The Keeneland September Sale poses a unique challenge for those seeking stars – it is the largest sale of its kind, with hundreds of promising prospects to look at. Our acquisition team, led for years by Paula Parsons and Dr. Carr, continues to rise to the occasion. They selected four colts at the same sale where they’ve found stars like Wicked Strong, Preservationist, Rocketry, and Antiquarian. Each of the new individuals come from terrific female families and represent elite sires whose offspring have yet to carry the red and tan of Centennial Farms – national leaders Constitution and Twirling Candy, top 3 freshman Maxfield, and young, multiple G1 winner Jack Christopher. Learn more about them here and contact us to discuss how you can be part of their team.
What a horse, what a race! We’re so glad that Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Mindframe are ok and are beyond proud of Antiquarian for continuing to step up and improve every time he gets out there. There is a tremendous group of patient partners behind this horse, some of whom were part of his sire, Preservationist, as well, and it couldn’t be more gratifying to get to watch them celebrate a victory in what is truly one of the most important and historic races in the country. Our heartfelt thanks to them, Paula Parsons and her staff in Middleburg, including foreman Juan and riders Aoife and Alexis, Dr. Carr, Todd Pletcher and his team, including groom Juan Jose, exercise rider Edy, hotwalker Ernesto, and so many others. This victory came six years to the day that Preservationist won the G1 Woodward at Saratoga – a truly full-circle moment that leaves us speechless. Well done, Baby P!
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The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale is an annual highlight for partners and a source of pride for the acquisition team, who has found stars like Rubiano, Colonial Affair, Corinthian, and Unified there. The 104th edition proved no exception. Blockbuster trading across the two sessions broke records and we were able to walk away with exactly the colt we wanted. Hip 17 is a colt from the first crop of brilliant Life Is Good, a son of leading sire and proven sire of sires Into Mischief. He’s the first foal for his dam, Velvet Slippers, who was stakes placed twice in Southern California and hails from a deep family. Ownership interests are now available in the 2025 Bloomfield, LLC and we encourage you to reach out with any questions.
Off the duck at Saratoga! There’s nothing like a winner at nation’s showcase meet and we love that this special group of partners got to enjoy one with this neat colt. We’re so grateful them, Dr. Carr, Paula Parsons and her staff, and the Pletcher barn. Makes Sense shipped up from Belmont Park where assistant Stu, groom Manfredi, and regular rider Aarom got him ready to roll. Our thanks to all and, of course, to Makes Sense himself!
Any trip to the Saratoga winner’s circle is always special, but a new program put in place by NYRA‘s racing department made his victory even more so. “Wayne’s Winners” honors the legacy of D. Wayne Lukas by inviting kids to join the celebration for the first race each day. Of course, Todd Pletcher is uniquely suited to take that unforgettable experience and make it magical. There’s nothing like being up-close with a racehorse and Makes Sense was happy to oblige!
It took War Officer awhile to break out of the maiden ranks, but he’s got a hang of things now! The gelding, facing winners for the first time, picked up his second straight victory at Gulfstream Park. Neither win would have been possible without the patient partners behind him and we couldn’t be happier for them. Huge congratulations and thanks to them, jockey Edgard Zayas, Todd Pletcher and his staff, Paula Parsons and everyone in Middleburg, Dr. Carr, this cool gelding, and so many more. It takes a village and we love the one behind this guy!
He’s baaaaaaack! Antiquarian, making his first start since the Belmont Stakes, kicked off his four-year-old campaign with an impressive allowance victory at Gulfstream Park. Despite the long layoff, tricky distance, and salty field, he dug in, drew off, and earned a strong 93 Beyer speed figure. A lot of credit and thanks goes to Paula Parsons and her staff in Middleburg for managing his layoff, Todd Pletcher and his team, including groom Juan Jose and rider Eduardo, Dr. Carr, Edgard Zayas, and patient partners who put the horse first. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!
After knocking on the door on multiple occasions, it was finally War Officer’s turn! The gelding delivered a terrific effort under confident handling by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to pull clear to a comfortable maiden score. Our utmost thanks to Todd Pletcher’s team, including grooms Leonel and Julio, Paula Parsons and her staff, Jimmy Jerkens, who had him at two, Dr. Carr, Irad, and his terrific, patient partners.
First starter of the new year… first winner! Enlighten, a maiden winner off of a lengthy layoff in November, faced winners for the first time and did so in style. The promising colt defeated a salty field to get our partners and team off to an auspicious start to 2025. His success is a testament to the patience of his partners, who didn’t hesitate to give him the time he needed to develop and thrive. Paula Parsons and her staff in Middleburg returned him to Todd Pletcher and his team, including groom Victor and riders Elder and Annalise, in fantastic shape. Edgard Zayas delivered a perfect ride to seal the deal. Enlighten was selected out of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale by Parsons and Dr. Carr, who also continues to do a tremendous job as racing manager. Here’s to a fantastic year!
Three-year-old Enlighten, unraced since his two-year-old campaign, returned with aplomb to kick off the Gulfstream Park Championship Meet! Paula Parsons and her team in Middleburg did a terrific job managing his layoff and returning him to Todd Pletcher and his staff as the Saratoga meet came to a close. The graduate of the prestigious Saratoga Sale, where he was selected by Parsons and Dr. Carr, progressed smoothly at Saratoga and Palm Beach Down before delivering off of the layoff. He showed a good deal of maturity and guts to come through a narrow opening to win going away. Huge thanks to everyone who got him ready, including his patient partners!
Talented sophomore Illuminare rebounded from his lone career defeat in sparkling fashion! He shortened up in distance and faced a salty group of older horses but delivered a big performance, recording the highest Beyer number of his career to date at 98. The colt, selected from the Keeneland September Sale by Dr. Carr and Paula Parsons and expertly prepared for the racetrack by the latter and her team, is now three-for-four lifetime and looks to have a very bright future. Todd Pletcher and his staff have done a terrific job managing this colt and delivering for his happy partners!
