(Edited press release)
Ro Parra’s Millennium Farms near Lexington and John Turner’s Moon Lake Farm near Elm Grove, La. have announced an alliance between their operations. Turner’s farm will be renamed Millennium Farms at Moon Lake.
Millennium Farms at Moon Lake has also acquired a fractional interest in 30 of Parra’s mares. The mares will be re-located from Kentucky to Louisiana to participate in the Louisiana program. Most are in foal to Kentucky stallions Student Council, Zanjero, and Even the Score .
Parra’s decision to move mares from Kentucky to Louisiana was based primarily on economics. “We will likely move more mares over time,” said Parra. “We feel that the Kentucky program is not as competitive as other regional programs like the one in Louisiana.
“We are pleased to announce this alliance with John Turner and we are glad that he has decided to rename his farm Millennium Farms at Moon Lake,” Parra said. “We have long supported the Louisiana program and have had success there, so this a natural extension of the Millennium Farms brand. Furthermore, Moon Lake’s beautiful 800 acres have been improved with significant infrastructure, and most importantly Dr. Jim Ward has been added as general manager and Jerry Richardson has become farm manager. Both have a sterling reputation, as well 55 years of experience in the industry.”
Parra will also move Littleexpectations from 519 Thoroughbreds near Arcadia, La. to Millennium Farms at Moon Lake. Littleexpectations will join Millennium Farms stallions Woke Up Dreamin and Scrimshaw, as well as existing Moon Lake stallions A.P. Delta and Chatain.
Littleexpectations, who will stand for a fee of $2,000, is a 12-year-old son of Valid Appeal and a full brother to successful sire Valid Expectations. An undefeated stakes winner at 2, Littleexpectations comes from the family of Purge, Foolish Pleasure, Jersey Girl, and Little Sister.
One of Littleexpecations’ best sons is King of the Roxy, winner of the Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park at 2 and the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park at 3. He was also second in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) that year, and has lifetime earnings more than $600,000.
Another one of Littleexpectations’ offspring, a daughter named Seven Seventythree, is a three -time stakes winner at Fair Grounds and Evangeline Downs and an earner of more than $241,000, while a son, He's Boy Wonder won the My Dandy Texas Stallion Stakes at 2 and has earned more than $145,000.
Scrimshaw and Woke Up Dreamin, whose moves from Millennium Farms in Kentucky to Moon Lake was previously announced, will both stand for $2,500. Moon Lake has acquired an interest in both stallions, while Parra has acquired an interest in Chatain, who will stand for $2,500. The farm will also stand A.P. Delta, who stands for $1,500.
“Customers can expect the same from our farm in Louisiana as from Ro’s operation in Kentucky: fairly-priced stallions, top quality, customer service, excellent horsemanship from our boarding service,s and value in sales preparation and representation,” said Dr. Jim Ward, Moon Lake’s general manager, “Our team in Louisiana will work seamlessly with Ro’s in Kentucky to form a unique industry alliance to serve breeders in Kentucky and in the Southwest.”