Pinhooking Venture 'Has Been Wonderful' for Stokes

What began as a hobby seven years ago for Beryl "Sonny" Stokes Jr. has morphed into a successful pinhooking operation for the 85-year-old Floridian who has eight yearlings entered in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale that begins Sept. 10.

"I was in the trucking business, and we shipped seafood all over the U.S.," said Stokes, whose well-tanned, white-haired looks belie his age. "I was looking for something to do when I retired after 55 years. It started out as a hobby, and now it's more than a hobby."

Among Stokes' pinhook prospects cataloged for the Keeneland sale—all bought out of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale last year—are four entered in Book 1: Hip 38 (Eaton Sales), an Into Mischief  filly bought for $100,000; Hip 281 (Woodford Thoroughbreds), a Union Rags  colt acquired for $75,000; Hip 739 (Taylor Made Sales Agency), a City Zip colt who cost $52,000; and Hip 851 (Eaton Sales), a Ghostzapper  filly bought for $57,000.

"I have been doing pretty well," Stokes said. "I love horses even though I'm not a very experienced horseman. I've learned a lot about what to look for, and I've tried to increase my quality every year. I've got some good horses this year, I like them personally, and I hope the buyers will like them. I have quite a bit of money invested. I think I'll make some money, but you never know."

Beginning modestly at the behest of—and in partnership with—his son-in-law, former Quarter Horse jockey Leroy McClurg, Stokes found early success in buying young horses for resale and was hooked.

Operating then as L&S Thoroughbreds, one of their first purchases was a son of Bwana Charlie from the 2011 Ocala Breeders' Sales Fall Mixed Sale for $1,000 who was sent to McClurg to be prepped and trained before being resold as a 2-year-old for $35,000. Still active at age 7, the now-gelded Charlie Mops has won or placed in 17 of 22 starts and earned $209,400 while finishing third in two stakes.

Though he will be selling at Keeneland, Stokes will also be trolling the barn area with veteran Florida horseman Hoby Kight in search of prospects for a nascent yearling-to-juvenile pinhooking venture the pair have started.

Among the early successes for this pinhooking program is Bano Solo, a son of Goldencents  acquired for $115,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The colt was purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds for $400,000 from the Hoby and Layna Kight consignment at this year's OBS March 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale and recently broke his maiden.

Stokes has also purchased his first broodmare, paying $50,000 for Forestry's Magic at the Keeneland November sale last year.

The mare—boarded at the farm near Ocala, Fla., operated by Stokes' daughter, Lauren, and his son-in-law—produced a Super Saver  colt who will be entered in this year's Keeneland November sale.

Stokes, who accompanied his son-in-law on the long drive from Florida to bring three of the yearlings to Keeneland in a trailer, said his avocation-turned-vocation has achieved the goal of keeping him active later in life.

"It's been wonderful for me. They've been trying to get new blood in the business, but I'm really old blood. Maybe I'm old new blood," he joked as he and McClurg stood outside the Woodford Thoroughbreds barn the morning of Sept. 7.

"I don't know how long I'll be in this business, but I'm enjoying the heck out of it."