kept Wicked Strong’s half sister and has plans to sell her at this year’s Keeneland November Sale. A yearling half- brother, sired by first-year stallion Sidney’s Candy and foaled in New York, is being offered by Shannon White’s Ballantrae Sales in Book 3 on Monday as Hip 1637. “Wicked Strong was something of a project,” said White. “I had him as a short yearling and he was tough, both mentally and physically – but he’s an athlete. He’s still known for hav- ing an uneven disposition. We saw him at Saratoga a couple (2011, Bay colt, Hard Spun – Moyne Abbey, by Char- of weeks ago and he ran his groom out of the stall.” ismatic. Consigned by Three Chimneys Sales to 2012 Trained by , Wicked Strong won his second Keeneland September Yearling Sale, purchased by Cen- start as a 2-year-old last fall, then turned in a solid third-place tennial Farms for $375,000) effort in the G2 Remsen, beaten just a half length by the high- ly regarded . He had two sub-par performances “I always liked her and didn’t want to sell her in the first in Florida, then rebounded to win the G1 Wood Memorial, place,” William Lynn, the breeder of Wicked Strong said of setting up Wicked Strong as a legitimate Kentucky Derby Moyne Abbey, dam of the G1 Wood Memorial winner and contender. He got head-strong and lost his cool before the G1 Travers runner-up who races for Centennial Farms. race, still finishing a decent fourth to California Chrome, Lynn bought Moyne Abbey, a daughter of , for skipped the Preakness, then wound up in a dead-heat for $50,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. fourth with the Derby winner in the Belmont. Blinkers were He raced her for two years, with only limited success: one added when Wicked Strong won the G2 Jim Dandy, then he win in maiden claiming company and a third-place showing lost a heartbreaker in the Travers to stablemate V.E. Day. from 12 starts. He sold her, then had second thoughts. “The Sidney’s Candy is a little different,” White said of Wick- “I was thumbing through the book,” said Lynn in reference ed Strong’s yearling half brother. “The mare contributes her to the 2009 Keeneland November Sale catalogue, “and better attributes to the offspring – she gives them leverage said, ‘Oh, my God. There’s my horse.’” and they are very tightly coupled, look quick and are versatile. But physically they are very different types.” Moyne Abbey, in foal to Street Boss, didn’t sell when bid- ding stalled at $90,000. Lynn, a Skaneateles, N.Y., attor- Lynn, who relies on Junior Little to help plan his matings, ney struck a deal to purchase her privately. realizes Moyne Abbey may never be worth more than she is today. He’s entered her to sell this November at Fasig- It’s been a happy reunion. Wicked Strong, a 3-year-old colt Tipton, in foal to Blame. PRS We will be available at Keeneland to discuss your breaking, training, racing, and/or sales needs. Give your horse the Classic edge Call Danzel Today | 352.895.3930

20+ Graded Stakes and Stakes Performers worldwide 2014 TOP HORSES INCLUDE: Uncle Sigh, Big Business, Wildcat Red & Sushi Empire www.PaulickReport.com Page 4

Back Ring Getting to know trainer Wesley Ward

How did you get in the horse business? What about horse racing gives you the most hope? My father Dennis was a jockey and horse trainer at Ya- Every day you wake up and come to the track, you always have kima Meadows in Washington, and I started riding races something to look forward to. at county fairs when I was 12. I’d won nearly 400 races before I was 16 and came to New York (where he won an What do you appreciate the most in friends? Eclipse Award as leading apprentice in 1984). Loyalty. What’s your favorite part of the game? What do you think is your greatest virtue? The animals themselves. They are fantastic, wonder- I’d say perseverance. It’s a measure of success. ful creatures. Seems What’s the “go to” app on your iPhone or Smart Phone? like the better part of Kayak. them are retired on my ranch in Ocala … it’s like What’s No. 1 on your bucket list? a petting zoo. I recently I’d love to win all six of those of 2-year-old races at Royal As- acquired Strike the Ti- cot. I’ve won three of the six so far, one of them twice. I keep ger, my first winner at trying Mr. Ramsey on one race that’s written for his sire. It’s Ascot. seven furlongs and the sires had to have won at 1 1/4 miles or further. PRS Favorite racetrack? Keeneland, 100 per- cent without a shadow of a doubt. About Equi-Sport Photo Best racetrack food? That would have to be in Europe. The racing in France is like an outing and the food For advertising inquiries please is unbelievable food there. call Emily at 859.913.9633 Best horse you ever saw? . He came to Longacres when I was a young Ray Paulick - Publisher [email protected] boy and galloped in front of the crowd – an amazing horse. Emily Alberti - Director of Advertising [email protected] Scott Jagow - Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Best jockey you’ve ever seen? Mary Schweitzer - News Editor [email protected] I rode with Bill Shoemaker at the end of his career, and Laffit Pincay was incredible. But the most talented rider I Natalie Voss - Features Writer [email protected] ever was around would be P Val (Patrick Valenzuela). He Emily White - Weekend Editor [email protected] had that X factor. Horses just seemed to keep going for Frank Mitchell - Contributing Writer him. COPYRIGHT © 2014, BLENHEIM PUBLISHING LLC www.PaulickReport.com Page 5

Around the Town

By The Galloping Gastronome

Just down the road from Mill Ridge Farm and Darley at the corner of Old Harrodsburg Road and Bowman Mill is a After the sales favorite lunch spot, Ramsey’s Diner, which has been serv- ing good ol’ country cooking since 1989 and currently has follow me to... four locations throughout Lexington. Ramsey’s is open for dinner, too, and has a full bar with a BOUR BON two-for-one happy hour drink special from 4-7 p.m. The Old Harrodsburg location, closest to Keeneland, always seems Joseph Clay’s to be bustling. (Incidentally, this Ramsey’s is not related to Ken and Sarah of Kitten’s Joy fame!) Farm to Table Restaurant and Craft Cocktail Bar At all four of its locations, Ramsey’s prides itself in serving in the heart of only fresh vegetables and premium grade meats, butter Paris, Kentucky! and whole cream in all of their recipes.

Stop by in the next few days and Ramsey’s may still be of- 1.859.987.1662 fering “Corn Daze” and “’Matters Too” – the restaurant’s for reservations homage to Kentucky Fresh corn on the cob (including a www.bour-bon.com deep-fried version encrusted with Parmesan cheese) and locally grown, mouth-watering summer tomatoes, served Continued from Page 1 with cottage cheese. Keeneland CEO Bill Thomason decided to take a more manage- able approach to industry collaboration. Instead of hoping to get Ramsey’s famous hot browns, boneless fried chicken, EVERYONE on the same page, how about trying to get one small Southern-style catfish and chicken livers are staples on the group to work together? lunch and dinner menus. So, too, is the great selection of sandwiches (cold meatloaf, turkey reuben, etc.). But veggie Thomason reached out to the top executives at the Stronach lovers will especially appreciate the choice of 23 fresh veg- Group, New York Racing Association and Del Mar Thoroughbred etables offered Club to look for ways to improve horse racing. One of the common each day. concerns shared by all four groups was the need to expand the ownership base. Leave room for a slice of Those four groups are now moving forward with the first Thor- Ramsey’s fa- oughbred Owner Conference, in conjunction with OwnerView, a mous chocolate joint venture of The Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Owners and brownie or May- Breeders Association. The organizers have put together an inter- day pie, two of esting, educational, and entertaining program at Keeneland Oct. 20 daily variet- 13-16 that will answer a lot of questions new and potential Thor- ies. oughbred owners have about participation in the sport (details at www.ownerview.com). This is not a game changer, but it’s a start. It’s an example of four Ramsey’s is open diverse racing organizations looking for similarities among them- from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sat- selves rather than focusing on their differences. urday and Sunday. Breakfast is available any time. Hopefully, this is only the beginning. Ramseysdiners.com Likewise, it is hoped that others get involved in the working group. Ramsey’s Harrodsburg Road Clearly missing from this process is Inc., owner of 859 219-1626 racetracks in four major markets. CDI has been kicked around by 4391 Harrodsburg Road a lot of people recently for a lot of different things – much of it, in Lexington, KY 40513 my opinion, deserved. There is a new CEO at CDI--William Carstanjen. We can only hope he is enlightened enough to change the culture at a company that has been the antithesis of cooperation and collaboration within the Thoroughbred industry. PRS www.PaulickReport.com Page 6

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

Hip 401 (Colt by Giant’s Causeway x Wilshewed, by Car- four of his six races, including the G1 Wood Memorial and son City): Owned and bred by the estate of Bill Currin, this G2 Fountain of Youth. Balmont won the G1 Middle Park and colt is a half-brother to three stakes winners, including G2 Gimcrack at 2, then was third in the G1 Golden Jubilee Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity winner Stormello. The two oth- and . er siblings are G2 Del Mar Derby winner My Best Brother and 2014 G3 Palm Beach Stakes winner Gala Award. Gi- Hip 460 (Colt by x Ava Knowsthecode, by Cryp- ant’s Causeway has sired 132 stakes winners to date. toclearance): This mid-May foal is a sibling to five stakes win- ners, including his full brother Algorithms, who was unbeat- Hip 431 (Colt by Tapit x Air France, by French Deputy): en in three starts that included the G3 Stakes, and This May foal is a half-brother to a pair of G2 stakes win- he is a young stallion at Claiborne Farm. The other siblings ners. Smooth Air won the Handicap, Ohio include Justin Phillip, a top sprinter who won the G1 Alfred Derby, and Hutcheson; ran second in the and G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga and is now a stallion at Castleton Metropolitan; and earned more than $1.1 million. Overdriv- Lyons, and G2 Hutcheson Stakes winner Keyed Entry. en won the Sanford Stakes from his two victories in three starts. Tapit has winner , Kentucky Hip 461 (Colt by Tiznow x Baffled, by ): Oaks winner Untapable, and Florida Derby winner Constitu- This half-brother to 2014 Florida Derby winner Constitution tion among his dozen stakes winners in 2014. (Tapit) has the distinction of a female line that has produced a G1 winner in each of its last three generations. The stakes- Hip 433 (Filly by Street Cry x Aldebaran Light, by Seattle placed dam of Constitution is a half-sister to Emcee, who won Slew): By G1 winner Street Cry, who has sired Horse of the the Forego Stakes at Saratoga, and the third dam is stakes Year Zenyatta and Kentucky Derby winner , winner Horns Gray, the dam of Awesome Humor, winner of this filly is a half-sister to two G1 winners. won the Spinaway and second in the Alabama. PRS

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