Proprietor Clark Brewster of Tulsa, Okla., wished to call his famous person sprinter Rooster Cogburn due to actor John Wayne’s eye patch in his portrayal of that character within the films.
The identify was rejected so Brewster settled for Cogburn . That blistering quick 5-year-old Kentucky-bred colt owned along side companions Invoice and Corinne Heiligbrodt, is the 7-5 morning-line favourite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Brewster has lengthy been a breeder and proprietor in Oklahoma, campaigning his horses at Remington Park. Since 1996, he has gained 238 races in Oklahoma Metropolis as a sole proprietor, in accordance with statistics supplied by Equibase.
Pals, Household Foster Proprietor Brewster’s Love of Racing
The rationale Brewster wished that first identify so badly is identical purpose his group was capable of buy Cogburn for less than $150,000 on the OBS Spring Sale of 2-12 months-Olds in Coaching after he had beforehand been purchased for $310,000 by Three Amigos on the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Chosen Yearlings Showcase.
“He had a little bit of a glitch in a single eye that had been detected,” mentioned Brewster. “They thought his eyesight would possibly deteriorate, nevertheless it’s high-quality. He can see completely. I simply thought Rooster Cogburn can be good for him. He breezed lights out at his 2-year-old sale and we actually preferred him.”
Discuss excellent imaginative and prescient. Cogburn has seen his solution to successful 9-of-15 races in his profession and $2,392,630 in earnings. He has drawn the eye of breeding farms and abroad racetracks for his or her elite dash races. Cogburn is educated by the game’s all-time winningest coach, Steve Asmussen, and will probably be ridden by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Asmussen has gained eight Breeders’ Cup races in his profession.
“Final evening, we offered 1/fortieth of a share in (Cogburn) for $475,000,” Brewster mentioned Thursday morning. “Invoice and I made a decision we’d ship him to WinStar Farm when he retires. I retained 27.5% of him as majority proprietor.”
Brewster mentioned WinStar is part proprietor and Frank Antonucci additionally purchased a share of him. There’s probably yet another race for Cogburn after the Breeders’ Cup earlier than he retires.
“Cogburn has been invited to run within the Hong Kong Dash,” Brewster mentioned. “That is a $3.4 million purse. It could improve his breeding status internationally. However the primary factor is the horse’s welfare. It can all depend upon how he comes out of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash earlier than we resolve on whether or not we are going to make that 20-hour journey.”
Brewster mentioned Cogburn has, indubitably, been the very best horse he has ever owned in a number of a long time as an proprietor. Cogburn set a world file at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York when he gained the Jaipur Stakes (G1T), blazing the 5 1/2 furlongs in :59.80. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash will probably be at 5 furlongs.
“You realize, I used to take a look at the interviews within the winner’s circle with the house owners of Kentucky Derby horses and assume, ‘why is everybody 85 years outdated?’ ” he mentioned. “The reply to that query is typically it takes that lengthy to discover a horse like this. It took us a very long time to seek out Cogburn. He’s sensible and he’s the sort of horse that basically warms your coronary heart every single day.”
Brewster has usually competed at Remington because the monitor opened in his dwelling state. He has nothing however reward for the operation.
“I’ve by no means been handled extra kindly with the utmost respect than I’ve at Remington Park,” he mentioned. “It is a firstclass operation that has been nice for the state of Oklahoma in each facet. I imply that with all my coronary heart. The individuals are so skilled and we are going to proceed to race horses there yearly.”
Cogburn’s race Saturday is scheduled as race 5 on the Breeders’ Cup card, roughly 2:41 p.m. Central time. Followers can watch and wager on the race at Remington Park.
Entries: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash (G1T)
Del Mar, Saturday, November 02, 2024, Race 5
- Grade IT
- 5f
- Turf
- $1,000,000
- 3 yo’s & up
- 12:41 PM (native)
This press launch has been edited for content material and magnificence by BloodHorse Employees.