Today, Dr. Joel Politi is a respected orthopedic surgeon. But on race days, he was more known as the master of the top Thoroughbreds. A few years after bursting into the national arena with many students winning first prizes Queen Serengeti Politi is going high with the winners Li’l Tootsie and Kneesnips .
Purchased by Politi for $30,000, Kneesnips merged the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stocks on March 12 at the Fair Grounds. To date, she has earned more than $150,000. Her standout stable friend, a $105,000 purchase, was graded Li’l Tootsie. At the Anchorage Overnight Stakes on 3 July at Churchill Downs, Li’l Tootsie secured a 3 ½ long victory, followed on 14 August by a 1 ½ long victory in Ellis Park’s Groupie Doll Stakes.
The race that followed brought back fond memories of Queen Serengeti. “It’s a comeback,” Politi said. “The night before I drove down there for the race, my wife and I watched the re-enactment of ‘Serengeti’ winning Ellis Park Debutante. We’ve watched it many times and it makes us smile so hard it’s a great memory to go and relive. “
A resident of Columbus, Ohio, Politi grew up in Youngstown. “Well, my parents were first generation immigrants,” he said. “They moved here, and my dad basically did anything and everything, including building a 12-horse barn in our backyard, and we raised hybrids. ” Politi Senior and Junior link up on the track. “We have horses and race them, and every weekend we are at Thistledown to watch the races,” he said. “And often at night, we’re usually in Mountaineer, or that’s Waterford Park, watching the races.” Trips to the races include a five-hour round-trip drive to the Maryland ovals.
After graduating from medical school in 1993, Politi married Dr. Julie the following year. They moved to Ohio in 2000, where they raised their four daughters. “In October 2005,” he said, “I had my first partnership with my friend, Giddy-Up Stables. We asked for some horses, ran a bunch of horses, had fun and went to the races and made it a social good. ” Politi founded herself in 2016, but racing is still a family affair. Politi’s daughters named Li’l Tootsie in honor of their mother, while Kneesnhips adopted her moniker because Politi specializes in change. knee and hip pose. The family was inspired to name the stake winner There is a stench now retired and in the herd of ponies Not this time after a line from the Office.
Policy coach Tom Amoss asked for my help to find promising positions. At the 2017 Keeneland sale in September, Politi bought a daughter of alternate for $70,000. Named Queen Serengeti, she began her black journey in Ellis Park Debutante 2018. “It was the day that I knew she was something special,” says Politi, “because of that. if you watch the reenactment of that race, it’s amazing, and if you’re a speed person, she ran super fast for a two-year-old in August. ” Followed by a 19-minute walk at the Pocahontas Stakes (G2), which Politi said left him feeling both “numb and exhilarated,” before taking the lead in Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Fillies (G1). ).
At the age of three, the Serengeti Empress beat Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) before tallying the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). Of the bulls, Politi said, “It was a magical day that my friends and family will never forget,” adding, “And when she won, it was shocking and amazing. I turned to my wife; I picked her up, literally over my head, and the rest was a blur. We were in the yard and there were lilies, and there was TV and they asked me questions on the national television, and it all happened very quickly. Unbelievable “.
At the age of four, Serengeti Empress added Ballerina Stakes (G1) and was placed in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). When she retired, Politi decided to keep her instead of selling her. “She could go on to be a great producer,” he said, “and have a lot of ponies and financially it was a great decision for me, or it might not be. suits me, and I’m okay with one.” Serengeti Empress has a Into Mischief ponies weaned and open in 2023 after a “rough delivery”. Politi owns five mares, joins Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Ky., and has partnered with Taylor Made on a few more.
Meanwhile, he’s looking to the future, thanks to the 9 runners who run with Amoss, including the fillings that won his stake. After finishing fourth in three consecutively ranked shares, Kneesnhips took a break this summer; Her next race is in the air. Regarding Li’l Tootsie, Politi mused, “We’ll probably keep her in one-off races because she’s in such good physical shape.” He added, “She’s been a role model of consistency this year and she’s only four years old and she seems to be doing really well, so we’ll look forward to bringing her back once more.” again at the age of five.”
