As Wade Phillips has spent a profession teaching within the Nationwide Soccer League, together with stints as head coach for 3 completely different groups and serving as defensive coordinator for the 2016 Tremendous Bowl winning-Denver Broncos, he is aware of all concerning the anticipation forward of a giant sporting occasion.
As a part of the partnership behind Cling the Moon , who enters the gate for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Del Mar off back-to-back grade 2 wins, Phillips is embracing these vibes.
“Having our horse Cling the Moon within the Breeders’ Cup is like having a group within the Tremendous Bowl,” Phillips mentioned.
Cheering on the 4-year-old Uncle Mo  filly is a various possession group that features folks with backgrounds in racing, sure, but additionally politics, racing media, and prime skilled sports activities. Veteran racetrack government Corey Johnsen serves because the president of CJ Thoroughbreds and his son C.J. is vp. Corey Johnsen is a former half proprietor of Kentucky Downs and at present serves as interim CEO of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Working Authority.
The vp of enterprise improvement for CJ Thoroughbreds is retired NFL receiver Mike Renfro, who performed 11 years within the league for the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers. Renfro was drafted in 1978 by the Oilers, who had been then coached by Bum PhillipsâWade Phillips’ dad. Wade Phillips served as an assistant coach with the Oilers from 1976-80âwhich launched his NFL teaching profession.
Cling the Moon will enter the Filly & Mare Turf off a transparent victory within the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Johnsen, who as president and CEO of Lone Star Park helped convey the Breeders’ Cup to the monitor in Grand Prairie, Texas, in 1994, met Renfro within the Nineties and so they labored collectively on the opening of the monitor and touchdown the Breeders’ Cup. Renfro introduced Phillips in on the Cling the Moon partnership.
That partnership will not be restricted to NFL athletes and coaches although as former NHL goaltender Ben Bishop III, and his father Ben Bishop are also companions. One of many tallest goaltenders in NHL historical past at 6-foot, 7-inches, Ben III performed 13 years within the league with stops at St. Louis, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Dallas.
The group additionally contains Kentucky state senator Damon Thayer, the Senate Ground Majority Chief. As senator, the previous Breeders’ Cup government has backed pro-industry laws within the commonwealth, together with historic horse racing, which has introduced huge will increase in purses for house owners and put the tracks on higher footing.Â
And rounding out the partnership is Mike Joyce, who serves as a bunch, analyst, and reporter on FanDuel TV.
Co-owner Mike Joyce celebrates with jockey Kazushi Kimura after the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar
Phillips has loved the partnership and is trying ahead to attending this 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup.
“Being in firm with these class of horses within the Breeders’ Cup is fairly neat,” Phillips mentioned. “Cling the Moon has confirmed great pace. While you coach soccer, highly effective acceleration is paramount. That’s what you see on this horse.”
Phillips traces his love of racing to his father, who received within the sport whereas teaching the New Orleans Saints. He started to frequent Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots.
“Dad owned a number of racehorses,” Phillips mentioned. “The primary one he owned received the primary race out, so I suppose I’m a chip off the block.”
Whereas Cling the Moon shall be making the primary grade 1 begin of her profession when she faces an worldwide discipline aligned for this 12 months’s 1 3/8-mile Filly & Mare Turf, she does enter with some momentum and a current win on the course. On Sept. 7 Cling the Moon earned her first graded stakes win Sept. 7 at Del Mar when she rallied from seventh to attain by a half-length within the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T). She adopted that effort with a transparent victory within the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.
Corey Johnsen and Damon Thayer
Cling the Moon is skilled by Phil D’Amato and Kazushi Kimura was aboard for each her current grade 2 wins.
Bred in Kentucky by Repole Steady, the filly out of the profitable Malibu Moon daughter Moondance was bought by CJ Thoroughbreds for $200,000 on the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the place she was consigned by Brookdale Gross sales.
CJ Thoroughbreds beforehand competed within the Breeders’ Cup in 2021 when Sally’s Curlin completed seventh within the Filly & Mare Dash (G1). CJ Thoroughbreds owned Sally’s Curlin in partnership with Left Flip Racing and Casner Racing.
