Defondo and My Sky both break maiden

Three year old gelding DEFONDO, off the favorite, stalked and then swung out three-wide in the lane and zipped clear in the final furlong to break his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths at the Fair Grounds. He is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, trained by Dallas Stewart and was bred by Mr & Mrs Bertram R Firestone (VA).

On the same day, at Sam Houston, MY SKY waited and then split horses to power to the lead to break his maiden. He drew off to win by 2 lengths. He is owned by Tommie M. Lewis and was bred by R. S. Evans, His trainer is Eric R. Reed.

Kip Elser honored as part of SCTOBA Dinner

Kip Elser was honored at the South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association Awards Dinner by receiving the Thoroughbred Charities of America’s Award of Merit for his work with repurposing Thoroughbred race horses and for his efforts as the former president of the South Carolina Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and its Second Chances program at the Wateree River Correctional Institution in Rembert, SC.

CC Jan16.2015

Close win for Ulanbator

Multiple Graded Stakes placed Ulanbator, second in last June’s G3 Matt Winn S. at Churchill and third in the following month’s G3 Dwyer S. at Belmont, settled in a perfect spot along the rail, inching closer as they turned for home with three dueling for the lead. From his position between foes, Ulanbator gamely got his nose on the wire to win. Ulanbator is under consideration for the GI Donn H. here Feb. 7. He is a homebred for Mary Ann Charlston.

Black Martino breaks maiden

BLACK MARTINO has been knocking on the door repeatedly and today he stalked the pace, got a clear lead a furlong out and held on to break his maiden for trainer Jose Garoffalo. He is owned by Honors Stable Corp and was bred by Bailey Bolen, He has already earned  $43,080 for his connections.