Hot Peppers Got Friends Pro Back in Production

It only takes one successful foal to change the perception of a broodmare. Friends Pro , hip 1502 at the Keeneland November Sale, was sold as a broodmare prospect for $1,000 in 2020 and was "out of production" for two years after her initial foals failed to generate interest at auction or find much success on the track. But then Friends Pro's fourth foal, Hot Peppers , by Khozan  , hit the track, breaking her maiden at Belmont Park in January 2022 by more than 14 lengths, with a 98 Equibase Speed Figure, signaling that stakes races, and significant black type, were well within her grasp. 

Sure enough, in a matter of months, Hot Peppers reeled off two allowance wins, a listed stakes win in the Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont, a grade 3 win in the Victory Ride at Belmont, and a grade 1 placing in the prestigious Test Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. That was more than enough to think that Friends Pro should probably be back in a breeding shed. 

"This mare was taken out of production for a few years through no fault of her own; Hot Peppers just had not jumped up yet," said Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Made, which has consigned the mare on behalf of owners who shrewdly sought her out at just the right moment. 

"These people were following Hot Peppers," Taylor said. "They thought that she could win a grade 1, so they went and bought (Friends Pro) and the intention all along was just to breed her and sell her. This was all part of the plan from the beginning."

Hot Peppers just missed the grade 1 win, but got a grade 1 placing, and was retired at the end of the 2022 Saratoga meet after a fourth in the Prioress Stakes (G2).

Friends Pro's earliest matings were with Florida-based Journeyman Stud stallions Winslow Homer, Fury Kapcori, and Khozan. The latter, Florida's leading sire, standing for $6,500, was responsible for Hot Peppers, foaled in 2019. 

"If you look at it, Friends Pro only really had a chance four times and she's come up with a grade 3 winner already, grade one placed," Taylor said.

Friends Pro's new owners sent her to Jackie's Warrior  , who stood for $50,000 this year and had a full book that included the likes of Beholder  and Groupie Doll . 

"Physically, he fits with the mare," Taylor said. "The mare is a little bit on the smaller side; I think he's going to provide size and substance."

Friends Pro, 13, is by Friend's Lake (A.P. Indy). 

Other intriguing Session 5 broodmares that have already produced graded stakes winners include: Wicked Charm , hip 1771, a half-sister to English Channel  whose multiple stakes wins included the Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, and Madera Dancer , hip 1573, the dam of Legends of War , a graded (Franklin-Simpson Stakes [G3T] at Kentucky Downs) and group (Gimcrack Stakes [G2T] at York Racecourse in England) stakes winner.