BY SARAH WELK BAYNUM
Although Patricia Grimes considers herself a small Florida breeder and owner, all of her homebreds have been winners, save one.
Perhaps her impressive record as a breeder is a result of her deep roots in the industry.
“I started out as a groom for Angel Penna Sr. back in the 1970s,” Grimes said. “We spent a lot of time on tracks like Belmont and Aqueduct in New York. But in the winter, we’d come down to Florida and race horses at Hialeah.”
Many years after her career as a groom ended, she became involved as an owner.
“Back in 2000, we bought a couple of our first broodmares sight unseen—and let’s just say, you learn by your mistakes,” Grimes said.
Despite the rough start, Grimes wanted to try again.
“I bought this one mare, her name was Jove’s Halo, from a guy that bought mares when their racing careers were over. Shortly after, we also moved from the [Florida] panhandle to the farm where we live now, which is in Webster, Fla.”
Grimes had better luck this time with Jove’s Halo, a daughter of Jovial Turn who had won five of 32 starts on the track while earning $64,722. Jove’s Halo produced two foals, Society Heat, by Texas Glitter; and Boston Heiress with Full Mandate. Both were winners.
“Then, we bought another broodmare [Gion] from the same guy.” Grimes continued. Gion was a daughter of Meadow Monster who had earned $83,552 while winning six races during her career with four seconds and nine thirds from 80 starts.
“She’s had some successful [Florida-bred] foals like Sweet Bourbon and Indy Harbor. She had a total of five foals, and every one of them went to the races, except one. We kept the filly that didn’t race due to her very poor feet that prevented her from having a racing career,” Grimes said.
All four of Gion’s runners were winners including Luke of York, who for Grimes and her breeding operation, became a timely stakes-winner.
After the housing market crash more than a decade ago, Grimes considered getting out of the racehorse business. But then, owner George Michaels and trainer James DiVito sent Luke of York, a Florida-bred daughter of Put it Back, to Keeneland after she had won her first career start at Arlington in September of 2011.
“The race was Keeneland’s 75th Anniversary Stakes, and Gion’s foal, Luke of York, won that race. It was a three-horse photo finish. We didn’t own him at this point, because back in the day when we started our racing business, we sold the foals at OBS. But you still follow them, because they were born in your barn and it’s like watching your kid grow up.”
In addition to keeping Gion’s unraced foal, Grimes decided not sell her last colt—Miami Smuggler, by Florida-bred grade stake-winner Turbo Compressor. Miami Smuggler became the first homebred to race under their farm name, Classic Run Farm, Inc.
“We sent Miami Smuggler to a trainer, Maria Bowersock, and he raced in Tampa and raced in Presque Isle in Pennsylvania—he earned quite a bit of money for us. We were shocked—and happy—at his success.
“His last race was at Tampa and it was a [six-and-a-half]-furlong race that he won. However, he did pull a tendon, so we decided to just retire him after that race and he’s still at our farm today, happily eating grass,” Grimes said.
A few years ago, Grimes bought another broodmare, Racey Reecey, by Congrats. She produced their current 2-year-old colt, Florida-bred Twotiminsammy.
“Sammy was two weeks early when his dam foaled him. She had a terrible time giving birth, and we were concerned we were going to lose them. But fortunately, both were fine and healthy today.”
Sammy went to Jonathan Pool to begin training and will soon be sent to a trainer, Ben Trask, before he begins his racing career.
Another mare they currently own is winner Platinum Gem, by Frosted out of Diamonds Please, by Mineshaft. Diamonds Please is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed, stakes-winner Brigand and stakes-winner Sky Music.
Platinum Gem is in foal to Verifying, who stood the 2024 breeding season at Pleasant Acres Stallions. They plan to sell the resulting foal at OBS.
“We’re definitely a ‘mom and pop’ operation, but we’re doing it,” Grimes said. “We usually have about a foal a year and we are happy with the success rate of the few foals we have had so far. We’re also excited to see how Sammy does once he begins his racing career.”
