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Say Florida Sandy 1994 - 2018

Say Florida Sandy at stud, Photo (X)

Say Florida Sandy (NY)

March 29, 1994 - July 11, 2018

Say Florida Sandy, an All-Time-Great of New York-bred horses, passed away July 11 due to an apparent heart attack. The 24 year old stallion was at Old Friends Equine Retirement Farm, where had been residing since being pensioned from breeding in 2014.

Say Florida Sandy was bred in New York by Sanford Bacon. He was sired by the great Personal Flag, and was out of the Sweet Candy mare Lolli Lucka Lolli. Lolli Lucka Lolli was named 1997 New York Broodmare of the Year for producing Say Florida Sandy and Dancin Renee, a graded stakes-winning filly. Breeder Sanford Bacon raced Say Florida Sandy for a time, but lost him in a claiming race in 1997. Say Florida Sandy had several owners and trainers during his career, but won most of his races and titles for trainer Juan Serey and owner John Rotella.

Say Florida Sandy’s storied racing career spanned 8 years with a grand total of 98 races, sugar-topped with 19 stakes wins. His biggest wins include the 2001 Gr.II True North Handicap, two wins in the Gr.III Gravesend Handicap (1998, 2000), 2001 Gr.III Bold Ruler Handicap, and 2001 Gr.III Philadelphia Park Breeders' Cup Handicap. He also boasts graded-placings in the Gr.I Carter Handicap, Gr.II A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap, Gr.II Tom Fool Handicap, Gr.III Sanford Stakes, and Gr.III Tremont Stakes.

Say Florida Sandy retired in 2003 with a record of 98: 33-17-12 and earnings of $2,085,408.

Say Florida Sandy’s were heavy-laden with many honors, including 2001 and 2002 New York Horse of the Year, 1999 New York Champion Juvenile Male, Champion New York Sprinter (2000-2002), and New York Champion Older Male (2000-2001). He is currently 6th on New York’s Highest Earners list, behind Mind Your Biscuits, Funny Cide, A Shin Forward (who raced in Japan), Effinex, and Dayatthespa.

War horse Say Florida Sandy entered stud in 2004 at Buckridge Farm in New York. His best runner is Say Toba Sandy, who won the 2007 Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies Stakes.

Half-sister Dancin Renee, who was named 1997 New York Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Mare, also retired to Old Friends Equine, where she lost her battle with laminitis in 2014. Like her brother, Dancin Renee found a small success in the breeding shed, producing Risky Rachel (by Limehouse), who won multiple stakes races, including the 2014 Minaret Stakes a few days after her dam’s passing. Risky Rachel is now a broodmare.

"It's been a privilege to retire one of the top New York-breds of all time. Sandy was a very sensitive stallion, so he was placed at Hurstland Farm in Midway, Ky., under the watchful eye of owner Alfred Nuckols, who took the greatest care of him. We are grateful to breeder Sanford Bacon and to Walter Downey, who managed Sandy's syndicate, for allowing us to care for their champion." - Miichael Blowen, Old Friends Equine.

#say florida sandy #dancin renee

Noble’s Promise 2007 - 2018

Noble’s Promise at Breakaway Farm, Photo (X)

Noble’s Promise (KY)

April 13, 2007 - August 6, 2018

Noble’s Promise, a Gr.I winner and sire, was euthanized August 6, 2018 due to kidney failure. The 11 year old stallion had been standing at Breakaway Farm in Indiana since 2013.

Noble’s Promise was bred in Kentucky by Charles and Ben Kidder and Nancy Cole. He was sired by Cuvee, and was out of the Clever Trick mare The Devil’s Trick. He was trained by Kenny McPeek, and for most of his racing career, was owned by Chasing Dreams Racing.

Noble’s Promise was a top-class juvenile, winning the Gr.I Breeders’ Futurity and Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Stakes, and hitting the board in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and CashCall Futurity. As a sophomore, he finished a good fifth behind Super Saver in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, and made a trip to Royal Ascot, where he again finished fifth behind Canford Cliffs in the St. James's Palace Stakes. He also won the Jimmy V. Stakes and finished second in the Gr.II Rebel Stakes that year. As an older horse in 2011 and 2012, he won the Gr.III Aristides Stakes, and was second in the Gr.III Phoenix Stakes, Kelly’s Landing Stakes, and Don Bernhardt Stakes, and was third in the Gr.II Smile Sprint.

Noble’s Promise retired with a solid record of 27: 6-7-3 and earnings of $1,193,417.

As of November 2018, Noble’s Promise has sired 23 winners from three small crops of racing age. His top progeny include stakes winners Fireball Baby, Snickle Cookie, and Reverend John, and stakes-placed Entrusted and Blue Hen Hockey. He currently sits at #8 on Indiana’s Leading Sires list, and is #2 on Indiana’s Leading Third-Crop Sires list.

“We just found out on Friday and they made the decision to put him down yesterday. He had the coolest personality. He was always picking on you, wanting attention. I called him ‘the spoiled rich kid' because he was always in your pocket, like, ‘I need all the attention. I need all the mares.'” -Tara Jordan, Breakway Farm.

#noble's promise

Jerry Bozzo visiting Flutterby, Photo (X)

Jerome “Jerry” Bozzo

October 25, 1920 - November 11, 2018

Jerry Bozzo, who holds the record for the oldest winning trainer, passed away November 11, 2018. The man who was called a “really, really good gentleman” by jockey Luca Panici was 98 years old.

Not only was Bozzo a true gentleman, but he was a true scholar as well. Bozzo graduated from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and worked as an aeronautical engineer. An industrialist and businessman, Bozzo owned his own botte manufacturing company, based in Pennsylvania. Bozzo was also a veteran of World War II.

Bozzo sold his bottle company in 1969 and then entered the world of thoroughbreds.

When Flutterby, a chestnut daughter of Congrats, crossed the wire first in the 2015 Sea Lily Handicap at Gulfstream Park, Bozzo, at 95, became the oldest winning trainer of a non-blacktype stakes race. Flutterby picked up two more stakes wins for her trainer-owner-breeder, along with a placing in the Gr.II Princess Rooney. This would be the first of many records broken by Bozzo.

Bozzo became the oldest winning trainer of a general flat race on June 3, 2017, when his horse Cotton Tooyah, by High Cotton, won by 4 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream Park. With this win, the 96-year-old he surpassed the record of Noble Threewitt. Born in 1911, Threewitt was credited with being the oldest trainer to win a race when Threeatonce, by Richter Scale, captured a maiden claiming race April 22, 2006, at Santa Anita.

Gusty Wind, by Indy Wind, found the winner’s circle on July 21, 2018, allowing trainer Bozzo, 97, to break his own record for the first time. Gusty Wind gave his trainer back-to-back wins when he won on September 11, 2018, and Cotton Tooyah won again on October 11 2018, giving Bozzo his final win, shortly before his birthday.

Based exclusively at Gulfstream park, Jerry Bozzo’s record stands at 2,194 starts, with 218 firsts, 222 seconds, 272 thirds, and career earnings of $3,912,514, just shy of $4 million.

Along with Flutterby, Cotton Tooyah, and Gusty Wind, Bozzo’s top horses include ultiple stakes winners Stormy Do and Zoobstick and multiple stakes-placed Sebastian Light and Steady Sammy.

"People say to me, 'What the heck are you doing out there at that age, standing at the rail?' I'm enjoying it that's why I'm doing it. I feel like I'm almost related to the horses. It feels so natural to be around them. I want to be around them." - Jerome Bozzo

"I was more happy for him than for me when we won a race. Training a horse, having a winner, kept him in good shape. He had an amazing history, being in World War II. … He was always a pleasure to be around. More than business, it was a pleasure to talk with him and have a conversation in the mornings." - Luca Panici, jockey

#jerry bozzo #trainer

Repent 1999 - 2018

Repent in his paddock, Photo (X)

Repent (KY)

February 20, 1999 - 2018

Repent, a multiple Gr.II winner and sire, passed away in the spring of 2018 due to a heart condition. The 19 year old stallion was residing at Paradise Farms in Trinidad, where he had been standing stud duties since 2014.

Repent was bred in Kentucky by Taylor Made Farm. He was sired by Louis Quatorze and was out of the Cipayo mare Baby Grace. Baby Grace also produced King Ruckus, a gelding by Bold Ruckus who was named Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Male in Canada. The dark bay was owned by Select Stable and trained by Kenny McPeek.

Repent had a short but successful racing career. As a juvenile, he won the Gr.II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and Gr.III Kentucky Juvenile Stakes, and finished second in the Gr.I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile behind Johannesburg. As a sophomore, he won the Gr.II Louisiana Derby and Gr.II Risen Star Stakes, and finished second in the Gr.II Illinois Derby and prestigious Travers Stakes.

He retired with a record of 10: 5-3-1 and earnings of $1,225,660.

Repent first stood as a stallion at Cloverleaf Farm, and later moved to Journeyman Stud, Vinery Stud’s Florida, New York, and Kentucky operations. He returned to Cloverleaf for his final seasons in the United States.

Repent sired several successful runners. His top North American progeny include hard-knocking Gr.I winner Discreet Lover, multiple Gr.II winner Crown of Thorns, and Gr.III winners Diva Delite, Sorryaboutnothing, and Atoned. He also sired stakes winners Double Shuffle, Making Amends, Rule Number Six, Sweet Repent, Repenting, Sincero, Come Sunday, Saythreehailmary’s, War Fighter, Check It Twice, Big Wednesday and Awalkininthemoonlite, and stakes-placed Repent Twice, Springs Road, Dyke of Doom and Big Al. Abroad, he is the sire of Action Law, a stakes winner in Turkey.

As a broodmare sire, he is represented by Gr.I winner and 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff-placed Midnight Bisou, who is out of graded winning daughter Diva Delite.

Repent’s son Crown of Thorns entered stud duty in 2012, and currently stands in Pennsylvania.

#repent

Starry Dreamer

1994 - 2018

Starry Dreamer during her racing days, Photo (X)

February 26, 1994 - August 7, 2018

Starry Dreamer, a multiple stakes winner and the dam of global turf sire War Front, passed away August 7 at her longtime home, Claiborne Farm, due to infirmities of old age. The 24 year old broodmare was pensioned in 2016 after delivering her final foal.

Starry Dreamer was bred in Kentucky by Charles Nuckols, Jr. and Sons. Produced from the first crop of champion sprinter Rubiano, she was out of the Forli mare Lara’s Star, who also produced stakes winners Take That Step and Star of Stars. She was first owned by Russell Reineman Stable and later owned by Joseph Allen.

Starry Dreamer’s successful career began as a juvenile, when she won the 1996 Gold Digger Stakes, becoming her sire’s first stakes winner, and placing in the Green River Stakes. As a sophomore, she won the Palisades Stakes and Regret Stakes. She placed in many graded stakes during her four-year career, including the Gr.I Gazelle Stakes, Gr.II La Prevoyante Handicap, Long Island Handicap, Sheepshead Bay Handicap,Black Helen Handicap, Gr.III Ms. Revere Stakes, Gr.III The Very One Stakes, and Gr.III Gallorette Handicap.

Starry Dreamer retired with a record of 31: 6-11-4 and earnings of $564,789. She finished second or third in a total of 15 starts, with 10 in stakes races.

Starry Dreamer began her career as a broodmare at Claiborne Farm. Her first three foals, War Front (by Danzig), Ecclesiastic (by Pulpit), and Teammate (by A.P. Indy), were all graded stakes winners. She also produced full-brothers Jay Gatsby and Riviera Cocktail (by Giant’s Causeway) who were bother graded-stakes placed winners. Her other foals include full brothers Factum and Tetelestai (by Storm Cat) who finished fourth in a Gr.II race in Ireland and is a winner respectively, unraced Freedom Act (by Smart Strike), unraced Gracie Square (by Awesome Again), and her final foal North Dakota (by Medaglia d’Oro).

Starry Dreamer has left her mark on the breed, as War Front has sired over 40 graded stakes winners and 8 champions worldwide, including Declaration of War, Roly Poly, The Factor, US Navy Flag, Helene Super Star, Lancaster Bomber, Avenge, Data Link, Hit It a Bomb, Air Force Blue, and Jack Milton. Several of his sons have found success as sires, such as Delcaration of War, who sired French Champion Juvenile Olmedo.

Starry Dreamer’s other sons will have their chance to carry on their mother’s influence; Jay Gatsby stands in Louisiana, Factum stands in Ohio, Riviera Cocktail stands in Peru, Tetelestai stands in Argentina, and Ecclesiatic stands in Uruguay, having previously stood in Pennsylvania.

Starry Dreamer’s daughter Teammate has produced stakes winner Team of Teams, graded stakes-placed Team Colors, and winners Passage of Power and Gotham News.

Starry Dreamer will be laid to rest at Claiborne Farm’s Marchmont Hall cemetery.

#starry dreamer

BOWIE

2013 - 2018

Photo (X)

#bowie #thoroughbred

horsememorials

Hello everyone. I know this memorial archive “blog” has been inconsistent lately and I wanted to have an update of sorts. I am working on memorial posts, and I have several nearly finished in the drafts. It has been really hard this summer; I work seven days a week, I am preparing for community college, and there has been a lot of drama in the family.

I am going to try to get back up to speed ASAP.

horsememorials

Also, I was working on drafts just now and my cat wanted attention, so she sat on the keyboard.

horsememorials

Yes I lied!

But in all fairness I was swamped with essays soon after I posted this.

But I'll be out of college the whole next week for Thanksgiving and I'm updating drafts right now.

#update

Rick’s Natural Star, 1989 - 2017

“And there is the uh, hapless, Rick’s Natural Star trotting home to the cheers of the crowd.”

Photo (X)

horsememorials

I am going to try to get back up to speed ASAP.

horsememorials

Also, I was working on drafts just now and my cat wanted attention, so she sat on the keyboard.

#update

I am going to try to get back up to speed ASAP.

#update #don't know how many people follow this or care but an update for anyone that might or was wondering

Black Sam Bellamy 1999 - 2018

Black Sam Bellamy at Shade Oak Stud, Photo (X)

Black Sam Bellamy (IRE)

April 21, 1999 - July 9, 2018

Black Sam Bellamy, a multiple Gr.I winner and sire, passed away on Monday due to congestive heart failure. “He had been ill for several weeks with a congestive heart problem,” said Shade Oak Stud owner Peter Hockenhull. “Unfortunately on Monday his condition deteriorated markedly and it was obvious that we had reached the end of the road, so with great sadness we had to bid him farewell.” The stallion was 19 years old.

Bred in Ireland by Sunderland Holdings and Orpendale, he was sired by Sadler’s Wells and was out of the great Miswaki mare Urban Sea, making him a full brother to super sire Galileo and a half-brother to Sea the Stars,as well as Gr.I winner My Typhoon. He was named for Samuel Bellamy, the famous pirate who was known for his generosity and kindness, rather than barbarity.

Racing for trainer Aiden O'Brien and owners John Magnier and Michael Tabor of Coolmore, Black Sam Bellamy was met with great success on the track. While he did not win a race as a juvenile, we was Gr.I-placed in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in France. He broke his maiden in his first start as a sophomore, then finished second in the Gr.II Prix Hocquart. In his final start as a sophomore, he won the Gr.I Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Italy, a win that would land him Itialian Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors. As a four year old, he won the Gr.I Tattersalls Gold Cup - by an impressive 8 length margin- and the Alleged Stakes, and finished on the board in the Gr.I Coronation Cup at Royal Ascot and Gr.I Grosser Bugatti Preis in Germany.

He retired after 2003 with a record of 18: 4-2-3 and earnings of £444,207.

Black Sam Bellamy was sold to Gestüt Fährhof to stand as a stallion in Germany, and stood there until 2009 when he was sold to stand at Shade Oak Stud in England. Black Sam Bellamy proved to be a useful dual-purpose sire, siring top winners on both flat and hurdle surfaces. His best runner on the flat is three-time Gr.I winner Earl Of Tinsdal, and graded winners Daveron, Goathemala, Saphir and Valdino. Over hurdles, his best runners include Gr.I winner Sam Spinner and graded performers The Giant Bolster, Kateson, Flute Bowl, Hollie's Pearl, and Sam's Gunner.

According to stud owner Peter Hockenhull, the final mare covered by Black Sam Bellamy was confirmed to be in foal the day of his passing.

The Green Monkey 2004 - 2018

The Green Monkey as a stallion, Photo (X)

The Green Monkey (FL)

February 4, 2004 - 2018

The Green Monkey, the stallion who sold for a world record price of $16 million as a juvenile in 2006, was euthanized in the spring of 2018 due to laminitis. The 14 year old stallion had been residing at Hartley - De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala, Florida, where he lived his entire retired life. “He was doing excellent, and then probably a year and a half ago, he foundered,” said farm co-owner Randy Hartley. “We just struggled with him ever since, trying to do everything we could to get him right. It just got to the point where it wasn't the right thing to do.”

The Green Monkey was bred in Florida by Pedua Stables. He was sired by Gr.I winner Forestry, and was out of the Unbridled mare Magical Masquerade. Hartley - De Renzo purchased The Green Monkey as he went through the ring the first time as a yearling in 2005 for $425,000, a minuscule price in comparison to what was to come.

The Green Monkey drew global attention at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Olds in Training sale at Calder when he breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 seconds during his under-tack show. When he entered the auction ring, a bidding war between Demi O'Byrne, a representative of the Coolmore partnership and John Ferguson, a representative of the Darley operation. “There are two people out here, both being told not to go home without this horse,” announcer Terence Collier called from the stand as the asking price hit the record price. In the end, it was the Coolmore group, made up of John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, who brought down the hammer for $16 million.

His unusual name stems from “Green Monkey”, a golf course in Barbados co-owned by members of the Coolmore group. He was placed in the barn of Todd Pletcher, but a muscle injury derailed his chances of racing at two. After spending his recovery at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, he returned to the worktab in June of his sophomore year. He made his first start in September of 2008, running third at Belmont Park, and made his second start at Belmont, finishing fourth. He mad his final start in November on the turf at Hollywood Park, where he again finished fourth.

He retired afterwards with a record of 3: 0-0-1 and earnings of $10,440.

Hartley - De Renzo bought an interest in The Green Monkey after his retirement and stood him as a stallion at their Florida operation. According to their agreement with Coolmore, The Green Monkey could possibly be moved to stand at Ashford, should his foals find success on the track.

The Green Monkey bred 40 mares in his initial book, but he never covered more than 12 in any season following his debut. He bred one mare in 2016, the result of which would be his final foal.

His biggest success at stud was Monkey Business, winner of the 2015 Filly Triple Crown in Panama. In North America, The Green Monkey's top runners were stakes winners Kinz Funky Monkey and Green Doctor. Kinz Funky Monkey, who is also her sire’s first winner, is now a broodmare.

The Green Monkey was buried on the farm.

“Nobody will have his stall or anything, it's a special place. There will never be another horse like him for us. I thank the Lord for him.” - Randy Hartley

Velvet Mesquite 2010 -2018

Velvet Mesquite winning a race at Santa Anita, Photo (X)

Velvet Mesquite (CA)

April 23, 2010 - May 24, 2018

Velvet Mesquite, a multiple stakes winning mare, was euthanized May 29 due to complications from colic surgery. The 8 year old broodmare delivered a healthy colt by California Chrome in March, and the foal has been placed with a foster mare. She had been bred back to Clubhouse Ride for a 2019 foal.

Velvet Mesquite was a homebred for California’s Harris Farms. She was sired by In Excess, and was out of the Huddle Up mare Mesquite. She was trained by Blake Heap.

Velvet Mesquite raced until age 6, winning the California Distaff Handicap and Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint. She also hit the board in the Gr.II Monrovia Stakes, Gr.III Senator Ken Maddy Stakes (twice), and Irish O’Brien Stakes (twice).

She retired with a record of 20: 6-5-2 and earnings of $453,446.

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