WINNING OWNERS – OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2014
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The Midwest Thoroughbreds-owned Work All Week wins the Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, Nov. 1 Owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds Trained by Roger Brueggemann Sire City Zip Dam Danzig Matilda by Repriced
Incredible success has allowed Richard and Karan Papiese, who founded Midwest Thoroughbreds with two horses in 2001, to give back even more. They support several Thoroughbred retirement programs, including New Vocations, Remember Me Rescue, Galloping Out and Beyond the Roses, and racetrack chaplaincies around the
LA TIA
country as well as the Permanent Disabled Jockey Fund. Midwest Thoroughbreds also operates Thunder Ranch Farm in Anthony, Fla., for its own retired and turned-out horses. The Papieses own and operate Midwest Store Fixtures, a family business that outfits display cases, kiosks and other custom products for retail outlets, in University Park, Ill. After hiring trainer Jaime Ness in 2009, Midwest Thoroughbreds became a force in the industry, finishing second nationally in victories with 236 in 2009. The stable has finished No. 1 every year since. Midwest Thoroughbreds recorded 310 wins in 2010, 418 in ’11, a record 542 in ’12 and 401 in ’13. In 2014, Midwest Thoroughbred, which now has more than 300 horses, was the leading owner for the fifth consecutive year with 219 victories from 992 starters. No other owner was even close in the number of starters and winners. The $5.7 million Midwest Thoroughbreds’ horses earned last year was third best nationally behind Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Kaleem Shah, Inc.
Won the Matriarch at Del Mar, Nov. 30 Owned by Salvador Hernandez’s Hernandez Racing Club Trained by Armondo De la Cerda Sire City Place Dam La Adelita by Sky Classic
La Tia, with Joel Rosario up, wins the Matriarch Stakes
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TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 35
A chance meeting connected La Tia’s owner and breeder, Chicago restaurateur Salvador Hernandez, the owner and breeder of La Tia, with the filly’s original trainer, Brian Williamson before Williamson’s assistant, Armando De la Cerda opened his own stable. Williamson fancies tacos and Delacerda
told him about Hernandez’s Mexican restaurant in 2012. Williamson checked the restaurant out, went back many times and became friends with Hernandez, who has owned Thoroughbreds for 25 years. Before the start of the Arlington meet that year, Hernandez gave Williamson four horses to train including his home-bred, Illinois-bred La Tia. Hernandez also raced stakes winners Voy Por Uno Mas and Diablos First Lady in partnership with trainer Moises Yanez and Del Sol Farm.