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From Stallion E-Search.com—

Leading Producer Harems Choice Laid To Rest at Vessels

Bonsall, Calif.—September 7, 2007—Multiple Champion producer Harems Choice was laid to rest yesterday (Thursday), 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-old 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.

That colt went on to be named Royal Quick Dash and in 1991 became the first All American Futurity winner the first millionaire, and the first Champion sired by now all-time leading sire First Down Dash.

"We are honored to have had Harems Choice here for all these years and to have participated in our foal sharing program with the Wood family," said Scoop Vessels.

"It is very special to all of us in the Vessels family to have these long-term relationships with mares like Harems Choice and good horsemen and good people like the Woods.

"Harems Choice was born right here and all but three of her foals were bred right here. For the past few years she lived with Fishers Favorite and Sizzling Lil and we had the pleasure of visiting those ladies every day.

"We are very fortunate that she will never leave us, just like her blood through her sons and daughters will never leave the pedigrees of good racing American Quarter Horses."

In addition to Royal Quick Dash, Harems Choice also produced Champion First Sovereign SI-106, $278,829, who won the Grade I Kindergarten Futurity and the Grade I Ed Burke Memorial Futurity; Grade I Los Alamitos Million Futurity winner A Regal Choice SI-101,$735,507; Multiple Stakes Placed Winner First Rate Choice SI-104, $98,220, and the dam of Grade I Ruidoso Futurity Winner Red Clay Of Texas SI-105, S 169,863.

Harems Choice also has a yearling filly by First Down Dash named Harems Dynasty and a 2007 colt by First Down Dash. A recipient mare at Vessels currently is carrying a First Down Dash--Harems Choice embryo.

To date, Harems Choice has 15 foals to reach racing age with 14 starters which have earned $2,253,387. A daughter of Beduino (TB), Harems Choice was from the immediate family of Champion Black Easter Bunny (the dam of Champion Bunny's Bar Maid); World Record Setter and Champion Come Six; and Multiple Stakes Winner and two-time 350-yard track record setter Miss Flicka Reb.

Harems Choice photographed on August 25, 2007 at Vessels Stallion Farm.
Photo by Robbi Knudson Photography

From Stallion E-Search.com—

Grade 1 Winner Slm Snowman Dies

JUNE 29, 2007—Seven-year-old SLM Snowman was euthanized May 27 due to complication from laminitis, according to his owner Lindsey Mitchell.

The Grade 1 winner bred by Mrs. Mitchell and her late husband, Steve, SLM Snowman earned $544,988 while racing from 2002 through 2006. Winning 11 of 27 starts the gelding was a son of champion and multiple grade 1 sire This Snow Is Royal.

He won six stakes including the 2004 MBNA America Challenge Championship(G1) and the MBNA America Central Challenge(G2) twice. SLM Snowman holds the 440-yard track record at Prairie Meadows.

He made his last start in the $150,510 Remington Park Invitational Championship on June 4, 2006, winning the race against a field that included 2005 world champion DM Shicago, reigning champion aged stallion Country Chicks Man, Grade 1 winner and 440-yard world record holder A Long Goodbye and Grade 1 winner This Snow Is Cold.

“We weren’t planning to race him this year,” said Mitchell from her home in Athens, Texas. “Toward the beginning of the year we were hoping he would recover from his laminitis, but he turned 7 this year and we just wanted him home. He was a great horse, and he had a great personality.”

From Stallion E-Search.com—

First Down Dash Sires 200th Stakes Winner

Cypress, CA—May 13, 2007—The sport's All-Time Leading Sire First Down Dash got his 200th stakes winner on Saturday night when Armyguy won the Brotherly Handicap at Los Alamitos.

Armyguy is a four-year-old son of First Down Dash and pushed his career career bankroll to $51,830.

The 1987 world champion and a six-time Grade 1 winner has sired 984 winners from 1,352 starters. First Down Dash 's 18 crops have earned more than $60.5 million.

Bred by A.F. “Sonny” Stanley Jr. and B.F. Phillips Jr., the now 23-year-old Dash For Cash stallion was purchased as a yearling by Millie Vessels. He is now owned by a syndicate and stands at AQHA Past President Frank “Scoop” Vessels III’s Vessels Stallion Farm at Bonsall, California.

All-Time Leading Sire First Down Dash.
Photo Courtesy: Vessels Stallion Farm

First Down Dash Progeny Earnings Go Over $60 Million

BONSALL, CA—March 19, 2007—Coming off the biggest single year ever for a stallion, First Down Dash went over the $60 million mark in progeny career earnings last week.

The 22-year-old stallion is $20 million ahead of his sire Dash For Cash, whose last crop raced in 1996 and earned in excess of $39.9.

In 2006 First Down Dash's progeny earned a record $6,549,242, siring three of the top four 2006 money earners in No Secrets Here ($1,375,745), 2006 World Champion Wave Carver ($1,011,196) and 2006 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt FDD Dynasty ($945,2660).

From 19 crops to race, he has sired 198 stakes winners, 181 stakes-placed, 29 champions and 4 world champions with average earnings per starter of $45,437. Through last week the former World Champion had sired $60,022,049 in money earners.

"On behalf of our horse, and family, and all of his syndicate members we are excited to share another piece of history from First Down Dash," said Frank "Scoop" Vessels.

Mildred Vessels purchased First Down Dash as a yearling from the Phillips Ranch Sale in 1985. He won 13 of 15 starts while earning $857,256. The 1987 AQHA Racing World Champion, Champion Three Year Old and Champion Three Year Old Colt won the Champion of Champions(G1), Dash For Cash Futurity(G1), Kindergarten Futurity (G1), Los Alamitos Derby (G1), Dash For Cash Derby (G1), QHBC Championship Classic (G1), and the Laddie Handicap (G2).

A.F Stanley, Jr. and B.F. Phillps, Jr. bred the sorrel stallion out of the Gallant Jet mare First Prize Rose. His full sister First Prize Dash was named the 2006 AQHA Racing Broodmare of the Year when she produced three grade 1 two-year-olds last season, First Prize Robin ($295,147), First Carolina ($293,966), First Prize Perry ($241,226) and another son, Heza Fast Dash, was the #2 Leadings First Year Sire of Money Earners.

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