A 'win-win situation' as Rockingham Ranch buys into Derby hopeful
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Fast Enough, the third-place San Vicente (G2) finisher who scored previously in California-bred stakes company, has taken on a high-profile partner in his bid for a 2020 Kentucky Derby starting spot.
Owner Craig Martin said this week that Rockingham Ranch purchased a minority interest in the Eddington gelding, who's likely to appear next in the March 22 Sunland Derby (G3).
Fast Enough was beaten only by the hype horse Nadal and Ginobli in the seven-furlong San Vicente, with his late kick enough to hold off champion Storm the Court for a graded placing. That effort encouraged Rockingham Ranch principal Gary Hartunian to partner with Martin.
“He looks like he likes two turns and likes to run late," Hartunian said. "That’s what you need to get to the Derby. So, we’re going to take him down to Sunland and give it a roll down there."
Martin received other offers for his homebred after Santa Anita's Jan. 18 California Cup Derby victory, his only other start since a debut victory last May, but wasn't interested in giving up majority ownership or transferring Fast Enough from trainer Rafael Becerra.
“A lot of partners would have wanted to move to a larger barn,” Martin said. “I was not really looking at selling the horse all along. After we won the California Cup I got a lot of offers. This is a horse that means a lot to me and I wanted to keep him.”
Having partnered with Rockingham Ranch on a claiming horse in the past, Martin had no problem going in with someone he trusts in Hartunian.
“It just seemed like a win-win situation for us,” said Martin. “I didn’t get them for financial reasons. I’m definitely going to lean on them very heavily for making decisions. We’re all looking forward to the future with this horse.”
Martin said the San Vicente was the type of race "to see where he fits." While the owner has all along felt his horse had potential, it's another thing for Fast Enough to test graded company at the top of the 3-year-old division.
“Even if he isn’t able to go the Derby route, he’s eligible for some really good races in California," Martin said. "So that’s a great backup option. There’s a couple other big races out there that potentially we can try.”
Martin parlayed what he though was "the worse move I've ever made in my life" to producing Fast Enough. He claimed his dam, Brilliant Melody, out of an August 2014 race at Del Mar, but she was never able to race again.
Brilliant Melody’s first foal died shortly after birth. Martin then bred her to multiple graded stakes winner Eddington, who stands at Ballena Vista Farm in California. He sent Brilliant Melody to Whispering Oaks Farm in Kentucky to have her next foal.
In early February of 2017, Brilliant Melody foaled a large colt, after which Martin received a phone call from the proprietor of the farm, Keith Crupper.
“When he was foaled, Keith called me and said, ‘I don’t normally say this, but you’ve got a very special horse on your hands,’ and I think all farms say that,” said Martin. “But everywhere he’s been since, people have all commented on him. He’s big-boned, nice-sized, and he’s smart. Conformation is good.”
Martin had Brilliant Melody bred to Mineshaft before bringing her and Fast Enough back to California. Her next foal, that Mineshaft filly, is among three 2-year-olds Martin will send to the race track in 2020.
As a yearling, Fast Enough got so big, surpassing 1,100 pounds, that Martin was advised to have him gelded.
For a man who was living in Alaska seven years ago when he decided to get into the ownership game, Martin’s learning curve has been steep.
“That’s the most unlikely place to be a racehorse owner," he said. "I got into it in 2013 as part of a syndicate like a lot of people do. That was fine, but I have a type A personality and I like to be involved in decision making. I learned a lot though. It’s a great way to start and I encourage others to start that way.”
The 1 1/8-mile Sunland Derby, run at New Mexico's Sunland Park, offers 85 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 50-20-10-5 scale to its top-four finishers.
C2 Racing Stable and Gary Barber issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the post-parade scratch of White Abarrio...
This week's Prospect Watch showcases young horses with elite bloodlines making their debuts and early career starts across...
While most attention was on the Breeders' Cup last week, several horses got their first wins in impressive...
The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
Owen Almighty , the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner who most recently placed third in the Perryville...