New York Giants’ Chris Mara Derby Dreaming with Itsaknockout

Itsakockout (outside) rallied on the outside of leader Upstart in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and eventually won by disqualification to remain undefeated. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The way Chris Mara sees it, gambling runs deep in his DNA.
His grandfather, Tim, is best known for founding the New York Giants football team in 1925. Less known is that Tim wheeled and dealed as a legal bookmaker. He became so well known at his craft that a photograph of him still hangs at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Chris, 58, has been going to the races since he was 8 or 9 and enjoyed being around the sport since then. He parked cars at Yonkers Raceway when he was a teenager and dabbled by taking a few small shares in Standardbreds as he grew older.
He always knew he wanted to take the plunge into Thoroughbred ownership, but he wanted to be sure to spread the risk with other partners. The key was finding the right mix of owners since the top priority, after all, is having fun. And he wanted to make sure he had a reasonable shot at success.
Kathleen and Chris Mara

Courtesy of Starlight Racing

Everything fell into place for Mara, the Giants’ senior vice president of player personnel, after the team defeated the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl at the close of the 2011 season. His research led him to Starlight Racing, which had former trainer Frank Brothers as its bloodstock agent and the incomparable Todd Pletcher as its trainer.
One stumbling block remained — a conversation with his wife, Kathleen.
“I’m all in,” she told him as he breathed a sigh of relief.
As tends to happen, they are in quite deep with an interest in approximately 25 horses, and they are enjoying every minute of the ride. Mara thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Pletcher, a Dallas native who follows the Dallas Cowboys’ every move. Their playful conversations typically begin with one taking the needle to the other. The barbs continue to fly after that.
The Maras made the Kentucky Derby scene last year with Intense Holiday and are on the Triple Crown trail again with Itsaknockout, a keen contender in the $1-million, Grade 1 Besilu Stables Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Itsaknockout, a $350,000 purchase as a yearling, is perfect through three starts, albeit with an asterisk. He took his debut at seven furlongs at Gulfstream by a nose last Dec. 7. He easily handled the move to a one-mile allowance race one month later, rallying four wide to draw off by 5 ¼ lengths. The stewards advanced him from second to first in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 21 after it was ruled that Upstart, with jockey Jose Ortiz, had interfered with Itsaknockout and Luis Saez, his regular rider, during the stretch run.
For Mara, the Fountain of Youth was yet another reminder of the wild swings racing can take.
“We were standing trackside and couldn’t see the infraction. It was a great surprise,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll get payback one of these days.”
Itsaknockout, a bay colt by Lemon Drop Kid, has given Mara a severe case of Derby fever.
“The only thing I can compare him to is the horses we’ve had the last three years,” he said. “He’s probably the most talented at this stage. He really hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s shown a lot of tactical speed, and we think he wants to run longer. There are a lot of unanswered questions that will be answered on Saturday.”
Mara also is excited about a filly he named, Itsonlyactingdad, based on the acting careers of his daughters, Rooney and Kate. The 3-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway shows considerable potential on turf, with a second-place finish in her debut on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park and a victory at 1 1/8 miles there on Feb. 22.
His son, Conor, 27, does not have a horse named after him but he is very much a part of the family venture. His father views him as a lucky charm since he attended three victories in three trips to Gulfstream Park. He was not about to take any chances by having him miss the Florida Derby.
Conor was being flown in.
THE MARAS WITH THE STARLIGHT TEAM AT 2014 PREAKNESS

From left to right: Kathleen and Chris Mara, Jack Wolf, Sharyn Neble, George Neble and Maggie Rooney Galterio (standing), Tim and June Rooney. (Courtesy of Starlight Racing)