Race Recap: Portuguesemano'war Wins with Strong Finish

Portuguesemano’war posted an exciting win in his Finger Lakes debut. Clearly the change of scenery did him a world of good as he put away 7 other horses over a sloppy track. Portuguesemano’war, broke from the 4th post and jockey Paul Nicol raced Portuguesemano’war unhurriedly down the backstretch trailing the leader by as many as 6 lengths after the half. He began to make his move entering the turn as he moved up into third place then mounted his charge to the outside rolling up three wide in the turn and into the lane.

Portuguesemano'war edges Phone Charger at the wire under Paul Nicol

Portuguesemano’war charged up outside of the pace setting Silver James and then rolled up alongside of Phone Charger, who was then on the lead, paused for a stride, then nailed him at the wire by a head in a photo.

Hibiscus Stables Vintage 2008 Update

Good and Tough Colt  - Click for info

We’re pleased to announce that a member of our Vintage 2008 recently received a pedigree update. Our Good and Tough colt’s half-sister broke her maiden at Belmont Park a few days ago. (Note: With Thoroughbreds horses must have the same dam in order to be considered half-siblings. Horses that share the same sire are not considered half-siblings. Horses that share the same sire and dam are considered full-siblings.) Our Good and Tough’s dam is Tarzena. Her 3-year-old daughter, Phobia, broke her maiden at Belmont Park on June 15 in her fourth career start. Phobia has now finished in the money in 3 of 4 starts and has already banked $44,060 in a very short career.

She’s posted Beyer Speed Figures of 71 and 80 and looks to be a promising young filly. We’re pleased to see Tarzena’s offspring continue to do well and we expect our colt to significantly contribute to her pedigree.

Vintage 2008 has been very well-received by both existing partners who have expanded their positions to these 2008 horses and new partners alike. We’ve got some partners that own a share in every horse we’ve syndicated and others that selectively pick and chose their spots. No matter how it’s done the shares in our 2-year-olds continue to fill out as the excitement builds for their debuts.

                                                                                    - Mike Oliveto, CEO Hibiscus Stables

NOTE: Learn more about the Good and Tough Colt and the rest of the Vintage 2008 offerings including full pedigrees, workout videos and Fact Sheets. click here.
 

If It's June It Must Be Time to Get Ready for 'Toga...

It’s that time of year when a young man’s (and woman’s) fancy turns to ‘toga. Keep in mind there’s a lot more to do than attending the races. SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) has a full schedule of entertainment this summer. Here’s a sampling:

           Sunday   7/27    Godsmack with Alter Bridge (sounds like we might see Mike there)
           Thursday  7/31   Sheryl Crow
           Saturday  8/2     Jonas Bros. with Avril Lavigne and Demi Lovato
           Sunday    8/17   Bob Dylan
           Tuesday  8/19    Allman Bros. with a surprise guest (one of DA's favorites)
           Sunday   8/24    Journey with Heart and Cheap Trick

Don’t forget – there are several classical concerts by the Philadelphia Orchestra. For a complete calendar go to www.spac.org.  See you in the park!!!

 

D.A.'s Trivia Corner - The Triple Crown

It's the sport of kings and the king of sports. Since the 1870's there have been over two million registered North American Thoroughbreds foaled. Yet only eleven have captured the ultimate prize - the elusive Triple Crown - ensuring mortality and permanent place in Thoroughbred history. It's Triple Crown trivia. Brace yourself. Did you know that more men have walked on the moon than have ridden Triple Crown winners?

See end of newsletter for answers.

                                                                                      - Doris Ann Hayes, Hibiscus Stables

Stable Profile: Porty Travels North to Find Success

There’s absolutely nothing like a win. When we shipped Portuguesemano’war to Finger Lakes we were fairly certain that there would be a racing level there where he’d be competitive. Nonetheless, you just never know, so we were cautiously optimistic when Portuguesemano’war, or Porty as he’s affectionately known, loaded into the gate for Saturday’s Finger Lakes debut.

Porty was purchased out of 2007’s Fasig-Tipton May Sale in Timonium. Porty was on our “buy” list but we chose to sit out the bidding and allow him to slide. When I saw that he failed to meet his reserve I made a mental note but continued to focus on other horses. We landed Iron Curtain later in that sale and were debating whether or not to buy another horse or just go home with one. I spoke to Steve Klesaris and he felt that Porty was a decent little horse at the right price. “I like him” Steve said. So I went over to the consigner and negotiated a price and bought him.

He was by far the least expensive member of Vintage 2007 and had a lot to live up to being in the same class as Sextant and Iron Curtain and follow in the footsteps (or hoof prints) of Salt Water Reign from Vintage 2006.

He’s up to the challenge, however. He’s a gamer. He goes out to the racetrack and tries so hard. Yet in the barn he’s a character. His consigner, Casey Newick, warned me that he’s a goof ball. I wasn’t sure what she meant until Porty arrived at Belmont Park in Linda Rice’s barn and I got an opportunity to interact with him. I always leave the barn saying that he reminds me of Ed Norton from The Honeymooners. He’s a clown. We’ve grown to like him a great deal.

That’s one of the reasons that it was difficult to watch him struggle early against down-state foes at Aqueduct. He went out and tried like heck but just seemed unable to step up. When he closed like a freight train to take second place in his third career start we had hopes that the stretch-out to two-turn racing had unlocked his talent. But two subsequent ineffective efforts punched his ticket to the Finger Lakes and it seems that he’s found a home there for now.

We couldn’t have been happier on Saturday watching him roll up three-wide and pick off horses in the stretch to win by a head. He came roaring out of the turn and picked them up and laid them down like a Grade 1 winner. Don’t tell him that it was a state-bred maiden $15,000 race. For a horse that tries so hard he deserved to have his day in the sun and to proudly stand in the winner’s circle and get his picture taken. Although Linda Rice now trains Porty, Steve still owns 10% of him so I sent Steve a text message after the race telling him that “the little guy”, as Steve calls him, just broke his maiden. Steve replied, “Great!” as now 3 of the 4 Vintage 2007 horses have a win on the board.

Of course being up north we won’t get to see him as often. But, as one of our partners pointed out, Finger Lakes is only 3 hours from Saratoga so I can see us making some day trips in August, especially on any day when Porty is racing. We believe Porty will do very well in the laid back surroundings at Finger Lakes. Linda has a great staff there and they already love him. How can you not?

                                                                                    - Mike Oliveto, CEO Hibiscus Stables

Andy LaPietra (should we call him Mr. Lucky?) had just become a partner in Portuguesemano’war the week prior to his win by a head at the Finger Lakes on June 14th. He can now brag to his friends that he’s one for one with 100% wins and 100% in the money. A native of Rochester, New York, Andy graduated from The Rochester Institute of Technology and is now employed as an electrical engineer with Kodak. He comes from a big family and his mother had a keen interest in horse racing.

Andy (far left) celebrates Porty's win.

Answers to Trivia: 

1.  Answer: B Gallant Fox (1930) sired Omaha (1935)

2.  Answer: A Willie Saunders was 17 when he won on Omaha (1935). Steve Cauthen was 18 when he won with Affirmed (1978).

3.  Answer: C The Belmont Stakes was first contested in 1867 at the old Jerome Park. The inaugural Derby was in 1875 and the Preakness was first run in 1873.

4.  Answer: D Eddie Arcaro won in 1941 on Whirlaway and again in 1948 on Citation.

5.  Answer: C Sir Barton (1919) did not win a race until his Kentucky Derby. Seattle Slew is the only undefeated horse to win the TC.

6.  Answer: B 12 horses have won the Derby and the Preakness only to lose the Belmont Stakes. Another 6 have won both the Derby and the Belmont.

7.  Answer: C Cartier makes the 3 sided silver trophy. For the past 30 years, the trophy has been housed in the Kentucky Derby Museum. The current trophy has made the trip to Belmont only to return to await another Triple Crown winner.
 

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