Through the Lens

A Day in the Life: Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady

2017-07-14T16:07:00Z

Gathered by the field gate, mares and foals wait for the 7:10 a.m. arrival of Clarkland Farm staff. First, the staff lead the mares and foals into their stalls in the barn. Leslie's Lady, 2016 Broodmare of the Year, is among the herd that resides at Fred and Nancy Mitchell's Clarkland near Lexington.

Leslie's Lady and her 2017 Medaglia d'Oro colt are the final twosome to meander toward the barn. ORDER THIS PHOTO

The 400-acre Thoroughbred nursery is owned and operated by the Mitchells. Nancy's daughter Marty Buckner, and her husband Matt Ernst, also are involved in the daily operation along with a few other staff. Established in the 1700s, Clarkland Farm has been in Nancy Mitchell's family since 1774. Nancy grew up on the farm where 1931 Preakness Stakes winner Mate also was raised.

Corner stall with heads in the feed tub by 7:20 a.m. ORDER THIS PHOTO

Mares and foals spend about two hours in their stalls, getting fed, groomed, and attended to before going back out into their 45-acre field for the rest of the day.

Grooming time. ORDER THIS PHOTO

Leslie's Lady is the dam of multiple champion Beholder and grade 1-winning sire Into Mischief. She has a 2017 Medaglia d'Oro colt by her side, born April 4.

View from Leslie's Lady's stall. ORDER THIS PHOTO

Medaglia d'Oro colt grooming himself. ORDER THIS PHOTO

The mares and foals eat a mix of oats and sweet feed, get groomed, and then munch on hay while in their stalls. The animals often take a nap. On this day, Leslie's Lady snoozed standing up while her colt laid down in his usual napping spot under the stall window.

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After a while, the foal got up and nursed before laying down for another nap. Marty Buckner returned to the barn to take care of the mares' additional needs and medications, like Leslie's Lady who gets a daily dose of Regumate.

Leslie's Lady, dappled and looking lovely at 21. ORDER THIS PHOTO

Pleased with the current crop, Fred Mitchell said they would likely sell their usual 12 yearlings in September and possibly sell some weanlings in November.

Walking back from the barn to their field. ORDER THIS PHOTO

Very much a herd animal, Leslie's Lady prefers to be with the other mares and foals in their big field. Once the mares and foals go back into their field, they congregate around their waterer and then walk a path to a beautiful area filled with trees and grass.

Leslie's Lady with her foal on a beautiful Kentucky day. ORDER THIS PHOTO

Special thanks to Clarkland Farm for the photo opportunity. Leslie's Lady, now 21 years old, is dappled and looking terrific. By Tricky Creek from the Stop the Music mare Crystal Lady, Leslie's Lady is in foal to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Click here to read more about Leslie's Lady in the July 29 issue of BloodHorse Magazine.

See more images and purchase prints from the BloodHorse Photo Store: photos.bloodhorse.com

A Day in the Life of Always Dreaming's Dam

2017-05-12T14:45:00Z

An inside look at a day in the life of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming's dam, Above Perfection, at Dromoland Farm.

Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm, home of Always Dreaming's dam Above Perfection. Order This Photo

Above Perfection walking on a farm lane. Order This Photo

Always Dreaming was bred in the name of Santa Rosa Partners for Dilger and Mike Ryan. Neither attended the Derby and met up for the first time after the win May 8 at Dromoland. "It's fantastic for this to happen, especially with Mike," said Dilger.

Dilger and Ryan: A celebratory hug after the Classic win. Order This Photo

All smiles. Order This Photo

Dilger and Ryan purchased the grade 3 winner for $450,000 during the 2006 Fasig-Tipton November Sale when she was carrying a Dixie Union filly who later became grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick. "And that was the beginning," said Dilger.

Above Perfection, age 19. Order This Photo

Above Perfection is dappled and looks fantastic. "She is an easy mare," said Dilger. "Laid back and with a good temperament."

With some of the Dromoland team, l-r, farm manager Peter Conway, handler Erin McCarthy, and Dilger. Order This Photo

Above Perfection is being bred this season to Nyquist. Both Ryan and Dilger also were involved with last year's Derby winner. Dilger with partners bought Nyquist as a weanling and Ryan with partners bought Nyquist as a yearling.

On the farm. Order This Photo

On Dromoland in image below, Above Perfection (on right) spends most of her time in a large field with her buddies—Inny River (dk bay, left back), Sweet Profit (chestnut), and Take It Easy Please (lighter bay).

With her field buddies. Order This Photo

For more on Always Dreaming's breeders and her pedigree go to, read the May 13 issue of BloodHorse magazine.

Congratulations to all the connections of Always Dreaming.

For more photos and features on the Kentucky Derby winner go to: BloodHorse Photo Store and BloodHorse.com.

Spending Time With Tapit

2017-03-10T15:54:00Z

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Always the professional stallion, Tapit walks and poses for prospective breeders and others during his daily two-hour show time. And the gray (now almost white) always looks spotless as he is paraded by the stallion barns and breeding shed.

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The leading Thoroughbred sire in North America for three consecutive years, Tapit's progeny have earned over $109 million and include names like Frosted, Untapable, Tonalist, Unique Bella, Creator, Stardom Bound, Testa Matta, Hansen...

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And then there are the other 22 hours in the life of Tapit, when insights into the 16-year-old's character come out.

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Somewhat set in his ways, Tapit has his preferences. His day starts at 7 am when he goes out to his paddock. His routine almost immediately upon going into his paddock includes a roll (or two) in his mud patch. "He loves to roll," said groom Pedro Venegas.

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Late morning, the influential sire comes out of his paddock when some grain is offered, and goes back to his stall where he is prepped for his afternoon viewings. Tapit shares a stallion barn with his son Tapizar.

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On cold wet days, Venegas lets Tapit dry and then uses a vacuum to clean off all the mud on the stallion. Then he gets groomed, his mane and tail combed, his body brushed. Like a massage, Tapit seems to feel good and enjoy the attention. He often interacts with Venegas while getting groomed in his stall heaped with straw.

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"He knows he is the main guy," said Venegas. Next, the stallion's temperature is taken. Then Tapit is left in his stall to enjoy his hay, and then after feeding he gets quiet, dozing off and on, before show time.

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The off-season allows for more leisure time.

Breeding season now has started and Tapit has returned to the breeding shed, starting at 9 am daily with three scheduled breeding sessions per day.

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For more Tapit photos and a feature by Cynthia Grisolia see the spring issue of Keeneland Magazine, available late March on newsstands.

Special thanks to Gainesway Farm, Ian Tapp, Pedro Venegas, and Carl Buckler for the opportunity to chronicle Tapit's daily routine.

For more photos and features on Tapit visit the BloodHorse Photo Store and BloodHorse.com.

White Beauty Lineage

2017-02-19T02:57:00Z

by: Anne M. Eberhardt, @BH_AEberhardt

Resting in her paddock. Order This Photo

Patchen Wilkes Farm near Lexington, Ky. has been home to 13 white foals since 1995. The latest addition came during Super Bowl 51 when Beautiful Devil produced a white filly by Revolutionary at 10:15 p.m. Feb. 5.

Mom is close by. Order This Photo

Beautiful Devil is by Devil His Due out of the Skip Away mare Spot of Beauty. The foal is the first for the white mare, who only raced three times and won once for her owner/breeder Patchen Wilkes.

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Spot of Beauty is out of the white mare Patchen Beauty, who has produced five white foals. Three of Patchen Beauty's white foals—Spot of Beauty, The White Fox, and Patchen Prince—were winners on the racetrack.

Bred 5x5 to Nashua on her dam and sire lines, Beautiful Devil's lineage goes back to Patchen Wilkes' famous mare White Beauty, a foal of 1963 who was one of the first registered white Thoroughbreds.

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"If you have white mares you are going to have white foals," said farm manager Barry Ezrine. "And you see the other colors as well. Beautiful Devil's half-sister has had three non-white foals."

Nursing foal. Order This Photo

Ezrine mentioned that they do go through a lot of shampoo trying to keep the whites white. Beautiful Devil made the point as she had a good roll the morning of her photo shoot.

Walking the paddock. Order This Photo

Also of interest: Patchen Wilkes is home to now-retired 23-year-old Lisa Danielle, dam of two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan. Lisa Danielle, who also produced multiple graded stakes winner Successful Dan, was Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 2013.

For more features and photo visist BloodHorse.com and the BloodHorse Photo Store.

'Chrome' Time at Taylor Made

2017-02-17T03:14:00Z

by: Anne M. Eberhardt, @BH_AEberhardt

California Chrome in his stall. Order This Photo

California Chrome, the newest addition to the Taylor Made roster, is one of seven stallions at the farm near Nicholasville, Ky.

In his paddock. Order This Photo

The popular son of Lucky Pulpit easily settled in to the routine at Taylor Made, residing in the same stall where he rested up in 2015 prior to resuming his racing campaign the following year. Click here to see the slidehow of his previous time at Taylor Made.

In play mode, Chrome rears up. Order This Photo

All-time leading North American Thoroughbred by earnings, California Chrome won $14,752,650 during his championship racing career.

Strutting in his paddock. Order This Photo

A two-time Horse of the Year (2016 and 2014), champion older horse in 2016, champion 3-year-old in 2014, and a Vox Populi Award-winner, California Chrome arrived at Taylor Made on Jan. 29, 2017. Test breeding was conducted and the breeding season started mid-February.

Linda Warner gives the champ a treat. Order This Photo

Breeders and fans regularly visit Taylor Made to see the chestnut runner, who captured many fans' hearts when competing under the supervision of trainer Art Sherman and his son Alan Sherman. Afternoon visits are scheduled for all the stallions. Mrs. Pastures cookies are California Chrome's preferred treat.

Closeup with Chrome. Order This Photo

Now a 6-year-old, California Chrome celebrates his birthday on Feb. 18.

Enjoying his paddock time. Order This Photo

"He's a big kid,”said Gilberto Terrazas, stallion division manager at Taylor Made. "He wants to play in his paddock but he is all business in the breeding shed.”

Kicking it up. Order This Photo

California Chrome reacts when Terrazas enters his paddock, leaping, jumping, bucking, and putting on a show. Terrazas knows the habits of all the stallions. Jose Cruz handles daily care of California Chrome and Graydar, who shares the two-stall barn.

Galloping in his paddock, all four off the ground. Order This Photo

For more on California Chrome visit BloodHorse.com and the BloodHorse Photo Store.

Posing for visitors during an afternoon show. Order This Photo

After the Eclipse: Songbird at WinStar Part 2

2017-01-22T21:55:00Z

by: Anne M. Eberhardt, @BH_AEberhardt

Songbird jogging at WinStar Order This Photo

On the morning after the Eclipse Awards ceremony, it was business as usual at Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky. The farm was honored with the Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder Jan. 21 at Gulfstream Park.

On the way to the training track. Order This Photo

In residence at the WinStar training barn is Songbird, the unanimous choice for champion 3-year-old filly. Now a champion at 2 and 3, Songbird is wrapping up her winter sabbatical.

Through the Lens: Songbird on Sabbatical at WinStar

Songbird arrived in mid-November and easily got into a routine. Her day-to-day was overseen by trainer Richard Budge and assistant trainer Destin Heath. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro followed a similar routine after her championship 2-year-old campaign.

Walking on to the track. Order This Photo

"After her long campaign, the goal was to build her back up and then send her back to (trainer Jerry) Hollendorfer," said WinStar foreman Salbador Ceballos-Gomez.

Her daily routine now includes a mile-long jog on the synthetic WinStar training track.

Travis Warnken aboard Songbird while jogging. Order This Photo

"She feels good," said Warnken about the filly who was bucking on her jog. "She wants to do more."

As her stay concludes at WinStar, plans for Songbird's 2017 campaign have been outlined by Fox Hill Farm's Rick Porter. For more on her 2017 plans read Claire Novak's recent interview with Porter here.

Getting some attention. Order This Photo

Enjoying a moment with the champ. Order This Photo

"All the class in the world," said Ceballos-Gomez, who is part of the WinStar team overseeing the filly's schedule during her stay.

The WinStar team working with Songbird included, left to right pictured below: Warnken, Destin Heath, Alex Valder, Lanie Bratcher, Juan Triana, and Ceballos-Gomez. Absent was trainer Richard Budge who attended the Eclipse Awards for WinStar.

Team WinStar with Songbird. Order This Photo

Songbird finished her winter sabbatical Jan. 23 as she boarded a van for Lexington's airport, where she will fly back to California to get back to training with Hollendorfer.

On the van with Ceballos-Gomez. Order This Photo

Heath reiterated, "We are truly blessed that Mr. Hollendorfer and Mr. Porter once again entrusted us with this filly."

On the plane in preparation for her flight. Order This Photo

Special thanks to Rick Porter and Victoria Keith of Fox Hill Farm, and Team WinStar for the opportunity to spend time with the champion.

Songbird Order This Photo

Songbird on Sabbatical at WinStar

2017-01-13T16:54:00Z

by: Anne M. Eberhardt, @BH_AEberhardt

And the songbirds keep singin'

Like they know the score

And I love, I love you

I love you like never before

-Songbird, by Eva Cassidy

Songbird with Salbador Ceballos. Order This Photo

Champion Songbird's winter sabbatical at Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., will be over soon when the brilliant filly returns to California and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer for Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm.

Tack walking with Travis Warnken. Order This Photo

Arriving in mid-November, shortly after the Breeders' Cup, Songbird easily got into her routine at the WinStar training barn run by trainer Richard Budge and assistant trainer Destin Heath. The champion 3-year-old filly elect followed a similar routine after her championship 2-year-old campaign.

Walking to her paddock. Order This Photo

Entrusted with the filly's daily needs, foreman Salbador Ceballos was hands-on with the filly, grooming her and tacking her up each morning and coordinating each day's plan with Heath.

Free to run in her paddock. Order This Photo

"She's by far the classiest horse you've ever put your hands on. She has all the class in the world," said Ceballos. "If all horses were like this, it would be a beautiful thing."

In her paddock. Order This Photo

Travis Warnken tack-walked her inside the barn for about 30 minutes each morning from 7:30-8 am. She then would return to her stall for more grooming, feeding, and about an hour of down time in her stall.

Enjoying her neighbors. Order This Photo

Kentucky offers a variety of weather at this time of year from sunny, warm days to frigid, single temperature days with snow to heavy rain days. When the weather cooperated and wasn't too extreme, Ceballos would walk Songbird to her paddock where she would stay for about 4-5 hours.

"Temperatures and weather often determine their outdoor schedules," said Heath. "Songbird is all class and took it all in stride."

Time for some hay. Order This Photo

Songbird easily adapted to her new environment and to the weather. After a good gallop around her paddock, the daughter of Medaglia d' Oro checked out her waterer and then had some hay.

Taking in her surroundings. Order This Photo

"She had a long campaign, so the goal was to build her back up before we sent her back to Hollendorfer," said Ceballos.

The champ. Order This Photo

As her stay concludes at WinStar, plans for Songbird's 2017 campaign have been outlined by Porter. For more on her 2017 plans click here to read Claire Novak's recent interview.

"We are truly blessed that Mr. Hollendorfer and Mr. Porter once again entrusted us with this filly," said Heath.

Also a finalist for Horse of the Year honors, plans are for Songbird to return to California in late January.

Special thanks to Rick Porter and Victoria Keith of Fox Hill Farm, and to Team WinStar for the opportunity to spend time with and photograph Songbird.

For more images of Songbird's sabbatical click here to visit the BloodHorse Photostore.

Kentucky Derby Winner Returns

2015-12-04T13:26:00Z

Through the Lens

A Day in the Life: Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady

A Day in the Life of Always Dreaming's Dam

Spending Time With Tapit

White Beauty Lineage

'Chrome' Time at Taylor Made

After the Eclipse: Songbird at WinStar Part 2

Songbird on Sabbatical at WinStar

Kentucky Derby Winner Returns

American Pharoah Arrives at Ashford Stud

Wise Dan Retired

Wise Dan Returns In Breeze

American Pharoah: Triple Crown Winner Returns To Track

Groupie Doll's First Foal's Homecoming

Catching up with Thunder Gulch, Groupie Doll and Plum Pretty

Wise Dan Photo Gets Award

Catching Up with Wise Dan

Wise Dan and His Quarter Horse Buddy Donnie

Wise Dan Comeback (Photos by Anne M. Eberhardt)

Arlington Million Coverage 2014

Wise Dan Returns Home

Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady

Mares in Japan Part 3: American Royalty, with Kate Hunter

Mares in Japan: California Girls

Mares in Japan 2012

Twilight Ridge at Manchester Farm