NEWS AND NOTES FOR NOVEMBER 14, 2014
TTA NIGHT AT THE RACES FEATURES TEXAS STALLION STAKES
On Saturday, Retama Park will host the double feature of the Darby’s Daughter and the My Dandy divisions of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes Series, each worth $75,000 at a distance of six furlongs.
The Darby’s Daughter division for 2-year-old fillies is carded as the 6th race and has drawn a field of 8. Robert Luttrell’s undefeated homebred Promise Me Silver (Silver City – Uno Mas Promesa) is the 5-2 favorite, coming off a nice win in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes at Churchill on June 21st. The filly is trained by Bret Calhoun, who will also saddle Santacafe (Early Flyer – Cafe Pacific) for owner Douglas Scharbauer. Santacafe most recently finished 2nd in the TTA Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park in July.
Danny Pish will send out two in this race – Silver Akantha (Silver City – Wild Ditty), a homebred for the John Silverthorne Ranch, and W. S. Farish’s homebred Electrify (Too Much Bling – Head for the Shed).
Trainer Allen Milligan also has two competitors – Carol’s Flyer (Early Flyer – Deep Finesse), bred by Ed and Paula Larson and owned by Danny Keene, and Silver Spot (Silver City – Super San San), a homebred for Ronald Ellerbee.
Completing the field are Abbie Maria (Uncle Abbie – Virtuous Woman), a homebred for Gina Kutach and Tony Ramirez that is trained by J. Ray Bustamante, and Tea For Two (Valid Expectations – Bridal Tea), bred in partnership by W. S. Farish, and owned by Gerald and Brody Veal along with trainer Michael Whitelaw.
The My Dandy division for 2-year-old colts and geldings has drawn a competitive field of 9 and is carded as the 8th race. Douglas Scharbauer’s Silverhill (Silver City – Indian Nation) is the heavy favorite at 2-1. The Bret Calhoun-trained gelding finished 2nd in the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill in June and 5th in the $250,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga in July.
At 9-2, W V Jetsetter (Jet Phone – Better Than Most) boasts the highest earnings of the group, with $97,296 after a win in the $100,000 TTA Sales Futurity, and a 3rd in the $200,00 Saratoga Special in August. George Weaver trains the colt for owners R. A. Hill Stable & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.
Calhoun will also send out 6-1 Alamo City (Silver City – Most Magic) for owner Douglas Scharbauer.
Nublado Bling (Too Much Bling – General Reunion) has also been given odds of 6-1 after placing 2nd in the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes at Remington last month. The colt was bred by Thomas Castoldi and is trained by Jr. Martinez for owners Bronce – Plamat Stables and MTZ Racing.
Rounding out the field are Pop Song (Grasshopper – Funny Tune), a Farish homebred trained by Danny Pish; Avebury (Special Rate – Quiet Ling), bred by Culpepper Stock Company, owned by Richard Penn and trained by J. R. Caldwell; Justaphonecallaway (Jet Phone – Pleasuretohave) bred by Clarence Scharbauer Jr., owned by Danny Keene and trained by Allen Milligan; and Henry Witt homebreds Witt’s Tax Day (Drums of Thunder – Bill Collector) and Witt Six (Drums of Thunder – Taitt Hill), trained by Amanda Barton.
UPDATE ON LEGAL ACTION CONCERNING HISTORICAL RACING TERMINALS
Following are excerpts from this week’s Blood-Horse article on legal action concerning Historical Race Terminals:
A Texas district judge ruled November 10 that the Texas Racing Commission exceeded its authority when it approved rules allowing the state’s horse and dog racing tracks to install historical racing machines.
According to the Texas Tribune, Travis County District Court Judge Lora Livingston sided with a coalition of companies and groups that run charitable bingo operations and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, which operates the state’s only legal casino at Eagle Pass, ruling that the racing commission did not have the authority to allow the installation of the machines at the tracks. The plaintiffs that brought the suit were seeking a temporary injunction to block the installation of the machines.
Supporters of historical racing were considering their options in view of the judge’s decision.
“We were of course disappointed in the decision, but this is an extremely important issue to us, and at this time all parties are considering options as to what to do next,” said Mary Ruyle, executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association.
“Today’s decision is a blow to the Texas horse industry and to the thousands of hardworking horse men and women,” Sam Houston Race Park CEO Andrea Young said in a statement. “We obviously disagree with the judge’s decision and are considering our options.”
Please check the TTA website and Facebook page for further updates.
NOTES: Hightail (Mineshaft – Stormy Renee, by Storm Cat), winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, will stand the 2015 breeding season at Trophy Club Training Center in Royal, Arkansas, which is owned by TTA director Richard Hessee and his wife, Frances, of Goliad…Starting November 19, veterinarians employed by Gulfstream Park will administer all raceday furosemide shots under a track policy designed to keep private veterinarians out of the stalls of horses on raceday,..The second round of the TTA online auction of 2015 stallion breedings will open on Monday, November 17th, with bids closing at 5pm Central on Monday, December 1st. Check the TTA website at www.texasthoroughbred.com for details…Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!