Company Update Archive June 17, 2008 Thank you partners and staff, friends and family, and Big Brown Michael Iavarone, IEAH Co-President and CEO, reflects on Big Brown, Belmont Stakes Day, and more.  Full Story December 05, 2007 Letter from the president Michael Iavarone, Co-President and CEO of IEAH, looks back and ahead on IEAH Stables and IEAH Corporation's Ruffian Equine Hospital at Belmont Park.  Full Story

     While 2008 proved a breakout year for IEAH Stables, this year looks even more promising. I have finally had the opportunity to reflect on and recap last year, and touch upon what IEAH Stables has in store for 2009.
     Everything came together for us as a company in 2008. We enjoyed success at the highest levels of the game and etched our name in Thoroughbred history. Our stable led the nation in purse earnings at $10.7 million, compared to our totals of $4 million the year prior and $2 million in 2006.
     In 2008, IEAH Stables had 243 starters with 58 wins which amounted to an incredible 24-percent win rate. More impressive is that of the victories, 25 came in stakes races of which 11 were in Grade 1 races. Eight different horses, five different trainers, and seven different jockeys accounted for the Grade 1 scores. It was truly a team effort and a credit to all involved.
     Our success was clearly evident at the 2008 Eclipse Awards held in Miami on January 26. Big Brown was crowned champion 3-year-old for his campaign that included victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Florida Derby, and Haskell. Big Brown has now begun his career at stud and will be a huge revenue producer as a top stallion for IEAH Stables and partners for many years.
     Benny the Bull was named champion sprinter for his perfect 2008 season. He listed the prestigious Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen among his victories. He will return to the races this year in an attempt to defend his championship.
     Lastly, IEAH Stables was named as one of three finalists for owner of the year. In the closest ballot in Eclipse history, we finished second to Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. The final count left us one vote shy of the most prestigious honor in our sport. With that being said, it was humbling to be recognized as a candidate for all of our hard work. My congratulatory wishes go out to all our partners, trainers, jockeys, and all associated with IEAH Stables for an outstanding season.
     With 2008 now in our rear view mirror, it is important to not rest on our laurels but rather use our success as fuel to raise the bar higher in 2009. While a daunting task, the good news is we are well on our way as we have already garnered two Grade 1 wins, with Kip Deville and Stardom Bound, through the first six weekends of the year. We are firmly on both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trails and can look forward to a great year.
     We have been able to restock our stable despite the retirements of many of our stars from 2008. Stardom Bound, acquired late last year and already a Grade 1 winner this year, is widely considered the top 3-year-old filly in the country and we know she will ultimately prove to deserve a chance in either the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks. Laragh, another Grade 1 winner for IEAH Stables, could very well prove Stardom Bound's biggest obstacle in the 3-year-old female division. The dynamic gray duo gives us a potent one-two punch in the division.
     Our firepower certainly doesn't end there on the sophomore side of things. In the colts division, Patena, a recent acquisition, is a hot Derby prospect. He has all the physical attributes of a Derby winner with a pedigree to match. He is among the top prospects listed by many handicappers for the Derby, and we anxiously await his first run for us which will most likely come in the Louisiana Derby. Into My Soul is another top 3-year-old in our stable, and comes with a pedigree and ability to fill any void left by Patena.
     Outside of the Derby trail, we have the likes of Court Vision, Kip Deville, and Plan, all with the potential to be champions in 2009. We have ambitious, yet attainable, campaigns in mind for each of them this year, with some of racing's most prestigious races in their crosshairs.
     Aside from the excitement generated by IEAH Stables, we can also look forward to the grand opening of IEAH Corporation's much anticipated Ruffian Equine Medical Center. Construction has been completed and equipment is being delivered and tested. The opening is expected to come in March, and the facility is absolutely spectacular. The 24,000-square foot facility will feature all of the latest technologies and we have incorporated some of the most highly regarded physicians in equine healthcare. The facility will be the first of several we intend to build in the near future.
     In summary, 2009 looks to be another exciting year both on and off the racetrack for us. While the prospects look great for IEAH Stables and the REMC is about to open, it all pales in comparison to the fun Big Brown is about to embark on. After all, to the victor go the spoils.