For the first time since his death a decade ago, Skys Blue Boy has sired a foal. The grey filly was born in the wee hours of April 12th on Chepota Farm in Weatherford, TX. Rebecca Hogan bred her. The foal is a result of a two-year collaboration between Hogan and Linda & Ray Monaco, Skys Blue Boys’ longtime owners. Linda Monaco states, “I felt the need to protect what was left of a legend, like having the combination to a vault. I slowly came around to letting go of some semen. And Becky was an easy choice.”
Skys Blue Boy is the All Time #1 broodmare sire of Hunter Under Saddle horses, according to QData. His daughters have produced over $900,000 in earnings, which is more than double the amount earned by the second-place sire. “I have watched with great sympathy as breeders have lost their top mares by Blue year after year. I know that grief having lost Spot My Blue Boy in 2018”, says Hogan. The two believe this filly, named Ilene (pictured right at 6 days old) by Hogan, will fill one of those spots after a successful show career.
Hogan and Monaco have known each other since 2008, when Rebecca bought a breeding to Blue. The next year she bought the two-year-old Spot My Blue Boy from Linda. “Linda provided kind and patient guidance and support for me as I navigated owning and campaigning a stallion. We had many long, long phone conversations over the years. She was a saint. We developed a strong and enduring friendship.” says Hogan. Linda added, “I, for one, have never met anyone like Becky. She will stop at nothing to achieve a successful outcome.”
The pair knew they wanted to cross Blue on a mare by Allocate You Assets. Jennifer Bernecki allowed Hogan to use an embryo out of her mare All That She Wants (pictured left). “Dinah” was bred by Kathy Tobin and is out of the mare Your Arts Desire owned by Nancy Sue Ryan. She is a full sister to Al Wayz On Your Mind and Al Be Your Sweet Art.
The pair nervously anticipated the outcome of the ICSI procedure. “Linda more so than me” joked Hogan. Not only did it produce Ilene, but Hogan has two more embryos. One was transferred to a recip last Saturday. “Fingers crossed. Breeding is such a risky endeavor. Being a part of bringing back such an important and impactful bloodline is more than gratifying.” says Hogan. Ilene is living proof that a new Blue beginning is on the horizon.
