With the Thoroughbred Makeover coming up this weekend, the TAA is proud to have over 60 competitors representing TAA-accredited organizations from all over the country.
One to watch out for is WinStar Farm-bred Mountain Music Man, a 2013 Bluegrass Cat gelding out of Unbridled Melody by Unbridled’s Song. He is a half brother to multiple grade 1 winner and WinStar stallion Tourist. In 2015 Mountain Music Man sold for $450,000 at Fasig Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, making him the highest auction purchase at the Makeover.
Out of Mountain Music Man’s seven starts, his highest achievement was a win in the 2015 Awad Stakes on the turf by 1 1/2 lengths for owners Lawana and Robert Low. The Todd Pletcher trainee raced until May 2017 and then was retired to TAA-accredited New Vocations. Mountain Music Man will be competing at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover in show jumping and hunters.
Another one to keep an eye on is graded-placed stakes winner Croninthebarbarian. As a 2 year old, he won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile on the turf by two lengths; additionally, he placed in the Dania Beach Stakes (G3T) as well as the Kitten’s Joy Stakes both over the Gulfstream Park turf. Over his 19 start career, Croninthebarbarian earned a total of $254,264 for owner Ol Memorial Stables before retiring in March 2018 to TAA-accredited Second Stride. This son of Stroll—Sweet Ober Melissa (Tale of the Cat) will be competing this weekend in the show jumping and hunter disciplines.
A few other notable entrants:
Another impressive TAA grad to look out for is stakes winner Smart Transition by Smart Strike. Smart Transition boasted an impressive racing team; he was bred/owned by Arnold Zetcher, trained by John Shirreffs, and made his last start in October 2016 by Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza. For more information on TAA-accredited New Vocations grad Smart Transition’s story click here and look out for him this weekend as he competes in eventing and show jumping. Smart Transition and owner Tori Tedesco are featured in the image at the top.
If you’re a war horse fan then you’ll want to follow Run Binky Run, who had a whopping 96 career starts. Run Binky Run’s racing career spanned seven years with her last race being in April 2017 at Camarero in Puerto Rico. Retired from racing through Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, she made her way to TAA-accredited RVR Horse Rescue before beginning her next career with trainer Kyle Rothfus. Watch her this weekend in competitive trail and read more here.
There are 11 teams total participating in the team competition at this year’s Makeover. The TAA is well represented with four of those teams competing with TAA grads. One to watch out for is the New York-bred 5-year-old gelding Cannot Stop. The son of Alphabet Soup spent the last six months of his racing career in Puerto Rico until being retired in January of this year. For more information on Cannot Stop and his team’s story, click here and look out for him this weekend as he competes in show jumping and hunters.
TAA graduates competing at the Makeover represent 23 different TAA-accredited organizations. Below is a full list of accredited organizations and their competitors.
The TAA grads are eligible for a special award at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover for the highest-placing TAA graduate. Click here for more info on the TAA horse show awards and here for more info on the TAA grad award at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover.
After The Homestretch
I Deliver
After the Races
Mpenzisboy
Open Petition
Beyond the Roses
Zealous Yankee
CANTER California
Guggenheim
CANTER Colorado
Quick Trick
CANTER Kentucky
Precious Wish
Tripple Reward
CANTER Michigan
Impervium
Gianni Drama
Next Big Treasure
Gold Room Scotty
Manhattan Striker
Final Furlong
Larry’s Quest
Lovely Livia
Friends of Ferdinand
Huckins
Galloping Out
Fort Rally
Blindsided Blues
Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds
Big Twist
Xanadu Express
Kentucky Equine Humane Center
Blueblend
Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center
Demarlboro
MidAtlantic Horse Rescue
Cody Cody
Nice Try
Randy Mac
Battle Tested
Speedy Caz Steel
New Vocations
Countryman
Master Mondo (Digital Generation)
Smart Transition
Toni The Tigress
Alum
Motown Rhythm
Shotogoodjudgement
Lucky Friends
One Mo Chance
Lady of Rivendell
Our Twist Of Fate
Win Chance
Ten Speed
Mountain Music Man
RACE Fund
Laranquiada
ReRun
T R Royal
Holy Handful
RVR Horse Rescue
Run Binky Run
Second Chance Thoroughbreds
Cannot Stop
Alexa’s Spirit
Second Stride
Croninthebarbarbian
Hurricane Pat
Tough But Sweet
Hilt
Future’s First
Cajun Flyer
Sharp Game
Deserved
Royal Fudge
Delightfully
Power Plant
For YU Michelle
Hammers Terror
Thoroughbred Athletes
Okie Jazz
Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoption
Iver With an E
Florida TRAC
Joe Trouble
Karlyrae’swarrior
