Stakes Victors a “Tail” of Two Seasons So to Speak at Mahoning on Saturday

The unpredictability of horse racing is what gives us hope and breaks our hearts – often at the same time! Never was that more on display than in the two Ohio Accredited Stakes run at Mahoning Valley on Saturday, December 18th.

In the first stake, the Black Type Joshua Radosevich Memorial Stake, Thedayofthegrey, a 2 year old son of Ohio standout sire Twinspired out of the Proud Citizen mare Sharon’s Way cruised to the easiest of victories destroying his field in a hand ride winning by 6 lengths on the wire. Trained by Bobby Cline, bred by Richard Wilkinson, owned by the duo, and ridden by Sonny Leon, he went right to the front and never looked back. Relish the Ride rallied for the place and Out for Fun checked in third. The winner went of at odds of 1-2 paying $3.00 and stopping the timer in 1:13:54.

In the next stake, the Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap for Ohio Accredited fillies and mares, the tote board told a much different story. Completely dismissed at odds of 87-1 Niceasakittenseyes ridden by Fernando Salazar Beccera for trainer Craig Sweeting uncorked a furious rally and swept by her rivals to score by 1 1/4 lengths. Mobil Lady was second and Edge of Night finished third.

The winner was bred in Ohio by Eyes of a Child Stable. She is owned by Melissa Edgington and is by the nice Ohio Stallion William’s Kitten out of the Parent’s Reward mare Shestwiceasnice.

An interesting note is that both winning sires were offered in the recently conducted OTBO Stallion Season Auction. Eyes of a Child Stable and Poplar Creek Horse Center have been long time supporters of the OTBO and its annual auction. It is wonderful to see such beautiful and powerful offspring run to their full potential and reward their teams – and their backers as well especially with that $176 win payout!

With 19 incredible Ohio Accredited horses on display today it further emphasizes the tremendous opportunity available in Ohio Thoroughbred racing. I always say there is no better bang for the buck than Ohio racing. Today, it was more like “Bang for the Buck-eye” as these two worthy runners proved there is more than one way to the winner’s circle!

Congratulations to all the connections and to Mahoning Valley for putting on another fun race card.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Mike Annechino
Executive Director, OTBO

OH Breds enjoy Success at KY Sales!!!

Ohio weanlings average $74,000+ sale prices in KY

Ohio breeders: Steven Chumney and Jim & Jane Fraser take quality Ohio bred foals to the KY sales and were supported by the market.

The first Ohio Bred weanling to sell this fall in KY was Hip No.114 (see the picture below) a Colt by Vino Rosso out of Storm Raven, foaled and raised by Steven Chumney at Smokin C LLC in East Sparta, Ohio. This Colt proved himself to be the highest selling Vino Rosso at the Fasig Tipton Select sale when the hammer dropped for $150,000. Chumney says that this foal was always his favorite and he was honored when Fasig Tipton liked him enough to be invited to sell at the Night of the Stars. Chumney says “I didn’t know what to expect, I just sat back and watched as bids were coming from everywhere. It was an incredible minute that I will never forget. His actions and presence at the sale definitely made me proud.”

Three Ohio Bred weanlings were then sold later in the week at the Keeneland Breeding Stock sale.

Hip No.1143- a Midshipman colt out of Battaleys owned and raised by Steven Chumney sold for $70,000, This Colt drew a lot of attention and had an impressive physical. This sale highlighted the top selling Midshipman weanling at the Keeneland sale.

Hip No. 2352- a Classic Empire colt out of Whitelacenpromises owned and raised by James and Jane Fraser at Pinecrest farm in Cincinnati, Ohio sold for $40,000. Jim and Jane were rewarded when their decision to breed to a newer sire, Classic Empire, emerged as the #4 freshman sire going into the sale.

Hip No. 2597- a Collected filly out of Meadowlee, owned and raised by James and Jane Fraser sold for $37,000. This was a nice strong filly and sold well, making her the second highest selling Collected weanling of the Keeneland sale.

The Fraser’s have been successfully breeding racing stock for over 50 years. Fraser states, “The increases in Ohio purses, the Ohio stakes program, and the generous Ohio breeder awards have made raising thoroughbreds in Ohio a worthwhile and satisfying endeavor for us . Our wish list for continued improvements would be night racing in Ohio and a turf course at Thistledown.”

Chumney, who also sold 2 nice yearlings in KY this year states “as Ohio purses have increased I have continued to invest in Ohio Breds. As long as this continues we can all be successful.”

It is nice to see that the Dams of all 4 of the future stars listed above still reside in Ohio and are producing future Ohio Breds. Both farms retained around half of their stock to sell privately or as yearlings.

OTBO would like to congratulate these breeders on a job well done in representing our state program on the national stage. We also wish the new owners the best of luck and success racing in the Ohio State race program.

Tivis Truly Triumphant!

Tivis captures First Lady Stakes