News

Richard’s Boy Champion California-bred Sprinter of 2017

by Tracy Gantz
Arcadia, CA (March 2, 2018)-Harold and Pamela Tillema have bred a string of good runners all descending from Teresa’s Pleasure, winner of the inaugural California Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1990. They name most of the foals for their children and grandchildren, and Richard’s Boy, named for their son, was voted champion California-bred sprinter of 2017. (read more)

California Thoroughbred November 2017 Standout Employee Cathy Gilmer

BY EMILY SHIELDS
Cathy Gilmer considers herself the “luckiest person in the world,” but to Victory Rose Thoroughbreds owner Ellen Jackson, Gilmer isn’t just lucky, she’s a standout.

“Cathy’s passion and love of the horses make her someone I can really count on to do right by them,” Jackson said. “She’s only been with me a few years, but I can’t imagine how we got along without her.”

Gilmer joined the Victory Rose team in December 2013, taking on the task of foaling all of the mares in the spring and starting all of the weanlings in the summer and fall. She can’t decide which aspect of her job is more fun, the miracle of birth or watching the young horses learn not only to do their jobs but to trust her as well.

“Birth is still absolutely amazing,” Gilmer said. “It does not get boring. You can get tired, but I actually think I have one of the best jobs in the Thoroughbred industry in that I do get to see these perfect little critters come out. The life force is pretty extraordinary. I feel very lucky to participate in that regularly.”

“She is a night owl by nature, so the foal-watch duty fits her perfectly,” said Jackson. “No matter how small or seemingly unimportant a detail might seem, she always follows through to the letter. This dedication pays of in spades when it comes to the health and good development of the foals. She often is so in sync with the mares and foals that she notices problems before they become serious.

“The natural progression to her foal-watch duties was to continue on after foaling season ends, weaning and halter breaking the foals when they are ready.”

After foaling out 65-75 mares each year, Gilmer gets her hands on 40-45 weanlings, literally.

“They’ve been out with their dams for six months, so they can be quite wild and woolly,” Gilmer said. “They get dewormed and their vaccinations, but that’s quite minor. I give them Ms. Manners classes when they come in and are climbing the stall walls.”

Away from their mothers for the first time, the weanlings form a quick bond with Gilmer.

“Within a few days they begin to see us as friendly sources,” she said. “Mom is gone, but this other person comes along and takes over at that period of time when they don’t have anyone touching them and that’s so important to them. They shift over easily and quickly to being friendly toward us, and in two weeks time they are taking baths, loading in trailers. They’ll back up and turn left or right. All of those things sound mundane and simple, but you have to remember they are wild when they come in.”

Gilmer is incredibly fond of the weanlings, saying, “The thing I love the most is just how incredibly quickly they learn. It’s astonishing.”

“They learn to trust and enjoy the company of humans through her kindness and love,” Jackson explained. “She enjoys her work, and it’s reflected in the results. The motto of this farm is to provide a start-to-finish equine product, and the fine start Cathy gives them is an integral part of this procedure.”

“I’m a happy horse person here,” Gilmer admitted freely. “I’m 68, and I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world to be doing this work at my age.”

First Crop Sire Gig Harbor Sires First Winner

Vassar Photo

Pleasanton, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2017) – California stallion Gig Harbor was represented by his first winner on Saturday.

Perfect for Me, a filly by Gig Harbor, won Saturday’s seventh race at Oak Tree at Pleasanton, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies in her second outing. She is from the Royal Academy mare Noe Valley, was bred by Christy Wiebe & Dennis Patterson, is owned by Patterson and trained by Steven Specht. She ran the 5.5 furlongs in 1:06.35 and won by one length at odds of 5-1.

Gig Harbor is out of the St Jovite broodmare Miss Blue Grass. He is a multiple stakes winner and is by the up and coming, now deceased, sire of sires City Zip.

Victory Rose Stallions’ “Plusvital Speed Gene Types” are Now Available

Lexington, KY (September 23, 2017)-As breeders, we often look to a pedigree page trying to infer what has been or what might be passed on from a particular stallion or mare. Here at Plusvital, we aim to empower breeders with tools that can determine exactly what can be passed on from these parents to their offspring, by looking under the hood of the pedigree page and into their DNA.

The Speed Gene Test is a genetic test that has been proven to be an extremely effective breeding tool, that can be used to help assist in mating decisions. The test ultimately predicts the optimum race distance, speed or stamina of a particular individual, however, by having mares and stallions tested, you can control the outcome of a particular mating.

Whether you are a commercial breeding operation that is looking to produce early, well-muscled, precocious looking horses or whether you have the dream of Kentucky Derby glory, using the Speed Gene Test you can breed your desired type more often.

Victory Rose Thoroughbreds are one of many stallion operations that have recently come on board with us here at Plusvital, having made the Speed Gene Type available for Bullet Train (Crestwood Farm KY), Pin Oak Stud stallions and Curlin To Mischief and Haynesfield (both at Rancho San Miguel CA). In doing so they are offering an opportunity for their breeders to control what is passed on from the parents to their progeny.

If you are looking to enquire about getting your mares tested or for further information, please contact Stephen Mulvany on 859.351.3217 or via email on stephen.mulvany@plusvital.com.

Kimberlea K Outruns the Boys in Everett Nevin

Vassar Photo

By Chuck Dybdal
Pleasanton, CA (July 8, 2017)-Kimberlea K ($3.80), coming off a sizzling debut victory, controlled the race as she defeated males in the $100,675 Everett Nevin on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meeting at the Alameda County Fair.

The homebred Indian Evening filly was outbroken by second-choice Schulace, and Holy Yodeler was also in front of her in the first 50 yards of the race, but Kimberlea K quickly took command.

Six of the nine runners in the race for Cal-breds were coming off wire-to-wire maiden wins.

Kimberlea K led Schulace, a wire-to-wire winner in his June 2 debut at Santa Anita, by one-half length through a 23.12 opening quarter. She stretched her margin to a full length through a 45.76 opening half-mile.

While Joe Talamo was urging Schulace with left-handed whipping, Frank Alvarado sat cooly and was ahead by two in the stretch. When Alvarado used his whip, Kimberlea K responded nicely, and he then let her finish on her own.

She won the 5 1/2-furlong race by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:05.27.

Jacks Masterpiece was third, another length behind Schulace.

In the race just prior to the Everett Nevin, Little Doe, who ran second to Kimberlea K in their debut, scored an easy victory.

“I wasn’t worried about anyone else in the race,” said Alvarado, who won last weekend’s Juan Gonzalez for 2-year-old fillies aboard Song From Above.

“I knew as long as she broke good, we would be OK.”

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer passed on the Juan Gonzalez because it was only two weeks after Kimberlea K’s debut.

Song From Above, a stalker who defeated males in the first 2-year-old race of the year in Northern California, won the Juan Gonzalez by three lengths in 1:05.24.

“I got lucky that they ran one last week and one today,” said Alvarado, who mentioned after the Juan Gonzalez he was looking forward to riding Kimberlea K in the Everett Nevin.

When asked which of the two fillies was better, Alvarado said, “I won’t make a choice.”

The Indian Evening filly is owned and bred by KMN Racing. She earned $57,000 for her victory and now has a career bankroll of $77,280.

Indian Evening’s First Winner Goes Gate-to-Wire

Vassar Photography

By Mary LaRue
Albany, CA (June 18, 2017)-Kimberlea K held a 5 1/4-length lead to score decisively on debut at Golden Gate Fields June 17, giving freshmen sire Indian Evening his first winner.

KMN Racing’s homebred had been training steadily at Golden Gate for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, putting in several speedy timed works prior to facing eight other 2-year-old fillies going five furlongs on the all weather track.

Kimberlea K shot out of the gate and never looked back, leading by eight lengths in the stretch before Little Doe, with Miss Shirley C close behind, closed on her slightly to finish second and third respectively. She completed the distance in :58.2.

Bred in California, Kimberlea K is out of the Pure Prize mare No Better Terms.

Indian Evening, a son of Indian Charlie, was campaigned by Vinery Stables but only made three starts as a 2-year-old. After winning his debut at Woodbine, he placed third in the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course and then went on to win the Swynford Stakes, all in 2011.

Ellen Jackson’s Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville, Calif., purchased Indian Evening and he began his career as a stallion in 2014. Indian Evening’s dam, Unenchantedevening, is a half sister to 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick.

Indian Evening, who earned $140,172 on the track, sadly passed away in early 2017.

Richard’s Boy Wins $200,000 Governor’s Cup

B & D Photography

By DRF.com
GRANTVILLE, Pa. (June 3, 2017) — California-bred Richard’s Boy by Idiot Proof, was the official winner of the $200,000 Governor’s Cup at Penn National on Saturday – but it wasn’t easy. As a matter of fact, things were difficult for several horses in the $200,000 Governor’s Cup as there were a pair of jockey objections regarding separate incidents.

Bold Thunder, at 24-1, outsprinted 3-5 favorite Richard’s Boy for the early lead in the five-furlong turf sprint. Bold Thunder, with Irad Ortiz Jr., was digging in during the stretch run when Ortiz switched from a right-handed stick to a left and hit the 7-year-old. Bold Thunder immediately ducked outward.

Ortiz quickly grabbed a hold but the damage had been done as Bold Thunder herded Richard’s Boy outward several paths.

Jockey Paco Lopez, who was beaten a head on Richard’s Boy, lodged an objection and the stewards reversed the order of finish.

“He carried my horse out, and then my horse was coming on again,” Lopez said.

Ortiz said he did all he could when Bold Thunder ducked out.

“He surprised me when he did that,” Ortiz said.

Richard’s Boy is by Idiot Proof, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Marissa’s Joy, was bred by Harold and Pamela Tillema, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller.

He has 10 wins in 23 starts, earnings of $759,680 and was coming off a win in the May 19 Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes at Pimlico, his first start since racing in Dubai.

Richard’s Boy paid $3.20. Bold Thunder covered the course in 55.75 seconds.

The second claim of foul was lodged by Horacio Karamanos, the rider of Oak Bluffs, who finished fourth, against Javier Castellano, the rider of Rainbow Heir, who finished third.

Both horses were near the back of the pack nearing the far turn. Rainbow Heir moved up outside Oak Bluffs, and Karamanos took up sharply up entering the turn.

Karamanos thought Castellano put him in tight quarters entering the bend. Castellano maintained that he kept to his path and did not come inward. The stewards disallowed the objection.

Rainbow Heir rallied up the inside to finish a neck behind Richard’s Boy. It was a half-length back to Oak Bluffs, who rallied outside horses.

News

Victory Rose Stallions’ “Plusvital Speed Gene Types” are Now Available

Kimberlea K Outruns the Boys in Everett Nevin

Indian Evening’s First Winner Goes Gate-to-Wire

Richard’s Boy Wins $200,000 Governor’s Cup

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