Seven times, graduates of South Carolina training centers headed to the winner's circle after crossing the finish line first in Stakes races between September 21 and October 21. The Boy's Warrior was the first and last to do so during that time span. A graduate of Randy and Kala Rentz' breaking program in Erhardt, S.C., The Boy's Warrior pushed the leader in the Whistle Pig Stakes at PARX on September 21. This 2-year-old gelding took the lead with a 1/4 mile to go and quickly drew off to a 9 length victory. In the Mark McDermott Stakes at Presque Isle Downs on October 21, The Boy's Warrior immediately went to the front and led the field to the wire crossing the finish line in front by 4 lengths. The Boy's Warrior has won all three of his career starts and has already earned $142,200.

On September 28, Toupie broke on top and never looked back in the Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita. She repelled some challengers in the stretch and finished 1 1/2 lengths in front. Toupie learned her early lessons at the Travis Durr Training Center in St. Matthews, S.C. During her 9 race career, Toupie has started at 8 different racetracks. She has won 3 Stakes and has earned $302,775. She won her career debut and also has 2 seconds and 1 third place finish.

On the same day, another former Travis Durr student, Three Technique, won the Ack Ack Stakes-G3 at Churchill Downs. Three Technique trailed the field before putting in his rally taking the lead inside the 1/8th pole and pulled ahead by 1 1/2 lengths. During his 39 starts career, Three Technique also won the John A. Nerud Stakes-G2 at Belmont Park in June of last year. He has recorded 7 wins, 6 seconds and 8 third place finishes accumulating $1,177,237 in earnings.

Little J P recorded his third Stakes win in his last 5 starts proving best in the B Cup Sprint Stakes at Lethbridge Rmtc on September 29. Little J P dueled with another early on before taking command in the stretch and proving to be 3 lengths the best. He was developed for his racing career by Randy and Kala Rentz.

Travis Durr's crew watched two more former students win Stakes on October 12 and 19. On the 12th, Secret Money stalked the leaders while racing three wide. In a hard-fought stretch duel, she would not be denied winning by a head in the Floral Park Stakes at Aqueduct. Secret Money's last 12 starts were all in Stakes races. Along with her latest win, she finished first in the Music City Stakes-G3 at Kentucky Downs in September of last year.

On October 19, Concealed Carry outbroke the field quickly taking a 2 length advantage in the M. P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile Stakes at PARX. Inside the 1/8th pole, she was challenged but would not give in and won by a neck. A winner in her career debut at Woodbine in 2021, Concealed Carry now has 5 victories.

Vodka With a Twist and Post Time

Make South Carolina Proud

Two horses developed for their racing careers in South Carolina finished second in their Breeders’ Cup races on November 1 and 2 at Del Mar. Vodka With a Twist, purchased by Bobby, Debby and Jason’s McCutchen Training Center at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale for $2,500 last year, finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies-G1. Prominent throughout, Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words – Bourbon and a Kiss by Sky Mesa) is owned by Medallion Racing, Aldabbagh, Omar, Strauss, William, BlackRidge Stable LLC and Schwing Thoroughbreds and is trained by Phil D'Amato. She was purchased by the group at the Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale in April for $90,000. Following this accomplishment, Jason McCutchen commented, “We are tickled pink here at the McCutchen Training Center. It takes a village to pull something like this off. We are definitely not a one man band here.”

The McCutchens buy yearlings, prepare them for racing, get their careers started and then sell them as 2-year-olds. While they would still like to own Vodka With a Twist, buying and selling is what they do and are happy to be cheering from the sidelines.

Post Time, purchased by Cary Frommer for long-time client Eileen Charles (Hillwood Stable LLC) at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale in 2021 for $85,000 finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-G1 on November 2. Thirteenth and last for the first half-mile, Post Time put in a tremendous rally to get up to finish second beaten only 1 ½ lengths. 

Now a 4-year-old, Post Time (Frosted – Vielsalm by Fairbanks) is trained by Brittnay Russell and was ridden by her husband, Sheldon.

Post Time underwent Cary Frommer’s breaking program in Aiken and was remembered as quite a character and still is. Following the race, Frommer said, “I’m so excited. He was closing so well. Sheldon rode him brilliantly!” In 14 career starts, Post Time has 9 wins, 3 seconds and 2 third place finishes with career earnings of $1,167,910.

An Unforgettable Experience

In August, Aron Wellman called the Aiken office and announced to the staff that I would be representing Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners as a finalist in the Managerial Award category for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards. I was familiar with the TIEA because Kelsey Marshall Hughes, Vice President of Partner Relations, was the top honoree for the Katherine McKee Administrative Award in 2022.

Jeff Haas, a member of the Aiken staff, and I provided material for a video giving a brief outline of who I am and what I do. Aron Wellman, who nominated me, also commented on my role with Eclipse and my history in the thoroughbred industry. This video was shown at the Awards ceremony held in the sales pavilion at Keeneland on October 15.

My wife Susan and I drove to Lexington on Monday, October 14. Katie LaMonica and Nicole Cohen, members of the Godolphin team, put together an action-packed Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday morning, I had an interview with Tom Law, Chairman of the selection committee and the committee members at the Keene Place on the Keeneland grounds. I answered questions and gave them an idea of what my 50 years in the thoroughbred industry has meant to me.

Tuesday afternoon we went on a tour of the Godolphin Stables at Jonabell Farm followed by the TIEA Awards Banquet Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning, we met Rachel Alexandra at Stonestreet Farm followed by a tour of Three Chimneys Farm. We all spent an afternoon at the races at Keeneland following the tours.

At the ceremony, 21 finalists were recognized with videos and two runner-ups were introduced. While seven people were top honorees, all were winners. There were no losers. This was an unforgettable evening in that at the banquet there was an all-star cast of people there that I have made friends with over the years.

Jack Sadler

President

SCTOBA

Colonial Cup Returns November 17

The 49 th Running of the Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup Races will be held November 17 at the Sprindale Race Course in Camden. The Colonial Cup returns to the National Steeplechase calendar this year after last being held in 2018,

Gates will open at 9:00 AM. There will be an area designated as Paddock Shops and Vendor Village plus a Kid’s Zone. The first of five races will start at 1:00 PM. The feature race will be The Colonial Cup-G1 with a $150,000 purse.

For ticket and parking information, visit www.carolinacup.org.

Aiken Steeplechase Ends Season on November 23

The National Steeplechase Association 2024 Season comes to an end with the 31 st Running of the Aiken FallSteeplechase on November 23. Gates open at 8:00 AM. Along with a shopping area, there will be children’s stick races, a pony club presentation, a parade of hounds, a carriage parade and a crazy pants and hat contest.

There will be five races held over National Fences with post time for the first being at 12:00 PM. This meet may determine the top trainer, jockey and horse of the year for the 2024 season.

For ticket and parking information, visit www.aikensteeplechase.com.

SC Busy at Fasig-Tipton Sales

Buyers with South Carolina connections were active at Fasig-Tipton October yearling sales. At the Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale at Timonium on October 1, Cary Frommer signed the tickets on colts by Great Notion, Frosted and Mitole and fillies by King for a Day and Honor A.P..  These yearlings will spend the winter in Aiken.  The Holly Hill Training Center owners bought a filly by King for a Day.

At the Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale in Lexington, KY on October 21-24, Legion Bloodstock, a team of which Travis Durr is a member of, signed tickets for colts by Good Magic, Complexity, Midshipman, Beau Liam and Connect.  Legion Bloodstock also signed tickets on fillies by Bolt d’Oro, Galilean, Known Agenda and Beau Liam.  Durr’s team will be breaking this group in St. Matthews.

Bobby and Jason McCutchen purchased fillies by Practical Joke, Daredevil and Maximus Mischief and a colt by Rock Your World.  Marcus and Crystal Ryan, under their Mason Springs banner, will be brining a colt by War of World and a filly by Beau Liam back to their farm in Windsor, SC. 



James Layden picked up a Not This Time filly that he will break in Erhardt, SC and Randy and Kala Rentz took a Bolt d’Oro filly to their training center also in Erhardt.

Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group purchased a filly by Volatile and she will undergo the breaking process with Donna Freyer in Camden.

…..Congratulations to the connections of Incinerator who has won his last three races. Incinerator went through the breaking process in Aiken under the care of Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens. Originally owned and trained by Mark Grier and Arnaud Delacour, he is now owned and trained by Shake and Bake Stables and Kieron Magee. Incinerator won at Colonial Downs in July and August and at Laurel Park in October.

,,,,,Congratulations to the Kingsley family who race under the name of the Atsamy Racing Club. Dubai and Back, a winner at Delaware Park on October 3. is owned by SCTOBA members Arch and Wendy Kingsley, Dubai and Back is trained by Arch and was ridden to victory by their daughter, Taylor. The Kingsley family lives in Camden. 

It's that time!

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