Sirius Pursuit Runs Her First Breeze

Our newly named daughter of Horse of the Year Knicks Go had her first opportunity to put in a work at GoldMark in Florida, and we have to say we were extremely impressed with the effort.

She clicked out a quarter mile (2F) in 23.57!

Her trainer's (Jena Antonucci) business partner and farm manager commented: "Speedy, but really did it with ease and just has a big, pretty stride."

She looked incredibly good in the video we were sent. Our just turned 2YO has impressed all the way around. Here's to great starts!

Blue Devil Update

Blue Devil has moved to Sam Houston to prepare for a next start. He breezed yesterday morning (inside in the video), but it looks like works for the day were never published. We hope to get him back in the entries in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Seeking A Star 23 has been Named!

 The naming selection process is complete and Seeking A Star 23 will now be registered as:

Sirius Pursuit

It was a difficult choice with many excellent name suggestions submitted for this very first foal of Knicks Go, but we're very happy with the results of this solid name for our lovely young filly.  

As with all name changes, this sites' posts, pages and tabs will all be updated in the coming days to reflect her permanent name.

Catalyst - Race Entry and Update

Catalyst makes her turf debut in Saturday’s 5th race at Sam Houston, a 1 mile maiden special weight event. She’ll be #3 among a field of 10 plus one main-track-only entrant, and has been quoted at odds of 3-1 on the morning line. Post time is 3:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM MT. This is the first time she will compete at this track. Stewart Elliott, who has often got the mount on Fireball Birdie, is in the irons for this race.

Catalyst recently breezed :51.80 at Louisiana Downs on Saturday and definitely fits with this group on figures. She should appreciate the class relief. 

The turf surface is a question mark, but there’s reason to believe she’ll take to it. Physically, she’s a lighter-framed horse should appreciate the grass. On pedigree, her dam—who turned out to be a much better producer than runner—switched to the grass at the end of her career and ran some of her best races, hitting the board in all four turf tries. Most of Catalyst’s siblings have excelled on dirt, but Dolder Grand—an $800K 3/4-brother, was G1SP on turf and also did well on synthetic.

Review of other entrants:

#1 Magnolia Princess - Oklahoma-bred showed nothing in dirt sprint debut. Some turf in pedigree but not enough to bank on a dramatic turnaround.

#2 Global Allure (MTO) - Forecast looks pretty dry as of now. Interesting that she’s an MTO as her best prior race for previous connections was on the turf.

[#3 Catalyst]

#4 Wandering Kirby - Favored on the morning line at 9-5 due to a debut third in New York while trained by Chad Brown. Changed hands after RNA’ing for $47K in November and was distanced on the dirt for new connections at Oaklawn. Wouldn’t be banking on turf turning things around that drastically.

#5 Legacy Defined - Well-bred filly showed speed and filled out the trifecta in a similar spot last time. Logical and looks loose on the lead.

#6 Airo Dinero - Beaten a head on the grass in July. Needs to get faster, but she’s more mature now and will appreciate the return to turf. Live longshot.

#7 Over Doer - Hasn’t shown much in two dirt sprints with more than a year gap in between them. Turf doesn’t look like the answer on paper, though this barn does win a lot locally.

#8 Ziah Y G - $1400 yearlings two prior performances in maiden claimers leave much to be desired.

#9 Sugarcoat - Finished one slot ahead of Legacy Defined last out after stalking and putting in a wide bid. Makes plenty of sense.

#10 Royal Subject - Has done no running at all in three prior tries, with the last one having come for a $20K claiming tag.

#11 Tiz a Knockout - 19-time maiden was fifth last time in the race Legacy Defined and Sugarcoat also come out of. No looking like 20’s going to be a magic number.

More on Community Adjusted

More info on Community Adjusted, the mare in the Seize The Grey broodmare band that just foaled a lovely filly:

 "Community Adjusted (Summer Front), I/F to Quality Road - This big, beautiful mare might just be the one who could give Seize the Grey a Classic-type horse. She was a consistent runner who broke her maiden going 10 furlongs on the grass and was stakes-placed over nine panels. She displayed plenty of durability as well, racing from ages two to six. 

A huge draw for this mare is the cover–she’s in foal to one of the top stallions in America in Quality Road, who commanded a $200K stud fee this past breeding season when her foal was conceived. Quality Road has sired $425K and $375K weanlings during this year’s breeding stock sales, and he had yearlings bred on a version of the same cross that Community Adjusted’s foal will be bred on fetch $750K, $550K and $485K during the 2024 yearling sales season. The mating with Quality Road yields an A+ Nick rating." 

So that's our new filly born on January 21st! Community Adjusted should hopefully be bred to Seize The Grey for an early 2026 foal. 

Fireball Birdie Update

Fireball Birdie received a little bit of a break following his last race due to the frozen track and frigid conditions much of the South has experienced these past two weeks. Your son of Uncle Mo returned to training yesterday, jogging over the track at Oaklawn’s Ten Mile Creek Training Center. 

Though trainer Steve Asmussen has yet to set a concrete target race, the $35,000 non-winners-of-three condition has been written in Oaklawn’s new book for Feb. 14 and Mar. 8, so we expect his next start to come in either of those two spots depending on when the barn feels he is ready to go again.

Seize The Grey's Stallion Video Ad

So glad I can finally share Seize The Grey's wonderful ad that the great people at Gainesway did to help launch his stallion career. Love how they captured his career highlights and accentuated his strengths so beautifully. 

What a great ad to launch him on his first year at stud. 

Nakoma Update

Nakoma galloped "energetically" this morning at Gulfstream Park. She was originally scheduled to breeze this morning, but spiked a fever yesterday. She was fine today--clearly feeling well enough to gallop--and should breeze back some time this coming week.

Vekoma sired the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner on Thursday. That colt was also an OBS grad last year and cost very similar money to Nakoma.

We've Acquired a Broodmare Band for Seize The Grey!

MRH contacted us with a very special offering of four broodmares -- all currently in foal -- to be bred back to Seize The Grey this spring. Of the four, the plan is to retain at least one of the foals by Seize The Grey to race. These foals will be born in 2026 and will become 2YOs in "Ceasar's" first crop in 2028!

Here's a brief introduction to each of the four. (Actually, we're introducing five, as you'll see.)

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Community Adjusted

Community Adjusted is a daughter of Summer Front (by War Front out of an El Prado(IRE) mare). Summer Front was a multiple graded stakes winner and multiple G1 placed, and earned $1,077,140 in his eight career wins. He was trained by Christophe Clemente. Her dam is Rimini Road by Dynaformer out of a Devil's Bag mare, Evangelical. She was bred by Brereton C. Jones of Airdrie Stud (and former governor of Kentucky) who was also the breeder of Coexist. Community Adjusted herself earned over $222k on the track with three wins. Her highest E-speed figure was 101.

Community Adjusted delivered a Quality Road foal, a filly, just before midnight on January 21st at Chanteclair Farm. It’s been absolutely frigid in the Lexington area, and the temperature was near the 0-degree mark when the filly was born, but both mom and baby are doing great. The farm reports that the filly is good size for a first foal and has plenty of leg. We can’t wait to watch her grow up!

Since purchasing Community Adjusted at the Keeneland November sale, Quality Road—the top sire whose foal Community Adjusted is currently carrying—sired a pair of graded stakes winners in late November and was recently represented by the winner of a strong Santa Anita opening day 2-year-old maiden special weight for the powerful “Avengers” ownership group. That graduate, Madaket Road, was second in the G3 Bob Hope on debut.

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Joke Sisi(CHI)

She's sired by Practical Joke out of Lucky Sisi (CHI), by Lookin At Lucky. Joke Sisi had 6 wins and was on the board in 12 of 16 starts, earning $193k +. She has multiple graded stakes wins -- including Grade 1 wins -- in Chile and was reported to be a Chilean champion (we're researching). She had 6 starts in Chile with 5 wins and one 2nd place! Racing in the US she had a win at Churchill Downs, and multiple placings at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Colonial, and Laurel Park.

Joke Sisi is in foal to Arcangelo! (The 2023 Belmont and Travers winner by Arrogate). Her foal will be in his first crop and is expected in early March.

The mare’s sire, Practical Joke, was represented recently by two other Chilean-bred standouts who have taken their talents to the U.S. Mufasa annexed the G3 Mr. Prospector S. Dec. 28 at Gulfstream, while Richi scored in the G3 Las Flores Jan. 4. Romanesque, also by Practical Joke, was second in the G2 San Vicente on that same Jan. 4 card at Santa Anita. Practical Joke was also represented by a pair of 2-year-old filly stakes winners at Fair Grounds Dec. 21, and a new ‘TDN Rising Star’ a week later in New York.

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Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty’s sire Blame has had two new stakes winners and three additional stakes-placed runners as a broodmare sire since the November sales—three of which were juveniles. 

Violence, meanwhile—her covering sire—sired a new ‘TDN Rising Star’ in 12 1/4-length Aqueduct optional claiming winner Sand Devil.

Natural Beauty is living at Gainesway Farm and is expected to deliver her first foal around early March.

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Tiffany's Mo

Tiffany’s Mo’s sire, Uncle Mo, sadly passed away recently, which will of course impact the future supply of mares by the emerging broodmare super sire. Uncle Mo mares recently represented by stakes standouts include G2 Los Alamitos Futurity winner Journalism on December 14th and Ginger Brew Stakes winner Nitrogen—already Grade 1-placed--on January 4th.

Tiffany Mo's dam is Cruelmore by Forestry (Storm Cat x Shared Interest by Pleasant Colony) out of  Intensify (Unbridled's Song x Her She Shawklit by Air Forbes Won). She is at Gainesway Farm and is expected to foal around early March.

Tiffany’s Mo is living at Gainesway Farm and is expected to deliver her first foal around early March.

Fancy Quality Entered for January 25th

Fancy Quality has been entered to run Saturday Jan. 25 at Fair Grounds. She’ll be the #9 in race 7, a maiden special weight event going 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. 

There is no precipitation in the forecast for New Orleans next weekend—fingers crossed it remains that way so we will not have to worry about another off-the-turf event. 

Best wishes for a safe and productive race to our daughter of Wootton Bassett this week.

FOLLOW UP: The race came off the turf due to weather, and Fancy Quality was scratched. Hopefully she'll be pointed to another race with better weather conditions soon.

Seeking A Star 23 Breeze Report

Our Knicks Go filly had her first unofficial breeze this morning in Ocala. The just-turned-2YO was clocked in :12.40 for the furlong work and galloped out the quarter-mile in :26.57. Although we don't focus too much on times for works at farms as track speeds can vary greatly--that was a solid time for the GoldMark training track. 

The team was very pleased with the move, noting that the filly did it well within herself and was very game.

Great start, girl. (We're working on the process to come up with a registered name for her soon.)

Seismic Beauty Update

Seismic Beauty transitioned to Santa Anita Park last week and is doing well despite not breezing back this past Sunday. Trainer Bob Baffert is giving her time to acclimate to the Santa Anita surface again and we expect to see her breeze later this week.

Here's The Kicker Update

The extra for Here’s the Kicker failed to fill for next Sunday and did NOT return on the overnight for Wednesday, Jan. 29. 

We’ll keep our eye out for any new extras on the coming overnights, but we will likely have to wait for the next condition book option on Feb. 16 going seven furlongs on the dirt. 

Caldera Shows Huge Promise in his 3rd Start!

Caldera had his third start at Oaklawn today, and it couldn't have gone any better. He went straight to the front, held off one challenger heading into the turn and cruised home to a 5-1/2 length win under a hand ride by Rafael Bejerano. What a dream outcome! 

This was over a mile and a sixteenth and against 3YOs and older horses, to boot. A nice contingent of partners were on hand to watch the race and ring the famous Oaklawn bell in the Winner's Circle. He was given an E-speed figure of 96, and I believe an 82 Beyer.

We'll see how he comes out of the race, and where The Coach (D. Wayne Lukas) decides to point him next. 

Seeking A Star '23 - First Update

This one's so new we haven't even added her page yet, but Seeking A Star '23 is a daughter of superhorse Knicks Go out of Seeking A Star by Pioneerof the Nile. She just turned 2. We'll try to get her page with more info up soon. The partnership has also just started the process of selecting a name for her, so she won't be going by the "Seeking a Star '23" tag for long!

This girl is literally the first foal sired by Horse of the Year Knicks Go. Here's an article about it from Bloodhorse:  

First Foal a Filly for 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go

Here's the first report on her progress:

Sailing has remained smooth for Seeking a Star '23, and she's already up to galloping two laps at GoldMark Farm all by herself. The team was very pleased with how professional she was going on her own without company--that's not always the case with a youngster at this stage of their training. Your filly should have a first breeze in the next couple of weeks.

Nakoma Work Out Info

Nakoma (3-Year-Old Filly)

Your comments for this horse were: Vekoma out of Rylee's Song

Date: January 15, 2025
Track: GULFSTREAM PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:98 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt

Rank: 10/19 

Catalyst Move and Update

Catalyst has moved to Louisiana Downs for the time being as we wait for a next race for her, and she breezed this morning there (outside), but it looks like the clockers missed it.

The nice thing about Louisiana Downs is that it’s positioned in between Sam Houston, Oaklawn Park and Fair Grounds, so we can keep an eye on races at all three venues and have more options for entries. Our preference is still probably Sam Houston, but in the current condition book the one logical spot is on the grass (1 1/16 miles on Jan. 25). 

A surface switch might be worth a shot (plus there’s always a chance for an off-the-turfer), so for now we’ll keep that race in mind and also consider options at the other two nearby tracks (there’s a turf route at Fair Grounds, also on Jan. 25; and a dirt route MSW one day later at Oaklawn). Catalyst's pedigree skews mostly towards dirt, but one 3/4-brother was G1SP on the lawn.

Fancy Quality Workout Report

Fancy Quality returned to the work tab on Sunday morning, covering a half mile in :50.80 at the Fair Grounds. This work was delayed a few days due to the weather and track conditions. No workouts were permitted on Friday, Jan. 10, and track conditions were still listed as good on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The newest condition book was recently released, and we have a new race target on Jan. 25. The maiden special weight will be for fillies and mares three years old and upward and will be contested over a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf. There is plenty of rain in the forecast next week, but the 14-day weather report looks positive for her race.

Seismic Beauty Work Report

Seismic Beauty worked another nice half-mile this morning at Los Alamitos, this one in :49.80 by herself and without much encouragement. She was clocked in 1:02 1/5 for the five-furlong gallop out. Her breeze next week should come at five furlongs as she progresses towards a return to the races.

Seismic Beauty (4-Year-Old Filly)

Date: January 12, 2025
Track: LOS ALAMITOS
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:80 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 10/15

Here's The Kicker Back on the Work Tab After Illness

Here’s the Kicker returned to the work tab at Palm Meadows training center on Friday morning. Coming off a brief illness, she only went a solo three-eighths in :37.85 for her first work back, but she should pick things up fairly quickly from here.

Munny Problem Back from Break - Status

We got some fresh Munny Problem content today with commentary from Wavertree’s Ciaran Dunne. Our colt is doing well and picking things back up after the standard easy period that most horses in Ocala get around the holidays.

Ciaran did note that Munny Problem had a bit of a splint flare up (localized swelling on the lateral or medial aspect of the metacarpals or metatarsals—a very common issue in young horses at this stage of their development and rarely a long-term concern), but it didn’t really impact his training schedule as it timed out well with the holiday break.

At this stage, it appears Munny Problem should have no trouble picking up the pace on schedule and eventually starting to do some speed work. He looks to be carrying some good muscle at the moment and we’re happy with his development.

From MRH's Year End Summary

MRH had a lot to say about what a wonderful year 2024 was, with commentary on some of their top horses including Straight No Chaser, Rosie's Alibi, and of course, their first 100% MRH owned classic champion, SEIZE THE GREY!

Here's an excerpt that focused on our boy's achievements:

Another incredible 2024 moment for the MyRacehorse stable was Seize the Grey's glorious Preakness victory! Our son of Arrogate quite simply had a whirlwind year. Leading up to the Preakness, Seize the Grey had been just outside of the conversation for the Triple Crown. Although putting in good effort in the Jeff Ruby, Seize the Grey opted for the G2 Pat Day Mile instead of being an also-eligible for the Kentucky Derby. He won the Pat Day Mile rather impressively, but it was not enough to gain much attention on his own merit heading into the Preakness. He would make everyone regret not paying much attention to him though.

"Coach" D. Wayne Lukas had always been high on our son of Arrogate. On May 18th, Seize the Grey proved that he was absolutely deserving of the Coach's continual high praise when he romped home to a 2 1/4 length victory over Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan. With this win, not only was D. Wayne Lukas officially the oldest trainer to ever win the Preakness Stakes, but Seize the Grey himself made history as the first ever fully-crowdfunded horse to win a triple crown race- truly the people's horse taking back the sport of kings! But the Seize the Grey story didn't stop there...

Thanks to his flashy victories in the G2 Pat Day Mile and of course the G1 Preakness Stakes, Seize the Grey captured the interest of many of the elite stallion farms in Kentucky, including historic Gainesway Farm. Gainesway's role in the American Thoroughbred can't be ignored. Housed on the old C.V Whitney Farm, Gainesway stood legendary sires such as Lyphard, Blushing Groom, Vaguely Noble, among many others.

Seize the Grey is one of two sons of Arrogate at stud and a very attractive option for many breeders due to being out of an exceptional Smart Strike mare, his racy physical, and his durability. Even though he hasn't begun his first season at stud, Seize the Grey is already well on his way to filling his book up. Seize the Grey's owners have retained 10% of his ownership and we couldn't be more excited for them to embark on this journey of owning one of the hottest new stallions of the year!

Horses That Left our Stable in 2024

Adaay in Asia - claimed

Our talented import never faired well on our eastern tracks (Keeneland, Aqueduct, etc.) and was later sent West, where she didn't improve at Santa Anita or Del Mar. She was claimed out of a race, but has since been sent to Tampa Bay Downs where she has scored a 1st and a close 2nd in consecutive races in 2024.

English Jubilee - claimed

Our daughter of English Channel out of a Kitten's Joy mare never seemed to be able to put a solid race together until she won a claiming race at Woodbine on Halloween night and was claimed. She had eight starts with one 1st, one 2nd, and one 3rd and $34,000+ in earnings. In her only stakes entry, the Cup and Saucer at Woodbine, she ran 4th. She has not worked or run back since being claimed, but may have been sent south for the winter, as she was by us the previous year.

Guinevere - sold at Keeneland November / race or broodmare 

Our stunning daughter of Justify only had 5 starts, but won both of her starts on the dirt, and came in 3rd on the tapeta at Turfway Park in her debut. Purchased as a possibly top turf contender, she finished her only two races on turf dead last. She was put through the Keeneland November sale as a racing or broodmare prospect in early November and brought $90,000, purchased by one of the participating partners. She has since been entered into a race at Mahoning Valley, possibly pending her broodmare career in the spring. 

Lady Blitz - retired / sport horse or broodmare project

After showing a ton of talent and ramping up the hopes of many of her owners early on, and finishing 3rd in her debut at Saratoga with Irad Ortiz in the irons, Lady Blitz could never seem to put together a career. She was sent back to Wavertree Farm to retrain in early 2024, and during the process a flap issue was found in her throat. After two unsuccessful surgeries she was retired and sent back to her consignor as a broodmare or sport horse project. 

Lane Way - retired / at Old Friends in Kentucky

After a wonderful career where our son of Into Mischief frequently won or placed in graded stakes, set a new track record on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita, and finished 2023 as 1st alternate to the Breeders Cup Sprint, a decision was made to retire him at age 7. He was sent to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Kentucky in late Fall, where he can now rub elbows with other famous retired horses such as Silver Charm, Big Brown and Cozmic One.  

Legitify - claimed, has raced

Our chestnut son of Justify was claimed on May 24th. Legitify continued his career in shorter sprint races at Los Alamitos and got a win by 2-2/3 lengths at Santa Anita on October 5, 2024 going one mile on dirt. He ran back on 11/22 in a 1 mile claiming race at Del Mar, ran 7th and was subsequently claimed again. He has not run back since the end of November. 

Magical Ways - claimed and has been racing

Our son of Maclean's Music, Magical Ways, continued his career after being claimed in 2023 at Aqueduct, and has registered some wins and strong performances increasing his current bankroll to $262,000+ with 5 wins, 3 2nds and 4 3rds from 24 lifetime starts. His last two Equibase speed figures at Aqueduct were 104 for 3rd and 108 for 2nd!

Mo Temptation - retired / broodmare in California 

Our promising daughter of Mo Town was retired from racing on May 19th with only one race under her belt. Frequent setbacks led to the decision to retire her from racing in her best interest. She'll be a broodmare in California, with a date with a talented California stallion, Brickyard. 

Pioneer Prince - claimed, has raced

Our gelded son of Pioneerof the Nile was claimed in August by top trainer, Doug O'Neill. He ran back on August 17th with a win, and on September 1, where he finished 7th. 

Straight to Glory - retired / hunter/jumper in Texas

Our son of top UK freshman sire Cotai Glory struggled with a series of setbacks including bulking up which led to the decision to geld him in an attempt to reduce stress due to weight on his joints but he never made it to a debut. As part of the Royal Duet with Guinevere, they were simultaneously retired on October 29th. Straight to Glory has found a home with a young equestrian in Texas who will train him as a hunter/jumper.  

2024 Year In Review - Seize The Grey and MRH

Seize The Grey and MRH are two of the subjects of this article summing up 2024.

ABRS Year In Review: Memorable Stories of 2024

What a fantastic year in racing it was for us!

Munny Problem Update

Newly named MUNNY PROBLEM continues to train well at Wavertree Stables, where he is expected to have his first breeze sometime towards the end of January. 

His sire Munnings had two impressive juvenile stakes winners in December— Poster was victorious in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes and Muhimma won the Grade 2 Demoiselle. Both of these two-year-olds by Munnings are undefeated and poised for exciting campaigns in 2025.