During the long illness of Airdrie Stud and former governor of Kentucky Brereton Jones said Bret Jones that he and his father would share joy over the farm.
“When he went through the memory problems he had, one of the great things we could still do was through the farm and showed him the foals,” said Bret Jones about his father, who died in September 2023.
Two of these foals – in one of the last harvest that Jones would see – give Jones the chance to expand one of the consequences of the history of history in the history of Kentucky: the breeder of a winner of a Kentucky derby (G1).
“I guarantee that they have a good view of the publisher and a good view of the Chunk of Gold and had a large smile on their face at that time,” said Bret Jones, who is Airdries.
“Papa doesn't need anything else on his resume,” said Jones.
Register Bloodhorse Daily
Goldenbear on the route in Churchill Downs
Piece of gold Having Terry Stephens and runner -up in the Louisiana Derby (G2), is a son of Nature conservationist from the Cairo Prince Mare game for gold. He sold October sales for $ 2,500 at the FASIG-TIPTON Kentucky.
editor Although a girl is still, the runner -up in the Arkansas derby (G1). The Son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is from the proud mayor of Indian pride. He sold for $ 600,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2023 The Saratoga Sale, his selected yearling in Recent York.
Publisher would also add the words “Kentucky Derby owner” to the governor's résumé. Jones had hoped that, as the managing director of Kentucky from 1991-1995, he would be puzzled to present the derby trophy in front of himself-he said he handed over the trophy of his wife Libby Jones.
“He had no chance, but I think he believed that it would happen and we will see if this is the opportunity,” said Bret Jones.
The closest Jones came, while governor was the 1992 derby won by Lil E. Tea. The Colt was owned by his friend W. Cal Parte and Lil E. Tee's father on the threshold was with Airdie. The race was also crucial for the younger Jones.
Brereton and Bret Jones at the FASIG-TIPTON October Sales Sales 2018
“It was such a profound moment as I had in love with what I had in love because I was 11 years venerable and I knew what the race for dad wanted for dad. I could have it. I could see how excited he was.
“I am pretty sure that Papa (the bet) booked because he didn't honestly believed that the horse would win the race,” said Jones, “but faithful to his word, he paid off. So I had more money than I had ever thought I would see in my life in my pocket when I had left Churchill the Downs from Churchill on that day.”
The curriculum vitae of the former governor already includes owners of three winners from Kentucky Oaks (G1) and breeded two of these three.
After the first one Spell 'S 2008 Oaks victory, the older Jones was asked whether it was a larger thrill to be elected governor of Kentucky or win the OAKs.
“To be candid, it may sound crazy,” said the former governor to the Kurier journal, “probably the route today. Because this was a dream of childhood. I had no youth room to be a governor. I had a dream of youth to race horses in Kentucky, and I have some somehow in politics because I never wanted to be venerable.”
Both Jones have always said that Airdries is the main task as a trade seller and that the possession of race horses comes afterwards. But even primarily as a breeder, the chances of raising two horses from a farm among the 17,146 foals from 2022 to reach the derby start gate is not lost in the Airdrie team. When both run, Brereton Jones' eighth and ninth derby participants will be breeders.
Breeding a Kentucky Derby starter is “always the goal, but it is a rather unlikely goal to obviously achieve,” said Jones. “We are very lucky. There are about 10,000 things that a foal was born in the starting gate of the Kentucky derby. And with these two we were able to avoid one of these problems, and they are both extremely talented horses.
However, if you focus on commercial breeding, this does not mean that you do not dream of the circuit of the winner as the owner. Verlag is the second derby starter of the farm as the owner –King Russell The 15th in 2023 was the other.
“To be candid, when (King Russell) went bad, we are all somehow said to each other, we will never run again in this race, unless we really believe that we have a chance,” said Jones. “And now we are back here with a horse that has never won a horse racing. But I can promise that we would not run in this race if we do not believe that the publisher had the talent to run a competitive race. And the trust that (trainer) Steve (Asmussen) in themselves and the trust that I think to give in the same way.
Jones said after Gus King bought the publisher at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale, he turned to King, whom he “didn't really know” at the time, as a partnership because they liked publisher as a yearling.
“It is pretty remarkable to think from this conversation in August a few years ago. It is what makes sport so incredible,” he said. “… Sometimes these things happen as you will surely hope that you do it.”
Jones said that in contrast to some Oscar nominators, there was no speech when the Joneses are successful, but they cannot assist but think about it.
“I don't think there is someone who had a racehorse who has not practiced her acceptance speech while accepting the Kentucky Derby Trophy,” said Jones. “We are all optimists, and we have everything over halfway, and that is a good dream. And that is what you do with horse seat. And when it works and I don't just say on the derby stage, but in every circle of a winner there is a reason why you see the happiest faces. This is in Louisville.”
With regard to the future, the game for gold was not pronounced in the foal this year. Jones said: “Play for gold, has a handsome magician stall foal next to you … As handsome as you want to see.”
With the Indian pride of the publisher's Dam “we sold an exceptionally handsome constitutional foal in September in September in September in September. At the moment, she has two extraordinary foals on the farm, an undamaged year and an gun runner who is a foal. And so we bred her.” And when her first foal on the Kentucky derby, everyone continues to trust them, keep your trust Give the opportunity. “
