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Red Dust Provides Team Valor with First South American Victory,
Juvenile Half-Brother to Stable Star Aquino Wins by 2 Lengths,
Favorite Versus 8 Scores on Lead at Las Maronas in Career Debut

June 21, 2009

Team Valor International lived up to its name when Red Dust provided the Kentucky-based stable with its first winner in its first race in South America. The unusually colored 2-year-old broke on top and lead every step of the way. More


Unbridled Belle Romps by 11 Lengths to Defend in Obeah Stakes,
Todd Pletcher Trainee to Seek Second Delaware Handicap Next,
Grade 1 Winner Now 5 Wins, 2 Placed from 7 Outings at Delaware

June 20, 2009

Team Valor Stables’ Unbridled Belle scored in the $125,700 Obeah Stakes (gr. III) for the second straight season, getting out to an early lead and running her six rivals off their feet to win by 11 lengths June 20 in the slop at Delaware Park. More


Sailor's Cap Collapses in Stall and Dies at 4:30 A. M. at Belmont,
Trainer J.J. Toner Orders Autopsy of Sunday's Gr.3 Poker Hero,
Team Valor Homebred was Multiple Graded Winner of $616,970

June 17, 2009

Sailor’s Cap, who upset Sunday’s Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park, collapsed and died in his stall in trainer J. J. Toner’s barn at 4:30 a. m. on Wednesday. Cause of death is unknown and an autopsy will be performed at the New Bolton Research Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. More


Sailor's Cap Sails on Wet Footing To Upset Grade 3 Poker Stakes,
Team Valor Colt Beats High-Class Crew on the Long Island Turf,
Trainer Toner has Homebred Distant View Colt Spot On in Return

June 14, 2009

Sailor’s Cap upstaged Kip Deville’s comebacker with a layoff return of his own when he skipped home a clear winner of the Grade 3 Poker Stakes today at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York for Team Valor International. More


Daveron Takes a Listed Race at Baden-Baden in Her Stakes Debut,
Team Valor German Yearling Buy Shows Courage in Gutsy Score,
Group 2 Next for Filly with 2 Wins, Close Second in 4 Career Outs

May 23, 2009

Daveron always showed more than a touch a class in her two outings as a 3-year-old in Germany, where she had a win and a close loss. Returned at four in a Listed stakes at Baden-Baden (Germany’s premier racing venue), the elegant daughter of Black Sam Bellamy withstood a stretch-long challenge from a more seasoned rival in La Bamba and held on by a head in the Hotellerie Baden-Baden over 11 furlongs. More


Rachel Alexandra First Filly in 85 Tears to Win Preakness Stakes,
Team Valor's Barry Irwin Sold the Winner's Sire Medaglia D'Oro

May 16, 2009

Rachel Alexandra today became the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes since Nellie Morse turned the trick in 1924. She capped a dream week for her sire when his daughter Payton d’Oro won the filly’s equivalent of the Preakness in the Black-Eyed Susan the day before. Barry Irwin, owner of Team Valor International, bought the filly’s sire, $5.7-million earner Medaglia d’Oro, after he was retired from racing for his current owners, who stand him at their Stonewall Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. More


On Her Toes Asserts Herself Late to Score in KZN Fillies Guineas,
Gavin Lerena Turns in Masterful Ride to Produce Filly for Tally,
Grade 1, Classic-Winning Filly is Now Unbeaten in 5 Races in Natal

May 12, 2009

On Her Toes’ victory in Tuesday evening’s postponed Classic Kwa Zulu Natal Fillies Guineas at Clairwood was as much a triumph for trainer Mike (The Azzman) Azzie as it was for Team Valor International and its partners and Anant and Vanashree Singh, because he pushed Barry Irwin hard to be allowed to run the filly in the testing conditions. More


Gitano Hernando is Gutty Second in Group Dee Stakes in England,
Team Valor/Gary Barber Colt Punches Ticket for June 6 Belmont,
Colt Follows Tried and True Path of Belmont Second My Memoirs

May 8, 2009

Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Gitano Hernando punched his ticket for the June 6 Belmont Stakes with a bang-up second today when he failed by a head of pegging back the winner of the Group 3 Dee Stakes at Chester race course in England. More


Hull will Line Up for The Preakness Stakes in a Change of Plans,
Derby Result and a Lack of Top New Shooters Prompts the Move,
Miguel Mena Rides Unbeaten Colt in Second Leg of Triple Crown

May 4, 2009

Hull, unbeaten in 3 starts by a total of 16 lengths this season for trainer Dale Romans, will line up for the Preakness. Owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stables, Team Valor International and Gary Barber, the Kentucky-bred son of Holy Bull won the Derby Trial on opening day at Churchill Downs by 4 lengths. More


Hull Becomes Barry Irwin's 100th Stakes Winner in G3 Derby Trial,
Milestone Reached with Partners Bill Heiligbrodt, Gary Barber,
Century Mark of Added-Money Winners Earned Since 1987 by B. Eye

April 25, 2009

When Hull skipped under the wire 4 lengths clear to take this afternoon’s Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs, he became individual stakes winner number 100 to represent a racing partnership formed by Team Valor International owner Barry Irwin since 1987. More


Hull Skedaddles to 4-Length Score in Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes,
Easily Handles a Wide Trip, Raise in Class in Churchill Downs Win,
Holy Bull 3-Year-Old Now Unbeaten in 3 Starts for Partnership

April 25, 2009

Hull exceeded expectations today when he dominated the Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs, pressing the pace from the outside while extremely wide and drawing off to triumph by 4 lengths as the 7 to 3 third choice in a field of 8 for trainer Dale Romans and owners Team Valor International, Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and Gary Barber. More


Grade 1 New York Stakes Winner Visionaire Retired from Racing,
Won King's Bishop S. at Saratoga and Gotham S. at Aqueduct at 3,
Grand Slam Colt Winner in 5 of 12 Starts for Trainer Michael Matz

April 22, 2009

Four-year-old Visionaire, who rolled home to a 2 ¼-length victory last summer in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga, has been retired from racing, it was announced by trainer Michael Matz. “Visionaire most likely suffered a knee chip in the King’s Bishop,” said Matz. “His next two races were unlike him. Surgery was performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage last fall, but he has not trained to our satisfaction, so the owners have decided to retire him, rather than blemish his racing record." More


On Her Toes Takes Grade 3 Sunday Back to Best Trip of 7 Furlongs,
National Yearlings Buy Stays Unbeaten in 3 Starts at Scottsville,
Grade 2 KZN Fillies Guineas Could Be Next on Agenda of Azzie Star

April 19, 2009

On Her Toes survived a late-race hiccup and a review of the incident in the stewards stand to claim victory Sunday in a record-run renewal of the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes going 7 furlongs on the downhill course at Scottsville. More


Team Valor Could be Heading into Record Territory This Season,
Stable Has Now Won 6 Stakes Races and Has 10 Stakes Performers,
With 23 Victories, the Winning Strike Rate Resides at 26.4 Percent

April 19, 2009

Team Valor International is about to complete the opening trimester of the 2009 season with an eye on some of the stable’s all-time records. Last season Team Valor set a stable record for wins with 67. With 23 wins already under its belt this year, the stable has a new standard in its sights. The winning strike rate at present is 26.4, well above the 20-percent mark with which it ended its 2008. More


Recent PaulickReport.com Article Reviews Race For Education Charity
April 18, 2009

Recent "Good News Friday" article at the PaulickReport.com reviews the outstanding good work performed by the racing charity "The Race For Education," a scholarship program designed specifically for a) the children of backstretch employees, and b) any student desiring to put their education to use in the racing industry. More


Hull Passes Keeneland Race in Favor of Derby Trial at Churchill
April 15, 2009

Unbeaten Hull is going to be scratched from Saturday’s Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, as his connections have decided not to run him from the outside stall in a field of 12. Instead, the Holy Bull son will race a week later at Churchill Downs for the Derby Trial over 7 ½ furlongs around one turn for a purse of $100,000 in a Grade 3 fixture. Miguel Mena, the third-leading rider at Keeneland, will retain the mount. More


My Kazzie Breaks Her Maiden by 8 ½ Lengths at the Big T in Joburg,
National Yearlings Sale Graduate Looks Special for Team Valor,
Provides Barry Irwin with his 700th Win for a Racing Partnership

April 11, 2009

My Kazzie scored a stylish 8 ½-length victory on Saturday in the first race at Turffontein race course in Johannesburg, South Africa. The juvenile provided a milestone victory, as the win was number 700 for a runner racing for a partnership formed since 1987 by Barry Irwin, the owner of Team Valor International of Versailles, Kentucky. More


Hull Romps to Daylight Win by Widening 7 ¾ Lengths at Turfway,
Colt Never Allowed to Run and Comes Within 4/5 of Track Record,
Recent Team Valor Acquisition on Track for G2 Lexington Stakes

April 2, 2009

Hull stamped himself as much more than a "one-hit-wonder" and as a bona-fide contender nationally in the sophomore ranks on Thursday at Turfway Park when he parlayed his debut romp at Fair Grounds in February with an encore performance saturated with brilliance. The recent Team Valor acquisition cruised by 7 ¾ lengths in his first start against winners and despite being held in the proverbial "death-grip" by jockey Miguel Mena for the entire 1:16 1/5 of the race, the blue-sky prospect stopped the clock just four-fifths of a second shy of the track record on the Polytrack. More


Gitano Hernando Records Very Stylish Win in Team Valor Debut,
Red Colt Roars Home to 2 1/2-Length Win at Doncaster in England,
Botti is Oozing with Confidence on Road to the Belmont Stakes

March 29, 2009

Gitano Hernando made a sterling impression in his Team Valor International debut at Doncaster Racecourse on Sunday in the northern part of England, storming home down the stretch to register a resounding 2 ½-length score in a Class 3 Handicap over 1 ¼ miles on firm turf. The win marks a successful initial step on the colt’s path towards the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Belmont Stakes on June 6. The son of Hernando was acquired by Team Valor earlier in the year. More


Gypsy's Warning Wins Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic to Head the Class,
Filly Bids to Become Team Valor's Third Champion Miss in 4 Years,
She Delivers Stakes Score Number 200 Since 1987 for Barry Irwin

March 28, 2009

Gypsy’s Warning cemented her position as the top middle distance filly among 3-year-olds in South Africa today with an authoritative 2-length triumph in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, leading a 1-3 finish for Team Valor International, which also had Sweet Theresa finished third in the 9-furlong race. More


Russian Sage is Switched to $5-Million, 12-Furlong Sheema Classic,
Irwin Calls Audible when Eagle Mountain Defects from Sod Race,
Says Difference Between Sheema and Duty Free is Night and Day"

March 22, 2009

Even though a decision was made last week to run Russian Sage in the 9-furlong Dubai Duty Free, Team Valor International owner Barry Irwin could not reconcile the decision and has opted instead to take the path of least resistance in the Sheema Classic. More


Kinsella Wins Racing Debut for Team Valor International Group,
$2.2-Million Saratoga Yearling Sale Topper Overcomes Trouble,
Pletcher Protege Breaks Slowly, Goes Wide, Still Wins in Style

March 14, 2009

Barry Irwin no longer has to answer the oft-asked question “Whatever happened to that expensive yearling you bought a couple of years ago at Saratoga, that big chestnut Mr. Greeley colt?” Kinsella answered the question himself in emphatic fashion as the tall, athletic sophomore turned in a breathtaking performance to win in his debut by three-quarters of a length. More


Team Valor Gears Up for Fifth South African Yearling Venture,
Barry Irwin has Plans to Buy Group of Fillies, Perhaps One Colt,
Dollar's Strength will Help American Stable to Meets Its Needs

March 13, 2009

Barry Irwin will attend South Africa’s National Yearling Sale for a fifth consecutive year next month. The program consists of racing the yearlings in South Africa to prove them, then export the best ones to Dubai, Europe and the United States. The success rates have been extremely high and Team Valor looks forward to forming new partnerships this season. More


Winning Point Becomes a Stakes Winner Going a Mile in New York,
Oft-Graded-Placed Mare Comes Good for Trainer K. McLaughlin,
Individual Stakes Winner number 99 for a Barry Irwin Syndicate

March 8, 2009

Winning Point rewarded the patience of her connections by scoring a 4 ½-length victory at Aqueduct on Sunday in the $65,000-added Am Capable Stakes and became individual stakes winner number 99 for a partnership formed and managed by Barry Irwin, owner of Team Valor International. More


Chiquita Takes Listed Bauhinia Stakes Sprinting at Turffontein,
National Yearling Sale Buy Remains Unbeaten in 3 Sprint Starts,
Becomes Stakes Winner Number 98 For a Barry Irwin Partnership

March 7, 2009

Chiquita this afternoon scored a facile, eased-down victory in the Bauhinia Stakes, a Listed stakes at Turffontein race course in Johannesburg, South Africa. The nearly jet-black filly was always close up with trainer Geoff Woodruff’s stable rider Mark Khan, who let her open up in the final furlong. She was perhaps 2 ½ lengths clear with 100 meters left in the dash up the straightaway and was eased right down to win by 1 ¾ lengths. Time for the 5 furlongs on grass was :56 4/5. Purchased by Barry Irwin at the National Yearling Sale, the Western Winter filly becomes individual stakes winner number 98. More


Russian Sage Deadheats in Second with Jay Peg in Duty Free Prep,
Team Valor Colt Gives 5.5 Pounds to 1 ¼-Length Jebel Hatta Hero,
Champion Earns His Way into the $5-Million World Cup Night Run

March 5, 2009

Russian Sage had more difficulty getting into the Grade 2 Jebel Hatta than running well in the World Cup night prep, but everything worked out well in the end for the owners of the South African Champion. The Team Valor International colorbearer shared highweight of 131 pounds with fellow South African Jay Peg, who won the $5-million Grade 1 Duty Free last year in course record time. At the finish of the Jebel Hatta, Russian Sage and Jay Peg finished on even terms. More


Temair is Second to Grade 1 Winner Mother Russia in Prix du Cap,
National Yearling Sale Bargain Turns in Career-Topping Effort,
She is Graded Stakes Horse No. 129 for a Barry Irwin Partnership

February 21, 2009

Temair ran the odds-on, short-priced favorite Mother Russia to a half-length this afternoon in the Grade 3 Prix du Cap over 7 furlongs at Kenilworth race course in Cape Town, South Africa. More


Gypsy's Warning Pisses Up Versus Older in South African Grade 3,
Racing Handy This Time, She Cruises Home on Top by 1 ¼ Lengths,
Team Valor Looks to Upset Dancer's Daughter Next in Grade 1

February 7, 2009

Gypsy’s Warning scored a facile win on Saturday running against older fillies and mares in the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over a mile at Turffontein race course. More


Team Valor Buys 3-Year-Old South African Filly Sweet Theresa,
Grade 3 Winner Remains with Veteran Trainer Ormond Ferraris,
Stable Holds Dominant Hand in Johannesburg's Soph Filly Ranks

January 30, 2009

In a move to strengthen its already strong hold on the 3-year-old filly division in Johannesburg, Team Valor International has acquired from trainer Ormond Ferraris and his Hong Kong-based trainer son David the Grade 3-winning filly Sweet Theresa. In her most recent outing on November 29, the powerful bay filly overcame an outside draw in a field of 15 other sophomore fillies to demonstrate that she had gears while fashioning a highly impressive 3 ¼-length victory in the Grade 3 Hertz Fillies Mile at Turffontein. More


Team Valor Purchases 3-Year-Old English Colt Gitano Hernando,
Newmarket-Based Marco Botti Colt to Aim for Belmont Stakes,
Hernando Colt is Out of Graded U. S. Stakes Winner Gino's Spirits

January 29, 2009

Team Valor International has acquired English-based Gitano Hernando and will point him to the Triple Crown in the United States. The Kentucky outfit syndicated him in a matter of 3 days last week. More


Joshua's Mistress Becomes Stakes Winner in Listed Laisserfaire,
Team Valor and Partners get Their First Stakes Winner in 2009,
Justin Snaith and Bernard Fayd'Herbe Combine in Cape Town Win

January 24, 2009

Joshua’s Mistress, under an astute ride from Bernard Fayd’Herbe, stole a march halfway through the 6-furlong Listed Laisserfaire Stakes on Saturday at Kenilworth race course in Cape Town, South Africa and held on for a gritty score. More


Team Valor International Hires New Office Worker Megan Jones,
Clemson Grad gives Continuity in Amy Collingsworth's Absence,
South Carolinian to Help Set Up New Office on Rose Hill Avenue

January 12, 2009

The national economy might be headed the wrong way, but Team Valor International hopefully is going in a different direction. To that end, the company hired Megan Jones of South Carolina this week to shore up its office staff, as it seeks continuity in the anticipated absence later this year when Amy Collingsworth takes some time off after she foals. More


Team Valor Completes One of Its Most Successful Racing Seasons
January 1, 2009

In the 22 racing seasons that Barry Irwin has raced horses in the partnership format, 2008 went down in the annals of the stable as one of its most successful years. Highlight among the achievements accomplished by Team Valor International was the 67 wins, which shattered the previous mark of 44, achieved twice in the past. But there were other records set that are worthy of mention.... More



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