The Three Chimneys stallions are well represented on this year’s Experimental Free Handicap, which was released by The Jockey Club on February 2. The following Three Chimneys-sired horses were included on the list:

COLTS
Excaper (Exchange Rate) – 115
Isn’t He Clever (Smarty Jones) – 110)
I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) – 111
Smart Ellis (Smarty Jones) – 102
Jagati (Yes It’s True) – 100
Rio Cuchara (Good Reward) – 100

FILLIES
Coup de Coeur (Exchange Rate) – 104
Culotte (Sky Mesa) – 104

The Experimental Free Handicap is published annually by The Jockey Club and is based on a hypothetical race for two-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth on dirt. To be eligible for weighing, a two-year-old must have finished in the top four in a graded or listed stakes race run in the continental United States.

Robert N. Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm will hold their annual January Open House on January 9 through January 12 from 11:00 to 3:00 each day.

All 2012 stallions will be available for inspection, including Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, whose first foals will hit the track in 2012, and Dynaformer, who will be covering a limited book of mares in 2012.

Big Brown, Exchange Rate, Red Giant and War Chant recently returned from Southern Hemisphere shuttling duties and the January Open House will be the first chance for breeders to see them since their return.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by the office for hot mulled cider, hot chocolate, and snacks before heading down to the barn to see the stallions.

Margano, a two-year old son of Three Chimneys’ Dynaformer and full brother to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, gained entry into Gulfstream Park’s winner’s circle with his first win in three starts on December 10. Ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, Margano moved outside of the leaders for the stretch run and drove to the finish line claiming a 1 ¼ length victory in the $51,500 maiden special on the turf. Lael Stables is the owner and breeder of Margano.

Out of La Ville Rouge and by Three Chimneys flagship stallion, Dynaformer, Barbaro captured the hearts of Americans everywhere when he came into the 2006 Kentucky Derby undefeated and powered to a 6-1/2 length win.

Dynaformer is a leading North American turf sire and also sits near the top of the 2011 General Sires List. He currently has 126 stakes winners, 24 Grade/Group 1 winners, and 18 millionaires.

STAR BILLING won her seventh career race on November 25th, taking the $250,000 Matriarch S. (G1) at Hollywood Park going a mile on the lawn. It just so happened to be Dynaformer’s 24th Grade 1 win, which made this pass across the finish line even more special.

Bred and owned by George Krikorian and trained by John Shirreffs, the bay filly had enjoyed success at the graded stakes level, but a Grade 1 eluded her all year, as she finished second in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and third in the America Oaks (G1).

Shirreffs had high hopes for her in the race at Hollywood, "She's run really well on this course,” Shirreffs said. “She hasn't had things go her way a few times, but she's obviously a really nice filly.”

Dynaformer’s lifetime progeny earnings stand at $102,467,648 as of mid-December and he is the Leading Sire of Grade 1 winners in 2011. His stud fee for 2012 remains at $150,000.

The recent re-legalization of horse slaughter in the U. S. brought to the forefront an issue that has been a hot-button topic within the Thoroughbred industry for years, and with good reason: What happens to Thoroughbreds when their racing days are behind them or who, for whatever reason, never make it to the racetrack.

At Three Chimneys, our view on the topic is simple: we take care of our own.

We have had a protocol in place for years regarding our policy on this subject, but until recently we chose to remain private about our practices, preferring to work quietly behind the scenes in many situations. With the debate now reinvigorated and the numerous questions we’ve been asked, we felt it was the appropriate time to be more forthcoming about how we view and address the issue.

For years many people who have visited Three Chimneys, either in person or virtually through our website and social media pages, have learned that stallions that stand at Three Chimneys also retire here. Recent retirees have included inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Wild Again and world-renowned international sire, Rahy, both of whom lived here until the day they died. Even a horse like Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, who started his stallion career at Three Chimneys before being relocated to stand at stud in Japan, will be brought back to Three Chimneys to retire once his breeding days are behind him. The same holds true for our broodmares. When their mothering days are over, they retire here and are cared for the rest of their days.

As one of the most successful farms in the Thoroughbred industry, we’ve seen numerous horses pass through our gates over the years. Some horses we’ve bred and/or owned at some point during their career, some that we boarded and cared for on behalf of their owners, some that we consigned at public auction and some that were simply conceived at Three Chimneys as the product of a mating between one of our stallions and a client’s mare. While our primary goal is for these horses to go on to be successful racehorses and possibly even breeding stock, we also have a long term goal of producing horses whose usefulness, health and vigor will extend far beyond the racetrack into their second (and possibly third, and fourth) careers as riding horses, show horses, therapy horses, law enforcement horses, or other equine vocations.

We work diligently to ensure that any horse that retires from racing as the property of Three Chimneys is placed in a suitable home with the best possible chance for a successful second career. Anyone we place one of our retired horses with must provide three references and must sign a contract agreeing to take responsibility for the long term welfare of the horse. The most recent example of this protocol at work is Formidable (pictured), a son of Sky Mesa who was bred, raised, and raced by Three Chimneys. After incurring an injury during his five-year-old year, Formidable was retired from racing and was given a year for his injury to fully heal. Later this month he will be moved to his new home, the University of Minnesota, where he will be used in their equine program as a breeding stallion and riding horse.

If a horse no longer owned by Three Chimneys, but that the farm did breed or own during any portion of its life is found to be in an at-risk situation, we will take care of or assist a Thoroughbred aftercare organization in getting it into a safe situation, no questions asked. We also keep an eye out for horses by our stallions – that we are not listed as the breeder for and have never owned – who end up in jeopardy and try to assist in any way possible to get them into safer circumstances.

We are profoundly thankful for equine advocates and the Thoroughbred aftercare organizations around the country, who assist us in learning about Three Chimneys-connected horses who, for whatever reason, end up in a less-than-ideal situation. It is because of these open lines of communication and the immediate sharing of information that email and social media provide that we are able to assist with more horses each year.

We are also immensely appreciative to have the clients and customers that we do. People who step up and do the right thing when they are contacted about a horse they once owned needing assistance in some way. Clients like Green Hills Farm, Craig and Carrie Brogden, Jim Rome and others, whose actions speak louder than words and who deeply care about the horses whose lives they have been part of.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Karlovy Vary (by Dynaformer)

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Turbulent Descent (Three Chimneys Sales Horse)
Tamarind Hall (Three Chimneys Sales Horse)

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Harmonious (by Dynaformer)
Dynaslew (by Dynaformer)

Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic
Satans Quick Chick (by Sky Mesa)
Ultra Blend (Three Chimneys Sales Horse)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Breeders’ Cup Marathon
Meeznah (by Dynaformer)
Cease (by War Chant)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Excaper (by Exchange Rate)

Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Aikenite (by Yes It’s True)

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Chamberlain Bridge (by War Chant)

Breeders’ Cup Turf
Brilliant Speed (by Dynaformer)

Breeders’ Cup Mile
Strong Suit (bred by, born and raised at Three Chimneys; by Rahy)

Three Chimneys will once again hold its annual Fall Fan Open House on Wednesday, November 2, from 10:00-2:00 at the farm’s stallion division.

All non-shuttling stallions will be available for viewing and photos, including Hall of Fame inductee and Horse of the Year Point Given, Travers Stakes winner and multi millionaire Flower Alley, and Dynaformer, sire of more than 120 stakes winners, including Barbaro, Perfect Drift, and Americain.

This year the Three Chimneys stallion roster is represented by 13 entries in the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The entries include:

Karlovy Vary (Dynaformer) in the Juv. Fillies Turf

Spirited Miss (Sky Mesa) in the Juv. Fillies Turf

Sky High Lady (Sky Mesa) in the Juv. Fillies

Dynaslew (Dynaformer) in the Filly & Mare Turf

Harmonious (Dynaformer) in the Filly & Mare Turf

Satans Quick Chick (Sky Mesa) in the Ladies’ Classic

Cease (War Chant) in the Marathon

Meeznah (Dynaformer) cross-entered in the Marathon and Turf

Excaper (Exchange Rate) in the Juv. Turf

Aikenite (Yes It’s True) in the Sprint

Chamberlain Bridge (War Chant) in the Turf Sprint

Strong Suit (Rahy) in the Mile

Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer) in the Turf

from Brisnet.com (edited)

Although North American-based distaffers were outnumbered by European shippers eight to three in Sunday's Grade 1, $1,000,000 E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine, reigning Canadian champion turf female MISS KELLER got up late to defend her home turf in a rousing three-way finish. With the win, she handed Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield his first-ever E.P. Taylor trophy.

In the post-race interview, Attfield admitted that MISS KELLER had been "a little bit of a project this year."

MISS KELLER's first Grade 1 coup also made her a millionaire with $1,253,284 in earnings from her 24-6-3-2 record. She is campaigned by Three Chimneys Racing, Lordship Stud and Clodagh McStay.

Runner-up in a division of the Grade 3 Valley View in 2009, MISS KELLER captured the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes and the De La Rose Stakes in 2010. Her championship campaign also featured placings in the E.P. Taylor and a trio of Grade 2 events -- the Nassau, Ballston Spa and Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Following her ninth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she was sold for $700,000 at Keeneland last November from the first Three Chimneys Racing syndicate to the second partnership under the Three Chimneys Racing umbrella.

MISS KELLER resurfaced with Attfield this spring. Sixth in both the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley and the Nassau, she was fourth in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly, sixth in the De La Rose and fifth in the Canadian last time out.

Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs in Ireland, Miss Keller is by Montjeu and out of the English stakes-winning Ingozi, by Warning. She is a half-sister to the Group 2-placed Kotsi, the multiple Group 3-placed Sir George Turner, and to the dams of Grade/Group 2 winners Fantastic Pick and Hatta Fort.

Also turning in a win this weekend for Three Chimneys Racing was UP IN TIME, who earned the second graded stakes victory of her career when she took the $100,000 Harold C. Ramser, Sr. S. (G3) at Santa Anita on Sunday.

The three-year-old European-bred filly was in cruise control by mid-stretch and soundly defeated her rivals by a length and a quarter with minimal urging. The win raises her earnings to $198,576.

It is with heavy hearts that Robert and Blythe Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm announces the passing of longtime stallion-turned-pensioner Rahy due to the infirmities of old age.

By Blushing Groom and out of the Halo mare, Glorious Song, Rahy was one of the farm’s flagship stallions, beginning his stud career at Three Chimneys in 1990 for a fee of $15,000. His stud fee reached as high as $100,000 during a career in which he emerged as a leading international sire and later as a highly sought-after broodmare sire.

Due to declining fertility, Rahy was pensioned in 2009 at age 24. He remained at the farm’s stallion division and was a fan favorite even in retirement.

“Rahy was a cornerstone in the development of Three Chimneys,” said Robert Clay. “He was a little horse with a lot of heart. We owe him so much. We will be forever grateful to Sheikh Maktoum for giving us the opportunity to stand Rahy, and to the Maktoum family for partnering with us in developing his magnificent stud career.”

Sold to Sheikh Maktoum for $2 million as a yearling, Rahy began his racing career in Europe with Sir Michael Stoute, winning the Sirenia Stakes and placing second in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes. As a four-year-old he was transferred to Neil Drysdale in the U. S. and won three of six starts, including the Grade 2 Bel Air Handicap by 10 lengths.

Upon his retirement from racing, Three Chimneys purchased a 50% interest in Rahy and stood him in partnership with the Maktoum family for the duration of his career.

“Rahy is one of the most important stallions we’ve had,” said Three Chimneys president Case Clay. “As a stallion, he had a profound and lasting impact on the breed and was integral to the development and success of Three Chimneys. He was truly a world-class international sire.”

In a career that spanned 19 years, Rahy sired 91 stakes winners, including 13 Grade/Group 1 winners and 14 millionaires. His progeny have accumulated nearly $97,000,000 in worldwide earnings. His offspring’s $109,470 average earnings per starter puts him in the top one-half of one percent of all sires.

Some of his most notable offspring include European Champion and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Fantastic Light, Hall of Famer and 11-time Grade 1 winner Serena’s Song, Champion Dreaming of Anna, multiple Grade 2 winner and track record-setter Lewis Michael, Champion-turned European sire Noverre, and multiple Group 1 winner Rio De La Plata.

As a broodmare sire, Rahy sired the dams of over 100 stakes winners, including the dams of Giant’s Causeway, Rutherienne and Life At Ten.

“He was the ultimate ‘great things come in small packages’ kind of horse,” said stallion manager Sandy Hatfield. “He was really a little s--t! He kicked harder and faster than any of the other stallions, but that definitely wasn’t a reason not to love him. I have so much respect for that horse. We’ll miss him a lot.”

Lewis Michael, full brother to Champion Dreaming of Anna, currently stands at Three Chimneys. His first crop are yearlings of 2011.

Rahy will be buried in the Three Chimneys stallion cemetery. Visitors are welcome to come pay their respects either by appointment or during the farm’s annual fall open house, scheduled for Wednesday, November 2 from 10:00am-1:00pm.

The Keeneland September Sale started off with a bang last night for both the industry and for Three Chimneys. Dynaformer was well represented on Day 1, with four yearlings selling for six figures.

The star of the night for the Three Chimneys stalwart was Hip 42 (pictured at right), a colt out of Bohemian Lady who sold to Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd. For $725,000.

Other yearlings by Dynaformer at the first session of the sale brought final hammer prices of $410,000, $350,000 and $200,000. Three Chimneys Sales consigned the highest and second highest offspring of Dynaformer to be offered on Day 1.

CULOTTE, patiently ridden by veteran Gerard Melancon, grabbed the lead from early pacesetter Coteau Kitten in the upper stretch, then pulled clear under moderate urging to record a three-length victory in the $50,000 Opelousas Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino on Thursday evening.

A $50,000 yearling purchase last September, CULOTTE earned $30,000 for the win, her second consecutive in a stakes event and third overall from four career starts. Owned by Theodore Bulmahn's Gold Mark Farm LLC and trained by Tom Amoss, the Kentucky bred daughter of Sky Mesa now has earned more than $112,250.

Sky Mesa currently has 71% two-yyear-old winners from starters, the highest percentage of any Kentucky stallion with more than one winner. His 2011 stud fee was $30,000.

War Chant’s runners were on the war path over Labor Day weekend, racking up coast-to-coast graded stakes efforts, along with an ultra-impressive allowance win.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE was back in action, this time at Del Mar vying for a win in the Del Mar Derby (G2). The colt led most of the way, gave up the lead in the stretch, then battled back, but got nailed by the tightest of noses at the wire to finish second. Owned and bred by Arnold Zetcher and trained by Bob Baffert, the effort raised his totals to 9-3-2-1 and $751,910.

On the other side of the country, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Champion CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (right) was making a run in the Turf Monster (G3), but came up a bit short, finishing third in the 5 f. sprint. He was only ¾ of a length behind the winner and upped his earnings to $1,684,531 and his record to 36-17-4-8 with the effort.

Also in the money for War Chant was SLEEPLESS KNIGHT, who finished third in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger S. at Monmouth on September 4. Winner of the Lamplight Stakes as a three-year-old, the horse is now twice graded stakes-placed at Monmouth this year for owners George and Lori Hall and trainer Kelly Breen.

Making a bid to become a future stakes winner was CEASE, a four-year-old gelding by War Chant, who won a $56,000 allowance by 3-1/4 lengths at Saratoga on Labor Day. The colt was making his second appearance at Saratoga this year, as his 13-1/2 length maiden-breaking win was in August at the historic track. His record currently stands at 5-2-1-1 and his earnings are at $79,820, but not for long.

BRILLIANT SPEED is back on top after a successful run in the Grade 3 Saranac S. at Saratoga over Labor Day weekend. Winner of the Grade 1 $750,000 Blue Grass S. at Keeneland earlier this year, BRILLIANT SPEED easily bested his rivals in the mile and an eighth turf event, finishing two and a half lengths ahead of his closest rival. Owned and bred by Live Oak Plantation, BRILLIANT SPEED now has earnings of $700,750 and a record of 12-3-2-3.

Also checking in with stakes results for Dynaformer Labor Day weekend were previous stakes winners DYNA WALTZ and DYNASLEW, who both hit the board in black type events.

DYNASLEW, a daughter of Dynaformer also owned and bred by Live Oak, took second in the Glens Falls H. (G3). The mare was a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner last year and now has a record of 18-6-4-0.

At nearly the same time as DYNASLEW’s run, fellow Dyna-daughter DYNA WALTZ was going to post in the Omnibus S. at Monmouth Park. Carrying the colors of owner George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables, the filly finished a determined second by a length. Her previous accomplishments this year include placings in three consecutive grades stakes events. Prior to coming to the U. S., the bay filly was a stakes winner in her native Great Britain in the Lingfield Trial Stakes.

Capping off Dynaformer’s east coast domination was first time starter AGSAAM, who splashed to a confident win at Saratoga in a $66,200 maiden special. Owned by Shadwell, the filly finished a neck ahead of her competition, but galloped out strong in the 7 furlong event, indicating that she may relish more ground.

from Blood-Horse staff
Three Chimneys Racing announced Aug. 19 it had acquired a significant interest in Great British-bred Up In Time, a daughter of Noverre—Up At Dawn, by Inchinor, who is coming off a 1 1/4-length victory over Mizdirection in the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT).

Up In Time is scheduled to make her first start in the Three Chimneys Racing silks Aug. 20 in the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT).

Her sire, Noverre, is a son of Three Chimneys pensioner, Rahy.

Three Chimneys Racing is a partnership comprised of high-caliber fillies purchased in either Europe or the United States with the goal of running in North American stakes/graded stakes. Currently the partnership owns four fillies and typically owns anywhere from four to nine horses at any given time. The partnership has campaigned 13 fillies since 2008. Three Chimneys Racing has or currently campaigns Flower Bowl (gr. I) winner Ave and grade II turf winners Diamond Diva (CashCall Mile Invitational Stakes) and Missit (Providencia Stakes). Since 2008 the parternship’s runners have earned a combined $2.8 million.

The decision to purchase fillies is strategic, as they post the highest potential for residual value. When each filly comes to the end of her racing career, she will be offered for sale as either a broodmare prospect or in foal in her maiden year at either the Kentucky breeding stock sales or the Tattersalls December sale in England.

Dynaformer’s BLUE BUNTING earned her third Group 1 win of the season and solidified her bid for three-year-old championship honors when she turned away Vita Nova by three-quarters of a length in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) at York Racecourse on August 18.

Owned by Godolphin Stables and facing older horses for the first time, BLUE BUNTING was bred in Kentucky by B. M. Kelly and was sold for $200,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton August yearling sale.

“She’s so tough and she’s in season today,” jockey Frankie Dettori told the press after the race. “Her mind wasn’t exactly on the job and it made it really hard work for me. She’s never going to be flashy and win by a large distance, but she’s very hard to get past.”

With the win, BLUE BUNTING improved her record to 7-5-1-0 and her earnings to $1,055,299. She is the 17th millionaire for Dynaformer, who stood for a fee of $150,000 when she was bred and continues to do so today.

from Blood-Horse Staff
Sandy Hatfield, stallion manager at Three Chimneys Farm, was chosen as the 2011 Kentucky Farm Manager of the Year.

The annual award will be presented at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Premier Event Sept. 30 at The Red Mile. The criteria for the award are excellence in farm management, and service to the KTFMC and the community.

“'Humbled’ is the best way to describe how I feel," said Hatfield. "That’s a very esteemed group to be a member of. Some of the previous recipients of this honor are people I hold in the highest regard. I’m just so thankful and flattered that my peers and friends have extended this honor to me. My life and career are so intertwined and both revolve around my love and respect for horses. It’s one of the highlights of my career and a milestone in my life.”

Hatfield is the past president of both the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. She serves as secretary for the Kentucky Equine Management Internship Program and president of Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass.

In her current position at Three Chimneys, Hatfield provides stallion care, as well as serving as a breeding supervisor and press agent for the Three Chimneys stallions and an ambassador for the horse industry to Three Chimneys’ thousands of yearly visitors.

Working eight years as stallion manager at Gainsborough Farm, two years at Calumet Farm, and seven years at North Ridge Farm prepared Hatfield for the wide range of responsibilities she assumed at Three Chimneys in January 2000.

The Three Chimneys stallion roster was represented by four stakes winners on August 6.

Starting off the day was CULOTTE, a daughter of Sky Mesa, who hustled to a win in the $85,000 Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes. The filly raised her record to two wins in three starts for owner Gold Mark Farm. Bred by Normandy Farm, CULOTTE was sold by Three Chimneys at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $50,000 and has already refunded her owners bank account for that purchase price.

Soon after at Louisiana Downs, EXCHANTED, by Exchange Rate, went to post in the $50,000 Donnie Wilhite Memorial S. and easy all business, breaking alertly and stayed on or near the lead before cruising ahead to a length win. Owned and bred by William T Reed, the filly was coming off of a debut win on July 9, in which she dominated her competition by 6-1/2 lengths.

Then it was back to Mountaineer, where Dynaformer's TEND came out fighting and never let up, taking the $85,000 Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Handicap against a full field of 12. The gelding was held back early, but was full or run and dug in from the three path to gain command in the stretch and post a length and a half win in second stakes win of the year. He is owned by Billy, Donna and Justin Hays.

It took a few hours to get the fourth stakes winner of the day, but nobody was complaining. Yes It's True's AARON'S WAY earned his second stake win this year, outrunning his rivals every step of the way to win the $50,000 Robert G. Leavitt S. at Charles Town by 3/4 of a length. Earlier this year, the gelding looked to be a short-sprinting fool, posting a 5 length victory Coin Collector H. going 4-1/2 f., but on Saturday he proved he could go further, finishing strong in the 7 f. stakes contest.