When he retired pacing filly Bolero Takara to the broodmare ranks in 1999, after a brilliant 18-race career that ended with a runner-up finish to Odies Fame in the Breeders Crown final, owner Paul Deslauriers of Quebec City said “with her spirit, I’m confident she’ll produce good horses.”
That she has.
YS Lotus’s victory in the $60,000 Gold Cup & Saucer final on Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park was the second notable triumph this month by offspring of Bolero Takara. Two weeks earlier, Ontario-based Shamballa captured the $225,550 U.S. Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands, beating Wiggle It Jiggleit and Always B Miki.
Now 20, Bolero Takara has produced nine starters from 10 foals eligible to race, and collectively they’ve earned more than $2.7 million. Six have winnings above $200,000. Four have marks below 1:50.
Shamballa, a six-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, is the richest with about $805,000 in earnings for Deslauriers (Tao Racing), Rick Zeron Stables, Howard Taylor and Cool Cat Racing.
YS Lotus, a five-year-old son of If I Can Dream, is now past $200,000 for his owner, Yves Sarrazin after Saturday's Canadian record-setting win at Red Shores Charlottetown.
Bolero Takara’s first foal, a son of The Panderosa called Bolero Taishi, won 44 races and $545,283. The next one, a Jennas Beach Boy colt called Bolero Charles, accumulated 43 wins and $609,000 in earnings.
A daughter of Life Sign, Bolero Takara cost Deslauriers and his father Pierre just $10,500 (U.S.) as a weanling. She was undefeated in 11 starts at Hippodrome de Montreal and The Red Mile at two and finished up her racing career with $515,153 banked.
“It was a gift from God, having a mare like that,” said Deslauriers, who sold her privately a few years ago to Cornerstone Stock Farm of Indiana. “Hopefully, next year, she’ll be considered for the Hall of Fame.”
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)