Declan's Moon, Suave Jazz, Gunport, Alluring Punch Represent Country Life, Walnut Green, Sagamore, and Northview
The Retired Racehorse Training Project's "100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge" kicked off this week as four horses representing four Mid-Altantic Thoroughbred farms began a 100-day long training program on December 1.
The horses will be judged on conformation, movement, jumping ability and trainability by guest riders, judges, and online fans. They will appear at the Maryland Horse World Expo on the third weekend in January and the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo on the fourth weekend of February after which some will be offered for sale. The horses will be trained together during the Challenge at Steuart Pittman'sDodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD.
The purpose of the Challenge is to demonstrate to the versatility, trainability, and quality of the Thoroughbreds being produced by America's horse racing industry. TheRetired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) is a charitable organization whose mission is to increase demand for Thoroughbreds off the track.
Declan's Moon (Malibu Moon - Vee Vee Star, by Norquestor) enters the challenge already a champion, having won the Eclipse Award as an undefeated two year old. He went on to win his first race as a three year old before an injury took him off the Triple Crown trail. After a full recuperation and another thirteen races his longtime owner Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess Stable retired him to the Pons family's Country Life Farm in Maryland where he has been turned out with two other Malibu Moon champions. Josh Pons approached Ms. Siegel about entering "Declan" in this Challenge because, "he is such a beautiful mover and a great example of the quality horse that our industry produces."
"Declan wouldn't let us catch him when Josh and I went out to his field for a visit," said Pittman, "but he trotted circles around us like a dancer and then galloped to the top of the hill and struck a pose. I could hardly sleep until Josh got word back that Ms. Siegel was enthusiastically on board."
Declan made a farewell appearance at the Country Life / Merryland stallion show to fifty admiring Thoroughbred breeders on Saturday before making the trip to Davidsonville.
Gunport (Mizzen Mast - Directive, by Deputy Minister) is a gorgeous three year old gray filly with a petite head, magnificent topline, and no desire to race. She was born and raised at Sagamore Farm where Kevin Plank of Under Armour has brought Thoroughbred racing history back to life under the guidance of Tom Mullikin and his team. Sagamore horses are treated like royalty and Gunport was no exception. She trained to race, ran once at Colonial Downs in the summer, made it clear that she was not interested in the game, and Team Sagamore respected her wishes. She now has the opportunity to discover other talents, and is clearly the beauty queen of the 100 Day Challenge.
Suave Jazz (Suave Prospect - Cavite Starlet, by Jazzing Around) is a nine year old who ran 70 races and won $651,000. He was a favorite of trainer Tony Dutrow earlier in his career, so he told the owners he would take him back when he was ready to retire. That happened in August of this year and the horse has been resting since. Dutrow is a partner in Walnut Green Farm with Mark Reid, who was eager to find a good horse to enter in the 100 Day Challenge. The Walnut Green partners are pulling together to stand behind this magnificent old campaigner, and if Day 1 of training is any indication of things to come this horse is sure to attract a sizeable fan base.
"He's not the prettiest horse, but he's a good mover," says Reid, whose eye for a horse has made him a leading bloodstock agent. "And by the way, we want to win this thing."
Alluring Punch (Two Punch - Alluring Elixir, by Cure the Blues) is a magnificent and kind three year old gelding who earned $12,000 in ten starts. Barbara Ryan bred the horse and got him back after his last race on September 1, knowing that he would make an outstanding sport horse and eager to get him some good training. When she heard about the 100 Day Challenge she contacted Northview Stallion Station with a proposal that the horse be entered to honor Two Punch, his sire who died at Northview last summer at the age of 28 after leaving a mark not only on racing but also in the sport horse world. Two Punch offspring like Vaunted, who competed at the Rolex CCI**** in 2009, epitomize the versatility and athleticism of Thoroughbreds, and Alluring Punch seems to have all the ingredients to make it to the top of a new discipline.
The RRTP 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge can be followed at www.retiredracehorsetraining.org and on Facebook. Videos of each horse's first ride are on You Tube. An online version of this announcement with photographs can be viewed here.
Information about sponsoring the 100 Day Challenge can be obtained by emailing steuart@retiredracehorsetraining.org.
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