Invasor Retires in June after Injury

On June 23rd, reports announced that Invasor retired after a fracture of his sesamoid bone in his pastern, an injury spot from earlier. He had hurt himself in a final workout at Belmont Park, preparing for the Suburban Handicap. His general manager said, "He's done everything we've ever asked of him. This is a huge disappointment for all of us as well as for the racing world." He won 11 of 12 starts, including winning 6 Grade 1 races in his last 6 starts. His only loss was to Discreet Cat who he turned around and beat in the 2007 $6 million Dubai World Cup. His wins in 2006 earned him the awards of Champion Older Male and Eclipse Horse of the Year! He retires in honor with $7.8 million in earnings and will stand at stud at his home at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, beginning in 2008 -- after a Summer, Fall, and Winter of "being horsey!"

Just as a reminder, Violet and Invasor share Blushing Groom on their sire side. Blushing Groom is Invasor's grand-sire, to his sire Candy Stripes, and for Violet, Blushing Groom sired Runaway Groom who sired Groomstick! You can read more about him at the following links:

http://www.horse-races.net/library/invasor-tribute.htm

or

http://www.shadwellfarm.com/

or

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WVGscpQ5534

or

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLrkVvT9El8

or

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xvzZJzgk1d4

Hill 'n Dale

This story is amazing. In April 2006, Tom invited Carla and myself to go on a "shed run" while we were visiting during Kentucky Rolex. We got up very early in the morning and Tom picked us up at our hotel in Paris, Kentucky with his trailer filled with a thoroughbred mare ready to visit Stormy Atlantic at Hill 'n Dale. When we arrived at this lovely green, quiet, early morning place, we were invited to sit in an elegant viewers' booth to watch the process, the very important date! Hill 'n Dale is a full facility farm in the heart of horse country Kentucky. And the year we visited, they reported was there best ever. They earned 4th overall at the September Yearling sales, and then 3rd overall at the November Breeding Stock sales at Keeneland. A highlight in 2006 was the selling of a $4.6 million yearling colt by Vindication which is a record for a freshman sire. Some fantastic stallions stand stud there, including Grand Reward who is out of Stormy Atlantic and Serena's Song (the 1995 Eclipse Award winner for 3 year-old filly of the year and earner of over $3.2 million track dollars). Besides the fabulous stallions they manage, they have some fantastic broodmare residents, including Better than Honour (Rags to Riches and Jazil's mom), Dance Smartly, and Quendom (mom to Invasor, 2006 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year), among a few. Hill 'n Dale is also the final resting place of Seattle Slew, 1977 Triple Crown winner, and A.P. Indy's sire! In the photo, you see Jazil winning the 2006 Belmont Stakes, and making his mom, Better than Honour, proud, and leading the way for his little sister, Rags! You can read more about this truly lovely, amazing, spectactular facility at their home link:

http://www.hillndalefarms.com/

Invasor and the 2007 Dubai World Cup!

On Saturday, March 31st, 2007, Invasor won the $6 million Dubai World Cup -- the duel in the desert!! He earned $3.6 million for his first place effort for the Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who had purchased him for his Shadwell Stable for the sum of $1.4 million. Invasor was born in 2002 in Argentina and was the winner of the 2005 Triple Crown in Uruguay. He won the 2006 $5 million Breeder's Cup, as well as the Pimlico, Suburban Handicap, and Whitney Stakes. Out of 12 starts, he has won 11. His only loss occurred in the UAE when he came in 4th. He has earned the U.S. Horse of the Year, and the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Horse. His jockey is 18-year-old Fernando Jara, and his trainer is the New York-based Kiaran McLaughlin. Of his latest win in Dubai, his owner said, "I am over the moon. I've had a lot of good horses, but Invasor's one of the top horses that I've owned ever. It was great how he won in America. It's best when he wins here." So, of course, Violet and Hailee are related to this champion runner. His grandsire on his sire's side is Blushing Groom, which is the great-grandsire on Voilet's sire side. They also share War Admiral and Man o' War among many other connections! You can read more about this champion at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasor_(horse)

or

http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=17932

or

http://www.shadwellfarm.com/news/