A $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase for MyRacehorse trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Seize the Grey was coming into his Grade I debut off a third-place performance in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. The colt's connections were hoping that he would be able to run in the money in order to acquire enough points to earn a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby, but he proved to be overmatched this time around and finished seventh.

While his 27 points probably won't get Seize the Grey into the Kentucky Derby starting gate, his 2,000-plus owners have plenty to look forward to going forward and many will look back on an eventful weekend in Lexington.

Almost 300 MyRacehorse partners descended upon Lexington hailing everywhere from Washington and Virginia to Michigan and Florida. On Saturday, MyRacehorse hosted a tailgate at Keeneland so that owners could meet up ahead of the big race.

“It's hard to get everyone together, so we threw a tailgate so they could come at their leisure before going inside,” said MyRacehorse's Caitlin Dunne. “Usually the only time we can get everybody together is the winner's circle, so if that happens, it's great. But if not, the biggest thing for us is getting to celebrate the experience of ownership. We've had this horse since he was a yearling so it has been fun for everyone to get to see him go from this pudgy little colt to this big, beautiful Arrogate colt.”

Owners who arrived in Lexington ahead of Saturday's race were also able to watch Seize the Grey train in the morning.

“He shipped in on Wednesday and every morning we wanted to be able to get owners out to come watch him train,” Dunne said. “D. Wayne and his assistant have been all-stars. They would bring him into the paddock every morning and stand him in front of the owners so they could take pictures with him.”

Diana Kramer, a lifelong racing fan from Evansville, Indiana, is one of the many owners of Seize the Grey. She first learned about MyRacehorse in 2020.

“I started doing some research on it because I always wanted to get involved if I could afford it,” she explained. “I bought in on Authentic, so we kind of started at the top there.”

Kramer was a fan of Hall of Famer Arrogate during his time on the racetrack, so when a son of his became available through MyRacehorse, she jumped at the chance to become involved. While Seize the Grey probably won't be running in the Kentucky Derby, Kramer and several other MyRacehorse partners already have plans for the first Saturday in May.

“There's a bunch of us that owned Authentic and became friends,” said Kramer. “We all hang out and usually have a Derby party. We have an auction for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Last year we raised $6,000. It's a great way to meet other people who love racing and learn more about the industry.”

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“I am grateful to be a part of Light Up Racing's mission,” Blacker said. “It is one that is very close to my heart and one I've put a lot of time and effort into over the years. Horse racing is a beautiful sport filled with equally beautiful, deeply caring and hard-working individuals, but is not actually what we, as a collective, are currently being portrayed as. It is a difficult assignment to be sure, but I am fully committed.

“This is an industry-wide problem and should be met with an industry-wide approach. A lot of important and necessary work is being done at the highest levels, but all of us possess the ability to have a positive effect, and it is our duty to not stand by and leave it to others. Highlighting the good being done, and the good that already exists, is something each of us can take part in.”

Blacker, who currently serves as a host, analyst and reporter with FanDuel TV, began her broadcasting career in 2004 and has worked with HRTV, TVG, and NBCSports. She is also a Keeneland Sales representative, a spokesperson for Equibase “Race Lens,” a pivotal figure in digital creation and ambassadorship for MyRacehorse, in addition to co-founding “I Am Horse Racing,” a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of the

sport's unsung heroes.

“Christina Blacker's credibility within the industry, coupled with her unparalleled media expertise, makes her an invaluable asset in our mission to enlighten, engage, and evolve the narrative surrounding horse racing,” said board chairman Price Bell. “Christina has a proven track record of, not only illuminating the sport's finest aspects, but also addressing its challenges with integrity and insight. We are very excited to have her as part of the team.”

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After stopping the clock for six furlongs in a razor sharp 1:08.27 and earning a career-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure in that 7 1/2-length decision at Pimlico, an undisclosed party agreed to purchase a minority interest in the MyRacehorse colorbearer. The deal, however, was called off after a positron emission tomography (PET) scan in a pre-purchase exam in June revealed “some abnormalities in a sesamoid,” per Blacker.

“Even though the horse was sound, it was the early stages of something that would've likely developed into an issue,” Blacker said. “And when you're dealing with sesamoids, it's significant. As a trainer, that's why the PET scan has been such a game changer for us at Santa Anita. It could show the initial stages of a training injury like this.”

He continued, “For me, it was an easy decision giving him time off. We had hoped to give him 90 days initially, but when we rescanned him (after 90 days), there was still activity in that same spot. So, we just gave him more time. The unfortunate thing with sesamoids is that they take time.”

In Straight No Chaser's case, six months' time, to be exact. Given the green light to resume training following a clean PET scan, the bay is now nearing his first workout back at Santa Anita, Blacker reports.

“He's been training as good as ever,” Blacker said. “He looks super out there on the track. Obviously, we've lost a bit of time training wise just because all of the wet weather recently, but he's getting close to being ready to breeze. He certainly looks as good if not better than ever. We'll let the workouts be the real judge of where he's at though.”

Hailing from the second crop of Speightster, Straight No Chaser is one of two graded winners for the late son of Speightstown, who was euthanized following a stall accident at Northern Dawn Farm in Ontario in 2022.

Bred in Kentucky by John Eaton and Steve Laymon, he was produced by the winning Johannesburg mare Margarita Friday. She is also responsible for the stakes winner Hangover Saturday (Pomeroy). This is the extended female family of two-time champion sprinter Housebuster.

Straight No Chaser brought $110,000 from MyRacehorse as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old following a :10 2/5 breeze for consignor Paul Sharp.

He currently sports a career record of 7-4-0-1 and earnings of $245,800. His resume also includes a debut maiden win over the Del Mar lawn, a pair of optional claiming wins at Santa Anita and Oaklawn and a third-place finish as the favorite in last year's GIII Palos Verdes S.

Straight No Chaser's aforementioned win in the Maryland Sprint was further flattered when the distant third-place finisher that day Nakatomi (Firing Line) subsequently placed a close third in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

“It's great as a trainer when you have patient owners and I'm really grateful to have owners like MyRacehorse,” Blacker concluded. “To me, he's always been a horse that is gonna keep improving with age. I'm excited to get him back to the races.”

Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3)
1.200 m – 100.000 USD – for 3yo and upward
Pimlico

Straight No Chaser (USA)
(4C Speightster – Margarita Friday , by Johannesburg)
J : @ljlmvel
T: Dan Blacker
O : My Racehorse
B :John Eaton & Steve Laymon pic.twitter.com/H5LRCJ51jm

— (@WorldRacing1) May 20, 2023

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8th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:37 p.m. ET.
On the main track in Hallandale, Secret Crush (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes the races for the MyRacehorse contingent.

Purchased for $300,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, the Todd Pletcher trainee is out Elarose (Storm Cat), who went to Chiyoda's Dr. Masatake Iida in 2018 at Keeneland November for $450,000 while in foal to Quality Road.

Elarose is part of a deep family anchored by her dam, Take Charge Lady (Dehere). Her half-siblings include GI Florida Derby champ Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GI Travers S. victor Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), GI Beholder Mile winner As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) and the dam of champion of 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and 2023 top five first-crop sire Omaha Beach (War Front). TJCIS PPS

9th-TAM, $53K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:45 p.m. ET.
Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables bought Oversubscribed (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 400,000gns. Trained by Chad Brown, the filly's extended female family includes French Group 3 winner In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), the dam of G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines S. heroine We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), G1 Prix du Cadran S. hero Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Prix Rothschild S. victress With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}). TJCIS PPS

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Getting started is the hardest part for most prospective owners. The world of Thoroughbred racing can seem as inaccessible as the Churchill Down's Turf Club on Derby Day. The good news is joining a partnership makes getting started easier.

In the first part of this series, we provided basic information such as investment levels, tax considerations and the entertainment value partnerships offer.

In Part 2, we will provide insights into the experiential considerations that can make your personal journey into ownership more valuable.

Owning More That 5%

You should always begin by considering what is going to be financially comfortable for you. If your investment level is below $1,000, your focus should be directed toward micro-share opportunities like MyRacehorse, Wasabi Venture Stables, or a racing club at your local racetrack. These vehicles offer participation for as little as a couple hundred dollars and generally offer less than 1% interest in a horse. Micro-share partnerships rarely present any financial windfalls, but do give you the excitement of participation and a friendly conversation starter at your next social event. They also make great gifts for a horse lover in your life.

If you are comfortable in investing $1,000 or more, look for an opportunity where you can buy in for at least 5%. Truth be told, percentages have their privilege in Thoroughbred ownership. We all know that 5% of a $10,000 claimer is quite a bit less than 5% of a $1 million yearling.

What you may not know, there are significant benefits of being at least a 5% partner. Owning 5% means that most racing jurisdictions will require you to become a licensed owner. Once you are licensed, you now have access, and access is where the real fun begins.

Trainer observing morning workouts | Coady Photography

With a state-issued owner's license, you typically will have access to the stable area and your horse. Watching morning workouts, spending time in and around a functioning training operation, and gaining insight into how the stable area operates are a handful of the most fascinating activities an owner can experience. Feeding carrots and treats to your horse can be worth the price of your investment alone.

On race day, you will have access to the paddock area to see your horse prepare to head out to the racetrack. The paddock is where you can interact with your jockey, trainer and other partners. Most racetracks also offer owner privileges like free admission, free programs, reserved seating areas and invitations to special events. These perks are part of your return on investment and an enticing incentive to own at least 5% of a racehorse and becoming a licensed owner.

The Partnership Personality

You are now at the point where you are hungry to get started. Do not make the mistake of buying the proverbial sizzle of a partnership… you want the steak. What a partnership portrays in advertising or by the general partner may not be what is served. You need to learn about the partnership's personality, in other words, where the meat is. How does the partnership communicate with its owners? How often does the partnership send out updates on horses? Do they use social media, e-mail, or other platforms? What level of input will you have?

Some general partners are great at taking input, others prefer to remain focused and rely on their own experience and skills. If you are a person that likes to socialize, do not hesitate to ask what events, or get togethers, are typically planned. Talk to current partners and get their feedback while simultaneously gaining a sense of whom you will be sharing the experience. Part of your return on investment are the relationships you develop. Simply make sure you get the steak and not just a bunch of sizzling mushrooms.*

Geography

Most partnerships run their horses at specific racetracks or on a circuit. You need to determine if you are ok with watching your horse race on the computer or if you want to go to the racetrack and enjoy watching your horse race live. There are racetracks that are great for bringing friends and family with you and others that do not make the greatest first impressions.

California racing | Benoit

Where you live or where you are willing to travel is important in how immersed you can get into ownership. Living in Missouri does not mean you should not own a racehorse, it just means you may have to travel more vs. someone that lives in Southern California. Conversely, if you are solely interested in a financial return on your investment or are allergic to hay and hate the smell of manure, seeing your horse in person may not matter. The bottom line is: know where your horses are most apt to race and determine it if falls in line with what you are seeking.

The Mission

There are partnerships for breeding, buying yearlings, pinhooking, buying two-year-olds, claiming, and everything in-between. What is best for you is a choice. Start by asking yourself if you like action or if you are willing to be patient and potentially end up with a Kentucky Derby horse. Most new owners benefit from getting involved in a claiming partnership first.

With these partnerships, you can make your investment one day and be at the races to watch your horse run within weeks. Typically, new owners start in a claiming partnership, move to buying into unraced younger horses, then yearlings and down the road becoming part of a breeding opportunity. All are available to you with partnerships and you will be learning and becoming more adept along the way.

The Cherry On Top

An area that has become especially important to new owners coming into the sport, and rightfully so, is aftercare. Prospective new partners should ask, “What will happen once our horse is done racing? Can we still follow our horse after it retires?” Do not hesitate to ask these questions about any partnership you are looking to get involved in.

Some partnerships have aftercare programs in place, some have aftercare organizations they work with, and others unfortunately have no answer to this question. When you buy a Thoroughbred racehorse, you will discover an intrinsic connection to the horse, it is inevitable. Making sure you participate in a partnership that cares for their horses after their racing career is over is to be applauded and supported.

Wonder Wheel | Sara Gordon

The path to becoming a Thoroughbred racehorse owner has never been easier. Partnerships have led the way in making ownership more accessible to everyone that loves horse racing or horses.

Finding the right partnership for you is a process, a process that hopefully has been made simpler by knowing what to ask, what to look for, and what really matters to you personally.

Note: a mushroom is a term in racing is often referred to an owner who is kept in the dark and fed manure.

The post Finding The Right Syndicate For You-Part 2, Presented By Taylor Made Partnerships appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Heiberger was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and that meant having Aqueduct as a beacon of fun and excitement just a few miles away. As a teenager in the late 70s, he and his friends would put forward the $1 it cost to take the Express Bus east to Queens to take in an afternoon at the races. The gang of wide-eyed neophyte gamblers would pool their money in the hope of making a score just like their seasoned counterparts. However, more often than not, Heiberger and his young Brooklynites would end up having to take the subway home, which only cost 35 cents since the bus fare was long gone.

Heiberger has spent the last 20 years building a successful catering and event center business in Freehold, New Jersey. The success of his Aurum Events and Exquisite Caterers now means he doesn't need to take the bus any more, but the memories of Aqueduct have never left. Always a casual horseplayer, Heiberger decided to dip his toe into the ownership game and began buying into partnerships about 10 years ago. Owning 3% to 5% of different horses made it clear to him that you did not have to own the whole horse to enjoy the total experience. That revelation inspired him to start In Front Racing Stables in June 2021.

Howie Heiberger | Howie Heiberger

Within weeks of getting the stable set up, Heiberger, some family and a few close friends dropped a claim slip on a 4-year-old mare named Tenderness (Medal Count). The $20,000 claimer would be the start of a long eight months of frustration for the new partnership group. In Front Racing Stables had 14 starts and waited eight months before they finally visited the winner's circle with one of their horses. Not everything was dark clouds for the new stable though, prior to their first win they were able to hit the board with their horses 50% of the time, so money was coming in and the bills were getting paid. With exactly 100 starts, as of the writing of this article, you can now find 15 winning photos on the wall and the group sporting an in-the-money strike rate of 46%. The success of the stable is a team effort. In Front Racing Stables currently employees the services of trainers Linda Rice, Jose DeAngelo and John Toscano to train and race their horses.

Heiberger also works with Larry Kaufman who is on the ground at the NYRA tracks to find the right horses to claim and add to their stable. Claiming is the name of the game with In Front and it has become their bread and butter.

In Front Racing Stable offers a unique proposition to its current and future partners: No bills. Once a partner decides to invest in a racehorse, there are no cash calls for training, vet work, transportation, etc. The ability to offer partners this unique opportunity is achieved through a formula that gives trainers 60% of the In Front horse's net purses earned and the partners 35%. Heiberger retains 5% of the net purses to cover the costs of running the operation. As the general partner, Heiberger also marks up all claims 15%. “Our partners really like the model we have established because they know what they want to invest and that is it,” he said. “No cash calls or bills. I have been in business a long time and you have to believe in the product that you are selling. I believe in this model.”

So do his partners, who now exceed 75 participants. Active partners number around 45 and 25 partners are in on almost every horse claimed. Most are from the East Coast, but In Front has partners that live in Arkansas, Oklahoma and as far away as Arizona. “We primarily race in New York and Florida, but I have the Oaklawn Park condition book in my hands now, so we may be expanding west,” he added.

In Front Racing Stable | Howie Heiberger

In Front partner Michele Farina had the same experience of sneaking off to the track while still in school. “We talked about experiences having grown up around the game and had things in common,” said Farina. “Besides being such a nice man, I respect how he has established and grown the stable. Also, meeting the other partners has been great and we basically all hang out together when we're at the track whether we're running a horse or not and that is what I really enjoy.”

One of those other partners Farina referred is Joey Zayas. “Howie ensures you are part of everything, from your thoughts on the horses they select as a possible claim to the race selections when that flexibility arises. I started with MyRacehorse, and even though they provide a great experience for the new, perhaps inexperienced horse owners, you are not that engaged with the day-to-day operations like In Front.”

In Front partner Steven Rapoport also has had experience with other partnerships. “I was a member of Karakorum Farms, Drawing Away Stables and Top Hat Thoroughbreds in the past,” he said.

“We have a group of 60 or so partners here who can look at claims. evaluate horses and try to make intelligent claims. The no-bills aspect makes it affordable.”

Heiberger is appreciative of the owner perks NYRA offers and one of the reasons he strongly recommends partners own at least five percent or more, so they can get licensed. “When you are a New York licensed owner, you get free admission for yourself and immediate family, free programs and owner's parking,” he said. “They even have an owner's lounge area. These things bring value to horse ownership.”

Teaching novices about ownership, introducing them to trainers, jockeys and others in the game is what drives Heiberger to grow In Front Racing Stables. “I want to give our partners a great experience just like with my businesses,” he said. “I also want them to learn, and interact with all aspects of the game, and most of all I want them to have a shot at making some money.”

This may seem like a lot to offer to small percentage owners, but that is simply what a mensch, like Howie Heiberger, does.

Joe Scurto is the principal at Horseshoe Marketing. His Twitter is @RacingHorseshoe.

Editor's Note: Partnerships, presented by Taylor Made Partnerships, is a new TDN feature which explores different partnership groups at different investment levels across the country. Each month, we will choose a different group to profile.

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Originally purchased for $70,000 by Tom McCrocklin at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the chestnut colt went to FMQ Stables at the OBS Spring Sale earlier this year for $475,000. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Masmak's dam GSP Nite in Rome is also responsible for SW Stan the Man (Broken Vow) and GII John A. Nerud S. hero Three Technique (Mr Speaker).

Also making the gate is Frank Fletcher homebred Top Gun Rocket (Into Mischief). The bay colt, trained by Riley Mott and piloted by Junior Alvarado, is the full-brother to GII Prioress S. heroine Frank's Rockette. TJCIS PPS

7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:50 p.m.
Speaking of Brad Cox and homebreds, Juddmonte has a gray colt named Dragoon Guard (Arrogate) who will be making his debut in the other seven-furlong race carded for juvenile colts at Churchill Downs. The homebred is out of GII Goldikova S. winner Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), who hails from an extended female family which includes half-sibs Weep No More (Mineshaft), winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. and GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. champ Current (Curlin).

Sweet as Sin (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes his first trip to the races for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The chestnut colt, who was purchased at this year's OBS March Sale for $410,000 by L and N Racing and MyRacehorse, and includes Edge Racing as part of its ownership, counts MGSW Family Tree (Smart Strike) as a half-sister and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Liora as a full. Sweet as Sin's dam, SW Giant Mover (Giant's Causeway), is out of two-time GII Princess Rooney H. scorer Gold Mover (Gold Fever).

Continuing the homebred theme, Gary and Mary West send Title Contender (Tapit) to the post. Trained by Cox, the gray colt's dam–out of GII Cotillion H. winner India (Hennessy)–is a half-sister to G1 Yasuda Kinen S. and G1 February S. hero Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}). TJCIS PPS

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Michael Behrens, the founder and CEO of MyRacehorse, told TDN that his company was looking to add investors with the passing of B. Wayne Hughes. Hughes, who owned Spendthrift Farm, was an early supporter of MyRacehorse and an investor in the company. MyRacehorse continues to own horses in partnership with Spendthrift but the farm itself is not an investor in the company.

“I've been talking to people globally now that we're in Australia, Ireland, the UK and the U.S., and have put together a nice collection of investors, led by 1/ST,” Behrens said. “We raised $7 million collectively. This is the next chapter in our journey and validation that people see what we've done in democratizing ownership and getting more and more people involved is working. 1/ST has been a big supporter since day one. With 1/ST's commitment to innovation, this made a lot of sense and I was happy they decided to come in.”

1/ST will not have an ownership stake in any of MyRacehorse's horses and will have no influence over any decisions that are made regarding a horse's career or racing schedule, said Behrens.

“1/ST's mission to introduce and engage the next generation of fans and owners in innovative and entertaining new ways aligns perfectly with the MyRacehorse concept,” said Aidan Butler,
Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING & GAMING. “The ability to become an owner of a Thoroughbred racehorse and to be part of an ownership experience that until now has been inaccessible for many, is truly exciting. We have seen firsthand the success of MyRacehorse and we look forward to helping scale this platform across racing, wagering and beyond.”

“The majority of this investment will go toward the building out the framework of the technology to continue to provide better technology for mass ownership for horse racing and set us up for expansion into other sports,” Behrens said. “It's 1/ST. There will be a lot of interesting collaborations around the on-track experiences and gaming through their ADW. They own all the assets that are symbiotic with ownership and I think that you will see an evolution of the product and the ownership experience.”

Behrens said MyRacehorse will team with 1/ST to provide on-track experiences and perks available to MyRacehorse customers and that new initiatives will be announced in the months ahead.

“(1/ST CEO) Aidan (Butler) and the whole team at 1/ST have always been big supporters and have always helped us to provide the best possible experience,” Behrens said. “With this partnership there are a bunch of things in play that we will be announcing over the next months and quarters that will be incremental to the ownership experience. We will plan on larger and larger events now that we have the partnership solidified. The race-day experience you will see right away will evolve at those tracks.”

The funding will also be used to allow MyRacehorse to expand its stable of horses, Behrens said. Launched in Los Angeles in 2018, MyRacehorse offers prospective owners the chance to buy into a racehorse for as little as $100. Hughes was one of the investors in the seed-round funding, and became an active partner, campaigning the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in partnership with MyRacehorse, among others.

“In our first chapter we have served nearly 100,000 users and the app has enabled us to fractionalize more than $50 million in racehorse offerings,” said Behrens. “We see this partnership and investment as the start of new chapter–one of significant scale and growth. Just the fact that we are well capitalized and have raised $7 million, that gives us access to not only having liquidity in the company but also being able to get more money through credit lines to buy more horses. Luckily, we've been in a position where the majority of our horses sell out relatively quickly. We've been trying to balance our growth. When Wayne first came in, we went from buying a handful of horses to dozens of horses. I would expect another step change. We went from being very modest founder-funded to being able to capitalize with our partnership with Spendthrift. It was a major step change. I see this as another move. We now have the ability to go out there and meet demand.”

The platform currently boasts more than 50,000 active owners and 100 active horses who have won over 160 races worldwide, with earnings in excess of $20 million. MyRacehorse is
predominantly focused in the United States and Australia and has recently expanded to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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“She's very sassy, that's for sure,” said Florent Geroux, who teamed up with the chestnut daughter of Tapizar for 16 of her 17 lifetime starts. “She's not really a 'people horse' who likes to hang out with people. She likes to be on her own. If you bring her some treats, she might come see you for a bit. Although if you come empty handed, it's not very good to visit her.”

Two years ago, Monomoy Girl retired to Spendthrift Farm. The operation's General Manager Ned Toffey can attest that the seven-time Grade I winner has maintained that same sure-of-herself personality.

“Ever since she came to Spendthrift, and I think during her training days as well, she has been a pretty tough mare,” he said. “She's definitely not so much of a pet as she is sort of a tough, athletic race mare. She's more settled into a routine now, but she still has her preferences. There are things she likes and things she doesn't like and you still see that fire pop up in her from time to time.”

Despite her seemingly tough nature, Monomoy Girl has revealed a softer side over the past two months. Early on the morning of Feb. 17, her first foal arrived at Spendthrift. While there is always concern for how any mare will take to a second career as a broodmare, in this case all worries were eased as soon as her Into Mischief colt took his first steps.

“She has done everything right,” said Toffey. “She's a very settled mare when she goes outside and she takes good care of her foal. Sometimes you'll run into things with race mares where you may even have to go so far as to have to put the foal on a nurse mare. That has been far from the case with Monomoy Girl.”

As for the foal, Toffey said they couldn't be happier with the new arrival.

“He's a medium-sized foal, which is really what we like to see. He's very well-made, very put together. He's got great bone and is very balanced and athletic .”

Monomoy Girl's first foal by Into Mischief | Sara Gordon

The team at Spendthrift was so enamored with this Into Mischief colt that Monomoy Girl was bred back to the farm's same supersire and she recently checked in foal.

Just as spring brings new foals to the Bluegrass each year, many of the nation's best jockeys are welcomed to Lexington every spring for the Keeneland meet. On a light day of racing, Florent Geroux stopped in to visit an old friend at Spendthrift and meet her first foal. The seasoned jockey has sat aboard countless top-class horses, but it's not every day that he gets near one of their offspring.

Geroux was blown away by how well the champion seems to have taken to retirement.

“She looks great and she has a beautiful colt,” he said after peppermints had been distributed and the mare and foal were turned out for the morning. “I think everything is going very well for her. It makes me happy to see her here and she looks amazing. Her coat is beautiful and she looks super healthy, all dappled out.”

There is no question that Geroux's top earner, Gun Runner, has gone on to do great things after the racetrack. Now he is hoping that his second-highest earning performer can share similar success.

The sky has always seemed to be the limit for Monomoy Girl, who has a knack for setting the bar throughout every step of her career.

Purchased as a yearling by Liz Crow for only $100,000 and originally campaigned by Michael Dubb and Sol Kumin's Monomoy Stables, the Brad Cox-trained filly was a stakes winner at two and her Eclipse Award-worthy sophomore season was highlighted by six graded stakes wins from seven starts, including the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

While she missed her 4-year-old season due to colic and a hamstring injury, the chestnut came back the following year and claimed another Breeders' Cup Distaff-Eclipse Award double. At the end of her 5-year-old campaign, she was sent through the ring at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars Sale, where she brought $9.5 million from Spendthrift Farm. MyRacehorse joined in on the partnership along with one of her original owners Sol Kumin under his Madaket Stables banner. She was a graded stakes winner again at six in the GIII Bayakoa S. before entering retirement.

Flo knows to come bearing peppermints when visiting Monomoy Girl | Sara Gordon

Reflecting on Monomoy Girl's career, Geroux said that her Kentucky Oaks victory over fellow champions Wonder Gadot and Midnight Bisou, as well as her victorious return to the Breeders' Cup in 2020, are two of his fondest memories with the talented filly.

Monomoy Girl's intelligence, he added, is another trait he will never forget from their many rides together.

“She's extremely smart,” he said. “Probably one of the smartest horses I've been around.”

While it remains to be seen if this first foal has inherited his dam's athletic abilities, there is already no question of his paternal heritage. A flashy light bay with varying degrees of white on all four legs, the colt has a prominent blaze that is unquestionably Into Mischief.

At just two months old, the youngster has already grown to love the spotlight.

“He could not be a more personable foal,” Toffey explained. “He loves people. You try to get a picture of him and he'll come over to the fence. Everything looks like a selfie with him because he just comes up and wants to get in your face.”

Toffey said that while plans can always change, their goal is to keep the foal under his existing ownership.

“I think he's one that we're likely to keep right here in house,” he explained. “There is a lot of time between now and next year when he would potentially sell as a yearling, but there is so much stallion potential there. It's a wonderful pedigree and he looks like an athlete. If he has ability that comes anywhere close to his looks and pedigree, he'd be a horse that we could hope to one day have in our stallion barn. That's really one of our big goals here at Spendthrift. We're breeding for the stud barn and the broodmare band. Obviously first comes athleticism, but if they can do the job on the track, our goal is to get them back here and stand them at stud.”

No matter where the youngster ends up some day, 'Flo' said that he would like to put his name in the hat to be the colt's future jockey.

“I would have to talk to the owners and maybe the future trainer,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully they can arrange that for me. It would be special.”

The post The It Girl: Monomoy Girl Shines at Spendthrift Alongside First Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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2nd-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:30 p.m.
Closing weekend at the Fair Grounds includes a pair of important maiden races on Saturday, as Juddmonte homebred CASTLEWARDEN (Into Mischief) heads to post four under Lasix as the morning line 5-2 favorite. Trained by Brad Cox and with the services of Florent Geroux, he is a full-brother to GII Pat O'Brien S. victor Laurel River. Castlewarden's dam Calm Water (Empire Maker) is a full-sister to MGISW Emollient, who herself has produced French GSW Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and also Irish MGSW Peace Charter (War Front).

Opposing him at 5-1 is a son of Justify, whose first foals are now 3-year-olds. A WinStar and Siena Farm $675,000 '21 KEESEP purchase, HARBOUR BRIDGE has worked sharply for trainer Dallas Stewart (3-12, 5f, 1:00.60, 1/30) and will be ridden by Flavien Prat out of post six. This debut runner is the first to make it to the starting gate for the John D. Gunther bred and raced mare Tiger Moth (Street Sense), who won a pair of Graded stakes. Second dam Saratoga Cat (Sir Cat) also counts MGSW Last Gunfighter (First Samurai) as one of her own. TJCIS PPS

7th-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yof, 1 1/16m, 4:00 p.m.
Unlucky at first-asking sprinting in New Orleans Jan. 21 when she hopped at the start, overcame early contact, but still finished fourth, SUPER LUXE (Candy Ride {Arg}) will look to get back on track for owner Courtlandt Farms as the chestnut filly stretches out to two turns. A $725,000 '21KEESEP grad, the Steve Asmussen trainee switches to Joel Rosario and garnered 8-1 on the morning-line. Out of dam Montera (Easy Goer), her family includes MSW & GSP Easyfromthegitgo (Dehere) and Sue's Good News (Woodman), who is responsible for GI Odgen Phipps H. heroine Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin (City Zip). TJCIS PPS

13th-TP, $70K, Msw, 3yof, 1mAWT, 7:05 p.m.
The relationship between Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse continues its legacy as rookie BOPPY (Blame) draws post 11 in the Florence nightcap. A $300,000 '21 KEESEP buy, the Brad Cox trainee gets Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in the irons as the 3-1 second choice. The dark bay filly is out of turf MGSW Daring Dancer (Empire Maker), whose own dam Vienna Affair (GB) (Red Ransom) is a half-sister G1SW Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest). TJCIS PPS

The post Saturday Insights: Flame On For Justify Colt Out Of Tiger Moth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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