The $3,000 horse has gone from obscurity to one of the top prospects on the field next year with a strong late-game win in the Dec. 3 Hollywood (G1T) Derby.
Three years old Scout a stallion with a modest page and bred by a $5,000 Texas stallion, would not fit the typical profile of a 1st place winner, but in a year one would ever claim $30,000 in compensation for stolen Run for the Roses, the proven and true adage that a good horse can come from anywhere has never been more true than in 2022.
Aron Wellman, president of Purebred Eclipse Partners, repeated those exact words to TVG following Speaking Scout’s Hollywood Derby victory.
“We’re really enjoying this win,” Wellman said. “He was really a great horse from the start. He’s run 13 times since we bought him at 10 different racecourses. He’s tough, he’s mobile, he’s very athletic. flexible in terms of surface and distance. He’s just a healthy individual with a great mind and body, who always goes out and gives his best.”
It was a year and a half ago on a July afternoon in Colony Downs when Speaking Scout caught Wellman’s eye. Trained and owned by lesser rider Carlos Munoz, Speaking Scout performed a number of moves throughout the special first person weight class 1 1/16 mile long, and even led finished midway through before finishing second on his career debut at 36-1.
“(At Eclipse), we’re constantly scouring the world for equestrian talent that we believe has what I call blue-sky potential,” Wellman said. “Accordingly, we identify horses early on that demonstrate their talent and desire to be a good racehorse in their career. A talking scout is a 2-year-old who starts for the first time in the beginning. summer of freshman year, and it ran twice on a lawn route in Colonial, which was not an easy task to do the first time. That day, he was defeated by a very docile pony, owned by one of Eclipse’s partners, Mark Grier.”
Another attraction for Speaking Scout is that he is bred by Mr. speaker . Although the stallion was not very fertile at the time, it had a feather on its hat, which was the stallion of the year 2020 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) Speech , who happens to be owned by Eclipse. So Wellman contacted Munoz and privately acquired rangey flying with a big plan to provide Speaking Scout for one of Eclipse’s newest business ventures in its newbie program.
Wellman created the concept of working with newcomers from his time working under Team Valor’s Barry Irwin.
West Aloha and millionaires curling hair in addition to being a co-partner on Belmont Stakes awarded by NYRA Bets (G1) winners Tapwrit and Breeders’ Cup Champion Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) To share . As the partnership expanded, Wellman noticed that the horses offered annually began to sell out quickly as existing partners grabbed future opportunities. The creation of the new partnership will allow those who have never owned a horse with Eclipse the opportunity to participate. When a newbie program horse is offered, Eclipse will provide a 24-hour window for potential partners to ask questions and buy into the partnership. After those 24 hours, a window will open for existing and active partners.
“We usually offer new partnerships once or twice a year,” says Wellman. “We’ve had success with it, and it’s really a good way for us to introduce new people to our program because A) brings in the new blood that is the lifeblood of any business, and B ) we’ve always taken that very seriously. Be active managers and ambassadors for the sport as a whole and one way to do that is to introduce new people to the game.”
Earlier this year, Eclipse’s 2022 Newcomer Partnership Offered a 2-year-old Irish Hybrid Pony contemptuous . Purchased from the Tattersalls August Horse Training Sale for $75,870, the foal provided Eclipse domestic partners with a unique thrill as it finished third in its first start. cooperation beginning. Scorn was later imported into the United States and took an encouraging second place in a subsidy contest at Keeneland in the fall meet for coach Graham Motion.
Disdainful has joined Speaking Scout in California with the hope of starting December 4 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T). Shortly after arriving at Del Mar, the pony had a problem, and the new partnership’s bet dream was abandoned — for the time being.
“It was a tough lesson for us newcomers to learn how fleeting the experience can be, but it comes with the territory and experience of owning a racehorse,” says Wellman. . “You’re going to be faced with more bad news than good news, so it’s a serious lesson learned for that particular new partnership. But it looks like it’s a minor issue that could be. He’s a promising pony with what looks to be a bright future so the new partnership looks like they’re on the right track too.”
Santa Anita . Park. Gelding was first shipped out West in October for the Twilight Derby (G2T) thanks to a breakthrough score in the Hawthorne Derby presented by BetMakers. Slowing down a step, he ran skillfully to the finish line in a tight runner-up position. Cabo’s spirit in a performance that has given his relationships all the confidence they need to make the difficult leap into tier 1 company.
He certainly proved that he belongs on Saturday.
“He’s really thrived since he was in California for the Twilllight Derby, so we understand why change anything now?” Wellman said. “He’s a gelding, longevity is the name of the game for him. We just want to take our time and give him every chance to really take it to the next level next year when he is. He has to face his seniors, it’s going to be a new match. It’s warm to say the least.”
