Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S. (gr. I)
(gr. I , 6f ,)
THOR'S ECHO
(CH g,
122
lb) $180,000
Swiss Yodeler —Helen of Troy , by
Mr. Integrity
B—Block & Forman,
CA.;
O—Royce S. Jaime Racing Stable, Inc. and Suarez Racing, Inc.;
T—Doug F. O'Neill
Diabolical
(CH h,
116
lb) $60,000
Artax —Bonnie Byerly , by
Dayjur
B—Longleaf Pine Farm,
KY.;
O—Puglisi Racing, LLC and Klesaris, Steve;
T—Steve Klesaris
Nightmare Affair
(GR/RO h,
122
lb) $33,000
Out of Place —Beaux Arts Ball , by
Black Tie Affair (IRE)
B—Sandra McKinney,
FL.;
O—Timber Side Stables;
T—Manuel J. Azpurua
Margins: ¾, neck, 1¾. Others: Crafty Schemer 118($18,000) , Mach Speed 118($9,000) , Celtic Innis 118 , Attila's Storm 118 , Joey Carson 118 , Coppertone Kid 116 . Winning Jockey, Corey S. Nakatani.
Thor’s Echo races for Royce S. Jaime Racing Stable and Suarez Racing, the latter of which is managed by Pablo Suarez for himself and his family. The two outfits privately bought Thor’s Echo for $250,000 from Block-Forman Stable, David Berlin, and Carl Smith the winter of 2005 and turned him over to trainer Doug O’Neill. Carleton Block and Harry Forman bred Thor’s Image in partnership with Steve Warner’s Fast Lane Farms.
Thor’s Echo, who won a Santa Anita maiden race in his last start for his previous owners, quickly earned back his purchase price. In his first two starts for his new owners, he earned $20,960 with a second-place finish in the Borderland Derby and $270,000 in winning theWinStar Derby, both at Sunland Park.
Jaime, a native of Panama who lives in Alta Loma, Calif., raced earlier stakes winners Diligent Prospect, Kissin Ty, Maria’s Mirage, Perfect Moon, and Timeintown alone or in partnership. Suarez, who lives near Valencia, Calif. also had raced several other stakes winners alone and in partnership, including graded winners Sharp Lisa and Estate Collection. The former won last year’s Las Virgenes (gr. I) and Santa Ynez (gr. III) Stakes and this year’s Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. II). Sharp Lisa ran unplaced in this year’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Whereas the race for champion sprinter just got tighter, the race for California leading sire got more secure. Swiss Yoderer has 2006 progeny earnings of $4.3 million compared to $3.5 million for runner-up Bertrando.
Thor’s Image has earned all but $30,600 of his $2,372,990 for his current owners. His dam, Helen of Troy, is boarded at Bud Johnston’s Old English Rancho near Sanger, Calif., where she is carrying a full sibling to Thor’s Echo.
Swiss Yodeler has sired 15 stakes winners, including additional 2006 added-money winners Ammann, Swiss Address, and Tyrolean Empress. Swiss Yodeler stands at Patricia Youngman’s Pepper Oaks Farm near Santa Ynez, Calif. He stood for $7,500 in 2006 and will stand for $10,000 in 2007.—D.S.
