The five rivals in the inaugural $9,000 Colorado Breeders Cup Stakes proved no match for Brenda and Brent Beeman's chestnut mare MW Bonnie Z.  The five year old had come to Colorado for her new owners already a stakes champion and winner of over $17,000 in Michigan, however had been winless so far at Arapahoe Park.  She turned her summer season around, however, in just over a minute and a half as the KA Czubuthan daughter stalked her paternal sibling Tyme For Royalty before wrestling away the lead with less than an 1/8 of a mile to go in the 7 furlong test.  Tyme For Royalty settled for second with the third KA Czubuthan progeny and last years CBC Champion Finales Majic SWA in third.  MW Bonnie Z was bred in Texas by Morris Woods and trained by Ken Danyluk.  With a top 3 sweep, KA Czubuthan jumped to the top of the Top Stallion Award standings after 3 events.

Brent and Brenda have been involved with the Colorado Breeders Cup for a number of years and their Box Elder Creek Ranch is only about 20 minutes from Arapahoe Park.  Consequently they had plenty of local support and congratulations from those in attendance.  Brenda was ecstatic with her mare's performance.  "We may retire her after this season, but who knows the way she is currently racing -- either way a great feather in her career!  She will be a tremendous broodmare for us."

In the previous two years, the CBC race event was held in conjunction with another scheduled race where CBC participants were ranked according to their placing relative to each other, not the overall field.  This year, however, there were enough CBC progeny on the backside to hold the race on its own.  O'Malley's Mercantile for the second year in a row donated 1,000 pounds of feed to the race with 500 lbs. going to the winner and 100 pounds to the next 5 participants.  We are deeply grateful to Arapahoe Park and COBRA for their support, and especially Valerie Lynn's tireless efforts in this regard.  With such a competitive race for its debut, the CBC stakes can look forward to being important part of the summer race meet.

This was all part of Arabian Race Day, which in addition to the CBC Stakes, held an allowance race sponsored by the Colorado Arabian Horse Club.  Also, the days participants were treated to morning works, schooling at the gates, a handicapping seminar, backside tour, shadowing trainers and lunch at the horseman's kitchen.  It was a great day of Arabian Racing!

CBC Sport Horse in Hand at Estes Parks Boasts Increased Participation!

The Colorado Breeders Cup Sport Horse in Hand was the opening event for the 2009 season at Estes Park.  The Filly/ Mare division was the largest CBC class to date with 7 entries.  The class was won by CD Harbridge's MWF Sshow Thyme (Pyro Thyme SA x S Show Me).  The 3 year old bay mare scored 79 points to secure the championship.  Just behind her, was the 2 year old gray filly WA Phylarka by the recently exported Ontario HF who now stands in Poland.  The Reserve Champion is out of Phyllan and bred and owned by Wintersteen Arabians. 

The Stallion/ Gelding division was bested by the WA Pejczyk gelding HLL Allyczyk out of the Brazilian import *Allysia HCF, full brother to the 2007 Colorado Breeders Cup SHIH Champion Allyshah.  The bay 4 year old was bred and owned by Judy and Kelley Harding of Harding Living Legends.  The Reserve Champion of the male division was the Santa Fe V son Have You Heard PA out of P Morningbird and owned by Mark Rochester.

Six different stallions were represented during the classes.  WA Pejczyk jumped ahead in the Top Stallion Award competition earning 10 points with Pyro Thyme SA in following closely behind.  The next scheduled event will be the inaugural Colorado Breeders Cup Stakes.  This is the first time the race will be only for CBC eligible horses.  In addition to normal CBC payout, the horses will be racing for an estimated $9,000 in purse money!  See above for details.