Humphrey Seeks His Own 'Triple Crown' in Preakness

The Preakness Stakes (G1) approaches with no Triple Crown title on the line, but the middle jewel of the prestigious series May 18 could deliver its own lifetime Triple Crown to owner/breeder G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 

Humphrey's hopes for adding the Preakness to his long list of accomplishments as a breeder rest with morning-line favorite Improbable, whom he co-bred with Ian Banwell, the owner of St. George Farm.

Humphrey, 74, has a lifelong association with Thoroughbred breeding and racing beginning with the summers he worked at his aunt Pansy Poe's Shawnee Farm in Central Kentucky. He purchased the farm after she died in 1979.

Together with his wife, Sally, Humphrey bred and raised 1980 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to accomplish this feat in the classic's 145-year history. The daughter of Exclusive Native campaigned by Bertram and Diana Firestone finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and second in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

In 1985, Creme Fraiche added the Belmont Stakes to Humphrey's résumé. Elizabeth Moran's Brushwood Stable raced the gelded son of Rich Cream whom Humphrey co-bred with his aunt Pamela H. Firman. Creme Fraiche's classic win was the fourth of five consecutive Belmont victories for trainer Woody Stephens.

"It is fun to be able to win these types of races," Humphrey said, "and we've come close in the Preakness. We have been second with a couple with Genuine Risk and Ride On Curlin (in 2014). It would be tough for us to do this (as an owner) because we don't race very many colts."

The road that led to Improbable began at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Humphrey bought an A.P. Indy filly out of the Stravinsky stakes winner Our Rite of Spring, a half sister to grade 1 winner Hard Spun , for $400,000 out of the Lane's End consignment. Humphrey and Banwell raced the filly together.

"Obviously what attracted us to her was my passion for A.P. Indy mares," Humphrey said. "We have had a lot of luck with him, as has everyone else who has been fortunate to have one."

Rare Event won four races out of 14 starts and wasn't able to hit the board in her five starts in black-type company, but Humphrey said her performances were competitive. When she was retired, Rare Event went to St. George Farm. The partners owned eight mares together at the time, and four went to St. George and four to Shawnee.

After Rare Event lost her first foal by Artie Schiller, Humphrey and Banwell decided to breed her to City Zip.

"We wanted the speed from City Zip," Humphrey recalled. "She was fast but not exceptionally fast and wanted to go two turns. Most of us considered City Zip a sprinter early on, but as time went on you could see he was so much more. The other thing is that it was a good physical match. Her being an A.P. Indy mare, she was on the larger side, and City Zip was a medium-sized horse."

The mating with City Zip produced Improbable, but the thrill of seeing Rare Event deliver a largely healthy, handsome colt was quickly dampened by concern when the foal showed a reluctance to nurse. The colt showed symptoms commonly seen among those known as "dummy" foals, which in the worst circumstances are unable to find the udder and nurse, wander aimlessly, are weak, appear depressed, or can suffer seizures. Causes of the condition are complex, according to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, but seem to be linked to oxygen deprivation before, during, or shortly after foaling.  

"He was a borderline case. We had trouble getting him to nurse because he didn't have a strong enough suckle reflex," said Cooper Sawyer, who is the farm manager of Mt. Brilliant Farm and was St. George's farm manager at the time. "We took him to the clinic, and he was there about three to four days. He didn't crash. We mainly sent him to the clinic as a precaution. We probably could have gotten him right at the farm, but you go through so much with these mares and foals. I've always wanted to ensure the best possible outcome, and that's what we got. He was a nice, well-bred foal."

Improbable responded to treatment and was soon back at the farm sporting a new attitude.

"He got spoiled at the clinic and was spoiled at the farm afterward," Sawyer recalled. "He was so striking with the big blaze and white stockings, he instantly won you over with his looks. He developed a big personality and was one of those who loved attention. He would rip and run. He was rambunctious and had a lot of spunk."

In 2016, Banwell decided to downsize his breeding operation and offered both Rare Event and Improbable through Lane End's consignment at that year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Improbable sold for $110,000 to Taylor Made Sales Agency for a pinhooking partnership, and Rare Event sold for $150,000 to Calumet Farm. Humphrey said he was the underbidder on both horses.

Improbable was offered again at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Maverick Racing and China Horse Club bought him for $200,000. With trainer Bob Baffert, the colt went on to win the Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity (G1) at 2 and was runner-up this year in one division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) and the Arkansas Derby (G1). He finished a respectable fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Now racing for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and Starlight Racing, Improbable has earned $769,520 so far.

Rare Event has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Quality Road  named Redemption Day, whom Maverick Racing bought for $180,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale, and she has a yearling colt by Oxbow . On April 29, she delivered a colt by Cross Traffic .

Though Humphrey no longer owns Rare Event, he said he takes tremendous pride in watching Improbable succeed.

"It's tremendously rewarding because you've spent the time to buy the mare, race the mare, breed the mare, and raise the foal. That is the breeding part of the game," said Humphrey, who has been involved in the breeding and raising of 45 graded stakes winners so far, including 15 grade 1 winners. "Some breeders who don't live in Kentucky might only get to see their horses once a year or maybe at a sale. Raising them is wonderful because you get to see them every day or see them on the farm of a friend. To me, that's much more fun. We have raised a Derby winner and a Belmont winner. It would also be a lot fun to be able to say we've raised a Preakness winner."