Travis Kelce gets in racing game with stake in Swift Delivery

Photo: Max Sharp / Eclipse Sportswire

Barry Irwin, founder and CEO of Team Valor International, announced Tuesday that the Zoldan family, owners of Phantom Fireworks, and Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning tight end Travis Kelce recently acquired a significant share of Team Valor's interest in the 3-year-old gelding Swift Delivery, whom Team Valor owns with Gary Barber.

The Zoldans have been key members of Team Valor's syndicates for nearly four decades, participating in three notable Kentucky Derby renewals: the 2011 victory of Animal Kingdom; Captain Bodgit, second by a had in 1997; and a close fourth-place finish in 2012 with Went The Day Well.

Bruce Zoldan, founder and CEO of Phantom Fireworks, has been a longtime attendee of the run for the roses. This year, fellow Ohio native Kelce attended the Derby with the Zoldans, thanks to his close friendship with Bruce's son, Alex. Phantom Fireworks, based in Youngstown, Ohio, is the largest pyrotechnic retailer in North America.

Swift Delivery won his first start for Team Valor and Barber in an allowance race July 19 at Woodbine, which followed a 16 1/2-length runaway in a June 23 maiden race there when racing solely for Barber. The Mark Casse-trained son of Not This Time is set to make his stakes debut Saturday at a mile on the grass in the Toronto Cup at Woodbine.

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