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/

Serena's Song and My Girls!

My girls are related to Serena's Song, the 1995 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-year-old filly of the Year! Her track record was 38: 18-11-3 and she earned $3,283,388 on the track. Among her wins, she took the Mother Goose, Haskell Invitational Handicap, Beldame Stakes, Hollywood Starlet Stakes, Santa Anita Oaks, Gazelle Handicap, Oak Leaf Stakes, Las Virgenes Stakes, Santa Monica Handicap, Santa Maria Handicap, Jim Beam Stakes, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and Landaluce Stakes. Her owners were Robert and Beverly Lewis, trainer Wayne Lukas, and jockey Gary Stevens. She was inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame in 2002. She retired from the track to a life as a broodmare at Denali Stud near Paris, Kentucky. So far, she is the dam of 7 foals, 6 to race. She has had 5 winners so far. Her winning children include Grand Reward and Sophisticat sired by Storm Cat, Serena's Tune (a winning filly!) sired by Mr. Prospector, and Harlington sired by Unbridled. She is related to my girls in multiple ways, including Blushing Groom who is the sire's sire of Serena's Song. They also share (among others) Blue Larkspur, Sir Gallahad, Gainsborough, Teddy, Plucky Liege, Mahmoud, Hyperion, Man 'O War, Frillery, Broomstick, Nearco, Bulldog, Discovery, Whisk Broom, Sweep, and John P. Grier. Here's a photo of Serena's Song and one of her babies. You can read more about her and see more photos of her very beautiful children at the following links:

http://horseracing.about.com/library/weekly/aa022600a.htm

or

http://horseracing.about.com/library/pics/blserena1.htm

or

http://www.finalturngallery.com/Storm-Tides-album?page=1

or

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/stallion-directory/stallion.aspx?stallion_no=6091773

or

http://www.hillndalefarms.com/stallions/grand-reward.shtml

or

http://horseracing.about.com/library/weekly/aa090800a.htm

or

http://www.denalistud.com/photoalbum.shtml

or

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=377