Crockett colt nets $700,000

Those were the emotions faced by Ron Crockett the moment last week that Elusive Elusive ran 220 yards in 10 seconds flat at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky.


	Crockett

Crockett, president of Emerald Downs and an active horseman, was the owner of the unraced Thoroughbred colt that he had ticketed for yesterday's sale of 2-year-olds in training at Keeneland. The purpose of the eighth-of-a-mile workout was to give potential buyers an opportunity to see the potential of the merchandise.

By running the furlong in 10 seconds, Elusive Elusive gave notice that his potential as a racehorse is unlimited.

"What should I do?" Crockett wondered.

With visions of the 2004 Kentucky Derby in mind he had to decide between keeping the Kentucky-bred son of Elusive Quality and Pleas Write and racing him, or squashing the emotion generated by the 10-second workout and make him available for yesterday's auction.

Ever the businessman, Crockett chose to sell.

Ever the successful businessman, the decision paid off.

Elusive Elusive was purchased in partnership by Wesley Ward, a Southern California-based trainer whose roots are in the Yakima Valley, and horse owner Roger King of Boca Raton, Fla.

The price? $700,000.

"That's the first time I've ever done anything like that," Crockett said at his Emerald Downs office after learning of his good fortune.

"I thought it probably would be difficult for Elusive Elusive to net that kind of money as a racehorse," Crockett reasoned. "Now we just have to sit here and wait."

Wait and see how Elusive Elusive runs on behalf of Ward and King.

Factoring into Crockett's decision was Pleas Write, Elusive Elusive's 11-year-old mother who is owned by Crockett. Whatever success Elusive Elusive enjoys as a racehorse can only enhance the value of Pleas Write as a Kentucky-based broodmare.

Crockett said he chose to breed Pleas Write with Elusive Quality, who stands at Gainsborough, after recalling what he learned from an attendant during a tour of the Kentucky farm two years ago.

"There's a handler/attendant who called me by name ... he knew me, or something ... and he said, 'I'll show you the best one.' So we go find this Elusive Quality, a new stallion that year, and he said this is going to be a good one. So I put it in my memory bank and came home."

When it became time to pick a stallion for Pleas Write, Crockett unlocked his memory bank and told his horse manager, Lance Williams, "Let's go to Elusive Quality."

And so for a $10,000 stud fee, they did, and the result was Elusive Elusive, who has been in training at Wavertree Stables, Inc., in Ocala, Fla.

The colt was consigned to yesterday's sale at Keeneland by Wavertree on Crockett's behalf.

Elusive Quality, according to Gainsborough publicity material, "showed tremendous heart at the race track, winning nine of 20 starts and finishing second three times."

He set a world record for a mile on turf when he won the Poker Handicap at Belmont in 1:31 35.

On dirt, Elusive Quality set a Gulfstream Park track record for seven furlongs of 1:20.

And because one of his sons, Elusive Elusive, runs an eighth of a mile in 10 seconds, the legacy of speed continues.

Ron Crockett has $700,000 to show for it.