Dean and Patti Reeves

Dean and Patti Reeves are the TOBA December Members of the Month.

Eight years have passed since Mucho Macho Man soared to Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) glory. In the intervening years, Dean and Patti Reeves have been frequent presences in winner’s circles nationwide. Although Dakota Gold, Dr. Schivel, and Channel Maker didn’t emulate Mucho Macho Man’s success this year, all three’s efforts gilded another standout year for the Reeveses. Dr. Schivel, owned with co-breeder Bill Branch, Red Baron’s Barn LLC, and Rancho Temescal LLC, won two graded sprints and was nosed out at the wire in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

A Georgia resident, Dean Reeves caught a bit of the racing bug as a young man. He recalled, “You know, when I was younger, a bunch of us guys went to the Kentucky Derby (G1) for twenty years.” Years later, while on vacation in Turks and Caicos, he and wife Patti hit it off with Bob and Esther Ades. Their new friends suggested the four buy a horse together, and the rest is history. Consultant Jay Stone and Florida horsemen Jimmy and Martha Gladwell have helped the operation become what it is today.

Reeves runners, bearing the white and gold of Dean’s beloved Georgia Tech and Patti’s choice of hunter green as an accent color, have excelled. Stable stars have included Mucho Macho Man and Tax, but a recent luminary is Dr. Schivel. The Violence colt was co-bred by Bill Branch, who bonded with Reeves over shared connections to Georgia Tech.

Dr. Schivel stamped himself as a serious racehorse by winning the 2020 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1). He was given some time off for minor issues and has flourished ever since. This year at three, he added the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar and Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2). “It paid off for us just to come back as a sprinter,” Reeves said, “and he’s done so well with that. Now, next year, we may start out or try him at a mile and look to see if we want to go any further.”

With Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and R.A. Hill Stable, the Reeveses campaign veteran runner Channel Maker. Now seven, the hickory son of English Channel has earned nearly $3.5 million in 43 starts. Reeves said admiringly, “You know, he’s paid his way and just keeps on coming out there and doing his job, running as hard as he can. And he’s always been competitive.” Fifth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) this year, Channel Maker was third in the same race last year after annexing back-to-back grade 1 races at Belmont Park and Saratoga.

The Reeveses also own talented juvenile Dakota Gold, a good fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). They purchased the weanling New York-bred for $83,000 in 2019. Reeves recalled, “He was spectacular, I thought in his development, the body and the way he stood out.” The son of Freud previously captured the Sept. 26 Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Dakota Gold is an example of the couple’s commitment to New York-bred racing. “We’ve made a concentrated effort,” Reeves explained. “We enjoy going to Saratoga, so we wanted to start running more in New York and buy New York-breds.” The couple also races Senbei, a two-year-old colt bred in the Empire State, with Darlene Bilinski. Of the Candy Ride colt, whom they bought as a short yearling for $280,000 at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale, Reeves mused, “He’s been a lot of fun, just done great for us.”

Senbei tallied the Aug. 27 Funny Cide Stakes Presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital at Saratoga, ran second in the Sept. 26 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park, and won the Oct. 18 New York Breeders’ Futurity at Finger Lakes. On the same card as the Funny Cide, City Man–a Mucho Macho Man colt that the Reeveses co-own with Peter and Patty Searles–took the West Point Stakes Presented by Trustco Bank. The consistent City Man has earned $470,950 from 17 career starts.

Although the Reeves have yet to own a Derby winner together, Patti Reeves had a share in Authentic and went to the winner’s circle that day. Win or lose, the couple thrives on the joy of the sport and love of the animals, placing great emphasis on rehabbing and rehoming their retirees. “I try to not get too focused on winning and try to enjoy the experience and stay humble, because this sport will humble you more quickly than anything,” Patti shared, adding, “We try to be good stewards of what we’ve been entrusted with.”