Morning Angel In Wire-To-Wire Victory in $20,000 NY Excelsior A
July 26 - Morning Angel (Chapter Seven - SMS Princess) dominated her $20,000 NY Excelsior A division with a wire-to-wire victory today at Vernon Downs. Leaving from post 7, Morning Angel was quickly sent to the lead by driver Scott Zeron in a 28.0 second first quarter. Morning Angel held her position through subsequent 58.3 and 1:28.4 fractions. In the stretch, Morning Angel held off a challenge by Shonda to win by a length in 1:58.1 for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc. Morning Angel is now 3 - 1 - 0 - 1 lifetime with earnings of $18,940.
Windsong Stable will sell Meme Queen, a Propulsion 1/2 sister to Morning Angel, in the Concord Stud Farm consignment at Harrisburg.
Go Boom Explodes To Victory in $25,000 NJSS
May 19 - Go Boom (Muscle Hill - Ilia) demonstrated that he is a top contender in the 2yo trotting colt NJSS by winning his division tonight in 1:54.1 at the Meadowlands. Leaving from post 9 against Burke Stable's undefeated $600,000 Hidalgo in post 3, Dexter Dunn left the gate smartly with Go Boom to sit second in a moderate 28.3 first quarter. Hidalgo sat comfortably in fifth position. Midway through the final turn, Dunn popped Go Boom from the pocket in front of the advancing Hidalgo, and took the lead early in the stretch. Hidalgo was unable to advance on Go Boom, and broke stride. Go Boom cruised to a two length victory over Yannick G Kemp in 1:54.1. USTA covered the race here.
Go Boom is trained by Marcus Melander for owners AMG Stable, Mantorp LLC, Heights Stable, and Fredrik Nielsen.
Go Boom is a full brother to prominent Ohio stallion Long Tom 3, 1:52.1 ($410,513), three quarter brother to Ohio stallion In Range 3, 1:51.4 ($797,037), and half brother to Dover track record holder Tight Lines 1:51.2 ($625,074). Windsong Stable will retain She's A Rainbow, a yearling full sister to Go Boom and Long Tom, for racing and breeding.
Ester Degli Dei Rushes To A Dramatic Victory in Gr 2 Delicious at Solvalla
May 26 - On Elitloppet day at Solvalla (SE), Ester Degli Dei stunned the crowd by storming relentlessly from a seemingly hopeless position in deep stretch to win the 950,000 SEK Grade 2 Fyaaringseliten Ston - Delicious race today. Starting from the very disadvantageous post 7 for driver Robin Bakker, Ester Degli Dei found herself quickly blocked by traffic from a breaking horse, and shuffled to the rear on the outside. By the time the confusion resolved, Ester was 7th, and fourth in line in the outside flow about 8 lengths behind the early leader Karaboudjan. Still blocked entering the final turn with only 325 m remaining, Bakker angled Ester 5 wide to the far outside. In the stretch with only 150 m to go and with a horse still directly in front of her, Ester Degli Dei ignited her afterburners in an all-out effort to pass the field for a 1/2 length victory over Reijo Liljendahl-trained Eteria (IT). Her winning time was an amazing 1.09.5 (1:51.4f mile rate) for the 1640 m. event, and a new lifetime mark. Ester Degli Dei has surely confirmed her status as a world class 4yo mare with this victory. Ester Degli Dei is now 12 - 11 - 1 - 0 lifetime with earnings of 3,454,502 SEK ($323,754) for trainer Paul Hagoort, owner L.C.J. Schalkoort, and breeder Tomasso Cavalli of Az. Agr. Degli Dei SAS of Italy.
Harness Racing Update covered the 2024 Elitloppet and this race here (scroll down to the header "HAGOORT AND BAKKER RARELY LEAVE SOLVALLA EMPTY-HANDED"). The race can be viewed on YouTube here.
Windsong Stable owns and Julie Miller trains 2yo Raggedy Ann, a Cantab Hall half-sister to the dam of Ester Degli Dei. Windsong Stable owns and has booked Polyester Hanover, the granddam of Ester Degli Dei, to Maharajah in 2024.
Ester Degli Dei Begins 2024 Season With An Odds - Victory at Charlottenlund
May 12 - Ester Degli Dei (Maharajah - Twill Be Done) demonstrated her immense talent with a decisive victory in the 2000 m. 4YO Elite race today at Charlottenlund (Denmark). Send off at odds of 1/4, she nevertheless faced two stiff challenges during the race. But Ester Degli Dei did not disappoint her bettors as she delivered a decisive 3/4 length victory in 1.12.5 (1:56.3 mile rate for the 2000 m. race) for driver Robin Bakker, trainer Paul Hagoort, and owner L.C.J. Schalkoort of the Netherlands. Her 100,000 DKK share of the purse increased her lifetime earnings to 2,954,502 SEK. Ester Degli Dei is now 11 - 10 - 1 - 0 lifetime, her only loss a 3YO Open at Wolvega (NE) last year. The race replay can be viewed here.
Ester Degli Dei's dam Twill Be Done 2, 1:56.1f; 3, 1:55.3 ($131,210) was bred by Windsong Stable. At 2, Twill Be Done earned victories in the $60,000 PASS Consolation and the PA AllStars; was second in the Liberty Bell S.; and was third in two PASS. At 3, Twill Be Done was second in a PA Stallion Series, and third in the Keystone Classic. After her 3YO racing season, Twill Be Done was purchased at Harrisburg by Tomasso Cavalli. Ester Degli Dei is therefore Italian bred, Swedish sired, and Dutch owned. Her connections have announced their intentions to race the mare at Solvalla during the Elitloppet celebration.
Windsong - Bred 3YO Fillies Shine In Early Season Racing
May 12 - Windsong Stable bred 3YO fillies are making an impression in early season action, setting themselves up for successful future competition.
Leading the list is Wish List (Bar Hopping - A List Lindy), already a winner of a $20,000 division of the PA Stallion Series at The Meadows in 1:55.4f for trainer / owner Bob Baggitt. Wish List previously won a NW1 in 1:55.3f at Pocono, proving that her Stallion Series victory was no fluke.
Yesterday Rock Em Rosie (Chapter Seven - Monroe County) had a thoroughly impressive win in 1:57.0 in a NW1 at Vernon Downs for trainer/driver Claude Huckabone and owner James Crawford. After missing the gate by several lengths, Rock Em Rosie nevertheless charged forward on the outside to assume command by the quarter pole. Rosie remained in command until early stretch, as everything came up Rosie when she pulled away from the group to win by 7 lengths.
Love Those Legs (Kadabra - Legzy) broke her maiden in a NW1 at Mohawk on April 18 in 1:59.0 for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination Inc. She followed up that performance with an excellent second place to 2023 2YO star Willy's Home Run in the SBOA Elimination on May 3 at Mohawk, timed in 1:56.2 with a LQ 28.0.
Greenspring (Greenshoe - Ilia) demonstrated some of the talent that made her a $500,000 yearling purchase for Determination Inc. breaking her maiden in a NW1 in the pouring rain in 1:58.3 at Mohawk on April 11.
And finally, Readly Success (Readly Success - Sweetspellosuccess) cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in a NW1 in 1:59.4f at Oak Grove on April 29th. Readly Success previously had two second place finishes at Oak Grove already this year, and has been timed in 1:56.4f. Trained by Julie Miller and retained by Windsong Stable, Readly Success has raised her lifetime earnings to $20,400 with the win.
Wish List Wins $20,000 PA Stallion Series at The Meadows
May 10 - Wish List (Bar Hopping - A List Lindy) made her owner's wishes come true in winning her division of the $20,000 3TF PA Stallion Series at The Meadows today. Driver David Miller was content to give Wish List a perfect pocket trip behind pacesetter Lexi B, only to tip out in the stretch and rush to an easy 1:55.4f victory for trainer/owner Bob Baggitt. Previously a winner this year in 1:55.3f at Pocono, Wish List increased her lifetime earnings to $32,690 with the victory.
Windsong Stable will sell Glitterati, a KY and NJSDF eligible yearling filly by Swedish champion and Menhammar stallion Readly Express, in the Concord Stud Farm consignment at Harrisburg.
Greenspring Starts Racing Career With A Win
April 11 - Greenspring (Greenshoe - Ilia) started her racing career tonight at Mohawk in the driving rain and a very sloppy track, but nothing was stopping her from making a great initial impression with a 2 length victory in 1:58.3 in a 5YO & Under NW1 for $17,000. A $500,000 yearling owned by Determination Inc., Greenspring did not race at two. But tonight, despite the terrible conditions and the unfavorable post 7, Greenspring showed the kind of talent implied by her high yearling price. Driven by Louis-Phillipe Roy for trainer Luc Blais, Greenspring got away safely if cautiously in fifth position in a 28.1 first quarter. Just before a 59.1 half, Greenspring pulled out first over and quickly bore down on the leaders, taking the lead by the 3/4 pole in 1:30.2. From there it was all Greenspring, who came smartly home in 28.1 to score a two length victory in 1:58.3 over Myfriendjose. The race can be viewed on YouTube by following this link.
Windsong Stable will retain 2024 yearling filly She's A Rainbow, a 1/2 sister to Greenspring and a full sister to prominent Ohio stallion Long Tom 3, 1:52.1 ($410,513). Greenspring is also 1/2 sister to Ohio stallion In Range 3, 1:51.4 ($793,037), and Tight Lines 1:51.2 ($625,074)
2024 Racing Highlights for Horses Bred by Windsong Stable
