It’s rare, but not unheard of, for brand new riders to have instant success. Fred Hooper’s first purchase was Hoop, Jr., who caught the 1945 Kentucky Derby. First racehorse was purchased in September 2020 TOBA member of the Month Scott Heider and his father turned out to be home. future champion of California Answer Do. Now 83-year-old Pat Kearney has won gold with a stake winner Kathleen O. the black winner came less than a year after the owner entered the game.
The $275,000 purchase at OBS Semi-Two-year-old training in April 2021 by Shug McGaughey coach Kathleen O. has kicked off 2022 very well. The stout sophomore, who runs for Kearney’s Winngate Stables, raced for 8 and a half in the January 1 Draw.
Kathleen O.’s third dam is a four-time Pretty ‘n Smart stake maker whose three graded stake winners include the 2017 Gold Cup winner at the Santa Anita Stakes (G1) Cupid . Like Cupid, he is the son of Tapit and AP Indy’s great-grandson, Kathleen O. is the daughter of Start up AP Indy’s grandson.
Kearney and his wife Kathy split their time between Surfside, Florida, and Winnetka, Illinois, near Chicago. He fell in love with sports for the first time the summer after graduating from high school, when he worked in construction before entering the University of Notre Dame. Although Kearney was only briefly on the job, he ended up spending time with his father in the box of the latter’s Arlington Park. “In the first few weeks after my construction situation […] I was out there,” he said. “And again, I’m not a cripple, but I blew up and won as much money as I did when I did that construction in eight weeks.” He’s still a casual fan after serving in the Army, becoming a lawyer, and entering the securities business; Almost retired in 1995, he remained interested in a company that manufactures aromas and extracts until 2011.
Kearney and McGaughey have been golfing together for two decades. “I was thinking, because I wanted to get into something fun,” Kearney mused, “that I could participate without much obligation over time, more than anything else. “. He was hesitant at first, admitting, “I think I’m imposing on him because he’s a Hall of Fame coach and he has a very active client base.”
However, McGaughey accepted the project and searched auctions for prospects. McGaughey purchased both of Kearney’s horses, Kathleen O. and Cloudy, at OBS April. The second dark horse, a Noble Mission gray son from the daughter of the Intercontinental champion, sold for $130,000. He completed the chessboard twice last fall at Churchill Downs and is currently recovering from a bone bruise. He has no plans to expand his barn at the moment, but praises McGaughey and TOBA for helping him smooth the transition from fan to owner.
But it was Kathleen O., named after Kathy Kearney (née O’Boyle), who became a steady star. Last fall at the Aqueduct, she took her first win by head. The special maiden weight takes place on November 12, Kathleen’s birthday, and begins with post Saturday; Kathleen’s father plays football at Notre Dame, and his number – what else? – even. The stars are lined up for her maiden triumph. Kearney recalls, “I was shocked to be honest. I was surprised, but I think this is great. ”
When his children and grandchildren came to Florida to visit for Christmas this year, Kearney had a surprise: news of his equine project. But the fun is doubled, when the whole family can win the Cash Run contest together. Regarding his grandchildren, Kearney shared that he is sure that “they have never been to a racetrack before. And will watch their horse win and be in the winner’s circle, if someone tries to write a script about the experience I’ve had with these horses, no one will read or use it because it is not within the realm of knowledge or ability.”
While he would hardly hold a grudge to see Kathleen O. play in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Kearney is delighted with the heights he has achieved. “I had more than my share except this effort,” he said, “and it was great.” He added, “I am very content and happy right now. If all of this were to end today, I’d say, “God, that was a great experience.”
