TRURO - He looks a lot like his father and Brent MacGrath is hoping Sepia Sands paces like him too.
The Truro resident bought the seven-month-old weanling son of legendary Somebeachsomewhere at the recent Harrisburg Sale in Pennsylvania for $32,000. When the trainer first laid eyes on Sepia Sands, it was almost like déjà vu.
"I really like the look of him. He looks a lot like 'Beach," MacGrath said. "His colour and his shoulders, he's quite athletic looking."
Just as his father was back in 2006 at the Tattersalls Yearling Sale in Lexington, Ky., where MacGrath and Schooner Stables partners Garry Pye, Stu Rath, Pam Dean, Jamie Bagnell and Shediac Bridge, N.B. resident Reg Pettipas bought Somebeachsomewhere for $40,000.
The horse went on to win 19 of his next 20 starts and laid claim to the titles of fastest ever two-year-old, fastest ever three-year-old, the fastest ever three-year-old half-mile and tied the mark for the fastest ever race mile. In the process he collected more than $3 million and brought added attention to the harness racing industry across North America.
MacGrath is the first to admit the chances of that happening again are slim, although he's keeping his fingers crossed just in case.
"Yeah, you do hope for that, although some might say it's wishful thinking," he said with a laugh.
Aside from his physical appearance, MacGrath said Sepia Sands has inherited some of his father's personality traits.
"He looks happy," he said.
"Like people, attitude is very important. You want one that's easy to teach, and eager to please. You want a horse that wants to do his work, that's anxious to do it."
MacGrath is also excited about Sepia Sands' breeding. His mother is Sepia Hanover, a daughter of Big Towner and Snooky Hanover.
For now the young colt will stay at Vieuxcarrie Farm in Gettysburg, Penn, just down the road from his father, who MacGrath recently stopped to visit at Hanover Shoe Farm, where he is now a stud.
"He looks great," MacGrath said of Somebeachsomewhere. "He still remembers and responds well to me."
MacGrath plans to keep Sepia Sands at Vieuxcarrie until next year's Harrisburg Sale, where he hopes to purchase another Somebeachsomewhere yearling and bring them both back to train. He already can't wait to start working with his latest purchase.
"I'm really excited about anything to do with a 'Beach baby," he said. "It's a very exciting time to see how many of his father's other qualities come forward and we'll hope for good luck."
sports@trurodaily.com
