What are the opportunities? What are the chances that the first horse you buy produces a Smashing debut that stamps him as one of the leading 2-year-olds of the nation and a top candidate for the $ 2 million Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance?
Well, the father-son team of Elza and Alex Mitchum defeated astronomical opportunities when it is our time then justified their purchase of him as a yearling of $ 425,000 with a favorable 17 ¾ length romp on August 16 in Saratoga.
“It’s like a fairy tale, I think,” said Elza, 80. “It’s really exciting for us.”
The Mitchums compete as double down horse races. They hope that this time they will not double foal on his tailored debut in the grade 1 champagne stakes on Saturday in aqueduct. The winner of the tradition-rich race of a mile, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, receives an automatic, reimbursements paid berth Tin the Juvenile.
Renpaard’s ownership had been a lifelong dream for Elza. Given his age, he decided it was time to act. He had viewed trainer Tom Amoss on Fox broadcasts, was impressed by him and the call was made.
Elza introduced himself, spoke about his willingness to spend a considerable amount on the Jaarling sale of September in September and promised to succeed the next day. When there was no second phone call, Amoss thought he might have been tampered with.
Amoss, who missed a large part of his career in power power, decided to follow up as the sale approached. Elza repeated his interest and the search was looking for talent. A virginia bred in Virginia that was made our time made the short list for the trainer and his team. For all performances, he owned the body and the mind to flourish.
“I thought he looked very athletic. I liked him conformational,” Amoss recalled. “He was just present about him, an appearance, which I really liked. He was not bothered by everything around him. He was very curious.”
Elza, who enjoyed success with C&M Industries and other family companies, expected that the Colt would be expensive. That didn’t make him.
“The first horse I offer,” he said, “I wouldn’t stop.”
The Mitchum’s walked $ 1,065,000 on two foals and three mares. They doubled by spending another $ 1.4 million on two foals and two mares in the most recent sale of Keeneland.
“If we are going to do it,” Alex said, “we are going to do well and bring our best foot forward.”
The family is equally everything when it comes to donations of charities. Of the many causes, they are huge supporters of the athletic programs at Old Dominion University and, to a lesser extent, Clemson. They also finance research into ALS, Lou’s disease.
“We always want to give back,” said Elza. “The Lord has blessed us. We try to bless other people.”
Maybe good things indeed happen to good people. It is our time that the Saratoga -Paddock walked in as if he had the Upstate New Yorkbaan and filled Amoss with optimism.
“It’s Saratoga, so I can’t say I thought he would win the first time. I thought he would make a respectable show,” the trainer said. “When he arrived at De Paddock, I could see how professional he was. He was very focused, no scream or something like that you can get with first starters. He was a really focused athlete in the paddock.”
Although he had bumped at the start of the 6 ½ Furlong match, he retained that focus when running started. He settled in the second behind heavier hero declared by the first half miles. Shortly thereafter, Jockey Luis Saez indicated that it was time and his mountain reacted vigorously.
Alex, with the 6-year-old daughter Sloan in his arms, jumped into action. “Come on five!” he shouted. Sloan did that too. She threw a fist in the air as she echoes her father. “Come on five!”
It is our time roaring, moving hope and dreams of not only the juvenile on 31 October in Del Mar, but from the Kentucky Derby 2026 presented by Woodford Reserve. Emotions ran high when the Mitchums hurried to the circle of the winner.
“The father had tears about his race. I will never forget that,” said Amoss. “That is the whole reason that, back to my high school years, I wanted to be involved in racing, to be involved in something I was really passionate about. It was almost a rejuvenating feeling for me about being in the industry. I will wear that for a long time.”
So Alex will.
“It was really special for me to see my father achieve his last goal in life, to possess a horse and win a race,” he said. “To do it that way was just the icing at the top.”
The champagne stakes is the following as an important proof for every starter, but especially for it is our time.
“He is a very discussed horse,” said Amoss. “I think it is safe to say that he has a bit of a target on his back. Everyone knows he is the man, he is the man who can be beaten.”
Whatever the future has in store, the first horse that the Mitchums has already bought, created cherished memories, memories of going for a lifetime.
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