Client Success

Our clients are family.

Our clients are a part of our Mill Ridge family, and we celebrate their successes both in the sales ring and at the racetrack. The success of our clients measures our success, and we’ve been fortunate to celebrate often.

Nicoma Bloodstock has assisted in the matings of Kentucky Derby and Breeder's Cup winners, Horse of the Year Award winners, and numerous graded stakes winners.

Janet Patton of the Lexington Herald-Leader said, "Mill Ridge's client roster reads like a who's who of top owners and breeders," and Mill Ridge believes the success of their clients defines their success.

 The success of Mill Ridge is only made possible by those who put their trust in the 'Mill Ridge Way' to board, raise, and represent their horses.

The strength of our Mill Ridge team to produce 39 Grade 1 winners since 2000 is an incredible achievement.

Reach out to Mill Ridge if you are interested in becoming a client.

Amerman Racing LLC.

Mr. and Mrs. John Amerman have been a client since the mid-1990s, after meeting through mutual friend and Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Finding great pleasure in horse racing, they’ve maintained a limited broodmare band, highlighted by their multiple Grade 1 winning mare, BALANCE. However, BALANCE may best be known as the older half-sister of America's sweetheart ZENYATTA. After racing, BALANCE made headlines in 2010 when her colt by A.P. Indy sold at Keeneland September for $4.2 million. Mill Ridge Sales Agent consigned the colt on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Amerman. 

The Amerman's have experienced decades of racing success with top horses like LIDO PLACE (CHI), ADORATION, and Mill Ridge homebreds with OSCAR PERFORMANCE, COFFEE CLIQUE, and ENDLESSLY. In 2019, OSCAR PERFORMANCE returned to Mill Ridge, where he was born and raised, to stand at stud. It was an honored opportunity to stand the multiple G1 turf winner and earner of over $2 million. 

OSCAR PERFORMANCE joined the historic stallion row and resides in the same stall that legendary stallion DIESIS once stood.

Mrs. Tolie Otto’s JAMM Ltd.

Mrs. Otto was one of Mrs. Chandler's dearest friends and a long-time client of Mill Ridge Farm. She established Jamm Ltd. using the initials of her children and celebrated many successes. In 1998, we celebrated the successful partnership of KEEPER HILL. Nicoma Bloodstock purchased her in April of 1997 on behalf of the partnership of Mr. and Mrs. Chandler,  Mrs. Otto, and C.R. McGaughey III. 

The partnership between Mill Ridge and Jamm Ltd. saw continued success with homebreds ZAVATA (G2) earning over $300,000 and MONBA (G1), winning the Bluegrass Stakes and over $600,000 earnings. In 2011 Mill Ridge raised and sold POWER BROKER (PULPIT - SHOP AGAIN), a colt bred on a cross recommended by Nicoma Bloodstock. POWER BROKER's dam, SHOP AGAIN, resides at Mill Ridge Farm.

Mrs. Nancy S. Dillman

Mrs. Dillman is a client of Mill Ridge Farm and our consulting arm, Nicoma Bloodstock.

In 2003, Nicoma purchased EASTER BUNNETTE on behalf of Mrs. Dillman. Following the recommended pairing given to her by Headley, Mrs. Dillman mated EASTER BUNNETTE to SAINT LIAM in 2006. The following year the Mill Ridge Team welcomed the arrival of her foal.

That foal is 2011 Horse of Year Award and Champion Older Female, HAVRE DE GRACE. She was raised at Mill Ridge Farm and sold as a yearling in Keeneland September for $380,000. The race filly went on to earn over $2 million and a Beyer Speed Figure of 121.

In 2011, Mill Ridge consigned the half-brother to HAVRE DE GRACE at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Sale. The colt by BERNARDINI was one of two sale’s toppers that year selling for $1.2 million.

Mr. Jerome S. Moss

Mr. Moss' horse racing record is filled with impressive earners such as ZENYATTA, TIAGO, GIACOMO, KUDOS, and GORMLEY.

Mill Ridge had the privilege to foal and raised 2005 Kentucky Derby winner GIACOMO and his Grade 1 winning half-brother TIAGO. Their mother, SET THEM FREE, lived and retired at Mill Ridge until her passing. She is buried here on the farm.

Our relationship with Mr. Moss and his longtime friend and manager, Dottie Ingordo-Sherriffs, has been a true pleasure and their successes are great highlights for the Mill Ridge team.

Mr. & Mrs. Martin Wygod

The 2000s also brought great success for another client of Mill Ridge Farm as Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod's baby blue and white silks frequented the winner's circle. Of their many winners, we celebrated HARMONIOUS, LIFE IS SWEET, OCTAVE, and SWEET CATOMINE, who were all born and raised on our farm. 

In 2005 Mill Ridge's sale consignment, on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Wygod, was allowed the opportunity to present an impressive colt by STORM CAT at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt sold for a record-setting $9.7 million to John Ferguson Bloodstock.

Mr. & Mrs. Roy Jackson

Gretchen and Roy Jackson opened up their hearts for the entire world to see in their handling of BARBARO and his struggle. Their love of the horse goes back to Gretchen’s childhood days and they are very passionate and caring for the thoroughbred. It’s certainly an honor to assist them with their Thoroughbred business and to call them friends.

“Alice Chandler was one of the first Kentucky horse breeders we were aware of when we first entered into the Thoroughbred world of racing and breeding. This was back in the late seventies. Her Mill Ridge Farm, which she poured herself into and built to its present stature, is remarkable: barns, fences, horses all on blue grass. To be a boarder at Mill Ridge is to know and have peace of mind. Horses thrive there.”

-Gretchen Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Tafel

Every Thoroughbred breeder’s dream is to participate and possibly win the Kentucky Derby. Headley Bell has been honored to assist with two separate Kentucky Derby winners in their matings in BARBARO and STREET SENSE. STREET SENSE, for Jim Tafel, accomplished something that no other Thoroughbred had in winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and recognized as champion two year old, and then winning the Kentucky Derby as a three year old.

“Alice and Mill Ridge play a very important role in our Thoroughbred operation. Her advice on matings and sales has helped us develop many stakes winners. Mill Ridge raised and sold us BANSHEE WINDS, who is the dam of Eclipse Award winner BANSHEE BREEZE.”

-the late Jim Tafel

George Strawbridge Jr.

There would only be a handful of owners throughout the world as sporting as George Strawbridge. He has a genuine love for the Thoroughbred athlete. His program participates in racing in Europe and American where he has managed to race numerous G1 winners and champions. Like so many of our clients, it is an honor to assist and engage with such a gentleman.

“LUCARNO winning the G1 English St. Leger for George Strawbridge, who described this as ‘a thrill of a lifetime’ from a most accomplished gentleman…that is truly rewarding.”

-Headley Bell