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.

(Video Replay)

 

Zito, LaPenta Team Up For Classic Win

Well, he is big, and he is dark brown - Nick Zito and Robert 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.

 

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

 

Paramount Grad SURF CAT Wins G2 For Second Time

Winning the G2 Mervyn Leroy H. at Hollywood Park, Paramount graduate SURF CAT won his ninth race in eighteen starts for owners Aase Headley and Marsha Naify.  The dark bay son of SIR CAT was purchased by trainer Bruce Headley in 2003 after not reaching his reserve at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale.

 

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. 


Look for another SURF CAT at Paramount's Fasig-Tipton July consignment this year! 

 

Paramount Sold FOREVER TOGETHER Triumphs in Diana

Making only her third start on turf, and being asked to cover a mile and an eighth for the first time, Paramount Sale graduate FOREVER TOGETHER put it all together to win the G1 Diana at Saratoga meet by three quarters of a length with Julian Leparoux in the irons.  Racing in the colors of Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, the gray daughter of BELONG TO ME trailed the field in the early going on a turf course listed as "good".  Scoring her first win in G1 company, FOREVER TOGETHER had placed third late this spring in the G1 Just A Game Stakes at Belmont Park.

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.)

 

VISIONAIRE - G3 Gotham Winner - Paramount Grad

While not many people actually saw most of the fog draped G3 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. 

 

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.

 

New Graded Graduate

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.

 

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 ŠNYRA.  all connections and best of racing luck in the future.

 

Paramount Grad FOREVER TOGETHER Wins G2

 

Another Paramount graduate has stepped up to Graded Stake company in a big way.  The three-year-old filly FOREVER TOGETHER by BELONG TO ME, remained  undefeated   

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!

More...

 

 

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.  Not only were the local sports teams winning, but the Breeders' Cup was a resounding success.  To top it all off buyers at Keeneland helped to post new records. 

 

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." 

 

Paramount Among Leading Consignors FT July '06

 

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. 

 

 

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

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.


There is still time to enter your yearlings for the select summer venues - Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July and Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select.  Contact Pat Costello for more information.

 

 

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.