A Publication of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association PAThoroughbred pabred.com September 29, 2016 pabred.com Issue: 30 REPORT Blast From the Past: Banjo Picker: Parx Racing Hall of Famer The majority of horse races in the country are for claimers, but that doesn’t stop every horseman from fantasizing that their next claim will become a champion. PA-Bred sprinter Banjo Picker goes from claimer to Hall of Famer. Page 3 Mrs. Penny Mrs. Penny symbolized the rapidly escalating quality of Pennsylvania’s breeding industry when she blazed to glory as England’s champion 2-year-old filly of 1979. Page 16 Pennsylvania 2016 PA Day at the Races News Briefs PAGE 9 PA-Bred Stakes Schedule PAGE 14 A Letter from Executive Secretary Brian Sanfratello Despite the cloudy skies from Hurricane Page 5 Hermine, PA-Breds shone at Parx on Sept. 3. 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For For For all all all the the the exciting exciting exciting details details details visit visit visit www.fantasylanestable.com www.fantasylanestable.com www.fantasylanestable.com Banjo Picker enters Parx Racing Hall of Fame By Nikki Sherman The majority of the inside; here comes horse races in the coun- a horse on the outside. try are for claimers, but Then just as somebody that doesn’t stop every tries to pass him, he horseman from fan- comes back. Funny tasizing that their next thing about that is I claim will become a was watching it down champion. While not ev- in the trainer’s lounge ery horse will transform at Aqueduct and I from a $50,000 claim was screaming and to a $5.2 million-earn- hollering. Billy Turner er – like 2015 National was there – from Se- Museum of Racing & attle Slew fame – and Hall of Fame inductee they were all laughing Lava Man – every once at me. When they hit in awhile a dream will the wire, I ran out – I come true. thought I won, and I Perhaps the great- got halfway down the est claim in the history Banjo Picker, photo courtesy of Barbara Luna hallway – then I came of Philadelphia Park occurred when Banjo Picker changed hands running back and I said, ‘Did I win it? Did I win it?’ They were just on Aug. 21, 2004, after trainer Steve Krebs claimed the gelding for hysterically laughing. Of course, he was the winner!” $15,000 on behalf of owner Danny Limongelli. Banjo Picker would go Banjo Picker would go on to win nearly $650,000 over 52 ca- on to become one of the most consistent and longest-lasting Penn- reer starts and, in addition to the Gravesend Handicap and Lyman sylvania-Bred sprinters of all time. Sprint Championship, captured consecutive runnings of the Devil’s “We were interested in him because he was a PA-Bred,” re- Honor Handicap as well as the Le Grande Pos Handicap and Power members Krebs. “We were always looking for PA-Breds. We never by Far Handicap. He was crowned Older Horse of the Year twice at thought he would become what he became, but that’s what inter- Philadelphia Park and became a favorite among horsemen. ested us the most. We always paid more attention to the PA-Breds “He was a very, very intelligent horse and just a pleasure to train. running here at Philly Park.” He made everyone around him look good,” Krebs admits. “Tara Hem- Banjo Picker rewarded his new connections by winning six of his mings, who rode him in all of his races, galloped him every morning. next 10 starts, including three straight in the fall of 2004 and winter He would go out to the track to train and he would stand on the rail of 2005. for a half hour, 45 minutes every day watching other horses go by.” “I didn’t know he would be the way he was until we had run him When it was time for Banjo Picker to retire from racing, his con- 2-3 times, and then I said ‘wow, maybe we have something special nections decided to give the gelding a new job that would utilize his here’,” Krebs said. “[I thought he had a chance as a stakes horse] intelligence as well as his enthusiasm for the track. After a short after he won the two other than. The way he did it, I said we could break at the farm, Banjo Picker returned to Philadelphia Park as a probably win a little PA stake with this horse. The next year we tar- pony, where he taught youngsters about racing in the Krebs’ barn. geted our first stake, which we did end up winning.” Every once in awhile, Hemmings would let him stretch his legs and That hard-fought stretch run in the $50,000 Lyman Sprint gallop around the track by himself, which would in turn send rumors Championship became a trademark of Banjo Picker, who nearly rippling through the backstretch as horsemen wondered whether he always was right there when the leaders hit the wire. The biggest would return to racing. victory of his career was by less than a head as he led gate to wire in In September of 2012, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders As- the $100,000 Gravesend Handicap-G3 at Aqueduct. sociation held the inaugural Banjo Picker Sprint Stakes during their “He just seemed to know where the wire was,” notes Krebs. annual Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races. Banjo Picker and Hemmings “The Gravesend was classic Banjo Picker: here comes a horse up continued on page 4 PA THOROUGHBRED REPORT 3 BANJO PICKER continued from page 3 were given the honor of leading the post parade for the Upon learning of Banjo Picker’s induction into the Parx $75,000 race. Racing Hall of Fame, owner Limongelli was both floored and Krebs remembers the pageantry fondly. “That was so ecstatic. “Oh my God, what a great feeling!” he said. “For me special when he led the post parade. A cool little story is that it’s great because I’ve been doing this for 30 years. He was year, trainer Marty Ciresa had a horse in the [Banjo Picker one of the best I’ve ever had.” Sprint Stakes] and before he put his rider up, he came out “Mr. Limongelli always wanted to make sure that he to the walking ring and rubbed Banjo’s forelock for luck. His had a good home when it was time to retire,” said Krebs. horse Sloane Ranger then won the race!” “That’s where Barbara Luna stepped up to the plate.” On Sept. 17, 2016, Banjo Picker became just the fifth Banjo Picker now resides at Luna’s War Horses at Rose Bower in Appomattox, Va., where he has been retrained as a Pennsylvania-Bred to be inducted into the Parx Racing Hall of Western Pleasure horse and is also a pasture mate for some Fame, joining an elite group of horses that includes Kentucky of the older residents. Derby and Preakness Stakes hero Smarty Jones, Pennsylva- “Banjo Picker arrived here two years ago at the age of nia Derby winner Devil’s Honor, near-millionaire Whis- 14.