Maryland Breeders' Cup H. (gr. III)
(gr. III , 6f ,)
YES IT'S TRUE
(B h,
113
lb) $120,000
Is It True —Clever Monique , by
Clever Trick
B—George Waggoner Stables Inc.,
KY.;
O—Padua Stables;
T—D. Wayne Lukas
The Trader's Echo
(B h,
109
lb) $40,000
Eastern Echo —Cathy's Halo , by
Devil's Bag
B—William J. Forster,
KY.;
O—William J. Forester;
T—John T. Ward, Jr.
Purple Passion
(DK B/ h,
114
lb) $22,000
Northern Raja —Purple Glory , by
Hail the Pirates
B—David P. Reynolds,
MD.;
O—Kavazis, Stella, Stathas, William and Maniatis, Judy;
T—Donald H. Barr
Margins: 4¾, ½, ¾. Others: Greenspring Willy 115($6,000) , Artax 116($6,000) , Brushed On 113 , Power by Far 114 , Just Call Me Carl 113 . Winning Jockey, Jerry D. Bailey.
Yes It’s True, who won the Maryland Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. III), has compiled an impressive race record (eight wins from 14 starts), but he’ll be hard pressed to duplicate the record of his second dam, Monique Rene. Monique Rene won 29 of 45 races in four years of racing.
Monique Rene was bred in Louisiana by Rutledge Horne, and she raced most of her career for John Franks. Franks acquired Monique Rene privately in June of her 4-year-old season, and he didn’t have to wait long to get a return on his money. Monique Rene won the restricted Victoria Stakes on grass at Louisiana Downs that month in her first start for her new owner. A Louisiana champion, Monique Rene won 15 stakes in her career before entering Franks’ broodmare band. Franks keeps Monique Rene at his farm near Ocala, Fla. The mare was barren for 1999 and is in foal to Lucky Lionel.
Three-year-old Yes It’s True already has won seven stakes, and is close to “winning himself out” for Satish K. and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables. Padua bought Yes It’s True for $800,000 at the 1998 Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training, and the colt has gone on to earn $734,200. Yes It’s True was consigned to the sale by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent for Bailey-Ellenberg Select.
The Maryland Breeders’ Cup on the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) undercard provided a frightning moment. A man ventured onto the track when the horses were charging down the stretch and miraculously emerged unscathed after several riders checked their mounts in an effort to avoid him. Artax, who was second at that time, lost all chance to finish either first, second, or third, and all bets on him were refunded. He ended up fifth.
Winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Yes It’s True will run next in the Riva Ridge Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs on the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) undercard. The Riva Ridge honors the 1972 Belmont winner. Three weeks before the Belmont, Riva Ridge finished fourth in the Preakness, which was won by a rival whose sire appears in Yes It’s True pedigree. Better Bee, who appears in the fourth generation, sired 1972 Preakness winner Bee Bee Bee.
Is It True, sire of Yes It’s True, has sired seven stakes winners. He stands for a partnership for $6,500 at John T.L. Jones Jr.’s Walmac International near Lexington.—D.S.