Peter Brant has been an owner of some of the sport's top Thoroughbreds since the late 1970s.
In all that time, Brant has owned winners of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but not the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
And now, on Oct. 31, Brant is the 5-2 second choice in the $2 million Juvenile at Del Mar.
Yet even if "his" horse wins the Breeders' Cup, Brant will still be searching for his initial Juvenile victory.
If you're confused, don't be.
Because there's Peter Brant, the owner, and Brant, the grade 1-winning, 2-year-old son of Gun Runner , a talented colt named through the friendship of two of the sport's most well-known owners.
Brant, the four-legged $3 million colt, was named after Peter Brant by his owner, Amr Zedan, in gratitude for the friendship and help he has received in the last four years from the two-legged Brant.
"I always wanted to name a horse for a classy gentleman like Peter," Zedan said. "I'm just hoping the horse will live up to the name and make us proud."
Through his first two starts, Brant has done that and more.
Bought for the aforementioned $3 million price tag at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Brant is a perfect 2-for-2 for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert heading into the Oct. 31 Juvenile. He won his July 26 debut by 5 1/4 lengths and then scored by a length in a front-running score in the 7-furlong Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (G1).
"The friendship and respect I have for Peter makes the colt's success the icing on the cake," Zedan said. "He is one of the classiest gentlemen out there. He's a dear friend I truly respect."
Given the interests that Zedan and Brant share, it's no surprise they quickly became friends after they met four years ago. They are both polo players. Both have a passion for art collecting and racing top-quality Thoroughbreds.
"We met through our association with polo, but he is also interested in art as I am, and on occasion Amr would ask me what do you think of this or that. I tried to be some help to him if I could," Brant said.
Brant's art suggestions delighted Zedan and brought them closer.
"He's an authority on art and has one of the finest collections, so I always consult with him as to what I should get involved in and what I shouldn't get involved in, and he's been nothing but generous with his advice," Zedan said.
That friendship led to Brant and Zedan enjoying lunch together in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this summer when Baffert called Zedan. He needed a name for the $3 million Gun Runner colt.
Then a thought raced into Zedan's head.
"Peter is a good guy," Baffert said. "He's a true horseman who has a passion for racing. Amr asked if the colt was good enough to name Brant and I said he was."
After that, he looked over at Peter Brant.
"He said I have a nice horse and I want to name it after you," Brant said. "I hesitated, and I said, 'Well, I would never name a horse after myself, so break a leg. I hope it brings you some luck.' Now it looks like he's a nice horse who is going the right way.
"He's a contender in the Juvenile and it's a very good feeling," Brant said. "I discuss the horse a lot with Amr as a friend."
Brant is no stranger to naming his horses after friends. He named one years ago for his friend and tennis star Ivan Lendl and he won the 2020 Arc with Sottsass, named for Italian architect Ettore Sottsass.
"I take naming my horses seriously," he said. "Most of my names have to do with cultural things of our time, like the great artist Francesco Clemente, but also friends. Unfortunately, the ones I name after my daughter can't run at all."
Brant, however, can run quite fast, giving Brant hope that one day he may see the splendid sight of a Brant horse running against, yes, Brant.
"Amr's relationship with Bob Baffert is very special and I wish him nothing but the best," Brant said. "He's a very good guy and a great gentleman. He's a special man. He loves horse racing in the United States and is totally loyal to Bob and I have mutual respect for Bob. I think he's one of the greatest trainers of all time."
