Claimers Matter, Too

Please join me in a mission titled "Claimers Matter, Too" to ensure the safety of beloved claimers that may have fallen through the cracks. This mission’s tactics are similar to those I used while keeping up with my Miss Fifty while she was racing. This movement was inspired by the steps I recently took for one of my favorite racehorses, Autumn Eyes.

For many kids, the one magical place they always dream of visiting is Disneyworld or Disneyland. Mine was Churchill Downs. This dream came true during spring break when I was in the fifth grade in 2007. Upon this visit, I roamed nearly every inch of the Kentucky Derby museum and toured various locations of the legendary track, including the grandstand, announcer’s booth, jockeys’ lounge, infield, and backside.

Since that visit, I have always envisioned the land of the Twin Spires as a magical place. While attending both the 2010 and 2011 Breeders’ Cups at Churchill Downs, the Louisville, Kentucky track only carved itself a bigger place in my heart. But between 2007 and 2010, I relied only on memories, photos, and videos to imagine my magical wonderland.

And, so of course, I watched an abundance of Churchill races on television. Fueling my passion for discovering a star before it achieved prominence were the many two-year-old races held at the historic track during its fall meet. I would watch a plethora of maiden races for juveniles, recording the names of any two-year-olds that caught my eye.

On November 1, 2009, a beautiful chestnut filly named Autumn Eyes dashed to victory beneath the Twin Spires to break her maiden. I was immediately drawn to the daughter of Stormy Atlantic. Maybe it was her striking appearance. Maybe it was the ease with which she broke her maiden by 4 ¼ lengths. Whatever it is was, I fell head over heels for Autumn Eyes.

Autumn Eyes was immediately placed in my virtual stable, where she has remained for several years. It is now near the end of 2013 and as of November 14, 2013, Autumn Eyes is still running. Now nearly seven years old, the mare has raced thirty times. She has only won four times and never ventured into stakes company, but she has managed to earn more than $128,403 and has defeated a handful of stakes horses along the way.

Autumn Eyes has never been incredibly consistent, but she has frequently run a good race throughout her career. Lately, however, she has only thrown in clunkers. She used to run at tracks like Churchill, Keeneland, and Gulfstream; now she’s running at Hawthorne (no disrespect intended). She took over a year off after running very poorly as the favorite in a $5,000 claiming race at Turfway in September 2012, returning in late October for a $16,000 tag at Hawthorne. She finished last in that race and was a very distant last in her most recent start on November 14 – 21 lengths behind the nearest horse, to be exact. She has not posted a work since that race.

This instilled me with great worry for a mare that has been one of my absolute favorite horses to follow, so I mailed a letter to her trainer, Dennis Higgins, during Thanksgiving week. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

For four years, I have followed a mare that is currently under your care: Autumn Eyes. She caught my eye with her impressive maiden victory at Churchill Downs on November 1, 2009 and since then, I have followed career. Despite never becoming a stakes runner, she has been one of my absolute favorite horses to follow.

Should you need to find a home for her when her racing career is over, Remember Me Rescue would gladly like to have her in their program so that she may be adopted into a loving, forever home. If you donate her to Remember Me Rescue, you can receive a tax credit of up to $5,000. If you are interested in doing so, please contact Donna Keen at (817) 689-1214 or at remembermerescue@live.com . You may find more information on Remember Me Rescue at www.teamkeen.com .

*I also included ways for Autumn Eyes’ trainer to contact me.

While writing this letter, I was inspired to contact the trainers of four other claimers I have personally known and/or followed whose current locations and state of being seemed questionable. Unfortunately, I have so far only had a response from the trainer of one of these horses, but it was a heartwarming response: Nathan Hatcher, the trainer of a mare I have also followed for several years, Cherry Pink, contacted me to inform me that she had retired sound after 58 starts and now lives out her days at a farm in Texas. She even has her own Facebook page, which you can “like” here.

I have yet to hear back from the trainers of not only Autumn Eyes, but also Fast Eydie, Fleeter, and Hy Danger. Each of these horses – other than Autumn Eyes, who has raced recently but very poorly – have not raced in quite some time and I sincerely worry about their current status.

Please join me in getting updates on these horses from their trainers and hopefully safely retiring them. Please send them respectful letters like I have done, including the excerpt about the opportunity to donate the horse to Remember Me Rescue, or any other recognized rescue you know of that would be willing and able to take in one of these horses. I will send letters to these trainers again. If you hear back from the trainers, PLEASE let me know – whether you comment on this blog, on my Facebook, or message me on Facebook to inform me.

Also, feel free to take the same approach for any horse you may have similar concerns about.

Most trainers can be contacted through tracks, so please send the letters to the trainers "in care of" the tracks they are at. The tracks' addresses can be found on their websites, which are linked below for the trainers of the aforementioned horses. Please do not be disrespectful to the trainers; just inform them that we are worried about these horses and would simply like to ensure their safety.

Dennis Higgins (trainer of Autumn Eyes) - Hawthorne Race Course

William Spawr (claimed Fast Eydie out of her last race) - Golden Gate Fields

Pam Shavelson (trainer of Fleeter) - Parx Racing

Eric Kruljac (trainer of Hy Danger) - Golden Gate Fields

Thank you!

Cherry Pink
Photo by Mary Cage

Fleeter
Photo by Terri Cage

Hy Danger
Photos by Terri Cage

HRN: Streaming: Racing's Newest Starlet

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. . .

Streaming: Racing's Newest Starlet

"Although declared out of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Streaming remained on my watch list, as she was one of the horses I selected from the first session of the world’s largest yearling auction. She remained with her breeders, Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Edward McGhee, and was placed in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in Southern California.

I was fortunate enough to watch Streaming train one morning at Santa Anita while visiting for the Breeders’ Cup. The filly displayed impressive muscularity and composure for a two-year-old, galloping about the track in an easy manner. Upon this impression of her, my hopes only increased that she would become something special. . ."

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

After the Auction: Early Entry

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. These posts are generally just brief overviews of these horses’ racing records and pedigrees.

The first four career starts of Early Entry’s career took place at Calder Race Course, serving as a launching pad for the young chestnut colt. The first two starts of Early Entry’s career were disappointing, resulting in fourth and sixth place finishes, respectively. But in his third outing, the chestnut colt gave his connections hope, finishing second.

In his fourth start, Early Entry finally discovered the path to the winner’s circle. Pressing the pace throughout the six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight, the colt drew clear in the final stages of the race to score by 1 ½ lengths.

This victory gave his connections enough optimism to enter him in today’s Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Going six furlongs over the main oval at the western Florida track, Early Entry will face seven others – including Cool Cowboy, who owns two runaway victories at tracks in Illinois, and Pallium Prize, a stakes-placed runner.

As one of my selections from this year’s OBS March Sale, Early Entry failed to reach his reserve, attaining a final bid of only $32,000. But he has taken steps toward proving reluctant buyers wrong and he will do just that should he find stakes success, whether it come in today’s Inaugural Stakes or a later black-type event.

Pedigree Analysis

Early Entry is a son of the multiple graded stakes-winning Keyed Entry, who is the sire of the black-type-placed Hyena in his young career as a stallion. Keyed Entry is a son of Honour and Glory, who produced numerous grade one winners, including the champions Caressing and Indio Glorioso.

The dam of Early Entry, Bright N Early, has also produced the multiple black-type-winning mare Bright Gold. Bright Gold, in turn, begat a pair of black-type runners. Early Entry descends from a prolific female family, being a direct descendant of Ormonda, an outstanding broodmare who was the granddam of Triple Crown hero Whirlaway.

Early Entry clearly comes from humble beginnings. His pedigree, though respectable, is far from magnificent. No one wanted him when he was offered at the OBS March Sale. And his racing career got off to a slow start at the underestimated Calder Race Course. It is a long shot that he will reach stardom, but Early Entry seems to be on track for proving his doubters wrong.

ANNOUNCING A GUEST BLOG CONTEST!

Now is your chance to be published on Past the Grandstand! Have an essay/article about anything racing or OTTB-related? Send a message to Past the Grandstand's Facebook page (which you must “like” in order to enter) to tell me you would like to enter the contest and I will give you an email address to send the essay to. More than just the "first place" guest blog may be chosen to be published!

You have until Friday, January 3, 2014 at 9 PM (Eastern Time) to submit an essay. You may only submit one. The winner will be announced and published on Sunday, January 5. If I decide to publish any additional guest blogs, they will be published on later dates.

NOTE: Any published blog is subject to grammatical, spelling, and factual corrections.

If you have any questions about the contest, please do not hesitate to ask.

HRN: Ponies of the Track - Road to Slew: From Racehorse to Pony

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. . .

Ponies of the Track - Road to Slew: From Racehorse to Pony

"There are many forgotten heroes at the racetrack of the human variety: grooms, hotwalkers, EMTs, veterinarians, and jockey valets among them. But there are also equine heroes outside of the obvious racehorses: the outrider horses and lead ponies. They are kicked, they are bit, they are slammed into, and they are pushed around. They tolerate the immature two-year-old, the testy mare, and the lazy gelding. Their riders often endure the same difficulties. But these horses also provide guidance and comfort for many racehorses, as well as a best friend for many young children and loyal racetrackers that visit the track.

For racing enthusiasts that frequently watch racing on television or visit the track regularly, a pony horse may become familiar in appearance, but it is rather unusual for a pony horse’s name to be known. The name of the racehorse alongside the pony is in the program, on the television monitor, and in pedigree databases, but the pony is largely anonymous. But for hours upon hours – whether it be in the morning or afternoon – the pony works tirelessly, often encountering unruly racehorses and unpredictable weather. It is time to shine a light upon these hard workers.

Please enjoy my second installment of a new series featuring these horses, called “Ponies of the Track.”

Road to Slew: From Racehorse to Pony

Road to Slew has been a fixture at Santa Anita Park since 1998. A California-bred son of Slewpy, the gelding made eighteen of his twenty-five lifetime starts at the Great Race Place, earning his biggest victories with the San Gabriel Mountains as his witness. Now, the easily recognizable flaxen chestnut – lovingly called “Roady” – can be seen most mornings at Santa Anita, ponying young Thoroughbreds as the sun begins its ascent into the sky. . ."

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

After the Auction: Fantastic Vow

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

The hammer fell after a final bid of $150,000, giving the handler of the bay colt that stood in the ring the cue to lead the son of Broken Vow out of the auditorium. One of my selections from the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the colt now belonged to Jim and Susan Hill.

Placed in the barn of trainer William Hickey, the colt was given the name Fantastic Vow. Making his career debut in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the synthetic surface at Keeneland, Fantastic Vow was sent off as the longest shot in a field of seven. But, after coming from off the pace, the colt shocked betters by rallying to capture the race by a neck.

Could more success be in Fantastic Vow’s future? His pedigree suggests it just could be.

Fantastic Vow is a son of Broken Vow, who has yielded the likes of the grade one winners Cotton Blossom, Sassy Image, and Unbridled Belle. A son of Unbridled, Broken Vow shares his sire with numerous spectacular stallions, including Empire Maker and the late Unbridled’ Song.

But the strongest aspect of Fantastic Vow’s pedigree is undoubtedly his dam’s side. His dam, Fantastic Shirl, was a stakes winner who placed in two graded stakes races. In addition to Fantastic Vow, she has produced the graded stakes-placed Fantastic Song and the stakes-placed Magnificent Shirl.

Fantastic Vow’s broodmare sire is Fantastic Light, a brilliant son of the outstanding damsire Rahy who earned more than $8 million and captured six group ones on various continents. His granddam (the dam of Fantastic Shirl), Lady Shirl, is a Reine De Course mare responsible for producing 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. I) victress Perfect Shirl, the multiple grade one-winning Shakespeare, and the multiple graded stakes-winning Lady Shakespeare.

Fantastic Vow has yet to work out, yet alone race, since his debut, but should he surface yet again, I will certainly be keeping my eye on him.

After the Auction: Homesick Angel

As an avid fan of sales with possible aspirations to become an adviser/bloodstock agent, auctions are one of my favorite topics to write about on Past the Grandstand. “After the Auctions” feature horses I selected in sales that have found success after the sale. 

Hip 149, a bay daughter of Divine Park, stepped into the sales ring at Keeneland as one of the first horses in the ring for the second session of the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The bidding came to a halt at the price of $260,000, placing the well-bred filly into the hands of Sierra Farm.

Once ready to begin her racing career, the filly – given the name Homesick Angel – entered the barn of Philip Sims, for whom she made her first start in early October at Keeneland in a seven-furlong maiden special weight on the synthetic. While racing mid-pack, Homesick Angel encountered traffic troubles but managed to finish third in a field of nine.

The next month, she surfaced in a maiden special weight going seven furlongs on the dirt at Churchill Downs. She contended for the lead throughout, but was overtaken late, finishing second as the favorite.

Four weeks later, however, Homesick Angel proved that the third time is the charm. Facing ten other two-year-old fillies on closing day at Churchill Downs, Homesick Angel sat just off the pace while racing wide. Seizing the lead as the field turned for home, the filly kicked clear with ease to score by five lengths.

Pedigree Analysis

Homesick Angel is a member of the second crop of her grade one-winning sire, Divine Park. In his young career as a stallion, Divine Park has produced the stakes-winning, graded stakes-placed Dancinginthecircle and the grade one-placed Blonde Fog, as well as the stakes-placed Divine Ambition.

Homesick Angel is the first foal out of her stakes-winning dam, On the Menu – a daughter of Canadian Frontier. On the Menu’s dam, Don’t Trick Her, is one of the most remarkable broodmares in recent memory. An unraced homebred for Brereton C. Jones, Don’t Trick Her begat not only On the Menu, but also Check the Label, who granted her even greater success, winning four graded stakes events, including the Garden City Stakes (GI). She is also the dam of Include Me Out, who has become her best offspring yet, having won four graded stakes races as well, two of which have been grade ones.

Although an American-bred, Homesick Angel has a rather international pedigree, tracing back to numerous horses bred in Canada, France, Great Britain, and Mexico. Through her prosperous tail female line, Homesick Angel is the descendant of four Reine De Course mares.

Where could Homesick Angel’s career lead her? Only time will tell, but she is keeping good company by having raced on a “Stars of Tomorrow” card at Churchill Downs. Other horses to have done so include classic winners Believe You Can, Fort Larned, Rachel Alexandra, Shackleford, and Super Saver.