Phil and Christine Hatfield celebrated their first graded stakes victory as owners when Saffron Moon rallied to capture the Feb. 1 Endeavour Stakes (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs. The win was the result of the Hatfields' unwavering faith and patience in their star mare, who returned to Tampa only a month later to post a second consecutive graded stakes score against a deep field in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2T). At 6 years old and hitting her best stride, the Malibu Moon daughter's winter success has transformed her into a key player in this year's filly and mare turf division.
From starting with one horse, co-owned with an employee at their restaurant, to a current stable of 12 horses racing under the moniker CHP Racing, Phil Hatfield spoke with BloodHorse about the couple's venture into Thoroughbred ownership, the ups and downs of their journey with Saffron Moon, and their promising Into Mischief 3-year-old colt, Praetor.
BloodHorse: What drew you into the horse racing industry and Thoroughbred ownership?
Phil Hatfield: It was (Christine's) idea to get into the Thoroughbred business. A little background on us, I grew up in the Arabian show horse world. My parents had Arabian horses and we showed horses all over the United States and Canada. I ended up training them and becoming an international judge of Arabian horses. Then I met Christine, got married, and continued to do the Arabians for a while longer. And then she said she wanted to get into the Thoroughbreds which I didn't know anything about but I thought "Hey let's give it a shot."
That was 11-12 years ago. There was a girl who worked for our restaurant as a waitress and she owned a racehorse. Christine ended up buying half of her horse and from there we slowly progressed into the business.
BH: How can you compare your experience with showing Arabians to racing Thoroughbreds?
PH: Winning a race with a Thoroughbred versus winning with an Arabian show horse is very different. With the Arabians and depending on a judge, it's very subjective. There's nothing subjective about the first one across the finish line. There's no question about who wins and who loses. I would say that's the biggest difference.
We enjoy the Thoroughbreds a lot more. It's more exciting. I think in my heart I would still love to have a great English pleasure mare or top halter mare and go to the Arabian National Championship. Winning the National Championship is like winning a grade 1 in the sense of getting to the top of whatever breed you're in.
BH: How did you come to own Saffron Moon?
PH: Saffron Moon came from Niall Brennan. Our team for us now consists of Niall, Mike Ryan, and Chad Brown. We were doing some pinhooking back in 2020 with Niall. We bought her in partnership (for $80,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale) originally as a pinhook but she kept doing better and better after she got into training into her 2-year-old year. We ended up buying out the partnership for her.
We've bought and owned many horses over the years but Saffron Moon is our first graded stakes winner. And now back-to-back she does it again. It's been pretty amazing. When we first got in the business we always said 'Oh we're living the dream' but really didn't know what that meant until we got a horse like Saffron Moon.
BH: After Saffron Moon's two stakes victories, trainer Chad Brown has attributed your patience with Saffron Moon to her recent success. Can you talk about the journey Saffron Moon's taken you both on?
PH: It's been a journey. After we bought out the partners on her, she started racing that year as a 2-year-old in 2021. She finished fourth on the dirt in her debut at Saratoga, nothing spectacular, and then her next race, she dropped the rider out of the gate. She had one more race on the dirt, she came in third but came back sore so we gave her a lot of time off.
Before she made her first start as a 3-year-old, Chad said "Let's try her on the turf." And all we heard after that was this horse is really showing us something on the turf. And that's how she transitioned from the dirt to the turf. Her breakout win was at Keeneland in a turf maiden special weight in April 2022. She won by eight lengths and that was the race that showed everyone she was a different horse on the turf. But she was laid up for six months after that race and then when she came back she ran ok but just had issues that kept her from being her best. We just kept giving her the time off. Her two stakes wins are the first time she's ever run back-to-back without much break in between so knock on wood she can keep going.
The biggest thing for me coming from the Arabians to the Thoroughbreds is we don't break Arabians till late 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds. And you bring them along slowly through their 3-4- and 5-year-old years. And with the Thoroughbreds as we know they're broken as long yearlings and unfortunately it does seem to take its toll. At the end of the day with Saffron, we knew she had the talent and we weren't really in a big hurry with her. It was either we just retire her and sell her or keep on going. I think by giving her the time she needed we're seeing a better horse who's increased her value.
BH: How did you get connected with trainer Chad Brown?
PH: We got linked to Chad through Niall. Christine and I had gone over to Niall's farm together and Chad was over there as well. Saffron Moon was one of the first horses of ours Chad looked at while he was at the farm and he said "I'd love to train that filly."
Chad has been great. He's patient. He's quick to stop on a horse if he sees anything wrong and give them the necessary time off and then go on with them. Full accolades to him and his team. He's got a great team around him.
BH: Now that Saffron Moon has found her rhythm, what are some campaign goals you have for her for the rest of the year?
PH: That's the big question. I'm sure Chad will take her to Saratoga. The New York Stakes is up there. Chad has mentioned the Modesty May 2. That's on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill. The horse will tell us what we'll do next. She's such a big, strong mare now. She's always been a very balanced mare, which caught my eye, but she has really grown into a massive mare in the sense that she's very strong and powerful. We're looking forward to this summer with her and seeing what she's going to do.
BH: Apart from stable star Saffron Moon, you also have a very promising 3-year-old right now with Praetor, who you co-own with Antony Beck (Gainesway) and Bill Lawrence. He had an impressive return to the races at Gulfstream with a nice allowance win March 1.
PH: That horse is fantastic. Mike (Ryan) bought him for us at the yearling sale (for $725,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September sale) a few years ago. He's just a special horse. He was third in his first race and then won his second race, beating Sovereignty. He came up with a hitch and was off October through January. Chad really liked that horse though and he told us he was going to do his best to get him back on the (Kentucky Derby) trail. After his time off he went straight down to Payson and had his first work back in January.
Last weekend we were down for his race and he was as professional as you could be. We have some great partners with Anthony Beck and Bill Lawrence. We're all excited. That's what you're in this business for, to find these types of horses.
BH: Could we see him in a Kentucky Derby prep race next?
PH: That's going to be all up to the horse and Chad. Chad and his team are very excited about him. Any owner hopes you can make it to the big show (the Derby) and I think he can do it. He was very strong last weekend. (Jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) kind of geared him down at the wire and he still won by 7 1/2 lengths.
