LARAGH

HOLLYWOOD STARLET STAKES (gr. I), Hollywood Park, Dec. 13, $429,500 added, value of race $438,500, fillies, 2-year-olds, 120 pounds, 81/2 furlongs, 1:41.96 (track record, 1:39), track fast.

Margins: 1, 23/4, 13/4. Others: Alpha Kitten ($26,310), Dave’s Revenge ($8,770), Pamona Ball, Black Magic Mama. Winning jockey, Edgar Prado.

Although Tapit had the distinction of being the leading freshman sire all but wrapped up, it cannot hurt that he added to his lead when he was represented by Laragh, who won the Dec. 13 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I) by a length at Hollywood Park.


John Terranova trains the 2-year-old Tapit filly for IEAH Stables, Gary Tolchin, and Pegasus Holding Group Stables. Laragh got her first stakes victory in October at Keeneland when she won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes, and she followed that performance up with a third-place finish in the Oct. 24 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Tapit was also represented that day by Stardom Bound, who won the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).


Laragh began her racing career for her breeder, Mike Ryan, who sold her privately after she broke her maiden in her second start. The gray/roan filly was trained by Mark Casse before transferring barns.


“She’s a real classy, talented filly, and I think over time and natural maturity she’ll be able to relax a little bit,” said Terranova. “She’s pretty game. She’s a filly who knows where she wants to be in the race, and when she feels somebody coming up on her, she’ll jump up on that bridle. Right now she’s going to get a nice break.”


Ryan bought Laragh’s dam, the El Prado mare Rose of Summer, for $105,000 as a yearling, but she never raced after suffering from a stress fracture in her shoulder. 


Laragh, who is named after two small villages in Ireland, is Rose of Summer’s second foal. The 7-year-old mare’s first foal, Rose of Killarney, is also a winner. Her yearling Strong Hope filly was sold as a weanling to Lawley-Wakelin Bloodstock, agent, for $75,000 at last year’s Keeneland November mixed sale.


Kept at Robbie Lyons’ Hartwell Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., Rose of Summer is in foal to War Front.


Tapit is the sire of two stakes winners. The 7-year-old son of Pulpit stands at the Beck family’s Gainesway Farm near Lexington. His 2009 fee is $35,000, up from the $12,500 he stood for in 2008.—A.H.D.


• Sire: TAPIT, gr/ro, 2001. Raced 2 yrs, 6 sts, 3 wins, $557,300. Won Wood Memorial S (gr. I), Laurel Futurity (gr. III).
• Lifetime: 1 crop, 92 foals, 50 rnrs (54%), 20 wnrs (22%), 20 2yo wnrs (22%), 2 sw (2%), 3.23 AEI, 1.66 CI, 116 sale yrlgs, avg $50,677, 0.9 TNA.
• In 2008: 2 sw, 92 2yos, 50 2yo rnrs, 20 2yo wnrs, 43 sale yrlgs, avg $50,372.

1st dam: Rose of SummerBred by Hermitage Farm and Walter Freeman (Ky.). Unraced. Dam of 2 named foals, 2 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw. ($105,000, 2002 keesep yrlg).

• 2005: Rose of Killarney, b f, by Proud Citizen. Raced 2 yrs, 9 sts, 2 wins, $93,181.
• 2006: LARAGH, gr/ro f, by Tapit
• 2007: B f, by Strong Hope. ($75,000 keenov wnlg).
• 2008: Gr/ro c, by Purge.

Broodmare sire: EL PRADO (Ire), gr, 1989. Sire of 166 dams of 387 foals, 245 rnrs (63%), 145 wnrs (37%), 47 2yo wnrs (12%), 1.30 AEI, 1.53 CI; 15 sw.


2nd dam: Cherokee Crossing, b, 1991. Bred by Martha H. Buckner (Ky.). Raced 2 yrs, 17 sts, 0 wins, $36,428. 3rd Ellis Park Debutante S, Bassinet Prelude S. Dam of SIPHONIC (c, Siphon; $774,778. Won Hollywood Futurity, gr. I, Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity, gr. II; 2nd Santa Catalina S, gr. II; 3rd Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, gr. I, San Felipe S, gr. II), MOUNTAIN GIRL (f, Mountain Cat; $131,320. Won Queen S; 3rd My Juliet S; producer).

HERBORISTE (GB)

LA PREVOYANTE HANDICAP (gr. IIT), Calder Race Course, Dec. 13, $150,000 guaranteed, value of race $150,000, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 12 furlongs (turf), 2:25.47 (course record, 2:24.11), course firm.

Margins: head, 6, 13/4. Others: You Go West Girl 116 ($7,050), Palmilla 117 ($4,230), Communique 118 ($1,500), Tremendous One 115 ($1,500), Jazz Jam 116 ($1,500), The Niagara Queen 117 ($1,500), Chelly B 113 ($1,500), Lady Sarah 115 ($1,500). Winning jockey, Julien Leparoux.

It was fitting two classy 5-year-old mares, who were nearing the end of their racing careers, put on a thrilling display of grit and desire in the La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIT) at Calder Race Course Dec. 13. Herboriste and J’ray left the others far behind in the 11⁄2-mile contest, with Herboriste prevailing by a head at the wire.


Herboriste began her career in France, but has been racing in the United States for the past two years. After finishing second or third in five stakes contests, four of them graded, she got her first added-money score in the Oct. 19 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland.


“She’s been very consistent,” said trainer Michael Matz. “She tries hard. She’s had a very good year, running in the best races and holding her own.”


Matz trains Herboriste for Robert and Amelie Ehrnrooth of Finland, who race the mare in the name of Northern Bloodstock. The daughter of Hernando may race once or twice more before being retired, and she is the only horse Matz trains for the connections.


“I don’t know exactly what their plans are, but they are probably going to breed her next year,” said Matz. “She’s a real nice mare, and the people are equally as nice, so it is nice to win for people who appreciate it so much.”


Out of the winning Gone West mare Helvellyn, Herboriste was bred in Great Britain in the name of Haras de Bourgeauville. The Ehrnrooths own Elevage du Haras de Bourgeauville in Bourgeauville, France.


Additionally, Helvellyn is the dam of French stakes winner Fast and Furious. The Singspiel colt finished second in the 2004 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) and third in the 2005 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes (gr. IT).


Helvellyn’s two youngest offspring, a yearling Hawk Wing filly and weanling Hurricane Run colt, have been bred in Ireland in the name of Ammerland Verwaltung Gmbh & Co.


French champion Hernando is the sire of 46 stakes winners, including 10 added-money winners in 2008. The 18-year-old son of Niniski stands at Lanwades Stud in England. His 2009 fee is £12,000 (about $18,000).—A.H.D.


• Sire: HERNANDO, b, 1990. Raced 3 yrs in Fr, Ire, Japan, and NA, 20 sts, 7 wins, $2,081,978. Champion older male in Fr. Won Prix du Jockey Club Lancia-French Derby (Fr-I), Prix Lupin (Fr-I), Prix Niel Escada (Fr-II), Prix Gontaut-Biron (Fr-III) twice, Prix de Suresnes; 2nd Forte Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), Budweiser Irish Derby (Ire-I), Turf Classic Invitational S (gr. IT); 3rd Japan Cup (Japan-I).
• Lifetime: 10 crops, 481 foals, 370 rnrs (77%), 239 wnrs (50%), 49 2yo wnrs (10%), 46 sw (10%), 1.85 AEI, 1.64 CI.
• In 2008: 10 sw.

1st dam: HelvellynBred by Jonathan H.F. Davis (N.Y.). Raced 3 yrs in Eng and UAE, 8 sts, 1 win, $11,101. Dam of 12 named foals, 9 rnrs, 7 wnrs, 2 sw. ($62,000, 1990 keenov wnlg; $100,000, 1991 keesep yrlg).

• 1994:
• 1995: Hippamena, ch f, by Be My Guest. Unraced.
• 1996: Musketeer, b c, by Danehill. Raced 2 yrs in Ire, Mal, and Sin, 8 sts, 3 wins, $11,059.
• 1997: Western Ridge, b c, by Darshaan. Raced 6 yrs in Eng, 45 sts, 5 wins, $57,940.
• 1998: Helgalill, ch f, by Bering (GB). Raced 2 yrs in Fr, 5 sts, 1 win, $4,246. Dam of 2 foals, 2 rnrs, 1 wnr.
• 1999: Heleniade, bl f, by Entrepreneur. Raced 3 yrs in Fr, 17 sts, 0 wins, $14,025. Dam of 4 foals, 2 rnrs, 1 wnr, including Torrid Hell (in Fr).
• 2000: Healing Music, ch f, by Bering (GB). Raced 2 yrs in Fr, 9 sts, 1 win, $40,985. 2nd Prix des Sablonnets.
• 2001: FAST AND FURIOUS (Fr), dkb/br c, by Singspiel (Ire). Raced 6 yrs in Fr and NA, 27 sts, 5 wins, $378,022. Won Derby du Languedoc; 2nd Hollywood Derby (gr. IT); 3rd Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile S (gr. IT), Prix Noailles (Fr-II), American Invitational H (gr. IIT).
• 2002: Al Tiger, b g, by Tiger Hill. Raced 4 yrs in Fr, 21 sts, 0 wins, $18,960.
• 2003: HERBORISTE (GB), dkb/br f, by Hernando (Fr)
• 2004: Singing Field (Ire), dkb/br f, by Singspiel (Ire). Unraced. Sent to USA 2007.
• 2005: Serrenia, b f, by High Chaparral (Ire). Unraced.
• 2006: Heart of Ice, b f, by Montjeu (Ire). Raced 1 yr in Fr, 1 st, 1 win, $14,747.
• 2007: Ch f, by Hawk Wing.
• 2008: B c, by Hurricane Run (Ire).

Broodmare sire: GONE WEST, b, 1984. Sire of 333 dams of 1,309 foals, 966 rnrs (74%), 602 wnrs (46%), 203 2yo wnrs (16%), 1.37 AEI, 1.61 CI; 57 sw.


2nd dam: Accredited, dkb/br, 1981. Bred by Hickory Tree Farm (Va.). Unraced. Dam of Chancellor Forbes (g, Bold Forbes; $164,983. 2nd Joyce Kilmer H, Aconite S), Convene (f, His Majesty; $10,688. 3rd Dale Baird Sprint S; producer; dam of Norvene).

PRESIOUS PASSION

W. L. MCKNIGHT HANDICAP (gr. IIT), Calder Race Course, Dec. 13, $150,000 guaranteed, value of race $150,000, 3-year-olds and up, 12 furlongs (turf), 2:25.64 (course record, 2:24.11), course firm.

Margins: 2, 3/4, neck. Others: Hard Top 115 ($6,975), Summer Patriot 115 ($4,185), Windward Islands 117 ($1,500), Gran Estreno 115 ($1,500), Picou 114 ($1,500), Phil the Power 115 ($1,500), Al Basha 114 ($1,500), Strait of Mewsina 116 ($1,500), Running Aptitude 113 ($1,500). Scratched: It’s a Bird. Winning jockey, Elvis Trujillo.

Presious Passion seems to get especially good this time of year. How else to explain the fact he captured the W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) at 11⁄2 miles at Calder Race Course this year and last.


A 5-year-old son of Royal Anthem, Presious Passion set the pace in this year’s running, Dec. 13, to win by two lengths over Logic Way. Instead of returning $136.20 to win as he did last year, he paid just $17.20.


“He likes firm turf, instead of a soft grass course,” said trainer Mary Hartmann. “That would explain his last two starts.”


Racing over yielding turf, Presious Passion finished sixth earlier in the fall in both the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) and Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIT) in New York.


Presious Passion, who became a millionaire in the process of winning the McKnight, races for Patricia Generazio, whose husband, Frank, initially trained the gelding. Hartmann took over prior to Presious Passion’s first start at 3.


“He was the first horse I got from them,” said Hartmann, who usually keeps about seven or eight horses for the Generazios.


Presious Passion has enjoyed his best season this year. He not only has earned $678,490, but became the Generazios’ first grade I winner. Presious Passion captured the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park in July. Ironically, the win came over a yielding grass course.


The Generazios privately bought Presious Passion from his breeders, Joseph and Helen Barbazon, owners of Pleasant Acres Farm near Morriston, Fla. Presious Passion is the first foal from his dam, Princesa’s Passion.


Patricia Generazio also races Presious Passion’s 2-year-old half-sister, Just Livin a Dream, who was bred by the Barbazons. By Trippi, Just Livin a Dream won at Belmont Park in October. She also has run second in three of her four other starts.


The Generazios, who formerly lived in the Boston area and now reside in South Florida, have bred and/or raced several other graded winners. They keep broodmares in Florida and New Jersey.


Royal Anthem, who is the sire of seven stakes winners, has stood at Tullogher House Stud in Ireland since 2007. He covered a total 170 flat and steeplechase mares in 2008. He began his stud career at Rick Trontz’ Hopewell Farm near Midway, Ky.—D.S.


• Sire: ROYAL ANTHEM, b, 1995. Raced 3 yrs in Eng, Ire, and NA, 12 sts, 6 wins, $1,876,876. Won Canadian International S (Can-IT), Juddmonte International S (Eng-I), Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup H (gr. IT), King Edward VII S (Eng-II), Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur Fairway S; 2nd Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT), Vodafone Coronation Cup (Eng-I), Hardwicke S (Eng-II); 3rd King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond S (Eng-I).
• Lifetime: 5 crops, 231 foals, 162 rnrs (70%), 90 wnrs (39%), 11 2yo wnrs (5%), 7 sw (3%), 1.03 AEI, 1.19 CI.
• In 2008: 1 sw.

1st dam: Princesa’s PassionBred by J.G. Jones, Sr. and David R. Houchin (Ky.). Unraced. Dam of 3 named foals, 3 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw. ($25,000, 2001 ftffeb 2yo).

• 2003: PRESIOUS PASSION, ch g, by Royal Anthem
• 2004: Note d’Amour, dkb/br f, by Notebook. Raced 2 yrs, 18 sts, 0 wins, $8,250. ($12,000 obswin yrlg; $25,000 obsaug yrlg; $25,000 easmay 2yo).
• 2005: C, by Pure Precision. Died 2005.
• 2006: Just Livin a Dream, ch f, by Trippi. Raced 1 yr, 5 sts, 1 win, $65,432.
• 2007: Gr/ro f, by Exchange Rate.
• 2008:

Broodmare sire: MARQUETRY, ch, 1987. Sire of 156 dams of 404 foals, 286 rnrs (71%), 186 wnrs (46%), 75 2yo wnrs (19%), 1.20 AEI, 1.40 CI; 21 sw.


2nd dam: SIZZLIN SUNSHINE, b, 1992. Bred by Pope McLean, Galbreath/Phillips Racing Partnership, and Foxfield (Ky.). Raced 4 yrs, 33 sts, 9 wins, $191,563. Won Ardmore H (T), Double Delta S (T), New Braunfels S (T), Stillwater S (T); 3rd Azalea H (T) twice, Senorita S (T).

RESEARCHER

QUEENS COUNTY HANDICAP (gr. III), Aqueduct, Dec. 13, $100,000 added, value of race $108,400, 3-year-olds and up, 91/2 furlongs, 1:55.87 (track record, 1:52.40), track fast.

Margins: 1/2, 51/2, 23/4. Others: Sir Whimsey 118 ($6,504), Temporary Saint 115 ($3,252). Winning jockey, Michael Luzzi.

Researcher has been a model of consistency his entire career. He has won or placed in 13 of 14 races. Better yet, he has captured three consecutive stakes, capped by a come-from-behind victory in the Dec. 13 Queens County Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct. Third for most of the race, Researcher got up to win by a half-length over pacesetter Brilliant Son, with Dry Martini finishing third.


“The horse is on a roll,” said Jeff Runco, who trains the 4-year-old gelding for Hermen Greenberg’s Rutledge Farm. “We figured the two horses (Brilliant Son and Temporary Saint) would go out in front. I said to Mike (jockey Luzzi) sit tight, just wait, save something for the end, and make one run at the end. 


“We weren’t worried about the mile and three-sixteenth distance. He’s been doing so well. He’ll get a little bit of a breather now, and we’ll evaluate him. This is my first graded stakes win, and it means even more getting it in New York.”


Researcher, bred in Virginia by Virginia Tech Foundation, won the Mountaineer Mile Handicap in November in his last start and the HBPA Governor’s Cup Handicap by 14 lengths at Charles Town in October.


Greenberg’s greatest accomplishment in racing has come as the breeder of classic winner Colonial Affair. Bred in the Rutledge name, Colonial Affair won the 1993 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and returned the following year to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), plus the Whitney (gr. I) and Excelsior (gr. II) Handicaps. 


A son of Two Smart, Researcher has raced his entire career for Rutledge, which is located near Middleburg, Va. Rutledge also is represented this year by homebred stakes winner Colonel Rutledge.


Researcher’s dam, Wild Magnolia, formerly was owned by the Virginia Tech Middleburg Agricultural and Extension Center. A nearby farm privately purchased Wild Magnolia and her Black Tie Affair yearling filly, Dino Rider.


Researcher is from the last crop of deceased Two Smart, who sired one other stakes winner. Two Smart stood at Legacy Farm in Virginia prior to his death in 2003.—D.S. 


• Sire: TWO SMART, dkb/br, 1994-2003. Raced 1 yr, 7 sts, 6 wins, $178,050. Won Sir Barton S, Woodlawn S, Deputed Testamony S (R).
• Lifetime: 4 crops, 34 foals, 29 rnrs (85%), 19 wnrs (56%), 5 2yo wnrs (15%), 2 sw (6%), 1.00 AEI, 0.88 CI, 5 sale yrlgs, avg $3,680, 0.1 TNA.
• In 2008: 1 sw.

1st dam: Wild MagnoliaBred by Roy S. Lerman (Ky.). Raced 1 yr, 3 sts, $380. Dam of 5 named foals, 3 rnrs, 2 wnrs, 1 sw.

• 2000: B g, by Chief Protocol.
• 2002: B f, by Ball’s Bluff.
• 2003: Wild Ball, ch f, by Ball’s Bluff. Raced 3 yrs, 18 sts, 3 wins, $51,615.
• 2004: RESEARCHER, b g, by Two Smart
• 2005: E Z Daisy, b f, by Fred Astaire. Raced 1 yr, 3 sts, 0 wins, $6,840.
• 2006: Restoration Ball, ch f, by Fred Astaire. Unraced.
• 2007: Dino Rider, gr/ro f, by Black Tie Affair (Ire).

Broodmare sire: APALACHEE, b, 1971-1996. Sire of 291 dams of 1,504 foals, 1,137 rnrs (76%), 803 wnrs (53%), 208 2yo wnrs (14%), 1.19 AEI, 1.42 CI; 86 sw.


2nd dam: Red Tape, ch, 1988. Bred by Lambholm (Pa.). Raced 3 yrs, 24 sts, 3 wins, $67,309. 2nd Genuine Risk S; 3rd Marshua S, Flirtation S.

FINALLYMADEIT

FRED W. HOOPER HANDICAP (gr. III), Calder Race Course, Dec. 13, $100,000 guaranteed, value of race $100,000, 3-year-olds and up, 9 furlongs, 1:53.75 (track record, 1:46), track fast.

Margins: 11/4, 1/2, 4. Others: Gottcha Gold 121 ($4,750), Imawildandcrazyguy 116 ($2,850), Hal’s My Hope 116 ($1,000), Palladio 118 ($1,000), Atlantic Paws 117 ($1,000), Hey Byrn 115 ($1,000), Nathan Ridge 113 ($1,000). Scratched: It’s a Bird, Truth Rules. Winning jockey, Eduardo Nunez.

Finallymadeit finally made it into the ranks of graded stakes winners when he won the Dec. 13 Fred W. Hooper Handicap (gr. III) at Calder Race Course. Showing his trademark early speed, Finallymadeit set the pace and won by 11⁄4 lengths over Dream Maestro.


Although the Fred Hooper win proved extra special, it wasn’t exactly Finallymadeit’s initial stakes win. The 4-year-old Concerto colt had captured nine earlier stakes, including last year’s Hooting Star Stakes in track-record equaling time of :57.75 for five furlongs at his home track of Calder.


The Fred W. Hooper was the second consecutive stakes victory for Finallymadeit. He captured the restricted $200,000 Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap during the Florida Millions program at Calder in November.


Finallymadeit was bred in Florida by Rolando Rodriguez and Rolbea Stables and foaled at Rodriguez’ Eclipse Farm near Morriston, Fla. Rolbea Stables is named after Rodriguez and his wife, Beatrice. The family started in racing in 2004.


Racing for Rolbea Thoroughbred Racing, Finallymadeit has won or placed in 23 of 36 races and earned $661,265. He is the first horse bred by Rolando Rodriguez.


According to farm manager David Hulber, Finallymadeit is a small horse, about 15.1 hands, who has turned into a “package of dynamite.” 


Finallymadeit was raised at Eclipse. “He was like a typical young horse, meaning he was active,” Hulber said. “He had a leg problem, but eventually outgrew it. He’s turned into a hard and fast runner.”


Finallymadeit, who might run at the upcoming Gulfstream Park meeting, is the first stakes winner out of the stakes-winning Gold Alert mare Gold for My Gal, who also was twice grade II stakes-placed. Gold for My Gal is carrying a full sibling to Finallymadeit. Her yearling filly, by Band Is Passing, will be retained by Rodriguez for racing.


Concerto, who has sired 18 stakes winners, stands at Michael O’Farrell’s Ocala Stud Farm near Ocala, Fla. His 2009 fee is $5,000.—D.S.


• Sire: CONCERTO, ch, 1994. Raced 3 yrs, 21 sts, 10 wins, $1,308,118. Won Jim Beam S (gr. II), Clark H (gr. III), Brown and Williamson Kentucky Jockey Club S (gr. III), Federico Tesio S (gr. III), Brandywine H, John Battaglia Memorial S, Congressional H, Whirlaway S, Storm Cat S; 2nd Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II), Stuyvesant H (gr. III), Discovery H (gr. III), Laurel Futurity (gr. III).
• Lifetime: 7 crops, 296 foals, 225 rnrs (76%), 184 wnrs (62%), 92 2yo wnrs (31%), 18 sw (6%), 1.62 AEI, 1.34 CI, 67 sale yrlgs, avg $10,853, 0.2 TNA.
• In 2008: 1 sw, 47 2yos, 25 2yo rnrs, 13 2yo wnrs, 5 sale yrlgs, avg $10,500.

1st dam: GOLD FOR MY GALBred by Paula J. Tucker (Fla.). Raced 3 yrs, 27 sts, 6 wins, $332,989. Won Truly Bound H twice, Flying Concert S, Hurricane Viv H; 2nd Cotillion H (gr. II), Tiffany Lass S, Doylestown H; 3rd Fantasy S (gr. II), Lady’s Secret S, Pennsylvania Oaks. Dam of 3 named foals, 3 rnrs, 1 wnr, 1 sw. ($17,000, 1999 obsjun 2yo).

• 2003: Flying Gold, ch c, by Fly So Free. Raced 1 yr, 1 st, 0 wins, $230.
• 2004: FINALLYMADEIT, ch c, by Concerto
• 2005: Finallydidit, ch g, by Golden Missile. Raced 2 yrs, 5 sts, 0 wins, $713.
• 2007: F, by Band Is Passing.

Broodmare sire: GOLD ALERT, ch, 1983. Sire of 85 dams of 326 foals, 239 rnrs (73%), 156 wnrs (48%), 44 2yo wnrs (14%), 1.03 AEI, 1.34 CI; 10 sw.


2nd dam: Nat’s My Gal, b, 1990. Bred by Frank King, Jr. and Damon Young (Ky.). Raced 3 yrs, 21 sts, 2 wins, $15,925.

YESBYJIMMINY

KENNY NOE JR. HANDICAP (gr. III), Calder Race Course, Dec. 13, $100,000 guaranteed, value of race $100,000, 3-year-olds and up, 7 furlongs, 1:23.71 (track record, 1:20.80), track fast.

Margins: 23/4, head, 1. Others: How’s Your Halo 117 ($4,850), Storm in May 115 ($2,910), Flatter Me Blue 116 ($1,000), Rexson’s Rose 112 ($1,000), Make Me Zach 116 ($1,000). Winning jockey, Elvis Trujillo.

Yesbyjimminy may be the unofficial king of Calder Race Course after notching his sixth straight victory at the track when he defeated It’s a Bird by 23⁄4 lengths in the Dec. 13 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap (gr. III). The win was the 4-year-old Yes It’s True colt’s first graded stakes score and his fourth consecutive stakes win.


A homebred for Marion Montanari and David and Olga Melin’s Trilogy Stable, Yesbyjimminy is trained by Edward Plesa Jr. The colt was a stakes winner as a juvenile and as a 3-year-old, but was away from the races from October 2007 until May 17, when he finished second in the Champali Stakes at Calder. Twenty of his 21 starts have come at the Florida track.


The Kenny Noe Jr. is named after the president and general manager of Calder and Tropical at Calder from 1979 to 1990. Among his accomplishments, Noe, along with various owners and breeders, created the Florida Stallion Stakes program in 1982.


Yesbyjimminy was bred in Florida out of the stakes-placed Pentelicus mare Sisters Creek, who the Melins bought for $50,000 at the 1996 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s February 2-year-olds in training sale. Sisters Creek has found a good bit of success as a broodmare. Of her five foals to race, all of them are winners, three of them are stakes winners, and one of them is graded stakes-placed. 


“Everything she puts on the ground has really been someone to watch,” said Montanari. “We have been very pleased with the whole offspring line.”


Kept at Montanari’s Marion Hills Farm near Ocala, Fla., Sisters Creek has a weanling colt by Dynaformer and is barren after being bred to Giant’s Causeway for 2009. She is booked to Candy Ride. At one time, Montanari owed Candy Ride’s full sister, Candy Cane. He races her homebred 2008 stakes-winning daughter, Julia Tuttle.


Yes It’s True, who began his stud career in Florida, is the sire of 26 stakes winners including additional 2008 added-money winners Are We Dreamin, Off Duty, and Shining Moment. The 12-year-old son of Is It True now stands at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky. His 2009 fee is $22,500.—A.H.D.


• Sire: YES IT’S TRUE, b, 1996. Raced 3 yrs, 22 sts, 11 wins, $1,080,700. Won Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S (gr. I), Riva Ridge S (gr. II), Maryland Breeders’ Cup H (gr. III), Sapling S (gr. III), Lafayette S (gr. III), Hollywood Juvenile Championship S (gr. III), Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup S (gr. III), Swale S (gr. III), Kentucky Breeders’ Cup S, WHAS-11 S; 2nd Futurity S (gr. I), Bashford Manor S (gr. III); 3rd Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (gr. II), San Vicente S (gr. II), A Phenomenon H (gr. II).
• Lifetime: 5 crops, 395 foals, 334 rnrs (85%), 236 wnrs (60%), 85 2yo wnrs (22%), 26 sw (7%), 1.60 AEI, 1.59 CI, 271 sale yrlgs, avg $76,861, 1.4 TNA.
• In 2008: 4 sw, 79 2yos, 52 2yo rnrs, 16 2yo wnrs, 51 sale yrlgs, avg $72,118.

1st dam: Sisters CreekBred by Ocala Stud Farm (Fla.). Raced 2 yrs, 22 sts, 1 win, $45,945. 2nd Melaleuca S. Dam of 6 named foals, 5 rnrs, 5 wnrs, 3 sw. ($50,000, 1996 obsfeb 2yo).

• 1999: Best Friend, b f, by Dr. Caton. Raced 3 yrs, 12 sts, 4 wins, $44,580.
• 2000: MAGIC MECKE, dkb/br c, by Mecke. Raced 7 yrs, 30 sts, 8 wins, $415,440. Won Mecke H (T), Pete Axthelm S (T), What a Threat S (T); 2nd Gleaming Channel S (T), Carterista H (T), Bonnie Heath Turf Cup H (RT) twice; 3rd Flying Pidgeon H (T), The Vid S (T).
• 2001: A. J. MELINI, dkb/br c, by Matty G. Raced 6 yrs, 41 sts, 7 wins, $239,710. Won Absent Russian S, Maryland My Maryland S, New York, New York S (R); 2nd Maryland My Maryland S, My Old Kentucky Home S; 3rd Arthur L S (T), Oliver S.
• 2002: Qureall, dkb/br g, by Yes It’s True. Raced 5 yrs, 22 sts, 4 wins, $166,189. 2nd Carry Back S (gr. II); 3rd Jack Dudley Sprint H (R).
• 2003:
• 2004: YESBYJIMMINY, b c, by Yes It’s True
• 2006: Peaceful Creek, b f, by Peace Rules. Unraced.
• 2007: B f, by Songandaprayer.
• 2008: B c, by Dynaformer.

Broodmare sire: PENTELICUS, b, 1984-2002. Sire of 165 dams of 534 foals, 387 rnrs (72%), 270 wnrs (51%), 105 2yo wnrs (20%), 1.36 AEI, 1.42 CI; 30 sw.


2nd dam: Mighty Intimate, dkb/br, 1988. Bred by Ocala Stud Farm, J.M. O’Farrell, Jr., and E. Weist (Fla.). Raced 2 yrs, 16 sts, 1 win, $16,255. Dam of COMPENDIUM (c, Notebook; $413,782. Won Northern Spur S, Chick Lang Jr. Memorial H twice; 2nd Prairie Mile S, Bob Johnson Memorial S, Evangeline Mile H twice, Island Whirl H; 3rd Oklahoma Derby, gr. III, Texas Mile S, gr. III twice, Bob Johnson Memorial S), Pen Mate (g, Pentelicus; $63,310. 3rd Criterium S). Granddam of GOWER .