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OXIDE is in his element at Churchill Downs

Details: Published: 19 May 2020

The flashy Golden Lad colt OXIDE delivered an eye-catching maiden victory on the first day of Churchill Downs' spring meet on Saturday, May 16. One of the top choices in the 12-horse field of 3-year-olds seeking their first win, he pressed the early leader, took control turning for home and powered away down the stretch to win by five and a half lengths going a mile and a sixteenth on the wet-fast main track.

OXIDE races for Joe Sutton, who purchased him for $120,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale from the consignment of Cary Frommer. The blaze-faced chestnut trained by Eddie Kenneally had finished third twice in earlier efforts. He put on a show before his win, dazzling onlookers in the post parade and warm up, and proved as dazzling at the finish as he strode home brilliantly.

Bred by Dark Hollow Farm and sold for $50,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall sale, OXIDE is from the noteworthy family that includes Maryland-bred champion Not for Silver and the $2 million record-equaling juvenile Mercantile, half-brothers to OXIDE’s dam Silver Ashlee bred by Dark Hollow in partnership with Will DeBurgh and George Harris.

Not for Silver was named state-bred champion 3-year-old and champion sprinter for a year in which he won or placed in five stakes, three graded. His two stakes wins included the Grade 2 Carry Back. He would retire with career earnings of $303,870 from 19 starts. Other recent stakes performers in the family are graded stakes-placed Put Da Blame On Me, out of Silver Ashlee’s stakes-winning half-sister Roman Chestnut. OXIDE is one of three winners from four starters out of Silver Ashlee bred by Dark Hollow.

Toy just playing in first win

Details: Published: 22 February 2020

The 3-year-old Toy, a third-generation homebred for Dark Hollow Farm, toyed with the opposition when getting his first win on Feb. 21 at Laurel Park. Sent off the 1-5 favorite in the mile and a sixteenth maiden special weight with Alex Cintron in the saddle, Toy stalked the early leader before making his move to grab the lead around the far turn. From there it was just a matter of how much he’d win by as he drew off under a hand ride and crossed the wire six lengths in front.

COMBAT QUEEN follows in family’s footsteps

Details: Published: 27 December 2019

COMBAT QUEEN delivered a gift during the 2019 holiday season as she took charge as she turned into the stretch of the 6-furlong maiden test at Laurel Park Dec. 26 and held off all challengers to win by three-quarters of a length. The juvenile daughter of Congrats was sent out by Mike Trombetta for Country Life Farm, who purchased the filly seven months earlier at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale for $20,000. With the win, and a second in her debut, COMBAT QUEEN earned back her purchase price and more in two starts, with $29,873.

Bred by Dark Hollow Farm and Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Davidov, COMBAT QUEEN is the latest from a family of juvenile winners foaled and raised at Dark Hollow Farm. She is out of the Quiet American mare STARSONHERSHOULDER, who got her first win at 2 at Laurel in her second start. Her second dam, the stakes-winning Lion Hearted mare Dress Grey, also counted a win at Laurel in her second start at 2, and later added a victory in the Smart Halo S. as she won three of six starts.

O Dionysus sets grass on fire in Cape Henlopen Stakes

Details: Published: 11 July 2018

A stakes winner at 2 and 3 on the main track, O Dionysus has found running over turf a wonderful change at age 4. He recorded his third win in as many starts on the grass with a course record performance in the $75,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday, July 7.

Stretching out to a mile and half for the first time in his career, O Dionysus battled on the front end nearly the entire trip and dug in late to win by a head. He covered the distance in 2:25.99 over the firm turf while recording his third career stakes win.

Madison Avenue runs straight to the winner’s circle!

Details: Published: 20 March 2018

Making her second career start, the 3-year-old Quality Road filly Madison Avenue shot to the front and led the field from the half-mile pole to the finish in the one-mile maiden special weight at Laurel Park on March 16, drawing off to an impressive five-length score. Carrying the colors of David and JoAnn Hayden’s Dark Hollow Farm, the Phil Schoenthal trainee is fulfilling the promise first noticed by bloodstock agent Marette Farrell at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“Marette is a star when it comes to picking out horses,” said David Hayden. A friend of the Haydens, Marette made a call from the Keeneland sale. When Marette says she “fell in love with this filly,” it’s worth noting. Walking into the ring as hip 3828, the bay Kentucky-bred was very immature, but would be worth the wait. And she offered a ton of pedigree. The Haydens decided to go for it and got her $37,000, about half what they expected to pay.

Southside Warrior adding to his war chest

Details: Published: 24 February 2018

SouthsideWarrior Southside Warrior didn’t let a sloppy track slow him down as he rallied from last to reel in the leaders and go on to his fifth career victory at Laurel Park on the afternoon of Feb. 23. The win pushed his career earnings over the quarter-million mark to $254,521 in 26 career starts.

The 5-year-old son of Warrior’s Reward races for R. Larry Johnson and Dark Hollow Farm. He was bred in the name of Dark Hollow out of the multiple stakes performer and stakes producer Bamba, who produced seven named foals at Dark Hollow. All are winners.

Bamba’s daughter Plum captured the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship and was named Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly of 2011 when winning three of her four starts that season. Stakes-placed at 3, she retired to the Dark Hollow broodmare band an earner of $128,440. The dam of a $125,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sales yearling by Bodemeister in 2017, Plum is due to foal in May to Upstart and will be bred back to Bodemeister.

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