Kelce partnering with Team Valor on 3-year-old Swift Delivery

NFL star Travis Kelce has entered minority Thoroughbred ownership via the Team Valor International partnership, that outfit announced Tuesday.

Team Valor said in a release on Aug. 27 that the Zoldan family and Kelce have acquired a “significant share” of Team Valor’s own interest in the 3-year-old gelding Swift Delivery, who the partnership co-owns with Gary Barber. Team Valor said Swift Delivery will be entered in this Saturday’s $125,000 Toronto Cup on the Woodbine turf.

The name of Kelce’s first Thoroughbred interest was quickly noted across social media. The popularity of Kelce, a star tight end who is entering his 12th season with the Kansas City Chiefs, seeking their third consecutive Super Bowl this season, skyrocketed last year when be began dating global pop superstar Taylor Swift.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

The Zoldan family – headed by Bruce Zoldan, founder and CEO of Ohio-based Phantom Fireworks – has been involved in the Team Valor partnerships with 2011 Kentucky Derby winner and champion Animal Kingdom, as well as graded stakes winners and Derby starters Captain Bodgit and Went the Day Well. Fellow Ohio native Kelce attended his first Kentucky Derby this year with the Zoldans, watching the Grade 2 American Turf on the undercard from the rail in the winner’s circle and many of the other races from the new “Club SI” off the Churchill Downs paddock. His Derby selection was Japanese hopeful Forever Young, a close third.

“I’m a Derby guy now, man,” Kelce said in the following week’s episode of the "New Heights" podcast with older brother and retired Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce. “It was so much fun. … It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I am definitely going to try and experience again. It was fun just being part of the entire environment.”

Swift Delivery, by rising star sire Not This Time, has a record of 8-2-0-2 for trainer Mark Casse. All of his on-the-board finishes have come in his four starts this year, since being gelded. Swift Delivery won his maiden by 16 1/2 lengths on June 23 at Woodbine for Casse and Barber, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Team Valor then bought in, and the gelding closed from 10th in a field of 11 to win an allowance-optional claiming race July 19 on the Woodbine turf.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.