Three-time Washington champion Atta Boy Roy finished second in the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes for the second year in a row. The six-year-old ridgeling, who races for Roy and Ellie Schaefer's R. E. V. Racing, "dug in gamely" but finished a length behind Grade 1 winner Noble's Promise in the $110,300 Churchill Downs sprint held on June 4. Atta Boy Roy is trained by Valorie Lund and was bred in partnership by Patricia Murphy and Rick and Debbie Pabst. Atta Boy Roy was ridden in the Kentucky stakes by Jesus Castanon, who guided Shackleton to victory in the Preakness Stakes (G1) last month. Last year the son of Tribunal out of 2009 Washington broodmare of the year Irish Toast, by Synastry, finished two lengths behind Riley Tucker, who ran fifth in the 2011 renewal, in the six-panel race.

  A 2008 WTBOA sales graduate, Atta Boy Roy has now earned $511,414, to place him only $211 behind sixth place Captain Condo on the all-time leading Washington-bred money earners list.

  Castinette Dancer remained unbeaten in 2011 after she scored a 1 1/2-length win in the $51,110 Emerald Downs Stakes run at Hastings Racecourse on June 4. She went off as the $1.20-to-one favorite in the field of five sophomore-aged fillies. Final race time was 1:16.39. The Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella-owned filly had won the $50,000 Boulevard Casinos Stakes on May 1. Castinette Dancer is trained by Troy Taylor.

  Bred in Washington by John Roche, and from the family of his champion racemare Soft Copy, the 2009 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale RNA has three wins and two seconds in six starts. The daughter of Ministers Wild Cat-Premo Copy, by Supremo, has earned $78,580.

  Dr. Mark Dedomenico, who owns and operates Pegasus Thoroughbred Training Center in Redmond and PRO Sports Health Club in Bellevue, was named the new chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California's medication and integrity committee in late May. He had joined the TOC board in February.

  Dedomenico will preside over a committee comprised of owner/trainer directors Bob Baffert, Ron Ellis and Ed Moger; and owner directors Cal Fischer, Mike Pegram and former committee chairman Pablo Suarez.

  "I am fortunate to work with such a dedicated group of horsemen whose primary concern is with the safety and welfare of the horse," stated Dedomenico, who will represent the TOC at the International Race Day Medication Summit to be held at Belmont Park in June.

  Through June 3, Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat continues to lead the 2011 Washington sire rankings with 20 winners among his 46 starters who have earned $614,547. Among the 11-year-old son of Storm Cat's progeny this year are two-time 2001 stakes winner Ben's Cat and stakes-placed Little Shiney.

  Currently in second place is former four-time leading Washington sire Matty G, who also has 20 winners among his 66 starters who have accumulated $310,892 and include Argentine Group 2-placed Bloem. The Grade 1-winning son of champion Capote holds court at El Dorado Farms.

  Graded-placed Polish Miner, who stands at St. Hilaire Thoroughbreds, ranks third with eight winners among his 28 starters - including Pimlico stakes winner D Day - and $246,266 in earnings.

  The late Tribunal sits fourth in the standings with 17 winners from 53 starters and $226,306 in monies won.

  Rounding out the top five is Woodstead Farm's Seattle Slew son He's Tops, whose progeny, which includes stakes winner Reba Is Tops and stakes-placed Wind Storm, have earned $217,069 from 13 winners from 38 starters.

  They are followed by Private Gold ($200,235), the late Cahill Road ($162,328), You and I ($161,917), Delineator ($138,893) and Liberty Gold ($113,731).

  Liberty Gold, a stakes-winning and stakes-siring son of Crafty Prospector, was recently purchased by racing newcomer Sherri Mellot from Keith Swagerty.

  The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine distributed 359 scholarships and awards worth $568,000 to over 250 deserving students at their annual WSU College of Veterinary Medicine student scholarships awards and desserts presentation in April.

  The jointly sponsored Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association/Washington Thoroughbred Foundation $1,000 scholarship was given to Eric Renner. The award winner, who is chosen by the equine faculty, is for a third year veterinary student who is a Washington resident; has an active interest in horses; has a financial need; and has shown acceptable scholastic ability.

  Among the others providing scholarships this year with a connection to the Thoroughbred industry were Dr. and Mrs. Everett Macomber and Dr. Gary and Marie Duskin.

  The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. (TJCIS) unveiled on June 3, 2011, the Equineline Sales Catalog app for the iPad, the company's first product customized for Apple's popular tablet.

  The Equineline Sales Catalog app, which can be downloaded free from the App Store on iPad or at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/equineline-sales-catalog/id440355734?mt=8&ls=1, enables customers to download sales catalog books to iPads and also create a single book for multi-volume sales.

  Within the downloaded books, buyers can create short lists and view mini catalogs, record conformation notes and veterinary information in custom formats and hand write annotations with easy-to-use touch selections. They can also assign ratings, highlight catalog pages with color selections, add moveable sticky notes and directly e-mail pages with annotations and comments.

  "This app expands the services we provide the auction sales market by leveraging our sales cataloging experience and technological abilities," said Carl Hamilton, chairman and president of The Jockey Club Information Services Inc. "The Equineline Sales Catalog app presents the sales catalog in a format that can be easily navigated, searched, sorted and marked up simply by touching the iPad screen."

  The app will make available catalogs for all major North American Thoroughbred auction sales, including those held by Keeneland Association, Fasig-Tipton, Ocala Breeders' Sales, Barretts and Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.

  Dan Rosenberg, owner of Rosenberg Thoroughbred Consulting, was among a group of auction buyers who beta-tested the app. According to Rosenberg, "This app will be a great service to anyone in the business of evaluating and buying Thoroughbreds."

  In addition to North American Thoroughbred auctions, catalogs for a number of major European sales will be available.

  The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) announced on May 26, 2011, the formation of the National Equine Veterinary Alliance, consisting of professionals who have agreed to provide pro bono veterinary care to Thoroughbred ex-racehorses from non-profit organizations that have been registered with, and approved by, the TRF.

  The issue of Thoroughbred retirement remains a major area of concern to racing supporters, and the industry's inability to get a handle on it is a frequent source of sharp criticism from the public.  The Alliance's mission is to promote a beneficial and cooperative outreach program to the rescue/adoption organizations providing aftercare to these deserving ex-racers.

  "Rescue and adoption organizations are doing all that they can but are strictly limited in most cases to private monetary donations, and the goodwill of local veterinarians and vendors," said Patricia Hogan, VMD, TRF board member and chairman of its veterinary liaison committee.  "The TRF would like to bring some structure and organization to this problem, provide an avenue for veterinary assistance for these organizations, and at the same time, shine a positive light on the veterinary professionals already working hard to help transition these horses."

  The primary role of the TRF is that of organizer of the national program, and to act as a liaison between approved rescue/adoption groups and cooperating veterinary practices. The criteria for being an "approved" group in this program considers many factors such as reputation, registered 501(c)3 status, and dedication to transitioning Thoroughbred racehorses exclusively.

  The other responsibility of the TRF is the promotion of the works of the Alliance. "Many veterinarians already contribute tirelessly to this cause without industry recognition," Hogan explained.  "Highlighting these works will serve to promote more awareness of the issue of Thoroughbred retirement, shine a spotlight on the veterinarians' contributions to this cause, and showcase the good work that many independent organizations are doing to transition these horses into productive second careers."

  For more information about TRF's National Equine Veterinary Alliance, contact Matthew Williams, MWilliams@thoroughbredretirement.org, (859) 246-3080.

  Dr. George Todaro and Jerry and Janet Hollendorfer's homebred three-year-old Life is a Rock, a California-bred son of Globalize-Tadita, by Indian Charlie, won a 1 1/16-mile allowance over Golden Gate's turf course on May 30.

  Unraced at two and three, Washington-bred Steviedane won a maiden special weight race at Zia Park last October. On May 24, 2011, Bill Yeagle's homebred daughter of Slewdledo-Rebelle Royale, by Native Prospector, won a 4 1/2-furlong allowance race at Sunray Park and increased her winnings to $31,040.

  Ivor and Jack Jones' multiple stakes-placed Point of Reference won a six-furlong allowance/$50,000 optional claiming race by 5 1/2 lengths on May 26 at Golden Gate Fields. It marked the second win this year for the five-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Benchmark-It's Stevie's Time, by Quiet American. The Frank Lucarelli trainee improved her lifetime record to 8-4-7 from 25 starts and her earnings to $243,137.

  Blendara, a four-year-old California-bred daughter of Richly Blended-Bluledo, by Slewdledo, bred and owned by Leonard Dunham and Denise Halstead, won a 1 11/6-mile turf allowance at Golden Gate on May 29 and improved her nine race record to 3-4-1. She has earned $97,694. Patricia Ford's Demanding Diva, a daughter of High Demand out of Run Kaitlyn Run, by Rio's Lark, finished second, with Herman Sarkowsky's homebred Hardway Ten, a daughter of Rock Hard Ten out of two-time Washington champion Youcan'ttakeme, by He's Tops, third.

  Rozamund Barclay's three-year-old Northern Causeway, a Kentucky-bred son of Giant's Causeway-Getaway Girl, by Silver Deputy, finished second by a head to Red Sharp Humor in a mile turf allowance at Golden Gate Field on May 30 and upped the Len Kasmerski-trained runner's earnings to $44,200.

  Joe Steiner, who returned to riding after a six-year hiatus, was aboard longshot Slane Castle when the three-year-old filly won a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race at Hollywood Park on May 28. It was Steiner's first win since March 25, 2005. The new winner is trained by Robert W. Leonard. Steiner and Leonard go back many years as the two had teamed for many early stakes wins with Washington horse of the year Saratoga Passage.

  Thanks Be to Go, a five-year-old Indiana-bred son of El Dorado Farms' Matty G out of Trading Rights, by Red Ransom, won a mile allowance race at Indiana Downs on May 28.

  Jack and Theresa Hodge are members of the All in Stable which races three-year-old Willcox Inn. The graded stakes-placed son of Harlan's Holiday-De Aar, by Gone West, took his first stakes win in the $100,000 Arlington Classic Stakes at Arlington Park on May 28. The Kentucky-bred colt has earned $227,543 from his 2-1-2 record in six starts. On the same card, the Hodges, et al's graded stakes filly Upperline, a four-year-old daughter of Maria's Mon, finished fourth in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron Stakes.

  Irish Gypsy, the five-year-old daughter of Hennessy who won the $75,000 Valid Expectations Stakes for Mike Pegram and partners on May 30 at Lone Star Park, is out of stakes winner Rayelle, a daughter of Relaunch and 1986 Washington horse of the year Delicate Vine. Irish Gypsy has earned $196,310.

  Wesley Ward scored with two juvenile winners in Europe on May 26. At Longchamp in France, Italo, a two-year-old With Distinction gelding out of Dance For the Green, by West by West, became the trainer's fourth French winner from an equal amount of starters when he won his first start, a 1,000-meter race, by 1 1/2 lengths. Meanwhile at England's Folkestone course, Gentlemans Code, a gelding by Proud Accolade out of American Saint, by Saint Ballado, won a five-furlong maiden race in his second start. The runner had finished second in his first outing, which had come at Belmont Park in Early May. Both of the Florida-bred runners are co-owned by Ward with Ice Wind Stable.

  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, whose foals include stakes winner and El Dorado Farms LLC's second year stallion Houseofroyalhearts.

  Grade 1 stakes winner Artiste Royal (Ire), who earned the majority of his $997,790 while racing for David and Jill Heerensperger, has been relocated from Haras d'Etreham in France, where the son of Danehill entered stud in 2010, to Haras Rapetti in Uruguay.

  Three-year-old Peaknatacat, from the first crop of Pulse Ranch stallion Peak a Bootrando, won her fourth race on May 28 at Northlands Park. The California-bred filly out of Clickety Cat, by Mountain Cat, won the six-panel race by 2 3/4 lengths and has earned $28,964.

  Irish Group 1 winner Flamenco Wave, who was bred by Dan J. Agnew and Cardiff Stud Farm, who also raced her classic-placed sire Desert Wine (who stood his final years at St. Hilaire Thoroughbreds in Yakima), is the dam of Grade/Group 1 winners Ballingarry (Ire), Starborough and Aristotle, Group 3 winner Spanish Falls, and the unraced Leaping Water, a daughter of Sure Blade who is the dam of Grade 2 winner Grammarian and four-year-old St Nicholas Abbey, who won the Investec Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom in England on June 3. St Nicholas Abbey, 2009 European, English and Irish champion two-year-old, has won five of seven starts and earned 385,182 pounds.

  Toxicology reports released in early June revealed that rider Michael Baze, 24, died as the result of an accidental overdose of cocaine and Oxymophone, a pain medicine.

Buck

A film by Cindy Meehl. Produced by Cedar Creek Productions.

  If this extraordinary documentary about this extraordinary man and horseman comes to your viewing area, make a bee-line to that perceptive theater and sit yourself down and get ready for a compelling experience and a beautifully-filmed and well-told story. It is an inspiration for any who want to develop a kinder, fairer and simpatico relationship with the animals in our care. But it is also the saga of personal triumph.

  Buck Brannaman is a no-nonsense kind of a guy; a cowboy, but a modern one. The tone of the 88-minute film is set early on when you hear him tell the participants at one of his four-day horse clinics that "A lot of times rather than helping people with horse problems, I'm helping horses with people problems." Throughout the film his humanity comes through loud and clear as the film crew travels with him on his annual nine-month journey across the country.

  Among Brannaman's goals are to teach cooperation and sensitivity and to take away fear (from both parties in the equation), as he has found out that fear is essentially what keeps us from going forward and can set limits to our achievements.

  A consultant and Robert Redford's riding double for the movie The Horse Whisperer, Brannaman is a compelling teacher; a man of poignant words and telling actions. He considers the relationship with a horse a dance; i.e.; partnership,  grace, cooperation, sensitivity and being in-tune to each other and the "music." Instead of 90 percent physical and ten percent mental, Brannaman encourages the opposite approach.

  "In every movement you make on a horse there is a perfect position of balance that takes no energy from the horse."

   Brannaman's wisdom is not only about being a better horseman; it's about becoming a better person. Anger and criticism towards a horse makes it shut down, as it does with humans and other living creatures, while respect and fairness allow trust and acceptance to grow. We can all learn from our mistakes, the trick is to not be intimated and stop trying.

  This film is about so much more than a horse trainer and training horses. As one gal related, training horses (and life) is about opening doors. And there are so many other thought-provoking elements invoked in the film, such as horses (and I assume other animals as well) can become our mirror image. Ponder on that thought a moment!

  I find this lovely film's message and subject has left an impression on me, one I hope I can build on and continue to learn from. This was a film, I can truthfully say, I could have watched for hours on end and will want to watch again and again. I hope that once the film's theater run is finished, that it will be available for home purchase, not only for my sake, but for anyone who hopes and wants to build better relationship, be it with man or beast. Susan E. van Dyke, Washington Thoroughbred

  Buck, which won the Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, will premiere at the Seattle Film Festival (SIF) on June 8 and 9 before its release at the Harvard Exit Theater in Seattle on June 24.

  More information on the film is available at the following links. Apple Trailer Premiere:

http://trailers.apple.com/ or http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/buck/. IMDb

Poster Premiere: http://www.imdb.com/ or http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3220224256/tt1753549

On Buck Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Buck-The-Film/175055519187765 or IFC Films Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/IFC-Films/110646698964366 and on Twitter at @BuckTheFilm, @SundanceSelects or @IFCFilms.