Broodmare Sarasota Shining in Both Hemispheres

Broodmare Sarasota Shining in Both Hemispheres: We often see broodmares producing one superstar but then failing with other foals. There are many examples: Cara Rafaela, the dam of Bernardini, failed badly with her following foals; Sherrif’s Deputy only had success with Curlin; and La Ville Rouge was only highlighted by Barbaro since her next foals were nothing special, including all of Barbaro’s full siblings. Further research discovers even more broodmares with this same characteristic. However, there are some special broodmares who produce more than one stakes winner. She may be rather unnoticed, but Sarasota is one such broodmare whose foals have been shining lately in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Sarasota is an Argentinean-bred daughter of Luhuk out of Sandals (ARG), by Southern Halo. Sarasota was a Grade II stakes winner in her native Argentina, specifically at Hipodromo La Plata, considered to be a minor track compared to the more popular racetracks of Argentina, Hipodromo de San Isidro and Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo. After some success in Argentina, the mare was exported to the United States where she made her debut in the Las Flores Handicap (GIII) at Santa Anita with a fifth-place finish in a six-horse race. After that race, she dropped in class to allowance races but was just able to hit the board two times. Sarasota even ran in a claiming race, finishing second.

Unfortunately, the mare was unable to win a race in the United States, finishing her career with a fourth-place result in the Lazer Show Handicap at Churchill Downs. After her unsuccessful campaign in the United States, it was likely that nobody thought Sarasota would succeed on the farm, but she proved to be an excellent broodmare. Her first foal was Hawaiian Springs, a good horse by Stephen Got Even who won in his debut but had an unfortunately short campaign. Her second foal, Sarah’s Secret, a filly by Leroidesanimaux (BRZ), had even greater success since she was unbeaten in four starts, including a win in the Honeymoon Handicap (GII) at Hollywood Park. Sarasota’s performance continued to improve year after year. Her next foal, Salutos Amigos, by Salute The Sarge, is a top sprinter with earnings of about one million dollars.

Surprinsingly, Sarasota was moved to Uruguay, and there she produced Sama, a tiny filly by Successful Appeal who won in her debut last year at Maronas Uruguay and then finished in fifth in the Gran Premio Criterium (GII). On Sunday, August 2, 2015, another Sarasota filly handily won her debut at Maronas. Santificada, sired by A Little Warm, won by 7½ lengths in nearly gate-to-wire fashion in a seven-furlong race, giving the impression that she possesses the quality to run in stakes company very soon. After her superb performance, we contacted Team Valor Founder and CEO Barry Irwin in an attempt to collect news of Sarasota since Team Valor International and Southern Equine Farm own the mare, who is currently boarded in Midway, Kentucky, at Southern Equine.

“Sarasota has a newly turned two-year-old filly bred on Southern Hemisphere time that we have named Sun Goddess. She was conceived in South America but foaled in Kentucky after I imported the mare from South America. Sun Goddess is now in training with Pico Perdomo in Uruguay,” Barry Irwin said.

As a result of Sarasota’s great performance as a broodmare, since returning to the United States she has been receiving more support from stallion prospects and seems to have a bright future ahead.

“She produced a late foal this year, a colt by Animal Kingdom, but on limited opportunities could not get back in foal. Next year she will be bred to Bodemeister, a large part of which is owned by Southern Equine Farm.” Barry Irwin stated. “Team Valor owns a significant part of Animal Kingdom, along with Sheik Mohammed of Darley Farm, where he stands in Kentucky, and John Messara of Arrowfield Stud, where he stands in the Southern Hemisphere,” Irwin added.

Sarasota has the great achievement of having shone with average stallions, and now she has the opportunity to produce her best with the likes of Animal Kingdom and Bodemeister. The best is yet to come with her!

Lady and The Track would like to thank Barry Irwin for taking the time to talk to us. We look forward to seeing Sarasota’s babies excel around the world.

Santificada’s debut at Maronas – Uruguay: