News from Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association

A Washington horse that attended the National Cutting Horse Association event in Ogden, Utah, from April 30 to May 8, 2011, has tested positive for a highly contagious animal disease, Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1). Several confirmed cases in horses with severe symptoms have been found in Utah, Colorado and elsewhere.
"While I have not yet placed any restrictions on the movement of animals, I strongly suggest that horse owners isolate animals that attended the Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah," said state veterinarian Leonard Eldridge. "For the protection of other horses, these owners are advised to keep their animals home for a couple of weeks."
The disease poses no threat to people, but symptoms in horses can include fever, sneezing, slobbering and other mild symptoms. Serious cases of the disease are rare, but can include staggering, hind-end paralysis and even death of the horse.
A horse that attended the Ogden show was treated at the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman and was confirmed over the weekend to be positive for EHV-1. Blood samples from several other Washington horses that attended the Utah event are currently being tested at WSU's Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
The disease is spread from horse to horse through direct contact, on feed, tack and equipment, or on the clothes and hands of horse owners. While there is no human public health threat associated with the disease, horse owners should carefully wash their hands and equipment to prevent the spread of the virus.
The time of exposure to illness of EHV-1 is typically two to 14 days. Horse owners attending the Ogden show should consider limiting the movement of their horses and isolate them from other horses to prevent further spread of the virus.
Horses that show any symptoms of EHV-1 should be seen by a veterinarian. Positive cases of EHV-1 must be reported to the Washington State veterinarian's office at (360) 902-1881.
More information on the virus can be found at http://www.aaep.org/ehv.htm.

From a May 16, 2011 news release printed on the Washington State Department of Agriculture website (http://agr.wa.gov/News/2011/11-10.aspx).

EHV-1 Workshop and Update

In Western Washington, Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital, in Snohomish, is holding a workshop on EHV-1 with an update and current status discussion on Monday, May 23, 2011, beginning at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to large animal reception at (360) 568-3111.

May Results from Churchill Downs

2010 Washington champion three-year-old male Slew the Man got the ball rolling when he finished a game second to $399,955 graded stakes winner El Caballo, a seven-year-old son of El Corredor, in a mile allowance/$100,000 optional claiming race on May 5. The son of Slewdledo-Go for Jackie, by Fit to Fight, led at every call before succumbing by a half-length to the older runner. Final race time was a good 1:34.84. Slew the Man, a 2008 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale graduate who was bred and consigned by Nina and Ron Hagen's El Dorado Farms LLC, improved his record to 4-7-5 from 22 starts and the Jeff Bonde trainee has earned $141,095 for owners Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz.

Mark Dedomenico LLC, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's 2010 champion Blind Luck returned to the winner's circle after a dramatic victory in the May 6 La Troienne Stakes (G3). The four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Pollard's Vision-Lucky One, by Best of Luck, came into the 1 1/16-mile race after five consecutive second place finishes, including a runner-up finish to Unrivaled Belle in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (G1) last November. After stumbling badly at the start of the La Troienne, Blind Luck and rider Garrett Gomez languished last in the field of eight for the first half-mile. With three furlongs to go, the chestnut filly swung six-wide and dug in to defeat Unrivaled Belle in the last strides by a half-length. All Due Respect finished three lengths further back in third place. The game champion, who was recently named Kentucky's champion three-year-old filly for 2010 by the KTOBA, took home $200,808 of the $333,900 purse and has now earned $2,679,520 in 19 starts with a record of 10-7-2.

Hollendorfer, who also trained 2004 Longacres Mile (G3) winner Adreamisborn, is among the four finalists, and only human, who will be inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame this coming August.

Alan Klein and Philip Lebherz's Smiling Tiger went into the $300,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G2), on the May 7 Kentucky Derby undercard, as the $2.50-to-one favorite, but after being blocked four times during the seven-furlong event, he finished sixth, beaten less than three lengths. The four-year-old son of Hold That Tiger-Shandra Smiles, by Cahill Road, who was sold by his breeder Dr. Rodney Orr through Halvorson Bloodstock Services LLC at the 2008 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale, added $3,489 to his totals to give the Kentucky-bred $999,353.

Michael Baze Found Dead at Churchill Downs

Jockey Michael C. Baze was found dead in his vehicle on the backstretch at Churchill Downs on May 10, 2011. He had turned 24 on April 14. Born in Renton, Washington, he was part of the prolific riding family that includes two Eclipse Award winning jockeys, all-time winning rider Russell Baze, a second cousin; and 2000 Eclipse apprentice winner Tyler Baze, a first cousin.

According to the Daily Racing Form, Bobby Kelly, who had recently been retained as Baze's agent, reported that backstretch workers called 911 after noticing that Baze's Cadillac Escalade had been parked near Gate 5 for several hours with the engine running. EMTs found his body in the vehicle. Foul play is not suspected and the coroner's office, which is investigating the cause of his death, has found no anatomical cause of death. They are currently awaiting toxicology reports.

Michael Baze had his first winner at Hollywood Park on May 2, 2003, aboard Out on the Sly. He was the leading rider at both the 2007 Hollywood Park spring/summer (with 73 wins) and Del Mar meet. In 2010, he led the Arlington Park jockey's colony with 104 victories.

In 2011, he had 34 wins from 238 mounts for earnings of $1,191,297. Overall, the young rider had 918 wins, an equal number of seconds and 817 thirds from 6,969 mounts and $32.4-million in purse earnings over his career. His last stakes win had been aboard It Happened Again in the March 12, Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park and his final win had been aboard Depaul on April 13 at the Arkansas track. He had finished fourth in the 2011 Oaklawn standings with 34 wins.

Among his graded stakes winners were Mi Sueno (2009 Darley Debutante Stakes [G1]) and Georgie Boy (2008 San Felipe Stakes [G2]). He had additional Grade 2 wins with Sun Boat, Worldly, Salute the Sarge and Out of Control. He had also been aboard 011 Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Nehro when he broke his maiden and later when the colt finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Baze also rode Horse of the Year Azeri's daughter Arienza to her impressive maiden tally last March.

After riding at Keeneland in April, Baze had plans to ride at Churchill Downs for the spring/summer meet. Churchill Downs held a brief memorial tribute to the rider on May 13 between races.

His father, Michael B. Baze - the leading rider at Longacres in 1978 - recently returned to the saddle after a four-year absence, riding at SunRay Park in New Mexico, on May 7.

His mother, Teri Gibson, of Federal Way, worked for several years at Emerald Downs on the track maintenance crew.

According to his former agent, Ron Ebanks, "He was the nicest kid, the sweetest kid, and had so much talent and potential. Everyone who came in contact with Michael liked him."

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister and brother.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday, May 24 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the WTBOA Sales Pavilion located at Emerald Downs, Auburn, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. All contributions to the fund are tax deductible and may be mailed to P O Box 803, Elmhurst, Illinois, 60126.

Couldabenthewhisky Romps in Stakes at Hastings

For the third week in a row a Washington-bred has taken a $50,000 stakes race at Hastings Racecourse. Following Noosa Beach's score in the George Royal Stakes and Castinette Dancer's triumph in the Boulevard Casino Stakes, 2010 champion Couldabenthewhisky made a winning comeback in the Jim Coleman Province Stakes on May 7 at the British Columbia, track.

The three-year-old gelded son of Harbor the Gold-Bahati, by Horse Chestnut (SAf), stalked the pacesetters in the 6 1/2-furlong stakes before taking command after entering the stretch and finished strongly with a 2 1/2 length win over Peter Redekop B C, Ltd's Inhisglory. Final time over the sloppy track was 1:17.16. It marked rider Gallyn Mitchell's second stakes win this season at the B C track, as he had also been aboard Noosa Beach for his April 22 win.

Bred by the partnership of Pam and Neal Christopherson's Bar C Racing Inc., Melodie Bultena and Bill and Carol Ginger, the 2009 WTBOA Sales graduate has earned $122,622 for the Friendship Stables of trainer Bonnie and her husband Wally, Andy Maib's Longshot Racing and Craig and Stanley Fredrickson.

Other WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News

Century Union became the first 2010 WTBOA summer yearling to graduate to the winner's circle when the juvenile Washington-bred daughter of Roar out of stakes winner Irene's Bonus Baby, by Free At Last, won a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race at Hastings Racecourse by 5 1/2 lengths on May 8, as "much the best." The first foal out of the 2006 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes winner, Century Union was bred by Nina and Ron Hagen and races for NAT2010LLP.

Spiritonthemount, a six-year-old son of Pulpit out of stakes winner and WTBOA September sale graduate Stirling Bridge, won an over 17-furlong handicap race at Bath in England on May 16. He is a half-brother to Mark Dedomenico and partners' graded stakes winner Washington Bridge, graded stakes-placed Fire Path and stakes-placed Noble Bandit.

DeNikes Score Three Wins at Golden Gate

Edward and Theresa Nike had a trio of winners at Golden Gate Fields on May 6 and 7. On Friday, with Russell Baze aboard, the Kent couple's three-year-old Fire Seeker, by Sought After, won a $32,000 maiden claiming race. The following day the DeNikes' three-year-old Ballouttheminister, by Ministers Wild Cat, with Francisco Duran aboard, won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race. Later in the card, the couple's Hexbreaker, again with Baze in the saddle, won a six-furlong allowance by 1 1/2 lengths. The six-year-old son of Tricky Creek has earned $153,539. All three geldings were bred in California and are trained by Keith Nations.

Emerald Downs Notes

Tice Ranch's first-time starter Awesome Woman scored a 6 3/4-length tally in a maiden special weight race on Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 7. The Kentucky-bred three-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes is trained by Howard Belvoir and Juan Gutierrez rode her in the slop-laden six-furlong race.

The feature race on the Saturday card was a 5 1/2-furlong allowance for sophomore fillies. After her impressive maiden win on April 17, Debbie Paxton and Northwest Farms LLC's Elusive Noise, also with Gutierrez in the saddle, returned to the winner's circle, defeating Michael and Amy Feuerborn's Class Included by a nose. Trained by Tom Wenzel, who also conditions Karl Krieg's third place finisher Love Makor, Elusive Noise, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Elusive Quality, is now two-for-two in her blossoming career.

Showme Yourfriends, a three-year-old Washington-bred son of Delineator-Raise a Moon, by Chisos, who races in partnership for Jody Peetz's One Horse Will Do Corporation and Tina and Scott Saxwold, earned his initial victory in a six-panel maiden allowance on May 8. The Chris Stenslie trainee, who was ridden by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, defeated R and R Warren LLC's Big Bad Brown by a half-length.

Kimberly Nobles' Tequila Gold took home is his fifth straight victory, and first since August 2010, after the four-year-old Washington-bred gelding defeated Elttaes Stable's Aaron the Baron by 3 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong allowance/$15,000 optional claiming race on the same card. Robert Skelly was aboard the son of Harbor the Gold-Onorena, by Casa Dante, who is trained by Charles Essex, for the win.

Doris Harwood became the sixth - and first woman - trainer to saddle 400 winners after Top Banker Al (fourth race) and Smiley Mylie (ninth race) won on May 14. Gallyn Mitchell was aboard both winners.

Northwest Farms LLC runners Rossi Reserve and Tasya ran one-two in their 2011 debuts in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance/$25,000 optional claiming race run on May 14. Both of three-year-old fillies hail from Tom Wenzel's barn. It marked the second win for Rossi Reserve, a daughter of Eddington out of stakes winner Strong Credentials, by Carson City, who was a 2009 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale RNA. The two top distaffers were also bred in Kentucky by Washington Racing Hall of Fame breeder Jerre Paxton's influential farm.

Wenzel and Northwest Farms also teamed together to win an allowance/$25,000 optional claiming race with Seattle Sniper on May 15. The three-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Strong Hope-Taste the Passion, who is co-owned by C and M Racing, won the 6 1/2-furlong test by 3 3/4 lengths.

You Me and Ema B
(Wayne Nagai Photo)

You Me and Victory

A highly contentious field of older fillies and mares drew lots for the first stakes of the season, the $50,000 Hastings Handicap. Included in the field for the six-furlong May 15 stakes was 2010 winner No Flies On Doodle, as well as her fellow 2010 stakes winners Kimmyv, Sis's Sis, Feeling Fancy and Rewritten. Among the newcomers hoping to up the ante in the stakes division were the lightly raced Include the Baby and You Me and Ema B.

No Flies On Doodle broke first and led the ten runners past the first quarter in a quick :21.70. You Me and Ema B was right at her heels, before moving up to take command as the field neared the 5/16ths marker. You Me and Ema B, ably accompanied by Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, defeated James and Zola Proffitt's game Sweet Nellie Brown by a neck. Race favorite Kimmyv, a five-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of El Corredor-Gold in My Stars who races for Swift Thoroughbreds, Inc., finished a length back in third position. Final race time over the sloppy track was 1:10.35.

It was the 10th Emerald stakes win for Hoonan-Trujillo, whose father, Patrick Hoonan, co-owns the filly with trainer Margo Lloyd's Monogram Stable.

"I saw the other horses roll right up on us in the stretch, so I pulled right up to them so she could she them," said Hoonan-Trujillo. "Then she just dug back in and held on. She's a natural born winner."

Lloyd has been patient with her filly, who was unraced at two, but had been impressive in her only 2010 outing, taking a $30,000 maiden claiming event by 4 1/4 lengths last August. The Washington-bred daughter of You and I-Carrie Ann, by Son of Briartic, had made it two-for-two when she returned to the races on April 30 and won a 5 1/2-furlong allowance test by one length over Include the Baby. Both You Me and Ema B, who has now earned $45,265 for her trio of wins, and second place finisher Sweet Nellie Brown, a Washington-bred daughter of Cape Canaveral-Brown, were products of the 2008 WTBOA sales program. Sweet Nellie Brown, who was bred by Rick and Debbie Pabst's Blue Ribbon Farm, was a $14,000 RNA at the summer sale, while Lloyd purchased You Me and Ema B for $8,700 at the December mixed sale. A half-sister to Emerald stakes-placed distaffer Galley Bay, You Me and Ema B was bred by Jenny Webber and Ken Jochimsen.

Through May 15, rider Leslie Mawing has outpaced Joe Crispin in the win category, 22 to 19. Juan Gutierrez is in third place with 17 wins, while Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo ranks fourth with 15 victories, two more than Gallyn Mitchell, who is fifth in the standings. Gutierrez leads all riders in earnings, with $162,402 to his credit. Mawing is right behind him with $157,530

Howard Belvoir took over the top spot in the trainers' category with 14 wins and $86,687 in earnings. Vann Belvoir and Tim McCanna are tied with ten wins apiece, though Belvoir leads McCanna $76,667 to $67,667 in earnings. Frank Lucarelli is currently in fourth place with eight winners and Charles Essex and Doris Harwoods are tied in fifth with seven winners each.

Sun Downs 2011

Sun Downs' six-day meet opened on April 23. It marked the 25th year the Kennewick meet has been operated by the Tri-City Horse Racing Association (TCRA). In years past the race meet has operated over ten days, but due to revenue cutbacks, the 2011 meet lost four days.

Nine races were run on the Saturday opening card, which featured five Thoroughbred races and four Quarter Horse sprints. Jockeys Jessie Chavis and Connie Doll each made three trips to the winner's circle, as did trainers Kurt Calton and Donald Young.

All-in-all, 55 races were carded, 30 for Thoroughbreds and the remainder, including five stakes, for Quarter Horses runners.

The first Quarter Horse stakes of the meet, the $3,900 Giltner's Sundowns Derby run on May 1, was taken by trainer Bill Hoburg and his partner S. Abrahamson's Washington-bred filly Shez Pretty Awesome, with Chavis guiding the reins.

A quartet of Quarter Horse races were featured on the final weekend. Both of Saturday's stakes, the $16,700 Dick Monahan Memorial/AQHA Maiden Challenge Finals Stakes and the $15,120 AQHA Pfizer Starters Allowance Challenge Finals Stakes, were won by ship-ins from Los Alamitos. Dean Frey's Hooters and Beer, ridden by Nikeela Black and trained by Carrie Hoburg, took the Dick Monahan Memorial by two lengths. Two races later, trainer Valentin Zamudio and Paul Penuelas' Full Snow Moon won the Pfizer Challenge.

The richest race of the meet, the $30,610 Pot O'Gold Futurity, was the highlight of the May 8 card. Nine juvenile runners filled the field for the 300-yard race with Cedar Creek Tree Farm Ranch and Racing's Uncle Sam Sweetfly finishing first with Jose Figueroa in the saddle for trainer Mike DeMatteis. Figueroa stepped in for Chavis, who had injured his wrist in a fall on a horse on the previous day. Another Los Alamitos shipper, William C. Thompson's Shes First Down, took the final 2011 race, the $24,300 AQHA Merial/Distaff Challenge Final Stakes. The four-year-old mare, who is trained by Bret Vickery, was one two winners on the meet-ending card for rider Tyson Lusk.

"It was awesome," spoke TCHRA board member Nancy Sorick after the last race had run. "I've been coming here since 1968 and this is the best I've seen. It was a good handle, good people and good weather."

Even with the injury, Chavis ended up being the runaway leader of the meet, as he booted home a dozen winners during the first five days. Ruben Camacho finished in second place with eight wins, while J. Torres had seven. Connie Doll and Nikeela Black tied in fourth place with five wins apiece.

Calton and Young tied for the trainer's title with six wins each. Lynn Homer finished in second place with five winners and DeMatteis, Lyle Magnuson and Scott Raley each saddled four winners.

And as far as a 2012 Sun Downs meeting, "If we can do it next year, we will," said TCHRA board member Cliff Schellinger. Everyone connected with the Richland track hopes they will.

July 2 Set for Les Bois Park Opening

Treasure Valley Racing (TRV) hopes to open Les Bois Park for live racing on July 2, 2011. Between now and then the track will have to be resurfaced, new cable added and many other items will need to be repaired and updated. TRV hopes to have the first condition book out and simulcasting available by June 1.

Other News

Dr. George Todaro, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Team Green's Del Mar Derby (G2) winner Rendezvous won a 1 1/16-mile allowance/$50,000 optional claiming race at Golden Gate Fields on May 7. The five-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Victory Gallop-Halo Babe, by Southern Halo, pushed his earnings to $447,805.

Mark Dedomenico LLC, Hollendorfer, Todaro and John Carver's three-year-old Kentucky-bred colt Midnight Fiddle won a six-furlong allowance, with Russell Baze riding, at Golden Gate on May 15. The son of Empire Maker-Candytuff, by Dehere, has won two of four starts and earned $39,300.

Fu Peg He Rat, a stakes-placed half-brother to El Dorado Farms LLC's stakes-winning Houseofroyalhearts, won his seventh race overall, and third in 2011, on May 6 at Golden Gate Fields. The five-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus has earned $168,690. New stakes winner Ozeta, the three-year-old French-bred daughter of Marraline (GB) who won the Prix de La Seine at Longchamp, in France, on May 15, is out of the Rahy mare Ozehy, whose dam ,Ozena, is a half-sister to multiple stakes producer Royal Herat, dam of Houseofroyalhearts..

When All in Stables' (whose partners include Jack and Theresa Hodge) Willcox Inn, by Harlan's Holiday, won his first start, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race at Arlington Park last September, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind him in second place was future 2011 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Animal Kingdom.

From an interview with Ron Valenta in the May 10, 2011, Thoroughbred Times Today. When asked "What's the best decision you've ever made in racing?" he replied, "Probably to keep hassling my trainer [Jack Carava] to try to claim a horse named Pure as Gold." Washington-bred Pure as Gold was claimed by Valenta's La Canada Stable for $100,000 and went on to win the 2006 Bing Crosby Handicap (G1) and Washington horse of the year honors.

Through May 13, Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat continues to lead the Washington sire ranks with $473,327 in earnings and 18 winners, including stakes winner Ben's Cat, among his 42 starters in 2011. El Dorado Farms LLC's Matty G ranks second with 17 winners and $221,848. He is followed by the late Tribunal with 14 winners and $187,131 and narrowly behind him in fourth place is St. Hilaire Thoroughbreds' Polish Miner with $186,714 and seven winners. Rounding out the top five is Woodstead Farm's He's Tops with 11 winners and $179,122 in earnings.

Allaire Farms' Trickey Trevor is ranked 12th, through May 2, on the 2011 North American freshman sire list with his first two starters having earned $7,716.