WinStar Farm announced Feb. 28 that it has secured a Name, Image, and Likeness deal with University of Kentucky basketball player Reed Sheppard to promote WinStar stallion Life Is Good .
A freshman guard for John Calipari's Wildcats, Sheppard was Mr. Kentucky Basketball in 2023 and a McDonald's All-American. Also honored as the 2022 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, Sheppard is off to a fast start for the Wildcats (20-8) this season. With March Madness on the horizon, Sheppard is averaging 12.5 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in the 2023-24 season.
A native of London, Ky., Sheppard is the son of Jeff and Stacey Sheppard, who both played college basketball at UK. Jeff was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1998 Final Four and won two national championships.
"Reed Sheppard is all about what we believe in at WinStar," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "Being a good teammate (partner), conducting himself with humility, and giving 100% in all he does. We think he is a great fit for Life Is Good and WinStar Farm."
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Life Is Good, marketed by WinStar as Into Mischief 's fastest son, was a four-time grade 1 winner during his sensational racing career. Standing his second season at stud, Life Is Good bred 192 mares in his initial book, including 70 graded stakes winners/graded stakes producers and 25 grade 1 winners/grade 1 producers.
Life Is Good was an effortless winner of the 2022 Woodward Stakes (G1); an uncontested winner of the 2022 Whitney Stakes (G1); and a dominant winner of the 2022 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) over Horse of the Year Knicks Go . He also took the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in 2021, a race he won by 5 3/4 lengths—the largest margin of victory at that year's Breeders' Cup.
All told, Life Is Good amassed earnings of $4,541,700 for CHC and WinStar Farm and won nine of 12 starts. He stands for $85,000 S&N. His first in-foal mares commanded up to $1.2 million, $800,000, etc.
For more information on Life Is Good, contact Liam O'Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Ben Hanley at (859) 873-1717, or visit www.winstarfarm.com.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
