Knicks Go Yearling Brings Moore Full Circle at Keeneland January

Sabrina Moore's GreenMount Farm will offer its final consignment during next week's Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale and, fittingly, the consignment's three offerings kick off with a short yearling from the first crop of the champion who put the Maryland farm on the map, Knicks Go.

“It's a little bittersweet that this is going to be my last consignment,” Moore admitted. “But it will kind of come full circle, hopefully.”

Moore and her mother Angie co-bred Knicks Go and sold the son of the late Paynter for $40,000 as a weanling at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. He sold to the Korea Racing Authority for $87,000 at the following year's Keeneland September sale.

Knicks Go went on to win five Grade I races, including the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and GI Whitney S., as well as the 2018 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The gray was named Horse of the Year and champion older male in 2021 and retired to Taylor Made Farm the following year.

Knicks Go had 18 weanlings sell last November for an average of $64,611 and a high of $220,000. With the turning of the year, the stallion's first yearlings sell at Keeneland next week and Moore's GreenMount will offer the first of the group as hip 69 during the auction's first session Monday.

“He has this tenacious attitude,” Moore said when asked if she saw similarities between the yearling and his famous father. “He is a little hard-headed, but in the best way possible. He definitely has his own opinions and he is a very confident colt. I foaled him at my farm [in Maryland] and he came out brown and I thought, 'oh no!' I just had this dream in my head that I would get this little gray Knicks Go baby. But other than that, body style, they are pretty similar. He is a stout individual and he carries good body.”

After foaling the colt in Maryland, Moore picked up roots and moved to Kentucky last fall.

“We moved him down here and I can't believe how much he's progressed in the last two months,” Moore said. “He is really coming on. If a pinhooker picks him up, I think they will be thrilled with him in the next few months. He is really headed in the right direction.”

Of her move to Kentucky, Moore admitted it was a transition that just made sense.

“It had been on my radar the last few years,” Moore said. “I bred a really nice horse, but at the end of the day, that didn't get me far, at least financially. The Maryland circuit was really struggling and I had a lot of clients who were really struggling. It felt like it was going in a direction that I didn't think was going to benefit me long term. So I just had to try to think about my future and where I wanted to be. And owning a farm in a regional market was just not going to do it.”

The decision to make the move to Kentucky was made easier when some Maryland clients, Steve and Denise Smith, encouraged her to join them as their farm manager.

“They just bought a really nice farm,” Moore said. “It's the old Fort Blackburn Farm on Old Frankfurt Pike. They were looking for a manager and I was looking for a job. We've had this relationship for a long time, so I was really comfortable. I was scared to come down here and get lost in the mix, but it's been a really smooth transition. It's been great.”

Now renamed Mesingw Farm, the operation is home to some 40 horses, as well as a racing stable of some 20 horses in training. Among the stable, the Smiths are co-owners of graded stakes winner Danse Macabre (Army Mule), who is trained by Kelsey Danner.

“[Smith] is getting close to retiring and this is his passion and he's always had his eye on doing this,” Moore said. “They aim to keep the fillies and sell the colts. But if they bring them through the ring and it's not what he wants, then he will race them, too. He is aiming to try to build a really nice broodmare band.”

As for Moore, she's settling into a more relaxed way of life.

“I thought I wanted an office job for a while–I didn't realize how much I would miss working with horses,” Moore said. “I was so burned out. It was so hard to find help in Maryland. I had 50 horses for the last year and a half and it was me and one other girl and sometimes another part-time person. It was unrealistic and exhausting.”

Of her final GreenMount consignment, Moore said, “I will miss it, but I am a little relieved to be done with it and to focus on my current job right now full force. And go on from there.”

Moore retained one broodmare, a half-sister to Knicks Go, and she is looking forward to seeing what the champion's first offspring can do on the racetrack.

“They are falling into the hands of a lot of really nice professionals,” she said of the stallion's first crop. “It will be really exciting to watch them develop and hopefully they go on and do big things.”

The Keeneland January sale will be held next Monday through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 10 a.m.

The post Knicks Go Yearling Brings Moore Full Circle at Keeneland January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ky Derby 148 Bottle to Benefit TRF

For the second consecutive year, Stoneware & Co. will offer a signed, numbered and limited number of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 148 bottles to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). This year's signed collector's edition will commemorate the 10th anniversary of I'll Have Another winning the Run for the Roses, and will be signed by two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Doug O'Neill and two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey, Mario Gutierrez.

“It is an exciting time of year with the Kentucky Derby approaching,” said Pat Stickney, TRF's Executive Director. “With so many eyes on horse racing, we are happy to be able engage a new audience on the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare. We are so grateful for the continued support from Stoneware & Co., as well as the generosity of Doug O'Neill and Mario Gutierrez who are devoting their valuable time to participate.”

With 400 bottles available exclusively through Stoneware & Co. for $129 each, the bottle is offered for pre-sale at www.stonewareandco.com.

“We believe bourbon collectors and horse racing fans will be clambering to own one of these rare bottles,” said Steve Smith, owner of Stoneware & Co. and Managing Partner of Paristown. “These signatures represent the finest in KY Derby history and are a perfect complement to this beautiful bottle of the world's finest bourbon. It will make a great addition to any bourbon aficionado's collection, while supporting an organization that literally saves horses and changes lives.”

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Thoroughbred Charities Of America Named Co-Charitable Beneficiary Of Rockin’ Derby Eve

As the world reopens and excitement builds for Kentucky Derby 148, Paristown has just come out of the starting gate with the announcement of their inaugural Rockin' Derby Eve, presented by Woodford Reserve. The newest, coolest, star-studded Derby Eve party will be an event unlike any other, and will feature a not-to-be missed performance from country music recording artist, Jake Owen, with a portion of the evening's proceeds benefitting the Norton Healthcare Foundation's Derby Divas, as well as Thoroughbred Charities of America.

“We will be tenting and showcasing the entire Paristown seven-acre Cultural Arts and Entertainment District for this Rockin' Derby Eve extravaganza,” said Steve Smith, Managing Partner of Paristown.

Tickets will be limited to just 1,000 VIP guests who will be greeted with champagne as they enter Christy's Garden which will be transformed into an extraordinary outdoor garden party with all food and beverage included with VIP admission. After the garden party, guests will be treated to an up close and personal Jake Owen concert in Old Forester's Paristown Hall, a state-of-the-art music venue that just opened in 2019.

Rockin' Derby Eve, presented by Woodford Reserve will be Jake Owen's first appearance at the Kentucky Derby. The country music singer, songwriter, dedicated philanthropist, and actor has achieved superstar status with a whopping 21 singles, nine of which reached #1 on the U.S. Country Music Charts. The Jake Owen Foundation is a nationally active charitable organization, with a local approach. According to Owen, he is committed to helping people in the places they call home.

“Attending the Kentucky Derby has always been a bucket-list item for me, and when I learned of the two charities right here in this community who will benefit, I definitely wanted to be part of this very special Derby Eve party,” Owen said. “We are going to have a “rockin” good time while we raise some money for two great causes who definitely call Louisville, Kentucky home.”

Now in its 15th year, Norton Healthcare Foundation's Derby Divas has identified a pocket of need in the Louisville community and has continually strived to fill it.

“There are so many people who are underserved and disconnected from care,” said Lynnie Meyer, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Norton Healthcare. “These funds will help support important initiatives like our Mobile Prevention Center, so we can meet people where they are and help with early detection of breast cancer.”

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) funds and facilitates the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them.

According to Erin Crady, Executive Director of TCA: “Thoroughbreds are incredibly versatile and can move into a variety of second careers upon retirement from racing.”

Over the past 31 years, TCA has provided over $25 million in grants to more than 200 Thoroughbred-related organizations. TCA's grant recipients work to provide health and human services to backstretch and farm employees, Thoroughbred aftercare, equine research, and equine-assisted therapy.

“After a full day at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day and the customary focus on fashion for Derby Day, we decided to make Rockin' Derby Eve a casual, country chic event where our guests can be treated to world-class service as they kick up their heels in comfort in jeans and cowboy boots if they wish,” Smith said. “We believe a breezy, Kentucky debonair celebration will be a welcome break from the traditional gala attire required at other Derby events.”

Rockin' Derby Eve is presented by Woodford Reserve, the official bourbon of Kentucky Derby 148. To learn more about becoming a founding sponsor of Rockin' Derby Eve in Paristown, contact Joey Wagner at: joey@jwagnergroup.com

VIP tickets are $850 and include admission to the garden party, all food and beverage, and the Jake Owen concert. Tickets are limited to 1,000 and are available beginning October 28th at derbyeve.com

To learn more about Paristown, go to: paristown.com

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