Three Chimneys Farm

While no singular superstar emerged from this class numbering just 60, the top-to-bottom quality separates this class from its counterparts. MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper) was the only 'TDN Rising Star' to win multiple Grade I events in 2019. She posted three consecutive victories that year, going straight from her maiden-breaking score at Keeneland to the GI Acorn S., where she defeated GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) and future Eclipse champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), and then to Saratoga's GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Second only to GISW Street Band...

Gunned to the front from a middle gate by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, First Defender (3, c, Quality Road--Love And Pride, by A.P. Indy) withstood pressure on all sides and a contested early pace at the Fair Grounds to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Off sharply, the colt found himself sandwiched between horses from the opening strides with Pinfire (Bolt d'Oro) to his inside and Golden Nugget (Mendelssohn) off his outer flank. The trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field as they sped through an opening quarter...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-FG, $65k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:30 p.m. ET EVERGRANDE (Uncle Mo) cost Don Adam's Courtlandt Farms $1.1 million at Keeneland September in 2021, the priciest of the operation's 12 purchases (for $7.55 million) over the course of the opening week of the sale. Produced by a winning Forestry mare, the Apr. 6 foal is bred on the exact cross as champion and GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and hails from the deeper female family of Grade I-winning juvenile Greenwood Lake (Meadowlake). A then-yearling full-brother...

After 20 years at Three Chimneys Farm, Case Clay is shifting his focus full-time to his company, Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, according to a press release from Clay Tuesday morning. His services will continue to include bloodstock auction and private purchases, portfolio management and equine insurance. "I am grateful to the Torrealba Family for allowing me to add outside clients of my own over the past several years, in addition to my role at Three Chimneys," said Clay. "As my business and clients have grown, it feels like the right...

In another dominating display of talent, Gunite pounced on dueling rivals and rolled home to a flashy victory in Keeneland's Perryville S. Second to fleet-footed stakes-winner Conagher (Jimmy Creed) in a non-winners of three at Churchill Downs June 3, he parlayed that effort into victories in that track's Maxfield S., Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S., and a runner-up effort two-back to Jack Christopher (Munnings) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Returning to winning ways last out Sept. 24 in the Harrods Creek S. beneath the Twin Spires over familiar...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency                   6th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 7:25 p.m. A $775k Keeneland September purchase by John Williams, the Three Chimneys Farm-bred SIR ROCK (Gun Runner) is out of a half-sister to MGSW Moonlit Promise (Malibu Moon). Third dam Weekend Storm (Storm Bird), herself a half-sister to late horse of the year and leading sire A.P. Indy, also produced MGISW Court Vision (Gulch) as well as GISP Lord Snowdon (Seeking the Gold). Three Chimneys Farm stayed in on the chestnut...

Was it divine intervention? As the story goes, sometime in late 1923 or early 1924, a Kentucky pastor, Rev. Dr. Thomas Settle, convinced some state legislators in Frankfort not to end legalized gambling in Kentucky by repealing parimutuel wagering, much to the relief of the Kentucky Jockey Club and other concerned horsemen. Most ministers may have taken the opposite tack at the time, but not Dr. Settle, and this made him stand out. A well-travelled Englishman who'd found his way to a small congregation on Main St. and Bell Ct....

A colt by Curlin out of Grade I winner Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) (hip 169) added to a parade of seven-figure yearlings at Keeneland Monday when selling for $1.7 million. Three Chimneys' Doug Cauthen signed the ticket on the bay, who was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency and was bred by Three Chimneys Farm and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings. Three Chimneys and Hill 'n' Dale dissolved their partnership on Carina Mia when the mare sold for $2.6 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale. Three Chimneys secured...

Ron Winchell, who campaigned champion Gun Runner, as well as several of the stallion's early star offspring, went to $1.5 million to acquire a bay filly (hip 87) by the sire Monday at Keeneland. Winchell purchased the filly in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm. She is out of Tip at Tapit (Tapit), a full-sister to Grade I winner Time and Motion. The filly was consigned by Darby Dan Farm and was bred by Phillips Racing Partnership and the Gun Runner Syndicate.   🌟 @keenelandsales September: Hip 87, a Gun Runner...

The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its four-day run in Lexington Friday with steady figures which continued to show strength in the marketplace into the new year. "We are very, very pleased with the sale," said Keeneland's vice president of sales Tony Lacy. "Continued competitive trade, high clearance rate and high median price have solidified some confidence in people who were nervous before the beginning of the sales season. They feel positive about moving forward into the rest of 2022 and are investing as such. The market...

Brilliant GISW Volatile (Violence--Melody Lady, by Unbridled's Song) has sired his first foal, a filly, born at Mallory Farm. Bred by Torie Gladwell out of the winning mare Jeweled (Sidney's Candy), the chestnut hails from the female family of GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Summerly. "We sold her dam, who was drop dead gorgeous, to Bob Baffert as a yearling," said Gladwell, also of Top Line Sales. "We were fortunate enough to be able to get her back. The filly has the same qualities as the mare, great looking, well balanced,...

American Icon (Gun Runner), sent off at 6-5 in this unveiling after a steady series of works at Palm Beach Downs, led from flagfall to finsh and scampered home to a 8 1/2-length win, good for the 'TDN Rising Star' nod. Sold as a yearling from the draft of Denali Stud, agent, the April foal brought $400,000 from Maverick Racing, the buying arm of WinStar. He duly made his career bow for WinStar Farm and Siena Farm in the white WinStar silks Sunday. The last horse to load, American Icon...