Breeze Easy Partner Ross Dies at 79

Sam Ross, co-owner with Mike Hall of Breeze Easy, died Dec. 22, at the age of 79, in Jupiter, Fla.

Described as "a visionary behind many companies," all of which were based in his hometown of Parkersburg, W.Va., Ross sold his SBR group in 2006, but continued to own Woodcraft Supply, a chain of woodworking specialty related stores that operates in 34 states. He also participated in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In addition to the sale of SBR, the year of 2006 also marked the formation of the Ross Foundation, which supports charitable efforts in several West Virginia counties.

Ross entered the racing and breeding industry in 2016 when he and business partner Hall founded Breeze Easy. Quickly becoming a force at the track and in the sale ring—where it is now well represented as both a buyer and seller—Breeze Easy scored a notable racing triumph two years later when the Wesley Ward-trained Shang Shang Shang  shipped to Royal Ascot and captured the Norfolk Stakes (G2).

The following year, another Ward trainee, Four Wheel Drive , was undefeated in three juvenile outings, culminating in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T). Other standouts to carry the Breeze Easy colors have been multiple graded stakes-wining sprint star, Imprimis ; Late Night Pow Wow , a West Virginia-bred who captured the Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3) and was grade 1-placed; Marine Stakes (G3) scorer Easy Time ; multiple stakes winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) third Outadore ; and other stakes winners Curlin's Honor   (owned in partnership with John Oxley), Devine Mischief , Curlin's Catch , and Karak . Most recently, Boppy O  (owned in partnership with Oxley) captured the 2022 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course.

Breeze Easy also bred 17 winners, including four black-type performers. The partners bred the Medaglia d'Oro   filly Illumination  that they sold for $900,000 in 2019 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale. Agent Kerri Radcliffe bought the filly for a partnership that included George Bolton, Peter and Karin Leidel, Barry Lipman, and Radcliffe. Illumination would win her second start and go on to finish third in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1). Breeze Easy's other black-type performers, bred or co-bred, are Capogalante, Blue Sky Baby , and Sea Vixen .

Sam Ross is survived by his wife, Susan Storck Ross, sons Samuel B. "Tres" Ross, III and Spencer Brownell Ross, and four grandchildren. A "Celebration of Life" ceremony will be held at a later date to be announced.