Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
In Haskell, Girvin can give owner big birthday gift
For most owners, being on the wrong side of a photo in a $500,000 race might take years to get over. But for Brad Grady, there was a silver lining to last month’s Ohio Derby, where his Girvin finished second by a nose to Irap. It was a good advertisement for the pinhooking side of his business.
“We actually bought Irap as a yearling, sold him as a 2-yearold in training,” Grady said of himself and agent Bobby Dodd. “He’s a graduate of ours.”
Grady, who grew up in the West Texas town of Girvin, got his start in the Thoroughbred industry through pinhooking, and the operation reached a pinnacle in April, when he and Dodd, as agent, sold a Tiznow colt for an Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. record $2.4 million.
Grady will be shooting for another milestone on Sunday, when he and trainer Joe Sharp attempt to nail down their first Grade 1 victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Girvin was pegged at 6-1 in a deep field despite being the winner of both the Grade 2 Risen Star and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
“I will be 38 on Tuesday,” Grady said. “The Haskell would be a nice gift.”
Girvin, nearing millionaire status, is the star of Grady’s racing stable, which numbers 15 to 20 horses and includes Phat Man, the winner of the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth who is being pointed for the West Virginia Derby. The barn also has a pair of Lone Star Park stakes winners in Supermason and Galactica, the latter a quick 2-year-old who could see stakes action at Saratoga.
Grady’s pinhooking operation, Grand Oaks, is based in Ocala, Fla. Dodd manages the facility, which includes 150 stalls and a seven-furlong training track. Grady’s wife, Misty, has 15 broodmares at Grand Oaks.
“I pinhook quite a bit,” Grady said. “We buy weanlings and yearlings. I race the horses that we don’t have any success pinhooking. I get a lot of enjoyment when horses really pan out. All of my family likes it.”
Grady said he was introduced to the Thoroughbred industry through Dr. Joe Cannon, a racetrack practitioner in Texas and Oklahoma.
“My wife grew up in the same town as him,” Grady said. “I met him through my wife. I was in my early 20s. I was always intrigued with the racehorse. When I was able to afford to play the game, I started pinhooking in 2009. I had success pinhooking and wanted to race a few.”
Grady turned to Bret Calhoun, a leading trainer in the Southwest who has branched out to Kentucky, to get involved in racing. It was Calhoun, who has Supermason and Galactica, who introduced the owner to Sharp.
“They’ve become fast friends, have had a great relationship, and have had a lot of success and a lot of luck together,” Calhoun said. “Brad loves the business and is having a lot of fun in it. He loves the action.”
Sharp said Grady was behind his decision to become a head trainer after working as a longtime assistant to Mike Maker. Sharp, who is married to retired jockey Rosie Napravnik, won his first race as a trainer in September 2014.
“Brad was the reason I went out on my own,” Sharp said. “He was the one who gave me money to claim in New York. I sat down with Rosie, and we talked about it. I said, ‘What do you think about me going out on my own?’ I felt like if ever there was a time, it was with a guy like this behind me. Mike gave me his blessing.”
Sharp said he and Grady have experienced several firsts in racing together, and he hopes that for the owner’s sake, a Grade 1 win is in the cards as soon as Sunday.
“One of the things Brad prides himself on his loyalty,” Sharp said. “It’s definitely been on display when it comes to myself and my family, both on and off the track. He’s obviously been instrumental in my career. I consider him one of my best friends, and obviously, he’s one of my largest clients. We’ve done a good job maintaining balance both on and off the track. It makes it fun being a team.”
Grady, who has several holdings in the oil and gas industry, lives in Grandview, Texas, outside of Fort Worth. He has three children. Braden is a student at the University of Colorado. Mikala is a standout in the stock show world. (In February, the steer she showed in Fort Worth was named grand champion and sold at auction for $240,000.) Mason is the namesake of five-time stakes winner Supermason.
“We have a farm,” Grady said. “We’ve got a couple of retired racehorses that my wife rides.”
But on Sunday, the family’s focus will be on Girvin.
“We’re excited our horse is doing really well,” Grady said. “I think he should fire a really good race.”
Oaklawn Park forms racing club
The Oaklawn Racing Club has been formed to give fans an opportunity at Thoroughbred ownership, the Hot Springs, Ark., track announced Friday. There will be up to 200 shares available at $500 each in a horse that will be purchased privately and trained by Ron Moquett.
The plan is to purchase an unraced 2-year-old who would launch his career this fall, then be based this winter and spring at Oaklawn, which opens Jan. 12.
“Oaklawn has one of the greatest fan bases in the country, and we know there will be a lot of interest in our racing club,” said Oaklawn general manager Wayne Smith.