Travers Starter Everfast Latest Frankfort Park Success

Brendan and Olive Gallagher had to adapt their breeding philosophies when the couple relocated to the U.S. from Ireland in 2010 to operate Frankfort Park Farm near Lexington.

After all, so much of Irish and European racing revolves around the turf, with breeding programs geared toward mating decisions that would likely produce good grass horses.

"We came here nine years ago, and it's been a learning curve," said Brendan Gallagher. "I had to learn a lot about dirt horses and dirt pedigrees. It takes a long time. We're finding it a bit more comfortable now."

The Gallaghers bought their 240-acre farm in 2006 and operated it long distance while Brendan also ran Irish-based Emerald Bloodstock until the couple decided their stateside facility needed full-time attention. In a relatively short time, they have achieved a high level of success. Their biggest hit to date has been with Monomoy Girl, the 2018 champion 3-year-old filly who has won nine of 11 starts, with two runner-up efforts, and earned over $2.9 million. A daughter of Tapizar , Monomoy Girl was bred by Frankfort Park and Michael Hernon's Highfield Ranch and was purchased by BSW Bloodstock's Liz Crow for $100,000 as a yearling.

Either in the Frankfort Park name or through their Extern Developments, the Gallaghers have also bred grade 3 winners Take Charge Paula, The Tabulator, and Yuvetsi.

When the field goes to post Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course for the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), it will include Everfast, the latest top-level competitor from Frankfort Park. Like Take Charge Paula, Everfast is by Take Charge Indy, the stallion who stood at WinStar Farm before being exported to South Korea.

Trained by Dale Romans for Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm, Everfast is an outlier in the Travers field with one win to his credit from 13 starts, although he has earned $549,805. He was second in the Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and Preakness Stakes (G1) and will be making his fourth consecutive appearance in grade 1 company Saturday.

"You can tell he's improving," Romans said of the decision to enter Everfast in the Travers, in which he was installed at 30-1 morning-line odds. "The Preakness was by far his best race. His coming-out party was the Holy Bull (G2), and then he let people know he was still around in the Preakness. His Belmont (up-close seventh) wasn't a bad race, either."

Bred by Extern Developments, Everfast was purchased by Calumet Farm for $47,000 as a short yearling from Frankfort Park Farm's consignment to the 2017 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. 

Everfast was produced from the Awesome Again  mare Awesome Surprise, a $400,000 yearling purchase who never lived up to expectations on the track, earning $7,470. Everfast is the best runner for his dam, who was sold privately after being bought back on a final bid of $14,000 when she went through the sale ring just before her son at the Keeneland sale.

Gallagher said he was a fan of Take Charge Indy when he stood at WinStar and decided that Awesome Surprise would be a good pairing for the stallion.

"Take Charge Indy was a big rangy horse by A.P. Indy, and he wanted a nice compact correct mare that would get you a correct foal," he explained. "And Awesome Surprise was a compact mare."

Gallagher said he wanted to keep Everfast, but selling him and his dam were part of the plan to close out Extern Developments.

"Everfast was her first colt after four fillies," the breeder said. "He was a cracker. I didn't want to sell him, but at the time I couldn't keep him. I probably had more faith in him than I actually had in Monomoy Girl. She was temperamental when she was younger. I was wary as to whether her temperament would get the better of her. Everfast was a complete, genuine, lovely horse. He was an easier horse to identify. We are delighted he has gone on and done what he's done."

Calumet general manager Eddie Kane said the combination of Everfast's sire, a son of A.P. Indy, with an Awesome Again mare was appealing to Kelley and the farm's team.

"Mr. Kelley loves that A.P. Indy and Awesome Again line," Kane said. "(Everfast) looked like a little athlete. He has some length to him with good leg underneath. He is not a very big horse, but he's a gritty son of a gun."

Kane said Kelley decided to run Everfast in Saratoga's signature race for 3-year-olds based on Romans' assessment of the colt's competitiveness and fitness level.

"He just comes out of every race so good," Kane said. "For the Travers, Dale said he's doing so well, let's take a shot. He fits that company. He tries so hard, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt and try another grade 1. On paper, it is setting up for a closer."

Kane said there are similarities between Everfast and another Calumet campaigner, Hence, who has earned $925,231 while winning five of 23 starts, including two grade 3 stakes, for trainer Steve Asmussen.

"He reminds me of Hence, who will throw a phenomenal race now and then," he said. "Everfast might do the same thing."

"They are the type of horses you need to be breeding," Gallagher said of Everfast and Monomoy Girl. "It makes this game a lot easier when you can sell graded stakes winners. Over the last couple of years, we're doing that. That is what we're focusing on."