Heberts' Pride Gloryzapper in F&M Sprint

Jeff and Kathleen Hebert fell in love with a Kentucky-bred daughter of Ghostzapper   at the 2013 Keeneland yearling sale. She had some veterinary issues, which scared enough bidders away that the couple got her for just $15,000.

Three years later, that Ghostzapper filly, named Gloryzapper, is about to compete in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). By being patient and starting her at their Hebert Training Center in Vinton, La., the Heberts have brought Gloryzapper to the national stage.

"She was gorgeous," Kathleen said. "Jeff and I said if we could afford her, we'd buy her for a broodmare."

Adena Springs bred Gloryzapper, who is out of the Distorted Humor   mare Grand Glory, and consigned her to the Keeneland sale.

"We just gave her all kinds of time," Kathleen said. "She was our first Ghostzapper ever. We just never pushed her and let her grow up."

In April of Gloryzapper's 3-year-old year, they sent her to trainer Phil D'Amato in Southern California.

"He's done a fantastic job managing her career," Kathleen said.

Gloryzapper spent 2015 and the first part of 2016 primarily in allowance company. But when she zipped home on top in the Oct. 9 L.A. Woman Stakes (gr. III), the 4-year-old showed the Heberts that she deserved a shot at the Breeders' Cup.

BALAN: Gloryzapper Makes the Grade in L.A. Woman

"She is literally thriving," Jeff said. "We're not bringing her to the Breeders' Cup—she's bringing us. Now, is she good enough to beat this bunch? The water's deep."

Gloryzapper is listed at 15-1 on the morning line against the likes of Acorn Stakes (gr. I) winner Carina Mia, Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) winner Haveyougoneaway, and Wavell Avenue, last year's Filly & Mare Sprint victress.

The Heberts also have Bowies Hero, another D'Amato trainee, in the Breeders' Cup. The 2-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Artie Schiller  —Remembered, by Sky Mesa  , is running in the Juvenile Turf (gr. IT). They own him with Mark Martinez's Agave Racing Stable. The Heberts helped Martinez find Street Fancy, winner of the 2015 Starlet Stakes (gr. I), and they have brought him into the partnership of Gloryzapper, along with Peter Peluso and Richard Leggio.

One of the secrets to the Heberts' success is their Hebert Training Center. They have leased the 72-acre property, which includes a 5 1/2-furlong track, for some time and are just about to close on the purchase of it.

"That's been an old match-race track for 70 years, so the surface is just fantastic," Kathleen said. "It used to be called Toomey Downs."

Kim Lloyd, general manager of Barretts Sales, discovered the center when he inspected some of the Heberts' young horses for Barretts auctions. He found Sahara Sky there on one of his trips. The colt started once at nearby Delta Downs, and Lloyd convinced trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to buy him. Sahara Sky won several stakes, including the 2013 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I).

"That is a wonderful track down there," Lloyd said. "The Heberts have developed a long list of stakes horses out of their training center."

The Heberts keep it as a private training center. It has 64 stalls and several turnouts, "for the babies, to let them play," Kathleen said.

Jeff and Kathleen spent several years pinhooking horses, but now they concentrate on developing young prospects at their training center. They built on their California connections to the point that they send many of their racehorses to the West Coast, using trainers like D'Amato and Richard Baltas.

"We sit on our butts for two months at Del Mar watching all of our horses train," Jeff said. "We spend time with our friends and eating at the (Brigantine). Then you've got to hit Keeneland in a mad dash."

The "mad dash" this year resulted in the purchase of five yearlings at Keeneland, offspring by Animal Kingdom  , Lemon Drop Kid  , Munnings  , Keep Up  , and Fort Larned  . While they found Gloryzapper at Keeneland, Bowies Hero was a private purchase after his first start, a victory at Lone Star Park.

Both Gloryzapper and Bowies Hero won for the Heberts at Del Mar this summer. Now the pair will represent the Louisiana couple in the Breeders' Cup.