News and Notes for October 20, 2017

TTA ONLINE STALLION SEASON AUCTION NOW OPEN
Thanks to the generosity of stallion owners across the region, you have the opportunity to purchase a 2018 breeding season while at the same time helping the TTA’s Political Action Committee, General Fund, Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund or Paddock Foundation.

To place see the list of available breedings and to place your bid, go to: https://texasthoroughbred.com/stall…/online-stallion-auction/

There is a bid closing deadline of 5pm Central on Thursday, November 2nd. Stallions listed include A. P. Million, Ballistic Kitten, Bradester, Bug a Boo Ben, Class Warfare, Congaree, Crossbow, Early Flyer, Expect a Lot, Grasshopper, Intimidator, Littleexpectations, Mr Besilu, My Golden Song, Orderly, Real Quiet Cat, Spellbinder, Stonesider, The Hunk and Too Much Bling.

If you would like to donate a stallion season for this auction, please contact Mary Ruyle at (512) 458-6133 or download the stallion season donation form.

ATB’S IN WEEKEND STAKES
There are two $50,000 turf stakes on tap this weekend at Retama Park that are restricted to Accredited Texas-breds: the 1 1/16 mile Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Fiesta Mile for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

Carded as race #6, the Hall of Fame Stakes has a field of nine, headed by 2-1 favorite Bonjour Baby (Sing Baby Sing – Secret Sweep), bred by Tom Durant. Trained by Johnny Johnston Jr., the gelding runs for Alvin Wong, and is coming off a win here on October 6th.

Danny Pish will send out multiple stakes winner Can’t Be Wrong (Broken Vow – Running Dispute). a homebred for Cary McNair’s Macassar Corporation. Can’t Be Wrong won this race last year by 1 ½ lengths and is looking to repeat.  He has odds of 3-1.

Bred by Joanne Schapiro, multiple stakes winner Magna Breeze (Magna /Graduate – Flashbulb Breeze) is now owned and trained by Steve Asmussen. Given odds of 4-1, the gelding’s last stakes win was a 3-length victory in the Houston Turf Stakes back in March.

Completing the field are Early Ride (Early Flyer – Miss My Ride), F J Uncle Vic (Uncle Abbie – Let Her Reign), Moojab Jr (Moojab – Ticket), Prince Isaac (Catienus – Cantrell Road), Tap That Word (Tapit – Word o’ Wisdom), and Uncle Witt (Uncle Abbie – Chromedoll).

There is a field of eleven competing in race #8, The Fiesta Mile, starting with Star Bright Thoroughbreds’ homebred 3-1 favorite Special Rockstar (Special Rate – Buckstar). The stakes placed mare finished 4th in her last out in the Ricks Memorial Stakes at Remington on September 24th.

Bred by Springhill Farm, Shezadoll (Early Flyer – Shezgoodasitgets) runs for Jerry Durant and Bill Jordan. Trained by Danny Pish, she won a turf mile claiming race by 2 ½ lengths at Remington Park on August 30th and has odds of 4-1.

Rounding out the field are April Sugar (Must Be Fair – Personal Finessa), Back Stage Bonita (Total Command – Center Stage Honey), Dagny (Scrimshaw – Shezamarkedword), Easter Ellie (My Golden Song – Dance With Dana), Sexy Dance (Voyagers Quest – Sexy Saint), Slew’s Song (My Golden Song – Classic Mirage), Soul Affair (Grasshopper – Mimi’s Affair), TX Confederaterose (Uncle Abbie – Aledo Affair), and Witt’s Town (Drums of Thunder – Fortunistic).

NOTES: Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala at Retama Park, 5pm on Saturday October 21…TRC Ad-Hoc Committee on Finance and Committee on Rules will meet at 1:30pm on Tuesday, October 24 at Sam Houston Race Park…Remember to send a letter to the TRC asap  in opposition to proposed amendments to Rule 309.B Racetrack License Fees, as published in the Texas Register.