June 29 initially looked like a disappointing day for Lee Searing as the 2023 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) winner Be Praised who he owns under the CRK Stable banner, failed to shoot on a rain-soaked turf course in the $500,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.
However, his day was saved dramatically when he witnessed the foal he had bred, King impressive win in the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1) in just a few hours.
“When we found out the big horse (Kingsbarns) won that race, it was amazing,” Searing said.
Kingsbarns is no longer winning faucet mare Mrs. Tapit a horse about which Searing received information from stud broker David Ingordo.
Originally planning to return to California after Keeneland’s September 2013 sale, Searing changed his original plans and decided to stay overnight. Ingordo called and told him about an “incredibly beautiful” baby bird that had been RNA’d for $675,000.
(LR): David Ingordo and Lee Searing at the Keeneland September 2022 Sale
“We drove two hours and looked at her, looked at her, then looked at her again,” Searing said. “We made a deal and took Lady Tapit out west.”
Although only a maiden winner, Lady Tapit has performed well on the track, earning a placing in the 2017 Adoration Stakes (G3) and finishing fourth in the Santa Margarita (G1), but an experience The traumatic experience soon ruined her career.
“She was working with another horse and she tripped, she fell. She didn’t move.” Searing talked about a workout he was watching at Santa Anita Park with coach John Sadler.
Fearing the worst, Searing was relieved to get up after a few minutes and shake it off, eventually walking to an ambulance and being taken off the track.
“Her racing career really stopped there,” Searing said. “She was never the same horse again. It’s amazing what that can do to a horse mentally.”
Lady Tapit retired and was sent to Gabriel Duignan’s Springhouse farm in Lexington.
“I have the best farm manager, Dermot Joyce,” Searing said, praising the farm team. “They have a beautiful farm and quite a few of my mares.”
Her first foal was a 2019 foal. Candy cart ride the foal was named Lord Sheldon , is now a four-time winner. Her second foal was Kingsbarns by Uncle Mo .
“Kingsbarns grew up to be a really handsome colt and yearling,” Searing said. “To breed a Grade 1 winner—I’ve (owned) Grade 1 winners, I want more because I love racehorses—but I think (Kingsbarns) was always born to be a racehorse.”
Lee Searing strokes Kingsbarns as a foal while his mother Lady Tapit stands in the background.
Kingsbarns sold for $250,000 at the 2021 Saratoga Select Yearling Sale to Tom McCrocklin as agent for Champion Equine. He was then pinned and sold to Spendthift for $800,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
“We decided to sell the horse for $250,000,” Searing said. “We thought it was worth a lot more than that, but that was the year I really wanted to buy a lot of horses to take West.”
The livestock game has only recently become a focus for the 76-year-old Californian, who farms under the name Parks Investment Group with his wife, Susan.
Always dreaming of winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), Searing primarily raced young horses. With the uncertainty in California racing, Searing moved more horses to the East, something he had never done before. In addition, he is increasingly involved in breeding as he tries to balance his colts and mares to “50/50”.
“The ownership game was on the West Coast, so I had to make a decision,” Searing said. “I was pretty busy trying to breed a broodmare herd – a small herd, about 15 mares.”
Part of his challenge in building the stallion band is helping support Lane’s End Farm’s first crop stallion. AP Honors whom Searing campaigned on the track in winning the 2020 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
“I have more (mares) than that now because I want to support Honor AP,” Searing said. He deserves it.”
Still, buyers are present for Searing, who bought his first horse when he was 18, a $2,000 purchase named Secret Touch.
Lee Searing
“I have a lot of 2-year-olds,” Searing said. “This is the first year we’re really pushing. We’re going to put a lot of horses on the track.”
Searing never forgot Secret Touch, the horse that won his owner’s first two races, and named another horse Secret Touch a few years ago.
“I copied some names along the way,” Searing said. “There are some horses you just can’t forget.”
One of the horses that Searing will never forget is Lady Tapit, who had a very beautiful coat. Munnings The mare will be heading to the Keeneland Yearling Market in September.
“I thought I was going to hit my first home run,” Searing said.
