by Myra Lewyn

Robert and Janice McNair’s Country Star will launch an exciting weekend for the couple’s Stonerside Stable when she steps into the starting gate for the 134th Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday.

The Empire Maker filly, trained by Bobby Frankel, is one of three Stonerside homebreds that will compete in classic races in the United States and England. On Saturday, Cowboy Cal will start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands! (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher and earlier that day, Raven’s Pass will race in the Stan James Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Newmarket for trainer John Gosden.

The McNairs presence in the classics puts the couple in a unique position. Rarely, have breeders enjoyed three classic starters from the same crop. Robert McNair said it is especially thrilling to have a homebred in a classic.

“It is exciting to have a runner in any classic race, but the excitement doubles when it’s a homebred,” he said. “You feel a real connection to the horses that you’ve bred and raised. It’s a better feeling than going out and buying one.”

The McNairs, who established Stonerside in 1994, previously sold some of the horses they bred, but decided to retain their entire 2005 crop, which includes the classic-bound trio, for racing.

Robert McNair, who owns Houston Texans of the National Football League, is delighted with that decision and hopes this weekend is only the beginning of Stonerside homebreds in classic races.

“That is our hope and dream,” he said.

“For the last two years, we have not sold any of our top yearlings. We had always sold a select two or three out of each crop, but since we are as much of a racing stable as a breeding farm, we decided to try keeping our best for ourselves. Country Star, Raven’s Pass, and Cowboy Cal are from the first crop that we’ve kept, so it is very exciting for us to have all three of them in a classic.”

The McNairs have had six previous Derby starters either alone or in partnership, their best finishes being a second by Strodes Creek in 1994 and a third-place finish with homebred Congaree in 2001. Others are Corker, 11th in ‘96; War Chant, 9th in ‘00; Sort It Out, 17th in ‘05; and homebred Bob and John 17th in ‘06.

In partnership with Arthur Hancock, Stonerside bred 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, but he was sold for $4-million at the 1998 Keeneland July selected yearling sale. Stonerside also bred The Cliff’s Edge, who finished fifth in the 2004 Derby after he was sold at the 2002 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Also with partners, Stonerside campaigned Sis City, who was fourth in the 2005 Oaks, and enjoyed classic success with Touch Gold in the 1997 Belmont Stakes (G1). Homebred Karen’s Caper was fourth in the ’05 Ultimatepoker.com One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1). Last year, homebred Sunshine Kid was unplaced in the Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby).

The McNairs will not have special rooting interest among the three runners who will carry their distinctive green and white colors this weekend.

 “We couldn’t pick between which horse excites us the most—that’s like trying to decide which of your children you love best,” Robert McNair said. “They’re all special. Same thing in trying to say which race we’d like to win the most. Our goal has always been to raise a Kentucky Derby winner, like most American breeders, but we’d be equally thrilled to win the Two Thousand Guineas or the Kentucky Oaks.”

Myra Lewyn is daily news editor of Thoroughbred Times