HRN: Fiftyshadesofgold Carries the Hopes of Texas to Kentucky

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Fiftyshadesofgold Carries the Hopes of Texas to Kentucky

"Anyone living in the Lone Star State is familiar with the phrase “Everything is bigger in Texas.” Head down to the United States’ second largest state and you will realize that this statement is quite true. Time spent in Texas is exposure to big trucks, big ranches, and big temperatures. But the Texas horse racing industry does not quite fall into this category. Texas boasts the largest horse population of any state in the nation and the northern part of the state, particularly Denton County, is home to hundreds of the country’s top horse ranches, many of which are home to world champion horses in various disciplines. However, the Thoroughbred racing industry in Texas pales in comparison to states like California, Florida, Kentucky, and New York. Texas-breds receive little respect when they compete in such states and oftentimes, this lack of respect is unfortunately justified by poor performances by said Texas-breds. However, on one of racing’s biggest stages, the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs this Friday, Fiftyshadesofgold looks to make the Texas racing industry proud. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Fiftyshadesofgold Carries the Hopes of Texas to Kentucky

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Fiftyshadesofgold Carries the Hopes of Texas to Kentucky

"Anyone living in the Lone Star State is familiar with the phrase “Everything is bigger in Texas.” Head down to the United States’ second largest state and you will realize that this statement is quite true. Time spent in Texas is exposure to big trucks, big ranches, and big temperatures. But the Texas horse racing industry does not quite fall into this category. Texas boasts the largest horse population of any state in the nation and the northern part of the state, particularly Denton County, is home to hundreds of the country’s top horse ranches, many of which are home to world champion horses in various disciplines. However, the Thoroughbred racing industry in Texas pales in comparison to states like California, Florida, Kentucky, and New York. Texas-breds receive little respect when they compete in such states and oftentimes, this lack of respect is unfortunately justified by poor performances by said Texas-breds. However, on one of racing’s biggest stages, the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs this Friday, Fiftyshadesofgold looks to make the Texas racing industry proud. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

Horses of Lone Star Park

Lone Star Park was the first track I ever visited. New to the sport of horse racing when I first stood at the rail of the track, I relished the beauty of the Thoroughbreds before me. I’ve been around horses all my life, but these horses were different than the ones I was used to. These weren’t polished show horses, tough barrel racers, or loveable pets. These were fierce athletes whose energy was clearly visible as they pranced down the track in the post parade prior to dueling for victory down the lane at top speed.

At the time, I could only hope I would someday be able to touch my hand to the sleek coat of one of those fierce athletes, the fairytale-like beast that is the Thoroughbred racehorse. I hoped that someday the rail wouldn’t separate me from these enchanting animals. Now, I have stroked the coat of horses that have won races such as the Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Dubai World Cup. It’s safe to say that I’ve achieved the dream of touching a Thoroughbred racehorse.

Having attended three Breeders’ Cups and having visited some of the most renowned farms in Kentucky, I have seen some of the most elite Thoroughbred athletes the world has to offer. Being in their presence is incomparable, but it’s not only the champions that bring a smile to my face. Some of my favorite racehorses are claimers, horses that have never been heard of, and horses whose greatest success has come in races whose names are far from as well-known as the Kentucky Derby. And, in large part, I have Lone Star Park to thank for that.

Lone Star Park
Photo by Terri Cage

In the many trips I have made to Lone Star Park, I have had the ability to meet some special Thoroughbreds. Sure, these horses aren’t grade one-winning millionaires, but they are horses that love their job and give it their all each time they head to post. These are the horses that I am blessed to know.

Featured below are six horses I was blessed to meet at the 2013 Lone Star Park Thoroughbred meet. This blog is very similar to a post I wrote earlier this year, “A Collection of Horses.”

Controlled Chaos: After visiting her at the barn the morning before her race on April 20, I stood along the rail as she went to post that afternoon. She ran a great race, fighting for the victory. From the angle at which I stood, it appeared as if she'd won, but, by the narrowest of margins, she'd been defeated. Nonetheless, she'd run a great race and it had been thrilling to watch a racehorse I had visited earlier in the day run so well.

Controlled Chaos (inside)
Photo by Mary Cage (iPhone photo)

Coyote Legend: Lone Star Park has the ability to attract top-class horses for its graded stakes events, but unlike tracks such as Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, it is not home to multiple grade one-winning Eclipse Award winners. But it is home to horses like Coyote Legend. I have spent years enjoying the racing endeavors of Coyote Legend, who has captured ten black-type races. The Southern-based veteran, who has been a personal favorite of mine since early on in his career, is a member of a famous Texas Thoroughbred family. The highest-earning offspring of his dam, Coyote Cafe, Coyote Legend is a full brother to Texas champion Gold Coyote and the black-type-placed Red Coyote. Thanks to Lilly Armstrong, a good friend of mine who I met while she worked for Remember Me Rescue, I was able to meet this racetrack hero of mine at the end of April. To be able to touch his soft coat as I reminisced on all the times I'd watched him race was a moment I’d thought would forever remain in my wildest dreams. I was as star struck by Coyote Legend, a horse I have grown up watching, as by the horses I've had the blessing of seeing at the Breeders' Cup. Two and a half months later, I stood along the rail as Coyote Legend gave it his all to capture his third Assault Stakes victory and smiled as I watched the hero I had finally met enter the winner’s circle.

Coyote Legend
Left photo by Terri Cage, right photos by Mary Cage (iPhone photos)

Coyote Queen: After hearing Lilly’s praise about this filly, I became rather excited about meeting the two-year-old. Standing in the stall next to her half-brother, none other than Coyote Legend, Coyote Queen impressed me immediately. Very tall for her age, the deep red filly was incredibly sweet and instantly jumped into my heart. Less than two months later, Coyote Queen began her racing career at Lone Star Park, gamely capturing her debut. Here’s to hoping she follows in her siblings’ footsteps!

Coyote Queen
Photo by Lilly Armstrong (iPhone photo)

Fiftyshadesofgold: Able to watch this talented filly make her debut at Lone Star Park after meeting her a month prior was a terrific experience. Winner of her first start by ten lengths, Fiftyshadesofgold impressed her connections – owner Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. and trainer Bret Calhoun, the same connections as Coyote Legend and Coyote Queen – enough to depart Lone Star Park for Churchill Downs’ Debutante Stakes, in which she defeated a tough field by 8 lengths. I am very excited about her future! Please read about her in greater detail in my article “Juvenile Spotlight: Fiftyshadesofgold.”

Fiftyshadesofgold
Photos by Terri Cage

Matto Mondo: In early 2009, Matto Mondo became one of my favorite racehorses, captivating me with his beauty and talent in graded stakes races in southern California, which included a win in the Thunder Road Handicap (GIII). Originally from Chile, the stunning dark bay/brown was a multiple group one winner in his home country. Now nine years old, Matto Mondo has landed in the barn of Dallas Keen and in early July, I watched as he achieved his third consecutive victory this year, easily winning a starter optional claiming on the turf at Lone Star. The best part? I was able to join him in the winner’s circle.

Matto Mondo
Photos by Mary Cage (iPhone photos)

Tamnation: Hanging his head over the stall guard of his stall in Bret Calhoun's barn at Lone Star Park, I was drawn to Tamnation by his handsome – and rather adorable – face. Lilly introduced me to the gelding, raving not only about how great he looked under tack on the racetrack, but about his personality. I soon realized she had reason to praise his disposition. The half-brother to the multiple black-type-winning Taptam – who was second to the great Zenyatta in the 2010 Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap (GI) – was incredibly sweet, willing to allow you to hold his head and cuddle.

Tamnation
Photo by Mary Cage (iPhone photo)

The glamorous grade one winners aren’t the only horses that deserves to be followed. Each racehorse deserves at least one loving fan, so find a special horse that others may not know about to follow. If you do, you’re in for a fun journey!

Juvenile Spotlight: Fiftyshadesofgold

Fiftyshadesofgold
Photo by Terri Cage

As a storm brewed beyond the grandstand of Lone Star Park on a humid May evening, a gray filly sauntered before onlookers as she was led toward the saddling paddock. Just two years old, she appeared very composed as she strolled along amid her competitors. In the infield, the totes board reflected her low odds, indicating that she was the heavy favorite.

Her name was Fiftyshadesofgold. She’d never raced before, but there had been much buzz about her. She’d compiled a collection of workouts and in those morning works, had made quite the impression. That night would prove if she could live up to the hype.

Alongside nine other rivals, Fiftyshadesofgold loaded into the starting gate on the far side of the track for the five-furlong Texas-bred maiden special weight. Away from the gate in a clean manner, Fiftyshadesofgold quickly found a stalking position in third with jockey Cliff Berry – the all-time leading rider at Lone Star Park – aboard. Making a sweeping move around the far turn, the dark gray filly soared to the lead before the quarter pole, seizing a clear advantage as the field turned for home.

In a mere hand ride from Berry, Fiftyshadesofgold drew away from her opponents with utter effortlessness, her strong strides carrying her toward the wire as she left the other fillies in her wake. The two-year-old filly continued to extend her lead down the lane despite Berry ceasing to ask her. She flashed under the wire ten lengths in front, posting a final time that was just 1.51 seconds off the track record despite being geared down in the late stages of the race. Her win served as trainer Bret Calhoun's 600th Lone Star Park victory.

Fiftyshadesofgold
Photo by Terri Cage

Fiftyshadesofgold is a homebred for Clarence Scharbauer, Jr., former president of the American Quarter Horse Association whose family owned the great Alysheba, Kentucky Derby (GI) winner and 1988 Horse of the Year. Born on the Scharbauers’ beautiful Valor Farm in North Texas, Fiftyshadesofgold’s pedigree is a model of the farm’s bluest blood.

Her sire is My Golden Song, one of the most elite stallions on Valor's strong stallion roster. My Golden Song, who was third behind Barbaro in the 2006 Holy Bull Stakes (GIII), has sired many Texas stakes horses, including the multiple black-type winners Cowgirl N Up and Platinum Song, as well as the additional black-type winners Smiles Golden Song and Triumph And Song. A son of Unbridled’s Song, who has appeared within the top ten sires in the nation six of the past ten years, My Golden Song shares the same sire as many blossoming stallions, including Eurosilver, Even the Score, Political Force, Rockport Harbor, and, most notably, Songandaprayer.

Although Fiftyshadesofgold’s dam, Hadif Cat, encountered little success at the track, the mare has found greater achievements as a broodmare. Since her racing career ended in 2006, Hadif Cat has produced the black-type winners Sword Trick and Tastefullyxcessive, the former of which earned more than $210,000. Hadif Cat is a daughter of the group three-winning Hadif, a former Valor Farm stallion that became one of the most influential sires in Texas. As a broodmare sire, the half-brother to the grade one-winning Secret Hello has produced the dams of many black-type winners, including Early Final, Final Trick, Hadavision, My Three Girls, Sax Appeal, Stormin Quality, and Triumph And Song.

Fiftyshadesofgold’s third dam is Alysbelle, a full sister to Alysheba and a graded stakes victress that placed in a pair of grade ones. She found similar success as a broodmare, producing the multiple group stakes-winning Matikane Kinnohosi and Golden Spur, a horse that earned over $100,000. This makes Fiftyshadesofgold a direct descendant of the Reine De Course mare Belthazar, who was the last foal sired by Triple Crown winner War Admiral.

Texas-breds like Fiftyshadesofgold rarely make a name for themselves on the national scene, but this filly’s chances of becoming a classy stakes horse in the South are high. A talented horse at any level is enjoyable to follow and I eagerly await the remainder of this gifted filly’s career.

Fiftyshadesofgold after impressively winning her debut
Photo by Terri Cage