February 22, 2014

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    Washington Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts will gather on February 22, 2014, at Emerald Downs for the 2013 annual awards presentation and dinner.

    Early each year the Washington racing and breeding industry celebrates its champions - those horses who have been designated as the best in their particular divisions - and honors individuals who have, through continuing and outstanding efforts, made lasting contributions to our industry.

   Along with the various horse awards (Click here for list of divisions and nominees) Mark Kaufman Media Awards will be presented to longtime Spokane journalist Jim Price and Seattle PI blogger Monica Bretherton.

   In addition to the awards presentation, the evening's festivities will be highlighted by exciting video features, a Horsemen's Stimulus Silent Auction and Raffle and a special dessert raffle.

   Among the items offered for bid this year are: a horseshoe diamond necklace, an official NFL Seahawks Jersey #3, a Louisville Slugger baseball bat inscribed with Kentucky Derby winners, artwork by several notable artists and horse-related gifts and services. Click here to see the ever-growing list of auction items.

   The no-host cocktails and silent auction will start the gala event at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and a dessert buffet to follow at 6:45 p.m. and the awards presentations and raffle to follow.

   Tickets are $45 per person, or $85 per couple, if paid in advance, or $65 per person at the door. For further information or reservations, please contact the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (WTBOA) at (253) 288-7878 or e-mail maindesk@washingtonthoroughbred.com. Reserved seating must be received at WTBOA offices no later than Tuesday, February 18.

   Announcement of the evening's winners will appear on the WTBOA website at wtboa.com.

Emerald Downs Announces 2014 Stakes Schedule

   Headed by the 79th renewal of the Longacres Mile (G3), Emerald Downs will offer 28 stakes races for Thoroughbreds and the Bank of America Championship Challenge for Quarter Horses during its 2014 season.

   The always exciting Mile, a $200,000 event, and the $65,000 Emerald Distaff Handicap at nine furlongs will be contested on Sunday, August 24.

   Washington Cup XII, with its six $50,000 stakes for Washington-bred and/or -sired runners, is set to go on Sunday, September 7.

    The September 28 closing card will also feature a Sunday double-header, but this one for the juvenile set, as the foals of 2012 compete in the $65,000 Gottstein Futurity (1 1/16 miles) and Northwest Stallion Cahill Road Stakes (six furlongs).

   Now getting ready for its 19th season, Emerald Downs first stakes in its 75-day meet will be the $50,000 Hastings Handicap, a six-furlong race for three and up fillies and mares to be run on Sunday, May 18. The $50,000 Governor's Handicap, at 6 1/2 furlongs and the first stakes on the road to the Mile, will follow a week later.

   For the complete stakes schedule for the 2014 meeting, which is scheduled to open on Saturday, April 12, click here.

WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News

   Seven-year-old Appealing Resume took her 14th win on February 1 at Santa Anita Park. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Successful Appeal-Strong Credentials, by Carson City, won the $25,000 claiming race by 2 1/2 lengths and was claimed by trainer Ron Ellis for Gary Finder, J. Garavenat, Eagles Mate Partnership and Ello Racing. Now unbeaten in both her 2014 starts, she has earned a total of $237,607.

   Five-year-old Right to Vote, a stakes-winning son of Political Force, won a mile allowance/$100,000 optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park on February 1. Both Right to Vote and his graded stakes-winning three-quarter brother What a Song are sons of Washington-bred stakes winner and 1991 WTBA sale graduate What a Knight, by Tough Knight, a full or three-quarter sister to three other Washington-bred stakes winners, including state champion Time of Sale. Right to Vote improved his record to 5-2-4 from 17 starts and earnings to $285,184.

Car Talk (Ire)'s 2014 Stud Fee and Location Announced 

   Car Talk (Ire), a son of champion Bernardini-Mini Chat, by Deputy Minister, will stand the 2014 breeding season at El Dorado Farms LLC. The five-year-old stallion newcomer is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Cat Chat, the dam of Grade 1 winner In Lingerie. His second dam is 1993 Eclipse Award winning two-year-old filly champion Phone Chatter, a granddaughter of Washington horse of the year and multiple graded/group stakes producer Hooplah.

   El Dorado Farms is offering a special 2014 introductory fee structure for Car Talk: $850 fee, which includes a $100 booking fee; or a $500 fee, if paid at time of booking. A live foal guarantee goes with each fee.

Other News

   On February 1, three-year-old Harry's Holiday, a son of Harlan's Holiday, won his first stakes and had his third victory in five outings when the Kentucky-bred colt won the $56,766 98 Rock Stakes at Turfway Park. His dam, unraced Daisy Mason, by Orientate, is a half-sister to 2012-13 champion Beholder and to Grade 1 stakes winner and successful sire Into Mischief, also by Harlan's Holiday. $187,014 stakes winner Leslie's Lady is a granddaughter of Washington broodmare One Last Bird, who is the dam of $311,152 Washington-bred stakes winner and Grade 3-placed WTBOA sales graduate Melanyhasthepapers.

    Five-year-old Winning Prize (Arg), a multiple Grade 1 winner in Argentina, won the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita on February 1. It was the seventh win in 12 starts for the runner out of Winning Ways (Per), a daughter of pensioned Washington leading sire You and I.

   Four-year-old Wild Dude, who took his first stakes victory in the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita on February 2 - and over two-time Breeders' Cup winner Secret Circle --, is out of $40,444 winner Courtly Choice, by Doneraile Court. Both Courtly Choice and her $198,390 stakes-placed half-brother Let's Get Crackin, are offspring of I'maknightschoice, a stakes-winning daughter of Knights Choice, who was bred in Washington by Jerry and Carol Many. Winner of the filly division of the 1994 All West Futurity at Playfair Race Course, I'maknightschoice was a half-sister to $207,605 Washington-bred stakes winner Pass Formation, who was bred by Dave Mowat's Teanaway Ranch.

   Ron Maus's Candy for Debbie, a six-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Candy Ride (Arg), won for the 11th time on February 1 at Golden Gate in a mile $20,000 claiming race. The Frank Lucarelli trainee has earned $135,999.

  Jerry Hollendorfer and Dr. George Todaro's four-year-old Happybrithdaybaby, ridden by Russell Baze, improved her record to 5-3-0 from nine starts after the Kentucky-bred daughter of Successful Appeal won a mile allowance/$62,500 optional claiming (N) race at Golden Gate Fields on February 2. She pushed her earnings to $96,950.

   Blaine Wright trainee Tizaplayer, by Tiz Wonderful out of Hot Line, set a new Golden Gate track record on February 2 in a starter allowance race going 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.56. Owned by Peter Redekop BC Ltd, it was the second win in five starts for the four-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding , which had been claimed for $32,000 in his previous start at Del Mar on July 28, 2013.
  Four-year-old Sittin At the Bar, a multiple stakes-winning granddaughter of El Dorado Farms LLC's broodmare Lois Laner, won the $100,000 La Bred Premier Night Matron Stakes at Delta Downs on February 1.  The daughter of Into Mischief out of $272,283 stakes winner Fast Laner improved her record to 10-2-1 from 17 starts and her earnings to $666,896.

The Jockey Club, Equibase Announce 2014 America's Best Racing App for iPhone and Android

   The Jockey Club and Equibase Company announced on February 6 the release of the America's Best Racing app for iPhone and Android. The free app includes video replays provided by Roberts Communications plus full charts and pari-mutuel payoffs of all graded stakes races (including the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup) for the current year as they occur, as well as every graded stakes race run since 2010.

   The 2014 America's Best Racing app can be downloaded at itunes.com and play.google.com. A web version of America's Best Racing is available at americasbestracing.net and equibase.com.

   "This app is the perfect tool to follow graded stakes races from your mobile device as they happen throughout the year and watch the best of racing from the past several years," said Jason Wilson, vice president, business development, The Jockey Club. "We are happy to partner with Equibase to bring this app to a new audience of fans as part of America's Best Racing's fan initiatives."

    "As it turns to spring and the racing season gets into full swing this app is a great way to stay up-to-date with The Jockey Club race series on Fox Sports 1," said Equibase President and Chief Operating Officer Hank Zeitlin, "and relive each and every race as many times as you would like."

   The America's Best Racing app was developed by The Jockey Club Technology Services Inc.

   America's Best Racing, initiated and funded by The Jockey Club and promoted in association with NTRA Communications, is a multimedia fan development platform designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America's best Thoroughbred racing events, with a primary focus on the sport's lifestyle and competition. You can follow America's Best Racing at americasbestracing.net and on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.