First Street Boss foal arrives at Sun Valley!

1/27/2010

First foal for Street Boss

Filly by the multiple G1-winning sprinter arrives on January 26

The first reported foal by Street Boss has arrived.

The chestnut filly was born on January 26 at Sun Valley Farm and is out of the winning mare Top Tier (King Of Kings) who is already dam of a multiple winner in Show Place. Top Tier is herself a half-sister to two Stakes winners in Sand Ridge ($708,149) and Dootsie.

The foal's owner, Barry Butzer, declared himself 'very pleased' with the filly.

Street Boss, who stands alongside his sire Street Cry at Darley America, was an outstanding sprinter who smashed the course record at Del Mar when taking the G1 Bing Crosby. Also winner of the G1 Triple Bend, his fee for 2010 is $20,000 Stands and Nurses.

27 January 2010

Kodiak Kowboy voted 2009 Champion Sprinter

1/19/2010

Kodiak Kowboy is 2009's Champion Sprinter

Champion Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy

Kodiak Kowboy was a symbol of versatility his championship season as a 4-year-old. He was a grade I winner not only at sprint distances of six and seven furlongs, but also at a mile.

Kodiak Kowboy  , who has been retired from racing for stallion duty at Tom Simon’s Vinery near Lexington, cemented his claim to the championship with a triumph in the Nov. 28 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct. His Cigar Mile triumph also was at the heart of Kodiak Kowboy’s being a finalist in the older male division.

“Boy, that’s huge…that’s huge winning at a mile,” Vinery president Tom Ludt told The Blood-Horse after the Cigar Mile. “Big for a stallion career…we couldn’t be happier. It was our plan all year to finish up big in the Cigar Mile, and we did it.”

2009 Eclipse Awards

View Slideshow of this year's Champions.

Kodiak Kowboy wasn’t your typical speedball who went right for the lead. But what he lacked in early speed, he made up for with a swift closing effort. He won the Cigar Mile in that fashion as well as the Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct, the Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, and the Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap at Philadelphia Park.

Kodiak Kowboy overtook the extra tough Fabulous Strike in the final furlong in both the Vosburgh and the Carter, and recorded respective Beyer Speed Figures of 108 and 104. In the Cigar Mile, Kodiak Kowboy registered a 106 Beyer.

Following the Oct. 3 Vosburgh, Kodiak Kowboy was scheduled to contest the Nov. 7 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), but he failed to scope cleanly following a Nov. 2 workout and was pointed instead to the Cigar Mile.

Bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm, Kodiak Kowboy (Posse  —Kokadrie, byCoronado's Quest) raced his championship season for Vinery and Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. He was trained first by Larry Jones and then by Steve Asmussen.  KODIAK KOWBOY is out of the Sun Valley Farm mare, KOKADRIE.

Christine Daae hits high note with impressive win!

1/16/2010

Christine a Rising Star
(16th January 2010)

Strikingly marked filly Christine Daae (3f Giant’s Causeway x Descapate, by Dehere) blasted her rivals to win at Gulfstream earning a TDN Rising Star tag for her efforts.

Fourth when making her debut at Hollywood back on July 9, the Patrick Biancone trained filly was immediately rested and given time to develop, re-emerging as a formidable force.

Settling in third place on the outside, Christine Daae dropped her rivals cold in the straight racing away to win the seven furlong maiden by eight and three-quarter lengths in the time of 1:21 3/5.

A big powerful chestnut, Christine Daae owes her name to an unusual marking on her head explained Patrick Biancone to TDN.

“She is a chestnut, OK? But on the left side of her face, she has a big white mark, like a mask. I called my owners and I said, ‘Listen, she has a mask, like the Phantom. We cannot call her Phantom, because that's not right for a filly, but Christine Daae is a beautiful girl from the Phantom of the Opera, so we should try that.’”

Christine Daae will be given the chance to get over this run, but then connections will be looking at Black Type with her, the Group Two Davona Dale Stakes on February 27 put forward as a possible target.

“With the Giant's Causeways, when they are good, they are really good--like him,” Biancone remarked.

“She got everything from the father, and the mother was a good horse, too. She's well-bred.”

Christine Daae was produced from the stakes-winning Sun Valley mare, Descapate, a half-sister to talented stakes-winner Tres Coronas.

Purchased for $100,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by pinhooker Don Graham, she was later sold privately for $400,000 to Biancone and runs for Michael Imperio and Kona Stables LLC.

Window of Opportunity exists in today's horse economy

12/8/2009

A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY EXISTS IN TODAY’S

HORSE ECONOMY

                                        by Barry Butzer, Sun Valley Farm

Falling prices, overproduction, credit crisis and a world economy in turmoil are the day’s headlines everywhere you look.  We have become a culture reliant on financial data available almost moment to moment-- “fast food finance” is the term I use.  We are so transfixed on tomorrow that we forget that today is the only thing within our control.  If you have been involved, or would like to get started, in the Thoroughbred industry, I personally feel that this is very likely the time to get on board.

After years of double digit gains in sales prices for the Thoroughbred, 2009 will become known as the year that turned back time.   It was a year of diminishing auction returns, falling stud fees, and the over-production correction that will ultimately turn this business inside out.  If you are a supply and demand believer, the recent changes exacted upon this market may well set the stage for tremendous gains in the future for those with enough fortitude to see it through.

Sun Valley, like any other responsible entity, has made necessary adjustments to our business plan.  I personally feel that many of those most severely affected by today’s problems, were those who were inexperienced or overly-optimistic about their own operations, many of them heavily leveraged.  Getting in “when it’s hot” is a recipe for disaster, and certainly takes more money, at a time when you generally get less for more.  We have never subscribed or advocated any of our clients and friends to take such action, in fact, just the opposite.

Now that the correction in the horse industry is well underway, elements of value are beginning to present themselves in the marketplace.  For instance, the mares available for sale on this website are priced at near historic lows.  The procurement costs for these mares has been reduced, along with the fees of the stallions to whom they are currently in foal.  This does not mean that their value is less, it only means that they are available for less.  Our ability to select “the next important producer” continues at a steady pace, almost one stakes horse per month, as evidenced by last week’s G1 performance by millionaire Kodiak Kowboy.  Additionally, with 2010 stallion fees falling another 30% next year, the savings alone could be substantial enough to offset the care of your mare’s annual board at Sun Valley.  All of these tangibles are hard to ignore, and have created a scenario similar to the early years at Sun Valley.  History repeats itself, and one of my favorite quotes puts it best-- “For some reason people take their cues from price action rather than from values.  Price is what you pay.  Value is what you get”—Warren Buffett.  Our goal at Sun Valley, is to always offer uncompromising value and integrity to all of our business relationships and to provide a means of support that extends long after the sale.  

Call or email today to find out what Sun Valley Farm can do for you.  Happy Holidays to all, and best wishes for a happy, healthful and prosperous New Year.

Bearcatt "pounces" to win $150,000 Woodstock Stks!

5/7/2009

Bearcatt, with Emma-Jayne Wilson up, wins Sunday's $150,400 Woodstock at Woodbine

By Bill Tallon, The Daily Racing Form

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bear's Rocket was a hot item but finished second as the 4-5 favorite here in last Saturday's $100,000 Wando Stakes.

Bear It's True was cold on the board and finished last of six as the 14-1 outsider in Sunday's $150,400 Woodstock.

But, Bearcatt was just right, capturing the six-furlong Woodstock at just under 6-1 to give trainer Reade Baker and the Bear Stable of Danny Dion their first stakes win of the meeting.

Bearcatt, a Kentucky-bred who was purchased for $190,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's July yearling sale, started twice here at 2, finishing second at five furlongs and then graduating at the same distance while prominent throughout.

Baker, however, had maintained that Bearcatt would be effective coming from off the pace and was vindicated when the colt rallied from last place in the Woodstock to score by a going-away 3 1/4 lengths under jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson.

"Obviously, you can do whatever you want with him," Baker said.

Bearcatt had been amongst the Florida contingent wintering with Baker at Palm Meadows but did not see action in the south.

"I'd been toying with putting him in the entries at Gulfstream, but there was a race in the proofs for the condition book at Woodbine on opening day," Baker said.

"I entered him there, but the race didn't fill."

The lack of a prep obviously had no bearing on Bearcatt's performance but, with the next open stakes race for 3-year-old being the 1 1/16-mile Marine here May 16, his connections may be looking out of town for a shorter trip.

Bear's Rocket, who had finished a close second in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream and a respectable sixth in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, should be looking to redeem himself in the $150,000 Marine.

Bear's Prospector, an impressive winner over 6 1/2 furlongs here April 18, also is a Marine candidate.

--- Bearcatt was produced from the Sun Valley Farm mare NASCAT (Hennessy-Becky Be Good, by Naskra) who resides at Barry Butzer's Sun Valley Farm.  Congratulations to the connections of Bearcatt, Sun Valley's 137th stakes horse!

Swiss Ace "wire-to-wire" winning Oakleigh Plate-G1!

3/5/2009

"Swiss Ace scores in the Oakleigh Plate-G1"

Swiss Ace goes "wire-to-wire" winning Australia's Oakleigh Plate-G1!

Reprint TDN 2/22/09.  Swiss Ace entered top form during last year's Queensland winter carnival, capturing the G2 Sir Bryne Hart Stakes before placing third in the G1 BTC Cup over the same trip as the Oakleigh Plate (G1, A$400,000).  He resumed January 31st to finish seventh, defeated 2 1/2 lengths by Scenic Blast in the G1 Lightning Stakes.  Jumping straight to the lead in a capacity field, the bay came out swinging and fought back when headed in the straight by Lucky Secret, to give his recently deceased sire Secret Savings his third G1 winner.  --- Swiss Ace was produced from the Sun Valley Farm mare Rapid Serve (Carson City-Tennis Partner, by Northern Dancer) who was sold to Nasser Abdullah Lootah's Emirates Park Stud, breeders of Swiss Ace.  Congratulations to the connections of Swiss Ace, Sun Valley's 134th stakes horse!

Strong Showing for Sun Valley at Keeneland September

9/20/2008

STRONG SHOWING FOR SUN VALLEY FARM 

AT KEENELAND SEPTEMBER

                                                              by Barry Butzer                                                            

  September 20, 2008

The landmark Keeneland September Yearling Sale held in Lexington, KY is beginning to wind down, and the results are now in the record books.  Through Book Five, some 2,492 yearlings have been reported to have found new homes, accounting for proceeds of over $313,000,000. While the average selling price of over $125,000 is nothing to sneeze at, the average showed an 11.5% decline from yearlings sold at the 2007 venue.  That being said, buyers and sellers alike, have heaped praise upon these results in such economically challenging times.  

Sun Valley and their clients would have to agree, that this sale provided them with results that were nothing short of glowing.  The first ten yearlings through the auction ring, produced from mares sold by Sun Valley Farm, averaged $188,000.  Many of these yearlings took different paths on their way to the Keeneland.  Some of them were bred by Sun Valley Farm and their clients, raised on Sun Valley, and sold as weanlings last fall or as yearlings this past week.  Others were produced from mares sold to clients a few years back, raised on their owner’s farm or another Central Kentucky nursery, and were spread among various consignors.

In Keeneland’s Book 2, a bay colt (Tiznow-Storm Celine) led the charge at $435,000.  Sun Valley had owned and sold both the first and second dams.  This daughter of Storm Cat has produced two stakes winners to date, and rewarded her connections handsomely.  Longtime Sun Valley clients David and Jean Coia’s One Special Lady did not disappoint on day four of the sale, as her Tale of the Cat colt lit up the board at $270,000.  One Special Lady could not have been more aptly named for the Coia’s, as her total sales progeny now nears $750,000!

 As Book 3 began, two Sun Valley homebreds sold for $270,000 and $120,000, both showing impressive gains from their initial purchase prices in 2007.  A strapping son of the Sun Valley mare Attitude caused a stir when entering the back walking ring, selling to Jay-Em-Ess Stables for $270,000, from the consignment of Gerry Dilger’s Dromoland Farm.  Mr. Dilger had purchased this colt as a weanling for $150,000 at the Keeneland November 2007 Breeding Stock Sale, and stands the colt’s sire Eurosilver.  A lovely daughter of Tale of the Cat and the Sun Valley mare If Angels Sang made $120,000 for her owners, Kathryn Nikkel and Judy Hicks.  Kathryn and Judy purchased the filly and her dam privately from Sun Valley last year. In the final hour of the sale, another Sun Valley graduate stepped up to the plate and delivered the grand slam.  Bred by Charley Trimble and raised at Sun Valley, this elegant daughter of Maria’s Mon and Miss Allen, landed a spot on the day’s sales topper list at $310,000. 

The first five books of September revealed plenty of highs and lows, and the analysis of the entire sale is a work in progress.  As for Sun Valley Farm, and the businesslike approach to our equine investments for ourselves and clients, Keeneland Books 2 and 3 clearly illustrate careful planning pays off.   While these four comprehensive sessions at Keeneland turned in a healthy average of $162,000 (approximately 3.5X stud fee) overall, Sun Valley graduates commanded results averaging over $205,000 (6.6X stud fee).  Clearly, the Sun Valley yearlings not only exceeded the Keeneland average by 26% , but most importantly did it with significantly less stud fee investment per yearling, thereby adding an additional 25% profit.