As we approach the opening of the 2023 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Jay Em Ess Stable's Samantha Siegel.
ACTING HAPPY (m, 16, Empire Maker–Ain't Bluffing, by Pine Bluff)
This mare is a reigning member of the decades-old breeding program established by Samantha Siegel and her late parents, Mace and Jan. The Empire Maker mare is a daughter of the 1998 GI Milady H. winner I Ain't Bluffing, who was also campaigned by the Siegels, and a half-sister to Grade II producer I Ain't P T (A.P. Indy) and Grade II producer Taunt (Deputy Minister). Acting Happy won the 2010 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and was third in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks and GI Alabama S.
She is in foal to Maclean's Music on a Mar. 14 cover and is booked this year to Army Mule.
AUNT LUBIE (m, 8, Uncle M–Galloping Girafffe, by Tapit)
Siegel laid down $325,000 for this mare as a Keeneland yearling and after a career that spanned 17 races with a single win she was retired to become a member of the Jay Em Ess broodmare band. Some of the more notable names to appear in her pedigree include GII winner Timber Reserve (Forest Camp), Sweet Reason (Street Sense) and Don't Forget Gil (Kafwain). Her first foal is an unnamed yearling filly by Maclean's Music and currently she is in foal to City of Light. She is booked back to Girvin.
“Girvin is off to a great start and should give speed to her foal,” Siegel said of the mating plan.
BY THE LIGHT (m, 18, Malibu Moon–Dixie Tempo, by Major Impact)This mare was purchased by the Siegel family for $190,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling 17 years ago and after winning half of her 20 starts and placing in a number of stakes, including the 2008 GII Prioress S., she has served as a productive member of Siegel's broodmare band. Her most successful offspring is By The Moon and she is in foal to Into Mischief on an Apr. 22 cover and booked back to leading sire Good Magic.
BY THE MOON (m, 11, Indian Charlie–By The Light, by Malibu Moon)
Aside from I Ain't Bluffing, By The Moon is perhaps one of Siegel's most notable runners, which is saying a lot considering Jay Em Ess Stables campaigned champion Declan's Moon, Grade I winners Rail Trip and Include Me Out and dozens of other graded stakes winners. In a career that saw her bankroll $1,552,940 from a line of 20-7-6-2, the 2014 GI Frizette S. winner is the dam of Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief), who was third in the GIII Nashua S. last year.
“She has a beautiful Quality Road yearling filly,” Siegel said, adding she currently is in foal to Curlin and booked to visit Gun Runner this spring.
BY THE GATE (4, f, Arrogate–By The Moon, by Indian Charlie)
This bay filly is from the first crop of her late sire and didn't make the races. She is in foal to Good Magic and booked to Not This Time.
GO GOOGLE YOURSELF (m, 8, Into Mischief–Taunt, by Deputy Minister)
A Grade III winner, she had her first foal–a beautiful Gun Runner filly–on January 24. Her next foal will be from the first crop of newly crowned Horse of the Year Flightline
INCLUDE ME OUT (m, 15, Include–Don't Trick Her, by Mazel Trick)
This Siegel hombred won the 2012 GI Santa Margarita Invitational S. at Santa Anita and GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar and was also third in the 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. She's had six foals so far and is currently in foal to Munnings. She is booked to Oscar Performance this year.
LOTSANDLOTSOFHOPE (m, 13, TIznow–Hope Rises, by Mr. Greeley)
She raced once for Seigel and finished second before being retired to the broodmare band. She is the dam of GIISW and GISP Extra Hope (Shanghai Bobby) and after a barren year for 2023 she is booked to Omaha Beach.
ROAD RAGER (m, 7, Quality Road—She Is Raging, by Aggressive Chief)
This Grade II-placed mare had her first foal this year, a beautiful filly by Daredevil, and is booked back to visit Mo Town.
Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.
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