Squire Brown, a Kentucky-bred 2-year-old gelding foaled in August of 2002 finished far back Friday in his second career start at Arlington Park, two years and one week after his actual foaling date. Joseph Marculkaitis' Squire Brown, by Sky Classic out of the Sunny's Halo mare Lopes Quintas, was outrun and finished 11th in Friday's 12-horse maiden special weight field, 15 days after the bay youngster had run seventh when entered for a $25,000 claiming tag. The extremely rare August foal was conceived with the plan that the foaling would be in South America, according to his breeder Jose Laudo DeCamargo, of Santa Escolastica Inc. North American foals, regardless of their foaling date during the normal first six months of the year, celebrate a common birthday on the previous Jan. 1. South American foals are exactly six months behind their North American counterparts. DeCamargo has been specializing in imports and exports to the United States from several South American countries for years and has breeding operations in both Kentucky and Brazil. He has been representing several Argentinean and Brazilian clients at sales since 1991 as well. Since that time he has purchased more than 500 horses. DeCamargo confirmed that the mare was bred with the intention that the foal would be dropped in South America. "I think we gave him away," said DeCamargo Saturday morning from Kentucky. "As I remember it, he had a bad hock and his conformation made him unsuitable for a sale. If they ran him (Aug. 27), that would be like running most North American 2-year-olds in January. "With his breeding, he should do very well on the grass," DeCamargo added, "but he'll probably need a little more time to grow into himself."
Trainer Ron Goodridge confirmed Saturday that the gelding was purchased privately partly because of his potential as a turf horse.