Dr. Ira Paul Mersack, Former Owner of Margaux Farm, Dies at 83

Dr. Ira Paul Mersack, the former co-owner of Margaux Farm, died on April 10, according to an obituary posted by the Milward Funeral Home in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 83 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in Philadelphia, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Marietta College, and his medical degree from the University of Kentucky. He served as a major in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He practiced dermatology in Lexington for more than 40 years, first joining Dr. Ullin Leavell's practice, then growing the practice and establishing Dermatology Associates of Kentucky. He co-owned Margaux Farm and shared his love of horses and racing with his family.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Anita Weinberger Mersack and his sister, Arlene Langman. He is survived by his brother, Alan Mersack, his three children; Beth Brody (Raymond); Rebecca (Joe) Young; Melinda Mersack (Mark Jacobs), and his grandchildren Ethan Brody, Jacob Young, Max Young, Isaiah Jacobs, Eli Jacobs, Camille Brody and Kiva Jacobs.

Donations in Dr. Mersack's memory may be made to the Temple Adath Israel Mersack Fund or the Lexington Veterans Administration.

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After Being Pulled from Keeneland November Sale, Rich Strike Will Be Pointed to Racing

Owner Rick Dawson has changed his mind a few times regarding the career of his GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice). One day he's coming back to the races, another day he's to be sold as a stallion prospect, the next day it's back to trying to get him back to the races.

It's not that Dawson is indecisive, it's more a matter of him reacting to what is a constantly changing situation.

“A few weeks before the sale we had made plans to ship him to Gulfstream Park to Bill Mott to prepare for racing,” Dawson said. “We decided to have him examined one more time at Rood and Riddle and have an ultrasound to play it safe. The previous ultrasound had been really good so we were confident. This ultrasound showed he had regressed in his healing of the suspensory ligament. We had almost replaced all the scar tissue and it seemed to be repaired. We canceled transportation the next morning to Florida.”

So they entered him in the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age sale as a stallion prospect. But Dawson was able to read the room. With Rich Strike coming off dismal performances in the GI Clark S. and in the GII Alysheba, his value as a sire prospect had never been lower.

“Throughout the process and up until a couple days before the sale, the gut feeling I had so far as Rich Strike becoming a stallion at this point in his career was that I was not going to get what I was hoping for,” Dawson said.

So it was on to Plan C., try to get him back to the races after all.

Under the advice of Dr. Larry Bramlage, Rich Strike has been, since exiting the sale, undergoing stem cell treatments aimed at healing the problems he's been having all along with the suspensory ligaments in his two front legs.

“After the sale I was thinking 'what am I going to do now?'” Dawson said. “I started checking options. I started further researching other options. We visited with Dr. Bramlage at Rood and Riddle and we talked about stem cell treatment. We were so close to getting him back before. If stem cells could bring anything to the party it could really make a difference. He's not terribly injured. He just has this on-going nagging-type issue and so we thought if we could get him healed he could race again and do so at a high level and win. That would make his stallion value a lot better. It's not a matter of dollars to me. I just want to get him into a situation where he has access to really good mares and therefore get him to a level playing field to produce great offspring. If you're covering mediocre or less-than-mediocre mares your stallion career is going to be pretty short.”

So the hope is that they can get Rich Strike over his problems and then turn him over to one of the best in the business in Bill Mott.

Rich Strike | Coady

“Bill Mott believes that if we can get him back to 100%, he can return to a similar level as his Derby race, his Travers, the Lukas Classic, races where he did really well,” Dawson said. “Bill doesn't think there's anything that can prevent him from doing that and I tend to agree.

“With the stem cell treatments, I talked to one trainer and owner and they'll tell you they had little or no success with stem cell treatments. Then others tell you they had a lot of success. If I can't get him healed and back to a point where he can withstand training and racing and being safe doing so then I will retire him. As long as I feel like we're improving his health, taking our time and giving him every opportunity to heal I'm all in favor for it. We have no time clock.”

Rich Strike remains at Margaux Farm, where all he is doing is walking and is not yet back under tack. Dawson is aiming for him to join Mott in April and begin serious training. Of course, that plan could go up in smoke if the vets don't like what they see from future ultrasounds. Dawson understands this plan is no sure thing, but believes it's the best possible route to take.

“All this means is that we're going to have a year off and haven't gotten beaten up,” the owner said. “In his age group, every time I look I see that someone else has been retired. The older class just gets smaller and smaller. My hope is that when he turns five, he'll be back in great condition and he'll be in great position. He can be older, bigger and better. I feel like if we get him back well and he could win a race or two will that will not only further his resume as a race horse, but it's also going to increase his value as a stallion. The risk is worth taking.”

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Gleason Joining Margaux As Farm Trainer

John Gleason will assume the position of farm trainer at Margaux Farm effective Oct. 2, the operation said in a release. He will report directly to the farm's General Manager Richard Budge.

Gleason has amassed over three decades of experience in Thoroughbred horse care management in training, starting and rehab. After beginning his career showing halter and Western pleasure horses, Gleason transitioned into Thoroughbreds in his early 20s at Glen Ridge Farm, where he managed and prepared yearling and 2-year-olds for the sales. Gleason took a position with Bryan and Holly Rice's Woodside Ranch in 2001 and during his time there, helped to break and train horses for the likes of Bob and Beverly Lewis, Jay Em Ess Stable and Overbrook Farm. Gleason comes to Margaux off a 10-year run with Woodford Thoroughbreds in Ocala, where he started as training manager and added farm manager duties five years later.

“With the completion of the new Margaux Tapeta track this fall, we look forward to John making an immediate positive impact at the farm,” the release says.

Margaux Farm has been owned outright by Canadians Jim and Susan Hill (pictured) since 2014 after partnering on the farm for several years. With a variety of trainers, the Hills have campaigned the likes of GISW Grand Arch, GSW & GISP Daddy is a Legend and GSW Tizahit.

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Maracuja Gets Break, Targets Spring/Summer 2021 Return

Trainer Rob Atras reported that Maracuja, winner of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks in July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will get about 60 days of rest and relaxation at Jim and Susan Hill's Margaux Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Atras said he is targeting a spring-to-summer return for the sophomore daughter of Honor Code, who handed leading 3-year-old filly Malathaat her only loss in the CCA Oaks three starts back. Maracuja was previously seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks following a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Gazelle at Aqueduct.

“She'll get roughly 60 days and start some light training before coming back,” Atras said. “She hasn't had a break since late in her 2-year-old year, so we decided to give her one.”

Owned by Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, and Barry Fowler, Maracuja was a troubled fourth last out in the Grade 1 Cotillion on September 25 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., finishing 3 ¼ lengths behind Clairiere.

“Things just didn't work out her way,” Atras said. “Unfortunately, she got bumped at the break forcing her down to the rail and she doesn't like to be there. She ran a good race, but she just didn't quite have it.”

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