Baffert Buys Vallenzeri for $1.9 Million

Bob Baffert purchased Vallenzeri for $1.9 million at the Keeneland 2-Year-Old In-Training Sale. It is the highest price paid for a juvenile at public auction in 2009.

Cumulatively, Keeneland sold 66 horses for $11,805,000 during the April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, down 27.57 percent from the corresponding period last year, when 77 horses brought $16,299,000. The average of $178,864 represents a 15.50 percent decrease from $211,675 in 2008.

According to The Blood Horse, Baffert will be patient with Vallenzeri. “I’m going to give him some time off and freshen him up,” the trainer said. “I’m going to let the horse dictate when he races for the first time, and maybe he’ll race late in the summer or the fall. He’s by A.P. Indy, and the mare (Azeri) got better as she got older, so this is the kind of horse I want later on for the classics.”

Baffert the white-haired California trainer was acting on behalf of a new client, Kaleem Shah. Shah is the president and founder of Virginia-based CALNET, which is involved in the information technology, intelligence analysis, and telecommunications businesses.

Asked if Shah, who didn’t attend the Keeneland juvenile sale, would keep the name Vallenzeri for the 2-year-old, Baffert replied: “I don’t think so. It’s a whole new page here, so we’re going to change the name.”


Links:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/50081/keeneland-average-up-vallenzeri-sells

Baffert buys Vallenzeri for $1.9 million

Bob Baffert purchased Vallenzeri for $1.9 million at the Keeneland 2-Year-Old In-Training Sale. It is the highest price paid for a juvenile at public auction in 2009.

Cumulatively, Keeneland sold 66 horses for $11,805,000 during the April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, down 27.57 percent from the corresponding period last year, when 77 horses brought $16,299,000. The average of $178,864 represents a 15.50 percent decrease from $211,675 in 2008.

Links:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/50081/keeneland-average-up-vallenzeri-sells

AKC Announces New Program for Mixed Breeds

Here's the news from the American Kennel Club on their new mixed breed dog program.


Dear Delegates,

For the past one hundred twenty five years, the American Kennel Club has been the nation's premier advocate for dogs and the people who love them. Today, we are delighted to tell you that AKC can now act even more broadly and effectively as the dog's champion. Our Board of Directors has voted unanimously to proceed with a program for mixed breed dogs. The creation of this program ushers in new opportunities for our constituencies, our clubs and our organization to grow and flourish in many ways.

Our goal in including mixed breeds in a specially designed system is to bring benefits to all those who share our passion for dogs and our sport. Companion clubs will see opportunities to increase entries, attract new members and educate more people. AKC will broaden its legislative influence by representing more dog owners and achieve greater exposure for our responsible dog ownership messaging. Ultimately, the positive developments that this program creates will benefit dogs the most, and this is what we value above all.

Please take a moment to review the attached document which outlines the structure and details of the program. Your participation in this process has been invaluable, and we thank you and your members for playing an important role in this great accomplishment. Now, more than ever, we are the dog's champion.

Yours truly,

Ronald H. Menaker Dennis B. Sprung

Links:
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3810
http://images.akc.org/pdf/MixedBreedProgramDetails.pdf PDF of the new program

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