You know that horse that crashed into Jackson Bend yesterday, Little Nick? And that horse that won yesterday’s Arlington Million, Little Mike?
They’re half-brothers.
That little tidbit of trivia comes via trainer Rick Schosberg, passed on to him by his father, Paul, past president and director emeritus of New York Thoroughbred Breeders.
Hay Jude, dam of both horses, is a 17-year-old broodmare, owned by Carlo Vaccarezza, who was, according to this Chicago Tribune article, given the mare by his friend Pat Greco. Vaccarezza reportedly used to groom horses at Aqueduct in the winter; he and his wife Priscilla own Little Mike.
The bay Illinois-bred mare (Wavering Monarch – Double Norm, by Relaunch) raced from 1998 to 2002, compiling a record of 30-5-7-1 and earnings of $113,152 in claiming and allowance ranks. She was winless from October 1998 to May 2001.
Little Nick has several ungraded stakes wins to his credit; lifetime, he’s made 39 starts for a record of 9-7-9 and earnings of $469,609.
Little Mike is a multiple grade I winner for earnings of $1,436,412; from 19 starts, he’s got 11 wins, 2 seconds, and a third.
Both horses reportedly came out of yesterday’s endeavors fine. While no next start has yet been identified for Little Mike, Little Nick is entered in the second at Saratoga on Wednesday, a $20,000 claimer.
Nice lil tidbit. It’s a small World.
Where else can you have so much fun?
That was a fun fact to learn today
I love those two horses and their names especially since that’s what we called our twin grandsons. Thanks Theresa
Great to hear from you, Joyce! Hope you and the family are all well.
I was happy to be the beneficiary of someone else’s keen eye, Linda.
And it was nice that big bro Nick got a win yesterday!