One of the fillies in Daytona Stable’s 2022 yearling class is Classy’n Connected. She is a stunning looking filly by Connect, out of the dam Smart Dorie, by Smart Strike. Classy’n Connected was selected by our trainer Tom Drury.
September 2024 Update:
Classy’n Connected made it two wins in a row by winning a Starter Allowance at Churchill Downs on September 26, 2024. Classy had 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby winning jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr in the saddle and he gave her a thrilling ride. Bottled up on the rail until the final 1/8th of a mile, Brian was able to swing Classy out into the clear. Once she saw daylight, Classy showed an impressive turn of foot, passed the leaders and won going away. With the win her earnings now total $113,485 and her record improved to two wins, three seconds and a third in eleven starts. Congratulations again to all the partners!
August 2024 Update:
Classy’n Connected broken her maiden by 3 lengths in an open Maiden Special Weight at Horseshoe Indianapolis on August 5, 2024. Classy now has one win, three seconds and a third place finish in 10 starts and has earnings of $66,685. Congratulations to all the partners!
September 2023 Update:
In her second start Classy’n Connected raced a game 4th place finish in a tough $92k auction MSW field at Churchill Downs on September 16, 2023.
July 2023 Update:
In her first start at Ellis Park in Henderson KY on July 16th in a Maiden Special Weight (Auction Condition) race going 6F on the dirt with jockey Joe Talamo in the irons. Pre-race Classy made a stunning impression in the paddock. Considering it was her first race it was a good effort: she broke well, made a move at the top of the stretch and ran respectable fifth in a field of eleven. Joe reported she was ‘professional’ in the post parade, pre-race warmup and during the race. It was a promising debut and the DS partners are excited to see what Classy’n Connected will do later this year and beyond.
June 2023 Update:
Classy’n Connected is currently at Churchill Downs with trainer Tom Drury. Tom is pleased with her progression from breezing at Tyrone Training Centre in Skylight, KY to her training at Churchill Downs. She has settled in nicely and Tom reports ‘she walks around like she owns the place’. Apparently she has a little ‘sass’ to go with that ‘class’.
Classy has had 2 gate works at Churchill Downs and the gate work on 5/31 was :36.0, the bullet of day for 3F. Daytona Stable purchased the daughter of Connect for $50k, which makes her eligible for the Maiden Auction Condition races. If all goes according to Tom’s plan, we will be looking for a race for Classy in July.
December 2022 Update:
Classy’n Connected is currently at Harris Training Center in Ocala Florida learning the basics of being a race horse. She is currently on the training track jogging and galloping six days a week. Robbie (Harris) reports she is a quick learner, is happy and enjoys going to the track. Recently Bob and I paid a visit to HTC to check in on her progress. We were very pleased with how she looked and how she is growing and filling out. Classy’n Connected should start some speed work soon and at this time, the plan is for her to return to Kentucky in early 2023 with a goal of getting to the races in early summer.
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Original Information (Partnership Closed)
Hip 2013 was purchased on Monday (9/19) at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale. Bob and I looked at approximately 50 horses on Sunday (9/18) that were selling on Monday. She was our number one pick out of all the horses we looked at on Sunday. Tommy went with us that afternoon to look at our top dozen fillies. With the Connect filly Hip 2013, he loved her walk and Tommy thought we had a chance to sign the ticket for her. While we were prepared to go higher, we were thrilled when the hammer dropped at $50k.
Here is her walk video from the sale:
Currently Classy’n Connected is approximately 15 hands 1 inch tall and will be an average size filly when full grown. She is a first foal which statistically do well, even though they are frequently smaller than later offspring. Classy’n Connected is put together like a racehorse and is the spitting image of her sire. She is well muscled and has a cat like walk. With her breeding and what we anticipate will be a long and efficient stride, she should develop to be a route horse.
A son of top sire Curlin, Connect is a G1 and multiple graded stakes winner of six of eight races. He stands at Lane’s End Farm and his stud fee is $25K. His 12 yearling fillies to sell this year have averaged $79K. Here is Connect’s Bloodhorse page:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/stallion-register/stallions/169973/connect
Classy’n Connected sales page:
Smart Strike is #3 on the Bloodhorse broodmare sire rankings out of all sires nationwide. She is inbred 3×2 to Smart Strike which is identical to Rich Strike, this year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
Classy’n Connected’s breeder Noreen O’Neill (Ann Marie Farm) is known for her breeding expertise including breeding and raising G1 winner City of Light at her small farm. Classy’n Connected second dam is a 1/2 sister to the dam of City of Light. Under her second dam there are superb runners such as Decelerator ($366,904). Her third dam was Grade 1 winner Fabulous Notion ($702,002) and her offspring resulted in numerous stakes winners.
Like all horses purchased by Daytona Stable, we feel Classy’n Connected is a value purchase. The initial partnership will partner Classy’n Connected at the actual sale price of $50,000 ($5k for 10%), plus vetting costs, other purchase expenses including shipping to Florida. In addition, the partnership agreement will require partners to pay their share of operating expenses (primarily training and vet) quarterly in advance. The initial partnership cost will contain these expenses through the end of the year and the total estimated cost of 10% of Classy’n Connected will be approximately $6200.
Classy’n Connected is already in Ocala at Harris Training Center. She will start her training this fall and if things go well, she will be transferred to Tom Drury in Kentucky next spring and racing next summer in Kentucky.
Owning thoroughbred racehorses is highly speculative. The high standard deviation of performance results in many horses losing nearly all their value, while fewer number of horses are highly successful. However, Daytona Stable puts up our own money and is truly a partner. The only managing partner bonus would result if the partnership horse sells for a greater value than the initial purchase price.
Check out her nice walk:
