Market correction

          After a long hiatus, we’re back with another installment of Pennsylvania Thoroughbred.  The reason for the hiatus is fairly simple – I’ve been busy juggling several jobs, which now includes spending each weekend morning at Parx Racing with my husband, doing stalls and barn chores.
          This morning, we sat in the Parx backstretch kitchen and had breakfast while talking with the track’s all-time leading rider, Tony Black.  Black, who still gets on some horses in the morning but has geared down his afternoon riding assignments, was discussing the oversaturation of racing in the mid-Atlantic region, particularly at this time of year, when Monmouth Park, Delaware Park and Parx Racing are all running against one another.
          “Just like the stock market is going through a correction, you’re going to see a correction in the number of live racing dates,” predicted Black.  He cited the declining foal crop as a catalyst for tracks to reduce the number of days they run, and even forecast an end to the year-round racing calendar in Pennsylvania.
          While the Report of Mares Bred won’t be published by The Jockey Club until late October, it’s almost certain to reflect a decrease in the amount of mares bred to Pennsylvania stallions.  From just a rough estimate garnered from talking with stallion owners and managers, this breeding season has been even more difficult than last year, when by all accounts we were still in the teeth of the economic recession.
          That recession has driven many owners to sell – or is many instances, give away – their mares, with many more deciding not to breed this year.  When the ROM is issued, it most likely will reflect that less than 10 stallions in Pennsylvania got books of 40 or more mares.
          Fast forwarding to 2014, when the foals from this year’s breeding season are 2-year-olds, the shrinking horse population will force racetrack owners and horsemen’s groups to come to an agreement about scheduling fewer race dates in order to keep offering a product that horseplayers want to bet on.  It’s no secret that a nine-race card filled with short fields is the most unappetizing of handicapping fare. 
           Back in the mid-1990’s, when Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, N. J. was still open, its management chose to run head-to-head against Philadelphia Park, which was located about 16 miles away.  Granted, Garden State ran during the night, while Philly ran during the day, but they both cannibalized each other’s fan base and horse population to the point where Garden State succumbed to staggering decreases in both attendance and handle. 

The beautiful - and now demolished - Garden State Park

         
Only time will tell whether Black’s prediction will come true, but it does seem the mid-Atlantic region is due for a dates correction, else have one or more tracks suffer the same fate as now-defunct Garden State Park.  

Some Pennsylvania-breds on the Derby trail

On the eve of a plethora of important Kentucky Derby prep races, we thought we'd point out a couple of Pennsylvania-breds who are trying to earn enough graded stakes money to compete at Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May.

At Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., A D K Racing's Anthony's Cross will try and make it two in a row in the Gr. 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby.  The son of Indian Charlie-Screening, by Unbridled, bred by George Strawbridge, Jr., captured the Gr. 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita on February 12.

A Santa Anita Derby victory would have an even bigger impact for Anthony's Cross beyond gaining entry to the Kentucky Derby field.  Should he win tomorrow, and then go on to capture the Preakness Stakes on May 21, he would earn a $5.5 million bonus.  Dubbed the Preakness 5.5, and created last year by MI Developments (then-owners of the Maryland Jockey Club) the bonus will be awarded to any horse who can sweep a series of races and the Preakness, of which the Robert B. Lewis and Santa Anita Derby are part of.

Anthony's Cross (right), winning the Robert B. Lewis. Photo: EquiSport Photos/Alex Evers

Anthony's Cross was foaled at Bettina Jenney's Derry Meeting Farm in Cochranville, Pa., and was one of relatively few horses ever offered at auction by Strawbridge, who by and large keeps all his homebreds to race under his Augustin Stable banner.  Consigned by Derry Meeting Farm, agent, to the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August select yearling sale, the colt was purchased for $300,000 by Arianne DeKwiatkowski, the daughter of the late Henryk DeKwiatkowski, who owned the famed Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.

Screening, the dam of Anthony's Cross, was unraced, but hails from one of Strawbridge's blacktype-rich female families.  Her dam, Recording (by Danzig), won the Sands Point Stakes (Gr. 3); she has produced graded stakes winner Smart Bid (by Smart Strike) for Strawbridge, and he recently captured the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (Gr. 2) at Fair Grounds under the guidance of trainer H. Graham Motion.  Recording is also the dam of French stakes winner Representing (by Rahy) and the stakes winner Deal Making (by Empire Maker), who won the Stanton Stakes at Delaware Park and was third in the Gr. 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes.

The third dam of Anthony's Cross, Ratings, was also a graded stakes winner for Strawbridge, winning the Gr. 2 Diana Handicap and the Gr. 3 Sheepshead Bay Handicap, and placing in the Gr. 1 Flower Bowl Invitational.  Strawbridge also bred his fourth dam, the T.V. Commercial mare T. V. Ad.

Screening's first foal, Fugitive Angel (by Alphabet Soup), has turned out to be quite a nice racehorse for Strawbridge and trainer Jonathan Sheppard.  Last season, she won three times, all stakes: the Pin Oak Valley View Stakes at Keeneland (Gr. 3), and the restricted Malvern Rose and Russian Rhythm Stakes.  Screening has a 2-year-old filly by Harlan's Holiday named Holiday Fashion, and a yearling filly by Posse.

Anthony's Cross has won twice from six starts, and earned $195,020. He's trained by Eoin Harty and will be ridden tomorrow by Joel Rosario, and is rated at 4-1 in the morning line.

Across the country, the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in New York features Norman Asbjornson, a son of Real Quiet-Merryland Missy, by Citidancer, bred in the Keystone State by Thomas McClay, Harry Nye and Horseshoe Valley Equine.  "Norman" broke his maiden at Penn National on December 8, and in his most recent start on March 5 was second in the Gr. 3 Gotham Stakes behind highly regarded Stay Thirsty.

Norman Asbjornson will face a stiff test in the Wood, however, as he faces the mighty Uncle Mo, last year's 2-year-old champion and considered the Derby favorite.  "Norman" is trained by Chris Grove and will be ridden by Julian Pimentel, and is tabbed a 15-1 chance.  Lifetime, from six starts, he's won twice and earned $117,200.

A "Fabulous" Spring

The last time Fabulous Strike was seen, he was finishing second in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park behind Kodiak Kowboy, on October 3, 2009.  Since then, the millionaire son of Smart Strike has been on the shelf, recuperating from what many thought was a career-ending injury to a ligament in his left front pastern, at trainer Todd Beattie's base at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa.


Fabulous Strike, an 8-year-old Pennsylvania-bred gelding, was foaled at Barbara and Ron Rickline's Xanthus Farms in Gettysburg, and was bred by the Tea Party Stable of Walter Downey.  In five seasons of racing, he has proven to be one of the best sprinters in the country, capturing 12 stakes and more than $1.4 million in earnings, including the Gr. 1 Vosburgh Handicap in 2007, the Gr. 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga and the Gr. 2 True North Handicap at Belmont Park.

Fabulous Strike winning the 2009 True North Handicap at Belmont Park. Photo credit: NYRA.

Beattie said that Fabulous Strike had been undergoing stem-cell therapy at the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania the last year, and his return to the races, once thought to be a longshot, is now looming boldly on the horizon.


Since March, the gelding has worked at Penn National three times, including a five furlong move in :58.60, handily from the gate, on March 26 (the best move of 54 at the distance) and another five furlong work on April 2, achieved in 1:01, breezing, second-fastest of 20 that morning. 


And at long last, Fabulous Strike will make his return to the racing wars. Beattie entered him in a six furlong, $38,000 allowance at Penn National on April 9, in which he'll face five rivals. Dana Whitney has been named to ride.

A sad summer wind

I live in Philadelphia, race and breed Pennsylvania-breds, and write about the Pennsylvania thoroughbred industry, but deep down inside I’m a Jersey girl at heart.

I was born in the Garden State, and the first racetrack I ever attended was Monmouth Park in Oceanport, so it pains me to see this grand old matron of the seashore up for grabs to a variety of bidders, one of which will take over as lessee before the 2011 meet gets underway, reportedly on May 14, one week later than last year.

Although by law the track must run 141 dates in 2011, it is believed the lucky bidder will try and reduce that number to 80 dates, but it must be approved by the state’s horsemen.

This scenario has come about because N. J. Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to “get the state out of the horse racing business.” Currently, Monmouth and the Meadowlands in East Rutherford are owned and operated by the N. J. Sports & Exposition Authority.

Having covered Monmouth since 1994, I have no complaints as to how the NJSEA handled the racetrack. The plant was always clean and well-maintained; the employees who worked in media relations were always friendly, efficient and professional (John Heims, George Bernet and the late Steve Schwartz spring to mind), as were track management. Some of the best track managers I have ever dealt with were at Monmouth – Hal Handel, Bruce Garland and Bob Kulina, to name but a few.

Many young members of NJSEA’s management team have gone on to bigger and better things within the sport of racing, too – Jim Gagliano now heads The Jockey Club, while Chris McErlean is a vice president at Penn National Gaming, Inc., overseeing its stable of properties.

Call me pessimistic, but I have a sinking feeling that Monmouth Park’s best days are behind her. No matter who (or what) takes over the circa-1946 oval, brought to life by such familiar names as Amory L. Haskell, Philip H. Iselin, Reeve Schley, Joseph M. Roebling, Townsend B. Martin, John MacDonald and James Cox Brady, it may never again be the same.

The most cherished memories I have from my youth are from hot summer afternoons spent with my late grandfather, father and mother in the open, airy Monmouth grandstand, hearing the voice of the late announcer Bob Weems call the action and the roar of the crowd as the horses rounded the turn and headed into the homestretch. As a girl, my favorite horses weren’t always the stars – I loved Razzle Dazzle Rey, Owens Troupe, and Al Hattab – and liked jockeys Buck Thornburg, Rick Wilson and Chuck Baltazar. My father worshipped Julie Krone and John Forbes, who together made a formidable jockey-trainer duo back in the 1980’s. My mother picked horses on the basis of their pretty names, and was always horrified at the cost of the Daily Racing Form. My brother Greg, who lives in Toms River, once got a “hot tip” from an old man in the men’s room, and collected nearly $75 for his deuce wager, a memorable day, indeed!

Photo courtesy Equiphoto.com

As a turf writer, it was a dream come true to cover the Monmouth beat and make daily handicapping selections to boot, getting access to nooks and crannies in the grandstand and clubhouse that few $2 bettors ever see. Imagine, a horse-crazy girl like me from Bayonne, N. J. sharing the champagne toast with the winning connections of the Haskell Invitational on the Parterre level, or taking the elevator to the press box, where the greatest characters in the world worked, gambled, and kibitzed. The strains of Frank Sinatra singing “Summer Wind” after the last race always put a perfect exclamation point on the day.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, or so I’ve been told, but the imminent demise of the “golden age” of Monmouth Park – the new lessee is sure to want to cut services, employees, purses and overall quality - has filled me with a profound sadness, for it marks not only the end of an era, but also a wonderful part of my life.

An Elephant Never Forgets

We learned today of the death of David Monaci, 53, a former trainer at Philadelphia Park.  Monaci's obituary can be found here:  http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/app/obituary.aspx?n=david-monaci&pid=149399853

Monaci made a name for himself at the Bensalem oval, but not for all the right reasons.  Instead, the native of Plainfield, N.J. was tossed off the grounds in 1996 after it was found his horse, Accession, was drugged with Etorphine, also known as "elephant juice."  In very low doses, Etorphine acts as a central nervous stimulant.

If this wasn't bad enough, Monaci became embroiled in the case of the "missing split sample," which made headlines throughout the racing industry.  A package sent via FedEx to the Louisiana State University arrived empty; it was later determined that another trainer, Frank Geraci, apparently working with Monaci, was involved in a bribe to "switch a urine sample."

As a result, Monaci lost his trainer's license for many years, while Geraci pleaded no contest to the charges.

You can read all the details here: http://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/commonwealth-court/1998/monaci.html

And the winners are ...

The annual awards were handed out at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) yesterday, and here are the divisional winners:

2YO Colt or Gelding – RJG Racing Management’s Der Meister (trained by Murray Rojas)


2YO Filly – Edward Evans’ Dixie City (Anthony Dutrow)

3YO Colt or Gelding – Ellendale Racing’s Roadhog (Edward Allard)

3YO Filly – Tommy Ligon’s Come Sunday (John Servis)

Older Male – Richard Malouf’s Wink at the Girls (Scott Lake)

Older Female – William Hartwell’s Jemilyn (Ramon Preciado)

Claiming Horse of the Year – Jamie Guerrero’s Wild Geese (Carlos Guerrero)

Outstanding Claim of the Year – Richard Malouf’s Wink at the Girls (Scott Lake)

Winningest Horse – Richard Malouf’s Wink at the Girls (Scott Lake)

Apprentice Jockey – Rosario Montanez

Leading Jockey – Kendrick Carmouche (3rd consecutive title)

Leading Owner – Jack Armstrong (Phil Aristone & Robert Mosco)

Leading Trainer – Phil Aristone

“B” Division Trainer (top percentage with less than 150 starts) – Robert Reid Jr.

“B” Division Owner – Jamie Guerrero

Pennsylvania-bred champions for 2010 named

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, located in Kennett Square, Pa., has named its champions and leaders for 2010, based upon the unanimous recommendations of its Award Committee. They are:


2-YEAR-OLD MALE—RUSTLER HUSTLER

Ch.c., 2008, Ecton Park—Cozzy Temper, by Cozzene.

Bred by Mark Stanley

Winner of three of six starts in 2010, including a victory in the Continental Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park. He then came back to a one and three-quarter-length score in the Gnome’s Gold Stakes at Belmont Park. Rustler Hustler earned $174,470 in 2010, finishing off the board only once.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY—TWELVE PACK SHELLY

B.f., 2008, Deputy Storm—So Smashing, by Two Punch. Bred by Sycamore Hall Farm LLC

Twelve Pack Shelly began her season in early April with a track record-setting maiden score at Laurel Park. Three weeks later, facing boys for the second time, she finished a close third to Lou Brissie and Boys At Tosconova in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes-G3 at Churchill Downs. She counted stakes victories in the Colleen Stakes (over R Heat Lightning) at Monmouth and Miss Shenandoah Stakes at Charles Town, and was second in the Maryland Million Lassie. Twelve Pack Shelly won four of seven starts and earned $191,600.

3-YEAR-OLD MALE—ROADHOG

Ch.g., 2007, Bowman’s Band—Little Wing, by Allen’s Prospect. Bred by Ellendale Racing LLC

Roadhog won three of eight starts in 2010, all on the turf. He broke his maiden at Monmouth Park and went on to capture a Philadelphia Park allowance race, before capping the year off with a score in Philadelphia Park’s Alphabet Soup Handicap against older horses. He earned $160,894 in 2010.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY—FUGITIVE ANGEL

B.f., 2007, Alphabet Soup—Screening, by Unbridled. Bred by Augustin Stable

Fugitive Angel won four of her five starts in 2010. She swept her first four starts of the season, including the Russian Rhythm (at Penn National), Malvern Rose (Presque Isle) and Pin Oak Valley View Stakes-G3 (Keeneland), bankrolling $211,382.

OLDER MALE—MOON ROYAL

Ch.g., 2006, Mojave Moon—Elusive Crown, by Royal Academy. Bred by Max Pearson Stables LLC

Moon Royal had a very productive year, winning five of his 12 starts. Along with several allowance events, he took the Lyman Handicap at Philadelphia Park by four and a quarter lengths. Moon Royal earned $204,498 and brought his lifetime earnings to $264,198.

OLDER FEMALE and SPRINTER—

SWEET AUGUST MOON

Br.m., 2005, Malibu Moon—Silent Academy, by Royal Academy. Bred by Maple Leaf Farm

Sweet August Moon had a spectacular season in 2010, winning two graded stakes races in California and clinching two Pennsylvania-bred championships. She won the seven-furlong A Gleam Handicap-G2 at Hollywood Park and followed up with a hard-fought victory in the six and a half-furlong Rancho Bernardo Handicap-G3 at Del Mar. Sweet August Moon finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint-G1 and earned $224,294 during the season.

TURF HORSE—SAHPRESA

B.m., 2005, Sahm—Sorpresa, by Pleasant Tap. Bred by Douglas McIntyre

Sahpresa defended her 2009 title in this category with another noteworthy season. She started only five times during the year, but landed the Prix du Pin Stakes-G3 in France and repeated her 2009 victory in the Sun Chariot Stakes-G1 at Newmarket in England. She then shipped to Hong Kong, where she faced males in the Hong Kong Mile-G1 and finished third. Sahpresa earned $629,711 and became Pennsylvania’s latest millionaire, with a career total of $1,268,097.

STEEPLECHASE HORSE—NATIONBUILDER

Br.g., 2004, Came Home—Seattle Bay, by Opening Verse. Bred by Augustin Stable

Nationbuilder won two of five starts in 2010 – the $50,000 Queens Cup MPC Chase Hurdle Stakes in April at Charlotte and $100,000 Foxbrook Champion Hurdle Stakes in October at Far Hills – and was second in the AFLAC Supreme Hurdle at Pine Mountain. He earned $107,000, bringing his lifetime earnings to $276,066.

LEADING STALLION—BANKER’S GOLD

Banker’s Gold led all Pennsylvania stallions with $39,216 in stallion awards.

LEADING BREEDER AWARD RECIPIENT—SYLMAR FARM (MR. and MRS. RONALD HOUGHTON)

Sylmar Farm defended its 2009 title as the 2010 leading breeder award recipient. The Houghtons earned $153,852 from the Breeding Fund.

LEADING OVERALL BREEDER OF PENNSYLVANIA-BREDS—GEORGE STRAWBRIDGE JR. (AUGUSTIN STABLE)

George Strawbridge Jr.’s Augustin Stable again claimed this award, with $1,921,465 in earnings in North America and Europe. Augustin Stable was the breeder of 2010 Pennsylvania-bred champions Fugitive Angel and Nationbuilder.