PAST PERFORMANCES 

Pura Vida Zen

Overview: Pura Vida Zen was a $10,000 Fasig-Tipton auction yearling purchase.  This three-year-old filly is by the sprint-oriented, graded stakes producing sire Johannesburg and is out of mare who earned more than $100,000 in her career.  

She raced very credibly in her first start in mid-December as a two-year-old and then was transferred to Kentucky-based trainer Larry Holt for five races at Turfway Park and Indiana Downs.  Having run three seconds at the maiden special weight level, she is now in the capable hands of Ryan Reynolds currently stabled at Mountaineer Park.  She crushed five overmatched rivals on May 17 by 7 1/4 lengths to break her maiden and then ran a troubled third in an NW2L allowance race on May 28th while checking badly on two occasions during the race.  On July 5 she ran a credible second at Penn National and continues to impress her connections with fine efforts.

UPDATE:  After several fine efforts, Pura Vida Zen finally broke through with a NW2L Allowance victory on August 21 at Mountaineer Park.  Click link to left for updated past performances.

What's Next:  Sadly, Pura Vida Zen was claimed on 9/27/11 for $16,000 from the partnership.  It was a bittersweet finally as she won and was claimed in a professional effort.  We wish her new connections nothing but the best in the future. 

Partnership Status:  PARTNERSHIP ENDED (9/27/11)

Earnings          Races          Win          Place          Show

$61,564           11                 3             4                2   

PAST PERFORMANCES

Poniboy Time

Overview:  Poniboy Time is a MN-Bred gelding recently leased from his owner/trainer Chris Riddle for the partnership of Kevin Lay, Denis Gullickson and Dan Adkins for the 2012 Canterbury Park racing season.  He was campaigned most recently by the HOO Racing partnership and is eligible for NW2L condition.  PONIBOY WINS!!! Congrats to Denis Gullickson and Dan Adkins for their first win as thoroughbred owners. Poniboy saved all the ground and took advantage of the collapse of the tiring pace-setters to win on August 24th. What a blast!

What's Next:  As planned, the partnership dissolved after one last run on Labor Day weekend.  The partnership ended profitably and the new owners had a great time.

Partnership Status:  PARTNERSHIP ENDED (9/3/12)

Earnings          Races          Win          Place          Show 

$16,977            19                 2              0                4

PAST PERFORMANCES

Willie Prevail

Overview:  Willie Prevail was recently purchased privately following an April 1 claim for $7,500 at Turfway Park.  This four-year-old was bred in Kentucky by the Minnesota businessman Philip Maas.  He is by the sire Castledale (currently standing at stud in New Zealand) who was a grade one stakes winner on the turf and out of a mare who has produced multiple winners on dirt and turf, running both short and long.

With the sad passing of partner Ken Ballinger late in 2011 and Brad Knutson wanting to go in another direction with his thoroughbred interests, the partnership of Blue Line Racing, led by Patrick Gast, now owns a 60% stake in the horse.  Kevin Lay's Triple B Stables will maintain 40% ownership and manage the horse moving forward from Turf Paradise, where he is currently in training, then with luck on to Canterbury Park for the 2013 racing meet.  Training duties are currently being executed by the very capable and experienced Valorie Lund. 

Thanks to both Ken and Brad for being involved with the partnership - both enjoying their first time meeting their horse in the winner's circle as new horse owners!  Ken Ballinger will be greatly missed and just a note to Sally, Steve and the family members - you are always welcome to come and cheer Willie on - I know Ken will be doing the same from above!

UPDATE:  WILLIE WINS!!  As the 2-1 favorite, Willie made it back to the winner's circle for the first time since July in an "easy as you please" 7 3/4-length victory February 2nd at Turf Paradise.  Caught down inside and getting dirt in his face for 3 furlongs, the jockey swung him to the outside turning for home and he drew off from there.  Hopefully with this confidence builder under his belt, the return to the turf will be a welcomed change.  

What's Next:  April 30, 2013   $6,250 Claiming   1 Mile - Turf (Turf Paradise)

Partnership Status:  PARTNERSHIP FULL

Earnings          Races           Win           Place           Show

$42,030            31                  4               3                  6 

 PAST PERFORMANCES

 CATALOGUE PAGE

Swift Progress

Overview:  Swift Progress was recently purchased privately from his owners following his August 7, 2012 race at Canterbury Park.  This four-year-old has a great pedigree (see tab to left) and is out of the Multiple Graded Stakes winning mare Unbridled Hope by the solid sire Benchmark.  Having been in training for the better part of 18 consecutive months from April, 2011 to August, 2012, the horse was given four months off at the farm to rest and to recuperate from his aches and pains.

With first time horse owners Galen Willis and Peter Bantle diving into the game, the current plan is to leg the horse up in Oklahoma to be ready for the opening day at Will Rogers Downs on March 4th.  The hope is to get one or two races in the horse there and then up to Canterbury Park for the 2013 racing meet.  Training duties are currently being performed by J. Alan Williams. 

UPDATE:  Swift Progress arrived without incident at Alan Williams stables just north of Oklahoma City on December 18th and has begun his fitness training as I write this post.  Good luck to the new owners moving into 2013. 

What's Next:  April 29, 2013   $5,000 Claiming   One Mile and a Sixteenth (Will Rogers Downs)

Partnership Status:  PARTNERSHIP FULL

Earnings          Races           Win           Place           Show

$28,858            18                  3               3                  2