by Murray Brown

On Nov. 7, 2021, this column dealt with the female descendants of the mare May Dodge which were selling at that year’s Harrisburg sale. I thought it might be of interest to go back to that column and see in retrospect how one might have fared if my advice had been taken and someone had bought all of them. Of course, the amounts paid do not represent a true number, since it would have required at least another bid to secure each of those fillies. But we are speaking in imaginary terms anyhow, so we will go with the actual prices that each of those fillies brought.

One would be tempted to ask how one might have fared? In just a couple of words, I would say extremely well.

There were 20 fillies listed. One had died, so that left us with 19. There was another that for some unknown reason was on the list that didn’t belong. She was of all things a trotting filly. So, our venture began with 18 fillies.

The total expenditure for the purchase of those fillies was $914,000.

To date they have earned, now get this, $4,177,641.

I understand that it costs money to train horses today, so let us for the sake of expediency put a number of $100,000 per filly over the almost three years to cover training costs. Obviously, the expenses for some will be well over that amount. Others were lightly trained and probably didn’t come close to racking up that amount in bills. There are actually three of them who had yearlings in this year’s select sales. One might assume that they either were not trained at all or were only trained for a short period of time.

Using these numbers, as imprecise as they may be, leaves us with a profit of over two and a quarter million and we still own all the fillies. We are also well on our way to having the makings of a wondrous band of broodmares, cost free.

Of course, a naysayer might say that the numbers are inordinately weighted down because of the presence of two of the greatest pacing fillies of the modern era in Twin B Joe Fresh and Sylvia Hanover. My response would be that those two fillies are a major reason why we are involved with the entire herd. By concentrating on the descendants of May Dodge, we are seeking excellence. The fact that it was achieved is far from accidental. I’ll go to what one of the foremost students of pedigrees and racing, Myron Bell has more than once said to me: “When I buy a filly, I look at the venture as being entirely one of buying a broodmare that will further the breed. If she races fine. If she does well, even better. That’s a great bonus. But my bottom line is that I am buying a future broodmare.”

Twin B Joe Fresh has already earned over twice the amount it cost to acquire the entire group of fillies. Sylvia Hanover will soon have done that as well.

Let’s revisit those 18 fillies and see how we’ve made out.

Hip #84 *Layla Hanover — Sold for $١٢٩,٠٠٠.
Bettors Delight—Lifetime Star—Western Ideal
p, 3, q1:56.4m, earnings of $3,960.

Hip #104 Bettor Call Mom — Sold for $١٢٥,٠٠٠.
Bettors Delight—Outtathisworld—Rocknroll Hanover
p, 3, 1:57.2h, earnings of $21,328.

Hip #121 Sylvia Hanover — Sold for $١٣٥,٠٠٠.
Always B Miki—Shyaway—Artiscape
p, 4, 1:47.3m, **earnings of $1,750,495.

Hip #166 Stay True — Sold for $١٥,٠٠٠.
Stay Hungry—True Reflection—Western Ideal
p, 4, 1:56f, earnings of $19,317.

Hip #213 Sheishungry — Sold for $١٧,٠٠٠.
Stay Hungry—Asset Management—Western Hanover
p, 3, 1:53.2m, earnings of $53,052.

Hip #291 Quick Glance — Sold for $48,000.
Stay Hungry—Glancewithme—Art Major
p, 3, 2:00.3h, earnings of $3,009.

Hip #311 Bet On Sunday — Sold for $٤٠,٠٠٠.
(Bettors Delight—Inanotherworld—Artsplace)
No record, no earnings.

Hip #362 Milina Hanover — Sold for $٦٥,٠٠٠.
Stay Hungry—Modesty—American Ideal
No record, no earnings.

Hip #422 Steel Beauty — Sold for $٤٥,٠٠٠.
Bettors Delight—Skittle Hanover—Dragon Again
p, 3, 1:56h, earnings of $39,122.
Hip #493 Hurrikane Msrodine — Sold for $٢٤,٠٠٠.
Sunshine Beach—Western Heat—Western Hanover
p, 3, 1:53.4s, earnings of $72,884.

Hip #548 Baywatch Hanover — Sold for $٣٣,٠٠٠.
Betting Line—Beachbunny Hanover—Somebeachsomewhere
p, 4, 1:52.3f, earnings of $76,200.

Hip #612 East Side Hanover — Sold for $٥٥,٠٠٠.
Somebeachsomewhere—Edra Hanover—The Panderosa
p, 3, 1:51m, earnings of $62,801.

Hip #630 Twin B Joe Fresh — Sold for $٦٥,٠٠٠.
Roll With Joe—Fresh Breeze—Captaintreacherous
p, 4, l:47.3m, **earnings of $2,067,265.

Hip #634 Gadzooks Hanover — Sold for $11,000.
Betting Line—Get A Clue—Art Major
No record, earnings of $1,563.
Hip #635 Rambling Ruby — Sold for $٢٧,٠٠٠.
Betting Line—Goldies Bad Girl—Badlands Hanover
p, 4, 1:58.1h, earnings of $65,852.

Hip #782 Ive Got You Babe — Sold For $٢٠,٠٠٠.
Artspeak—Rockabye Babe—Rocknroll Hanover
No record, no earnings.

Hip #803 Watch Her Go — Sold for $١٠,٠٠٠.
He’s Watching—She’s Long Gone—Artsplace
p, 3, 1:58.3f, earnings of $11,815.

Hip #815 Suri Hanover — Sold for $٥٠,٠٠٠.
Roll With Joe—Special Beauty—Rustler Hanover
No record, earnings of $4,143.

Totals — 18 fillies sold for $914,000. Earnings thus far: $4,252,806. Assumed expenses: $1,800,000. Assumed profit: $2,452,806 in addition to broodmare assets of the entire band.

* Name changed to Odds On Layla

** Earnings include 2024 Breeders Crown elims not finals.