VESSELS ADDS RESIDENT VETERINARIAN DR. DAVID STONE
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Beginning October 15, Vessels Stallion Farm will have a veterinarian residing on the farm. David Stone, DVM, a graduate of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, has accepted the position of resident veterinarian at Vessels Stallion Farm and will be relocating to California in the next few weeks.

Dr. Stone practiced several years in Tennesee and Alabama before joining Royal Vista Southwest and Maui Farm in Purcell, Oklahoma. His duties included breeding work at both locations. Scoop Vessels told TRACK, “This is something that we have wanted to do for several years, but we just never found the right person to fill the position. This is a very unique opportinity for us to be able to better serve our clients and I am very pleased that we are able to provide this service. Dr. Stone will be able to help us in many ways.”

Grade II Winner Jackpot's First Winner
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Grade II winner Jackpot was represented by his first winner
when his son Stealinthejackpot
won at Santa Rosa Aug. 4 in
his first start. A homebred for
Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, Stealinthejackpot ran the
5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.67.

A California-bred, Stealingthejackpot is the first named foal from the winning Open Forum mare Rippled Effect.

Jackpot (Seeking the Gold—Frolic, by Cox’s Ridge) stands at Vessels Stallion Farm near Bonsall, Calif. His 2008 fee was $3,500.

NO SECRETS HERE GOING TO VESSELS
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Scoop Vessels told TRACK this week that 2006 Grade I All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here will enter stud in 2009 at Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, joining his sire First Down Dash and 2007 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt
FDD Dynasty; Owned by Vessels in partnership with Brazlian horseman
Benny Rosset.

No Secrets Here is back in training at Los Alamitos with Paul Jones. The four-year-old son of First Down Dash is the No.1 money earning horse in training at nearly $1.6 million, he is being aimed at the Grade I Go Man Go and the Grade I Los Alamitos Invitational Championship.

First To Ramble Back on Winning Track in Mean Competitor Stakes
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First To Ramble was bred by the Fletchers and Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California, and he is one of 208 stakes winners from 18 crops sired by First Down Dash, the sport's all-time leading sire whose 1,435 starters have earned more than $64.8 million. The gelding is also one of 10 winners from 12 starters foaled by his dam, the Grade 3-winning Kiptys Charger mare Kiptys Kisses. Read Entire Story...

Notional regains winning form in Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park
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Notional, a four-year-old In Excess (Ire) colt, recorded his first win since annexing the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in February 2007 at Fair Grounds.

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, California-bred Notional is out of the French Deputy mare Truly Blessed. He has won four of 11 starts and earned $695,740. by Tom Musgrave  Read Entire Story...

WHITE FISH WINS ALL CANADIAN OPEN DERBY
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Scott Sterr rode 2-1 choice White Fish to the gelding's first stakes win in the 350-yard, $15,239 All Canadian Open Derby on June 21. Racing for Liam Leech and saddled by William Leech, the son of Fishers Dash defeated KR Check The Hawk by a head. No time was reported.

White Fish, bred in California by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and G. Burnett, became the 18th stakes winner from nine crops by Fishers Dash, a winning and graded-stakes-placed stallion by First Down Dash whose 383 starters have earned more than $7.9 million. White Fish, a gelding, is also one of six winners from eight starters out of the winning White Tie mare White Lamb. His half sister, the Dashing Val mare Scared, won the 2000 Rheudasil Handicap (G3) at Lone Star Park.

An earner of $13,634 from two wins in seven races, White Fish was a finalist in last year's Lethbridge All Canadian Futurity. The gelding was coming off of a two-length maiden win at this track on June 14.

RUIDOSO DOWNS BAYER LEGEND NEW MEXICO DERBY CHALLENGE (G3)
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Order of Finish: Jess My Moon, Panther Rio, DH-Gettin The Cash, Chisled Form, Juanmorejetlegs, Jess A Ten, Gone To The Mountain, Wcrseperateandcool, Stolis MVP, Shes Okeydokey Baby

Jess My Moon, a California-bred Mr Jess Perry colt racing for Billy G. Smith, Downtime Entertainment and Vessels Stallion Farm, sprinted to a one-length victory in the 400-yard, $47,970 Bayer Legend New Mexico Derby Challenge (G3) on June 14. The third-fastest qualifier, Jess My Moon, covered the trip in :19.688 and posted a career-best 91 speed index. Trainer Michael Joiner gave a leg up to jockey Freddie Martinez.

"The race went perfect, " he broke on top and went on," said Martinez. "I galloped him in the morning and watched video of his trial race. The trial was his first start since the All American Derby trials (on August 16), so I thought he would improve and we would have a good shot."

Jess My Moon was bred by AQHA Past President Frank "Scoop" Vessels III's Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California, a 60-consecutive-year breeder whose 708 homebred starters have earned more than $21.6 million and include 12 champions. The colt became the 79th stakes winner from 10 crops by Mr Jess Perry, the sport's champion 2-year-old in 1994 whose 662 starters have banked more than $24.2 million.

One of five starters out of 2001 champion 2-year-old Your First Moon, Jess My Moon has won three of five races. The $22,067 winner's share of the New Mexico Derby Challenge pushed his earnings to $28,517. The victory also earned the colt a berth in the $175,000 Bayer Legend Derby Challenge Championship (G1) at Evangeline Downs on November 8.

REVV IT UP EARNS TOP KINDERGARTEN HONOR
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The golden touch of reigning AQHA Champion Owners Keilani Farms was on display again at Los Alamitos, this time in Saturday's Grade 1 $340,150 Kindergarten Futurity after their undefeated filly Revv It Up
(First Down Dash-Rr Le Mistral) won the 300-yard race by a nose over Dutch Masters III's Sixish at 9-2 odds.

A full sister to 2003 Champion of Champions winner The Down Side, Revv It Up delivered a determined performance, as she overcame a troubled start to win Los Alamitos' first major futurity of the year in a time of :15.30. Bred by James Markum and Chuck and Terryll Griffeth, Revv It Up improved her career record to three wins in as many starts on the way to earning $142,863 for the win.   
Read Entire Story...

Cave Springs Wins Joanne Dye
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PHOENIX, Az. (Apr. 27, 2008) - Cave Springs, an Arizona-bred daughter of California stallion In Excess , won Saturday’s $50,000 Joanne Dye Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Turf Paradise.

Cave Springs has five wins in nine starts and earnings of $104,555. She ran the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.30 and won by 5 ¼ lengths as the 1-2 favorite.

For Cave Springs’ pedigree, click here.

Arizona Derby to EZ Dreamer
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PHOENIX, Ariz. (Apr. 27, 2008) - EZ Dreamer, an Arizona-bred son of California stallion In Excess , won Saturday’s $65,947 Arizona Breeders’ Derby at Turf Paradise.

EZ Dreamer has four wins in 10 starts, and earnings of $161,083. He ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.56 and won by nine lengths at odds of 9-10.

For EZ Dreamer’s pedigree, click here.

Momentum's First Winner
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Momentum a California grade III winner, was represented by his first winner when his daughter Aromatica won March 28 at Santa Anita. Bred in California, Aromatica won the two-furlong race in :21.01 as a homebred for Francoise Dupuis, Diane Keith, and Dr. Michael Neumann. She is the fifth winner out of the winning Magical Mile mare Donan’s Magic.

Momentum (Nureyev--Imprudent Love, by Foolish Pleasure) scored his big win in the Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) and ran second in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) and Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I). He stands for $5,000 at Vessels Stallion Farm near Bonsall, Calif.

Ez Dreamer Romps In Rattlesnake
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by Jack Shinar - Arizona homebred Ez Dreamer left a tired field behind nearing the furlong pole and drew away to a 9 3/4-length laugher in the $50,000 Rattlesnake Stakes for 3-year-olds at Turf Paradise in Phoenix Jan. 20.

Teamed for the first time with jockey Glenn Corbett, Ez Dreamer overcame a lunging start and a wide trip on the final turn before taking over in the homestretch. b

Trained by Kory Owens, the colt by In Excess--French Debutante, by French Deputy, gained his third victory in six starts. The bay colt is yet to finish out of the money. Ez Dreamer is the 53rd stakes winner for In Excess (ire), who stands at Vessels Stallion Farm.   Read Entire Story...

Little Bit Of Baja Came On Strong To Earn The Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding Title
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Late bloomer Little Bit Of Baja (First Down Dash-BCR Pale Moon by Kingdom Key) came on strong to earn the champion 3-year-old gelding title.

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC and owned by Vessels in conjunction with Los Bustardos, the sorrel won three of 10 starts and finished second twice and third once. He earned $540,411 while winning the blanket photo in the competitive Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) and running a hard-charging second in the Champion of Champions. He also finished fourth in the El Primero del Ano Derby (G1). The gelding was trained by Adan Farias and John Bassett, and ridden by Saul Ramirez, Sam Thompson, Rodrigo Aceves and Ramon Sanchez.

FDD Dynasty Captured The Honor Of Champion 3-Year-Old Colt
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FDD Dynasty (First Down Dash-Dinastia Toll BRZ by Tolltac) captured the honor of champion 3-year-old colt with a record of three wins in four starts. He won the Governor’s Cup Derby (RG2), then nosed out a victory over champion Leading Spirit in the Go Man Go Handicap (G1).

The 2006 champion 2-year-old colt, he finished his season and career with a third-place finish to Blues Girl Too in the Champion of Champions. He is owned by Billy Smith, Pat Guthrie and Vessels Stallion Farm LLC. Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and Maria Fakri of Brazil, FDD Dynasty was trained by Mike Joiner and ridden by G.R. Carter Jr. and Sam Thompson.

ROMANCE IS DIANE ADDS TO WINNINGS IN THE $150,000 EL ENCINO STAKES RACE
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Santa Anita, Jan. 13 2008 - Romance is Diane adds to her winnings by placing 3rd in the El Encino (G2) Stakes race.

Trained by Mike Mitchell and ridden by Jockey Michael Baze, Romance is Diane out of In Excess (ire) stalked the pace outside, bid three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch and continued willingly to best the others and Show at Santa Anita Race Park.

CALIFORNIA: NATIVE SONS RULE...
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Though California was for a few years the favored dumping ground for stallions which almost but not quite made it in Kentucky (then followed Texas, now Pennsyalvania), five of the top seven sires on the 2007 California sire list have stood there for their entire careers. California's number one sire in 2007 was Bertrando, whose runners earned $4.2 million (ranked 45th nationally), and included eight stakes winners.

With the advent of mandated all-weather surfaces to replace dirt at the Southern California tracks, it looks significant that all five of the top California homegrown sires in 2007 had between 30 and 37 percent of their 2007 progeny earnings on synthetic surfaces. Read Entire Story...

VERY SEXCESSFUL UNVEILING WITH STAKES WIN IN LOUISIANA FUTURITY
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NEW ORLEANS, LA. Dec. 31 2007 - Very Sexcessful sired by California Stallion In Excess (ire) made her racing debut Monday by winning the 2-year old Louisiana bred ($112,935) Louisiana Futurity.

The Louisiana bred filly collected $67,761 in earnings by running six furlongs in 1:11.67 and winning by a length.

Very Sexcessful is the 52nd stakes winner for In Excess (Ire), who stands at Vessels Stallion Farm.   See Race Stats...

BLUES GIRL TOO NAMED HORSE OF THE MEET
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LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA. - Lucky Seven Ranch's Blues Girl Too dominated the 2007 Los Alamitos year-end awards as voted by media members and track officials. Blues Girl Too was unanimously named Los Alamitos Horse of the Meet, 3-year-old of the meet and 3-year-old filly of the meet. Her 440-yard track record setting victory in the $1 million Champion of Champions was chosen as race of the meet. The filly by Corona Cartel broke Dash For Cash's 31-year-old track record at 440 yards in that race.

FDD Dynasty and Little Bit Of Baja were the meet's top 3-year-old colt and top 3-year-old gelding, respectively. First Down Dash sired both horses. FDD Dynasty won the Go Man Go Handicap against older foes and the Governor's Cup Derby, while Little Bit Of Baja won the Super Derby and also finished second in the Champion of Champions.   Read Entire Story...

Spring Awakening bested fellow Cal-breds
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Spring Awakening (In Excess - ire) bested fellow Cal-breds by 5 1/2 lengths to graduate at Del Mar July 23 and followed with a runner-up effort to Set Play in the GI Del Mar Debutante S. Sept. 3. A disappointing third in the Oct. 20 Anoakia S. over the local Cushion Track, the bay bounced back to register a two-length success in the Moccasin S. across town Nov. 11.

Heavily favored against state-bred company, Spring Awakening raced handily for jockey Garrett Gomez, hounding pacesetting Lovehi to the stretch. She pressed by that one at the furlong marker and was always holding Onebadkitty in the run to the wire.   Read Entire Story...

TRISK WINS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DERBY
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December 16, 2007 – Lucas Racing Inc.’s Trisk, the fourth-fastest qualifier, parlayed a sharp break from post 9 into a neck victory in the $185,900 Southern California Derby (G1) at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

One of three finalists saddled by reigning AQHA champion trainer Paul Jones, and ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Trisk covered 400 yards in :19.513, the third-fastest winning time in the stakes’ 20-year history. The clocking was good for a 96 speed index, and the $78,078 winner’s share of the purse increased Trisk’s bankroll to $193,220.

Trisk was bred by Lucas Racing Inc., and he is one of 205 stakes winners from 18 crops sired by First Down Dash, American Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading sire and 1987 world champion. The colt’s dam, Runaway Wave, is a winning and Grade 2-placed daughter of Runaway Winner who has produced seven winners from nine starters and was the sport’s champion broodmare in 2005.  Read Entire Story...

50th Stakes Winner for In Excess
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PHOENIX, ARIZ. (Dec. 1, 2007) – Odds-on favorite Cave Springs, an Arizona-bred daughter of California stallion In Excess, won Saturday’s $55,300 Arizona Breeders’ Futurity for 2-year-old fillies at Turf Paradise.

Cave Springs was the 50th stakes winner for In Excess. She ran the six furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:10.46 and won by two lengths at odds of 1-2. She has two wins and a second in three starts and earnings of $36,413.

Romance Is Diane makes all the pace to win Bayakoa Handicap
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Romance Is Diane sprinted to the lead and held off a bid from game runner-up Tough Tiz’s Sis to win the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap (G2) on Saturday and establish a track record on the all-weather Cushion Track at Hollywood Park.

Romance Is Diane entered off a 61/4-length romp in the California Cup Matron Handicap on November 3 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park. Sent off as the 5-to-2 third choice as one of three Grade 1 winners in the five-horse Bayakoa field, the three-year-old In Excess (Ire) filly broke alertly under jockey Michael Baze and powered to the front in the 11/16-mile race.

Romance Is Diane streaked through an opening quarter in :22.82 stalked by Grade 1 winners Sugar Shake and Tough Tiz’s Sis, both of whom have had success racing on or near the lead. Read Entire Story...

First Down Dash Surpasses The $63-Million Mark In Progency Earnings
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Stakes victories last weekend by No Secrets Here and First To Ramble helped Vessels Stallion Farm sire, First Down Dash, surpass the $63-million mark in progeny earnings.

American Quarter Horse racing’s world champion in 1987 and the sport’s current all-time leading sire, First Down Dash has sired 205 stakes winners from 17 crops. Now 23, he stands at Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California. The late Dash For Cash, a two-time world champion and the sire of First Down Dash, ranks second on the all-time sires earnings list at $39,990,245.

LITTLE BIT OF BAJA IS JUST ENOUGH TO WIN SUPER DERBY
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LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA. Nov. 11, 2007

Little Bit Of Baja began the year running in the trials to the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes. He'll finish the year competing in the first $1 million Champion of Champions after winning the richest running ever of the $818,750 Los Alamitos Super Derby on Saturday.

Sent off at 32-1 odds, Vessels Stallion Farms LLC's Little Bit Of Baja won one of the most spectacular runnings in the 54-year history of the Los Alamitos Super Derby to clinch his berth in the December 15 Champion of Champions. Contested at 400-yards, the Los Alamitos Super Derby lived up to its name in every possible way, as the top five finishers were separated at the wire by a little more than a head. In fact, only 35/1000ths of a second separated winner Little Bit Of Baja and fifth place finisher A Mere Splash.
Read Entire Story...

$150,000 TOC/CTT CAL CUP MATRON - ROMANCE IS DIANE
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ARCADIA, Calif. Nov. 7, 2007  Grade I winner Romance Is Diane changed tactics Saturday and scored a front-running five-length victory in the $150,000 TOC/CTT California Cup Matron for fillies and mares at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Romance Is Diane is by In Excess, out of the Prized mare Romantic Fibs, making her a full sister to Grade II winner Romanceishope. She was bred by Swan Equine, was foaled at Magali Farms and is owned by Senji Nishimura. She was ridden by Michael Baze and trained by Mike Mitchell.
Read Entire Story...

PRAYER ANSWERED FOR CAPESTRO TEAM...
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They were taken on the ride of a lifetime with the hard-trying speedster River's Prayer (Devon Lane) and, on an ebullient and lucrative final leg of the trip, trainer Paula Capestro and company watched as their filly sold to Jess Jackson for $1.5 million yesterday. Capestro was all smiles after watching the big gray sell, exchanging congratulations with her husband Andy Capestro, as well as partners Jim and Michael Ann Ewing, the husband-and-wife team of Bantry Farms in California who owned a 25-percent interest in River's Prayer. Bill and Stevie Martin of Martin Racing Stable owned the final 25 percent, but were unable to make the sale.

Asked about expectations, Capestro said, 'I really didn't know. I knew what she was worth to us: she was worth a million dollars to us. Her pedigree is not as fashionable as some of these other mares, and I wasn't sure somebody would want her because of that. But her physical is just outstanding. If you compare her to some of the other mares walking around in there-- there's no comparison. She's a man among girls."

SYNDICATION PLANS UNDERWAY FOR 2006 CHAMPION FDD DYNASTY BONSALL, CALIFORNIA
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The owners of 2006 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt FDD DYNASTY have announced that the Grade I winner and earner of $1,017,826 will be syndicated before entering stud in 2008 at Vessels Stallion Farm.

Speaking on behalf of his partners Billy Smith and Pat Guthrie, Scoop Vessels said, “We have been contacted by numerous breeders around the country wanting to breed to this horse next year and wanting to buy shares in him.  We are currently developing the pricing and other terms of the syndication, and in the meantime FDD DYNASTY will be competing at Los Alamitos this fall.  Our ultimate goal for the horse this year is the Champion of Champions.”

The three-year-old bay son of First Down Dash and the Tolltac mare Dinastia Toll (Brz) was named the American Quarter Horse Association’s 2006 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt after winning the Grade I Ed Burke Memorial Futurity and placing in the Grade I Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and the Grade I Golden State Million Futurity.  As a two-year-old, FDD Dynasty won five of his seven starts. The only two horses to finish in front of him in that Championship season were Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Blues Girl Too and Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding Jess You And I.  However, FDD Dynasty also outran those two Champions.

FDD DYNASTY is undefeated in two starts this year, scoring a two-length victory and setting the fastest qualifying time in the trials for the Governor’s Cup Derby, and then coming back to win the finals in the second fastest time in the 29-year history of the race.

For more details on FDD DYNASTY, contact Vessels Stallion Farm at
760-414-3300.

CAT STRIKES LATE TO WIN BELMONT SHORE
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It's not often that you see a horse win a stakes race at Los Alamitos after breaking last in a field of nine. But that's what happened in the 350-yard $18,750 Belmont Shore Handicap for fillies and mares on Saturday.

Ridden Cesar De Alba for trainer Paul Jones, the Devon Lane filly was not as quick as a cat leaving the gate, however, she started purring right away. She was sixth 130 yards into the race and fifth 110 yards later. That's when Gottobes Cat got busy, as she outfinished three other rivals to win by a head over Tinys Lil Sis in a time of :17.55.    Read Entire Story...

FDD DYNASTY RULES OVER OLDER FOES IN GO MAN GO
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September 15, 2007 - LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA…. Talk about perfect timing. FDD Dynasty became only the seventh 3-year-old to win the prestigious Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap, winning the 400-yard race less than two weeks after his owners unveiled their plans to Syndicate him in 2008 at Vessels Stallion Farm.   Read Entire Story...

LEADING PRODUCER HAREMS CHOICE LAID TO REST AT VESSELS STALLION FARM
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BONSALL, CALIFORNIA--Multiple Champion producer Harem’s Choice was laid to rest on Thursday, September 6, 2007, alongside her long-time paddock partner Fishers Favorite at Vessels Stallion Farm.

The 23-year-old mare was owned by Robert and Helen Wood of Seagraves, Texas.

With a 12-day colt from the first crop by First Down Dash at her side, the Woods purchased Harems Choice for $20,000 from Vessels Stallion Farm at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City on January 28, 1989.
Read Entire Story...

RIVER'S PRAYER ON A ROLL
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DEL MAR, Calif. Aug. 17, 2007 – California-bred River’s Prayer ran her win streak to five by taking Friday’s $200,000 Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at Del Mar.

River’s Prayer is by Devon Lane, out of the Cozzene mare Cozzy Flyer, was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and is owned by Bantry Farms, Paula Capestro and Martin Racing.

The $15,000 Barretts purchase has nine wins in 16 starts, earnings of $921,958 and was coming off a victory in the Grade I Princess Rooney. She ran the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17.85 and won by one-half length at odds of 2-1.

“Our job is just to keep her healthy and happy,” said trainer Paula Capestro. “I’m trying to find a time to give her a little break, so I may or may not run in the Ken Maddy [Handicap at Oak Tree at Santa Anita]. I want to make sure she’s super-fresh for the Breeders’ Cup [Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint October 25 at Monmouth Park].”
Click for River Prayer’s Pedigree

RIVER'S PRAYER ANSWERS POLYTRACK ISSUE IN 'BERNARDO
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August 17, 2007 – The biggest concern for trainer Paula Capestro heading into the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) was how her red-hot filly River's Prayer would handle Del Mar's Polytrack in her first start on a synthetic surface. In spite of drifting out some late, the California-bred proved best while winning her fifth successive race Aug. 17 by a half-length over Strong Faith.

Overall, River's Prayer, a $15,000 Barretts buy in October 2004, has won nine of 16 races lifetime with earnings of $921,958. Vessels Stallion Farm bred her.  
Read Entire Story...

FIRST LOS AL RACES HELD 60 YEARS AGO
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Friday, August 3 marked the 60-year anniversary of Frank Vessels Sr. hosting the first public races on a half-mile-oval training track on his ranch near the small town of Los Alamitos. The training track would grow beyond anyone's expectations and become the center of American Quarter Horse Racing on the Pacific Coast.

In 1951, Vessels' racetrack hosted its first pari-mutuel season, a successful
11-day meet for American Quarter Horses that drew some of the finest sprinters in the nation and set the tone for the future. There's an American Quarter Horse Foundation Historical Marker at the front entrance of the track, honoring Los Alamitos and the August 3, 1947 date. The AQHF Historical Marker was dedicated in 1995.   Read Entire Story...

FDD DYNASTY SCORES HUGE WIN IN GOVERNOR'S CUP DERBY
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Wave Carver parlayed his win in the Governor's Cup Derby into victories in the Los Alamitos Super Derby, Champion of Champions on the way to being named the AQHA's World Champion. Similar success could be in store for new millionaire FDD Dynasty, who is owned by Pat Guthrie, Billy Smith and Frank "Scoop" Vessels, after the champion colt posted an impressive neck victory over El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Not A Full Moon in the $170,000 Governor's Cup Derby on Saturday..  Read Entire Story...

SEPARATE BET UPSETS FAVORITE IN RICH RAINBOW DERBY
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July 21, 2007 – Despite stumbling a bit at the start, third-fastest qualifier Separate Bet earned his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs.

Bred by AQHA Past President Frank “Scoop” Vessels III’s Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California, Separate Bet is one of 16 stakes winners from four crops sired by Separatist, the sport’s champion 2-year-old colt in 1999 and champion sophomore the following season. The gelding’s dam, Better Bet On Me, is a 14-year-old daughter of First Down Dash who won the 1996 La Primera del Ano Derby (G2) at Los Alamitos.   Read More...

Rivers prayer Rolls in for Princess Rooney Upset
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River’s Prayer ran head and head with Shaggy Mane for the first five furlongs of the $500,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. 1) before the daughter of Devon Lane assumed command for good in midstretch to garner the victory at Calder Racecourse by a half-length.

River’s Prayer has now won six stakes races, with four of those coming on the grass --including the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT) on April 15 at Santa Anita.

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm, River’s Prayer now has eight wins from 15 starts and her career earnings now total $801,958.   Read More...

Not A Full Moon post a wire-to-wire victory
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April 14, 2007 – A fast break from post 8 helped Not A Full Moon post a wire-to-wire victory in Friday’s $205,200 El Primero del Ano Derby (G1) for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Los Alamitos.

Racing for Ron and Denise Van Amburgh of Phoenix, Not A Full Moon went 400 yards in :19.749 and earned a 90 speed index. Alejandro Luna rode the First Down Dash gelding for trainer Jaime Gomez.  Read More...

MR CHIVATO TO YOU WINS EASTEX HANDICAP
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Oklahoma City - The first stakes race of the 2007 American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park, the Grade 3, $51,350 Eastex Handicap went to Mr Chivato To You who continued his career success at 350 yards. The 5-year-old gelding has never been out of the money at the measure and is perfect in three career starts going that distance at Remington Park.

Owned by Sylvia and John Crain of Lincoln, Ark. and trained by Don
Mourning, Mr Chivato To You left the starting gate on top of the field
of 11 and stayed their the entire length of the Eastex under jockey Tad
Leggett. The Arkansas-bred held off the 5-2 betting favorite Bullions N
Garters by a head, stopping the clock in :17.742 over a fast track.  
Read More...

Lava Man receives second California-bred
Horse of the Year honors
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STD Racing Stable’s and Jason Wood’s multiple Grade 1 winner Lava Man was honored as the California-bred Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s annual meeting and awards dinner on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena, California.
Read More...

Wave Carver named AQHA 2006 World Champion
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Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, Wave Carver left the gate from post three, just a couple of steps behind early leader Perrys Queen Bug.   Read More...

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. TO A VESSELS THOROUGHBRED STALLION USING THE WERK NICK RATING - A PRODUCT OF WERK THOROUGHBRED CONSULTANTS INC.

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