Breeders' Cup: Roths new players on Breeders' Cup and sale scene

Few owners at this Breeders’ Cup have risen farther or faster than the LNJ Foxwoods operation of Larry and Nanci Roth and their daughter Jaime.

The Roths, who had no background in horse racing only a few years ago, have become major players in the commercial market, and now have their first Breeders’ Cup runners in Juvenile Fillies entrant Nickname and Filly and Mare Sprint entrant Super Majesty. They also have a rooting interest in the Mile, as they own the dam of Tepin.

The Roths keep a low profile at sales – they rarely attend, with bloodstock agents Alex Solis II and Jason Litt representing their interests. Their focus has been on acquiring well-bred fillies to develop a broodmare band, with major purchases including a sale-topping $1.9 million for Inheritance at the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April sale of 2-year-olds in training; $1.7 million for Tizavision, a half-sister to Horse of the Year Havre de Grace, at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale; $1.15 million for Propositioned at 2014 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected sale; $800,000 for Constellation at the 2015 OBS March sale of 2-year-olds; and $750,000 for Life Happened, dam of Tepin, at the 2014 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

In addition to buying at the major U.S. auctions, the Roths' quest has taken them overseas to purchase mares at Arqana in France, Tattersalls in England, and Inglis in Australia.

By comparison, Super Majesty and Nickname were bargain buys. Super Majesty cost $400,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton March sale, and Nickname cost $350,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September sale. Super Majesty was sent to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer – who along with Richard Mandella trains for the Roths on the West Coast – while Nickname went to Steve Asmussen. Super Majesty became LNJ Foxwoods’s first graded stakes winner, taking the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes on Sept. 19 at Churchill Downs for her third win in four starts.

“To have our first graded stakes win come at Churchill Downs is just amazing,” Larry Roth said. “It’s just incredible. We have a great team in Alex and Jason and our daughter.

Nickname was the outfit’s first Saratoga starter, running a troubled fourth in the Aug. 2 maiden special weight won by Rachel’s Valentina. She came back to win later in the meet, then won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes earlier this month in her third start.

Asmussen said Nickname was "very professional" in her Frizette win, and that she has always had the look of a good one.

"When I first saw this filly, it was hard to believe she was one of the 2-year-olds," Asmussen said. "She just had that look and that feel about her from that moment. For things to come together so nice for our stable, from thinking and looking at her to being in the position we are . . . is wonderful."

In addition to their Breeders’ Cup-bound fillies, the Roths’ Constellation finished third in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes and second in the Grade 2 Matron Stakes, and Mystery Strike placed in a stakes in Northern California.