Crimson Advocate Toast of the Town for Whitehall Lane

The versatility of American breeding was on full display June 18 at Royal Ascot as Kentucky-bred Crimson Advocate scored a triumph for a second year in a row during one of racing's premier international events. Having won the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) in frontrunning fashion as an import for trainer George Weaver and owners R. A. Hill Stable, Swinbank Stables, BlackRidge Stables, and Black Type Thoroughbreds in 2023, this time the now European-based filly displayed a devastating turn of foot while closing from last to win the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (G2) for Wathnan Racing and trainers John and Thady Gosden. Kristi Gerweck, who bred the filly with her late partner Tom Mara as Whitehall Lane Farm, was home in Boynton Beach, Fla., screaming and celebrating as the filly took another step into Royal Ascot history. "I couldn't (believe it). What a move!" Gerweck said. "She seemed like she was falling back a little bit and I was like, 'Oh my goodness, it's not going to be her day.' Then when she decided to go, it was like she was shot out of a cannon." The daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Nyquist exhibited signs of ability since birth, according to Gerweck. Born and raised at Indian Creek Farm in Paris, Ky., she caught the attention of the broodmare manager very early. "When she was born, (the broodmare manager at Indian Creek) said she was a tank already," Gerweck said. "It's not like she's really big, but she is built. She's got so much strength in that hind end. She's amazing." Those traits appear to come from her dam, Citizen Advocate, who was bred in Florida by Peter Vegso Racing Stable. Mara and Gerweck's original plans never included crossing paths with the daughter of Proud Citizen, but a tragedy would bring them together. In 2011, Mara and Gerweck had a promising homebred in God Willing, a Florida-bred son of Trippi. The 2-year-old sprinted to an eye-catching 4 1/2-length victory on debut and posted an 86 Equibase Speed Figure, catching the attention of top trainers and owners who were soon placing calls indicating their interest in acquiring the colt. However, the excitement that usually accompanies an impressive debut-winning juvenile did not have much time to sink in before God Willing developed a respiratory infection soon. As he was treated, he developed antibiotic-induced colitis. Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that can be caused by various factors. Antibiotics can sometimes induce colitis by disrupting the normal gut flora and allowing overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. God Willing's case proved irreversible, and he soon succumbed to the disease. "We did everything we could for him. It was horrible," Gerweck said. The colt was insured and after the heartbreak of losing one of their homebreds, Mara wanted to claim a replacement. That claim was Citizen Advocate, who Whitehall Lane landed for $40,000 when she was demoted from her 6 1/4-length maiden-claiming win at Calder Race Course and placed fourth for interference. "I always say that being in the business, the owners have to have as much heart as the horse," Gerweck said. "It is so hard sometimes. I don't know any other business that can bring you to heaven and hell all within a day. The business is so tough. You just have to have the heart, love the horses, and keep on going." Mara and Gerweck kept on going with their new 2-year-old filly, who earned a maiden special weight victory at Calder three weeks later. In her next three starts, she would win stakes on turf, all-weather, and dirt. At 3 she earned a grade 3 placing and retired with $327,450 in earnings. She also produced the Candy Ride (ARG) colt Money Moves, who finished 13th in the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1). Claiming was how Gerweck and Mara originally entered the game in the 1980s. The pair, who worked in the construction business at the time, were no strangers to attending the races, but were intrigued about getting involved further while renovating the home of trainer P. O'Donnell Lee. Lee initially had been the trainer of 1981 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Pleasant Colony during the colt's 2-year-old season and early 3-year-old season before he was transferred to John Campo ahead of the classics. Lee had trained Pleasant Colony to win the Remsen Stakes (G2). "He would tell us these stories, and it gets you," Gerweck said. "We went to the races with him one time, and he explained the process of claiming." Mara and Gerweck began claiming with Lee before eventually teaming up with trainer Jose Martin and his son, Carlos. They were hooked and soon had success in their home state. Among their greatest successes was Buy the Firm, who they claimed in early 1990. With Mara as the owner of record, Buy the Firm won three graded stakes and placed twice in grade 1 company. She would go on to win the 1991 Top Flight Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack for Morven Stud Farm. "When you're around these gorgeous animals and you're around people... it gets in your blood," Gerweck said. "The highs that you get from it are incomparable. It's unbelievable. It didn't matter the level; it was the effort put forth by the whole team and, of course, the horse, to do the best that they could. It's a wonderful business." As they continued to claim, Mara developed a deep love of studying pedigrees and conformation, soon taking his passion to the breeding side of the industry. "Once we got the bug, he always wanted to claim fillies because, he said, they have residual value," Gerweck said. "If we had a filly and she couldn't run anymore or proved to be nothing special, then we would breed her." Mara always had a fondness for Uncle Mo, but as he stood for $125,000 during the 2020 breeding season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud, he was over their budget, which Gerweck described as champagne taste on a beer pocketbook. Instead, his champion son, Nyquist, was standing for $40,000 at Darley as he awaited his first offspring to hit the track later that year. Their breeding philosophy was based on complementing the mare in order to produce the best possible horse. With Citizen Advocate proven as a speed horse, they believed Uncle Mo and Nyquist would add distance and stamina to the pedigree. They hit the jackpot in Crimson Advocate, who has done her share to help bolster her sire's stud fee to $175,000 for the 2025 season. Crimson Advocate reached the track at a critical time for Mara, whose health was deteriorating after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. Mara got to experience and celebrate his filly's first win at Royal Ascot in June of 2023. He died a few months later in September. "It got to the point where it was just one thing after another and struggling with life and everything else about it," Gerweck said. "He loved everything about the business. … When you get a win like that, that gave him something very, very special." Although Gerweck had to celebrate Wednesday's victory without Mara, she knows he would have been just as thrilled, if not more, the second time around. "He's getting to watch this from heaven," Gerweck said. "Oh, he is cheering, he's the one who's getting her there." Following Mara's death, Gerweck has partnered with Charles Campbell to manage the Whitehall Lane Farm horses in Kentucky. Having downsized the operation when Mara was sick, Citizen Advocate is currently the lone broodmare in the Whitehall Lane band. She currently has an Uncle Mo weanling. "He looks very good," Gerweck said. "We're very happy with him." That weanling, like his big sister, is growing up at Indian Creek Farm. Despite the name, there is no physical Whitehall Lane Farm that exists. The name stems from a cabernet wine that they loved and had ordered at dinner while thinking of a name. However, don't expect Gerweck to pour out some Whitehall Lane to celebrate a second victory at Royal Ascot. "I think only champagne," she said of what drink would fit the celebration. "This only calls for champagne."