Hibiscus Connections Dominate Saratoga

We couldn’t be more proud than to have our New York-based trainer, Linda Rice, and our go-to jockey, Ramon Dominguez, win the Saratoga title in their respective categories.

Linda Rice (c) wins Saratoga training title.

Our New York-based trainer, Linda Rice, who trains both Sextant and Lord Greystoke, won the Saratoga training title for the first time in her career.  As a matter of fact, it’s the first training title of any kind for her.  It’s interesting in that Linda won the very first race of the meet winning Race 1 on Day 1 with Good Prospect.  Al and I were sitting in an owner’s box that day enjoying a relaxing Opening Day at the Spa when Linda scored in that race.  I turned to Al and said, “Well Linda’s now in the lead in the trainer’s standings.”  Linda slugged it out with Todd Pletcher throughout the entire meet before putting him away for good in the second-to-last race on the last day.  She was ahead by one and Pletcher had his last start of the meet in the Hopeful G1.  When his horse ran up the track Linda had it clinched. 

The last day of the meet is a relatively quiet almost somber day at the Spa.  There was a decent crowd but everyone was subdued a bit.  You could almost feel in the air the sadness of the last day of summer; the end of the festive meet.  It was quiet, a bit calm, a bit sad, but not really.  It’s hard to describe.  I recall bumping into Linda near the main concourse up near the main gate a bit before the Hopeful.  I have no idea what she was doing all the way over there.  We stopped to chat and although she tried to portray a calm appearance it was easy to tell she was on pins and needles.  I told her that all of Hibiscus was rooting for her and Plectcher’s horse was a long shot  and I felt that she was in good shape.  She had a horse in the very last race of the meet but by that point it didn’t matter.  Pletcher was mathematically eliminated after the Hopeful.  I made my way to the paddock to congratulate her.  It was tremendously heartwarming to see so many fans shouting out to her and congratulating her.  Dozens of people had made their way to the fence near the entrance of the paddock and folks were yelling out to her as she walked in and again on her way out.  Everyone was rooting for the hometown girl.  Pletcher is a nationally-based trainer with strings all over the country.  Linda is local and generally races only here in New York with a few stragglers at Finger Lakes and in Florida.  It was a tremendous win for Linda Rice and we’re very proud to have her as our trainer, our advisor, and our friend.

Ramon Dominguez (r.) wins the jockey title.

Completing the Saratoga exacta, so to speak, our go-to jockey Ramon Dominguez won the jockey title a few races before Linda had won her title.  Ramon had previously set a modern day record for wins at the Belmont Spring/Summer meet winning 98 times (a few of those for Hibiscus).  At Saratoga Ramon moved into the jockey standings lead on August 26 and never looked back as he put away Alan Garcia.  Ramon finished the meet with 45 wins, 5 more than Garcia. 

“I’m very happy to be able to finish ahead  - this is the meet that everybody wants to win,” Dominguez said.  “I’m just grateful.  Everybody in New York has been very supportive and my business has been pretty big, so I just hope that continues.” 
We look forward to continued success with Linda, Ramon, and the rest of our trainers and jockeys as we swing our action back to Belmont Park for the Fall Championship meet.

                                                                             - Mike Oliveto, CEO Hibiscus Stables

California Horses Moving Forward

Kat Scratch Fever and My Indy Kitty, two fillies in our California Program, have been on regular breeze schedules and are working forwardly toward their respective debuts.

Kat Scratch Fever, our Forest Wildcat filly, is now a 3-year-old and has had her share of setbacks since we acquired her in March of 2008.  Although none of her setbacks were major, she’s had the misfortune of having a few one after the other and it’s delayed her debut.  We all know that with Thoroughbreds anything can and will happen.  Some make it to the races without incident and others have some issues.  Kat Scratch Fever is somewhat of an outlier on the bell curve and the partners have been very patient.  She’s now resumed breezing and is pointed toward a debut around December 1.  She’s a well-bred filly from a leading stallion and a G3 winning mare.  She flashed brilliant speed at the sale and we’re hopeful that she’ll give the partners many thrills when the time comes.

My Indy Kitty, our Tale of the Cat filly, is our 2-year-old that we acquired this April.  Unlike Kat Scratch Fever she’s come right along on schedule and has been breezing like clockwork.  She’s a beautiful filly out of a leading stallion and a G2 placed A.P. Indy mare that’s already produced two graded stakes winners.  Trainer Ron Ellis hand-picked this horse at the Keeneland April Sale.  He loves her conformation and the way that she breezed…Ron especially likes her stride.  Ron thinks she had the physical characteristics and the pedigree to go two turns.  She too is being pointed toward a debut around December 1 or so.  My Indy Kitty is perhaps only one week behind Kat Scratch Fever.  If all remains on schedule those partners who have shares in both horses may wind up with one busy week in December.

                                                                             - Mike Oliveto, CEO Hibiscus Stables

D.A.'s Trivia Corner - The Best of D.A.

This months trivia features a potpourri of questions from the past few years.  No topic or theme to help out, just random questions - see how many you can get.....without the help of Google!

1. Rags to Riches won the 2007 Belmont Stakes after a 102 year drought.  Who was the fist filly to take the 12 furlong classic?

                 A. Sceptre
                 B. Pretty Polly    
                 C. Regret
                 D. Ruthless

2.  Who was the oldest winning jockey of the Breeder's Cup?
     A.  Will Shoemaker
     B.  Chris McCarron
     C.  Pat Day
     D.  Jerry Bailey

3. What filly is the only non-human to make Sports Illustrated's Top 100
   Female Athletes of the 20th Century?
     A. Genuine Risk
     B. Ruffian
     C. Azeri
     D. Regret

4. Out of the three Triple Crown races, which is the oldest?
     A. Kentucky Derby
     B. Preakness
     C. Belmont Stakes
     D. A tie - 2 are the same age

See below for answers.
                                                                                      - Doris Ann Hayes, Hibiscus Stables

Answers to Trivia: 

1) Answer: D. Ruthless-she won the inaugural running in 1867

2.  Answer: A. Willie Shoemaker was 56 when he won in 1987 on Ferdinand.

3) Answer: B. Ruffian was voted by many sportswriters "the greatest filly that ever raced". She was unbeaten in ten starts before her tragic breakdown during a match race against Foolish Pleasure in 1975. She's buried at Belmont near the finish line.

4)  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.

5) Answer: D.

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