Venturesome Arden and Illustrious Arden have both been performing well in New York State since being exported there in October 2023.
5-year-old Venturesome Arden was bred and raised at Arden Lodge and sold at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales for $47,500. After 14 starts in New Zealand for 3 wins and 4 thirds ($30,456 in stakes) for trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn, the Captaintreacherous gelding out of Bettor's Delight mare Arden's Darlin was exported to the US in October last year.
Venturesome Arden as a yearling at Arden Lodge.
Venturesome Arden is the sixth foal of the 2008 2 YO filly of the year Arden's Darlin. Her other progeny includes Celestial Arden a Rocknroll Heaven colt (18 wins, 16 seconds, 10 thirds for Au $155,535) and Arden Voyager, a Somebeachsomewhere colt ($123,770 14 wins, 5 seconds and 10 thirds).
Now trained and owned by Ricky Bucci Venturesome Arden has been racing in New York State and has clocked up a total of nine wins and six placings and has earned a further USD $123,425 in stakes. His best mile rate is 1.50.8 (US)
The MGM Borgata Pacing Series (formerly known as the George Morton Levy Pacing Series) is a Group 3 Open FFA Pacing Series run over five consecutive weeks at Yonkers Raceway, followed by a final the following week. Points are accrued for each performance.
After a third placing and good performances with tricky draws, Venturesome Arden was a convincing winner of the final preliminary heat on 14th April for driver Jason Bartlett.
Venturesome Arden -winner of Heat 5 of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series
Narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final on 22nd April Venturesome Arden was a decisive winner of the final of the Consolation. He beat home Sumomentsomewhere, Pleaseletmeknow and Hemsworth. He has now had 8 wins and 6 thirds with life-time earnings now $170,958. His best mile rate is 1:50.4.
Around the same time as Venturesome Arden made his way to the US the now 4-year-old Vincent filly Illustrious Arden was also exported to North America. She is the first live foal from Arden's Rockstar (Rocknroll Hanover x Arden's Darlin) purchased by Lincoln Farms Bloodstock as a yearling.
Illustrious Arden in work at Lincoln Farms and as a yearling
She was passed on to young trainer Nathan Delany who raced her twice at Cambridge and had his first win as a trainer with her at her second start in August 2023.
Illustrious Arden winning for Nathan Delany -his first win as a trainer
17th February 2024 she qualified in the US for her new owner Janie Kellogg and trainer Jackie Greene. In her first race start on the 27th February she ran second and did so again on the 5th of March. On 19th March she had her first US win at Saratoga Raceway New York (1:57.6), ran second again on 26th March then led all the way to victory on 9th April. Her win at Saratoga Raceway on 29th April has brought her tally to 4 wins and 3 seconds for $28,700 in stakes.
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