Klein Family Continues Legacy With Multiple Stakes Winner Break Even in Saturday's Winning Colors

May 28, 2020 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

For more than three decades the Klein Family Racing Stable has been synonymous with success at Churchill Downs. On Saturday, the current patriarch of the family, Richard, hopes that his family’s homebred Break Even will return to graded stakes glory in the $100,000 Winning Colors presented by Finlandia (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

The Klein Family, which includes Richard and his late parents, Bert and Elaine, is the No. 4 leading owner at Churchill Downs with 174 victories behind Ken and Sarah Ramsey (501), Overbrook Farm (206) and Maggi Moss (176). Even though his parents are gone, Richard still finds it extremely important his horses follow in their legacy.

“I always want my parents to be a part of our horses,” Klein said. “It is a family operation and it started with my parents and it’s now passed down to me and my children. One day I hope they will join in the family legacy.”

Break Even, listed as the second choice at 9-5 on the morning line for Saturday’s Winning Colors, is by the Klein’s prized stallion Country Day and out of their Saint Ballado mare Exotic Wager. Country Day, by top sprint sire Speightstown, currently stands at Peach Lane Farms in Louisiana for $2,500.

“It’s very special to have top-quality race horses that are almost all homebred,” Richard said. “I think that speaks volumes to our family and the type of operation we are.”

The Klein Family ownership has been synonymous with success at Churchill Downs. In 1998, Richard and his parents formed a partnership and the trio achieved more than 110 stakes victories. Richard’s parents were married for 60 years before Elaine passed away in 2013. Bert, who passed away in 2017, was a U.S. Air Force veteran before he became Chairman and CEO of the Bank of Louisville.

“We had our different views at times but it was incredibly exciting to race our horses together,” Klein said. “We shared in so much joy through our horses.”

In Saturday’s Winning Colors, one of North America’s leading jockeys Joel Rosario will ride Break Even in the Klein Family’s lime and black silks. Trained by Brad Cox, the speedy Break Even won the first six starts of her career, including a dominating 5 ½-length score in last year’s $250,000 Eight Belles (GII) at Churchill Downs. The seven-time winner enters the Winning Colors following a front-running three-length victory in an allowance event at Oaklawn Park.

With his parents gone, Richard now shares in the success of racing with his two children, Chelsea and Casey.

“It’s all about family for us,” Klein said. “For our family to be one of the top owners at Churchill Downs is an incredible honor.”

The six-furlong Winning Colors is the co-featured event on Saturday’s card along with the $100,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Winning Colors will go as Race 7 while the Mint Julep is carded as Race 11. First post for the 11-race program is 1 p.m.

The complete field for the Winning Colors from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Sneaking Out (Jose Ortiz, Jerry Hollendorfer, 12-1); Break Even (Rosario, Cox, 9-5); Princess Causeway (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes, 12-1); Bell’s the One (Corey Lanerie, Neil Pessin, 15-1); Unique Factor (Florent Geroux, Peter Miller, 30-1); Take Charge Angel (Julien Leparoux, Ben Colebrook, 20-1); Spiced Perfection (Javier Castellano, Mark Casse, 7-2); Mia Mischief (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 8-5); and Lady Suebee (Tyler Baze, John Sadler, 20-1).

SATURDAY’S LATE PICK 5 POOL GUARENTEED AT $500,000 – Saturday’s 11-race program at Churchill Downs will feature a $500,000 guaranteed pool in the Late Pick 5, which covers Races 7-11.

Saturday’s Late Pick 5 bet, which has a low 15 percent takeout, will open with the $100,000 Winning Colors presented by Finlandia (GIII) and close with the $100,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII). The sequence features an average field size of 11.6 horses entered in the body. For free Brisnet past performances, visit www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.

Through the first seven days of racing, the Late Pick 5 had an average payout of more than $27,000.

JULIET FOXTROT MADE 5-2 FAVORITE IN SATURDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 OLD FORESTER MINT JULEP – Juddmonte Farms’ four-time winner Juliet Foxtrot (GB) was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s 44^th running of the Old Forester Mint Julep (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the Old Forester Mint Julep is carded as Race 11 on Saturday’s race card. The program also will feature the $100,000 Winning Colors (GIII) in Race 7. First post is 1 p.m.

Juliet Foxtrot will break alongside stablemate Beau Recall from the inside two post positions, respectively, in the field of 14 fillies and mares.

“Both horses have been working consistently together at Keeneland,” trainer Brad Cox said. “This is just the starting point for both of their 2020 campaigns. We had to alter our plans slightly after Keeneland postponed their meet but this is a good spot for them to both get started back at the races. They’re both extremely talented in their own right.”

Among the other competitors in the Mint Julep are six other graded stakes winners: Madaket Stables, Tim and Anna Cambron and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ $200,000 Wonder Again (GIII) winner La Signare (post 5); First Row Partners and Hidden Brook Farm’s $300,000 Mrs. Revere (GII) victor Nay Lady Nay (post 6); Madaket Stables, Heider Family Stables, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stables and Steven Bouchey’s $175,000 Nassau (GII) champ Secret Message (post 7); Augustin Stable’s $200,000 Lake Placid (GII) hero Varenka (post 9); John McCormack’s $150,0000 Very One (GIII) winner Elizabeth Way (post 13); and Mrs. J.V. Shields and E.J.M McFadden Jr.’s $150,000 Galorette (GIII) winner Mitchell Road (post 14).

The complete field for the Old Forester Mint Julep from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Juliet Foxtrot (Geroux, Cox, 5-2); Beau Recall (Shaun Bridgmohan, Cox, 4-1); Winning Envelope (Julien Leparoux, Chris Block, 20-1); She’sonthewarpath (Chantal Sutherland, Steve Margolis, 20-1); La Signare (Ricardo Santana Jr., Brendan Walsh, 20-1); Nay Lady Nay (Jose Ortiz, Chad Brown, 4-1); Secret Message (John Velazquez, Graham Motion, 8-1); Altea (Joel Rosario, Brown, 12-1); Varenka (Javier Castellano, Motion, 12-1); Hanalei Moon (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Casse, 20-1); Zofelle (Corey Lanerie, Walsh, 20-1); Coco Channel (Rafael Bejarano, Charlie LoPresti, 50-1); Elizabeth Way (Brian Hernandez Jr., Roger Attfield, 20-1); and Mitchell Road (Joe Talamo, Bill Mott, 10-1).

MEET STANDINGS – At the start of the racing week, perennial leading rider Corey Lanerie had a 6-to-5 win lead in the jockey standings over Tyler Gaffalione, Martin Garcia, Florent Geroux, Jose Ortiz, Joel Rosario, Ricardo Santana Jr. and John Velazquez. … In the trainer standings, Brad Cox had a 6-to-4 win margin over Steve Asmussen. Trainers Chad Brown, Robertino Diodoro, Mike Maker, Graham Motion, Bill Mott and Brendan Walsh had three wins. … Churchill Downs’ all-time leading owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey were tied in the owner’s standings with Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch with two victories.

MILESTONE WATCH – Churchill Downs all-time leading trainer Dale Romans held a narrow 737-to-733 win lead over Steve Asmussen. Romans had eight horses entered Thursday-Saturday while Asmussen had 17.

TV SCHEDULE THIS WEEK – The racing action from Churchill Downs Racetrack throughout the 2020 Spring Meet will be broadcast on FOX Sports’ “America’s Day at the Races,” which will air every race day on either FS1 or FS2. Produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, “America’s Day at the Races” is the acclaimed national telecast presenting coverage and analysis of the best racing from around the country.

Thursday, May 28

1:00 – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)

3:00 – 5:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Ohio)

Friday, May 29

12:30 – 2:20 p.m. (FS2)

4:30 –-5:30 p.m. (FS2)

2:00 – 5:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Ohio)

Saturday, May 30

1:00 – 2:30 p.m. (FS2)

2:30 – 6:30 p.m. (FS1)

3:00 – 6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Ohio)

Sunday, May 31

1:00 – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)

3:00 – 6:00 p.m. (FOX Sports Ohio)

DOWN THE STRETCH – A four-day week of racing began at Churchill Downs Thursday. There was a $22,154 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5 in Race 10. First post each day is 1 p.m. … Thursday’s morning’s work tab at Churchill Downs featured 2019 Champion mare Midnight Bisou who worked five furlongs in 1:00.60. Shortly after Midnight Bisou completed her work, her stablemate, Grade I winner Basin, worked a half-mile in :51.20. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will air Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. The one-hour horse racing program is hosted by Churchill Downs Racetrack’s Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein along with BetAmerica and TwinSpires.com racing analyst Scott Shapiro. Those outside the Louisville area can listen live on www.espnlouisville.com.