Now that the Breeders’ Cup Championships are history, it’s time to take a look at the state of Pennsylvania and see what’s happening on the breeding front for 2011.
Two stallions formerly based in Pennsylvania were reported to be moving to Indiana to take advantage of its lucrative breed program. Smart Guy, who stood at Fox Tale Stud in Coopersburg, was sold by his owner, Dave Malatesta, to an Indiana farm (as yet unkown). Smart Guy, a son of Smarten, won the Pennsylvania Derby and has sired multiple stakes winner Secretintelligence, who has earned over $500,000.
Champion Action This Day, who stood the 2010 season at Gayle Gerth’s Dana Point Farm in Lenhartsville, is also heading to Indiana. Sales-goers will also notice he has been entered in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed Sale at Timonium on December 6, tabbed as Hip 148, the property of Dana Point.
Standing in Oklahoma for the 2011 season will be Congressionalhonor, who formerly stood at Northview-Pa in Peach Bottom, and More Smoke, who stood at Dr. William Solomon’s Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom.
Congressionalhonor currently has 92 horses of racing age and has sired 3 winners, with total earnings from two crops at just over $160,000. He will stand at Oklahoma Equine in Washington, Ok., for $2,500.
More Smoke, a son of Smoke Glacken, has been moved to Fox Hill Farm in Okmulgee, Ok., and will stand for $750. His first foals race next year.
Joining the ranks of the gelded is Fusillade, a son of A. P. Indy-Ring of Fire, by Nureyev. He stood this year at Pin Oak Lane Farm.
Multiple graded stakes winner Ecclesiastic has been moved from Star Barn Thoroughbreds near Grantville, Pa. to Glenn and Becky Brok’s Diamond B Farm in Mohrsville, Pa. The son of Pulpit’s first foals will be 2-year-olds of 2011. A stud fee has yet to be announced.
B. L.’s Appeal, originally scheduled to stand at Diamond B, will be remaining in Florida for 2011.
The Thoroughbred Times has listed Eurosilver, a son of Unbridled’s Song, as a member of the Pennsylvania stallion corps. Where he will stand is still unknown.
HEADS N TAILS: Congratulations are in order for Dana Point Farm stallion Sir Shackleton, whose son Enduring Star, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, finished a close third in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine on Sunday. Sir Shackleton’s first crop raced this year, and from only a handful of starters his progeny earnings are pushing the $100K mark.
Mike and Laura Cumberton’s Alex’s Pal, who has moved to Pin Oak Lane Farm for the 2011 season, is ranked number one among Pennsylvania sires by 2010 Pennsylvania-bred juvenile earnings as of November 8.
If you have any stallion news, please drop us a line!
The good 'ole days at Liberty Bell Park in northeast Philadelphia
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
A new beginning ... and a sad end
It’s been a while since we last posted here, and that’s because we’ve been busy seeing Baby Chips, my yearling gelding, off to “racehorse kindergarten.”
Baby Chips arrived at Twin Ponds Farm in Oxford, Pa. on September 17, and within a few days had already graduated to the racetrack with other yearlings. It was a quite a transition for Baby Chips, since he had spent more than a year just hanging out and playing with another yearling gelding at a nearby farm. Having to separate from his good buddy was hard, no doubt, and Baby Chips is now at a location where there are lots of horses and plenty of interesting things to see and do. After he trains in the morning, he’s turned out for most of the day, coming in at night about 5 p.m.
I cannot express how I felt when I saw Baby Chips under tack and galloping around Twin Ponds’ training track for the first time. His progression from the sweet little foal we saw the day of his birth, to a sassy young weanling, to a yearling big and strong enough to carry the weight of a rider … it all happened so quickly and has been an experience my whole family has enjoyed. In early November, Baby Chips will head to Delaware to get Delaware Certified, and then back to Twin Ponds early next year.
It doesn’t matter whether Baby Chips turns out to be an allowance horse or a bottom claimer. I have waited my whole life to get into the breeding side of the thoroughbred industry, and so far I’m enjoying every minute of it.
I often wish that Franklin Mills, which has had its share of shoot-outs, car fires and crime sprees, was still Liberty Bell. In its heyday, the track attracted large, enthusiastic crowds, no matter what the weather. Here are a few photos of “The Bell,” courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Baby Chips arrived at Twin Ponds Farm in Oxford, Pa. on September 17, and within a few days had already graduated to the racetrack with other yearlings. It was a quite a transition for Baby Chips, since he had spent more than a year just hanging out and playing with another yearling gelding at a nearby farm. Having to separate from his good buddy was hard, no doubt, and Baby Chips is now at a location where there are lots of horses and plenty of interesting things to see and do. After he trains in the morning, he’s turned out for most of the day, coming in at night about 5 p.m.
I cannot express how I felt when I saw Baby Chips under tack and galloping around Twin Ponds’ training track for the first time. His progression from the sweet little foal we saw the day of his birth, to a sassy young weanling, to a yearling big and strong enough to carry the weight of a rider … it all happened so quickly and has been an experience my whole family has enjoyed. In early November, Baby Chips will head to Delaware to get Delaware Certified, and then back to Twin Ponds early next year.
It doesn’t matter whether Baby Chips turns out to be an allowance horse or a bottom claimer. I have waited my whole life to get into the breeding side of the thoroughbred industry, and so far I’m enjoying every minute of it.
* * * *
We have been waiting for the big stallion announcement that was promised, but as of today not delivered. The longer the delay, the more we are thinking the wheels came off the deal. It would be a shame, since the horse would be a great addition to the Pennsylvania stallion ranks. * * * *
I live down the street from a sprawling mall in northeast Philadelphia named Franklin Mills that is a magnet for young people with a lot of time on their hands. More than 30 years ago, the ground that Franklin Mills stands on was the home of Liberty Bell Park, which was first strictly a harness oval, but later conducted thoroughbred meets. While doing some research for the recent Cotillion Stakes at Philadelphia Park, I noticed that the first seven runnings of the Cotillion were held at Liberty Bell, and what a talented group of fillies won those seven runnings – Shuvee, Office Queen, Alma North, Susan’s Girl, Lilac Hill, Honky Star and My Juliet.I often wish that Franklin Mills, which has had its share of shoot-outs, car fires and crime sprees, was still Liberty Bell. In its heyday, the track attracted large, enthusiastic crowds, no matter what the weather. Here are a few photos of “The Bell,” courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
This is a typical night at the races, circa 1965.
Thoroughbreds became popular in the late 1960's, too.
Many horsemen have said that developers wiped out every familiar sight line of Liberty Bell, so that the piece of property today gives no clues that it once contained a racetrack and a training oval.
The road that is seen in this photo is Knights Road, which I travel everyday. To see this property today, scroll down to the last photo.
Ah, memories of a time long gone ...
The Liberty Bell property circa 2006. Can you find where the grandstand and racing oval once stood?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
On the move
Some people look forward to the Triple Crown season, while others look eagerly towards the opening of Saratoga and Del Mar. But for me, I always await the falling leaves and cooler temperatures, as they bring with them news of stallion arrivals and departures into the Mid-Atlantic region, the release of the Report of Mares Bred by The Jockey Club (I could spend hours with that!), and the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The Breeders' Cup will be especially exciting this year as champion Zenyatta, who is extremely popular in my household, will take her show to Churchill Downs for the Classic.
The first wave of stallion news has come ashore, and we are happy (and in one case, sad) to report the following:
* Mike and Laura Cumberton, owner of Alex's Pal in their Pot O'Gold Stables name, have announced that he will be moving from Ghost Ridge Farms in Felton, Pa. to Dr. William Solomon's Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pa. Alex’s Pal will stand for $2,000 Live Foal in 2011 with a reduced fee of $1,000 for multiple mares.
* Fox Tale Stud in Coopersburg has informed us that 1999 Pennsylvania Derby winner Smart Guy has been sold by his owner, Win More Stable Inc., and will stand the 2010 season in Indiana. No farm has been named, nor a stud fee set. Smart Guy was always one of our favorites, as he survived a life-threatening racing injury to become a stallion, and we'll miss him. From only several small crops to race, he is the sire of $550,000-plus earner and multiple stakes winner Secretintelligence.
* We also caught wind that the stallion BL's Appeal, a son of Valid Appeal who formerly stood in Florida, was coming to Pennsylvania, but we have not confirmed the farm as of yet.
* New York stallion Hook and Ladder has been sold to a farm in the Phillipines, more on this later.
* And of course, there will be a major announcement forthcoming at the end of the month involving 3 Kentucky stallions possibly coming to Pa. For one of them, the deal appears shaky at this point. As soon as the official press release is issued, we'll be sure to report it.
* On an entirely different note, my first homebred, Baby Chips, arrived at Richard Simoff's Twin Ponds Farm in Oxford, Pa., for "racehorse kindergarten." Baby Chips (not his registered name, just our pet name for him) has already had the bit in his mouth, a surcingle around his belly, and has been lunged. The Dougherty family is atwitter about this development, as Baby Chips is taking the first step towards becoming a full-fledged racehorse. Win or lose, whether he's destined for the allowance ranks or nickel claiming company, watching Baby Chips grow from a beautiful foal to a strapping yearling colt has been the most fun we've ever had.
The first wave of stallion news has come ashore, and we are happy (and in one case, sad) to report the following:
* Mike and Laura Cumberton, owner of Alex's Pal in their Pot O'Gold Stables name, have announced that he will be moving from Ghost Ridge Farms in Felton, Pa. to Dr. William Solomon's Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pa. Alex’s Pal will stand for $2,000 Live Foal in 2011 with a reduced fee of $1,000 for multiple mares.
* Fox Tale Stud in Coopersburg has informed us that 1999 Pennsylvania Derby winner Smart Guy has been sold by his owner, Win More Stable Inc., and will stand the 2010 season in Indiana. No farm has been named, nor a stud fee set. Smart Guy was always one of our favorites, as he survived a life-threatening racing injury to become a stallion, and we'll miss him. From only several small crops to race, he is the sire of $550,000-plus earner and multiple stakes winner Secretintelligence.
* We also caught wind that the stallion BL's Appeal, a son of Valid Appeal who formerly stood in Florida, was coming to Pennsylvania, but we have not confirmed the farm as of yet.
* New York stallion Hook and Ladder has been sold to a farm in the Phillipines, more on this later.
* And of course, there will be a major announcement forthcoming at the end of the month involving 3 Kentucky stallions possibly coming to Pa. For one of them, the deal appears shaky at this point. As soon as the official press release is issued, we'll be sure to report it.
* On an entirely different note, my first homebred, Baby Chips, arrived at Richard Simoff's Twin Ponds Farm in Oxford, Pa., for "racehorse kindergarten." Baby Chips (not his registered name, just our pet name for him) has already had the bit in his mouth, a surcingle around his belly, and has been lunged. The Dougherty family is atwitter about this development, as Baby Chips is taking the first step towards becoming a full-fledged racehorse. Win or lose, whether he's destined for the allowance ranks or nickel claiming company, watching Baby Chips grow from a beautiful foal to a strapping yearling colt has been the most fun we've ever had.
Baby Chips at three weeks old. That's my daughter Devon with him.
Baby Chips as a yearling. Photo taken on September 5, again with Devon.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A Rare Offering
In what Fasig-Tipton officials believe is a first, a rare registered pure white colt has been entered in the Eastern Fall Yearling Sale at the Timonium Salesgrounds in Maryland, which takes place on October 5 and 6.
The colt, named Banachek, sells as Hip 50, as the property of Xanthus Farms, Inc.
A son of The White Fox out of Barbara’s Song, by Runaway Groom, Banachek is a registered Pennsylvania-bred, and was bred and raised at Xanthus Farms, located in Gettysburg, Pa. The farm, where Grade 1 sprinter and millionaire Fabulous Strike was foaled, is owned by Barbara and Ron Rickline.
Here are two photos of this stunning yearling, as provided by Barbara Rickline:
Rickline said that Banachek has been an outstanding individual from the day he was foaled. His unique color made him easy to pick out at night, especially when there was a lot of moonlight, she said, when he took on an almost ghostly glow.
“He’s about 16.2 hands, and a very correct individual,” she said, noting that he was the 2009 Junior Champion, Thoroughbred Division, at the Maryland State Fair.
Here is his catalog page: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2010/1005/50.pdf
The colt will be stabled in Barn A, with the rest of the Xanthus consignment, which features nine other yearlings. The consignment includes Hip No. 236, a colt by English Channel-Grooms Derby (selling as property of Walter Downey’s Tea Party Stable, Inc.), Hip 304, a colt by During-Kid Silver, and Hip 334, a filly by Eurosilver-Little Noni. All Xanthus yearlings were foaled in Pennsylvania.
The colt, named Banachek, sells as Hip 50, as the property of Xanthus Farms, Inc.
A son of The White Fox out of Barbara’s Song, by Runaway Groom, Banachek is a registered Pennsylvania-bred, and was bred and raised at Xanthus Farms, located in Gettysburg, Pa. The farm, where Grade 1 sprinter and millionaire Fabulous Strike was foaled, is owned by Barbara and Ron Rickline.
Here are two photos of this stunning yearling, as provided by Barbara Rickline:
Rickline said that Banachek has been an outstanding individual from the day he was foaled. His unique color made him easy to pick out at night, especially when there was a lot of moonlight, she said, when he took on an almost ghostly glow.
“He’s about 16.2 hands, and a very correct individual,” she said, noting that he was the 2009 Junior Champion, Thoroughbred Division, at the Maryland State Fair.
Here is his catalog page: http://www.fasigtipton.com/catalogs/2010/1005/50.pdf
The colt will be stabled in Barn A, with the rest of the Xanthus consignment, which features nine other yearlings. The consignment includes Hip No. 236, a colt by English Channel-Grooms Derby (selling as property of Walter Downey’s Tea Party Stable, Inc.), Hip 304, a colt by During-Kid Silver, and Hip 334, a filly by Eurosilver-Little Noni. All Xanthus yearlings were foaled in Pennsylvania.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Smarty statue update
Jean Clagett, who has been commissioned to create the bronze sculpture of Smarty Jones for Parx Racing, reports that the sculpture will not be unveiled tomorrow at the Pennsylvania's Day at the Races celebration as planned, but instead it may occur on September 25, the day of the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby.
Clagett said the statue is finished, but will stay in Unionville, Pa., for the Laurels at Landhope CDE Saturday and Sunday, and will arrive in Bensalem early next week. A pedestal and plaque for the piece have yet to be completed by the racetrack.
In other news, Pennsylvania's owners and breeders will celebrate the fruits of their labors at the annual "Pennsylvania's Day at the Races" tomorrow at Parx Racing. This year, the gala moves from a tent at the far end of the Picnic Grove to the 5th floor of the grandstand.
Tomorrow's card features 10 races for Pennsylvania-breds, including several maiden races with well-bred juveniles. An interesting horse to watch is Delaware River, who seems to rise to the occasion each year on this date and is entered in the $100,000 PHBA Classic at 1-1/16 miles. For the last two years, the son of Quiet American captured the Smarty Jones Classic for owner/trainer William A. Campbell; in his most recent start at Delaware Park, he was haltered for $40,000 by trainer Brad H. Cox and owner Midwest Thoroughbreds. Now 9, Delaware River has won 18 of 73 starts, and more than $680,000. He was bred in the Keystone State by Land of Believe Farm.
Another horse, Coastal Solace, who is entered in the $150,000 PHBA Distaff at 1-1/16 miles, is living proof that sometimes you don't have to pay a lot to come up with a talented competitor. Plucked for a mere $2,000 out of the Mountain Springs Arena 2007 mixed sale, this 5-year-old daughter of Coastal Storm (by Storm Cat) has won nearly $400,000 for owner Ruby Stables and Steve Klesaris. Coastal Solace was bred by former PHBA president Dr. Bill Solomon.
First post tomorrow is 12:25 p.m.
Clagett said the statue is finished, but will stay in Unionville, Pa., for the Laurels at Landhope CDE Saturday and Sunday, and will arrive in Bensalem early next week. A pedestal and plaque for the piece have yet to be completed by the racetrack.
In other news, Pennsylvania's owners and breeders will celebrate the fruits of their labors at the annual "Pennsylvania's Day at the Races" tomorrow at Parx Racing. This year, the gala moves from a tent at the far end of the Picnic Grove to the 5th floor of the grandstand.
Tomorrow's card features 10 races for Pennsylvania-breds, including several maiden races with well-bred juveniles. An interesting horse to watch is Delaware River, who seems to rise to the occasion each year on this date and is entered in the $100,000 PHBA Classic at 1-1/16 miles. For the last two years, the son of Quiet American captured the Smarty Jones Classic for owner/trainer William A. Campbell; in his most recent start at Delaware Park, he was haltered for $40,000 by trainer Brad H. Cox and owner Midwest Thoroughbreds. Now 9, Delaware River has won 18 of 73 starts, and more than $680,000. He was bred in the Keystone State by Land of Believe Farm.
Another horse, Coastal Solace, who is entered in the $150,000 PHBA Distaff at 1-1/16 miles, is living proof that sometimes you don't have to pay a lot to come up with a talented competitor. Plucked for a mere $2,000 out of the Mountain Springs Arena 2007 mixed sale, this 5-year-old daughter of Coastal Storm (by Storm Cat) has won nearly $400,000 for owner Ruby Stables and Steve Klesaris. Coastal Solace was bred by former PHBA president Dr. Bill Solomon.
First post tomorrow is 12:25 p.m.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The mystery of the Smarty statue ... and a pleasant surprise at Parx
While I’m still not crazy about its new name, I was pleasantly surprised when I strolled into Philadelphia Park … er, Parx Racing … last Saturday, which was christened Smarty Jones Day.
From the outside, the place looks pretty much like it always has – the “big box on Street Road,” as Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News once called it. But once inside, it was obvious that a lot of money and thought had gone into the renovation, as the place fairly glowed in tones of red and gold.
The first floor features a large sports bar and 50 individual betting desks with flat-screen TVs and marble tops. The horsemen’s restaurant has returned, and there is a snack bar just inside the paddock, which I was happy to see offered a large menu of reasonably-priced food and drink. Hey, when a racetrack only charges $2.75 for domestic beer and $2.50 for a slice of pizza, you know it’s a bargain (check out the prices at tracks like Saratoga and Monmouth).
I wandered up to the third floor and was delighted to find lots of tables and chairs where fans can spread out their Forms and programs, and four walls filled with flat-screen TVs of various sizes and shapes. The only drawback I could see was that there were only 2 mutuel clerks punching tickets and two automated tellers, but it appeared that part of that area was still under construction.
Three key players from “Team Smarty” – trainer John Servis, jockey Stewart Elliott, and owner Pat Chapman – all graciously signed autographs and talked with fans, and the commemorative Smarty Jones coin that was given out to the first 5,000 fans was actually quite nice, made of a heavy metal and packaged in a clear, snap-front case. My daughters were thrilled to each get one, and later that night I saw one had already been put up on Ebay with an opening bid of $10.00.
I took the opportunity down by the winner’s circle to ask Pat Chapman, who was wearing a blue jacket quite similar to the color of Someday Farm’s silks, if there was any news concerning where Smarty might stand next year, since talk is rampant that he may come to Pennsylvania.
Chapman said that “she would love” for him to come home to the Keystone State, where he was foaled, but that it was a complicated issue due to the horse’s many syndicate owners. She did confirm that she had fielded several offers from the Japanese for Smarty, but had no intention of sending him there.
Finally, there was a bit of confusion over the Smarty Jones statue that was to be unveiled on Saturday. Greenwood Racing, the owner of the racetrack, had advertised heavily that the statue would be unveiled on Smarty Jones Day, but it was nowhere to be found, sparking many wild rumors ranging from “bad weather prevented the statue from being delivered” to “Greenwood didn’t pay for it.”
To find out the truth, we contacted Virginia sculptress Jean Clagett, who was commissioned to craft Smarty’s statue, and asked why the likeness of the dual classic winner wasn’t in Bensalem. It turned out none of the rumors were correct.
“No one was more disappointed that Smarty's cold cast could not be ready for the event than I was,” said Clagett, whose exquisite statues of equines adorn places such as the Kentucky Horse Park and private homes of thoroughbred owners like George Strawbridge, Jr. “Even though it is a temporary substitute for the bronze sculpture, it is still important that it be presented at its best when people see the model. A section didn't cast right, so I need to redo that section, which required my ordering more materials from my supplier.”
Clagett said that the piece would be assembled on Thursday, shipped to Parx on Friday, and unveiled on Saturday, just in time for Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races, which honors the state’s breeders.
To get a sneak-peek preview of what the statue might look like, check out Clagett’s web site, Atelier West, and click on this link: http://www.atelierwest.com/defaultatelierwest_002.htm
From the outside, the place looks pretty much like it always has – the “big box on Street Road,” as Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News once called it. But once inside, it was obvious that a lot of money and thought had gone into the renovation, as the place fairly glowed in tones of red and gold.
The first floor features a large sports bar and 50 individual betting desks with flat-screen TVs and marble tops. The horsemen’s restaurant has returned, and there is a snack bar just inside the paddock, which I was happy to see offered a large menu of reasonably-priced food and drink. Hey, when a racetrack only charges $2.75 for domestic beer and $2.50 for a slice of pizza, you know it’s a bargain (check out the prices at tracks like Saratoga and Monmouth).
I wandered up to the third floor and was delighted to find lots of tables and chairs where fans can spread out their Forms and programs, and four walls filled with flat-screen TVs of various sizes and shapes. The only drawback I could see was that there were only 2 mutuel clerks punching tickets and two automated tellers, but it appeared that part of that area was still under construction.
Three key players from “Team Smarty” – trainer John Servis, jockey Stewart Elliott, and owner Pat Chapman – all graciously signed autographs and talked with fans, and the commemorative Smarty Jones coin that was given out to the first 5,000 fans was actually quite nice, made of a heavy metal and packaged in a clear, snap-front case. My daughters were thrilled to each get one, and later that night I saw one had already been put up on Ebay with an opening bid of $10.00.
I took the opportunity down by the winner’s circle to ask Pat Chapman, who was wearing a blue jacket quite similar to the color of Someday Farm’s silks, if there was any news concerning where Smarty might stand next year, since talk is rampant that he may come to Pennsylvania.
Chapman said that “she would love” for him to come home to the Keystone State, where he was foaled, but that it was a complicated issue due to the horse’s many syndicate owners. She did confirm that she had fielded several offers from the Japanese for Smarty, but had no intention of sending him there.
Finally, there was a bit of confusion over the Smarty Jones statue that was to be unveiled on Saturday. Greenwood Racing, the owner of the racetrack, had advertised heavily that the statue would be unveiled on Smarty Jones Day, but it was nowhere to be found, sparking many wild rumors ranging from “bad weather prevented the statue from being delivered” to “Greenwood didn’t pay for it.”
To find out the truth, we contacted Virginia sculptress Jean Clagett, who was commissioned to craft Smarty’s statue, and asked why the likeness of the dual classic winner wasn’t in Bensalem. It turned out none of the rumors were correct.
“No one was more disappointed that Smarty's cold cast could not be ready for the event than I was,” said Clagett, whose exquisite statues of equines adorn places such as the Kentucky Horse Park and private homes of thoroughbred owners like George Strawbridge, Jr. “Even though it is a temporary substitute for the bronze sculpture, it is still important that it be presented at its best when people see the model. A section didn't cast right, so I need to redo that section, which required my ordering more materials from my supplier.”
Clagett said that the piece would be assembled on Thursday, shipped to Parx on Friday, and unveiled on Saturday, just in time for Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races, which honors the state’s breeders.
To get a sneak-peek preview of what the statue might look like, check out Clagett’s web site, Atelier West, and click on this link: http://www.atelierwest.com/defaultatelierwest_002.htm
Friday, September 3, 2010
Get ready for the Smarty Party
For the last 2 years, we have heard rumblings about dual classic winner Smarty Jones coming back to Pennsylvania, the land of his birth, to stand at stud.
Last year, two farms that we know of actually made pitches to the powers that be at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, hoping to strike a deal. For whatever reason, those overtures were spurned, and Smarty stayed in the Bluegrass State, covering a book of 50-something mares at a $10,000 stud fee (the Report of Mares Bred for 2010 has yet to be released by The Jockey Club).
This year, Smarty’s owner, Pat Chapman, has expressed a desire to “bring him home,” and it appears a deal is very close with a Pennsylvania farm to stand him in 2011.
We will not be at liberty to reveal what farm Smarty may be headed to until later this month, but suffice it to say it is a professional operation, and it welcomes the publicity and fan attention Smarty will bring along with him.
Stay tuned to this blog for more details as we are allowed to release them.
Last year, two farms that we know of actually made pitches to the powers that be at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, hoping to strike a deal. For whatever reason, those overtures were spurned, and Smarty stayed in the Bluegrass State, covering a book of 50-something mares at a $10,000 stud fee (the Report of Mares Bred for 2010 has yet to be released by The Jockey Club).
This year, Smarty’s owner, Pat Chapman, has expressed a desire to “bring him home,” and it appears a deal is very close with a Pennsylvania farm to stand him in 2011.
We will not be at liberty to reveal what farm Smarty may be headed to until later this month, but suffice it to say it is a professional operation, and it welcomes the publicity and fan attention Smarty will bring along with him.
Stay tuned to this blog for more details as we are allowed to release them.
Smarty Jones (right) lost the Belmont Stakes, and the Triple Crown, when he was upset by Birdstone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)