CHAMPION FDD DYNASTY SIRES FIRST STAKES WINNER
---------------------------------------------------------

August 27, 2011 First-crop sire FDD Dynasty, the AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 2006 and 3-Year-Old Colt in '07, was represented by his first stakes winner on Friday night when Char Parsons' Jockmos Dynasty won the $40,500 John Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge. The filly was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm, which is where the 7-year-old stallion stands.

FDD Dynasty's first crop includes 19 winners, four other stakes-placed runners and the earners of more than $270,000, including Grade 1 finalists Terrific Synergy and TMF Dynasty.

On the racetrack, FDD Dynasty won eight of 11 career starts and banked $1,173,001. The son of First Down Dash won the Grade 1 Ed Burke Memorial Million Futurity and Go Man Go Handicap and also finished second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and third in the Champion of Champions.

FDD Dynasty is out of Grade 1 winner Dinastia Toll Brz. Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and Fakri Family Limited Partnership, the stallion is owned by a syndicate and stood the 2011 season for a $10,000 fee.

IN EXCESS PENSIONED
---------------------------------------------------------

In Excess, one of the most successful stallions in the history of California breeding, has been pensioned at age 24. He stood at Vessels Stallion Farm near Bonsall, Calif.

According to farm manager Kevin Dickson, In Excess is "happy and healthy and will live out the rest of his years at the farm."

An Irish-bred, In Excess (Siberian Express—Kantado, by Saulingo) was one of North America's leading older males in 1991 for owner Jack J. Munari. Trained by Bruce L. Jackson, In Excess set a track record of 1:58.33 in the 1 1/4-mile Suburban Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park and won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I), the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), and the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II).

In Excess was retired with 11 wins from 25 starts and earnings of $1,736,733.

In Excess has sired 62 stakes winners and the earners of more than $41 million. Sixteen of his runners are Cal-bred champions.  Read Entire Story...

189 NOMINATED TO CHAMPIONS NIGHT
---------------------------------------------------------

One of the most prestigious Quarter Horse racing nights of the year is on tap as California Breeders Champions Night will bring a full evening of stakes races on Saturday, July 30. The racing action will be headed by the running of the $466,000 Governor's Cup Futurity featuring fastest qualifier Ima Chickie Two and Kindergarten Futurity runner-up Fixin To Fly, plus the $196,000 Governor's Cup Derby led by Hot Hitter, who looks to become the seventh horse to win both the Governor's Cup Futurity and Derby. The Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap is the main event for older horses and will feature a purse of $100,000 and is expected to feature the 2009 World Champion Freaky.

The 12th running of California Breeders Champions Night will once again serve as a showcase event for the finest California-bred runners in training. Featuring combined purses of $1 million, the event is the product of joint cooperation between the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association and track management at Los Alamitos Race Course. There were 189 nominees to the various races that make up California Breeders Champions Night. In some cases, a horse was nominated to more than one race.

While the fields to the Governor's Cup Futurity and Governor's Cup Derby were set during trial races on the weekend of July 15 and 16, horses were nominated to the other 12 races that are part of Champions Night. Twenty horses have been nominated to the Spencer Childers Championship Handicap at 400 yards, including Vessels Maturity winner Snitcher, 2009 Spencer Childers winner Freaky and 350-yard track record holder Divide The Cash. Grade 1 finalists A Streakinson, Chivalry SR, Jimmy Delivers, First Down King, Suger Mama and Shining First Dash have also been nominated as have 330-yard track record holder Pappyscoronalilbro, Vessels Maturity finalist Simons Wonder Choice and the solid sprinter Dickson Creek.

The others nominated are Armando Mondays, Great Bro, How Goes It, Jus Ledoux It, Making Fire, Mamas Justice, Our Man Scott, Pepe El Trueno, Sir Seth and Surf Dog.  Read Entire Story...

FIRE MOON LADY SHINES WITH FASTEST QUALIFYING TIME TO ED BURKE MILLION FUTURITY
---------------------------------------------------------

Dutch Masters III's Fire Moon Lady (left) scored an upset victory over a field headed by Kindergarten Futurity winner Separate Fire on the way to the fastest qualifying time to one of the richest runnings ever of the Ed Burke Million Futurity in Sunday's trials at Los Alamitos Race Course. The Ed Burke Million final will be held on Sunday, June 26 and will feature a purse of $1,126,000.

Ridden by Francisco Rubio and trained by Jaime Gomez, Fire Moon Lady scored a ¾ length victory over Howard Nichols' Oceanik and Tremor Enterprises LLC's Separate Fire while covering the 350 yards in a time of :17.365 in the fourth of 12 trials on Sunday. Sent off at 11-1 odds, the Mike Abraham-bred filly led from start to finish en route to earning her first win in three career starts.

David and Ross Hinkins won the Ed Burke Million last year with the First Down Dash colt First Down Illusion. They have a great chance to make it back-to-back wins after their First Down Dash colt Sompin About First posted a 1 ¼ win in the ninth trial of the night.

Another young stallion off to a great start is FDD Dynasty, who Pat Guthrie, Billy Smith and Vessels Stallion Farm campaigned in his racing career. The millionaire champion will be represented in the Ed Burke Million Futurity by the undefeated gelding Terrific Synergy, who scored a ½ length victory over rivals that included five maiden winners. Jacky Martin, the 2010 AQHA Champion Jockey, piloted Terrific Synergy for trainer Cody Joiner and owners Billy Smith and Pat Guthrie.  Read Entire Story...

Vessels Maturity Qualifiers
---------------------------------------------------------

May 30, 2011 - A newcomer to Los Alamitos and a horse returning to action after a long layoff were among the trial winners to the richest running ever of the Vessels Maturity (G1) at 400 yards on Sunday. Robert Williams' Mark It Famous made his first start at the Orange County oval one to remember, as he posted the fastest qualifying time of :19.205 to the $240,200 Vessels Maturity final to be held on Sunday, June 19. Meanwhile, Stern Ranches' Chivalry SR scored a solid wire-to-wire victory in his first outing since August 14, 2011, while recording the third-fastest qualifying time of :19.227.

Other notable qualifiers included Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G2) winner Good Reason SA, who qualified with the eighth-fastest time of :19.452, and 350-yard track record holder Divide The Cash, who got into the final with the 10th-fastest clocking. The complete list of qualifiers is as follows: Mark It Famous (:19.205), Simons Wonder Choice (:19.219), Chivalry SR (:19.227), Snitcher (:19.274), Bloke (:19.326), Whole Lot of Karma (:19.327), Mamas Justice (:19.365), Good Reason SA (:19.452), Pepe El Trueno (:19.459), and Divide The Cash (:19.464).  Read Entire Story...

Fly First Down Pulls Away In Trial To Ruidoso Futurity Fastest-Qualifying Time
---------------------------------------------------------

RUIDOSO DOWNS, New Mexico (May 27, 2011)-Francisco Colorado Cessa’s Fly First Down, a $300,000 yearling purchase, lived up to high-priced expectations by setting the fastest-qualifying time to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity on Friday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

The 2-year-olds with the 10-fastest times from the 21 trials earned eligibility to return in the Ruidoso Futurity, the first leg of the All American Triple Crown, on June 12.

A First Down Dash son from the stable of 9-time national champion trainer Paul Jones, Fly First Down raced to what could be the favorite’s role in the Ruidoso Futurity when he dominated the 11th trial. The 2010 Ruidoso Select Sale purchase sprinted to the lead from the outside post position and then drew out to the 3-length victory under jockey G.R. Carter. Fly First Down was timed in :17.502 for the 350 yards.  Read Entire Story...

A RECORD VESSELS MATURITY RUNNINGS
---------------------------------------------------------

With a record purse of $240,200 slated for the final, the trials to the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity have attracted an outstanding cast of older horses headed by the three-time Grade 1 stakes winning millionaire Good Reason SA (left) and the 350-yard track record holder Divide The Cash on Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course. The purse for this year's running of the Vessels Maturity includes a record $150,000 in added money offered by the track. This amount is double the $75,000 added money figure that was offered in previous Vessels Maturities. The substantial increase in added money attracted a record 29 trial hopefuls for the three 400-yard trials. Ten horses will advance from the trials to the June 19 final with the winner earning a starting berth to the $750,000 Champion of Champions.

Gianni Samaja's Good Reason SA, currently the nation's number two ranked Quarter Horse, already holds a berth to the Champion of Champions. If he happens to win the Vessels Maturity as well, the berth for this race would go to the winner of Go Man Go Handicap to be held here later this year. While several things have to occur in order for the above scenario to take place, there is no doubt that Good Reason SA is one of the favorites to qualify for the Vessels Maturity final. A winner of the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity at the age of two, the Golden State Derby at the age of the three, and this year's Los Alamitos Winter Championship at the age of four, Good Reason SA should be at the top of his game for this outing following a sizzling fast :17.50 workout on May 7.

Vessels Stallion Farm and Bud Feldkamp's Whole Lot Of Karma and San Gregorio Racing Stables' defending Vessels Maturity winner Blues Man Too look to be among Good Reason SA's top challengers in this trial. The winner of the Katella Handicap earlier this season, Whole Lot Of Karma will enter the trials after a disappointing seventh place finish in the Kaweah Bar Handicap on April 23. The Apollo gelding had a good start to the Kaweah Bar, but then faded in the second half of the race. With a little over a month to freshen up, it'll be interesting to see if jockey Francisco Rubio can help Wholoe Lot Of Karma put the Kaweah Bar Handicap behind.  Read Entire Story...

BLUES GIRLS DYNASTY AMONG NOTABLE 2-YEAR-OLD WINNERS AT LOS ALAMITOS
---------------------------------------------------------

Outstanding Quarter Horse runners Holland Ease and Corona Chick had many exciting battles against each other in major stakes races at Los Alamitos during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. By the time their racing careers were over following the '92 campaign, Dutch Masters III, who owned the colt Holland Ease, and Robert Etchandy, who raced the champion filly Corona Chick, decided that it was only fitting to mate the two stars during the 1993 breeding season. The result of that mating was the great Corona Cartel, the winner of the 1996 Kindergarten Futurity (G1) and Los Alamitos Million Futurity (G1), and now one of the greatest Quarter Horse stallions of all-time.

Like that famous cross of Holland Ease and Corona Chick, the young stallion FDD Dynasty, a two-time champion colt, and 2007 AQHA World Champion Blues Girl Too mated in 2008. The two had some great matchups in their careers reminiscent to the battles between Holland Ease and Corona Chick. FDD Dynasty beat Blues Girl Too in the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) and Blues Girl Too beat FDD Dynasty in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1). She also beat the colt in the Champion of Champions (G1) when her winning time of :21.13 eclipsed the long standing 440-yard track record held by Dash For Cash for over 30 years. The foal that resulted from the cross of FDD Dynasty and Blues Girl Too won her debut on Friday night at Los Alamitos, and she did it in impressed fashion.

Owned by Lucky Seven Ranch and trained by Joe Bassett, the filly named Blues Girls Dynasty broke a little slow before finding her best stride in the middle of the race to post a winning time of :15.638 for 300 yards. Foaled in Texas, Blues Girls Dynasty's next start will come in the trials to the Ed Burke Million Futurity on Sunday, June 12.  Read Entire Story...

ROYALLY BRED 2-YEAR-OLDS TO DEBUT ON FRIDAY NIGHT
---------------------------------------------------------

Now that the Kindergarten Futurity trials are out of the way and the 10 finalists to the Grade 1 race have been determined, a new wave of 2-year-olds will now make their first career starts this weekend in preparation for the trials to the Ed Burke Million Futurity on Sunday, June 12 and Governor's Cup Futurity trials on July 16. There are 224 horses currently eligible to compete in the Ed Burke Million trials. The Ed Burke Million Futurity final will have an estimated purse of $1.1 million this year while the Governor's Cup Futurity at the end of July will have a record estimated purse of $525,000.

Friday's program will feature three races at 300 yards with some outstanding fillies scheduled to see action. The second race on the card will feature the debut of Lucky Seven Ranch's Blues Girls Dynasty, a Texas-bred filly sired by champion FDD Dynasty and out of 2007 World Champion Blues Girl Too. Blues Girls Dynasty's dam and sire finished first and second in the 2006 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

Trained by Joe Bassett, the royally bred Blues Girls Dynasty will see action in the second race after posting a couple of awesome workouts. She shared the fastest time of 60 drills when posting a :12 flat time on April 23 and before that she had the second fastest of 27 drills on April 9. Meanwhile, Mike Abraham's homebred Sex On Fire also recorded a :12 flat workout on the morning of April 23 and her sire is the red hot Walk Thru Fire. The tremendous stallion saw his runners post the three fastest qualifying times to the Kindergarten final including the Abraham-owned This Boogie Fires. Luis Alvarez's Jennifers Challenge, also sired by FDD Dynasty, will also see action in this race and arrives after posting several nice drills.  Read Entire Story...

Square Eddie Back to Stud
---------------------------------------------------------

Grade I winner Square Eddie, who entered stud in 2010 and then was returned to training, is back at stud at Vessels Stallion Farm near Bonsall, Calif. Owner J. Paul Reddam has priced him at $5,000 live foal.

Square Eddie, who covered 34 mares at Vessels last breeding season, got off to a solid start at the track after being returned to trainer Doug O'Neill. He set a track record of 1:13.11 in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race at Santa Anita Jan. 14. He finished unplaced in his other two starts, the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park in February and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (gr. IT) at Santa Anita March 5.

Five-year-old Vessels Stallion Farm earned $35,400 during his brief return, upping his career earnings to $854,766.  Read Entire Story...

SQUARE EDDIE PRESS RELEASE
---------------------------------------------------------

Vessels Stallion Farm is very pleased to announce the return of Grade 1 winner SQUARE EDDIE to its stallion roster for the remainder of the 2011 breeding season.

Square Eddie, a son of two-time leading sire Smart Strike, covered over forty mares in a limited stint at Vessels Stallion Farm in 2010. He returns following a brief but very successful comeback at the racetrack for owner J. Paul Reddam, setting a new 6 ½ furlong track record at Santa Anita of 1:13.11 on January 14, and bringing his total earnings to $854,766. Square Eddie has had an impressive career on both sides of the Atlantic, highlighted by his dazzling display of brilliance in winning the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (Gr. 1) by more than eight lengths over fellow Gr. 1 winner Pioneerof the Nile.

The early foals of Square Eddie's first crop have greatly impressed everyone who has seen them. “Based on the dozen or so foals I've seen at the farm, I'll be very surprised if Eddie isn't a big success down the road,” said Kevin Dickson, Farm Manager at Vessels. “I've received a number of calls from mare owners in recent months asking about Square Eddie’s availability in 2011, and I'm excited to say he's come home!” Interested parties are welcome to stop by Vessels Stallion Farm any time to see Square Eddie and his foals.

A tough, precocious runner by a top siring son of Mr. Prospector, Square Eddie will stand for a fee of $5,000 live foal, due when the foal stands and nurses. For more information about booking to Square Eddie in 2011 and to view photos of some of his first foals, please click on the Baby Baby Baby!!! link.

"SONNY"AND ICY HEADLINE MAIDEN STAKES FINAL ON SATURDAY NIGHT
---------------------------------------------------------

Vessels Stallion Farm will be represented by two outstanding young horses in the $138,250 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes on Saturday night. And as much as the famous Bonsall farm operation will be excited to watch their duo of fastest qualifier Blazin Son (left) and second fastest qualifier Icy In The Morn compete in the rich final, their excitement will be matched and maybe even surpassed by a horsewoman in Tennessee with a deep connection to top qualifier Blazin Son or "Sonny" as she prefers to call him.

“Sonny” was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and Lisa McMahon, who campaigned his mother to a championship season in 2007. For McMahon, watching Blazin Son on the track is like watching her very own child. When the son of First Down Dash flew to the fastest qualifying time of :17.37 in the 350 yard trials to the Maiden Stakes, McMahon couldn’t wait to post the news in every possible social network page out there.

“Finally, finally,” said McMahon when asked about her thoughts when watching Blazin Son in his trial on February 5. “He was running like the horse we all thought he would be. I have to admit, I was in tears.Blaze's first baby-crushing the field as the fastest qualifier. It was very emotional for me.”

McMahon was able to breed her Grade 1 winning mare Blazin Fire to the legendary First Down Dash thanks to the help of TRACK Magazine Owner Ben Hudson.

"I wanted to breed Blaze to First Down Dash and Ben said he would talk to Scoop about it for me to see if he might be interested,” McMahon said. “One day, out of the blue, my cell phone rang with an unknown number. When I answered the voice on the other end said ‘this is Scoop Vessels.’ I thought I might faint. It felt as if some rock star idol like Bruce Springsteen had called me,” she added. “He asked if I would be interested in foal sharing with Blazin Fire and First Down Dash and I said ‘Yes!’ It was my dream of a lifetime. She was bred in April of 2007 and actually got the embryo after she had started back in training with Paul Jones."  Read Entire Story...

Jess You And I, Freaky Shine in Winter Championship Trials
---------------------------------------------------------

Double Bar S Ranch's Jess You And I and Armando Aguirre's Freaky, two of the best Quarter Horses of their generation, proved that they still have a lot left to give the sport after they each posted impressive wins in the trials to the $214,550 Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1) on Saturday night. The two ageless stars will each try to become a two-time winner of the Winter Championship, as "Jessie" won this race in 2009, while the "Freak" took the title last year. Whosleavingwho is the only two-time winner in the 11-year history of the Winter Championship.

Vessels Stallion Farm, Wood, et al's Harems Last Dash picked up his third straight victory after taking the second trial to the Winter Championship. Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio and saddled by Farias, the royally bred runner came into this race having won the Southern California Derby (G1) in his last start. A full brother to champions First Sovereign and Royal Quick Dash, Harems Last Dash won his trial by a half-length over multiple stakes winner Sparky E Boy in a time of :19.515. Dunn Ranch Ltd.'s First Down King scored one of the easiest wins of the trials, as crossed the wire first by 1 ¼ lengths in a time of :19.431. Trained by Paul Jones and ridden by Ramon Sanchez, First Down King finished the night as the third-fastest qualifier.

The complete list of qualifiers is as follows: Jess You And I (:19.346), Freaky (:19.381), First Down King (:19.431), Harems Last Dash (:19.515), Good Reason SA (:19.541), Mamas Justice (:19.559), Sparky E Boy (:19.586), Stel Master (:19.589), Forrest Fire (:19.595), and Separate Bet (:19.642). Read Entire Story...

Los Al Maiden Stakes
---------------------------------------------------------

Vessels Stallion Farms LLC's Blazin Son (left) delivered the race of his young career, as the son of champion aged mare Blazin Fire won his trial to the $138,250 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes on Saturday night by 1 ¾ lengths while posting the fastest qualifying time of :17.376 to the 350-yard race.

Trained by Cody Joiner, Blazin Son has made four starts at Los Alamitos and in three of those outings he has finished in the money. The gelded son of First Down Dash has been the winner in each of his last two outings, including being moved up from second to first because of a disqualification in his previous outing on December 18. Blazin Son spent the summer of his freshman year struggling at Ruidoso Downs, but he has loved the nightlife at Los Alamitos.

There was also no need for a closer look or a photo finish in Blazin Son’s victory in the second of six trials, as the Lisa McMahon and Vessels Stallion Farm-bred runner put away the field with ease early on. He was a 1 ¼ lengths ahead of eventual runner-up Vivid Lady 50 yards into the race before extending his lead to two lengths with 110 yards left in the race before winning by 1 ¾ lengths.

"This was a surprise, a very pleasant surprise," said Bonnie Vessels. "Lisa McMahon is all over this win already. She’s a very proud momma right now."Read Entire Story...

$214,550 Los Alamitos Winter Championship trials
---------------------------------------------------------

The established guard of Quarter Horse racing superstars will be out in full force in Saturday's trials to the $214,550 Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Household names in action will include 2009 World Champion and Champion of Champions winner Freaky and multiple AQHA Champion and 2008 Champion of Champions winner Jess You And I, a pair of crowd pleasing favorites with a long list of career accomplishments. The two veterans have also won the last few runnings of this Championship, with Freaky winning '10 running and Jess You And I the '09 edition. They'll now face a slew of new older horses hoping to make their mark in this competitive local division.

Four trials to the Winter Championship will be contested at 400 yards with the horses with the 10 fastest times advancing to the final on Saturday, February 19. The winner of the Winter Championship will earn a berth to the prestigious $750,000 Champion of Champions to be held in December at Los Alamitos.

There are plenty of accomplished young stars in the trials like multiple Grade 1 winner Good Reason SA, Sgt Pepper Handicap winner Snitcher, multiple Grade 1 stakes placed runner Princelike, PCQHRA Breeders Derby winner Whole Lot Of Karma, Southern California Derby winner Harems Last Choice and Los Alamitos Super Derby third place finisher Forrest Fire. Read Entire Story...

SQUARE EDDIE SETS TRACK RECORD IN RETURN
---------------------------------------------------------

Square Eddie came out of retirement of more than a year to not only win the $59,000 Phone Trick Purse, but break the 6 1/2-furlong track record at Santa Anita Jan. 14

The 5-year-old, ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, took the lead early and scored a dominating 3 1/4-length victory over Stacy's Hope and five other opponents. He hit the wire in 1:13.11, bettering Santa Anita's previous dirt track mark of 1:13.71 set by Son Of A Pistol on April 4, 1998.

The Canadian-bred son of Smart Strike was a budding star as a 2-year-old for trainer Doug O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam, running second in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) after winning the Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland on Oct. 25, 2008, which had been his last victory.

Square Eddie missed the Triple Crown races with a cannon bone injury and was retired after several weak outings in 2009. He was bred to 35 mares last year, but O'Neill and Reddam decided to bring him back to the track. Read Entire Story...

GIORGINO SPEEDS AWAY IN $178,646 SUNLAND PARK WINTER QUARTER HORSE FUTURITY(G2)
---------------------------------------------------------

SUNLAND PARK, NM—DECEMBER 25, 2010—Giorgino rocketed away from the gates and rolled to a half-length victory in the Grade 2 $178,646 Sunland Park Winter Quarter Horse Futurity at 400 yards.

The two-year-old Apollo (TB) colt responded eagerly to Hall of Fame jockey Jacky Martin and opened up a good lead early while racing on the rail. Giorgino switched gears and kept up a solid speed to keep the fast closing Docs Famous Dash at bay.

Giorgino collected his sixth win from 10 starts for owner-breeder Jorge Haddad. The winner gained an $83,964 paycheck from the Grade 2 event. He sped through the distance in a fast 19.180 seconds, good for a 92 speed index. The TQHA Sires Futurity(RG3) and John Deere Delta Juvenile Futurity(G3) winner scored his third futurity win of the season while increasing his lifetime earnings to nearly $200,000. He was also a finalist in the Longhorn Futurity(G2).

Giorgino is out of the grade 1 placed Las Alamitos ($202,480), who should be considered for Broodmare of the Year honors for 2010. The First Down Dash mare has produced two other stakes horses this season including Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner Ragazzo ($559,500), who won the Manor Downs Derby(G3) and was a finalist in the Sam Houston Derby(G2), and she is the dam of grade 3 placed Features Luck Charm who was third in the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge(G3).  Read Entire Story...

FIRST DOWN DASH IS GOING INTO THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE HALL OF FAME
---------------------------------------------------------

Racing champion and all-time leading racehorse sire First Down Dash is joining the next class of inductees into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

Each Hall of Fame class is selected by the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Selection Committee at a July meeting and, following approval by the AQHA Executive Committee, is honored at the following convention. At the 2011 AQHA Convention on March 4-7 in Grapevine, Texas, the following people and horses will be inducted: Mr San Peppy, Skipper W and Streakin Six, as well as Douglas and Nancy Dear, Joe Kirk Fulton and Frank Howell.

"With the untimely passing of First Down Dash in late November, the committees decided to induct him into the Hall of Fame at the 2011 convention," said AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway Jr. "This is only the fourth time that the committee has added a horse to a class of inductees between (the committee's) meetings."

The other additions to past Hall of Fame classes were done following the deaths of prominent American Quarter Horses Dash For Cash (First Down Dash's sire), Refrigerator and Rugged Lark.

American Quarter Horse racing's most prolific stallion, First Down Dash, died at age 26 on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California. "He laid down and went to sleep peacefully. He was missing Scoop and his sunflower seeds," said Bonnie Vessels, referring to her husband, Frank "Scoop" Vessels III, who was killed in a private-plane crash in August.

Dr. Ed Allred, the sport's all-time leading breeder, released the following statement: "First Down Dash is unquestionably the greatest stallion of all time. No horse has had the influence of the great First Down Dash. He was an amazing horse. He was a sire of sires. What an incredible and great career ... he was in one word 'amazing.' "  Read Entire Story...

QUARTER HORSE RACING'S BIGGEST WEEKEND
---------------------------------------------------------

Quarter Horse racing doesn't get much bigger than this weekend at Los Alamitos. The action begins Friday with the appropriately named Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity for 2-year-olds at 400 yards. The likely favorite is More Than You Know, who came close to breaking the track record in his trial when he stopped the timer in 19.299 seconds. The colt has won three of four, with a fourth-place finish in the $1 million Ed Burke Futurity. Saturday brings the $1 million Champion of Champions for older horses at 440 yards, where Freaky defends his title. The 5-year-old gelding has been phenomenal over the past two seasons. A seven-race win streak from May 2009 to February 2010 included five stakes, not to mention Freaky breaking Los Al's 400-yard track record twice.

A Tempting Dash is the only horse to have beaten Freaky this year. He prevailed by a half-length in the Go Man Go Handicap in September. Apollitical Jess faces older foes after his win in the Los Alamitos Super Derby last month. He missed by a neck in the All American Derby at Ruidoso in September. Jess You and I, who set the track record while winning the 2008 Champion of Champions, is the richest horse in the field with a bankroll over $1.5 million.

The aged mare division is represented well. Spit Curl Diva has won eight races this year, including six stakes at five different tracks. Feature Jess Rockin comes to the Champion of Champions off an upset in the Bank of America Challenge Championship at Fair Grounds, while Merridoc Hawk has won four stakes at Los Alamitos.

LOS ALAMITOS TWO MILLION FUTURITY
---------------------------------------------------------

CYPRESS, CA - DECEMBER 8, 2010The $2,033,700 purse amount in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity - the largest for a horse race of any breed in California this year - is not the only thing that the deep and very classy field 10-horse field in the 400-yard futurity will be battling for on Friday night at the Orange County oval.

AQHA national titles will also be up for grabs in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million, as top contenders like One Sweet Jess, Flying and Hot Hitter are among the top names that could still win year-end championship honors with a victory in the Los Alamitos Two Million. It's been an unusual year in the 2-year-old division nationwide, as only one horse - the Corona Cartel-sired runner A Snowy Cartel - has won multiple unrestricted Grade 1 futurities this year.

Earlier on Wednesday, connections for each of the horses selected post positions. With the number one pick, Felipe Quintero, trainer of Hot Hitter, selected post number nine. "I wanted to stay away from trouble," he noted. "If the number 10 horse lugs out, then we'll have a lot of running room. Hot Hitter can also get a little antsy in the gate, but by going in the nine hole he can be one of the last horses to get loaded in the gate."

With the second choice, Jose Trevino, owner of Number One Cartel, took the number seven post for his horse. Holly Skeen, the caretaker of the gelding Oatman, went with the number eight post, while owner Miguel Rodriguez decided to give his horse More Than You Know the sixth post. Trainer Paul Jones' turn was next and he opted for the four hole for BF Farm Boy. Trainer Eddie Willis selected post number five for Thru The Fire, while Kash Vessels went for the outside number 10 post for One Quick First Down. Up next trainer Ugo De La Torre chose the number three post for One Sweet Jess, while trainer Denny Ekins decided that rail would fit Flying Fig better than the number two post. De La Torre completed the lineup by placing Adashin First Dash's name plate on post number two. Post positions from the rail out: Flying Fig, Adashin First Dash, One Sweet Jess, BF Farm Boy, Thru The Fire, More Than You Know, Number One Cartel, Oatman, Hot Hitter and One Quick First Down  Read Entire Story...

FIRST DOWN DASH REPRESENTED BY NINE OF 10 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DERBY QUALIFIERS
---------------------------------------------------------

One day after the passing of the great stallion First Down Dash, nine out of the 10 qualifiers to the richest running ever of the Grade 1 Southern California Derby at Los Alamitos were either sired by him or by one of his sons.

The six fastest qualifiers all carry First Down Dash's blood, including top qualifier Sparky E Boy, a son of the First Down Dash stallion Hawkinson. First Down Dash sired Harems Last Dash, a royally bred colt owned by Vessels Stallion Farm and Robert Wood. TR Dasher sired Princelike, Better Try Hard and Snitcher, while Walk Thru Fire sired Forrest Fire and Fire In The Hole. Ocean Runaway is the sire of second-fastest qualifier Runaway Tyme, while Maknmoves sired Hoist Mission. TR Dasher, Walk Thru Fire, Ocean Runaway and Maknmoves are sons of the great sire of sires First Down Dash. The only qualifier lacking First Down Dash blood also happens to be the only filly to qualify to the Southern California Derby. Bred by the great couple of Spencer and Florence Childers, Dream The Day Away was sired by the Jazzing Hi stallion Bono Jazz and is out of a Grand Slam (TB) mare. It is conceivable that Dream The Day Away will one day be bred to a son of First Down Dash to complete the scenario.

The impact of First Down Dash is seen over and over in Grade 1 stakes race throughout the country. In this year's Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1), each of the 10 qualifiers to the $2,033,700 race is related to First Down Dash.

The list of qualifiers to the Southern California Derby is as follows: Sparky E Boy (:19.498), Runaway Tyme (:19.607), Forrest Fire (:19.614), Princelike (:19.614), Better Try Hard (:19.628), Harems Last Dash (:19.644), Dream The Day Away (:19.644), Fire In The Hole (:19.660), Snitcher (:19.661) and Hoist Mission (:19.685). The Southern California Derby final will be held on closing weekend on Saturday, February 18.  Read Entire Story...

FIRST DOWN DASH LAID TO REST
---------------------------------------------------------

First Down Dash, the 26-year old stallion who has dominated statistics for racing American Quarter Horses for 20 years, was laid to rest at Vessels Stallion Farms on November 26.

Bonnie Vessels said that First Down Dash was quietly eating hay in his stall when observed by ranch manager Kevin Dickson at 1 a.m. Thanksgiving day. Three hours later the night man observed First Down Dash taking his last breath.

"The entire family is here and First Down Dash is resting with a set of Vessels Stallion Farms silks and an ample supply of sunflower seeds in the place which Scoop selected some time ago," said Bonnie Vessels. The ranch crew joined the family at the ceremony.

The World Champion of 1987 who sired the earners of nearly $74 million through November 25, 2010, First Down Dash bred a full book of mares in 2010 and was expected to do so again in 2011.

For most of 2010, First Down Dash was on top of the leading sires of money earners list. Today he is ranked No.2 with $3.6 million . . . ahead of where he was at this same point in 2009.

In 2010, First Down Dash is the only stallion with eight horses that have earned more than $100,000 each and the only stallion with five horses which have earned more than $200,000 each.

First Down Dash's best year on the tracks was 2006 when his runners Included 16 stakes winners and the earners of $6,560,242. The 2006 runners were headlined by No Secrets Here, the Vessels-bred runner who was the sixth All American Futurity G1 winner for First Down Dash; Ed Burke Million Futurity G1 winner FDD Dynasty; and Champion of Champions G1 winner Wave Carver.

With a crop of 86 foals of 2009 eligible to race as two-year-olds next year, First Down Dash undoubtedly will continue his lofty status as the breed's No.1 sire for some time. He is nearly $35 million ahead of No.2, which is First Down Dash's sire Dash For Cash.

The Vessels family requested that memorials for First Down Dash be sent to the American Quarter Horse Foundation in Amarillo, Texas. - Ben Hudson, TRACK Magazine  See Track Magazine Layout...

FIRST DOWN DASH PROGENY DOMINATES Field IN LOS ALAMITOS 2 MILLION FUTURITY-G1 TRIAL
---------------------------------------------------------

First Down Dash sires field of qualifiers for the Los Alamitos 2 Million Futurity—G1.  He sired the 2nd fastest qualifier, is the Paternal Grandsire of 5 of the top 11, Maternal Grandsire of 3 of those 11, and Paternal Great Grandsire of the other 2.

This is definitely a First Down Dash field of great 2 year olds!  See Results...

BODACIOUS DASH AND STREAKIN DOWN WIN TEXAS CLASSIC RACES
---------------------------------------------------------

November 14, 2010 - Lone Star Park brought down the curtain on its American Quarter Horse meet on Saturday night with the richest horse race in the Lone Star State, the $1,036,612 Texas Classic Futurity (G1), along with the $367,649 Texas Classic Derby (G1).

In the Texas Classic Futurity, Johnny Trotter's Bodacious Dash sprinted off to a one-length lead and just held on by a head to defeat American Runaway in :19.518 for 400 yards. Ricky Ramirez rode the First Down Dash colt for trainer Trey Wood.

"We've always had trouble with him getting away from the gates, but he left like a rocket tonight," said Wood. "He's got such a big kick."

Bodacious Dash, the sixth-fastest qualifier who was sent off at odds of 12-1, had qualified to three other Grade 1 futurities this year but this marked his first stakes victory. Bred in Texas by Bob and Jerry Gaston, who also bred this year's All American Derby (G1) winner Double Down Special, the colt is out of the stakes-winning Mr Jess Perry mare St Pats Tea. Bodacious Dash now has earnings of $534,016.

"This has been a good horse ever since we qualified him for the Ruidoso Futurity and the Rainbow Futurity, but he would always fail to break well in the finals," said Ramirez. "We couldn't have gotten away any better tonight and he got it done. He likes the distance, so when he broke in front I knew they were going to have a hard time catching him."  Read Entire Story...

BET THIS IS A SHINER REPRESENTS THE CROSS OF TWO AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE BREEDING DYNASTIES
---------------------------------------------------------

When Bet This Is A Shiner and rider Cheryl Magoteaux of Byars, Oklahoma, entered the arena for the finals of the junior barrel racing November 8, they represented a unique cross from two American Quarter Horse breeding dynasties – American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame members Carol Rose and Frank "Scoop" Vessels III.

The 4-year-old bay mare, affectionately known as "Miss Betty," is sired by Carol Rose's cow horse stallion Shining Spark and out of top racing broodmare Better Bet On Me by First Down Dash. She was bred by Scoop's Vessels Stallion Farms LLC of Bonsall, California.

"Carol Rose and Scoop Vessels were discussing the idea of how horses like Miss N Cash came to be," Cheryl says. "The crossing of performance bloodlines with the racing bloodlines, and how sometimes that brings new strength."  Read Entire Story...

A TEMPTING DASH
---------------------------------------------------------

A Tempting Dash, the winner of several major stakes races at Los Alamitos, will race in Saturday's 8th race to mark his first start since upsetting World Champion Freaky in the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap back on September 10. Owned by Deleyco Race Team Corp., A Tempting Dash is currently the number three ranked sprinter in the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com national poll. A Tempting Dash has 71 votes from a possible 90 in the current poll and is currently only seven votes behind the number two ranked horse Double Down Special.

Sired by First Down Dash, A Tempting Dash already knows where he'll be on Saturday, December 11. Trained by Jose Flores, the Muller Racing-bred sprinter already owns a berth to the Grade 1 Champion of Champions on December 11 and victory in that prestigious race could very well net A Tempting Dash the title of AQHA world champion. In addition to the Go Man Go Handicap, A Tempting Dash also won the Spencer Childers Memorial California Breeders Championship Handicap.

The gelding was on the vet's list after suffering a bloody nose in the Go Man Go Handicap, but he worked :12.70 on October 2 and is now primed for Saturday's eighth race. Flores would love nothing more than a return to the winner's circle for A Tempting Dash in the eighth followed by a winning performance by Ed Allred's Princelike, who Flores also trains, in Saturday's $1,052,000 Los Alamitos Super Derby. Juan Andrade will ride A Tempting Dash and Princelike.  Read Entire Story...

FIRST DOWN ILLUSION
---------------------------------------------------------

Ed Burke Million Futurity winner First Down Illusion begins his quest to claim the elusive $1 million Los Alamitos Cash Bonanza when he headlines a huge night of trials to one of the nation's most prestigious futurities - the $1 million Golden State Million Futurity on Friday at Los Alamitos. The card will also feature a Pick 6 Carryover of more than $32,000 with the Pick 6 getting underway in race #7. Twelve trials are on tap starting at 7 p.m. with the horses with the 10 fastest times returning for the final on Friday, October 29.

Owned by David and Ross Hinkins, First Down Illusion is in line to win a $1 million bonus if he can win the Golden State Million Futurity and also the December 10 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. No horse has claimed the Cash Bonanza yet, but the First Down Dash colt has already bucked the odds, as his victory in the Ed Burke stands as proof. Sent off at 29-1 odds, First Down Illusion scored a big upset while defeating runner-up Flying Fig and third place finisher Personal Glory in that race.

First Down Illusion will be in action in the ninth of 12 trials and he'll have his hands full against the powerful finisher Jaguar XJ and the impressive 330-yard maiden winner Eddie Ray Vaughan. Enjoy The Walk, who finished second in a trial to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, is another horse looking to beat the Adan Farias-trained First Down Illusion. Farias, the track's leading Quarter Horse trainer, saddles 29 horses in the 12 trials.

LOS AL INVITATIONAL
---------------------------------------------------------

The anticipated rematch between World Champion Freaky and Go Man Go Handicap winner A Tempting Dash (left) might have to wait until later this year, perhaps until the Champion of Champions on December 11.

While Armando Aguirre's Freaky is a definite go in Saturday's Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship according to trainer Adan Farias, A Tempting Dash is not yet a sure thing to run in the 440-yard race. A decision as to whether A Tempting Dash will run in the Championship will be made prior to entry time on Wednesday morning according to trainer Jose Flores.

A Tempting Dash landed on the vet's list after bleeding in the Go Man Go on September 10. Flores said the blood was due to the horse hitting the starting gate with his face when false breaking prior to the running of that race.

"We gave him a workout to get him off the vet's list, but because we had a short amount of time we might decide to wait and run him in the Z. Wayne Griffin Trials (on November 19) instead," Flores said. "I don't mind giving him another tough race against Freaky again, but when you take into account the workout, it might be too much for him in too little time. We'll decide in the next few days."

A Tempting Dash worked 220 yards in :12.70 on Saturday, October 2.  Read Entire Story...

SCHVANEVELDT HEROINE HAS MADE WINNING A HABIT OF HER OWN
---------------------------------------------------------

Long time owner Alvin B. Jonas knew what he had when he held the trophy to the $40,000 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap after his filly Sheza Bad Habit (left) won the 400-yard race on Friday at Los Alamitos.

"I'm bubbling with happiness right now," said the native of Pahrump, Nevada. "I know the impact of this victory means to me. To win a race named after the great Blane Schvaneveldt with a horse bred by Vessels Stallion Farms, that's unbelievable to me. This victory is something that I can take to my grave. We lost two great men in this industry this year in Blane and Frank 'Scoop' Vessels. I'm proud to have a horse bred by Scoop win this race."

A 65-year-old horseman with more than 40 years in the business, Jonas remembers when he first met Schvaneveldt.

"Blane was the hardest working man that I've ever seen," he said. "I knew him for about 40 years. His work ethic was second to none. He was a hard worker but also an outstanding horseman. I have a great deal of respect for the entire Schvaneveldt family. I trained horses for a while and I rode Monte Schvaneveldt when I was a trainer. I rode Chad Schvaneveldt as well in the California fair circuit. I came one summer to California with 15 horses. I had 10 in the fair circuit and five at Los Alamitos. I had a lot of fun and met a lot of great people. Blane was one of those great people that I met."   Read Entire Story...

SHESA FIRST RATIFY SHOWS CLASS WITH LUBBOCK STAKES WIN AT ZIA PARK
---------------------------------------------------------

HOBBS, New Mexico (October 2, 2010) — Sandy Erwin's homebred Shesa First Ratify, runner-up in the 2009 $1.9 million All American Futurity, displayed her considerable class to easily win the Grade 2, $55,000 Lubbock Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Zia Park.

Shesa First Ratify, the 6-5 favorite, broke alertly from the outside post position in the field of seven fillies and mares. Jockey Jacky Martin let her settle into stride and she rolled to the lead at the halfway mark of the 400-yard test. She drifted inward in front of the grandstand, but was well in front and crossed the finish line one length ahead of runner-up Classic Callan. Corona For You was a neck behind Classic Callan for third.

A gray daughter of all-time leading sire First Down Dash, Shesa First Ratify raced the 400 yards in :19.222 for her first stakes win.

The Jose Dominguez-trained sophomore filly impressed in the 2009 All American Futurity when she finished second behind Running Brook Gal, who went on to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park and be named champion 2-year old.  Read Entire Story...

LOS ALAMITOS EQUINE SALE AVERAGE FOR YEARLINGS UP 30% FOR OPENING SESSION
---------------------------------------------------------

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—OCTOBER 2, 2010—The Los Alamitos Equine Sale enjoyed a strong opening session, as its average price for yearlings sold was up 30% in comparison to the yearling average of the first day of 2009 sale.

A total of 170 yearlings were sold Saturday for a strong average of $13,559 and a gross total of $2,304,600. The Los Alamitos Equine Sale will continue on Sunday with the sale starting at 9:30 a.m. sharply. Live video of the sale is available at www.losalamitosequinesale.com.

The high seller of the first day of the sale was Aquaholic (Hip #139), a colt sired by Splash Bac out of AQHA champion broodmare Runaway Wave. Consigned by Lucas Racing Inc., Aquaholic was purchased by Salvador Berron of Mexico City, Mexico for $150,000. The colt was one of two $100,000 purchases on the day. The second high seller was the First Down Dash colt Travesty (Hip #235), who was purchased for $112,000 by MPC International Trading of Monterrey, Mexico. Lazy Creek Ranch consigned Travesty, who is out of a full sister to 2007 World Champion Blues Girl Too.

A total of 12 yearlings were purchased for $50,000 or more on day one of the sale, equaling the amount of yearlings that were purchased for at least $50,000 during the entire 2009 edition of the Los Alamitos Equine Sale.  Read Entire Story...

WHOLE LOT OF KARMA UPSETS HEADTURNER IN PCQHRA BREEDERS DERBY
---------------------------------------------------------

For three straight races on Friday night, Vessels Stallion Farm was represented in the winner's circle at Los Alamitos Race Course with horses that were bred by the famous Bonsall farm.

Then, in the ninth race of Friday's program, a Vessels homebred did it again, except that this time Vessels Stallion Farm, along with co-owner Bud Feldkamp, owned the winner and this time the race was the feature event of the night. Ridden by Francisco Rubio for trainer Adan Farias, the homebred Whole Lot Of Karma (left) worked his magic with a half length victory over 1-5 heavy favorite Headturner in the $153,700 PCQHRA Breeders Derby.

The victory was an emotional one for Vessels Stallion Farm, as it represented its first major stakes victory since Frank "Scoop" Vessels passed away in a plane accident. In the winner's circle, Vessels Stallion Farm was represented by Scoop's wife, Bonnie, and his son, Kash.

Bonnie Vessels was emotional following the victory, but Vessels ranch manager Kevin Dickson was right on the money when he said "this is a good kind of emotions. When the first homebred won a $7,000 maiden race earlier on this night, it felt as good as when (Vessels') Sentimental Chick won a race during the week that Scoop passed away. There were forty of us at Scoop's house when the horse won. Sentimental Chick was breaking from post four and in that race the number three horse broke inside and the five horse broke outside and Sentimental Chick had a clear path to victory. We almost tore the roof down on the house that night. You would have thought we had just won the biggest race in the sport.   Read Entire Story...

DAN LUCAS, SCOOP VESSELS ELECTED TO AQHA RACING COUNCIL
---------------------------------------------------------

May 21, 2010 — The American Quarter Horse Association today announced the two newest members of the AQHA Racing Council: Dan Lucas and Frank "Scoop" Vessels III.

Dan Lucas and wife Michelle are the owners and operators of Lucas Racing, Inc. in New Market, Maryland. Lucas started his racing operation in 1975, and began running American Quarter Horses at Pompano Park in 1978. He is a past member of the AQHA Racing Council and has served on the boards of the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association. Lucas Racing, Inc. earned the 2004 AQHA racing champion breeder award.

Vessels, the accomplished operator of Vessels Stallion Farm LLC in Bonsall, California, is a past member of the Racing Council and former AQHA Executive Committee member; he served his year as AQHA President beginning in 2004. Vessels Stallion Farm LLC was twice named AQHA racing champion breeder, in 1999 and 2006. Read Entire Story...

GIORGINO GETS FIRST INVITE TO $150,000 JOHN DEERE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP
---------------------------------------------------------

VINTON, LA—MAY 1, 2010 — Giorgino's victory in the John Deere was by only a neck as he rallied hard on the outside of the track under jockey Santo Carrizales, who accepted the mount from owner/trainer Jorge Haddad.

The winner defeated fastest qualifier Mystical Ocean B to pick-up a check for $17,303 and earn a coveted invite to the $150,000 Guaranteed John Deere Challenge Champion(G2) at The Fairgrounds Race Course in New Orleans on November 20th

Giorgino covered the 350 yards of the John Deere in a time of :17.692, which was good enough for a speed index of 92. The half-brother to 2009 Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner Ragazzo was picking up his first win in four career starts.

The sorrel son of Apollo (TB) is 1-2-0 with earnings of nearly $30,000 . Two starts back he finished sixth in the $175,000 Longhorn Futurity(G2) at Manor Downs.  Read Entire Story...

NEW STALLIONS COVER FIRST MARES
---------------------------------------------------------

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 24, 2010) -- California has seen an influx of promising stallions and they've just covered their first mares of the new breeding season.

Grade I winner Square Eddie, who stands at Vessels Stallion Farm for a $5,000 fee, is booked to 30 mares already for 2010, including the full sister of Devil His Due.

A son of Smart Strike, Square Eddie earned $819.336 and won the Breeders' Futurity.  Read Entire Story... 

FIRST DOWN DASH TOPS $70 MILLION IN SIRE EARNINGS
---------------------------------------------------------

BONSALL, CA—JANUARY 12, 2010—Leading sire First Down Dash continues to extend his lead as racing's all-time leading sire by money earned, as his get passed the $70 million mark, reaching $70,097,325 in earnings.

First Down Dash (Dash For Cash-First Prize Rose by Gallant Jet) turned 26 in 2010. As a racehorse, First Down Dash won 13 of 15 starts and earned $857,256. He was the sport's world champion in 1987.

The sorrel stallion, owned by a syndicate, leads his own sire, Dash For Cash, who is second on the list with $39,990,245. Chicks Beduino is third with $34,667,423

From 19 crops, he currently has 1,850 registered foals. He has sired 1, 114 winners from 1,510 starters (74 percent) and 218 stakes winners (14 percent), as well as 33 racing champions. The stallion sits third on the list of all-time sires by winners, behind Easy Jet with 1,382 and Chicks Beduino with 1,116. In 2009, his Grade 1 winners included Fighter On Fire, A Tempting Dash, Tempting Dash and Alice K White.

First Down Dash was bred by A.F. Stanley Jr. and B.F. Phillips Jr. and currently stands at Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California.

FIRST DOWN DASH STRETCHES EARNING LEAD AS AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ALL-TIME LEADING SIRE
---------------------------------------------------------

When Templar Knight won the $224,407 Sunland Winter Futurity G2 Sunday afternoon at Sunland Park, First Down Dash stretched his lead even further as American Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading sire.  The $105,472 earned by the gelding bred by Bill and Mary Eiland in partnership with Harris Racing vaulted First Down Dash over the $70 Million mark in earnings.

On Monday morning, First Down Dash had earners of $70,084,993. When notified by TRACK of First Down Dash's latest achievement, Scoop Vessels said, “First Down Dash continues to amaze us all. What a wonderful time it has been for this horse to be in our barn for all these years. He truly is one of a kind. He has meant so much to our family and so much to the American Quarter Horse Association.”

First Down Dash became the only horse to sire the earners of $40 Million in 2002. In 2004, he topped the $50 million mark. In 2007, he eclipsed $60 Million. First Down Dash is sired by Dash For Cash, who ranks as the No. 2 all-time sire of money earners at $39,990,245.  Click Here for PDF...

DASH TO CHIVATO DIES
---------------------------------------------------------

October 26, 2009 - Dash To Chivato, a Grade 1-winning son of First Down Dash who has sired the earners of more than $2.9 million, died this morning of cancer. The stallion was 13 years old.

An earner of $150,549 who was the 1999 high-point 3-year-old colt in California, Dash To Chivato won four of 19 races, including the Southern California Derby (G1) and PCQHRA Breeders' Derby (G2). He also was second in four races, including The Classics Futurity (R); and third in three, including the Los Alamitos Derby (G1).

Dash To Chivato has sired 159 winners from 274 starters in seven crops raced, including 13 stakes winners and the earners to date of $2,951,057.

Out of the Beduino (TB) mare Fishers Favorite, Dash To Chivato is a full brother to stakes winners First Femme ($30,972) and Check Her Twice ($215,361), and to the stakes-placed Fishers Dash ($123,495). First Femme is the dam of the earners of more than $1.2 million, including champion Old Habits ($680,966), and other stakes winners One More Habit ($272,510), First Wrangler ($95,805) and Habitual ($41,529). Check Her Twice is the dam of stakes winners Check Him Out ($418,528) and Masters Call ($51,489). Fishers Dash has sired the earners of more than $8.9 million, including two champions and 18 other stakes winners.

LOS ALAMITOS - MILDRED N. VESSELS MEMORIAL HANDICAP (G1)
---------------------------------------------------------

Terrific Energy - (4M, Mr Jess Perry-First Down Energy by First Down Dash, 11-6-2-1$147,882. O: Parsons Family Trust, B: Pohl & Pruitt/Burnett Ranches, T: Chris O'Dell, J: Eddie Garcia. Mare is a half sister to Grade 3-placed runner West Texas Energy.)

My Lady First - (4M, First Down Dash-Lady Of Lake (TB) by Salt Lake (TB). O: Rancho El Alacran Inc., B: Shultz Ranch, T: Adan Farias, J: Rodrigo Aceves. Mare is now four-times Grade 1 placed, won the California Breeders' Matron Stakes (RG2).)

Alice K White - (3F, First Down Dash-Champagne Lane by Lanes Leinster. O/B: MJ Farms, T: Mike Joiner, J: Cody Jensen. In her previous start, filly won the Golden State Derby (G1) over males, and earlier this year, she won the La Primera Del Ano Derby (G2).)

Sent off at 4-1, Terrific Energy dominated the Millie Vessels with a 1 1/4-length win, earning herself a berth to the Champion of Champions (G1). Last year's Millie Vessels winner, Stylish Jess BR, was scratched after being treated for symptoms of colic. In January, Terrific Energy won the Charger Bar Handicap (G1), and on August 21 was second to Stylish Jess BR in the Merial California Distaff Challenge (G3).

Congratulations to Vessel's, Lisa McMahon, and Robbi Knudsen
---------------------------------------------------------

"Congratulations to Vessel's, Lisa McMahon, and Robbi Knudsen for winning the "Most Outstanding Weanling for 2009" trophy that is through Speedhorse Magazine. The picture that won was of FDD/Blazin Fire colt that Robbi took. Outstanding picture, and outstanding colt! He was picked by their staff after going through the hundreds of foal pictures submitted throughout the year."

AQHA ANNOUNCES 2010 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
---------------------------------------------------------

America's Horse, July 22, 2009 - Three individuals and three horses will be inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame during the 2010 American Quarter Horse Association Convention, March 5-8 in Kissimmee, Florida.

The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to honor people and horses instrumental in the development of the breed and the American Quarter Horse Association. Induction into the Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors bestowed by AQHA.

Frank "Scoop" Vessels III

An AQHA life member, Frank "Scoop" Vessels III served as AQHA president in 2004. Vessels has been around good horses all of his life, since his grandfather, Frank Vessels Sr., who was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1989, started both Los Alamitos Race Course and Vessels Stallion Farm.

A recipient of the 1999 AQHA Champion Breeder of the Year and the 2000 Gordon Crone Special Achievement Award, Vessels was first appointed to the AQHA Racing Committee in 1992. He was awarded the John W. Galbreath Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship in the Equine Industry from the University of Louisville's equine industry program in 2003. Read Entire Story...

SEPARATE BET HONORED
---------------------------------------------------------

On June 9, the Remington Park press box released a list of horses who were honored for their 2009 performances at the Oklahoma City track. Separate Bet from the First Down Dash mare Better Bet On Me received 2009 Horse of the Meet honors. The Vessels Stallion Farm-bred Separate Bet won three stakes and set two track records. By winning the Grade I Remington Park Championship on May 30, he received an invitation to run in the Grade I Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on December 12.

Here is the full list of honorees:
Horse of the Meet, Champion Older Male—Separate Bet
Champion Two-Year-Old—Ragazzo
Champion Three-Year-Old and Oklahoma Bred—Cuz Eye Said
Champion Older Female—Answer The Dream
Champion Distance Horse—Snowbound Superstar
Champion Claimer—Business Tycoon

STORM CAT (TB) ENTERS THE QUARTER HORSE WORLD
---------------------------------------------------------

Storm Cat (TB) has entered the Quarter Horse world. Champion Your First Moon, a $750,726-earning daughter of First Down Dash out of the winning Beduino (TB) mare Moon Arisen, on May 22 foaled this colt (right), who is owned by Grammy-winning singer star Lyle Lovett and Vessels Stallion Farm.

"We consider it a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in partnership with Lyle, and also to be involved with people like Dickson Varner from Texas A&M, Dr. Stuart Brown and everyone at Overbrook, and to be able to be a part of the legacy of, without question, the best Thoroughbred stallion of all time, Storm Cat," said Frank "Scoop" Vessels III, AQHA past president and master of Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California.

Click here to view a group of photos of the new yet-be-named colt; you'll need to use your scroll bar to move through the photos. New Slide show

CULVER ACADEMIES PARTICIPATING IN PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL PARADE
---------------------------------------------------------

Frank "Colt" Vessels, son of AQHA Past President Frank "Scoop" Vessels III and wife Bonnie, will be among the riders in Culver Academies' Black Horse Troop participating in the president's inauguration parade January 20 in Washington, D.C. Colt is a freshman at the Indiana boarding school.

Culver, one of only 49 schools invited to participate in the parade, plans to take 100 riders with their horses to the parade. Culver's participation in the inauguration is a tradition dating back more than 90 years to Woodrow Wilson's inaugurals in 1913 and 1917. In both, Culver's Black Horse Troop served as the personal escort to former Indiana Gov. and then Vice President Thomas Marshall. The Black Horse Troop made its third appearance during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's second inaugural in 1957, and then participated in every inaugural parade through 1989. It returned to the parade in 1997.

NO SECRETS HERE ARRIVING TO VESSELS FOR 2009 SEASON
---------------------------------------------------------

The 2006 Grade I All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here will enter stud in 2009 at Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, joining his sire First Down Dash and Two Time Champion Colt FDD Dynasty

No Secrets Here will be available to the public for the introductory fee of $5,000.

                         **BONUS**
The Breeders of the First Open Grade I winner by No Secrets Here will recieve $20,000 , the Second Open Grade I winner will recieve $10,000 and the Third Open Grade I winner will receive $5,000 Cash from Vessels Stallion Farm LLC.

REMEMBERING MILLIE VESSELS
---------------------------------------------------------

Saturday's running of the $250,000 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap honors the memory of the matriarch of Los Alamitos Race Course. Born in Hemet, California, "Millie" Vessels assumed command of the reigns as Los Alamitos Race Course President upon the death of her husband, Frank Vessels Jr., in December of 1974.

Millie had been involved in working closely with both Frank Sr. and Junior since the first days of Los Alamitos, but this was a challenging step for her to take on her own as she was the only female president of a major racetrack in the nation. Her stewardship of Los Alamitos was solid and steady. She engineered the development of the two richest races run in the state of California at the time - the Skoal Dash For Cash Futurity and the Kindergarten Futurity. Millie opened a $2.5 million, 400-stall expansion to the Los Alamitos barn area in the early 1980s.

"Millie was an integral part of Los Alamitos Race Course history," said Los Alamitos Race Course owner Ed Allred. "From the first day of this track's opening season and continuing today, Millie remains a wonderful part of Los Alamitos. We are proud to recognize her memory each year with the running of the $250,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap."    Read Entire Story...

VESSELS ADDS RESIDENT VETERINARIAN DR. DAVID STONE
---------------------------------------------------------

Beginning October 15, Vessels Stallion Farm will have a veterinarian residing on the farm. David Stone, DVM, a graduate of Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, has accepted the position of resident veterinarian at Vessels Stallion Farm and will be relocating to California in the next few weeks.

Dr. Stone practiced several years in Tennesee and Alabama before joining Royal Vista Southwest and Maui Farm in Purcell, Oklahoma. His duties included breeding work at both locations. Scoop Vessels told TRACK, “This is something that we have wanted to do for several years, but we just never found the right person to fill the position. This is a very unique opportinity for us to be able to better serve our clients and I am very pleased that we are able to provide this service. Dr. Stone will be able to help us in many ways.”

LEADING PRODUCER HAREMS CHOICE LAID TO REST AT VESSELS STALLION FARM
---------------------------------------------------------

BONSALL, CALIFORNIA--Multiple Champion producer Harem’s Choice was laid to rest on Thursday, September 6, 2007, alongside her long-time paddock partner Fishers Favorite at Vessels Stallion Farm.

The 23-year-old mare was owned by Robert and Helen Wood of Seagraves, Texas.

With a 12-day colt from the first crop by First Down Dash at her side, the Woods purchased Harems Choice for $20,000 from Vessels Stallion Farm at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in Oklahoma City on January 28, 1989.
Read Entire Story...

Nick your mare!

. TO A VESSELS THOROUGHBRED STALLION USING THE WERK NICK RATING - A PRODUCT OF WERK THOROUGHBRED CONSULTANTS INC.