Team Valor Buys Half-Interest in Cartoonist

Team Valor has purchased a 50% interest in Cartoonist, who broke his maiden by two lengths at the Fair Grounds on Dec. 11. The juvenile colt is a half-brother to multiple grade I winner Voodoo Dancer and is by Louisiana Derby (gr. III) winner Comic Strip.

In his maiden-breaking effort, Cartoonist was making his second start and first on turf when he came from last to win going away over a mile on firm turf. Kent S. Foster of Dallas, Texas will retain 50% and Team Valor will syndicate its newly-acquired half interest.

Cartoonist and Voodoo Dancer were produced from the Danzig mare Zuri. Voodoo Dancer (by Kingmambo), who was bred in Kentucky by Lazy E Farm, was retired in October after finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). The nine-time stakes winner retired with earnings of $1,427,952 while racing for Green Hills Farm.

Cartoonist was bred by Mike S. Sloan in Kentucky, who consigned him through Lee McMillin, agent, to the 2001 Keeneland November mixed sale where Foster purchased him for $17,000. The colt was then consigned to the 2002 Fasig-Tipton Texas August yearling sale where Burl D. McBride purchased him for $30,000 from the consignment of Inside Move, agent.

The Kentucky-bred will be transferred to Ralph Nicks at Oaklawn Park. All new horses bought by Team Valor will now be conditioned by Bill Mott's former assistant.

"We will not race Cartoonist until Keeneland in the spring," said Team Valor president Barry Irwin. "We will let him relax a bit, then build him up for an early start at Keeneland and hopefully have him ready for the 3-year-old grass stakes on Derby day at Churchill Downs."