Santa Anita Park Archives — HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing LLC

Big Saturday in CA Races for HnR Nothhaft Horseracing

Two PABreds and One KYBred invade the Golden State

Hank Nothhaft’s HnR Horseracing Nothhaft Horseracing (HnR Horseracing) got its’ start in Northern CA in the 2007 time frame while we were living in Saratoga CA at the time. We enjoyed a number of years racing in both northern and southern CA. Our favorite track was Bay Meadows, but ran at all the CA tracks including most of the Fair Circuit venues.

Sulis with Practical Joke PABred filly Huntingcoco Chandelier Stakes Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Win and Your In Santa Anita Park 6

**NorthviewPA; 3/8/20; PABred filly by Practical Jok o/oSulis, by Maria’s Mon; foaled 3/5/20; breeder HnR Nothhaft Racing**

Once we got some direct experience in the wonderful world thoroughbred horse racing, HnR Horseracing decided to combine racing with commercial breeding. Our goal was/is to breed horses that are valuable enough so that we couldn’t or wouldn’t afford to buy them. We have accomplished that goal many times over.

HnR Horseracing geographic focus in the breeding business is and has been the Mid-Atlantic and Kentucky with a strong focus on PA.

It’s true horses can take you anywhere, but it is a bit surprising and thrilling for a small operation like HnR Horseracing to find itself blessed with three starters in races in CA on Saturday say instead of PA. Though it is surprising, I have found over the years that the thoroughbred industry is filled with surprises, both good and bad. Another odd coincidence is that Jockeys Edwin Maldonado and Joe Bravo rode for HnR Horseracing on a number of occasions while racing in CA.

The horses and the Races!!

Carson Jen Race 4 Santa Anita Park MSW Jockey Joe Bravo Trainer George Papaprodromou

Miss Mahalia 20 filly by Gunrunner 3 days of age now Carson Jen

Carson Jen frolicking at Coolmore America

Huntingcoco Race 6 Santa Antia Park Chandelier Stakes Grade 2 Jockey Edwin Maldonado Trainer Bob Baffert

**Six Week old Huntingcoco PABred Northview PA**

Lookin to Excel Race 3 Fresno MSW Jockey Irving Orozco Trainer Jamey Thomas

Lookin to Excel PABred colt by Lookin at Lucky o/o Exceed and Excel mare Macaabra

What’s next for HnR’s PABred 2 yo filly Huntingcoco?

Huntingcoco, a 2 yo PABred filly bred and sold by Hank Nothhaft’s HnR Nothhaft Horseracing won impressively for Bob Baffert and her connections in her first start. Huntingcoco is by promising 2nd crop sire Practical Joke and o/o Sulis by Maria’s Mon. Going 5.5 furlongs on the dirt at Del Mar on September 4th, Huntingcoco was sent at 7:1 odds, substantially higher than her high priced ($950K Keeneland yearling purchase) stablemate Carla, the odds on favorite. Breaking well along the rail, Huntingcoco asserted herself in the stretch and won by a widening 6 3/4 lengths. .

Huntingcoco Wins Impressively 1st Time Out

Huntingcoco dominated the field in MSW Del Mar

Nine days after this fine effort, Huntingcoco worked lights out at Delmar on September 13th. Huntingcoco put in a serious work going 46.40 for the day’s bullet work.

Huntingcoco Bullet work Del Mar Turf Club 13 Sept 2022

Given Huntingcoco’s success and continued level of effort, one wonders where Huntingcoco will show up next. One distinct possibility is the Chandelier Stakes contested this year on October 8th at Santa Anita Park. The race is for 2 yo fillies, going 1 1/6 mile on the dirt for a $200,000 purse. The Chandelier is a Grade 2 that is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You are in Championship Series. Previous winner’s of the Chandelier include Blind Luck, Song Bird and Serena’s Song. This would be a major step up for Huntingcoco, but she has shown strong signs of significant talent. If this is not her next stop, it will be fun watching to see where the connections place her for her next effort.

Finest City Honored as PA BRED Horse of the Year 2016

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) hosted Its’ 38th Annual Iroquois Awards Banquet on June 9 at The Hershey Hotel. PHBA members, the board of directors, and top Pennsylvania breeders and owners were present for a great night of dinner, cocktails, and conversation.

Brian Sanfratello, Executive Director of the PHBA, served as Master of Ceremonies for the gala evening. Roger Legg PHBA President offered his greetings and welcome to the assembled group, while the Honorable Russell Redding, Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provided insightful comments on the current status and support by PA for the thoroughbred industry.

Russell Redding PA Secretary of Agriculture PHBA Awards 2017

Henry “Hank” Nothhaft provided the Keynote address describing his journey to breeding Finest City, one of four, and the first PABRED Breeders’ Cup Champion in 24 years, and Eclipse Award Winner as Best Female Sprinter.

Click on the link below for the full script of Hank Nothhaft Keynote.

Hank Nothhaft Keynote Script

Impressive Crystal Trophies were awarded for a number of categories.

Click on the link below to view photos PHBA Crystal Awards.

Photos PHBA Crystal Category & Iroquois Awards 2017

See the full list of Category Winners listed Below.

Full Gallery of Photos of the PHBA Awards, Click Link Below:

PHBA IROQUOIS AWARDS PHOTO GALLERY 2017

Hank Nothhaft owner of HnR Nothhaft Horseracing accepts Horse of the Year Award for HnR PABRED Finest City.

Hank Nothhaft Accepts Finest City HOY Award form Betsy Barr PHBA Director

Grand Prix (PA) captures 1st Stakes Title New Start Stakes

After an impressive outing at Santa Anita on May 11, 2017 in an open Allowance Race on the downhill turf course, HnR decided to ship her to Pennsylvania to take advantage of the lucrative PABRED Stakes program. Grand Prix, trained by Gary Mandella, arrived in good order in PA via Tex Sutton Horse Transport.

Grand Prix jogs to the Winner's Circle — Grand Prix jogs to the Winner’s Circle

Based on her race fitness and positive conditioning at Delaware Park in Keith Nation’s Barn, we decided to run her the New Start Stakes, a 6 furlong sprint on the dirt for 3 year old PABRED fillies on June 3rd at Penn National in Grantville, Pa. The New Start Stakes was part of a 7 stakes program including the prestigious Pennsylvania Mile and the Governor’s Cup. Javier Castellano, 4 time Eclipse Award Winning jockey was booked to ride Grand Prix.

HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR NOTHHAFT AS GRAND PRIX TAKES NEW START

Click the above link for Racing Biz Article by Frank Vespe

Grand Prix broke sharply, maintained a position of stalking the leaders about a length off the lead before asserting herself at the 1/4 pole, maintaining her lead to the end of the race, besting undefeated, stakes winner and PA 2 yo filly of the year Rose Tree. We were not only gratified that she won impressively, but her splits and final times of 1:09.61 were certainly on the high end of our range of expectations. Grand Prix came out of the race 100% and will stay on the east coast. We are currently planning at least 3 more races before assessing our next move with her. Photos by B n D Photography.