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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.

Gio Ponti Builds Rep in Virginia Derby

Gio Ponti got the nose decision over Court Vision in the $772,500 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) in a tremendous stretch run over the Colonial Downs turf course July 19, spoiling favored Sailor's Cap's shot at a $5 million bonus.

Azul Leon Puts Lion Heart On Top

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Lion Heart, currently the freshman sire leader, and Friends Lake, who is ranked eighth, got big boosts from their recent graded stakes winners Azul Leon and Screen Your Friends, respectively. The talent both of these sires showed as juveniles appears to be passing along to their offspring.

Layoff No Problem For Gio Ponti

Gio Ponti, off for more than seven months and making his 3-year-old debut, rallied from last to take the $100,000 Hill Prince Stakes (gr. IIIT) by two lengths under Garrett Gomez June 6 on the Belmont turf.

Belmont Profile: Tale of Ekati

It's difficult to characterize the rise to greatness for a horse like Tale of Ekati, who was born already virtually flawless, according to John Phillips, managing partner of Darby Dan near Lexington, where the colt was foaled.

Meal Penalty Feasts on Arlington Turf

Front-running Meal Penalty found himself on a lonely lead and made the best of it, holding on for a three-quarters of a length win in the $150,000 Arlington Classic for 3-year-olds on the Arlington Park turf May 24.

Coolmore's 2008 Fees Set

It is little wonder the Australian-bred galloper is gaining credibility all over the world. This fact was confirmed yet again by Coolmore announcing its stunning roster of stallions to stand down under in 2008.

Tale of Ekati Works for Belmont

Tale of Ekati turned in a super-sharp work for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr.I) when he sped four furlongs in 46.84 seconds over Belmont Park's main track May 20. The move was the fastest of 37 works at the distance, on a track listed as fast before a steady rain began falling later in the morning.

Preakness Profile: Racecar Rhapsody

Racecar Rhapsody is looking to earn the first graded stakes victory of his career when he runs in the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Tale of Ekati Takes Wood from War Pass

Charles Fipke's homebred Tale of Ekati may have turned in a sub-par effort in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), but he sparkled at Aqueduct when he ran down War Pass in the final strides of the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 5.

War Pass Tops Experimental

War Pass, undefeated winner of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), received the high weight assignment of 127 pounds on the 2007 Experimental Free Handicap.

Fair Grounds Winners Pay Well

The four ungraded $100,000 stakes races at Fair Grounds' "Road to the Derby Kickoff Day" were all about gate-to-wire wins and solid payoffs, as all but one of the winners paid more than $10 while setting or contesting the pace to do so at the Louisiana track Jan. 12.

War Pass Morning-Line Favorite in Bessemer Trust Juvenile

Nick Zito trainee War Pass, winner of the Oct. 6 Champagne Stakes (gr. I), has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $2- million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Oct. 27.

Tale of Ekati, Benny the Bull Drill for Breeders' Cup

Breeders' Cup prospects Tale of Ekati and Benny the Bull both breezed on the fast Monmouth Park track Oct. 16 in preparation for their respective races, the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

MAHUBAH'S CORNER: Looking for Storm Cat's Successor

Storm Cat, the leader of American commercial sires for most of the last decade, is still strong commercially and is slated to continue in stud service in 2008. But for the second consecutive year, Storm Cat finished second rather than first among leading sires by average at the Keeneland September select yearling sale, and this year, Storm Cat averaged less than half what he did in 2006 ($559,773 vs. $1,270,208). As a result, speculation as to who will assume the old king's mantle is off and running.

Porter on Pedigrees: Tale of Two 2-Year-Olds

Juvenile racing in New York treated us to Tale of Ekati and Proud Spell, a pair of 2-year-old stakes winners Sept. 15, with intriguing, and somewhat linked, pedigrees.

Coolmore Sires Return to U.S.

Reeling already from having eight of their best stallions stranded in quarantine at New South Wales' government controlled Eastern Creek facility, Coolmore Australia has decided to send three of its star stallions home to Ashford Stud.

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.

Eldon Farm Equine Leads Second-Session Pinhook Profits

Led by the efforts of Eldon Farm Equine, the majority of horses previously sold at auction that passed through the sales ring during the Aug. 7 session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale realized significant gains.

Ashley's Kitty Wins Railbird

Ashley's Kitty, a 17-1 outsider, gained the lead from Sindy With An S nearing the sixteenth pole and held on to beat hard-charging favorite Silver Swallow by a nose as apprentice jockey Joe Talamo completed a hat trick in Sunday's $111,000 Railbird (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park.

Taletobetold Provides Surprise Ending in Open Mind

Taletobetold, a 27-1 risk ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., fought off a swarm of challengers in upper stretch and then held off a late charge by Simply Divine to win Saturday's $114,700 Open Mind Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf by one length at Churchill Downs.

Coolmore Australia Announces 2007 Fees

Encosta De Lago's service fee for the 2007 season has been increased, as anticipated, to $220,000 by Coolmore Australia.

Hot Horses Drawing Attention at Ocala March Sale

Trainers and bloodstock agents from across the country converged on the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's grounds March 25 to inspect the 520 horses catalogued for the annual selected 2-year-olds in training sale March 27-28 in Central Florida. Here's a look at some of the leading prospects.

Menifee Filly Leads Ocala 2-Year-Old Preview Session

A filly by Menifee consigned by O & H Bloodstock (Terry Oliver and Bo Hunt) zipped an eighth in :10 flat to post the fastest time at the distance at the second session of the Under Tack Preview Sunday for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2007 March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Bone's Relato Del Gato Upsets Phoenix Gold Cup

Robert Bone's 11-1 shot Relato Del Gato set a sizzling pace under regular jockey Glen Corbett but kept to his task in the stretch to register a 2 3/4-length upset win over 9-10 choice Sailors Sunset in the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise Saturday.

Inglis Classic Sale Concludes on High Note

In Australia on Monday, the Inglis Classic Yearling sale ended reaching new heights - just like every other yearling sale in the world so far this year.

Smoke'n Coal, Tale of the Cat Colt Catching Buyers' Eyes at OBS Juvenile Auction

OffSpring of Smoke Glacken, Tale of the Cat, and Stormy Atlantic are popular with shoppers heading into the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. February select sale of 2-year-olds in training Tuesday in Central Florida.

Sadler's Wells Colt Sets Magic Millions Record in Australia

Champion horse trainer Gai Waterhouse completely stunned everyone in the packed auditorium when she opened and closed the bidding on a Sadler's Wells colt at Aust$2million (U.S. $1,560,000) as session two of the Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions yearling sale in Australia ended on Friday.

Spellbinder Dazzles in Berkeley Handicap

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss' heavily favored Spellbinder dug in for the final strides to hold off the surging Sharp Writer and win the $150,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) in gate-to-wire fashion at Golden Gate Fields Monday.

Tale of the Cat, Distorted Humor Progeny Work Well for Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale

Offspring of Tale of the Cat, Distorted Humor, and Songandaprayer were among the standouts at Timonium during the under tack shows Wednesday and Thursday for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic preferred sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Five Star Day Colt Sizzles in Keeneland Under Tack Show

The first under tack show for Keeneland's select sale of 2-year-olds in training provided more excitement than South Carolina pinhooker Kip Elser wanted on Monday. But everything turned out for the best.

Fasig-Tipton Juvenile Auction Should Generate Fireworks

What should be the biggest juvenile auction of 2006 in terms of prices is scheduled for Tuesday in South Florida.

Yearlings Top Final Day of OBSC Preferred Sessions

A yearling filly by Songandaprayer consigned by Beth Bayer, agent, went to Memory of Song Stable for $170,000 to top Thursday's third and final consignor preferred session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Winter Mixed Sale.

More Than 300 Horses Catalogued for Fasig-Tipton Calder Auction

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 309 horses for its Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training, which will be conducted Feb. 28 at Calder Race Course.

Catcominatcha Claws Out Iroquois Win

Rafael Bejarano brought overlooked Catcominatcha through heavy traffic to prevail over a game High Cotton by a neck in the $116,700 Iroquois (gr. III) for 2-year-olds going a mile Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Hennessy's Fee Boosted to $60,000

Ashford Stud, located near Versailles, Ky., has raised the fee for Hennessy to $60,000 from $35,000.

First Winner for Champion Minardi

English and Irish champion Minardi sired his first winner June 10 when Suetowa broke her maiden in Milan, Italy.

Storm Forecast: Evaluating Storm Cat as a Sire of Sires

Few stallions have fit the modern commercial market better than Storm Cat. Seven times the leading sire of juveniles, he regularly gets quick, precocious runners, yet has demonstrated that with the right mare, he can throw a horse capable of getting the American classic distance of 10 furlongs. What can we say about the future as it pertains to Storm Cat as a sire of sires?

Fasig-Tipton Florida Auction Produces Avalanche of Records

It was the greatest show on earth...at least as far as sales of 2-year-olds in training are concerned. Fueled by an international cast of big spenders eager to acquire expensive young horseflesh, the Fasig-Tipton Florida select auction at Calder Race Course rocketed to unprecedented heights Tuesday.

Tale of the Cat Colt Brings Record $5.2M at F-T Calder

A son of Tale of the Cat got Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton selected sale of 2-year-olds in training at Calder Race Course off to a roaring start when Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud Management went to a world-record $5.2 million to purchase the colt from the consignment of Robert Scanlon, agent.

Tale of the Cat Colt Shatters World Record, Brings $5.2M at F-T Calder

A muscular bay Tale of the Cat colt shattered the record for a 2-year-old in training sold at public auction Tuesday when his price soared to $5.2-million during the Fasig-Tipton Florida select juvenile auction at Calder Race Course.

Tale of the Cat Filly Brings $72,000 as Barretts Sale Ends

A Tale of the Cat yearling filly brought $72,000 Tuesday as the Barretts January mixed sale ended with downturns in gross revenue and average price.

Grand Slam's Fee Upped to $85,000; Lion Heart Starting at $30,000

Ashford Stud stallions Grand Slam and Tale of the Cat, two of the year's leading sires, have undergone fee changes for 2005--one up and the other down.

Tale of the Cat Colt Tops OBSC First Session

Weanlings have been driving the market at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. Fall Mixed Sale in recent years, and Monday's opening session of the 2004 auction indicated the trend was set to continue.

Well-Timed Kick Tells the Tale for Feline Story

Favored Feline Story, ridden to well-timed perfection by Edgar Prado, caught a tiring Cologny in the final strides to register a neck victory in the $104,400 Floral Park Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares on a sloppy Belmont Park strip Saturday.

Live Foal Report: 36,274 Foals of '04

The Jockey Club released its Live Foal Report Thursday afternoon, and reports that 4,203 stallions covered 63,154 mares in North America during 2003, according to statistics compiled through Sept. 9. These coverings have resulted in 36,274 foals of 2004 being reported to The Jockey Club.

Thrilling Arlington BC Oaks Ends in Dead-Heat

The Arlington Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. III) was a thrilling race, with Lovely Afternoon near the lead the entire race while the filly that should have been on the lead Catboat, broke poorly and had to rally on the rail. The two hit the wire together.

New York Bred Sale Ends With Solid Gains

The Fasig-Tipton sale of New York-bred yearlings concluded on a positive note Monday, with the sale at the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion in Saratoga Springs producing positive gains in every significant statistical category.

Haskell Hero Lion Heart New Leader of Pack

Smarty Jones' retirement left the door open for a new 3-year-old division leader and Lion Heart busted through, winning the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) in fine fashion at Monmouth Park Sunday.

'Cat' Closes to Win Honorable Miss

My Trusty Cat came with a late rush to nip Ebony Breeze in the tightest of photo finishes Friday afternoon in the Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II) for older fillies and mares at Saratoga. Carl Pollard's 4-year-old filly covered the six furlongs in 1:10.37 under strong urging by jockey Pat Day.