News - Breeding March  28, 2024

Grade 1 Winner You Drive I Fly To Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction In 2019


Grade 1 winner You Drive I Fly will begin his stallion career at Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction in Opelousas in 2019.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—AUGUST 11, 2018—Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction announced today they will stand LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) winner You Drive I Fly in 2019. His fee has been set at $2,000 with consideration.

Trained by AQHA Racing Champion trainer Kenneth Roberts, Sr. and campaigned by his breeders Richard and Janelle Simon of Zachary, Louisiana, You Drive I Fly is the leading money earner of multiple stakes sire Jet Black Patriot and was the leading money earning 2-year-old colt in the nation in 2017.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to stand You Drive I Fly," said Stephen Deville, Breeding Manager for LACER. "He's a great-looking horse who's proven to be talented, and consistent and he's from a proven sire-line family. He's a complete stallion prospect and makes a great addition to our roster."

You Drive I Fly, under jockey Donald Watson, winning the $1,000,000 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity(RG1) at Evangeline Downs. © Coady Photography
As a 2-year-old, You Drive I Fly won four of five career starts including the $1 million LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity at Evangeline Downs.

Prior to the Louisiana Million victory, he finished second in his only loss in the $705,495 Lee Berwick Futurity(RG1) after getting bumped at the start. He has earned $590,134.

"He was a good, solid, honest horse. Gave you 110% effort every time," Roberts said. "He was such an easy going horse to deal with mentally, and such a big and impressive looking horse physically. Just a true classy horse with tons of potential pointing towards his new career as a stallion."

Following a successful surgery to remove chips from one knee following his 2-year-old campaign, You Drive I Fly's connections made the decision to retire him and not risk hurting him by pushing to get him ready to compete at 3.

Grade 1 winner You Drive I Fly, with LACER breeding manager Stephen Deville, arrived at the Opelousas facility on Saturday to begin preparation for the 2019 breeding season. © LACER photo
A $30,000 repurchase in the 2016 LQHBA Yearling Sale, You Drive I Fly was bred by Richard and Janelle Simon from Shakemupperry, an unraced daughter of leading sire Mr Jess Perry. She is the dam of 3 ROM winners from three starters including restricted Grade 1 winner You Drive I Fly SI 98 (see above), Madame Bijoux SI 95 ($49,980), etc.

The second dam is the stakes-producing First Down Dash mare Shake Em Dash, a half-sister to AQHA Racing Champion 2-year-old filly Shake The Bank SI 105 ($372,585) and Grade 1 winner and multiple stakes sire Royal Shake Em SI 103 ($257,009).

The third dam, Sake Em Six, a half-sister to Dash For Cash Futurity(G1) winner Special Shake SI 103 ($478,645) by Streakin Six was the 1996 Broodmare of the Year. This is the family of stakes winner SF Royal Bank SI 100 ($359,327), Jumpn Shake SI 112 ($182,299), etc.

You Drive I Fly will stand his first season at stud in 2019.
© LACER
Richard and Janell Simon also bred and raced You Drive I Fly's sire multiple Grade 1 winner Jet Black Patriot SI 110 ($876,921). From seven crops to race the son of Game Patriot has sired 233 winners, 46 stakes horses(12%), earners in excess of $11 million with average earnings per starter of more than $28,600. A leading sire, Jet Black Patriot sold in the 2017 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale for $725,000.

For additional information or breeding contracts contact Stephen Deville at 225-202-2104 or 337-407-0708.


Courtesy Ses