ALTISSIMO WINS BABST PALACIOS – AWARDS BANQUET
ALTISSIMO RETURNS A WINNER – JOIN THE PARTY – MAY 17
There is no better place to spend a late day in May, than on the grounds of Darby Dan Farm in Galloway, Ohio. Join your fellow owners and breeders at the OTBO Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, May 17. The party starts at 5:00 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres featuring a variety of specialty cheeses, shrimp cocktail and more. You can purchase beverages at the cash bar and take in the view of Darby Creek from the outdoor patio.
Sports lovers will be treated to historic displays of John Galbreath’s great runners through exhibits from the victories of Darby Dan greats winning the Kentucky Derby, English Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Baseball fan’s can take in memorabilia from Galbreath’s World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates and his favorite champion football teams from THE Ohio State University.
Dinner will begin at 6:30 followed by the announcement of Ohio’s Outstanding Champions of 2018 that will be featured in the film “Here’s to the Winners!” The divisional winner’s will be presented their trophies and be welcomed to address their fellow O.T.B.O. members and state dignitaries. It only happens once a year. Everyone is invited and the cost is only $50.00 per person. Seating is limited so reserve your spot (you may request to be seated with friends or partners) – we need to let the caterer know how much food to prepare – so reserve your spot now! Pull down an invitation online or contact the office via email – ohiobreeders@gmail.com or call 937-723-6026.
ALTISSIMO COMES OUT RUNNING IN 2019
He won six of nine starts last season – five of them in Ohio Stakes for season’s earnings of $320,875. Now a 6-year-old, Altissimo is back to his winning ways with a strong win in the $75,000 Edward Babst/Albert Palacios Memorial at Belterra Park on April 27.
He came into the 6-furlong affair off a series of works, highlighted by a best of 37 four-furlong morning breeze. “Eventually we’ll move all of our horses to Thistledown,” said trainer Richard Zielinski. “Rather than change environments and then quickly ship to Cincinnati for the race, we elected to keep him stabled at Mahoning Valley where he had been training steadily.”
Only five runners elected to take on Altissimo and when the gates broke regular rider Christian Pilares let him roll, but they we not without company for most of the race. Brown Buckeye broke a tad slowly on the rail, but was immediately put into the race by Luis Rivera. The leaders matched strides through the first quarter of a mile and soon Mannford replaced Brown Buckeye going head to head with Altissimo around the turn and into the stretch. He had to work for it, but in mid-stretch Altissimo began to lengthen his advantage and held off a late rally by two-time Ohio Horse of the Year Mo Dont No, while Mannford settled for the third spot.
“That was a little more pressure than I expected,” Zielinski spoke in the stakes room while watching the replay. “I was a little nervous when they flashed the early fractions of :44 3/5 and :56 4/5.” The final time was 1:10.10. Bred by Nancy Lavrich and Niknar Farm LLC, the son of Noble Causeway out of Great Goin Rose by Albert the Great pushed his career earnings to $519,388. He is owned by Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski.
So, what does the future hold for Altissimo? “I guess we’ll take the same route as last year,” quoted Zielinski. “We won the Gendelman here last year going long, I hope it stays on the grass. The race isn’t until June and I wish there was something in between.”
