Buckram Oak Horses and Training Center Acquired

When Silver Train won the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park July 16, it was the colt's first race for his new owner, Kassem Masri's Four Roses Thoroughbreds.

Silver Train, the winner of the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) in his prior start and the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) last year, had made all of his previous starts for Mahmoud Fustok's Buckram Oak Farm.

The breeding rights to 4-year-old Silver Train, by Old Trieste out of the Cormorant mare Ridden in Thestars, were purchased following the Met Mile by Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington. The colt will stand at the Kentucky division of the farm at the conclusion of his racing career.

Masri, a longtime friend and business associate of Fustok, acquired Fustok's horses and training center in a private transaction, Hanzly Albina confirmed Tuesday.

Albina previously worked for Fustok and has now become the Kentucky manager of Masri's operation. Albina's father, Michael, who retired earlier this year, also worked for Fustok.

Mohammed Moubarak, who was Fustok's racing manager, worked for Four Roses for a short time but now is not associated with the outfit, Albina said.

Fustok died as the result of head injuries suffered Feb. 8 when he was hit by an uncontrolled vehicle while jogging in Pompano Beach, Fla. He was 70.

"Mr. Masri has had horses in the past when he ran as Three Roses," Hanzly Albina said. "He acquired in a private transaction the horses and training center. This is all of the horses in training, the 2-year-olds, broodmares, yearlings, and weanlings; everything that was Buckram Oak."

Albina said the broodmares would be sold in Kentucky this fall at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky.

The private training center, located near Citra, Fla., has been renamed Four Roses Training Center.

Albina said Masri, a native of Lebanon, is in his mid-30s and splits his time between the training center and a home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

"I had worked for him when he formed Three Roses," Albina said.

Four Roses has horses in the U.S. with trainers Rick Dutrow, Nick Zito, Chuck Simon, John Fahey, and Larry Pilotti. Two horses are in training in France with Criquette Head.

Masri also acquired all breeding interests owned by Buckram Oak, Albina said, including shares in Eurosilver, breeding rights to Najran, and an interest it kept in Silver Train.

Eurosilver, a grade II stakes-winning son of Unbridled's Song, stands at Gerry Dilger's Dromoland Farm near Lexington. Najran, a multiple grade III stakes-winner by Runaway Groom, stands at Rick Trontz' Hopewell Farm near Midway, Ky.

The top horse raced in the Three Roses Thoroughbreds name was Last Song, by Unbridled's Song, who won the Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) and ran third in the Ashland Stakes (gr. I). She was originally purchased as a yearling by Buckram Oak.

For many years, Fustok owned Buckram Oak Farm near Lexington. It was sold to Jess Jackson.