isolate Florida-born son Mark Valeski captured the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan Racecourse on March 25, and handed the breeder Woodford Thoroughbreds the third place/group stakes winner of 2023. The 5-year-old rushed house to victory within the one-turn dust race, leaving the competitors in mud by 5 1/2 lengths.
“When Mark Valeski retired from the racetrack, Brereton Jones of Airdrie Stud and his son, Brett, approached John Sykes; they thought he can be a very good match for the Florida market,” mentioned Shannon Machholz, Woodford’s head of selling and buyer relations. He mentioned purebreds. “(They) requested us to think about elevating him on the ranch. Woodford was retaining a couple of stallions afloat on the time.
“After taking a look at him, Mr. Sykes determined he wished him on the ranch and wished to go forward and purchase the stallion as nicely. Our philosophy was, ‘If we will have a stallion, we will assist it.'”
Mark Valeski initially stopped on the Woodford Thoroughbreds earlier than returning to Airdrie Stud, Kentucky’s racing connections, for a stand.
John Sykes
The Woodford operation has two properties, one in Kentucky and one in Florida. Isolate was born Unbridled’s Tune mare Tranquil Tune on Woodford’s 1,000-acre farm in Florida.
“It is good to have the ability to say {that a} Florida-bred, Florida-raised, farm-to-be horse could be profitable and compete on the highest stage,” Macholz mentioned. “Mr Sykes may be very happy to have the ability to say that his horse that he raised on the ranch has recovered efficiently.”
Isolate was chosen to shine as weaning for her breeder on the 2018 Keeneland November Breeder Sale.
“After we went to promote Isolate as a brief 12 months outdated, we thought he was an excellent particular person and we had been going to carry him to Kentucky and attempt to set a couple of extra eyes on the trade,” Macholz mentioned. “Mark Valeski was doing nicely on the racetrack and we had been assured in explaining to folks precisely who he was and selling the Mark Valeskis we offered in Kentucky.
“This colt was a good looking pack; it appeared tremendous well-balanced, leggy, and suggestive. We loved exhibiting it to folks, speaking about Mark Valeski, and Jimmy Gladwell was one of many individuals who got here throughout it.”
Dean Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing bought the weaning for $70,000 that November.
“Jimmy (who purchased it for Reeves) is from Florida so we did not should promote him an excessive amount of on the stallion, he knew about him and he has a terrific eye for horses too. We had been completely thrilled we purchased it. $70,000 for the horse when he offered it,” he mentioned. remembers Machholz. “The purpose was to promote it and get extra eyes on the horse. If we had left it and offered it on OBS, it might probably be a Florida market that somebody would need to hook into, and we felt it wasn’t the kind of needle hook. It was extra of an end-user kind horse, and it will definitely did. “
Coach Katherine Ritvo noticed the horse in its first steps within the oval; Gulfstream Park 2 years outdated earlier than putting within the Nashua Stakes (G3) falling in his third begin.
Isolate is taken to the winners’ circle by house owners Patti and Dean Reeves after profitable the 2022 Story of the Cat Stakes Saratoga Racecourse
At 3 the next 12 months, Isolate hit the board in three of his 4 races, all six or 6 1/2 furlongs. He transferred to Tom Amoss’ steady for the ultimate two begins of 2021 and completed the season with a four-length win in an non-compulsory six-and-a-half-year allowance. Fairgrounds. He gained the Work All Week Stakes and Story of the Cat Stakes at age 4 in 2022 and completed second within the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes.
Between November 2022 and his first begin in Dubai this 12 months, the horse modified fingers, was offered to RRR Racing (Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi) and Doug Watson was given a brand new coach. The Meydan Racecourse proved to be in his favour; On March 25, he completed second in each the Al Shindagha Dash (G3) and Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) as he ready for the group 2 victory.
“Our purpose as a industrial enterprise is to get these rated horses, and when that occurs, it elevates our program and likewise affords affirmation that we’re making an attempt to do the best factor. Reaching success is among the issues we fail to attain.” It does not occur in a short time. Typically you need to be affected person,” mentioned Machholz.
“I believe that has quite a bit to do with the important thing to success; he is been a brilliant good and constant horse. Possibly now that he is 5 and absolutely matured he’ll be again on his personal, which would not shock me from his breeding.”
Woodford Thoroughbreds continued to promote Tranquil Tune throughout the 2018 Keeneland November Sale, however new proprietor Beth Bayer nonetheless sees it as a part of the household, as she was previously Sykes’ gross sales director. The mare produced seven horses in racing age, of which six had been winners. Isolate is one of the best foal ever, however cloud computing 3 years outdated, Aunt Snookie , is poised to attract consideration with comparable connections at proprietor Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and coach Amoss. The filly presently holds a 2-1-0 file in 5 begins. The mare has a 2-year-old calf. over again by foal and one-year-old foal Tacitus each had been bred by Bayer in Florida.
Earlier this 12 months, two horses bred by the Woodford Thoroughbreds gained a grade/group cut up distinction: a Kentucky Derby (G1) competitor. Rocket Field , winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3); And Mimi Kakushi Winner of UAE Oaks (G3).
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