Page 82 - January 20 2012

“i try to stick witH great families anD know wHo owns tHe sires anD Dams witHin tHose families.”
—Steve Zamler
Steve Zamler bred stakes winner Mystic Eye.
in anD out—anD in again
Although he’d achieved much success, when the economy took a downturn in the early ‘80s, Zamler sold off his racing interests and concentrated on the more sure bet: retail toys. He owned a chain of stores that he sold to Lionel Trains, then built a business importing handmade blown glass gift items.
Then, several years ago, the winds were right for returning to his dream. He sold his import business. He also contacted his old friends in the racing industry to catch up on recent history and get advice. Their counsel: Buy the very best broodmares.
In 2008 he bought a Mr Eye Opener daughter, Dontakeyourioffme (Mr Eye Opener- Take After Me, by Bully Bullion), a full sister to stakes winners Eye Yin You and Eye Of Glory. When she was hurt at the track, Zamler retired her and bred her to Teller Cartel. She had her first foal in 2011 and is rebred to One Famous Eagle for 2012.
In 2009 Zamler headed for the Ruidoso Select Sale, where he bought the high- selling broodmare, Going Separate Ways (Separatist-My Dashing Lady, by Dash For Cash), for $100,000.
“Johnny T.L. Jones and R.D. Hubbard were partners in a horse called Noconi—a multiple- time World Champion—who was running
that weekend in the All American Derby,” Zamler said. “The sale was the night before the Derby. One of Noconi’s sisters was in the sale. I thought, If I buy this mare and we get lucky in the race, her value would jump.”
They did indeed get lucky: Noconi (Mr Jess Perry-My Dashing Lady, by Dash For Cash) won. “Johnny turned to me and said, ‘Don’t ever sell that family!’ I still have her; Johnny and R.D. Hubbard still have the mother, sisters and brothers,” Zamler said, adding, “I try to stick with great families and know who owns the sires and dams within those families.”
That year, he also bought Current Version (Holland Ease-The Jubilee Diamond, by Runaway Winner) and Fire Within (Walk Thru Fire-Proudest Hour, by Raise A Secret).
builDing tHe HerD
In 2010 Zamler added the four-year-old Separatist daughter Minimalist, out of Oh
La Proud, by Shirley’s Champion-TB, to his broodmare band. Minimalist is from the strong program of Champion Breeder Dr. Edward C. Allred, in California.
Last year, Zamler deepened his herd with the 2004 Special Effort daughter Floribunda, out of Tinys Rose Bud, by Tiny’s Gay, but lost her Valiant Hero foal. She’s rebred for 2012 to First Down Dash son No Secrets Here.
“He has studied his lessons,” said Jones. “The bloodlines he has purchased and the way he’s going about it, I think he’s on the right track.”
With four yearlings on the ground, Zamler is now into his first full year of breeding his select mares, who stay at Darrel Henry Quarter Horses in Silex, Missouri, to a choice group of stallions.
His selected stallions for 2012 include Valiant Hero, One Famous Eagle, No Secrets Here, Teller Cartel and Mr Jess Perry.
While he dabbles in sourcing products from China for the beauty supply industry, he looks forward to breeding, racing and selling horses.
“I drive out to Darrel’s a couple times a week,” Zamler said. “I like the breeding end of it best.”
He insists on breeding World Champion and leading sires to mares that have produced, and is still looking for a First Down Dash mare and a Corona Cartel mare.
“Good ones are really hard to get, but with the economy, I might find one or two at the Heritage Place Sale in January,” he said.
“He’s doing it the right way,” said Johnny T.L. Jones. “He’s an asset to the horse industry; he has the wherewithal and the patience to end up being happy with it.”
In the end, it looks as if Zamler’s early sac- rifice paid off. After a near-30-year hiatus, he’s back on the track and living his dream.
80 SPEEDHORSE, January 20, 2012
Go Lad’s Vanalea was Steve Zamler’s first stakes-winning race horse.