As another year winds down, November reminds us that there
are always things to be grateful for.  Here’s my list: 

T  Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
H  Health
A  All of our partners
N  New friends
K  Kindness of strangers
S  Simple things
G  Good horses and racing luck
 I  Inspiring wins (and losses)
V  Valiant efforts from our riders
 I  Immeasurable joy of being in the winner’s circle
N  Numerous other blessings
G  Great trainers         

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

                                                                          - Doris Ann Hayes, Hibiscus Stables

Hibiscus Horses Arrive at New Homes for the Winter

Two of our more consistent runners have found themselves in new surroundings for this upcoming winter.  Iron Curtain and Portuguesemano’war, both 3-year-olds from our Vintage 2007, have relocated.  Both horses have done spectacular jobs for their partners in 2008 and both are now settling in to new stalls; both for very different reasons.

“Just get this horse.”  I’ll never forget those words as Steve Klesaris told me to buy Iron Curtain at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in 2007.  This bay son of Boundary was such a spectacular looking specimen with a loaded pedigree to back it up that I was very excited to get in there and bid on him.  I walked into the pavilion, stood in the back ring, and kept raising my hand until the gavel came down.  We bought him and it was under our budget cap to boot!

Iron Curtain’s 3-year-old campaign was nothing short of spectacular for the partners.  He posted 2 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds in 7 starts including a draw-off victory in Saratoga in a $61,000 allowance race on the closing day of the meet.  Many of our partners fulfilled lifelong dreams of getting their picture taken in the Saratoga winner’s circle and seeing the smiles on their faces as that dream was fulfilled was a rewarding experience for us.  Reflecting back to the Maryland sale in 2007…if we had only known that this horse was going to get it done for us in Saratoga…wow.

Iron Curtain racked up $86,000 for the partners in 2008 bringing his career earnings to $96,000.  He’s still only 3-years-old and has his best days ahead of him.  Iron Curtain is a New York-bred turf horse and, since the turf season is concluded in New York and Iron Curtain is still eligible for the New York-bred N2X condition, trainer Steve Klesaris has decided to give him the winter off vacationing on the farm.  I think it’s fair to say that Iron Curtain has earned it.  He’s currently winding down at Bruce Jackson’s place in Maryland.  We’ll turn out Iron Curtain and then bring him back into training around February in time to have him primed to return to the turf in April.  Hibiscus Stables doesn’t formally have an MVP but, if we did, I think that Iron Curtain might edge out Salt Water Reign for Hibiscus Stables’ “Horse of the Year” award for 2008.

Our other transferee is Portuguesemano’war.   After finding a home in the Chris Englehart barn at Finger Lakes, Porty as we like to call him, developed into a very consistent horse.  Under Chris’ care Porty logged 4 in-the-money finishes in 5 starts including 1 win, 1 second, and 2 thirds.  With Finger Lakes racetrack closing in a few days we needed to find Porty a cozy venue for the winter.  We consulted with Steve Klesaris, who still owns 10% of Porty, and Steve felt that Charles Town in West Virginia would be a perfect fit.  True to our business model we went directly to the top of the Charles Town trainer standings and got in contact with leading trainer Jeff Runco.

Like Chris Englehart, Jeff is the year-in and year-out leading trainer at Charles Town.  Jeff is currently clicking along at a 30% winning percent.

Porty shipped out earlier in the week and is already hanging out in his new stall in Jeff’s barn.  We look forward to his next start and finding out how he likes the new surface.

Coincidentally both of these runners were purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in 2007 and both are in partnership with Steve Klesaris.  Both horses run at different ends of the spectrum but both are productive and certainly a great deal of fun for the partners.  They deserve a tip of the hat and a pat on the back and perhaps an extra carrot for Christmas.  They’re both solid hard-knockers and we look forward to what’s next in their careers.

                                                                                   - Mike Oliveto, CEO Hibiscus Stables

Salt Water Reign Returns to Aqueduct, Entered on Sunday Salt Water Reign's Aqueduct record is very impressive: 3 wins out of 6 starts, finishing on the board all 6 times and her earnings total more than $95,000.  So getting her back to her "favorite track" this week is particularly exciting.  She's drawn the 8th post in the 7th race with a post time of 3:16 PM.

Kat Scratch Fever Readies for Debut

Kat Scratch Fever is the last of our 2008 Vintage to debut and the time is getting near. Ron Ellis continues to move her forward, working her on turns this past week and planning next steps.  With her "stable mates" already having a race under their belts, the hope is that she will also get her first experience in as a two year-old, with a possible debut in December. Hibiscus Stables currently has 1 full share and 1 half  share remaining of Kat Scratch Fever.  If you are interested in all or part of a share this could be a great time to partner on a West Coast runner.  For more information read her Fact Sheet or call us at 1-800-WIRE-2-WIRE,

Kat Scratch Fever Next to Debut