Starlight's Wolf Dreams of Next Big Horse

So often in horse racing the circle of life involves the Triple Crown.

Not long after one chase ends with joy for only a handful of people, another is destined to begin and again spawn countless dreams of fame and fortune.

Sometimes success even breeds continued success.

Take the incredibly delightful situation facing Starlight Racing managing partner and CEO Jack Wolf, for example. 

Wolf's group owned a 15% share of the racing rights to Justify as the undefeated 3-year-old achieved everlasting fame earlier this year as the sport's 13th Triple Crown winner.

"Trying to win the Triple Crown is why you get involved in racing. We had an amazing blast winning those races with him," Wolf said about the colt owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, with Starlight and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners owning shares for racing purposes only.

Those precious memories are still fresh in Wolf's mind, even as Justify faces an uncertain future on the racetrack because of a filling in his left ankle. While next month's Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar have already been ruled out by trainer Bob Baffert, there's been no definite announcement about the colt's future as the injury is closely monitored. Wolf stresses that he has no real say in the matter as a minority partner.

"I think the safe way to say it is that it's the decision of Elliott Walden (president/CEO and racing manager of WinStar) and Bob. It will be up to them. In reality as a racing fan and observer, I'd be surprised if he ran again, but it's not my call. If I were Coolmore, I'd want to retire him," Wolf said. "Economically I'd like to see him run. Our deal was for just racing income. Heck, I wanted him to go to the Haskell, Travers, and Breeders' Cup. I was hoping he would win them. But I'm a minority holder. I haven't heard if he's coming back or if he's not. I told people as it turns out we might lose money on the purchase, but we're a little bit ahead on the deal."

In late May, ESPN.com reported Coolmore had purchased the breeding rights to Justify, citing unnamed sources. 

In terms of unforgettable moments, Wolf is ahead for life, and yet whatever happens with Justify down the road, fate has put him and his partners in the enviable position of again dreaming about being part of the Triple Crown process. 

On July 21 at Saratoga, Starlight's Sombeyay was steadied near the half-mile pole but still managed to rally and reach the front in the final strides for trainer Todd Pletcher to win the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds by a neck.

Admittedly, off a grade 3 win, next spring and the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Preakness (G1), and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) may seem like a faraway planet at this point in time. Yet, after Wolf bought into a maiden winner about two months into this year, and that horse improbably became the first horse in 136 years to win the Kentucky Derby without benefit of a race at 2 and then swept the rest of the Triple Crown, can any visions of future grandeur be summarily dismissed as heresy?

Clearly, even after winning the Triple Crown, the euphoria attached to winning a graded stakes with a 2-year-old and the inevitable thoughts of a rosy future remain unchanged.

"The thrill of winning a big race with a young horse hasn't grown old. As long as you have a good 2-year-olds like this one, you keep him sound and compete in graded stakes, like assistant trainer Tristan Barry says to me, 'The dream is still alive.' We're action junkies," Wolf said. "You want to figure out how to buy the next big horse and be smarter than the next guy.

"At least we didn't have to pay for Sombeyay what we paid for Justify."

Pletcher, who has trained Wolf's horses for at least 15 years, knows that Sombeyay still has much to prove at 2 before talk can turn to a 3-year-old campaign, but he is hopeful longer distances will suit the Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief .

"We trained Limehouse , who is the broodmare sire and he finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby for us. He was also a precocious 2-year-old for us, who sprinted and carried out his speed to two turns, so I'm optimistic about Sombeyay," said Pletcher, who added that the closing day $350,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Sept. 3 is the next target for the Starlight colt.

"You love to win for guys who have been loyal supporters for as long as they have," Pletcher continued. "They're good friends. Going back to Ashado (Hall of Fame runner, 2004 champion 3-year-old filly, and 2005 champion older mare). They played a big role in my career and it's been a lot of fun working with them. I know Jack enjoyed the run with Justify and nothing's changed about him. He's still the same great guy as before."

Sombeyay is out of the Limehouse mare Teroda and was bred by J.D. Stuart and Mueller Farms. Starlight Racing purchased him for $230,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale after he was bought for $125,000 by the Taylor Made Agency's Bloodstock Investments at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.