International Equine Acquisitions Holdings has acquired an ownership interest in grade II winner Court Vision with an eye toward the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The deal with Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm was completed Jan. 28. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Court Vision, by Gulch out of a half-sister to A.P. Indy, will be the second horse IEAH and WinStar have campaigned together. The first, Sharp Susan, was a grade II turf winner at Saratoga last year.
"Doing business with the guys at WinStar has been nothing but a pleasure, and we can only hope to share in their good fortune," said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables. "If all the stars align, and we find ourselves at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, it will be a dream come true. I thank WinStar for giving us the opportunity to partner on such an outstanding horse and take part in such a successful operation. Court Vision has the pedigree, the class, and the ability to be a classics winner."
Court Vision will continue to be trained by Bill Mott, but will now race in the silks of IEAH Stables. He is in training at Payson Park in Florida and preparing for his next likely start in the Feb. 24 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
Court Vision was assigned 119 pounds on the 2007 Experimental Free Handicap. He won three of four starts last year, including the Remsen (gr. II) and Iroquois (gr. III) Stakes. His earnings are $257,542.
"With Court Vision descending from the female line of A.P. Indy and being a top five rated 2-year-old on the Experimental Free Handicap, the decision to sell was difficult and came down to two things," said Elliott Walden, vice president of WinStar Farm. "Firstly, it is consistent with our business plan, and secondly, the relationship with IEAH has ben a 'win-win' for all parties. We look forward to the prospects of adding Court Vision to our elite stallion roster at the conclusion of his successful racing career."
WinStar is located near Versailles, Ky.
Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish and Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership, Court Vision is a full brother to Hong Kong group II winner Garcia Marquez and a half-brother to Lord Snowdon, who won the Jan. 26 Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct. His dam, Weekend Storm (by Storm Bird), is a full sister to classic winner Summer Squall.
