WASHINGTON THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS ASSOCIATION
 
Gate-to-Wire Newsletter
News from the WTBOA
February 5, 2015

Calendar


Friday, February 13, 2015

WASHINGTON HORSE RACING COMMISSION MEETING

Auburn City Council Chambers, 

25 West Main St., Auburn, WA 

(360) 459-6462


Monday, February 23, 2015

BARRETTS SELECT 

TWO-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING SALE

Fairplex, Pomona, CA

(909) 629-3099; [email protected];

barretts.com

 

Saturday, February 28, 2015

WASHINGTON ANNUAL AWARDS

Emerald Downs, Auburn, WA

(253) 288-7878; wtboa.com;

[email protected]


Saturday, February 28, 2015

WASHINGTON THOROUGHBRED FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE (RACE FOR EDUCATION)

Lexington, KY (859) 252-8648;

[email protected]

 

Friday, March 13, 2015

WASHINGTON HORSE RACING COMMISSION MEETING

Auburn City Council Chambers,

25 West Main St., Auburn, WA

(360) 459-6462


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

WTBOA SUMMER YEARLING EARLY BIRD DEADLINE

WTBOA, Auburn, WA (253) 288-7878; [email protected];

wtboa.com


Wednesday, April 1, 2015

SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS, THE HORSE AND A WHOLE LOT MORE

(253) 288-7878;

[email protected]


Monday, April 6, 2015

KEENELAND TWO-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING SALE

Lexington, KY

1 (800) 456-3412; keeneland.com

 

Friday, April 10, 2015

WASHINGTON HORSE RACING COMMISSION MEETING

Auburn City Council Chambers,

25 West Main St., Auburn, WA

(360) 459-6462


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

NORTHWEST RACE SERIES STALLION NOMINATION DEADLINE (foals of 2016)

(253) 288-7878; wtboa.com;

[email protected]


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

NORTHWEST RACE SERIES EXTENDED NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR TWO-YEAR-OLDS (foals of 2016)

(253) 288-7878; wtboa.com

[email protected]


Saturday, April 18, 2015

EMERALD DOWNS OPENING DAY

Auburn, WA

(253) 288-7000; emeralddowns.com


 

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

BARRETTS MAY TWO-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING SALE

Del Mar, CA

(909) 629-3099; [email protected]; barretts.com

 

Friday, June 12, 2015

WASHINGTON HORSE RACING COMMISSION MEETING

Auburn City Council Chambers,

25 West Main St., Auburn, WA

(360) 459-6462

 

Sunday, July 19, 2015

BARRETTS PADDOCK SALE AT DEL MAR

Del Mar, CA

(909) 629-3099; [email protected];

barretts.com

 

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WTBOA Stallion Season Auction

Bid on the Stallion of Your Choosing and SAVE!
Bids due by Friday, February 13

Click here for a list of offered Stallions and a bid sheet

Washington Annual Awards Banquet 
and Silent Auction

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Click here to see all the nominees
Click here to make reservations or for more information
Click here to donate an item or service to the silent auction

2015 Early Bird Triple Crown Nominees Released

   Among the 429 sophomores which were "early bird" nominees for the 2015 Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby on May 2, Preakness Stakes on May 16 and Belmont Stakes on June 6) are recent Eclipse juvenile awardees American Pharoahand Take Charge Brandi, one of 11 fillies on the list.

  Mark Dedomenico has four nominees, either owned by himself or in partnership: Chief of Staff, by Majestic Warrior; Rosary Man, by Songandaprayer; Honor Society, by Bernardini; and Desert Dynamo, by Desert Party.

  Dr. George Todaro, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Live Your Dream Racing Stable, et. al's Cross the Line, by Line of David, is also among the nominees.

  Trainer Wesley Ward has nominated Bombo Genesis, a son of Afleet Alex.

Gate-to-Wire Newsletter Receives Constant Contact All Star Award

   WTBOA's Gate-to-Wire newsletter was acknowledged with Constant Contacts All Star Award for 2014.

  According to the Constant Contact press release "Every year, the bar to All Star status gets higher and higher. Only ten percent of Constant Contact customers receive it. But 65 percent of All Stars, like yourself, are multiple-year recipients."

  This marks the fourth time in the past five years that Gate-to-Wire has been recognized.

  In order to be chose a Constant Contact All Star, the following criteria is used.

  Customers must have used theirtools for at least one year; have a high average open (typically more than 25 percent) and click-through rates; have low bounce rates; participate in regular communication with your audience; and any two of these other activities: add a web sign-up tool; add a Facebook sign-up tool; regularly monitor your reports; promote your emails or events on social media; or include links to your social media accounts in your e-mails or event communications.

Portland Meadows Results  

  The cast for the 47th running of the Portland Meadows Mile Handicap featured seven local runners, and while fog obscured most of the race, Jacqueline Smith-owned and -trained Sportive broke through the mists to score a length victory in Oregon's premiere Thoroughbred event. Final time for the January 25 feature race was 1:38.42.

  Finishing a length behind him in second place was 2013 Oregon horse of the year Maddie's Gold, a four-year-old son of Harbor the Gold who races for Hurliman Enterprises LLC. William Christian's Hunterwood Point, a seven-year-old gelding by Littleexpectations, held down third, a neck behind Maddie's Gold, but three-quarters of a length the better of fourth place Leadership. Favorite Memphis Mobster finished at the rear.

  As the horses were obscured from view except for the first and final eighths of a mile, the race proved to be a bit nerve-wracking for all in the stands.

  "You had no idea what was going on until they were 200 yards to the wire," commented Smith, who saddled the biggest purse winner in her 25-year training career. "When I saw he was just in front, that's when we got excited. This horse just never gives up and once he finally started getting to run two turns, I knew he'd be tough."

  Ridden by Javier Matias, Sportive was adding his 17th win and 40th placement in the seven-year-old California-bred gelding's 49th outing. The son of Bellamy Road-Party Mode, by Quiet American, went over the $100,000 mark to $103,422 with the victory.

  The ten-race Sunday card also featured two $20,000-added mile stakes: the Columbia River Stakes for sophomore runners and the Portland Distaff Stakes for older fillies and mares.

  Visibility was still good for the Columbia River Stakes (fifth race), which was won by Jeri Johnson and trainer Jim Fergason's Thats No Bull, a Kentucky-bred son of Bernstein who was ridden to his two-length tally by Jorge Rosales. Race favorite Cash N Dash, a son of Parker's Storm Cat raced by Karen Kirshner, finished second, 5 1/2 lengths the better of Hurliman Enterprises LLC's Three Sixteen, by Sixthirteen. Final race time was 1:40.59.

  The Portland Distaff, run as race number eight, was also contested in the eyesight-limiting fog. Rancho Viejo's homebred seven-year-old Seventyprcentcocoa scored her first stakes win by a half-length over Lawrence O'Brine and Marvin Pietila's race favorite Society Girl, by Soft Gold (Brz), in a time of 1:40.29. Both of the first two to cross the wire were bred in Washington. Pinot Noir Stables' Pata Blanca, by Modigliani, finished nearly ten lengths further back in third in the field of eight.

  Trained by Rigoberto Velasquez and ridden by Jake Samuels, Seventyprcentcocoa is a daughter of El Dorado Farms LLC's Private Gold and out of the Slewdledo matron She'skickinupdust. Unraced at two, Seventyprcentcocoa has earned $113,127 with an 8-7-6 record in 32 lifetime starts.

  Among the other races, Dr. Ryland and Jo Ann Harwood's three-year-old Fearless Felix was an impressive seven-length maiden special weight winner. The Oregon-bred gelding is by Grindstone and out of the Harwoods' homebred mare True Kitty Cat, a five-race winning daughter of True Confidence. 

WTBOA Sales Graduates in the News 

  Four-year-old Among the Stars, who finished third in the 2014 Comcast SportsNet Handicap at Emerald Downs last September, added a gate-to-wire, 9 1/4-length victory in a $10,000 claiming race at Turf Paradise on January 13. It marked the third win for the daughter of Harbor the Gold-Sweethrtofsigmachi, by General Meeting, who was bred in Washington by Dr. Duane and Susan Hopp. Now raced by Roy and Tammy Brewer, Kany Levine and Ken Nugent, Among the Stars has earned $61,380.

  Canada's top three-year-old runner of 2014, Lexie Lou, finished second to Thegirlinthatsong in her first outing of 2015, the $200,500 La Canada Stakes (G2) run at Santa Anita on January 17. The granddaughter of two-time Washington champion and Grade 2 winner Favored One improved her record to 7-4-2 from 17 starts and has earnings of $1,469,714.  The daughter of Sligo Bay (Ire)-Oneexcessivenite races for Gary Barber. Lexie Lou is a Sovereign Award finalist in both the three-year-old filly and turf mare categories. She most likely will also be one of the three finalists for Canadian Horse of the Year honors. The Sovereign Awards ceremony will be held on April 10, 2015, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto.

  Three-year-old Rachae Leigh made her debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight race and finished fourth for owners Mona and Jim Hour and trainer Larry Ross. The daughter of Stormin Fever-Striking Scholar, who was bred in Washington by Char Clark Thoroughbreds, is a half-sister to Washington champions Stryker Phd and Madame Pele.

  Three-year-old Chester B, by Congrats, the first foal out of 2008 Washington champion three-year-old filly Enumclaw Girl, by Katowice, won a maiden $40,000 claiming race at Santa Anita on January 23. The runner had been claimed out of his second start from his breeders Allen and Susan Branch and Doris Konecny and was making his fourth out for Hronis Racing LLC. The Branches are also the breeders of Gnarly Harly, who stems from the same Whimsical Aire distaff side as Enumclaw Girl. Sophomore Gnarly Harly, a son of Harlan's Holiday out of a stakes-placed daughter of Taj Aire, was claimed out of the 1 1/16-mile race by trainer Wesley Ward for Eclipse Award winning breeders and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

  Three-year-old Mambo Rock, who had been claimed from Lester Ellenz and trainer Tim McCanna for $20,000 in his previous outing on January 15, finished second by a head in a mile maiden $32,000-$30,000 claiming race at Golden Gate on January 30. Mambo Rock is a gelded son of Rock Hard Ten out of Calder stakes winner High Speed Access, by Kingmambo.

More News

   Karl Krieg's seven-year-old homebred mare Love Makor earned her fourth stakes placement when the Washington-bred daughter of Makors Mark-Coup de Foudre, by Basket Weave, finished third in the $25,000 Imperial Lass Stakes run at Turf Paradise on January. Ridden by Rocco Bowen and trained by Valorie Lund, the full or half-sister to Washington champions Makors Finale and Absolutely Cool, who was retired after the race, has earned $121,050 with a 7-8-5 record. Finishing second in the six-panel turf race was Mike Boluc's Smokin' Grey, by Smoke Glacken, who is trained by Frank Lucarelli and was partnered by Gallyn Mitchell.

  Dr. George Todaro, Live Your Dream Racing Stable, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, et. al's Cross the Line became the first stakes winner for his sire Line of David when he annexed the $100,315 California Derby by 1 3/4 lengths at Golden Gate on January 17. The half-brother to Canadian champion juvenile filly Ria Antonia has earned $83,920 in four starts with a 2-1-1 record. Todaro and Hollendorfer's five-year-old horse Fly Boy Roy, a son of Officer, won an allowance/$40,000 optional claiming (N) race the following day at Santa Anita. He has a record of 3-3-0 from a dozen starts and earned $84,474.

   Mark Dedomenico LLC andTodaro's Sam Sister, who had won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes in late December, took the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at the Arcadia track on January 19, improving the daughter of Brother Derek-Kittery Point, by Include, record to 5-0-0 from six starts and earnings to $427,450 for the four-year-old filly who is also co-owned and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. On January 29, Dedomenico, Jerry Durant and Michael House's three-year-old filly Rattataptap, by Tapit, earned her second victory in three starts after taking an allowance/$80,000 optional claiming (N) race at Santa Anita. The Kentucky-bred distaffer has earned $118,832.

  Washington-owned homebred mares finished second and third in the $35,000 Glendale Handicap run at Turf Paradise on January 17. Finishing second to winner Rock and Glory in the 1 1/16-mile turf race was Karl Krieg's Washington-bred stakes winner Lady Rosberg, a five-year-old daughter of Rosberg-Enter Laughing, by Distorted Humor. Claire and Jack Lein's Kentucky-bred She's Stella Marie, a six-year-old daughter of Leroidesanimaux (Brz)-Stellarina, by Pleasant Colony, finished third in the field of seven older distaffers. Lady Rosberg, who is trained by Valerie Lund and was ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, has earned $64,457. She's Stella Marie, who is conditioned by Robertino Diodoro, next won an about mile turf allowance/$30,000 optional claiming race at the Arizona track on February 4, increasing her earnings to $69,711.

  Rebekah Baze, Horseplayers Racing Club LLC (HPRC), Melvin Hudson and Earl L. Meijala's Best by Far earned her second 2015 win, both at Los Alamitos, when the five-year-old California-bred daughter of Tribal Rule won a $15,000, 870-yard handicap. Two days earlier, HPRC and Above the Crowd's Jslookovrurshoulda, a five-year-old Louisiana-bred son of Grand Appointment, also made it two for two this year when he won a five-furlong starter/$5,000 optional claiming (N) race by 4 1/4 lengths at Delta Downs, increasing his earnings to just shy of $100,000. Horseplayers Racing Club added another 2015 win when their seven-year-old California-bred Slammer Time, by Grand Slam, won a claiming race on January 24. The former stakes winner races in partnership with John Cavalli and trainer Jeff Bonde.

  Peter Redekop BC Ltd's four-year-old Alert Bay, who is trained by Blaine Wright, scored his fifth consecutive stakes win when he defeated Al and Sandee Kirkwood'sfive-year-old Boozer, by Unusual Heat, inthe $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic Stakes at Santa Anita on January 24. The gelding by City Zip has a record of 8-4-1 from14 starts and has earned $754,707. Wright also had a winner at Golden Gate on the 24th with the five-year-old Washington-bred mare Beautranda, a daughter of Bertrando-Beaulena, by Beau Genius, who was bred by Ernest Sherman and currently races for Seamist Racing LLC. It marked the third win for the now $54,945 earner.

  Jerry Hollendorfer, Brett Tahajian and Dr. George Todaro's Heat the Rocks, a three-year-old daughter of Unusual Heat also bred by Todaro and partners, finished second to Singing Kitty in the $200,000 Xpressbet California Cup Oaks on the same card. Another Saturday winner was four-year-old Forest Chatter, a Kentucky-bred son of Dixie Chatter-Wild Forest, by Forest Wildcat, bred by the late Herman Sarkowsky and raced by his longtime partners Martin and Pam Wygod. Forest Chatter, who had placed at three and is unbeaten in two starts in 2015, took an allowance/$20,000 optional claiming (N) race at Santa Anita, upping his earnings total to $84,100.

  Also on January 24 at the Arcadia track, Mark Dedomenico LLC's three-year-old Chief of Staff, a California-bred son of Majestic Warrior, took a six furlong maiden special weight race by 5 1/4 lengths. Another California winner with Washington connections who won on the card was Rozamund Barclay-owned and Len Kasmerski-trained Mirrabella, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Macho Uno who took a maiden $16,000 claiming race at Golden Gate by 2 1/2-lengths.

  The January 25 Golden Gate card brought out two other winners with a Washington connection. Hollendorfer and Todaro's three-year-old Prodicious Facts, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Giant's Causeway, took a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race by 3 1/4 lengths; and Savario Farm-owned Alli Leigh, a five-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Student Council, dead-heated for the win with Awesome Lookn in a $20,000 claiming race. Alli Leigh is trained by Diane Garrison.

  Dr. George Todaro's Kikisoblu, a four-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Kodiak Kowboy out of Washington-bred stakes winner Horse B With You, by Slewdledo, added her second win in three starts with an allowance tally at Turf Paradise on February 3.

  Five-year-old Lochte, a gelded son of Medaglia d'Oro out of  2008 Emerald Distaff Stakes winner Lemon Kiss, by Lemon Drop Kid, earned his third stakes victory in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes on January 24. The Grade 1 winner has a record of 5-4-5 from 21starts and has earned $548,572.

  Ten Broeck Farm Inc.'s (Dave Mowat) three-year-old filly Cool Comfort, by Big Brown, finished third in the $50,000 OBS Sprint Stakes run at the Ocala Training Center on January 27. The Wesley Ward-trained filly has earned $86,070 in six lifetime outings.

  The January 10, 2015, issue of The Blood-Horse, in their rotating West Coast section, profiled Washington native and longtime horseman David Mowat, in an article titled "Perfect Ten."

  Charlene Keys' homebred Tarajoy won a five-panel maiden special weight race at Portland Meadows by nine lengths on February 3. The three-year-old Washington-bred, who is trained by Neil Knapp and was ridden by Leonel Camacho-Flores, is a daughter of Grindstone-Tarapoa, by With Approval. On the same card, Malon Lee Cowgill's homebred My Pal Scully, who hails from the barn of trainer Charlene Whiteside and was ridden by Kassie Guglielmino, took his third win in a six-furlong allowance feature. The four-year-old Washington-bred gelding is by Prospected and out of the Gilded Time mare Maid in Monroe.

  Top Pacific Northwest leading rider Nikeela Black led all 2014 North American riders, with 100 or more starts, with a 37 percent win rate. Black, along with Rico Walcott and Juan Diaz, had a 70 percent in-the-money record in 2014 to lead all jockeys who competed aboard 100 mounts or better.

  Wesley Ward-owned and -trained Judy the Beauty was named champion female sprinter of 2014. The daughter of Ghostzapper won four of her five starts last year, including victories in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Madison Stakes en route to her Eclipse Award. She garnered 261 of the 265 votes cast in her division.

  In the final Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred poll of 2014, eight-year-old Ben's Cat, who has contributed significantly to making his sire, Gibson Thoroughbred Farm's Parker's Storm Cat, Washington's leading sire for the past four years, was voted the top horse bred in the region. One voter wrote: "You can't ignore the power of Ben" of the now $2.3-million earner.

  Joseph Puhich, brother of jockey's agent Ivan Puhich Jr. and uncle of trainer Mike Puhich, passed away at age 88 in January 2015. One of six brothers born to Ivan and Pauline Puhich, he owned Puhich Dry Cleaners in Renton for 65 years and the Roadrunners Trophy Shop, also in Renton, for over 40 years. A prominent local basketball coach for many years, among those who were guided by him in the sport were Seattle SuperSonics backup center Tom Black and local horsemen Ron Crockett and Joe LaDuca. Puhich was a frequent visitor at both Emerald Downs and Longacres.

  Canadian Thoroughbred published a poll of the results from a poll of their "Top 10 Canadian Canadian-breds in History." Leading the way by a considerable margin was the great Northern Dancer. Tied in ninth place were British Columbia's homegrown hero George Royal and eight-time leading Washington sire and 1982 Queen's Plate-G1 (Can) winner Son of Briartic.
  Former Washington sire Game Plan, 22, was humanely euthanized after being found recumbent in his pasture at E.A. Ranches in Ramona, California, on January 7, 2015. The unraced son of Danzig out of Grade 1 winner Cadillacing, by Alydar, was originally brought to Washington in 1997 by L. L. "Packy" McMurry and his wife Julia to stand at their Royal Match Stud, but was moved to California in late 2005. Among Game Plan's 24 stakes winners were Grade 1 winner Mistical Plan and 2002 Washington champion three-year-old colt Bold Ranger. His first 15 crops have earned over $13.7-million.

More Keeneland January 2015 Sale Results

  The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale was held January 12-15 with 1,610 horses cataloged, of those offered, 948 sold for a $35,305,500 total with a $37,242 average (down 6.8 percent) and a $16,000 median (down 20 percent). The RNA rate was 25.2 percent, versus 19.6 percent in 2014 when 1,027 horses changed hands.

  2008 Washington champion three-year-old filly Enumclaw Girl, by Katowice and out of a daughter of state champion Mahaska, sold for $65,000. The mare, whose first two foals are recent three-year-old winner Chester B, a gelding by Congrats, and a yearling filly by Bodemeister, was sold bred to Pioneerof the Nile on a May 10 cover.

  Winner Karla's Number, a 12-year-old daughter of Polish Numbers out of stakes winner and stakes producer Whow - a daughter of Washington horse of the year Hooplah - sold bred to Sidney's Candy for $30,000.

 

Buyers

  WTBOA member Rick Kessler purchased two broodmare prospects: $45,153 winner Sunandsea, a five-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes out of $106,951 stakes winner Cayman Sunset, the dam of Grade 3 stakes winner Sailors Sunset, $227,375 stakes winner Sailor's Sister and stakes-placed Rival Islands; and $47,185 winner Get the Picture, a five-year-old mare by Giant's Causeway and a half-sister to $200,511 stakes winner Megapixel and stakes-placed Fotografia.

  Another California WTBOA member, Tom Grether Farms Inc., purchased four yearlings: a filly by Flower Alley from the immediate family of Grade 1 winner Twilight Ridge; a filly by Zensational out of a young producing daughter of $283,326 stakes winner Tassa; a colt by Spring At Last out of $42,170 winning and producing half-sister to Grade 2 winner Promenade Girl, $104,784 stakes winner Datts Awesome and three other stakes producers; and a Kodiak Kowboy colt from the immediate family of Grade 2 winners Mission Impazible ($1.2-million) and Forest Camp and Grade 3 winner Spanish Empire.

  Other yearling buyers noted with a Pacific Northwest connection were Halvorson Bloodstock, David Israel, D & S Thoroughbreds, Jim Fergason, Tim Floyd and Jonathan Nance.

  Halvorson signed for a Posse half-brother to $169,220 stakes winner Outright Buck and seven other winners.

  David Israel and partners, through Tim McMurry's Fleetwood Bloodstock, purchased a filly from the first crop of Maclean's Music. Her dam, Spy Novel - a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and prominent sire Indian Charlie - has already produced four winners, including Federico Tesio Stakes winner Miner's Escape.

  Sisters Debbie and Shondra Van Horne (D & S Thoroughbreds) purchased a colt by Street Hero, the first foal out of a $35,225 earning daughter of Dixieland Band and $155,930 stakes winner Miss City Halo; and a colt by Scat Daddy, the first foal out of a Tiznow daughter of Canadian champion two-year-old filly Catch the Thrill.

  Trainer Fergason purchased three yearlings: an Old Forester colt out of stakes winner and producer Nessarose for Art McFadden; a colt by Spring At Last out of $256,661 stakes winner and producer Platinee; and a Forestry colt, the first foal out of $149,633 stakes-placed Pink Candy.

  Floyd signed for a Fort Prado colt out of a producing daughter of Indian Charlie; and a Bullet Train (GB) colt, the first foal out of 11-race winner and $97,206 earner Shirley Jean.

  Nance purchased a Shakespeare colt out of a young $42,525 winning daughter of Canadian champion juvenile filly Brusque.

2015 Barretts January Mixed Sale

  Led by the 18-horse consignment from the complete dispersal of Karen and Mickey Taylor, Barretts cataloged 378 horses in their January 26 sale. After 47 outs and 77 RNAs, 248 horses changed hands for a $2,104,300 total and an $8,487 average.

  A trio of horses topped the sale at $50,000 each, including a two-year-old filly from the first crop of Pennsylvania Derby (G2) winner Gone Astray who was purchased by Rozamund Barclay. A Florida-bred half-sister to $183,678 stakes-placed You Bought Her, $90,708 stakes-placed Cambiata and $177,847 earner Switching to Glide, the unnamed bay is out of a winning half-sister to $419,104 stakes winner Moonlight Dancer.

  Barclay also purchased four young broodmares: Divine Miss Indy, an unraced daughter of Flatter and half-sister to four winners, including Coronation Futurity winner Decision Day; the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Gem, bred to Bullet Train (GB); Pointed Question, a daughter of classic winner Point Given out of Tropical Oaks winner Bal d'Argent, bred to  Hollywood Derby (G1) winner Ultimate Eagle, whose first foals arrive this spring; and Ann's Intuition, a winning daughter of Indian Charlie bred to Rebel Stakes (G2) Sierra Sunset, whose first crop races this year.

  The top price from the Taylor dispersal was the three-year-old filly Council Rules which was purchased by trainer Jeff Bonde for $43,000.The California-bred filly by Council Member, a Taylor-raced stakes-winning son of Seattle Slew, had won a six-furlong $32,000 maiden claiming race by 2 1/4 lengths at Golden Gate Fields on January 17 while trained by Larry Ross.

  Rivers Edge Farm, as agent, consigned two broodmares and two yearlings for the estate of the late Seattle sportsman Herman Sarkowsky. Hard Way Ten, a stakes-winning daughter of Washington champion Youcan'ttakeme, sold bred to Dixie Chatter for $27,000 and Hard Way Ten's yearling filly by the same sire brought $17.000.

  Washington horseman John Parker signed for a yearling colt by Distorted Reality, an unraced four-year-old colt by Bushwacker out of a Group 1-placed daughter of Caerleon, and a three-year-old Benchmark colt.

  Dr. Duane and Susan Hopp expanded their broodmare band with the purchase of four-race winner Royal Recruit, who had been covered by Lucky Pulpit. The daughter of UAE older horse highweight Our New Recruit is a half-sister to five stakes horses, including stakes winner and Washington stallion Houseofroyalhearts.

  Connie Belshay purchased an unraced four-year-old daughter of Grade 1 winner Pioneerof the Nile out of $189,189 stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Boston Express. The mare is expecting a February foal by Papa Clem.

  Jeff Masters signed for a yearling filly by Papa Clem. She is out of a $57,798 winning daughter of $157,732 stakes winner and Adirondack Stakes (G2)-placed Secret Lover.

  The Gibson family was also active. Patti Gibson purchased Burgundy Hill, a winning half-sister to Washington champion Margo's Gift from the Taylor consignment. The seven-year-old mare had been bred to Sway Away and was sold with a 2015 complimentary season to Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger. Mark Gibson signed for La Brisa, a placed daughter or Surf Cat and half-sister to two stakes winners; and the three-year-old gelding Goyo, a son of Rio Grande out of stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Chasing Wind, by Mining.

  Rick and Debbie Pabst purchased $148,906 stakes winner and Washington champion Finding More, who they also bred, from the Blue Ribbon Racing syndicate which raced her in 2014.

  Trainers with a Pacific Northwest connection who were spotted adding to their stables or farm included Jeff Metz (three two-year-olds sired by Grace Upon Grace, Storm Wolf and Bushwacker); Vann (and his wife Sauci) Belvoir (two Lucky Pulpit juvenile colts, led by a full brother to stakes-placed Lucky Views - whose grandam is Washington champion Timely Views; and an unraced three-year-old colt by Bushwacker); Kathy Walsh (a juvenile colt by Travers Stakes (G1) winner Ten Most Wanted); and Eric S. Jensen (a winning daughter of In Excess [Ire] and half-sister to two Canadian stakes winners, including former Oregon sire Slew's Saga, bred to Council Member).

  Other horses with PNW connections spotted were: a yearling Heatseeker (Ire) filly out of $112,839 stakes winner Kriskeri, by Washington sire Rehaan; 2008 Mt. Rainier Handicap winner and sire Chhaya Dance; a two-year-old colt by Benchmark out of a winning half-sister to WTBOA sale topper and Grade 3 winner and Kentucky Oaks (G1) third Collect Call; and a two-year-old Marino Marini colt who is a half-brother to stakes winner Restless Youth and Angie C. Stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Charming Colleen.

  Due to their dispersal, the Taylors - who were in racing for 42 years, including their magical and glorious time with the great Seattle Slew - were featured in a January 24, 2015, The Blood-Horse article titled "Final Call for Taylors of Seattle Slew Fame."

News from The Jockey Club

2014 Experimental Free Handicap

  Texas Red, winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and American Pharoah, champion two-year-old male and winner of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and the FrontRunner Stakes (G1), shared the high weight of 126 pounds on The Jockey Club's 2014 Experimental Free Handicap, which was released on February 2, 2015, by The Jockey Club.

  The 126 pounds assigned to Texas Red and American Pharoah is the standard impost for top Experimental colts and equivalent to the assignment on last year's high weight, New Year's Day.

The filly division also had co-highweights with Lady Eli, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), and Take Charge Brandi, champion two-year-old filly and winner of the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), both receiving 123 pounds, one pound higher than the second-weighted males, Hootenanny and Carpe Diem.

  The Jockey Club Experimental Free Handicap, published annually since 1935, is a weight-based assessment of the previous year's leading two-year-olds, with the weights compiled for a hypothetical race at 1 1/16 miles.

  This year's list of eligible horses was expanded to review all two-year-olds of 2014 that started in graded or listed stakes races run in the continental United States instead of only the top four finishers. Out of the eligible 196 males and 174 fillies, a total of 100 males and 88 fillies were assigned weights.

  All Experimental Free Handicap weight assignments, as well as past performances for those horses, are available within the resources section of jockeyclub.com.

  Not only was Kentucky the foaling state for the top four weighted horses, but it was again the leading foaling state of all weighted horses with 71 males and 59 fillies; Florida was second with nine males and five fillies. Ireland led foaling countries outside of the US with seven fillies and one male.

  Kitten's Joy was the leading sire of weighted horses with two fillies and four males. Tied for second with five total were Curlin, Sky Mesa and War Front.

  The weighting committee of racing secretaries included four this year with P. J. Campo of the Stronach Group, Ben Huffman of Churchill Downs and Keeneland, Martin Panza of The New York Racing Association Inc. and Thomas S. Robbins of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

  While no Washington-breds were noted, there were a few with connections to the Evergreen State. In addition to the Wesley Ward-trained Hootenanny, a colt by Quality Road, Ward also conditions the filly with the top connection, Ten Broeck Farm's Sunset Glow, by Exchange Rate, at 119.

  Stormy Liberal, a full brother to El Dorado's 2015 freshman stallion Coast Guard, was given 112 pounds. Former Washington breeder Jim Plemmons' had a filly he bred, Comforter, by Nobiz Like Showbiz, ranked at 102.


 
Thoroughbred Incentive Program Approves 750 Shows for 2015

  The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) announced on February 3, 2015, that it has approved awards and classes for nearly 750 shows in 43 states and Canadian provinces during 2015. A full calendar of events is available on the TIP website at tjctip.com.

  The show disciplines include eventing, dressage, Western and English pleasure, hunter/jumper, Western performance, games, and even polo and polocrosse.

  "This program was created to encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of their careers in racing or breeding and it is obviously fulfilling that mission because in three years, we have  offered awards at 1,100 horse shows in 41 states and provinces," said Kristin Werner Leshney, legal associate for The Jockey Club and coordinator of TIP.

  In addition to awards for shows, TIP has renewed the Thoroughbred of the Year Award and the Young Rider of the Year Award. Applications for these non-competition awards will be available at tjctip.com in April with a deadline of June 30, 2015.

  Only Thoroughbreds that have been registered with The Jockey Club or a foreign Thoroughbred stud book recognized by The Jockey Club are eligible to participate in TIP classes and compete for awards. All participating Thoroughbreds should have a TIP number, which can be obtained at tjctip.com.

  Created and announced in October 2011, TIP recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, performance awards, and non-competition awards. To date, TIP has received more than 10,000 Thoroughbred entries competing for awards.

  Additional information about TIP is available at tjctip.com and on the TIP Facebook page at facebook.com/tjctip.

In Memoriam

Stewart Hartley Flax

  Stewart Flax, 78, passed away on November 5, 2014, in Hood River, Oregon, due to kidney issues. Born in Portland, Oregon, on September 11, 1936, his family moved to New Jersey, Ohio and Massachusetts before settling back in the Portland area when Stewart was 17.

  His father worked in the racing industry through the food service business and Stewart became involved as well. He distributed and sold tip sheets for an Oregon vendor and soon branched out with his own tip sheet. Eventually Stewart became a jockey's agent and went on the road, working at tracks such as Arlington Park, AkSarBen, Pimlico and Thistledown. With his outgoing, affable and talkative personality, he made hundreds of contacts everywhere he lived.

   In the early 1970s Stewart moved back to Portland and from there until his passing he started and worked in many business endeavors. Known fondly as "Stew the Dude," Stewart had a mobile men's clothing business, Duds for Dudes, in the 70s. A 1972 Washington-bred son of Hitter, Stew the Dude, was named in his honor, and after the horse broke his maiden in his first out at Portland Meadows, he went on to win 21 more races at tracks in Oregon and Washington.

  A regular at Emerald Downs with the track's opening in 1996, Stewart was never too far from Thoroughbred racing. 

  During the early days of the Cornerstone/THRUST auctions, the never-shy Stewart helped to procure valuable auction items from his many contacts all over the country. He also for a time conducted horsemen's tours of tracks like Saratoga.   

  Stewart was also a car wholesaler, diamond broker, operated his own limousine service and promoted concerts. In later years he was a ticket broker in Seattle for Seahawks and Mariners games.

 

Jerre Paxton

   Longtime Washington horseman and industry leader Jerre Paxton, 76, passed away on January 25, 2015, in Seattle of an apparent heart attack. The Yakima resident had been staying in his Seattle home while visiting Emerald Downs.

  He was born on November 24, 1938, in Riverside, California, where he was raised and educated, one of four children of Floyd and Eleanor (Leihy) Paxton.

  Jerre was the president of the Kwik Lok Corporation, a Central Washington company founded by his father Floyd in the 1950s. The younger Paxton began working for Kwik Lok - which produces plastic closure clips for bagged bread products and produce - in 1962. The international company also has plants in Canada, Australia, Ireland and Japan.

  After starting in Quarter Horses, Jerre purchased the sale topper at the 1973 WHBA (WTBOA) Summer Yearling Sale. About that same time he acquired two stallions to stand at his Yakima Stallion Station: Canadian Gil, by Northern Dancer; and Drum Fire, a stakes-placed son of Never Bend who would lead Washington's sire list from 1982 through 1986. Drum Fire would leave his mark with five Washington champions, including 1991 leading state sire Knights Choice, who sired seven Washington champions. Of those dozen titleholders, seven were bred by Paxton and his breeding establishment which also produced an additional five state champions by other stallions. He also raced non-homebred state champion In Your Defense.

  In 1980, he renamed the Yakima equine facility Northwest Farms and bred and raced under that vaulted entity until his death.

  Paxton led the state breeders ranking from 1984 through 1995. In 1994, Paxton-bred runners set a new state record with race earnings of $1,101,986 and there is a great likelihood that that number will never be surpassed in the Evergreen State. Two of the farm's multiple stakes producers, Yang and Pamlisa's Delight, were named Washington broodmare of the year.

  Northwest Farms consigned 13 WTBOA sale toppers and was the leading consignor by gross in 25 (summer, winter and horses of racing age) WTBOA sales. Paxton was also active on the other end of the Washington sale scene as the purchaser of five other yearlings who were sale toppers.

  By 1994 Northwest Farms had drastically reduced their Washington broodmare band after feeling the impact of the early death of Knights Choice in 1992 and the closure of Longacres. Jerre then became determined to make a stronger mark on the national scene with the development of a quality-laden breeding operation in Kentucky.

   The leading owner at Longacres in 1986, Northwest Farms was the leading owner at Emerald Downs in 1999 and 2013 and among the top ten on ten other occasions. In Emerald Downs first 19 seasons of racing, the Paxton colors dominated all others in number of stakes victories with 37, led by a state record of eight tallies in 2007. His Emerald Downs champions were: Stopshoppingdebbie (2013-14), Goin to the Window (2012), Elusive Horizon (2009), Shampoo (2007-08), Smarty Deb (2007), Lasting Code (2002), Taste the Passion (1999) and Vino Rossi (1998). Other stakes winners bred by NWF LLC in Kentucky include: Grade 2 stakes winner Arena Elvira, Grade 3 winner Hosco, Grade 3 winner Super Ninety Nine and Skydreamin. 

  Two of his homebred fillies started in Breeders' Cup World Championship Juvenile Filly races: state champion and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Firesweeper (who ran unplaced in 1985 after having sprinted to the early lead) and Smarty Deb (who ran fifth in 2007 at a rain soaked Monmouth Park).

  He also raced multiple Grade 2 winner Raise a Man.

  The strong Washington industry supporter was elected to the Washington Racing Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2003 and most recently sponsored the juvenile filly stakes on the Washington Cup card in 2013 and 2014.

  He was preceded in death by first wife, Nancy; and his brother, Ted. Jerre leaves wife, Debbie, of Yakima; daughters, Stephanie Paxton-Jackson, of Bainbridge Island, Melissa Paxton-Steiner, of Seattle, and Kimberly Paxton-Hagner, of Oregon; granddaughter, Bella Jackson; grandson, Cooper Hagner; brother, Greg Paxton and sister, Cheryl Paxton, both of Riverside, California; half-brother, Ande Paxton, of Issaquah; and sister-in-law Sharon Paxton, of Yakima.

 

Sam Jerome Tilden

  Thoroughbred owner, breeder and trainer Sam Tilden, 61, passed away on December 1, 2014, resulting from complications after a fall in his Spokane home.

   Sam was born on September 15, 1953, in Spokane to Jerome and Florence Tilden, Thoroughbred breeders who stirred a lifelong passion for racing in Sam.

 At age 16, Sam took out his trainer's license and began training the family runners at the Coeur d'Alene meet held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Idaho and at Playfair in Spokane. In addition to Pacific Northwest racetracks, Sam conditioned runners in Canada, Prairie Meadows and Beulah Park.

  In addition to training, Sam also worked at Kaiser Aluminum's Spokane plant, where his early retirement led to his training fulltime.

  Among the many notable runners Sam trained were: El Cabrio, who placed in four Playfair stakes; Wapato Wind, winner of the 2000 Inland Empire Marathon; and Justanotherbigtime, who placed in stakes at Playfair, Yakima and Emerald Downs.

  Sam's greatest training accomplishment was Hired Hand, who ran a close second to 2008 Washington horse of the year in that year's edition of the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. Hired Hand earned year-end honors as Washington's Most Improved Claimer of 2008.

  Sam and his wife Karen also bred and sold many quality runners. Their best runner was 15-race winner and $257,847 earner Random Gold, a 2001 son of Personable Joe who won the Chuck Taliaferro Memorial Stakes at Remington Park. They also bred 2000 Princess Margaret Stakes winner (Northlands Park) and Debutante Stakes (Assiniboia Downs) winner Slipper Slew, who won four races total and earned $124,061; and $105,583 eight-race winner Mr. Hobo Joe. All three of these talented runners were out of On Board, who Sam had picked out and claimed at Playfair because he thought she would make a great broodmare. The couple also bred Playfair stakes horses Diamond Edge and Ms Torador, and $124,127 earner and eight-race winner Tora Jo out of their good broodmare Niki Tora.

  From 1991 (when Equibase information starts) through his final runner at Portland Meadows in 2012, Sam trained the earners of $383,847 with a record of 69-83-86 from 669 starts.

  Sam always considered himself lucky because he was able to pursue his passion of training the Thoroughbred horses he so loved.

  Sam was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Beverly. He is survived by his ex-wife, Karen; stepson, Kyle England; stepdaughter, Tonya Hill; and four step-grandchildren.

  Memorial services were held at the Tilden family farm on December 14, 2014, and at Portland Meadows on February 3, 2015.

Equine in Memoriam

Marshua's Music

  Stakes winner and champion producer Marshua's Music passed away last September due to the infirmities of old age. The daughter of Marshua's Dancer-National Tour, by Stop the Music, was 32.

  Bred by Rick and Debbie Pabst, Marshua's Music won the Mike Donohoe Memorial Stakes and placed in four additional stakes at Longacres, earning $63,780 for WAM Stables. Her first foal, 1990 Washington champion two-year-old colt or gelding Dancin'all the Way, by Staff Writer, was bred in partnership by the Pabsts and WAM. The mare would produce 11 other named foals, including six other winners. In addition to Dancin'all the Way who as a juvenile won both the Spokane Futurity and Juvenile-Mile Stakes at Playfair and had lifetime earnings of $73,601, Marshua's Music also produced 2002 Pierce County Stakes winner Freedom March, by Free At Last, and twice Golden Gate Fields stakes-placed Steal a March, by Hoist the Silver. In addition, her daughters Musical Selection and Sheza Demon both became stakes producers.

  Marshua's Music produced her final foal in 2004, the Katowice filly Kato's Dancer, and lived out her final ten years at the place of her birth, the Pabsts' Blue Ribbon Farm.