Kimberly Vafiades knows talent when she sees it. For the last eight years, the Maine native has harnessed the winners of more than $2 million, averaging $1,200 per start. And while horses come and horses go, Vafiades states that Alex Having Fun is a "once in a lifetime horse."
The seven-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven has banked $432,093 lifetime, with the last $266,504 earned with Vafiades. His most recent victory was a homecoming of sorts. On Sunday, Dec. 1, Alex Having Fun won the featured $8,451 Winners Over Pace at First Tracks Cumberland in 1:56.3 with the track's top reinsman, Drew Campbell, in the bike.
Although Vafiades is the current owner and trainer, this was not the first time that she had her name on the horse's registration. Alex Having Fun earned more than $80,000 the first time the horsewoman had him in her stable for more than a year in 2020 to 2021.
“We first bought 'Alex' as a maiden for $12,000 when he was three,” recalled Vafiades. “We sent him down to Yonkers to race and were offered $40,000 for him. So we sold him.”
During his five-year-old campaign, he raced in Ontario and earned a little over $65,000 in 2022. Then, much to Vafiades' surprise, he was listed with OnGait.com during January of 2023.
“We were the only ones to bid on him,” stated Vafiades. “That was fortunate for us. He is getting better with age!”
Getting better indeed, as the horse has picked up 15 of his 35 career victories while back living in Maine, but racing primarily at Plainridge Park.
“I think he is rewarding us for bringing him home,” she offered. “'Alex' is a very special horse…he does nothing but try.”
With a time badge of 1:49.3f taken this year at Plainridge, Alex Having Fun comes by his talent honestly. He is a half-brother to a pair of well-known million dollar-earning sires, Western Terror and If I Can Dream, and his second dam is the U.S. Hall of Fame and world champion mare Delinquent Account.
This year is his most prosperous yet, with $175,764 earned while finishing top three in 20 of 30 seasonal outings. It is clear that Alex likes his job.
“He likes his food too,” claimed Vafiades, who is also his caretaker. “We put three rocks in his feed tub to slow him down when he eats.”
While Alex Having Fun likely has a home for life in Sydney, Maine, his biggest fan said, “He absolutely loves people, too!”
This is good since the Vafiades clan is still growing. Kimberly has been married to her husband Steve for 31 years, and their daughter, Kristen, a cardiac nurse, just got married in June. Their son, Jared, is also planning a wedding for next year.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)