HIDDEN BROOK PARTNERSHIP    

HIDDEN BROOK GRADUATES IN JULY  

Contend, who was born and raised at Hidden Brook for breeder Paul Pompa Jr., finished 3rd in the George Wafer Memorial Stakes on July 6.

The three-year-old filly was coming off her first black-type win in May in the Budweiser Allowance Stakes at Sunray Park.

The third place finish puts her career record at 8-3-1-1. Contend is by Big Brown, out of Juncture (by El Prado).

Darwin

Darwin, another offspring of Big Brown, ran in three stakes races in the month of July, with one win, one second-place finish, and one third-place finish, in that order.

On July 13, Darwin won the Listed Belgrave Stakes at Fairyhouse in Ireland, marking the second stakes win of his career.

Less than a week later, on July 19, he placed in the Michael Murphy Home Furnishings Minstrel Stakes at Curragh.

On July 30, he finished third in the G1 Qipco Sussex Stakes.

The four-year-old colt now has a record of 10-4-1-2. He was sold by Hidden Brook as a yearling in August of 2011 for breeders Lansdon Robbins and Tom Hansen.

Finnegans Wake

Finnegans Wake, raised at Hidden Brook for breeder Jerry Crawford, added black-type to his record with a victory in the G3 Arlington Handicap, winning by a head in the 1 ¼ mile race on turf.

The five-year-old was able to overcome a light bump at the start and maintain a good position before making a bid for the lead heading into the stretch and rallying for the win.

The seven-year-old Great Attack, sold by Hidden Brook as a yearling in 2008 for breeders Edward Seltzer and Murray Durst, finished 2nd in the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga on July 20.

Great Attack has now earned $534,110 in his career.

Merry Meadow

Merry Meadow, coming off two strong starts in two Grade 3's (a win and a place), entered the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga with some good momentum, using it to finish 3rd in the six furlong race on July 28.

The four-year-old filly was born and raised on Hidden Brook, and was bred by David Howe and William Parsons.

She has now raced five times in 2014, with four of those being stakes races, and has a record of 5-2-1-1 and earnings of $196,400 during that stretch. 

Shortly after making his stakes race debut in June where he finished 3rd in the G3 Pegasus Stakes, Lynx entered the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie in Canada on July 29, finishing in 2nd place.

Bred by Jim McAlpine and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Lynx was sold by Hidden Brook as a yearling at the 2012 Keeneland September sale.

Mr. Ninja, who was foaled and raised on Hidden Brook for breeder John H. Adger, won the G2 Pr. Independencia on July 29.   

HIDDEN BROOK SELLS HIGHEST-PRICED HORSE AT THE JULY SALE  

The July Sale at Fasig Tipton brought plenty of highs for the Hidden Brook team, with gross sales totaling $927,000.

Hidden Brook averaged $154,500 per horse, which was well above the sale average of $94,154.

The highlight of the day was the sale of Hip #154, a bay colt by Cowboy Cal, out of Refugee, that was part of Hidden Brook's consignment at Barn 4. Hip #154 ended up being the top-seller of the day, selling for $550,000 to the Ocala-based Northwest Stud. He is the half brother to graded stakes winners Executiveprivilege and Hoppertunity.

The colt was bred by Barronstown Stud, and was purchased as a weanling by Mike McMahon and Jamie Hill (McMahon and Hill Bloodstock) for $145,000.

The media was buzzing with stories about the sale, with feature articles covering this particular purchase in Bloodhorse, the Louisville Courier-Journal, and The Daily Racing Form, among others.

Further notable sellers for Hidden Brook include Hip #248, a chestnut colt (by Trappe Shot, out of On a Lark), which sold for $140,000, as well as Hip #139 (By Drosselmeyer, out of Cuyahoga), which sold for $100,000.

HIDDEN BROOK'S NEW BREAKING AND TRAINING OPERATION IN FLORIDA   

Hidden Brook founding partner Mark Roberts has left his position as General Manager of Adena Springs South, and will be returning to breaking and training Thoroughbred racehorses full-time as part of Hidden Brook's new breaking and training operation in Florida.

The barn and training facility will be located on the grounds of Adena Springs South.

Roberts was a member of the Adena Springs team that has earned 30 Eclipse and Sovereign Awards.

"I have really missed working hands-on with the horses, and being involved with them on a personal level," Roberts said. 

PARTNER PROFILE... Dan Hall   Our clients have been very generous in sharing their   lives with us during our "Inside the Winner's Circle" Q&A's for many newsletters now, and we figured it's   time for the owners to return the favor. With the   "Partner Profile" questionnaire, the Hidden Brook   partners will answer a wide range of questions not   necessarily pertaining to the horse business, with the hopes   that we can catch a glimpse into their personalities and life   outside of the office.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? 

Hanging out on a warm summer evening with family and friends, on our back patio.  Where we would enjoy a nice steak, a bourbon or glass of wine, and some good music.

Did you have any odd jobs growing up? 

Believe it or not, my first job was selling women's shoes at a store in Louisville, where I grew up.

What is your greatest luxury? 

Owning race horses.  It's a small percentage of them that end up making good financial sense.  You need to love the animal and racing, and hope for the best!

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

Helping to raise our five children.  I'm very proud of each one of them.

It's hard to say, but I do enjoy cooking for people and having them enjoy the meal.  So, maybe the restaurant business. 

What is something that is guaranteed to make you laugh?   

Being in the company of my partner, Jack Brothers.  He can make me laugh so hard, that I cry!  By the way, he does a perfect impersonation of the Wizard of Oz's cowardly lion.

What are some of your favorite movies?  

I prefer non-fiction historical books.  I'm currently reading a good one titled, "Unbroken".  It's the story of WWII POW and Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini.