June 29 appeared to be a disappointing day at first for Lee Searing as 2023 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) winner Exaulted , who he owns below the banner of C R Ok Steady, failed to fireside on a turf course dampened by rain within the $500,000 Clever Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
Nevertheless, his day was salvaged in an enormous method as he watched a colt he bred, Kingsbarns , storm to a powerful victory within the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) just some hours later.
“After we discovered the large horse (Kingsbarns) gained that race, it was fairly good,” Searing mentioned.
Kingsbarns is out of the profitable Tapit mare Woman Tapit , a horse that Searing obtained a tip on from bloodstock agent David Ingordo.
Initially plannining to move again to California after the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Searing modified his authentic plans and determined to spend the night time. Ingordo known as and advised him about an “completely attractive” yearling that had RNA’d for $675,000.
(L-R): David Ingordo and Lee Searing on the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
“We drove two hours and we checked out her, checked out her, and we checked out her once more,” Searing mentioned. “We made a deal and took Woman Tapit out West.”
Though solely a maiden winner, Woman Tapit carried out nicely on the observe, incomes a graded inserting within the 2017 Adoration Stakes (G3) and ending fourth within the Santa Margarita (G1), however a traumatic expertise would quickly derail her profession.
“She was working with one other horse and he or she tripped, she fell. She did not transfer.” Searing mentioned of a exercise he was watching at Santa Anita Park with coach John Sadler.
Fearing the worst, Searing was relieved when she stood up after a number of minutes and shook it off, ultimately strolling over to the ambulance and getting vanned off the observe.
“Actually her racing profession stopped then,” Searing mentioned. “She wasn’t the identical horse. It is wonderful what one thing like that may do to the psychological a part of the horse.”
Woman Tapit was retired and despatched to Gabriel Duignan’s Springhouse Farm in Lexington.
“I’ve the perfect farm supervisor, Dermot Joyce,” Searing mentioned in reward of the farm’s staff. “They’ve an exquisite farm and obtained fairly just a few of my mares.”
Her first foal was a 2019 Sweet Trip colt named Lord Sheldon , presently a four-time winner. Her second foal was Kingsbarns by Uncle Mo .
“Kingsbarns grew up a extremely handsome weanling and yearling,” Searing mentioned. “To breed a grade 1 winner—I’ve (owned) grade 1 winners, I would like extra as a result of I like racing horses—however I feel (Kingsbarns) has all the time been reduce out to be a racehorse.”
Lee Searing petting Kingsbarns as a foal as his dam Woman Tapit stands within the background.
Kingsbarns bought for $250,000 on the 2021 Saratoga Choose Yearling Sale to Tom McCrocklin as an agent for Champion Equine. He was then pinhooked and bought to Spendthift for $800,000 on the 2022 March Fasig-Tipton 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching Sale.
“We determined to promote the horse for $250,000,” Searing mentioned. “We thought he was value much more than that, however that was the 12 months I actually wished to purchase a number of horses to take West.”
The breeding sport has solely turn out to be a spotlight lately for the 76-year-old Californian who breeds below the title Parks Funding Group alongside together with his spouse Susan.
All the time dreaming of profitable the Kentucky Derby (G1), Searing raced principally colts. With the uncertainty in California racing, Searing has moved extra horses to the East, one thing he’d by no means accomplished earlier than. As well as, he’s growing his involvement with breeding as he tries to even out his colts and fillies to “50/50.”
“The claiming sport has gone on the West coast, so I wanted to decide,” Searing mentioned. “I am fairly concerned in making an attempt to breed a broodmare band—a small one, 15 horses or so.”
A part of his problem in increase the broodmare band is to assist help Lane’s Finish Farm’s first-crop stallion Honor A. P. , who Searing campaigned on the observe when he gained the 2020 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and completed fourth within the Kentucky Derby.
“I’ve much more (mares) than that now as a result of I wish to help Honor A. P. He deserves it,” Searing mentioned.
Nevertheless, the customer remains to be current in Searing, who purchased his first horse when he was 18, a $2,000 buy named Secret Contact.
Lee Searing
“I’ve a number of 2-year-olds,” Searing mentioned. “That is the primary 12 months the place we’re actually giving it a go. We will put a number of horses on the observe.”
Searing by no means forgot Secret Contact, who gained the proprietor’s first two races, and named one other horse Secret Contact just a few years in the past.
“I’ve duplicated some names alongside the way in which,” Searing mentioned. “There are just a few horses you’ll be able to’t overlook.”
A kind of horses Searing will always remember is Woman Tapit, who had an exquisite Munnings filly that can quickly be taken to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“I feel I will hit my first residence run,” Searing mentioned.
