Commodore Perry (KY) makes start 13–Silver Blur debuts
Commodore Perry (KY), by Pioneer of the Nile, is Living the Life’s first foal. Living the Life won two Grade 2 and one Grade 3 Sprint Stakes, all on Tapeta All Weather Tracks. Living the Life (IRE) is also Grade 1 placed on the dirt. Living the Life (IRE) produced 10 wins and $1 million plus in earnings during her racing career.
Now a broodmare, Living the Life (IRE) produced a Pioneer of the Nile colt named Commodore Perry (KY) in April 2018. When Commodore Perry (KY) matured and launched his racing career, he became the classic morning glory. A morning glory being a horse who demonstrates significant talent during morning workouts, but fails to perform in the afternoons.
As a result Commodore Perry (KY) has been tried on various surfaces, distances and locales. by HnR Horseracing and his trainers. In an attempt to run him against competition he could overwhelm, we lost him to a claim, but successfully claimed him back. Commodore Perry (KY) now resides at Fair hill under the tutelage of Phil Schoenthal. He is completely sound, very robust, easy to handle, and often flashes extraordinary talent during morning training.
As a result we are not prepared to give up on him yet. As a result, career start 13 will be at Presque Isle Downs on Tuesday in a mile allowance race on a Tapeta track. Commodore Perry (KY) two career wins have come at Turfway on their Tapeta track.
Commodore Perry (KY) will be returning to the locale of Living the Life (IRE) ‘s most significant accomplishments. In three starts at Presque Isle Downs for Gary Mandella, Living the Life (IRE) with Mike Smith up won the Masters Stakes sGrade 2 in 2015, won th Masters Stakes with Joe Bravo up in 2016 and was a short nose 2nd in 2017 with Flavian Prat up, pocketing a total $560K in purse money.
Further, Commodore Perry (KY), in honor of Living the Life (IRE) accomplishments at Presque Isle, is named after the War of 1812 hero of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Commodore Perry built his wooden fleet of sailing craft at Presque Isle before defeating the British in a pivotal battle on LakeErie. From this battle emerged one of, if not the, most famous saying in US Naval History “Don’t give up the Ship!”. Commodore Perry (KY) will be decked out in HnR Nothhaft Horseracing’s Navy Blue and Gold color of owner Hank Nothhaft’s alma mater the U.S. Naval Academy.
We are hoping, Commodore Perry (KY) will be inspired at demonstrate his morning prowess in the afternoon on the shores of Lake Erie.
Silver Blur is an entirely different situation going into his Maiden Start on Sunday in Race 4 at Churchill Downs. Bred by HnR and sold for $300K as a yearling at the Fasig Tipton Select Sale he is by Top US stallion of the decade Tapit.
Working forwardly as a 2yo, Silver Blur encountered a soft tissue injury that pushed his first start out to this weekend in May. Owned by successful owner, Tom Durant, whose top horse based on earnings is Silver Dust, he is in the hands of super successful trainer Bret Calhoun. (also trained Silver Dust). Adam Beschizza, emerging journeyman, jockey will be in the irons.
Given the purse structure at Churchill Downs, it is not surprising that Silver Blur will face a full field of formidable competitors entered by a group of world renowned owners and trainers and ridden by many top US jockeys. As the saying goes, you must start somewhere. No telling at this time whether Silver Blur will be a sprinter or two turn horse or favor the dirt or turf, but much will be revealed during Sunday’s 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint. Good luck to all the connections.
MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Purse: $ 120,000. (Includes $56,500 – KTDF – Kentucky TB Devt Fund) . For Maidens, Three Years Old And Upward. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 124 Lbs. (preference To Horses That Have Not Started For Less Than $50,000 In Last 3 Starts). (if Deemed Inadvisable By Management To Run This Race Over The Turf Course, It Will Be run on the main track at Five and a Half Furlongs.). Five And One Half Furlongs. (Turf)
