CTHS - Alberta Division | Horse News Archive 2008

Horse News Archive 2008

Pat of Gold, an Alberta bred filly by Regal Remark ran at Hastings on Saturday and finished fourth in the $50,000 Brighouse Belles. The four year old was bred and is owned by Mr. Ben Zenari. (Posted May 12, 2008)

The Preakness will have an Alberta connection with two of the horses who will be running on May 17th. Kentucky Bear, owned by Bear Stables and Yankee Bravo owned by Richard Duggan; Bienstock and Winner Stables and Harlequin Ranches are both entered in the 133rd running of the $1,000,000,000 Preakness Stakes (Grade 1). (Posted May 13, 2008)

2007 Horse of the Year, Footprint, and his rider, Real Simard was successful in the bid for the Teeworth Plate Handicap on Saturday, May 17, 2008. Footprint is owned by Derek G. Milen Professional Corp., Elwin Page and Viking Stable and is trained by Joan Petrowski. Test Boy placed second and 2007 Champion Older Horse and winner of the recent 2008 Four Year Old and Up Sales Stake, Teagues Fight, placed third. (Posted May 21 2008)

2007 Champion Three Year Old filly, Tanika, won the twenty-sixth running of the Ken Pearson Memorial held on Monday, May 19th. Tanika is owned by Calmar Stables and Ranch and trained by Barry Brown. 2007 Champion Alberta-bred and Older Mare, She's Italian placed second in this stakes race for fillies and mares, three year olds and up. (Posted May 21, 2008)

Cool Ventura placed second in the seventeenth running of the Hoofprint on My Heart held on May 24th. Alberta-bred Cool Ventura is owned by Ab Brewster and trained by Cody Anderson. May 25th saw the twentieth running of The Lilac. Last year this race was won by Tanika and this year the honours went to Alberta-bred Lady Lev who is owned and trained by R.A. McKenzie. (Posted May 26, 2008)

Interestingly, both Chatahoochie, who won a $40,000 Allowance Race for Three Year Old Fillies on May 23, 2008 at Stampede Park and Lady Lev, winner of the Lilac Handicap, were both bred by Muriel McGuire and Red McKenzie in Alberta. Muriel McGuire held the title of being the longest standing thoroughbred breeder and owner of Alberta thoroughbreds after being dedicated to the industry for 65 years before passing away in 2006. Lady Lev by Othello was one of the last foals she bred herself out of her mare, Silent Creek by Chapel Creek. (Posted May 27,2008)

This weekend is the thirty fifth running of the Duchess of York and four Alberta breds are entered in the race. Previous winners Braetta(2006) and She's Italian (2007) will see if they can win for a second time. The Duchess of York has $23,450 added for Alberta breds. The Alberta bred bounus will be paid out $14,070 for first, $5,863 for second and $3,517 for third. (Posted June 5, 2008)

This weekend is a busy weekend for racing! Sunday will see the running of the Herald Gold Plate with Alberta bred Teagues Fight looking to see if he can win it for the second time in a row. Three of the horses in the Herald Gold Plate raced against each other back on May 17th so it will be interesting to see what happens when Footprint, Teagues Fight and Test Boy meet up on Sunday and don't forget to watch the Belmont Stakes on Saturday! (Posted June 6, 2008)

Alberta bred Victory Romance placed second in the Woodbine Oaks on the weekend. Victory Romance is owned by Donver Stables and went through the 2006 Alberta Yearling Sale. Victory Romance was the winner of the 2007 Filly Sales Stakes. (Posted June 9, 208)

It was a great weekend at Stampede Park for horseracing, with three of the four major races being won by Alberta breds. The Alberta Derby was won by Arkhill who is owned and bred by Ted Davis. The Alberta Derby also saw Alberta breds Ballintoy in third and fourth going to Cool Ventura. Ballintoy is owned by Milner Racing Stable and was bred by Calmar Stables and Ranch. Cool Ventura is owned and bred by Ab Brewster. Teagues Fight took the The Herald Gold Plate for the second year in a row and Lady Lev was the winner of the Penny Ridge. Congratulations to all our Alberta bred owners and breeders for a wonderful finish to the racing season at Stampede Park. (Posted June 16, 2008)

Before racing begins at Northlands the results from Stampede Park show Ghost Pirate as the leading horse with five starts (four wins,one place) and earnings of $32,220 however, Alberta bred Lady Lev by Othello was the top money earner with $92,876. Leading trainer at Stampede Park was Stuart Simon and leading jockey was Quincy Welch. For full results check the Stampede Park website. (Posted June 19, 2008)

Legacy Bloodstock in Nicholasville, Kentucky has contacted the CTHS office in regards to the stallion Buzzard's Bay which one of their clients has decided to retire. According to the information sent to the office, Buzzard's Bay is a G1 winner of 1.4 million. Their client is interested in standing the horse at stud in some sort of partnership and noticing the progress and improvement of the Alberta Breed program, would like to explore the possibility of standing Buzzard's Bay in Alberta. Please contact the CTHS office for further information. (Posted June 20, 2008)

The 53rd running of The Journal at Northlands this weekend saw Alberta breds Howsitgoinghotshot placing second and Hurricane Tiki in third. (Posted June 23, 2008)

Tanika was the winner of the Wild Rose Handicap held at Northlands on Saturday, June 28th. Tanika is owned by Calmar Stables and Ranch and trained by Barry Brown. Tanika is the current Champion Three Year Old Filly and it looks like she is well on her way towards a 2008 title. She adds this Stakes victory to her wins at Stampede Park in the Ken Pearson and Duchess of York stakes. Beau Spirit placed second and She's Italian came in third in the Wild Rose Handicap. (Posted June 30, 2008)

Garys Buddy won the $50,000 Western Canada Handicap on Canada Day for owners Gary Etherington and Buddy Bensmiller. The breeder of Garys Buddy was Al & Bunny Noren and he is an Alberta-bred by Go Gary Go out of Sweet Conviction by Tossofthecoin. Garys Buddy was consigned and sold through the 2006 Alberta Fall Mixed Sale. (Posted July 2, 2008)

An Alberta-bred, Briars Flash, placed third in the Chariot Chaser Stakes held on July 4 at Northlands. Briars Flash ran a strong race, rallying three wide into the final stretch and finishing just behind Testy Hussy and winner, Lecturiing Lynn. Briars Flash was ridden by Real Simard and is trained by Cody Anderson. He is owned by Derrick Antaingham, Donald Propp and Brian Gromoff. (posted July 7,2008)

Teagues Fight added another victory to his list on July 5 at Northlands with his win in the Spangled Jimmy Handicap for Three Year Olds and Up. He held on to his lead in the final stretch and finished ahead of Footprint and third place Hurricane Tiki. This win brings Teagues Fight's career earnings to $479,908. He is owned by the Rocky Mountain Turf Club and Don Gibb and trained by Doug MacDonald. Teagues Fight has equaled the track record in the spring meet at Stampede Park for 1 and 1/16 miles in 1:42.20. (posted July 7,2008)

Alberta-bred Arkhill, owned and bred by Calgarian Ted Davis, won the $50,000 Ky Alta Handicap for Three Year Olds held at Northlands Park on July 12. Arkhill also won the Alberta Derby run at Stampede Park in June and has now won six of seven lifetime starts bringing his lifetime earnings to $187,000. His Alberta-bred status made him eligible for a $36,000 winning bonus in the Ky Alta. Arkhill is now the early favorite for the $300,000 Canadian Derby coming up in Edmonton. (July 15,2008)

Calmar owned horses Tanika and Beau Spirit placed second and third respectively in the John Patrick Handicap hedl at Northlands on July 13. Both runners are trained by Barry Brown. (July 15,2008)

Calgarian Cec Peacock is retiring his Kentucky Derby runner Brother Derek. He will be sent down to Kentucky to stand stud at a breeding farm - details of which farm have not yet been announced. Brother Derek was unable to train since April of this year due to a quarter crack in his hoof. He is now fit and physically healed but the plan now is to retire him to stud rather than start up racing at this late point in the season.(July 15,2008)

Two Alberta-bred fillies did well in the Princess Margaret Stakes for Two Year Old Fillies held on July 11th at Northlands. The race was won by Bodgits Lady who is by local Highfield Stock Farm's stallion, Captain Bodgit. She is now owned by William Code and Edward Duncan who purchased her through the 2007 Alberta Thoroughbred Summer Yearling Sale. Desperate Appeal, owned by the Hurley Racing Stable, placed second in the Princess Margaret Stakes. She is by local Alberta stallion, Tempered Appeal, who stands at Bar None Ranches just outside of Calgary. Desperate Appeal is from the first crop of Tempered Appeal foals to race and was also sold through the 2007 Summer Yearling Sale. (Posted July 22, 2008)

The Alberta-bred Teagues Fight placed second behind Test Boy in the Don Fleming Handicap held at Northlands on July 26, 2008. The 2007 Older Horse Champion Teagues Fight is an Alberta 2004 Summer Yearling Sale graduate who was purchased by Max Gibb and his Rocky Mountain Turf Club stable. He is by Devonwood out of the successful Alberta broodmare, One Hundred Plus.(July 28,2008)

The Northlands Oaks for three year old fillies was held on Saturday, July 19th and resulted in two Alberta-breds placing second and third. Briars Flash ran a strong race and rallied in the final stretch to place just behind the winner, Broken Hearted. Briars Flash was bred in Alberta by Don Propp and is by Hurricane Center out of Briars Button by Son of Briartic. Spicy Candy rallied three wide in the final stretch and ran out of time as she gained on the leaders. Spicy Candy was bred in Alberta by Paul Punnopsri and is by Private Terms out of Candy Stick by On Target. Both Alberta-breds were eligible for the added purse for Alberta-breds and received a bonus pay out. The winner, Broken Hearted, is owned by Dany Dion's Bear Stables. (Posted July 29,2008)

Alberta-bred, Ballintoy placed third in "The Count of Lathum" on Saturday, August 2nd. Monday's "Sun Sprint Championship" saw Alberta-breds Teagues Fight in first and Cool Synsation in third. The added Alberta-bred bonus for the "Sun Sprint" was $24,000 to the winner, and $6,000 for third. (Posted August 5, 2008)

The 19th running of the Two Year Old Sales Stakes on Saturday was won by Rock Creek Bobby who was bred by Jack and Linda Johnston and owned by Barb Saunders. Also on running on Saturday was the 12th running of the Two Year Old Filly Sales Stakes which went to Jazzy Song. Jazzy Song was bred by Cal Britton and Moonshine Meadow Ranch and is by Captain Bodgit out of Jazzfield. (Posted August 18, 2008)

This Saturday is the 79th running of The Canadian Derby (Grade III) with the only Alberta bred horse in the race being Cool Ventura. Cool Ventura is owned by Ab Brewster and is trained by Cody Anderson. Best of luck to Ab and Cody! (Posted August 22, 2008)

Alberta bred runner, Cool Ventura, finished well in the Canadian Derby held on Saturday, August 23 with a third place spot behind American-breds Texas Wildcatter and winner, Matt's Broken Vow. Cool Ventura adds this stakes place to his three already earned this season and will be watched closely on Fall Classic Day when Alberta-breds get to shine. Cool Ventura is a full brother to stakes winner, Cool Synsation. (Posted Sept 2, 2008)

Briars Flash placed second in the J V Hardy Stakes at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg on Friday, August 29th. This Hurricane Center filly was bred in Alberta by Donald Propp and is owned by Derrick Antaingham, Don Propp and Brian Gromoff. This three year old filly is trained by Cody Anderson. (Posted Sept 2, 2008)

The CTHS Ontario Canadian-Bred Yearling Sale was held on September 2, 2008 and a number of Alberta owners were active at the Sale. Bear Stables spent $687,000 purchasing horses with their top purchase for $165,000 a colt by Peaks and Valleys. Donver Stables bought 2 horses for a total of $195,000; Monical Russell, Agent purchased three horses for owners for a total of $50,500 and Dave Rowbotham bought a Tejano Run colt for $22,000.(Posted Sept 3, 2008)

The Three-Year-Old Sales Stakes were held on September 5 and 7^th at Northlands Park in Edmonton. The stakes race offered a purse of $50,000 and was run over a one mile track on a good, fast track.

The filly stakes was held on September 5^th and was won by the Alphabet Soup filly, Bears Artiste. The dark brown filly ran a strong race opening up a lead in the final turn and holding it through the finish. The three year old filly was bred by Highfield Stock Farm of Okotoks out of the mare, Lady Glacken and is owned by Dany Dion and his Bear Stables Ltd. She was ridden by Quincy Welch and trained by Dale Greenwood.

The sales stake for three-year-old colts and geldings was won by Smile N Wave. This dark bay gelding rallied late in the race to take the lead and the first place finish. Smile N Wave was bred by Dennis Barton and is still owned by Dennis, Lora and Wendy Barton of Alberta. He is trained by Joan Petrowski and ridden by Shannon Beauregard. Smile N Wave is by Smile Again out of Neartic Wave. (Posted Sept. 9, 2008)

Alberta-bred Beau Brass placed third in the $100,000 Speed to Spare Stakes held at Northlands on September 6, 2008. This 8-year-old gelding bred by Denny Andrews of Alberta has now increased his lifetime earnings to $457, 859. Beau Brass won the Speed to Spare Stakes in 2004 and 2005 and was second in 2006. The last two years have been dominated by True Metropolitan but Test Boy won the Speed to Spare this year causing an upset with the crowd favorite. (Posted Sept. 9, 2008)

$250,000 BC DERBY - SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 AT HASTINGS

Nominations for the 63^rd running of the $250,000 BC Derby have closed and now the tension mounts as 22 nominations are trimmed to a starting field of 12 for the major event of the year at Hastings Racecourse on Sunday, Sept. 21.

Alberta-connected hopefuls are Papa Time, Bears Home Run, Bears Tiger, Arkhill and Cool Ventura. Papa Time began his career as a 2-year-old at Woodbine and resurfaced in Alberta for his 3-year-old season. He has hit the board on seven of his eight starts, including a win in the Count Latham at Northlands in early August. Bears Home Run is undefeated in three career starts all at Northland Park; Bears Tiger was fifth in the Canadian Derby; Arkhill won the Ky Alta in Edmonton but has been off since early July and Cool Ventura who finished third in the Canadian Derby.

The list of 22 nominations for this year’s BC Derby include: Arkhill, Bears Home Run, Bears Tiger, Big Wig, Cool Ventura, Dancingall Theway, Wink At The Girls, Fear No Evil, Forest Prince, Valdero, Texas Wildcatter, Saratoga Avenue, Peaceful Turzia, Gallon, Harlem, Jungle Wave, Krazy Koffee, Mr. Exspeedient, Noblety, Papa Time, Piper in the Glen and Reel Prime. Vancouver, B.C. (Sept. 12/08) http://www.hastingsracecourse.com/news/

Fall Classic is over for another year but what an exciting day it was! It should definitely be remembered in Alberta Thoroughbred racing history as it was a day of "hat tricks". Click here to read about some of the notable events. (Posted September 29, 2008)

Highfield Farm and its agent, Margaux Farm LLC sold an Afleet Alex colt to Shadwell for $600,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale on September 10 & 11, 2008. This colt is out of the successful racing mare, Solvig, who earned over $800,000 in her career. The first foals by Afleet Alex are yearlings of 2008. Highfield also sold a filly by Vindication out of Netherland for $147,000 at the same sale. (Posted Sept. 30, 2008)

Thoroughbred racing ended at Northlands on Sunday, October 5th. (Posted October 2, 2008)

The Leaderboard of Sires has just been published in the Canadian Thoroughbred and a number of Alberta stallions are near the top in the rankings. Gilded Time, owned by Bar None Ranches of Dewinton, Alberta, was first in the rankings for Leading Canadian Sires of 2008 by Money Won and by Winners. His progeny have had 135 wins with earnings totalling $3,388,835. Cape Canaveral of Highfield Stock Farm placed second in the rankings for Leading Canadian Sires of 2008 by Winners and fourth by Money Won. Other Alberta sires that placed on the Leaderboard were Devonwood, Kiridashi, Captain Bodgit and Rosetti. The results can also be seen on the Leading Canadian Sires list at http://www.bloodhorse.com/NOW/Breeding/SireLists/Default.aspx?ListType=All&Region=Canada (Posted October 14, 2008)

Alberta owner, Dany Dion and his Bear Stables had an exciting weekend at Santa Anita Park watching his 3 year old horse Fatal Bullet compete in the $2,000,000 Sentient Flight Broup Breeders' Cup Sprint Grade 1 race. Fatal Bullet placed second after running a fantastic race maintaining a clear lead until the sixteenth pole but not quite able to overcome the late surge of the winner, Midnight Lute. Fatal Bullet is by Red Bullet out of the stakes placed Regal Classic mare, Sararegal. He was bred by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs and purchased by Bear Stables at the 2007 Adena Springs 2-year-olds in training sale for $27,000. (Posted Oct.28,2008)

The Alberta Fall Classic Beaufort Stakes winner, Cool Ventura, is having a successful debut at Woodbine race track. He placed second on October 25th in a $83,548 Allowance Optional Claiming race with James McAleney riding. Cool Ventura is out of the mare, Devil's Favor who also produced Cool Ventura's full brother, Cool Synsation, winner of the Red Diamond Express and his half brother, Cool Diablo, winner of the Alberta Premier's Futurity. (Posted Oct.28/2008)

November 2 was a busy day for Alberta owners at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver. Alberta-bred Arkhill owned by Alberta based Neville (Ted) Davis won an Allowance Race for Three Year Olds and Upward. Arkhill ran a solid race, rallying from three wide and gaining the lead in the final stretch. Bear Stables' Broken Hearted won an Allowance race while Bears Artiste placed fourth in the same race. (Posted Nov. 4, 2008)

ETOBICOKE, Ontario- Nov. 11, 2008 - Trainer Cody Anderson enjoyed a rather sensational rookie campaign this year, capped by a stakes triple on Northlands Park's Fall Classic Day for Alberta-breds.

Now, Anderson will be trying to make his mark in the east, with Cool Ventura looking to use Thursday's $96,700 allowance prep for the Valedictory as his stepping-stone to that $125,000 closing-day feature at Woodbine on Dec. 7 and Cool Diablo slated to start in Saturday's $250,000 Coronation Futurity.

Cool Ventura, Cool Diablo, and Cool Synsation, all sons of owner/breeder Abe Brewster's mare Devil's Favour, provided Anderson with the best day of his young career on Sept. 27.

Cool Ventura won the 1 1/16-mile Beaufort, while Cool Diablo captured the one-mile Alberta Premier's Futurity and Cool Synsation scored in the 6 1/2-furlong Red Diamond Express.

Anderson, a 38-year-old native of Trochu, Alberta, finally struck out on his own this season after spending the last 15 years working with Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Red Smith.

"Everybody's been after me to do it, and I decided it was time," said Anderson, who won with 5 of 29 starters at the Stampede Park meeting and with 12 of 48 at Northlands. "I had a very good year out there. I had lots of nice horses; that will make anybody look good."

It was Cool Ventura, a 3-year-old gelding who finished third in Northlands Park's Grade 3 Canadian Derby at 1 3/8 miles, who gave Anderson the original impetus to come east.

"He's a horse that wants a lot of distance, and wants a big track," said Anderson. "After the way he ran that day, I thought maybe I'd try him out here. The owner wanted me to take all three horses."

Cool Ventura, a gelding by Seattle Syn, was the first of the siblings to see action here.

After working just once on the Polytrack surface, Cool Ventura finished a solid second under leading rider Jim McAleney in a third-level $80,000 optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 25.

Anderson takes heart from the fact that Stunning Stag, who defeated Cool Ventura that day, came back to finish second here in last Sunday's Grade 2 Autumn.

"I think he'll fit on Thursday," said Anderson. "The competition's fierce, but the distance is in his favor. If he runs good, he'll go in the Valedictory."

The Valedictory prep goes at 1 1/2 miles. The main event, at 1 3/4 miles, is the longest stakes race of the meeting.

Cool Diablo, who is by Young Devil, had won his maiden going six furlongs three weeks prior to his Premier's score.

"I brought him out here to see if I could get a race for him," said Anderson. "I hadn't really been thinking about the Coronation."

Anderson admits he is concerned that Cool Diablo will be racing for the first time on Polytrack in the Coronation Futurity, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds.

"He's been working excellent, but Jimmy said he thinks a lot of horses need a race over the surface," said Anderson.

Cool Synsation, a 4-year-old gelding who is a full brother to Cool Ventura, made his local debut in the six-furlong prep for the Kennedy Road and showed speed before faltering to finish last in the field of six.

"He has no conditions, and I ran him in a spot I shouldn't have," said Anderson."It was a shot in the dark, and it was the wrong shot. I might run him here once more."

Re-printed from Daily Racing Form - Bill Tallon - Tuesday November 11, 2008

Alberta-bred and 2006 CTHS Sale Graduate, Three Year Old Victory Romance is going down to Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans to compete in an $44,000 Allowance race for Three Year Old and Up Mares and Fillies to be held on November 15th. Victory Romance had been competing in Ontario for the rest of the 2008 season and placed second in the Woodbine Oaks and third in the Bison City Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track. The Donver Stable owned filly has earned $158,266 to date in 2008 which brings her lifetime earnings to $327,666. (Updated November 13,2008)

The Alberta stallion Pike Place Gold is no longer standing at Paddockhurst Stables in Edmonton and can now be found at Roger Pozzo's Double R Stables in Medicine Hat. (Posted November 25, 2008)

Mr. Rod winning the Generous Stakes on November 29

Mr. Rod, owned by Calgarian Cec Peacock, won the Grade 3 $109,300 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park on Saturday November 29. Mr. Rod took the lead from the start and won by 1 1/2 lengths in front of even-money favorite Bittel Road. Dan Hendricks is the trainer for Cec Peacock and Canadian Jockey Chantal Sutherland was the rider who gave such a great performance on Mr. Rod. It was the first graded win in California for Sutherland whose boyfriend, Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith, was riding Bittel Road. Cec Peacock is no stranger to racing in southern California as he is also the owner of Brother Derek who won the 2006 Santa Anita Derby. (Posted Dec.9,2008)

Multiple Grade 1 winner BROTHER DEREK to begin his stud career at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky in 2009.

Multiple Grade I winner Brother Derek has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Mr. and Mrs. Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky. The morning line favorite for the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Brother Derek scored Grade I victories at both 2 and 3, taking the GI Hollywood Futurity as a juvenile before capturing the GI Santa Anita Derby the following April. Brother Derek also won the Grade II Norfolk Stakes at 2 as well as the Grade II San Rafael Stakes and the Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes during a career that earned more than $1.6 million for owner Cecil Peacock and trainer Dan Hendricks.

Bred by Mrs. Mary Caldwell, Brother Derek is a son of leading California sire Benchmark out of the multiple graded stakes producer Miss Soft Sell. Brother Derek was a $150,000 yearling purchase by John Brocklebank and a $275,000 Barretts 2-year-old graduate when he breezed a ¼ mile in :20 4/5.

Said Airdrie's Bret Jones, "Our single most important criteria for selecting our stallions is brilliance, and Brother Derek had brilliance in spades. To be able to come through a 2-year-old sale after going :20 4/5, break his maiden that May going 4 ½ furlongs, win a Grade I at the end of his two-year-old year and then train on to dominate the GI Santa Anita Derby going a mile and an eighth shows the brilliance, versatility and true toughness that we believe will ultimately lead to his great success at stud. He's also an outstanding individual that the commercial breeder can really get excited about. We are extremely appreciative of Mr. Peacock for letting us stand the horse that has brought him so many wonderful moments."

A stud fee for Brother Derek has now been set at $10,000 Live Foal. (Posted Dec.9/2008)