BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Distorted Humor Filly Sells For $350,000

A 3-year-old Distorted Humor filly named Age of Humor was bought for $350,000 by Steve Davidson and Randy Gullatt's Versailles, Ky.-based Twin Creeks Farm at the Jan. 12 session of the Keeneland January sale.

Laus Deo Shows Way in Count Fleet

Laus Deo made the lead soon after the start and never looked back in winning the $65,000 Count Fleet for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 2.

Five Questions: Olly Tait

Tait, COO of Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation, has been based in Central Kentucky now for just more than a year.

FG Creates Race to Lure Rachel Alexandra

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has put together a $200,000 stakes race for older fillies and mares in hopes of luring Horse of the Year candidate Rachel Alexandra for her 2010 debut.

Terrazas to Lease Overbrook Land

Eduardo Terrazas' Terrazas Thoroughbreds will be relocating from Elmer Whitaker's Whitaker Farm on Paris Pike near Lexington to the Young family's Overbrook Farm, which ceased operations this year and is nearly finished dispersing its horses.

Medaglia d'Oro has a Passion for Gold

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

A win in the group I Criterium de Saint-Cloud sets up Passion for Gold as an early favorite for the French classics next year-and also validates Medaglia d'Oro as a sire who can produce top colts along with his abundance of black type fillies.

TCA Auction to Feature Top Stallion Seasons

Thoroughbred Charities of America Nov. 17 announced that its annual fundraiser, the 20th Select Stallion Season Auction, will be held Dec. 4 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center.

Unbridled Belle Booked to Medaglia d'Oro

Multiple graded stakes winner Unbridled Belle will race once more and then be retired. She will be bred to top young sire Medaglia d'Oro.

Darley Stud Fees: Medaglia d'Oro to $100,000

Citing the economic situation facing the breeding and sales industries in North America and Europe, Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation announced Oct. 28 that fees for 37 of its 40 stallions on those two continents would remain unchanged or decrease for 2010.

Keeneland Sept. Sale Market Still Merciless

The Keeneland September yearling auction continued its merciless battering of commercial breeders and consigners, posting results that fell far short of last year's figures for the third consecutive day even though a filly by the hot sire Medaglia d'Oro brought $1.3 million.

Medaglia d'Oro Filly Brings $1.3 Million

A striking filly by Medaglia d'Oro was purchased by Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation for $1.3 million to highlight the Sept. 16 third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. The filly was consigned by Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck's Summerfield.

Average Falls 23% at Canadian Yearling Sale

Marked by a severe 22.9% decrease in average price, the annual selected Canadian-bred yearling sale, hosted by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario division) at the Woodbine racetrack sales pavilion on Sept. 8 was yet another North American auction that was a victim of a struggling economy.

Medaglia d'Oro Filly Tops OBS Select Session

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August yearling sale broke slowly from the starting gate Aug. 24 in Central Florida, suffering downturns of more than 30% from 2008 in its gross revenue, average price, and median price. But a powerful-looking Medaglia d'Oro filly topped the select session by attracting a $275,000 final bid from Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation that surpassed last year's peak price for an individual horse of $200,000.

Expectations Modest for OBS Yearling Sale

With the weak economy continuing to have a negative impact on all sorts of businesses, Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. executive Tom Ventura has modest expectations for the auction firm's August yearling sale in Central Florida.

Medaglia d'Oro on Southern Hemisphere Time

Medaglia d'Oro, the leading sire this year by North American earnings and leading second crop sire, will be available to be bred on Southern Hemisphere time, beginning Sept. 1 at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley near Lexington.

Business Down at F-T Preferred Yearling Sale

A Medaglia d'Oro colt brought the sale-topping price of $275,000 as the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling auction ended its two-night run Aug. 16 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y, well behind last year's record-setting pace. Trainer Seth Benzel, agent for Whitehall Stable, purchased the bay yearling. James Pippo is the president of Whitehall, which puts together racing partnerships.

Second-Crop Standouts

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

The weekend brought a couple of new players to the 3-year-old scene and also underlined just how strong the second-crop sires are.

Tasty Temptation Savors Wonder Where Win

Tasty Temptation, considered one of the most talented 3-year-old fillies in Canada, came from far back on the turn to register a half-length win in the $232,403 Wonder Where Stakes, the third jewel of the nation's Triple Tiara held at Woodbine July 25.

F-T July Drops, But 'Medaglia' Fillies Shine

Fasig-Tipton's July select yearling sale ended with a bang instead of a whimper in Lexington, getting a boost from the progeny of the hot stallion Medaglia d'Oro. Even though the key business figures were down from the previous year, the final day produced the auction's highest price and results that were stronger than the opening day's statistics.

Medaglia d'Oro Filly Sells for $370,000

As the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale drew to a close July 21, a Versailles, Ky.-based farm and racing stable purchased a Medaglia d'Oro filly for $370,000.

Medaglia d'Oro Filly Fetches $425,000 at FTK

An offspring of Medaglia d'Oro commanded the highest price thus far at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale July 21 when Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock agent John Ferguson went to $425,000 for a bay filly.

El Prado Slowing Down, But Not Done

El Prado, who has sired 74 stakes winners, including the hot young stallion Medaglia d'Oro, experienced declining fertility during the 2009 breeding season, but will continue to cover mares in 2010 if he remains healthy, according to Eric Hamelback, who is the general manager of Frank Stronach's Adena Springs operation near Paris, Ky.

'Rachel' Faces Only Four in Mother Goose

Rachel Alexandra, who when last seen was making history by winning the May 16 BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I), will make her return to the racetrack in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) June 27 at Belmont Park. The Horse of the Year candidate will face only four rivals in the nine-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies.

No Breeders' Cup for Rachel Alexandra

Stonestreet Stables' Jess Jackson, majority owner of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra, said in a wide-ranging media teleconference June 24 that the superb filly would not race in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita but that there is a good possibility that she would return in 2010 for a 4-year-old campaign.

Rachelmania: Free Admission, Pink Bracelets

When Rachel Alexandra makes her Belmont Park debut in the 53rd renewal of the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) June 27, the New York Racing Association will give away pink bracelets embossed with the filly's name and admission for ladies will be free.

Classic Parallels

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Similarities in the pedigrees of Summer Bird (by Birdstone) and Gabby's Golden Gal (by Medaglia d'Oro) provide some insights into the bloodlines of their young sires.

Gabby's Golden Gal Wires Acorn Field

The way Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks -- by a whopping 20 1/4 lengths -- anything that ran behind her had to be given another chance in her next start. Gabby's Golden Gal proved that theory true when she won the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) June 6 at Belmont Park.

Darley Purchases Hot Sire Medaglia d'Oro

Medaglia d'Oro, the leading second-crop sire and one of the hottest sires in North America right now, has been purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation and has been relocated to Darley's farm near Lexington, it was announced June 5.

'Big Horse' Boost for First-Crop Sires?

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Thanks to Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra, respectively, both Birdstone and Medaglia d'Oro have achieved the distinction of becoming Classic sires with their first crops. But how much of a boost will it really give them?

Rachel Alexandra the 2-1 Preakness Favorite

With slightly more than two hours until post for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the filly Rachel Alexandra is the 2-1 favorite. Four other horses are single-digit odds.

Payton d'Oro Wires Black-Eyed Susan Field

Jockey Terry Thompson had one mount at Pimlico May 16 and he made the most of it, controlling the pace aboard Payton d'Oro to win the biggest race of the day, the grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

Rachel Alexandra a Breathtaking Oaks Winner

Those who believe Rachel Alexandra could have won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) have evidence to back up their belief after she won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 1 at Churchill Downs in spectacular fashion.

Fantasy Foes at Rachel Alexandra's Mercy

She keeps winning so easily, it's difficult to gauge just how good Rachel Alexandra is. Her four rivals in the $245,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park didn't provide any answers April 5.

Gabby's Golden Gal Romps in Sunland Oaks

Gabby's Golden Gal, trained by Bob Baffert, romped to a 13-length win with Victor Espinoza in the saddle in the $200,000 Sunland Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at New Mexico's Sunland Park March 29.

Off Track Doesn't Slow Rachel Alexandra

A sloppy track failed to slow Rachel Alexandra, who outclassed five rivals in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 14.

J'ray Retired; Booked to Medaglia d'Oro

J'ray, a stakes winner all four years she raced, has been retired from racing and will be bred to Medaglia d'Oro.

Medaglia d'Oro to Stand for $40,000

Audrey Haisfield's Stonewall Farm Stallions, located near Versailles, Ky., announced that first-crop sire Medaglia d'Oro will stand once again for $40,000.

Midlantic Sale Declines on Opening Day

The opening session of the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall yearling sale, Sept. 29 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md., took hits in key statistical areas, with gross and average falling, but the median remained steady.

Buyer's Horses Repossessed Prior to Sale

Dr. Karen Sanderson, who purchased three yearlings at the Keeneland September sale without authorized credit, had three horses repossessed earlier this year.

Keeneland: Market for Good Horses

With the second week of the Keeneland September yearling sale drawing to a close, numbers continue to be down, though buyers and consignors are still claiming it's a strong market for a quality horse.

A Jewel in the Gold Medallion

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Medaglia d'Oro only started once at 2 but his offspring are displaying plenty of early talent. Out of 10 winners through Sept. 16, he has four stakes horses and two stakes winners, including the graded stakes winner C.S. Silk.

$1.1-Million Filly Resold Privately

A $1.1-million Medaglia d'Oro filly that topped the fourth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale was resold privately by Keeneland officials to celebrity chef Bobby Flay Sept. 13 after the original purchaser and his client were unable to provide sufficient proof of credit, according to Keeneland vice president Harvie Wilkinson.

Seven-Figure Filly Highlights Day Four

Despite a filly by Medaglia d'Oro selling for $1.1 million and the session realizing a 3.9% increase in the number of horses sold compared to last year, day four of the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 11 saw declines in gross, average, and median.

$1.1 Million Medaglia d'Oro Filly

A dark bay or brown filly by Medaglia d'Oro fetched a final bid of $1.1 million from Dr. Karen Sanderson, who was making her first purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sale during the marathon auction's fourth session Sept. 11.

F-T Day 1: Ghostzapper Filly Shines

A filly from the first crop of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper is among the yearlings in the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton July select yearling auction.

Medaglia d' Oro, 'Livingston Get Winners

Freshmen sires Medaglia d'Oro and Mr. Livingston, both by El Prado, were represented by their respective first winners when Richard Rowan's Renda and Theresa and David Palmer and Merritt Racing's D. C.'s Legacy won at Calder Race Course May 31.

Fillies Standing Out at OBS March Sale

Some shoppers at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training think the top fillies outnumber the top colts this year.

Stonewall Keeps Medaglia d'Oro at $40,000

Stonewall Farm Stallions will once again stand grade I winner Medaglia d'Oro for a $40,000 fee.

First-Crop Sires Spice Up Keeneland September Sale

First-crop yearling sires always add an element of intrigue to any sale, but the class of 2007 adds an extra amount of interest to the Keeneland September sale due to fewer stallions sporting top-racing credentials and pedigrees with commercial appeal compared to the 2006 class.

$265,000 Medaglia d'Oro Filly Tops Fasig-Tipton Preferred Sale

A bay filly by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Rahy mare Adorahy bought $265,000 to top the second session and the overall market at Fasig-Tipton's Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale in Saratoga Springs Aug. 11.