Farm visit: Moms and males and a chewer of tails

For the first time since I've owned a horse -- that's the spring of 2007, if anyone is counting -- I managed to visit my charges on consecutive days at their boarding farm in central Virginia.

I stopped by Hilltop Farm, north of Gordonsville, on Friday afternoon, and after a pleasant first-time visit to Lynchburg (almost two hours off) I returned Saturday morning to spend some time with the horses again.

All is relatively well in their world, though the new colt -- who remains unnamed, which is likely fodder for another blog post -- is in dutch with Sarah Warmack, the farm owner. The not-so-little guy (pictured here at exactly 21 days) decided to chew off mama's tail.

His dam, Bushes Victory, has such a fine, flowing forelock that Sarah has joked she should be a hair model. Well, her tail was long, glistening and beautiful, as well, nearly touching the ground.

Not anymore. Her new little cuss has gnawed two-thirds of it off.

Sarah has coated the remainder with a nasty concoction that will hopefully prompt the colt to keep his teeth to himself. Meanwhile, she says he's otherwise just about as playful and desiring of human attention as a foal could be.

At the other end of the barn, my yearling colt, now being officially registered as All in On Red (Inner Harbour-Lady's Wager, by Lear Fan) is sharing a large stall with his pasture buddy, Illicium Verum, aka "Vern." They spend the warm days shaded indoors, and get turnout at night.

Red was a very late 2009 foal, born on June 18. So in his picture here, he is only a year and eight days old; some yearlings would be 16 or even 17 months of age.

Vern was foaled on April 11 last year, making him 68 days Red's senior. At what I'm guessing is a shade under 14 hands, Red has caught up to Vern in size (Vern's sire, Noles, and dam, Star Anise, are both only about 15.2) and has eclipsed his classmate in speed.

Sarah says that Vern is "always the instigator" when the two race in the field, breaking first and building a quick lead. But Red never fails to overtake him. And when they make a turn back for home at the fence, the younger colt progressively draws off, and keeps running long after Vern has run out of wind and thrown in the towel.

They're just two young horses on one small farm, but I like the fact that Red seemingly wants to run -- and run, and run -- and is intent on finishing ahead ... well ahead.

As for their dams, Tory will learn to live with a short tail for awhile -- Sarah speculates it will take two years to grow all the way back -- and Lady is keeping on weight better than at any time since I got her (in 2008) and is feeling a bit more energetic in the pasture as she enters her second empty season in a row. She is not in foal since my stallion, Silver Music, the tail-biter's daddy, died on Derby Day in May.

Two moms, two boys, and no foals expected in 2011. We'll make do with that for now.

New B.C. board elected; now they're cookin'

So, 13 people have been elected to the board of trustees of The Breeders' Cup, and once again, I'm not among them.

Jokes aside, I'm pretty pleased to see one name in particular on this list.

Thoroughbred Daily News reports that among the baker's dozen of board members is "Iron Chef" Bobby Flay, a restauranteur and Food Network personality.

The elections Flay and 12 others are expected to be ratified by the current Breeders' Cup Board of Members and Trustees at a meeting on July 16. The "others" include Roy Jackson of Lael Stables, breeder (among others) of the great and ill-fated Barbaro and a board member since 2008. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Jackson and his wife, Gretchen, as well.

Rounding out the list are: Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm; Niall Brennan, one of the nation's top sales consigners of 2-year-olds; Case Clay of Three Chimneys; Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing/Derby Dreams Partnership; G. Watts Humphrey Jr. of Shawnee Farm; Bret Jones of Airdrie Bloodstock; Michael T. Levy of Bluewater Farm; Garrett O'Rourke of Juddmonte Farms; Satish Sanan of Padua Stables; Robert Trussell Jr. of Walmac Farm; and David Willmot of Kinghaven Farms.

Beck, Humphrey, Jones and Sanan join Jackson as members re-elected to new terms on the board. Not re-elected to the board were Reynolds Bell Jr., Thomas Gaines, R.D. Hubbard, J. Michael O'Farrell Jr., and Christopher Young.

My choosing to single out Flay doesn't mean I have any ill will or opposition to anyone else on the new board. But Flay's inclusion on this governing panel gives me a bit more hope for the immediate and long-term future of both Breeders' Cup and the sport.

To promote the Breeders' Cup, and horse racing itself, the sport's exposure must be increased; its image updated and polished. It isn't that the people at the highest levels of the sport aren't classy -- they are, sometimes almost to a fault. But for every Jerry Moss (recognizable as the co-founder of A&M Records, etc.) there are 10 owners who are often wildly successful in their industries, but invisible to the public.

Not so with Flay, who is a high-profile figure not only on Food Network, but on CBS' "The Early Show," as host of the forthcoming "America's Next Great Restaurant" on NBC, and on Sirius XM radio. His face and name are also slapped all over American print media and advertising.

Pretty good for a guy who dropped out of high school.

And yet, little has been done to fully exploit the fame of Flay and other celebrities as ambassadors for the sport. I'd wager that the vast majority of Flay's fans from Food Network have no idea about his involvement in horse racing. And check out his Wikipedia page; horse racing isn't even mentioned in passing.

The recognizable, charismatic Flay should quickly become a key face for Breeders' Cup over the next couple of seasons. Take part in as many public announcements and events as possible. Draw cameras and the attention of casual- or non-race-fans to Breeders' Cup and to the sport that nobody else's name on that list would attract.

Racing would like to entice celebrities back as fans, and has tried to promote the sport with ads such as the "Who Do You Like?" campaign, featuring the likes of actor Jerry O'Connell (a big fan), football standout Jerome Bettis, musician Kid Rock and others. That clip also features Flay and others who own race horses (like basketball coach Rick Pitino) -- along with many celebs who didn't -- making no differentiation between the two. For all the ill-informed viewer knew, each of those individuals was just showing up at the track on Kentucky Derby Day (or some other, major race-date) because it's a place to be seen, not because they've actually invested time, thought, money and energy into the sport on a year-round basis. ... Not because they love it and live it.

So that's what I hope Bobby Flay can bring to the Breeders' Cup -- star-power in a position of some authority.

I think he'll do a credible job as an equal member of the board when decisions are made. But Flay's truest and longest-lasting value to Breeders' Cup could come by standing him up in front of the other 12 members when it comes time for public relations.

Here they are: All my tips (and rips) of 2010

Considering that I decided to go out on a limb earlier this year and start tipping 2-year-olds available at several auctions, it's necessary to keep track of how those youngsters do in their racing careers. And since 2-year-old racing is heating up -- including a number of starters and a couple of winners off my various lists -- the time is now to organize those horses into a post that can be updated as necessary throughout these horses' years at the track, to serve as a ready reference of my success or cluelessness as a bloodstock prognosticator.

Chief among my tips so far has to be Code Dancer, a bay gelding by Omega Code out of the Seattle Dancer mare, Jocey's Dance. Though Indian Prairie Ranch couldn't get him sold at OBS April (a mere $13,000 RNA), Code Dancer broke his maiden at first asking on May 15, for a $50,000 tag at Presque Isle Downs. He was entered Saturday in the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine, but finished last of six.

In recommending Code Dancer, I noted that the fleet (21 1/5 quarter) fellow came "pre-gelded for your convenience," and that his siblings have mostly won in modest company. But those siblings did tend to run on for awhile, showing durability. And it isn't like the near-family is devoid of talent; the dam here is half to 21-win millionaire GRECIAN FLIGHT (Acorn S.-G1, etc.), 16-win stakes horse GRECIAN COMEDY (granddam of G1 winner BULLSBAY) and 16-win stakes horse EVZONE.

Seems apparent that he might have been worth more than $13,000 in the ring.

Also breaking maiden on June 16 was Lime Rock Revenge, in his second start (over a five-day span) at Hollywood Park. The bay gelding by Limehouse-Genie's Flight, by Silver Hawk, won for trainer Doug O'Neill in a $32K-$40K maiden-claimer, in which he was entered for the higher tag. The horse had been a $16,000 RNA at OBS April.

I couldn't explain the low price offered for him in the ring. After all, the horse was by the sire who produced the sale's topper (Delightful Mary, at $500,000). The dam here had produced 11 winners from 13 prior foals, including $150K stakes winner SILVER ON SILVER, and the second dam was a G3-placed half-sister to five-time Horse of the Year KELSO.

My 187* recommendations appear to include 18 starters so far, for nearly 10 percent. I believe that besides the two winners, seven others among those 18 have placed in their first start or two; nine out of 18 hitting the board in their first or second efforts seems like a pretty good endorsement of the few that have already raced.

Several were shipped out of the country after purchase, primarily to South Korea. I'll try to follow these, as well.

I also "de-tipped," i.e., panned, a few purchases. Eight of those came from the Keeneland April sale, a list of "surreal" prices for horses that might be useful at the track, but for which I think far too much money was paid. I also criticized the $175,000 purchase price for Frothy Market, a High Fly filly who ran a blistering 9 3/5 eighth at OBS April, but whose young sire has gotten almost nothing of note, and whose female family is not all that productive.

None of those nine have raced at this writing.

Of course, I'll also be following the career of Quiet Lorraine, the purchase in which I played a role at May's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale.

(Edit: July 29, 2010) The total laid-out for the 187 blog-tipped foals, not including Quiet Lorraine, was $6,426,900, meaning I'm pretty aggressive at spending imaginary money. That figure includes auction sales, private sales, and the top bid received in cases of RNA horses. Eight withdrawn animals, of course, not included, which makes the average price paid or bid for a horse on this list $34,186. Which for a 2-year-old -- considering stud fee, mare care, foaling, two years of vet and training -- is not an expensive proposition, and likely a loss or at best a break-even situation for many sellers.

*Originally I'd skipped over a recommendation; Hip 233 from OBSAPR above, a filly sent to Korea. She's been added into the calculations. I bumped the figures to 188, then realized I was counting Quiet Lorraine in that figure, and am tracking her separately as a horse in which I was actually involved in the purchase, not merely endorsed here at the blog.

Following are my 2010 juvenile picks and pans, categorized by the original lists on which they appeared, updated with current racing results and career-high Equibase speed figures.

OBS February
Hip 7: Captain My Captain, chestnut gelding by Officer-Purer Than Pure, by Turkoman. ($85,000)

Record: 18 starts, 4-4-0, $94,215
High EQ: 96

Hip 57: The Fed Eased, bay colt by Montbrook-Valid Invitation, by Take Me Out. ($65K RNA)

Record: 17 starts, 4-2-4, $150,408

3rd, Illinois Derby-G3(9f,Haw).
High EQ: 108

Hip 59: Heir's the Storm, bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Vany's Storm, by Storm Creek. ($20,000)

Record: 35 starts, 3-6-5, $40,971
High EQ: 75

Hip 101: Stopspendingmaria, dark bay filly by Montbrook-Cutoffs, by Notebook. ($90,000)

Record: 4 starts, 1-1-1, $59,167

2nd, Schuylerville S.-G3(6f,Sar).
High EQ: 80

Hip 116: Holy Kuga, dark bay filly by Orientate-Ed's Holy Cow, by Bet Big. ($40,000)

Record: 16 starts, 4-3-0, $30,255
High EQ: 83

Hip 148: Mae's Jewel, chestnut filly by Posse-Lotsofdiamonds, by Grand Slam. ($50,000)

Record: 6 starts, 1-1-0, $13,090
High EQ: 63

Hip 157: Smokinalisa, chestnut filly by Smoke Glacken-Minado, by Coronado's Quest. ($120,000)

Record: 4 starts, 0-0-1, $3,890
High EQ: 65

KEE April (Steals)
Hip 17: Unstoppable Mick, bay gelding by Silver Deputy-Flower Canyon, by Gulch. ($10,000)

Record: 26 starts, 5-5-4, $55,470
High EQ: 95

Hip 60: Empire Princess, bay filly by Empire Maker-Maid Guinevere, by Gilded Time. ($15,000)

Record: 4 starts, 0-0-0, $234
High EQ: 34

Notes: Formerly named Maid Empire.

Hip 93: Roman Flame, dark bay colt by Roman Ruler-Pretty Flame, by Mt. Livermore. ($20,000)

Record: 11 starts, 0-1-1, $12,951
High EQ: 81

Hip 94: Sir Murray, dark bay gelding by Songandaprayer-Prima Neenya, by Spend a Buck. ($10,000)

Record: 9 starts, 0-1-3, $10,198
High EQ: 87

Hip 100: Rap Star, dark bay filly by Medaglia d'Oro-Quite a Rapper, by Dixieland Band. ($75,000)

Record: 13 starts, 0-2-1, $11,973
High EQ: 68

Hip 113: Good Chemistry, dark bay gelding by More Than Ready-Sister Swank, by Skip Away. ($10,000)

Record: 25 starts, 5-3-4, $127,855
High EQ: 104

Hip 128: Lion's Reign, chestnut gelding by Lion Heart-Turtle Creek, by Sky Classic. ($17,000)

Record: 32 starts, 3-5-3, $48,281
High EQ: 84

Hip 129: Knows How To Rock, gray or roan colt by Rockport Harbor-Unchained Princess, by Clever Trick. ($13,000)

Record: 22 starts, 2-2-6, $47,319
High EQ: 92

Hip 141: Houliana, dark bay filly by More Than Ready-York Woods, by Mining. ($40,000)

Record: 2 starts, 0-0-0, $844
High EQ: 66

Hip 144: Blue 'Em Away(IRE), bay colt by Bluegrass Cat-Alcina, by Kingmambo. ($20,000)

Record: 30 starts, 3-5-1, $34,255

2nd, Osiris S.-N (6f,Asd).
High EQ: 80

Hip 179: Harper Grace, bay filly by Pulpit-Divine Lady, by Kris S. ($30,000)

Record: Unstarted.

KEE April (Surreal)
Hip 3: Prime Opportunist, dark bay colt by Birdstone-Elle Nicole, by El Corredor. ($310,000)

Record: 16 starts, 0-0-1, $4,329
High EQ: 43
Notes: Unplaced in 1 U.S. start. Also raced in Saudi Arabia.

Hip 29: J T Safe at Home, dark bay filly by Bernstein-High Heeled Hope, by Salt Lake ($200,000)

Record: Unstarted
Notes: Reportedly fractured a cannon bone in training at Hollywood Park, October 2010. Sold as a broodmare prospect at KEEJAN 2013 for $20,000.

Hip 52: Billy Smart, dark bay colt by Rockport Harbor-Limestone Landing, by Red Ryder. ($310,000) 

Record: 9 starts, 0-0-0, $770
High EQ: 77
Notes: Unplaced in three U.S. starts and six starts in France.

Hip 62: Malicia, chestnut filly by Tapit-Malia, by Regal Classic. ($110,000, sent to France)

Record: 6 starts, 3-0-0, $63,418
High EQ: N/A
Notes: Raced in France.

Hip 86: Akkadian, dkb colt by Tiznow-Papa Sids Girl, by Souvenir Copy. ($270,000)

Record: 17 starts, 4-4-0, $217,772
High EQ: 111

Hip 120: Isaac Newton, bay colt by Bernstein-Spies in My Midst, by Elusive Quality. ($340K RNA)

Record: 8 starts, 1-1-0, $19,445
High EQ: 89

Hip 123: Jaeger, bay gelding by Indian Charlie-The Church Lady, by Valid Wager. ($350,000)

Record: 19 starts, 2-2-5, $58,565
High EQ: 86

Hip 135: Malibu Star, chestnut colt by Malibu Moon-Whirlwind Charlott, by Real Quiet. ($575,000, sent to Japan)

Record: 8 starts, 1-1-1, $164,475
High EQ: N/A
Notes: Raced in Japan. Winner from seven starts at age 3; unplaced from one start at age 5.

KEE April (Second-Chance Deals)
Hip 2: Kid You Not, chestnut gelding by Lemon Drop Kid-Eliza's Time, by Barathea. ($12K RNA)

Record: 20 starts, 2-4-3, $47,927
High EQ: 79

Hip 9: Evangelical, chestnut filly by Speightstown-Evangelizer, by Saint Ballado. ($100K RNA)

Record: 8 starts, 4-2-1, $113,750
High EQ: 91

Hip 11: Black Tulip, dark bay filly by Rock Hard Ten-Fascinating Gal, by Theatrical. ($50K RNA)

Record: 34 starts, 3-4-3, $59,723
High EQ: 88

Hip 19: Fastest Cat, bay gelding by Bernstein-Foundit, by Seeking the Gold. ($10K RNA)

Record: 22 starts, 3-5-2, $13,301
High EQ: 82

Hip 25: Neder, bay colt by Broken Vow-Go Again Valid, by Valid Appeal. ($50K RNA)

Record: 1 start, 0-0-0, $140
High EQ: N/A

Hip 26: Kuhlu, bay filly by Ghostzapper-Golden Antigua, by Hansel. ($22K RNA)

Record: 14 starts, 2-1-3, $25,090
High EQ: 75

Hip 36: Rockin Harbor, bay gelding by Rockport Harbor-Java Jolt, by Hennessy. ($35K RNA)

Record: 17 starts, 1-3-2, $33,350
High EQ: 80

Hip 39: Shackleton Hill, bay gelding by Sir Shackleton-Keepers Hill, by Danehill. ($27K RNA)

Record: 20 starts, 3-2-2, $38,414
High EQ: 89

Hip 45: Uncle Carm, gray or roan gelding by Bluegrass Cat-Lady Cruella, by Capote. ($90K RNA)

Record: 33 starts, 4-8-5, $143,777
High EQ: 96

Hip 61: Maidblue, Dark bay gelding by Bluegrass Cat-Maid's Broom, by Deputy Minister. ($22K RNA)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 115: Pinch Hitter, dark bay gelding by Vindication-Solid Eight, by Fit to Fight. ($45K RNA)

Record: 19 starts, 1-1-2, $35,056
High EQ: 67

Adena Springs at OBS
Hip 2: Abrianna, dark bay filly by Lemon Drop Kid-Ain't She Awesome, by Awesome Again. ($25K RNA)

Record: 12 starts, 2-4-0, $141,367
High EQ: 88

Hip 11: Elusive Land, dark bay filly by Holy Bull-Forever Land, by Badger Land. ($25K RNA)

Record: 3 starts, 0-3-0, $34,881
High EQ: 78

Hip 29: Love Money, dark bay filly by Alphabet Soup-Pupil, by Unbridled. ($50,000)

Record: 20 starts, 0-1-1, $5,503
High EQ: 70

Hip 30: Celidonia, by North Light-Quatrain, by Quiet American. ($40K RNA)

Record: 9 starts, 1-1-2, $37,035
High EQ: 81

OBS April
Hip 32: Lake Believe, dark bay filly by Ford Every Stream-Learn to Hope, by Moment of Hope. ($37,000)

Record: 10 starts, 2-2-2, $41,370
High EQ: 83

Hip 52: Choego Chansa, dark bay filly by Kafwain-Lil's Gate, by Gate Dancer. ($37,000 to Korea)

Record: 25 starts, 1-4-4, $115,104
High EQ: N/A

Hip 89: One Punch Knockout, gray or roan filly by Two Punch-Magic Belle, by Gold Case. ($70,000)

Record: 20 starts, 3-3-1, $47,380
High EQ: 70

Hip 97: Rockin Heat, dark bay gelding by Rock Hard Ten-Makin Heat, by Makin. ($85,000)

Record: 25 starts, 1-10-1, $186,309

2nd, Summer S.-G3(8fT,WO); Grey S.-G3(8.5fA,WO).
High EQ: 94

Hip 113: Dr. Drewman, bay gelding by Drewman-Medieval Fantasy, by Medieval Man. ($18,000 to Korea)

Record: 20 starts, 0-0-2, $11,224
High EQ: N/A

Hip 136: Be That It May, bay filly by Proud Accolade-Miss Angel T., by Talc. ($18K RNA)

Record: 11 starts, 1-1-3, $14,520
High EQ: 70

Hip 139: Wrapped in Gold, dark bay filly by Touch Gold-Miss Ginalie, by Skip Away. ($10,000)

Record: 35 starts, 2-5-4, $32,797
High EQ: 72

Hip 169: Little Man Arran, dark bay colt by Golden Missile-Ms. Copelan, by Copelan. ($25,000)

Record: 26 starts, 5-2-1, $29,036
1st, BTC Stayers H.-N(Bar.)
High EQ: 56

Notes: Name in catalog was Little Man M.; sent to Barbados late at age 2 after two unplaced starts in Canada. Earnings approximate.

Hip 218: On Appeal, chestnut colt by Closing Argument-Oh Nyet, by Time for a Change. ($25,000)

Record: 29 starts, 9-4-4, $106,018
High EQ: 103

Hip 224: Officer's Affair, chestnut filly by Officer-Ontheqt, by Mazel Trick. ($80,000)

Record: 5 starts, 1-0-0, $21,252
High EQ: 72

Hip 228: Money Money, chestnut filly by Mizzen Mast-Ore Money, by Not For Love. ($30,000)

Record: 15 starts, 3-3-4, $68,105
High EQ: 93

Hip 232: Starship Success, chestnut filly by Forest Camp-Our Lady's Wish, by Secret Claim. ($6,700)

Record: 9 starts, 1-0-0, $8,470
High EQ: 49

Notes: Was previously named Off to Granny's.

Hip 233: Our Camp, dark bay or brown filly by Forest Camp-Our Patty, by Personal Flag. ($18,000 to Korea)

Record: 8 starts, 0-2-0, $18,723
High EQ: N/A

Hip 237: Seeking the Coach, gray or roan colt by El Prado-Oxford Scholar, by Seeking the Gold. ($26,000)

Record: 19 starts, 3-2-4, $36,022
High EQ: 86

Hip 255: Conway Hillbilly, dark bay colt by Montbrook-Pearly White, by Holy Bull. ($70,000)

Record: 19 starts, 0-5-5, $30,285
High EQ: 89

Hip 268: Went Platinum, gray or roan filly by Gone West-Platinum Ballet, by Skip Away. ($48K RNA)

Record: 7 starts, 0-0-3, $12,231
High EQ: 77

Hip 277: GOURMET DINNER, bay colt by Trippi-Potluck Dinner, by Pentelicus. ($40,000)

Record: 23 starts, 5-2-3, $1,111,327

1st, Delta Downs Jackpot S.-G3(8.5f,Ded); Florida Stallion Dr. Fager S.(R,6f,Crc); Florida Stallion Affirmed S.(R,7f,Crc); Majestic Light S.(8.5f,Mth).

2nd, Fountain of Youth S.-G2(9f,GP); Florida Stallion In Reality S.(R,8.5f,Crc).

3rd, Holy Bull S.-G3(8f,GP); Elkwood S.(8fT,Mth).
High EQ: 112

Hip 282: Yes He's Innocent, chestnut colt by Yes It's True-Presumed Innocent, by Shuailaan. ($50,000)

Record: 26 starts, 3-5-5, $44,114
High EQ: 81

Hip 307: Volubilis, chestnut gelding by Songandaprayer-Queen of Money, by Corporate Report. ($28,000)

Record: 4 starts, 1-0-0, $10,526
High EQ: 69

Hip 312: Tale of the Tiger, bay filly by Eye of the Tiger-Rajas Secret, by Storm Bird. ($6K RNA)

Record: 22 starts, 1-3-1, $7,510
High EQ: 45

Hip 316: Z Breeze, chestnut colt by Storm Boot-Raria, by Rahy. ($48,000)

Record: 14 starts, 2-1-0, $21,659
High EQ: 84

Hip 331: REPRIZED HALO, bay gelding by Halo's Image-Reprized Angel, by Reprized. ($23,000)

Record: 41 starts, 10-2-3, $354,660

1st, Florida Stallion In Reality S.(R,8.5f,Crc); OBS Championship S.(R,8.5fA,OTC).
High EQ: 90
Notes: Sent to Dominican Republic at 4. Five wins in the Dominican Republic, including the Clasico Kalil Heche. Earnings U.S. only.

Hip 349: Decennial, chestnut filly by Trippi-Romantic Dinner, by Who's for Dinner. ($26,000)

Record: 21 starts, 6-0-3, $180,694

3rd, Queen Tutta S.(7fT,Bel).
High EQ: 99

Hip 388: Circumstance, dark bay filly by Vindication-Scapegoat, by Forty Niner. (Withdrawn)

Record: 8 starts, 1-0-3, $51,673
High EQ: 92

Hip 433: Wild Shuffle, dark bay colt by Hennessy-Shuffle Again, by Wild Again. ($30,000)

Record: 41 starts, 3-8-11, $41,172
High EQ: N/A
Note: Sent to Trinidad.

Hip 444: Include Me Sir, chestnut filly by Include-Sir Harriett, by Sir Harry Lewis. ($37K RNA)

Record: 15 starts, 1-0-1, $17,290
High EQ: 57

Hip 465: SIGNAL ALERT, bay colt by Omega Code-Southern Alert, by Southern Halo. ($35,000, sent to Trinidad)

Record: 18 starts, 9-5-2, $115,676

1st, 2011 Stewards Cup-G1 (1,200m, TRI); Junior Sammy Group of Companies Trophy Juvenile Sprint (TRI); Gallery Diamond S. (1,350m, TRI).

2nd, 2012 Stewards Cup-G1 (1,200m, TRI); 3-year-old Sprint S. (TRI).

3rd, Santa Rosa Dash-G2(TRI); Imported Sprint Challenge Trophy (1,200m, TRI).
High EQ: N/A

Notes: NTR Santa Rosa Park (Trinidad), 1,300 meters in 1:15.90.

Hip 473: Goldenrod Road, bay colt by Montbrook-Special Report, by Notebook. ($23,000, sent to Puerto Rico)

Record: 17 starts, 2-6-3, $36,870

3rd, Clasico Fanatico Hipico-G3 (PR,7f).
High EQ: 89

Hip 476: Fleeting Joy, dark bay gelding by Kitten's Joy-Speedy Sunrise, by Cherokee Run. ($7,500 to Korea)

Record: 29 starts, 3-3-5, $157,150
High EQ: N/A

Hip 482: Bestcasescenario, bay colt by Indian Ocean-Stacie's Halo, by Halo. ($47K RNA)

Record: 9 starts, 2-3-0, $39,970
High EQ: 76

Hip 517: Cat Has Claws, bay filly by Harlan's Holiday-Summertime Blues, by Chimes Band. ($37K RNA)

Record: 11 starts, 2-1-2, $24,498
High EQ: 75

Hip 518: Simple Truth, dark bay filly by Tale of the Cat-Summertown, by Diesis. ($45,000)

Record: 6 starts, 1-0-0, $6,560
High EQ: 64

Hip 521: It's A Fairytale, bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Supah Jen, by Major Moran. ($67,000)

Record: 4 starts, 0-0-0, $0
High EQ: N/A

Note: Originally named Obummer. Sent to Ireland.

Hip 538: Francisco's Boy, dark bay colt by Vindication-Tables Turned, by Petionville. ($49,000)

Record: 6 starts, 0-0-1, $2,610
High EQ: 79

Hip 546: Gibson Home Run, bay gelding by Gibson County-Tanja, by Allen's Prospect. ($30,000)

Record: 31 starts, 9-3-2, $99,102
High EQ: 94

Hip 595: Kidari Joe, dark bay colt by Tiznow-Trickle of Gold, by Formal Gold. ($20,000 to Korea)

Record: 12 starts, 3-2-4, $141,683

2nd, April 2012 Macau Jockey Club Trophy(1,400m, KOR)

3rd, Oct. 2011 Macau Jockey Club Trophy(1,400m, KOR)
High EQ: N/A

Hip 597: Tricky Break, bay gelding by Sunday Break-Tricky Move, by Tricky Creek. ($6,500)

Record: 45 starts, 3-7-5, $52,069
High EQ: 90

Hip 601: Triple Great, bay filly by Greatness-Triple Top, by Topsider. ($18K RNA)

Record: 42 starts, 5-11-8, $99,126
High EQ: 90

Hip 602: Samurai Treasure, bay colt by First Samurai-Triple Treasure, by Gone West. ($1,200)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 608: High Test, chestnut gelding by Wildcat Heir-Twisted Truth, by Distorted Humor. ($160,000)

Record: 12 starts, 2-3-2, $114,300
High EQ: 102

Hip 620: Pretty Tune, bay filly by Concorde's Tune-Uppa Hughie, by Secret Prince. ($37,000)

Record: 15 starts, 1-0-2, $19,607
High EQ: 56

Hip 629: Take Me to Zuber, bay filly by Toccet-Valid Silk, by Valid Appeal. ($28,000)

Record: 21 starts, 3-5-2, $91,256

2nd, OBS Sprint S. Fillies Div.(R,6fA,OTC).
High EQ: 89

Hip 630: Vanity Light, bay filly by Congrats-Vanline, by Pass the Line. ($6,000)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 632: Sea Why, chestnut filly by Whywhywhy-Vermilion Sea, by Boundary. ($150,000)

Record: 25 starts, 3-3-7, $48,566
High EQ: 83

Hip 634: Vital Victory, chestnut filly by Bwana Charlie-Victory Chime, by Polish Numbers. ($20,000)

Record: 47 starts, 6-10-8, $129,886
High EQ: 100

Hip 643: Penny's Boat, chestnut filly by Songandaprayer-Wage a Penny, by Valid Wager. ($45,000)

Record: 29 starts, 4-5-3, $69,815
High EQ: 79

Hip 671: Willie's Way, bay gelding by Speightstown-Willie's Luv, by Williamstown. ($12K RNA)

Record: 45 starts, 2-6-6, $38,013
High EQ: 86

Hip 673: Sweet Lizzie, bay filly by Omega Code-Windjammin Lady, by Helmsman. (Withdrawn)

Record: 4 starts, 0-2-0, $5,731
High EQ: 60

Hip 696: Hold Still, bay filly by Include-Zitlaly, by Emancipator. ($18,000, sent to Puerto Rico)

Record: 12 starts, 4-3-2, $43,761

3rd, Clasico Dia de Accion de Gracias S.-G1(PR,7f).
High EQ: 75

Hip 702: Black Strong, gray or roan colt by Hook and Ladder-Absolutely Lovely, by Silver Ghost. ($22,000, sent to Puerto Rico)

Record: 7 starts, 0-0-0, $1,100
High EQ: 45

Hip 707: Thistoo Shall Pass, chestnut filly by Best of the Bests-Adinatha, by With Approval. (Withdrawn)

Record: 12 starts, 1-0-1, $51,227
High EQ: 88

Hip 716: Herecomeseveryman, bay gelding by Pure Prize-Aisle Seeya, by Gulch. ($75,000)

Record: 7 starts, 1-4-0, $31,375
High EQ: 96

Hip 718: Just Chillin Boss, chestnut gelding by Sweetsouthernsaint-Aleutian Gold, by Prospector's Gamble. ($30,000)

Record: 17 starts, 4-3-1, $103,799
3rd, My Frenchman S.(5.5fT,Mth)
High EQ: 116

Hip 719: Alienation, dark bay filly by Rock Hard Ten-Alienated, by Gone West. ($60,000)

Record: 6 starts, 2-2-1, $160,800

2nd, Spinaway S.-G1(7f,Sar); Adirondack S.-G2(6.5f,Sar).

3rd, Prioress S.-G1(6f,Bel).
High EQ: 105

Hip 726: RIGOLETTA, bay filly by Concerto-Almost Aprom Queen, by Montbrook. ($35,000)

Record: 6 starts, 2-0-1, $184,070

1st, Oak Leaf S.-G1(8f.5,Oth).

3rd, Darley Debutante S.-G1(7f,Dmr).
High EQ: 93

Hip 728: Australis Dream, dark bay colt by West Acre-Always Belle, by Always a Classic. ($28,000, sent to Puerto Rico)

Record: 6 starts, 1-1-0, $5,327
High EQ: 45

Hip 740: Christmas Angel, bay filly by Cetewayo-Andy's Bonus, by Conquistador Cielo. ($8K RNA)

Record: 18 starts, 1-2-3, $58,038
High EQ: 93

Hip 743: Stutterer, dark bay colt by Montbrook-Another Treasure, by Tasso. ($41,000)

Record: 1 start, 0-0-0, $182
High EQ: 30

Hip 766: Bernardus, dark bay gelding by Pleasantly Perfect-Aunt Dot, by Capote. ($3,000)

Record: 11 starts, 1-0-2, $7,751
High EQ: 69

Hip 770: Ira The Esquire, bay colt by Smart Strike-Avenging Tomisue, by Belong to Me. ($19K RNA)

Record: 4 starts, 1-1-0, $6,850
High EQ: 73

Note: Originally named Lucky's Revenge.

Hip 779: Secondtimelove, bay filly by Trippi-Backtothebooks, by Notebook. ($25,000)

Record: 8 starts, 1-1-1, $25,660
High EQ: 66

Hip 784: Hello Gypsy, bay filly by Quiet American-Bangled, by Alysheba. ($24K RNA)

Record: 2 starts, 0-0-0, $265
High EQ: 59

Hip 788: Omega Storm, bay colt by Omega Code-Basque N the Storm, by Mystery Storm. ($43,000)

Record: 15 starts, 4-2-3, $31,062
High EQ: 88

Hip 801: FISCAL POLICY, bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Betty's Courage, by Montbrook. ($140,000)

Record: 7 starts, 2-1-1, $73,353

1st, Coca-Cola Bassinet S.(6f,RD).

2nd, Letellier Memorial S.(6f,FG).
High EQ: 86

Hip 807: Won Wild Dude, gray or roan colt by Wildcat Heir-Blue Kat, by Blue Ensign. ($33,000)

Record: 20 starts, 4-4-1, $75,524
High EQ: 103

Hip 810: Never Mary, bay filly by Albert the Great-Blushing Native, by Blushing John. ($10,000)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 812: Silver Speed, gray or roan filly by Suave-Boggs Eyes, by Miesque's Son. ($60,000)

Record: 17 starts, 2-2-1, $24,449
High EQ: 65

Hip 814: Silver Jo, dark bay filly by Silver Train-Bolsa, by Mr. Prospector. ($12,000)

Record: 15 starts, 2-2-1, $30,870
High EQ: 68

Hip 816: Doasisay Notasisay, chestnut gelding by Delaware Township-Bonjove, by Caracolero. ($19K RNA)

Record: 32 starts, 3-11-1, $130,605
High EQ: 97

Hip 839: Southern Dance, bay filly by Sweetsouthernsaint-Call Me Dancer, by Gate Dancer. ($15,000)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 849: PULGARCITO, bay gelding by Greatness-Cat Attack, by Storm Cat. ($37K RNA)

Record: 40 starts, 4-7-2, $107,502

1st, Governor's Cup S.(O,6f,Zia)

2nd, Golden Boy S.(N,6f,Asd); Harry Jeffrey S.(N,8.5f,Asd).
High EQ: 93

Hip 871: Pink Lollipops, dark bay filly by Silver Deputy-Christmas Rose, by Private Terms. ($110,000)

Record: 11 starts, 3-1-1, $135,690
3rd, Time To Leave S.(5fA,Hol)
High EQ: 100

Hip 876: Sylvia's Tempo, chestnut filly by Posse-Clarksburg Queen, by Sea of Secrets. ($49K RNA)

Record: 8 starts, 1-0-1, $21,895
High EQ: 65

Hip 895: Shipwreck Cove, gray or roan filly by Stormy Atlantic-Coquettish, by Not For Love. ($18,000)

Record: 13 starts, 2-1-2, $57,965
High EQ: 94

Hip 921: Cup of Cee, bay ridgeling by Wildcat Heir-Cup of Cheers, by Raise a Cup. ($11K RNA)

Record: 29 starts, 2-0-4, $20,494
High EQ: 70

Hip 925: You Es Oh Club, bay colt by War Front-Dance Club, by Montbrook. ($30,000)

Record: 18 starts, 2-0-0, $20,579
High EQ: 83

Hip 934: Heir to Dare, bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Daringly, by Tactical Advantage. ($62K RNA)

Record: 10 starts, 2-4-3, $134,371
High EQ: 99

Hip 936: Lime Key, bay colt by Gibson County-Darn That Girl, by Darn That Alarm. ($17K RNA)

Record: 4 starts, 1-1-0, $27,454
High EQ: 74

Hip 940: Hard Rock Candy, chestnut filly by Wildcat Heir-D. D. Rocks, by Tactical Advantage. ($32K RNA)

Record: 29 starts, 6-8-5, $218,180
High EQ: 95

Hip 949: DELIGHTFUL MARY, chestnut filly by Limehouse-Deputy's Delight, by French Deputy. ($500,000)

Record: 11 starts, 6-2-1, $588,055

1st, Hendrie S.-G3(6.5fA,WO); OBS Championship S. Fillies Div.(R,8.5fA,OTC); Ocala S.(8f,GP, dead-heat with R Holiday Mood)

2nd, Mazarine S.-G3(8.5fA,WO); Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff S.(R,9f,GP)

3rd, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies-G1(8.5f,CD)
High EQ: 105

Hip 957: Category Killer, chestnut colt by Officer-Dial a Trick, by Phone Trick. ($70,000)

Record: 5 starts, 1-1-1, $34,750
High EQ: 84

Hip 968: Uptown Brown, dark bay filly by Pleasantly Perfect-Dixie Talent, by Dixie Union. ($40,000)

Record: 7 starts, 0-0-0, $6,097
High EQ: 68

Hip 970: PRIZE DOLL, chestnut filly by Pure Prize-Doll Baby, by Citidancer. ($17K RNA)

Record: 11 starts, 3-1-1, $60,323
1st, Ms. Brooski S.(8fT,CRC).
High EQ: 94

Hip 983: Wilddreamscometrue, chestnut filly by Wildcat Heir-Dream With Angels, by Saint Ballado. ($115,000)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 998: Benecia, bay filly by More Than Ready-Empty Portrait, by Coronado's Quest. ($30,000)

Record: 21 starts, 1-0-1, $19,065
High EQ: 85

Hip 1003: Concertos Pride, bay filly by Concerto-Epistolary, by Deputy Minister. ($5,000, sent to Puerto Rico)

Record: 49 starts, 7-12-5, $85,691

2nd, Clasico Dia de Accion de Gracias S.-G1(PR,7f); Clasico Ano Nuevo S.(PR,7f).

3rd, Clasico Dia de la Mujer (PR).
High EQ: 91

Hip 1015: Frankly Ms Scarlet, bay filly by Grand Slam-Explosive Scarlet, by Explodent. ($30,000)

Record: 6 starts, 0-0-0, $1,812
High EQ: 45

Hip 1035: Banshee Indian, bay filly by Indian Ocean-Feature Film, by Forest Wildcat. ($37,000)

Record: 9 starts, 1-1-1, $29,261
High EQ: 73

Hip 1046: Admitit, bay filly by E Dubai-Fine Day, by Fantastic Light. ($20,000)

Record: 28 starts, 5-9-6, $214,939
High EQ: 93

Hip 1048: Colonel Avara, bay gelding by Rahy-First Quarter, by Sky Classic. ($25,000)

Record: 6 starts, 0-2-0, $4,400
High EQ: 54

Hip 1061: Sensationalmystery, bay filly by Macho Uno-Forest Mystery, by Running Stag. (Withdrawn)

Record: 7 starts, 0-2-1, $4,062
High EQ: 57

Hip 1079: Gallop Girl, dark bay filly by Wildcat Heir-Gemley, by Big Stanley. ($45,000)

Record: 11 starts, 1-4-0, $22,155
High EQ: 90

Hip 1080: Sniper King, bay colt by First Samurai-Gem Treck, by Java Gold. ($18,000 to Korea)

Record: 16 starts, 1-3-1, $53,791
High EQ: N/A

Hip 1082: Lime Rock Revenge, bay gelding by Limehouse-Genie's Flight, by Silver Hawk. ($16K RNA)

Record: 15 starts, 5-0-2, $78,614
High EQ: 100

Hip 1093: Scenic City Storm, bay filly by Stormy Atlantic-Godmother, by Show'em Slew. ($35,000)

Record: 9 starts, 2-1-0, $43,934
High EQ: 89

Notes: Formerly named Atlantic Goddess.

Hip 1109: R Canadian Academy, bay filly by Royal Academy-Good Intentions, by Anet. ($5,000)

Record: 10 starts, 1-0-1, $5,567
High EQ: 51

Hip 1114: Cookngoodlookn, dark bay filly by Awesome Again-Gourmet Girl, by Cee's Tizzy. (Withdrawn)

Record: 3 starts, 0-0-0, $612
High EQ: 38

Notes: Formerly named Hot An Cool.

Hip 1123: What's the Rumpus, gray or roan colt by Mizzen Mast-Gypsy, by Marfa. ($32K RNA)

Record: 23 starts, 1-3-2, $18,930
High EQ: 70

Hip 1145: Myeongpum Tansaeng, bay filly by Candy Ride-Hortense(CHI), by Hussonet. ($19,000 to Korea)

Record: 38 starts, 2-1-2, $111,107
High EQ: N/A

Note: U.S. records (namely, Equineline.com and Equibase) list this filly's name as two words. The Korean Stud Book spells it as one word: Myeongpumtansaeng.

Hip 1182: Soldier's Tune, gray gelding by Concorde's Tune-Jessica Bush, by Lost Soldier. ($28,000)

Record: 12 starts, 1-3-2, $28,373
High EQ: 70

Hip 1184: Bay filly by Forest Camp-Jezebella, by Wild Again. (Withdrawn)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 1187: Code Dancer, bay gelding by Omega Code-Jocey's Dance, by Seattle Dancer. ($13K RNA)

Record: 8 starts, 3-0-0, $38,332
High EQ: 81

Hip 1200: Diannedoesthebooks, bay gelding by Desert Warrior-Karakorum Kiss, by Lord Carson. ($25,000)

Record: 3 starts, 2-0-0, $32,050
High EQ: 87

Hip 1205: Dangerous Ghost, dark bay filly by Ghostzapper-Katy Kat, by Forest Wildcat. ($12,000)

Record: 22 starts, 3-5-2, $60,638
High EQ: 86

Hip 1208: Rain Dance, dark bay colt by Survivalist-Keetoowah, by Cherokee Run. ($27,000)

Record: 23 starts, 2-0-8, $25,507
High EQ: 72

Hip 1220: Menil, bay filly by Johannesburg-Kreisleriana, by Seeking the Gold. ($15,000)

Record: 9 starts, 0-0-0, $1,580
High EQ: 57

OBSAPR BET AGAINST
Hip 1194: Frothy Market, dark bay filly by High Fly-Jovetta, by Elusive Quality. ($175,000)

Record: 13 starts, 0-0-2, $16,634
High EQ: 86

EASMAY (Priority 1)
Hip 7: Smart Humor, chestnut gelding by Sharp Humor-Accusation, by Royal Academy. ($20,000)

Record: 11 starts, 2-2-1, $45,985
High EQ: 91

Hip 37: Mongol Boy, dark bay gelding by Pleasant Tap-Biding Time, by Seeking the Gold. ($35,000)

Record: 25 starts, 4-4-2, $22,138
High EQ: 89

Hip 63: Manhyeolcheonyong, dark bay colt by Montbrook-Chancey Light, by Colony Light. ($15,000 to Korea)

Record: 30 starts, 0-1-2, $33,877

Notes: Contrary to Equineline and Equibase, the Korean Stud Book spells this colt's name Hanhyeolcheonyong.

Hip 72: City Living, chestnut filly by Include-City Life, by Carson City. ($12,000)

Record: 3 starts, 0-0-0, $650
High EQ: 38

Notes: Previously named Riff Raff.

Hip 104: D'wabbit, bay filly by Dehere-Dominating, by Cherokee Run. ($42,000)

Record: 2 starts, 0-0-0, $320
High EQ: 30

Hip 157: Grand Giana, bay filly by Grand Reward-Giana, by Exclusive Era. ($10,000)

Record: 4 starts, 1-0-0, $11,100
High EQ: 52

Hip 176: There Goes Molly, bay filly by Chief Seattle-Hey Darla, by Evansville Slew. ($6K RNA)

Record: 38 starts, 3-4-5, $98,219
High EQ: 80

Hip 250: Rough Sailing, chestnut colt by Mizzen Mast-Moussica, by Woodman. ($40,000)

Record: 4 starts, 1-1-0, $37,534

2nd, Arlington Washington Futurity-G3(8fA,AP).
High EQ: 94

Notes: Rough Sailing lost his footing entering the first turn of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-G1 at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, 2010, falling with jockey Rosie Napravnik and breaking his shoulder in the spill. He was euthanized.

Hip 269: Stik Handling, bay gelding by Aragorn-Pantelleria, by El Prado. ($21,000)

Record: 1 start, 0-0-0, $0
High EQ: 53

Hip 280: Sand Kahn, dark bay colt by Dehere-Population(IRE), by General Assembly. ($20,000 to Korea)

Record: 20 starts, 1-1-3, $58,953
High EQ: N/A

Hip 301: Posso Volare, bay colt by Medaglia d'Oro-Retiro Park, by Meadowlake. ($30,000)

Record: 6 starts, 1-0-0, $8,540
High EQ: 54

Hip 314: Jitalian, dark bay colt by Defrere-Sandy Lass, by Line in the Sand. ($7,000)

Record: 42 starts, 5-3-6, $87,529
High EQ: 89

Hip 330: No Biggie, gray or roan colt by Consolidator-Sixy Chic, by Saratoga Six. ($8,000)

Record: 21 starts, 3-4-4, $48,595
High EQ: 96

Hip 337: Bibblesman, bay colt by Sharp Humor-Sparkling Forest, by Forest Wildcat. ($22,000)

Record: 15 starts, 4-3-0, $123,130

2nd, Peppy Addy S.(R,7f,Prx)
High EQ: 98

Hip 363: The Swallow, bay filly by Gulch-Thanksgiving(GER), by Lomitas(GB). ($6,000)

Record: 8 starts, 0-0-1, $1,802
High EQ: 52

Hip 383: dark bay colt by Orientate-Verbal Volley, by Oh Say. (Withdrawn)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 388: Ravello Storm, dark bay colt by Stormy Atlantic-Wave On, by Caveat. ($35,000 PS)

Record: 5 starts, 1-0-0, $13,526
High EQ: 87

EASMAY (Priority 2)
Hip 23: Bull Speed Ahead, bay colt by Holy Bull-Antequera, by Green Dancer. ($45,000 PS)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 59: BESSIE M, bay filly by Medallist-Catalita, by Mountain Cat. ($35,000)

Record: 27 starts, 7-4-8, $218,282

1st, Dolly Jo S. (6f,Crc).

2nd, Leave Me Alone S. (6f,Crc).

3rd, Regal Gal S. (8f,Crc); U Can Do It H.(6f,Crc).
High EQ: 104

Notes: Formerly named Carolita.

Hip 66: Shannon Memories, chestnut gelding by Yes It's True-Charleston, by High Yield. ($32K RNA)

Record: 20 starts, 3-3-0, $119,936

Notes: Eventually sent to Korea, where he made his race debut at age 3.

Hip 90: Viva Ace, dark bay gelding by Macho Uno-Dancing Lake, by Meadowlake. ($20,000 to Korea)

Record: 27 starts, 11-8-2, $621,276
2nd, GukJe Newspaper S.(1,800m,Kor)
High EQ: N/A

Hip 105: Daebak Chance, bay gelding by Quiet American-Do Mountain Doo, by Mountain Cat. ($20,000 to Korea)

Record: 5 starts, 0-0-0, $0
High EQ: N/A

Hip 107: Thunder Princess, chestnut filly by Thunder Gulch-Dream Princess, by Charismatic. ($45,000)

Record: 14 starts, 1-2-1, $39,112
High EQ: 81

Hip 141: Lost Webos, dark bay colt by Formal Dinner-Fountain of Truth, by Proud and True. ($19K RNA)

Record: 3 starts, 1-0-0, $15,480
High EQ: 79

Hip 177: Highly Notable, bay filly by Read the Footnotes-Highly Capable, by High Yield. ($57,000)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 209: Time Control, chestnut colt by Catienus-Keep Your Day Job, by Abaginone. ($6,000)

Record: 18 starts, 2-4-2, $40,242
High EQ: 82

Hip 212: I'm First, bay ridgeling by Soto-Ladies First, by El Raggaas. ($11,000)

Record: 12 starts, 1-0-2, $8,852
High EQ: 83

Hip 234: Spring Jump, dark bay filly by Jump Start-Meg's Answer, by West Acre. ($19,000)

Record: 24 starts, 4-3-1, $114,023

2nd, White Clay Creek S.(6f,Del); HBPA Municipalities Mayors H.(7f,CT).
High EQ: 96

Hip 242: Alstom, chestnut colt by Silver Train-Miss Special Salsa, by Mr. Greeley. ($7,000)

Record: 9 starts, 1-1-2, $53,351
High EQ: 98

Hip 270: Back Alley Deal, chestnut colt by Flower Alley-Past Due, by Devil His Due. ($60,000)

Record: 9 starts, 1-1-0, $21,687
High EQ: 81

Hip 315: Genuine Sole, bay colt by Gibson County-Sanibel Sole, by Miswaki. ($18K RNA)

Record: 4 starts, 0-0-1, $1,525
High EQ: 55

Hip 322: Kisses From Karen, dark bay filly by Chief Seattle-Senita Lane, by Ascot Knight. ($15,000)

Record: 10 starts, 2-1-1, $31,172
High EQ: 66

Hip 323: Mugsy Dehere, dark bay gelding by Dehere-Shadowy Waters, by Wild Again. ($40,000)

Record: 21 starts, 2-7-2, $54,896
High EQ: 69

Hip 350: Northern Surprise, chestnut colt by Langfuhr-Surprising Fact, by Known Fact. ($27,000)

Record: 1 start, 0-0-0, $500
High EQ: N/A

Hip 380: Surprise Strike, bay gelding by Stormy Atlantic-Unbridled Femme, by Unbridled. ($34K RNA)

Record: 24 starts, 5-6-1, $138,533
High EQ: 104

Hip 390: Oh So Glittery, dark bay filly by Cetewayo-Western Glitter, by Glitterman. ($15K RNA)

Record: 39 starts, 8-5-5, $166,862
High EQ: 97

Hip 397: Piperpotpie, chestnut filly by Langfuhr-Wild Linda, by Wild Again. ($6,500)

Record: 3 starts, 0-0-0, $301
High EQ: 22

Hip 401: Wild Alley Cat, dark bay gelding by Flower Alley-Winner's Ticket, by Jolie's Halo. ($6,000)

Record: 45 starts, 8-12-9, $101,776
High EQ: 97

EASMAY (Priority 3)
Hip 36: Grey Goddess, gray or roan filly by Mizzen Mast-Bet Birdie, by Bet Twice. ($50,000)

Record: 26 starts, 2-6-4, $79,790
High EQ: 89

Hip 171: Sand Hi, bay gelding by Stormy Atlantic-Hay Lauren, by Hay Halo. ($20,000 to Korea)

Record: 23 starts, 7-2-3, $318,461

Hip 217: My Reward, chestnut filly by Grand Reward-Leelu, by Carson City. ($16K RNA)

Record: 35 starts, 6-7-4, $69,666
High EQ: 81

Hip 281: After Words, dark bay filly by Kafwain-Potomac Bend, by Polish Numbers. ($30K RNA)

Record: 13 starts, 2-5-1, $50,960
High EQ: 73

Hip 338: Danger in Pink, chestnut filly by Forest Danger-Sparkling Pink, by Marquetry. ($9K RNA)

Record: Unstarted

Hip 347: Sultry Gibson, bay filly by Gibson County-Sultry Peg Cee, by Sultry Song. (Withdrawn)

Record: 17 starts, 2-3-1, $43,255
High EQ: 60

Hip 393: Why Not More, bay filly by Indian Charlie-Why So Much, by Meadowlake. ($65,000)

Record: 12 starts, 1-2-2, $29,294
High EQ: 91

EASMAY (Priority 4)
Hip 1: Reward the Lady, dark bay filly by Grand Reward-You're A Lady, by Youmadeyourpoint. ($6,000)

Record: 22 starts, 3-5-6, $87,634
High EQ: 80

Hip 163: Lookin At Options, chestnut colt by Soto-Good Forecast, by Caveat. ($8,500)

Record: 13 starts, 1-1-1, $32,240
High EQ: 73

Hip 275: Dinner at Nana's, gray or roan filly by Tapit-Peyvon, by Slewacide. ($42,000 PS)

Record: 2 starts, 0-0-0, $235
High EQ: 39

Notes: Originally named Paytap.

Havin' a ball with VTA and NCTA at Colonial

This past week was a busy one, with two concerts attended in D.C. and two days of racing at Colonial Downs on the weekend.

Would somebody please pay me to lather-rise-repeat such weeks for the rest of my life? Especially the racetrack part?

On Saturday, at the invitation of Glenn Petty, I attended the Virginia Thoroughbred Association's owner/breeder recognition luncheon on the back side at Colonial Downs. I was privileged to meet several of Virginia's more active horse-industry players, and had a great conversation with John and Kim Griffin, who have owned a racehorse or two in the past (none in training at present), and live quite nearby Colonial. John is director of the Neuroscience Program at the College of William & Mary, while Kim combines her passion for horses and photography with splendid results.

During the race card, I hung in a luxury box with several of my fellow members of the North Carolina Thoroughbred Association. Colonial puts out a tremendous buffet spread, and one of the perks for being among the "group sales" parties in the boxes is a trip to the winner's circle for a photo after the race that is "featured" in recognition of your group.

Not entirely wanting to take part in my first winner's circle photo without actually winning something, I considered placing a $2 win bet on every horse in Race 3 (our featured race); there were only six going and I could just root for the longest shot in an effort to achieve some payback. On the other hand, I decided it isn't really a "bet" -- or maybe isn't really "winning" -- if you've set it up so that you can't lose. ... Granted, I was gonna lose $10 regardless on five bets that didn't come in, but I was guaranteed to win on at least one, and maybe, if it's with the right horse, pay back the losses and then some.

So I threw out a horse. And bet a five-horse box on a 10-cent super. And stood on the apron with the NCTA and my friends Rob and Shayla Simmons (Rob's a blog-reader and track-going pal of mine) as we watched 14/1 Jazema's Ginger -- the longest shot on the board, and the horse that I tossed -- come up the rail to win the whole thing by a half-length.

At least I have a better story behind that win photo than if I'd just bet every horse.

And, Colonial Turf Cup day was still fun (congrats, Paddy O'Prado), only momentarily threatened by a misguided trainer's attempt to saddle me for Race 4 before I could get back to the luxury box. He quickly realized his mistake when he determined I was far from race-fit.

On Sunday, I got to watch from the apron as a filly owned by online friends (and first time in-person friends) Lisa and Gordon Calhoun -- and trained by Sarah Warmack, who owns Hilltop Farm VA, where my horses are boarded and foaled -- give a better effort than was really expected from her. Prepare The Way (aka "Glory") is working her way back into condition after a troublesome first race a few months ago at Laurel Park.

On Sunday, sent off as the second-longest price on the board, she finished where bettors expected in the order of running -- fifth of six -- but gave a good effort under Tadious Simpson, an apprentice and son of former Jamaican champion jockey, Trevor Simpson. Tadious settled her fairly well, kept her out of trouble, and despite falling out to last on the turn, "Glory" didn't run out of gas on the rider in the final eighth as Sarah feared she might; in fact, she ran on to pass a horse and was gaining on fourth at the wire.

Let's hope for better next time, and I'll wager Tadious will have the mount again, if he wants it.

Travel week will culminate at Colonial

I'm out and about this week, hearing some live music in D.C. (at 9:30 Club two nights in a row), but horses are always on my mind.

Before heading out, I compiled a list of all 2-year-olds I tipped this year at several sales, so we can follow along with their careers and see how they do. A couple of managed to break maiden recently, and I'll detail the runners soon; probably by Sunday.

On Saturday, I'll be around the track and grandstand at Colonial Downs, for the North Carolina Thoroughbred Association's Day at the Races. If you're going to be there for the Colonial Turf Cup and want to say "hey," just drop me a note.

Rachel is back, or seems to be; bring on Zen

After two of the tougher "beats" you'll ever see in consecutive starts, Rachel Alexandra bounced back today with an easy win in the Fleur de Lis H.-G2 at Churchill Downs.

The 3-year-old champion filly and Horse of the Year won by a geared-down 10 1/2 lengths, covering the mile and an eight over the main track in a pretty stout 1:48.78, and largely looked like her old self.

But then again, why shouldn't she? The race was her third off a long layoff, often a top angle for handicappers. And whom, exactly, did she face, sent off at prohibitive 1/10 odds? Not enough speed to wear her out; not enough of a closer to catch her.

And certainly not Zardana, who beat her in a hard-fought New Orleans Ladies Stakes that was Rachel's first effort in 2010.

Nor Unrivaled Belle, who ran her down at the wire in the April 30 La Troienne S.-G2 over the same Churchill strip.

Neither of whom managed to get mentioned in the Blood-Horse coverage of this victory.

I'm sure everyone's just glad to see that the old Rachel is back. Or seems to be.

But let's face it, only four other horses lined up to try Rachel in today's Fleur de Lis. The "competition" -- and I do use that word loosely -- consisted of pace-contesters Distinctive Dixie (18.5/1) and Jessica is Back (5.9/1), who finished second and third, plus Multipass (33.6/1) and Made for Magic (13.6/1), neither of whom was ever a factor.

Made for Magic is a Grade 2 winner in 2010, but over synthetic at Hollywood Park, and bettors clearly didn't think she was the top threat to unseat Rachel Alexandra on conventional dirt today, sending her off as a distant third choice.

Second-favored Jessica is Back certainly is a rugged mare -- 11-for-42 going in with nearly $550,000 earned, two minor stakes wins, and a G3-placing at Hawthorne. But thinking she could beat Rachel Alexandra today (even the Rachel who showed up in New Orleans) would have been far-fetched. Her odds of roughly 6/1 were a pipe dream.

Distinctive Dixie was 4-for-15 lifetime and had placed twice in the listed Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn, but has never won a black type race. And Multipass has a single stakes-placing at Remington Park in Oklahoma.

So the race was really for second place and two cracks at G2 blacktype for a mare's catalog page. Not that there's anything wrong with trying.

This field, in fact, bore passing resemblance to the one I watched undefeated and twice-champion older mare Zenyatta crush in a hand-ride on April 9 at Oaklawn in the Apple Blossom H.-G1. Still, that group was markedly better. On that day, second place went to Taptam, who has three prior minor stakes wins but earned her first graded blacktype in the G1 affair. The other three runners were all prior Grade 3 winners: Third-place Be Fair; Just Jenda; and War Echo.

So what does today's win by Rachel really mean?

No more stalling on a showdown between Rachel and Zenyatta, that's what.

Zen goes for her 17th straight lifetime win on Sunday in the Vanity H.-G1 at Hollywood Park. And it will be a test. She'll face Rachel-beater Zardana -- a fellow 6-year-old trained by her own conditioner, John Shirreffs -- and 7-for-12 lifetime St. Trinians, among the seven total entries in the 9-furlong event.

Regardless whether Zen wins on Sunday (I suspect she will, but anything can happen) the next time she runs (barring injuries to either female) should be in a race -- somewhere, darned-near anywhere -- against Rachel Alexandra.

It would appear the Horse of the Year is back near her form from last year. And Zenyatta's never been out of form in her life, unless she proves so on Sunday.

Find 'em a mutual spot, and run 'em.

Good tidings from Gordonsville: It's a boy

I'm a little slow in passing out the cigars, but today's blog entry (the first in a few days, shamefully) brings good tidings from Gordonsville, Va.

The last foal sired by Silver Music, a Grade 2 winner who died on Derby Day, was born at 3:45 a.m. Saturday at Sarah Warmack's Hilltop Farm VA.

The strapping colt is a dark bay and sports a star, much like his dam, the modest winner Bushes Victory (Spartan Victory-Below Broad Street, by Kokand). He's already developed a reputation for being "such a flirt" around the women and girls who frequent the farm, standing to be loved-on and offering kisses back.

Which shows that at least he's no dummy.

I'd crossed my fingers for a filly (so I could add her to the broodmare band later, if she ran worth a darn), and also for a gray, like the sire. At least a gray would have been a fitting end for the big daddy. But that just wasn't to be.

Regardless of sex or color, the foal would be -- that is now, is -- inbred 3x4 to Mr. Prospector via Silver Music's sire, Silver Ghost, and the dam's dam-sire, Kokand. For proponents of the Dosage system, his Dosage Index is 1.80 and his Center of Distribution is 0.64, suggesting a runner who would want at least a little bit of ground. That would be consistent with his sire's performance, for while Silver Music broke maiden going 6 furlongs on dirt at age 2, his second juvenile win (in his ninth 2-year-old start) was a one-mile allowance on grass, and his signature win was in the 1994 Swaps S.-G2 going 10 panels on the main track at Hollywood Park.

However, one aspect of this mating that I liked is the female family's apparent penchant for speed. Though Bushes Victory only won a single race -- well, two, actually, and was taken down to second once, losing what would have been her maiden-breaking win at 3 -- she had some early turn of foot, and was usually on or near the lead in fractions as brisk as 22-flat for the opening quarter.

Her dam won the Alabama Oaks at a mile while there was still horse racing at Birmingham, and was 2-for-3 at route distances (with an allowance-placing on grass in her other try), but was primarily campaigned as a sprinter and hit the board three times in stakes races at 6 furlongs. "Tory's" full sister, Broad Victory, won the Somethingroyal Stakes at Colonial Downs (5.5f turf in 1:03 2/5) and was second beaten a half in the Phoenix Stakes at Meadowlands (5f turf in :56 3/5). And Broad Victory's first foal, a gelded son of Van Nistelrooy named Radical Fringe, nearly nicked the Arlington Park track records for 5 furlongs on both turf and dirt in his second and third lifetime starts at age 3, missing both marks by less than a fifth of a second.

I'm not a proponent of mating widely disparate types in hopes of achieving a "happy medium" -- that is, an extreme stayer with a sprinter, expecting to get a miler. I think you're just as likely to get a foal with the stayer's speed and the sprinter's stamina, which could be useless.

But in this case, I do hope that the dam's side's relative fleetness gives this Silver Music foal something I think many of the sire's get have lacked -- some early turn of foot. And Silver Music wasn't hopeless at short distances. As noted, he broke maiden at 6 furlongs (on the main track at Calder), and at 3, he collected his first stakes win going "about 6 1/2 furlongs") on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita, in the Baldwin Stakes. He also won the Bold Reason Handicap at Hollywood Park going a mile and a sixteenth, displaying true versatility -- stakes wins from 6.5f to 10f at age 3, on dirt and on turf.

Silver has had a couple of solid sprinters among his progeny, including career leading-earner Time to Rap ($169,894), and with a progeny average winning distance of 7.13 furlongs (at this writing) it would be fair to say that his foals have probably won as often at 6 furlongs as they have at a mile, a mile-seventy or a mile and a sixteenth. But on pedigree, I think many of his horses would have done better with more distance; it's just that getting two-turn races in the lower claiming ranks is sometimes a difficult proposition.

So, there's some speed on the dam's side, and a lot of versatility on both sides of this new colt's family. His sire was pretty good at just about everything, with wins on dirt and turf, from 6 furlongs to 10. And his dam's family includes dirt, turf and synthetic winners, with closely related stakes winners at a mile on dirt and 5.5 furlongs on turf.

Simply put, since this colt has had close relatives who are achievers at a little bit of everything, I hope he can do at least a little bit of something.

More than just being a loverboy, anyway.

Deal with Drosselmeyer later; now, about that song ...

Sticking with a musical theme for this blog over the past couple of days, I'm ignoring the winner of the Belmont Stakes for the time being to comment on its organizers' choice of anthem.

I have to say that the New York Racing Association's selection of "Empire State of Mind" to replace "New York, New York" as the theme of the Belmont Stakes was an even dumber decision than it seemed at first blush.

I must admit, I didn't know the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys song just by its name. I had to look it up, give it a listen, and hunt down the lyrics before commenting. (And I actually missed the race today, so I didn't hear the version sung by 16-year-old pop star Jasmine Villegas.)

All I can say after is -- what in heaven's name was NYRA thinking?

It isn't that "Empire State of Mind" is a bad song. It's actually a pretty good one; I'm not a big listener of hip-hop, but upon hearing it, I realized that I had heard it a few times before and generally enjoyed the tune.

Trouble is, it's a horrible choice of song as introductory music for the Belmont Stakes.

My first criticism is that the song has to be considerably cleaned up for television. The original version is laced with profanity -- and, seemingly to the detriment of NYRA, Belmont Park, the race and the city -- uncomplimentary imagery of New York. I'm sure that Jay-Z loves his home city, but the song includes references to "corners where we sell rock" and "good girls gone bad." The lyrics warn that "Jesus can't save you." And my favorite among lines that almost certainly must be redacted: "Mommy took a bus trip, now she got her bust out; everybody ride her just like a bus route."

NYRA's marketing director, Neema Ghazi, has called the piece a "quintessential 21st-century theme song for New York City."

But, Mr. Ghazi, is this really the song that you want millions of people scrambling to look up and listen to online after they've heard only the sanitized version during the race broadcast?

How did hitching the Belmont Stakes' wagon to a song that mentions crack cocaine ever seem like a good idea?

Yeah, some people out there loved it. But some people out there don't have any sense. And some people out there work for NYRA. ... And clearly those three circles overlapped on the Venn diagram of life, with this lamentable result.

Besides, even if the new song were completely clean, "New York, New York" is (and maybe always will be) more widely recognized around the world than "Empire State of Mind," which was only released in October of last year. And while "Empire State of Mind" did hit No. 1, it's unrealistic to consider it a "classic" song befitting an American classic race; the darned thing has only been on the market for eight months.

Since I missed the race, I didn't see how ABC handled the song. But friends have commented that the network cut to commercial during Villegas' rendition. Was it that bad, or just too long? ... More pertinent, have you ever seen a network cut away from "My Old Kentucky Home" on Derby Day? And if ABC didn't see fit to air in its entirety the supposedly "quintessential" song chosen as Belmont Park's marquee race's anthem, is anyone in the halls of NYRA having second thoughts?

If NYRA wanted to replace "New York, New York" -- which it's still highly debatable that it should have -- a much better choice would have been a different native New Yorker's tune, one with considerably more history than the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys latecomer (which has an eerily similar title), with lyrics that don't need sanitized, and written by a man with an equally undeniable love of the city ... Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind."

Barry the Fugue Slayer

From the outset today, I have to confess something ... potentially embarrassing.

I like Barry Manilow.

Not the man, personally. I mean, Barry seems like a helluva fella, really. But I've never met him, so I couldn't say.

Rather, I tend to like his music. It's never -- and I do mean never -- what I would choose to play in any format; on CD, iPod, from the Web, anywhere. But I'll admit that when "Mandy," or "I Write the Songs," or "Can't Smile Without You," or, yes, even "Copacabana," comes on the Muzak in the elevator or grocery store ... well ... who has two thumbs and is singin' along?

This guy.

That stated, I decided to Google "Fugue for Tinhorns" last night and the top (sponsored) result was a gawdawful rendition by Mr. Manilow and friends. (Warning: Because of copyright restrictions, you'll only get to hear that linked song once per computer.)

The tune is from Manilow's 1991 album "Showstoppers," the artist's first to be produced with no original music. As the title suggests, all the songs are covers by Manilow of Broadway hits. ... Which I'd have initially thought could only be a good thing. But after listening to that butchering of "Fugue for Tinhorns," I don't even want to hear the rest.

I am not a music composition major. So anyone who reads this blog and happens to be one, my apologies at the outset, and feel free to correct me in the comments. But my understanding of the fugue is that it is a "point-counterpoint" sort of song, with at least two themes or voices introduced, developed (often simultaneously), and then concluded. As in the original "Fugue for Tinhorns," the opening vocal piece in the musical "Guys and Dolls," each melody frequently is played or sung simultaneously and in great contrast to the others.

So my two primary complaints about the "Showstoppers" version is that the tempo of the piece has been slowed (Really? Retarding the pace of a song about a race?) and the parts are only infrequently sung together. Most often, each of the three singers is working solo, which defeats the appeal, perhaps the structure (again, I've no Ph.D. in music theory) of the fugue itself, which is in the song's very title.

The tune did, however, spur some thinking. For when the trio's third voice broke into song in the "Showstoppers" rendition, I recognized him immediately.

The voice is that of Hinton Battle.

Battle was born an Army brat in Neubrücke, Hoppstädten, West Germany, in 1956. He premiered the role of the scarecrow in "The Wiz" on Broadway in 1975, but was told to beat it in favor of Michael Jackson for the 1978 film. His Tonys -- all for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical -- were for his roles in "Sophisticated Ladies" (1981), "The Tap Dance Kid" (1984) and as John in "Miss Saigon" (1991). He is the only man ever to win the Tony for Featured Actor in a Musical on three different occasions.

But my favorite Hinton Battle role came in 2001, and on television. His own features obscured by red makeup and the hideous visage of a demon -- and wearing a really bitchin' zoot suit -- Battle absolutely slays in the role of Sweet, the villain du jour in "Once More, with Feeling," the extraordinary musical episode of Joss Whedon's long-running Fox TV series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

As Sweet, Battle's showpiece song features his dancing and singing on "What You Feel," a tune explaining how he came to be this week's terror in Sunnyvale.

What does this have to do with horse racing? Nothing, really, though it does touch (maybe grazes?) on the subject of this blog itself.

Besides, now we're partyin' ... that's what it's all about.

Bye bye, busted Bird

I was really hoping for a comeback by Summer Bird, but The Blood-Horse reports that the 2009 Belmont Stakes, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner has been retired, unable to return from suffering a hairline fracture last fall while training for the Japan Cup Dirt.

While Mine That Bird won "the big one," the Kentucky Derby, and was a 2-year-old champion in Canada in 2008, it seemed clear that the bird with highest altitude potential was Summer Bird. His Belmont win was impressive. And while he got run off his feet by Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational, he couldn't have bounced back any better than his Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup victories. He was the first horse since Easy Goer in 1989 to pull off that particular triple. Plus, his fourth-place finish behind Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic -- Summer Bird's first-ever run over synthetic -- suggested he was talented and versatile enough to perhaps do great things at 4.

Then came the trip to Japan.

I can't fault his breeders and owners, Drs. K.K. and Vilasini "Devi" Jayaraman, for taking such an ambitious shot. The colt seemed up to it. And they were riding high on an outstanding season that had already cemented a 3-year-old championship for their homebred son of Birdstone.

"We've been in racing for 30 years and he gave us our greatest thrills, especially when he won the Belmont Stakes," said K.K. Jayaraman. "He was just a pleasure to be around, and because of him we met a lot of wonderful people. It was a great year, and he took us to places we would never have gone."

The Blood-Horse reports that the Jayaramans would drive to all of Summer Bird's race. I assume they'd have taken a plane to Japan, but that race just wasn't to be.

Upon returning to the States and having surgery to repair his broken cannon bone, Summer Bird (after some rest) went back into training, this time with Tim Ritchey, instead of Tim Ice, who had trained him to the championship season. But after some work with Ritchey, new x-rays determined Summer Bird's leg had not healed enough to withstand the rigors of training and racing. So, he is retired with four wins from just nine starts (which makes me a bit nervous as he heads to stud at an undetermined farm) for $2,323,040.

In his Blood-Horse story, Steve Haskin calls Summer Bird "a throwback to a time when horses were fast, tough and could run all day."

I can agree on two points with Summer Bird; he was pretty fast and could run pretty far by today's standards. Unfortunately, nine starts doesn't particularly suggest "tough."

I hope he gets plenty of very sound mares, and some with stamina of their own. Please don't try to breed Summer Bird to sprinting females in order to get fleeter foals; you'll just as likely end up with a horse that fares poorly at any distance. Not enough speed to sprint, nor enough stamina to route. But, bred to milers and and classic-bred mares, Summer Bird might follow his surprisingly effective young sire in getting a few classic winners of his own.

Let's just hope his get, can get more than nine trips around the yard.