Some moments feel exciting.
Others feel meant to be.

Bringing our first broodmare to Bel Cavallo Farm was one of those moments. It’s the kind that makes you stop, take a breath, and realize that the dream you’ve been quietly building toward is finally standing right in front of you.

Meet Mrs. S.

She’s our very first bloodstock purchase under Don’t Blame Me Racing, an 8-year-old mare by Creative Causeway (Giant’s Causeway) out of Sean S. She’s big, solid, sound, sweet-natured, and carries herself with a calm confidence that immediately told us she belonged here.

And then there’s the part that still feels a little unreal.

Mrs. S is in foal to Mage.

Yes—that Mage.

When the Stars Align

This wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t forced.

Doug had originally hoped to find the right mare at the Keeneland November Sale, but the timing just wasn’t right. Mentally, emotionally, it wasn’t the moment yet. So we waited. And instead of pushing forward, we paid attention.

When the Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale came around, Doug kept looking. Bookmarking. Watching. And then Mrs. S appeared.

She checked every box: conformation, soundness, temperament, presence. And when we saw she was in foal to Mage, everything clicked into place.

Because Mage isn’t just another award-winning stallion to us.

Mage was the first horse we were ever part owners of. The horse who went on to win the Kentucky Derby. A moment that changed us forever and deepened our love for this industry in ways we never expected.

To now be welcoming a Mage baby here, on our own farm, feels like a full-circle gift.

Why This Matters So Much to Us

From the beginning, our dream behind building Bel Cavallo was never about volume or speed. It was about intention.

We dreamed of a farm where horses are raised with patience, care, and purpose. Where decisions are made thoughtfully. Where broodmares aren’t just assets, but individuals with forever homes. Where foals grow up knowing peace, consistency, and trust before they ever know a starting gate.

Mrs. S represents the first real step into that dream.

This baby that’s arriving sometime in April won’t be for sale. Neither will Mrs. S. They are home. Permanently. The goal is to raise this foal right, from day one, and one day give them the opportunity to do what they’re bred to do: race.

If that journey leads to the track, incredible. If it leads somewhere else, that’s okay too. What matters most is how that journey begins.

Pedigree Meets Purpose

There’s something powerful about the lineage behind this foal.

• Mage, Kentucky Derby winner
• Good Magic, a champion sire
• Giant’s Causeway, the Iron Horse
• Curlin, one of the greats

But pedigree alone doesn’t make a racehorse.

That’s where Bel Cavallo comes in.

The quiet mornings.
The open fields.
The careful handling.
The slow, steady growth.

Great horses aren’t rushed into being great.

Settling Into Farm Life

On December 15th, we brought Mrs. S home from Stone Farm in Paris, Kentucky. Snow on the ground, sun in the sky, and a moment neither of us will forget.

She was greeted by Balu and Blizzie, took everything in stride, and settled in like she’d always belonged here. Calm. Confident. Completely unfazed.

In the days since, she’s continued to show us exactly why she was the right choice for us. She’s easygoing, happy on her own, and curious, but also unbothered, even when Balu got a little dramatic during introductions. (She just gave the look, and honestly… we respected it.)

Looking Ahead to April, and Beyond

This is just the beginning.

A single broodmare. One foal on the way. But an enormous step forward for Bel Cavallo Farm.

At the beginning of this year, we wrote about our vision to raise the next generation of racehorses with care, integrity, and purpose. Today, that vision has a heartbeat. And in a few short months, it will have four legs.

We can’t wait to share this journey with you, every milestone, every quiet moment, and every step as this Mage baby grows up right here at home.

This is why we do this.
This is what we dreamed of.
And now, it’s real.