TOBA February Members of the Month

If ever a horse personified their name, it’s More Than Looks. The son of More Than Ready is not only an eye-catcher; he’s also a grade 1 winner with talent to spare. Bred by Hinkle Farms and owned by Victory Racing Partners, More Than Looks capped off his career by winning the Nov. 2 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T). In 2025, he will hold court at Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky., for $15,000 (live foal, stands and nurses). Neither Tom nor Henry Hinkle of Hinkle Farms were present for the big race, but the celebration was a family affair, nonetheless. Tom recalled, “We were in Kentucky and Anne Archer [Tom’s daughter and the farm’s co-owner/director of operations] had her baby on the Thursday before the Breeders’ Cup. So, my wife and I were sticking around to help her with her other two kids. Henry and I were actually over at a friend’s house with our wives, having dinner that night, so we watched the race together, from a friend’s house.” Hinkle Farms also bred two placed horses from the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar - Ginobili, who finished second in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and winner of the Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2), as well as Tarabi, third-place finisher in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and runner-up in the Spinaway Stakes (G1). Victory Racing Partners purchased More Than Looks for $135,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling sale. Tom and Henry Hinkle had bought the colt in utero, spending $575,000 for his dam, Ladies’ Privilege (by Harlan’s Holiday), in foal to More Than Ready. A stakes winner in her own right, Ladies’ Privilege was also a full sister to multiple grade 2 winner Takeover Target. More Than Looks didn’t start until his sophomore year, breaking his maiden second time out at Gulfstream Park in 2023. He captured the Manila Stakes (G3T) at Belmont, then finished third in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga, won Churchill’s Jefferson Cup Stakes, and ran sixth to finish out the year in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile. In March 2024, More Than Looks was sidelined after hurting a tendon. Henry noted trainer Cherie DeVaux “did a masterful job nursing him back from that injury.” On his return to the track, More Than Looks finished second in the Aug. 11 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga and Oct. 5 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland. Of the Coolmore, won by Carl Spackler, Tom said that More Than Looks “ran a bang-up race in that race and two more jumps, then he wins.” Things turned out differently for More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Henry commented, “There was enough speed in the race that Carl Spackler wasn’t going to be able to kind of set his own pace like he did in the race at Keeneland.” He described the Mile’s tempo as having a “good, fast pace up front.” And when the wire flashed, More Than Looks was clear by three-quarters of a length; his time for the Mile was an excellent 1:32.65. Of the big win, Henry said, “It was a wonderful feeling.” More Than Looks wasn’t Hinkle Farms’ only standout in 2024. They bred Deterministic, a son of Liam's Map who succeeded on two surfaces, capturing both the Gotham Stakes (G3) on the dirt and Virginia Derby (G3T) on the turf. At the Keeneland September sale, the farm consigned two seven-figure yearlings; a Curlin half-sister to classic winner and leading sire Nyquist hammered for $1.2 million, while a Constitution filly, out of stakes-placed Stave, sold for $1.1 million. A Gun Runner half-brother to More Than Looks also sold for $700,000 at the same sale. These three were just the cream of the crop, many of which hammered for six figures at the fall’s prestigious auction. Tom said, “I mean, it’s great to sell a horse for a lot of money. And frankly, as a commercial breeder, it’s important to sell some yearlings for a lot of money because there’s some—there’s plenty of them that don’t. But you know, when they go out and perform on the racetrack, that’s really what validates what you do.” Hinkle Farms is home to about 40 broodmares, most of which are owned by the Hinkles. Ladies’ Privilege is among that number; in foal to Horse of the Year Flightline, she is booked to Curlin for 2025. And this golden operation hopes to add even more luster in the future by purchasing a share in More Than Looks and supporting him with two mares. Tom noted that “we kind of keep our fingers crossed that he’ll be that son of More Than Ready who will carry on that line in the future. And, you know, being at Lane’s End, he’ll have great opportunities.”