Stars Align for Turf Sprint Contender Bucchero

The pieces of the puzzle that aligned to allow Ironhorse Racing Stable's Bucchero to not only exist but to be a contender in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) are nothing short of incredible. 

Around eight years ago, while at the Ocala Breeders' Sales August yearling sale, Karen Dodd was stopped by OBS's Kim Cookson, who told her the Marion County Humane Society was attempting to help a group of horses found starving in the Central Florida area, some of which had been sold at the 2008 OBS winter mixed sale. While driving home that day, Dodd was struck with the memory that she had sold Bucchero's dam, Meetmeontime, in that sale. Frantic calls to the Humane Society revealed her worst nightmare: Meetmeontime and her colt were among the group of starving horses. 

The horses were eventually seized by the Humane Society, and in September, once Meetmeontime was in stable condition, Dodd took her mare back to the operation she owns with her husband Greg—Southern Chase Farm in Williston, Fla. Unfortunately, about 10 out of the 30 horses died, including Meetmeontime's colt. The tough-as-nails mare, however, made a full recovery. 

"She really never missed a beat," Dodd said. "Once she got home with us, we didn't have any problems with her. We took our time putting the weight back on her. She was turned out with some other horses and it was all pretty uncomplicated for us.

"She was always very independent, and I think that's what allowed her to survive. She's very strong-willed."

The Dodds bred Meetmeontime to Imperalism in 2010 and then to Kantharos  the following year. They then took the mare to Indiana, where she foaled Bucchero in 2012.

"I was looking for some place to foal them where the breeders' awards were lucrative," Dodd said of the decision make Bucchero an Indiana-bred. He is one of two horses from the Hoosier State in this year's Breeders' Cup races, along with 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) contender Piedi Bianchi.

Initially scratched out of his first 2-year-old sale, Bucchero drew interest from a friend of Dodd's, but was passed over because of a minor vetting issue. The Dodds entered him next in the 2014 OBS June sale and reached out to another connection they thought might like him. 

Through another Southern Chase Farm graduate named Lost in the Fog, the Dodds were introduced to Ironhorse Racing founder Harlan Malter, a passionate racing fan who took a liking to the son of Lost Soldier. Lost in the Fog went on to become a multiple graded stakes winner and was the Eclipse champion sprinter for 2005. 

"Harlan was always like, 'If you have a horse that falls through the cracks and you think it's a runner, call me,'" Dodd recalled. "So that's what happened with (Bucchero)."

When Bucchero was in the ring at the OBS June sale, Greg Dodd was on the phone with Malter, who ended up getting Bucchero on a final bid of $43,000 with Dodd signing the ticket. 

"Harlan has enough faith in us through knowing us through the years ... and fortunately it all worked out. The horse has never looked back," Karen Dodd said. 

The chestnut runner has steadily improved since getting his first stakes victory in the 2015 To Much Coffee Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course. This year the 5-year-old has four wins and a second from six starts. He enters the Turf Sprint off back-to-back stakes wins, including a 1 3/4-length score for trainer Tim Glyshaw in the Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T) at Keeneland. 

He's the first Breeders' Cup runner for Ironhorse. Malter, a financial planner who grew up in Boston and took annual trips to Saratoga Race Course with his family, jumped into ownership after getting hooked on two-time Horse of the Year Cigar and the dream of being an owner. 

"I went to school in New York City when OTBs still existed," Malter said. "Between (playing) baseball and studying, I really kind of honed in on handicapping and enjoying the races but had never touched a horse in my life. So I didn't have horse experience... I always wanted to own a horse and I got completely hooked on Cigar, saw him in the Mass Cap a couple of times and the Breeders' Cup, and I was just a huge Cigar fan. And I just kind of committed to myself to the game."

After getting involved in claiming horses, Malter partnered with a small group of close friends on Ironhorse's runners, including Bucchero. Although he wants to expand Ironhorse in the future, sheikhs and billionaires need not apply, as the Ironhorse website states.

"Nothing against sheiks or billionaires—the sport depends on them, whether that's a good thing or not is another thing," he said. "I think sports are for the masses. I look back on horse racing's history in this country and it was a sport for the masses—like the Seabiscuit story, these are things that the public just fell in love with."

Or the story of Bucchero. 

"Everybody is pretty amazed," Karen Dodd said of Bucchero's success. "With all the different players that are involved, it's like dominos. We're thrilled.

"I guess it just goes to show you, it's possible for a small breeder to do. If I can do it, anyone else can do it," she said, adding that they only have around six mares.

Malter also owns the yearling full sister to Bucchero and a 2-year-old half sister named Meetmeonline (Line of David), both were private purchases from the Dodds. But for now, all of the focus is on Bucchero.

"I truly am happiest for Bucchero," Malter said. "This horse has run short, long, he's run on the turf, he's run on the dirt, at nine different tracks. He's had a couple of runs that maybe didn't go his way, but he shows up every time. I love the horse, and I love that he's getting the recognition. 

"I think the game is amazing and I think at the top-end, these horses are unbelievable athletes. I'm just thrilled to be part of it."