Broodmare of the Week - Favored One - Sponsored by Will Brewer's 1983 Datsun Sentra

Youtube Video embedded.

Broodmare of the Week goes to Favored One, but first let's discuss this week's sponsor: My 1983 Datsun Sentra. 

So lets go back in time together. A time when I worried more about finding a cash machine that would let me take out $5 (never had more than $20 in my bank account back then) rather than vet bills, day rates, stud fees and Adequan for the dog (because I really want my monster dog more active). I got my license when I was 19 years old, a little later than most but I had no car to drive. So I saved $800 (minimum wage then was around $4.25) for a car by working at a summer daycare at the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club for 6 years during the summers (greatest birth control ever, by the way). I needed a car as I was heading back to Spokane to attend my Sophmore year at Gonzaga. Well, as you have guessed by now the $800 bought me a broken-down p.o.s 1983 Datsun (no, not Nissan) Sentra. Here is the best picture I could find of one: 

But mine was much crappier than this fine vehicle. My car had three different colors of brown because it had been in so many accidents. What I learned later after I purchased the car was even worse. In 1994, the speed limit on Washington freeways was 65. However, the car was not correctly aligned (or something was messed up) and the entire car shook when I drove anywhere between 58 and 72 MPH. And I am not talking a little shaking, I am talking earthquake shaking:

So I either had to go ten miles below the speed limit or ten miles over. 

Despite that car being miserable, it does hold one special memory for me. Early morning on August 14, 1994, I set off in the aforementioned shitty Sentra with a friend to go to Yakima Meadows. I had never been to Yakima Meadows before, but I remember that day fondly because it continued my addiction to studying pedigree, my love for fillies (horses), and it was a special day of racing. In other words, it was worth the drive at 55 miles an hour. By the time I got to Yakima I already had washed out in the paddock as the car did not have air condition (obviously) and temperatures reached 98 degrees that day.

What brought me to Yakima Meadows that day? The race card was exceptional that day and included the Warren G. Magnuson Handicap featuring Want a Winner and Sneakin' Jake. The Eagle Hardware Derby featured GL Junior, Prefabricate and Three No. There was an allowance race that had future stakes winners Captain Bash, Halo Passer and Last Ballgame in it. However, I was always a fillies guy. And the 6th race, a Maiden Special Weight race for fillies, was a race I was looking forward to the most. A filly by the name of Favored One was racing. By Son of Briartic and out of Highly Favored, she had already finished 3rd in 2 Stakes races for two-year-old fillies, but now was taking a step back and facing maidens. It was easy money and she went off at 1.40-1, which I actually thought was high considering the competition. I just remember being in awe of the filly and she took off and won by 5 lengths. If you would like to take this trip down memory lane with me, here are the charts for that day at Yakima Meadows: 

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=A&BorP=P&TID=YM&CTRY=USA&DT=8/14/1994&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB

Favored One was bred and raced by Gunshy Manor of William and Barbara Nelson. Favored One was entered in the 1993 WTBA Sale, but did not meet her reserve. After her maiden win on August 14, 1994, she went on to win the Emerald Lassie Stakes and the Gottstein Futurity. After the Gottstein Futurity ownership was transferred to Mike Pegram of Mayor Marv fame…….. (or Real Quiet or Silverbulletday or Captain Steve or Midnight Lute or Midnight Lucky or Lookin at Lucky or Pussycat Doll or Drill or Secret Circle or… you get it). 

Favored One raced 6 more times in Southern California, including winning the Grade 2 Princess Stakes, before her career ended in the Grade I Hollywood Oaks. She ran against the great Serena's Song twice in Graded Stakes races but never beat her. Here is her career record: 

http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=1364946&registry=T 

Impressive. 

At this point, you may be asking yourself: Will what the hell does this have to do with current racing? My response is shut up, I am getting there. 

Favored One had 13 foals total (Favored One was sold for $14,000 in January 2005 in foal to Real Quiet). Her best horse on the track was Initforreal who won over $248,000. Most importantly, her fourth foal was a filly by In Excess named Oneexcessivenite (or my every Saturday). Oneexcessivenite won 4 races and earned over $143,000 in her career. Even though she was not as good as Favored One on the racetrack, she was good enough to become a broodmare. 

And a good broodmare she became. On Sunday, a filly by the name of Lexie Lou won the 155th Queen's Plate (Canada's Kentucky Derby: so essentially more mounties and Bryan Adams and Celine Dion are the infield entertainment). Lexie Lou was the only filly in the field:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/filly-lexie-lou-wins-155th-queen-s-plate-1.2698205

By Sligo Bay, Lexie Lou is out of Oneexcessivenite, meaning that Favored One is the second dam of the Queen's Plate winner:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/lexie+lou

This is a prestigious race (at least according Howie Mandel and Keanu Reeves) and good to know that a Washington bred was a part of it. 

Oneexcessivenite was put through the sales ring two times; once in 2006 where she was sold for $15,000 in foal to Read the Footnotes. The other time she did not meet her reserve of a whopping $759 in 2012. Worth a little more now, huh?

The point is, Washington breeds great racehorses and great broodmares. This last weekend was a reminder of that point, even if it is a little further down the pedigree line. Pretty impressive for a mare from Washington and a wonderful day for this blogger on August 14, 1994. Thanks Favored One. 

Always Love Your Animals, 

Will Brewer