For up-to-date information on any stallion use the ‘Stallions’ menu and click on the name.

August 17, 2008:
$220,000 HORSE CHESTNUT YEARLING AT DEAUVILLE!
A yearling colt by HORSE CHESTNUT was purchased for $220,000 by Shadwell at the 2008 Deauville August Yearling Sale.

The bay colt, who was for the consignment of Haras d'Etreham, was proudced by the multiple stakes-placed Akarad mare Hasene, who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Execute, Group 2 winner Tot Ou Tard, Group 3 winner Ing Ing and to a group stakes producer. His third dam is the multiple group winning and classic-placed Girl Friend.

August 5, 2008:
$400,000 PULPIT Colt at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Day Two

The only yearling by PULPIT offered on the second day of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Sale was purchased for $400,000 by Shadwell Estate Co. LTD. Consigned by Highclere Sales, Agent I, he was produced by the graded stakes placed Java Gold mare, Doppio Espresso.

August 5, 2008:
$325,000 EDDINGTON YEARLING AT FASIG-TIPTON SARATOGA

A dark bay colt from the first crop of G1 winner EDDINGTON was purchased for $325,000 by Legends Racing, the newly formed partnership of trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Nick Zito and Bob Baffert. Consigned by Gainesway, Agent, he is out of the Saint Ballado mare, Appealing Jewel.

EDDINGTON's select yearlings have averaged $300,000 in 2008!

August 5, 2008:
$250,000 STRONG HOPE YEARLING AT FASIG-TIPTON SARATOGA

A bay filly from the second crop of multiple stakes winner STRONG HOPE was purchased for $250,000 by Lane's End Bloodstock. Consigned by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent I, she is out of the Tunerup mare, Ionlyhaveeyesforyu.

August 4, 2008:
$300,000 PULPIT Colt at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Day One

The only yearling by PULPIT offered on the first day of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Sale was purchased for $300,000 by Dogwood Stable. Consigned by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLCm he is the first foal from the stakes winning, graded stakes performing Jeune Homme mare, Ramatuelle (CHI).

August 4, 2008:
CLAIBORNE SIRED YEARLINGS CONSIGNED TO SARATOGA SELECTED
Claiborne Stallions have nine yearlings consigned to the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings sale that begins on August 4 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

EDDINGTON:

Hip 98 is a chestnut filly who is the property of North Wales LLC,Denali Stud (Craig & Holly Bandoroff), Agent. She is a half-sister to two winners including the multiples stakes-placed Mrs. Debbie M. and she is out of the multiple stakes-placed Noactor mare, Actceptional, a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner, Valid Pulpit. This is the female family of the seven-times stakes producing blue hen mare, Mepache.

Hip 101 is a dark bay colt consigned by Gainesway, Agent. He is out of the Saint Ballado mare, Appealing Jewel, who is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner and graded stakes producer, Turkappeal. This is the immediate family of champion Silken Cat, who produced champion and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner and emerging young sire, Speightstown.

PULPIT:

Hip 35 is the property of Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC. He is the first foal from the stakes winning, graded stakes performing Jeune Homme mare, Ramatuelle (CHI), who is a half-sister to G2 winner Vitra. This is the famil of champion Via Sixteena.

Hip 146 is a dark bay colt consigned by Highclere Sales, Agent I. He is a half-brother to four winners including the multiple stakes winner and G1 stakes performer, Resplendency. Produced by the graded stakes placed Java Gold mare, Doppio Espresso, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Hero's Tribute and three stakes producers, this is the family of G1 winner and successful sire Vettori.

STRONG HOPE:

Hip 39 is a bay colt consigned by Denali Stud (Craig & Holly Bandoroff), Agent I. He is a half-brother to four winners, including the multiple stakes winner Summer Cruise and the Group 1-placed Rebuttal. Produced by the winning Rubiano mare, Reboot, who is a daughter of multiple stakes winner and stakes producer, Launch Light Tek. This is the family of Group 2 winner Free Round and G3 winner, Jim.

Hip 43 is a bay filly consigned by Gainesway, Agent. A half-sister to a winner, she is out of the El Prado (IRE) mare, Rose of Summer, a half-sister to G1 winner Siphonic and the stakes winning Mountain Girl. This is the immediate family of multiple graded stakes winner Dixie Dot Com adn the graded stakes winning sires General Meeting and Carson City.

Hip 59 is a dark bay colt consigned by Gainesway, Agent. He is the third foal from the stakes-winning the graded stakes-placed Tricky Creek mare, Soccory, who is a half-sister to the graded stakes winner Recommended List and a graded stakes producer. This is the family of G1 winners Twilight Ridge and Crested Wave.

Hip 111 is a chestnut colt consigned by Three Chimneys Sales, Agent. Produced by the Believe It mare, Bisbee, he is half-brother to the multiple stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Taste the Passion and the stakes winner Bisbee's Prospect. This is the family of graded stakes winners Buy the Barrel and Mauk Four.

Hip 182 is a bay filly consigned by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent I. She is a half-sister to five winners including the multiple graded stakes winner, Gaff. She is out of the Tunerup mare, Ionlyhaveeyesforyu, who is a full or half-sister to four stakes horses including the multiple graded stakes winner, Ifyoucouldseemenow.

August 2, 2008:
FIRST STAKES WINNER FOR STROLL!

RUN DON'T STROLL became the First Stakes Winner for her Freshman Sire STROLL with her victory in the $75,000 Laurel Lane Stakes going six furlongs over the fast main track at Louisiana Downs.

The 2-year-old filly tucked in right off the leading pair for the run down the backstretch. Winding up coming off the turn, RUN DON'T STROLL did what her names suggested and ran right by the leaders. Finishing full of run, she crossed the line nearly four lengths in front.

RUN DON'T STROLL races for the partnership of her breeder Robert Wilensky and Randolph Schneider and she is trained by James Hodges. Two-for-three lifetime including a stakes-placing last out, she is out of the Clever Trick mare, Cotton Jenni.

July 25, 2008:
SEVENTH WINNER FOR STROLL.
AFTERNOON STROLL became the Seventh Winner from the first crop of STROLL with her victory in the 1st race at Presque Isle Downs, a five furlong maiden special weight over the Polytrack.

AFTERNOON STROLL drew the outside post in the field of nine and was well placed midfield down the backstretch. She made her move out in the four path, gained the lead passing the eighth pole proved much the best by five lengths at the wire.

Bred in Kentucky by Ricky Claypool, AFTERNOON STROLL is out of the winning Danzatore mare, Gertie. She races for Blazing Meadows Farm LLC and is trained by Tim Hamm.

July 19, 2008:
STROLL'S SECOND STAKES HORSE AND TWO DEBUT WINNERS!
Freshman sire STROLL was represented by his second stakes horse and two debut winners today!

RUN DON'T STROLL earned the first black-type of her young career with her second place finish in the $50,000 Princess Stakes going five furlongs over the firm turf course at Louisiana Downs. Setting blazing fractions of :21 and :43 2/5, she was caught inside the final sixteenth by winner, but she handily defeated all the rest.

The first of the two debut winners for STROLL was the 2-year-old gelding, SMUGGLER'S HOLD who came from off th pace with a strong stretch run to win the 1st race at Canterbury Downs, a five furlong maiden special weight over the fast main track by nearly four lengths.

SMUGGLER'S HOLD was bred in Kentucky by James S. Karp and he was produced by the Always a Classic mare, Storm Dancer. He races for and is trained by Bryan Porter.

It isn't often you can overcome trouble in a five furlong race, especially when it is a horse's debut and win, but 2-year-old filly STROLLIN did just that in the opener at Assiniboia Downs. Shut off at the break and forced to the back of the field, she rallied on the outside coming off the final turn and got up in the last couple of jumps to win by a neck.

STROLLIN was bred in Kentucky by Sunrise Stables and she was produced by the Indian Charlie mare, Fashionista. She races for Off 2 Win and she is trained by Ardell Sayler.

SMUGGLER'S HOLD and STROLLIN are the FIFTH and SIXTH winner for STROLL.

July 14, 2008:
$270,000 EDDINGTON YEARLING AT FASIG-TIPTON JULY!
A yearling colt from the first crop of Grade 1 Winner EDDINGTON, was purchased for $270,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearlings New Sire Showcase!

Purchased by Zayat Stables, the bay colt was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, Agent. He is the first foal from the stakes-placed Souvenir Copy mare, Favorite Times.

July 12, 2008:
GOLDEN SPIKES WINS G2 Carry Back Stakes!

Courtesy of CRC Publicity
M375 Thoroughbreds and Suarez Racing’s 3-year-old colt GOLDEN SPIKES (SEEKING THE GOLD) won the $250,000 Carry Back Stakes (G2) at Calder’s Summit of Speed on Saturday, earning his first Graded stakes victory.

Ridden by jockey Elvis Trujillo for trainer Marty Wolfson, GOLDEN SPIKES defeated Gentleman James by three-quarters of a length and it was just a half-length back to Lantana Mob in third in a close finish.

“He was in good position early behind the leaders and ahead of Salute the Sarge, but he   had to be patient and even steadied some until he could get out," said winning owner Rob Murphy. "But once he got clear, I felt that he had enough time to run them down. We kept him going two turns earlier this year and he ran good to finish second in the Illinois Derby (G2), but after he finished fourth in the Peter Pan (G2), we pretty much knew it was time to go back to sprinting. We knew it would be difficult for him to turn back from nine furlongs to six, but he’s come through. A logical spot to think about for him next would be the King’s Bishop (Aug. 23 at Saratoga at seven furlongs.) The six weeks timing seems just about right.”

“They didn’t go as fast as I would have liked to see them go up front, but I could see that they were moving too soon on the backside so I just sat behind them and waited," said Trujillo.  "With this horse the later you move the better he finishes. He is a very nice horse and six furlongs is perfect for him.”

GOLDEN SPIKES covered the six furlongs in 1:11.20 and paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.40.  Gentleman James, who finished second to Golden Spikes previously in the Unbridled Stakes here on June 14, paid $5.60 and $3.20.  Lantana Mob returned $2.40 to show.

July 12, 2008:
STROLL FILLY WINS MSW AT ARLINGTON PARK
HAWAIIAN CONCH is the latest first crop winner for Freshman Sire STROLL. The 2-year-old filly overcame traffic trouble with a brave performance to win the 12th race at Arlington Park, a five furlong maiden special weight over the Polytrack.

Drawing the inside post, she settled in the second flight. Coming off the final turn, things got tight along the rail, but she didn't give and inch. Switching off the rail for the drive, she had to alter course when a hole closed. She came on again and had to thread between rivals late to get up for the half-length victory.

HAWAIIAN CONCH is a homebred racing for 77 Double Lucky Ltd. Produced by the winning D'Accord mare, Conch Cruiser. He is trained by Charles Bettis.

July 5, 2008:
EASING ALONG COLT WINS SECOND GROUP 1
COMPASIVO CAT (ARG) earned his second career Group 1 victory, taking the Gran Premio Estrellas Sprint going 1,000 meters over the dirt course at Palermo.

The son of EASING ALONG, who already has three group stakes wins on his resume, broke sharply and was close to the early leaders. He began to surge in the final two hundred and got up in time to win by a half-length. Final time was a sharp :53.77.

COMPASIVO CAT has five wins, three seconds and one third in his ten lifetime starts. He races for Stud Aladino and he is trained by Roberto Pellegata. Bred by Haras El Alfalfar, he is out of the multiple group stakes winner, La Tosquera.

July 5, 2008:
FIRST WINNER FOR DURING!
DURING DEPUTY became the First Winner for her Freshman Sire DURING with her impressive victory in the 3rd race at Philadelphia Park, a four and one-half furlong maiden special weight over the muddy main track.

Three fillies wanted the lead and DURING DEPUTY was on the outside of the trio. Going into the far turn, they all wanted to be on the exact same spot on the racetrack with DURING DEPUTY getting the worst of it. She dropped back two lengths after the crowding, but she regained her momentum and shot past the leading pair coming off the turn. She drew away strongly through the stretch and was more than six lengths best at the finish.

DURING DEPUTY races for Elliot Mavorah and she is trained by Frank Petrozzo. Bred in Nicholas M. Lotz and Diane L. Hume, she is out of the stakes winning and stakes producing Silver Deputy mare, Merry Deputy.

June 25, 2008:
HORSE GREELEY TO STAND AT CLAIBORNE
Del Mar Futurity-G2 winner HORSE GREELEY will enter stud at Claiborne Farm for the 2009 breeding season.

HORSE GREELEY, who raced for Martha Parfet and her late husband Ray Parfet, established himself as one of the best 2-year-olds of 2006 with a definitive win in the $250,000 DelMar Futurity-G2. Though hampered at the start, he quickly recovered and raced comfortably behind Stormello through fractions of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5. At the top of the stretch, he took thelead and won by a convincing 1 3/4 lengths over Great Hunter. That race marked his secondwin of the Del Mar meeting, and those two performances earned him the sixth-highest weight assignment on the year’s Experimental Free Handicap.

“He is an extremely good-looking horse and has been since the day he was foaled,” said Hall-of-Fame trainer Richard Mandella. “He is big, strong, has good bone and a great mind. HORSE GREELEY also had a lot of talent, which he showed us, but was the victim of some bad luck his 3-year-old year.”

HORSE GREELEY only made three starts after winning the Del Mar Futurity, including a third-place finish in last year’s Malibu S.-G1 at Santa Anita.

One of 40 stakes winners by perennial top-ten sire Mr. Greeley, HORSE GREELEY is out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Storm Cat mare, Chile Chatte. Owned by the Parfets and trained by Mandella, Chile Chatte raced four seasons on the Southern California circuit, winning four races and placing in five stakes, including the Milady H.-G1 and Hollywood Starlet-G1. His second dam, Carita Tostada, was a two-time Grade 1 winner in Chile, and was Grade 1-placed twice in the U.S. She has produced three stakes horses, Horse Greeley’s dam and G3 winners Shaconage and Jadada.

“HORSE GREELEY was a standout as a foal here at Claiborne, and he certainly showed that he could run,” said Claiborne’s Bernie Sams. “He’s by a solid sire and from a durable,quality family. I think he has a lot of potential.”

HORSE GREELEY will stand as property of a syndicate. For more information, contact Bernie Sams at Claiborne, (859) 233-4252.

June 23, 2008:
FIRST WINNERS FOR FRESHMAN SIRE STRONG HOPE!
Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Freshman Sire STRONG HOPE was represented by his first two winners in the colt ART PREVIEW and the filly DELICADA.

ART PREVIEW, who was purchased for $103,688 at the Tattersalls Guineas 2YO Breeze Up Sale, made a sparkling debut today over the all weather at Lingfield.

Lining up against seven other juveniles, ART PREVIEW tracked the early leaders and moved to seriously challenge two furlongs from home. Taking the lead from the odds-on favorite, he quickly opened up and was nearly three lengths best at the line.

ART PREVIEW races for Mr. R. A. Green and he is trained by Gary Moore. Bred by Ponchartrain Stud, he was produced by the G3-placed Night Shift mare, Elle Est Revenue (IRE).

DELICADA, who was bred in Kentucky by the partnership of Liberation Farm and Oratis, gamely broke her maiden by a nose, taking the field wire-to-wire going five furlongs in the 2nd race at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico.

DELICADA was produced by the multiple stakes-placed Ogygian mare, Wave Me Home.

June 14, 2008:
Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Times

PYRO POWERS CLEAR IN NORTHERN DANCER STAKES-G3!
by Joe Nevills
Grade 2 winner PYRO reestablished his status as one of the elite colts in the three-year-old division as he powered clear in the stretch to win the $190,925 Northern Dancer Stakes (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The PULPIT colt was rated in third by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan behind dueling pacesetters Texas Wildcatter and My Pal Charlie. PYRO rallied three wide on the final turn and drove clear of the pacesetters with about a furlong to go under steady handling by Bridgmohan. PYRO completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.53 on a track rated as fast.

"He was always traveling good down the backside," Bridgmohan said. "He was just nice and relaxed and enjoying himself out there."

Runner-up My Pal Charlie finished 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Grade 3 winner Visionaire. Illinois Derby (G2) winner and 11-to-10 favorite Recapturetheglory was blocked behind traffic in the stretch and finished fourth.

The Northern Dancer was PYRO's first victory since a three-length win in Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 8. He boosted his lifetime earnings to $1,174,063. His previous two starts were unplaced finishes in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Trainer Steve Asmussen said PYRO likely will be pointed toward the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

"He's definitely going to go further than this," Asmussen said. "And I think that he's not going to have any trouble doing so."

Winchell Thoroughbreds' PYRO is out of the winning Wild Again mare Wild Vision, a full sister to Grade 2 winner and sire Wild Wonder.

May 26, 2008:
Courtesy of Lone Star Park
CHURCH SERVICE WINS G3 DALLAS TURF CUP!
Robert Tjosvold’s CHURCH SERVICE (PULPIT), trained by Mike Mitchell, produced a strong stretch rally to capture the Grade 3 $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup on Monday at Lone Star Park.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, CHURCH SERVICE bided his time at the back of the pack behind moderate opening fractions of :25.29, :50.91, and 1:15.04 before launching a wide run two furlongs from home. With time running out approaching the finish, CHURCH SERVICE dug in determinedly to catch the Bobby Frankel-trained Storm Military in the final jump. CHURCH SERVICE covered the one-mile-and-an-eighth distance in 1:50.54.  Red Rock Creek rallied along the rail to finish one and a quarter lengths back in third.

“I’ve ridden him the past and it’s his thing to come from out of it, and he finished up very strong today,” said winning jockey Brince Blanc. “A horse like this with a strong turn of foot can overcome a slow early pace, and I was really confident that he could out kick them.”

In winning the Dallas Turf Cup, CHURCH SERVICE earned his first graded stakes victory and recorded his fourth victory from 21 career starts. The $120,000 winners share of the purse increased Church Service’s lifetime earnings to $310,060.

CHURCH SERVICE was bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen. He is out of he stakes winning With Approval mare, To Be Approved. 

May 24, 2008:

LATTICE WINS THE G3 LOUISVILLE HANDICAP!
Courtesy of Churchill Downs

by Darren Rogers
Jockey Robby Albarado capped a four-win day with a hedge-skimming victory aboard LATTICE in Saturday’s $170,100 Louisville Handicap (Grade III) at Churchill Downs. Conditioned by Al Stall Jr., the 4-year-old colt beat 34-1 outsider Transduction Gold by three-quarters of length en route to his second career graded stakes win.

 

LATTICE, bred in Kentucky by his owners Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, ran 1 ½ miles over a “firm” turf course in 2:31.13 for his fourth victory in nine starts. The $99,134 winner’s share of the purse jumped his career earnings to $345,233.

 

Last summer, LATTICE took the Grade II American Derby at Arlington Park.

“This horse is growing up,” said Albarado, who notched his third stakes win of the Spring Meet. “I rode him all last year and I felt like I always had to shove on him and get him some position. I had to make him do things, but we thought a lot of him. This year he’s taking himself into the race and he’s running.”

 

Sent off as the 5-2 second betting choice in the field of 11 older horses, LATTICE tracked pacesetter Transduction Gold from the inside through dawdling fractions of :26.25 for the first quarter mile, :52.08 for the half, 1:17.21 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:42.38 for one mile. LATTICE, in close pursuit the entire way, began to vie for the lead midway through the final turn, slipped through an opening along the inside and kicked on gamely for the victory.

 

“There was an obvious question with the third turn and the trip, but I figured that if he stayed the trip he was certainly competitive with this group. And he did,” said 46-year-old Stall, who collected his fourth Churchill Downs stakes win and first since the 2003 Edgewood with Forest Shadows. “It might be a new road to go down, these staying races. It’s kind of exciting. It’s all new to me, that’s for sure. But I’m looking forward to trying to plot out a little program for him.”

 

LATTICE, a son of ARCH out of the Rahy mare Lateral, returned $7.40, $4.60 and $4.20. Tranduction Gold paid $23.80 and $13. Birdbirdistheword returned $13.20.

May 21, 2008:
TWO WINNERS FROM TWO STARTERS FOR FRESHMAN SIRE STROLL!
FAST EDDIE became the second winner from two starters for Freshman Sire STROLL with his victory in the 2nd race at Penn National, a maiden special weight going two furlongs over the main track that was rated good.

FAST EDDIE dashed out of post position two and established a clear lead before the first furlong had been completed. He kept his margin open to the wire, winning by a length and one-half.

FAST EDDIE races for Limestone Point Stable and he is trained by Clovis Crane. Bred in Pennsylvania by Andrew Doyle, he is out of the Eskimo mare, Icee Sara.

May 18, 2008:
FIRST WINNER FOR STROLL
G1 Winning Freshman Sire STROLL was represented by his first winner when juvenile colt SABINO romped to victory in his second start, a five furlong maiden race at Churchill Downs by more than thirteen lengths!

SABINO, who was second in his career debut on April 26 over the same course, was sharp at the break and engaged in a battle for the lead for the initial three furlongs. Shaking off that foe, he ran away from the field through the stretch to win easily.

SABINO races for the partnership of William Fox, Jr. and Tammy Fox and he is trained by Dale Romans. Bred in Kentucky by Latern Hill Farm, he was produced by the Woodman mare, Say You'll Stay.

May 17, 2008:
Courtesty of Pimlico Race Course
BIG BROWN PROVES HIS GREATNESS IN PREAKNESS STAKES

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s BIG BROWN, on cruise control until asked to go by jockey Kent Desormeaux, exploded away from his 11 rivals at the top of the Pimlico homestretch to notch a dominating victory in the 133rd running of the $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes (G I) Saturday.

(READ MORE)

May 3, 2008:
BIG BROWN is the 15th Kentucky Derby winner conceived in the breeding shed at Claiborne Farm, Six of which went on to win the Triple Crown.

May 3, 2008:
BIG BROWN WINS THE KENTUCKY DERBY!

Courtesy of Kentuckyderby.com

IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.’s BIG BROWN justified his trainer’s confidence and the faith of the betting public by powering to a 4 3/4-length victory over Fox Hill Farms’ filly Eight Belles to win the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands before a crowd of 157,770, the second-largest in history.

In becoming the first horse to win from the 20 hole since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929, BIG BROWN gave jockey Kent Desormeaux his third victory in the Run for the Roses and trainer Rick Dutrow his first with his initial Kentucky Derby starter.

A Kentucky-bred son of BOUNDARY out of the Nureyev mare Mien, BIG BROWN became the seventh undefeated Kentucky Derby winner in history and third in the past five years, following on the heels of Smarty Jones in 2004 and Barbaro in 2006.

Desormeaux’s other Derby victories came in 1998 aboard Real Quiet and 2000 on Fusaichi Pegasus. Desormeaux is the fifth jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three times.

Bob Black Jack led the field of 20 under the wire the first time with Cowboy Cal in closest pursuit. Desormeaux managed to angle BIG BROWN over from his outside post to be only four wide entering the first turn.

Bob Black Jack and Cowboy Cal maintained their position in the run down the backstretch, taking the field through fractions of :23.30, :47.04 and 1:11.14. Desormeaux kept BIG BROWN in the clear in the third flight in seventh place. Approaching the far turn BIG BROWN began a looping move that put him in third in the middle of the turn.

Turning for home, BIG BROWN swept past Recapturetheglory, who had taken a narrow lead from Cowboy Cal, and from there it was just a formality as BIG BROWN cruised to the wire in 2:01.82 for the mile and a quarter over a track rated as “fast.”

The victory was worth $1,451,800 and increased BIG BROWN’s bankroll to $2,114,500 in just four starts.

BIG BROWN rewarded his backers with mutual payoffs of $6.80, $5 and $4.80. Eight Belles, ridden by Gabriel Saez, returned $10.60 and $6.40. Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork rallied to finish third under Calvin Borel, another 3 ½ lengths back, and paid $11.60 to show.

Completing the field in order were Tale of Ekati, Recapturetheglory, Colonel John, Anak Nakal, Pyro, Cowboy Cal, Z Fortune, Smooth Air, Visionaire, Court Vision, Z Humor, Cool Coal Man, Bob Black Jack, Gayego, Big Truck, Adriano and Monba.

April 19, 2008:
Courtesy of Hawthorne News:
GOLDEN VELVET WINS G3 SIXTY SAILS HANDICAP!
On paper it looked like it might be a two-horse race despite the presence of six other fillies and mares in the $200,000, Grade 3 Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course Saturday afternoon. GOLDEN VELVET (SEEKING THE GOLD) and Tessa Blue were both coming out of the Grade 2 Rampart Handicap at Gulfstream Park, making them the only two runners exiting a graded event, and in the end, they indeed proved too tough for the others, with Golden Velvet grinding past front running Tessa Blue and eventually drawing clear for a  3 ½ length score.

Tessa Blue, under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith set the pace after breaking sharply from the seven post and reached the quarter in a leisurely 23.97.  After getting to the half in an unpressured 48.31 it looked like the even-money favorite might be long gone. But Golden Velvet and jockey Eibar Coa, never more than a few lengths back, hooked Tessa Blue on the far turn and despite lugging through the stretch, GOLDEN VELVET proved to be much the best, in the mile and one-eighth event restricted to fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. The final time was 1:51.30

“I thought she had an excuse last time (The Rampart Handicap) and she really didn’t run her race,” said winning jockey Eibar Coa. “I was very confident today and I thought she was the horse to beat. My horse was sharp and I would say my horse was much the best even though she was playing around in the stretch.”

The winner was trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and saddled at Hawthorne by his brother Neil McLaughlin.

Kathleens Reel checked in third beaten more than six lengths by the winner, but more than eight lengths clear of fourth.

April 17, 2008:
ARCH 2YO SELLS FOR $625,000 at TATTERSALLS CRAVEN BREEZE-UP SALE!
ARCH juveniles were in very high demand at the Tattersalls 2008 Craven Breeze Up with individuals bringing up to 300,000 guineas (US$625,000)!

Leading the way as ARCH's top seller was Lot 52, a dark bay colt produced by the winning Conquistador Cielo mare, Annul. Brought to the sale by Bansha House Stables, Ireland, he was purchased by Shadwell Estate Company. He is a half-brother to a stakes-performing, stakes producer and two additional winners. This is also the family of the graded stakes winning and G1-performer, Misgivings and her daughter, the Newmarket group winner At Risk.

Lot 69 was a bay colt who brought a final price of 150,000 guineas (US$310,000). Consigned by Oak Tree Farm, Ireland, he was purchased by Hugo Merry Bloodstock. A half-brother to a winner, he was produced by the stakes winning Latin American mare, Preppy Priscilla. He is from the direct family of classic winner, Southern Arrow and graded stakes winner, Masake.

Lot 49 was a dark bay colt named Saint Arch who was consigned by Yeomanstown Stud, Ireland. Produced by the winning Silver Buck mare, Halo Silver, he is a half-brother to four winners. This is the family of G1 winner Private Persuasion and 2008 Rebel S. (G3) winner, Sierra Sunset. He was purchased for 82,000 guineas (US$175,000).

In all, six ARCH juveniles sold for and average of more than $240,000.

April 12, 2008:
RUTHERIENNE WINS G2 JENNY WILEY AT KEENELAND!
Courtesy of Daily Racing Form
By MARTY McGEE
RUTHERIENNE was one of the best 3-year-old turf fillies of 2007 but had never been tried outside her division. Thrown to the older wolves Saturday when making her 4-year-old debut, the PULPIT filly responded with a spectacular effort, driving through a narrow opening in deep stretch to register a neck victory over longshot Stormy West in a hotly contested 20th running of the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley Stakes on the Blue Grass Stakes undercard at Keeneland.

With Garrett Gomez riding for trainer Christophe Clement, RUTHERIENNE bided her time near the rear of a tightly packed field and had just one rival beaten at the quarter pole. But as the front-runners began to tire and the field bunched even closer, she split rivals while launching a ferocious surge, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.76 over a firm turf course. Stormy West, a 23-1 shot under Kent Desormeaux, finished a head in front of late-running Lady of Venice. Less than six lengths separated the entire field.

RUTHERIENNE, bred and owned in Kentucky by Virginia Kraft Payson, returned $14 as fourth choice in a field of 10.

Gomez said he was "eyeing a spot" between Candy Ball and Roshani, who had led most of the way, "and I was hoping they'd give me some room to get through there. They did. The filly found daylight and sprinted on home."

Virtually every starter took their best shot in the Jenny Wiley. Precious Kitten, the 5-2 favorite, and Bit of Whimsy, the 7-2 second choice, both were prominently placed but failed to deliver their best when finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Sealy Hill, the 2007 Horse of the Year in Canada, neared the lead in midstretch before fading to finish last.

RUTHERIENNE now has won 9 of 11 career starts. Last year, she was defeated only in the Appalachian at Keeneland and the Garden City at Belmont while winning five graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

"That's what good horses do - they win," Clement said.

The Gamely at Hollywood or the Just a Game at Belmont are possible next starts for RUTHERIENNE, he added.

RUTHERIENNE earned $124,000 from a total purse of $200,000, lifting her career bankroll to $744,975.

April 9, 2008:
$300,000 STRONG HOPE FILLY AT KEENELAND APRIL
A bay filly from the first crop of multiple graded stakes winner STRONG HOPE was purchased for $300,000 at the Keeneland April 2008 Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale!

Consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds, Agent forVision Sales 2007 LLC, she was purchased by Green Hills Farm/John McCormack. A half-sister to a winner, she is out of the multiple stakes-placed Broad Brush mare, Looking Afar, who is a half-sister to Graded stakes winner Survivalist. Third dam is the blue hen foundation mare, Con Game. 

She previewed going a furlong in :10 flat. VIDEO PREVIEW

April 8, 2008:
$340,000 PULPIT COLT AT KEENELAND APRIL SALE!
A bay colt by PULPIT was purchased for $340,000 at the Keeneland April 2008 Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale!

Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent V, he was purchased by Centennial Farms. A half-brother to four winners, he is out of the Nureyev mare, Shade Dancer, who is a half-sister to no fewer than four stakes horses, including champion Tempera and multiple group stakes winner Equerry.

He previewed going one furlong in :10 1/5. VIDEO PREVIEW

March 22, 2008:
POLA'S PLACE IS THE LATEST STATES WINNER FOR OUT OF PLACE!
POLA'S PLACE determinedly led every step of the way to earn her first added money score the $50,000 The Queen Stakes going six furlongs over the Polytrack at Turfway Park.

The daughter of OUT OF PLACE broke sharply from post ten and cleared the field in a few strides. She crossed over and opened up a clear advantage. She kept to her task through the stretch and dug down when the closers came calling to win by three-quarters of a length.

POLA'S PLACE races for John O'Meara, who bred her in partnership with Charlie Goldberg and Richard Rosee. Traind by David Pate, she is out of the multiple stakes producing Strawberry Road (AUS) mare, Pola.

March 8, 2008:
Courtesty of Fair Grounds
PYRO PROVES THE REAL DEAL IN GII LOUISIANA DERBY
Odds-on favorite PYRO, solidifying his status among the nation’s top 3-year-olds, took command in midstretch to capture the $600,000 Grade II Louisiana Derby Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Unhurried early, PYRO unleashed his patented late run once again in the highlight of the New Orleans racing season, just as he had four weeks earlier in Fair Grounds’ Grade III Risen Star Stakes.

PYRO returned $3.60, $2.80 and $2.20 while touring the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.44. The son of PULPIT won by three lengths and became an equine millionaire, increasing his earnings to $1,056,718 with his third victory from six lifetime starts.

“A spot opened for him on the straightaway and he went about his business,” said winning jockey Shaun Bridgmohan of the facile score.

Trainer Steve Asmussen’s post race summary was equally to the point.

“It looks like he’s right on target,” said Asmussen, winningest trainer in North America in number of wins last season and far in front on his way to a seventh training title at Fair Grounds.

The “target,” of course, is the Kentucky Derby eight weeks away as well as the rest of the Triple Crown.

What was a surprise was the Louisiana Derby runner-up, lightly-regarded My Pal Charlie, who ran for a $50,000 claiming price only two starts ago but made the pace with fractions of :24.10 and :48.07. He continued willingly late to save the place while no match for the winner.

“We were the longest shot on the board,” said My Pal Charlie’s French-born jockey Julien Leparoux. “If he relaxes a little more I think he can go a little farther, but we got beat by a monster today.”

Previously undefeated Yankee Bravo, running over a traditional dirt surface for the first time in his career, finished third, a half-length behind My Pal Charlie.

Behind Yankee Bravo were Blackberry Road, Stevil, Tale of Ekati, Majestic Warrior, J Be K, and Unbridled Vicar.

March 2, 2008:
Courtesy of Gulfstream Park
BSHARPSONATA REMAINS PERFECT IN 2008!
Cloverleaf Farm II’s 3-year-old filly BSHARPSONATA kept her winter-season record perfect, rallying from off the pace to capture Sunday’s $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, her fourth consecutive stakes victory and third since arriving in South Florida.

Trained by Maryland-based horseman Tim Salzman, BSHARPSONATA is a Florida homebred daughter of PULPIT who had won the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park in late November, the Tropical Park Oaks at Calder on New Year’s Day and the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) last out at Gulfstream on Feb. 9 in her last three starts.

Regular jockey Eric Camacho let the winner settle off the pace along the rail down the backstretch before rallying to the lead in the final furlong to score by two lengths over Zabeel Racing International’s 7-10 favorite Game Face in the field of six 3-year-old fillies. Robbies and Emmas Stable’s Robbies Gal finished third, a half-length behind the runner-up. Bsharpsonata was timed in 1:37:97 for the mile over a ‘fast’ track and paid $7.60 for $2 to win.

“I thought that Edgar’s (Prado) horse (American County) would go farther, but she stopped at the 3/8 pole,  and then I saw Game Face make her move and I got worried," said Camacho. "Once I finally made my move, I don’t think Johnny (Velasquez) was expecting me.  I snuck up on him.  I had to split horses.  I’ve been inside, outside and have had to split horses with this filly; she can do anything.  Last time she won I said she could run on anything: mud, turf, pavement; you can add rocks to that now.  Everyone said that her Beyers were low at Delaware Park and no one respected her today.  She proved them wrong.  I think she may go to the Ashland from here, but they’ll take her back to the barn and see how she comes back after this race.  I’ll be on her wherever she goes next.”

“I was really worried all the way down the backside," said Salzman."She was shut off down inside behind horses, but the jock was so patient and rode just a tremendous race on her to wait until he got clear. He rides her with total confidence. Distance is no problem for her. He mama (Apasionata Sonata) won at a mile-and-a-half. We’ll see how she comes out of it, but if she’s okay, we’ll take her on to Keeneland for the Ashland (Stakes (G1) on Apr. 5).”

BSHARPSONATA has won six of her nine career starts and she has earned $373,410.

March 1, 2008:
ABSOLUTELY CINDY BEATS THE BOYS IN THE BATTAGLIA
ABSOLUTELY CINDY swept around the final turn and right into the Turfway Park history books Saturday, becoming the first filly to win the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.

Dead last of 11 down the backstretch, ABSOLUTELY CINDY powered six-wide around the final turn in an explosive closing charge that left Your Round second by 1 3/4 lengths. Dixie Decision closed to finish third, another 6 1/2 lengths behind.

"I went really wide because I didn't want to get her in traffic, and I knew I had plenty of horse," said winning jockey Orlando Mojica.

Describing the filly's last race, a sixth-place finish behind undefeated champion Indian Blessing in the Grade III Silverbulletday, owner/trainer Keith Kinmon said, "We had shipped her to Fair Grounds, and Indian Blessing was in the race. [Jockey] Julien [Leparoux] got a little worried about speed carrying and made her lay close, and she stopped real bad. He realized it and wrapped up on her, didn't try to push her.

"I told Orlando, 'Do not change her running style. This filly wants to come from the clouds.'"

Mr. Harry set the pace as expected, clocking :23.60, :45.78, and 1:11.35 before a steadily advancing Your Round passed him heading into the stretch. The race appeared to belong to the new leader, but ABSOLUTELY CINDY left absolutely no doubt of the outcome once she straightened for the stretch drive. She finished the 1 1/16-mile Battaglia Memorial in 1:44.69. Kinmon had more faith in his filly than did the bettors, who sent her off at 19.80-1. She paid $41.60, $13.80, and $6.60.

Kinmon also bred ABSOLUTELY CINDY, a hometown favorite who trains at Turfway. A Kentucky-bred by ARCH out of Ms. Boucheron, the 3-year-old filly now has 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 3 thirds from 10 starts for career earnings of $163,374. Asked whether he would bring her back on Lane’s End Stakes day, either for the headline race or the Grade III Bourbonette for fillies, Kinmon indicated she next would start in the Grade I Ashland at Keeneland.

Big Glen, winner of the WEBN, had to steady before finding room to split horses and finished fourth. Briarwood Circle, the 5-2 favorite, never got into the race and finished last.

Final order of finish was ABSOLUTELY CINDY, Your Round, Dixie Decision, Big Glen, Halo's King, Mr. Harry, Beneficiary, Cherokee Triangle, Best Buddy, Instill, and Briarwood Circle.

The Battaglia Memorial is the last of three local preps for the Grade II Lane's End Stakes, which runs March 22. The race is named for John Battaglia, general manager of Turfway when it was known as Latonia. Battaglia envisioned and developed the race that has become the Lane’s End Stakes.

February 16, 2008:
SIMPATICA CAT LATEST STAKES WINNER FOR EASING ALONG!
SIMPATICA CAT (ARG), the 2-year-old daughter of EASING ALONG, is a stakes winner in her racing debut! The chestnut filly scored her first added money victory going 1,400 meter over the turf at San Isidro in the Especial Srta. Belen(1990), which is the official prep for the G1 Del Gran Premio Eliseo Ramirez.

SIMPATICA CAT was away sharply from post seven and she was the widest of all in a three way battle for the lead. As her two early companions dropped back with 400 meters to run, she faced a fresh challege from a closer. She dug in and held her lead to the wire, winning by a neck.

A full sister to G1 winner QUE PIENSA CAT, she is a homebred racing for Haras El Alfalfar. She was produced by the Compatible mare, Compenetrada.

February 10, 2008:
LLORON CAT WINS G2 Clasico Guillermo Kemmis
LLORON CAT, the 2-year-old son of EASING ALONG, who won the G3 Clasico Congreve on January 19, came right back today to win the G2  G2 Clasico Guillermo Kemmis going 1,000 meters over the fast dirt track at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo.

LLORON CAT dashed out of the gate and was on the lead two steps out of the gate. Never getting a breather, he was challenged and headed a furlong from home, but he dug in and regained the lead nearing the wire to win by a neck. He galloped out strongly past the wire.

The handsome colt with a blaze from forehead to his nostrils has won three of his four lifetime starts. The Haras El Alfalfar homebred is out of the Contested Bid mare, Lagrimas de Oro (ARG).

February 9, 2008:
BSHARPSONATA WINS G2 FORWARD GAL STAKES!
Courtesty of Gulfstream Park
After a desperate head-to-head duel in the stretch of Saturday’s $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, CloverLeaf Farm’s homebred filly BSHARPSONATA won a nose decision over Gary and Mary West’s even-money favorite Keep the Peace, denying jockey Edgar Prado’s bid to post career win 6,000 on the latter in the 3-year-old filly test.

Keep the Peace took command early in the seven-furlong event run over a ‘sloppy’ track and appeared in control until jockey Eric Camacho brought BSHARPSONATA up the rail to challenge nearing the stretch. Philip Birsch’s Melissa Jo finished third in the field of seven, 3¼ lengths behind the top two.

 “That was a hell of a stretch run," said Camacho. "I didn’t want to get stuck on the rail because it’s been dead all day.  But I played the cards I was dealt.  Edgar (Prado) put pressure on me when he saw me on the rail.  My filly was game until the end.  I put my stick away and she gave me all she had.  I knew I had it at the wire.  Edgar congratulated me.  He’s a real class act. This is my fifth start on her.  She’s versatile.  She can run on anything- turf, dirt, mud, pavement; whatever they throw at her she can handle.  Not many horses can do that.  She’s very special.”

We were worried before the race that there wouldn’t be any other speed to go with her (Keep the Peace), but fortunately there was enough," said winning trainer Tim Salzman. "She’s amazing. She’s handled everything we’ve asked…short, long…turf, dirt…and now slop. We were more or less forced into this spot with no races for 3-year-old fillies here on turf, but we did want to try her back on the dirt at some point and this leaves us a lot more options. With a 3-year-old at this time of year, you have to think about the (Kentucky Oaks). Now we just have to look at how to get there. Certainly, the Bonnie Miss here (Mar. 29) will be a race we’ll consider.”

BSHARPSONATA is a Florida-bred by PULPIT trained by Maryland-based horseman Tim Salzman who paid $12.40 after being timed in 1:23:09. She was turning back in distance and changing surfaces after capturing the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park and Tropical Park Oaks at Calder in her last two starts going a distance on turf.

February 9, 2008:
PYRO IMPRESSIVE IN G3 RISEN STAR VICTORY!
Courtesty of Fair Grounds

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ PYRO, who was 11th and last at the top of the stretch, made an explosive move in the final eighth of a mile to capture the $300,000 Grade III Risen Star Stakes, the main event of Louisiana Derby Preview Day Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Under regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan, the son of PULPIT stamped himself as the undisputed long-range choice in Fair Grounds’ Grade II Louisiana Derby next month and one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

“I just did what I was told to do, and it worked out very well for me,” said Bridgmohan.

PYRO finished two lengths ahead of stablemate Z Fortune and covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.68. More impressively, press box observers clocked PYRO’s final quarter-mile in a sizzling 22 3-5 seconds. It was another three-quarters of a length back to the Michael Matz-trained Visionaire in third.

“He’s a tremendous horse,” said trainer Steve Asmussen of PYRO, who breezed in company with Horse of the Year Curlin at Fair Grounds twice in the last three weeks before making the first start of his 3-year-old campaign in the Risen Star. “How good is he? He’s good enough to do what we just watched. He accelerated home. Guess his workmate did the job, huh?”

Despite winning for only the second time in five lifetime starts, PYRO increased his career earnings to $696,718.

With PYRO near the back of the pack, Rich Young Ruler set pedestrian early fractions of :24.52 and :49.50 before fading to sixth at the wire. That made PYRO’s late surge – he was still eighth in mid-stretch – even more impressive.

January 26, 2008:
LORD SNOWDON WINS PAUMONOK HANDICAP!
Courtesy of NYRA

In four previous starts on Aqueduct’s inner dirt track, Michael Dubb and Sanford and Joscelyn Goldfarb’s LORD SNOWDON could do no better than three seconds from four starts.

Saturday afternoon, however, the 5-year-old gelded son of SEEKING THE GOLD made his 2008 debut a successful one by rallying from last on the Big A’s winter racing surface to win the 100th running of the $81,600 Paumonok Handicap for three-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

It was the eighth win in 26 starts for LORD SNOWDON, who had not raced since a lackluster fourth-place finish at foggy Philadelphia Park on November 26.

The layoff apparently did him good.

Man of Danger broke on top under jockey Stewart Elliott, setting a pace of :22.45 and :45.22 while pressed from the outside by Debussy and jockey Channing Hill on the fast track.

Meanwhile, LORD SNOWDON, his bay coat clipped for the winter, had jumped slightly when the gate opened, but quickly settled and steadily made up ground while running in the 2-path. When the front-runners hooked up in the stretch, jockey Ramon Dominguez hit his mount right-handed, and Lord Snowdon responded to deliver a one-length victory in 1:10.20.

The winner paid $10.20.

“If you didn’t know him, he seems to be going through the motions the first part of the race,” Dominguez said. “But when he gets to the three-eighths pole, he is absolutely ready to roll. He loves to win. He is smart enough to know what he has to do.” 

January 19, 2008:
LLORON CAT WINS G3 CLASICO CONGREVE!
LLORON CAT, the 2-year-old son of EASING ALONG, became his latest Graded Stakes Winner with his victory in the Clasico Congreve going 1,000 meters over the turf course at San Isidro!

The handsome blazed-faced colt was away sharply, but there were three others who battled it out for the first six hundred meters. Coming off the rail of the straight course and moving in between horses with a strong run, LLORON CAT took the lead in the final two hundred and opened up as much the best under a hands and heals ride to the wire to win by nearly two lengths.

A homebred racing for Haras Alfalfar, he is trained by Roberto Pellegatta. He is the third foal from the Contested Bid mare, Lagrimas de Oro, whose name translated means "tears of gold." The mare has three additional EASING ALONG foals, the 3-year-old filly Tears Cat, the yearling filly named Tristeza Cat and a weanling colt named Weeping Cat.

January 7, 2008:
MARE IN FOAL TO FIRST SAMURAI SELLS FOR $700,000!
The first mare through the ring at the 2008 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale carrying a foal from the first crop of FIRST SAMURAI brought a final sale price of $700,000!

Purchased by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Hip 22 was the mare stakes producing mare, Premium Red, the dam of G1 winner, Premium Tap. From the consignment of Legacy Bloodstock , Agent VI, the sale ticket was signed by Frank McGovern, general manager for King Abdullah and Sons Stables, who owns and campaigns Premium Tap in the Middle East.

"We also liked the covering stallion," said McGovern when asked what attracted them to the mare besides the obvious family connection.

January 6, 2008:
GOLDEN VELVET WINS G2 SABIN H. IN DEAD HEAT!
GOLDEN VELVET, the daughter of SEEKING THE GOLD, rallied through the stretch to dead heat for the win in the Grade 3 Sabin Handicap going one mile over the fast main track at Gulfstream Park.

GOLDEN VELVET stalked the pacesetters and was on the move when she had to steady midway around the final turn. She regained her momentum and closed through the stretch to share the victory with Lady Marlboro.

“I really thought when we   got around them that she was going to win easy, but that filly is really game and my filly never really exploded," say Golden Velvet's jockey Eibar Coa.  "When we got back I saw it was taking so long, and I started thinking ‘I’ll take a dead-heat right now.’ I thought we had lost for sure.”

“She ran all right in one try on dirt in Dubai and has done very well in her three starts here, winning her ‘a other than (allowance)’ in her first start and running third in the Top Flight," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "Right after the finish I was on the phone to Jimmy Bell (Darley racing manager in Kentucky) and I frankly thought we got beat, so we’ll be glad to settle for the dead-heat. Her next race will probably be the Rampart Handicap (G2) (Mar. 9).”

MINI SERMON, the daughter of PULPIT, finished third.

January 1, 2008:
BSHARPSONATA WINS TROPICAL PARK OAKS!
Courtesy of CRC Publicity
CloverLeaf Farm II’s homebred 3-year-old filly BSHARPSONATA was quick to win her first stakes race of 2008 with her 1 ½ lengths victory over Alwajeeha in the $100,000 Tropical Park Oaks at Calder Race Course on New Year’s Day. Absolutely Cindy finished a length back in third.

Ridden by jockey Eric Camacho for Maryland-based trainer Tim Salzman, BSHARPSONATA tracked the early pace set by Encanto Park. On the far turn of the 1 1/16 miles turf race, the filly made her move and was in the lead at the head of the stretch. BSHARPSONATA covered the distance in 1:40.69.

“This is such a nice filly to ride because she lets you put her wherever you want to in the race," said Camacho. "Going down the backside I wanted to rate her in behind horses, but we were getting pushed to the outside and when she saw that daylight in front of her she got a bit rank. I got her settled though and coming around the last turn I just turned her loose.”

“I brought her down here (from Laurel Park in Maryland) over a week ago to acclimate and work over the course," said John Salzman, the father of BSHARPSONATA’s trainer Tim Salzman . "She’s a good filly and we’re hoping she’ll be as good back on dirt as she is on turf. There really isn’t anything for her (stakes) on turf at Gulfstream, so we’re going to point her for the seven-eighths race, the Forward Gal (Feb. 9), and then the Davona Dale (Mar. 2).”

Winner of the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park last time out, BSHARPSONATA now has four victories from seven starts. 

January 1, 2008:
NINETEENTH WINNER FOR FLATTER!
FLATTER ME ROSE is the NINETEENTH WINNER (and the sixth winner in the last week) from the first crop of FLATTER! The 3-year-old filly earned her maiden victory in her second lifetime outing, which came in the 3rd race at Turfway Park going five and one-half furlongs over the Polytrack at Turfway Park.

FLATTER ME ROSE kept within two lengths of the leaders as they dashed down the backstretch and around the turn. She took aim on the leaders at the top of the stretch, drew even by midstretch and left them behind to win by two and one-half lengths.

FLATTER ME ROSE was bred by Debbie Ellis in Kentucky and she was produced by the Saithor mare, My Last Rose. Racing for the partnership of Peggy Pate and Scott Arnold, she is trained by David Pate.

 NEWS ARCHIVE:  2007