stablemates2.winstarfarm.comWinStar StableMates – An Affordable Racehorse Ownership Experience

WinStar StableMates An Affordable Racehorse Ownership Experience Menu News FAQs The Fillies Achievements Shop Contact Us Posts Posted on January 24, 2022 January 24, 2022 WinStar Stablemates Discontinued After 12 years of various efforts to increase industry education and involvement for racing enthusiasts, WinStar Farm has discontinued the WinStar Stablemates program. Originally launched in 2010 as a fan education experience, WinStar Stablemates first operated as a membership club that offered various levels of involvement and perks. From 2010 to 2018, Stablemates gave members insight into the daily happenings on the farm, offered networking and educational opportunities, and hosted a handful of member events throughout the year. But as time went on, members wanted more. In getting to experience the inside story on WinStar horses, they wanted to take the next step: ownership. The WinStar team worked to find an affordable way for members to experience the thrill and intrigue of ownership, for a fraction of the risk. Ultimately, the team decided on a syndicate made up of a group of WinStar-owned fillies. Under a racing lease operating for a full calendar year, members could purchase shares in the roster of fillies. WinStar Stablemates Racing LLC launched in 2018, and debuted in the best way possible: its first race resulted in a win in the Wayward Lass Stakes with Well Humored. As with any participation in horse ownership, the syndicate experienced its ups and downs. But it managed to accomplish the one objective it had for its members: competing at the highest level of the game. Under the WinStar Stablemates Racing banner, members enjoyed racing all over the country and watched fillies compete in stakes races each year. But on a summer day in 2020 at Saratoga, Stablemates Racing accomplished a goal many owners can only dream of: its fillies—Paris Lights and Crystal Ball—finished 1-2 in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). Just a head apart at the wire, the two fillies gifted members an unforgettable thrill. After four full racing seasons, WinStar Stablemates came to a close. With 138 starts, the syndicate acquired $1,949,568 in earnings and ends with a 25% win strike and a 52% in-the-money rate. While the program has seen its last race, the friendships and connections established through the group will continue to live on—and hopefully, those will result in further endeavors in the Thoroughbred industry. Posted on January 13, 2022 January 14, 2022 Race Notification: Byzantine – Race 5 at Turfway Park on January 14, 2022 Posted on January 7, 2022 January 14, 2022 Race Notification: World Tour – Race 5 at Tampa Bay Downs on January 12, 2022 Posted on January 6, 2022 January 14, 2022 Race Notification: Diamondly – Race 3 at Turfway Park on January 9, 2022 Posted on December 16, 2021 January 27, 2022 Thank You, Crystal Ball Impressing many at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale with a display of ability during the breeze show, an imposing daughter of Malibu Moon demanded a price tag of $750,000. WinStar Farm signed the ticket, eager to add the promising filly to the WinStar Stablemates Racing program. Given the name Crystal Ball , the filly presented a world of potential, but it would take some time for luck to be on her side. Crystal Ball would not debut until May of her 3-year-old year, facing eight other fillies and mares in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park. Managing third in that spot, she was primed for victory next out. Against a short field in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight at the Arcadia, California racetrack, Crystal Ball led from start to finish and never looked back, coasting to a 6 ¼-length lead. Despite a long journey to get her to the races, the tall, muscular filly had finally shown the talent Team WinStar had believed she possessed all along. In fact, her performance impressed the team enough to take a leap of faith that next landed her in grade one company. With the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) coming up with a short field, the decision was made to ship Crystal Ball across the country, where she would face fellow Stablemates filly Paris Lights at Saratoga. Just to the inside of Paris Lights, Crystal Ball was urged by jockey Javier Castellano to take the lead as the group of five fillies galloped into Saratoga’s clubhouse turn. She maintained that position throughout, setting steady fractions as she led the fillies around the historic racetrack. Paris Lights began to pressure her around the far turn, and Crystal Ball was asked for more by Castellano. She dug in as Paris Lights drew even with her, and the pair of fillies in black and gold put on a show down the stretch, as Stablemates members kept their eyes glued to television screens across the country. Running far too good to lose, she was edged by Paris Lights in the final strides, missing victory by just a head but claiming a grade one placing off a hard-fought effort. It was later discovered she’d grabbed her foot in her runner-up finish in the Coaching Club, making her performance all the more impressive. Off such a strong effort against grade one company, she was entered in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga against Preakness Stakes (G1)-winning filly Swiss Skydiver. She went for the lead yet again, but succumbed to the pressure of Swiss Skydiver and faded to fifth in the mile and one-quarter event. Due to soundness issues caused by wear and tear, Crystal Ball was sent back to WinStar Farm for the remainder of the year. By December 2020, she had departed the farm and returned to the racetrack, where she resumed breezing. While it would of course take her time to regain racing fitness, she unfortunately did not see the entry box until the spring because of a lack of races available. But when Crystal Ball returned to post, it was as if a bigger, stronger version of her had emerged. In her four-year-old debut, she would not be denied, decisively winning a first level allowance at Santa Anita. A month later, she did the same at Churchill Downs, clearing through her next condition. After being transferred to the barn of Rodolphe Brisset and making Keeneland her new home, sights were set on a return to stakes company for Crystal Ball. Before diving back into graded stakes competition, Crystal Ball was aimed for the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown. After pressing the pace throughout, Crystal Ball took the lead around the far turn and put away her rivals by 1 ¼ lengths. That day, Crystal Ball created an unforgettable memory for Stablemates member Rebecca Teal. This particular race held a special place in Rebecca’s heart, as it shared its name with her late mother Jacqueline. But when she was asked to lead Crystal Ball into the winner’s circle, the victory became etched in her memory forever.While that would unfortunately be Crystal Ball’s final career victory, her journey was not over. She took Stablemates on an exciting ride, competing solely in graded stakes in her final four starts. With Stablemates in attendance for each race—at Saratoga, Churchill Downs, and Keeneland—she continued to enchant members. On a beautiful day in upstate New York, Crystal Ball charged down the Saratoga stretch to finish a game third in the Shuvee Stakes (G3). On a September night beneath the twin spires, Crystal Ball thrilled members with a spine-tingling duel with Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil, finishing second by just a neck in the Locust Grove Stakes (G3). On a warm, sunny day in the bluegrass, Crystal Ball gave members a grade one experience as she competed in the Spinster Stakes (G1), finishing fourth to powerhouse Letruska. And on a cold, rainy Thanksgiving Day in Louisville, Crystal Ball ended her career in the Falls City Stakes (G2). While the result that day was not the one hoped for, Stablemates gathered to wish Crystal Ball farewell and cheer her on one last time. Now, Crystal Ball has returned home to WinStar Farm, where...