After the untimely and tragic death of beloved sire, Do You Have A Minute, Kat Zelnio and Sally King knew that their gorgeous, bay stud colt had the potential to fill his sire’s shoes, not only in the show pen but also at the breeding farm.
Ultimo Minuto, a 17.1 stallion out of the thoroughbred mare, So So Deniro, strikes an uncanny resemblance to his sire. As a member of Do You Have A Minute’s last foal crop, it is only fitting that his name directly translates to “the last minute” in Italian.
The young stallion’s mother, So So Deniro, was purchased by King from Ron Horn and June Warren. Both King and Zelnio agree that she was not only breathtaking, but one of the most talented thoroughbred mares they’d ever laid eyes on.
Zelnio had pushed for King to breed So So Deniro to Congress and World Champion sire, Do You Have A Minute, but she ultimately chose to breed her to Coats and Tails instead. However, after the loss of two foals, King took Zelnio’s advice, which ultimately turned into being one of the best decisions she could’ve made.
“Gorgeous but willful, his potential was evident from the beginning,” expresses King. When King realized she didn’t have the resources to be able to provide him with the opportunities to unlock his full potential, she considered selling the colt at the AQHA World Sale. Instead, Zelnio suggested co-ownership.
That naturally talented, breathtaking colt is now lovingly known as Gordy, after King’s friend, Jannee Pugliani’s late father. Pugliani promised her father she would name a talented colt after him and asked King if she would name the bay colt, “Gordy”.
By the time Gordy was two, he was already at a staggering 16 hands. The stunning stallion was slowly started his two year-old year, to accommodate his rapid growth and size.
“Kat did all the original training at her farm and hauled him some as a two year-old, although he was not shown,” says King. Towards the winter of Gordy’s two year-old year, Zelnio and King made the decision to send him with Mark and Judy Zietler to Florida to gain a jump start on the three year-old hunter under saddle events.
Gordy made quite the name for himself at the 2013 Tom Powers winning the Three Year Old Limited Hunter Under Saddle with Judy Zeitler aboard and placed third in the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle with Judy Davis in the irons. Additionally, Ultimo Minuto was the year and High Point Green Hunter Under Saddle Stallion that year as well as earning over two thousand dollars from NSBA and his performance register of merit.
“That was the beginning of a wonderful career,” Zelnio expressed. After the completion of the 2013 show season, Gordy was sent to Jerry Erickson to begin his over fences career.
In 2014, Gordy was successfully shown in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle, Junior Hunter Hack, Green and Junior Hunter Over Fences and the Junior Performance Stallions. He won top ten awards at both the NSBA and AQHA Worlds and even qualified as a Super Horse contender.
“My favorite show memory was not the Tom Powers but the 2014 Cap Gun,” King reminisces, “His first Green Working Hunter class with 26 entries and he placed first under two judges.”
Ultimo Minuto finished 2014 strong winning the AQHA High Point awards in Hunter Under Saddle Stallion, Junior Hunter Hack Stallion, Hunter Over Fences Stallion, reserve in Junior Performance Stallions and tenth overall in Junior Hunter Over Fences. He also received his AQHA Championship, his halter register of merit and earned more than two thousand dollars between the AQHA Incentive Fund and the Kentucky Breeders Fund.
“He has exceeded our greatest expectations, and it was so much fun seeing him show,” says King. Now, owners Zelnio and King hope that his first foal crop will live up to the hype. His first foal crop is due this spring and they are excited to begin this part of Gordy’s career.
Ultimo Minuto is five panel negative and part of the AQHA Incentive Fund program. He is eligible for the Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan stallion auctions respectively and is currently standing at Cliff Hartman Quarter Horse Farms in Springfield, Missouri.
“Gordy was a well thought out product of selective breeding,” Zelnio states, “Now at 17.1 hands and an AQHA Champion, he proves that he has movement and athletic ability along with the conformation and structure to succeed in halter too!”
For more information about breeding to this prospective stallion, please contact Mary Chris Hartman at 417-859-2200.
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