OMRH Acquires Five Retired Broodmares, Launches 'Hats Off' Auction

Edited OMRH release
Our Mims Retirement Haven announced Wednesday the acquisition of five retired broodmares. The new residents of OMRH are Exactly So, Jamra, Iza Valentine, Taba, and My Turbulent Miss. The mares will reside at Jeanne and Pete Mirabito's Ahwenasa Farm near Paris, Ky.

Jamra and Iza Valentine came to the farm from George Waggoner. Exactly So, Taba, and My Turbulent Miss were donated by Olin Gentry, as was OMRH's first official resident, Sugar and Spice.

Exactly So is an Irish-born daughter of Caro. Jamra is a full sister to Clever Trick and currently has two foals racing: Caddo and Jammin Corwyn. Iza Valentine's daughter, Fran's Valentine, is the dam of recently retired With Anticipation. Turkoman, winner of the Affirmed Handicap and the Marlboro Cup, is probably Taba's best-known offspring; she was a champion 2- year- old filly in Argentina. My Turbulent Miss counts stallions Exploit and Prized among her offspring.

"These ladies have filled my barn and my heart with overwhelming feelings, Jeanne Mirabito said. "I am still pretty much in awe that they are with us. Each mare has her own distinct personality so as individuals they are bringing their own special light to OMRH. Could there be a better way to enjoy a Thoroughbred? I don't think so."

OMRH is named after the 1977 champion 3-year-old filly, Our Mims, who resided on the farm from Feb. 9, 2000 until the time of her death Dec. 9, 2003. Jeanne Mirabito adopted the mare through ReRun, a Kentucky-based Thoroughbred adoption group. Our Mims was 26 at the time of her adoption. She was Calumet Farm's first Eclipse winner and a half-sister to Alydar out of Sweet Tooth.

"Our Mims loved visitors. She seemed to know they wanted to see her and pranced around with the pride of a champion," Mirabito said.

With the arrival of the new mares, OMRH also announced the beginning of their "Hats Off For The Ladies" auctions.

"We had a gracious volunteer take our hats to Belmont for the signatures of some very notable jockeys and trainers," said Cheryl Bellucci, OMRH director of fund raising and promotion.

About four hats a week will be auctioned through eBay. The first auctions started Nov. 14 with hats signed by jockeys Robby Albarado, Pat Day, Jose Santos and trainer Allen Jerkens. Auctions are scheduled to run through the end of December and include autographs from Gary Stevens, Jerry Bailey, John Velasquez, Barclay Tagg, Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, and more.

"We were most pleased to get Jorge Velasquez's signature on some of the hats," Bellucci said. Velasquez was Mims' regular jockey through most of her three-year-old campaign.

OMRH's eBay ID is ourmims-org.