Multiple stakes winning millionaire pacer Fool Me Once has been retired at the age of 10 and will commence stallion duty for the 2021 breeding season.
Developed in Ontario by the late Mark Austin, Fool Me Once was a foal of 2010 and thus raced against a very deep group of three-year-olds that included Captaintreacherous, Sunshine Beach and Vegas Vacation. The son of Art Major - Fool That I Am notched Grand Circuit victories at two and three, taking his mark of 1:48.1 in an elimination of the Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack.
As an older competitor, Fool Me Once captured multiple open events in both Canada (including a Preferred Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park as an eight-year-old) and in the U.S. He went out a winner on Sept. 18 at Hollywood Dayton Raceway, winning for the 48th time in his 205th career start. The win lifted his lifetime bankroll to $1,184,147.
Fool Me Once's dam, Fool That I Am, has produced 10 winners from 12 foals, with seven in 1:55 and three sub-1:50 winners, including Feel Like A Fool p,1:49.3f ($1,269,988), plus the dam of multiple two-year-old stakes winner American Courage p,2,1:51.3f-’20 ($180,258). He is a full brother to Feel Like A Fool and K Ryan Blue Chip p,1:49.2 ($603,366).
Fool Me Once will stand the 2021 season in Ohio at Hagermayer Farms, with the stud feee set at $3,000. Ohio's only son of Art Major joins established stallions Break The Bank K, Nob Hill High, Western Terror as well as newcomer Rodeo Romeo at the Clarksville, Ohio farm.