Spring time = pivotal time

How lucky were we with the lack of winter weather that we had? Unfortunately we were unable to take advantage of the unbelievable weather and we are at a critical time in BGR's history. As spring time begins, we have had some new additions, a change, and some of the same.

Top Royelle was our first mare to foal this February. She gave birth to a chestnut Desert Party filly and was foaled in Illinois. Originally we were not going to breed Top Royelle back this year but an opportunity to breed her to Into Mischief and sell here at the Keeneland November Breeding sale seemed too good to be true and we have decided to go that route.

Desert Party / Top Royelle Filly

Wundelia finally gave birth to a strapping Yes Its True colt up in Ontario, Canada. She was a couple weeks late and according to Dan Mooney, the colt was the tallest foal they have had in close to 20 years. Both foals that Wundelia has produced have been large and strong, what you want in a foal, and we feel this will only benefit them down the line. After a long discussion, we have decided to breed Wundelia to Court Vision, who won the Breeders Cup Turf Mile in 2011. This is his first year at stud, but Ontario hasn't seen such a quality pedigree'd stallion in some time and being able to have an Ontario sired foal gives us alot of options when the foal becomes racing age.


Yes Its True / Wundelia Colt

On to the racing part of BGR, this winter has been tough. We have yet to win a race in 2012 and while the focus of our company is coming up (Arlington Park opening the first week of May), it still has can be mentally and financially tough.

Albin bounced back after his premature move two starts back to finish a good third in an open 30k claiming race at the Fairgrounds. He was entered back in an allowance race on closing day but he didn't draw in and will now focus on a turf race at Hawthorne Race Course.

Mr Mojo Risin was extremely unlucky as he was entered in two races, drew good posts both times and looked pretty good on paper, only to have it downpour the day before his race both times, thus getting scratched. He is our freshest horse that we have and he will run back at Hawthorne (weather permitting obviously) on April 18th. 

Prospect Knight ran a disappointing 8th place in his return to Hawthorne. He will return in the same spot April 14th, which is a make or break spot for him.

Rochelle Rochelle has been sent back to Chuck Simon at Parx Racing in Philadelphia. She was in need of some class relief and while they have the same race at Hawthorne for her, the way Parx writes the low level conditions gives us multiple options there, easier competition and bigger purses. She has run well at Parx before at higher levels so we are hoping we can bang out a couple wins with her in the coming months, because she certainly will be spotted aggressively.

Gondorf has had a rough time recuperating from his two races at Gulfstream this winter. In both races, he ran extremely hard and it was recommended by our trainer, Brian Lynch, that we give him a little break before we hit the summer hard with him. His Ontario bred status and his performances at Woodbine also came into consideration in taking the risk of a small layoff. He should be ready to go in late May/early June.

After not having any 2 year olds last year, we are getting closer to having our first homebred in full training. Fifth of April (Dehere/Top Royelle) has been in western Kentucky in full training and has done things forwardly. She will stay there until Mid to late May where she will come to our Arlington Park barn and continue on with her education. Fashion Slave (Johar) was alot less forward and she will be turned out until August 1st. She still has a ton of growing to do and it was recommended that we give her the proper time to grow into her body and give her the chance to be a solid racehorse.

Both the Cactus Ridge colt and Yes its True filly yearlings are doing great and have really started to grow. Both have the look of being above average Illinois breds and we are hoping to make some noise with them in the future.

Good luck to anyone on the Derby trail, both as horseman and as handicappers. This weekend should give us alot of information about what is gonna happen the first Saturday in May.