Breaking News! Big Weekend on the Derby Trail!

This weekend was a big one for this year's Derby Trail. Many key races were run to sort out the talents of the top three year-olds contending for spots in the Derby and Oaks. Friesan Fire, Larry Jones' horse, sweeped the Fair Grounds schedule by winning handily the Grade II, $600,000 Louisiana Derby by 7 1/4 lengths. He had won the Lecomte on January 10th and Risen Star on February 7th. He remains an obvious favorite for the Derby. Rachel Alexandra went wire to wire in the Grade II, $400,000 Fair Ground Oaks in a sloppy track, never letting anyone even get close. Pioneerof the Nile won the San Felipe, continuing his train of wins. But the BIG news is that Old Fashioned took his first loss from a 56-1 longshot purchased for $25,000 on the last day of the September Keeneland sale. Win Willy came from 13 lengths behind to just pass Old Fashioned in the Rebel Stakes, turning his 2 out of 3 record into 3 out of 4, and turning Old Fashioned's record from 4 out of 4 wins to a 5:4,1,0 record! This was Win Willy's stakes debut. What makes me super happy for him is that he's Monarchos' kid, a stallion who won the 2001 Kentucky Derby and who I met at Claiborne Farms. Plus, Win Willy is related to Violet through a Blushing Groom connection. In the photo, you see Danny Johnston's Associated Press shot of Win Willy taking the Rebel Stakes.

In a last bit of news, the four yearo-old Macho Again won the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap. Macho Again is also related to Violet via a Blushing Groom connection, and MA also has Shenanigans' kid, Icecapade. You remember Shenanigans as Ruffian's dam.

More updates as the jewel races get closer!

A Horse of a Different Color!

Here are photos of Monarchos when he won the Kentucky Derby and now in his stallion register as a mature, 9 year-old stallion! Can you believe how silvery grey he has become rather than his dark color! No wonder a book was written about this wonderful creature called A Horse of a Different Color!

Kentucky 2007: Monarchos, Montgomery and Me!

Here is a photo of me and Montgomery, getting a photo with Monarchos and petting this wonderful Kentucky Derby winner! A thrill of a lifetime for this old girl! It was amazing to be at Secretariat's home, standing on ground where he was shown off and preened, and walking the walkway he often took down to the Breeding Shed to work in the same place where he was conceived.

And it was wonderful to be there petting this grand young man!! And, of course, it was the best to share it with Montgomery who like her mother is a great photographer!!

Kentucky 2007: Claiborne's Monarchos

Here is Monarchos standing outside his stallion barn at Claiborne Farm. He was beautiful and sweet -- he preened like a stallion, but also was gentle. The stallion manager let us pet him. And so he is officially the first Kentucky Derby winner I ever petted! I was thrilled.

He was born in 1998 and his record is 10: 4-1-3 and $1,720,830. He won both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, placed in the Wood Memorial, and showed in the Belmont Stakes. His time in the Kentucky Derby was the second fastest in history, behind Secretariat's. He was in 10th place in a pack of 17, but managed to pick off each horse and finally put Congaree behind him at a searing pace! Of his preparatory win in the Florida Derby before the run for the roses, his jockey, Jorge Chavez said, "When I asked him, he just exploded. That was a great feeling, like I was the king."


So far, he has had 5 crops and 261 foals. Three of his crops are of racing age, with 192 foals of racing age.

His mom, Regal Band, died this year at the age of 20 at Rood and Riddle Hospital on April 9. She was suffering from a liver disorder. She was carrying an Empire Maker foal. My girls are related to his family in many ways, including Nearctic, Bimelech, Eight Thirty, War Admiral, Busanda, Bull Dog, Menow, Blue Larkspur, Turn-To, Nasrullah, Gainsborough, Case Ace, Bull Lea, Sir Gallahad, Case Ace, and Discovery.

You can read more about this sexy sweet kind stallion at the following links:
http://www.claibornefarm.com/stallions/monarchos.shtml
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchos
or
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2005/derby_history/derby_charts/years/2001.html
or
http://www.bloodhorse.com/stallionregister/sr_sire_page.asprefno=4475639&origin=BHonline or
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horseracing/preakness/bal-sp.derby06may06,1,3965877.story?coll=bal-sports-preakness&ctrack=1&cset=true
or
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1315147.stm
or
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/breeding-news/2007/April/09/Dam-ofMonarchos-dies-at-age-20.aspx
or
http://horseracing.about.com/library/weekly/aa050501a.htm