8/17/09 - Gayego Returns a Winner

Courtesy of the TDN

3rd-SAR, $59,780, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($100,000), C, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09 1/5, ft.
1--GAYEGO, 122, c, 4, Gilded Time--Devils Lake (SW,
   $103,785), by Lost Code. ($32,000 yrl '06 KEESEP).
   O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Hargus & Sandra Sexton
   (KY); T-Saeed bin Suroor. Lifetime Record: GSW-US
   & UAE, 10-5-2-0, $799,620.
2--Digger, 120, g, 5, Yonaguska--Da Choice, by Dehere.
3--Tend, 118, c, 4, Dynaformer--Liable, by Seeking the
   Gold.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.75, 2.30, 11.80.
Gayego, off since running second in the G2 Godolphin Mile Mar. 28, made a triumphant return to the U.S. The four-year-old was runner-up to Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule) in the GII San Felipe S. in March of his sophomore year, then followed up with a 3/4-length tally in the GII Arkansas Derby in April. The wheels came off in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness and he was shelved until the fall. A disappointing seventh when returning to sprints in the Damascus S. at Santa Anita in late October, he got back on track with a sharp confidence-boosting score in a Hollywood optional claimer in November that established a new track record for 6 1/2 furlongs (1:13.37). That would be his last start with trainer Paulo Lobo, as Gayego was purchased privately by trainer A.C. Avila, who then resold the colt to Godolphin. Making his first start wearing the famous blue silks, Gayego beat Big City Man (Northern Afleet) and Diabolical (Artax) in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal at Nad Al Sheba Mar. 5, but could do no better than second to Two Step Salsa (Petionville) in the Godolphin Mile 23 days later. Off since, Gayego was hammered down to odds-on favoritism and didn't disappoint. He rated toward the back of a tightly packed group, made an ominous three-wide move on the turn, lost a bit of momentum turning into the stretch, but was along in plenty of time.

8/11/09 - Golden Opportunity: Ferguson Lands Medaglia D'Oro Colt At FTSAUG

7/20/09 - Warrendale Consigns F-T July 2009 Topper For Whitechurch Farm

DOWN BUT NOT OUT AT FASIG-TIPTON JULY
Courtesy of the TDN
Photo by Z

At the end of the opening session of Fasig-Tipton's July Sale of Selected Yearlings, officials were left scratching their heads as to what to do to stop the hemorrhaging. But by the time the last yearling strolled through the ring at the end of Day 2, there appeared to emerge a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the session average of $87,117 dropped a mere 4.3 percent from last year's $91,043. "Based on [Monday's session], I wouldn't have been surprised if we were down more," said Faisg- Tipton Chairman Walt Robertson. "Truthfully, I am thrilled we were only down less than 5 percent [for average on Day 2]."

Helping to bolster that average on the second day was hip 250. Only the third horse through the ring, the daughter of sophomore sire Medaglia d'Oro offered more evidence that her sire is one of the hottest young sires in the country. In the days leading up to the sale, the bay drew plenty of admirers, but in the end, it was John Ferguson who signed the ticket for Darley. Purchased for $425,000, the Feb. 29 foal was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Anne and David Hanley's Whitechurch Farm. One of five fillies by the Darley sire offered at July, the bay is out of Ting a Folie (Arg) (Careafolie {Ire}), a multiple group winner in Argentina

Warrendale's Kitty Taylor said, "She is just a lovely filly. She has a beautiful cap on her and has just a lovely walk. She has always had the right attitude and is by the right stallion. We felt pretty solid with the filly, so we were pleased with the price we got. I'm very pleased for the Hanley's."

The 13-year-old mare, who was purchased with this filly in utero by Kelly Farms Racing for $70,000 at KEEJAN in 2008, is a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner Campesino (Arg). Church secured hip 250 for $85,000 at Keeneland January seven months ago. "We really loved her," said White Church Farm's David Hanley. "We were very high on the stallion and obviously, Medaglia d'Oro has turned out to be a really sensational stallion. She has done really well in the time we have had her."

At this venue last time, the White Church Farm and Warrendale duo teamed up to sell the sale topper, a filly by Exchange Rate who brought $375,000. AWe love to sell here," said Hanley."We have had such good success here. Fasig-Tipton also does such a great job promoting the sale, and in the time that the new management came in, they have worked so hard to improve the sale."

Welker-Bred filly Brings $370,000 At Fasig-Tipton July 2009

ALL MEDAGLIA D'ORO, ALL THE TIME
Courtesy of the TDN
Photo by Z

The Medaglia d'Oro juggernaut showed no signs of slowing down late in yesterday's session as hip 471, a filly by the Darley stallion, realized a $370,000 final bid from Steve Davison's Twin Creek Farm. Consigned by Warrendale Sales on behalf of the filly's breeder Bert Welker, the dark bay is out of the unraced Peridot (Gilded Time). The 10-year-old mare, who is a full-sister to GSW Elaborate, is a great-grand daughter of champion and Grade I winner Smart Angle (Quadrangle).

Twin Creek racing manager Randy Gullatt signed the ticket on behalf of Louisiana-based Davison. Formerly a strictly private racing entity, Twin Creek now operates as a racing partnership--Twin Creek Racing--and currently has 16 horses split between trainers Todd Pletcher and Mike Maker. "She was just a standout Medaglia d'Oro," Gullatt said of hip 471. "The best physical in the sale. She had so much class, great size, a great body and great stretch. She had everything we were looking for."

According to Gullatt, the Jan. 11 foal will be taken to Florida to be broken in the fall, and a decision as to where the filly may race will be decided at a later date. "It all depends on where we need her to go," he said. Echoing the general theme of many buyers over the course of the two-day sale, Gullatt was pleased with the price. "I really thought she would bring more," admitted Gullatt. "She was just a standout."

Warrendale sold five of nine horses during Monday's opening session, but proved more successful yesterday, finding buyers for all but one of their yearlings. Among those successfully sold Tuesday were hip 442, a chestnut colt by Tapit who brought $180,000."It's been a really tough sale," said Warrendale's Kitty Taylor. "People are gravitating toward the proven sires and the horses that jump through all the hoops and perform physically and vet-wise. We did well, so we're pleased with our results."

Stars of Fasig Tipton July - 2009

Hip #250 Medaglia d'Oro-Ting A Folie (ARG) Filly   For the second year in a row, Warrendale Sales consigned the Fasig-Tipton July sale-topper on behalf of David and Anne Hanley's Whitechurch Farm. John Ferguson purchased the filly for $425,000 Photos by Z

Hip #471 Medaglia d'Oro-Peridot Filly   Bert Welker's Medaglia d'Oro filly fetched the second-highest sale price at Fasig-Tipton on Tuesday, July 21st. Twin Creek Farm's Randy Gullatt went to $370,000 for the filly, who was bred by Welker and consigned by Warrendale Sales. Photos by Z

Hip # 442 Tapit-Miss Pine Top Az. Colt   Along with trainer Seth Benzel, Jim Pippo's Whitehall Stable purchased this colt for $180,000. Warrendale Sales consigned the colt for David and Anne Hanley's Whitechurch Farm. Photos by Z

7/12/09 - Warrendale Grad Necessary Evil Defeats Colts in Hollywood Juvenile

7/10/09 - OCTOGARIAN RECORDS WIN IN FIRST START AT HOLLYWOOD