Hill 'n' Dale (Hill n Dale) Farm is a full service thoroughbred facility in KY, standing Theatrical

Starrer's first foal

Posted: 2/21/2005 6:57:00 PM ET

Multiple Grade 1 winner Starrer produces first foal

Multiple Grade 1 winner Starrer delivered her first foal, a Danzig filly, on February 19 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington.

"This is an outstanding first foal," said Donato Lanni, director of bloodstock services at Hill ‘n’ Dale.

Starrer won five graded stakes, including the 2003 Santa Margarita Invitational (G1) and Santa Maria (G1) Handicaps. The half sister to two-time Grade 1 winner Stellar Jayne won six of 20 career starts and earned $1,043,033 for owner George Krikorian.

The seven-year-old daughter of Dynaformer out of To the Hunt, by Relaunch, will be bred back to A.P. Indy this season.

Back to top

Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm lands Blanchard as resident veterinarian
Date Posted: 12/20/2004 10:20:00 PM ET

Terry Blanchard, D.V.M., a professor of equine theriogenology at Texas A&M for the past 17 years, will join Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm as the Lexington farm’s resident veterinarian beginning January 1.

Blanchard has conducted research on stallion testicular dysfunction and is recognized as an authority on stallion fertility and mare reproduction.

"We are privileged and honored to welcome Dr. Blanchard to Hill ‘n’ Dale. His reputation, experience, and extraordinary talents in the area of equine reproduction are without equal," said John Sikura Jr., president of Hill ‘n’ Dale. "We are in the breeding business and what greater opportunity than to have the man that literally wrote the book on young stallion fertility and getting mares in foal head up our veterinary services division."

Blanchard said he is looking forward to the new opportunity.

"I’m excited to become resident veterinarian at Hill ‘n’ Dale, a place which will afford me the opportunity to work on some of the most elite athletes in the breed in a physical environment that is absolutely breathtaking with a group of people whose singular mandate is excellence," Blanchard said.

Blanchard will replace George Mundy, D.V.M., who in October resigned his position as resident veterinarian to pursue other endeavors within the industry

Back to top

Marquetry to Hill 'n' Dale; Fee $7,500

Date Posted: 10/26/2004 4:57:34 PM
Last Updated: 10/26/2004 5:43:59 PM

Marquetry, sire of two Breeders' Cup winners, arrived Tuesday at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington from Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington. According to Sikura, 17-year-old Marquetry will stand for $7,500, down from $12,500 in 2004.

Marquetry, a grade I winner and millionaire, has sired 20 stakes winners, 24 stakes-placed runners, and the earners of $23.3 million. Two sons, Artax in 1999, and Squirtle Squirt two years later, were both Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winners and champion sprinters.

Marquerty, whose first crop contained six stakes winners, reached the $3.4 million mark in progeny earnings from 1999 though 2002 and sired the earners of $2.8 million in 2003. His progeny earnings for this year are $2.4 million.

As a racehorse, Marquetry hit the seven-figure mark two separate seasons on his way to $2.8 million in lifetime earnings. His big wins came in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), Meadowlands Cup (gr. I), and Eddie Read (gr. IT) Handicaps. A son of Conquistador Cielo, Marquetry was produced from the Vice Regent mare Regent's Walk.

Veterinarian Mundy resigns as general manager of Hill ‘n’ Dale

Dr. George Mundy, resident veterinarian and general manager of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, has resigned after seven years with the farm in order to pursue other endeavors within the industry.

Mundy, a former chief veterinarian of the Kentucky Racing Commission, has been a practicing veterinarian since 1983.

"Dr. Mundy was a valuable member of the staff at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms and we thank him for seven years of outstanding service," said Hill ‘n’ Dale President John Sikura. "In light of our continued growth and success and in an effort to better serve our clients, we will immediately begin a search for the best possible candidates for the positions of full-time resident veterinarian and full-time general manager."

CANDY RIDE TO HILL N DALE

Undefeated Candy Ride retired, headed to Hill ‘n’ Dale

The stellar but brief career of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Candy Ride (Arg) has officially ended after 12 months of aborted comeback attempts and he will join the stallion roster at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm near Lexington.

The five-year-old son of Ride the Rails, who has been plagued by foot and ankle problems over the past year, will stand for $10,000 next season.

A champion miler in his native Argentina, Candy Ride has not raced since his record-setting win in last year’s Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, when he defeated Medaglia d’Oro by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:59.11 for the 1 1/4 miles.

"I feel for all purposes he’d be better off at stud," trainer Ron McAnally told Daily Racing Form. "It looks like he’ll be going to [owner] John Sikura at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm. We’re drawing up the papers now. It doesn’t make sense to risk missing another breeding season. He’s too valuable not to give him a chance at stud."

Sikura added that Hill 'n' Dale has purchased a substantial interest in Candy Ride and will be partners with owners Sidney and Jenny Craig. The striking bay horse is expected to arrive at the farm by week's end at which point the final details surrounding the deal will be consummated.

"He's just an amazing racehorse, and I don't use that term lightly," Sikura said. "I first saw him run two years ago in Argentina and I've been interested in him ever since. When I saw him convert that form onto what I believe is the toughest race circut in the world in Southern California and dominate the best horses there, I thought that was unbelievable. I think he'll be the best value in Kentucky. I can't think of a horse in recent times who achieved what he did who will stand for that kind of value."

Bred in Argentina, Candy Ride won all three of his North American starts after McAnally purchased him on behalf of the Craigs from Miguel Wenceslao Alonso. The bay horse captured the San Isidro (Arg-G1) and Joaquin S. de Anchorena (Arg-G1) in his native country en route to being named champion miler in Argentina for the 2002-’03 season.

Candy Ride is out of the unraced Candy Stripes mare Candy Girl and is a half brother to Group 3 winner Candy Apple (Arg). Overall, he earned $749,149.

"Ron told me he was the best horse he's ever trained, and for a man as achieved as he is, that really tells you something about this horse," Sikura said.--Alicia Wincze

STELLAR JAYNE

Lukas Longshot Lands Mother Goose
by Blood-Horse Staff
Date Posted: 6/26/2004 9:41:49 PM
Last Updated: 6/27/2004 3:55:51 PM

Stellar Jayne shocks Ashado in the Mother Goose.
Photo: AP/NYRA Adam Coglianese
Stellar Jayne kicked away from even-money favorite Ashado in the final furlong to register a huge 2 1/2-length surprise in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Ridden expertly by Robby Albarado, Stellar Jayne was able to enjoy tepid early fractions while racing on the inside of Ashado and John Velazquez, who held a slight lead most of the way, before pulling away from the field . She completed the one-turn 1 1/8-mile event in 1:48 on a track that was upgraded to "fast" just before the race.

"She didn't break that alertly so I jumped on her right away," Albarado said. "Then she put herself in the race and from there on she was comfortable up the backside. Ashado ranged up to her and it looked like (John Velazquez) had a lot of horse so I said 'you know what, I'm going to ride her from here.' Turning for home, she just exploded. She ran great."

Island Sand, who fought jockey Terry Thompson down the backstretch, lacked any response in the lane after making a three-wide move on the turn and finished third, 4 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Trained by D. Wayne Lukas for owners Spendthrift Farm, Nancy Cole, Charles Kidder and Nick Strong, the gray filly paid $61.50, $12.60 and $4 and keyed a $146.50 exacta. Lukas won his sixth Mother Goose. He last scored in 1995 with Serena's Song following wins with Open Mind (1989), Fiesta Gal (1987), Life At The Top (1986) and Life's Magic (1984).

Stellar Jayne was seventh behind the winning Ashado, beaten by 10 lengths, in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) April 30. She bounced back from the performance with a 3 1/2-length win in the Dogwood Breeders Cup (gr. III) June 5 at Churchill Downs. Ashado was making her first start since taking the Oaks impressively.

Lukas' assistant, Peter Hutton, said Stellar Jayne had hinted of a big effort following her break-out win in the Dogwood.

"Wayne expected her to be in the first three," Hutton said. "Obviously coming in, you don't expect to beat Ashado, but as well as she was doing, she had to have a shot."

Ashado inherited the early lead when no one else wanted it and she and Stellar Jayne on her inside took the compact field through fractions of :23 4/5, :47 and 1:10 4/5. Island Sand, held up toward the rear of the six-horse field but only three lengths off the pace, fought her way into contention when finally unleashed, but she could not go with the leaders through the long Belmont stretch.

Ashado returned $2.90 and $2.20 and Island Sand was $2.60 to show.

Miss Coronado, Daydreaming and Society Selection completed the order.

Stellar Jayne, a daughter of Wild Rush–To the Hunt (by Relaunch), was bred in Kentucky by Wind Hill Farm and sold at Fasig-Tipton in November 2001 for $150,000.

She won for the fifth time in 13 lifetime starts and increased her career earnings to $446,551.

Hutton said the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), the second leg of the Triple Tiara series at 1 1/4 miles July 24, would be a likely target for Stellar Jayne.

Ashado's trainer Todd Pletcher said she was tired at the end and she should be sharper for the Coaching Club American Oaks.

"She hadn't run since April 30," he said. "Hopefully this will move her forward for the next one."

Larry Jones, trainer of Island Sand, said, "Terry (Thompson) said she was making a lot of racket breathing. When she cools out, we'll get her scoped and see what we have. Terry said he had a lot of horse and then she just quit. There's a real good shot she's entrapped or displaced. That's something we can fix."

The Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 21 is the final leg of the New York Racing Association's filly triple.

MEDAGLIA D'ORO

By DAVID GRENING

Horsephotos

The retired Medaglia d' Oro was second in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2002 and 2003.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Medaglia d'Oro, a multiple Grade 1 winner who finished first or second in 15 of 17 career starts, has been sold and will stand at stud at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky., as the property of Never Tell Farm. He will not race again.

Audrey Haisfield's Never Tell Farm purchased Medaglia d'Oro from Edmund Gann for an undisclosed sum. The deal is to be finalized by the middle of the week. Shortly thereafter, Medaglia d'Oro will be shipped from Bobby Frankel's Hollywood Park barn to Kentucky where he will stand the 2005 season.

Medaglia d'Oro, a son of El Prado, went 8-7-0 from 17 career starts and earned $5,754,720. He went 3 for 3 at Saratoga, winning the Jim Dandy and Travers at 3 and the Whitney at 4. His other stakes wins include the Oaklawn Park Handicap, Donn Handicap, Strub Handicap, and San Felipe. He twice finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic and, in his last start, finished second to 2003 Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect in the Dubai World Cup.

"The people that bought him and the guy that owned him felt he had done plenty," said Mark Reid, the bloodstock agent who purchased the horse for Gann in 2002 and who assisted in brokering this deal. "After all those Grade 1's and going undefeated at Saratoga they felt he had done enough. He was a real nice horse. He reminded me of Smarty Jones in one way: He didn't need to carry his racetrack with him. He beat them at Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Oaklawn, and he killed them at Saratoga."

At Hill 'n' Dale, Medaglia d'Oro joins a stallion roster that includes Theatrical, Jade Hunter, Vindication, Stormy Atlantic, Doneraile Court, Buddha, El Corredor, Mutakddim and Vision and Verse.

"He's a wonderful race horse, has been a great racehorse for 3 years," said John Sikura, owner of Hill 'n' Dale Farm. "He's a big, magnificent individual, and to stand a horse of those credentials you have to be excited at the reception we expect to get from breeders. We're aggressively looking for well-conformed, excellent racehorses, and he's one of those horses."

Sikura said a stud fee has not been set and probably won't be until fall. "It'll be good value for breeders, but it will also reflect the achievements and significance of the horse," he said.

Frankel called Medaglia d'Oro a great horse who "tried really hard all the time."

The only two times Medaglia d'Oro finished worse than second were in the 2002 Kentucky Derby, when he ran a trip-troubled fourth, and that year's Preakness, when he inexplicably finished eighth.

"I'll miss him," Frankel said, before nodding at Medaglia d'Oro's stablemate Peace Rules, and adding, "I'm hoping this guy can take his place."

Frankel said Peace Rules, also owned by Gann, would run again next year.

A memorable career

Medaglia d'Oro was first or second in all but two of his 17 starts.

Date Race Track Finish

March 27, 2004 Dubai World Cup Nad Al Sheba 2nd

Feb. 7, 2004 Donn Handicap Gulfstream 1st

Oct. 25, 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic Santa Anita 2nd

Aug. 24, 2003 Pacific Classic Del Mar 2nd

Aug. 2, 2003 Whitney Handicap Saratoga 1st

April 5, 2003 Oaklawn Handicap Oaklwan 1st

Feb. 1, 2003 Strub Santa Anita 1st

Oct. 2, 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic Arlington 2nd

Aug. 24, 2002 Travers Saratoga 1st

Aug. 4, 2002 Jim Dandy Saratoga 1st

June 8, 2002 Belmont Stakes Belmont 2nd

May 18, 2002 Preakness Pimlico 8th

May 4, 2002 Kentucky Derby Churchill 4th

April 13, 2002 Wood Memorial Aqueduct 2nd

March 17, 2002 San Felipe Santa Anita 1st

Feb. 9, 2002 Maiden Special Weight Oaklawn 1st

Dec. 7, 2001 Maiden Special Weight Turfway 2nd

KEEP Meeting Draws Strong Horse Industry Response
by Tom LaMarra
Date Posted: 5/27/2004 8:18:51 AM
Last Updated: 5/27/2004 11:30:49 AM

KEEP chairman Brereton C. Jones.
Anne M. Eberhardt Photo

In a strong display of solidarity, more than 600 members of the horse industry packed the visitors' center at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington May 26 for the first town hall meeting held by the Kentucky Equine Education Project. Several participants said they were blown away by the turnout.

KEEP, officially launched in early May, set forth its goals and objectives for 2004. One of them is to raise $1.5 million to support its mission of educating the public and the legislature of the importance of the horse industry to the Kentucky economy.

The horse industry--racing and breeding in particular--received a cold shoulder if not rejection during the 2004 legislative session. For the past three years, a racetrack-led coalition has pushed for alternative gaming with no success. KEEP has shied away from even discussing the issue or any proposed legislation.

KEEP vice chairman Bill Casner of WinStar Farm said the objective is to "make sure Kentucky remains the horse capital of the United States, and the horse capital of the world." He said there would be a "campaign for recognition in Frankfort," but he didn't discuss specifics.

KEEP chairman Brereton Jones of Airdrie Stud said no decisions have been made on legislative initiatives, and in fact it could be almost two years before KEEP is ready to flex its muscles with the legislature. The 2005 session is a short 30 days.

"I don't think we'll be ready to influence the General Assembly in 2005," Jones said. "We won't be ready to be a major influence until 2006. This is a common-sense plan, but it's not doable overnight. This is a sweat-equity operation."

KEEP unveiled is charter membership structure with various categories and contributions that range from $100,000 to $5. Jones said the plan was to keep the minimum at $100, but he got an e-mail message from a good friend, Ed Ashcraft, who told him not to forget the little guys.

The $10 membership is dubbed "cavalry." Ashcraft, who operates Ashcraft Farm in Owenton, happened to be on hand for the town hall meeting.

"You're going to have to call them out (to make trips to Frankfort)," Ashcraft said of the many smaller horse farmers and horse industry supporters that may not be able to afford large contributions. "You need the numbers. Otherwise, you'll have an elitist organization."

Ashcraft raises Thoroughbreds, Paints, and Quarter Horses. Though many attendees at the meeting are in the Thoroughbred business, many other breeds were represented. Jones offered statistics that show Kentucky has one horse per every 20.5 people, the highest per capita of major racing states.

Among the Standardbred breeders on hand was Dr. Luel Overstreet, who has a farm in western Kentucky. In the 1970s and 1980s, Overstreet would breed about 70 mares in Kentucky, and most to his own stallions. Now, he has about 30 mares, all of which are bred in Indiana.

Catherine Parke, who owns Valkyre Stud near Georgetown, said she hooked up with a client who wanted to purchase three 2-year-olds in training this year. She picked out horses--all Kentucky-breds--and was astounded at his response.

"I showed him my list and he said, 'I don't want a Kentucky-bred. I want a New York-bred, a Maryland-bred, or a Pennsylvania-bred.' He ended up buying two New York-breds and a Pennsylvania-bred. It devastated me."

KEEP officials said the number of mares bred in Kentucky dropped by 1,052 in 2001-2002. New York, meanwhile, has registered seven years of growth.

The plan is to hire an executive director and support staff by July 1, and have a board of directors in place by the same date. (Jones said representatives of every breed of horse in the state would "have a voice on the board.") KEEP will develop an advisory council, recruit chairpersons for each of the state's 120 counties, and develop new economic data.

John Long, chief executive officer of the United States Equestrian Federation, remembered when he used to work as a top-level official for Churchill Downs Inc. and Ladbrokes. The companies were pursuing alternative gaming and frequently had to deal with various legislatures.

"There has not been another state in the country that has put together this organization this quickly," Long said. "It's not too little, too late."

FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION

Lady Tak was named champion three-year-old filly. Bred by the late John Franks, the daughter of Mutakddim scored wins in the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and finished second in three Grade 1 races for owner Heiligbrodt Racing Stable.

The Florida-bred champions are selected by a panel of five racing secretaries: three based in Florida, one in New York and one in California. There are 10 nominees in each division and past performances on the season for all the horses are provided to the racing secretaries. Votes are cast for the top three in each division. The results are then tabulated and announced by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

The Florida-bred champions, their breeders, owners and trainers, were honored at the annual FTBOA Awards Dinner on Monday evening, March 15, at Steinbrenner’s Ramanda Yankee Inn in Ocala.

Wild San Felipe Worth Preachin' About
by Jack Shinar
Date Posted: 3/14/04 7:11:27 PM
Last Updated: 3/14/04 8:23:04 PM

Jockey Javier Santiago drives Preachinatthebar to victory in the San Felipe.
Photo: Benoit

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert is on top of the game again after Preachinatthebar narrowly won the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Sunday, Baffert's second major Derby prep win in the past week.

Preachinatthebar, a gray son of Baffert's 1997 Kentucky Derby (gr I) winner Silver Charm, held off 13-10 favorite St Averil by a diminishing nose in a time of 1:42 4/5 for the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe. It was 4 1/2 lengths back to Harvard Avenue in third.

Baffert's Wimbledon, another late-developing gray colt, was a convincing winner of the March 7 Louisiana Derby (gr. II).

Mike Pegram, who campaigned 1998 Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet with Baffert, bred and owns Preachinatthebar.

Action This Day, the juvenile champion of 2003, weakened and finished seventh, his second out-of-the-money performance in a row.

The race was complicated when 60-1 Laditude stumbled coming out of the gate and dumped Mike Smith. The loose horse caused problems for several horses. Jockey Javier Santiago, aboard Preachinatthebar, said the horse's presence made it difficult for him to get his high-strung colt to relax in the early part of the race.

But Preachinatthebar was able to settle into a stalking position while off the rail behind stablemate Odds On, who was full of energy early while leading through an opening quarter mile of :23 1/5 and a half in :46 4/5. Preachin' moved up on the outside of Odds On to take a short lead on the far turn.

He edged clear in the stretch by a 1 1/2 lengths and held on gamely in the final furlong under left-handed urging over a determined St Averil, who was ridden by Tyler Baze to a tremendous conclusion.

"I was taking my time with him," Baffert said. "He was a little bit late coming around but he ran like we thought he would. He got a little rank. He went after Odds On ... Santiago said the loose horse (Latitude) made him go and that's why he made that move a little bit early.

"I thought he was going to run a big race. Santiago had to make that early run at Odds On and that's probably why he looked like he was getting caught at the end. But that loose horse was sort of messing things up for us.

"I'm just happy for Mike Pegram. It's been a little dry for us lately but I told him I still have a lot of faith in this horse. He's starting to fill out and you don't know how exciting it is to win a stake with (a) Silver Charm. He's going to be a great sire. I love that horse."

Santiago, a 26-year-old rider from Puerto Rico, broke in at Santa Anita on Feb. 4 with agent Tony Matos.

"(Today's race) was the way we planned it, being close to the pace," he said through a translator. "Baffert wanted the other horse on the lead. I had a relaxed position coming to the first turn, and I saw the horse (Laditude) coming in inside of me, and my horse got bumped and took off on me. I had to gear him down again, and continue riding my own race."

Santiago also rides Wimbledon.

Baze blamed interference from the loose horse for St Averil's loss.

"Mike Smith's horse cost me the race. That's it. I was five-wide at the turn. I still thought I won it."

St Averil was four wide into the first turn but stayed close to the pace throughout, making a wide bid in the stretch to just miss.

Harvard Avenue was reserved early for Jon Court, angling out in the stretch to outfinish Cheiron by a length for third.

Last Minute Detail was fifth, followed by Odds On, Action This Day (the 5-2 second choice) and Toasted. Boss Nass and Rush Into Heaven scratched.

Mandella said Action This Day ran into problems early.

"When he went into the first turn there was some jamming and he's got a big gash behind his ankle on his right hind leg," he said. "We just have to hope it's not too bad."

Preachinatthebar has shown an improving pattern since breaking his maiden Dec. 17. He was jumped into stakes company, running fourth to St Averil in the Santa Catalina (gr. II) Jan. 17, although he lost by only 3 1/2 lengths. He closed well to be third in the Sham Feb. 8, losing by a length to Master David.

The winner of two of seven career starts, Preachinatthebarr is out of the Silver Deputy mare Holy Nola, named for a popular Southern California track bartender, Nola Ferraro. The victory, worth $150,000, tripled his career earnings to $201,588.

"We've known (Ferraro) for the last 12 years and she's a born-again Christian," Baffert said. "We named Holy Nola after her and when this foal was born, that's where he (Pegram) got the name, Preachinatthebar because when you go to Nola you get a drink you get a little bit of a blessing at the same time."

The fourth choice in a field of nine, Preachinatthebar paid $19.20, $6.60 and $4.60. St Averil returned $3.20 and $2.80. Harvard Avenue's show was $5.20. The $2 exacta was worth $50.20.

Cat Fighter Tops Thoroughbred Corp Dispersal

Cat Fighter Tops Thoroughbred Corp. Dispersal
by Deirdre B. Biles
Date Posted: 3/2/04 7:21:06 PM
Last Updated: 3/3/04 1:35:52 AM

Cat Fighter, right, overtakes Fencelineneighbor to win the La Canada Stakes.
Benoit Photo
Cat Fighter didn't make as big a splash as some had expected. But at $1,350,000, the recent La Canada Stakes (gr. II) winner still topped The Thoroughbred Corp.'s dispersal Tuesday at Barretts in Southern California.

John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Kentucky, purchased the 4-year-old daughter of Storm Cat out of the grade I winner Strategic Maneuver (by Cryptoclearance). His partners in the filly will be Richard and Audrey Haisfield, who recently purchased Gaillardia, a farm near Versailles, Ky., that formerly was owned by E.K. Gaylord Jr.

Richard Mulhall, The Thoroughbred Corp.'s key adviser, had estimated prior to the sale that Cat Fighter would bring in the $2-million to $3-million range. Sikura also was anticipating a higher price.

"I thought she was a $2-million-plus filly, and I didn't expect to be able to buy her," Sikura said.

Cat Fighter will remain in training with Bob Baffert.

"She's a well-credentialed filly, and she's well-bred," Sikura said. "She had a great performance in her last start, and she's on top of her game."

Cat Fighter, who is half-sister to Irish group III winner Ishiguru (by Danzig), edged Fencelineneighbor by a head in the Feb. 14 La Canada. In January, she finished third in the El Encino Stakes (gr. II). Winner of three of her seven career starts, Cat Fighter has earned $209,800.

The second-highest-priced horse in the dispersal at $700,000 was multiple graded winner Atlantic Ocean, a 4-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic out of the winning Seattle Slew mare Super Chef. Her buyers were the Haisfields, who were accompanied by Mike Akers of Kentucky-based Dapple Bloodstock.

The Haisfields live in California, where they are in the commercial real estate business and own vineyards. They plan to move to Kentucky soon. They have renamed Gaillardia, calling it NeverTell Farm. In addition to Atlantic Ocean and the interest in Cat Fighter, they bought the 4-year-old Tale of the Cat filly Honest Answer from The Thoroughbred Corp. dispersal. Later in the day, during the Barretts March juvenile auction that followed the dispersal, the Haisfields bought a Victory Gallop -- Buck's Lady colt named Memories Made for $500,000. He will be trained by Baffert.

The Haisfields are putting together a commercial band of 10-12 quality mares. They own a majority interest in the stallion Doneraile Court, who stands at Hill 'n' Dale.

Atlantic Ocean brought $1.9 million from The Thoroughbred Corp. at the 2002 Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training, setting what then was a world record for a juvenile filly sold at public auction. An earner of $678,210, she has won five of 19 career starts.

In all, 52 horses were sold in The Thoroughbred Corp.'s dispersal for a gross of $6,435,200, an average price of $124,100, and a median price of $43,500. The Thoroughbred Corp. was owned by Prince Ahmed Salman, who died in 2002.

"It all has to end sometime, but I'm happy because everybody sold well," said trainer Kristin Mulhall, who was the consignor for the dispersal. "They all sold for about what I thought they would."

Mulhall is the daughter of Richard Mulhall.

Dr. Noah Cohen, Texas A & M University

First year: $43,047

A renowned researcher based at Texas A & M, Dr. Cohen will conduct this project in association with Dr. Nathan Slovis of Hagyard-Davidson-McGee, Dr. George Mundy of Hill ‘n Dale Farm, and others. The research will address the organism responsible for foal pneumonia, a common and often fatal disease for which there is no effective vaccine. Treatment to date involves administration of R. equi hyperimmune plasma, which is given after the disease is contracted but is not universally effective and, moreover, is expensive and labor intensive. This project will test whether some mares shed more R. equi in feces than others and thus indicate their foals are at increased risk. If that is the case, incidence of the disease might be reduced by identifying heavy shedders and administering the hyperimmune plasma to their foals in advance, as a preventive rather than a response to the foal being sick. [It will be noted that the most highly rated project also addressed foal pneumonia. These are separate, but compatible approaches. Successful development of a vaccine would improve on the method of hyperimmune plasma, but identification of foals under abnormally high risk of pneumonia would remain a useful step.

Click here for the full story.