Takin It Through Idaho

HAGERMAN, Idaho (April 27, 2001) - That's right, Idaho.

If you are looking for the breeder of California-bred California Derby winner Takin It Deep, you won't find it in California.

Billingsley Creek Ranch is located southeast of Boise, but if you want proof that the California Breeders Incentive Awards program is working, Billingsley Creek Ranch and Takin It Deep are proof.

"Maybe I'm a slow learner or I was just lax in taking advantage of the wonderful program California has for breeding and the benefits a breeder can receive," said Don McFadden, owner of Billingsley Creek Ranch.

He's taking advantage of it now. He has put seven Cal-breds through Barretts sales and he said all seven are winners, three of them stakes winners. His first Cal-bred is the biggest winner of them all, Takin It Deep, who will meet up with fellow northern California invader Hoovergetthekeys in Saturday's $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the feature of Gold Rush Day II at Hollywood Park.

Takin It Deep is by Beau Genius out of the productive Superbity mare Here's Lookn Adder. She has foaled seven stakes winners, including Just Lookn ($213,675 in earnings) and Drumm Valley ($133,231 in earnings). Takin It Deep broke his maiden in a $50,000 claiming race and has career earnings of $164,362, with three wins in six lifetime starts.

McFadden bought Here's Lookn Adder in utero, purchasing the mare's dam, Sarah Blue Eyes, in Florida in 1982. 

Although Beau Genius now stands in California, McFadden bred the Here's Lookn Adder when the stallion was in Kentucky. After the mating, as McFadden does with all of his mares, he brought Here's Lookn Adder home to his ranch in Idaho.

Six weeks before her expected delivery, he sent Here's Lookn Adder to Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, Calif., where she foaled Takin It Deep and was bred back to For Really. McFadden put Takin It Deep through the 2000 Barretts May sale, where he was purchased by Milton Douzos for $22,000.

"He was gangly when he was young, immature, and he needed time," McFadden said. "Looking back, I should have hung onto him awhile and sold him privately. I was disappointed at the price, especially since another foal we sold there by Synastry went for $75,000. As it turns out, the trainer (Gil Matos) has been very patient and it has turned out well for everyone associated with the horse. The trainer has done a wonderful job."

McFadden has a yearling by You and I out of Lookn Adder scheduled to go through this summer's Del Mar Sale and a 2001 filly by Cape Town. The mare was bred back to Slew City Slew, will foal again in California, and is likely to be bred back to Beau Genius next year, McFadden said.

"We started breeding quarterhorses and moved to thoroughbreds in the mid-80s," he said. "In 1996 we downsized and in 1997 we sent our mares out of our state for the first time. Takin It Deep is the result of that first try out of our backyard. I worked on the nicking with my own theory.

"We've bred 120 stakes horses, but this is our first Cal-bred. I think this shows that we raise a good product. It's also what the industry needs. It's nice for the little guys to get some, too. I consider us on the lower level and the lower level needs to survive."