The Breeders' Cup has received a dozen phone calls this week from persons asking about the eligibility of stallions that stood in 2000 (foals of 2001) and 2001 (foals of 2002) at Dr. William O. Reed's Mare Haven Farm near Lexington.
During both breeding seasons, the stallions were advertised as "Breeders' Cup nominated." Subsequently, most of those stud horses were declared ineligible because their nomination fees were not paid, according to Breeders' Cup officials.
Last fall, Breeders' Cup denied an appeal by the farm concerning the 2000 breeding season. At that time, Pam Blatz-Murph, senior vice president of Breeders' Cup operations, said, "The stallions have been re-nominated for the 2001 breeding season for 2002 foals."
However, those nomination fees were never paid, the Breeders' Cup said.
In
The Blood-Horse Stallion Register for 2000, Mare Haven advertised as nominated the stallions Carolina Kid, Composer, El Angelo, Gold Spats, Pistols and Roses, Repriced, Sabona, Secreniner, Tough Call, and Well Decorated. The annual supplement is printed each November, about six weeks prior to the Breeders' Cup stallion nomination deadline.
In
The Blood-Horse Stallion Register for 2001, the farm again listed its stallions as nominated: Carolina Kid, Composer, Pistols and Roses, Sabona, Secreniner, Tough Call, and Well Decorated.
In both 2000 and 2001, Pistols and Roses was nominated because his fee was paid by his owner, Sheldon Willis. In 2000, but not in 2001, owner Al Profitt paid to nominate Carolina Kid. Darby Dan Farm, where Repriced was moved, paid his fee for 2001.
Mare Haven has paid to nominate its stallions for the 2002 breeding season (foals of 2003), said Dora Hughes, vice president of the Breeders' Cup nominations.
Hughes gave the status of the following stallions:
- Carolina Kid - nominated for 2000; not nominated for 2001; provisionally nominated for 2002; stood at Mare Haven in 2000 and 2001; stood at Pyaar Acres in 2002
- Composer - not nominated for 2000 or 2001; nominated for 2002; stood at Mare Haven in 2000 and 2001; stood in 2002 at Buck Pond Farm
- El Angelo - not nominated for 2000; nominated for 2001; nominated for 2002; stood at Mare Haven in 2000; stood at Wafare Farm in 2001; now stands at Lakeside Farm in Indiana
- Gold Spats - has never been nominated
- Pistols and Roses - nominated for 2000, 2001, and 2002; stood all three years at Mare Haven
- Repriced - not nominated for 2000; nominated for 2001 and 2002; stood at Mare Haven in 2000; standing since 2001 at Darby Dan Farm
- Sabona - not nominated for 2000 or 2001; nominated for 2002; stood in 2000 and 2001 at Mare Haven; stood in 2002 at Illinois Stud in Illinois
- Secreniner - not nominated for 2000 or 2001; nominated for 2002; stood all three years at Mare Haven
- Tough Call - not nominated in 2000 or 2001; nominated for 2002; stood all three years at Mare Haven
- Well Decorated - not nominated for 2000 or 2001; nominated for 2002; stood all three years at Mare Haven
