Greetings Race Fans,
Sad Day for the Royal Family:
Royal Bandita, the foundation mare for our successful breeding operation, passed away at 8:15 am on Friday, July 29 at the Moore Family Farm in Lebanon, Illinois. She was humanely euthanized after suffering from pulmonary edema complications. Our beautiful broodmare was gradually losing weight and muscle tone but this past week began a quick decline. After consulting with our vet, we determined this was the best possible course of action.
Royal Bandita was the most productive runner for Maureen’s uncle, Bud Singer, who campaigned her, in the Singer Farm colors, as a three, four, five and six year old. Royal Bandita broke her maiden on June 18, 1999 at Hawthorne Racecourse in Chicago. Her next victory came in the $100,000 Little Sucker’s Stakes at Hawthorne on Oct. 30, 1999 where she drew off by four lengths at (40/1) odds. Bandita also earned 2nd place honors in the Illini Princess Handicap (1/11/2000) and the Honky Star Stakes (12/16/2000), she finished 3rd in the Peach of It Handicap (3/31/2001) and Handicap Races at Arlington on (7/1/2001) and (10/12/2001). Royal Bandita raced once in Graded Stakes company, finishing 8th in the $300,000 Sixty Sails Handicap-G 3 at Sportsman’s Park (4/29/2001). In her illustrious career Royal Bandita earned $268,524 with (4) wins, (8) place and (8) shows from (43) starts. Royal Bandita was a 1995 daughter of Royal Roberto out of Buba’s Bandit by Maha Baba.
We saw Bandita progress from a “hard-knocking” race mare to a loving and protective broodmare. She passed along her scope, size, durability and attitude to:
- Bud’s Bandita(2003 chestnut mare by Pioneering),
- Pleasantlysurprise(2006 bay gelding by Pleasantly Perfect),
- Anthony’s Prayer(2007 chestnut gelding by Wando),
- Jackie Mc(2009 dark bay gelding by Silent Name) and
- Our current runner Cocoa Bandita(2012 dark bay filly by Forestry).
The circle of life continues as her granddaughter, Mary Jeans Wildcat, ran in her first race later that same day at Arlington Park.
Royal Bandita will always occupy a special place in our hearts and her regal beauty is etched in the many photos we continue to treasure. Thank you Royal Bandita; we are forever grateful that you graced our lives!
Three Generations: (L to R) Mary Jeans Wildcat, Royal Bandita and Bud’s Bandita. (Photo by Kristy Bertelsman)
Dos Bandita’s: Royal and Bud
Brown Eyed Bandita…The Beat Goes On:
Quite possibly the most eye catching filly at the feed trough is the granddaughter of Royal Bandita. Our yearling filly is the April 23, 2015 daughter of Big Brown, who won the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and who bankrolled over $3.6 million in his racing career. Bud’s Bandita is the filly’s mother and she keeps a close watch on her daughter as they graze in their pasture together.
Our yearling has striking good looks and resembles her grandma more than her dam. She has her identical dark bay color and many of the same facial markings as Royal Bandita.
Brown Eyed Bandita with her grandmother, Royal Bandita
To honor our recently deceased foundation mare, we will officially name our yearling Brown Eyed Bandita. We hope she has the athletic ability of her sire and the relentless drive of her grandmother. We miss you Royal Bandita…”The Beat Goes On!”
Wager well!
Mike
Michael Moore
Managing Partner
(618) 616-4038 mobile
mike@saddlebackstables.com
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