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of the game; people understand it’s Sheer Pleasure fnished fourth okay to go crazy.” in the $200,000 Xpressbet CaliDespite the wild early sucfornia Cup Oaks on the turf but cess—Singletary ultimately earned returned to the dirt for an allow$1,754,312—Koch makes sure ance optional claiming race March clients understand the difculty of 6. She stumbled from the gate and the game. lost jockey Martin Garcia. “We make it very clear to our “It was miserable, but amazing partners that this is not a sport to at the same time,” Koch said. “She come in and pretend you’re going lagged behind everybody, swung to be fnancially successful,” he said. very wide, and stormed past ev“But you’re going to enjoy yourself.” eryone to gallop out well in front. With that mind set, Koch and A lot of times you see loose horses his investors have enjoyed stakes do something silly, like make a left exploits from a steady stream of turn to go back to the barn, but classy runners, including Califorshe ran her race.” nia-bred Hot n’ Dusty, a daughter Of the disappointing incident, of Unusual Heat—Eager Dusty, by Sheer Pleasure was 8-1 at post time Eager Eagle. She made 23 starts, for her next start, the $201,000 and although she won only four of Evening Jewel Stakes. those, she fnished second or third “Tey say it pays to own a Little Red Feather’s Sheer Pleasure 13 times and earned $345,971. Cal-bred, and they are absolutely and jockey Tyler Baze win the Saint Isabelle capped an extraorright,” Koch quipped. “If you race $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes dinary day for the group May 1, in California but you don’t own 2011, when the daughter of Saint Cal-breds, you’re not doing justice Liam—Fortyniner Fever, by Forty to your program.” Niner, won the $73,100 Time Sheer Pleasure won by He (Tom McCrocklin) has one of three-quarters to Leave Stakes. She was Little of a length, boosting the best eyes you can imagine, and he her earnings to $147,450 with two Red Feather’s third winner on the Hollywood Park card. wins in four starts. is great at fnding diamonds in the In 2010, Koch’s bloodstock “I’m so fortunate to be associrough.” agent, Tom McCrocklin, purated with horses like these,” Koch chased a nearly white daughter of said, “but also their people, too— — Billy Koch Alphabet Soup for $12,000. Mike Puype, Barry Abrams, and “He has one of the best eyes you Phil D’Amato, who took over for can imagine,” Koch said, “and he is Mike Mitchell when he could no great at fnding diamonds in the rough.” longer train and carries on the traditions Keeneland November breeding stock Egg Drop, out of the Adhocracy mare sale, where Egg Drop sold in foal to Tapit Mike set up. All the credit goes to the Rehocracy, went on to earn $534,020 trainers and their staf.” for $1.9 million to Bridlewood Farm. while winning six of 13 starts, including With 300 active investors, Little Red “Te people at Bridlewood are a great the $251,000 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) Feather is fourishing, and Koch is kept group,” Koch said. “Tey told me she following consecutive victories in the busy as the managing partner. just foaled in early April.” $151,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (gr. IIT) “Singletary’s win really put us on Most recently, Koch has found another and the $151,000 Goldikova Stakes (gr. the map and allowed me to do this full Cal-bred, Sheer Pleasure, to be the latest IIT). time,” Koch said. “I love bringing people source of fun. Te sophomore Birdon“We called her Te White Witch,” into the game, and I’m always on the thewire flly was ignored in the betting Koch said. “Her stall was her domain, lookout for new people. Our goal is to at 9-1 before her debut at Los Alamitos and you did not mess with her. She really bring new owners to this sport that I Race Course last Dec. 19, but stunned hated me; she hated men. She was tough believe in, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a handicappers when she romped home by as nails, and it made her a great raceguy like (talk show host and racehorse 61⁄2 lengths. “Te truth is, you just never know unhorse.” owner) Jim Rome or a guy I met at Startil they actually run,” Koch said. “It was Te biggest payday of Little Red bucks down the street. I believe in horse an, ‘Oh my God’ type of performance.” Feather’s career to date came at the 2014 ownership.” www.ctba.com ❙ May 2015 ❙ CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED
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