Worst barn change ever? Diamondrella to Stevens

[NTamm1215]

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who never won the prestigious Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) as a rider, will try to win the grade I test as a trainer with Diamondrella on Nov. 28 at Hollywood Park.

The grade I stakes-winning 5-year-old mare was an unexpected addition last week to the Santa Anita barn of Stevens, who began training in May.

“I got a surprise call early Thursday (Nov. 12) morning,” said Stevens from Santa Anita Nov. 15. “Michael (Iavarone, head of owner IEAH Stables) informed me that she was coming. It was a big confidence booster.”

Diamondrella was shipped to Kentucky for the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Lexington after finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 7, but was bought back by IEAH and flown back to California Nov. 13 by way of Indianapolis.

Diamondrella, based in New York most of the year, enjoyed a banner campaign under previous trainer Angel Penna, winning three of five starts, including two grade I races: the Just A Game at Belmont and the First Lady at Keeneland.

Both victories were at one mile on turf, the same distance as The Matriarch, which is also for fillies and mares. Career-wise, the English-bred daughter of Rock of Gibraltar has won eight of 18 starts and earned $784,576.

“The Matriarch is the target,” said Stevens, who plans to supplement the mare for $6,000. “She showed up in great shape. Angel did a great job with her. I just walked her this morning.”

The Matriarch was one of the few major stakes in Southern California that eluded Stevens as a jockey. He finished second twice behind champion Flawlessly -- with Fire The Groom in 1991 and Toussaud in 1993.

Diamondrella’s toughest competition is expected from another multiple grade I stakes winner, Ventura, to be ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Other probable starters include Tuscan Evening, Rutherienne and April Pride


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...eyes-matriarch

[-BT-]

IEAH loves the "wow" factor.

love how ivarone and the boys buy all these horses at peak value, just to watch them disapoint. no wonder the guy never made it as a penny-trader on wall street


-bt-

[Honu]

11th isnt hard to improve on for a last start .

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Honu

11th isnt hard to improve on for a last start .

Congrats on glossing over her two Grade I wins this year.

NT

[Honu]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Congrats on glossing over her two Grade I wins this year.

NT

Jeez , the title of the thread is worst barn change ever , I was just saying that he shouldnt have too hard of a time improving on her last start in which she finished 11th. Im not taking anything away from the horse just saying that she most likely will finish better than 11th in her next start. LOL esp. when you consider we only run 7 horse fields here in So Cali.

So I guess this means Gary also gets free sprays for life at California Tan.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

So I guess this means Gary also gets free sprays for life at California Tan.

For sure! Its prolly more than his day rate$

[pick4]

I'm shocked that any owner of a horse would remove their horse from Angel Penna Jr.'s barn. I'm sure IEAH purchased her for her post racing career. She has the the bloodlines and has won a Grade 1. I'm not sure what winning the Matriarch would do to enhance her value.

Gary Stevens has a good mare in is barn and I hope he does well with her.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by pick4

I'm shocked that any owner of a horse would remove their horse from Angel Penna Jr.'s barn. I'm sure IEAH purchased her for her post racing career. She has the the bloodlines and has won a Grade 1. I'm not sure what winning the Matriarch would do to enhance her value.

Gary Stevens has a good mare in is barn and I hope he does well with her.

Me too!!!

[MisterB]

Why is this a shock?
Effective in Jan., 2008, Gary took a position as Senior Advisor - Racing and Bloodstock Affairs for IEAH (International Equine Acquisition Holdings) Stables.

Logical next move isn't it

[jms62]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who never won the prestigious Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) as a rider, will try to win the grade I test as a trainer with Diamondrella on Nov. 28 at Hollywood Park.

The grade I stakes-winning 5-year-old mare was an unexpected addition last week to the Santa Anita barn of Stevens, who began training in May.

“I got a surprise call early Thursday (Nov. 12) morning,” said Stevens from Santa Anita Nov. 15. “Michael (Iavarone, head of owner IEAH Stables) informed me that she was coming. It was a big confidence booster.”

Diamondrella was shipped to Kentucky for the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Lexington after finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 7, but was bought back by IEAH and flown back to California Nov. 13 by way of Indianapolis.

Diamondrella, based in New York most of the year, enjoyed a banner campaign under previous trainer Angel Penna, winning three of five starts, including two grade I races: the Just A Game at Belmont and the First Lady at Keeneland.

Both victories were at one mile on turf, the same distance as The Matriarch, which is also for fillies and mares. Career-wise, the English-bred daughter of Rock of Gibraltar has won eight of 18 starts and earned $784,576.

“The Matriarch is the target,” said Stevens, who plans to supplement the mare for $6,000. “She showed up in great shape. Angel did a great job with her. I just walked her this morning.”

The Matriarch was one of the few major stakes in Southern California that eluded Stevens as a jockey. He finished second twice behind champion Flawlessly -- with Fire The Groom in 1991 and Toussaud in 1993.

Diamondrella’s toughest competition is expected from another multiple grade I stakes winner, Ventura, to be ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Other probable starters include Tuscan Evening, Rutherienne and April Pride


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...eyes-matriarch

Worst Barn Change Ever? A little bit overdramatic don't ya think?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by jms62

Worst Barn Change Ever? A little bit overdramatic don't ya think?

Are you familiar with Angel Penna? To date Gary Stevens has had absolute no-ones in his barn and now he's just going to be given a Grade I mare who Penna had done exceptional work with. It's a horrible barn change.

In addition, I found Gary Stevens to be one of the most pompous, self-effacing, bombastic people during his stints on TV and think he'll probably fit in great with IEAH.

NT

[MISTERGEE]

Yeah but other than that do you like the guy?

[CSC]

On another note, I wonder who will be heading the Juddmonte NA operation now?

Will they pick someone from the old guard or someone of a younger ilk?

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

In addition, I found Gary Stevens to be one of the most pompous, self-effacing, bombastic people during his stints on TV and think he'll probably fit in great with IEAH.

NT

Obviously you learn a lot from TV...He has always been pretty cool when I have been hanging out with him.

Originally Posted by CSC

On another note, I wonder who will be heading the Juddmonte NA operation now?

Will they pick someone from the old guard or someone of a younger ilk?

Stephanie Beattie.

[randallscott35]

Obviously Penna did a bad job with her.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Obviously you learn a lot from TV...He has always been pretty cool when I have been hanging out with him.

I've only spent time with him once, but he was as far the opposite of pompous as one could ever get that day.

[NTamm1215]

Stevens might be a nice guy but in the end who cares? The issue here is that a multiple Grade I winning filly was moved from a trainer who did a phenomenal job with her to a novice in the training game. I suppose this was Stevens' consolation prize for finding all of those ten-star purchases for IEAH.

NT

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Stephanie Beattie.

I love woman Trainer's, don't know why...