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By Emily Shields
Irish native finds his racing dream in the Golden State
Ireland native Francis O’Leary was always interested in racing back home, but a move to California in 2008 made the dream of owning racehorses and broodmares possible. Now O’Leary has expanded his reach to include co-ownership in a stallion, Gig Harbor.
The first horse O’Leary ever claimed was Hava Java, a 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Speed Dial who won on the day by five lengths at Golden Gate Fields. O’Leary, who had been attending the races regularly that season before he made the plunge into ownership, took her for $5,000 from trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and turned her over to trainer William Morey. Hava Java won three times for her new connections before she was claimed away just about four months later.
That experience got the ball rolling for O’Leary, who has owned a host of horses either solo or in partnership.
“I got into the breeding side shortly after,” he said.
The man who introduced him to the breeding aspect of the sport was Joe Daehling, who owns Daehling Ranch in Elk Grove.
“I have to thank him,” O’Leary said.
Several of O’Leary’s mares are boarded at Daehling Ranch, with others at Ellen Jackson’s Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville.
O’Leary owns 15 mares, many of whom visited Gig Harbor this year. An 11-year old son of City Zip out of the winning St. Jovite mare Miss Blue Grass, Gig Harbor was a multiple stakes winner at Golden Gate Fields. He broke his maiden there first out in 2011, then added an allowance race shortly thereafter. Third in the Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park, Gig Harbor returned to Golden Gate to win the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes going 11⁄16 miles on the grass. As a 4-year-old, Gig Harbor added an allowance and the $53,000 Oakland Stakes before retirement.
“[O’Leary] shares his business. He doesn’t use just one trainer or one farm; he spreads it around. That’s an amazing sentiment. He wants to share the wealth, and he’s brought a lot of people into the industry” – Ellen Jackson
Gig Harbor stands at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds for $2,000. He has nine winners from 13 starters (69%), and 50% of his foals of racing age, which includes nine juveniles, have all raced. His leading earner is two-time winner Kerri’s Choice, and he is the sire of a two-time winner in 2019, Shadrack. CONTINUE READING HERE
