Pocket Aces Racing Aquires 2 New Racing Prospects

Well, after several months and a few thousand miles travelling to Florida and Maryland to inspect nearly 2,000 horses Pocket Aces Racing has acquired 2 new racing prospects for its stable. We believe these are 2 very special horses as it has been extremely difficult finding 2-year-old horses in-training that meet our very rigid pedigree, physical and performance standards at prices that allow us to syndicate them affordably.

Our 1^st addition to the stable is a filly by El Corredor, out of a stakes placed earner of over $250,000 named Peanut Gallery. El Corredor, a Grade 1 winner himself, is the sire of 6 crops to date with progeny earnings of nearly $20,000,000. In his short career at stud El Corredor has had amazing success with his female progeny as he is already the sire of 3 Grade 1 winning fillies – Adieu, winner of the Frizette-G 1 and earner of over $900,000; Backseat Rhythm, winner of the Garden City H.-G 1 and earner of over $800,000 and Crisp, winner of this year’s edition of the Santa Anita Oaks-G 1 and earner of over $250,000. Physically she is just a gorgeous filly with tons of substance, quality and athleticism. She has been in training since the beginning of year and her consignor tells us that she hasn’t missed a day due to soundness or any other health issue since she began. As of right now we feel like she should be a forward type that could be ready to run within the next few months. Shares in the filly are priced at $1,800 with no bills until October 1, 2010. If necessary, partners will be billed, beginning October 1, 2010, $300 quarterly for expenses. Half shares and discounts for multiples are available.

Our 2^nd addition is a colt by the world class sire Medaglia d’ Oro, out of a Meadowlake mare that has produced a G 3 winner and nearly $250,000 earner named Snorter. We feel like this is a rare and extraordinarily special opportunity for our clients to invest in a thoroughbred with limitless upside. His sire, Medaglia d’ Oro, stands at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud for $100,000 and from just 3 crops of racing age he has already sired champion and horse of the year for 2009 Rachel Alexandra as well as Grade 1 winning colts Warrior’s Reward and Passion for Gold. Physically this colt reminds us a lot of his father, a 7 time Graded Stakes winner and earner of over $5,000,000, as he is a big, strong imposing horse with balance, scope and agility. Shares in the colt are priced at $2,600 with no bills until October 1. If necessary, partners will be billed, beginning October 1, 2010, $300 quarterly for expenses. Half shares and discounts for multiples are available.

Pocket Aces Racing looks forward to answering any questions you might have about our latest offerings. Please fell free to contact Marc A. Wampler (859) 312-6272 or Jared Shoemaker (606) 922-9325 at your convenience.

Here's The Deal Identifies 2010 Kentucky Derby Winner in January Blog Entry

Our post titled "Yes, It's Early but Here Are 5 Horses To Keep An Eye On For The Derby" dated January 26, 2010 identified eventual winner Super Saver as one of the leading candidates to win the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner. Please don't ask how the other 4 did but we got the 1 that mattered most.

Super Saver with the coveted Blanket of Roses


As we pointed out back in January Super Saver should, and did, benefit from his earlier experience over the Churchill Downs track and his expert human connections were a big key in getting this horse to peak at the right time.

Good luck to Super Saver, Calvin Borel, Todd Pletcher and the entire WinStar team at the Preakness!!!

A Great Result in KY for Pocket Aces Racing, Frustration in FL

We’ve always known that Dixie’s Hope had the talent to be a very nice filly but it really wasn’t until last fall until she decided she wanted to be a racehorse. Ever since then the Pocket Aces Racing Team has been waiting anxiously for her to make her 1st start.

Well, she made that highly anticipated 1st start on April 17th on one of the sports grandest stages – the spring meet at Keeneland. As most of you already know she finished a very courageous 2nd as she was nearly last at the half-mile pole and was forced, in her career debut, to negotiate her way through a wall of slower horses from the far turn almost all the way through the stretch. Sal Gonzalez piloted her expertly and Joe Deegan and his staff did an excellent job preparing her for the race.

We’re looking for a turf race at Churchill Downs for her next start, mostly likely around the end of May. We think she’ll be even better on the grass so it should be exciting.

On another, less successful, note Pocket Aces Racing went to the Ocala Breeders’ 2-year-old in-training sale last week and was unable to purchase a horse. Our intent was to buy a colt, bred to go 2 turns, but we just couldn’t find one that met Pocket Aces Racing’s strict criteria that we could afford. We’ve re-grouped after the initial disappointment of not getting anything done and now have plans to attend the Fasig-Tipton Timonium 2-year-old in-training sale. Wish us luck!!! We’ll let everyone know if we get anything bought.

Career Debut for Dixie's Hope Drawing Near

Pocket Aces Racing's Dixie's Hope breezed 5/8 in company this past weekend over a heavy main track at High Point training center. The gray daughter of Cozzene started her work several lengths behind, and to the outside, of stablemate Stellar Hope. As the duo began to pick up the pace down the backstretch Dixie's Hope collared her 3-year-old male companion around the 3/8 pole. The pair ran stride for stride until they straightened up at the head of the lane, at which point Dixie's Hope kicked in another gear and began to pull away from Stellar Hope. Dixie's Hope crossed the finish line a length and a half in front of her work mate, stopping the clock in 1:05.0 - the fastest time of the day at that distance.

In polite circles the time of 1:05.0 would be referred to as pedestrian, however, the main track at the La Grange, KY training facility has long been known for slower times, due in large part to its configuration. On this day there was the added factor of just enough rain overnight to make the track deep and very heavy. I was told by the High Point clocker that 1:05.0 here today is the equivalent of 1:01.0 at most tracks.

Pocket Aces Racing trainer Joe Deegan was very pleased with the move. He also felt like the work should really tighten her up as he begins his final preparations for her first start. Deegan has selected tentative starting dates of April 15th and 17th at Keeneland for Dixie's Hope, both are Maiden Special Weight events on the polytrack.

4 Emerging Broodmare Sires

BELONG TO ME- From a relatively small pool of cumulative foals Belong To Me was the Broodmare Sire of a very respectable 10 Stakes Winners in 2009. Leading the way was millionaire, multiple Grade 1 winner and 2-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky. Belong to Me is also the Broodmare Sire of 2009 Arkansas Derby-G 2 winner Papa Clem, who like Lookin at Lucky is bred along the same Smart Strike x Belong To Me cross.

Belong To Me is impeccably bred as he is by the legendary Danzig and hails from the female family that produced Eight Belles. He has been an above average Central Kentucky stallion for the better part of 2 decades but I believe his most significant contribution to the breed is most likely to be seen in the future through his daughters.

LANGFUHR - As a foal of 1992 Langfuhr is still young by Broodmare Sire standards but he is already the sire of the dam of 2008 3-year-old champion and Kentucky Oaks-G 1 winner Proud Spell. In addition to that $2,000,000 + earner he is also the sire of the dams of black type winners Augusta Proud, Treadmill, I'm Fuhr Real, Whatever Whenever and several others.

Langfuhr, like Belong To Me, is a son of Danzig and as such I don't see the early success that his daughters have had as an aberration. It is more likely that the same superior genetic make up that Danzig passed along to his daughters, he is passing along to his sons - who in turn are passing it along to their daughters, which is why I see no end in sight for Langfuhr's success as a broodmare sire.

UNBRIDLED'S SONG - As the sire of so many great race fillies over the years (Octave, Splendid Blendid, Magnificent Song, etc.) it's hard to imagine Unbridled's Song not becoming a successful Broodmare Sire. From a small cumulative foal total (455 to be exact, 2009's top 10 broodmare sires had an average of over 2,100 cumulative foals) he is already the sire of 2009 Toyota Bluegrass S.-G 1 winner General Quarters and Grade 2 winner Hold Me Back.

Unbridled's Song's 5-cross pedigree is filled with prominent broodmare sires such as Mr. Prospector, Fappiano, Caro and In Reality which is a further indication of why it should be no mystery as why his broodmare sire career has gotten off to such a great start.

HOLY BULL - His daughters have only produced 502 foals but you can count leading 2010 Kentucky Derby-G1 contender Conveyance, Grade 2 winner Munnings and many other stakes winners among that small group. In 2009 his daughter's produce earned a very respectable $4,300,000 and they are already on pace to eclipse that figure for 2010.

Holy Bull is an out cross on both sides of his family whose stud career has benefited from the breeds ever dwindling gene pool as he gives the multitude of Phalaris line mare owners a viable option. This should equate to success in the Broodmare standings as well.

Pocket Aces Fillies Training Well, Dixie's Hope on Track to Make Her First Career Start at Keeneland's Upcoming Spring Meeting

I visited our 2 young racing prospects yesterday and am pleased to report that both are doing extremely well. As we have already reported to the syndicate members Pure Victory has developed into a big, very powerfully built filly that is already showing a great deal of promise in the early stages of her training. As for Dixie's Hope she is getting very close to making her debut - she is getting fitter and fitter by the day and despite the wicked weather we've had this winter in Kentucky she is still on schedule to run at Keeneland's April Meet.

Above is a video I took yesterday of the 2 fillies training on High Point's uphill gallop. The first time around both fillies are held to a gallop (Dixie's Hope, the grey, goes in front of Pure Victory). Dixie's Hope went by herself a second time and she was allowed to "pick it up" - doing more of a 2-minute lick.

DIXIE'S HOPE

Cozzene x Konvincha 2007

PURE VICTORY

Pure Prize x By The Book 2008

Horse Themed Crossword Puzzle Contest!!!

2 of my favorite things are thoroughbred horses and crossword puzzles so I am combining them and making a contest out of it.

Below is a link to a horse themed crossword puzzle that I have created, click on the link - print out the puzzle and the first person to finish it correctly will win 2 box seats to the upcoming Keeneland Spring Meet courtesy of Pocket Aces Racing L.L.C.!!!

You can fax your submissions to 859 271-2010 or scan them in and e-mail them to ctiwamp@windstream.net. Please include your contact information. Good Luck!!!

http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/Data/2010.02/1914/19145943.530.pdf

2 Box Seats good for 1 day. Excludes Bluegrass Stakes Day. The particular date to be determined by Pocket Aces Racing, L.L.C. but we will try to accommodate the winner with their date of choice.