Result: April 9, 2008 

Keeneland Race 2

Causin' Havoc looked very calm in the paddock.  Maybe a little too calm.  He stood quietly while being saddled and didn't make a fuss. He is a nice looking bay, marked similiarly to his sire, Medaglia d'Oro.

    Causin' Havoc with Rafael Bejarano

   Medaglia d'Oro - Anne M. Eberhardt

The most striking horse in the paddock, however, was Laver who looked ready to go.

   Laver and John Velazquez

As the gates opened, the 2-year olds looked confused, going this way and that and banging a bit.  All except for Dicey Riley who knew just what to do, he took the lead and never looked back.  Laver was behind early, but got on track to get second just in front of Troy G who was in the fray after a bit of hesitation.  The others weakened after showing some speed. 

And then there was Causin' Havoc who didn't even seem to start running until the wire was crossed.  In fact, by the time the jockeys got their mounts pulled up, he was near the lead. As his saddle was removed, his ears were pricked and he was ready to go. Unfortunately, the race was long over. 

Equibase Chart  

2-Year Old Works

New to this blog

Precious Beans, a Medaglia colt out of the Gone West mare, Precious Feather, worked 4 furlongs on 4/9 at Calder, recording a time of :49.80. Precious Feather was a stakes winner who earned $257,441. She made one start at 2 and finished 7th. She is the dam of two winners, one of which was a winner in his first start as a 2-year old.

April 9, 2008
Keeneland Race 2
Maiden Special Weight
4.5 Furlongs
2-Year Olds
Post Time: 1:40 PM; TVG 

All first-time starters, one filly (Mine All Mine), the rest are colts.

I was out at Keeneland Sunday telling some friends about Causin' Havoc when a man behind us interrupted.  "Causin' Havoc," he said, "he is the talk of the backside." So, it seems our boy Causin' Havoc has a bit of buzz around him. For those who need reminding or if you are just joining in the fun, Causin' Havoc is the first offspring of one of the first-year stallions that we are following (which are currently: Birdstone, Congaree, Medaglia d'Oro, Peace Rules, Pleasantly Perfect, Saarland, Smarty Jones, and Speightstown) to be entered in a race.  He is a bay colt by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Degenerate Jon mare, Degenerate Gal. Degenerate Gal was a grade II stakes winner who earned almost a million dollars ($936,393), but she did not run as a 2-year old. She won or placed in 19 stakes including victories in the Apple Blossom (gr. II), the Falls City (gr. III), and the Arlington Matron (gr. III). Degenerate Gal has produced 7 winners including stakes winners Blacktie Bird and Positive Gal who won the Gallant Bloom (gr. III). Two of her offspring won during their 2-year old seasons.

One other first-year sire is represented in this race, as Read the Footnotes is the sire of Downrigger (Read the Footnotes - Exclusive Eskimo by Ecliptical). His dam, Exclusive Eskimo, was a stakes winner who earned $204,421 including 2 wins, a 2nd and 2 3rds as a 2-year old. She has produced 2 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old.

The sale-topper in this race is Troy G. (Cape Canaveral - Caveat Apt by Chief's Crown) who sold for $210,000 as a yearling. Troy G. is out of a mare who earned $63,814. She had one third-place finish in two starts at two and has produced 2 winners including Crowned Dancer who earned $353,104 and won the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (gr. III) as a 2-year old.

Another with impressive sales statistics is Laver (Grand Slam - Sacred Sue by Holy Bull) who sold for $100,000 as a weanling and $175,000 as a yearling. Laver is a half-brother to Miss Mary Apples who finished 2nd in the Schuylerville as a 2-year old and earned $171,172 in her career ($109,155 of that was earned in her two-year old season).

It may be too much to hope for a win for our first starter, so let's hope for a good and safe trip for all runners (and a good showing by Causin' Havoc).

Result: April 4, 2008 

Keeneland Race 6

Merkel went off as the favorite, was the first out of the gate, and never looked back winning easily by more than 3 lengths.  Cowboy at Heart, Notonthesamepage and Iron Legacy finished together. Yo Joe and Kickapoo were up there early, but tired. Iron Legacy might be one to watch.  He was off slow and awkwardly, but when he finally figured things out in the stretch, he put in a nice run.

Equibase Chart

2-Year Old News

Causin' Havoc (colt - Medaglia d'Oro - Degenerate Gal by Degenerate Jon) becomes the first of our first-crop offspring to be entered in a race, as he scheduled to run in Race 2 at Keeneland on April 9th.  It's a 4.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight.  Rafael Bejarano has been named to ride. We'll take a closer look at this race next week.

Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

Double Espresso (f; Medaglia d'Oro - Second Strike by Fast Play) and Fiesta d'Oro (f; Medaglia d'Oro - Ionian Bride by Icecapade) both worked 3 furlongs at Goldmark on 03/29.  Double Espresso recorded a time of :38.60 and Fiesta d'Oro covered the distance in :36.60. This same pair at Goldmark on 04/05. On that day, Double Espresso worked 3 furlongs in :36.40 and Fiesta d'Oro worked 4 furlongs in :49.80 

Peaceful Creek (f; Peace Rules - Sisters Creek by Pentelicus) worked 4 furlongs at Calder on 4/5 in :50.40.

New to this blog

Another Medaglia d'Oro offspring working at Goldmark on 3/29 was Pearl of Valor, a filly out of the Black Tie Affair mare Madeira M'dear. Although Madeira M'dear failed to win at the track, she has produced 2 stakes-placed horses, both of which won during their 2-year old season.

Myvalentineforever, a Medaglia d'Oro colt (Medaglia d'Oro - Let's Escape by Ogygian) worked 3 furlongs at Keeneland on 03/29 recording a time of :37.00 and again on 04/05 with the same time. Myvalentineforever's dam has produced 6 winners including the stakes winner Dalavin who earned $282,496.  3 of her offspring won as 2-year olds.  

Working at Silverton Hill Farm on 4/5 was Ambraw, a Congaree colt out of the Flying Continental mare Fabulous Flight.  A stakes winner who earned $151,816, Fabulous Flight has produced 2 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old.

At Fenway, a Pleasantly Perfect colt (Pleasantly Perfect - Dancey Kate by Danzig) worked at San Luis Rey 2 furlongs in :25.00 on 4/5. Dancey Kate was unraced, but she has produced 7 winners including the stakes winner Dyna's Club who earned $307,484. 

April 2, 2008
Oaklawn Race 6
Maiden Special Weight
6 furlongs
3-Year Olds
Post Time: 4:50 PM; HRTV

Three first-time starters in this one, Heroic Cat (Tale of the Cat - Best Mate by Woodman), Four Rivers (Two Punch - Lustily by Kris S.), and Down the Hatch (Down the Aisle - Palahatchie by Hatchet Man). 

Heroic Cat sold for $50,000 as a yearling. His dam, Best Mate, won $51,822 and was stakes-placed.  Best Mate is also a half-sister to Best Pal, grade I winner of $5,668,245, and two other graded stakes performers (American Day and Prosperous Bid). In her broodmare career, Best Mate has produced one winner, True Competitor, who has earned $79,797.

The dam of Four Rivers has produced 2 winners including Lusty American who earned $32,226.

Palahatchie, the dam of Down the Hatch, has produced 1 winner.

The overall sales leader of this group is Lieutenant Rocket (E Dubai - Private Applause by Private Account) who sold for $300,000 as a 2-year old in training (after bringing $60,000 as a yearling).  His dam earned $37,140 in a stakes-placed career. Lieutenant Rocket is a half-brother to three winners including Proper Performer who earned $196,006 and was stakes-placed, and War Bounty who has earned $108,647 through 2008.

Another with good sales credentials is Southern Guy (Unbridled's Song - Dixie Pearl by Dixieland Band) who brought a final price of $275,000 as a yearling.  Dixie Pearl, his dam, was a stakes winner who won or placed in 9 stakes including 3rd in the Yellow Ribbon (gr. I), 2nd in the La Canada (gr. II), and 3rd in the Monrovia (gr. III).  Her total earnings were $408,021. She has produced one winner, a full-brother to Southern Guy named Ukiah, who earned $46,690.

Also selling for 6 figures was Holy Roman Empire (Malibu Moon - Shoofha (IRE) by Bluebird) who brought $250,000 as a yearling. The dam of Holy Roman Empire has produced one winner, Magic American, who won the Prix Miesque (FR-III) and placed or won 3 other stakes.  Magic American earned $222,269 in her career.

Jubilee Star (Proud Citizen - Evil by Hennessy) possesses impressive family connections as he is a half-brother to Tiz Wonderful who won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) and the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) in 2006 and has earned $254,672. 

2-Year Old Works

Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

One Perfect Karat (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Golden Fanfare by Seeking the Gold) worked 1 furlong in :12.20 at Santa Anita on 3/29.

Gabby's Golden Gal (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)) worked 2 furlongs from the gate at Hollywood in :23.80 on 3/31.

Causin' Havoc (colt: Medaglia d'Oro - Degenerate Gal by Degerate Jon) recorded a time of :34.60 for 3 furlongs on 04/01 at Keeneland.

First Magnitude (colt; Saarland - Fapindy by A. P. Indy) went 3 furlongs at Mercury Equine Center on 04/01 with a time of :37.00.

New to this blog

Peaceful Creek, a filly by Peace Rules out of the Pentelicus mare Sisters Creek, worked 3 furlongs at Calder recording a time of :37.00.  Peaceful Creek's dam earned $45,945 and finished 2nd in the Melaleuca Stakes as a 2-year old.  She has produced 5 winners, 3 of which won stakes including Magic Mecke who won $380,690 and Yesbyjimminy who won or placed in 4 stakes as a 2-year old and who earned $292,100 in his career ($170,600 as a 2-year old).

Working 3 furlongs in :37.60 at Palm Meadows on 3/29 was the bay colt Dueling Alex (Medaglia d'Oro - Rosie Dooley by Trempolino).  Dueling Alex brought a final bid of $145,000 as a weanling. His dam, Rosie Dooley, earned $182,920 including a 3rd in the Honey Bee (gr. III) and a victory in the Summit Stakes.  She has produced 3 winners, 1 of which won as a 2-year old.

Mostly Peace, a chestnut Peace Rules filly out of the Copelan mare Ms. Mostly, recorded a time of :50.40 for 4 furlongs on 4/1 at Keeneland. Mostly Peace's dam earned $276,525 and won or placed in 8 stakes including victory in the Pucker Up Stakes (gr. II). She has produced 2 winners. Mostly Peace sold for $80,000 as a yearling.

Also working on 4/1 at Keeneland was Tiger Rules (Peace Rules - Danzig Tiger by Danzig Connection), a bay colt who worked 4 furlongs in :49.40.  Tiger Rules sold for $40,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to 3 winners including If Nine Was Six who earned $159,275.

Not many maiden races on the 26th, so I thought I'd update the 2-year old works.  In addition to our original list of 1st-year stallions (Birdstone, Medaglia d'Oro, Pleasantly Perfect, Smarty Jones, and Speightstown), we have added Saarland, Congaree, and Peace Rules based on readers' comments.  Hopefully, we haven't missed too many works by their offspring.

Gabby's Golden Gal (filly - Medaglia d'Oro - Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)) was on the worktab again, going 2 furlongs in :23.80 at Hollywood on 3/24. Another returnee was Causin' Havoc (colt - Medaglia d'Oro - Degenerate Gal by Degenerate Jon) who worked 4 furlongs at Keeneland on 3/25 in :46.40.  If this one shows up in a race at Keeneland, we will try to get some photos of him.

Newcomers to this blog include the colt Perfect Dezi (Pleasantly Perfect - Dezibelle's Star by Prospective Star) who worked on 3/21, going 2 furlongs in :24.60 at Diamond D Ranch. Perfect Dezi's dam was a stakes winner who earned $378,075 including a 2nd in the Monrovia Handicap (gr. III).  She has produced 3 winners including the stakes-placed Katie My Lady.

Another new face was Conga Queen, our first Congaree worker.  A filly out of the Hawkin's Special mare, Special Test, Conga Queen worked 3 furlongs in :37.80 at Lone Star Park on 3/25.  Special Test was a stakes winner who earned $207,656.  She has produced 3 winners including the stakes winner, Adopted Daughter, who earned $255,850.

We also had our first Saarland worker, the appropriately named First Magnitude. A colt out of the A. P. Indy mare, Fapindy, First Magnitude worked 3 furlongs in :38.00 at Mercury Equine Center on 3/25.  Fapindy won $28,682 in a 10-race career.  First Magnitude is her 2nd foal.  Her first foal, a Point Given filly named Point Me the Way born in 2004, was stakes-placed and earned $51,056.  Fapindy is a half-sister to 5 winners including the stakes-winners Silver Lace and Buddha Lady.  Interestingly, Fapindy also has a 2-year old half-sister by Congaree who hasn't yet been named.