December

12/20/07
Country Star Shines in Starlet

Speedy Country Star zips to victory in the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) Dec. 15.

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November

11/26/07
Recent additions to Griffin Place:

Mare: Blondaway
Sire: Skip Trial
Dam: Mandalay Queen
Blondaway is a SW of $184,860.
In foal to El Prado (IRE)

Mare: Pardo’s Joy
Sire: El Prado (IRE)
Dam: Joy’s Jo Jo
Dam of SPANISH HIGHWAY (SW $169,590) AND ASHBY HILL (SW $65,732)

Weanling filly by Roman Ruler
Dam: Rough Ride by Seattle Dancer
Second Dam: Homewrecker dam of GRADED SWs CAT’S AT HOME, HONOR THE HERO, PRENUP, GIANT WRECKER, and Graded SP CAPITALIMPROVEMENT. Family of YONAGUSKA

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October

Country Star wins the G1 Alcibiades.

10/6/07
Country Star wins the G1 Alcibiades. By Empire Maker and out of Griffin Place bred, Rings a Chime, out of Outofthebluebell.

Rings a Chime’s Daughter Breaks Maiden in Grade 1 Stakes
Story by: WTBA

Stonerside Stables’ homebred Country Star, a two-year-old filly from the first crop of classic winner Empire Maker, won her second start, the $500,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) on Keeneland’s opening day card, October 5, by one length. Country Star is the third foal out of 2000 Washington horse of the year Rings a Chime, who scored the biggest win of her career when she won the Ashland Stakes (G1) at the same Kentucky track. A two-time Washington champion, Rings a Chime was bred by Terry and Mary Lou Griffin and the daughter of Metfield—Outofthebluebell, by Red Ryder, earned $606,315. Rings a Chime, who had been purchased for $800,000 in 2002 by Stonerside, produced a colt by Storm Cat this past spring and was bred back to Giant’s Causeway.

After closing well to be second in a 1 1/16 mile maiden special weight turf race at Belmont Park in late September, Country Star, who is trained by Robert Frankel, raced mid-pack in the Alcibiades under the guidance of Rafael Bejarano before making her move by going “seven or eight wide leaving the second turn to make a sweeping run.” Her final time was 1:45.85. A to the Croft, by Menifee, finished second and Grace Anatomy, by Alderbaran, ran third.

The second winner and stakes winner for Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Empire Maker, Country Star has earned $320,600. Frankel later announced that Country Star will not be going to the 2007 Breeders’ Cup.

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September

Mulcahy winning the Trooper Seven at Emerald Downs. Photo courtesy of Emerald Downs.

9/17/07
MULCAHY TAKES TROOPER SEVEN

Story by: Cory Wray
(253) 288-7723
CoryW@emeralddowns.com

AUBURN, Wash. – Emerald Derby winner Mulcahy came from off the pace to win the Trooper Seven Stakes at Emerald Downs on Washington Cup V.

The 3-year-old son of Tribunal won his second consecutive stakes of the season in the one-mile event. He won the $100,000 Emerald Derby Sept. 3.

Mulcahy, trained by Howard Belvoir, ran out of the seven hole with Jennifer Whitaker in the irons.

The gelding stayed at the back of the field in the one-mile stakes as Wild Cycle battled for the lead with Snockered setting a quarter-mile time of 24 1/5 and 47 2/5 in the half.

“He's really professional,” Whitaker said. “He does whatever we ask him to do.”

Mulcahy moved outside on the far turn and began running down the leaders. By the last furlong the gelding took the lead and won by a nearly two lengths over Wild Cycle.

“He ran really well,” Belvoir said. “But he had to work today.”

Mulcahy paid $4.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Wild Cycle ran second bringing in $2.80 and $2.10. Ogieogillthorpe finished third in $2.80.

9/16/07
MULCAHY WINS THE TROOPER SEVEN S.

Mulcahy (# 7, 8/5) by Tribunal, out of Briar de La Rose, ran at Emerald Downs on Sunday, September 16th, 2007 in Race 7 (Trooper Seven S.).

7th Race - Emerald Downs - Sunday, September 16th, 2007

Conditions: 1M Dirt. Trooper Seven S.. FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS FOALED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON OR SIRED BY A STALLION STANDING IN WASHINGTON STATE IN 2003. By subscription of $100 each, which shall accompany the nomination, $300 to enter, $300 additional to start with $22,500 guaranteed to the winner, $7,875 to second, $5,625 to third, $3,375 to fourth, $2,250to fifth, $1,350 to sixth, $1,125 to seventh and $900 to eighth. Weights 122 lbs.; Non-winners of $22,000 once since April 20, 2007 allowed 2 lbs.; Non-winners of $11,000 since April 20, 2007 allowed 4 lbs.; Non-winners of $7,500 in 2007 allowed 6 lbs. (maiden, claiming or starter races not considered). Preference in the draw for post positions will be based on money earned. NOMINATIONS CLOSED SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2007 WITH 9.
Purse: $45,000 Value of Race: $45,000 1st $22,959 2nd $8,037 3rd $5,742 4th $3,443 5th $2,295 6th $1,377 7th $1,147 Mutuel Pool: $64,430 Pick 3 Pool: $5,451 Exacta Pool: $31,235 Bingo Bet Pool: $184 Superfecta Pool: $18,025 Trifecta Pool: $39,417

Race Summary
MULCAHY was allowed to settle in stride early, moved outside for the drive, responded to steady urging and caught WILD CYCLE to prevail in the final yards. WILD CYCLE was away alertly to duel for the lead from the outside with SNOCKERED, disposed of that rival into the lane, responded when challenged by the winner but could not hold that rival off late. OGIEOGILTHORPE was never far back while racing from off the rail and finished well to retain the show. SHARPER EAGLE raced off the pacesetters from the inside and finished evenly in the drive. FLEETHAWK showed no early speed, raced wide through the second turn and did not threaten. SNOCKERED broke sharply to duel for the lead from the inside and weakened after three-quarters. CONFIDENT SLEW raced just off the leaders from the outside and weakened after six furlongs.

9/14/07
Western Missile, (Golden Missile / Outofthebluebell g.) won at Laurel Park on 9/14. 1M Dirt race. Congratulations to his owner, Preferred Pals Stable and trainer, Joseph A. Devereux.

9/4/07
MULCAHY WINS DERBY

Mulcahy (outside) beat heavy favorite Song of Pirates to win the Derby.

Story by: Cory Wray
(253) 288-7723
CoryW@emeralddowns.com

AUBURN, Wash. – Mulcahy defied the odds and ran from last to first, beating race favorite Song of Pirates to win the 70th running of the $100,000 Emerald Derby at the Auburn oval on Labor Day.

The 3-year-old son of Tribunal, conditioned by Howard Belvoir, was ridden out of the two-hole by Jennifer Whitaker.

The gelding settled in the back of the pack in the 1-1/8 mile stakes while Carry On John, ridden by Kevin Radke, set quarter-mile fractions of 23 1/5 seconds and 46 2/5 in the half-mile.

Song of Pirates stumbled out of the gate, but moved to the front as Mulcahy ran seven lengths back through the backstretch.

“He can move a long ways and just creep, creep, creep,” Whitaker said. “When you ask him he has a good turn of foot.”

The stakes victory is the third of the season for Belvoir and the 17th of his career, but his first Derby win.

“This feels great,” Belvoir said. “He doesn't know what he's doing yet, but I think he'll be real nice.”

Mulcahy began moving forward at the three-eights pole. Coming out of the turn the gelding went five wide and ran down the leaders, stopping the clock in 1:47 1/5.

It was the second consecutive stakes victory for the gelding. Mulcahy won the Seattle Slew Handicap Aug. 5

It is the third stakes victory of the season for Whitaker, giving her a total of 10 career stakes wins. She won the Governor's Handicap July 29 aboard Wasserman for Belvoir and the Seattle Slew with Mulchay.

Mulcahy paid $12.60, $4.60 and $2.40 for the win. Jamaica Bound finished second paying $7.60and $2.60. Song of Pirates rang up $2.10 for third.

Running fourth was Wild Cycle followed by Call On Carson and Carry On John.

9/3/07
MULCAHY WINS EMERALD DOWNS DERBY

Mulcahy (# 2, 5/2) by Tribunal, out of Briar de La Rose, ran at Emerald Downs on Monday, September 3rd, 2007 in Race 8 (Emerald Downs Derby).

8th Race - Emerald Downs - Monday, September 3rd, 2007

Conditions: 1 1/8M Dirt. Emerald Downs Derby. FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS. By subscription of $100 each, which shall accompany the nomination, $500 to enter, $500 additional to start with $75,000 guaranteed and an additional $25,000 from the Breeders' Cup Fund for cup nominees only. The host association's guaranteed monies to be divided 55% to the winner, 20% to second, 15% to third, 7.5% to fourth and 2.5% to fifth. Breeders' Cup Fund monies also correspondingly divided provided a Breeders' Cup nominee has finished in an awarded position. Any Breeders' CupFund monies not awarded will revert back to the fund. Weights 122 lbs. Field size will be limited to 12 starters. Preference in the draw for post positions will be based on money earned. In the event field size is oversubscribed and two or more horses aree drawing for post positions within the gate; preference is given to Breeders' Cup nominees. Starters to be named through the entry box by the closing time of entries. Breeders' Cup, Ltd. will award a trophy to the winning o! wner. NOMINATIONS CLOSED SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2007 WITH 14.
Purse: $100,000 Value of Race: $97,500 ($2,500 reverts) 1st $55,000 2nd $20,000 3rd $15,000 4th $5,625 5th $1,875    Mutuel Pool: $76,677 Pick 3 Pool: $5,336 Exacta Pool: $31,626 Superfecta Pool: $16,845 Trifecta Pool: $34,292

Race Summary
MULCAHY was unhurried early, ranged into striking distance through the second turn, came five wide into the lane, wore down the leaders and gamely edged clear late. JAMAICA BOUND settled saving ground, slipped through to make his bid, forged a narrow lead nearing the furlong marker, had his jockey lose the whip near the sixteenth pole, and was unable to resist the winner through the drive. SONG OF PIRATES was rank to place through the first turn, settled off of the pace down the backstretch, came three wide to make his bid, but lacked the needed late response. WILD CYCLE settled racing in hand, came four wide to launch his bid entering the stretch, but failed to sustain the drive. CALL ON CARSON pressed the pace racing two wide, assumed a narrow lead leaving the five-sixteenths pole, but bobbled from between horses entering the stretch and gave way. CARRY ON JOHN set the pressured pace racing along inside, but came up empty on the second turn and dropped out. The jockey of CALL ON CARSON lodged an objection against SONG OF PIRATES for alleged interference near the quarter pole, but following the Stewards review there was no change to the order of finish.

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August

8/10/07
Café Tortoni, a Griffin Place sales graduate, won $30CL at Emerald Downs. The 2YO colt is by Katahaula County – Trillia by Regal Classic. Congratulations to his breeders, Prescott Farms (BC), his owner, Moonrunners LLC, and his trainer, Jim Penny.

8/5/07
MULCAHY WINS IN STAKES RECORD TIME

Story by: Cory Wray
(253) 288-7723
CoryW@emeralddowns.com

Mulcahy (5) came from off the pace to win the Seattle Slew. Photo courtesy of Emerald Downs.

AUBURN, Wash. – Long shot Mulcahy won the Seattle Slew Handicap Saturday at Emerald Downs covering the 1-1/16 mile distance in the stakes-record time of 1 minute, 41 1/5 seconds.

The team of jockey Jennifer Whitaker and trainer Howard Belvoir picked up their second stakes victory on consecutive weekends. Whitaker won the Governor's Handicap last weekend aboard Belvoir-conditioned Wasserman and Sunday she guided the 3-year-old son of Tribunal in the Seattle Slew victory.

Mulcahy broke and settled in the rear of the pack as Get You, ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, set fractions of 23 1/5 seconds in the quarter-mile and 46 in the half.

“I figured if I needed to move from that far I could do it,” Whitaker said.

Mulcahy began to move on the leaders at the three-eights pole and moved five wide coming out of the turn.

“I thought he'd run well today,” Belvoir said. “But you don't ever expect to win by five (lengths).

Mulcahy was running third in the stretch, but quickly reeled in the leaders Call On Carson, ridden by Kevin Radke, and Get You by the finish.

Mulcahy went off at 15-1 and brought in $32.20, $11.80 and $6 for the win. Wild Cycle ran second and paid $4.80 and $3. Call On Carson came in third and returned $3.80.

Running fourth was Jamaica Bound followed by Get You, Rave Rave Rave and Media City.

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July

Handsome Hero won 7/12/07 feature in gate-to-wire fashion. Photo courtesy Emerald Downs.

7/12/07
GP SALES GRAD, HANDSOME HERO WINS FEATURE
By Emerald Downs

AUBURN, Wash. – Handsome Hero ran a beautiful race in Thursday night's feature at Emerald Downs as he went gate-to-wire for the victory.

The 4-year-old gelding, trained by Rick Lukenbill and owned by Seven Oaks Farm with Seth Oliver, broke from the three-hole with Gallyn Mitchell in the irons in the $25,000 claiming race.

With the tracks' all-time leading rider up, Handsome Hero raced to the lead, setting fractions of 22 seconds in the quarter-mile and 44 in the half.

“This horse has really matured since last year,” Mitchell said. He's pretty rateable now. He'd do just about anything I wanted.”

Handsome Hero held off a late charge from Timbercamp to stop the clock at 1:15 4/5 in the six and one-half furlong sprint.

“It depends on how he breaks,” Lukenbill said of his charge. "He's been doing good this year."

Handsome Hero paid $8.40, $5.60, $3.60 for the win. Timbercamp finished second, paying $7.40 and $3.40. Country Cop rang up $3.20 for third.

7/7/07
Joffre (Free At Last / Deputy Belle) bred and sold by Griffin Place, won $Cl 25,000 at Northlands Park. He stalked the lead from three wide, made a bid in the second turn, dueled in the stretch and prevailed. Congratulations to his owner, Rick Walker, and trainer Stuart Simon.

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June

6/27/07
Griffin Place’s mare, Kisbey, had a nice winner at Delaware Park today. Her colt Cloth of Gold, by Touch Gold angled out six wide and ran down the leader in the final strides to win by a neck in a $25,000 MCL going 1 1/16 on the turf.

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May

5/16/07
Griffin Place bred Joffre (Free At Last x Deputy Belle) ran at Stampede Park on Wednesday, May 16th, 2007 in Race 2. See results...

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April

4/4/07
Griffin Place bred Joffre (Free At Last x Deputy Belle) won $32,000CL at Stampede Park by 3 lengths. Congratulations to his owner, Red Ron Farms and his trainer, Ron Smith.

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March

3/9/07
KENTUCKY DERBY & KENTUCKY OAKS

Future Wager Pool #2:

• March 8-11
• Fair Grounds Louisiana Derby Day

Future Wager Pool #3

• April 12-15
• Blue Grass Stakes

Pools open at 12 noon EST on Thursday, March 8. Derby pool closes at 6:00 p.m. and Oaks pool closes at 6:30 p.m. EST Sunday, March 11. More from drf.com...

3/1/07
Katowac by Katowice out of Atoyac won MCL at Bay Meadows in an impressive finish. Bred by Griffin Place and sold to to Curt and Lila Lanning, he is trained by Ed Moger. Congratulations to his connections.

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February

2/24/07
Island Thunder, a Griffin Place sales graduate, won impressively at Bay Meadows in maiden claiming. Congratulations to his owners, Curt and Lila Lanning, his trainer, Ed Moger, and his breeders, Deer Island Thoroughbreds.

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