Bit of Whimsy, one of the top 3-year-old turf fillies of 2007, has been retired because of an injury suffered in the July 26 Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga.

“We thought she had ruptured a tendon, but then later found out it was a twisted ankle,” said Bonner Young, who raced the 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor with Gerald McManis.

Last year, Bit of Whimsy won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT), Mrs. Revere (gr. IIT), and Sands Point (gr. IIIT) Stakes, and ran second in the Garden City Stakes (gr. IT). Her victory in the Sands Point came in a deadheat with Rutherienne.

Bit of Whimsy retired with four wins from 10 races and earnings of $555,133. She will boarded at her birthplace, Hinkle Farms near Paris, Ky., where her dam, Kristi B (by El Prado), also is kept.

Bit of Whimsy was bred by Young and her mother, Joyce B. Rowand. Breeding plans are undecided.

Bloodhorse.com, August 13, 2008

The Hinkle Farms homebred Buy the Barrel has been retired from racing.  The 2008 racing season was a special one having won the Grade 2 Allaire Dupont Distaff on Preakness Day.  She also won the Bayakoa and Houstan Distaff Stakes this year. 

She will be retired to Hinkle Farms and bred in 2009.  We wish to thank Cindy and Larry Jones for the incredible job they did training our filly.  We owe everyone involved with her a special thanks for such a wonderful year.

The Hinkle Farms homebred, Mazella, won the Autumn Stakes at Hollywood Park on December 1.  She set a new track record of 1:21.30 in her winning effort.  We wish Judith and Barry Becker the best of luck in her upcoming races.

Tiara Racing, LLC is a new racing partnership that was formed by Hinkle Farms this past September.  The premise behind this partnership is slightly different from most racing partnerships.  The recent trend in the Thoroughbred marketplace has been for buyers to pay inflated prices for stock by new, unproven sires.  While at the same time, horses by proven racehorses fall under the radar and sell for below market value.  This partnership was develop in the mindset to seek those individuals that are by the proven racehorse sire.

The first group of Tiara Racing fillies were purchased at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.  We purchased five yearlings by such great proven racehorse sires as Crafty Prospector, Quiet American, Royal Academy, Salt Lake and Smart Strike.  Each year these sires are leading sires in their prospective divisions.  It is our intention to use this first group as a spring board for new purchases every year.

We are very excited about this new venture.  If you have any questions or would like to become a part of Tiara Racing, please contact Ben Kessinger at Hinkle Farms.