Grade I-winning millionaire Spring At Last has been purchased by Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer, who will relocate the 12-year-old son of Silver Deputy to Saudi Arabia, where he'll stand stud in 2015.
Day 9 of the Keeneland November sale saw competitive trade for both the session's upper-market weanlings and mares, fueling across-the-board increases. The day's top price, for a Pioneerof the Nile colt, was $85,000.
A weanling colt from the first crop of Shackleford was the standout on the second and final day of the reformatted Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga fall sale Oct. 7 and brought the auction's overall highest price of $150,000.
Grade I winner Spring in the Air returned her winning ways with an off-the-pace charge in the $162,891 Hendrie Stakes (Can-III) May 24 at Woodbine, handing trainer Mark Casse his third consecutive win in the Polytrack event.
Naveed Chowhan's Seaneen Girl shipped into Monmouth Park from her Kentucky base and left town Aug. 10 with an authoritative six-length victory in the $105,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. III).
With jockey Rosie Napravnik aboard, Naveed Chowhan's Seaneen Girl posted her final workout for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) the morning of April 29, breezing a half-mile in :48 4/5.
by Ann Peters
One of the surprise stallion developments of 2012 is Spring At Last, who finished second behind Henrythenavigator on the year-end first-crop sire rankings.
WinStar Farm will conduct drawings for its "Breed to Win" promotion, rewarding supportive breeders with a complimentary 2013 season to 12 stallions, the farm announced Jan. 4. The drawings will be held Feb. 9.
Seaneen Girl, making her first start for Dr. Naveed Chowhan and trainer Bernie Flint, fought her way past favored Gal About Town to win the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.
Around the Mark Casse barn, Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly (gr. I) candidate Spring in the Air is known as the "Little Zenyatta" for her dressage-like prancing.
Spring Venture, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Patrick Husbands, stayed unbeaten while prevailing under a hand ride Oct. 6 at Woodbine in the featured $205,361 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III).
John Oxley's Spring in the Air closed with a huge run from mid-pack to win the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) by a length at Keeneland Oct. 5, punching her ticket to the Breeders' Cup.
Trainer Mark Casse won the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (gr. IIT) for the fourth time in the past seven years when his fillies Spring Venture and Spring in the Air ran first and second in the one-mile turf event at Woodbine.
Grade I winner Spring At Last has already sired two winners from his first crop of 2-year-olds to race, including the impressive filly Seaneen Girl, who won handily by 5 3/4 lengths at first asking June 22 at Woodbine
A colt by Elusive Quality brought a sale record of $350,000 to top the final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2012 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age June 20 in Ocala, Fla.
A filly by Spring At Last consigned by Eisaman Equine, agent, Hip No. 408, worked a quarter in :20 4/5, the fastest work at the distance at the second session of the Under Tack Show for the OBS sale.
WinStar Farm announced 2012 fees for its expanded roster of stallions, led by North America's leading sire Distorted Humor, who will stand for $100,000 (stands and nurses) and will breed an exclusive book of 100 mares.
From Captain Steve to Quality Road, rank the last 10 winners of the Donn Handicap. Rank The Horses
The first reported offspring by grade I winner Spring At Last is a filly born Jan. 19 at Thomas Young's Sandringham Farm near Georgetown, Ky.
Distorted Humor, who ranks second on this year's leading sire's list, has undergone a cut in his stud fee. He will stand in 2010 for $100,000, down from $150,000 in 2009.
The 2009 stud fees for WinStar and Taylor Made/WinStar Venture stallions standing at WinStar Farm, near Versailles, Ky., were announced Nov. 6. In a departure from the general trend of declining stud fees, the fee for Tiznow will rise from $30,000 to $75,000 for 2009.
Spring At Last, the leading U.S. earner by Silver Deputy, will stand at Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., for a $15,000 live foal fee during his inaugural season in 2009.
Winter's Gone, dam of three graded stakes winners, died after foaling a dead Storm Cat offspring this year.
Bustin Stones took his sixth race in a row when he proved victorious in the Carter Handicap (gr. I).
Bustin Stones and Spring at Last, two horses at the top of their game, meet in an East vs. West showdown in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (gr.I) at Aqueduct April 5.
Spring at Last, winner of the 2007 Godolphin Mile (UAE-II), skipped the trip to Dubai this year but will be in action at Aqueduct in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (gr. I) April 5.
Connections of Spring At Last, a convincing winner of the Feb. 2 Donn Handicap (gr. I), have decided to bypass the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 29 and aim instead for the $300,000 Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 5.
It is all systems go for a trip to Dubai by Spring At Last, who worked an easy four furlongs in :50 1/5 at Hollywood Park Feb. 25 for trainer Doug O'Neill.
Spring At Last had only one start under his belt after winning the Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) last March, and that was a Dec. 26 allowance race over the Santa Anita turf. But Doug O'Neill had no qualms about sending the Silver Deputy colt into the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I), and the trainer's faith was rewarded when his 4-year-old runner returned with a solid victory at Gulfstream Park Feb. 2.
Brass Hat, A.P. Arrow, Fairbanks, Spring At Last, Einstein all pack into talented field for the 50th running of the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 2.
Great Hunter and Spring at Last, two runners for Doug O'Neill that were sidelined by ankle chips, could make their next starts before the end of the year, according to O'Neill. Great Hunter could be headed for the Strub Series, while Spring at Last may earn other trip to Dubai.
Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Lava Man could return to competition for the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) June 30, while quarter cracks have delayed the comeback of juvenile champion Stevie Wonderboy, trainer Doug O'Neill reported May 9.
Lava Man is scheduled to return to his Hollywood Park base Wednesday night after his trip to Dubai, and trainer Doug O'Neill said it's "reasonable to say" the gelding won't be leaving his home state again.
Garrett Gomez may be best known internationally for his association with Discreet Cat but was in the winner's enclosure after the $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) which he won impressively on the Doug O'Neill trained Spring At Last.
Track work at Nad Al Sheba took off with a real purpose on Tuesday morning as the international competitors were out in force in pursuit of the US$21.25million in prize-money on offer on Saturday's Dubai World Cup night extravaganza.
How amazing is Lava Man? Absolutely invincible in California over the past two seasons on turf and dirt, the 6-year-old gelding became the third horse in 70 years to win back-to-back runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) Saturday.
Lava Man, the most prosperous claiming purchase in racing history, will be out to lay claim to another distinction on Saturday when the 6-year-old gelding will be an overwhelming favorite to win a second $1 million Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manual Indian Bingo & Casino (gr. I).
Jay Em Ess Stable's Arson Squad shot through along the inside mid-stretch, going on to capture the $300,000 Strub (gr. II) for 4-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Saturday.
Brother Derek, his career on a downturn since a fourth straight graded stakes victory in last April's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), needs a return to his best form in Saturday's 60th running of the $300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) at his favorite track.
Likely favorites Brother Derek and Arson Squad will switch riders for Saturday's $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
The untested, unbeaten and so far brilliant Discreet Cat puts his unblemished record on the line in Sunday's $150,000 Jerome Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at one mile.
| Trainer | Doug F. O'Neill |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Garrett K. Gomez |
| Owner | Reddam, J., Paul, WinStar Farm |
| Breeder | WinStar Farm, LLC |
| Spring At Last View Five-Cross Pedigree | Silver Deputy | Deputy Minister |
| Silver Valley | ||
| Winter's Gone | Dynaformer | |
| Stark Winter |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEENOV2006 Hip 3378 |
Racing prospect | J. Paul Reddam | WinStar Racing, agent | $675,000 |
| Dortmund |
| Upstart |
| American Pharoah |
| Texas Red |
| Far Right |
| International Star |
| Itsaknockout |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Far From Over |
| California Chrome |
