News from the WTBOA
September 24, 2010
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Calendar
Sunday, September 12 - Sunday,
September 26, 2010
KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE
Lexington, KY (800) 456-3412 keeneland.com
Sunday, September 26, 2010
EMERALD DOWNS CLOSING DAY
Emerald Downs, Auburn
(253) 288-7000
emeralddowns.com
Thursday, October 14, 2010
WASHINGTON HORSE RACING COMMISSION MEETINGAuburn City Council Chambers
25 W. Main, Auburn, WA
(360) 459-6462
Friday, October 15, 2010
WTBOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
253-288-7878
Friday & Saturday, November 5 & 6, 2010
BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Churchill Downs Louisville, KY (859) 223-5444 or 1 (800) RACECUP
Saturday, November 20, 2010
KEENELAND BREEDING STOCK SALELexington, KY (800) 456-3412 keeneland.com
Saturday, December 4 - Wednesday, December 8, 2010
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Baltimore, MD
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Classified Advertising
PARTNERS WANTED FOR RACING AT EMERALD DOWNS. Hip #73 from 2010 WTBOA Summer Sale. By $2.2-million stakes winner. Half-brother to graded stakes winner. $900 buys 10%. No management, commission, bookkeeping or hidden fees. For information, call 253-887-9489 (prior to October 3) or 702-629-4463 (after October 3).
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WTBOA Mission Statement
The Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association seeks to unite and represent those who are interested in breeding, owning, racing and improving Thoroughbreds in the state of Washing-ton and the Northwest. To generate positive growth, interest and appreciation of Washington Thoroughbreds, the WTBOA is dedicated and committed to education, communication and collaboration, as well as marketing and promoting the nobility, history and benefits of Thoroughbreds.
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Washington Cup VIII Washington race fans once more got the chance to root home the best of the home product during the eighth celebration of Washington Cup, held on a sunny September 12 afternoon at Emerald Downs.
This year's edition of Washington Cup brought forth some changes. The former seven-race stakes card has been reduced to six races, as the Trooper Seven Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings was renamed the Chinook Pass Stakes and the Chinook Pass Sprint Stakes was cancelled. Also, only the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Stakes, which was reduced from 1 1/16-miles to one-mile, maintained a $50,000 purse. The other five stakes were dropped to the $40,000 level. But those changes didn't change the excitement level on a day devoted to showcasing the many talented Washington-bred and/or -sired runners.
Kristy Batie Photo | Year of the Beach
The shortest-priced runner, at one-to-five odds, on the day's card was Jeff Harwood's homebred Noosa Beach, and deservedly so as the twice Washington champion and 2010 Longacres Mile (G3) winner was going for a meet record fifth stakes victory in the eight-panel Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.
A field of five other older males was on hand to try to throttle that ambition, including 2008-09 Muckleshoot winner Wasserman. Now eight, the 2008 Mile winner was not having the best of seasons, after failing to finish in the top three in six earlier starts.
Four-year-old Siberian Cocktail, who had placed in both his past Washington Cup races, broke first and held a half-length lead over Noosa Beach, the 124 pound race highweight, at the quarter pole. Shortly thereafter, the heavy favorite and his regular rider Ricky Frazier contested the frontrunner's leadership role for the next half-mile before opening up a clear lead in the stretch and drawing off to a 2 3/4-length tally. Final race time for the first Classic victory run at eight furlongs - in 69 runnings - was 1:35 flat.
"The plan today was to just keep him clear," said Frazier, who was winning his 10th stakes of the season. "If any horses came close, he would have just blown them away. He was much the best today. It just feels awesome to ride a horse like this. I just wish the season wasn't almost over."
Holding on for second was Howard Belvoir's pride and joy Wasserman. The gelded son of Cahill Road--Share the Knight became the track's leading earner earlier this year and with his $9,160 second place monies, pushed that total to $514,722 (of his $526,259 lifetime figure).
Finishing another half-length back in third was Vic-Tory Stables IV's He's All Heart, a four-year-old son of Private Gold out of Big Headache who was earning his first stakes placement.
Noosa Beach became the fourth Mile victor in the 21st century to come back and win the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. The consistent and classy son of Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave, has now won ten of his 15 starts and only been out of the top three once (a fourth place finish in the 2009 Tacoma Handicap). Not counting the sizable breeders and owners' awards he has earned, Noosa Beach has put $366,770 into the account of his breeders Jeff and Doris Harwood. Doris, who doubles as the gelding's trainer, was scoring her eighth stakes win of the Emerald season. Noosa Beach will now have some well-deserved rest at the Harwoods' Auburn farm before being geared up for the 2011 season.
Kristy Batie Photo | A New You
The filed for the 43rd running of the Belle Roberts Stakes, an event for older fillies and mares, included the 2009 winner Clair Annette. It was to be the final race for Nina L. Egbert's talented homebred A seven-year-old half-sister to 2001 Emerald horse of the meet Makors Mark, Clair Annette had four stakes tallies among her 10 wins going into the 1 1/16-mile stakes and was bet down to four-to-five.
As is her style, Clair Annette broke first, in spite of being bumped at the start, and led through fractions of :24.2, :47.40 and :11.20. Lying just off the favorite's pace was Remmah Racing, Inc.'s Mizzen You, who had been claimed for $15,000 by Howard and Dee Hammer in her previous start. As Clair Annette gave way in the drive to the wire, September House's Ghost Tree - who had proved hard to rate in the early going - was also making a strong bid for the win. But Francisco Duran got Mizzen You to the wire first, and the gray filly outfinished Ghost Tree by three-quarters of a length. Claire Annette finished a neck back in third. Ghost Tree, a four-year-old daughter of Cahill Road-Danza Regio, joins her half-sisters Firetrail (2008) and Roanaway Bride (2006) as Belle Roberts runners-up.
"I wanted to sit right off the speed, because I knew Clair Annette would go to the front," said Duran, who was winning his fifth stakes race of the season in partnership with trainer Frank Lucarelli. "I knew this would be a tough spot, but I expected her to win."
Bred by Jean Harris and her son Jeff at their Clemans View Farm, Mizzen You was sired by Malibu Stakes (G1) winner Mizzen Mast and is the first foal out of the Old Trieste mare Bearlee Naked. Both Mizzen You and Ghost Tree are products of the 2007 WTBOA September Yearling Sale. Mizzen You improved her record to 3-4-1 in 11 starts and has earned $46,383.
Kristy Batie Photo | The Good Sister
The first stakes on the Sunday card was the John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes, a mile race for sophomore fillies. Each of the meet's three-year-old filly stakes had been won by a different distaffer this year. Sis's Sis took the opening salvo in the Federal Way Handicap. Non-Washington-breds Feeling Fancy (Irish Day Handicap) and Rewritten (Washington's Lottery Handicap) took the next two black-type stakes in their division. Dana Claxton and Riverbend Stables' (Gerald and Gail Schneider) homebred Zenovit scored the biggest coup with a 2 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Washington Oaks and went off as the .40-to-one favorite to take the Fletcher stakes.
2009 Washington champion Knight Raider broke first in the field of five and held the lead position through the first six panels. Sitting second in striking position was Sis's Sis, ridden by Juan Gutierrez. As the leaders neared the five-sixteenths pole, Sis's Sis took a clear lead and then held off Zenovit (Private Gold-Cahilina) to win by a half-length. Sue and Tim Spooner's homebred Lilly's a Jewel (You and I-Ruby Dawn) finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
"I knew that Zenovit was a good closer, so I wanted to get a couple of lengths on her into the stretch," said Gutierrez, who was the only rider to score two Washington Cup VIII wins.
Owned by Michael and Amy Feuerborn, who had purchased the daughter of Cahill Road-Carni Gal, by Carnivalay, for $11,000 from her breeder Dale Mahlum at the 2008 WTBOA September sale, the victory gave Hall of Fame trainer Jim Penney his 500th win at the Auburn oval. In nine starts, Sis's Sis has a record of 5-1-1 and has earned $84,005.
Kristy Batie Photo | Second Man
In 2008 California trainer Jeff Bonde ventured north to attend the WTBOA's annual yearling sale, looking for a few promising horses for Californians Philip Lebherz and Alan Klein. A strong colt by Slewdledo immediately took his fancy and was one of his three purchases and was the highest selling ($47,000) colt in the sale. Later renamed Slew the Man, he got a bit lost in the barn shadows, as Hold That Tiger colt bought by Bonde for $40,000,and now named Smiling Tiger, rewarded Lebherz and Klein with a stakes win at two and a Grade 1 victory at Del Mar in August, as well as earnings of $369,864. It should also be noted that the top two selling fillies at the '08 Washington sale also turned out rather well, as both Notoriously and City to City are multiple stakes winners this year.
After finishing in the Fourth of July Alamedan Handicap at Pleasanton, Bonde sent Slew the Man to Mike Chamber's Emerald barn for a try in the Emerald Derby, where he finished fourth to winner Saratoga Boot. Slew the Man was then left with Chambers to make his bid on Washington Cup day.
Ten three-year-old colts and geldings faced off in the renamed and transferred Chinook Pass Stakes. Seattle Slew Handicap winner Newfound Man drew most of the fans' money, going off at $1.70-to-one odds.
Fisher Creek broke first in the mile stakes, but was soon passed by Frank McDonald's homebred Bogachiel, who led through fractions of :45.60 and 1:10.20. Never far back in the field was Slew the Man and his rider Kevin Krigger. With a furlong to go, Slew the Man gained mastery of the race and then drew off to a three-length victory. Laura Mertens' Wheelhouse, a son of Limehouse-Annie's Halo, finished second, a half-length the better than Bogachiel (Harbor the Gold-Alpine Song). Newfound Man, who like Wheelhouse was bred by Coal Creek Farm, finished fourth. Final race time was 1:36.20.
Bred by Nina and Ron Hagen, Slew the Man follows stakes winner Indian Weaver as the second stakes star produced out of the Fit to Fight mare Go for Jackie. From 16 starts, Slew the Man has a record of 4-4-3 and has earned $96,115.
Kristy Batie Photo | Go Lightly Again
Half of the six 2010 Washington Cup winners had scored previous stakes victories, including the most impressive winner of the day, Lady Golightly. After breaking her maiden in the Barbara Shinpoch Stakes, Lady Golightly ably defended her crown with a 8 1/2-length tally in the Diane Kem Stakes.
Nine juvenile distaffers put on their running shoes for the 6 1/2-furlong stakes and as Lady Golightly was the only stakes winner in the field, she was bet down as the six-to-five favorite.
Allison Ridge held the early lead at the quarter pole, but by the four-furlong mark, Lady Golightly, ridden by apprentice Pedro Terrero, had gained command. The daughter of Matty G continued to draw clear and stopped the final timer in 1:16.40, two ticks faster than the Dennis Dodge Stakes would be run three races later. Frank L. Gaunt's Last Wild Kiss (Tribunal-Last Phone Call) closed well to finish second and was a half-length ahead of Stepping Stone Stables' maiden Bell Adieu (Tribunal-Campanita). Both Lady Golightly and Bell Adieu were bred by Bill and Mary Lou Griffin at their Buckley-based Griffin Place.
Trained by Tom Wenzel, who scored a major upset win in the 2009 Diane Kem with Have'n a Wild Time, Lady Golightly races for Lady Golightly Racing, a partnership of the Griffins, Wenzel, and his wife Melissa. From the first Washington crop of three-time and current Washington leading sire Matty G, Lady Golightly was produced out of the stakes-winning Lady Beverly, a daughter of Frosty the Snowman. Lady Golightly has a record of 2-1-1 from four starts and the $49,600 earner is the frontrunner to be named top juvenile filly of the meet.
Kristy Batie Photo | Don't Dodge the Bullet Even though both Winter Warlock and Couldabenthewhisky were stakes winners going into the Dennis Dodge Stakes, favoritism in the 6 1/2-furlong race fell to impressive 11-length maiden winner Broulee Beach. But the winner's share of the purse would go to another impressive maiden winner, as Pay Dirt Racing's Mack's Gold Bullet would add a one-length win in the Dodge to his seven-length beginner's tally to remain unbeaten. Mack's Gold Bullet, though pressured throughout, tipped the marker at every call and held on to defeat Warlock Stables, Horseplayers Racing Club HRC 032 and James Broussard's Winter Warlock (Demon Warlock-Royal Snowflight) by a length. A length was also the margin that separated Winter Warlock from Friendship Stables, Longshot Racing and Craig and Stanley Fredrickson's Couldabenthewhisky (Harbor the Gold-Bahati). Broulee Beach finished sixth in the field of nine. Trained by Vann Belvoir, Mack's Gold Bullet was Juan Gutierrez's second Washington Cup victory of the day, and added to the rider's seven other Cup victories over the years, places him tied with Ricky Frazier as the leading Washington Cup jockeys with nine.. Bred by Ron A. McCormack, who races under Pay Dirt Racing, Mack's Gold Bullet, a gelded son of Private Gold and out of Mackenzie Grey, by Maria's Mon, has earned $27,943 in his two outings.
WTBOA Sales Footnote The WTBOA congratulates the sales horses who won stakes on the Washington Cup card - Mizzen You, Belle Roberts Stakes; Sis's Sis, John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes, Slew the Man, Chinook Pass Stakes; and Lady Golightly, Diane Kem Stakes. In addition, the following sales horses also placed in the day's stakes: Bell Adieu, Couldabenthewhisky, Ghost Tree, He's All Heart, Last Wild Kiss and Wheelhouse. Other Emerald News
Lisa Baze and Jerry Carmody's 11-year-old West Seattle Boy, who is Emerald Downs' all-time leading horse by number of wins, scored a head victory in a $3,500 claiming race on September 11. Win number 18 came in the sixth race of the day. Rider Gallyn Mitchell was aboard the Washington-bred grandson of Washington champion and Hall of Famer Belle of Rainier for the close victory, as the rider continues to add to his own record number of wins at the Auburn track. West Seattle Boy gave Mitchell his 1,243 trip to the winner's circle at Emerald. Trained by Rigoberto Velasquez and bred by the late Al Benton, West Seattle Boy's overall record is 22-12-17 from 93 starts and the gelded son of Majesterian-Pancho's Girl, by Pancho Villa, has earned $164,357.
2006 Emerald Downs sprinter of the meet Starbird Road, now nine, was retired after winning the feature race on September 18. It marked the 12th win for the Washington-bred son of Count the Time-Mia F. Eighteen, by Tough Knight, who goes out with earnings of $198,697. Bred by Landis T.L. Penry, Starbird Road won four stakes at Emerald Downs during his 29-race career. Claimed for $25,000 in his third career start (August 22, 2003), Starbird Road raced for Richard Beal and was trained by Sharon Ross through much of his career. After being away from the races the whole of 2008, Starbird Road was transferred to Larry Ross, and Sharon became the classy gelding's co-owner.
Ricky Frazier was aboard Starbird Road for his final half-length victory in the mile race.
"It's awesome the way they're going to retire the horse 100 percent sound," said Frazier. "It's why I love Washington racing. I've been all around the country, and the owners and trainers here do the right thing."
2009 Longacres Mile (G3) winner and Emerald Downs horse of the meet Assessment, the only horse to defeat 2010 Mile winner Noosa Beach this season, took the September 19 mile allowance feature by three lengths. Ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, it was the ninth lifetime win for Tice Ranch's six-year-old son of Jump Start. The Howard Belvoir-trained gelding has earned $434,055. |
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Other WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News
2008 WTBOA Winter Sale graduate Victoriaslilsecret went over the $100,000 mark after her win in a four-furlong allowance race at Timonium on September 6. Bred in Washington by Char Clark Thoroughbreds, the four-year-old filly boosted her record to 8-3-6 from 23 starts. Unraced at two, the $6,700 sale yearling made her first eight starts at Emerald Downs last year as a three-year-old. Sent back east in December of her sophomore season, the daughter of Vying Victor-Stitch in Time, by Knights Choice - now trained by Scott Lake -- has won four of her last five starts while racing at Timonium, Delaware Park and Penn National.
Stakes winner and 2003 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale graduate Indian Weaver, a half-brother to 2010 Chinook Pass Stakes winner and 2008 sale graduate Slew the Man, pushed his earnings to $266,803 after recording his ninth victory in a Zia Park claiming race on September 13. The eight-year-old Washington-bred son of Basket Weave-Go for Jackie, by Fit to Fight, was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen. |
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Other Washington News Billie Klokstad's homebred filly Tops Image won a six-furlong allowance/optional claiming race at Golden Gate Fields on September 11, improving her record to 6-4-4 from 18 starts and her earning's column to $143,475. The four-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Woodstead Farm's He's Tops out of Personal Image, by Strike Gold, is a half-sister to two stakes winners and is trained by Bud Klokstad. Finishing a half-length behind Tops Image in second was Jerry Hollendorfer and Dr. George Todaro's stakes filly Startjumpin Marnie.
Former Washington trainer Jeff Harwood trains and co-bred Prophesize, a four-year-old New Mexico-bred daughter of Precocity out of Powerbilt Countes, by Staff Writer, who won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race at Zia Park by 6 3/4 lengths on September 14. The new winner, whose dam is a minor stakes-winning half-sister to stakes winner and good Washington sire Tough Knight, paid a heaping $156.20 for a $2 win ticket.
William DeBurgh, Jerry Hollendorfer, Mark Dedomenico LLC and Dr. George Todaro had a new winner on September 16 when their three-year-old The Hunt Is On, a Kentucky-bred gelding by Forestry, took a mile turf maiden special weight race at Golden Gate Fields.
John and Janene Maryanski's multiple stakes-winning mare Gadget Queen won a mile allowance/$50,000 optional claiming race by 2 1/2 lengths over Golden Gate Fields' turf course on September 18. The six-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Lucky Acres' Flying With Eagles-Knights Fantasy, by Staff Riot, improved her record to 9-1-4 from 33 outings. Bred by Sharin Lunceford and trained by Blaine Wright, Gadget Queen has earned $279,510.
Swiss Love, a three-year-old Washington-bred filly by Swiss Yodler-Our Mt. of Love, by Mt. Livermore, bred by Candi Tollett and Kelli Rogers' Forty Forty Farms, won an about four-furlong $25,000 maiden claiming race at Fairplex Park by three lengths on September 18.
No It Aint, the two-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Yes It's True who won a five-furlong maiden special weight race by 3 1/2 lengths at Albuquerque on September 20, was bred by Northwest Farms LLC. The new winneris a half-brother to 2001 Angie C. Stakes winner Strong Credentials, both offspring of the $205,237 stakes-winning Vice Regent mare Northern Hilite.
Five-year-old Try and Catch Me, a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of St. Hilaire Thoroughbreds' Polish Miner out of Walkin in Da Sun, by Sunny Clime, finished third in the restricted $100,000 Mrs. Penny Stakes run at Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park on September 11. She has earned $232,808. Polish Miner's five-year-old son Polish Smile won a $25,000 handicap race at Charles Town Races on September 18. It was the ninth win for the Pennsylvania-bred gelding out of Sentimental Smile, by Maudlin, who has earned $193,928.
Cirac, the five-year-old son of Sligo Bay (Ire) who finished second in the $72,750 Formal Gold Stakes run at Monmouth Park on September 12, is out of Mona Lisa, a daughter of Woodstead Farm stallion You and I. The Unbridled's Song colt who topped the September 17 session of the Keeneland yearling sale for $560,000 is out of You and I's stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed daughter Sweet Nanette.
The Seattle Times correspondent and Washington Thoroughbred contributor Gary Dougherty won the inaugural Emerald Downs Final Fridays Handicapping contest, sponsored by the Washington HBPA.
J. Pa, a five-year-old son of Deputy Commander out of Silent City, by Carson City, won an about five-furlong allowance test at Arlington Park on September 17. A half-brother to Lucky Acres' Kentucky Lucky and graded stakes-placed Chaplinesque, J. Pa has won six races and earned $106,318.
Two offspring of the Devil On Ice mare Devil's Favour placed in stakes on September 18. Five-year-old stakes winner Cool Venture, by Seattle Syn, increased his earnings to $318,465 after finishing second by a half-length to Bent Tune in the $48,480 Alberta Breeders' Handicap run at Northlands Park. Meanwhile his younger half-brother, three-year-old Cool Kahuna, by Kahuna Jack, won the Alberta-bred Three-year-old Stakes at Lethbridge and pushed his total to $106,374.
West Coast Training Center's Liberty Gold was represented by two Alberta-bred stakes horses at Lethbridge on September 18. Five-year-old multiple stakes winner Hesademon took the $10,568 Alberta-bred Stakes. It was the ninth win for the gelding out of Demonite, by Tough Knight and increased his earnings to $68,437. Two races later, Libenz finished third in the $10,660 Alberta-bred Three-year-old Fillies Stakes. |
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In Memoriam Allen Dale Hoksbergen
Allen Hoksbergen, 65, died on September 8, 2010, after a hard battle against brain cancer.
He was born in Bellingham on November 30, 1944, to Alvy and Julia Rice (Altena) Hoksbergen. Allen attended school in the Custer/Ferndale area before graduating from Ferndale High School in 1963.
The future trainer first came to Longacres in 1958 with his uncle, horse trainer Larry Hoksbergen.
Allen married Marilyn Joan Chambers in Enumclaw on May 3, 1969. They lived in Auburn for 40 years and raised their three sons, Art, Doug and Craig, on a small farm on Leo Hill.
Among the many winners trained by Allen were Steel a Look - with whom he won four stakes at Longacres and Yakima Meadows in 1988 and 1989, 1989 Speed and Renton handicaps winner Steel An Emperor, 1990 Seafair Queen Stakes winner I'm in Demand and 1974 Mary Broderick Memorial Doc's Hot Pants. He trained 43 winners at Emerald Downs during the latter part of his training career.
Allen is survived by his wife Marilyn, of Auburn; sons, Art (Lynn) Hoksbergen, of Idaho, R. Doug (Crystal) Hoksbergen, of Louisiana, and Craig Hoksbergen, of Auburn; brothers, Gale Hoksbergen, Dean (Karen) Hoksbergen and Darren Hoksbergen; sister, Patricia (David) Lathum; stepmother, Bonnie Hoksbergen; and six grandchildren, Amanda, Heather, Karrie, Kasandra, Gareth and Jessie.
Noble Threewitt
Noble Threewitt, a West Coast horse trainer for over seven decades, died on September 16, 2010, in West Covina, California. He was 99.
Born on February 24, 1911, in Benton, Illinois, the teenaged Threewitt began his career in racing as a rider at the Illinois fairs. He took out his trainer's license in 1931 at Aqua Caliente and future Longacres and Southern California racetrack announcer Harry Henson was aboard Threewitt's first winner, Crackerjack, in 1932 at the Mexico track.
He married Beryl Buck, a daughter of trainer W.D. Buck, in 1933. Beryl, who died on July 12 at age 98, and Noble celebrated 77 years of marriage earlier this year.
Threewitt was in attendance for the openings of Hollywood Park - where he won three training titles, Santa Anita, Del Mar, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields - where was leading trainer in 1970 - in California; and was in Washington for Longacres opening in 1933 and the Emerald Downs opener in 1996.
Florida Derby and Wood Memorial winner Correlation was his best runner, but he also trained California sprint star King of Cricket, 1977 California Derby winner Cuzwuzwrong, Grade 2 winners Debonaire Junior (1985), Hula Blaze (1985) and Devoted Brass (1993), and Grade 3 winners Hairless Heiress (1988), Old Topper (1995) and Theresa's Tizzy (2000) among his dozens of stakes winners.
Threewitt, who was well-respected for his humanitarian efforts with stable workers, served six terms as president of the California HBPA, was president of the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation and was director emeritus of California Thoroughbred Trainers.
He retired from training on February 27, 200, after saddling over 2,000 winners. |
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