Naciff Has High Hopes Ahead of Fasig Florida

by Jessica Martini 
Juan Naciff has only been involved in racing for 2 1/2 years, but has already hit the board in a Grade I race. Now the transplanted Argentinian, who calls Miami home, looks for pinhooking success with a full-brother to graded stakes winner and J “TDN Rising Star” J Midnight Hawk (Midnight Lute). The colt, who Naciff and partner Jorge Wagner purchased last September at Keeneland, sells at Fasig-Tipton’s Florida Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training next Monday in Williston aship 137. The two men are also represented in the Fasig catalogue by hip 116, a filly by Giant’s Causeway out of Jive Talk (Kingmambo). Both juveniles are consigned by De Meric Sales. 
Naciff left Argentina nearly two decades ago, moving first to Mexico before relocating to Florida five years ago. 
“We have a cell phone business,” Naciff explained. “I started living in Mexico working in a company which exports cell phones. I was there for 10 years. Then, we decided to come to the U.S. because we have a lot of Latin American clients. We decided to come to Miami to be able to give our Latin American clients better attention.” 
While in Mexico, Naciff met Wagner, who he credits with introducing him to racing. 
“I met Jorge about eight years ago when I was in Mexico and he was in Florida,” Naciff explained. “I used to sell cell phones to him. When we stayed in Miami we became friends–his wife and my wife and our kids all became friendly. One day he told me about the horses and I said ‘Horses?’ He is from Ecuador and his father used to have racehorses when he was a child. So he loved the sport. He started teaching me about the business and we started buying horses.” 
Among the first horses purchased by the two men was Casiguapo (Sightseeing), who was a $4,700 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling acquisition in 2012. Now three, the chestnut colt was second behind Strong Mandate (Tiznow) in last year’s GI Hopeful S. and was fourth in the GI Champagne S. before ending his juvenile campaign with a runner-up effort in the GIII Delta Jackpot S. 
Last fall, the partners decided to focus more squarely on pinhooking and they have approximately 20 juveniles to sell this spring. They went to Keeneland specifically looking for offspring of sprint champion Midnight Lute. 
“When we went to Kentucky, Jorge told me that he loved Midnight Lute and he hoped we could buy some Midnight Lutes,” Naciff said. 
His partner quickly landed on a gray colt out of Grade I stakes placed Miss Wineshine (Wolf Power {SAf}). 
“Jorge saw this one and he liked the way he walked,” Naciff recalled. “He told me, ‘I think we can buy him for under $25,000,’ but I didn’t believe him.” 
Naciff went on to sign for the colt, consigned by Lantern Hill Farm, for $20,000. 
“We were really lucky to get him,” he said. “When things are meant to happen, they happen.” 
Things only got better a few months later when the yearling’s full-brother debuted impressively at Hollywood Park. Midnight Hawk aired by 6 1/4 lengths in his Dec. 13 unveiling. He won the Jan. 11 GIII Sham S. in his second start and is coming off a third-place finish in the Feb. 8 GII Robert B. Lewis S. and a runner-up effort in the Mar. 8 GII San Felipe S. 
“It was amazing,” Naciff said of Midnight Hawk’s progression. “I remember Jorge told me that a son of Midnight Lute was going to run, but I didn’t realize at first he was telling me it was a sibling. Then days later, he explains to me it’s a full-brother. It’s amazing for my horse.” 
Naciff and Wagner will see how this sales season goes before solidifying plans for next year’s pinhooking venture. 
“I think we are going to see how the business does this year,” Naciff said. “Of course, if the business is good, we are going to buy more. The first year, we sold some horses well and I think we are going to have a great year. But you know, it is a tough business and I am just starting to get to know it. I need more time to really know if we can put all these things together.” 
Asked if he preferred racing or sales, Naciff laughed, “The racing. Definitely. It’s a lot of adrenaline.” 
And his ambitions are high. 
“Every day that I am involved in this business, I am learning more and more how difficult it is,” he said. “But our dream is to run in the Kentucky Derby and to have a horse win it. It is a dream, but it is very hard to do.” 
For the time being, Naciff is enjoying the ride. 
“I have been in the business for two years,” he said. “And I love it. I love the horses and I love the business. We have high expectations. I think we are going to do well. I hope.” 
The under-tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale begins at 9 a.m. Friday at Adena Springs South in Williston. The sale begins at noon Monday.