Fun and Fancy Free won the Founder's Cup at the 2002 Upperville
Colt and Horse Show. He was just 5 years old and was starting his show
career. Unfortunately, due to his sire's death, Fancy started his
breeding career the following spring. Joan's own breeding program is
primarily based on Jockey Club registered TBs. Since the Jockey Club
requires live cover, it is not feasible to have a breeding stallion in the
show ring within the same season. However, Fancy is already proving
himself a sire of hunter champions.
Bit of Class (sire) was shown as a Green Conformation Hunter
during his show career. He was either Champion or Reserve in all of
his divisions. He sired Spy Dust--winner of the IHF at the Garden; Paris
Lights--high score green hunter in the country; and his yearlings have won
many Futurities in Maryland and Virginia. Even after his death, he is
recognized as a popular TB sire of hunter champions noted for throwing that
"special" Bit of Class look.
Bit of Class's sire, Keelo was a great sporthorse sire who stood
at the famous Hill Top Show Stable owned by Rodney Jenkins. Keelo,
the popular sire of show horses, won classes at Devon and Upperville as a
yearling. Next, he spent three seasons on the racetrack, winning at places
like Aqueduct and Laurel. Later in life, Keelo returned to the show
ring, and he was pinned at major shows, including Devon and Upperville, in
the green conformation hunter division.
Keelo was
sired by Hill Prince who was Horse of the Year in 1950, winner of the
Preakness, set a track record at Aqueduct, and was elected in to the Hall of
Fame in 1991.
Bit of Class's dam, Starset was a producer of many quality foals.
Starset was by Setubal who sired such winning hunters as Automation
1971 3rd in AHSA Green Conformation Hunter, 1972 AHSA Green Conformation
Champion, 1973 ASHA Regular Conformation Hunter Champion, and more.
Bally's Image (dam) is out of Bally Cor, who was Tad
Coffin's 3-day event horse that won team and individual gold at the 1975 Pan
American Games, team and individual gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics,
and team bronze at the 1978 World Championships at Lexington, and was
entered into Eventing's Hall of Fame in 2004. After retiring from
eventing, Bally Cor went on to produce Ballymar 2001 USEA Mare of the Year.
