2012 Champion Absolutely Cool Scores in Turf Paradise Stakes

    Karl Krieg's homebred Absolutely Cool, who was voted 2012 Washington champion older horse after winning or placing in four stakes at Turf Paradise last year, won the opening stakes of the Phoenix track's 2013-14 meet, the $35,000 Bienvenidos Stakes on October 5.

    The six-year-old gelded son of Absolute Harmony out of 2012 Washington broodmare of year Coup de Foudre, by Basket Weave, took the 6 1/2-furlong stakes by one length with Rocco Bowen in the saddle. Though the victory marked Absolutely Cool's first win of the year, he had placed in four other stakes, three last spring at Turf Paradise and once at Canterbury Park this past June in his previous five starts.

    Trained by Valorie Lund, Absolutely Cool has earned $150,103 in 23 starts with a record of 6-7-5.

    The following day, Krieg's homebred filly Makinmymark, who he co-owns with Lund, won a five-furlong allowance test at the Arizona track by one length. It marked the second victory for the four-year-old Washington-bred daughter of Makors Mark-Cranberry Slough, by Crimson Slew, who has now earned $29,868.

WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News

   Two summer sale graduates won maiden special races at Portland Meadows on October 6. Karen Kirshner's two-year-old K K's Wonderwoman, a daughter of Stevie Wonderboy-Sariano, by Rubiano, bred by Dr. Rodney Orr in Kentucky, took a five-panel event for trainer Robert Baze, who also trains Liberty Lake, a four-year-old Washington filly who won the 5 1/2-furlong maiden allowance by six lengths for Bonnie L. Baze. Both fillies were ridden by J. Torres. Liberty Lake, a daughter of Liberty Gold-Artic Mist, by Son of Briartic, was bred by Rick and Debbie Pabst.

   Six-year-old sales graduate Appealing Resume picked up her 12th win on October 11 at Santa Anita. Bred in Kentucky by Northwest Farms LLC, the daughter of Successful Appeal-Strong Credentials, by Carson City, took a seven-furlong $25,000 claiming race by 1 1/4 lengths for Horseplayers Racing Club and Scott McKenzie and upped her lifetime earnings to $191,447.

  Three-year-old Atta Boy Lucky, a gelding by Lucky J. H. and the final foal out of Washington broodmare of the year Irish Toast, by Synastry, became here ninth winner from nine foals to race when he won a maiden claiming race at Fresno on October 14 for Gary C. Hughes. The Tim McCanna trainee was bred by Patricia J. Murphy and Rick and Debbie Pabst.

    In her first start since winning the Pegasus Training Center Stakes on the September 8 Washington Cup card, Highlander Racing Stable's E Z Kitty, a five-year-old daughter of He's Tops-Envision the Cat, by Lost Code, bred by Jerry and Peggy Woods, finished third in the $35,000 Princess of Palms Stakes run at Turf Paradise on October 12. The multiple stakes-winning Jeff Metz trainee improved her 2013 record to 5-3-3 from 11 starts with $171,884 earned and lifetime totals to 12-3-4 from 23 starts with $270,200 in earnings.

   On October 7, 2013, the Daily Racing Form unveiled their newly designed print edition of the Form, which "combines upgraded and more readable past performances" and "a fresh and visually appealing new package."

   The new more reader-friendly Form comes in a saddle-stitched magazine-sized format and features a higher quality and whiter paper. It also includes expanded editorial coverage, additional handicapping analysis and more color photography.

  To learn more about the updated Daily Racing Form go to www.drf.com/newdrf.

Demon Warlock to Move to Arizona

   Tim Floyd announced in mid-October 2013 that 13-year-old stallion Demon Warlock will be moving from Roche Farm in Yakima to Fales Ranch in Coolidge, Arizona, at the end of the month. Washington's horse of the year and champion older horse in 2004, the four-time stakes-winning son of Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Demons Begone earned $278,335 over a 28-race West Coast racing career. A son of the $125,210 stakes-winning Zamboni mare Witchery, Demon Warlock first foals were born in 2008 and included stakes winner Winter Warlock. Stakes-placed Wild Chica is from his second crop and the dark bay stallion has sired 11 winners from his first 15 starters.

   Floyd stated one reason for Demon Warlock's move is to give him more opportunity to sire Quarter Horse runners.

Washingtonians Active at October Barretts Sale

   Barretts Sales and Racing cataloged 249 hips at their October Yearling Sale held at the Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex in Pomona on October 8. Of that total 33 (13.3 percent) were withdrawn and 57 (26.4 percent) were listed as not sold. The 159 yearlings sold for a $3,130,500 total and averaged $19,689, down 14.5 percent from 2012 figures and the median fell from $18,000 to $13,000, down 27.8 percent. The 2013 saletopper was a The Pamplemousse colt out of the stakes-winning Distinctive Cat mare Tizakitty which brought $160,000.

   Among those from Washington seen making purchases were Rozamund Barclay, Mike Puhich, Victor Bahna, John Maryanski, John Holmes, Dana Halvorson and Vann Belvoir.

   Roz Barclay purchased three for a $140,000 total: a Giant's Causeway colt, the first foal out of a winning daughter of Grade 3 stakes winner Tricky Squaw; a Ghostzapper colt out of $249,987 stakes winner Princess Deelite; and a Roi Charmant filly, who is a full sister to 2013 stake-placed juvenile Gangnam Guy.

   Mike Puhich, as agent, also signed for three, for an $82,500 total: a Council Member colt from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner and Washington horse of the year Delicate Vine; a Majestic Warrior colt out of a winning Awesome Again mare; and Dixie Chatter filly who is a half-sister to $216,990 stakes winner Ismene and another stakes-placed runner.

   Victor Bahna bought a Tribal Rule filly out of a producing Bertrando mare for $27,000.

   John Maryanski paid $25,000 for a Heatseeker (Ire) filly out of a $148,615 winning half-sister to $152,400 stakes winner Paddington.

   Halvorson Bloodstock signed for a$14,500 English Channel filly out of a $400,000 multiple stakes-winning and stakes-producing daughter of Dynaformer.

Vann Belvoir and partner Rich Dimitri went to $8,000 for a Good Journey colt, the first foal out of $67,604 earner Kaloula.

   John Holmes, as agent, purchased a Stephen Got Even filly out of $162,177 winner Code Princess for $27,000. Holmes had also purchased two yearlings at the Keeneland September sale which were missed earlier: an $82,000 Stormy Atlantic colt out of $169,930 stakes-winning Carson City mare; and a $42,000 filly from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Tale of Ekati, the first foal out of a half-sister to two stakes winners, including three-time Grade 3 winner Tanda.

   Oregon industry leader Art McFadden purchased a Stormin Fever colt from the family of Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Spain for $37,000.

   Among those yearlings sold were two which were pinhooked from the 2013 WTBOA sale: a colt by Delineator out of Marquet Formula which had been originally been purchased from Tall Cedars Farm LLC for $3,500, sold for $15,000; and Private Gold-Tops Image colt which had been sold by Griffin Place LLC, agent for Billie Klokstad for $6,500, was resold for $12,000.

   Petra Lewin's Rainbow Meadows Farm had two fillies in the sale and sold one, an Old Topper filly out of Grade 3-placed Sweet Mazarine (Ire) for $5,000.

   Deer Island Stock Farm's Marion Kem Christiansen consigned three yearlings and sold two: an Unusual Heat filly out of a half-sister to Ohio Derby (G2) winner Deputy Glitters, for $65,000; and a Papa Clem colt out of a daughter of Washington champion and stakes producer Timely View, which 2013 Emerald Downs leading trainer Jeff Metz bought for $3,000.

Other News

   Direct Cost, a three-year-old Oregon-bred son of Woodstead Farm's He's Tops, went gate to wire to win a five-furlong maiden special weight race at Portland Meadows by 2 1/4 lengths on October 9. Bred, owned and trained by Howard Belvoir, the gelding out of Raise a Moon, by Chisos, is a half-brother to $170,754 stakes winner Showme Yourfriends.

   Mark Dedomenico LLC and Kathy Harty's two-year-old Colonel Joan, a Kentucky-bred filly by Colonel John-Live 'n Laugh, ran third in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita on October 6.

    Dr. George Todaro and Jerry and Janet Hollendorfer's homebred two-year-old Life Is a Joy remained unbeaten in three starts after she won the $67,400 Charlie Palmer Futurity at Fresno by six lengths on October 5. The daughter of Globalize-Tadita has now earned $85,330.

   David Heerensperger's Fire With Fire, a five-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Distorted Humor out of graded stakes-placed Cosmic Fire, was awarded the victory in the $75,000 Bull Dog Stakes at Fresno on October 13, on the disqualification of Positive Response, who was placed fourth, upping Fire With Fire's earnings to $335,644.

   Rozamund Barclay's Hi Fashioned, the first stakes winner by freshman sire Old Fashioned out of Zamsweet, ran second in the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita on October 14, pushing the two-year-old's earnings total to over $100,000. The runner is trained by Mike Chambers.

   Each of the horses that won the first three races at Santa Anita on October 10 sports a Washington connection. In the first race, Horseplayers Racing Club and Earl Maijala's Ghost N Your Heart, a five-year-old California-bred daughter of E Dubai-Wise Investor trained by Vann Belvoir, took her fifth win in a mile claiming race. Mark Dedomenico LLC, Jerry Hollendorfer, Jason Litt and Alex Solis II's Scherzinger, a three-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tiz Wonderful - Dancinandsingin, improved her record to 2-1-1 from four starts after she scored a 1 1/2-length victory in an allowance/$40,000 optional claiming (N) race. The third race, a mile turf event, was won by Dr. George Todaro, Team Green and Hollendorfer's Danderek (GB) in this third US victory. The seven-year-old son of Fantastic Light-Maureena also won four races in Great Britain.

    Fleur de Lis Stable LLC's (Paul Goldberg and Raymond Kwik) homebred 2012 Emerald Downs champion three-year-old filly Champagneandcavier - a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and Emerald champion Winning Machine - won a nine-furlong allowance/$40,000 optional claiming race over Santa Anita's turf course on October 11 at odds of 57-to-one. It was the first win in 2013 for the Kentucky-bred daughter of Van Nistelrooy-Dance With Carson, by Carson City and the Washington Oaks winner improved her record to 4-2-2 and earnings to $123,471.

   Horseplayers Racing Club'sSpark Plug, an eight-year-old Texas-bred ridgeling by Valid Expectations-Elle Visage, won a six-furlong starter allowance at Retama Park on October 4. It was his ninth win and gives him just shy of $200,000 in earnings.

   Mr Hall's Opus, the three-year-old filly by Officer out of 2003 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes winner Sala De Oro, a daughter of Expelled bred by Barbara Ratcliff's Coal Creek Farm and raced by Dave Mowat's Ten Broeck Farm, ran second in the $50,250 Polly's Jet Stakes at Delaware Park on October 5.

    Wesley Ward-owned and trained Judy the Beauty won the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of American Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on October 5. The four-year-old Ontario-bred daughter of Ghostzapper-Holy Blitz improved her record to 5-6-1 from 12 starts and has earned $585,781. Also at Keeneland during the first weekend in October, Oak Crest Stable, et al's Willcox Inn ran third in the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G2), which had to be taken off the turf, to $1.6-million earner Silver Max and 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan. Willcox Inn, a five-year-old multiple graded stakes-winning son of Harlan's Holiday, went over the $1-million mark to $1,010,543 with his $75,000 third place monies. Also at the Kentucky track, Northwest Farms LLC-bred two-year-old Smarty's Echo ran second in the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (G1). Smarty's Echo, a son of Smarty Jones out of Emerald Downs stakes-placed Silver Echo - dam of stakes winners Cherokee Echo and Notoriously - has run 1-1-1 in three starts and earned $106,500. According to the DRF chart "Smarty's Echo was caught in tight just after the opening furlong, made a long drive circling six wide" and then "gained command entering the stretch" before being passed by We Miss Artie in the final yards.

   Charismatic Pulpit, a three-year-old Pulpit colt out of $159,182 stakes winner and Emerald Downs champion Karis Makaw - a half-sister to stakes winner and Washington freshman sire Nationhood - won a 6 1/2 -furlong maiden special weight race at Keeneland by 2 1/4 lengths on October 13. He is his dam's second foal and first winner.

  Tropics, a five-year-old gelded son of Speightstown out of Washington-bred stakes winner and 2003 Washington broodmare of the year Taj Aire , bred by Doris Konecny and Susan and Allen Branch, won the £70,000 John Quest Bengough Stakes (G3), a six-furlong turf event, by 3 1/2 lengths at Ascot on October 5 over 14 rivals, bettering his record to 6-3-1 from 13 starts and earnings to £124,895. Tropics is a half-brother to Washington champion Handyman Bill, graded stakes winner Elusive Diva, stakes winner R. Baggio and stakes-placed fillies No Lullaby and Diva's Seastar. On October 10, No Lullaby's four-year-old Floracita won a 4 1/2-furlong allowance at Charles Town. It was the fourth victory for the El Corredor filly, who has earned $85,485.

   Multiple stakes winner Madeira Park, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Langfuhr added a win in the $86,600 Ballerina Stakes (G3-Can) on October 14 at Hasting Racecourse to increase her earnings to $231,474. Madeira Park is one of three stakes winners out of the stakes-winning Demons Begone mare Capilano.

   Skimming Song (Skimming-Hit Song), who was bred by Robert F. Pulse, won a five-furlong mixed allowance at Lethbridge on October 14. 

In Memoriam

Juan Humberto Huerta

   Juan Huerta, 50, passed away on October 12, 2013, after spending four days in an Arizona hospital as the result of a coma caused by a brain aneurism.

   Juan was Frank Lucarelli's assistant trainer. Before that he had worked for trainers Craig Roberts and Mike Chambers. During his time with the late Roberts, Juan worked with Grade 1 winner Slew of Damascus.

   He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ramon and Hug; and is survived by his wife, Lucy; daughters, Lorena, Yuliana, Patricia and Brenda; grandchildren, Alexy, Juan Valentina, Alicia, Panchito, Juanito, Lucia and Yocelyn; brothers and sisters, Humberto, Dunia, Maria, Margarito, Maria Elena and Guadalupe.

Dennis Madson

   Auburn horse trainer Dennis Madsen passed away on October 10, 2013, of an aortic aneurism.

   In addition to working with Thoroughbreds, Dennis also worked with warmbloods, Arabians, Fjords and draft horse breeds.

More information for Huerta and Madson will be published at a later date.