Stormline Shipped to Hopeful Farm

At this year's auction, I was unable to purchase any racers. There were a couple of nice young fillies that caught my interest - but I was out of town at the end of the auction and was unable to buy any.

So I turned my attention to the broodmares and yearlings. Unfortunatly, the yearlings I were interested in had a higher reserve than I was willing to pay. But to my surprise, I was able to pick up a nice broodmare for only $45,000.

Stormline is the daughter two champion sprinters - Elmhurst a Breeder's Cup Sprint winner and Sunline a Hong Kong Mile winner. This 11 year old mare won over $1 million in lifetime earnings preforming well on dirt and turf tracks.

She is a perfect match for both our stallions - Handsome Man and Perfect Picture. With a champion pedigree and solid preformances under 8 furlongs, she should be a good addition to our broodmare band.

We look forward to her first foal by Handsome Man who will be nammed G.G. Wyatt.

New Banner

Eclipse Nominated: Perfection

Perfection has been nominated for Champion Older Male and Champion Sprinter. He is just about as good as I could hope - and is a stunning son of Handsome Man.



This colt should have serious considerations for Champion Sprinter. With a 2012 Record of 12:6-1-0-2 this colt has proven himself as the Sprinter of the Year.

While he's been a little inconsistent throughout the year, he has pulled off some major wins.


Winning of the:

• G1 Breeders Cup Sprint (6 furlongs) - Ahead of Hepatic Flap
• G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (6 furlongs) - Ahead of Count Kane
• G1 Yasuda Kinen (8 furlongs) - Ahead of Color of Fame
• G1 Oakleigh Plate (5.5 furlongs). - Ahead of Count Kane
• G2 San Francisco BC Mile (8 furlongs) - Ahead of Color of Fame
• G3 Negishi Stakes (7 furlongs)

With a new Track Record for the Breeders Cup Sprint, Perfection proves he still has what it takes at 5 years old to keep up with the best. He has a PSR High of 121 and a PSR Average of 100.75 and over $4 million in earnings this season.


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In other Eclipse News:

Beauty Queen last year's Eclipse Champion 2 Year Old Filly is nominated for Eclipse Champion 3 Year Old Filly. With big wins in the United Arab Emirates Derby and Japanese Oaks this daughter of Handsome Man should be under consideration.

Count Kane last year's Eclipse Champion 2 Year Old Colt is nominated for Eclipse Champion Sprinter. Very proud of this Hopeful Farm home-bred colt. A great son of the fantastic broodmare Lady Kay.

Hopeful Farm Publishes Breeding Pairings

Chelsey T., of Hopeful Farm, recently published the latest breeding pairings for the 2012/2013 Hopeful Farm crop.



This year 10 foals are planned, including two from mares on lease. DJ, owner of Under the Weeping Moon, and Chelsey participated in a Mare Swap with Change of Scenery and Ashrose Dancer. In addition, Chelsey leased out a list mare - Fine Motion.



A fan of the Fox-hit TV series Bones, Chelsey T decided to go with a Bones theme this year for her foal names. While some names seem pretty obvious - others need a close examination of Bones to determine the link.

Squint's Success
Perfect Picture x View of Paradise

This foal should be a sprinter/miler on dirt and turf
Squint comes from the nickname Agent Seeley Booth gives to the scientists of the Jeffersonian, because they squint at things.

Tempe's Logic
Run Missy Run x All for Camena

This foal should be a sprinter/miler with a specialization on turf
Dr. Temperance Brennan is of the of protagonists of the show. She is characterized by having unfailing logical and reasoned explanations for things - which contrasts her partner Booth.

Fire in the Ice
Thunder Arctic x Southern Charm

Should be good at 10+ furlongs with a specilization on dirt
Fire in the Ice is the name of an episode of Bones where a fireman is found in a patch of ice. A fitting name with a sire like Thunder Arctic.

Jeffersonian
Memcay x Bubble Star

Should be strong at 12 + furlongs on dirt and turf
The Jeffersonian Institution is a research facility from Washington D.C. where Dr. Brennan and her teams works. A fictionalized Smithsonian Institution.

The Ranger's Way or Led By a Ranger
Color of Fame x Led Astray

Should be strong at 10+ furlong on turf
Special Agent Seeley Booth was a United States Army Ranger before working for the FBI. The Ranger's motto is "Ranger's Lead the Way."

Logic 'R Heart
A Bus x Crown Rose

Should be good at 10+ furlongs on turf
Logic or Heart. In most episodes its a binary of these two reflecting the driving forces of the co-stars of the show. Brennan's overiding logic, or Booth's intitutive heart. Also when Brennan's father was put on trial, Booth asked her to make a decision based on Brains or Heart.

Seeley's Heart
Bold N' Free x Lady Kay

Should be a sprinter/miler on dirt and turf
Seeley Booth is a former US Army Ranger Sniper and current FBI Special Agent. He relies on his personal connections with people to solve cases and it frames his character.

Hero in the Hold
Braveheart x Grinder's Daughter

Should be strong at 12+ furlongs with a specialization on turf
Hero in the Hold was a name of an episode when Booth was put in moral danger after he was abducted. Seemed a fitting name with Braveheart as a sire.

End in a Beginning
Handsome Man x Ashrose Dancer

Should be a sprinter/miler on dirt and turf
The End in the Beginning was the name of the season finale for Season 4. It was an alternative type reality episode. Handsome Man was catalyst for the success of Hopeful Farm.

Jasper's Gift
Jenny's My Gal x Fine Motion

Brennan wanted a pig for a pet in one episode and said she'd name it Jasper. So Booth gives her a pig figurine named Jasper. Good name for a horse named for a "Jenny"

Have Hopeful Farm Staff Found its Next Champion?

Pictured from left to right: A Hopeful Farm training session at Pinnacle Racecourse
Lead the Way (f), Run on Sentence (c), and Kay's Heir (c).

Four coming-two year olds at Hopeful Farm are drawing attention at Detroit Pinnacle Racecourse. Two fillies and two colts - a fine double pair that show that the future of Hopeful Farm looks bright indeed.

Not pictured, is the filly Southern Belle a small chestnut filly by the legendary War Machine and out of the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup winner Southern Charm. According to staff of Hopeful Farm she pulled up sore after a work a few days ago and she's getting a little break.

However, Chelsey T. says that the first daughter of the first Triple Crown winners and multi-Breeders Cup winners will be one to watch. "She loves the dirt tracks," Chelsey said of Southern Belle, "She's great on fast, soft, and muddy tracks. But she also has nice movement on the turf tracks too. She is pretty versatile."

The other three, Lead the Way, Run on Sentence, and Kay's Heir had training session on turf yesterday. According to Chelsey, all three are improving well - even Lead the Way, who is usually partnered with Southern Belle, held up well against the boys.

"Run on Sentence," Chelsey said, "Is probably the most advanced of the group. He's level-headed, doesn't get too anxious, smart, and is growing out of his gangling state faster than the other three. He'll be ready to go early. The other need some time to work out a few kinks and gain some confidence." Run on Sentence's only downfall is that he isn't a versatile racer - he is strictly a turfer - but not unexpected given the fact that his sire Memcay was named Eclipse Male Turf Horse in the 2 years he ran and his dam Skyfinder never ran on dirt.

Kay's Heir was bred for exceptional speed over short distances. However, Assistant Trainer Meagan Kane who has worked with this colt since his breaking says that he is showning signs of excellent speed and stamina. His sire Dansilver, while known as a champion sprinter, did run well up to 10 furlongs.

Run on Sentence will be ready to race around April or May, with Lead the Way, Southern Belle, and Kay's Heir around July or August. Keep an eye out for them.

Racing Season 2013: Are you Ready?

Hopeful Farm Racer Evaulation

The 2012 Racing Season has had its up and downs for Hopeful Farm. Overall, it has been a very successful year culminating in two wins during Breeder's Cup week. It has also been a good building year for Hopeful Farm's young juveniles as well.

With an overall record of 75:18-18-11-7, Hopeful Farm's racers came home the winner 24% of the time. It is only 1% off the the standard goal of 25% (if there was 19 wins it would have been 25.3%). On the board and In the money percentages were also below the standard goal - but very acceptable with 65% and 72% respectively.

Perfection ($4,085,000 12:6-1-0-2) 5 year old colt-
Perfection, albiet not always a racer, has won some of the biggest sprinting races of the year: starting with the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Yasuda Kinen (G1), Oakleigh Plate (G1), and finally the Breeder's Cup Sprint (G1). With earnings for older racers (4yo+) this colt ranks 3rd behind the Regal Son and Heat Seeker.
Grade for Perfection: A

Disputatious ($133,750 10:1-2-1-2) 4 year old colt
Disputatious is a good G2/G3 racer who came home in the money 60% of the time. This colt showed that he's not slowing with age, by throwing his two highest PSRs and a track record. With an PSR average of 91 this colt is very dependable colt running well on both dirt and turf tracks.
Grade for Disputatious: B-

Pussy Cat Doll ($210,500 9:1-3-3-0) 4 year old filly
Pussy Cat Doll shows real talent around 10 - 12 furlong on turf. In 9 starts this year she ran out of the money only twice. She is an honest G2/G3 mare at the classic distances who will return as a racer next year.
Grade for Pussy Cat Doll: B

For You to Envy ($2,690,000 11:5-3-1-1) 3 year old colt
For You to Envy began the season with a Track Record and PSR of 122 and ended the season with a win in the Breeder's Cup Mile and and 2nd place in the Hong Kong Mile. While excelling on dirt, he proved that he has the talent to race well and win on turf.
Grade for For You to Envy: A

Seduction ($5,000 3:0-0-1-0) 3 year old filly
Seudction is an immature filly who has shown some good signs of things to come. With PSRs of 93, 86, and 80 it shows signs that once fully mature this filly will be one to watch.
Grade for Seduction: C+

A Charmer ($106,000 5:1-1-2-0) 2 year old colt
In his last 4 starts, A Charmer placed 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st. With a PSR high of 99 this colt looks promising.
Grade for A Charmer: A-

Bold N' Inside ($76,000 4:2-1-0) 2 year old filly
Bold N' Inside has won her last two starts in very decisive fashion by nearly 10 lengths. She hasn't faced exceptional other horses, but it will come next year.
Grade for Bold N' Inside: A

Kayson ($0 0:0-0-0) 2 year old colt
Unstarted immature son of Handsome Man.
Grade for Kayson: N/A

Led Away ($81,000 4:2-2-0) 2 year old colt
The first foal of Led Astray has a PSR high of 87, but has improved as the distances have increased. He never placed worse than 2nd and showed his courage winning by a nose in his last start.
Grade for Led Away: A

Secret Affair ($13,000 2:0-0-1-1) 2 year old filly
This filly hates running on anything that isn't mud or soft turf. In her 2 starts she raced on fast dirt showing some good signs. We raced her sparingly to give her some time to mature before asking her to race against tough competition on a surface she doesn't like.
Grade for Secret Affair: B-

Serephina ($40,000 3:0-2-0) 2 year old filly
Starting with a 5th in a large field this filly placed 2nd in her last two starts. She showed flashes of good signs to come, and luckily this filly likes to run on just about every surface.
Grade for Serephina: B


Overall Grade for Hopeful Farm = B/B+

We had a couple of champion horses in Perfection and For You to Envy and a group of juvenile racers that a very promising indeed and waiting for the chance to prove themselves next year -

Racing Season 2013 :Are you Ready?

Big Tag Colt Ready for Debut

With Hopeful Farm's recent campaigns about a stellar season for Racing Season 2013, one must look to their group of up-and-coming 2 year olds. A few months ago Hopeful Farm purchased 3 promising colts from Bill of Stonewall Farms. Ready for a classic distance star, Hopeful Farm invested a lot of money in the trio of colts from Stonewall Farm. Run on Sentence is the first of the trio to hit the tracks.

Run on Sentence is a small 15.3 hand colt by the legendary Memcay and out of Skyfinder a mare who had real ability at 12 furlongs. Chelsey T, owner of Hopeful Farm, was spotted overseeing the transportation of 6 yearlings to Detroit's Pinnacle Race Course from her farm in Southwest Michigan.

"Run on Sentence," Chelsey told reporters, "is improving well in training. We hope that this Memay colt will have more stamina that his older brother." She was referring to Hopeful Farm's rising star For You to Envy winner of the Breeder's Cup Mile and 2nd in the Hong Kong Mile and Preakness Stakes last year.

All of Hopeful Farm's yearling will spend the rest of the winter training at Pinnacle before making their juvenile debuts. Chelsey said to expect the black colt to debut between late-February and early-April.

New Racing Policy

I have always been of the school that "there is no such thing as too much rest." I've often said that rest is key in successful racing. And while I still hold that is true - I find myself at the opposite end of the spectrum. I think I've been coddling my horses too much.

Most of the time, I won't race a horse with less than 30 days of rest. When I look at a horse's race schedule, if he or she raced on January 1st - I won't look for a suitable race until after February 1st.

A lot of the time that will mean it'll be more than 30 days between races - if there isn't a suitable distance/grade for my horse. When I started playing Photo Finish, Handsome Man would often run every 14 - 21 days depending on suitable races.

While I still believe that running a horse every 14 days will not produce the best results, my horses will be headed to the tracks more. Including my 2 year olds. This past season, I feel that I haven't tapped the talent of my juvenile racers. In particular, A Charmer, Bold N' Inside, and Led Away.

For more than one reason... 2013 will bring out a New Era for Hopeful Farm. Are you ready?

Breeders Cup Clash at Hong Kong

The Hong Kong races are the last races for the elite horses to prove themselves before Eclipse Award Voting. This year the Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Sprint will be a race against turf and dirt Breeders Cup winners.

Entered in the Hong Kong Mile are Breeders Cup Mile winner Strange Brew of FDL Lodge and Breeders Cup Dirt Mile winner For You to Envy of Hopeful Farm.

In the Hong Kong Sprint it is a clash between Civil War of Golden Acres winner of the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint and Perfection (pictured right) of Hopeful Farm winner of the Breeders Cup Sprint.

The two colts from Hopeful Farm both preform better on the dirt tracks, but both are winners on the turf as well.

Chelsey, owner of Hopeful Farm, told reporters that both colts are facing tough competition and not on their favored surface - however, she feels that "they have earned their ticket to prove themselves."

Also entered in the Hong Kong Sprint are 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint - Fine Wine and Catchman. The 2nd place finisher of the Breeders Cup Sprint is also entered - Hepatic Flap. The Hong Kong Mile also has the 2nd, 3rd place finishers of the BC Mile and the 2nd place finisher of the BC Dirt Mile - Arctic Slew, Monsieur Excellent, and Zach Attack.

It's a clash of horses coming off some of the biggest wins of their careers to Hong Kong where it is very likely that the Eclipse Champion Sprinter of 2012 will emerge.

Look Out for 2015!

While Chelsey T, owner of Hopeful Farm, prepares Perfection and For You to Envy for the Hong Kong Sprint and Hong Kong Mile - rumors have circulated about Hopeful Farm's Breeding Plans for 2012/2013.

Nothing is offical, but a source close to Chelsey says that he got a quick glance at the upcoming breeding plans. "They look fantastic. 2015 will be a good year for Hopeful Farm juveniles." It appears that 10 foals will be born for Hopeful Farm. Not a lot compared to some breeding operations, but Chelsey has always been known for the quality of foals.

It appears, however, that Chelsey has broken one of her notable rules about breeding. She is leasing a List Mare this year. It is Hopeful Farm policy to only use game-bred mares; however, the source says that "Chelsey had plans to purchase another mare, but the deal fell through. Thus, late in the season, she turned to the List Mares." It is unsure if in the future Chelsey will continue to use List Mares to bring new blood into her barn.

However, Chelsey is also participating in a Mare Swap with DJ of Under the Weeping Moon Stables. The two have swapped rights to Change of Scenery (owned by Chelsey) and Ashrose Dancer (owned by DJ). Our source says that Ashrose Dancer is slated to be crossed with Handsome Man - Hopeful Farm's leading stallion.

The total list of pairings are listed below: (Although may not be definite)

• Run Missy Run x All for Camena
• Thunder Arctic x Southern Charm
• Color of Fame x Led Astray
• Perfect Picture x View of Paradise
• Memcay x Bubble Star
• A Bus x Crown Rose
• Bold N' Free x Lady Kay
• Braveheart x Grinder's Daughter
• Jenny's My Gal x Fine Motion
• Handsome Man x Ashrose Dancer

However, with the End of Year Auction coming up - it can be assumed that Hopeful Farm will be looking to add a broodmare or broodmare prospect if the right female is for sale. But these 10 look very impressive.