Pepper Oaks Farm

Patricia Youngman's classic country home at her Pepper Oaks Farm in Santa Ynez affords eye-catching views of carefree Thoroughbreds at play and at rest from just about any window.

"I wake up each morning, look at the horses, and think 'wow, my life is so good,'" she said.

Those captivating views are no accident. Youngman, farm manager John Turner, and Pat's brother-in-law John Borroel carefully designed and crafted the 90-acre facility from the ground up. Youngman purchased the first 40-acre parcel of land in 1992. After construction began in 1993, she quickly realized that more land would be needed, so she subsequently bought and developed an additional 50 acres. Built orignally to operate as a quarantine facility, Pepper Oaks Farm now exists as a full service facility that handles breeding, boarding and lay-up care.

"Plans are in the works now for even further expansion," she added. "The farm is already much larger than we ever dreamed. It seems to have evolved on its own."

Pepper Oaks welcomed its first foal crop in 1995. Three stallions currently stand at the facility: Sharp Victor, Trail City and Swiss Yodeler. Sharp Victor was the first stallion to arrive at the farm. He is the sire of graded stakes winners Sonja's Faith (Ire) and Marvin's Faith (Ire) and has progeny earnings over $3.5 million. Trail City is a graded stakes-winning son of successful Kentucky stallion Red Ransom. Swiss Yodeler's first foals are yearlings this year and are fetching good prices at many auctions around the country. Youngman can't wait for them to get to the track and start showing their stuff. 

Although a new player in California's Thoroughbred industry, Pat Youngman could be represented in this year's California Cup as the breeder-owner of Matron and Distaff nominee Mabel Kent, a 3-year-old daughter of Sharp Victor. Other nominees with close ties to Pepper Oaks is the Sharp Victor juvenile Sharpster and the Flying Chevron juvenile filly Wicked Mood. California Cup will be run for the 12th time at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.