Dixie's Hope Runs 2nd In Huge Effort at Keeneland

Making her first start since breaking her maiden in stellar fashion at Presque Isle nearly 70 days ago Pocket Aces Racing's Dixie's Hope turned in another impressive run, finishing 2nd, at Keeneland Friday.

Breaking from the 4 hole, at odds of 13 to 1, jockey Shane Sellers expertly guided her into great position going into the first turn. Down the backstretch Sellers got the big, gray filly to relax as she settled in nicely behind the pacesetters. Sellers first asked her for some run in the far turn and by the time the field began to straighten up for home she had struck the lead. In deep stretch it appeared as though she would be the winner, however, within the last 100 yards, the 7 horse, Kitty Love, made a late charge near the middle of the track and was able to just get by Dixie at the wire.

Dixie's Hope earned a lifetime best 78 Beyer for the race while increasing her bankroll to $54,390. Her lifetime race record now stands at 6-1-3-1. She has only failed to hit the board once in her career.

Trainer Joe Deegan reports that Dixie' Hope has exited the race in great shape and that he will point her towards another allowance race at Churchill Downs if she continues to do well.

Dixie's Hope Entered to Run at Keeneland

Pocket Aces Racing color bearer Dixie's Hope, who was last seen at Presque Isle in August dominating a Maiden Special Weight field by almost 10 lengths, will return to action at Keeneland in an allowance level race on Friday, October 22nd.

In her most recent starts Dixie's Hope has been running over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle and while she has been able to "handle" that surface her pedigree suggests that she should relish Friday's race at Keenland which will be contested over a mile on the turf.

Dixie's Hope enters the race on Friday off a 60+ day layoff as she was given a mini vacation after her last race in an effort to freshen her up for the fall campaign. Despite the time away she has been training better recently than at any point in her career. Note the 10/16 bullet work on her form line.

Pocket Aces Racing is expecting a big performance out of Dixie and would like to wish all of it's Partners the best of luck on Friday.

Pocket Aces Racing Acquires First Samurai Filly at Keeneland September

Pocket Aces Racing is pleased to announce the newest addition to our stable is a yearling filly by First Samurai out of a stakes winner mare that earned more than $380,000. First Samurai is a son of reigning North American champion sire Giant's Causeway and multiple Grade I winner of nearly $1 million. He has already established himself as one of 2010's most exciting first crop sires. His progeny have already won a Graded Stakes race and Maiden Special Weight Races at top level tracks such as Churchill Downs, Saratoga, and Belmont. The filly's dam, Bartok's Blithe, was an exceptional and very sound race mare that ran in 22 stakes races while sprinting and routing on both dirt and turf. She placed in seven stakes races, winning two, and earned $389, 656.

She is a good sized, leggy filly that looks like she still has quite a bit of growing to do. She stands over plenty of ground and has great strength and balance. All of the hip, shoulder and hind leg angles are just the way we like. She is as correct a filly through the knees and ankles as you can find and tracks perfectly. We lover her walk as she has a great stride behind and a very athletic, fluid way of moving. In addition, her vet work is completely clean and her throat scope was graded an "A".

The filly has been "broke" and is now in light training in Lexington with Derrick Faulkner. Derrick says that she is a lovely filly that is very smart and kind. He's had no problems with her, according to him she's been a "push button" horse so far. She will stay with Derrick for the next 2-3 weeks then she will go to our trainer, Joe Deegan, at High Point Training Center. She will stay there for the remainder of 2010, acclimating to life as a racehorse while we establish a good foundation with her, then she will go back to Derrick to wait out the worst of the winter at the farm. Sometime in early/mid spring (depending in large part on how much she grows) she will return to Joe and we will begin to prep her for racing.

Shares are currently available for $3,400 each. The initinal buy-in cover expenses through December 2010. Expenses will be billed at $300 per quarter per share beginning January 1, 2011.

Pocket Aces Racing To Conduct Seminar at Keeneland September Yearling Sale

In an effort to educate and inform their partners, as well as any other interested parties, Pocket Aces Racing will be conducting 2 two hour seminars/tours at the Keeneland September Yearling sale on Sunday, September 19th.

Our goal is to familiarize everyone with the process we use to select and purchase the newest editions to the Pocket Aces Racing stable at public auction. Some of the information to be covered will be pedigree and conformation analysis, vetting, establishing credit, bidding procedures and post purchase care.

Those participating will also have the opportunity to tour Keeneland's beautiful sales grounds and receive and "insiders" perspective of how the sales work.

The seminars/tours will be conducted at 9:00am and 12:00pm on the 19th. Anyone who is interested can contact Marc A. Wampler at (859) 312-6272, ctiwamp@windstream.net or Jared Shoemaker at (606) 922-9325, jshoemaker@pocketacesracing.com

Pocket Aces Racing Batting a Thousand!!!

With her daylight victory at Presque Isle on August 13th Dixie's Hope raises Pocket Aces Racing's win percentage, from starters, to 100%! That's no small feat considering the fact that only around half of all horses make it to the track and only about half of the horses that make it to the track make it to the winner's circle! That makes your random odds of buying a winner around 25% but with Pocket Aces Racing it's a sure thing.

A Pair of Aces

In this edition of Here's The Deal we ask a few questions of Pocket Aces Racing members Bob and Carol Leggett. Bob and Carol own shares in our promising 3-year-old Cozzene filly, Dixie's Hope, and our exciting 2-year-old Medaglia d' Oro colt named Posso Volare

HTD: Could you give our readers a little background information on yourselves? Where you're from originally, where you live now, careers, children, etc.

Bob: My family moved to Lexington, KY from Montgomery County, MD in the summer of 1970. While in high school, I met Carol and we have been happily married for more than 34 years. We have 3 children and 1 grandchild. After more than 30 years of public service, during which I provided oversight and management of several public pension plans with multi-billion dollar portfolios in executive director and chief investment officer capacities, I retired and returned to Kentucky. Carol and I have found a great community in Louisville to call home.

Carol: I grew up in Lexington, Ky where my parents still live as does one of my three brothers. Although I was a stay at home mom for several years when our kids were little, I have worked for almost 20 years with school support programs in Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Louisiana at the local, regional and state level. I am still working but only part-time now for the Kentucky Department of Education. As Bob said, we have one wonderful granddaughter who lives in Lexington, but, is a frequent visitor to our house. We have two grown daughters and a son who is a senior in college. As much as I enjoyed the places where Bob's work has taken us, it is nice to be back in Kentucky.

HTD: How where you introduced to the sport of thoroughbred racing?


Bob: While working part-time during the formative high school years, my employer and I would occasionally take brief excursions to Keeneland to enjoy the races; I've been a fan ever since then.

Carol: Horse racing was always a part of growing up in Lexington and I don't remember a time that I wasn't aware of it. But, the first time I actually went to the track (Keeneland) was as a college student.

HTD: Bob, imagine you have just been appointed to the imaginary position of "Commissioner of North American Thoroughbred Racing". What's the first thing on your to do list?

Bob: Promote the National Racing Compact, a proposed interstate compact for racing and wagering as a viable means to promote uniformity in the industry.

HTD: Carol, competition, socializing and risk reduction are all important components of thoroughbred racing partnership participation. Could you rank those three components in order of which is most important to you and give a brief explanation why?

Carol: While competition is an enticing factor and risk reduction by participating in the sport through a partnership is a key consideration, socializing is most important to me. It has been fun to meet new people and share the racing experience with them. I especially enjoy access to the paddock before the race along with other ownership amenities provided through Pocket Aces Racing like being with our partners and friends in the suites during the races.

HTD: If you could win one race what would it be?

Bob & Carol: The Kentucky Derby. It's the event that continues to live up to its billing as the two most exciting minutes in sports.

HTD: Bob, I know you are a pretty serious handicapper. What's your favorite track to play and why?

Bob: Arlington Park provides racing and wagering opportunities that fit best with my handicapping approach. Additionally, it is a beautiful track, with nice amenities, that offers yet another reason for us to visit one of our favorite cities.

HTD: Outside of thoroughbred racing, what are a few of your other hobbies and interests?

Bob: American history, reading, travel and wine.

Carol: Theater, movies, music, travel, reading, good wine, and spending precious time with my family.

With today's edition of Here's The Deal we will begin a series of interviews with partners of Pocket Aces Racing, L.L.C.

We will start with Steve and Kate Wilt, both racing enthusiasts from Louisville, KY.



HTD: I know both of you have had very interesting careers in aviation and marketing, could you give our readers a few details on what you have accomplished in those fields?
S: I was the Executive Vice-President of Braniff Airlines/Operations and a 3 year veteran of the White House Chief of Staff office and reported directly to General Alexander Haig. I was also decorated with a Bronze Star and 2 Purple Hearts while flying attack helicopters in Vietnam. Spinal injures, as a result of being shot down twice, curtailed my flying and executive careers.

K: I was the Manager of Young Adult Marketing for the Miller Brewing Company as well as holding the Managerial positions in the NYC sports and entertainment marketing world. I am currently the proprietor of My Racing Heart, L.L.C. working with Consumers Choice Coffee with marketing the My Racing Heart Artisan Roasted Coffee brand.

HTD: How were both of you introduced to the sport of Thoroughbred Racing?

S: My introduction was mainly through my wife but most importantly, to me, is why it appeals to me. Racing is akin to flying, there is a very high level of skill demanded from everyone involved, plus the personal commitment to be as good as you can be. Risk is a part of both endeavors but you minimize that risk by being prepared and alert.

K: I have loved horses and racing since the age of 6. I wouldn't say I needed an introduction really, they have always just seemed to be a part of my life.

HTD: Is Pocket Aces Racing your 1st experience with Racing Partnerships?

S&K: We have participated in 2 other syndicates and both were unpleasant experiences.

HTD: Why did you select Pocket Aces Racing as your partnership of choice?

S&K: First and foremost the communication with Pocket Aces Racing has been far superior to anything we experienced with the other 2 syndicates. We love the transparency in each deal too. In addition, we greatly appreciate the commitment Pocket Aces Racing has shown not just to their horses but the entire breed.

HTD: What Pocket Aces Racing horses have you invested in?

S&K: We own shares in each horse on Pocket Aces Racing's current roster. The rationale has been different for each:
Pure Victory - A friend introduced us and we really liked Pure Clan, a Grade 1 winning filly by the same sire - Pure Prize
Dixie's Hope - A share became available and she was ready to race.
El Corredror x Peanut Gallery 2008 - Sire breeds good fillies and the price was right.
Medaglia d' Oro x Retiro Park 2008 - Couldn't pass up.

HTD: If you could win 1 race what would it be?

S&K: A Breeders' Cup Race or dare we dream...The Kentucky Derby.

HTD: Outside of horse racing what are a few of your hobbies"

S: Watching Fox News, yard work, dogs and wine.

K: Cooking, Topsail Beach in N.C. and our dogs (Jezabelle, Nelliebelle, Clarabelle and Crawford),

HTD: Any suggestions for good restaurants in Louisville?

S&K: Rootie's (for wing's), Furlongs (for Cajun) and Napa River Grill (special occasion).