Fallbrook's young exciting son of WILD AGAIN - WILD AND WICKED - was just represented by his first two-year-old runner who is also his first two-year-old winner.  The filly UNLOCH THE FURY made her maiden debut at Turf Paradise in a field of then maidens.  Breaking from seven post, she broke slowly and trailed the field by about eight lengths at the quarter pole while traveling five wide.  With a swift turn of foot, the dark bay daughter of WILD AND WICKED out of Fallbrook's' own mare SHAHALIE LAKE powered by the field to break her maiden by a neck.  Congratulations to owner Lawrence De Respino and owner/trainer Anthony Klenakis.   

Unloch The Fury as a foal.

Read the chart  -  Find out more about WILD AND WICKED

"We just breed racehorses," says Fallbrook's David Randal.  And in 2009, it is evident once again as there is Kentucky Derby fever at Fallbrook as it's homebred GENERAL QUARTERS romped home to win the G3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on February 14, 2009.  The race, having drawn top Derby contenders for the past several years, earned graded status this past year to make it a true Derby prep, earning the winner qualifying stake earnings toward the Run For The Roses.

Taking the blinkers off for the first time, GENERAL QUARTERS sat just off the pace through the final turn where he kicked clear and powered home to win by daylight.  Owned by Tom McCarthy and trained by Mark Miller, GENERAL QUARTERS offered each of the men their first thrill on the trail to the Kentucky Derby, admittedly a dream for each of them.  A heartwarming story in itself, the owner, Tom McCarthy also grooms and walks the horse every day. 

Out of Fallbrook's mare Ecology, GENERAL QUARTERS is the first foal of the mare who foaled a TALE OF THE CAT filly the week of the race.  GENERAL QUARTERS joins 2008 Derby trail runner and homebred FACE THE CAT who was sold privately prior to the Derby preps.  Also a top homebred for Fallbrook was Fallbrook Farm's current stallion WILD AND WICKED who won the G2 Ohio Derby.

Read more:  Blood-Horse; DRF; TDN; Thoroughbred Times

Derby fever hits most everyone in Kentucky in April, but the Bluegrass of Kentucky couldn't be more excited about the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.  The fever may have been best described as "Rocky Balboa meets Apollo Creed" regarding GENERAL QUARTERS' win in the G1 Bluegrass S. This story has it all - the seventy-five year-old owner who is also the trainer of only one horse, who was purchased for $20,000 with a dream of getting to the Kentucky Derby and realizes it.  The only thing the story lacks is the story book win on the first Saturday in May. 

GENERAL QUARTERS, bred by David and Marylyn Randal of Fallbrook Farm, went into the race a long shot, but exited it a favorite - at least to most of those suffering from Derby Fever. The gray son of SKY MESA out of the young UNBRIDLED'S SONG mare ECOLOGY settled near the lead early in the race.  Eibar Coa placed him perfectly to the outside of rivals and passing the half mile pole, pulled Coa, who had fists full of horse straight to the lead.  GENERAL QUARTERS powered home from there, beating the favorite by a length and a half.  Congratulations to the now famous owner, trainer, and former teacher Tom McCarthy as well as to GENERAL QUARTERS interim trainer Mark Miller who conditioned the colt while at Tampa Bay Downs. Best wishes in your run for the world famous roses on Derby Day.

Read the chart

Read More: The Thoroughbred Times; The Blood-Horse, TDN; Herald-Leader Photos;

SILVERINYOURPOCKET, the winner of the 2007 G3 La Troienne at Churchill Downs foaled an outstanding looking colt by one of the top sires of 2008 and 2009, ELUSIVE QUALITY.  The colt was born March and is turning into a beautiful individual.  His dam, a bay daughter of SILVER DEPUTY  finished her racing career with three wins and earnings of $185,000. 

The dam of SILVERINYOUR-POCKET, PUFF O LUCK, was bred and is in foal to TALE OF THE CAT for 2009.  

For more on the 2007 G3 La Troienne, click here to read the Thoroughbred Daily News article or click here to read the chart.