What Would Mark Schwartz Do?

Mark Schwartz is my racing hero. Despite being a lifetime 0 for 26 at Penn National, Mark walked into last year’s June Ocala sale and left with a $5,000 son of Wicked Strong. That horse became Brooklyn Strong, winner of the G2 Remsen, and briefly on the Derby trail before being hit by an illness. He is now reported as trying to get enough works to run in the Wood Memorial.

In order to buy something for less than $10,000 let’s try to find a strong female family and a sire that nobody wants to buy.

How about hip #195?

The 3rd dam, Miss Turlington, was a daughter of Seattle Slew bred by Peter Brant. Her best race was at 1 1/2 on the turf. She produced a G3 winner going 1 1/8 on the turf.

This nice horse was bred to the great Theatrical. She sold for $150,000 as a yearling. The daughter was called Model Performer, she was not much of a runner, but she did produce 9 winners from 11 foals.

One of MP’s daughter’s was bought by Ken McPeek for $50,000, her name was Sassy’s Dream. Dad was Travers winner Flower Alley. She was best at 1 /16 on the turf, where she once got 2nd in a small stake at Churchill. She won $180,000 in her 28 race career. Not great, but very solid, and certainly a source of stamina.

Her first two babies were forgettable winners by Sidney’s Candy and Jimmy Creed. For some reason the breeders went to highly unsuccessful sire Lea. The median Lea yearling sold for just $6,000, and this horse sold to a small operation called 30-30 for $4,000at Keeneland as a yearling..

Lea was a late developer, winning the Donn Handicap at 4, but also winning a G3 turf stake at Churchill. I would expect this horse to work in a below average time.

This filly worked 10.1 at Ocala. She was a little green at the start of her work, but seems to accelerate nicely once she got going. On the second day 10.1 was a fairly good time. Of the 11 horses than worked before her, only one ran a 10.0, of the 11 horses that worked after her in the second group only one ran a 10.0. She was not spectacular, but she was above average.

If I could steal her for $10,000, I would be thrilled. Even for $15,000, she would be a bargain.

My bold prediction is that Mark Schwartz will be the buyer. She could be the next Brooklyn Strong.