Mistaken Identity: Rescued Mare in Maryland Is Not Canadian Star

When a story of a rescued mare in Maryland began to circulate on social media November 27, Canadian racing fans and horsepeople took immediate notice.

The story of a chestnut mare, named QUIZZICAL QUARTZ, saved from neglect in 2019 Prince George’s County in Maryland by the respected group Days End Horse Rescue, incorrectly noted that the mare’s race name was SASKAWEA, an Ontario-bred 16-year-old by Stormy Atlantic who had career earnings of over $750,000 and won five stakes, placing in nine others for owner/breeder Beclawat Stable. The filly was second to eventual Horse of the Year Sealy Hill in the 2007 Woodbine Oaks.

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SASKAWEA winning the Fury Stakes at Woodbine, 2007 – Woodbine photo

Ontario horsepeople, shocked and saddened by the story, began to circulate the link to the story.

But a quick check by Canadian Thoroughbred with the last reported buyer of Saskawea at a public auction, Tommy Wente of St. Simon’s Place in Lexington, KY, soon alerted CT that it was impossible that Quizzical Quartz was Saskawea.

“I’m sitting here looking at her,” said Wente, who purchased Saskawea as a broodmare three years ago at the Keeneland January Breeding Stock sale for $2,500. Wente continued to talk about the pretty mare who is no longer having foals but has had embryos flushed and surrogate mares producing Quarter Horse foals.

“She’s owned by Jim Bickett. Her Quarter Horse foals are very nice.”

Wente forwarded photos of Saskawea in her paddock and of course, was not pleased when he heard about the story.

When alerted, Days End Horse Rescue worked quickly. The charitable organization, which is a response partner with groups such as the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. has been in operation for 30 years and is a rescue group for all breeds of horses.

“Within an hour of being notified, we responded to Tommy and investigated,” said DeEtte Hillman, Equine Programs Director for Days End. “There was an error in identification, a genuine error not done in ill-will at all.”

Hillman noted that identifying the mare, done by the lip tattoo and horse colour and markings, was “a very close call.”

Indeed, the two mares look remarkably alike right down to the left hind white ankle marking. “We had the letter [of her tattoo, which indicates what year the horse was born; both mares’ tattoos began with H for the year 2004] but we were missing a number. The description and a search of the database led us to believe it was Saskawea.”

Hillman said when Quizzical Quartz first arrived at Days End, the mare exuded class and they became enamored with the mare who has blossomed under Days End’s care and is now enjoying life with adopter Devon Griffin. Quizzical Quartz’s real racing identity has not been confirmed as of yet, but the good news is both chestnut mares are healthy and happy.

“We so regret there was an impact to Tommy, he was getting calls,” said Hillman, who emphasizes that, much like all rescue or adoption and re-homing organizations, getting stories out about rescued horses is important to bring awareness to the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare. “We had supplied all the content for the story, nothing appeared in print and it has since been re-written.”

Quizzical Quartz upon arrival at Days End in 2019, rescued through a cruelty investigation in Prince George’s County in Maryland – photo courtesy Days End Horse Rescue

SASKAWEA, earner of $750,000 and a popular runner in Ontario, relaxing in her paddock at St. Simon Place in Lexington, Nov. 27 – photo courtesy Tommy Wente

QUIZZICAL QUARTZ today with adopter Devon Griffin – courtesy Days End Rescue

Here is snippet from the original story (since edited to reflect the error) that began circulating last week as it was picked up by horsetalk.co.nz from The Competitive Equestrian:

A thoroughbred mare who won $750,000 on the racetrack and foaled race-winning progeny before ending up emaciated and neglected at an equine rescue is thriving in her third career at the age of 16.

Canadian-bred mare Saskawea showed early promise for owner-breeder Beclawat Stable, winning two races and more than $130,000 as a two-year-old. Her “classic year” in 2007 was even better, with the daughter of Stormy Atlantic bringing in close to $350,000. She had the misfortune to race against Sealy Hill that year, finishing second to her in the Woodbine Oaks and the Wonder Where Stakes, part of the “Canadian Triple Tiara”.

In all, Saskawea won seven times between 2006 and 2009 from 24 starts, all at the Woodbine track in Ontario, Canada. Her wins included black type and listed events, and she was second in the Group three Selene Stakes in 2007.

She sold as a five-year-old for $280,000 in 2009, and for $485,000 two years later. Her final official sale was for $2500 in 2017 as a broodmare — and two years later her three-year-old son Laughing Fox (by Union Rags) placed fifth in the 2019 Preakness Stakes. He earned his owners $421,000 that year over three wins.

But that same year, Saskawea arrived at Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) from Prince George’s County, Maryland, in 2019 emaciated, suffering from hoof and dental neglect. She was also riddled with parasites.

The original story appeared in the November/December issue of the online magazine The Competitive Equestrian; here is the revised story.

Related reading: Identifying a horse by tattoo