Madden Making His Mark with State of Honor

You must be this old to ride this ride…said no one in horse racing, ever. Perhaps the proverbial 'they' once said it, but thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Steve Cauthens of the world, such a seemingly applicable idiom is null and void in racing. Of the numerous factors that make or break someone in this challenging industry, age has been a barrier quashed by the will and means to leave a mark. Such is just what 30-year-old bloodstock advisor Zach Madden is doing as he embarks on what could be an incredible First Saturday in May.

Managing partner in Buckland Sales Agency–a portfolio, sales and bloodstock management firm that works in tandem with Ro Parra's Millennium Farms–the native of Lexington, Kentucky, got a serious boost this spring when State of Honor (To Honor and Serve) earned his way into the GI Kentucky Derby. Responsible for planning the bay 3-year-old colt's breeding and intrinsic to his management, Madden is over the moon that the Conrad Farms homebred will get a chance to state his case in America's greatest race.

“It's awesome and honestly I can't believe it,” Madden said. “The feeling is unbelievable and this whole thing has been a lot of fun. The Conrads are incredible people and I started helping them about seven years ago. We have started to gain some serious momentum. We bought and campaigned a very good mare named Theogony (Curlin) and now this.

“I started out working at my grandparents farm out on Tates Creek Road as a kid when they had 10 broodmares and would sell and race,” Madden continued. “There was a foaling one night where I remember just being fascinated, so it became entrenched in me at an early age. Then I worked for a couple of my friends whose parents trained, walking hots and helping out. I worked my way through college at Three Chimneys Farm before joining it full time when I graduated and that led eventually to a job at Millennium in the fall of 2013 and then we teamed up to start Buckland. We have been lucky to have some success off the bat and are still trying to gain steam, having 120-130 head through the ring last year.”

Owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad of Ontario, State of Honor is a massive colt standing nearly 17.2 hands. A game and sturdy son of To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), he is out of the Elusive Quality mare State Cup.

Integral to connecting trainer Mark Casse with the Conrads, Madden has watched this perfect marriage and momentous rise with no lack of appreciation or enthusiasm.

“They are all great people and I don't take for granted how lucky I am,” he said. “I met them because they bought a couple mares out of the November sale and boarded at Three Chimneys. They were also looking to make a trainer change. They are a small operation, but they have some excellent mares and to think they're now competing at the highest level is amazing.

“I can't say enough about Mark, either, who is the real deal and so savvy,” he continued. “He's nice and personable and you look at horses like Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) and Tepin (Bernstein)–they aren't by accident. He knows how to buy, train and develop horses and everything has turned to gold since he linked up with the Conrads. Honestly, I am just a small member of the team.”

The Conrads and Madden became acquainted when Madden was working for Three Chimneys Farm, prior to developing his Buckland operation and shifting tack to Millennium. Around the same time, To Honor and Serve was being developed into a stallion.

“The mare is interesting because she's free of A. P. Indy and it takes four generations to get to Mr. Prospector,” Madden explained. “Penny–who is really good at sire nicks–and I decided to go to Sky Mesa (Pulpit, by A. P. Indy) and that produced a beautiful colt we sold for $150,000. At that point, we decided that that [sire] line was going to work and on top of that, I really had liked To Honor and Serve. While I was at Three Chimneys, we actually tried to get him, but were unsuccessful. A few years later and we have a horse in the Kentucky Derby who is giant, beautiful and really catches the eye.

“The crazy part is we almost sold the mare at the sale last fall and I'm so glad we didn't,” he continued. “I'm also excited about the future. Not only for Buckland, but for the Conrads, too. State Cup is waiting days on a Bernardini (A. P. Indy) cover, has a Paynter (Awesome Again) foal, Hard Spun (Danzig) Yearling and Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) 2-year-old filly in training with Casse. This has been a whirlwind and you have to pinch yourself a bit, but I plan on enjoying the ride.”