Northwest star Class Included sold and headed to Romans barn in Florida

Barbara D. Livingston

Class Included, who has spent most of her career in the Pacific Northwest, has been sold and will be shipped to Florida to train.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The popular Northwest-based filly Class Included, one-two at Emerald Downs and Hastings Park in the first 16 starts of her career before she met her match in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, has changed hands and is headed to Florida.

Owner-breeder Michael Feuerborn confirmed Friday that Class Included had been sold for an undisclosed amount and will ship to Florida where she will be trained by Dale Romans.

Class Included was purchased by the Brittlyn Racing stable of Evelyn Benoit, who owned the recently retired Louisiana-bred Star Guitar.

Feuerborn did not disclose the sales price for Class Included. “It was not as much as you think, but it was a fair price,” he said.

A 4-year-old sired by Include, Class Included has won 10 races from 18 starts, with six runner-up finishes and earnings of $384,526. She has been trained throughout her career by Jim Penney and his daughter Kay Cooper.

“It leaves a big hole in the barn,” Cooper said at Santa Anita. “She was the sole focus of our trip to California. It was an honor and privilege to have a horse run in the Breeders’ Cup.” Cooper and Penney are based primarily at Emerald.

Class Included won eight stakes at Emerald and Hastings, and shipped to Santa Anita in fall for a moon shot against Royal Delta and My Miss Aurelia in the BC Ladies’ Classic. The field’s longest shot at 38-1, she finished seventh, beaten more than 11 lengths.

In her final start for Feuerborn and Penney, the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap on Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park, Class Included finished seventh with a nightmare trip.

“It was tough to sell her, but it’s time for someone else to chart her course,” Feuerborn said. “It’s time to close the chapter. Our experience with her was incredible; she was what every owner hopes for. We’re going to miss her.”

Feuerborn still owns her dam, A Classic Life, who is carrying a full sibling to Class Included that will be foaled in spring. Feuerborn also owns a weanling half-sister by El Corredor out of A Classic Life.

Class Included is expected to race next year as a 5-year-old.