Perretti Farms has taken a gamble that it hopes will yield big dividends when the offspring of mares bred to Muscles Yankee and Rocknroll Hanover in 2012 reach the races in 2015
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Bob Marks, spokesman for the Cream Ridge, New Jersey breeding farm, was feeling hopeful that the gamble will pay off when he saw a recent comment from Governor Chris Christie that, "If after five years Atlantic City can’t get its act together, then I think it’s incumbent upon us to reopen the entire issue of whether gaming should be allowed elsewhere in the state, the Meadowlands or anyplace else."
Perretti Farms took the risk of leaving super stallions 'Rocky' and 'Muscles' in New Jersey with the hope that a revitalized industry would be in place in the Garden State when their foals reached the races.
“Mares bred in 2012, foal in 2013, become eligible to be sold in 2014 and eligible to race in 2015,” Marks noted. “By that time, the climate in New Jersey could be altogether different than it is now and it’s eminently possible the Rocknroll Hanovers and Muscles Yankees could have a virtual (New Jersey) Sire Stakes monopoly in what could be a slots enhanced program.
“And that, therein, is the gamble,” he said. “If one believes, and many in New Jersey do, that Atlantic City is no longer capable of getting it’s ‘act together’ due to neighboring state competition from Pennsylvania and New York, then one might reap unexpected rewards from the New Jersey stallions in the immediate future.”
The Perretti family was willing to take that chance, but the risk was considerably easier with stallions of universal demand like Rocknroll Hanover and Muscles Yankee, both of whom had their stallion fees trimmed for 2012.
“Actually, it’s almost a sure thing,” said Marks. “As a worst case scenario, you’re still getting a Rocknroll Hanover or Muscles Yankee colt or filly at a reduced price, which in itself is an accomplishment. And by the time it reaches racing age it might indeed have enhanced racing opportunities not necessarily apparent at this point.”
(With files from the SBOANJ)