McIlroy, a 3-year-old colt by Hard Spun, was named after world class golfer Rory McIlroy who completed a career Grand Slam when he won the Masters at Augusta National on April 13. While his equine counterpart is just getting started for owners CHC Inc and WinStar Farm, the colt was impressive in a 2 1/2-length maiden win at Turfway Park on March 22.
Author Archives: Ruthie Bowen
TENMA Wins Santa Anita Oaks-G2, and Solidifies Ticket to Kentucky
TENMA confirmed her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks-G1 with a 2 ¼-length win in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita Parkon April 5th. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Juan Hernandez, Tenma settled just off the the early pace. As the field entered the turn, she moved up wide into third. The 3-year-old daughter of Nyquist wore down stablemate Silent Law in the stretch, and finished the 1 1/16-mile race in front. Racing for Baoma Corp, TENMA had won the Las Vergenes-G3 by 6 1/2 lengths in her previous start and 3year-old debut.
SUNDAY SILENCE Honored With 2025 Legend Of Bourbon County Award
1989 Horse of the Year Sunday Silence (Halo) has been named the 2025 Legend of Bourbon County. The award, given by the Legends of Bourbon County Thoroughbred Fund, will be part of the annual festival held October 11 and 12 in Paris, Kentucky. The festival features live entertainment, educational events and farm tours.
QUIETSIDE Owner John Ed Anothony Profiled in Paulick Report
The racing success of owner John Ed Anthony was featured in the Paulick Report this week. The profile touches Fantasy S.-G2 winner and Kentucky Oaks-G1 bound QUIETSIDE, but also chronicles Anthony’s 50- plus year career as a Thoroughbred owner.
Shortleaf Stable’s QUIETSIDE Wins Fantasy Stakes-G2 and Confirms Kentucky Oaks-G1 Status
QUIETSIDE stamped her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks with a determined win in the $750,000 Fantasy STakes-G2 at Oaklawn Park on March 29. The 3-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon defeated previously unbeaten Simply Joking by three-quarters of a length after a prolonged stretch duel. Winner of the Honeybee S.-G3 last time out, QUIETSIDE was already a probable starter for the Oaks, but she cemented her status by earning 100 additional points in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series.
Augustin / Stone Farm EXACTA in Santa Anita’s China Doll Stakes
Three-year-old fillies WILL THEN (pictured left) and AMORITA finished first and second respectively in Santa Anita’s Listed China Doll Stakes on March 23. The mile-long race on the turf was a “family” affair of sorts… Winner WILL THEN is a homebred racing for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables, and runner-up AMORITA races for Augustin in partnership with her breeder Stone Farm.
Paulick Report Interviews Arthur Hancock on Recently Pulished Autobiography
Ray Paulick, publisher of the Paulick Report, interviewed Arthur Hancock last week about his recently published autobiography “Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption.” Topics up for discussion run the gamut from Ricky Nelson’s song “Garden Party” to Hancock’s departure from Claiborne Farm to the stallion career of Kentucky Derby-G1 and Breeeders’ Cup Classic-G1 winner Sunday Silence.
Two-Year-Old JENKIN Earns Stakes Winner Status
In the final days of 2024, Stone Farm raised JENKIN won Oaklawn’s $175,000 Year’s End Stakes on December 29. The race was the first stakes attempt for the juvenile daughter of Mineshaft, and she ended the season with a three-quarter length win in the one mile race. JENKIN was coming off a maiden special win on December 6 also at Oaklawn, which marked the fiilly’s two-turn debut.
Consecutive Grade 1 Wins for SHE FEELS PRETTY
Stone Farm raised and sold SHE FEELS PRETTY posted a comfortable 2 1/2-length win in the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks-G1 at Santa Anita on December 26. The victory marked her second consecutive Grade 1 win, and her impressive performance cemented everyone’s suspicions about her immense talent.
Another Augustin Homebred Wins Graded Stakes at Del Mar
Just days after MRS. ASTOR posted her first graded stakes win in the Red Carpet S.-kG2 at Del Mar, another Augustin Stables homebred won a Del Mar feature race when TRULY QUALITY posted a determined win the Hollywood Turf Cup-G2. Both horses were bred in the name of George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable and both were raised at Stone Farm.