Hibiscus Stables Store Launched!

Hibiscus Stables has launched an online store for partners and fans who wish to wear their favorite horses proudly - on their backs, fronts, mugs, envelopes and more!  The initial launch features Iron Curtain memorial items and William Thomas items.  More items are being added regularly for all horses.  And if you have a suggestion for an item, just post a message on the store board and we will consider adding your item to the store.  Examples of what's available include the Iron Curtain Memorial Tee Shirt with a copy of his lifetime past performances on the back, beer steins and coffee mugs.

And perhaps one of the more interesting items are real US Postage Stamps featuring the images of our horses and winner circle shots.  The stamps are great for collecting but can be used for actual postage.

So if your family and friends are asking what they can get you for the holidays - just send them this newsletter along with your wish list.  Hibiscus chose Zazzle as the site to host its store for several reasons.  Zazzle allows you to customize the products if you would like and they offer a 30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee.

Visit the Hibiscus Store at http://www.zazzle.com/hibiscusstables

So keep checking back, the store will continue to expand to new items and include all horses. Please note, the traditional Hibiscus embroidered polo shirts are not available in the store but can be ordered through Hibiscus directly.
 

Rachel Alexandra, Superfilly

To be honest, I hadn’t heard of Rachel until she won the Kentucky Oaks by almost 20 lengths. Jess Jackson had purchased a majority share immediately after that race and placed her with Steve Asmussen. I remember there was talk then about how she could have won the Derby the next day and  they were thinking of running her in the Preakness. Then there was further controversy when 2 other owners tried to keep her out of the race by entering other horses that were already Triple Crown nominated. When she beat Mine That Bird by a length that day coming from the 13 hole (the first to ever win from that post position) it was wonderful to see. She went on the beat the boys again in The Haskell besting Summer Bird by 6 lengths!

There we were in Saratoga getting ready to watch her run against older males in The Woodward. The entire town was celebrating Rachel Day. There were banners hung over the stores and Rachel merchandise was on sale and ubiquitous. At the track that day, the crowd started securing their places along the path and around the paddock at least 2 races prior. I was lucky to get a spot directly on the rail along the path and I could see her coming from quite a way off. The crowd was deep and everyone had cameras held high to get at least a photo if not a direct glimpse of her. She came down the path and was so close to me I felt that I could reach out and touch her-and she’s BIG just as tall as the boys. She calmly strode along as the crowd began yelling her name. I was standing next to an older security guard who told me that he was disappointed at NYRA. “In the old days when I first started they would have had  a band lead her out to the paddock-they just don’t know how to do things anymore.”

I watched in the picnic area as she held the lead around the turn-the fractions were so fast I wondered if she could hold on. Heading down the stretch I saw Calvin had to take the whip to her at least 10 times (not happy with this). As she held off  Macho Again, the crowd roared -the sound was deafening.  

Prior to the race going off, my friend came up to me and said that she was going to watch the race from the rail. I said “good luck with that” thinking that she’d have no chance getting even close as the crowd would probably be 40 deep at the apron. Well was I ever wrong! Not only did she get right up to the rail-she got some spectacular photos!   

Will she win Horse of the Year? That day, everyone aid she was a lock. Now that Zenyatta’s won the Breeder’s Cup Classic-it’s been opened up to debate. John Nerud is quoted in The Blood-Horse: “I think she’s the best I’ve ever seen…I’m not afraid to say she’s better than Ruffian because she is.” She’s eight for eight in 2009 and along the way she’s broken 2 of Ruffian’s records.

They had made a special blanket of pink carnations just for her in case she won that day - they mean "I’ll never forget you." Rachel is truly unforgettable.

                                                                                      - Doris Ann Hayes, Hibiscus Stables

Q & A With Hibiscus CEO, Mike Oliveto - Vintage 2009 Update
We asked Mike to share some thoughts on the 2009 two-year-olds including where they are with training, possible debuts and overall outlook.


Q. How are the Vintage 2009 2-year-olds doing? 

I’m knocking on wood as I say this but the Vintage 2009 horses are doing superbly.  We couldn’t have asked for anything more at this point.  In the early part of the year when we assembled our 2009 operating plan we made the strategic decision to focus less on quantity and more on quality.  We attended Select sales and focused on pedigree much more so than ever before.  Our trainers always focus on conformation and movement so there wasn’t too much we could have improved upon there but by combining that more than ever before with pedigree and bloodlines I think we’ve checked every box in terms of maximizing potential for success.  I personally can’t wait to see these horses on the racetrack. 

Q. Tell us about the Grand Slam colt. 

The Grand Slam colt has been named Slamentine.  In 2008 Grand Slam was the 12^th ranked stallion nationally.  Slamentine’s dam, Queen of Valentine is by Storm Creek who’s by Storm Cat.  Grand Slam is by Gone West who’s by Mr. Prospector.  Those are some heavy hitters.  The mating of Queen of Valentine and Grand Slam produces an “A” nick.  Slamentine is 3x4 to Mr. Prospector, 4x5 to Secretariat, 4x5 to Northern Dancer, 5x5 to Bold Ruler.  I can keep on going.  There’s also a really cool 4x4 cross of Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer which is a red-hot cross.  If you were to look at him he’s so imposing.  I guess that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise because he was a Calder horse.  And the best part…he’s a New York-bred.  He gets to begin his career in restricted company.  Steve Klesaris can’t wait to get this guy up to Fair Hill and get him going.  He’s in Ocala breezing a quarter right now and could be at Fair Hill by the first of the year.

 Q. Tell us about the Tale of the Cat filly. 

The Tale of the Cat filly has been named My Indy Kitty.  In 2008 Tale of the Cat was the 7^th ranked stallion nationally and in 2009 he’s the 10^th ranked.  In 2008 he was carried by Tale of Ekati and in 2009 he’s carried by Gio Ponti.  My Indy Kitty’s dam is an unraced mare out of A.P. Indy.  As a broodmare sire A.P. Indy has produced 43 stakes winners and counting.  A.P. Indy is currently ranked 24^th on the national broodmare sire list.  More to the point, My Indy Kitty’s dam, Mymich is G2-placed.  Her second dam, Dixie Ghost, is multiple graded stakes placed and has produced Salute the Sarge who’s a multiple graded stakes winner and Chelokee who’s a G3 winner and is G1-placed.  My Indy Kitty is 3x4 to Mr. Prospector, 4x5 to Northern Dancer, 4x4 to Secretariat, 5x5 to Bold Ruler, etc.  She also has that 4x4 cross of Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer.  The direct Storm Cat/A.P. Indy cross has produced Bluegrass Cat.  But this is all on paper.  At the racetrack she’s been breezing like clockwork and Ron Ellis couldn’t be more pleased.  She’s worked a few halves and Ron is going to stretch her out to 5/8s this week.  She’s worked a few times in company and has been nothing but a true professional.  She could debut as a 2-year-old and Ron thinks she looks a great deal like A.P. Indy and that she may be a two-turn horse.  Every year we have new 2-year-olds coming through the barn and one always gets excited about the possibilities of what these new horses might do.  That said, I don’t think the partners have ever had more to be excited about than these two new juveniles.  Their entire careers are in front of them and they’ve got the looks and the page to back up even the loftiest of expectations.  We’re hoping to see My Indy Kitty in the gate before the end of the year.

D.A.'s Trivia Corner - Thanksgiving Stakes

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

Answers to Trivia: 

1) Answer: B. He won in 2001 with Chris McCarron up and in 2002 with Pat Day.

2) Answer: C. He won a record 4 times. He set the stakes record in 1974 with Maud Muller going in 1:46.80. The others each have 3 wins.

3) Answer: A. In 2002 and 2003 both times with Jerry Bailey up. Discreet Cat set the Stakes record (1:32.46). Forty Niner was the first winner.

4) Answer: A. Genuine Risk won in 1979. The filly who wins this race is usually the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks.

5) .Answer: D. Eddie Maple won 4 times. Jerry Bailey and Angel Cordero, Jr. won 3 times each. Johnny Velazquez has won twice.

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