Holly Crim is the epitome of a hands-on owner. It was a little more than four years ago that Holly was on “foal duty” at the family ranch in Arizona when Desert Dawn was birthed, and Holly actually “pulled” the foal from her mother's womb. The filly was ultimately named for the spectacular Arizona sunrise that followed. Little did she know, she would be so close to history in the making, as Desert Dawn has gone on to become the top-earning Arizona-bred in Thoroughbred racing.
On Saturday, Desert Dawn will attempt to become the first Arizona-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race when she takes on 10 rivals in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), a 1 1/8-mile championship event for fillies and mares at Santa Anita Park. With a first- or second-place finish, she also will become Arizona's first equine millionaire.
Holly is a lawyer by training, but her primary business shifted to horse breeding in 2019 when she joined her mother, Elena, as partner in H & E Ranch following the death of her father. On average, the ranch, which began raising only cattle, typically breeds about 30 broodmares annually. Some, like Desert Dawn, are retained to race and the remainder sold at auction. It's a relatively small operation, but, as Holly puts it, it combines our business with our passion. They currently race between 8-10 horses each year.
Despite winning only two races lifetime, Desert Dawn has been a steady purse earner against the top completion in her division. During her 3-year-old campaign, she won the prestigious Santa Anita Oaks (G2) over Distaff rival Adare Manor, then followed up that effort with a strong third-place finish in the prestigious Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. She finished out the year with earnings just shy of a half-million dollars.
“While we've sadly missed seeing both of her victories in person, we're always so excited and proud just to see her run,” Holly said. “Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, requires some advance planning to watch her run in person. But we certainly go as often as possible.”
The decision to run in this year's Distaff was made by trainer Phil D'Amato, who has steered the fortunes of Desert Dawn since her debut during the summer of 2021. That same year, she finished unplaced in her first Breeders' Cup try against fellow juvenile fillies.
“She'd just placed in a stakes race at Santa Anita and I thought we should take a shot, especially with such a small field (six starters). It didn't work out,” D'Amato said.
“Phil feels positive about her and how well she's doing, so, of course, we're hoping for a better outcome,” Holly said.
The trainer added, “Her best two races were the win in the Santa Anita Oaks and that placing in the Kentucky Oaks. This race feels like a Kentucky Oaks-type of race, with a big field and lots of speed. That's when she runs her best.”
Desert Dawn faces long odds against a field of very accomplished rivals, but it's doubtful any of her fellow owners have been as close to their horses as the Crim family. Just as Holly was there from the start, she'll be at Santa Anita on Saturday, “pulling” for Desert Dawn to make history.
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