President's Message

 

The year 2019 is fast coming to a close. South Carolina has had many highlights on the racing and breeding scene and the South Carolina Owners and Breeders Association congratulates all.

 

A new yearling class has arrived and we look forward to their development over the winter and watch their racing careers commencing next year.

Jack Sadler, President

Racing Across the Nation

 

South Carolina farms and training centers were represented by 17 stakes winners from September 21 to October 19.

 

Coal Front, a graduate of Kip Elser's Kirkwood Stables in Camden, quickly put his head in front in the PARX Dirt Mile S. on September 21 and never was headed crossing the finish line ¾'s of a length in front.

 

Over at Laurel Park on the same day, Irish Mias captured the Laurel Futurity. Off a step slow, he did not make the lead until inside the 1/16'th pole and dueled with his stablemate to the wire getting there a head in front. Irish Mias came up in Travis Durr's program at the Webb Carroll Training Center in St. Matthews.

 

Another Durr graduate, Pat On the Back, got just that from his connections following the Kelso H.-G2 at Belmont on September 21. Pat On the Back had only one beat after the opening ½ mile. He came wide into the stretch and in a hard fought struggle, he reached the wire a ½ length in front.

 

Also at Laurel on September 21, Dubini, who came up in Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens' Legacy Stable program in Aiken, took his time early on in the Laurel Dash S.   Still only having one beat while five wide in the stretch before getting up in the shadow of the wire to win by ¾'s of a length.

 

Killybegs Captain, also an Aiken grad coming up under Cary Frommer's thumb, notched South Carolina's fifth stakes winner on September 21. He captured the Frank J. DeFrancis Dash S.-G3 at Laurel Park. Nine lengths back early on while saving ground, he made the lead in the stretch being ¾'s of a length the best at the wire.

 

Dot Matrix, a former Webb Carroll Training Center student, stalked the leader before joining that one at the top of the stretch and out finished him to the wire winning by a ½ length. This battle took place in the Ashley T. Cole S. at Belmont Park on September 22.

 

Me Freeze, who went through the breaking process at Franklin "Goree" Smith's Elloree Training Center, matched strides with two others into the stretch in the Ack Ack S.-G3 at Churchill Downs on September 28. He put some air between himself and the rest of the field in the stretch winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

 

On the same day, two of Travis Durr's former students won stakes. As the heavy favorite, Pink Caddy proved much the best in the Small Wonder S. at Delaware Park crossing the finish line 6 ¾ lengths in front. At Laurel Park, O Dionysus was off a bit slow then quickly advanced and in a tough struggle, would not be denied winning by a head.

 

Area, a pinhook project of Cary Frommer's, trailed the field into the stretch in the Ricks Memorial S. at Remington Park on September 29. He put in a big rally to pass the field winning by 2 ¾ lengths.

 

Heavenhasmynikki, who went off five cents on the dollar, ran away from her opponents in the Diana S. at Thistledown on October 5. She was 5 ¼ lengths best of the rest. She is a product of the Webb Carroll

Training Center breaking program.

 

Elloree Training Center grad  Arklow was third early on before taking the lead after a mile in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic-G1 at Belmont Park on October 5. He was passed before battling back and crossing the wire a ½ length in front.

 

Saint Alfred, who has spent time at both the Elloree Training Center and Webb Carroll Training Center during his career, was made the favorite in the Mass Bred S. at Finger Lakes on October 7. He proved the bettors correct. Fifth for the first ½ mile, he showed his superiority in the stretch galloping home a 3 ½ length winner.

 

Goree Smith's former student,  Super Jen, overcame some traffic in the Indiana Stallion S. on September 7. As the favorite, worked through these obstacles and proved best by 1 ¼ lengths.

 

The late Gustav Schickedanz who called Aiken home during the winter, was the breeder and part owner of  City Boy, the 25-1 shot winner of the Nearctic S.-G2 at Woodbine on October 12. Trainer Mike Keogh led  City Boy through the breaking process in Aiken.  City Boy contested the lead throughout and reached the wire a head in front.

 

Penguin Power is on a roll. He broke on top and never looked back in the West Virginia Onion Juice Breeders' Classic on October 12 at Charles Town. He crossed the finish line 3 ½ lengths in front. This was  Penguin Power's sixth victory in a row and he has won 9 of 11 lifetime starts. He learned his early lessons at Shuler Stables in Cope, SC.

 

Forest Fire, a graduate of Randy and Kala Rentz's program in Ehrhardt, SC, sat right behind the leader for the first ¾'s of a mile in the Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park on October 19. It was a hard fought struggle between the two in the race to the wire.  Forest Fire prevailed by a ½ length.

Aiken Steeplechase Fun Day For All

Diplodocus (#4) battling Bite the Bit (#5) with the former prevailing at the finish.     Photo credit" Barry Bornstein

While a bit overcast and warm for late October, approximately 15,000 attended the Aiken Fall Steeplechase on October 26. Four races, all covering 2 1/4 miles were run over National Fences.

 

In his first race over jumps, Irv Naylor's Family Tree came home first by two lengths in the $30,000 Budweiser Holiday Cup, the feature race of the day. Family Tree is trained by Neil Morris and was ridden by Barry Foley.

 

Naylor also won the Cathedral Isle with Mighty Mark. Mighty Mark was best by 8 ½ lengths under Alain Cawley,   He is trained by Katherine Neilson.

 

Timber Town Stables's Lela's Gift was 18 ½ lengths better than the rest in the Thomas Hitchcock. Ridden by Kieran Norris, Lela's Gift is trained by Madison Myers.

 

In the final race of the day, Morningstar Farm's Diplodocus was involved in a heated battle coming out on top by a ½ length in the Juac Hollow. Trainer Ricky Hendriks had his son McLane in the saddle.

Fall Steeplechasing Comes To An End

The closing out of the 2019 National Steeplechase Association schedule takes place on Sunday, November 17 in Hollywood, SC.  Known as the Steeplechase of Charleston, the program will consist of five stakes races.  For ticketing and parking information, please visit www.steeplechaseofcharleston.com.

Dogwood Stable Memorabilia Auction Held

On Sunday, October 27, an exhibit celebrating Cot Campbell's life opened at the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame and Racing Museum. Over 200 people from Aiken and out-of-towners attended.

 

A silent auction was held for various memorabilia from Dogwood Stable that had been donated by Anne Campbell. Over $11,000 was raised and these proceeds will benefit the Hall of Fame.

Photo credit:  Dede Biles/Aiken Standard

Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale Replenishes South Carolina Stalls

 

South Carolinians were active at the Midlantic Yearlings sale held at Timonium on September 30 and October 1. Aiken-based Cary Frommer led the way signing 14 tickets. Others based in Aiken who purchased at Timonium include Marcus and Crystal Ryan's Mason Springs operation and longtime winter resident Glenn Thompson. Jim Rhodes who owns and manages Aiken Equine Rescue also brought several yearlings home.

 

Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group was active. Grant is the owner of the Camden Training Center and his horses there are under the care of Donna Freyer. Kip Elser, who buys under the Kirkwood Stables banner also filled some empty stalls.  Kirkwood Stables calls the Camden Training Center home.

South Carolina Active At Kentucky October Sale

 

The Kentucky October Yearlings sale was held at the Fasig-Tipton complex on October 21 through October 24. At the conclusion, several vans headed to South Carolina.

 

Donna Freyer, trainer for the Elkstone Group replenished her stock. Kip Elser signed tickets for the Gulfstream Gallop LLC and in his own name. Travis Durr brought some home to his Webb Carroll Training Center.

 

The McCuchen family - R.B. "Bobby", Debby and son Jason - all were active. The McCutchen Training Center is located in Kingstree, S.C.

 

Goree Smith bought a number of yearlings home to his Elloree Training Center. Wes Carter, a strong supporter of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Old in Training Sale at Timonium each year, also signed a ticked in Kentucky. Carter calls Bamberg, S.C. home.

Recent 2-Year-Old Winners

 

We had a flurry of 2-year-old debut winners since September 20. The Webb Carroll Training Center led the way with three. Wasjuannowpaul broke his maiden first time out at Finger Lakes on October 8. Derek's Boy proved best in his debut at Charles Town on October 18. It is never easy to win first time out at Belmont but Summer Front found her way to the winner's circle on October 20.

 

The Randy and Kala Rentz graduate, Precious, was unveiled in her debut at PARX on October 14. Wilhelmina and Fred McEwan's Fenwick Equestrian's former pupil, Spanish Point, was 5 ¼ lengths best at Belmont Park on September 26.

 

Goree Smith saw three South Carolina homebreds win since September 29. All are offspring of Done Talking, who stands at the Elloree Training Center. Sweet Home Dixie (September 29), Quit Your Moanin (October 12), What A Tart (October 20) and for a second time, Home Sweet Dixie (October 20) all recorded their wins at Laurel Park.

From the Desk of.....

 

-------   Freshman sire Palace Malice was well represented at this year's Breeders' Cup as Structor captured the BC Juvenile Turf - GI. Structor, trained by Chad Brown, is owned by Jeff, Rachel and Don Drown. He has captured all three of his lifetime starts.

 

------- Coal Front, a five-time graded stakes winner, has been retired to stud and will stand at Spendthrift Farm. During the winter of his yearling year, Coal Front went through the breaking process at Kip Elser's Kirkwood Stables.