Some like it hot brown’ s owner dreams of Derby

When in the NuLu neighborhood of Louisville in summer 2013, Jim Shircliff decided to write on a large chalkboard on the façade of a museum as other visitors had done. With the words “Before I die I want to” already written on the chalkboard, most participants opted to complete the sentence with funny or romantic wishes. Shircliff opted for an impossible dream.

“Win the Triple Crown w/ my daughter!” he wrote.

The dream was not impossible, it turned out. Last summer Shircliff did just that, experiencing the thrill of winning the Triple Crown with Justify as an owner in the Starlight Stable syndicate, which was a minority partner in the horse.

The second half of his statement also came to fruition, as Shircliff was able to share the experience with his grown daughters, Cathy and Susie, as well as with his wife, Beverly. All three are passionate racing fans and horse owners in the Starladies division of Starlight.

A year removed from his Triple Crown experience, Shircliff is back on the Kentucky Derby trail. He is again a minority partner in a Derby contender with Starlight, which bought a share in Improbable, winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity and set to begin his 3-year-old campaign in Saturday’s San Felipe at Santa Anita. Also on Saturday, Shircliff will be represented in the Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby at Turfway with Somelikeithotbrown, whom he owns with Harvey Diamond under their stable name Skychai Racing, and with David Koenig of Sand Dollar Stable.

Shircliff plans to be at Turfway in northern Kentucky on Saturday to cheer on Somelikeithotbrown, though he will be closely following the San Felipe via simulcast.

For all the excitement regarding Improbable and his potential as one of the early Kentucky Derby favorites, Somelikeithotbrown is dearest to Shircliff’s heart. He and his partners bred the colt, who was foaled in New York, and Susie and Cathy gave him his unique name. The colt was sired by 2008 Derby winner Big Brown, and the reference to “hot brown,” comes from a food dish associated with Louisville and the Derby. His gray dam, Marilyn Monroan, contributed to the first half of the name, taken from the 1959 film “Some Like It Hot,” which starred Marilyn Monroe.

Already, Somelikeithotbrown has Shircliff flying high by running third in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf in his final start at 2 after leading for much of the race, and winning the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway in his 3-year-old kickoff.

“Getting this far with a horse Harvey and I bred, and with all the involvement of my daughters, it just means so much more than even the Triple Crown, if that makes any sense,” he said.

Shircliff, 68, an investment manager from Louisville, is quick to credit Diamond, 70, a retired doctor from the same city, for the success of Somelikeithotbrown. Diamond planned the mating after extensive pedigree research.

“We feel proud,” Diamond said. “We’re very lucky to have this colt. He certainly surprised us in the Breeders’ Cup. We knew he was good, but we never thought he was that kind of horse.”

Somelikeithotbrown is easily the best horse they have bred from four broodmares. Before they started breeding horses, they acquired horses via claims – millionaire Da Big Hoss was their most memorable claiming success story – or through 2-year-old sales or private purchases.

Although Marilyn Monroan’s foals are now more commercially valuable following the success of Somelikeithotbrown, Diamond doubts any will ever see the inside of an auction ring.

“They’re our babies,” Diamond said. “Jimmy’s daughters won’t let us sell any of them. I tried to sell one, and Susie said no.”

Besides, they are focused on the present, and the present looks good. Somelikeithotbrown, trained by Mike Maker, is the expected favorite for the Jeff Ruby, which offers 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Beyond Saturday, Shircliff is hopeful that the colt may transition from being a turf/synthetic runner to compete successfully on dirt in the Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 6 and perhaps even the Derby itself.

It is a dream, to be sure, but this would not be Shircliff’s first dream to come true.

Large field likely for Jeff Ruby

A large field of 3-year-olds is expected for the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park when post positions are drawn Wednesday during a luncheon at Jeff Ruby Steakhouse in downtown Cincinnati.

Besides Somelikeithotbrown, other horses considered probable for the race by stakes coordinator Randy Wehrman include Baytown Jimbo, Twelfofneverland, Five Star General, Skywire, Counter Offer, Curlin Grey, Mooonster, Dynamic Racer, Dabo, and Speed App.

Five other stakes are part of Saturday’s card at Turfway, including the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks for 3-year-olds fillies. Although downgraded from Grade 3 to listed status this year, it remains a Kentucky Oaks prep, with the winner securing 20 qualifying Oaks points.