Bromans' breeding program paying off
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The usual names are among the leading owners this summer at Saratoga: Michael Dubb, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Mike Repole, and Chester and Mary Broman.
Wait. Chester and Mary Broman?
Yes, the Bromans, longtime breeders in New York – and mostly of New York-breds – are enjoying a spectacular summer at Saratoga, having won 7 races from 20 starts through the first 31 days of the 40-day meet, placing them fourth in the owners’ standings. Dubb leads the standings as at least a part-owner of 11 Saratoga winners.
“It’s great, we’ve been doing good,” Chester Broman said. “I’m very happy. The horses got a little better. You’ve got to have good horses to win here.”
All of the Bromans’ wins have been with New York homebreds, including the good-looking juvenile fillies Hard to Stay Notgo and Bar of Gold. Hard to Stay Notgo will be one of three horses the Bromans will run on Sunday’s Saratoga Showcase Day card, a program devoted strictly to New York-breds.
John Kimmel is one of seven trainers the Bromans employ.
“He’s a great guy to train for,” Kimmel said of Chester Broman. “You couldn’t hope for a guy like him to do anything but good. He puts up his money. It’s nice to see him have some success.”
Chester Broman certainly put up his money to get Bar of Gold, the first foal out of the Bromans’ graded stakes-winning mare Khancord Kid. He spent $100,000 to breed her to Medaglia d’Oro. In her debut Aug. 14, Bar of Gold overcame a bobble at the start and some traffic to win by three-quarters of a length.
“It was unreal,” Broman said in the winner’s circle. “All the trouble she had. The jockey said she didn’t like all the dirt in her face. As soon as she got an opening, the horse went right through it. That usually doesn’t happen. They usually back right out.”
Broman said Bar of Gold is the fifth or sixth progeny of Medaglia d’Oro whom he’s run. “We’ve finally got one that can run,” he said.
The dam Khancord Kid won the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park but fractured a knee, and Kimmel suggested to Broman that she be retired and bred.
The Bromans, who were the leading owners at Belmont in 2009, own and operate Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, N.Y. Chester Broman said he has 25 horses at the track, with at least 10 more on the farm. That doesn’t include 25 weanlings.
Earlier in the meet, Broman sent out Hard to Stay Notgo, a daughter of the $50,000 stallion More Than Ready, to a five-length debut victory. She is trained by Jimmy Jerkens, who will run her back in Sunday’s $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes.
Jerkens also will send out Star Grazing for the Bromans in Sunday’s $200,000 Fleet Indian Stakes. Star Grazing is 2 for 2 this year, including an allowance win here at the Fleet Indian distance of 1 1/8 miles. Last year, Star Grazing finished second in her debut here to the Bromans’ Artemis Agrotera, who won the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont last fall and was to have run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ballerina here.
Girlabouttown, a 10 1/4-length maiden winner here July 23, is entered in Sunday’s first race, a $90,000, first-level allowance in which she likely will be favored.
Both Artemis Agrotera and Girlabouttown are trained by Mike Hushion, who said he sees a bright future ahead for the Bromans.
“He bought a lot of good fillies to race, and now they’re broodmares,” Hushion said. “I think you’re going to see some serious horses come out of his farm every year.”