Special Rate, Uncle Abbie, Lil's Lad, and Tinners Way have joined the True Nicks program, operated by Jockey Club Information Systems.  True Nicks are based upon the success of all foals from a given cross.  Key Ranch is pleased to offer complimentary True Nicks in addition to complimentary Werk Nick Ratings.  The following articles are excerpted from TrueNicks.com:

Lil's Lad Now on True Nicks

Written by moneil | Apr 06, 2010

Lil's Lad (TrueNicks,SRO) was an exceptionally fast runner in his racing days. He carved out wicked fractions before grudgingly giving way to Grand Slam in the grade I Champagne Stakes at two. At three, he used his great quickness to outrun Coronado’s Quest in the Fountain of Youth S. (gr. II). In his next start, he went wire-to-wire in the grade I Florida Derby before being controversially taken down for interfering with Cape Town.

Lil’s Lad is a product of the storied Anthony family breeding operation. His sire, the Danzig son Pine Bluff, carried their brown and yellow Loblolly Farm colors to victory in the 1992 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). His dam, Totemic, won the grade III Honeybee Stakes in those same colors and is by one of the Anthonys' best runners, the Champion Vanlandingham (a son of their very good stallion Cox’s Ridge). Totemic is the dam of two additional stakes winners.

Lil’s Lad has sired several stakes winners from a variety of broodmare lines. They include Sampson’s Son (dam by Super Concorde), Raving Rocket (Lord Gaylord), Pick of the Pack (Storm Cat), Wind Surf (Red Ransom) and Shy Lil (Carson City).

Lil's Lad stands at Key Ranch in Salado, Texas alongside Special Rate (TrueNicks,SRO), Tinner's Way (TrueNicks,SRO) and Uncle Abbie (TrueNicks,SRO).

Tinners Way Joins True Nicks

Written by moneil | Apr 02, 2010

Tinner's Way (TrueNicks,SRO) was the last foal sired by the legendary Secretariat and went on to become one of his very best runners. He was a multiple stakes winner as a three-year-old in England before emerging as one of the top older males in North America in the mid-1990’s. He defeated Best Pal in the 1994 Pacific Classic (gr. I) and became the first two-time winner of that Del Mar fixture by taking the 1995 edition. He also captured the grade I Californian S. and won or placed in 12 other stakes, equaling a pair of track records in the process. His bankroll of $1,849,452 puts him behind only dual Classic winner Risen Star among the sons of Secretariat.

Out of a mare by The Minstrel, Tinners Way is a half brother to four stakes horses, including stakes winners in North America and Europe. Tinners Way has sired 60% winners from his starters thus far and several of his runners have earned in excess of $100,000. His best runners include Only One Way ($290,509) and the stakes winner Tin Man Commin (out of a mare by Fred Astaire). Tinners Way stands at Key Ranch in Texas alongside Special Rate (TrueNicks,SRO) and Uncle Abbie (TrueNicks,SRO).

Key Ranch Stallions Join True Nicks

Special Rate (TrueNicks,SRO) is a stakes-winning son of emerging sire of sires Pulpit (Tapit, Sky Mesa, etc.). He’s out of a Viviana, a stakes winner by Nureyev and the dam of Sightseek and Tates Creek, both multiple grade I winners for Juddmonte Farm. Viviana is a granddaughter of Champion and New York Filly Triple Crown winner Chris Evert, who’s also the granddam of the Champion and good stallion Chief’s Crown. With only a small first crop at the races, he ranked among the top five first crop stallions in Texas last year and is the sire of the stakes runner Valid Heart (out of a mare by Valid Appeal).

Uncle Abbie (TrueNicks,SRO) is another extremely well bred horse and was a three-time winner in his racing days. He’s by Kingmambo out of the Seattle Slew mare Lassie Connection, a five-time stakes producer. More importantly, Lassie Connection is a sister to Weekend Surprise, the dam, of course, of A. P. Indy, Summer Squall, et al, and the granddam of Lemon Drop Kid. Uncle Abbie is the sire of several stakes runners from his first five crops, including Wrenice (out of a mare by Slewacide), an eight-time stakes winner and earner of nearly a half a million dollars.

100% Winners for Special Rate

The New Year started off right for Special Rate.  He now has five starters, five winners, and one stakes-placed runner.

On New Year's Day, Ornery went wire to wire and finished 3 1/4 lengths ahead, going 1 mile 70 yards at Sam Houston Race Park. Congratulations to owner and breeder Brian C. Schartz and trainer Randy Mayfield. Ornery is by Special Rate out of Solo Rolo, by Air Forbes Won.

On January 21, 2010, Cozamotion was winner of a Maiden Special Weight at Sam Houston Race Park, with a fine finish after going 1 1/6 miles.  The filly placed in two out her first three starts before breaking her maiden.  Congratulations to owner Scott Brown, trainer Danny Pish, and breeder Star Bright Thoroughbreds. Cozamotion is by Special Rate out of Wishes n' Dreams, by Hermitage.

In a strong drive, Moonbeam Special came out on top by 1 1/4 lengths on January 23, 2010, in a Maiden Special Weight race at Sam Houston Race Park. Sent off as the 6/5 favorite, Moonbeam Special covered the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:06.1. This was the fourth start for the filly by Special Rate.  She had previously run third on the turf in her second start, and ran second in her third start on January 14, with the rest of the pack 14 lengths behind her.  Congratulations to owner and breeder Star Bright Thoroughbreds and trainer Randy Mayfield.  Moonbeam Special is by Special Rate out of Mal's Showntell, by Cryptoclearance.

SCRAPPY ROO is Back on Track

Texas Champions Day, December 5, 2009, saw the return of SCRAPPY ROO to the action.  He ran second by a neck in the Richard King Stakes,
1 1/8 miles on the turf, at Sam Houston Race Park.  He was on the move, and just a few more yards could have given him the win.  Scrappy Roo is the only Texas bred to ever win the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup [G3], and was Texas' Champion Older Horse of 2008.  He had just come off a well-earned four month layoff.  The stakes placing brought his earnings to $202,830.  Scrappy Roo is by the late Key Ranch stallion Roo Art out of Dance’s Lyph, by King Lyph.  Congratulations again to owner and breeder Tawana Cantrell and trainer John Locke. 

Uncle Rose Scores Stakes Win  

Uncle Rose made it look easy in the GCFA Accredited Texas Bred Stakes at Gillespie County Fairgrounds on August 23, 2009.  He was seventh at the quarter pole, sixth at the half mile mark, and rushed forward to win the seven furlong race by 2 1/2 lengths. Congratulations to owner and trainer Danny Pish and breeder Joe Carothers.  Uncle Rose is by Uncle Abbie out of Waco Roses, by Waco Connection.  His earnings now total $98,388.  

Special Red Bird is Second Starter and Second Winner for Special Rate

Special Red Bird was winner of his first start, going five furlongs over a muddy track at Lone Star Park on June 11, 2009. After dueling for the lead the entire race, he drew away to score the win under a hand ride.  Congratulations to owner and breeder Red Bird Farms and trainer Charles Haverkamp.  The two-year-old gelding is by Special Rate out of Scheduled Flight, by A.P. Jet.  Special Rate now has two starters and two winners.

Valid Heart is First Starter, First Winner, and First Stakes Horse for Special Rate

Valid Heart broke his maiden in his first start at Manor Downs on April 11, 2009.  The 4 1/2 furlong race was a futurity trial for the Manor Downs Futurity Stakes.  On April 26 he finished a game second in the $50,000 Futurity, one month before his second birthday.  The two-year-old colt is by Special Rate out of Valid Obsession, by Valid Appeal.  Congratulations to owners Keith and Cash Asmussen, breeder Keith Asmussen, and trainer Cash Asmussen.

Monica's Skirmish Achieves Black Type on Valentine's Day

Monica’s Skirmish finished third in the $125,000 Two Altazano Texas Stallion Stakes  on February 14, 2009.  The one mile race was run at Retama Park. The stakes placing brings the total earnings to $53,660 for the three-year-old filly by Uncle Abbie out of Bellaslew, by Slewacide. Congratulations to owner and breeder John Gilpin and trainer Nathan Hatcher.

Another Stakes Placing for Way Up There

Way Up There took second place in the Pete Selin Memorial Stakes at Rillito Park on February 2, 2009.  This was the second stakes placing for the filly by Tinners Way out of Suit Up, by Stalwart.  Her earnings currently stand at  $76,921. Congratulations to owner and trainer Wayne Brasher. Way Up There was bred by Harris Farms.

Scrappy Roo is Texas' Champion Older Horse for 2008

    Scrappy Roo is the Champion Older Horse in Texas for 2008.  Scrappy Roo made history April 5, 2008, as the first Texas-bred ever to win the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup [G3], held at Sam Houston Race Park.  The competition included graded stakes winners Student Council, Embossed, and Going Ballistic, as well as graded stakes-placed Eighteenthofmarch.  Scrappy Roo held the early lead in the race, was headed twice, and then dug in at the wire to hold off a fast finishing Going Ballistic.  The win was the fifth straight for the five-year-old gelding by Roo Art, out of Dance's Lyph. Scrappy Roo won the Tomball Stakes on February 23, 2008, which was his first attempt at stakes competition.  He has now earned $183,280. 
    Congratulations to owner Tawana Cantrell, breeder David Taylor, and trainer John Locke.  Scrappy Roo is full-brother to stakes winner It's Roo, by Roo Art, and half-brother to Hollye Lynne, by Uncle Abbie.  Multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire Roo Art stood at Key Ranch until his death in 2004.

O My Darlin Diane Voted 2008 Texas Champion Claimer

O My Darlin Diane (by Uncle Abbie) didn’t make her racetrack debut until halfway through her 4-year-old year, but she’s proven to be worth the wait for owner Henry S. Witt Jr. and trainer Brandon Jenkins. Witt claimed the mare from breeder Larry Binnion the same night she broke her maiden at Retama Park in October 2007. Since then, she has won five races for Witt, including four this year. In her 5-year-old campaign, O My Darlin Diane, a true sprinter, took a tour of Texas while competing at Sam Houston Race Park, Lone Star Park, Gillespie County Fairgrounds and Retama before heading north to Penn National. O My Darlin Diane’s bankroll clocks in at $36,572 with six wins in 25 starts. Witt’s runner Angry Angel won the inaugural Texas Champion Claimer Award in 2007. (excerpted from texasthoroughbred.com)

Accident Results in Tragic Loss of Sand Ridge

Sand Ridge was euthanized in October after a playful missed step caused a cannon bone to shatter.  On the track, he ran with blistering speed and great heart, recording a dozen triple-digit Beyer's, and retired completely sound with 17 wins and 24 placings from 59 starts.  A multiple Stakes Winner of $708,149, Sand Ridge was twice Graded Stakes-placed at 6 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles.  To achieve such success on the track without a single injury is extraordinary.  It is heartbreaking to lose this very special and promising young stallion to such a wry twist of fate.  We extend our sincerest sympathies to all those involved with Sand Ridge.

Monica's Skirmish Breaks Maiden with Impressive Win at Lone Star

Monica’s Skirmish broke her maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs in a maiden special weight race at Lone Star Park on June 27, 2008.  She commanded the race wire to wire and finished ahead by four lengths.  This was the second race for Monica's Skirmish, with the first start resulting in a tight second place at Lone Star on June 6.  The two-year-old filly is by Uncle Abbie out of Bellaslew, by Slewacide. Congratulations to owner and breeder John Gilpin and trainer Nathan Hatcher.

Lil's Lassie is Latest Stakes Horse for Lil's Lad

Lil's Lassie finished second by a neck in the Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on March 1, 2008.  The five-year-old filly set a new track record for the track in January, running 1 mile 40 yards in 1:40.18.  Lil's Lassie is by Lil's Lad, out of Fivetwentyone, by Metfield. From 6 crops of racing age, Lil's Lad has sired 15 stakes horses, including 6 stakes winners, with $4,390,440 in earnings.

UPDATE:  Lil's Lad has 18 stakes horses, including 7 stakes winners and progeny earnings of over $5,300,000, to 2009.

Classie Baloo Wins Two Altazano Stakes

CLASSIE BALOO had a dramatic finish in the Two Altazano Stakes, the 3yo leg of the Texas Stallion Stakes Series, on February 16, 2008.  The 3yo filly by Uncle Abbie went from last to first in the mile race, making a fantastic move while 4 wide in the last turn and going into the stretch in fourth place.  Classie Baloo won her first start at 2, and finished second in the 2yo Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star Park in 2007.  Congratulations to owner Diane Greiner, breeder Steve Buttieri, and trainer Tony Edison.  Classie Baloo is by Uncle Abbie out of Hullabaloo Canek, by Flying Granville.

UPDATE:  Classie Baloo has earned $175,126, to 2009.

WRENICE is 2007 Texas Champion 3yo Filly

2006 Texas Champion 2yo Filly WRENICE made history again by claiming the title of Texas Champion 3yo Filly for 2007.  Wrenice has earned $389,046 to date, with seven stakes wins and two stakes seconds.  Our heartfelt congratulations go out to owner and breeder Stewart Hamblen of Canyon, Texas.  Wrenice is by Uncle Abbie, out of Slew (by Slewacide).  Wrenice will return to racing action in April after some much deserved time off.

UPDATE: Wrenice has earned $494,061, to 2009.

Hollye Lynne takes Martanza Stakes by 7

HOLLYE LYNNE scored in the Martanza Stakes at Sam Houston in December, winning by 7 3/4 lengths.  The 3yo filly is by Uncle Abbie. Congratulations to owner Tawana Cantrell, breeder David Taylor, and trainer John Locke.

UPDATE: The earnings for Hollye Lynn are currently $144,738, to 2009.