Comma To The Top's win - the most gutty, dig deep win!

[jellac]

I was just tuned into TVG when they mentioned Comma To The Top's return to the races as one of entrants (!). ....I commented to BF that this ought to be a good race as this gelding abasolutely did NOT take losing lightly and would dig in deep to win if needed (that is IF he came back as his old self). We were not disappointed, nor were racing fans watching from wherever!!! What a show of determination and heart! Comma To The Top was absolutely the essense of what a thoroughbred should be and put up the best finish/win battle I've witnessed in some time.

[TJ]

I was just tuned into TVG when they mentioned Comma To The Top's return to the races as one of entrants (!). ....I commented to BF that this ought to be a good race as this gelding abasolutely did NOT take losing lightly and would dig in deep to win if needed (that is IF he came back as his old self). We were not disappointed, nor were racing fans watching from wherever!!! What a show of determination and heart! Comma To The Top was absolutely the essense of what a thoroughbred should be and put up the best finish/win battle I've witnessed in some time.

Hi jellac,
He was very determined...I'd have to say that rider is just as tough as Comma is:>) Went on to win the Gotham on board Vyjack with a very heady ride. Here's the replay of Comma's win....amazing:
http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?tra ... ountry=USA

[ageecee]

shipped cross country after a race 7 days ago and showed a ton of heart



horse is all heart

[RandomThoughts]

I have a yearling filly by Comma's sire, Bwana Charlie out my allowance winning Pine Bluff mare. The match produces a True Nick rating of A++ Variant 57. From six fillies of racing age to date, three are stakes winners. Additionally, the pedigree contains two crosses of Halo and Northern Dancer. According to Alan Porter, the pedigree expert, this cross has produced many great horses including the Japanese super horse, Deep Impact.
Bwana Charlie is 17 hands, and my mare is 16.2 and 1250 pounds. This kid is huge(and thankfully very kind), but quite balanced and correct and quick on her feet.
Tesio was reported to be the breeder of the best horses ever produced from thirty different sires, and it's these opportunities that I look for among forgotten sires.
For anyone who is interested, her name is Foxy Angel.

[zinn21]

Comma is an amazing horse. He was put on the Derby Trail and lived through it. Probably the last horse still running from his class.. Here he is several seasons later running at a very high level. He is hickory...

[TJ]

I have a yearling filly by Comma's sire, Bwana Charlie out my allowance winning Pine Bluff mare. The match produces a True Nick rating of A++ Variant 57. From six fillies of racing age to date, three are stakes winners. Additionally, the pedigree contains two crosses of Halo and Northern Dancer. According to Alan Porter, the pedigree expert, this cross has produced many great horses including the Japanese super horse, Deep Impact.
Bwana Charlie is 17 hands, and my mare is 16.2 and 1250 pounds. This kid is huge(and thankfully very kind), but quite balanced and correct and quick on her feet.
Tesio was reported to be the breeder of the best horses ever produced from thirty different sires, and it's these opportunities that I look for among forgotten sires.
For anyone who is interested, her name is Foxy Angel.

Hi Random,
Very nice breeding....nice bottom line. I couldn't believe the dam of Bed O' Roses still shows in a her 5th generation pedigree. I wish you all the best with her. I noticed your name, are you related to the Tanrackin (NY) farm connections from years ago? TJ

[RandomThoughts]

TJ:
Actually, I claimed her granddam, Kathy B, for $3,000 out of her 56th start. I just happened to see that she was in a race and started researching. Kathy B's second dam was a 1/2 to Bed O'Roses and her 4th dam was a full sister to Challedon, two time Horse of the Year in '39 and '40. Old AG Vanderbilt blood. At the time too, out of the first 100 starters from I'ma Hellraiser's daughters, 15 were stakes winners, including Little Bit Lively, Stop Traffic, etc. I figured that she was worth the risk. I also have two allowance winning mares out of her by Dehere, and her first son who Doug O'Neill offered to buy for $150K after his first start at Calder.
No relation to Tom of New York.
You are pretty good with bloodlines.

[TJ]

TJ:
Actually, I claimed her granddam, Kathy B, for $3,000 out of her 56th start. I just happened to see that she was in a race and started researching. Kathy B's second dam was a 1/2 to Bed O'Roses and her 4th dam was a full sister to Challedon, two time Horse of the Year in '39 and '40. Old AG Vanderbilt blood. At the time too, out of the first 100 starters from I'ma Hellraiser's daughters, 15 were stakes winners, including Little Bit Lively, Stop Traffic, etc. I figured that she was worth the risk. I also have two allowance winning mares out of her by Dehere, and her first son who Doug O'Neill offered to buy for $150K after his first start at Calder.
No relation to Tom of New York.
You are pretty good with bloodlines.

Hi Random,
That was a sharp claim....could you get a better foundation mare for 3 grand? She's been great.....is she still with us? Did you get to meet Ralph and Betty Sessa when you bred Kathy B to Young Ralph? How about your Foxy Angel....one of the last Bwana Charlie's. All the best to you and your stock. TJ

[RandomThoughts]

TJ:
Yes, Kathy B is still alive and well at 20 and she is preparing to have her last foal in about two weeks by Friesan Fire. Seemed a natural mating, since virtually every AP Indy sire of consequence is out of a granddaughter of Raise A Native, mostly Mr. P, and she seems to work very well with the Dehere side. All of her kids have been very correct and athletic. In my mind she has foaled two stakes winners. Chanceinalifetime and Queen of Chic. The former chipped a knee immediately before or in his first start. Ran an 83 Beyer easily but never came off his left lead. The latter with an airway issue. Any corrections I made with her only lasted a very short time. Just bad luck.
Yes, I met with Betty a few times along with her pet cat, Sheba. Pretty imposing when a cat with all those teeth starts licking your hand.
Kathy B's first from Young Ralph never had a chance. The filly was small and, at the time, I was hip deep in corporate business in California. I understand that she turned into a very nice dressage horse.
Thanks for all your kind comments and insights. If you get around Del Park, stop and see me in Barn 11.

[TJ]

TJ:
Yes, Kathy B is still alive and well at 20 and she is preparing to have her last foal in about two weeks by Friesan Fire. Seemed a natural mating, since virtually every AP Indy sire of consequence is out of a granddaughter of Raise A Native, mostly Mr. P, and she seems to work very well with the Dehere side. All of her kids have been very correct and athletic. In my mind she has foaled two stakes winners. Chanceinalifetime and Queen of Chic. The former chipped a knee immediately before or in his first start. Ran an 83 Beyer easily but never came off his left lead. The latter with an airway issue. Any corrections I made with her only lasted a very short time. Just bad luck.
Yes, I met with Betty a few times along with her pet cat, Sheba. Pretty imposing when a cat with all those teeth starts licking your hand.
Kathy B's first from Young Ralph never had a chance. The filly was small and, at the time, I was hip deep in corporate business in California. I understand that she turned into a very nice dressage horse.
Thanks for all your kind comments and insights. If you get around Del Park, stop and see me in Barn 11.

Hi Random,
That's great....glad she's still here. Her last foal looks like it may be a quick one:>)
Betty and Ralph are both gone now....but Betty got such a kick out of scaring everyone that went in her office when her Florida panther was inside:>) She would do anything for that cat...one day Betty was walking her from her cage to the office and something scared Sheba. I was in the office and heard this crash...the cat took off with Betty hanging on to her leash while banged off her large planters hanging on the barn wall....she wouldn't let go because she knew if Sheba got loose and off her property she would lose her license to keep her on the farm. When I ran out she yelled to open the cage...I was horrified...she said open the cage and I'll let her go....she will run right into the cage....I was horrified but I did it, Sheba ran right by me:>)
The next time I'm up north...I'll pm you and see where you are. It's been nice talking with you....Best Wishes, TJ

[RandomThoughts]

TJ:
How funny. Maybe we even met when I was there. Maybe you remember my friend Tom who used to bring a bag of carrots for Kathy. He was a good guy but on his way around the bend by that time. Maybe one too many cocktails.
I read that Betty passed away. Never met Ralph. Always wondered why the horses on the farm didn't go nuts with Sheba around.
Good Luck to you.

[TJ]

TJ:
How funny. Maybe we even met when I was there. Maybe you remember my friend Tom who used to bring a bag of carrots for Kathy. He was a good guy but on his way around the bend by that time. Maybe one too many cocktails.
I read that Betty passed away. Never met Ralph. Always wondered why the horses on the farm didn't go nuts with Sheba around.
Good Luck to you.

Hi Random,
The name Tom rings a bell....but not certain. When I was there the foreman was a nice, tall, young lady named Mitch. Pete Anderson, Doc Colando and Paul Kopaj were there too. I think Bill White and Henry Collazo had some of his overflow there as well? T.J. Kelly kept a few of his mares there too, most notably Concolour, dam of Evening Attire who raced till ten years old earning near 3 million.
I thought the same thing too about the cat....but I never saw a horse turn a hair when she was walking to the office with Betty....not even when Sheba almost got away from Betty that day and was dragging her till Betty dug in:>) TJ