by Liane Crossley
Mepache, dam of 14 winners, including two-time Grade 3 winner and leading Texas sire Valid Expectations, was recently acquired by Royce Clay and pensioned at her Edmond, Oklahoma, farm.
Clay acquired Mepache after learning she was cataloged to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale on February 11-12. Although she had no personal ties to the 26-year-old mare who has been barren for two years, Clay wanted to provide a secure retirement. Clay contacted Mepache’s connections who transferred the mare with the agreement that she never be bred.
“Anyone who pays attention to pedigrees knows Mepache,” Clay said.
Few mares produce records are as extraordinary as Mepache, a New York-bred daughter of Iron Constitution who won five of 26 starts, including the 1984 Schenectady Handicap at Aqueduct, and earned $173,470. Mepache’s broodmare career began in 1986 when she was bred to Valid Appeal. She eventually produced four stakes winners by that sire: Miss Valid Pache in 1989, Grade 3 Valid Expectations in ‘93, Grade 3 winner Little Sister in ’94, and multiple stakes winner and sire Littleexpectations in ‘97.
|
Fulfilled expectations:
Mepache's produce record
|
| Foals |
17 |
| Of racing age |
15 |
| Starters |
14 |
| Winners |
14 |
| Stakes winners |
4 |
| Stakes placed |
3 |
| Progeny earnings |
$2,195,111 |
| Sires |
3 |
Mepache produced her final foal in 2005—a filly by E Dubai. Of her 14 foals of racing age, all are winners. In addition to her four stakes winners, three others are stakes-placed.
Mepache now will enjoy a life of leisure at Clay’s farm, which also serves as a satellite facility for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Mepache shares a
paddock with 18-year-old stakes-placed pensioner Bit Part and Clay’s 22-year-old retired lead pony Noon Boy.
“If I take an animal, I keep them forever,” said Clay, who works in the Remington Park racing office. Her farm is home to three dogs, four cats, a donkey, and a variety of deformed birds discarded by their breeders.
“I am just tickled pink to have Mepache,” Clay said. “I am going to treat her like the queen she is.”
Liane Crossley is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
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