Foal ARs

Ability Report for horse 12325
Alliteration (2012), 16 hand black filly
By Memcay out of All Color by All Sheba
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse is ok in mud.
This horse is poor on hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is very hardy and unlikely to fall victim to injuries.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse looks like it can run at classic distances.

Ability Report for horse 12330
Arctic Act (2012), 17 hand dark gray filly
By Thunder Arctic out of The Actress by Johannesburg
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have a very short peak time, perhaps only a single racing season.
This horse is good on hard dirt.
This horse is ok on soft dirt.
This horse is poor in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse likes a lot of distance.

Ability Report for horse 12324
Crafty Argument (2012), 16.3 hand black colt
By Memcay out of Fox by Sandpit
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have a very short peak time, perhaps only a single racing season.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse is poor in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse obeys its jockey and is flexible in its pacing.
This horse appears to be primarily a miler.

Ability Report for horse 12329
Crazy Orders (2012), 17.1 hand white colt
By Kendane out of Exoterra by Alphabet Soup
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse prefers mud.
This horse is ok on hard turf.
This horse prefers soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse appears to be primarily a miler.

Ability Report for horse 12328
Cross Keys (2012), 17.3 hand dark chestnut filly
By Kendane out of Fine Jeune Day by Jeune
This horse will mature at the average rate (3-4).
This horse will enjoy a long peak performance time, several racing seasons.
This horse is ok on hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse prefers mud.
This horse is good on hard turf.
This horse is good on soft turf.
This horse has physical problems that may lead to alot of injury downtime.
This horse obeys its jockey and is flexible in its pacing.
This horse appears to be a sprinter.

Ability Report for horse 12322
Look It Up (2012), 17.1 hand black filly
By Memcay out of Skyfinder by Sky Classic
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have a very short peak time, perhaps only a single racing season.
This horse dislikes hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse is ok in mud.
This horse is ok on hard turf.
This horse is good on soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.This horse has average ratability.
This horse looks like it can run at classic distances.

Ability Report for horse 12323
Love Letters (2012), 15.2 hand black filly
By Memcay out of Sandstone by Sandpit
This horse will mature at the average rate (3-4).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is ok on soft dirt.
This horse is good in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is very hardy and unlikely to fall victim to injuries.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse appears to be a sprinter.

Ability Report for horse 12327
Old Jack (2012), 17.3 hand chestnut colt SOLD
By Kendane out of Promised Land by Ideal Planet
This horse will mature at the average rate (3-4).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse prefers mud.
This horse is good on hard turf.
This horse prefers soft turf.
This horse is very hardy and unlikely to fall victim to injuries.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse looks like it can run at classic distances.

Ability Report for horse 12326
Transcendentalist (2012), 17.3 hand bay filly
By Memcay out of Impulsive Answer by Ecton Park
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse dislikes hard dirt.
This horse prefers soft dirt.
This horse is ok in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is poor on soft turf.
This horse has physical problems that may lead to alot of injury downtime.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse appears to be primarily a miler.

Ability Report for horse 12321
Transcription (2012), 17.3 hand white colt SOLD
By Memcay out of Chatterbox by Victory Speech
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse is good on hard dirt.
This horse prefers soft dirt.
This horse prefers mud.
This horse is good on hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is very hardy and unlikely to fall victim to injuries.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse looks like it can run at classic distances.

Yearling ARs

Ability Report for horse 11363
Crazy Memo (2011), 15.3 hand white filly SOLD
By Memcay out of Exoterra by Alphabet Soup
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have a very short peak time, perhaps only a single racing season.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse is ok in mud.
This horse is good on hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is very hardy and unlikely to fall victim to injuries.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse looks like it can run at classic distances.

Ability Report for horse 11362
Oratory (2011), 17 hand black filly SOLD
By Memcay out of The Actress by Johannesburg
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse is ok in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is good on soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse likes a lot of distance.

Ability Report for horse 11364
Run On Sentence (2011), 15.3 hand black colt SOLD
By Memcay out of Skyfinder by Sky Classic
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have an average performance peak, at least two racing seasons.
This horse is poor on hard dirt.
This horse is ok on soft dirt.This horse is ok in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse obeys its jockey and is flexible in its pacing.
This horse likes a lot of distance.

Ability Report for horse 11366
Sandstorm (2011), 16.3 hand chestnut colt SOLD
By Thunder Arctic out of Sandstone by Sandpit
This horse will mature at the average rate (3-4).
This horse will have a very short peak time, perhaps only a single racing season.
This horse is ok on hard dirt.
This horse prefers soft dirt.
This horse is poor in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse prefers soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse appears to be a sprinter.

Ability Report for horse 11365
Tricky Spelling (2011), 17.2 hand light bay colt
By Memcay out of Fox by Sandpit
This horse will mature quickly and be at peak performance early (2-3).
This horse will have a very short peak time, perhaps only a single racing season.
This horse prefers hard dirt.
This horse is good on soft dirt.
This horse is ok in mud.
This horse prefers hard turf.
This horse is ok on soft turf.
This horse is of average soundness.
This horse has average ratability.
This horse appears to be a sprinter.

Two Stonewall-breds Return Home

Stonewall Stables and Stud has purchased two homebreds -- one an unraced prospect, the other an established earner -- and will put both in training immediately.

Both horses were offered in the Endless Vista Stud Farm spring auction, and both were won with bids under $10,000 in the final seconds. Stonewall has reacquired 2YO colt Black and Blue and 6YO millionaire Be Serious.

Black and Blue is by Stonewall stallion Purple Passer out of Alymiss. He was sold as a yearling to Rainbow in Colombia. Last year, in "The Great Stall Purge" before the 2011 breeding season, Rainbow sent the colt to Endless Vista. Stonewall owner Bill Miller declared the reacquisition a "no brainer" despite that he had not seen the horse run in over a year. "He is a dirt specialist is about all we know, but his breeding certainly makes him worthy of a long look, especially at a price of under nine grand."

Be Serious is by Helissio out of Laugh and Be Merry and with a record of 37-10-9-7 and earnings of $1,058,350 has already carved out a fine career. After stating that "this horse never earned a penny for me," Miller admitted the purchase probably included equal parts of sentimentality and pragmatism. "This guy is an old warrior who somehow keeps fighting his way to a paycheck race after race. We have to respect that kind of runner. He might be over the hill, probably is, but last season most of his PSRs were in the 90s, so he might have a few good runs left. On the other hand, if his time is passed, we want to somehow give him his due. He has not been a great horse, but he has been a good one."

Be Serious has earned in 31 of 37 starts (84%) over four seasons and under three different trainers.

Arctic Fox "The Very One" at Gulfstream

Stonewall-bred router Arctic Fox took a long stride forward by winning the G2 The Very One Handicap at Gulfstream Park (5993).

Over 11 furlongs of turf rated firm, the 4YO mare led at every call and stopped the clock at 2:14.43 more than a length ahead of 7:5 favorite Speed Demoness. Arctic Fox went off at 4:1 and finished with a PSR of 105.

Owner Bill Miller admitted he was unprepared for the atypical performance. "We were surprised to see her take control right out of the gate," he said, "but we were shocked to see her so calmly retain command the whole race. This was a horse we had not seen."

Noting that the horse last raced in October 2010, Miller said, "She has come a long way in four months. In this race she topped her best PSR by 20-plus. She is moving forward nicely."

Arctic Fox is by Thunder Arctic out of the late-maturing Stonewall mare Fox. Miller said the light bay has been ahead of schedule since her first start almost a year ago. "We really did not expect her to do anything last year, but she surprised us by not only running well but breaking maiden. She finished the season 6-1-2-1. We'll continue to bring her along slowly, but, gee, she has surprised us again."

Arctic Fox improved to 7-2-2-1 with lifetime earnings of $229,800, which pleases Miller.

"She is a year or so away from her peak." he said. "I am going to love owning this horse!"

Stonewall Acquires Smart Money Colt, Fine Money

In a public auction, Stonewall purchased 2YO colt Fine Money (2009m). The colt is a first crop son of Smart Money, the legendary PF turfer.

Exquisitely bred by Pointgiven Stables, Fine Money is out of Fine Motion by Danehill out of Cocotte. The turf-loving dam compiled a record of 15-8-3-0 and is a former champion 3YO filly in Japan.

"We don't know about Smart Money as a sire yet," said Stonewall owner Bill Miller, "because his first crop is just hitting the track, but obviously he was a superior runner. We like the dam very much, too, and because we thought the pairing was outstanding we decided to invest in the colt."

Fine Money has started once and finished fourth in a 7-furlong 2YO allowance (5999). He went off at a very long 74:1 and finished 19 lengths behind the winner, notching a PSR of just 31. The unimpressive debut apparently led his connections to put him at auction without a reserve.

"None of those negatives especially bothers us," said Miller. "We saw more good than bad. We don't think he is a short horse, and if he had been ours, that run would have encouraged us. He seemed to rate very well, and though he dropped far off the pace -- 15 lengths -- he closed exceptionally well and in the stretch passed 12 of the 15 horses ahead of him. He ran the race like it was 9 or 10 furlongs, which is what we look for." The bay colt returned with a ESN of 652.

Miller said the colt might not run again this season and that the sire's record was worth gambling on. Three-time Eclipse Award winner Smart Money won 24 G1 races, including the Breeders' Cup Turf. He was the all-time PF earning's until surpassed by A Bus.

Busiest Day in Stonewall History a Qualified Success

Stonewall Stables is managing more racers this season than ever in our history. Most of them are very young, and the process of sorting them out by class is a long, slow slog. In the first six weeks of the racing season we have sent out 13 of our 23 racers. This past week we sent out eight runners, more than we have ever sent out at one time, and the results were good.

Our record for the week was 8-2-1-1 with $280,000 in earnings. I'll comment upon the wins and placings in other posts, but here I'll address the four races in which we missed the board.

Our eagerly awaited Chatterbox filly, Too Much Talk (by Dubai Millenium) made her first start (6001) on dirt. The 4.5-furlong test was a bit crowded, and she could manage only a 6th-place finish. But was bred for classic distances and she ran aggressively, so we are happy with her first try. We will keep her in shape for later in the season.

Arctic Sun (Thunder Arctic out of Fine Jeune Day) made her debut at 4.5-furlongs (6004) on turf. She finished far back, but she, too, ran well, so we are encouraged.

Filly Smooth Dancer (Forest Dancer out of Satin Kat) debuted in on turf (6005) at 4.5-furlongs and ran 6th. She went off at a relatively short 10:1 and came in ready to run a few more furlongs, so, we will keep her warm until later in the season, as well.

Our 3YO filly Sunny Outlook (Majestic Son out of Change of Scenery) is slow to mature and started just once as a juvenile. We do not expect great things from her this season, but tried her at 7 furlongs on turf. She showed herself game, but came in trailing the field. She clearly is not mature yet. She will not run often this season.

Notes from an Increasingly Impatient Optimist

It is hard to believe that the racing season is 1/12th over. Like summer vacation, the racing season passes too quickly. Here at Stonewall we are especially unhappy because after four weeks of racing all we have to show are a smaller bank account and video evidence of how slow most of our 3YOs are. Yes, that's right, we fell off the roof again in weeks 3-4. (allusion alert!). We sent out three sophomore colts and came up empty. Show me the bright side and I'll be glad to look on it.

Phony Manners (Gentleman out of Bosra Sham) went out in the ungraded Premier's Cup (5958) for 9.5 furlongs on hard grass. He finished 6th of 8 in a dismal 1:59.57 (PSR 54). He showed no life, no spark, no kick, and I expect to take him off the racing schedule and send him home to Virginia for more training. I look at the breeding on this guy and just shake my head.

Purple Smoke, our Purple Passer colt out of Magnificat, tried the ungraded 11-furlong Warwick Farm Spring Cup (5936) on firm turf and came in 8th of 10. His PSR of 64 suggests that he is still moving forward, marginally, as does his positive ESN (+44). I will give him less distance, but I don't see how I can drop him in grade.

The only good news this week was that High Octane (Kendane out of Eight Pack) ran a clean race and permitted us to move forward in our evaluation of his development. In the ungraded 10.5-furlong Belmont Park Cup (5947) he came home 7th of 9 with a PSR of 84. He showed some acceleration and speed in the middle furlongs, and came in very tired (ESN -595), which means he will get less distance next time out.

Like Miss Pollyanna, the quintessential happy optimist, I try to stay positive. I know I have been patient with all my runners, and I will continue to be so, but I must admit that it is getting tougher to stay optimistic about some of these "B" team 3YOs. I'll keep sending them out in the hope that they will tell me where they belong. In the meantime, the "A" team members will make their 2011 debuts soon.