Daughter, mother both bred to Rocknroll

Me and My Baby, a longtime staple in the Brooke Nickells barn and a favorite at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, proved to be too tough for her opponents in the sixth race Friday, March 26. Now six, the daughter of Artiscape rolled to the top and never looked back, winning in a time of 1:54.1. But she won't have too many more starts as she was recently bred to Rocknroll Hanover, who stands at stud at Perretti Farms.

 

Starting from the center of the pack in post six, Me and My Baby has the skills to race well from all different scenarios, including the front end. Nickells urged the mare out quickly to secure the top spot and set fractions of :26.3 and :56.3 before seeing any real challengers on the outside.

 

In the stretch, Me and My Baby kept her stride lively and brushed home in a final panel of :28.3 to win her first start of 2010 in only her second outing. Crystal Chris and Ricky Macomber Jr. came at the leaders wide late in the stretch to finish second over Sandys Baby and Josh Sutton in the center of the track for third.

 

Owned by Glenby Farms, Me and My Baby now has more than $600,000 in career earnings. Her best time of 1:51 was taken as a 3-year-old at the Meadowlands, setting her up for the next phase of her life.

 

“I’m really excited to get one more win with “Baby”,” said Nickells, who has campaigned the mare her entire career. “Our plan all along was to breed her and race her through Hoosier Park before retiring her as a broodmare. She’s been bred to Rocknroll Hanover, so we’ll find out soon if she is actually in foal or not.”

 

Not large in stature, Me and My Baby has been a consistent performer, pulling in 11 career wins in 65 career starts. More than half of her starts have landed her on the board.

 

“She (Me and My Baby) is getting a little older, and every year, she loses a step,” said Nickells. “She has really been part of our family, and to have her win again in her last year of racing was so great.”

 

Me and My Baby’s mother, My Baby and Me, has also been bred to Rocknroll Hanover, who earned nearly $2 million during his career. Nickells also trains “Baby’s” three-year-old half-sister, Baby MC, who made her second career start in the fourth race.

 

“It’s been a family night,” said Nickells. “You can’t ask for a better night. Baby MC raced well and finished second.” (Hoosier Park)