Setting 'Sail' for the Cup

After lowering Saratoga's Mellon turf course record to 1:00.46 for 5 1/2 furlongs in the $100,000 Smart N Fancy S. Aug. 30 (video), streaking sophomore filly Lady Shipman (Midshipman) will set her sights on the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star' following her sensational grass debut at Gulfstream West last November (video), the Randall E. Lowe homebred has won eight of 10 career starts for trainer Kathleen O'Connell–all against fillies–including six stakes races. She has recorded triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of her last three wins.

“The ride has been unbelievable,” Lowe commented. “To breed a horse like her, and to watch her perform, it's actually breathtaking. She has such a high cruising speed and then she kicks away clear just like the closers do. She runs really well fresh and there's nothing timing-wise [for a prep]. She deserves a chance to run in the Breeders' Cup and I honestly believe that we should give it to her.”

Lowe, a 58-year-old retired insurance executive, also raced Lady Shipman's dam Sumthingtotalkabt (Mutakddim), a five-time winner of $172,123. Lady Shipman is the second foal from the 12-year-old, who brought $28,000 as a BAROCT yearling. Just Talkin (Midshipman), a 2-year-old full-sister to Lady Shipman, was recently sold privately to leading New York owner Michael Dubb. She also has a yearling colt by Leroidesanimaux (Brz) and a weanling colt by Treasure Beach (GB). Sumthingtotalkabt was bred to Poseidon's Warrior this spring.

“Sumthingtotalkabt is a very interesting horse,” said Lowe, who splits his time between Los Angeles and Honolulu. “She was trained by Wally Dollase. I've owned racehorses for over 30 years now, and the reason why I kept her for breeding was that one day at Keeneland she ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14 1/5 and got beaten a neck for the whole thing [in an allowance race]. The horse that beat her Lady Belsara went on to win a graded stakes [GIII Chicago H.] after that, so I thought that maybe she could pass along her speed to her offspring, which is Lady Shipman. All of my horses are raised/broken/trained by Ryan Barbazon in Florida and I've been pretty lucky with Sumthingtotalkabt because she has thrown five good, correct babies.”

Consigned by Pleasant Acres Farm, Lady Shipman (click here for catalogue page) RNA'd for $35,000 at last year's OBSAPR 2-year-old sale after breezing an eighth in a bullet :9 4/5.

“Ryan Barbazon said that she was the fastest horse that he'd ever trained,” Lowe recalled. “So, going into the sale when she worked an eighth in :9 4/5 and galloped out three furlongs in :33, I said, 'Wow, this is really something.' But it was very disappointing–she was scoped 14 times–and nobody wanted to buy her. The announcer even stopped the auction to remind everyone that she was the fastest filly in the sale, but nobody seemed to acknowledge that. A couple of bloodstock agents tried to buy her privately afterwards. They were $25,000 away from my asking price, so I decided to keep her.”

Growing up in Los Angeles, Lowe began attending the races with his father at the age of seven. Fast forward to 1985. After cashing a six-figure Pick 6 score at Santa Anita and teaming up with a legendary owner/breeder, Lowe was quickly on his way.

“[Golden Eagle Farm founder] John C. Mabee had just started Golden Eagle Insurance and I was already in the business at the time,” Lowe explained. “Believe it or not, I had bet a $96 Pick 6 ticket at Santa Anita and I was the only winning ticket. After taxes, I took about $30,000 in cash and $100,000 in a check. I went to John Mabee and asked if I could invest in his company. He took me to Del Mar and interviewed me and made me his first broker in Los Angeles. It was just amazing that he had that much confidence and faith in me.”

Inspired by the tremendous success of his late friend and former colleague–who raced and bred standouts such as Best Pal, Excellent Meeting, General Challenge, et al–Lowe decided to give breeding a chance.

“When John passed away [in 2002], I was down to one racehorse at the time and she got hurt,” Lowe explained. “I thought, 'Why can't I emulate him and try this whole thing over again? That's why I started breeding racehorses.”

Lady Shipman has quickly become the centerpiece of Lowe's five-horse operation. A debut third on dirt in Miami last October, the chestnut has won eight of her nine subsequent starts, including the OBS Sprint S. Jan. 27, Pimlico's Stormy Blues S. Apr. 18,

Monmouth's Crank It Up S. June 6 and Saratoga's Coronation Cup S. Aug. 3. Her lone defeat on grass came when stretched to seven furlongs and third in Belmont's Wait a While S. May 16.

“I couldn't be any more proud leading her into the winner's circle,” Lowe concluded. “To come from humble beginnings–I wasn't born into this sport–and to see it finally maturing after 30 years, it's almost like watching your kid go out there in little league, and all of sudden, he hits a grand slam homerun and all of the college and pro scouts are looking at him. I have that kind of feeling with Lady Shipman.”

Lady Shipman will get her chance at the big leagues at Keeneland Oct. 31.