Page 27 - August 2016

The dam of Champagne Woman is race winner L’Amour Toujours. She was the dam of the staked placed runners L’Amour Rullah and Nuit Blanche. She was sired by Never Say Die by Nasrullah, and she was out of Idle Lovliness II by Casanova.
The sire record of Raise Your Glass has
an interesting beginning. Raise Your Glass
was brought to Texas by L. R. French, Jr. of Midland, Texas. French was involved in racing as an owner and breeder of both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. His Thoroughbred racing activities included racing with various partners with such famous horses as Landaluce, Capote, and Terlingua, the dam of Storm Cat.
The Quarter Horse racing activities of L. R. French, Jr. would be highlighted by the mares he used in his breeding program, including Miss Olene, La Jolla, and Oh My Oh. One of the greats bred by French was 2-time Champion Aged Mare Little Blue Sheep. She is the dam of The Louisiana Girl, who is the dam of six stakes winners including Jess Louisiana Blue. Little Blue Sheep was sired by St Bar and out of Miss Olene, by Leo.
The first mares bred to Raise Your Glass would reflect the influence of these mares on the first crop of six foals born in 1973. The L. R. French, Jr. bred horses in this crop included
Bottom’s Up out of La Jolla; Champipple out of Prissy Olene (out of Miss Olene); Flatfoot Floozy out of Miss Angel Eyes (out of Miss Olene); and 21 And Change out of Oh My Oh.
The other two foals born in this crop were Slumber Party, bred by B. F. Phillips, Jr., and Toast To You, bred by T. E. Herman. These six foals had a modest career on the track and arena with four racing ROM, one performance ROM, and one staked placed runner. The stakes placed runner was 21 And Change, who was third in the Fire Island Handicap Stakes.
Raise Your Glass didn’t stay with French very long, as he was officially transferred
to Joe A. McDermott III in April of 1973. McDermott came on the scene a few years earlier when he became a part owner with Walter Merrick of World Champion Easy Jet and his full brother Jet Smooth. McDermott later sold his share in these two famous stallions and made Raise Your Glass his lead sire.
The siring success of Raise Your Glass would rise from this modest beginning to become the sire of $10,231,115 in earnings with 49 stakes winners and 53 stakes placed runners. Some of his leading money winners include Champion Three-Year-Old Gelding/ All American Derby winner Native Gambler
1977 & 1978 Champion Little Blue Sheep was one of the great horses bred by L. R. French, Jr., who brought Raise Your Glass to Texas.
Raise Your Glass and Joe A. McDermott III, who purchased the horse in April of 1973. McDermott sold his share of 1969 World Champion/World Champion sire Easy Jet and his full brother/ Champion sire Jet Smooth, and then made Raise Your Glass his lead sire.
2002 Champion/ leading sire Jess Louisiana Blue is out of The Louisiana Girl, by
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