When one thinks of the Calumet Farm of old, legends of the American turf such as Citation, Whirlaway, Tim Tam, and the great Alydar come to mind.
Now a breeding and racing operation owned by successful businessman Brad Kelley, Calumet has the distinction of being represented by a couple of horses at the April 5 Dubai World Cup meeting: one a product of their breeding operation, and the other who will carry the farm's black colors and gold chevrons in the main event.
Calumet Farm is the breeder of defending Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) hero Tuz, whose sire Oxbow was purchased by Kelley and his team for $250,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2011 before going on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) in 2013. Tuz cost his connections just $7,000 at Keeneland in 2018.
"It's always nice to have a horse you bred that goes on and does well," said Calumet's general manager Eddie Kane, who signed the ticket on Oxbow. "Breeding is why we're in the game, and it's especially nice to have a horse by Oxbow, who we bought as a yearling. It's always fun to see that."
Runners bred by Calumet accumulated better than $13 million in earnings in 2024, second only to Godolphin among breeders in North America.
It was at the breeze-up sales that Calumet sourced Mixto, whose own sire Good Magic has already been represented by a Kentucky Derby (G1) and a Belmont Stakes (G1) winner. Calumet parted with $140,000 at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training despite the colt perhaps not showing his true ability while breezing over a synthetic track.
"Mr. Kelley likes the offspring of Good Magic and (Mixto) didn't have the greatest workout, but (2-year-old consignor) Paul Sharp, who is a very good horseman, said, 'Eddie, I promise you, he's much better on the dirt.'" Kane related. "So that helped us in our decision-making to go on and buy the horse. (Trainer) Doug (O'Neill) has liked him from the get-go."
Though he required seven tries to break his maiden, Mixto has always been treated like a top-class galloper and validated his connections' confidence with a 22-1 boilover in the Pacific Classic (G1) over the World Cup distance of 10 furlongs at Del Mar last summer.
Kane is looking for a similar effort this weekend from their charge, whose rider knows his way to the Meydan winner's enclosure.
"Hopefully, he runs good and it's nice to know that Frankie Dettori is going to ride him for us," said Kane.
The Italian reinsman has won the World Cup no fewer than four times, including with American shipper Country Grammer in 2022.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
