Dr B Repeat Performance Gives Eisaman Gratification

Through their Central Florida-based Eico Ventures, Barry and Shari Eisaman are the breeders of Dr B, who drew away in the Go for Wand Stakes (G3) Dec. 2 as the 5-year-old Liam's Map mare defended her 2022 victory in the one-mile dirt race at Aqueduct. The filly's dam, Boleyn, by Proud Citizen, as a juvenile finished second in the 2008 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at about the same time of year, Nov. 29 at Aqueduct. The Eisamans are known throughout North America for their conscientious program developing yearlings into juveniles that either take a spin in the sales ring or go directly into the capable hands of trainers at the racetrack. Less known is their breeding entity, Eico Ventures, which once had between 20 and 30 foaling mares, but has been reduced to about four mares over recent years. In that group is Boleyn, dam of Cash is King and LC Racing's Dr B. "We had mares that had won little stakes here or there and produced a stakes winner, and we would raise the offspring," Barry Eisaman told BloodHorse. "We would sell the offspring at the 2-year-old market profitably, but as time passed, those pedigrees became less desirable in the commercial market. Thus, we decreased the number of mares we bred. Our investment in mares is probably about the same; we have three foals for this year in the 2023 crop: a Gun Runner, a Practical Joke, and an American Pharoah." Eisaman initially purchased Boleyn for $115,000 during the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the annual haul to head to their farm for pinhooking the following year. At the time of purchase, the Proud Citizen filly had two stakes-placed half brothers, Woking and A Magnificent Time, and a stakes-winning half sister, Magnificent Val. "We bought her to stock our 2-year-old consignment for the following spring," Eisaman recalled. "She was one of 20-30 purchases that year. She was sold to one of our customers, John Fort of Peachtree Stables. We have broken his horses for probably 30 years." Boleyn transferred to Todd Pletcher at 2, winning on second asking and placing second in her subsequent two efforts, the Blue Hen Stakes and Demoiselle Stakes (G2). She made two starts at 3 and six more at 4 before being retired to the broodmare band. "Boleyn was a beautiful yearling and 2-year-old; we had made it known to John that when she was approaching the end of her useful life as a racehorse, we were interested in re-purchasing her to breed, which we did," Eisaman said. "It seems like many of her offspring have ended up in the hands of friends and people we have done business with for quite some time. Hi Holiday, the first foal was bought by Leonard Green of D.J. Stable, a longtime friend of ours and our business. Then, Chuck Zacney (of Cash is King) and Glenn Bennett (of LC Racing) bought Dr B and Stand Up Comic. On each occasion, both horses had various little injuries that precluded them from going to a 2-year-old sale, so we gave them the time. When they were sound, breezing, and ready to go, we made a few phone calls to people we had done business with a long time." What sets Eisaman Equine apart from other operations is its selection process and what they bring to the market. Everything is purchased with the intent of being sold. They do not have a racing stable, and if something isn't going to work out in time for a sale, they reach for their address book. "Everyone knows decades ago we chose not to have a racing stable, and we were going to be sellers of young racing stock and service providers for breaking and readying yearlings to go to the races at 2," said Eisaman. "Over the years, it has helped us a lot because people realize when they see our consignment that we have not picked out the four or five we liked best and set them aside, only bringing to the market what was left over. We bring everything to the market. Anytime we have a horse that doesn't make it to the 2-year-old market, we usually sell it off the farm. It's more important for us to place an excellent prospect in their hands than sell a horse, so when we call a buyer, we truly believe it's a good racing prospect." Kentucky-bred Dr B currently sits at $583,240 in earnings in 22 starts with a record of 6-7-2 with trainer Robert Reid Jr.; she placed in the Blue Sparkler Stakes at 3, Roamin Rachel Stakes, and Pumpkin Pie Stakes last year, capping off her 4-year-old year with the win in the Go for Wand Stakes. This year, she placed in the Vagrancy Stakes (G3) and Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) and again took the Go for Wand Stakes at the end of the year. Eisaman noted that Boleyn was grade 2 stakes-placed on about the same calendar day in the Demoiselle (Nov. 29), as Dr B when she won last year's Go for Wand on Dec. 3 and this year's edition Dec. 2. Periodically, Dr B has returned to Florida for a bit of sunshine and relaxation with Eisaman, who noted, "She has always been a very good-bodied and athletic filly; maybe as a 2-year-old she wouldn't have been the biggest in the shedrow but had plenty of size." As to whether Dr B will again return to Eisaman when she is done racing, or if she will possibly have a date with Maximus Mischief, which Zackney and Bennett campaigned and own, is uncertain, but what is certain is the pride Eisaman takes in the mare and watching her succeed on the racetrack for his longtime clients.