Talk about connecting on a future wager. WinStar Farm assistant broodmare manager Alissa Heath cashed in a long-term exacta of sorts Sept. 4 when Shedaresthedevil posted a 1 1/2-length victory over Swiss Skydiver in the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Heath, in her foal watch duties at WinStar, was among the first to greet each filly when they were born at the farm near Versailles, Ky., in 2017. Both fillies were bred by WinStar and are daughters of Daredevil .
Heath emphasized that it's a big team at WinStar that works in the foaling barn and multiple people deserve credit for the development of the fillies. As they reached the wire first and second Friday, it sent off a celebration at the Heaths' household and throughout the farm.
"I was screaming at the TV pretty good," Heath acknowledged. Husband Destin Heath, farm trainer at WinStar, sent out a tweet noting her wife's Oaks exacta.
My wife foaled and raised Shedaresthedevil and Swiss skydiver! Both were in her barns at @WinStarFarm !!! I couldn’t be happier for her!
— Destin Heath (@DestinHeath) September 4, 2020
Alissa Heath said she was aware both fillies were progressing well this season, with Shedaresthedevil entered in the Oaks off a five-length score in the Indiana Oaks (G3) and Swiss Skydiver entered off a victory in the Alabama Stakes (G1).
"I try not to think too much about it because somehow I feel like that may be a jinx. We all know how difficult it is to win these races. But I am always keeping track of horses that I've worked with, following them, and pulling for them to do well," Heath said. "In terms of that, this has been the most thrilling for me."
While Heath enjoyed the moment, she wanted to emphasize the efforts of the multiple people who work with the horses at Kenny Troutt's WinStar, where Jeff Danford is broodmare manager and Jimmy Tate and Chris Brown are also assistant broodmare managers.
Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stable, and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil, born March 2, 2017, is out of the Congrats mare Starship Warpspeed, who has produced three other horses to race, all winners—including graded-placed Mojovation (Quality Road ).
Flurry Racing Stables purchased Shedaresthedevil at last year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm.
Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver, born March 10, 2017, is out of the Johannesburg mare Expo Gold, who has produced three other starters, all winners—including stakes-placed Miss Hot Legs (Verrazano). Trainer Ken McPeek purchased Swiss Skydiver for $35,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Select Sales.
Daredevil 'Raising the Level' at Turkish Jockey Club
The Jockey Club of Turkey has been focused more than ever in recent years on upgrading the quality of its breeding and racing programs, which means securing better stallions.
While pursuing a deal last year with WinStar Farm to acquire 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Super Saver, a couple of bloodstock agents were urging the Turkish Jockey Club to add another stallion to the list—Daredevil.
The 8-year-old son of WinStar's international traveler More Than Ready was a grade 1 winner at 2, and graded-placed at 3. He is out of the Forty Niner winner Chasethewildwind, who is the dam of grade 1 winner Albertus Maximus. More importantly, Chasethewildwind is a sibling to full brothers King Charlemagne, a French group 1 winner and highweight at 3; and to group 1-placed, group 3 winner Meshahaeer (who are both by Nureyev).
"We went to WinStar and proposed adding Daredevil to the deal," said Brendan Heeney, the agent representing the Turkish Jockey Club, who worked on the deal with bloodstock agent Murat Sancal. "I'm Irish and come from a turf background, and that sire line screamed out precociousness for their broodmares bands that are more long-distance turf mares. It would have been a good combination."
Heeney also had been hearing from several horsemen who had Daredevil progeny and all described them as good horses. Sancal said he had been watching Daredevil since his first foals hit the ground.
"I have really like them and have been sending six to seven mares to him every year," Sancal said.
Daredevil's stud career started out well at WinStar in 2016 when he bred 123 mares, and his books remained solid through 2018. By 2019, however, Daredevil's book dropped to 21 mares, and he had sired only one black-type winner and three black-type-placed runners during his freshman year. So when the Turkish Jockey Club came calling, a deal got done in November of last year—and before the start of 2020, Daredevil and Super Saver were getting settled in Turkey. Sancal said Daredevil was immediately embraced by breeders, who sent around 140 mares to the stallion earlier this year at a stud fee of US$5,000.
Now having sired the top two finishers of the Kentucky Oaks, Heeney said his phone has been ringing steadily with inquiries about Daredevil, but it's no guarantee the stallion will be leaving Turkey, he said.
"The Jockey Club bought him for a reason," Heeney said. "They have put a lot of focus into their breeding and racing program, and they are constantly trying to upgrade. This is the kind of horse they want. On paper, he looks like he could raise the level.
"I'm sure it is something they are contemplating but it is going to be a very difficult decision," he continued. "If it makes business sense, then they'll do it. Right now, everything is up for discussion."
