Fipke Likes Belmont Chances of Tale of Verve

Fipke, who made a fortune striking pipes of diamonds in the northern reaches of his native Canada, got his first horse when a client of his father's aerial photography business paid him off with a yearling Arabian Sorrel. Fipke broke the horse himself and rode him bareback. A lover of animals, Fipke studied horse breeding, reading Federico Tesio's books.

 

"You can pay a million bucks for a horse," Fipke said, "but that just says you've got a lot of money. But if you actually pick the mare out, pick the sire, and breed the horse, that's more challenging, so that's what I do."

 

That's what he's done with Tale of Verve, who ran on for second May 16 in the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 16. Fipke, through agent Jack Werk, purchased Verve, the dam of Tale of Verve, at the 2005 Keeneland November mixed sale in foal to Sky Mesa   for $160,000. Fipke liked the fact Verve's dam, Mrs. Markos (by Private Account), had won at 10 furlongs at Belmont Park on both dirt and turf.  And he feels that bodes well for Tale of Verve, who is a son of Tale of Ekati  .

 

"Ours (Tale of Verve) is bred for 12 furlongs," said Fipke. "He's a beautiful horse; conformation-wise he's to die for. American Pharoah is pretty nice, but we were in the same shedrow at Churchill Downs and ours is nicer. He has the stamina, so we think we might have an advantage there. We have the distance aptitude based on pedigrees."

 

Fipke is a believer in kin mating, the mating of closely-related horses. Both Tale of Ekati and Verve have Mr. Prospector and Nijinsky II in their third generation.

 

Fipke's passion for his horses is well-known to all around him. Dallas Stewart, the trainer of Tale of Verve, has been with Fipke for several years.

 

"He's very passionate," Stewart said. "And he loves this horse. I remember winning two races for him at Keeneland. He called me after the first one and said, 'Great job, but you didn't give him a pat and a kiss afterward.' After the next win I was all over the horse hugging him. I really hope I can get it done for him this weekend."

 

Fipke is optimistic about his chances.

 

"His ancestors handled Belmont well and we know the distance aptitude is there, so he should run on. He's shown he can really come from behind."

 

Fipke, in addition to his runner-up finish in the Preakness, had Golden Soul run second in the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). As you would expect from someone of Fipke's pedigree, he wants more.

 

"Yeah, those were nice," said Fipke, " but I'd like to do a little better than second, though."

 

He gets his chance to strike equine gold June 6.