While California-based technology executive Deron Pearson has been involved in the Thoroughbred business for several years now, his D.P. Racing operation has increased its activity markedly in 2014.
Pearson, along with trainer James Cassidy, bought a pair of juvenile fillies at Keeneland April for a total of $480,000, and scooped up six 2-year-olds at OBS April for $1.22 million. Now Pearson, CEO of the IT services provider Nexus, Inc. of which he sold his stake in last year, is trying out the yearling market. Through Wednesday, D.P. Racing had purchased eight yearlings at KEESEP for a total of $1.98 million.
“This is the first time I've been to Keeneland for the yearling sale,” revealed Pearson. “I went to Keeneland for the 2-year-old sale and a few other 2-year-old sales. Now I want to try the yearling sales and kind of compare them to the yearlings.”
While Pearson and Cassidy have been shopping in Book 1, they haven't necessarily been paying Book 1 prices. They haven't gone higher than $390,000 (for a Tapit filly {hip 272} consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent for Hargus & Sandra Sexton and Steven & Brandi Nicholson), and have paid as little as $125,000.
“We've been shocked at the prices–it's like a seesaw.” veteran conditioner Cassidy said. “We bought one [Tuesday] for $130,000 that should've brought $500,000.”
Pearson added, “Then there were a couple we thought we might get for cheap, but people have paid $500,000 or $600,000 for them. We're finding the ones we like best and hoping we can get them for a fair price.”
The duo said that they are particularly excited about hip 293, a Stone Farm-consigned Unbridled's Song colt from the family of champion Vindication that they paid $335,000 for.
“We got one colt Tuesday that Deron's still a little bit concerned about, but we love him,” Cassidy noted.
Pearson explained, “He's the best-looking horse we've seen here, but he was acting a little crazy [coming into the ring]. We still decided to take a shot.”
Pearson, who currently has approximately 40 horses in training, says he already owns a number of mares, including four or five boarded in Kentucky, a couple in Europe, and more than a dozen in California. He'll likely be adding to his broodmare band in the coming years as well.
“I've got some nicer mares now that I'm looking to breed,” he said. “Some of the fillies I've bought at the sales were ones I bought because I'm looking to breed them after they run.”
If the progression continues, perhaps Pearson's name will show up on some tickets at Keeneland November before too long.
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