Seth Hancock of the legendary Claiborne Farm in Kentucky was on hand at the track Sunday to see a homebred break her maiden at first asking for trainer Tommy Drury. Amen Again was impressive in winning her debut under apprentice Amanda Tamburello and with her pedigree is a filly with a future. She was bred and is owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.
After posing for the winner's circle photo Hancock had kind words for this Cincinnati oval. "We walked in here today and immediately saw how clean and welcoming the track is," said Hancock. "You see familys with their children here. It's really a nice atmosphere, you've done a great job and it really shows."
Amen Again is by Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again out of Praise who is steeped in Claiborne pedigree. Praise is the dam of Congrats who was the leading freshman sire of 2010 and succesful stallion Flatter who stands stud at Claiborne Farm. Praise is by Mr. Prospector and is a half sister to four graded stakes winners. Her third dam is Glowing Tribute who was the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero and was named Broodmare of the Year.
Trainer Tommy Drury is high on his praise for Amen Again. "When you get a horse from Claiborne most of the work has already been done as far as behavior, care and certainly pedigree," said Drury who operates out of Kentucky's Skylight Training Center. "Like all of their horses, they do everything right. Amen Again took to training and proved herself out there today."
In 1972, Seth Hancock, stepped up to make headlines when he syndicated Secretariat for a record $6 million. This was merely the launch of an era of Seth's leadership of Claiborne, which mirrors that of his ancestors and continues nearly four decades later. Again, the underpinning of Claiborne was the management of its own and clients' high quality broodmare bands, while the headlines were provided by the stallions and race horses. Seth has matched the parade of stallions acquired and managed by his father and grandfather, as such names as Mr. Prospector, Danzig, and Seeking the Gold took their places in history. Modern stallions have increased to 27 the number of times the leading sire of the year has stood at Claiborne Farm. Meanwhile, Seth won a Kentucky Derby with Swale, campaigned two-time Breeders' Cup winner Lure, bred and raced champion Forty Niner, and authored a lasting influence on the international Turf as the breeder of stallions Nureyev and Caerleon and the dam of Sadler's Wells.
Claiborne Farm is no stranger to River Downs. Their silks have been painted on the paddock statue jockey three times for victories in the Cradle Stakes.