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Yankee Bravo

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When it became obvious Yankee Bravo would not get into the Kentucky Derby on graded stakes earnings, trainer Paddy Gallagher and the horse’s connection chose to pull back and start looking at the Preakness Stakes.     He has competed successfully on dirt surfaces and on a synthetic, winning the California Derby on a synthetic track with a well-timed rally through the stretch and finishing third in the Louisiana Derby with a similar late run on the conventional Fair Grounds surface.     Turning to Santa Anita’s Cushion Track surface, on which he trains, Yankee Bravo was stuck with a rail trip and finished fourth.     The son of Yankee Gentleman has become something of a world traveler – or at least a half-world traveler. He sold originally for $17,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Keeneland yearling sale in 2006 before being shipped to England where he brought $9,646 in the Goff’s Breeze Up Sale at Kempton in 2007 and then $34,442 at Tattersalls’ Guineas 2-year-old Breeze Up Sale later in the year.     He made his first start a winning one with a 6-furlong score in England. That got him sold to the current owners and sent him to the United States to be trained by Irishman Gallagher.

TRAINER -Patrick (Paddy) Gallagher originally from Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, now resides in Sierra Madre, California.     Gallagher, known among his peers for his quick wit, has been involved with horses most of his life, beginning with his jump-riding in his native Ireland.     As he prepared for a life as a trainer, Gallagher worked at The Curragh for trainer Paddy Norris for several years and then with Andy Geraghty before heading to the United States in 1980, where he worked for a short time on the late Earl Scheib’s Green Thumb Farm in Southern California. He headed back to Ireland for a brief stay before returning to Southern California for good.     On his return, he worked first with a trainer from the Old Sod, John Sullivan, serving as his assistant from 1981 to 1990, when he joined legendary jockey-turned-trainer Bill Shoemaker as his assistant. Following an auto accident that left Shoemaker paralyzed, Gallagher’s responsibilities increased dramatically, helping “The Shoe” train stakes winners Diazo, Fire the Groom, Glen Kate and Fine n‘ Majestic.     After Shoemaker retired from training, Gallagher took over the string, with most of Shoemaker’s clients remaining with the Irishman. He made his first big mark by training Adminniestrator to victory in the $500,000 Turf in 2003 as part of the inaugural running of the Sunshine Millions program that runs each year at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park and pits California-breds against Florida-breds.     Later that spring, owners David Bienstock and Chuck Winner bought Domestic Dispute a week before the Kentucky Derby and turned him over to Gallagher. The colt finished 10th, but came back in 2004 to score in the prestigious Strub Stakes at Santa Anita.     The trainer had 56 winners in 2007 and posted purse earnings of $3,192,692, putting him eighth among Southern California earnings leaders. He has about 80 horses in his public stable, split evenly between Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. His major runner in 2007 was Valbenny, winner of four stakes on the year. In addition, she finished second in the American Oaks and the Del Mar Oaks and was sold in November at auction for $1.2 million.     Other major winners for Gallagher include Kentucky Derby prospect Yankee Bravo, Three Degrees, Walkslikeaduck, McCann’s Mojave and Tucked Away.

JOCKEY - Alex Solis, Born: March 25, 1964 in Panama City, Panama now resides in Glendora, California.     Top horses ridden in 2007: After Market, a top grass runner who was declared out of both the Arlington Million and the Breeders’ Cup Turf because of soft ground, Runaway Dancer, Valbenny and Magnificience. Purse earnings for 2007: $$5,940,641, with 81 victories.     Solis has recovered from serious back injuries as a result of a spill at Del Mar in late July 2004 and resumed riding in February 2005 at Santa Anita. Started 2004 in a whirlwind of victories and was sitting high on the earnings list when the Del Mar spill occurred. Even so, his earnings stood at $7,954,851 for the year, with 119 victories in less than seven months.     Was honored in February 2006 with the Sports Legends Award, along with gymnasts Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci, pro football star Willie Davis, Olympic swimmer Donna de Varona and volleyball super star Karch Kiraly. For 2006, purse earnings totaled $10,544,735, good for 12th in the nation. Top horses ridden on the year: Brother Derek, who won the Santa Anita Derby and finished in a dead heat with eventual Belmont Stakes winner Jazil for fourth in the Kentucky Derby, fourth in the Preakness Stakes and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; Sleeping Indian, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile; Surf Cat, T.H. Approval, Bushfire, Principal Secret, Arson Squad and Siren Lure.     In 2005, his purse earnings totaled $9,647,743, good for 14th in the nation. Stakes winners ridden in 2005: Megahertz, Sweet Return, Wild Fit, Brother Derek, Surf Cat, Captain Squire, Singletary, Golden Rahy, Skipaslew, Berbatim, MacWard, Storm Wolf, Siren Lure, Winendynme, Osidy, Tucked Away, Soldier’s Kiss, and El Roblar. He had his biggest year ever in 2003 when his purse earnings of $16,304,252 put him third on the national list; had 203 victories for the year. The frosting on the year’s record came on Breeders’ Cup championship day when the native Panamanian rode the Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect, was part of the first-ever dead heat for win when he rode Johar to a nose-to-nose victory with High Chaparral in the Turf, came home second in the Bessemer Trust Juvenile with Minister Eric, and finished third with Got Koko in the Distaff, fourth with Irish Warrior in the Mile and fifth with Megahertz in the Filly & Mare Turf. As a result, was named the first winner of the Bill Shoemaker Award as the day’s top rider. He came back in 2004 to ride Pleasantly Perfect to victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup as well as win the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen with Our New Recruit on the same card.     Solis was regular rider on 2000 Eclipse Award sprinter Kona Gold; won his first Breeders’ Cup race when Kona Gold won the Sprint in 2000. Finished second two straight years, 1997 and ‘98, and again in 2000, in the Kentucky Derby. Captain Bodgit was beaten a head by Silver Charm in ‘97, the fast-closing Victory Gallop lost by a half-length to Real Quiet in ‘98 and the stretch-running Aptitude fell 1 1/2 lengths short of Fusaichi Pegasus; was second to Commendable with Aptitude in the 2000 Belmont Stakes. Won the 1997 Florida Derby with Captain Bodgit, and stayed with the horse for the heart-pounding Derby run and a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes, where he was beaten two heads by Silver Charm and Free House.     He got interested in horse racing when he used to go to the track with his father. At 14, decided to be a jockey and enrolled in jockey school in Panama City. During his two years in jockey school he learned to be a hot walker, a groom and an exercise rider, learning about horses from the ground up. He rode his first winner on Nov. 7, 1981 at Presidente Remon, Panama, then moved on early in 1982 to Florida to finish out his apprenticeship. He became the leading rider on the Gulfstream Hialeah Calder circuit that year, moving on to Southern California from there. He then reached national prominence in 1986 when he rode Snow Chief to victory in that year's Preakness Stakes, after finishing 11th in the Kentucky Derby, where he was the 2 1 betting favorite. Snow Chief also was the victor in the 1985 Hollywood Futurity and the Norfolk and the 1986 Florida, Santa Anita and Jersey derbies.     Solis gained considerable attention, also, in 1991 when he rode Mane Minister to third place in all three Triple Crown races, the only time a horse has done that. The exuberant 44 year old rider chalked up 217 victories in 2002 for purse earnings of $12,027,315 to finish eighth on the national list and third among Southern California riders, behind Derby-Preakness winner Victor Espinoza and the comebacking Patrick Valenzuela. On the list of top 10 career purse earners, Solis is sixth overall and first among those riders still active with $206,562,263 as of late February. He won his 4,000th race on Oct. 24, 2003 and perhaps served as an omen of what was to follow the next day on the Breeders’ Cup card. Another career highlight came in Del Mar's 1996 Pacific Classic where he rode longshot Dare and Go to victory and ended Cigar's record-tying streak of 16 straight wins. Was the recipient in 1997 of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Southern California-based jockey has won riding titles at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar; at one point winning six in a row from 1996 to 1997. Among other best horses ridden: Malek, Current Hope, Raintrap, Jewel Princess, Urbane, Gold and Steel, Dahar, Criminal Type, Del Mar Dennis, Pico Central and Olympic Prospect.                          KENTUCKY DERBY MOUNTS Year       Horse/ Fin.                                 Owner                                  Trainer 1983    Current Hope 11th                Baker & Kaskel                         Roger Laurin 1986    Snow Chief 11th                   Grinstead & Rochelle                 Mel Stute 1990    Real Cash 11th                     Overbrook Farm                        D. Wayne Lukas 1991    Mane Minister 3rd                McCaffery/Toffan                      Juan (Paco) Gonzales 1992    Disposal 18th                        Bramble Farm                            Bruce Headley 1996    Matty G 17th                       Double J Farm                            Ron McAnally 1997    Captain Bodgit 2nd               Team Valor                               Gary Capuano 1998    Victory Gallop 2nd                Prestonwood Farms                 Elliott Walden 1999    K One King 8th                    Madeleine/Allen Paulson           Akiko Gothard 2000    Aptitude 2nd                          Juddmonte Farms                   Robert Frankel 2001    Startac 10th                          Allen E. Paulson                        Simon Bray                                                                 Living Trust 2002   Ocean Sound 17th                 KM Stable, Ford, Pearson         James Cassidy 2003   Domestic Dispute 10th           David Bienstock,                        Patrick Gallagher                                                             Chuck Winner                        Robert Frankel 2004   Master David 12th                 Georgica Stable, Stephen Mack                                                                 and Star Crown Stable 2006   Brother Derek DH-4th           Cecil N. Peacock                        Dan Hendricks                          PREAKNESS STAKES MOUNTS Year     Horse/ Fin.                             Owner                                         Trainer 1986     SNOW CHIEF WON     Grinstead & Rochelle                    Mel Stute 1991     Mane Minister 3rd            McCaffery/Toffan                         Juan (Paco) Gonzales 1996     In Contention 6th              Noreen Carpenito                         Cynthia Reese 1997     Captain Bodgit 3rd           Team Valor                                   Gary Capuano 2006     Brother Derek 4th            Cecil N. Peacock                           Dan Hendricks                          BELMONT STAKES MOUNTS Year     Horse/ Fin.                          Owner                                        Trainer 1983     Current Hope 9th               Baker & Kaskel                        Roger Laurin 1991     Mane Minister 3rd             McCaffery/Toffan                      Juan (Paco) Gonzalez 2000     Aptitude 2nd                      Juddmonte Farms                      Robert Frankel 2004      Rock Hard Ten 5th           Mercedes Stable                       Jason Orman                                                        and Madeleine Paulson

CO-OWNERS - David Bienstock, Charles Winner, Duggan & Harlequin Stables.     David Bienstock formarly from New York City now lives in Beverly Hills, Calif., with his partner Carol Weinstein. .     He is president of Target Enterprises, a political media placement company. His firm is located in the same building as Charles Winner, who is in a similar business, and that led to a long-time friendship and racing partnership.     Winner introduced Bienstock to racing in 1994 and their first ownership venture was a winner: Fine n’ Majestic, who captured the California Derby in 1995 for the partners.     They also owned Walkslikeaduck, who won the 2000 Del Mar Derby and finished 12th in the Breeders Cup Mile that same year.     Charles Winner is a native of Los Angeles, being born on Aug. 18, 1940. He lives in Beverly Hills, Calif. Family: Wife Annie, sons Zachary, Ethan and Justyn, and daughter Nicole.     He is involved in two businesses: Winner & Mandabach Campaigns, which is a full-service national consulting firm that specializes in ballot-measure campaigns, including ballot initiatives, referenda, constitutional amendments and bond measures. The firm produces and oversees all aspects of ballot measure campaigns and has produced more than 150 campaigns with a 90 percent success rate. The firm also has produced and placed more than 1,300 television advertisements.     His other business is Winner/Wagner Associates, founded by Winner in 1975. Now known as Winner & Associates, the company provides a broad range of strategic communication services.     He’s been involved in Thoroughbred racing since 1986, the year he bought his first horse. He has horses with trainers Neil Drysdale, Robert Frankel, Kristin Mulhall and Patrick Gallagher. Many of his 32 horses in training are in partnerships. Among the best horses owned: Domestic Dispute, Walkslikeaduck, Fine n’ Majestic, who won the 1995 California Derby, Statement and Evil’s Pick.     Winner and partner David Bienstock bought Domestic Dispute just prior to the 2003 Kentucky Derby, in which he finished 10th.     The owner’s first stakes winner was the filly Bolchina, who is now a broodmare for Winner and has produced several winners.     Richard Duggan is a bloodstock agent living in Sierra Madre, Calif. He travels extensively to buy horses in Europe. He’s been active in purchasing horses for the Paddy Gallagher stable, as well as for trainer Darrell Vienna.     He retained a small percentage of Yankee Bravo following the sale in England.     Harlequin Ranches is owned by Richard Bonnycastle and is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.     Bonnycastle took over Harlequin Enterprises in 1968. It was founded by father in 1949. In its early years, the company published American and British paperbacks, concentrating on mysteries, Westerns and cookbooks. In 1957, Harlequin bought the North American rights from Mills & Boon, a major British publisher of romance novels.     Matters picked up dramatically in 1964 when Harlequin Enterprises began publishing romance novels exclusively. In 1971, Harlequin bought Mills & Boon and launched a worldwide expansion that covered Australia, Holland, West Germany, Japan and Mainland China, as well as North America.     Harlequin Enterprises was sold in 1977 and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada’s giant communications company, Torstar Corporation.     Bonnycastle was elected chairman of The Jockey Club of Canada in 2005 and remains in that position. He is a charter member of The Jockey Club of Canada, formed in 1973 by legendary Canadian breeder and owner E.P. Taylor.     Bonnycastle, racing as Harlequin Ranches, is well-represented on racetracks in Canada and Southern California, as well as in England and Australia. In 2005, Gold Strike was champion 3-year-old filly in Canada.     His trainer in Southern California is Patrick (Paddy) Gallagher.

CO-BREEDERS - Tommy Burberry and Barry Hay     Darrell Burberry is the co-owner with Barry Hay of Yankee Bravo’s dam, Vickey Jane, but breeds in his father’s name.     Darrell Burberry got the mare a few years ago through a smart and long-range decision. At the time he was working for breeder-owner R.D. Hubbard and was given the option of taking a bonus or Vickey Jane as a yearling. He chose the horse.     Burberry said Yankee Bravo, who is the first foal from Vickey Jane, was raised on the Burberry farm in Paris, Ky., and was a handful right from the start. Burberry said the colt was as mean as a rattlesnake and left him scars as reminders of that temperament.