THOROUGHBRED TIMES Saturday, December 31, 2011 ® INSIDE Johnson to manage CloverLeaf stallions ...........page 2 Media Eclipse Award—Photography ..................page 2 2011 leading owners ......................................page 4 2011 in Review—Obituaries..........................page 5-8 Brass Hat in retirement ...................................page 9 T DAY Dubai World Cup Carnival ..............................page 17 Your inside track to the Thoroughbred industry Rapid Redux takes aim on 22nd straight victory Rapid Redux will try for his 22nd straight this one because there are already races ican gelding won three consecutive edi- victory on Wednes- written in condition tions of the Smarty Jones Classic Stakes day in the sixth race books that accommo- (2007-2009) at the former Philadelphia at Laurel Park, a date his date. Finding Park (now Parx Racing), but has not won $17,000 starter al- races for him the next in eight starts dating back to April 2010 lowance race that couple of months is not at Laurel. drew a field of ten. an issue, but I don’t see William Campbell claimed Delaware The five-year-old him ever running for a River for $5,000 out of a runner-up finish Pleasantly Perfect claiming price because on December 17 at Laurel. gelding recently I don’t want anyone else Rapid Redux will be ridden by J. D. bested the modern- to own him. He has Acosta, who has ridden the gelding seven day consecutive wins done too much for us times during the record win streak. record of Horse of and that wouldn’t be fair “He is training well and coming into this the Year Zenyatta and to him.” race better than his last start,” Cole said. New Mexico-bred The one-mile race at “He has been amazingly consistent and standout Peppers Laurel drew a field of amazingly durable and has a tremendous Pride. ten, including five-time mindset for winning. In training he does Rapid Redux, who stakes winner Delaware not let the horses go by him just like in a was claimed for River. The soon-to-be- race. He truly knows the object of the $6,250 by trainer RAPID REDUX 11-year-old Quiet Amer- game.” Jim McCue/MJC photo David Wells for owner Robert Cole out of a race on Oc- A 2011 Retrospective: December tober 13, 2010, at Penn National Race In each of the issues for the remainder of the year, THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY will take Course, has won 17 starter allowance races a look back at a month of racing from 2011, including a table of replays of all North Amer- since beginning his 21-race win streak on ican graded races. December 2, 2010. Wednesday’s race is written for horses End-of-the-year fireworks from The Factor who have started for a claiming price of It was déjà vu all over again at the end of $5,000 or less in 2010 or 2011. Cole said the 2011 racing season as for the second he does not want to risk losing Rapid straight year as The Factor delivered a blis- Redux in a claiming race and will continue tering performance on December 26. to find starter allowance races for his geld- In 2010, the War Front colt set a track ing. record for six furlongs at Santa Anita Park “He cannot be treated like a normal as a two-year-old, blazing the distance in horse and be running for a tag after he 1:06.98 in an eye-opening performance that loses his condition,” Cole said. “I found stamped The Factor a colt to watch on the five starter allowance races east of the Triple Crown trail. Mississippi that he is eligible to run in. After an up-and-down 2011 season that in- It is conceivable to have one or two more THE FACTOR cluded three graded stakes wins mixed with starts [in starter allowance races] after Coady Photography continued on page 3 Claiborne Sired EXACTTAA THHEE FFAACTTOOR wins the Malibu-GG1, second G1 win in 2011, by WWAAR FRONT ROTTHHHKKO impressive runner-up in his stakes debut, by ARCH www.thoroughbredtimes.com Thoroughbred Times TODAY December 31, 2011 1 Johnson named stallion manager at CloverLeaf Farms II Jenda, trainer of champion Brown Bess, retires Longtime Ocala horseman Will Johnson has been tabbed as Northern California-based trainer Chuck Jenda, who con- the new stallion manager at John Sykes’ CloverLeaf Farms II ditioned champion Brown Bess, has retired. and has already begun duties at the Reddick, Florida stud farm. Jenda, 65, sent out the winners An Ocala resident since 1975, Johnson most notably worked of 1,477 races, including 93 stakes, for 20 years at Franks Farms stallion operation in Ocala. since beginning his career in 1976. “I cannot tell you how excited I am to have the opportunity His runners amassed earnings of to work with breeders again for such a top-class stallion oper- $24,661,645. His best year came ation like CloverLeaf,” said Johnson. “Mr. Sykes has always had in 1994 when he won 82 races and a reputation for quality and integrity. The quality shows in the finished second in the trainer stand- top stallions he’s brought to Ocala, and both Repent and Crown ings at Golden Gate Fields, im- of Thorns certainly uphold that tradition. They’re both awe- BROWN BESS proving from a third in the track some individuals that sell themselves when you see them in Four Footed Fotos standings in 1992 and 1993. person and evaluate their credentials. The integrity is some- Brown Bess, who was voted 1989 champion turf female, was thing I am expected to carry out with breeders, and I can’t wait Jenda’s best runner. The daughter of *Petrone posted five to get to work with my fellow Florida horsemen during the up- wins, a second, and two thirds during her championship sea- coming breeding season with these two exciting stallions.” son, including victories in the Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes Johnson will oversee established leading Florida sire Repent, (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Ramona Handicap (G1) at Del Mar, along with his top son, Crown of Thorns, who will stand his and three other graded stakes. Overall, Brown Bess won 16 first season at stud in 2012. of 36 career starts and earned $1,300,920 in six seasons. “We’re thrilled to have such a respected and experienced Other stakes winners Jenda trained include graded stakes horseman like Will heading up the CloverLeaf stallion division,” winners A B Noodle, Mangaki, New Advantage, and Sir Alfred said Sykes. “His reputation for honesty and hard work, along and 15-time stakes winner and $536,645-earner Hallowed Envoy. with his rapport with breeders, will serve him well. We wel- “The business had a lot of rewards,” Jenda told the San come him to the CloverLeaf team.” Francisco Chronicle. “I liked it when I was in it, but it was a Repent is coming off a stellar year in 2011. He was the only very difficult job. I never really had the right temperament. sire with five two-year-old stakes winners – leading all sires in I was always worried about how horses would come out of North America – and also led all sires in Florida with ten stakes the stall. Even after a big victory like Brown Bess, instead of winners overall in 2011. soaking it in, I was worried about how she was going to be For more, click here. the next day.” Mayberger wins Media Eclipse Award for Photography QUOTE OF THE DAY ® The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broad- “I mean, we’re not curing cancer here, but you want to be as casters (NTWAB) an- fair and unbiased as possible.” nounced Friday that HRTV racing analyst Peter Lurie in Daily Racing Form talk- Bob Mayberger of Al- ing about voting for the Eclipse Awards for the first time. He is bany, N.Y., has won one of 16 new Eclipse Award voters through membership in the the 2011 Media expanded and renamed National Turf Writers and Broadcast- Eclipse Award for ers Association Photography for his panoramic picture of THOROUGHBRED TIMES CO. INC. Thoroughbreds Publisher of THOROUGHBRED TIMES TODAY jumping over a fence Chairman: Norman Ridker Sales and Marketing Coordinator: Kari Simon WINNING PHOTO President and Editor: Mark Simon Bob Mayberger photo TODAY Advertising Account Representatives: during the A.P. Smith- Managing Editor: Tom Law Alana Abbott, Jennifer Lapasnick, Hal Moss, wick Memorial Steeplechase at Saratoga Race Course on Au- Deputy News Editor: Steve Bailey Scott Rion, Shelley Sutherland Ritter gust 4. The photo appeared on the Sports Illustrated Snapshot TODAY Editor: Mike Curry Sales and Production Supervisor: Shelli Baker TODAY News Editor: Myra Lewyn Copy/Research Specialist: Laura Foster website that same day. Senior Writer: Frank Angst Contact Us: This is the first Eclipse Award for Mayberger, 58, a staff Staff Writer: Joe Nevills Monday – Friday photographer for Eclipse Sportswire. Internet Content Editor: Tim Nichols Phone: (859) 260-9800 ext 7166; Copy Editor: Deanna Bowden Fax: (859) 260-9812 For his winning photo, Mayberger, who began taking pic- e-mail: [email protected] tures from the Saratoga grandstand ten years ago, placed his Layout: Charlotte Valdez, Betty Gee, Laura Lacy, Saturday – Sunday LaDonna Murphy, Jeanette Vance Emily Alberti – Electronic Media Manager Nikon D300 remote at the base of the mid-stretch fence at Research: Kerby Collins, Melissa Humphrey, e-mail: [email protected] Saratoga, prior to the Smithwick, which was the first race of Patrick Reed Cell (859) 913-9633 Electronic Media Manager: Emily Alberti www.thoroughbredtimes.com the day.