Last Monday, I posted that breeding season was officially under way. What I didn't tell you is that I was keeping last week open for two special ladies, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. The way I had it figured, until they were actually bred, I still had a shot. Then, we heard that Rachel was bred on Monday to Curlin and Zenyatta was bred to Bernardini on Wednesday. Darn!!
While I understand why Zenyatta just might want to go to Bernardini, with his fancy blue and white halter and being the sire of a couple Grade 1 winners, yada, yada, yada, but what was Rachel thinking going to Curlin? What has Curlin done as a stallion? Curlin isn't the sire of a Grade 1 winner in Puerto Rico, I am! Curlin isn't the sire of a multiple Grade 3 winner in 2011, I am! Curlin doesn't have a yearling sales average of over 14 times his 2011 stud fee, I do! Curlin doesn't have a two-year old sales average of over 27 times his 2011 stud fee, I do! Curlin isn't even the leading sire in Indiana as I will be as of the end of February! What did she see in him? He probably doesn't even have a blog. Ha! But, he now has Rachel on his resume, so I was a bit depressed earlier this week.
Now, the good news, besides my schedule now being open for your mares, is that my foals so far this year are awesome, long-legged and strong with a lot of chrome. There's nothing like seeing them take their first wobbly steps. If you can, come by Foot Fall Farm and ask the nice barn guy Larry or the boss mare Jo Ann to take a look at a few. You'll be impressed, and I know that I sound like a proud father, which I am, but these babies (pun intended) are nice. So, I started feeling a little bit better.
Then, the weekend came with Lydia's Last Step running at Sunland, Rock 'n' Roll Gal at Fairgrounds, and Little Mike in another Grade 3 at Gulfstream. Lydia's Last Step went wire-to-wire at a mile on dirt to take the winner's share of the $32,000 purse for his second win in a row. Yes! Rock 'n' Roll Gal got up for second in her six furlong sprint in her come back race, and then came Little Mike. This kid is amazing. In a field full of graded stakes winners and placers, Mikey led at every call winning the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes!! Yo, Mikey! The fractions for this mile turf race were just sick 22.70, 45.42, 1:08.65 and then finished up with a final quarter in 23.72 as the co-high weight!! A mile in 1:32.37, just awesome!
You can check out the race video and how good looking Little Mike is at this NTRA link: http://www.ntra.com/schedule/race/display/NTU1 as well as see what the folks at Blood-Horse have to say about the race at http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/61599/little-mike-sneaks-away-in-canadian-turf?source=rss. The Canadian Turf victory was Little Mike's second Grade 3 of the Gulfstream meet and his sixth win in only 12 starts. His lifetime earnings are now over $300,000. Take that Curlin!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Breeding Season Has Begun!!
With Valentine's Day, for you two-legged types, being last week, love was definitely on everyone's mind. Well, with February 15th being the unofficial start to the 2011 breeding season, love is definitely in the air around here at Foot Fall Farm. 'Cause I love being a stallion! I'm looking forward to a great breeding season, and I hope I can be part of your breeding plans.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Close But No iPhone
With one of my four-year olds, Little Mike, running in yesterday's Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, I was hoping that he would pull off a minor upset so I could get my own iPhone. According to one of my buds here at Foot Fall Farm, Zman (Zavata), if you are the sire of a Grade 1 winner, you get an iPhone. Now, I think everyone knows that Zman is the sire of Grade 1 winner Dakota Phone who won the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile last year. Of course, being the sire of a Grade 1 winner is a big deal, but Zman is pretty modest about it. We've been barn mates since he arrived here at Foot Fall Farm about a year ago and he has pulled his share of pranks (See my earlier post) but, Zman does have an iPhone. So, how do we dispute that claim?
Anyway, his iPhone has a horse racing app that allows us to watch live races around the country, and even around the world. So, that's how we have been keeping tabs on how our kids are doing. We crowd around his iPhone each day to watch races from our favorite tracks. Like last Sunday, when we watched one of my four-year old sons, Lydia's Last Step, take a field wire-to-wire at Sunland Park in a $32,000 allowance optional claimer at a mile on dirt. LLS is one of my stakes winning sprinters, so seeing him stretch out and win at a mile was fantastic. This win pushed my average earnings index up to 1.54 for 2011 with 7 winners in 29 starters so far. Not too bad so far at all this year.
Anyway, with Little Mike entered into a Grade 1, I'm thinking that today might just be my day to earn an iPhone too. True to his front running style, Little Mike set the early pace in the mile and one-eighth turf test through the first quarter of :23.2 and half in 47.4. With a fairly moderate pace, Goody (Goods) started a low chant "iPhone, iPhone, iPhone" then Special K (Kela) joined in. When Little Mike responded to a challenge at the top of the stretch while maintaining the lead, Killer (Killenuale), B Road (Bittel Road) and Zman joined in so every stallion in the barn was chanting "iPhone, iPhone, iPhone" at the top of their lungs. Little Mike had covered the mile in 1:34 flat!! Down the stretch Little Mike dug in gamely, but the closers were coming with their runs. Even though Little Mike covered the last eighth in 12.4 he faded to sixth just two and half lengths from the eventual winner and just two noses out of fourth.
While I didn't earn my iPhone yesterday, I'm as proud as I can be with Little Mike. He showed he belonged in Grade 1 company, and I can't wait to see his next race. I'm hoping for a Grade 1 at a mile someplace. I guess we will see. Now, if you have an iPhone, or any other phone for that matter, isn't it time you call my main man Eddie to book your mare to me for 2011? His number is 317-658-9021 and make sure you text him a picture of your mare, so I can check her out ;-)
Anyway, his iPhone has a horse racing app that allows us to watch live races around the country, and even around the world. So, that's how we have been keeping tabs on how our kids are doing. We crowd around his iPhone each day to watch races from our favorite tracks. Like last Sunday, when we watched one of my four-year old sons, Lydia's Last Step, take a field wire-to-wire at Sunland Park in a $32,000 allowance optional claimer at a mile on dirt. LLS is one of my stakes winning sprinters, so seeing him stretch out and win at a mile was fantastic. This win pushed my average earnings index up to 1.54 for 2011 with 7 winners in 29 starters so far. Not too bad so far at all this year.
Anyway, with Little Mike entered into a Grade 1, I'm thinking that today might just be my day to earn an iPhone too. True to his front running style, Little Mike set the early pace in the mile and one-eighth turf test through the first quarter of :23.2 and half in 47.4. With a fairly moderate pace, Goody (Goods) started a low chant "iPhone, iPhone, iPhone" then Special K (Kela) joined in. When Little Mike responded to a challenge at the top of the stretch while maintaining the lead, Killer (Killenuale), B Road (Bittel Road) and Zman joined in so every stallion in the barn was chanting "iPhone, iPhone, iPhone" at the top of their lungs. Little Mike had covered the mile in 1:34 flat!! Down the stretch Little Mike dug in gamely, but the closers were coming with their runs. Even though Little Mike covered the last eighth in 12.4 he faded to sixth just two and half lengths from the eventual winner and just two noses out of fourth.
While I didn't earn my iPhone yesterday, I'm as proud as I can be with Little Mike. He showed he belonged in Grade 1 company, and I can't wait to see his next race. I'm hoping for a Grade 1 at a mile someplace. I guess we will see. Now, if you have an iPhone, or any other phone for that matter, isn't it time you call my main man Eddie to book your mare to me for 2011? His number is 317-658-9021 and make sure you text him a picture of your mare, so I can check her out ;-)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
OMG! They Got Me!
Being a Florida boy, the frigid cold weather still gets my full attention. Yesterday was no exception, so a couple of my buds here at Foot Fall Farm, Zman (Zavata) and Killer (Killenaule), decided to take advantage of my focus on staying warm. They had me convinced that I had been sold to a North Pole breeding farm for $1000 at the ITOBA Stallion Auction!!! They even called down to the sale on a speaker phone (where they got a cell phone, I have no idea) and simply asked what Lot #68, Spanish Steps went for and the answer was $1000. Then, they asked if the purchaser was a guy with the nickname "Santa Claus" and the answer was YES!!! OMG!!!
I'm thinking that based upon my knowledge of geography that the North Pole just might be a whole heckuva lot colder than Indiana, if that is even possible. I'm also thinking that I only sold for $1000! I was a $280,000 yearling for crying out loud. C'mon! Needless to say, I was a little bit nervous about the situation, even though I've heard about this Santa Claus guy and people seem to really like him. I was also concerned that the North Pole breeding program wasn't as lucrative as here in Indiana. What do they have up there anyway? Reindeer.
Well, when the boss mare, Jo Ann, came into the barn and heard these guys, she told Zman and Killer to knock it off. At that point, those two just started rolling in their stalls laughing. They were laughing so hard, they were crying. Because I was thinking more about the cold, I had forgotten that Saturday was the ITOBA Stallion SEASON Auction. So, I didn't sell for $1000, but a breeding to me sold for $1000, and the guy that is lovingly nicknamed Santa Claus is Don Dearth. Oh, yes, those two got me good, but pay backs are a "you know what."
Once I was let in on their little joke, and the laughing stopped, I started to get excited. (Not stallion excited though, if you know what I mean.) Another season sold means another mare will be booked to me and with Don involved you know it's going to be an Arromanches mare. (Please be a gray, please be a gray!) I love those In Reality line (gray) mares. I'm looking forward to meeting her!
I'm thinking that based upon my knowledge of geography that the North Pole just might be a whole heckuva lot colder than Indiana, if that is even possible. I'm also thinking that I only sold for $1000! I was a $280,000 yearling for crying out loud. C'mon! Needless to say, I was a little bit nervous about the situation, even though I've heard about this Santa Claus guy and people seem to really like him. I was also concerned that the North Pole breeding program wasn't as lucrative as here in Indiana. What do they have up there anyway? Reindeer.
Well, when the boss mare, Jo Ann, came into the barn and heard these guys, she told Zman and Killer to knock it off. At that point, those two just started rolling in their stalls laughing. They were laughing so hard, they were crying. Because I was thinking more about the cold, I had forgotten that Saturday was the ITOBA Stallion SEASON Auction. So, I didn't sell for $1000, but a breeding to me sold for $1000, and the guy that is lovingly nicknamed Santa Claus is Don Dearth. Oh, yes, those two got me good, but pay backs are a "you know what."
Once I was let in on their little joke, and the laughing stopped, I started to get excited. (Not stallion excited though, if you know what I mean.) Another season sold means another mare will be booked to me and with Don involved you know it's going to be an Arromanches mare. (Please be a gray, please be a gray!) I love those In Reality line (gray) mares. I'm looking forward to meeting her!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Graded Stakes, Baby!!
I am one happy and proud stallion! Today, Little Mike made his graded stakes debut a winnng one by taking the Grade III(T) $100,000 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream. In a field of 11 that included 5 horses that have been in Grade I races, Mikey took them wire-to-wire finishing the mile and 1/16th in 1:40.52!!! What a great effort. Even my other stallion buddies here at Foot Fall Farm were impressed giving me hoof bumps and hoof fives all afternoon. Little Mike's win should give me bragging rights around here for a while.
You can check out the article, which includes a picture so you can see how handsome Mikey is, on bloodhorse.com at http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60679/little-mike-12-1-hangs-on-in-ft-lauderdale.
This was Little Mike's sixth start on turf with five wins and one second in a listed stakes. The $60,000 from the win puts Mikey over $200,000 in lifetime earnings. Little Mike is out of the Wavering Monarch mare Hay Jude (Hay Jude, that name always cracks me up.) and is an A+ nick according to TrueNicks. Can't wait to see what's next for Little Mike.
Hay (get it? instead of Hey), if you haven't already, make sure you get your reservation in for the ITOBA Awards Banquet on January 22, 2011. This should be quite the soiree with the Stallion Season Auction kicking things off that afternoon where, of course, you can bid on a season to me. I'm hip #68 of the 80 seasons for sale and my season does sell with a right of return for breeding in 2012 if no live foal is produced from the 2011 breeding. T-minus 36 days and counting until the breeding season starts. Yes!
You can check out the article, which includes a picture so you can see how handsome Mikey is, on bloodhorse.com at http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60679/little-mike-12-1-hangs-on-in-ft-lauderdale.
This was Little Mike's sixth start on turf with five wins and one second in a listed stakes. The $60,000 from the win puts Mikey over $200,000 in lifetime earnings. Little Mike is out of the Wavering Monarch mare Hay Jude (Hay Jude, that name always cracks me up.) and is an A+ nick according to TrueNicks. Can't wait to see what's next for Little Mike.
Hay (get it? instead of Hey), if you haven't already, make sure you get your reservation in for the ITOBA Awards Banquet on January 22, 2011. This should be quite the soiree with the Stallion Season Auction kicking things off that afternoon where, of course, you can bid on a season to me. I'm hip #68 of the 80 seasons for sale and my season does sell with a right of return for breeding in 2012 if no live foal is produced from the 2011 breeding. T-minus 36 days and counting until the breeding season starts. Yes!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday Was A Great Day
Thanks to everyone who came down to Foot Fall Farm to see me yesterday at the stallion open house. The other stallions and I enjoyed being the center of attention. While the weather wasn't the greatest, the people sure were. I was able to strut my stuff and get a few contracts signed for 2011. I'm looking forward to "meeting with" the mares you've submitted. Shelley Winter, the writer for Midwest Thoroughbred Magazine, not to be confused with the actress, Shelley Winters with an 's', won the drawing for a free season to me. Maybe she will decide to do a feature story on yours truly as well.
If she did interview me, I'd have to talk some about how well Little Mike is doing. He won again on Saturday, this time in an allowance at Calder at 7 and 1/2 on turf. With all of the fanfare at the stallion open house, I didn't see the race until later when I logged into my race replays account. The nice barn guy Larry lets me use his lap top. For those of you who have a similar account, you need to see race 10 from Saturday's card. If you can't see a replay, all you really need to know is that track announcer Bobby Neuman used the word "Wow!" to describe the impressive performance.
The race chart says that Little Mike "was checked when trapped in behind a wall of horses" which is an understatement. This was definitely a "Wow!" performance for Little Mike's fourth win in nine starts with earnings now of $150,000. Way to go Mikey!
I almost had two winners at Calder as one of my fillies Hannah's Princess ran on the same card. She had similar traffic troubles in race 8 and was able to overcome them and manage a third in an allowance optional claimer. Good effort, get 'em next time Hannah!
If she did interview me, I'd have to talk some about how well Little Mike is doing. He won again on Saturday, this time in an allowance at Calder at 7 and 1/2 on turf. With all of the fanfare at the stallion open house, I didn't see the race until later when I logged into my race replays account. The nice barn guy Larry lets me use his lap top. For those of you who have a similar account, you need to see race 10 from Saturday's card. If you can't see a replay, all you really need to know is that track announcer Bobby Neuman used the word "Wow!" to describe the impressive performance.
The race chart says that Little Mike "was checked when trapped in behind a wall of horses" which is an understatement. This was definitely a "Wow!" performance for Little Mike's fourth win in nine starts with earnings now of $150,000. Way to go Mikey!
I almost had two winners at Calder as one of my fillies Hannah's Princess ran on the same card. She had similar traffic troubles in race 8 and was able to overcome them and manage a third in an allowance optional claimer. Good effort, get 'em next time Hannah!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Come See Me On December 11th
The Foot Fall Farm Stallion Open House is set for this Saturday, December 11th at the Palmyra, Indiana. Check out their website for directions: http://www.footfallfarm.com/directions.htm.
If you are going to breed to an Indiana stallion make sure you come see me and all my buds: Zman (Zavata), Goody (Goods), Killer (Killenaule), Maybe (Mr. Mabee) and my newest bud Kela. (We're still working on a nickname for him. His name is so short, it's tough. If you have any suggestions please post a comment.) I've also heard that nice barn guy Larry talking about the possibility of another stallion, a grade 3 winner, being part of our line-up. I guess you will have to come and find out for sure.
Anyway, I'm looking good, my buds are looking good, and the forecast is for a warm up to the low 40's. The low 40's, huh? That sounds like a great number for my forecast of the number of mares I will be breeding to in 2011. Yeah, the low 40's is my goal. My main man Eddie will be available on Saturday to talk contracts. I'm looking forward to seeing you, and you really need to come see me. My boys and girls run anywhere, on any surface, at any distance. Just what you need.
If you are going to breed to an Indiana stallion make sure you come see me and all my buds: Zman (Zavata), Goody (Goods), Killer (Killenaule), Maybe (Mr. Mabee) and my newest bud Kela. (We're still working on a nickname for him. His name is so short, it's tough. If you have any suggestions please post a comment.) I've also heard that nice barn guy Larry talking about the possibility of another stallion, a grade 3 winner, being part of our line-up. I guess you will have to come and find out for sure.
Anyway, I'm looking good, my buds are looking good, and the forecast is for a warm up to the low 40's. The low 40's, huh? That sounds like a great number for my forecast of the number of mares I will be breeding to in 2011. Yeah, the low 40's is my goal. My main man Eddie will be available on Saturday to talk contracts. I'm looking forward to seeing you, and you really need to come see me. My boys and girls run anywhere, on any surface, at any distance. Just what you need.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Little Mike Update
After three straight allowance wins, Little Mike (out of a Wavering Monarch mare) finished 2nd in yesterday's $60,000 Monarch's Maze Stakes at Aqueduct. Mikey becomes my third stakes performer of the year joining Raise the Bridle (out of a Gulch mare) and The Flying Whizzer (out of a Forest Wildcat mare). This second place pushes Little Mike's earnings to over $125,000. Good effort Mikey, I'm proud of you!
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