New York Thoroughbred Breeders

MAY 2017

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22 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | May 2017 Summersault to sell Merry Meadow. She'd won the Princess Rooney Stakes (G2) that sum - mer, then fnished seventh in the Balle- rina Stakes (G1) and sixth in the Twin- Spires Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), and her owners had entered in the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale. "She sold the day after the Breeders' Cup, and she ran just great," Parsons said. "But there was a residual value, and you have to decide what you can keep. It was a very hard decision. We loved her, and she was a wonderful, wonderful horse to own." Merry Meadow sold for $480,000, consigned by Hidden Brook near Par - is, Ky., where Parsons and Howe keep their mares and foals when they're in Kentucky. Merry Meadow was the rare Ken - tucky-bred for the partners, though they regularly breed to Kentucky stallions. Part of their business plan, said Parsons, is to have all New York-breds. "There are obviously two major ad - vantages," he explained. "New York- bred restricted races and the breeders' fund awards are terrifc. Even if we sell a horse that goes on to race, we still get breeders' awards. I think we were one of the earliest people to do strictly New York-breds, and it's turned out terrifcally." Parsons makes the decisions for the breeding end of their business in consultation with Mike McMahon of McMahon Bloodstock who purchased Saratoga Summer, Summersault's dam. "He was the person on the scene" at the Keeneland January mixed sale in 2009, Parsons said. "I wasn't there. He advises me on all of these things, and he's absolutely excellent." Saratoga Summer's frst foal for the partnership, by Corinthian, sold for $100,000 as a 2-year-old. Named Sum - mer Place to Be, he broke his maiden at frst asking at Saratoga, his namesake track, and earned more than $160,000 before being retired to New Vocations, an adoption and retraining facility. He was adopted in December. With her win in the Orchid, Summer - sault has earned just shy of $375,000, along with the black type that adds value to her prospects as a broodmare. She'll remain in training this year, though Hennig isn't sure where she'll run next, particularly given her pronounced propensity for frm turf. "We have to play the weather card," said the trainer. "New York-bred Show - case Day at Belmont (May 29) is a pos- sibility, and so is the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3T, July 8) at Delaware Park. Could be New York-bred, could be open—anywhere she fts best. "We're committed with her to making sure that we don't subject her to (soft) surfaces that we occasionally did in the past." "We'll fnd a spot going a route where the track is hard," said her owner. "She's thrived on having six or seven weeks be - tween races, and we're not going to rush her. She's been extremely sound her en - tire career; she's really a beautiful flly, and Mark just takes such good care of the horses." In addition to Summersault, Hennig also trains 3-year-old Bartleby (Lemon Drop Kid—Kaleidoscope, by Elusive Quality) for Parsons and Howe and is expecting the imminent arrival of a pair of 2-year-olds, both by Flatter: Cart - wheel, Bartleby's half sister; and Puffery, a flly out of Celestial Sweep. Summersault has a 2-year-old half sister by Broken Vow named Summer Squeeze; Saratoga Summer also has a yearling Mineshaft flly and is expecting a foal by Union Rags. Nearly as excited as Parsons himself when Summersault won the Orchid, Parsons' friends that afternoon at Gulf - stream were racetrack rookies. "They hadn't been to the races before. I told them that it's not always that easy," said the man who was a part owner of a classic winner in his frst few years in the business. "Bill's a fun guy to win for," said Hen - nig. "When you train for good people, it's fun to win for them. They're not just clients; they're friends, and it means more to share it with people that you're close to." ADAM COGLIANESE/NYRA Grade 2 winner Merry Meadow earned more than $850,000

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