Category

Latest News

Feb 27
0

Unified Sweeter With Time

By | Latest News, Unified

Much of the pre-race attention regarding Saturday’s G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint revolved around the outside horse, Mind Your Biscuits. The focus was warranted. The four-year-old entered the race off of three straight triple digit Beyers, including crossing the wire third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and taking the G1 Malibu. The spotlight began to shift inside, however, when the horses entered the paddock.

Unified drew instant attention from commentators on his appearance, drawing rave reviews from Gulfstream’s Gabby Gaudet before being selected as Caton Bredar’s paddock pick on TVG. The feedback reflected highly on the job done by both Paula Parsons during his summer and fall break in Middleburg, Virginia and Jimmy Jerkens since rejoining the track in December. The dark bay colt lived up to his looks from the get-go. Unified broke on top beneath Jose Ortiz, opened up down the stretch, and had enough left in the tank off of the June layoff to hold off the G1 winner.

The stunning performance ran Unified’s record to four wins from five starts, including three graded stakes victories and undefeated going one turn. Everything indicates he has nothing but upside for the remainder of his career, after which he is slated to retire alongside his sire, Candy Ride, at Lane’s End Farm. Enjoy some of the coverage and feedback from Unified’s four-year-old debut!

The Blood-Horse coverage of Unified's victory.
The Daily Racing Form's coverage of Unified's victory.
  • Unified leads coming off the turn in the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
  • Unified holds off G1 winner Mind Your Biscuits in the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
  • Unified holds off G1 winner Mind Your Biscuits in the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
  • Unified holds off G1 winner Mind Your Biscuits in the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
  • Don Little, Jr. accompanies Unified and Jose Ortiz in to the winner's circle after the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
  • Centennial Farms and the Jimmy Jerkens barn celebrate Unified's victory in the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint with Jose Ortiz aboard.
  • Centennial Farms and the Jimmy Jerkens barn celebrate Unified's victory in the G3 Gulfstream Park Sprint with Jose Ortiz aboard.

Save

Feb 12
0

Racing Underway in 2017

By | Crescent, Latest News, Rocketry

After enduring a little bad luck of the equine and racing office variety, the Centennial Farms 2017 racing season is officially underway! The Crescent LLC’s Rocketry made his career debut going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park. It proved to be a terrific learning experience for the big colt, who came flying late after trailing the field.

That effort sets the stage for what could be a terrific year for Centennial Farms. Virtually all of the principles are back from a big 2016 that produced some impressive stats for our boutique stable:

• No syndicate with fewer starters had more victories
• No syndicate with fewer starters had as many top-3 finishes
• Finished the year among the top 15 syndicates by money won, despite nearly twenty fewer starts than any entity who earned more.
• Finished the year with over 20% wins
• Multiple stakes horses from multiple partnerships

While looking back at the year that was can provide indication of what’s to come, stats don’t do justice to the possibilities that abound for the remainder of 2017. All three of last year’s stakes performers are back in training at Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center with the benefit of fall freshenings in Middleburg, Virginia in the rearview mirror. Leading the way is multiple graded stakes winner Unified, whose early target is the G1 Carter at Aqueduct Racetrack in April. He’s joined by stakes-placed Securitiz, the current elder statesman of the stable, and improving Adulator.

A bevy of lightly raced and unraced prospects are gearing up for promising careers. Every member of the Crescent and Empire partnerships have joined their racetrack families and are actively moving forward. In the meantime, the two-year-old class could not be more impressive under the watchful eye of Paula Parsons. The mix of proven, improving, and promising horses that comprises the roster has us absolutely thrilled about the eleven months ahead. Reach out any time if you’re ready to take the step to share in the excitement!

Rocketry and Nik Juarez parade to post at Gulfstream Park.
Nov 30
0

Allegiant Pedigrees Go From Hot to Scorching

By | Allegiant, Latest News

The pedigrees behind the colts of the Allegiant, LLC just keep getting hotter. When the quintet was selected by the Centennial Farms acquisition team, we knew they were outstanding physical specimens backed by exciting families. That excitement has only skyrocketed since the Keeneland September sale. Every sire involved in Allegiant with offspring of racing age has unleashed a new star since we brought the colts home.

Leading the way is Pioneerof the Nile’s son Classic Empire, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, presumed Eclipse Award winner for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, and likely early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Classic Empire, like our colt, is out of a mare from the Storm Cat line, a characteristic they both share with Pioneerof the Nile’s Triple Crown-winning son American Pharoah. Unlike the dams of either Classic Empire or American Pharoah, the dam of our colt is by Storm Cat himself, rather than a son, and hails from a star-studded family that includes a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner.

Freshman sire Union Rags was already responsible for one Grade 1 winner when we purchased a son of his out of Life Lesson. Not long after, he added a second Grade 1 to his resume in Alcibiades Stakes winner Dancing Rags. He is the only freshman sire to produce more than one winner at the highest level. In addition, he is the sire of G2 Remsen runner-up No Dozing, who experienced a wide trip in a race which has often proven to be a key stepping stone to bigger things.

Perhaps the two juvenile colts who have impressed the most post-Breeders’ Cup are Mastery (Candy Ride) and McCraken (Ghostzapper). Both are undefeated and generating serious Kentucky Derby discussion. Mastery, who sports Storm Cat on the bottom side just like our Candy Ride colt, was an easy winner of Del Mar’s G3 Bob Hope. McCraken drew off to victory in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on their popular “Stars of Tomorrow II,” card.

The fifth and last sire represented in the Allegiant, LLC is Kentucky Derby winner Orb. The multiple Grade 1 winner’s first crop is comprised of yearlings, but that hasn’t stopped him from enhancing his reputation as he awaits his first runners in 2017. With the major sales of 2016 wrapped, Orb stands as the leading first crop sire by average and median.

While their relatives continue to impress, the colts themselves are progressing nicely in their early training at our Middleburg, Virginia farm with Paula Parsons. Ownership interests are still available in the Allegiant, LLC. Please contact the office for more information or a hard copy brochure.

Sep 27
2

Five Outstanding Colts Unite as Allegiant, LLC

By | Allegiant, Latest News

One is a three-quarter brother to one of the most electrifying, popular champions of the last few years. Another is by the leading freshman sire and is a half-brother to an impressive juvenile. A third is from the first crop of a Kentucky Derby winner and from the family of a leading sire. Keep going and you’ll find a colt bred on the same cross as a Triple Crown winner and a son of a Hall of Famer. They are Centennial’s Allegiant, LLC quintet and the opportunity is now available to call them your own.

  • Candy Ride - Multitasker colt
  • Union Rags - Life Lesson colt
  • Orb - Holdontoyourdream colt
  • Pioneerof the Nile - La Maestranza colt
  • Ghostzapper - Ansong colt

Each of the five colts was put through the ringer at the Keeneland September Sale by our acquisition experts, Dr. Stephen Carr and Paula Parsons. Both bring decades of experience to the evaluation process. Using pedigree analysis, physical assessments, and veterinary exams, they have proven their ability to identify superior athletes with the potential to become coveted stallions. Their diligence allows to bring home incredible prospects from a sale whose graduates, in 2016 alone, have accounted for over 140 graded stakes wins, with better than 35 at the Grade 1 level. No other racing partnership with prolonged experience or success offers the opportunity to invest in as many colts from the country’s elite yearling sale this year.

The individuals that comprise the Allegiant, LLC group are:

  • Hip 179: Ghostzapper – Ansong, by Mizzen Mast
  • Hip 443: Pioneerof the Nile – La Maestranza, by Storm Cat
  • Hip 457: Union Rags – Life Lesson, by Unbridled’s Song
  • Hip 522: Candy Ride – Multitasker, by Bertrando
  • Hip 863: Orb – Holdontoyourdream, by Proud Citizen

All five have already settled in at our farm in Middleburg, VA and are undergoing their early lessons in becoming racehorses. We could not be more delighted with them and are thrilled to be inviting you to become partners in their exceptionally bright futures.

Learn more about Allegiant LLC or contact us for a hard copy brochure and further information on how to get involved.

Sep 09
10

Popular Juba Retired to Stud

By | Juba, Latest News

Fan favorite Juba has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Taylor Mountain Farm in Charles Town, West Virginia for the 2017 season.

The popular son of leading sire Tapit retires with three wins and earnings in excess of $175,000. After an injury derailed his sophomore season, Juba’s good looks, captivating personality, and a fan-created, Centennial-endorsed twitter account surprisingly launched him in to the public eye. He returned to the races with aplomb at four, demonstrating bristling speed and considerable grit. Juba put in his best performance at five – a tour de force victory in a stacked 7 furlong, third level allowance at Belmont Park, winning by better than six lengths.

Taylor Mountain Farm is a well known family farm operated by generations of Mid-Atlantic horsemen. Patriarch James W. Casey, who founded the farm with his late wife, Eleanor, is widely known as the trainer of Russell Road, one of the most successful West Virginia-breds of all time. Juba joins graded stakes winners Denis of Cork, Luftikus, and Windsor Castle on the Taylor Mountain Farm roster. All three, along with their late Charitable Man, rank among the top eleven leading general sires in West Virigina. Juba is the first son of Tapit to enter stud in the Mountain State.

Taylor Mountain Farm will announce a stud fee at a later date. Visitors are available by appointment only or via pre-announced area tours.

Juba
  • Juba galloping at Saratoga.
  • Silly Juba doesn't want to get up.
  • Kelvin Pahal and Juba have a discussion.
  • Juba begging for mints and love at Saratoga.
  • Juba breezing at Saratoga.
  • Juba gettin' love.
  • Kent Sweezey helps Juba join One Last Race.
  • Julie Titone greets Juba at Saratoga.
  • Juba the ham at Saratoga.
  • Caring for Juba.
  • Juba heading to the training track.
  • Juba schooling at Saratoga with Jimmy Jerkens.
  • Juba playing with partners.
  • Juba and Wicked Strong goof off on the latter's last day at Belmont.
  • Juba getting love at Belmont.
  • Painting for charity! Juba's Moneighs raise money for After the Finish Line and ReRun.
  • Juba visits with Margaret O’Meara.
  • Juba galloping at Belmont Park.
Aug 18
0

Adulator Aces Test

By | Adulator, Latest News

Adulator gave us plenty of reason to be optimistic heading in to his two-turn debut at Saratoga Race Course and every reason to celebrate afterwards! The handsome bay colt entered the race off of a brutally close loss at Belmont Park in which he produced his best speed figure to date. An impressive seven furlong move on the Saratoga main track set him up for a stiff test in both distance and competition at the Spa. Facing a tough field that included several highly regarded prospects and some who had flirted with stakes company, Adulator received a textbook perfect ride from Hall of Famer John Velazquez. The result? An impressive win on a rainy day and dreams of bigger things to come.

You catch watch the replay on NYRA.com (click the camera icon), read about the race in the Saratoga Special (page 32), and enjoy the gallery to the right!

  • Adulator enters the Saratoga paddock in the rain.
  • Adulator and Centennial Farms keep an eye on each other in the Saratoga paddock.
  • Centennial Farms staying dry while Adulator gets ready.
  • Rainy day strategy session between Jimmy Jerkens and John Velazquez.
  • Adulator rolls home under John Velazquez!
  • The Jimmy Jerkens team celebrates the impressive victory.
  • Centennial Farms, the Jimmy Jerkens barn, family, and friends in the Saratoga winner's circle with Adulator and John Velazquez.
  • Celebrations abound as John Velazquez takes the tack off of Adulator following their thrilling victory.
  • Adulator looking proud back in the barn after a memorable Saratoga win.
Aug 18
0

Newest Acquisition is Scary Good

By | Hillingdon, Latest News

Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Select sale had long solidified its status as one of the nation’s premiere yearling sales long before the remarkable 2015 exploits of its graduates. Four alumni of the sale took home Eclipse Awards last year and it ranked at the top of major North American yearling sales by percentage of Grade 1 winners, Graded Stakes Winners, and Stakes Winners produced from horses sold. Centennial’s own Unified, our most recent purchase from the sale, has been a key success story for Fasig-Tipton, with his picture gracing the back of the sales catalogue and our silks displayed at the pavilion’s entrance. We returned to the sales grounds looking for the next big horse to carry the Centennial Farms colors, with Dr. Stephen Carr and Paula Parsons leading the way. Their extensive search of the sale’s colts for prospects who embodied our ideal of an elite athlete with a stallion’s pedigree led us to a truly special prospect. Hip 71, a Ghostzapper colt out of the Vindication mare Lady Hillingdon checked all the right boxes.

We are thrilled to offer the opportunity to share in the future of this outstanding individual. Learn more about him and contact us any time if you’re interesting in joining the partnership to make our dreams your dreams!

Ghostzapper - Lady Hillingdon
Jun 18
0

Two-Turn Test Looms

By | Latest News, Unified

Undefeated Unified tackles his biggest test yet on Sunday, June 19, at Monmouth Park. The Grade 3, $150,000 Pegasus Stakes marks the dark colt’s first attempt at two-turns. Though he has already won beyond the race’s 1 1/16-mile distance, his G2 Peter Pan victory came at 1 1/8 miles, that victory came around one turn on Belmont Park’s massive 1 1/2-mile oval. This initial foray in to the different dynamics involved with a two-turn race will go a long way to decide the course of the year.

Read more: Blood-Horse, The Daily Racing Form

Unified
Jun 17
0

Winning Experience Despite Results

By | Adulator, Latest News, Preservationist, Securitiz

On-track victories aren’t the only way to win in thoroughbred racing. We sent forth a trio of horses in the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and although none won, everyone who attended had a phenomenal time.

Debuting Preservationist got the ball rolling, as his first race kicked off the Friday card at Belmont Park. The big colt finished a closing second to the more experienced Bombs Away, who was making his second career start. Preservationist’s massive gallop-out drew quite a bit of attention from those watching.

The form of highly regarded Bombs Away would go on to be further franked. Connect, another touted three-year-old who had defeated Bombs Away in their respective debuts, was an impressive allowance winner on the Belmont Stakes card.

Later on Friday, Adulator made his first start since breaking his maiden at Aqueduct Racetrack in the spring. Unfortunately, the handsome bay stumbled repeatedly exiting the starting gate. While many horses would throw in the towel after such an inauspicious beginning, Adulator demonstrated quite a bit of heart, and ability, to rejoin contention before flattening out to fourth.

Our final starter of the prestigious week’s racing was Securitiz, who made his graded stakes debut in the G2 Brooklyn. A disadvantageous draw in the far outside post meant plenty of lost ground. In fact, Trakus data shows he covered more distance than all but one other horse in the field at a whopping 57 feet more than the winner. Despite that, the big step up on class, and the fairly quick turnaround, Securitiz put up a big performance. He missed second by less than 1 3/4 lengths while finishing fifth to his champion stablemate, the runaway winner Shaman Ghost.

Three big on-track efforts left us plenty to be proud of as we enjoyed one of the year’s biggest cards of racing. Based out of the exquisite Champagne Room, which offered exclusive access to the Clubhouse apron, family, friends, and partners came together to watch a world-class day. Check out some of the scenes of the day and get in touch if you want to make sure you’re there for the next go-around!

  • Preservationist
  • Centennial Farms
  • Preservationist
  • Preservationist
  • Champagne Room
  • Adulator
  • Adulator.
  • Centennial Farms
  • Adulator
  • Centennial Farms
  • Securitiz
  • Securitiz
  • Centennial Farms
May 17
0

Brilliance at Belmont

By | Latest News, Securitiz, Unified

Three-for-three. Sprinting. Routing. Fast. Muddy. Gulfstream. Aqueduct. Belmont. Is there a more exciting three-year-old, with more upwards potential, than Unified? The undefeated colt was dazzling again this weekend, stretching out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time in the G2 Peter Pan.

Unified, exiting a victory going 7 furlongs in the G3 Bay Shore, sat off the pace in his first attempt going long. “I thought he rated as good as you could expect for only having two races,” said Jimmy Jerkens after the race. “I was happy to see that. Jose [Ortiz] did a good job of keeping his hands down and keeping him out off the fence,” he added.

It was an impressive display of professionalism for a lightly raced colt, who kicked clear down the stretch and held stakes winner, and possible Belmont Stakes contender, Governor Malibu at bay under the wire. The victory earned him a spot on the NTRA’s Top Three-Year-Old Poll and opened up a world of possibilities for the future. “He’s a talented horse, he always tries. I think he’s got the competitive spirit you want to see,” said Centennial President Don Little, Jr. after the victory.

The Centennial Farms team was back in force the following afternoon as hard-trying Securitiz made his stakes debut. Exiting a February win at Gulfstream Park, Securitiz stretched out to 1 3/8 miles in the Flat Out Stakes. Facing a tough field, the four-year-old took over the lead, got passed, and re-rallied to narrow the gap on the winner under the line. His second place finish earned him lucrative black-type, designating a top three finish in an elite-level race. In fact, his effort means at least one member of the last three Centennial Farms crops to hit the races has earned that distinction.

Plans for both Unified and Securitiz will be made in coming days as trainer Jimmy Jerkens and racing manager Dr. Stephen Carr evaluate their options. One thing is for certain – their futures look bright!