Wednesday, December 17, 2008

PISTOLS N PEARLS TO TRY FOR THIRD WIN

The Pistols N Pearls "posse" runs the gamut from first time owners to folks that have been involved in numerous racing partnerships over a decade or more.  But they share a common bond.  They are winners!  Pistols N Pearls has had four career starts.  She was second in her debut, won her next out, and won her fourth start stretching out to a mile. Her only failure to hit the board was in her race moving from the maiden ranks to competition against other winners.  She got left in the gate, slammed into the rail, and still finished an admirable sixth.  In this game, it is difficult to get a win at the allowance level....particularly with a horse that cost $12,000.  Yes, that was twelve thousand ...not a hundred and twenty thousand.  She's certainly earning her keep.  If you visit the Thoroughbred Times stallion directory, you'll find that she is the third leading money earner for her sire - Posse - this year. 

Pistols N Pearls faces both older horses and horses that have won at least two races in her next start.  By far, it will be the toughest competition of her life.  Our trainer, Jason Cook, is confident that she will make a valiant effort.  All we can do is pray for a safe trip and a fair shot.  That's about all any of us hope for, isn't it?  

I want to leave you with some little tidbits about the owners.  When Pistols N Pearls goes into the starting gate on Saturday, one of our female partners will be WEARING a miniature revolver...and one will be holding one.  That's right, one of our partners recently commissioned a jewelry designer to create a "Pistols N Pearls" brooch for her.  It is absolutely fabulous and captures the spirit of our filly.  The other female partner has the tiniest miniature revolver (not an actual weapon, of course) that has become the "good luck charm" of every race.  Yet another female member of our gang has an eighty year old aunt that gets the play-by-play!!  And, we all know better than to upset "Aunt Betty"....even without meeting her!!! 

While the filly - herself - is high spirited and tough with lots of heart and class, the same could be said for these ladies in the Pistols N Pearls "posse."  Never a dull moment......that's for sure!

Top

---

Monday, May 28, 2007

Thoroughbred Horse Racing Statistics

The moment a mare is bred to a stallion, the numbers “game” begins. The percentage of live births to actual race winners per thoroughbred crop is enough to raise the eyebrows of a stone-faced professional Texas Hold ‘Em player!!

If you are considering involvement in the “sport of kings” here are your chances of winning…

In 2004, there were 37,572 live thoroughbred foals registered as potential race horse candidates.

About a third of those - 10,088 or 27% - sold at auction in 2005 as yearlings.

In 2006, approximately 11,695 of them started as two-year olds.

NOW…for the staggering news!!

The percentage of winners of ONE race is approximately 27%…3157.

The percentage of winners of TWO races is only 12.5%…1462.

The percentage of winners of THREE races is 5.1%…596.

Media Thoroughbred Group started three 2-year olds in 2006. Two of them were winners. One of them won two races. The third horse started his racing career on December 31, 2006 and has been in the superfecta in all but two of his six career starts.

Our current “in the money” percentage is a staggering 72%.

Get involved in the future of horse racing….Media Thoroughbred Group.

Top

---

MTG Partners at Breeders’ Cup!!

Although Media Thoroughbred Group did not have a horse running in the Breeders’ Cup races this year, we were well represented.  Perhaps….better than you might think.  First of all, our trainer Larry Jones ran second in the Juvenile fillies race with Governor Jones’ little Proud Spell.  Of course, we have a Proud Citizen filly, ourselves; and, according to Alex Gans, bloodstock agent for Indian Creek Farm, “the gov” thinks she looks a whole lot like Proud Spell.  YEAH!!!  Then, there’s the Larry Jones second place finish in the Classic with Hard Spun.  Somebody tell me he’s not the real deal.

But wait…there’s more.  One of our recent additions to the Media Thoroughbred Group family is  a wonderful, energetic, enthusiastic young woman named Rebecca Montaldo.  Ms. Rebecca is an owner in the Pistols N Pearls gang!  Guess where she wound up on Breeders’ Cup day???  Right there in the paddock with Curlin, Hard Spun, Street Sense, and all the connections!!  Sporting her MTG Pistols N Pearls hat, I’m told she had a brief moment with Carl Nafzger that left her speechless.  Carl has a way of doing that to folks! 

 Another pair of newcomers to the MTG family also made the trek to rain-soaked Monmouth Park.  Carrie and David Robinson left Louisville in their Lexus SUV on Thursday and made it there in time to see Proud Spell in her glory.  Carrie and David are also part of the Pistols N Pearls “club.” In addition, the Robinson’s are partners on both new yearling fillies.  David is a HUGE Hard Spun/Larry Jones fan.  He’s been on that bandwagon since the Derby prep races back in the spring.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we had a fun Breeders’ Cup edition of “The Track Kitchen” horse racing radio show on Saturday morning with partner Paul Siller in Phoenix, Arizona, as our guest handicapper; then, we  joined many of our partners and friends to watch the excitement from the Churchill Downs Turf Club…where it was dry!!

 The MTG gang had a few wonderful moments during the day…not with famous horses or people… but just fun-tastic stuff when you love the game.  Emily Gladden, a partner on four two year olds, bought her first Daily Racing Form and studied it the night before the races.  Guess what???  It worked!!  She was playing on the track’s money all day long.  At one point during the day, she turned to me and said, “I wonder when this is going to wear off?”  She was not referring to her newly acquired skill  for choosing winners.  Emily was talking about the passion and zeal for the sport.

Speaking of zeal and passion… something tells me Rebecca didn’t care that it was raining in the paddock at Monmouth Park.  In an ideal situation, she told me a nice Chanel suit would have been preferable to the rain slicker and boots she was wearing when she looked over to her immediate left and saw Bo Derek.  However, she assured me she would have still worn her MTG Pistols N Pearls hat (maybe just for a few moments) anyway!  That’s my girl! 

This is way too much fun to be work!!!

Top

---

Spirit Warrior: 2-2-2-2

He is the steady performer in the Media Thoroughbred Group stable.  From Texas to New York and many destinations in between, Spirit Warrior has faced some serious race horses - even some on the Derby trail - and looked them dead in the eye.  This son of Boundary is not very big; but he doesn’t know that.  In fact, he has a history of taking on the big boys right from the start - in the paddock on the ranch in Texas - before the first gate ever opened.

Spirit Warrior has been racing for a little more than a year.  He has two wins, two seconds, two thirds and two fourth place finishes.  His most recent outing in New York at Aqueduct put him in competition with the likes of Wafi City and Wisp.  Going off at 28 to 1, he finished second and ”ran his eyeballs out.”  Trainer Dave Cannizzo says he hasn’t reached his peak.  Jockey Channing Hill has figured out how to optimize every ride.  Chad Summers takes care of him as if he were his child.

At Media Thoroughbred Group, we are a family.  We treat our horses with respect and love.  And when they excel, the joy rings out across the MTG nation.  Cell phones buzz and emails fly.  It’s a good thing.

Go Spirit Warrior!  We are proud of you!! 

Top

Records 1 to 4 of 4