TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/920057
training operation and cattle facility, Live Oak has been a beacon in racing for decades. Whether through the breeding or training, it has reared such banner-bearing stand- outs as aforementioned World Approval and his fellow Breeders' Cup Mile-winning half-brother Miesque's Approval, Eclipse fi- nalist To Honor and Serve, Kentucky Derby runner-up Laser Light, Kentucky Oaks run- ner-up In the Gold and Grade 1 winners So- lar Splendor, Sultry Song, My Typhoon (Ire), Brilliant Speed, High Fly, Zo Impressive and Victory to Victory. Overall, Live Oak boasts in excess of 60 graded stakes victories from more than 30 graded stakes winners. In 2017, Weber's warriors include four graded stakes winners: talented light- ly-raced sophomore Souper Tapit, GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile third-place finisher Awesome Slew, turf sprinter Holding Gold and four-time GI winner World Approval. Those four Mark Casse cadets, plus rapidly improving stakes-winning turf sprinter and Mike Trombetta trainee We Deer You have each earned at least six figures this season. Live Oak has 35 broodmares that beget an average of 25 in training per year, which Weber reports with palpable pride. When "not chasing a sale or a golf ball," Weber is gladly watching them develop and check- ing on her mares with a dedicated hands- on approach that has trickled down to the tune of a 19.2% strike rate since the turn of the century and in excess of 700 victories. Weber's red, white and black silks have upped their game this year, to 21.2%, and have hit the board 50% of the time, with earned purses approaching $4.5 million.