Stable Mail: A-Z (Part II)

TDN’s Racing Editor Steve Sherack takes a closer look at his stable mail account in this second installment of a continuing series. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveSherackTDN.

FAMOUS ALICE (f, 3, Kitten’s Joy): Punched home nicely to post a visually impressive debut win going six furlongs over the Hollywood grass Nov. 23, then reported home second-best as the chalk after mixing it up through hot fractions going down the hill in an optional claimer Jan. 19 (video). From the Tom Proctor barn.

FASCINATING (f, 3, Smart Strike): Hard to find a maiden with a better resume than her. Off since a rallying third while making her two-turn debut in the GI Chandelier S. at Santa Anita Sept. 28, Bodemeister’s little sister is yet to post a breeze for Baffert since Oct. 21.

FOOTSTEPSINBRONZE (IRE) (c, 3, Footstepsinthesand {GB}): Raced with a hot pace going down the hill in his Jan. 11 unveiling (video), and kept on battling in the stretch to come up only a half-length short. Promising runner for Simon Callaghan.

GAREN (c, 3, Street Cry {Ire}): Half-brother to Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) took a major step forward in his second career attempt with blinkers added, doing all of the heavy lifting dueling on the front end through hot fractions and staying on nicely in the stretch to finish a respectable fourth in a salty maiden at Santa Anita Jan. 18 (video). In great hands with Peter Miller.

INDIANAPOLIS (c, 3, Medaglia d’Oro): Baffert trainee took the overland route to get it right with a good-looking come-from-behind win at first asking at Hollywood Nov. 24, then beat up on three rivals with a sharp performance in the six-furlong San Pedro S. Jan. 20 (video), good for a 97 Beyer. Finishes like he’ll handle more distance. Next stop: GII San Vicente S. Feb. 16.

INTERRUPTED (f, 3, Broken Vow): Half-sister to millionaire Alternation hasn’t exactly set the world on fire with her speed figures, but this Pin Oak homebred was certainly visually impressive in a pair of explosive come-from-behind tallies over the Laurel sod Sept. 27 & Oct. 25 (video) last term. In steady training at Palm Meadows with Graham Motion.

IRISH WHISPER (f, 4, Langfuhr): Promising NY-bred returned to the races in style with a razor sharp wire-to-wire allowance win at the Big A Jan. 26, her first start since a dismal grass attempt at Saratoga last summer. Awfully nice filly from the Jeremiah Englehart barn when she brings her best.

KID LIGHTNING (c, 4, Lemon Drop Kid): Half-brother to champion Stevie Wonderboy had some trips when under the care of Kiaran McLaughlin last term. Transferred to Chad Brown, the chestnut rallied smartly from far back into slow fractions to finish a close third at 11-1 in a grassy optional claimer at Gulfstream Jan. 11 (video), good for a career high 80 Beyer. Plenty of potential for this lightly raced 4-year-old.

LA MADRINA (f, 3, Tapit): Anxiously awaiting this well-bred half-sister to Verrazano (More Than Ready)’s career debut. Emory Hamilton homebred is in steady training with Shug at Payson.

LENT (c, 4, Pulpit): Fort Larned’s little bro stepped up with a smart maiden win at second asking with Lasix added when stretched to a mile in an 11-horse field at Churchill Downs last June (video). Trained by Ian Wilkes, the lightly raced 4-year-old is back in training at Palm Meadows.

MEAN SEASON (c, 4, Henny Hughes): Picked up by Jake Ballis for $150k at the KEENOV sale and transferred to Hall of Famer Bill Mott following a debut win at Laurel in September, the chestnut looked like an absolute steal, rolling to a jaw-dropping eight-length win in an optional claimer at the Big A Dec. 22 (video), good for a gaudy 105 Beyer. Forced to miss a Jan. 18 start with a fever.

OUR AMAZING ROSE (f, 3, Yes It’s True): Hard-pressed to find a more impressive debut winner at Saratoga last summer than her (video). The Repole/Pletcher runner ran five furlongs in :57.68, good for a 91 Beyer; her stablemate, subsequent GII Saratoga Special S. hero Corfu (Malibu Moon), covered the same trip in :58.27 two races earlier that day. Starting to gear up at Palm Meadows for her sophomore debut.

Click here for Part I of this series.

Stable Mail: A-Z

TDN’s Racing Editor Steve Sherack takes a closer look at his stable mail account (A-D) in this first installment of a continuing series. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveSherackTDN.

ABSTRACTION (c, 4, Pulpit): Lightly-raced My Meadowview Farm homebred disappeared following a troubled third (bumped start, checked clubhouse turn, wide move far turn, etc.) behind Code West in the GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs last June (video). Was super impressive in his runaway Fair Grounds maiden win Mar. 13 and also overcame some adversity to annex the Federico Tesio S. as the heavy chalk at Pimlico Apr. 27; anxiously awaiting his return to the worktab.

ALL IN BLUE (c, 3, More Than Ready): Razor sharp debut winner at Belmont July 4 (video) failed to land a blow in either of his next two attempts in the GII Sanford S. July 21 or the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 2, both at the Spa. Starlight colorbearer may need a switch to grass to put it all together.

BAND OF JOY (h, 5, Bowman’s Band): Promising turf sprinter couldn’t have endured a worse trip before finishing up like a rocket (final eighth clocked in :10.84) when third in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Jan. 19 (video), his first attempt for Todd Pletcher after being purchased privately by Paul Pompa Jr. It would be an awfully quick turnaround, but he’s nominated for the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Feb. 1.

BARDSTOWN (r, 3, Stormy Atlantic): Highly-touted $400k KEEAPR graduate turned in a very promising rally to finish second in his six-furlong debut at Del Mar Aug. 25 (video) before hitting the sidelines. Looking forward to seeing this chestnut back in action as a sophomore; from the Bob Hess Jr. barn.

BEE BRAVE (GB) (f, 4, Rail Link {GB}): European invader stormed home powerfully from last off a lengthy layoff in her U.S. debut for trainer Simon Callaghan in a first-level Santa Anita allowance going a mile on the lawn Jan. 18 (video), her first attempt since posting a narrow debut win at Ayr back in August 2012. Stakes-quality runner.

CALISTOGA (f, 4, Speightstown): Couldn’t have been more impressive in a pair of powerful front-running tallies at Gulfstream last term Jan. 12 & Mar. 7. Slightly favored in a field of 13 in the GIII Eight Belles S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard (video), the chestnut was surprisingly placed toward the back of pack while racing on the outside after exiting from stall 13. She made a huge middle-move to reach contention while parked extremely wide on the far turn, and understandably ran out of gas late to finish a good fourth. Produced by a winning full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Giacomo (Holy Bull) and a half-sister to MGISW Tiago (Pleasant Tap), the Donald Dizney colorbearer continues to train up a storm for Bill Mott at Payson Park.

CANDY BOY (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}): C R K Stable homebred finally put it all together at fourth asking with a powerful maiden win going two turns at Hollywood Nov. 22, then held on for runner-up honors behind champion Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) following a well-documented dramatic middle move in the GI CashCall Futurity Dec. 14 (video). Legit GI Kentucky Derby hopeful for John Sadler.

CANDY DANDY (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}): Immediately caught the eye with a jaw-dropping debut win over a salty group at Churchill Downs June 30 (video)--including subsequent GIII Sapling S. hero Dunkin Bend (Dunkirk) and recent GII Holy Bull S. runner-up Conquest Titan (Birdstone)--but failed to live up to the billing with a disappointing fifth as the even-money chalk in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 11. Had a chip removed since and has been training steadily for SteveAsmussen at the Fair Grounds.

CAN’THELPBELIEVING (IRE) (c, 3, Duke of Marmalade {Ire}): Turned in a serious late rally (final eighth in :11.58) to get the money going long at third asking with blinkers/Lasix added at Gulfstream Jan. 11 (video). Very promising grass runner for the always dangerous Graham Motion barn.

COACH INGE (c, 3, Big Brown): Nothing seemed to go right after an early bobble for this Repole/Pletcher representative as the 7-5 chalk in his seven-furlong Gulfstream unveiling Dec. 19 (video). Made a menacing sweeping move on the far turn before running out of gas in the stretch to finish a well-beaten fourth; should move forward nicely with that one under his belt.

CONSTITUTION (c, 3, Tapit): Had every right to pack it in after rushing up into hot fractions after missing the break, but battled on gamely in the stretch to earn his diploma at first asking going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Jan. 11 (video). Produced by a stakes-placed half-sister to GI Forego S. hero Emcee (Unbridled’s Song), the $400k FTSAUG graduate tops a very long list of promising sophomores for Pletcher.

DANCE WITH FATE (c, 3, Two Step Salsa): Along with colleague Brian DiDonato, I’ve been a big fan/supporter of the 2009 G2 Godolphin Mile hero’s first crop of runners. Trained by Peter Eurton, Dance With Fate showcased his ability with a pair of runner-up finishes at the top level last term, and he recently took his game to another level with a switch to grass, closing smartly into slow early fractions in an $80k optional tagger at Santa Anita Jan. 24 (video).

DANZA (c, 3 Street Boss): An eye-catching rallying third from along the fence in his second career start when last seen in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 11 (video), the Eclipse colorbearer is currently on the comeback trail at Palm Meadows.

Retired Racehorse Training Project 2014: Stars of the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Maryland Horse World Expo

Every time a new TV show featuring horses or horse culture comes around, you hear a collective groan from horse communities everywhere. The shows never get it right. Because horse lovers will watch a show whether it's good or awful, we're stuck watching current stinkers like Rodeo Girls and Mustang Millionaire, just to get a peek at some nice horses. 

Sara Sopher and Thane

On their best day, the writers of those shows could not come up with better storylines nor characters than the ones found at every Retired Racehorse Training Project event.  

Sara Sopher and Thane

If you've followed my RRTP coverage in the TDN and on this blog, you've learned about the hugely-successful Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, held in October 2013 at Pimlico, as well as the 2012 Trainer Challenge and 2013's 100-Day Thoroughbred Challenge.

Elissa Ogburn and Governor Jack, left, Sara Sopher and Thane, right

 At last weekend's Maryland Horse World Expo, held at the Timonium Fairgrounds, the RRTP picked up right where they left off at the end of October's Symposium. 

Elissa Ogburn and Governor Jack

How's this for a cast of characters?

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, fans were treated to sessions featuring three equine stars of the Thoroughbred Makeover: Thane (Medaglia d'Oro), Governor Jack (Sky Mesa), and Same As Always (Action This Day). As a yearling, Thane sold for over $500,000; Darley graciously donated Thane when it was time to retire from racing. Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Rescue graduate Governor Jack earned over $100,000 on the track. Same As Always was in training at Fair Hill prior to being donated to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program at Bowcrest Farms in Hummelstown, PA.  

Same As Always

The horses' respective owners, Sara Sopher, Elissa Ogburn, and Amber Longreen, are all age 15 or under. In October, the Thoroughbred Makeover audience witnessed the gift of a lifetime when it was announced that her mother purchased Thane for Sopher (15) (see video). Ogburn (14) out grew her pony and knew she was ready for a Thoroughbred. She dedicated her final Makeover training video to the memory of her barn owner, Flee Stisted, who passed away unexpectedly shortly before the Makeover. Longreen (13), trains New Vocations horses and is planning for an eventing career with her Makeover star, Same As Always.  

Amber Longreen and Same As Always

Pittman, left, Wofford, right

 RRTP President Steuart Pittman presented the clinics "Training Scale for Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses" and "Selecting and Starting Your Thoroughbred Off the Track." Olympian and eventing legend Jim Wofford evaluated the horses and riders during the Saturday session. Sara Sopher's trainer, Nuno Santos, was an assistant to Bobby Frankel, and galloped stars like Ghostzapper, Azeri, Fusaichi Pegasus, and Intercontinental.

Nuno Santos and Ken's Kitten

During Friday's "Training Scale for Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses" session, Santos rode his third level dressage horse, Ken's Kitten (Kitten's Joy). Ken's Kitten, stamped with his sire's flashy good looks, displayed elasticity in his gaits, and showed off some extension and collection, including the the building blocks of passage and piaffe work.

Pittman explained that for Thoroughbreds, the first two steps of the classical dressage training pyramid, Rhythm and Relaxation, can sometimes be more challenging than the more advanced steps of Connection, Impulsion, Straightness, and Collection. Of the power of a racehorse, Pittman remarked, "The thrust they use to get out of a starting gate will get them over a six-foot oxer."

As an element of the training scale discussion, I found it quite helpful to compare the muscling on a Thoroughbred who is in serious dressage training and the muscling of a Thoroughbred just beginning his dressage journey. In the two photos below, you can see the power that Ken's Kitten has to engage the hind end and perform more advanced movements, and you can see the same correct muscles developing on Thane.

Nuno Santos and Ken's Kitten

Sara Sopher and Thane

 During a jumping clinic on Saturday, Wofford cited a mentor, Bert de Némethy, and said that a horse goes the way that you ride him. For the three horses and riders in the Thoroughbred Makeover evaluation, this meant that three correct, patient, and consistent rides led to three honest, generous, and fearless horses. "These horses don't have the stereotypical Thoroughbred racehorse attitude because they are being brought along correctly," said Wofford.

Wofford awarded Thane and Sopher with the best flatwork/dressage. "What you see here," Wofford said of Thane, "is a phenomenal athlete in development."

Sara Sopher and Thane

Sara Sopher and Thane

Sara Sopher and Thane

 According to Wofford, Governor Jack/Ogburn had best attitude, for coming out into the challenging Horse Expo environment, full of screaming children, flapping shopping bags, echoing bleachers, and food vendors, and trying a turn on the forehand for the first time in front of a capacity crowd.

Elissa Ogburn and Governor Jack

Elissa Ogburn and Governor Jack

Elissa Ogburn and Governor Jack

Elissa Ogburn and Governor Jack

Same As Always/Longreen received their award for their jumping ability. Same As Always is a tidy, athletic jumper, and Longreen knows exactly how to ride that powerful jump. 

Maybe we can give Rodeo Girls the boot and get these fantastic horses and riders on TV instead.

As always, I left Timonium looking forward to the rest of the RRTP events scheduled for the year. They'll be at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo, and will be hosting another Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium at Pimlico on October 4 and 5. For the Symposium, Pittman promised a huge marketplace for vendors and horses for sale, as well as a great Makeover, with a full cast of great horses, as well as major trainers and racing operations.

I also left the Expo feeling inspired and looking forward to going home and riding my own Thoroughbred. Wizard and I have a lot of work to do if we want to catch up with those 15-year-old riders and 4-year-old horses. 

The RRTP is also featured in my 2014 Horses and Hope calendar. Over the past three years, we've raised over $100,000 in donations to help horses in need. You can click here to order your calendar. 

If you have not yet read Steuart Pittman's most excellent "Expanding the Market for Ex-Racehorses," I highly recommend it. And when you visit the RRTP's website, be sure to add your own Thoroughbred's pedigree to the Bloodline Brag database, where people can learn more about relatives of their own horses who are succeeding as pleasure and show horses. 

 - Sarah Andrew

A Tribute to Wando

By Kelsey Riley

Our job as journalists is to be objective, as it should be, but I could not let this occasion pass without sharing some of my personal feelings about Wando, who died suddenly today at the age of 14. A simple obituary is not enough to describe the horse that, to me, embodies everything that is great about horse racing.

Wando and I

Wando emerged into the spotlight of Canadian racing when I was 14 years old. At that point I had just been hit by the racing bug, and the gorgeous and brilliant front-running chestnut stole my heart the instant I laid eyes on him, and my love only grew from there. You see, the first thing that is special about Wando is his raw ability. After a career as a top-class 2-year-old, he went on to sweep Canada’s Triple Crown–three races in the space of seven weeks at 1 1/4-miles on dirt, 1 3/16 miles on dirt and 1 1/2 miles on the turf. He also won stakes races at as short as six furlongs. Anyone remotely familiar with horse racing knows that this kind of versatility represents a rare type of talent.

The second thing that was special about Wando was his people. One of my favorite things about the racing industry is that even those without the advantage of family involvement can reach the top, if they are willing to work hard, because those in racing are so passionate about it that they are willing to help those who share their passion and drive. I found this character in bucketloads in Wando’s humans. I met Wando’s trainer, Mike Keogh, and his wife, Lou, at Keeneland just before the start of the horse’s 4-year-old campaign, and after telling them that Wando was my favorite horse, they invited me to visit again at their barn at Woodbine when they returned. I took up the offer, and that’s where I met owner Gus Schickedanz and Lauri Kenny, the manager of Gus’s Schonberg Farm, where he bred Wando as well as Langfuhr, Langfuhr’s dam, and Wando’s dam. I was extended another invite, this time to visit Schonberg Farm, and when I arrived there a month later I was certain I had just been plunked in the middle of my wildest dream. I knew for sure I must be dreaming when Lauri suggested that on my next summer break I could work at the farm. I took up his offer and stayed for five years, never losing the excitement of spending time with Wando, his dam and slew of sisters, Lauri, Gus, Mike, and the many other friends I made along the way. My job at Schonberg Farm propelled me to a season at Lane’s End prior to being accepted to the Darley Flying Start course in the summer of 2010. I have always been convinced that my career would not have reached the heights that it has without Wando and his people.

The third thing that was special about Wando was Wando himself. He was described by his racetrack groom, Amanda Erwin, as a kind horse to care for, and that disposition, amazingly, carried over into his stud career. Even as a breeding stallion, he was the most loving, gentle horse one could imagine. I haven’t lived in Canada for three years, but every time I went back to visit I would visit Schonberg Farm and naturally, Wando, who would allow me to walk out to meet him in his paddock, throw my arms around his neck and run my hands all over him. Last summer, I jumped up on his back while he ate from his fence feeder. Even that was acceptable.

I could go on, but there are not enough words to describe how I feel about Wando. He was an icon, a companion, and a special friend I knew would always be ready for a hug, no matter how long I’d been away. I still cannot believe that today I have written his obituary, and that he will not be there waiting for me the next time I go home. Rest in peace my beautiful friend.