A minority interest in probable Kentucky Derby favorite Bodemeister has been sold to Mike and Tiffany Moreno of Southern Equine Stable, according to various reports.
The son of Empire Maker won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by 9 1/2 lengths on April 14 and will seek to become the first three-year-old since Apollo, in 1882, to win the Kentucky Derby without having raced as a juvenile.
"I was approached by many people in the industry looking for a chance to buy into this colt," owner Amhed Zayat told BloodHorse.com on Wednesday. "I picked Mike because he's a great sportsman and somebody who has spent a great deal of time and money building up a high-quality broodmare band which will be good support to the colt when he eventually retires to stud. Mike is very excited about Bodemeister, as are we."
Zayat, who did not disclose the price of the share, said Bodemeister will continue to be trained by Bob Baffert, managed by Zayat Stable and campaigned in Zayat's silks.
Southern Equine purchased Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, the dam of classic winners Rags to Riches and Jazil, for a record $14 million at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
