Dr. Scott Pierce is the TOBA March Member of the Month.

Few know the mechanics of an equine athlete better than an equine veterinarian. And Drs. Scott Pierce and Debbie Spike-Pierce bring that expertise to bear as boutique breeders. The Pierces bred Country Grammer, who closed out 2022 with a victory in the Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2), and Joyful Cadence, second in the Dec. 31 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G2).

The Pierces own Omega Farm, which sits on more than 330 acres in Paris, Kentucky. Dermot Quinn manages the operation, while Emma Quinn manages the office and serves as Pierce’s veterinary assistant. With the Quinns, the Pierces bred Three Technique in the name of Omega Farm. Winner of the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes presented by L&N Federal Credit Union on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard, the Mr Speaker colt ran sixth in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Both Drs. Pierce work at vaunted veterinary facility Rood and Riddle. Spike-Pierce is president, shareholder, and CEO of Rood and Riddle, while Pierce is a shareholder and managing partner at the Saratoga and Wellington divisions. Pierce acknowledged that “knowledge of conformation, what’s good and what’s bad, and how it can affect the future soundness of a horse” plays a role in his judgments. In his decades as a veterinarian, he has assessed top prospects selected by leading bloodstock agents; he also keeps an eye on spring juvenile sales and asks top pinhookers for insights on new sires.

“Obviously, there’s certainly things I like in pedigrees,” Pierce added. “You look at Country Grammer’s; he’s 3×4 Pleasant Colony on the sire’s [and damsire’s] side; I like that cross, that line breeding, but it’s more the individuals, too, the conformation, the pedigrees.”

Because of Tapit’s high fee, the Pierces chose to send broodmare Arabian Song to the stallion’s classic-winning son Tonalist. The result was Country Grammer, whom Emma Quinn’s Garrencasey Sales consigned to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling sale. He sold for $60,000 and has now earned over $11,277,320. In winning the 2021 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1), Country Grammer became the Pierces’ second top-flight winner (after Irish multiple group 1 winnner Saoirse Abu).

Country Grammer finished second in the Feb. 26 Saudi Cup (G1) before capturing the March 26 Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1). “Especially the Dubai World Cup, my phone was burning up after that race with congratulatory texts,” Pierce said. “Probably the most exciting thing is watching the race with friends and everybody screaming and yelling and so happy.” He added, “What a race that was: so exciting.” In 2022, Country Grammer’s seasonal earnings amounted to $10.9 million.

The Pierces’ success continued. Country Grammer’s maternal half-sister, multiple graded stakes-placed Joyful Cadence (by Runhappy), annexed Prairie Meadows’ Saylorville Stakes. “We bred [Puerto Rican grade 3] Bold Leader,” Pierce said, “who was a Keen Ice, and he was Keen Ice’s first stakes winner before Rich Strike. And then later in the year, we have five two-year-olds that all start later in the year, Keeneland and on, and they’re all running maiden special. Two of them won their first starts; the other three were second in maiden special in good company.”

Bank On Shea, already a stakes winner over fellow New York-breds, defeated open company in the Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Pierce reflected, “The breeders’ rewards are a fun thing, but it really just underscores the success of what we’re doing. In order to be successful, you have part luck—and a lot of times, a lot of luck—and part know-how, and you bring it all
together.”

The Pierces currently have 19 broodmares, keeping the number trim. But being cost-effective is just part of maintaining a commercial operation. He added, “It’s personally rewarding to have such a small farm on a limited budget do so well as a breeder.” The Pierces have 12 short yearlings and own one racehorse on their own, plus half of two others.

Country Grammer’s San Antonio win closed out the year in fine fashion. Pierce mused, “He won the race fairly easily, if I recall; it’s exciting to look ahead, as an older horse,” adding, “That was kind of just icing on the cake.” He commented, “It was so nice to see him win in such a relatively easy fashion and then Frankie Dettori back on him certainly adds a lot of credibility too. So, we’ll see where it goes in ’23. It’s exciting.”