BIG BROWN

BIG BROWN (gr. I), Churchill Downs, May 3, $2,000,000 guaranteed, value of race $2,211,800, 3-year-olds, 10 furlongs, 2:01.82 (track record, 1:59.40), track fast.

Margins: 43/4, 31/2, 23/4. Others: Tale of Ekati 126 ($100,000), Recapturetheglory 126 ($60,000), Colonel John 126, Anak Nakal 126, Pyro 126, Cowboy Cal 126, Z Fortune 126, Smooth Air 126, Visionaire 126, Court Vision 126, Z Humor 126, Cool Coal Man 126, Bob Black Jack 126, Gayego 126, Big Truck 126, Adriano 126, Monba 126. Winning jockey, Kent Desormeaux.

begins on page 2500. Details on his pedigree begin on page 2514.

PROUD SPELL

PROUD SPELL (gr. I), Churchill Downs, May 2, $500,000 added, value of race $581,650, 3yo fillies, 121 pounds, 9 furlongs, 1:50.01 (track record, 1:47.28), track sloppy.

Margins: 5, 3/4, head. Others: Golden Doc A ($27,628), Bsharpsonata ($16,577), Country Star ($5,816), A to the Croft ($5,816), Rasierra ($5,816), Awesome Chic ($5,816), Absolutely Cindy ($5,816). Scratched: Eight Belles, Elusive Lady. Winning jockey, Gabriel Saez.

EINSTEIN (Brz)

EINSTEIN (Brz) (gr. IT), Churchill Downs, May 3, $500,000 added, value of race $548,300, 3-year-olds and up, 9 furlongs (turf), 1:50.50 (course record, 1:46.34), course good.

Margins: 1, 1, 1. Others: Yate’s Black Cat 117 ($26,866), Duveen 119 ($16,120), Thorn Song 119 ($5,483), Golden Balls 117 ($5,483). Scratched: War Monger. Winning jockey, Robby Albarado.

Brazilian-bred Einstein proved his third try was a charm in the May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs when he registered a one-length victory and graduated to millionaire status in the process.


Owned by Patricia Cunningham and Melissa Green, Einstein failed to hit the board in his previous two Turf Classic attempts, but was still favored in this year’s running of the $548,300 race. The striking dark bay/or brown son of Spend a Buck earned that status with a victory in the Feb. 23 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes (gr. IT) and a runner-up effort in the April 11 Maker’s Mark Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland.


Conditioned by Helen Pitts, a former assistant to Kenny McPeek, Einstein has now won eight of 18 career starts. He ran fourth in the 2006 Turf Classic and finished seventh in last year’s renewal.


McPeek bought seven Brazilian-bred yearlings for $60,000 on behalf of attorneys William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham’s Midnight Cry Stables, and Einstein, who was part of the package, arrived in the United States in 2004.


In his last two starts, Einstein has run in the names of Green and Cunningham’s wife, Patricia, since Gallion and Cunningham are currently incarcerated over a complicated legal scandal.


Midnight Cry Stables still owns a 20% share in reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, who most recently won the March 29 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables owns the remaining 80% of the colt, who was formerly trained by Pitts.


Bred by Fazenda Mondesir, Einstein is out of the Ghadeer mare Gay Charm, a dual group I winner in her native Brazil. Gay Charm is a daughter of the Waldmeister mare Virga, who scored her major victory in the Grande Premio de Diana-Brazilian One Thousand Guineas (Brz-I). 


Gay Charm was additionally successful in the breeding shed. Besides Einstein, she is the dam of group I producer Charm Us (by Clackson), group III producer Feiticeira Regina (by Roi Normand), and group III-placed runner Veracite (by Roy). 


Einstein is Gay Charm’s last reported foal.


Spend a Buck is the sire of 38 stakes winners. The 1985 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner died in 2002 at age 20 from anaphylactic shock while standing at stud in Brazil.—E.M.


• Sire: SPEND A BUCK, b, 1982-2002. Raced 2 yrs, 15 sts, 10 wins, $4,220,689. Horse of the year, Champion 3yo colt. Won Kentucky Derby (gr. I), Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. I), Monmouth H (gr. I), Jersey Derby (gr. III), Cherry Hill Mile, Cradle S, Garden State S; 2nd Haskell Invitational H (gr. I), Young America S (gr. I), Criterium S; 3rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), Bay Shore S (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 17 crops, 730 foals, 605 rnrs (83%), 429 wnrs (59%), 75 2yo wnrs (10%), 38 sw (5%), 1.36 AEI, 1.62 CI.
In 2008: 1 sw.

1st dam: GAY CHARMRaced 2 yrs in Brz, 7 known sts, 4 wins. Won Grande Premio Marciano de Aguiar Moreira (Brz-I), Grande Premio Henrique Possolo (Brz-I), Grande Premio Oswaldo Aranha (Brz-II), Grande Premio Mariano Procopio (Brz-II); 2nd Grande Premio Almirante Marque de Tamandare (Brz-II); 3rd Grande Premio Diana-Brazilian Oaks (Brz-I), twice. Dam of 10 named foals, 4 rnrs, 1 wnr, 1 sw.

• 1991: Now and Forever, b c, by Effervescing. Unraced.
• 1992: Charm Us, b f, by Clackson. Unraced. Dam of 7 foals, 7 rnrs, 4 wnrs, 2 sw, including ISTBESTAND (Brz-I), NEW REGINA (Brz-II).
• 1993: Patriarch, b c, by Clackson. Unraced.
• 1994: Roi Charmant, b c, by Pleasant Variety. Unraced.
• 1995: Feiticeira Regina, b f, by Roi Normand. Unraced. Dam of 3 foals, 3 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw, including MARIA MOLE (Brz-III).
• 1996: Tutto Charm, b f, by Roi Normand. Raced 2 yrs in Brz, 4 known sts, 0 wins. Dam of 1 foal, 1 rnr, 1 wnr.
• 1997: Veracite, b f, by Roy. Raced 2 yrs in Brz, 7 known sts, 0 wins. 2nd Grande Premio Luiz Fernando Cirne Lima (Brz-III). Dam of 4 foals, 3 rnrs, 2 wnrs, including Eternidade (in Brz).
• 1998: Another King, b c, by Bright Again. Raced 2 yrs in Brz, 3 known sts, 0 wins.
• 2000: Charm Bird, b c, by Candy Stripes. Unraced.
• 2002: EINSTEIN (Brz), dkb/br c, by Spend a Buck

Broodmare sire: GHADEER, b, 1978. Stood in Brz, complete statistics unavailable, sire of the dams of 106 known sw.


2nd dam: VIRGA, b, 1977. Bred by Fazenda Mondesir (Brz.). Raced 3 yrs in Brz, 7 sts, 3 wins, $29,288. Won Grande Premio de Diana-Brazilian One Thousand Guineas (Brz-I); 2nd Grande Premio Marciano de Aguiar Moreira (Brz-I), Grande Premio Taca de Ouro Jockey Club Brasileiro (Brz-I); 3rd Grande Premio Antonio Joaquim Peixoto de Castro, Jr. (Brz-III).

INTANGAROO

INTANGAROO (gr. I), Churchill Downs, May 3, $300,000 added, value of race $334,800, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, 7 furlongs, 1:22.03 (track record, 1:20.50), track fast.

Margins: head, nose, 4. Others: Miraculous Miss 118 ($16,237), Sugar Swirl 122 ($9,742), Miss Macy Sue 118 ($3,348), Windyindy 118 ($3,348), Graeme Six 120 ($3,348). Scratched: Change Up. Winning jockey, Alonso Quinonez.

Winner of the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) in February, Intangaroo had never raced outside of California nor on anything but a synthetic surface. The 4-year-old filly hurdled both obstacles while under highweight of 124 pounds to victory in the $334,800 Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) on Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) undercard. She closed ferociously down the lane of the seven furlong event, finding the front just in time to participate in a three-horse photo. Her margin of victory was a dramatic head.


Sam and Jo Pollock’s Pollock Farms and the Taylor family’s Taylor Made Farm bred Intangaroo in Kentucky. They no longer have her dam, Tasso’s Magic Roo. She was sold at the 2006 Keeneland January sale for $17,000 to Pillar Property Services.


“We are very proud of Intangaroo,” said Jo Pollock. “Sam and I always liked the mare and really didn’t want to sell her. We are primarily breeders but considered keeping Intangaroo to race because she looked so racy.”


The Pollocks are residents of Gadsden, Ala. They also bred another 2008 stakes winner—Silver Lord—in partnership with Taylor Made. 


“We have around 20 mares we own fully or in partnership and have moved all of them from Alabama to Taylor Made (near Nicholasville, Ky.),” said Pollock. “We also purchased Ivywood Farm on Tates Creek Road (near Lexington) and lease it to Taylor Made.”


The Pollocks and Taylor Made sold Intangaroo at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale. She fetched $37,000 from the Grether family and now races in the name of Tom Grether Farms and Carl B. Grether. Tom passed away at age 80 on July 1, 2007, the day after Intangaroo broke her maiden at first asking. Carl is his son and manages Tom Grether Farms with two siblings. The operation encompasses not only the family’s Thoroughbred operation, but also 80 acres of lemon and avocado groves near Somis, Calif. 


Both the Grethers and the Pollocks have had brushes with grade I success previously. Among the Grethers best runners was grade II winner Crafty C. T., whose six grade I placings included a third-place finish in the 2002 NAPA Breeders’ Cup Sprint…to Orientate, sire of Intangeroo.


In addition to breeding and selling Intangaroo, the Pollocks also owned and sold the dams of champion Folklore and grade I winner Octave. 


“We try to keep a couple of fillies on the track that will fit into our broodmare band later,” said Pollock. “We love the horse business and someday hope to keep the right filly! In the meantime, we continue to sell great prospects.” 


Champion sprinter Orientate is the sire of 10 added-money winners, including other 2008 stakes winner Lady Sprinter (Arg-I). He stands at the Beck family’s Gainesway Farm near Lexington for a fee of $25,000.—J.W.


• Sire: ORIENTATE, dkb/br, 1998. Raced 3 yrs, 19 sts, 10 wins, $1,716,950. Champion sprinter. Won NAPA Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), Forego H (gr. I), Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup S (gr. II), A. G. Vanderbilt H (gr. II), Aristides H (gr. III), Smile Sprint H, Indiana Derby, Sir Beaufort S (T); 2nd San Fernando Breeders’ Cup S (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 3 crops, 305 foals, 162 rnrs (53%), 99 wnrs (32%), 36 2yo wnrs (12%), 10 sw (3%), 1.60 AEI, 2.21 CI, 245 sale yrlgs, avg $61,397, 1.1 TNA.
• In 2008: 2 sw, 56 2yos, 8 sale yrlgs, avg $19,562.

1st dam: TASSO’S MAGIC ROOBred by Lonnie and Norma Cleveland (Fla.). Raced 4 yrs, 34 sts, 5 wins, $196,492. Won Suncoast S, Gasparilla S, Sandpiper S; 2nd Hollywood Wildcat S (T), Hibiscus S. Dam of 3 named foals, 2 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw. ($4,000, 1996 obsaug yrlg; $20,000, 1997 obsapr 2yo; $45,000, 2002 keenov, Exploit; $17,000, 2006 keejan, Chapel Royal).

• 2003: Queenokingsequine, dkb/br f, by Exploit. Raced 2 yrs, 4 sts, 1 win, $19,540. ($25,000 keesep yrlg; $20,000 obsapr 2yo).
• 2004: INTANGAROO, dkb/br f, by Orientate
• 2005: Downthestretch, dkb/br c, by Johannesburg. Unraced. ($70,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2006: C, by Chapel Royal. Died 2006.
• 2008: C, by More Than Ready.

Broodmare sire: TASSO, b, 1983. Sire of 85 dams of 329 foals, 221 rnrs (67%), 153 wnrs (47%), 35 2yo wnrs (11%), 0.95 AEI, 1.36 CI; 14 sw.


2nd dam: Aroogala, dkb/br, 1990. Bred by Tim Ahearn and Norton Waltuch (Fla.). Raced 3 yrs, 9 sts, 1 win, $3,394.

ELITE SQUADRON

ELITE SQUADRON (gr. II), Churchill Downs, May 3, $250,000 added, value of race $282,000, 4-year-olds and up, 7 furlongs, 1:21.53 (track record, 1:20.50), track fast.

Margins: 41/2, head, 11/2. Others: Island Warrior 118 ($13,677), Thousand Words 118 ($8,206), Junior College 118 ($2,820), Carnacks Choice 118 ($2,820), Spotsgone 120 ($2,820). Scratched: Wanderin Boy. Winning jockey, John Velazquez.

Elite Squadron brought joyful tears to his connections’ eyes when he became their first graded stakes winner by taking the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) on Derby day.


“He has improved in every race,” said an emotional owner Tom Walters. “He was third in the (Richter Scale Sprint Handicap, gr. II) and second in the (Commonwealth Stakes, gr. II), and in this race, he went wire-to-wire.”


The 4-year-old son of Officer broke sharply from Post 1, took the early lead, and kept going, finishing 41⁄2 lengths in front of the favorite, Noonmark.


“I was ready to cry I was so happy,” said trainer James Baker. “He is a nice colt, and I’ve put a lot of effort into him. He’s first class; he makes it easy for me.”


Elite Squadron broke his maiden as a 3-year-old at Churchill Downs. His first stakes win came in the Tom Ridge Labor Day Stakes at Presque Isle Downs later that year. The colt went on to place in both the Richter Scale at Gulfstream Park and the Commonwealth at Keeneland this year before returning to Churchill to earn his first graded stakes win.


“I just wish my son was here to see it,” Walters said, “because he was the one who picked the horse out.”


Walters said his son, Chris, liked Elite Squadron’s Officer line. Walters bought the Kentucky-bred colt privately from his breeder, Matt Herbener. 


Elite Squadron is out of Sweet Mama (by High Brite). Sweet Mama took the 1993 Songstress Stakes at Golden Gate Fields and placed in three other stakes including the grade II Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park. Sweet Mama is out of the winning Arts and Letters mare Misty Mom. 


Misty Mom also produced a stakes-winning Trapp Mountain gelding named Fenton Lane and a stakes-placed Personal Hope gelding named Ismahli. Misty Mom’s unraced foal Glimmer Ice (by Pine Bluff) went on to produce a stakes-winning Judge T C foal named Spanish Lace.


Sweet Mama has produced seven winning foals. Elite Squadron is her first stakes winner, but her 9-year-old daughter Darting Dot (by Geri) is stakes-placed. 


Herbener sold Sweet Mama to W.J. Hindman at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale for $37,000. She was in foal to Forest Camp. 


Sweet Mama’s Forest Camp foal is a 2-year-old filly named Cathedral Flyer and her most recent foal is a yearling colt by Bernstein. She was bred to Congressionalhonor for 2008.


Officer is the sire of Elite Squadron and 13 other stakes winners, including additional 2008 added-money winner U.S. Cavalry. The 9-year-old son of Bertrando stands at the Taylor family’s Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., for $35,000.‑K.B.


• Sire: OFFICER, dkb/br, 1999. Raced 2 yrs, 9 sts, 6 wins, $804,090. Won Champagne S (gr. I), Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), Best Pal S (gr. III), Graduation S (R), Zany Tactics S (R); 2nd California Cup Juvenile S (R); 3rd Hollywood Futurity (gr. I).
• Lifetime: 3 crops, 216 foals, 128 rnrs (59%), 76 wnrs (35%), 41 2yo wnrs (19%), 14 sw (6%), 1.65 AEI, 1.41 CI, 164 sale yrlgs, avg $68,530, 1.2 TNA.
• In 2008: 2 sw, 47 2yos, 2 2yo rnrs, 4 sale yrlgs, avg $73,750.

1st dam: SWEET MAMABred by Lavin Bloodstock Services (Ky.). Raced 4 yrs, 26 sts, 3 wins, $117,075. Won Songstress S (R); 3rd Landaluce S (gr. II), Debutante Breeders’ Cup S, Frosty Shades H. Dam of 8 named foals, 8 rnrs, 7 wnrs, 1 sw. ($18,000, 1991 keesep yrlg; $100,000, 1996 keenov, Devil’s Bag; $21,000, 2002 keenov, Peaks and Valleys; $37,000, 2005 easdec, Forest Camp).

• 1997: Devil’s Mama, b f, by Devil’s Bag. Raced 2 yrs, 17 sts, 2 wins, $18,410. Sent to Korea 2001.
• 1998: Doubly Brite, ch g, by Silver Deputy. Raced 6 yrs, 63 sts, 8 wins, $169,065. ($300,000 keesep yrlg).
• 1999: Darting Dot, ch f, by Geri. Raced 3 yrs, 14 sts, 2 wins, $60,760. 2nd Kachina H; 3rd City of Phoenix H, Mesa H, Valid Leader S. ($76,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2000: Black Joe, dkb/br c, by Geri. Raced 3 yrs, 16 sts, 4 wins, $46,021. ($30,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2001: Tergalina, ch f, by Charismatic. Raced 1 yr in Mex, 4 sts, 2 wins, $4,254. ($17,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2002: Ch f, by Pleasant Tap. Raced 3 yrs in KOR, 16 sts, 0 wins. ($2,500 keesep yrlg; $2,000 arkoct yrlg; $12,500 texmar 2yo).
• 2003: Derwin Valley, dkb/br f, by Peaks and Valleys. Raced 2 yrs, 14 sts, 1 win, $20,820. ($4,000 keenov wnlg).
• 2004: ELITE SQUADRON, ch c, by Officer
• 2005:
• 2006: Cathedral Flyer, b f, by Forest Camp. Unraced. ($53,000 keenov wnlg; $55,000 eassep yrlg).
• 2007: B c, by Bernstein.

Broodmare sire: HIGH BRITE, b, 1984. Sire of 150 dams of 474 foals, 298 rnrs (63%), 210 wnrs (44%), 69 2yo wnrs (15%), 0.86 AEI, 1.25 CI; 14 sw.


2nd dam: Misty Mom, ch, 1983. Bred by Albert F. Polk (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 25 sts, 4 wins, $27,199. Dam of FENTON LANE (g, Trapp Mountain; $299,615. Won Owners’ Day H), Ismahli (g, Personal Hope; $32,519. 2nd Criterium de Vitesse). Granddam of SPANISH LACE.

GINGER PUNCH

GINGER PUNCH (gr. II), Churchill Downs, May 2, $200,000 added (plus $100,000 Breeders’ Cup Fund), value of race $268,200, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 8 1/2 furlongs, 1:43.08 (track record, 1:41.27), track fast.

Margins: 33/4, 21/4, 31/2. Others: Unforgotten 120 ($17,010), Kettleoneup 122 ($10,206). Scratched: Bayou’s Lassie, Silver Knockers. Winning jockey, Rafael Bejarano.

Ginger Punch resumed her winning ways as she defeated Leah’s Secret by 33⁄4 lengths in the $268,200 Louisville Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs May 2. Although it was an easy win for the 2007 champion older female, there was a moment of drama when she jumped a puddle on the track.


“Down the stretch she saw water on the track and jumped, I imagine to protect herself,” said jockey Rafael Bejarano. “She was just reacting to the moment. She was OK.”


After taking the 2007 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I), Ginger Punch kicked off her 5-year-old season by winning the Jan. 26 Sunshine Millions Distaff before finishing third in the April 5 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I). Bobby Frankel trains the homebred Awesome Again mare for Frank Stronach’s Stronach Stable.


Stronach offered Ginger Punch at his 2005 Adena Springs 2-year-olds in training sale, but she failed to sell when bidding stopped at $27,000. She was bred in Florida out of the grade II-winning Bold Revenue mare Nappelon. 


Stronach, who purchased Nappelon for $210,000 at the 1998 Keeneland November mixed sale where she was offered in foal to Broad Brush by Fred Seitz’ Brookdale Farm, no longer owns her. The chestnut mare was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, to the 2006 Keeneland January mixed sale and sold to Beth Ann Brown-Gambone for $15,000. 


At the time, Nappelon was in foal to Red Bullet, and Brown-Gambone owns the resulting filly, now an unraced juvenile named Helena Handbasket, in partnership with Team Valor. Nappelon’s colt by Alphabet Soup, Alpha Numero, died last year at age 3, and her Touch Gold filly, Gold Revenue, was sent to Peru as a yearling in 2006 but returned to the United States earlier this year.


Ginger Punch is the first stakes winner out of Nappelon, whose first foal, Rawston (by Broad Brush), is stakes-placed. The 16-year-old mare was barren to Medaglia d’Oro for 2007 and delivered a colt by Leroidesanimaux Jan. 26.


“He is still over at Marguax Farm,” said Brown-Gambone. “He was just a really sweet baby. He loves people, and his conformation’s correct; he has a great personality, and he is really cute. I was thrilled.”


Nappelon is in foal to Smart Strike.


Awesome Again is the sire of 29 stakes winners including additional 2008 added-money winners Awesome Chic (gr. III), Temporary Saint (gr. III), Spirited Away, and Won Awesome Dude. The 14-year-old son of Deputy Minister stands at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs near Paris, Ky., for a fee of $150,000.—A.H.D.


• Sire: AWESOME AGAIN, b, 1994. Raced 2 yrs, 12 sts, 9 wins, $4,374,590. Won Queen’s Plate S, Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), Whitney H (gr. I), Stephen Foster H (gr. II), Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II), Jim Dandy S (gr. II), Hawthorne Gold Cup H (gr. III); 3rd Travers S (gr. I).
• Lifetime: 7 crops, 483 foals, 305 rnrs (63%), 201 wnrs (42%), 41 2yo wnrs (8%), 29 sw (6%), 2.65 AEI, 2.25 CI, 172 sale yrlgs, avg $153,295, 2.7 TNA.
• In 2008: 5 sw.

1st dam: NAPPELONBred by James T. Sabiston (Ont.). Raced 4 yrs, 70 sts, 17 wins, $631,139. Won Comely S (gr. II), Owners’ Day Dash S (R); 2nd National Jockey Club Oaks, Woodhaven H, Light Hearted S; 3rd Genuine Risk H (gr. II), Pebbles S, Gallant Bloom H, Correction H, Garland of Roses H, Juvenile S (R). Dam of 8 named foals, 5 rnrs, 3 wnrs, 1 sw. ($210,000, 1998 keenov, Broad Brush; $15,000, 2006 keejan, Red Bullet).

• 1999: Rawston, b g, by Broad Brush. Raced 5 yrs, 35 sts, 8 wins, $24,874. 3rd Capitol Claiming Series Leg II S. ($15,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2000: Bold Rush, b g, by Wild Rush. Raced 3 yrs, 11 sts, 0 wins, $3,676. ($19,107 ontaut yrlg).
• 2001: King Cool, b g, by Touch Gold. Raced 3 yrs, 29 sts, 5 wins, $73,855.
• 2002: Bandanna Lady, gr/ro f, by El Prado (Ire). Raced 1 yr, 2 sts, 0 wins, $2,388. ($38,000 adsspr 2yo).
• 2003: GINGER PUNCH, ch f, by Awesome Again
• 2004: Alpha Numero, gr/ro c, by Alphabet Soup. ($45,000 adsspr 2yo). Died 2007.
• 2005: Gold Revenue, ch f, by Touch Gold. Unraced. Sent to Peru 2006. ($7,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2006: Helena Handbasket, ch f, by Red Bullet. Unraced.
• 2007:

Broodmare sire: BOLD REVENUE, b, 1984. Sire of 25 dams of 89 foals, 58 rnrs (65%), 36 wnrs (40%), 5 2yo wnrs (6%), 1.79 AEI, 1.58 CI; 2 sw.


2nd dam: Sally Go Gray, ro, 1979. Bred by Arthur J. Toman (N.J.). Raced 3 yrs, 23 sts, 0 wins, $4,730. Dam of Oriental Sal (f, Far Out East; $50,604. 2nd Yearling Sales S; 3rd Natalma S, gr. III; producer.)

GIANT GIZMO

GIANT GIZMO (gr. III), Churchill Downs, May 2, $150,000 added, value of race $166,050, 3-year-olds and up, 8 1/2 furlongs, 1:43.96 (track record, 1:41.27), track sloppy.

Margins: 33/4, neck, 1. Others: Prom Shoes 122 ($8,136), Magna Graduate 118 ($4,881), Jonesboro 122 ($1,660), Chelokee 118 ($1,660). Winning jockey, Rafael Bejarano.

Giant Gizmo made an enormous move down the backstretch and went on to win the $166,050 Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs May 2.


“I didn’t know if he would like the track or not, but obviously once he got in the clear he took off, and he won nicely,” said trainer Bobby Frankel.


The 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway is a homebred for Stronach Stables. Giant Gizmo came off a Feb. 25 allowance-optional claiming win at Santa Anita Park.


“It went great, other than the weather,” said Adena adviser Dan Hall. 


“He is just such a beautiful animal,” continued Hall. “Bobby is patient with him and has brought him along nicely.


Giant Gizmo was bred in the name of Stronach’s Adena Springs located near Paris, Ky. He is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Hansel mare Golden Antigua. 


Golden Antigua, out of Greinette, by Greinton, won the Nicole Stakes in both 2001 and 2002, and finished second in the 2000 Premio Torricola in Italy.


Greinette is a half-sister to multiple grade I winner Mi Selecto, multiple graded stakes winner Bar Dexter, and stakes winner Taibhseach. 


Giant Gizmo comes from a strong female family including stakes winners Chasseur Dame, Marva Jean, and Melba Jewel. Also in Giant Gizmo’s family is South African champion Blossoming Fields.


Stronach also teamed with Frankel and jockey Rafael Bejarano to win the Louisville Stakes (gr. II) two races before the Alysheba with Ginger Punch. Last year, Ginger Punch was named champion older female after her victory in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I). 


Ginger Punch is a 5-year-old mare by Awesome Again, out of the Bold Revenue mare Nappelon. She has now won nine of 17 lifetime starts. Her career earnings have reached $2,375,603.


Golden Antigua has a yearling filly by Golden Missile, a 2-year-old colt by Skip Away named Slick Pardoned Me, and delivered a filly by Ghostzapper on Feb. 9.


Giant’s Causeway is the sire of 44 stakes winners, including other 2008 added-money winners Heatseeker (gr. I), Carriage Trail (gr. III), Niagara Causeway (gr. III), Cowboy Cal (gr. IIIT), Angliana, Giant Moon, Our Giant (SAf-I), Juste Momente (Aust-I), and Causeway Queen (in Australia). The 11-year-old son of Storm Cat stands at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for a fee of $125,000.–E.N. 


• Sire: GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, ch, 1997. Raced 2 yrs in Eng, Fr, Ire, and NA, 13 sts, 9 wins, $3,078,989. Champion 3yo colt in Eng and Ire. Won Esat Digifone Irish Champion S (Ire-I), Juddmonte International S (Eng-I), Coral-Eclipse S (Eng-I), Champagne Lanson Sussex S (Eng-I), St. James’s Palace S (Eng-I), Prix de la Salamandre (Fr-I), King of Kings E.B.F. Futurity S (Ire-III), Castlemartin and La Louviere Studs Gladness S (Ire-III); 2nd Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), Queen Elizabeth II S (Eng-I), Entenmanns Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I).
• Lifetime: 5 crops, 817 foals, 491 rnrs (60%), 276 wnrs (34%), 68 2yo wnrs (8%), 44 sw (5%), 2.00 AEI, 3.57 CI, 472 sale yrlgs, avg $248,951, 5.9 TNA.
• In 2008: 10 sw.

1st dam: GOLDEN ANTIGUABred by Golden Gate Stud and Henri Mastey (Ky.). Raced 5 yrs in Italy and NA, 41 sts, 9 wins, $309,260. Won Nicole S (T), twice; 2nd Top Corsage S, Dade Turf Classic S (T), Premio Torricola; 3rd Endeavour S (T), Possibly Perfect S (T). Dam of 3 named foals, 1 rnr, 1 wnr, 1 sw. ($19,000, 1998 keesep yrlg; $145,000, 2004 keejan, Giant’s Causeway; $125,000, 2007 keenov, Ghostzapper).

• 2004: GIANT GIZMO, ch c, by Giant’s Causeway
• 2005: Thunder Dragon, ch c, by Golden Missile. Unraced.
• 2006: Slick Pardoned Me, dkb/br c, by Skip Away. Unraced. ($2,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2007: Ch f, by Golden Missile.
• 2008: F, by Ghostzapper.

Broodmare sire: HANSEL, b, 1988. Sire of 83 dams of 301 foals, 182 rnrs (60%), 120 wnrs (40%), 39 2yo wnrs (13%), 1.21 AEI, 1.61 CI; 8 sw.


2nd dam: Greinette, ch, 1989. Bred by Tavner Dunlap, Jr. and Fred Seitz (Ky.). Unraced.

TIZDEJAVU

TIZDEJAVU (gr. IIIT), Churchill Downs, May 2, $150,000 added, value of race $181,950, 3-year-olds, 8 1/2 furlongs (turf), 1:46.14 (course record, 1:40.70), course yielding.

Margins: neck, 11/4, 6. Others: Halo Najib 117 ($8,733), Blackberry Road 117 ($5,240), Boss Lafitte 117 ($1,819), Cannonball 121 ($1,819), Processor’s Turf 117 ($1,819), Free Fighter 117 ($1,819). Scratched: Cape of Storms, Prussian. Winning jockey, Garrett Gomez.

Tizdejavu made good in his first added-money race and in his initial start on grass. The 3-year-old son of Tiznow led all the way to win the May 2 Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs.


The longest shot on the board, at 21-1, Tizdejavu held on to win the 11⁄16-mile race by a neck over favorite Sailor’s Cap in 1:46.14 over a yielding turf course.

Tizdejavu races as a homebred for Michael Cooper and Pamela Ziebarth. It was the latter’s mother, the late Cecilia Straub-Rubens, who bred Tizdejavu’s sire, Tiznow, and initially raced him with Cooper. 


Unraced last year, Tizdejavu won the Crown Royal American Turf in his fifth start. Trained by Greg Fox, he has won or placed in all five races and earned $137,315. His first triumph came at Turfway Park in his second start.


Tizdejavu is the first stakes winner from the winning Dixie Brass mare Remember When. The mare’s second offspring, Remembrances (by Cherokee Run), was a two-time winner at 2 in 2003. Remember When’s last foal is a 2-year-old full brother to Tizdejavu named Gigaton, who has not started.


Tiznow holds a special place in racing history. He is the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) twice. His first triumph came in 2000 after a hard-fought battle with Irish invader Giant’s Causeway for Straub-Rubens and Cooper. Tiznow was voted Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male.

Tiznow won the Classic the following year racing for Cees Stable, a partnership consisting of Cooper, Ziebarth, and the latter’s brother, Kevin Cochrane. Tiznow, who won the Classic over European runner Sakhee, was voted champion older male.


Ziebarth has raced additional stakes winners Healthy Addiction and Tutta Bella. Healthy Addition, in 2005-06, won such stakes as the Santa Margarita Invitational (gr. I) and Clement L. Hirsch (gr. II) Handicaps, plus two runnings of the Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. II). 


Tutta Bella, a homebred, captured this year’s Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Hollywood Park in April.


Tiznow has sired 10 stakes winners, including additional 2008 added-money winners Colonel John (gr. I), Well Armed (gr. II), and Tough Tiz’s Sis. Tiznow stands for $30,000 at Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky.—D.S.


• Sire: TIZNOW, b, 1997. Raced 2 yrs, 15 sts, 8 wins, $6,427,830. Horse of the year, champion 3yo colt, champion older male. Won Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), twice, Santa Anita H (gr. I), Super Derby (gr. I), Goodwood Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II), San Fernando Breeders’ Cup S (gr. II), Affirmed H (gr. III); 2nd Pacific Classic S (gr. I), Swaps S (gr. I), Strub S (gr. II); 3rd Woodward S (gr. I), Goodwood Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 4 crops, 324 foals, 199 rnrs (61%), 119 wnrs (37%), 36 2yo wnrs (11%), 10 sw (3%), 1.76 AEI, 2.27 CI, 167 sale yrlgs, avg $114,517, 2.1 TNA.
• In 2008: 4 sw.

1st dam: Remember WhenBred by Vinery and Richard Horn (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 5 sts, 1 win, $14,200. Dam of 6 named foals, 4 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw. ($6,700, 1995 keesep yrlg; $87,000, 2004 keejan, High Yield).

• 2000: Unforgetable Song, ch f, by Unbridled’s Song. Raced 1 yr, 1 st, 0 wins. ($30,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2001: Remembrances, dkb/br f, by Cherokee Run. Raced 3 yrs, 14 sts, 2 wins, $86,472. ($120,000 barmay 2yo).
• 2002: Don’t Drop In, b f, by General Meeting. Raced 2 yrs, 9 sts, 0 wins, $5,254. ($2,700 eassep yrlg). Died 2006.
• 2004: Rooster Ricardo, ch c, by High Yield. Unraced.
• 2005: TIZDEJAVU, b c, by Tiznow
• 2006: Gigaton, b c, by Tiznow. Unraced.

Broodmare sire: DIXIE BRASS, dkb/br, 1989-2002. Sire of 89 dams of 215 foals, 126 rnrs (59%), 83 wnrs (39%), 25 2yo wnrs (12%), 1.41 AEI, 1.29 CI; 8 sw.


2nd dam: SOLO HAINA, b, 1976. Bred by Guy H. Burt (Fla.). Raced 5 yrs, 39 sts, 13 wins, $219,664. Won Criterium S, Delray S, Office Queen S; 2nd Azalea S, Begonia S, Columbiana H, Vizcaya S; 3rd Orchid H (gr. IIT), Gardenia H, James H. Bright H, Miss Tropical H. Dam of POLISHED BRASS (c, Dixie Brass; $233,548. Won Sanford S, gr. III; 2nd Battlefield S; 3rd Ocala Breeders’ Sales Championship S), Horatio Luro (c, El Gran Senor; $164,476. 2nd Prix Saint Roman, Fr-III, Grand Prix Inter-Federations). Granddam of HEALTH WALL, Saratoga Beauty,.

BAYOU’S LASSIE

BAYOU’S LASSIE (gr. IIIT), Churchill Downs, May 3, $150,000 added, value of race $169,050, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 8 furlongs (turf), 1:37.70 (course record, 1:33.78), course good.

Margins: 11/4, 21/2, 3/4. Others: Sharp Susan 122 ($8,198), New Edition 118 ($4,919), Danzon 118 ($1,690), Lady Carlock 118 ($1,690), V. I. P. Princess 118 ($1,690). Scratched: You Go West Girl. Winning jockey, Edgar Prado.

Bayou’s Lassie had won two of her last three and is a graded winner on both dirt and turf, but it wasn’t enough to convince the public she could defeat Eclipse champion Dreaming of Anna. 


Bayou’s Lassie didn’t look at the toteboard. Sent off as the sixth choice in a field of eight, she rated kindly on the lead throughout the eight-furlong Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) undercard at Churchill Downs. When the aforementioned champion challenged her in midstretch, Bayou’s Lassie responded like a champion herself. She would not be denied, digging in to win the $169,050 contest by 11⁄4 lengths.


Fred and Jane Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm bred Bayou’s Lassie and race her as a homebred. The 5-year-old Outflanker mare has now won six stakes (three graded) and placed in three more from just 16 starts. 


“She was always just an ordinary filly,” said Fred Brei, whose farm is located near Reddick, Fla. “There’s not a speck of white on her, but she is very nicely put together and so on.”


Brei, a former builder/developer, was honored as Florida’s outstanding small-scale breeder in both 2001 and 2004. “We’re a small breeder,” said Brei. “We have about 15-18 foals a year and race what we breed. We’ve been fairly successful at it.”


Brei is being modest. The Jacks or Better operation, which has been in business just more than a decade, has a growing list of stakes winners bred and/or raced by the farm. Among the best was Midas Eyes, winner of the 2004 Forego Handicap (gr. I) and a half-brother to Bayou’s Lassie. 


“I think she’ll make a hell of a broodmare,” said Brei of the Distaff Turf Mile winner. “Her mother sure is.”


The Breis bought the mare Bayou Plans in foal to Mountain Cat in 1997 at the Keeneland November sale for $80,000. She has since produced three stakes winners for the couple.


“(The mare’s 2007 colt by Medaglia d’Oro is) the most gorgeous horse ever born on this farm,” said Brei. “This sucker is the real deal for my eye. He’s so extraordinarily smooth, just no effort across the paddock.”


Brei said the colt might prompt them to consider entry into the commercial market and has been entered into the Keeneland September sale. Bayou Plans foaled a Lemon Drop Kid filly in March and has since been confirmed in foal to the Breis’ homebred stakes winner Awesome of Course. 


The sire of 14 stakes winners, Outflanker’s other 2008 added-money winner is Manatee Stakes winner Marina Ballerina. He stands at Maryland Stallion Station near Glyndon, Md., for $4,000.—J.W.




• Sire: Outflanker, dkb/br, 1994. Raced 2 yrs in Eng and Ire, 10 sts, $4,424.
• Lifetime: 8 crops, 352 foals, 242 rnrs (69%), 180 wnrs (51%), 67 2yo wnrs (19%), 14 sw (4%), 1.40 AEI, 1.18 CI, 120 sale yrlgs, avg $11,792, 0.2 TNA.
• In 2008: 2 sw, 33 2yos, 2 2yo rnrs.

1st dam: BAYOU PLANSBred by Valene Farms (Ill.). Raced 5 yrs, 29 sts, 9 wins, $308,959. Won Illinois Breeders’ Debutante S (R), Colfax Maid S (R), Illinois Silent Beauty S (R), Windy City S (R); 2nd Rolling Meadows S, Illinois Oaks (R), Rattlemark S (R); 3rd Palatine Breeders’ Cup S. Dam of 7 named foals, 5 rnrs, 4 wnrs, 3 sw. ($80,000, 1997 keenov, Mountain Cat).

• 1998: Swampy, dkb/br g, by Mountain Cat. Raced 6 yrs, 29 sts, 2 wins, $52,773. Sent to Dom 2005.
• 1999: Cruisin’ Cajun, ch g, by Dr. Caton. Raced 2 yrs, 6 sts, 0 wins, $6,750. ($35,000 obsoct wnlg). Died 2002.
• 2000: MIDAS EYES, b c, by Touch Gold. Raced 4 yrs, 14 sts, 5 wins, $616,528. Won Forego H (gr. I), Swale S (gr. III), Derby Trial S (gr. III); 2nd Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S (gr. I), Cigar Mile H (gr. I), Riva Ridge Breeders’ Cup S (gr. II); 3rd Malibu S (gr. I).
• 2001: BOURBON N BLUES, b c, by Lycius. Raced 4 yrs, 20 sts, 5 wins, $90,590. Won Prank Call S (T); 2nd Naked Greed S (T); 3rd Pasco S.
• 2002:
• 2003: BAYOU’S LASSIE, dkb/br f, by Outflanker
• 2004: Spice, ch f, by Monsieur Cat. Died 2005.
• 2005:
• 2006:
• 2007: Cup o’ Joe, b c, by Medaglia d’Oro.
• 2008: F, by Lemon Drop Kid.

Broodmare sire: BAYOU HEBERT, b, 1981. Sire of 49 dams of 156 foals, 99 rnrs (63%), 58 wnrs (37%), 17 2yo wnrs (11%), 1.18 AEI, 1.15 CI; 8 sw.


2nd dam: Better Plans, dkb/br, 1985-1991. Bred by Hal Snowden, Jr. & Robert H. Shoenberg, (Ky.). Raced 3 yrs, 36 sts, 6 wins, $24,078.

GAME FACE

GAME FACE (gr. III), Churchill Downs, May 3, $150,000 added, value of race $168,450, 3yo fillies, 7 1/2 furlongs, 1:28.44 (track record, 1:27.97), track fast.

Margins: neck, 2, nose. Others: Alina 118 ($8,254), Secret Gypsy 116 ($4,952), Minewander 116 ($1,684), Color Me Up 116 ($1,684). Scratched: American County, Informed Decision. Winning jockey, John Velazquez.

Game Face proved she was tough, holding off Keep the Peace to win the $168,450 La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) by a neck at Churchill Downs May 3.


“I was between horses, just trying to buy some time,” said jockey John Velazquez. “I was hoping to get some room to get out of there, and I just happened to get to the inside. I took it, and she ran very well in it.”


Game Face, owned by Zabeel Racing International and trained by Todd Pletcher, came into the La Troienne off a second-place finish to Bsharpsonata in the March 2 Davona Dales Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.


“We targeted this race right after (the Davona),” said Pletcher. “We were flirting with the idea of which direction we were to go. We just felt like she didn’t come out of (the Davona) great. We needed to freshen her up a little bit, so we targeted this, and things worked out.”


The 3-year-old daughter of Menifee is out of the unraced Gone West mare Galleon of Gold.


Galleon of Gold is out of the Danzig mare Harbour Club, who won the Marion H. Van Berg Memorial Stakes at Sportsman’s Park.


Galleon of Gold is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Holzmeister, by Woodman, and stakes-placed Overlord, by Nureyev. 


Harbour Club also finished second in the Hempstead Handicap, Shuvee Handicap, and the Ballerina Stakes (all gr. I), and in the Meadowlands Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. III) and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III).


Harbour Club is out of the Graustark stakes-winning mare Over Your Shoulder, who is a full sister to grade III winner and sire Proctor and Al Rahib, who won the Prix de Chevilly twice. Harbour Club is a half-sister to millionaire Shinko Splendor, who won the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap (Jpn-III) and Elm Stakes (Jpn-III), and steeplechaser Ginger Fox, who won the River Don Novices Hurdle in England.


Zabeel Racing International also campaigns Stream of Gold, who won the Mac Diarmida Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park March 16. Multiple grade I stakes-winning sprinter Henny Hughes ran for Zabeel Racing International in 2006.


Galleon of Gold was bred to Indian Charlie for 2008.


Menifee is the sire of 17 stakes winners, including other 2008 added-money winners Wow Me Free (gr. III), Sumfun, and Missed the Prom. The 12-year-old son of Harlan stood at Stone Farm until 2006 when he was moved to the Korea Racing Association Jeju Stud Farm in Korea.–E.N.


• Sire: MENIFEE, b, 1996. Raced 2 yrs, 11 sts, 5 wins, $1,732,000. Won Haskell Invitational H (gr. I), Toyota Blue Grass S (gr. I); 2nd Preakness S (gr. I), Kentucky Derby (gr. I), Super Derby (gr. I), Tampa Bay Derby; 3rd Travers S (gr. I).
• Lifetime: 6 crops, 277 foals, 209 rnrs (75%), 162 wnrs (58%), 52 2yo wnrs (19%), 17 sw (6%), 1.60 AEI, 1.96 CI, 139 sale yrlgs, avg $52,819, 1.0 TNA.
• In 2008: 4 sw, 28 2yos, 1 2yo rnr.

1st dam: Galleon of GoldBred by Edward A. Seltzer Trust (Ky.). Unraced. Dam of 2 named foals, 1 rnr, 1 wnr, 1 sw. .

• 2005: GAME FACE, ch f, by Menifee
• 2006: Grace Almighty, b f, by Menifee. Unraced.
• 2007:

Broodmare sire: GONE WEST, b, 1984. Sire of 324 dams of 1,250 foals, 855 rnrs (68%), 544 wnrs (44%), 180 2yo wnrs (14%), 1.38 AEI, 1.64 CI; 51 sw.


2nd dam: HARBOUR CLUB, b, 1987. Bred by Edward A. Seltzer (Ky.). Raced 3 yrs, 24 sts, 6 wins, $344,426. Won Marion H Van Berg Memorial S; 2nd Hempstead H, gr. I, Shuvee H, gr. I, Ballerina S, gr. I, Meadowlands Budweiser Breeders’ Cup H, gr. III, Thoroughbred Club of America S, gr. III, Pimlico Distaff H, Chou Croute H; 3rd Lady Baltimore H. Dam of HOLZMEISTER (c, Woodman; $356,468. Won Harry Henson S, Swynford S, Hawthorne Juvenile S; 2nd Grey Breeders’ Cup S, gr. III; 3rd Affirmed H, gr. III, Lone Star Derby; sire), Overlord (c, Nureyev; $108,595. 2nd Bahamas S; 3rd Surfside S). Granddam of VERDANA BOLD.

MR. NIGHTLINGER

MR. NIGHTLINGER (gr. IIIT), Churchill Downs, May 2, $100,000 added, value of race $126,400, 3-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs (turf), :56.18 (course record, :55.54), course firm.

Margins: 1, 1, 3/4. Others: Indian Ashton 118 ($6,130), The Nth Degree 118 ($3,678), Sgt. Bert 118 ($1,264), Demarcation 118 ($1,264), Funky Pirate 118 ($1,264). Winning jockey, Jamie Theriot.

Mr. Nightlinger may be making a permanent switch to the turf after going wire-to-wire May 2 in the Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs. It was the 4-year-old colt’s second consecutive graded stakes win on the turf this year. 


“Last year we ran him on the turf (at Fair Grounds) and he really liked it,” said Dennis Geier, assistant to winning trainer Bret Calhoun. “At Fair Grounds we never ran him back on the turf, but when we got up here, there were no dirt races at Keeneland so we decided to try him in (the Shakertown Stakes, gr, IIIT). It really seems like this might be his calling.”


The Shakertown was Mr. Nightlinger’s first win on the turf and his initial stakes win. The colt also placed in three stakes races on the dirt last year including the Lone Star Derby (gr. III) and Derby Trial Stakes. 


Mr. Nightlinger is owned by Carl Moore Management and Martin Racing Stable. He was purchased by the partnership at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale from Dromoland Farm, agent, for $45,000.


Brereton Jones bred Mr. Nightlinger in Kentucky. Jones is the owner of Airdrie Stud, a 2,300-acre breeding farm near Midway, Ky. He is also the breeder and owner of Proud Spell, who took the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) not long after Mr. Nightlinger took the Aegon Turf. 


Mr. Nightlinger is out of Timely Quarrel (by Time for a Change). Jones bought Timely Quarrel at the 1999 Keeneland November mixed sale from her breeder, Bwamazon Farm, for $90,000. She was in foal to Siphon at the time. 


Timely Quarrel is out of Quarrel Over, a graded stakes-placed One for All mare. Quarrel Over is also the dam of Suivi, a grade II-winning Diesis filly, and Have It Out, a stakes-placed Roberto filly. Both Suivi and Have It Out went on to produce stakes winners and stakes-placed offspring.


Mr. Nightlinger is Timely Quarrel’s first stakes winner. However, the mare has also produced two stakes-placed foals, Prosico (by Siphon) and Lovers Spat (by Yankee Gentleman). She delivered a full brother to Lovers Spat Feb. 25. 


Indian Charlie is the sire of Mr. Nightlinger and 33 other stakes winners. His additional 2008 added-money winners are last year’s champion 2-year-old filly Indian Blessing (gr. II), Why Tonto, and R Charlie’s Angel. Indian Charlie stands at Jones’ Airdrie Stud for a fee of $50,000.—K.B.


• Sire: INDIAN CHARLIE, b, 1995. Raced 2 yrs, 5 sts, 4 wins, $616,120. Won Santa Anita Derby (gr. I); 3rd Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
• Lifetime: 7 crops, 428 foals, 288 rnrs (67%), 207 wnrs (48%), 63 2yo wnrs (15%), 34 sw (8%), 1.95 AEI, 1.47 CI, 282 sale yrlgs, avg $59,614, 1.1 TNA.
• In 2008: 4 sw, 63 2yos, 3 2yo rnrs, 4 sale yrlgs, avg $42,500.

1st dam: Timely QuarrelBred by Bwamazon Farm (Ky.). Raced 1 yr, 1 st. Dam of 8 named foals, 6 rnrs, 5 wnrs, 1 sw. ($90,000, 1999 keenov, Siphon (Brz)).

• 1998: Rule, ch g, by Devil His Due. Raced 2 yrs, 29 sts, 1 win, $17,344. ($12,500 keesep yrlg; $21,000 texmar 2yo).
• 2000: Kurzon, b c, by Siphon (Brz). Raced 1 yr, 1 st, 0 wins, $3,975. ($130,000 ftkjul yrlg). Died 2005.
• 2001: Solar Force, b c, by Siphon (Brz). Unraced.
• 2002: Time Out, dkb/br g, by Stormin Fever. Raced 4 yrs, 29 sts, 4 wins, $85,170. ($150,000 ftkjul yrlg).
• 2003: Prosico, b g, by Siphon (Brz). Raced 4 yrs, 17 sts, 6 wins, $131,246. 2nd Turf Dash S (T). ($40,000 keesep yrlg; $110,000 obsjun 2yo).
• 2004: MR. NIGHTLINGER, b c, by Indian Charlie
• 2005: Lovers Spat, ch f, by Yankee Gentleman. Raced 2 yrs, 9 sts, 4 wins, $80,550. 3rd Valdale S.
• 2006: Diferentkindagreat, b c, by Canadian Frontier. Unraced. ($32,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2007:
• 2008: C, by Yankee Gentleman.

Broodmare sire: TIME FOR A CHANGE, ch, 1981-1996. Sire of 180 dams of 900 foals, 638 rnrs (71%), 451 wnrs (50%), 106 2yo wnrs (12%), 1.08 AEI, 1.51 CI; 36 sw.


2nd dam: Quarrel Over, b, 1980-2003. Bred by Bwamazon Farm (Ky.). Raced 3 yrs, 23 sts, 5 wins, $151,472. 2nd Alcibiades S, gr. II, Lamb Chop S, Pollyanna S; 3rd Golden Rod S, gr. III, Post-Deb S, gr. III, Grecian Princess H, Pocahontas S. Dam of SUIVI (f, Diesis); $244,750. Won Del Mar Invitational Oaks, gr. IIT; 2nd Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S, gr. IT, Buena Vista H, gr. IIIT; dam of SUFFRAGETTE, Rowans Park, Momentous), Have It Out (f, Roberto; $41,275. 2nd Revidere S, Poppy S; dam of CAMELLA, STONE CANYON , Mamalik). Granddam of Prosico, Lovers Spat.

RUN AWAY AND HIDE

RUN AWAY AND HIDE (gr. III), Churchill Downs, May 1, $100,000 added (plus $50,000 Breeders’ Cup Fund), value of race $163,000, 2-year-olds, 5 furlongs, :57.56 (track record, :56.49), track fast.

Margins: 21/2, 21/2, 1/2. Others: Merkel 120 ($8,341), Essenceofthemoon 120 ($5,004), Mine All Mine 117 ($1,180). Scratched: Dicey Riley, Final Judgement. Winning jockey, Robby Albarado.

One would hope with a name like Run Away and Hide, that a 2-year-old would have a little speed. Well, the City Zip colt lived up to his name May 1 at Churchill Downs, drawing off from his rivals in the $163,000 Kentucky Stakes (gr. III) to kickstart the stakes bonanza at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend. The winner was the 8-5 favorite.


Finishing second was Garden District, one of two fillies in the field. The third-place finisher, Dream of Kaylee, was a first-time starter. Dicey Riley and Final Judgement were scratched, leaving a six-horse field.


Run Away and Hide had license to be a good thing in the five-furlong race, having broken his maiden in easy fashion April 18 at Keeneland going 41⁄2 furlongs in :50.73. 


The Kentucky Stakes winner is trained by Ronny Werner, who has a reputation of firing with young stock early in their careers.


“It worked out great,” he said after the race. “The horses scratching on the outside helped out a bit. When you’re on the outside and can dictate the pace, you can do what you want to do.”


The winner sat a length off Merkel, who broke from the rail and set splits of :21.71 and :44.87.


“He had a great trip,” said winning rider Robby Albarado. “When you’re going five-eighths, there really isn’t much to it; just go fast.”


Run Away and Hide was bred by Ron Kirk, Joint Ventures, and Michael Riordan and races for Kirk, Riordan, and John Bates. Consigned by Peter O’Callaghan’s Woods Edge Farm, agent, the colt was offered for sale deep into last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale and returned to the barn with $22,000 reserve not attained as hip No. 3453.


Jilted, the dam of Run Away and Hide, was also bred by Woods Edge Farm and was the winner of one race from four starts. Racing for Kirk and Riordan, she broke her maiden at Turfway Park going a mile in December of her 3-year-old year for trainer William Million. She was offered for sale twice, and also was a RNA each time.


City Zip is the sire of 10 stakes winners including additional 2008 grade I winner Bustin Stones. City Zip, a grade I-winning son of Carson City, stands at Lane’s End Farm for a fee of $15,000.—E.I.H.


• Sire: CITY ZIP, ch, 1998. Raced 2 yrs, 23 sts, 9 wins, $818,225. Won Hopeful S (gr. I), Saratoga Special S (gr. II), Amsterdam S (gr. II), Sanford S (gr. II), Tremont S (gr. III), Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup S (gr. III), Bergen County S, Hirsch Jacobs S; 2nd Futurity S (gr. I), Hutcheson S (gr. II), Kentucky Cup Sprint S (gr. II), Kentucky Breeders’ Cup S (gr. III); 3rd Fountain of Youth S (gr. I), King’s Bishop S (gr. I), Kelso H (gr. IIT), Flash S.
• Lifetime: 4 crops, 225 foals, 146 rnrs (65%), 108 wnrs (48%), 48 2yo wnrs (21%), 10 sw (4%), 1.88 AEI, 1.43 CI, 85 sale yrlgs, avg $34,827, 0.6 TNA.
• In 2008: 2 sw, 50 2yos, 3 2yo rnrs, 3 2yo wnrs, 4 sale yrlgs, avg $15,250.

1st dam: JiltedBred by Woods Edge Farm (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 4 sts, 1 win, $23,475. Dam of 2 named foals, 1 rnr, 1 wnr, 1 sw. .

• 2005: Sprezzatura, gr/ro c, by Petionville. Unraced.
• 2006: RUN AWAY AND HIDE, b c, by City Zip
• 2007: Gr/ro c, by Northern Afleet.

Broodmare sire: RUNAWAY GROOM, gr, 1979-2007. Sire of 299 dams of 1,123 foals, 751 rnrs (67%), 508 wnrs (45%), 148 2yo wnrs (13%), 1.02 AEI, 1.35 CI; 43 sw.


2nd dam: Likeashotabrandi, b, 1989. Bred by K. D. Ranch (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 8 sts, 0 wins, $5,210.

DIVINE PARK

DIVINE PARK (gr. III), Belmont Park, April 30, $100,000 added, value of race $109,100, 3-year-olds and up, 8 furlongs, 1:32.74 (track record, 1:32.24), track fast.

Margins: 5, 3/4, 11/4. Others: Miner’s Lamp 116 ($5,455), Mr. Umphrey 116 ($3,273), Saint Daimon 114 ($2,182). Winning jockey, Alan Garcia.

Divine Park turned the mile Westchester Handicap (gr. III) opening day at Belmont Park into a rout. The 4-year-old son of Chester House drew clear in the stretch to post a five-length score over 3-5 favorite Grasshopper in 1:32.74. Divine Park recorded a 111 Beyer Speed Figure, the co-fourth highest of the year for races up to a mile.


The Westchester, contested April 30, is the second stakes win for Divine Park, who is owned by James J. Barry. Divine Park captured the Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct last April for his third straight win.


Following the Withers, Divine Park was off until December. He ran unplaced in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) in his first race back, then was beaten in the General George Handicap (gr. II) in February in his 2008 debut. He went into the Westchester off an optional claiming score at Aqueduct March 28.


“In the Malibu, he was coming off an eight-month layoff and drew the 14-hole, and it wasn’t that bad of a race,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “At Laurel (in the General George), he broke through the gate.”


McLaughlin has tentatively set the May 26 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont as the next stop for Divine Park.


“The Met Mile is a little quick back for us, but it is hard to pass off a race like this,” he said.


Bred in Kentucky by Catesby Clay and his Runnymede Farm, Divine Park was consigned by the farm as agent to the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale. Charles Simon bought him as agent for Barry for $20,000. Barry also won last year’s Xtra Heat Handicap at Belmont with Genuine Devotion.


Runnymede, located near Paris, Ky., has bred numerous stakes winners over the years, alone or in partnership. They include grade I winner Marylebone and other graded winners such as Awesome Gem, Greeley’s Galaxy, Midnight Cry, and Tejano Run. The last-named ran second in the 1995 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).


Runnymede no longer owns Divine Park’s dam, High in the Park. Consigned by Runnymede, agent, and barren, she was bought by EMFO Racing for $3,500 at the 2007 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. The very next month, Divine Park started on the road to stardom with a win in his first start.


High in the Park is the dam of six named foals of racing age, four of which are winners.


Deceased Chester House has sired 23 stakes winners. His eight added-money winners of 2008 also include graded/group winners Hostess, Phoenix Tower (in England), Spring House, and Ventura. Chester House stood at Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms near Lexington prior to his death in June of 2003.—D.S.


• Sire: CHESTER HOUSE, dkb/br, 1995-2003. Raced 4 yrs in Eng and NA, 21 sts, 6 wins, $1,944,545. Won Arlington Million S (gr. IT), Brigadier Gerard S (Eng-III), Huxley S, Steventon S; 2nd Eddie Read H (gr. IT), Prince of Wales’s S (Eng-II), ROA Foundation S; 3rd Juddmonte International S (Eng-I twice), Explosive Bid H (gr. IIIT), Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H (gr. III).
• Lifetime: 3 crops, 216 foals, 180 rnrs (83%), 125 wnrs (58%), 26 2yo wnrs (12%), 23 sw (11%), 1.67 AEI, 1.96 CI, 86 sale yrlgs, avg $53,418, 1.0 TNA.
• In 2008: 8 sw.

1st dam: High in the ParkBred by Denny Andrews (Ky.). Raced 3 yrs, 26 sts, 3 wins, $64,067. Dam of 6 named foals, 4 rnrs, 4 wnrs, 1 sw. ($26,000, 1995 keesep yrlg; $85,000, 1996 keeapr 2yo; $32,000, 2002 keejan, Mazel Trick; $3,500, 2007 keejan, Five Star Day).

• 2000: Gold Money, ch c, by Conquistador Cielo. Raced 5 yrs in Korea, 34 known sts, 7 wins. ($27,000 keenov wnlg; $15,000 ftkoct yrlg; $26,000 obsapr 2yo).
• 2001: Trickinthepark, ch g, by Phone Trick. Raced 5 yrs, 30 sts, 2 wins, $66,088. ($90,000 keesep yrlg; $15,000 barmar 2yo).
• 2002: Mazel Park, ch c, by Mazel Trick. Unraced. ($62,000 keenov wnlg; $75,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2003: New Paradise, dkb/br g, by Menifee. Raced 2 yrs, 10 sts, 2 wins, $29,682. ($90,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2004: DIVINE PARK, b c, by Chester House
• 2005: Doris’ Diamond, gr/ro f, by Monarchos. Unraced. ($4,500 keesep yrlg).
• 2006: Ch f, by Five Star Day. ($5,000 keejan yrlg; $50,000 obsapr 2yo).
• 2007:

Broodmare sire: ASCOT KNIGHT, b, 1984-2008. Sire of 137 dams of 488 foals, 325 rnrs (67%), 201 wnrs (41%), 54 2yo wnrs (11%), 1.44 AEI, 1.53 CI; 24 sw.


2nd dam: Czar’s Princess, ch, 1984. Bred by International Thoroughbred Breeders (Ont.). Raced 2 yrs, 13 sts, 1 win, $17,239. Dam of SUMMER PRINCE (g, Summer Squall; $176,770. Won Tempe H; 2nd Eagle Hardware and Garden Derby, British Columbia Derby, Paradise Valley H, Tacoma H; 3rd Pleasanton S), Prince of the Wild (c, Wild Again; $50,956. 3rd Bienvenidos S). Granddam of ALL HAIL STORMY, Shaealltheway.

ZEE ZEE

ZEE ZEE (T), Churchill Downs, May 2, $150,000 added, value of race $168,600, 3yo fillies, 8 1/2 furlongs (turf), 1:44.73 (course record, 1:40.70), course good.

Margins: 13/4, 3, 11/4. Others: Grace and Power 117 ($8,177), Valentine Fever 117 ($4,906), Gypsy Baby 117 ($1,686), Clearly Foxy 123 ($1,686), Holy Grace 117 ($1,686). Scratched: Summer Courtship. Winning jockey, Kent Desormeaux.

Zee Zee added a second stakes victory to her record May 2 in the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate took the lead shortly after breaking and maintained it despite a yielding turf course that often plays toward come-from-behind horses. 


“She can run in anything,” said Ahmed Zayat, CEO and chairman of Zayat Stables. “She is a very game filly, and we are very proud of her.”


Zee Zee’s first stakes win came in the Happy Ticket Stakes last year. She also placed second in the With Anticipation Stakes last year. Both of her two off-the-board finishes were on the dirt, one of which was the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) where she ran eighth losing to Indian Blessing, and Proud Spell, winner of the 2008 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). The Edgewood was her first win this year.


“She is one of the barn favorites,” said trainer Bill Mott after her win in the Edgewood. “So her winning is extra sweet to everyone today. I don’t know where we will go with her next, but it will definitely be on the turf.”


Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables bred Zee Zee in Florida. Zayat Stables purchased the filly at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s 2007 April 2-year-olds in training sale for $50,000 from Woodside Ranch, agent for Padua Stables and Bryan Rice. Zee Zee is out of the winning Dynaformer mare Emblem of Hope. Touch of Honor (by Devil’s Bag) is Emblem of Hope’s dam, who has produced two other winners. 


Touch of Honor is out of the stakes-winning Lypheor mare Fairway Style. Two of Fairway Style’s winning foals went on to produce stakes winners and one went on to produce a stakes-placed foal.


Zee Zee is Emblem of Hope’s first foal and first winner. The 8-year-old mare has only produced one other foal, a 2-year-old colt by Dance Master. 


Exchange Rate is the sire of 11 stakes winners. The 11-year-old son of Danzig stood at Padua Stables through 2007 when he was sent to Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky. He stands the 2008 season there for a fee of $25,000.‑K.B.


• Sire: EXCHANGE RATE, gr/ro, 1997. Raced 3 yrs, 15 sts, 6 wins, $479,803. Won Tom Fool H (gr. II), Risen Star S; 2nd Best Pal S (gr. III), Hollywood Juvenile Championship S (gr. III); 3rd Frank E. Kilroe Mile H (gr. IIT), Lane’s End Churchill Downs H (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 4 crops, 184 foals, 119 rnrs (65%), 77 wnrs (42%), 33 2yo wnrs (18%), 11 sw (6%), 2.00 AEI, 1.34 CI, 89 sale yrlgs, avg $35,412, 0.7 TNA.
• In 2008: 1 sw, 48 2yos, 5 2yo rnrs, 5 sale yrlgs, avg $51,200.

1st dam: Emblem of HopeBred by Morris B. Floyd (Ky.). Raced 1 yr, 5 sts, 1 win, $21,950. Dam of 1 named foal, 1 rnr, 1 wnr, 1 sw. ($225,000, 2001 ftkjul yrlg).

• 2005: ZEE ZEE, gr/ro f, by Exchange Rate
• 2006: Ch c, by Dance Master. ($30,000 obsapr 2yo).

Broodmare sire: DYNAFORMER, dkb/br, 1985. Sire of 238 dams of 714 foals, 482 rnrs (68%), 340 wnrs (48%), 114 2yo wnrs (16%), 1.57 AEI, 1.54 CI; 45 sw.


2nd dam: Touch of Honor, ch, 1993. Bred by Morris B. and William H. Floyd (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 11 sts, 0 wins, $21,178.

JUST FOR KEEPS

JUST FOR KEEPS (T), Churchill Downs, May 1, $100,000 added, value of race $110,400, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 118 pounds, 5 furlongs (turf), :56.09 (course record, :55.54), course firm.

Margins: 1/2, 13/4, neck. Others: Smitty’s Sunshine ($5,354), Trisha’s Silver ($3,212), Kindling ($1,104), Initforthekandy ($1,104), Miss Greenley ($1,104). Winning jockey, Garrett Gomez.

Just for Keeps is on her way to her best year yet. The 4-year-old Broken Vow filly won her first stakes, the May 1 Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs, and has placed in two stakes from three other starts in 2008. She also provided trainer Michael Maker with his first stakes win at Churchill.


“It’s nice to have my first stakes winner at my home track, and it’s a great time to do it (Derby week),” said Maker. “She had some hard luck in her two races at Turfway (both stakes-placings, in the Queen and Wishing Well Stakes). In her last race (the Giant’s Causeway Stakes), she looked like she was home free at Keeneland until she swerved out. We’ll wait and see what’s next. I’ll give her some time off.”


Maker claimed Just for Keeps for $50,000 for current owners, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, at Keeneland last October from Matthews Stable. Just for Keeps won that day. The Ramseys, who own Ramsey Farm near Nicholasville, were Eclipse Award-winning owners in 2004.


The Ramseys have bred and/or raced numerous stakes winners, including grade I winners Bail Out Becky, Dawn of War, Kitten’s Joy, Nothing to Lose. Precious Kitten, and Roses in May. Homebred Kitten’s Joy, a half-brother to homebred Precious Kitten, stands at Ramsey Farm. His first foals are yearlings.


The Ramseys also stand Catienus, who was a stakes winner for them.


Just for Keeps was bred in Florida by Alfonso Figlielia’s Westbury Stables. The outfit, located near Reddick, Fla., is having an all-star year, with other graded stakes winners Awesome Chic and Denis of Cork representing the stable as breeders. Denis of Cork ran third in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The previous day, Awesome Chic competed in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), but finished unplaced.


Westbury consigned Just for Keeps through Summerfield, agent, to the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale, where she failed to reach her reserve and was bought back for $9,500. The following year, Just for Keeps sold for $75,000 at the 2006 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Matthews Stable bought her from Nick de Meric, agent.


Just for Keeps, who has earned $206,603, is the first stakes winner from the winning Mt. Livermore mare Angel Kate. The mare also is the dam of two other six-figure earners: All That Magic and One for Katie. Her youngest foal is a Proud Accolade yearling filly.


Broken Vow has sired 14 stakes winners, including additional 2008 added-money winners Polonius and Rivoltella. Broken Vow stands for $30,000 at Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky.—D.S.




• Sire: BROKEN VOW, b, 1997. Raced 2 yrs, 14 sts, 9 wins, $725,296. Won Philip H Iselin H (gr. II), Ben Ali S (gr. III), R. R. M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial S, Sir Barton S, Skip Away S; 2nd Meadowlands Cup H (gr. II), Fayette S (gr. III); 3rd Gulfstream Park H (gr. I), Massachusetts H (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 4 crops, 370 foals, 223 rnrs (60%), 161 wnrs (44%), 52 2yo wnrs (14%), 14 sw (4%), 1.75 AEI, 1.69 CI, 224 sale yrlgs, avg $48,591, 0.9 TNA.
• In 2008: 3 sw, 69 2yos, 1 2yo rnr, 2 sale yrlgs, avg $65,500.

1st dam: Angel KateBred by Stone Ridge (N.Y.). Raced 2 yrs, 19 sts, 2 wins, $69,920. Dam of 7 named foals, 6 rnrs, 5 wnrs, 1 sw. ($62,000, 1994 keeapr 2yo; $80,000, 2002 obsoct, Vicar).

• 1998: Wineo, b c, by Sky Classic. Raced 1 yr, 8 sts, 1 win, $4,500. ($7,000 obsaug yrlg).
• 1999: All That Magic, ch g, by Always a Classic. Raced 4 yrs, 22 sts, 4 wins, $115,506.
• 2000: One for Katie, b f, by Meadowlake. Raced 2 yrs, 18 sts, 3 wins, $132,844. ($78,000 obsaug yrlg).
• 2001: Holy Kate, gr/ro f, by Holy Bull. Raced 2 yrs, 5 sts, 0 wins, $15,940. ($72,000 easoct yrlg).
• 2002:
• 2003: Angel’s Prayer, b c, by Vicar. Raced 1 yr, 9 sts, 1 win, $27,960.
• 2004: JUST FOR KEEPS, b f, by Broken Vow
• 2005: Sweetpea, ch f, by Stravinsky. Unraced. ($15,000 keejan yrlg).
• 2007: B f, by Proud Accolade.

Broodmare sire: MT. LIVERMORE, ch, 1981. Sire of 311 dams of 1,239 foals, 829 rnrs (67%), 564 wnrs (46%), 147 2yo wnrs (12%), 1.11 AEI, 1.52 CI; 53 sw.


2nd dam: AUGUST DAYS, b, 1980-2002. Bred by Regal Oak Farm (Fla.). Raced 2 yrs, 11 sts, 3 wins, $39,444. Won My Dear Girl S. Dam of FOR REALLY (c, Buckaroo; $481,681. Won Best Turn S, gr. III, Roseben H, gr. III, A Phenomenon S, gr. III; 2nd Bay Shore S, gr. II, Swift S, Alydar S, Quadratic S; 3rd Fall Highweight H, gr. II, Sanford S, gr. II, Boojum H, gr. III, etc.; sire), RETURN TO QUARTERS (g, Fit to Fight; $103,578. Won Spectacular Bid Breeders’ Cup S, Joseph M. O’Farrell S), AUGUST QUEEN (f, Sovereign Dancer; $189,730. Won Charles H Russell H; 2nd Love Avie H; 3rd Vacaville H, Bay Meadows Dash H, Luisant H, etc.; producer), SASKYA (f, Maria’s Mon; $190,377. Won Safely Kept S). Granddam of Rock Creek Pass.

THE NUTZ

THE NUTZ, Fonner Park, April 26, $75,000 guaranteed, value of race $75,000, 3-year-olds and up, 8 1/2 furlongs, 1:47.40 (track record, 1:43), track muddy.

Margins: 1, 23/4, 2. Others: Yield to the Storm 116 ($3,000), First Class Brass 117 ($750), Persepolis 118 ($750), Blumin Attitude 119 ($750), Hot Chocolate 114 ($750), Okie Dozer 119 ($750). Winning jockey, Donald Herber, Jr.

The Nutz, who was named after a poker hand, cashed in his first stakes win April 26 when he upset multiple stakes winner Wayzata Bay in the Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park.


In poker, the strongest possible hand is called “the nuts,” and this is what trainer Steve Hall named the 4-year-old son of Chester House after. 


The Nutz has gone three-for-three in Fonner Park’s 2008 meet. He started by breaking his maiden by 91⁄2 lengths March 7, and then took an allowance race later that month.


The Nutz’ career was delayed because of bucked shins at 2 and 3. Now that the gelding has grown into himself, however, Hall is considering trying him on the turf. 


Hall’s wife Pamela purchased The Nutz at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale for $8,000 from Kaizen Sales, agent. 


The Nutz was bred by Harold Plumley in Florida. Plumley established Plumley Farms, a 600-acre breeding facility near Ocala. He also campaigned Sweetsouthernsaint, a Florida champion 2-year-old.


Noble Stork, the dam of The Nutz, is by Seattle Slew and spent her racing career in Japan. Although she was not a winner, her dam Fine Spirit (by Secretariat) was a stakes winner and placed third in the 1984 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).


Fine Spirit has produced five winning foals, including Borromini, an English group II-placed son of Nureyev. Fine Spirit’s daughter Aerial Spirit, who is also by Nureyev, went on to produce a stakes-winning son of General Meeting named Funny Meeting. 


After her racing career, Noble Stork was shipped back to the United States and Plumley purchased her in foal to Skip Away at the 1999 Keeneland November mixed sale from Eaton Sales, agent, for $200,000.


The Nutz is Noble Stork’s first stakes winner. Her other winning foals are Matzo Ball, a 7-year-old mare by Stravinsky, and Optime’, a 3-year-old filly by Yes It’s True. Noble Stork also has a 2-year-old filly by Delaware Township and a yearling colt by Concerto.


Noble Stork was kept at Plumley Farm until 2007 when she was sold for $13,000 at Keeneland’s January mixed sale to Jong Hwan Oh, consigned by Kaizen Sales, agent. She was in foal to Concerto. She was shipped to the Republic of Korea following the sale.


Chester House is the sire of The Nutz and 22 other stakes winners. His additional 2008 added-money winners are Ventura (gr. II), Spring House (gr. IIT), Divine Park (gr. III), Hostess (gr. IIIT), Phoenix Tower (Eng-III), Devil House, and Tears I Cry. Chester House stood at Juddmonte Farms near Lexington until 2003 when he died from cancer at age 8.‑K.B.




• Sire: CHESTER HOUSE, dkb/br, 1995-2003. Raced 4 yrs in Eng and NA, 21 sts, 6 wins, $1,944,545. Won Arlington Million S (gr. IT), Brigadier Gerard S (Eng-III), Huxley S, Steventon S; 2nd Eddie Read H (gr. IT), Prince of Wales’s S (Eng-II), ROA Foundation S; 3rd Juddmonte International S (Eng-I), Juddmonte International S (Eng-I), Explosive Bid H (gr. IIIT), Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H (gr. III).
• Lifetime: 3 crops, 216 foals, 180 rnrs (83%), 125 wnrs (58%), 26 2yo wnrs (12%), 23 sw (11%), 1.66 AEI, 1.97 CI, 86 sale yrlgs, avg $53,418, 1.0 TNA.
• In 2008: 7 sw.

1st dam: Noble StorkBred by John C. Mabee (Ky.). Raced 1 yr in Japan, 10 sts, $12,105. Dam of 3 named foals, 3 rnrs, 3 wnrs, 1 sw. Sent to Korea 2007. ($275,000, 1996 keejul yrlg; $200,000, 1999 keenov, Skip Away; $13,000, 2007 keejan, Concerto).

• 2000:
• 2001: Matzo Ball, b f, by Stravinsky. Raced 3 yrs, 19 sts, 1 win, $9,335. ($30,000 keesep yrlg).
• 2002:
• 2003:
• 2004: THE NUTZ, dkb/br g, by Chester House
• 2005: Optime’, dkb/br f, by Yes It’s True. Raced 2 yrs, 4 sts, 1 win, $15,390.
• 2006: Ch f, by Delaware Township. ($3,000 obsaug yrlg; $2,000 obsapr 2yo).
• 2007: Ch c, by Concerto.

Broodmare sire: SEATTLE SLEW, dkb/br, 1974-2002. Sire of 500 dams of 2,642 foals, 1,903 rnrs (72%), 1,283 wnrs (49%), 371 2yo wnrs (14%), 1.83 AEI, 1.61 CI; 174 sw.


2nd dam: FINE SPIRIT, ch, 1982. Bred by Warner L. Jones, Jr. (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 11 sts, 4 wins, $200,325. Won Cascapedia H; 3rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, gr. I. Dam of Borromini (c, Nureyev; $36,210. 2nd Polypipe PLC Flying Childers S, Eng-II). Granddam of FUNNY MEETING.

MONSOOR

MONSOOR, Philadelphia Park, April 29, $75,000 guaranteed, value of race $75,000, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs, 1:24.57 (track record, 1:20.61), track fast.

Margins: 3/4, head, 41/2. Others: Mr. Foz 118 ($4,820), Weekend Games 116 ($2,660), Agony 116 ($500). Scratched: Sunshineintherain. Winning jockey, Anibal Prado.

New Jersey breeder/owner Michael Harrison is making sure some of America’s heroes in the Iraq War are not forgotten. He named his homebred Mt. Livermore colt Monsoor on behalf of Michael A. Monsoor. A Navy SEAL, Monsoor was killed in September 2006 in Iraq trying to protect his comrades. His family was awarded the Medal of Honor April 8 by President George W. Bush.


Three-year-old Monsoor, who won the April 29 Philmont Stakes at Philadelphia Park, races in the name of Mandi Racing Stables. The outfit is named after Harrison’s niece, Mandi, who attends the State University of New York at Binghamton. A university soccer player, she is scheduled to be named captain.


Monsoor, who was winless in four starts last year, has won three of six races this year. Based at Philadelphia Park with trainer Alfredo Velazquez, Monsoor started the year with a victory and won a starter allowance event about three weeks before the Philmont. His triumph in the Philmont came in his first added-money start.


Three days after the Philmont, Nistle’s Crunch, whom Harrison races in partnership, ran third in the Crown Royal American Turf (gr. IIIT) on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard. Nistle’s Crunch races for Harrison’s Alien Farm and Alan Furst.


Five weeks before the Run for the Roses, Nistle’s Crunch ran unplaced in the Florida Derby (gr. I) to Big Brown, the subsequent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner.


Monsoor was foaled at Casey Seaman’s Crystal Eclipse Stables near Ocala, Fla. “Casey does a tremendous job,” Harrison said. “Same goes for Alfredo.”


Through Cecil Seaman, agent, Harrison bought Monsoor in utero, paying $47,000 for the Silver Ghost mare Ghost Bell at the 2004 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Ghost Bell was consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services as agent for Burning Daylight Farms.


Monsoor is the first stakes winner out of Ghost Bell, who produced a Perfect Soul filly this year. “If she’s gray, I’m going to name her Betty Graybell, after actress Betty Grable,” Harrison said.


Ghost Bell is booked to Lion Heart.


Mt. Livermore, sire of Monsoor, has sired 74 stakes winners. He is pensioned at the Beck family’s Gainesway Farm near Lexington.—D.S.


• Sire: MT. LIVERMORE, ch, 1981. Raced 2 yrs, 30 sts, 11 wins, $610,644. Won Carter H (gr. II), Fall Highweight H (gr. II), Boojum H (gr. III), Jaipur S; 2nd Tom Fool S (gr. II), Count Fleet Sprint H; 3rd Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), True North H (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 20 crops, 983 foals, 827 rnrs (84%), 634 wnrs (65%), 161 2yo wnrs (16%), 74 sw (7%), 1.82 AEI, 1.89 CI, 461 sale yrlgs, avg $79,923, 1.9 TNA.
• In 2008: 1 sw.

1st dam: Ghost BellBred by Edward P. Evans (Ky.)