The rivalry that many local racing fans were hoping to see develop this summer will be left to the imagination as the top Minnesota-bred race mares Glitter Star and Run With Joy have been retired.
Glitter Star, owned by Bonnie Baskin and trained by Richie Scherer, won the M
innesota Distaff Classic Championship three consecutive years, 2005-2007. She had a remarkable career winning seven of 16 local starts with four seconds and three thirds. She won her first Distaff as a 3-year-old after proving to be the best of that crop by romping in the Minnesota Oaks. In 2006 the daughter of Glitterman won the Princess Elaine on the turf and her second Distaff. Last season Seth Martinez, aboard in the 2005 rendition, guided Glitter Star gate to wire in the slop for her third Distaff Championship. That tandem also captured the Shakopee Stakes on closing day of the meet, beating open company by a length and a half.
Following last year’s Distaff win, Baskin indicated that another title defense certainly was a possibility for Glitter Star. But the thought of another year and a difficult campaign likely played into her retirement. “It was a hard decision,” Baskin said. But the owner was happy to report that Glitter Star is in foal to Broken Vow. “She’s doing well. We have high hopes for her as a broodmare.” With Glitter Star’s talent, solid bloodlines, and good confirmation, the prospects for the next generation should give Baskin plenty to look forward to. “We hope she makes nice babies.”
Run With Joy was named the 2007 Canterbury Horse of the Meet based on the strength of her winning performances in the Frances Genter Stakes and the Minnesota Oaks. Owner Frances Genter Williams and her son Harold Williams, also the trainer of Run With Joy, accomplished their goals last year. Following the Oaks, Run With Joy was turned out. “We stopped on her,” said the trainer. “We aimed at bringing her back this year.” Williams had applied for stalls at Canterbury, but as is often the case in this game, plans change.
Williams took the 4-year-old filly to Oaklawn Park this winter. “We wanted to get her started. To have her ready for Canterbury.” On February 10, she ran eighth in an allowance race, beaten by 19 lengths. “She had one race that wasn’t good,” said Williams. “We couldn’t figure out why.” Williams sent Run With Joy to the track one morning in early April under Calvin Borel. “Calvin came back and said that something just wasn’t there,” said Williams. This was cause enough for concern so the trainer, on the way through Kentucky, left Run With Joy at a veterinary clinic that had equipment to perform an extensive exam. Run With Joy was found to have a crack in her rear pastern. The advances made possible through continued equine research make discoveries like this possible. “There were no signs at the track,” said Williams. “No heat. No filling.”
Plans change indeed. The intent was to race Run With Joy for six months and the retire her. “She could race again, but she would need six months off. This changed things,” said Williams. The family opted to send this MN bred champ to the breeding shed. “Mom and the rest of the family are very disappointed. Mom had a lot of fun with this filly last summer.”
Run With Joy is scheduled to be bred today to Forest Wildcat, sire of last Saturday’s Coolmore Lexington winner Behindatthebar. “We had hoped to make a deal (on the stud fee) but the Lexington win sort of took care of that,” said Williams. Deal or no deal, race fans got their money’s worth from Run With Joy. She ran eight times in Shakopee, won four and never finished worse than second.
jm
Glitter Star, owned by Bonnie Baskin and trained by Richie Scherer, won the M
innesota Distaff Classic Championship three consecutive years, 2005-2007. She had a remarkable career winning seven of 16 local starts with four seconds and three thirds. She won her first Distaff as a 3-year-old after proving to be the best of that crop by romping in the Minnesota Oaks. In 2006 the daughter of Glitterman won the Princess Elaine on the turf and her second Distaff. Last season Seth Martinez, aboard in the 2005 rendition, guided Glitter Star gate to wire in the slop for her third Distaff Championship. That tandem also captured the Shakopee Stakes on closing day of the meet, beating open company by a length and a half.Following last year’s Distaff win, Baskin indicated that another title defense certainly was a possibility for Glitter Star. But the thought of another year and a difficult campaign likely played into her retirement. “It was a hard decision,” Baskin said. But the owner was happy to report that Glitter Star is in foal to Broken Vow. “She’s doing well. We have high hopes for her as a broodmare.” With Glitter Star’s talent, solid bloodlines, and good confirmation, the prospects for the next generation should give Baskin plenty to look forward to. “We hope she makes nice babies.”
Run With Joy was named the 2007 Canterbury Horse of the Meet based on the strength of her winning performances in the Frances Genter Stakes and the Minnesota Oaks. Owner Frances Genter Williams and her son Harold Williams, also the trainer of Run With Joy, accomplished their goals last year. Following the Oaks, Run With Joy was turned out. “We stopped on her,” said the trainer. “We aimed at bringing her back this year.” Williams had applied for stalls at Canterbury, but as is often the case in this game, plans change.
Williams took the 4-year-old filly to Oaklawn Park this winter. “We wanted to get her started. To have her ready for Canterbury.” On February 10, she ran eighth in an allowance race, beaten by 19 lengths. “She had one race that wasn’t good,” said Williams. “We couldn’t figure out why.” Williams sent Run With Joy to the track one morning in early April under Calvin Borel. “Calvin came back and said that something just wasn’t there,” said Williams. This was cause enough for concern so the trainer, on the way through Kentucky, left Run With Joy at a veterinary clinic that had equipment to perform an extensive exam. Run With Joy was found to have a crack in her rear pastern. The advances made possible through continued equine research make discoveries like this possible. “There were no signs at the track,” said Williams. “No heat. No filling.”
Plans change indeed. The intent was to race Run With Joy for six months and the retire her. “She could race again, but she would need six months off. This changed things,” said Williams. The family opted to send this MN bred champ to the breeding shed. “Mom and the rest of the family are very disappointed. Mom had a lot of fun with this filly last summer.”
Run With Joy is scheduled to be bred today to Forest Wildcat, sire of last Saturday’s Coolmore Lexington winner Behindatthebar. “We had hoped to make a deal (on the stud fee) but the Lexington win sort of took care of that,” said Williams. Deal or no deal, race fans got their money’s worth from Run With Joy. She ran eight times in Shakopee, won four and never finished worse than second.
jm
