On Feb. 1, Phil and Christine Hatfield were able to toss their own hats in celebration. On that day, their six-year-old mare, Saffron Moon, earned the pair their first graded stakes win as owners. In the Endeavour Stakes (G3T), the daughter of Malibu Moon closed furiously in the stretch to post a 2 1/4 length victory. She covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in a stakes-record 1:39.92. She one-upped herself next time out by tallying the March 8 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T), covering nine furlongs in 1:47.58.
Florida residents who race as CHP Racing, the Hatfields were able to witness her big triumph at Tampa Bay Downs. “The whole thing about horse racing is really being there to see it happen in person and there’s so many ups and downs in this business,” Phil said. “And to be there and enjoy that and see her win like she did and especially in the manner she did was just amazing and impressive. And something I always heard—we got into this business—about living the dream and I never really knew what that meant. I mean, I kind of perceived that, but that to me was actually living the dream.”
Christine concurred, saying, “It was very special to see her win like that. And we had some younger people standing beside us who were rooting for her, so that was exciting, and we invited them into the winner’s circle.”
The Hatfields didn’t know their new winner’s circle compatriots, but they were happy to share their joy, nonetheless. “Hey look, it’s a special experience owning these horses and getting a chance, the opportunity, to win a graded stakes race,” Phil recalled. “And obviously if you go to a race as a spectator, you would never expect to get into the winner’s circle. So, you know, hopefully there’ll be new people in the business, who knows?”
A California native, Phil grew up with parents who showed Arabians. He himself showed and trained Arabians, then met Christine—whose mother loved attending the races and passed that interest to her daughter—and moved to Florida. Christine remembered that a waitress at their hotel and restaurant in Florida was racing a Thoroughbred colt. “So, I would go with her to watch him race and everything. And so that’s when I said to Phil, ‘We have to get into the racing business.’ And then he said to me, ‘Well, I don’t know anything about it.’ So, we started that way, then we started in the business that way and getting to know everybody and we went from there.” That was 2013, and after working with the likes of Caroline Webster and Marette Farrell, the Hatfields now have about 12 to 15 racehorses, both on their own and in partnership. Their current team includes Chad Brown, Mike Ryan, and Niall Brennan.
Phil said, “So we started pinhooking with Niall. So that year he brought a Blame colt out, which we liked, but he also showed us Saffron Moon as a long, late yearling going into the two-year-old sale the following year. We both liked Saffron Moon. Anyway, long story short, we were partners with these two horses, the Blame colt and ultimately Saffron Moon, to be sold in the two-year-old sale at OBS that year.” As Saffron Moon began to train, everyone began to really like her. Phil added, “So we ended up making a deal, buying the partners out.”
The Hatfields have a few other promising horses. Their four-year-old homebred Clever Mischief won a March 1 optional claiming race at Gulfstream, covering a mile on the turf in 1:32.99. With Antony Beck and Bill Lawrence, they also co-own another Into Mischief colt, Praetor. Out of multiple graded stakes winner Curlin’s Approval, the now-three-year-old broke his maiden last fall. “So, he obviously did well last year,” Phil said. “Then obviously took a little misstep and now he’s back and Chad’s very excited about him and doing his best to play catch-up and we’ll see where that goes.”
At present, the Hatfields’ sole broodmare is Liberty M D. Boarded at Orchard Hill Farm in Kentucky, she earned four wins from 11 starts and a graded stakes placing. In foal to Into Mischief, the Constitution mare is booked back to McKinzie . Phil commented, “You get enjoyment out of both ends, of breeding and the racing, but I think we get more immediate gratification out of the racing because it happens quickly.”
As 2025 goes on, the Hatfields hope to continue this winning trip with Saffron Moon, who has won four of 10 starts. Phil explained, “We’re not in a big hurry with her. She’s had a couple of pretty good-sized breaks, you’ll notice, in her resume, if you will, but it’s only because she just tweaked something here and there and we just give her plenty of time off and she is coming back this time bigger and stronger than ever.”
