Just Philtored Carries Torch For Breeder ZWP Stables

It all started when Oklahoma native Elliot Campbell moved to Baltimore, Md., for work at age 24. Having never been to a horse race before, he was captivated by a photo hung behind the cash register at a local GNC store. The horse pictured was graded stakes winner Cherokee's Boy, a Maryland-bred who started in the 2003 Preakness Stakes (G1). "I asked the man who owned the store: 'What's the story with the horse?' And he said 'Oh, that's my horse, Cherokee's Boy. He ran in the Preakness (Stakes) last year,'" said Campbell, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Michigan-based Trace Medical Company. That man turned out to be the late Dave Picarello, one of the co-founders of ZWP Stable. Picarello invited Campbell to one of his races, and the rest is history. When Picarello passed in 2023, Campbell took over ZWP Stables alongside partner and trainer Gary Capuano in honor of their friend. ZWP Stables and Capuano's Non Stop Stables reached another milestone together Dec. 6 when their homebred Just Philtored won the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes at Laurel Park. The daughter of Great Notion notched her third stakes win for owners Red White and Blue Racing and London Reid Thoroughbreds. Just Philtored is out of the Malibu Moon mare Slow and Steady, who was campaigned by ZWP Stable and has been the backbone of their breeding program. "When Foard Wilgis passed away in early 2021, and Dave (Picarello) unfortunately passed away in 2023, they together with Gary (Capuano) owned Slow and Steady and (stakes winner) Steady N Love," Campbell said. "When Foard passed, I bought his share, and then when Dave passed, I bought the remaining share. So we ran under ZWP as a tribute to them for years, but we actually just ran our last race under the ZWP silks. "ZWP was actually acquired by London Reid Thoroughbreds, which is my company. It's my boys' middle names. My wife (Melanie) and my two boys, specifically my 9-year-old, just have the best time watching this from afar. We don't make it to Maryland too often to watch the races, but it's really incredible." All of Campbell's horses will race under London Reid Thoroughbreds, with the exception of some partnerships. Campbell said Just Philtored was like all the rest of Slow and Steady's foals. "The thing with the Slow and Steadys is that they all want to be racehorses," he said. Although Campbell's broodmare band of just a few horses is small in number, they have been mighty with results. Slow and Steady, at the ripe age of 25, is carrying her last foal, by Arcangelo. The 2022 Maryland Broodmare of the Year has produced 12 runners from 12 to start, with their earnings amassing more than $2 million. She will retire after the 2026 season. Capuano purchased the mare for a mere $14,500 in 2002 at Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic December Mixed Sale. ZWP Stable's most successful runner to date is multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty, a 7-year-old daughter of Buffum, and a half sister to Just Philtored. The mare earned just shy of $1 million during her career for Capuano, who owned the mare in partnership with Campbell. The mare has recently been retired and will visit Vekoma in 2026. Campbell hopes Malibu Beauty and the rest of the mare's fillies can carry the torch for their great broodmare Slow and Steady. "She's the matriarch of the whole thing," said Campbell about Slow and Steady. "If it wasn't for Slow and Steady, it would've all broken. She's amazing. "It's a great sport and I'm really proud of everybody that's been involved with it all. From Lynn Ashby with Marlyn Meadow Farms in Delaware, to Gary and his daughter Tori, who works with all of our babies. There's a whole lot of people I don't even get to interface with much because I'm so far away, but it really does take a team."