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Phone 859.296.6455
Fax 859.296.6465 |
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Paramount Grad VISIONAIRE Wins G1
Kings Bishop
After having tried classic distances earlier this spring for an attempt at the Kentucky Derby, the connections of GRAND SLAM'S son VISIONAIRE decided to shorten him up. Going a mile and a sixteenth and running third in the G3 Northern Dancer, a winning effort in a six and a half furlong optional claimer may have proven his best distance to be from six furlongs to perhaps a mile. The change paid off when VISIONAIRE dramatically came off the turn like a rocket in the G1 King's Bishop to circle the field and win going away. He may give his connections a heart attack, but the pay off will more than cover the medical bill. The King's Bishop winner now has five wins lifetime with a bankroll of just under a half million dollars. VISIONAIRE is the second Paramount graduate to win a Grade 1 at the 2008 Saratoga meet.
Congratulations to owners Barry Irwin of Team Valor and Vision Racing LLC, trainer Michael Matz and purchaser Vision Sales.
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Zito, LaPenta Team Up For Classic Win
Well, he is big, and he is
dark brown - Nick Zito and Robert
DA' TARA was purchased from Paramount Sales' 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select consignment for $175,000. Oddly enough, Zito and LaPenta nearly won the Belmont in 2005 with another Paramount Sales graduate when ANDROMEDA'S HERO finished second in the race to AFLEET ALEX. Congratulations to all connections or an outstanding classic win and best of luck throughout the summer months up to the Breeders' Cup. Read the chart
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Paramount Grad FOREVER TOGETHER Takes First Lady
FOREVER TOGETHER has put it ALL together during the summer of 2008. Earlier during the Saratoga meeting, the Paramount Sale graduate won the G1 Diana at Saratoga. FOREVER TOGETHER'S victory in the G1 First Lady, solidifies her as one of the nation's best turf distaffers, as she beat millionaires PRECIOUS KITTEN and DREAMING OF ANNA. Racing in the colors of Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, the gray daughter of BELONG TO ME waited patiently near the back of the field through moderate fractions. When asked, FOREVER TOGETHER exploded under Julian Leparoux to win the First Lady drawing away.
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Paramount Grad SURF CAT Wins G2 For Second Time
Beating the 6-5 favorite, MONZANTE, and winning the G2 Mervyn Leroy for the second time, top handicapper SURF CAT now flirts with the million dollar mark in earnings. Congratulations to all the connections.
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Paramount Sold FOREVER TOGETHER Triumphs in Diana
Making
only her third start on turf, and being asked to cover a Congratulations to owner Augustin Stable, trainer Jonathan Sheppard and breeder White Fox Farm. Read more about the Diana win from The Thoroughbred Times, or The Blood-Horse.(Read the chart.)
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VISIONAIRE - G3 Gotham Winner - Paramount Grad
While not many people actually saw most
of the fog draped G3
While the next race for VISIONAIRE has not yet been announced, the connections were pleased enough with how the colt exited the race to be considering another prep down the Kentucky Derby Trail.
Purchased by Vision Sales LLC, VISIONAIRE was sold by Paramount Sales at the 2006 Saratoga Select Sale for $300,000. Vision Sales has been purchasing bloodstock from Paramount Sales at different public auctions over the past years and the resulting successes have been exciting. Congratulations again to owners Barry Irwin of Team Valor and Vision Racing LLC as well as trainer Michael Matz and purchaser Vision Sales LLC. Click here to read the chart. |
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New Graded Graduate
Purchased by Brian Morgan, NOW A VICTOR is trained by Michael Trombetta and owned by Three Diamonds Farm. The colt has three wins from four starts including this G3 win (chart). Congratulations to Photo by Adam Congaliese ©NYRA. all connections and best of racing luck in the future.
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Paramount Grad FOREVER TOGETHER
Wins G2
to win the Forward Gal G2 March 10th. Running in the AP/Equi-photo, Bill Denver silks of Augustin Stable, the filly won the OBS Sprint S. for three-year-old fillies in the start before her Graded win.
Paramount would like to extend congratulations to Augustin Stable and Jonathan Sheppard as well as to her breeder White Fox Farm. Best of racing luck to hopefully remain undefeated!
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2008 Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed UPDATES 
If the strength of the Keeneland November Sale knocked you out of the market for young mares, the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed in February in Lexington may take care of your needs. Paramount has a particularly large group of young racing and broodmare prospects entered in the 2008 venue.
Paramount has strong updates to two catalogue pages that should be taken note of:
HIP 241 - APPARRELLA (Aptitude - Pratella) is a half sister to ANGLIANA - recent winner of the Aqueduct Handicap is also MGSP and has five wins with earnings of $286,842.
HIP 172 TENSIA'S TREASURE (Storm Creek - Capote's Halo) is a half sister to JOHNNY EVES - winner of the G1 Malibu at Santa Anita and track record holder at Hollywood Park.
Other broodmare prospects are represented by top commercial sires such as GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, GRAND SLAM, MR. GREELEY, RED RANSOM and SMART STRIKE. Only two years ago, Paramount consigned and topped the sale with SOMETHINABOUTLAURA. The filly sold as a racing or broodmare prospect for $375,000 to John Sikura and partners. The filly has just broken $1,000,000 in earnings and is now a multiple Graded Stake winner proving the February mixed sale certainly produces a few good prospects.
View our 2008 consignment online by clicking here.
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Ballymacoll and Paramount Team Up To Break Record
The air in Lexington
could not have been much better during the
first week of the Keeneland November Sale.
Ballymacoll Stud and Paramount Sales teamed up topple one record, selling Hip 432 - the 2006 GONE WEST - ISLINGTON filly for an incredible $2.4 million. This eclipsed the previous record for a weanling filly.
"This was just a beautiful filly from one of the best families in the stud book today. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the buyer and seller alike" said Pat Costello of Paramount Sales. "We were pleased to have been given the opportunity to sell such a filly and the results spoke for themselves."
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November Sale
Update
Paramount is offering a half sister to CURLIN in the 2007  Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Winner of this year's Breeders' Cup Classic, CURLIN has certainly stamped himself as a clear candidate for Champion Three-Year-Old of 2007 as well as possible Horse Of the Year.
Hip 401 - DEPUTY - is offered in foal to Kentucky Derby winner FUSAICHI PEGASUS - an "A" Werk Nick. To read an update catalog page click here.
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2007 November Sales
It seems as quickly as the sale season
starts, it hits fast Included in Paramount's entries this November are weanlings by GRAND SLAM, INDIAN CHARLIE, JOHANNESBURG, ROMAN RULER, TALE OF THE CAT, and VINDICATION. Mares offered by Paramount include GRANNIES FEATHER, the dam of MG1SW WILD FIT and FUSAICHI ROCK STAR. GRANNIES FEATHER is hip 432 and is in foal to freshman sensation BERNARDINI. Also catalogued is hip number 438 HARRIET LANE, a half sister to CACTUS RIDGE by GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, HARRIET LANE is a stake winner, G2SP, and in foal to FUSAICHI PEGASUS. Other broodmares include those by proven broodmare sires such as DIXIELAND BAND, DEPUTY MINISTER, GULCH, STORM CAT and SEATTLE SLEW. To see this year's consignment, click here.
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Continually a perennial leading consignor, Paramount sales has done it again, listed among the top consignors in the Fasig-Tipton 2006 Kentucky July select yearling sale. Grossing over $1,000,000 in sales, Paramount sold 12 of 15 in the ring and sold the remaining three before leaving the sale grounds for an amazing 100% consigned/sold ratio.
Leading the returns for Paramount was hip #260. A dark bay colt by MORE THAN READY out of DAMN I'M CLEVER. "He has to be one of the nicest More Than Ready's I've ever seen," was Pat Costello's comment on the colt who brought a final bid of $200,000 in the ring. Sold by Long Odds Racing Stable, the colt was purchased by trainer Greg Foley for owner Bakster Farm. Best of luck to all new owners and thank you to all sellers who consigned with Paramount in the sale.
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Comair Flight 5191 Condolences
The tragic story of Comair flight 5191 which unfolded at Bluegrass Airport here in Lexington has proven to be a very far reaching one. The victims of the crash have not only left behind family who are grieving deeply, but also friends and business colleagues.
Paramount Sales would like to extend
condolences to
Of Paramount client George Brunacini, Pat Costello said, "He was a man that sincerely loved his horses...he would drive all the way to Mountaineer some nights just to watch his horses." Of Dan Mallory Pat said, "Here is a man that worked hard every single day of his life...he will be missed." Yet another connection to the horse industry is well known Mill Ridge Farm employee Bill Thomason who lost his 25 year old daughter Marcie. Our sincere condolences go to all the family members. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
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Paramount Sells 3 Top Hips Becoming Leading Consignor FT February 2006
On the way to becoming the top consignor by gross sales in the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale, Paramount didn't sell just the sale topper (SOMETHINGABOUTLAURA), but sold the second and third highest hips as well (DANCE ALEXA and RAGING BEAUTY). Total sales for Paramount totaled $1,698,300 eclipsing the second to consignor by nearly $1,000,000.
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ARKANSAS DERBY Placed, KENTUCKY DERBY Bound?
After a win in the Lane's End for FLOWER ALLEY and a win in the Sam F. Davis S. for ANDROMEDA'S HERO, Paramount Grads ran 2nd and 3rd respectively in Saturday's Arkansas Derby.
Of FLOWER ALLEY, trainer Todd Pletcher said, "I'm not at all disappointed, but we'll see how he comes out of the race, he's a nice colt." The son of DISTORTED HUMOR placed in the Arkasas Derby in only his fourth career start.
ANDROMEDA'S HERO hung in for the show spot in the Arkansas Derby for trainer Nick Zito. Saturday was overall a disappointing day for the conditioner who's SUN KING ran third in the Toyota Blue Grass S. With this last performance, ANDROMEDA'S HERO son of FUSAICHI PEGASUS may have an earnings shortfall to enter the Derby on the first Saturday in May.
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Pletcher's Flower Alley Blooms in Lane's End Courtesy Bloodhorse.com ©2005 Blood-Horse, Inc. by Jack Shinar
One race after watching his Proud Accolade flop as the heavy favorite in the Rushaway, trainer Todd Pletcher's inexperienced Flower Alley surprised his rivals in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds Saturday at muddy Turfway Park.
Ridden by Jorge Chavez for Melnyk Racing Stables Inc., Flower Alley came into the Lane's End off a maiden victory at Gulfstream Park in just his second start. The Kentucky-bred son of Distorted Humor, a $165,000 Keeneland sale in September of 2003, negotiated the 1 1/8-mile event in 1:50 1/5.
"Those maiden races at Gulfstream,
at times, are some of the toughest
3-year-old races around," Pletcher
said. "He trained well since then,
and I trained him with Bandini and
Ashado and he finished right there
witthose two." Sent off at 10-1 odds, Flower Alley challenged 2-1 favorite Spanish Chestnut for the early lead before taking back after a quarter mile in :23 and the half in :46 3/5. Magna Graduate pressured Spanish Chestnut.
Flower Alley, who slipped back to fifth, made his move on the outside of his rivals coming off the turn after being forced to take up briefly when Magna Graduate angled in a bit. He rallied gamely under urging from Chavez in upper stretch and caught a weary Mr Sword inside the sixteenth pole, holding off Wild Desert by a half-length.
Outrun early, Wild Desert advanced along the inside before angling out behind the winner as they came out of the turn. The stewards quickly disallowed an objection from the connections of the runner-up for interference in the upper stretch.
Spanish Chestnut, Gary Stevens aboard, led through six furlongs in 1:11 while racing off the rail. Mr Sword, ridden by Norberto Arroyo, rallied from the back of the pack along the rail and edged to the front on the final turn. Mr Sword had a big lead in the stretch but the early move took its toll and he faded to third.
"Nothing happened, really," said Spanish Chestnut's trainer, Patrick Biancone. "He just didn't stay. He was attacked early, and it was just a little too far for him. "We are going to go another program with him," Biancone said.
Flower Alley will be pointed to the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) or Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) April 16, with the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) a week later at Keeneland also a possibility, Pletcher said. "We are on a tight schedule now," Pletcher said. "I think the Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass will be next." Saturday's victory was worth $300,000. Flower Alley, who had previous winnings of $21,660, had earned less than any of his Lane's End rivals.
The chestnut colt began his career with a third-place finish at Calder Dec. 18. He returned two months later with a three-quarter-length win over Wall Street in a one-mile maiden test in 1:37 2/5. Since then, he posted the fastest six-furlong work ever at the Palm Meadows training center, going 1:11 4/5 handily. Flower Alley paid $22.40, $11.80 and $7.80. Wild Desert returned $8 and $5.60. Mr Sword paid $8 to show. The exacta was worth $179.60. Magna Graduate was fourth, followed by Andromeda's Hero, Spanish Chestnut, Mayan King, Diamond Isle and Texcess. |
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Andromeda's Hero Claims Sam F. Davis Stakes
Courtesy Bloodhorse.com
©2005 Blood-Horse, Inc.(from
Tampa Bay report)
Zito used last year's Davis as a springboard to the Triple Crown for The Cliff's Edge, who ran second.
Andromeda's Hero, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, was attempting two turns for the first time in the Davis but looked like he wanted to go around again. He finished in a time of 1:46.63.
After breaking from the outside 12th post position, Andromeda's Hero, with Rafael Bejarano in the irons, was bumped soundly as he raced at least five-wide around the clubhouse turn well behind early leader Nicandro, who led the 12-horse field through fractions of :22.90, 46.97 and 1:12.38.
Racing in the rear of the pack up the backstretch, Andromeda's Hero made an athletic move rounding the turn to reach contention.
Fourth but gaining at the eighth pole, Bejarano – Aqueduct's leading rider who flew in for the day – was able to angle out and Andromeda's Hero did the rest as he bolted past Tampa based runner Summer Legacy, who finished second, 6 ˝ lengths ahead of Captain Lindsay.
"This is a very nice colt," Bejarano said. "He's only run three times before and looks to be improving." Owner Robert V. LaPenta, who also owned Davis entry mate G P's Black Knight in partnership with golf hero Gary Player, was in attendance Saturday. He indicated that Andromeda's Hero could return to Tampa for the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) on March 19. G P's Black Knight finished ninth. The entry left the gate as the 9-5 wagering favorite and Andromeda's Hero returned $5.60, $3.60 and $2.80. Summer Legacy ($26, $10.40) completed a $136.40 exacta. Captain Lindsay was $4.60. |
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LaPenta's
DA' TARA defeated BIG BROWN in the 140th running of the G1
Belmont Stakes. A 2006 Paramount Sale Graduate, the
dark bay son of dual Breeders' Cup Classic winner TIZNOW
showed the mile and a half distance was of no concern,
winning the race by five and a quarter lengths. The
win was perhaps some consolation to the owner-trainer pair
as their 2007 Champion Two-Year-Old WAR PASS, was unable to
make it onto the Triple Crown trail due to injury.
Winning
the G2 Mervyn Leroy H. at Hollywood Park, Paramount graduate
Gotham, it was the ironic vision of eventual winner VISIONAIRE
that made the day for owners Team Valor and Vision Racing LLC and
for trainer Michael Matz. The son of GRAND SLAM handled the
surface well to come from well off the lead in the final turn to get
up just in time to defeat Stonerside's TEXAS WILDCATTER. 
The
latest Paramount Grad to reach the winner's circle in a
graded stake is NOW A VICTOR. The son of YANKEE VICTOR
won the G3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct on November
24. The bay colt was sold at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky
July Select Yearling
Sale in 2005 for $127,000.
forward, and before we all know it the season is at a close.
November marks the last major North American sale before year end.
Keeneland has once again eclipsed 5,000 head of horses in this
years' November sale. Paramount has catalogued its share with
210 originally slated to go through the ring.
Paramount Among Leading Consignors FT July '06
the family and friends of all effected by this disaster. The
staff at Paramount is especially saddened by friends and colleagues
that were lost in this disaster. The losses of George
Brunacini and Dan Mallory hit especially close to home. 
