For Immediate Release
LTBA Contact:
Roger Heitzmann
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Media Contact:
Julie Calzone
(337) 235-2924 ext. 18
Louisiana Bred Colt and Female Jockey Aim For the History Books In Saturday’s Kentucky Derby
(New Orleans, La.) – Louisiana bred three year old Vicar’s In Trouble is headed for the starting gate at this Saturday’s 140th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisiana horsemen are hoping that the colt makes history by being the first Louisiana bred to win the Derby.
Vicar's in Trouble is the first Louisiana-bred to run in the Derby since Zarb's Magic competed in 1996 and just the third in the almost 50 years since states where the horses were bred were included in past performance charts.
“Having a horse like Vicar’s In Trouble as a Derby contender gives our breeding program a real boost,” said Jake Delhomme, president of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “It would validate our incentive program and ensure that it continues into the future. The program was created for just this reason – to produce top contenders at the best races in the world. It also increases the value of our horses and that makes the horse breeding business more viable.”
Vicar In Trouble’s jockey, Rosie Napravnik, would make history of her own in becoming the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. She is the regular rider of Vicar’s in Trouble, a front-runner who was never threatened in taking the $1 million Louisiana Derby.
Bred by Spendthrift Farm LLC, trained by Mike Maker and owned by Eclipse Award winners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Vicar’s in Trouble sold for $8,000 at Equine Sales Company’s inaugural yearling auction and since then has banked $788,900 in just five starts. In addition to winning the prestigious Louisiana Derby, the colt also won the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes by nearly seven lengths and finished third in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes. Assuming Vicar’s in Trouble starts in the Kentucky Derby, he will become just the third Louisiana-bred to ever make the race.
Vicar’s in Trouble was consigned as a yearling by Mark Toothaker, agent, and purchased by Clyde Taylor. The colt by Into Mischief sold again for $80,000 as a 2-year-old.
Vicar’s In Trouble is by the same sire as Goldencents and Vyjack, who both made plenty of noise on the 2013 to the Kentucky Derby.
All three are sons of the up-and-coming young sire Into Mischief, a noted juvenile of 2007 who scored his signature win in the CashCall Futurity. During a three-year-old campaign limited by injury, he raced only at seven furlongs, winning a minor stakes at Santa Anita and placing in both the San Vicente and Malibu.
Vicar's in Trouble is out of Vibrant, a five-time winner at sprint distances. She has produced two minor winners prior to Vicar's in Trouble. Vibrant is by Vicar, who turned the Fountain of Youth/Florida Derby double in 1999. After winding up near the rear in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, he eventually reverted to one-turn events. Vibrant is a half-sister to Grade 3-winning sprinter True Direction, hero of the 2002 Fall Highweight Handicap.
Trainer Mike Maker, the son of a trainer, grew up in the suburbs of Detroit attending races at Hazel Park and Detroit Race Course. At the young age of 13, Maker was already involved in the Thoroughbred industry as a horse owner. He was an assistant for Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas and worked with Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic. Maker opened his own stable in 2003 and has trained top horses including: Eclipse Award winner, Hansen, Derby Kitten and Stately Victor.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey are natives of Artemus, Kentucky and are longtime horse lovers. Ken’s first glimpse of the Twin Spires came at age 5 when his family took a trip to Louisville and since that day he has always wanted to win the Kentucky Derby. The Ramsey’s have won numerous owners titles at racetracks across the country and have owned such stakes winners as Kitten’s Joy, Roses in May, Precious Kitten, and Pleasant Prince.
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