Catherine Parke Makes the Right Call

Posted on February 11, 2012 by ValkyreStud

Algorithms. Photo: Coglianese Photos

Her action rewarded when Algorithms wins the Holy Bull

Catherine Parke faced a dilemma at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale. A handsome Bernardini colt in her Valkyre Stud consignment wouldn’t allow his throat to be examined endoscopically.

If she didn’t force the issue, it could reduce his appeal to prospective buyers. If she did, he might injure himself and his handlers.

In the end Parke said she decided “to put the horse first” and let Algorithms avoid the close scrutiny. That choice hurt his value in the auction ring, but it paid off in the long run.

On Jan. 29, the bay 3-year- old romped to a five-length victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. His beaten rivals included last year’s champion 2-year-old and Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Hansen.

Download the story (PDF)  BH6-CatherinPark, courtesy of The Blood-Horse

Posted in Bernardini, Catherine Parke, Sales, Valkyre Stud | Leave a comment

Spotlight on: Algorithms, Winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3)

Posted on February 1, 2012 by ValkyreStud

Consignor Cathy Parke and breeder Pat Klaussman

February 01, 2012- courtesy of Keeneland

Consignor Cathy Parke of Valkyre Stud recalls Holy Bull winner Algorithms at her farm and as part of her consignment at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She shares the story of how the horse was reluctant to scope but that didn’t stop bloodstock agent Frank Brothers from spotting a good horse on behalf of his client Jack Wolfe.

Posted in Bernardini, Catherine Parke, Sales, Valkyre Stud | Leave a comment

The Lane’s End Weekender Pedigree: Algorithms

Posted on February 1, 2012 by ValkyreStud

by Frank Mitchell (http://fmitchell07.wordpress.com)
The following article originally appeared on the Paulick Report (www.paulickreport.com)

With his victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, Algorithms outran last year’s champion juvenile, Hansen, by five lengths. The exacta was an endorsement for the increasing importance of the A.P. Indy male line in American racing and especially as an indicator of classic potential.

Algorithms is the 12th stakes winner for his sire, classic winner Bernardini, who is a son of A.P. Indy, and Hansen is by that stallion’s grandson Tapit (by Pulpit). In winning the Holy Bull, the undefeated Algorithms took a major step up in class to defeat the current champion and leap over the comparative form of his previous start in a Gulfstream Park allowance, when he beat the Bernardini colt Consortium, who finished last in the Holy Bull.

The A.P. Indy tribe and the Bernardini stock, in particular, tend to show progress toward the end of their juvenile season and through their second year, which is their classic aptitude coming into play.

As important as the influence of Bernardini and his sire is to the classic potential of Algorithms, the sire is only part of the equation that produced the Holy Bull winner. Algorithms is the fifth stakes winner of his dam, the Cryptoclearance mare Ava Knowsthecode. She was a homebred for the Oakbrook Farm of the late Bill Klussman and his wife Pat. Catherine Parke, owner of Valkyre Stud north of Lexington, purchased the dam of Ava Knowsthecode, Ava Romance, for the Klussmans in 1989. The price for Ava Romance was $95,000, and the 8-year-old stakes-winning mare was in foal to Claiborne Farm stallion Majestic Light.

Continue reading →

Posted in Bernardini, Catherine Parke, Valkyre Stud | Leave a comment

Algorithms Derails Champ Hansen in Holy Bull

Posted on January 30, 2012 by ValkyreStud

Upset Winner Raised and Sold by Valkyre Stud

Algorithms. Photo: Coglianese Photos

By Jack Shinar
January 29, 2012

Algorithms overtook juvenile champion Hansen approaching mid-stretch en route to an easy victory in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) (VIDEO), handing the odds-on favorite the first defeat of his career Jan. 29 at rainy Gulfstream Park.

The handy five-length win in the Holy Bull by Starlight Racing’s unbeaten 3-year-old son of Bernardini   completed quite a day for trainer Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream.

Continue reading →

Posted in Bernardini, Catherine Parke, Valkyre Stud | Leave a comment

Leon Pays $1.2 Million for Bernardini Filly

Posted on January 30, 2012 by ValkyreStud

Hip #307, filly; Bernardini - Silk n' Sapphire by Smart Strike brings $1.2 million at the Keeneland September sale on Sept. 13. Photo: Joseph DiOrio

By Ron Mitchell
Online Managing Editor, BloodHorse.com
September 14, 2012

Benjamin Leon Jr.’s Besilu Stable went to $1.2 million to acquire a Bernardini   filly produced from the Smart Strike   mare Silk n’ Sapphire to top the early portion of the Keeneland September sale’s open sessions Sept. 13. Silk n’ Sapphire is the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Shared Account, winner of last year’s Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

Consigned by Catherine Parke’s Valkyre Stud as Hip No. 307, the Kentucky-bred filly was bred by Parke and Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation.

Continue reading →

Posted in $1 Million, Bernardini, Catherine Parke, Sales, Valkyre Stud | Leave a comment

$1.2 Million Filly Will Help Parke Pay Bills

Posted on January 26, 2012 by ValkyreStud

Catherine Parke Photo: Joseph DiOrio

By Deirdre B. Biles
Bloodstock Editor, The Blood-Horse
September 17, 2011

Catherine Parke of Valkyre Stud wasn’t thinking about an exotic vacation or buying a new car after selling a Bernardini   filly for $1.2 million during the third session of the Keeneland September yearling auction in Lexington. Instead she was thinking about taking care of the basics with her proceeds from the sale.

“I’m not going to do anything crazy,” Parke said Sept. 13 after Benjamin Leon’s Besilu Stables bought the dark bay or brown filly. “I’ll be very careful and buy another mare and make my farm payments. I’ll be able keep all my staff and keep doing what I love to do. It’s nice to know it’s going to be okay for a while.”

Continue reading →

Posted in $1 Million, Bernardini, Catherine Parke, Sales, Valkyre Stud | Leave a comment

Lisa M Places in GII Davona Dale Stakes

Posted on February 10, 2007 by ValkyreStud

On February 10, 2007, Lisa M (Banker’s Gold—Lords Guest by Lord at War (Arg)) placed third in the $150,000 GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Lisa M also placed third in the Tropical Park Oaks at Calder (1/1/07) for owner-breeder Larry Bielfeldt, and trainer David Kassen. The race was won by Christmas Kid in a time of 1:43 for the 1 1/16 mile on the turf. Lisa M was only 1 ¼ L behind second placed Perfect Motion.

Lisa M also won the Arlington-Washington Lassie (GIII) on September 10, 2006 at Arlington Park. She rallied from as far back as 16 lengths to beat the field which included Sutra, Sea the Joy, and Nola Star in a winning time of 1:38.90 for the 1 mile distance. Foaled and raised at Valkyre, we look forward to Lisa M’s next race. Congratulations Larry!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Keyed Entry

Posted on February 4, 2007 by ValkyreStud

Making his first start since July 2006, Keyed Entry wired the field in the GIII Hutcheson Stakes on February 4, 2007 winning by an amazing 5 length margin!

Keyed Entry and his dam, Ava Knowsthecode, were foaled and raised at Valkyre Stud. Owners Mr. and Mrs. William Klussman of Oakbrook Farm have boarded mares and foals at Valkyre Stud since the farm’s inception in the 1970’s.

Successful breeders, the Klussmans have bred and owned a number of runners including Northern Emerald, winner of the Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (GIT) and a half sister to Keyed Entry, Alex’s Allure, who won the 2005 Senorita.

In 2006, Keyed Entry ran second to Like Now in the GIII Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct (March 18) and finished third in the GI Wood Memorial Stakes (April 8, 2006) before running in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Keyed Entry is a dark bay son of Honor and Glory and is currently owned by Starlight Stables, Saylor and Lucarelli.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Stormello Wins GI Hollywood Futurity

Posted on December 6, 2006 by ValkyreStud

STORMELLO winning the 2006 GI Hollywood Futurity.

On December 16, 2006, the two-year old colt, Stormello, won the GI Hollywood Futurity for co-owners and breeders Al Eisman and William Currin. Trained by William Currin, Stormello is by Stormy Atlantic out of the Carson City mare, Wilshewed. William Currin and his wife, Betty, have been clients of Valkyre Stud since 1978. Stormello was foaled and raised at Valkyre Stud and Stormello’s dam, Wilshewed, is currently enjoying the pastures at Valkyre.

Again, congratulations to William, Betty, Al and Stormello. We are so proud of your achievements and everyone at Valkyre is looking forward to Stormello’s three-year-old campaign in 2007!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment