Category Archives: Racing

SHE FEELS PRETTY, winner of the E. P. Taylor Stakes-G1 at Woodbine on August 16, has put together a string of seven impressive races.  In consecutive order, she won the  Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup-G1 at Keeneland last October, the American Oaks-G1 at Santa Anita in December, the Modesty S-G3 at Churchill Downs in May, the New York S.-G1 at Belmont at Saratoga in June, was runner-up in the Diana S.-G1 at Saratoga in July, then won the E. P. Taylor S.-G1 at Woodbline last weekend.

A mural celebrating Horse-of-the-Year SUNDAY SILENCE will soon be visible on Main Street in downtown Paris, Kentucky.  The artwork will depict SUNDAY SILENCE’s win the 1989 Kentucky Derby and will be produced by the artist Jaime Corum. A project of the Legends of Bourbon County non-profit organization, in conjunction with Stone Farm, the mural will joining other large scale equine art pieces, including murals of Secretariat and Curlin also created by Corum.  

Arthur Hancock’s recently published “Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption” is a finalist for the 19th Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The award was established by businessman and philanthropist Dr. Tony Ryan in 2006 as the Castleton Lyons/Thoroughbred Times award.  Dr. Ryan passed away a year later, and his son Shane changed the name of the award to honor his father and has continued to carry on the tradition.

COMPORT earned his first black-type win in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes on Aug. 10.  Sent off the heavy favorite in the seven-furlong race, COMPORT ran just off the pace, challenged the leader in the turn, then pulled away to win by a comfortable two lengths. A debut winner also at Ellis, COMPORT placed in the Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs in June in his previous start.

Eclipse Award-winning writer Jay Hovdey interviewed Arthur Hancock about the optimistic outlook surrounding horse racing in his recap of The Saratoga Sale for BloodHorse.  The article also highlighted the two outstanding individuals sold at that sale in the Stone Farm consignment.

The top-priced colt on the first day of the recently concluded Saratoga Sale was a son of Champion Gun Runner and was raised and sold by Stone Farm for breeder Bobby Flay.  The colt brought a final bid of $2.7 million and was purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds, who also raced his sire.

LITIGATION broke his maiden going 5 1/2-furlongs on the dirt by 3 1/2 lengths in late at Churchill Downs.  He came back to win an allowance race Ellis Park by the same margin after an awkward start, then on Aug. 4 posted his third Straight win coming from off the pace to take the win at the wire by a nose.  His time for the 5 1/5 furlongs was 1.26, three-fifths off the track record.

Arthur Hancock III was inducted  as a Pillar of the Turf into the The National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY, on Friday, August 1st.  The Pillar of the Turf catagory was established in 2013 to recognize non-athletes in Racing’s Hall of Fame to honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Thoroughbred racing. To be considered candidates must be deemed to have represented the sport with indisputable standards of integrity and commitment, through breeding, ownership, innovation, philanthropy, promotion or education.

One day after DONEGAL MOMENTUN won the $300,000 Poker S.-g3 by daylight (see previous post for details), Pin Oak Stud’s PARCHMENT PARTY scored a definitive victory in the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup S.  Two races later,  Lael Stables’ SHE FEELS PRETTY dug in for a win in the $75,000 New York S.-G1, and ALL three stakes winners were foaled and raised at Stone Farm.   

Trainer Todd Pletcher admitted he had been looking forward to seeing how 3-year-old CRUDO performed when he had a two-turn opportunity, and the son Justify demonstrated that he was completely comfortable.  CRUDO finished fourth in his February debut at Gulfstream after a troubled trip, then came back at Keeneland to win a seven-furlong maiden special by 7 1/4 lengths. Jumped into stakes company in the Sir Barton S. on the Preakness undercard, CRUDO broke alertly to take then lead, maintained that advantage throughout the 1 1/16th-mile race, then drew away in the stretch to win by 7 1/2 lengths.