Del Mar Win for Lord of Chaos Tops Interesting Weekend for Dare To Dream Stable!

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Lord of Chaos wins Maiden Special Weight at Del Mar on July 22, 2016!

Dare To Dream Stable’s Lord Of Chaos broke through the maiden ranks by beating a full field of California Breds in a one mile turf event at beautiful Del Mar. With top turf jockey Flavien Prat aboard, the good looking bay gelding by Temple City was set to break from the 2 hole in the packed starting gate. When the gates sprung open, Lord broke sharply but Flavien immediately took a hold of him and settled towards the back of the full field. A confident Prat was in no hurry & he just let Lord Of Chaos settle into a comfortable spot through the first quarter mile while saving some ground. At that point of call Lord was further back than he had been in any of his previous races, about 9 lengths off the leader. Lord was still traveling very comfortably on the back side, and when they reached the half mile marker he began to creep up a bit on the pack. Then when they reached the 6 furlong marker he made a very powerful middle move with Prat weaving him through horses to get within 3 lengths from the lead in a matter of a split second. The field was now navigating their way through the second turn with Lord Of Chaos in 3rd and ready to pounce on the leaders as soon as there would be an opening in the front wall of horses. Lord finally found a gap outside and he shot through to gain the lead in the stretch a sixteenth out. It was now down to a battle between him and the #11 Ward ‘n Jerry. In the end Lord was just too tough and prevailed under confident urging by a growing 1/2 length to take the lion’s share of the nice $63,000 purse. Lord Of Chaos has amassed $64,581.00 since debuting in January of 2016 with three 3rd place finishes at Santa Anita to go along with this maiden score by the sea! He’ll try to add to that total before the Del Mar meet ends with another start there later in the meet.

Congratulations go out to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners who had been teased with some strong efforts by Lord only to get beat by some small margins in previous races and with some terrible racing luck in his previous start. Kudos to trainer Brian Koriner and his entire team who have done a fantastic job keeping the talented gelding sharp while also making some subtle changes that produced Lord’s best effort to date. Finally to Jockey Flavien Prat who once again proved why he is considered one of the best young jockeys out there and one who excels on the turf. He rode Lord Of Chaos like he knew he was on the best horse and it was a picture perfect ride!

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He’s a Dandy Candy wins at Arlington Park, but is wrongfully taken down by the stewards on July 22, 2016!

Dare To Dream Stable’s He’s a Dandy Candy was robbed of a hard earned victory in the 6th race at Arlington on 7/22/16. This was a 5 furlong turf sprint and the good looking gray Sidney’s Candy gelding was seeking his maiden score after several on the board and 4th place finishes in his career to date. He’s a Dandy Candy broke well, but was brushed by another rival and shuffled back between rivals midway through the backstretch. He was guided inside to save some ground on the turn by jockey Mitchell Murrill. Inside the 1/16th pole, He’s a Dandy Candy launched his move from 3rd to take the lead and prevail by a long neck and get the victory, while drifting out slightly under right handed urging by Murrill. Shortly after the horses were returning to get unsaddled, the Objection sign was lit up and the celebration was put on hold. It took the Arlington Park stewards about 12 minutes to come up with an egregious decision to disqualify He’s a Dandy Candy from 1st and place him 4th despite the replays clearly showing drifting in by the outside horse as well as some other interference going on. In short, there were multiple minor infractions by multiple horses which has NO impact on the placing of any of the horses in the race. This was especially true of the 1 horse ridden by C. H. Marquez, Jr. who was the one who had made the objection and was completely out of horse at the time he provided his academy award acting job. Somehow. those manning the chairs in the steward’s box bought the act and still couldn’t figure out that it didn’t matter anyway. The decision was decried by every single person we ran across at Arlington Park including a bunch of disgruntled gamblers, other trainers and the track handicapper. Such is racing though. It’s one of the problems in the sport when you have unchecked and unfettered incompetence with no oversight. An area of racing that needs attention for sure. Our partners and the betting public deserved better.

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Heart Stopper Runs a Nice 2nd at Arlington Park on July 23, 2016 Off the Heels of 2 straight Victories to Cap Off the weekend.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t give our boy Heart Stopper some credit for a nice effort in the 3rd race at Arlington on 7/23/16. He was stepping up in class again off 2 straight hard earned victories at Arlington. It looked like he was going to get the hat trick as he gained the lead in the 1 mile turf contest inside the 1/16th pole, but was run down in the final couple jumps to lose by just over a length. The hard-knocking IL Bred by Lion Heart has 2 wins and 2 places in his last 4 starts and is in very sharp form. Hopefully he can start another winning streak next time out.

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HEART STOPPER WINS 2ND IN A MONTH AT ARLINGTON PARK ON JULY 4, 2016

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6 Year-Old Lion Heart Gelding sets off some Dare To Dream Stable Fireworks in turf win!

With a large festive 4th of July holiday crowd in attendance, Dare To Dream Stable’s 6 yr old Gelding Heart Stopper treated his backers with some fireworks of his own. Coming off a narrow 2nd place defeat in his last outing, Heart Stopper was looking to get back to the winner’s circle he visited 2 starts back. With Jockey Carlos Montalvo riding Heart Stopper for the first time, the dark bay son of Lion Heart broke sharply to immediately secure a nice tracking position in 3rd place along the rail. Montalvo had Heart Stopper in a perfect spot just a few lengths of the leaders through the opening half mile which was clocked in 49.1 seconds. With the first 6 furlongs in the rear view mirror, Heart Stopper began to inch up on the leaders and was now just a 1/2 length from the two foes he had been tracking. Montalvo shifted Heart Stopper to the 2 path after the 2nd bend and engaged long time leader Mendota while the other pacesetter Value Voucher faded. Heart Stopper struck a narrow lead past the furlong marker and crossed the wire with a 1/2 length to spare on Mendota under confident handling by Montalvo.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable Partners on a great win, and a terrific ending to a great holiday weekend! Kudos again to trainer Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask and the entire Stidham team on having Heart Stopper ready to roll on a short 10-day turnaround. Finally a big shout out to jockey Carlos Montalvo who rode Heart Stopper masterfully. He’s a tough horse to ride and you would never know it was the first time he was legged up on him.

This was Heart Stopper’s 2nd victory within a month to go along with a 2nd place finish during that time frame as well!  He now has an overall record of 31-5-9-2 with earnings of $148,656.

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Equibase Chart

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THUNDER AFLEET WINS AT GULFSTREAM PARK ON JUNE 25, 2016

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3 Year-Old Northern Afleet Gelding Comes From Last To First To Notch Maiden Win!

Dare To Dream Stable’s Thunder Afleet notched his maiden win on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Gulfstream Park in race #11 and he did it the hard way! Trailing the field by over 20 lengths through the opening half mile and not even visible on the simulcast feed, Jockey Martin Ramirez finally got the gelded son of Northern Afleet into gear. He unleashed a powerful move to pass several horses in the large field of 12 and get back into contention near the 1/8th pole in this 1 turn mile contest. He was 5th and within 7 lengths of the leader and still rolling at that point while the jock had lost his whip. Ramirez kept giving Thunder Afleet reminders with some slaps on the neck and shoulder and he kept on responding, getting up on the wire with a widening 1/2 length to spare in a very game effort.

Thunder Afleet is trained for Dare To Dream Stable by David Kassen. He now has an overall record of 8-1-0-2.

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Equibase Chart

In other DTD stable action this weekend, Heart Stopper finished 2nd by a 1/2 length at Arlington Park on Friday. On Saturday, She’s Fine Tuned ran a nice 2nd in her maiden special weight debut at Arlington Park and Fashion Hill ran 3rd later in the day. Congrats to our partners on a nice weekend with a win and every other horse running 2nd or 3rd!

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KARA’S ANGEL WINS AT ARLINGTON PARK ON JUNE 17, 2016

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3 Year-Old Courageous Cat Filly Wins in Gate to Wire Fashion!

Kara’s Angel, coming off the heels of a 2nd place finish just a couple of weeks ago in her first start back off a 5 month layoff, made her 2nd start back a winning one. The 3 year-old daughter of Courageous Cat out of the Unbridled’s Song mare, O Beautiful, broke sharply from the gates under jockey Mitchell Murrill in this 1 1/16 mile turf contest. She was receiving some pace pressure from Peppermint Ice who was within a length and a half of her in 2nd through soft opening fractions of :25.29 & :51.65 for the 1/4 mile & 1/2 mile respectively.  After 6f in a tepid 1:17.04, Peppermint Ice was making her bid to take over from Kara’s Angel, creeping up to within a 1/2 length. But Murrill had yet to ask Kara’s Angel for her run yet and when he did, she opened back up a 2 length lead in the stretch. The small filly with a big heart cruised home from there to win by an easy 3 lengths under a masterful ride by the hot young rider Murrill. Peppermint Ice faded to 3rd while Shopping With Bill got up for 2nd.

Kara’s Angel was trained for Dare To Dream Stable by Michael Stidham. She now has an overall record of 7-2-2-1 with earnings of $26,487.

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Equibase Chart

Congrats to all our partners on the win! Dare To Dream Stable is off to a red-hot start at the Arlington meet with a record of 8-5-1-0 so far. We hope to have a few more runners before the end of the month and look to finish off the month of June strong and carry that momentum through to July!

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Big Weekend at Arlington Park for Dare To Dream Stable Horse Racing Partnerships!

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Kingston Terrace Notches First Win of the Weekend For Dare To Dream Stable

It was an excellent weekend for the Dare To Dream Stable color-bearers at Arlington Park from June 3rd to June 5th. On Friday, June 3, 2016 Kingston Terrace blew her opponents away in a 5 furlong starter allowance race on the grass. The 6 year-old Johannesburg mare broke alertly and tracked the pace setter through the opening 3 furlongs of the race. When asked by the jock for run as they hit the stretch, Kingston Terrace responded nicely and abruptly under Jose Valdivia, Jr. to open up and pull away with ease to win by 4 1/2 lengths going away. Michael Stidham trains Kingston Terrace for Dare To Dream Stable. She loves the Arlington Park sod, notching her 5th victory over that surface and 2nd in a row this meet. She now sports an overall record of 22-9-3-4 with earnings of $125,985.00.

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Equibase Chart

Heart Stopper Lives Up To His Name in Thrilling Win in Sunday Finale at Arlington Park

Following on the heels of Kingston Terrace’s win on Friday was a gritty performance and thrilling victory by Dare To Dream Stable’s 6 yr old Gelding Heart Stopper in Sunday’s finale at Arlington Park. In a race that was originally carded for the turf but moved to the polytrack due to heavy rain the day before, Heart Stopper turned a disadvantageous outside post draw into a more advantageous gate with a number of scratches that reduced the field from twelve to seven. The son of Lion Heart broke a bit outward and bumped his rival to the outside but jockey Mitchell Murrill quickly gathered Heart Stopper to secure a nice stalking position while four wide around the first turn. Heart Stopper remained in a good position on the backside always within 2-3 lengths of the early pace set by Artful Bee. After a half mile which was run in 48.80, both Heart Stopper and Ol Army began to make their run on Artful Bee. Murrill shifted Heart Stopper to the inside while jockey Julio Felix took to the outside with Ol Army and they swallowed up Artful Bee at the 6 furlong marker. As they straightened for home, it was “game on” and these two foes were about to engage in an epic stretch duel. Mitchell Murrill was busy vigorously assisting Heart Stopper with right handed encouragement all through the stretch while Julio Felix was all out with left hand encouragement on Ol Army. Neither of the two were willing to go down without a fight. With heads bobbing back and forth through the stretch it was anybody’s race with only their long noses separating one another with each and every stride. As they approached the line it was going to come down to whoever fought hardest to get their head across the line first. In the end, Heart Stopper and Mitchell Murrill prevailed in what was an exhilarating finish brilliantly called by track announcer John G. Dooley. Heart Stopper now has an overall record of 29-4-8-2 with earnings of $128,496.

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Equibase Chart

Kara’s Angel Runs Nice 2nd Off a 4 Month Layoff to Roundout the Weekend. Congrats to the entire DTD Family!

Congratulations to trainer Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, and their fantastic team for great work in getting Heart Stopper to break through after many trials and tribulations. He’s been a tough guy to figure out which makes this victory even more gratifying. The team also has Kingston Terrace at the top of her game right now. Prior to those 2 victories this weekend, Kara’s Angel also ran a real nice race off a 4 month layoff to run 2nd by 2 lengths in race 4 at Arlington Park on Friday.

Kudos to jockey Mitchell Murrill for his rides on Heart Stopper and Kara’s Angel. He proved once again that he’s one of the best at Arlington park and the “go to guy” for Dare To Dream Stable! Thanks as well to top jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. for his deft handling of Kingston Terrace in her latest triumph as well. He’s now 2 for 2 on the mare!

Finally, congrats to all our partners on this excellent weekend, including a special shout out to first time winning owners Mike and Wendy Hiser!

For further information on how you can get in on the action, click here.

Kingston Terrace wins impressively at Hawthorne Racecourse 4-12-15 in race #8!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s Kingston Terrace easily dispatched with her four other rivals in a 5 furlong dash that was moved off the turf at Hawthorne Racecourse on Sunday Afternoon. When the gates popped open, Kingston Terrace broke readily to immediately dispute the pace. She was joined from the inside, as expected, by the Larry Rivelli conditioned speedster, Nevermesswithrichie, and another speedy type in Distant Mesa from her outside. Kingston was in between her two foes through the short trip down the backside and when they approached the turn, jockey Emmanuel Esquivel did a great job of asking Kingston for a bit extra so he didn’t get squeezed going through the bend. Once they completed the turn for home, Kingston Terrace began to open up a small lead. When she hit the upper stretch, the bay daughter of Johannesburg began to extend her lead easily on the rest of the field. In deep stretch it was all but over. Under brisk handling by Esquivel, Kingston kept extending her lead to cross the wire in front by a widening 5 lengths over her closet rival, Distant Mesa. This was Kingston’s fourth win from eleven starts which also includes two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $61,965.00 in her career.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Partners on a very impressive victory. Trainer Mike Stidham did a fantastic job getting Kingston Terrace sharp and ready to run a great race. Kudos to jockey Emmanuel Esquivel who rode the mare like he was on the best horse from the moment the gates popped open.

Jockey Club Purchases Majority Interest in Bloodhorse Magazine

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The Jockey Club

 

 

 

 

THE JOCKEY CLUB PURCHASES MAJORITY STAKE IN BLOOD-HORSE MAGAZINE; JOHN KEITT NEW CEO

The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced today that The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc. has purchased a majority ownership interest in Blood-Horse magazine. The purchase also includes related digital and custom….. Read more

Barn Notes: Friday, July 5, 2013

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In Today’s Notes: A Series of Firsts on the Fourth for Apprentice Colvin; Donegal Duo Probable to Take on Defending Champ Rahystrada in Arlington ‘Cap; Colonial Flag, La Tia and Strathnaver Highlight Modesty Probables

A SERIES OF FIRSTS ON THE FOURTH FOR APPRENTICE COLVIN
Thursday’s Independence Day card opener provided a first in the first for a first to kick off a great day of racing.  Jockey Samantha Colvin made her first ever start at Arlington International Racecourse a winning one in the maiden claiming event on Dare to Dream Stable’s Prince of Madness in the first race of the day.

An apprentice with only 76 previous career rides, Colvin was understandably ecstatic after what was her 10th career win. “It feels outstanding.  It was a perfect trip,” she expressed with a smile.  “(Prince of Madness) did everything I asked of him and when it was time to go, he went.  He was very patient for me.  I could not have asked for anything better.”

Ingrid Mason, the leading female trainer in wins and purses at the current meet, trains Prince of Madness. “Before I came I was riding at another track and when I decided to come here, (Mason) was one of the first people nice enough to let me ride a horse of hers,” explained Colvin.

Prior to coming to Arlington, Colvin was riding in Maryland and did not win her first race until May 2 of this year at Pimlico Race Course.  Since that victory at Old Hilltop, she is scoring at a 13% strike rate and has been in the top three 36% of the time.  On Friday she rides again in the nightcap on Rosie’s Wild Tale for owner Ruman Stable and trainer Mike Dini.

DONEGAL DUO PROBABLE TO TAKE ON DEFENDING CHAMP RAHYSTRADA IN ARLINGTON ‘CAP
The upcoming 78th running of the Grade III $200,000 Arlington Handicap has lured some talented nominees for its July 13 renewal.  The highly regarded Dullahan, a multiple Grade I winner,  invades from Kentucky to head a field that may include the likes of the quickly improving Coalport and two-time Arlington Handicap winner defending champion Rahystrada.

A winner of over $1.7 million in a 16-race career, Dullahan will be making his first start since a lackluster two-race Dubai attempt in which he finished 11th in two stakes, including the $10 million Dubai World Cup.  The son of Even the Score will also be making his first start on turf since last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Turf, where he finished ninth.  Despite having never won a turf race in five attempts, Dullahan’s 115 Equibase Speed Figure in that Breeders’ Cup Turf is higher than any of the fellow nominees have achieved on the grass.

Owner Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing also plans to start Finnegans Wake in the Arlington Handicap.  Runner-up in last year’s Grade I $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, over the course and distance of the Arlington Handicap, Finnegans Wake is exiting a well beaten fourth in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day.  Though he has never won a stakes, the son of 2005 Arlington Million winner Powerscourt has finished in the top four in three Grade I events.

Both Finnegans Wake and Dullahan are trained by Dale Romans,  who hopes to use the race as a prep for the Million for Finnegans Wake.  Dullahan, on the other hand, has his sights set on defending his title in August’s Pacific Classic, which – like the Million – is a Grade I with a $1 million purse.  The Arlington Handicap is the last local prep for the Million – a race Romans has finished first and second in with his only two starters, including last year’s winner Little Mike.

Probable to take on the Donegal duo will be defending Arlington Handicap champion Rahystrada.  With more than $1.2 million in earnings and a placing in last year’s Million, Robert E. Courtney, Jr.’s 9-year-old looks to return to winning form in the event that provided his only victory of 2012.

Like last year, the race will be Rahystrada’s third of the year and comes after a decent performance in a graded stakes.  Last out, the Byron Hughes trainee finished fourth in the Grade II Monmouth Stakes on the Jersey Shore.   The gelded son of Rahy has finished out of the top four only once in his last 10 starts.

From an old reliable to new kids on the block – the probables for this year’s Arlington Handicap also includes the quickly improving and lightly raced horses Coalport and Keep Up.  The Illinois-bred Coalport was an expert winner of the restricted Black Tie Affair Handicap last out over the local turf, which followed an equally as facile victory in an Arlington allowance.  The son of Kitten’s Joy is owned by leading national owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and conditioned by leading Arlington trainer Wayne Catalano.  An undefeated 3-for-3 over the surface, 4-year-old Coalport will be attempting 10 furlongs for the first time in his 12-race career – a distance he is bred to relish.

Mill Ridge Farm’s Keep Up, like Coalport, is coming off an impressive local stakes win for his connections.  On June 8, the Alex Clarkson trainee displayed a flashy late kick to mow down graded stakes winners Corporate Jungle and Workin for Hops in the Listed Swoon’s Son Stakes.  A son of Kentucky Oaks winner Keeper Hill, 6-year-old Keep Up will be making only the 14th start of his career.

Other probables worth noting include Lothenbach Stable’s Mister Marti Gras, who was third last year in this race and exits a hard-charging second in the Grade III Hanshin Cup for trainer Chris Block.  Also, Shadwell Stable’s Najjaar, who was third in last year’s Arlington Classic, comes into the race in sharp form following a third, beaten only a half-length, in the Grade III Louisville Handicap for trainer Danny Peitz.

COLONIAL FLAG, LA TIA AND STRATHNAVER HIGHLIGHT MODESTY PROBABLES
Graded stakes winners Colonial Flag, La Tia and Strathnaver head an accomplished group of probables for the 57th running of the Grade III $200,000 Modesty Handicap on July 13.  Run over 1 3/16-miles, the Modesty serves as the course and distance final local prep for the Aug. 17 Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes.

Colonial Flag, owned by a partnership of Skara Glen Stables, William S. Farish and George Prussin, is being pointed toward the Modesty following her seasonal debut – a respectable third in the Grade III Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs.  In 2012, as a sophomore, the daughter of Pleasant Tap won the Grade III Ontario Colleen at Woodbine and placed in two other graded stakes for trainer Michael Matz.

Hernandez Racing Club’s local favorite La Tia, a winner of five of six Arlington starts, looks to continue her career form in the Modesty for trainer Armando De La Cerda.  A confirmed frontrunner, La Tia comes off a two consecutive wire-to-wire wins over the local lawn, including a 3½-length victory in the restricted Lincoln Heritage Handicap on June 15.  The four-time stakes winning daughter of City Place will look win at a furlong farther than she ever has on the grass.

Andrew Stone’s Strathnaver, a winner of two of her three American starts for trainer Graham Motion, won the Grade III Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland in April in her second stateside start.  Last out, the daughter of European champion Oasis Dream threw in a clunker in the Grade II Sheepshead Bay at Belmont Park.  She is also cross-nominated in the Grade III $150,000 Stars and Stripes Stakes at the same 12 furlongs at which she won the Bewitch, but is assumed to be more likely to enter the Modesty on the same day.

Other interesting probable are Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s improving Tipsy, a long-striding daughter of Kitten’s Joy trained by Wayne Catalano.  Last out, Tipsy chased La Tia home in the Lincoln Heritage in what was yet another step up in form for the filly.  Also, Shadwell Stable’s Ausus has been pointing toward the Modesty since an unlucky fourth in the Grade III Arlington Matron on May 25 over the main track.  A filly who will appreciate the increase in distance, Ausus is trained by Danny Peitz.

The Arlington Handicap and Modesty fields, along with those of the still developing Stars and Stripes Stakes and Grade III American Derby, make up the graded stakes on Million Preview Day, July 13.