I'm Already Sexy gives owners one last thrill

LEXINGTON, Ky. – All racing partnerships should work out this way. A wire-to-wire victory Saturday at Keeneland by I’m Already Sexy produced a scene in the winner’s circle that could be described just one way.

“Very bittersweet,” said Anna Seitz, who assembled and managed the Hit the Board Stables partnership that owns the 5-year-old mare.

I’m Already Sexy was making her final start for a sizable group that enjoyed an exhilarating run of 26 races. She will be sold at auction Nov. 1 at nearby Fasig-Tipton, where Seitz works in public relations and client development.

With Florent Geroux riding for trainer Wayne Catalano, I’m Already Sexy won the $65,430 turf allowance as the 2-1 second choice, capping a career in which the daughter of Ready’s Image won 10 times, including six stakes, and earned $762,300.

Perhaps more importantly, I’m Already Sexy gave her connections the kind of thrills and friendship bonds that money can’t buy during a three-year span that took her to nine different racetracks.

“A lot of the people involved had never experienced anything close to what we did with this horse,” said Seitz. “After she won Saturday, my boss [Boyd Browning, president of Fasig-Tipton] said he was telling people, ‘Now look for every possible human emotion to show up in this winner’s circle.’ And he was right. We were crying for joy for the way she went out on top, and out of sadness, knowing we won’t run her again.”

Seitz said selling the horse is a practical move that takes into account the level of investment that a number of partners have made in other racing endeavors. Hit the Board is being dissolved, if only temporarily.

“We’ve all agreed we’d love to start the partnership back up at some point,” said Seitz, “although it’ll be hard to match what this horse has given us.”