Page 65 - March_2023

“He is a real gentleman. He has a great mind, and trainers tell me that his colts do, too. He really is everything you could ask for in a horse.” - Mac Murray
Touch was a finalist in the Shue Fly Stakes-G2. “That first crop, we got a nice book of mares
to him, and that’s half the battle,” Murray shared. “Guys get all the credit, but it is the girls that help make them run.
“The pipeline looks strong,” Murray added. “That first year we bred about 84 mares to
him and I think we have bred over 100 each year since then. I am really looking forward to another good season this year. It’s starting out the right way, and that’s what we always hope for. And maybe some of the horses that didn’t get an opportunity to run last year, get their chances this year.”
Bred in New Mexico by Juliana Hawn Holt and owned during his racing career by HWD Racing Stables, Eye Am King boasts a top-notch pedigree. Eye Am King is by sire of sires Mr Jess Perry, a 2-time Champion on the racetrack and a sire of nine Champions, and he is produced from the Grade 1 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Coronal Cartel mare Eye For Corona, an earner of more than $1.1 million in a stellar racing career and an All-Time Leading Dam of ROM. Eye Am King’s second dam, Eye for the Sixes, by Mr Eye Opener, is Grade 1-placed, produced 12 winners from 21 starters, and is also an All-Time Leading Dam of ROM.
Mr Jess Perry is the sire of World Champion Apollitical Jess, and Champions Matabari,
One Famous Eagle, Noconi, Fredaville, Fredericksburg, Jess Louisiana Blue, Miss
Racy Eyes, and the late A Revenant, who was posthumously crowned Champion Freshman Sire of 2021. Eye Am King’s dam, Eye For
Corona, has produced 18 starters and 11 winners from her 26 foals. Among them are stakes winners Dr Jess, a full brother to Eye Am King, and Ultimate Wave, as well as Grade 1-placed Eye For FDD and stakes-placed Eye Am Queen.
Standing 15.3 hands, Eye Am King, with a calm and respectful disposition, is a pleasure to be around, according to Murray.
“He is a beautiful horse,” Murray said.
“He is one of those that could show in halter. He is the right size—not too big or too small. Everyone that comes out here to the farm to see him, goes, ‘Wow!’
“He is a real gentleman,” Murray
continued. “He has a great mind, and trainers tell me that his colts do, too. He really is everything you could ask for in a horse. He has the pedigree, and he has the conformation. I guess the only thing you could improve on
is manufacturing a race record for him. That would make him even more impressive.”
Having already generated waves with a debut crop that left the blocks running and with a bright future ahead, Eye Am King appears set to continue adding to his legacy as a top-performing sire. As breeders eagerly await future crops, all eyes will be on Eye Am King to see what he does for an encore to his breakout season.
© Coady Photography
King Of Woodbridge winning his maiden.
Hawkeye Jess Bein The Hero Kas Tempting
SPEEDHORSE March 2023 63