Cal-bred News

Penny, Milano Purchase Yearlings

By Jeff Lowe
Thoroughbred Times
POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2005) -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny bought a Beau Genius filly for $105,000 on Tuesday at California’s October yearling sale as he continues to feed his interest in Thoroughbred racing. Penny brought along his girlfriend, television and film star Alyssa Milano, and she came away from the sale with a filly of her own.

Trainer Howard Zucker signed the ticket on Penny’s behalf for the Beau Genius filly out of out of Sassy Synner, by Synastry.

“I just listened to my trainer because I don’t know enough about it,” said Penny, who is a partner in three horses in training with Zucker. “I really enjoy it, but all these horses look the same to me. It took him a while. He went to Keeneland for me and didn’t find anything. He’s been real patient, and I trust him. I’ve always loved racing, but I didn’t buy anything until this year. I went to Calder a lot when I was in Florida [with the Florida Marlins] and now I’m getting into it out here.”

Milano said she agreed to partner with consignor Harris Farms on Peace By Peace, a Yonaguska filly who was bought back for $55,000.

“I just opened the catalog to the page and I liked the name because I’m an ambassador for UNICEF, and we’re in war times, so Peace By Peace was kind of cool,” Milano said after taking pictures of the filly outside Harris’s barn. “I don’t know. I just saw her and fell in love with her.”

Milano said she was also taken by the filly being an orphan. Her dam, the Hold Your Peace mare Peaceful Road, died from colic complications. Brown Bess, champion turf female of 1989, raised the filly.

“She has a great story, and I always find that the winners have something to run for besides just athleticism, coming from these great tragic stories,” Milano said. “I came here not even planning on doing this. I have eight [non-Thoroughbred] horses, so what’s another one. Right? It’s exciting. Brad’s addicted. He wants winners. I’m a lot more like, ‘Oh, she’s an orphan.’ I just want a happy, healthy filly.”