Katie Petrunyak

Breeders' Cup Breakthrough: For Kevin Attard, Moira's Win More Than a Milestone

Kevin Attard never doubted that he had what it took to train a racehorse. What he wasn't sure of, at least back then, was whether that confidence would be enough. The lifelong horseman was from a family of Canadian trainers and jockeys and he had practically grown up on the backside at Woodbine, but in [...]

[ Read More ]
Journalism Half-Sis Set to Write Her Own Story in Saratoga

The past few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for Liliana Solari, Carlos Heller and their team at Don Alberto. In April, the farm's homebred superstar Journalism (Curlin) scored the first of three Grade I victories in the Santa Anita Derby. Three weeks later, his dam Mopotism (Uncle Mo) foaled a picture-perfect Flightline filly. [...]

[ Read More ]
The Sire Primer: Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale

A total of 47 sires will be represented at next week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Here's a breakdown of how many yearlings each stallion has cataloged, along with a closer look at some of the individuals boasting Grade I pedigrees.     First-Crop Yearling Sires: 29% of Catalogue Corniche: 2 Cyberknife: 3 Drain The Clock: 1 [...]

[ Read More ]
Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: From Desert Dust, a New Dawn at H & E Ranch

A good ranch horse was worth its weight in gold. They needed to be able to withstand long hours navigating rocky, unforgiving terrain beneath the blazing Arizona sun. With six to eight cowboys riding out daily at H and E Ranch, there never seemed to be enough horses to meet demand. So Elena Crim set [...]

[ Read More ]
Kenny McPeek assistant trainer Greg Geier and champion Thorpedo Anna at Churchill Downs.
Breeders' Cup Connections: Greg Geier a Steady Hand in the Shedrow

Greg Geier doesn't remember a time when horses weren't a part of his life. He and his brother Dennis were practically raised on the track. They tagged along with their father, Louisiana-based George Geier, to the barn early each morning on the weekends and traveled north every summer for race meets in Detroit. “We started [...]

[ Read More ]
United's Next Chapter: From Turf Star to Aftercare Ambassador

When it came time for United (Giant's Causeway) to retire from the racetrack, there was never any doubt that he would remain with LNJ Foxwoods, the parents-and-daughter team of Larry, Nanci and Jaime Roth who had campaigned him throughout his four-year career. A seven-time graded stakes winner, the towering chestnut had become the family's all-time [...]

[ Read More ]
After Derby Debut, West Back In Action with Chunk of Gold

It's rare for things to go exactly according to plan in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Ethan West learned that lesson about five seconds into his first attempt. In the past, Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) had done his best work coming from off the pace, but in the Derby he broke sharply and, with Jareth Loveberry [...]

[ Read More ]
Breeders' Cup Breakthrough: Saffie Joseph Defying the Odds

Saffie Joseph Jr. is no stranger to rejection. In the early years of his training career, there were moments when he wondered if chasing his dream had been a big mistake. In what is now a familiar part of Joseph's origin story, his father had warned him against leaving Barbados to launch a stable in [...]

[ Read More ]
With Star Broodmare Kamakura, Mike Ryan Bringing Out the Best

Bloodstock agent Mike Ryan has picked out dozens of Grade I winners over the years. He has also bred Grade I winners, most notably Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and his half-sister Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), and he's even raced a few, including 2008 GI Spinaway Stakes victress Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot) and [...]

[ Read More ]
Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: Winchester Farm Uncovering Gems From All Corners

Their first real introduction was at the 1997 Keeneland September Sale. Naoya was working with Dr. Dave Fishback at Hagyard and Marie was scouting yearlings for her fledgling Hong Kong-based bloodstock agency. Things got off to a rather awkward start when Marie approached the Hagyard team to hand off her vet's list and Naoya asked [...]

[ Read More ]
From the Balkans to the Bluegrass, Breeder Tomislav Mitrovski Chasing a Dream

What drives someone to leave everything behind to follow a dream? And what happens when the dream is within reach, but one last obstacle stands in the way? Tomislav Mitrovski was watching from home when Color Comin' In (Rock Your World), the first horse he ever bred, overcame a troubled start and stormed home to [...]

[ Read More ]
Tomorrow's Front Runners: Amplify Opens Door for Future Vet Paola Castro

Tomorrow's Front Runners is a new TDN series spotlighting young people who got involved with horse racing through Amplify Horse Racing and are now pursing careers in the industry. Amplify is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to amplifying education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people in the Thoroughbred industry. Paola Castro was introduced to [...]

[ Read More ]
X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.