Little Nick and Little Mike: A tale of two (half) brothers

You know that horse that crashed into Jackson Bend yesterday, Little Nick? And that horse that won yesterday’s Arlington Million, Little Mike?

They’re half-brothers.

That little tidbit of trivia comes via trainer Rick Schosberg, passed on to him by his father, Paul, past president and director emeritus of New York Thoroughbred Breeders.

Hay Jude, dam of both horses, is a 17-year-old broodmare, owned by Carlo Vaccarezza, who was, according to this Chicago Tribune article, given the mare by his friend Pat Greco. Vaccarezza reportedly used to groom horses at Aqueduct in the winter; he and his wife Priscilla own Little Mike.

The bay Illinois-bred mare (Wavering Monarch – Double Norm, by Relaunch) raced from 1998 to 2002, compiling a record of 30-5-7-1 and earnings of $113,152 in claiming and allowance ranks. She was winless from October 1998 to May 2001.

Little Nick has several ungraded stakes wins to his credit; lifetime, he’s made 39 starts for a record of 9-7-9 and earnings of $469,609.

Little Mike is a multiple grade I winner for earnings of $1,436,412; from 19 starts, he’s got 11 wins, 2 seconds, and a third.

Both horses reportedly came out of yesterday’s endeavors fine. While no next start has yet been identified for Little Mike, Little Nick is entered in the second at Saratoga on Wednesday, a $20,000 claimer.

6 thoughts on “Little Nick and Little Mike: A tale of two (half) brothers

  1. I love those two horses and their names especially since that’s what we called our twin grandsons. Thanks Theresa

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