Offspring earnings for winner as exciting to Vessels as Dynasty of Habits' fifth-place finish

Dynasty of Habits, which is owned by Vessels Stallion Farm, finished fifth in the Governor’s Cup Derby at Los Alamitos, and Vessels Stallion Farm was just as happy about the horse which won the July 26 Grade 3 stakes race.

Moonist, the winner, was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm. Moonist’s dam, Your First Moon, is still owned by Vessels Stallion Farm.

“I’m selling yearlings out of her this year, so Moonist is going to help sell her babies,” said Kevin Dickson, the farm manager of Vessels Stallion Farm.

Nine horses participated in the 400-yard race for three-year-old quarter horses. The first-place share of the $189,238 total purse was $81,102, and while Vessels Stallion Farm does not receive any of that money it is added to Your First Moon’s offspring earnings.

The win was also the second Grade 3 stakes win for Moonist this year; on April 6, Moonist won the Primero Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos. “We’ll get some breeder’s awards for that,” Dickson said.

Vessels Stallion Farm also owned First Down Dash, who was Your First Moon’s sire. First Down Dash passed away in November 2010.

Moonist was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm and foaled on Jan. 28, 2011. The Governor’s Cup Derby was Moonist’s fifth win in six 2014 races, bring his earnings to date to $189,646 for 2014 and $292,206 for his 16 career races.

In the Governor’s Cup Derby, Moonist was ridden by Cesar De Alba. The gelding won by half a length over second-place Foose Is Loose. Moonist had a time of 19.573 seconds for the race. Dynasty of Habits, whose jockey was Raul Valenzuela, took 19.742 seconds and finished 1 1/2 lengths in back of Moonist and a neck behind fourth-place Well and Good.

Dynasty of Habits was foaled on April 10, 2011. Her sire was Fdd Dynasty, who is co-owned by Vessels Stallion Farm, and her mother was One More Habit, who is also owned by Vessels Stallion Farm.

“She’s been a nice filly,” Dickson said of Dynasty of Habits.

Dynasty of Habits had previously been sold by Vessels Stallion Farm. “We bought her back because we liked her,” Dickson said. “She’s paid her way and them some. Great filly. Very, very nice filly.”

The $11,586 Dynasty of Habits earned from her Governor’s Cup Derby finish brought her 2014 earnings to $36,368 and her career earnings to $114,228 in 10 starts.

Dynasty of Habits finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of sixth-place Dare to Flair, who was sired by First Down Dash.

“A lot of those bloodlines are still out there from when Scoop had a large amount of horses,” Dickson said.

(Scoop Vessels was the owner of Vessels Stallion Farm prior to his death in 2010.)

“It’s quite rewarding to be a top breeder in this business,” Dickson said. “It’s very rewarding to look at the standings and be where we are.”