Table Hands Descendent Wins Brazilian Triple Crown

   On March 15, 2014, at Gavea racecourse in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bal A Bali - whose fourth dam is 2013 Washington Racing Hall of Fame inductee Table Hands - took his third Grade 1 stakes and became Brazil's 12th Carioca Triple Crown winner. (Brazil has two Triple Crown series, the other is at Cidade Jardim in San Pablo City.)

   Foaled on a Southern Hemisphere timetable, the Brazilian three-year-old took the Grande Premio Cruzeiro Do Sol (Brz-1) - also known as the Brazilian Derby - a 2,400-meter turf race, by one length in a stakes record time of 2:23.25. It was his seventh stakes win and ninth victory in ten starts. Bal A Bali had previously taken the first leg of the Carioca Triple Crown - the 1,500-meter Estato do Rio de Janeiro Stakes (Brz-1) - setting a new track record of 1:31.36, and with a near world record time (1:31 flat) on January 12.

   If Bal A Bali remains in Brazil, he is expected to start next in the Grande Premio Sao Paulo (Brz-1) in April and the Grande Premio Brasil (Brz-1) in June.
   One of 51 black-type winners sired by $232,895 stakes winner Put It Back, a 1998 son of Honour and Glory, Bal A Bali is out of In My Side, a daughter of Clackson, who won the Grande Premio Octavio Dupont (Brz-3) and who is the grandam of Brazilian Grade placed Magic Tap.  In My Side's grandam Blint, by Nijinsky II, was one of only two winners produced by Washington horse of the year and Grade 2 winner Table Hands. (see Fall and Winter 2013 issues).

   It was announced on March 27 that Besilu Stables has purchased an 80 percent interest in Bal A Bali and that he will be turned over to trainer Bill Mott after he reaches US shores.

   An article on Joseph Allen, who with his cousin Peter Brant owned Table Hands for much of her life, appears in the March 22, 2014, issue of The Blood-Horse, titled "On the Front Lines," written by Evan Hammonds.

WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News

US Hunter/Jumper Association Officially Welcomes OTTBs

Anne Von Rosen Fundraisers

   Jockey Anne Ron Rosen, who suffered a crushed vertebrae and a broken neck after her Quarter Horse mount fell and flipped on her moments after finishing a race on March 11 at Turf Paradise, has now undergone two surgeries. The 43-year-old German-born rider was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the incident.

  Relief funds have been established at Turf Paradise and Canterbury Park, where Von Rosen - who also rode at Emerald Downs - spent most of her riding career.

   At Turf Paradise, donations may be sent directly to the Turf Paradise Foundation (Turf Paradise; 1501 West Bell Road; Phoenix, AZ 85023). Mark the memo line Anne Von Rosen. All donations are tax deductible.

   The Arizona track will also hold a "Walk for Annie" fundraiser during Fan Appreciation Day on April 12. Fans will be able to purchase either a bracelet or t-shirt, and then walk with the local jockey colony on the turf course. All proceeds will benefit Von Rosen.

   Von Rosen's co-workers at Canterbury Park have started a relief fund. Checks can be sent to: For the Benefit of Anne Von Rosen, Voyager Bank, 500 Marschall Road S., Shakopee, MN 55379.

Mobile Wagering Comes to Emerald Downs

Other News

   Erica Gaunt's Stormy Lucy, who began her career at Emerald Downs, earned her first graded stakes win in the March 16 Santa Anta Stakes (G2), upping the Frank Lucarelli-trained mare's earnings to $392,200 with her sixth lifetime win. A 2009 Kentucky-bred daughter of Stormy Atlantic-Here Comes Lucinda, multiple stakes winner Stormy Lucy  gave Lucarelli's his first graded win at Santa Anita, but not first in Southern California, as he had taken the 2010 Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park with  Gallant Son. Finishing second to Stormy Lucy in the March 10-furlong turf race was Wesley Ward-trained Emotional Kitten. 

    On March 21, 2014, Nanaimo-born Darren MacDonald was named general manager of Hastings Racecourse.  MacDonald, 42, joined the Hastings team as manager of gaming operations in 2007 and over the past four years has been extensively involved in the racing side of the business as assistant general manager at Hastings Racecourse.

    David Heerensperger's six-year-old gelding Fire With Fire, ridden by Tyler Baze, earned his first graded score in $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G2), a 12-furlong turf race run at Santa Anita on March 22. The Neil Drysdale trainee improved his record to 6-7-5 in 30 starts and earnings to $515,354. Heerensperger and Drysdale also teamed to win the 2010 and 2012 San Luis Rey with Bourbon Bay

   The Kentucky-bred gelding by Distorted Humor is a half-brother to $1.3-million earner and graded stakes winner Cosmonaut, both are out of Grade 2-placed $255,689 earner Cosmic Fire, a daughter of Capote and stakes winner Future Bright, a stakes-winning daughter of Washington-bred stakes winner Pro Tab, the latter two both bred by Grousemont Farm.

    Dr. George Todaro, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partners' multiple graded stakes winner Halo Doll, a six-year-old daughter of Popular-Spanish Halo, added a victory in the $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes at Santa Anita on March 23, improving her record to 18-5-5 from 37 starts and earnings to $982,316.

   Todaro and Hollendorfer's three-year-old G. G. Ryder, a California-bred son of 2008 Mt. Rainier Handicap winner Chhaya Dance, won his third race in six starts, while partnered by Russell Baze, after taking an allowance/$40,000 optional claiming (N) race at the Northern California track and upping his earnings to $62,830.

   Hollendorfer and Todaro's four-year-old Happybrithdaybaby finished second by a half-length to Marks Mine in the $60,000 Camilla Urso Stakes at Golden Gate on March 15, improving the daughter  of  the Kentucky-bred daughter of Successful Appeal's record to 6-4-0 from 11 starts and upping her earnings to $125,550.

   Multiple graded stakes winner Summer Hit won a mile allowance race at Golden Gate - ridden by Russell Baze - by five lengths on March 15, upping his earning's totals to $452,219 and a 10-2-3 record from 18 starts. The five-year-old gelded son of Bertrando was bred by Ken and Jan Heidt's K & J Farm out of Mia F Eighteen, by Tough Knight. Mia F Eighteen is now a member of the Griffin Place broodmare band.

  Art McFadden's Morning Line Wiz, who had broken his maiden in his first start, the Ex Mountain Cop Stakes last September at Portland Meadows and also took an allowance at the Rose City track on New Year's Day while under trainer Jim Fergason's care, won a $50,000 claiming race at Santa Anita by two lengths on March 15. Now trained by Kathy Walsh, the three-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Henny Hughes-Morner, by Broken Vow, improved his record to 3-1-0 from four starts and has earned $45,100. In the same race, Horseplayers Racing Club and partners' Maximinus, by Roman Ruler, ran third.

  Mark Dedomenico LLC, John Carver and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's Morning Fix, ridden by Russell Baze, remained unbeaten in two starts when the three-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by First Samurai-Coffee, by El Corredor, won an allowance/$50,000 optional claiming (N) race at Golden Gate on March 15. Dedomenico and Hollendorfer also race Stop Smiling, who finished fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong race.

  Three-year-old  Our Glitter Ball, a California-bed daughter of Dixie Chatter-Match Ball, by Grand Slam, bred by the late David Christensen and his wife Marian, won a maiden $40,000 claiming race by 3 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on March 20.

  Ten Broeck Farm Inc.'s (nom de course for longtime industry member David Mowat) Heaven's Touch, a four-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Montbrook, won a $47,000 maiden special weight race at by 3 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream Park on March 20. Each of the five runners in the six-panel race was making their racing debut. Heaven's Touch - who is trained by Wesley Ward - is the seventh winner out of Biblonic, a stakes-winning daughter of Notebook.

   2005 Washington broodmare of the year Takeaway, a 1995 daughter of Fly So Free, was represented by her seventh winner when three-year-old Hail to the Nile, by Pioneerof  the Nile, won a mile and 70 yard maiden special weight race at Fair Grounds on March 21. The Louisiana-bred gelding is a half-brother to four stakes horse, including the full siblings and Washington champions Youcan'ttakeme and No Giveaway, both offspring of Woodstead Farm stallion He's Tops...

  Ernie Sherman'sBeaulena, the daughter of Beau Genius who won the 2007 Boeing Handicap, won or placed in ten other stakes and earned $201,116 in Sherman's colors, produced her third foal, a filly by Rocky Bar, in California on March 17 and will be returned to Heatseeker (Ire). Beaulena's first two foals, both sired by Bertrando, are maiden allowance winner Beautranda, who also ran fourth in the Washington Oaks and Comcast SportsNet Stakes last summer and two-year-old Mr. Takahasi.

   Mark Dedomenico LLC's 2010 national three-year-old filly champion Blind Luck, a $3,279,520-earning daughter of Pollard's Vision, produced a colt by Giant's Causeway at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky on February 5, 2014, and is scheduled to be bred back to Midnight Lute.

  Also foaled at Hill 'n' Dale this year was a filly by Midnight Lute out of Grade 2 stakes winner Irish Gypsy. A daughter of Hennessy out of $151,420 stakes winner Rayelle - whose dam was Washington horse of the year and Grade 1 winner Delicate Vine. Irish Gypsy, who produced her first foal, a filly by Candy Ride (Arg), in 2013 is owned by Mike Pegram and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and is scheduled to be bred back to Midnight Lute.

   The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) announced the winners of their 2013 statistical awards for leading California owners in late March. Leading the way in wins, for the second straight year, was the partnership of Dr. George Todaro and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who won 38 races from 125 starts in 2013. Their runners, who included Grade 1 stakes winner Lady of Fifty and California Derby winner Zeewat, earned $1,033,195.

   Brandon Chance Boulanger, the 20-year-old son of three-time (1989-91) leading Longacres rider Gary Boulanger, earned his first race win on March 14, 2014, when he rode Swaylon Braylon to a nine-length victory in the fourth race at Turfway Park.

   The March 27, 2014, Paulick Report, in its "Cosequin Presents OTTB Showcase: Partners from the Track to the Arena," written by Jen Roytz, is a story about jockey Anne Sanguinetti - who finished fifth in wins during the 2013 Emerald Downs meet and was the regular rider for Washington horse of the year E Z Kitty throughout most of her 2013 campaign - and British Columbia-bred Mr. Ichiban, a 2005 gelding by Mass Market who won 13 races while running at Hastings Racecourse, Kamloops, Portland Meadows and Emerald Downs over a six-year career. Mr. Ichiban, who was bred in partnership by Tod Mtn Thoroughbreds and Washingtonian Markwell Nager, earned $77,085 before finishing his race career at Portland Meadows with a win in December 2012. Sanguinetti, who had ridden him in his final three starts (1-2-0) at the Portland track, purchased the gelding after the December win and now has the former racehorse in training to be a jumper at her California home base. Click here to read the entire article. 

In Memoriam

Mary Jean Taylor Belvoir

   Mary J. Taylor Belvoir, a member of a prominent Northwest horse racing family, passed away March 12, 2014, at the age of 71 in Spokane.

   A native of Payette, Idaho, Mary was born on August 16, 1942, to Herbert P. Taylor and Thyra E. Brewer Taylor. She was a loving younger sister to Herbert, Hubert, J.D., Roy, Troy and Darlene.
   Mary, who was formerly married trainer Howard Belvoir and raised their kids in Kent, had for the last 11 years made her home in the Spokane Valley.

   Two of her three sons make their living in horse racing. Heath is a chart caller for Equibase on the Fair Grounds and Saratoga circuit and Vann, a former jockey, is now a successful trainer in Southern California. Their brother Clay works for The Boeing Company.
    Mary loved watching her kids and grandkids play sports, never missing a practice or game. Horses were always an important influence on her life and she was a well-known fixture at both Longacres and Playfair race tracks.

   Mary was very talented in many facets and absolutely loved sewing, including making pillows, stuffed bears, towels, etc. She also loved spending time gardening and watching sports, especially anything involving the WSU Cougars and Gonzaga Bulldogs.

   Mary, whose brother Hubert died on March 5, 2014, is survived by sons, Heath Belvoir, Vann (Sauci) Belvoir and Clay Belvoir; and grandchildren, Ace and Jade Belvoir.

Johnny Lewis

   Johnny Lewis, aka Louis John Loiacono, 88, died on March 14, 2014. Johnny was born on April 16, 1925, in Rochester, NY, the youngest of ten children of Sicilian immigrants Francesco and Francesca Loiacono.

   At the age of 17, Johnny joined the US Navy and served in WWII. After military service, he started the Johnny Lewis Trio. For the next 20 years, he played across the country, performing on The Tonight Show; at Pier 66, in Ft. Lauderdale; at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe; and at The Sands, in Las Vegas. He fronted many stars such as Sarah Vaughn, Lenny Bruce, Dick Gregory, Victor Borge, Homer and Jethro, and many more. Johnny and his trio recorded several hits, including, "Night Train", "Millie's Riff" and "Blues on the Rocks" for the Decca, Coral, Columbia and Capitol labels. In 1962, the Johnny Lewis Trio performed during the Seattle World's Fair and then at the Tyee Motor Inn for two years.

   He decided to settle in Thurston County and purchased the Lacey Music Center in 1966, which later became Music 6000. Johnny met and married fellow musician Ruth Stubbs and adopted her four children.

   Johnny and Ruth first got into Thoroughbreds in 1996, but had limited success until 2002 when they campaigned Emerald Downs horse of the meeting and champion three-year-old male runner Flying Notes, who shattered the state nine-furlong record when he won the Emerald Downs Breeders' Cup Derby in 1:45 2/5, and by a then record 11 1/2 lengths. The Olympia couple also raced three-time stakes winner Swing'n Notes. Both runners were trained by Bud Klokstad. Earlier, Blue On the Rocks, who was bred by Ruth, won the 1997 Holiday Stakes at Yakima Meadows for Johnny and partners.

  Johnny was very active in the community. Some of his accomplishments were playing for five Washington gubernatorial inaugural balls, serving as president of the Lacey Chamber of Commerce, Thurston County Cancer Association, Sons of Italy and the Navy League. He was also co-founder of Lacey Days and a longtime Lacey Rotarian. His band was among the featured entertainment for Emerald Downs' popular Italian Day.

   Johnny leaves behind his beloved wife, Ruth; and sons, Jeff and Steve (Sandy); daughters, Tracy Mitchell (Jerry) and Dana Clark (Bob); grandchildren, David, Sarah, Erik, Shannon and Casey; and great-granddaughter, Kaylin.