Three Chimneys Farm

Trailblazer Sandy Hatfield Passes Torch at Three Chimneys

Veronica Reed had just graduated high school when she met Sandy Hatfield, but that short introduction left a life-alerting impact. Born and raised in Colorado, Reed moved to Lexington to pursue a career in the Thoroughbred industry. While working in the yearling division at Three Chimneys Farm, she was sent to pick something up from the stallion barn. Peeking into the breeding shed to scope out who was in charge, she quickly noticed that a woman was in command. She was petite--at least, compared to the powerful studs she handled--with...

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Saturday's Racing Insights: March Hares Look To Swipe Limelight

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-AQU, $80K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 12:50 p.m. Bought by Chenoweth Stables for $200,000 at the '21 FTKJUL auction, GLOBAL IMAGE (Liam's Map) was purchased by Taproot Bloodstock a year later at the OBSMAR after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. Owned by Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables, the Brad Cox trainee shipped to Belmont after training with his Churchill Downs string over the winter. Out of Ballerina S. heroine Class Included (Include), the gray colt will break from the three post with...

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Grading the TDN Rising Stars: Class of 2019

While no singular superstar emerged from this class numbering just 60, the top-to-bottom quality separates this class from its counterparts. MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper) was the only 'TDN Rising Star' to win multiple Grade I events in 2019. She posted three consecutive victories that year, going straight from her maiden-breaking score at Keeneland to the GI Acorn S., where she defeated GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) and future Eclipse champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), and then to Saratoga's GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Second only to GISW Street Band...

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Quality Road's First Defender Earns 'Rising Star' Nod On Debut

Gunned to the front from a middle gate by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, First Defender (3, c, Quality Road--Love And Pride, by A.P. Indy) withstood pressure on all sides and a contested early pace at the Fair Grounds to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Off sharply, the colt found himself sandwiched between horses from the opening strides with Pinfire (Bolt d'Oro) to his inside and Golden Nugget (Mendelssohn) off his outer flank. The trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field as they sped through an opening quarter...

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Saturday Insights: Ready to Make a 'Grande' Entrance

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-FG, $65k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:30 p.m. ET EVERGRANDE (Uncle Mo) cost Don Adam's Courtlandt Farms $1.1 million at Keeneland September in 2021, the priciest of the operation's 12 purchases (for $7.55 million) over the course of the opening week of the sale. Produced by a winning Forestry mare, the Apr. 6 foal is bred on the exact cross as champion and GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and hails from the deeper female family of Grade I-winning juvenile Greenwood Lake (Meadowlake). A then-yearling full-brother...

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Clay Moving Full-Time to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management

After 20 years at Three Chimneys Farm, Case Clay is shifting his focus full-time to his company, Case Clay Thoroughbred Management, according to a press release from Clay Tuesday morning. His services will continue to include bloodstock auction and private purchases, portfolio management and equine insurance. "I am grateful to the Torrealba Family for allowing me to add outside clients of my own over the past several years, in addition to my role at Three Chimneys," said Clay. "As my business and clients have grown, it feels like the right...

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Gunite Dazzles In Perryville

In another dominating display of talent, Gunite pounced on dueling rivals and rolled home to a flashy victory in Keeneland's Perryville S. Second to fleet-footed stakes-winner Conagher (Jimmy Creed) in a non-winners of three at Churchill Downs June 3, he parlayed that effort into victories in that track's Maxfield S., Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S., and a runner-up effort two-back to Jack Christopher (Munnings) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Returning to winning ways last out Sept. 24 in the Harrods Creek S. beneath the Twin Spires over familiar...

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Thursday Insights: 775k Gun Runner Headlines Field Of Maiden Colts

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency                   6th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 7:25 p.m. A $775k Keeneland September purchase by John Williams, the Three Chimneys Farm-bred SIR ROCK (Gun Runner) is out of a half-sister to MGSW Moonlit Promise (Malibu Moon). Third dam Weekend Storm (Storm Bird), herself a half-sister to late horse of the year and leading sire A.P. Indy, also produced MGISW Court Vision (Gulch) as well as GISP Lord Snowdon (Seeking the Gold). Three Chimneys Farm stayed in on the chestnut...

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Taking Stock: Dr. Settle's Dream is a Winner

Was it divine intervention? As the story goes, sometime in late 1923 or early 1924, a Kentucky pastor, Rev. Dr. Thomas Settle, convinced some state legislators in Frankfort not to end legalized gambling in Kentucky by repealing parimutuel wagering, much to the relief of the Kentucky Jockey Club and other concerned horsemen. Most ministers may have taken the opposite tack at the time, but not Dr. Settle, and this made him stand out. A well-travelled Englishman who'd found his way to a small congregation on Main St. and Bell Ct....

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Curlin Colt Joins Million-Dollar Club at Keeneland

A colt by Curlin out of Grade I winner Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) (hip 169) added to a parade of seven-figure yearlings at Keeneland Monday when selling for $1.7 million. Three Chimneys' Doug Cauthen signed the ticket on the bay, who was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency and was bred by Three Chimneys Farm and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings. Three Chimneys and Hill 'n' Dale dissolved their partnership on Carina Mia when the mare sold for $2.6 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale. Three Chimneys secured...

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Gun Runner Filly Jumps to the Lead at Keeneland

Ron Winchell, who campaigned champion Gun Runner, as well as several of the stallion's early star offspring, went to $1.5 million to acquire a bay filly (hip 87) by the sire Monday at Keeneland. Winchell purchased the filly in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm. She is out of Tip at Tapit (Tapit), a full-sister to Grade I winner Time and Motion. The filly was consigned by Darby Dan Farm and was bred by Phillips Racing Partnership and the Gun Runner Syndicate.   🌟 @keenelandsales September: Hip 87, a Gun Runner...

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Keeneland January Provides Steady Start to 2022

The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded its four-day run in Lexington Friday with steady figures which continued to show strength in the marketplace into the new year. "We are very, very pleased with the sale," said Keeneland's vice president of sales Tony Lacy. "Continued competitive trade, high clearance rate and high median price have solidified some confidence in people who were nervous before the beginning of the sales season. They feel positive about moving forward into the rest of 2022 and are investing as such. The market...

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