LeComte S. (gr. III)
(gr. III , 8f ,)
FRIESAN FIRE
(B r,
116
lb) $60,000
A.P. Indy —Bollinger (AUS) , by
Dehere
B—Grapestock LLC,
KY.;
O—Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm;
T—J. Larry Jones
Patena
(B h,
122
lb) $20,000
Seeking the Gold —Handpainted , by
A.P. Indy
B—NETP,
KY.;
O—Sikura, John and Glenn and Dilalla, Dominic;
T—Josie Carroll
Au Moon
(B g,
116
lb) $11,000
Malibu Moon —She's Mahogany , by
Woodman
B—Rock River Enterprises Limited,
KY.;
O—Brown, Tim and Gahm, Phil;
T—David M. Carroll
Margins: 1½, 2½, 2. Others: Uno Mas 120($6,000) , Big Push 120($3,000) , Indygo Mountain 118 , Citizen 120 , Dynamic Force 120 . Winning Jockey, Gabriel Saez.
Friesan Fire took a major step on the way to the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) when he captured the Jan. 10 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at a mile at Fair Grounds. The victory, his first in a stakes, came as the 2-1 favorite by 11Ú2 lengths in 1:37.67.
A son of A.P. Indy, Friesan Fire races for Tom SimonÕs Vinery Stables and Rick PorterÕs Fox Hill Farms. He was bred by Grapestock, which is the breeding division of the Vinery operation. Vinery is located near Lexington.
Friesan FireÕs dam, Bollinger, was a group I winner in her native Australia for a partnership that included Simon. Her dam, Bint Marscay, proved so good as a juvenile that she beat males in winning the Tooheys Golden Slipper Stakes (Aust-I). She was chosen champion 2-year-old filly.
Bollinger was imported to the United States in 2003 and bred to Gone West in 2004. The resultant foal, Grande Annee, was sent to England and won three of five races in 2008. Friesan Fire was BollingerÕs next foal.
Friesan Fire was consigned by Vinery, agent, to the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. He failed to reach his reserve and was bought back for $725,000.
Vinery general manager Tom Ludt, who sees plenty of promise in Friesan Fire, also is excited about another 3-year-old colt, Peace Town, who races for Vinery and Singer Stables. A son of Vinery stallion Peace Rules, Peace Town won the restricted Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes Dec. 27 at Laurel for his third win in five starts.
Vinery and Fox Hill raced 2008 graded stakes winner Kodiak Kowboy, who is by Vinery stallion Posse. Fox Hill also campaigned 2008 grade II winners Eight Belles and Old Fashioned, and grade III winner Honest Man (in partnership). Eight Belles, who broke down and was euthanized after running second in the Kentucky Derby, is an Eclipse Award finalist for best 3-year-old filly. Old Fashioned is a finalist for champion 2-year-old male.
A.P. Indy has sired 115 stakes winners. His 11 stakes winners of 2008 included grade I winner Music Note, who is an Eclipse Award finalist for best 3-year-old filly. A.P. Indy stands at William S. FarishÕs LaneÕs End Farm near Versailles, Ky. His 2009 fee is $250,000.ÑD.S.
