In Excess (Ire): The One That Almost Got Away
F E A T U R E
In Memorium
by MARCIE HEACOX In Excess (Ire) was a highly successful racehorse destined for a stud career in Kentucky until a pair of California breeders moved to keep him in the Golden State, where he was a dominant sire until dying from the infirmities of age at Vessels Stallion Farm on May 17. The 26-year-old stood stud at the Bonsall location for 18 years before being pensioned in 2011. “He was an old man, and he was tired,” farm manager Kevin Dickson said. “He was ready to go.” In Excess was bred in the “Emerald Isle” by Ahmed Foustok. He was the most successful son of Siberian Express, a dual group I winner in France, and the winning Saulingo (GB) mare Kantado (Ire). He began his racing career by winning three of six starts in England before trainer Bruce Jackson and owner Jack Munari brought him stateside in 1990. For the next two years, In Excess ran exclusively in stakes company, winning the grade II San Fernando Stakes and grade III San Gabriel and Volante Handicaps at Santa Anita Park. But his greatest racing achievement was winning four consecutive grade I races in New York during 1991—the Metropolitan, Suburban and Whitney Handicaps and the Woodward Stakes. He never won again after his handicap division tear, and was retired due to injury in the summer of 1992. His career totals were $1,736,733 and 25-11-2-3. In Excess stood his first breeding season at Munari’s Rancho Why Worry in 1993, producing a small but effective crop that would eventually earn him honors as California’s top freshman sire of 1996. Before those foals even reached their first birthday, owner and breeder Mike Pegram acquired a controlling share of the stallion and began entertaining offers from Kentucky farms. But when In Excess stopped over in Bonsall, he never left. The late Frank “Scoop” Vessels, who owned Vessels Stallion Farm, said it was love at first sight. “For some reason, I just knew this was the horse for us, so I immediately
made a deal over the phone with (Pegram) to purchase half of him,” Vessels said. In Excess was then syndicated in less than a week. Dickson, who’s been manager since the fall of 1994, said he had a similar reaction to Vessels when he first laid eyes upon the new acquisition. “I was awe-inspired,” he said. “He was an amazing horse.” “It was a major feat on behalf of Vessels and Pegram to keep him here,” Dickson said. “These guys held to their guns, got him syndicated, and he stayed right here and made a pretty influential impact.” The numbers attest to that impact—$44,332,647 in total progeny earnings (as of June 2), 63 stakes winners and 16 California champions from 18 crops. He was the state’s top sire in 2002 and 2003, and leading sire of juveniles in 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004. The late Santa Anita Derby (grade I) winner and successful Kentucky sire Indian Charlie is arguably In Excess’ most noteworthy offspring. His progeny have earned six Eclipse Award titles and more than $40 million. Other notable In Excess sons and daughters include grade I winners Musical Chimes and Romance is Diane, grade II winners Icecoldbeeratreds, Notional and Romanceishope, and a handful of grade III winners. Pegram eventually sold all of his shares of In Excess, but not before giving him the boost for early success by breeding many of his own mares. “He was extremely supportive of him, and he needs commendation for that,” Dickson said. In Excess was buried at Vessels next to Free House, a twotime California Horse of the Year who died while standing stud there in 2004. Dickson hopes third-year sire Square Eddie can step up to be the farm’s next star. The setup is familiar—a foreign-bred grade I winner who first raced in England and has owner J. Paul Reddam’s breeding program for support. The rest of the tale will be impossible to duplicate.
In Excess (Ire) (1987 – 2013) ©Coglianese
©Lisa Groothedde
Winning the Grade I Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park in New York on September 15, 1991.
www.ctba.com
As a pensioner at Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California, on January 14, 2012.
CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • JULY 2013 11