After an outstanding racing career, Mobile Bay, two-time Accredited Louisiana Bred Horse of the Year, has been retired from the track.   He will soon take up residence at Carrol Castille’s showcase breeding facility, Whispering Oaks Thoroughbred Farm in Carencro, Louisiana.  There he will begin preparation for his stud career for the 2019 breeding season.  Mobile Bay is owned by Irwin Olian’s Tigertail Ranch and was trained for his entire career by popular local favorite Victor Arceneaux. 

Mobile Bay, a 2012 dark bay or brown son of Lone Star Special out of Tranquility Bay,  ran from ages three to six, hitting the board in 21 of 29 lifetime starts. He won eleven stakes, often showing speed in route races of 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 miles, including the G2 Super Derby, open company stakes such as the Sunland Park Handicap, the Maxxam Gold Cup and the Zia Park Derby, as well Louisiana Bred Stakes including the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at the Fair Grounds twice.  He placed in another five stakes including the G3 Oklahoma Derby.  His Lifetime earnings of $1,246,440 rank him 4th among all-time Leading Accredited Louisiana Bred Runners. A multiple Accredited Louisiana Bred Champion, Mobile Bay was named 2015 3YO Colt or Gelding and Horse of the Year, 2016 Older Male and Horse of the Year, and 2017 Older Male.

Mobile Bay was a tremendous, durable competitor, shipping to win stakes at half a dozen different racetracks across the South and Southwest, while showing amazing heart and athleticism. Good bone, conformation and intelligent mind have enabled him to stay sound and compete at very high levels into his 6 y.o campaign. “He is a gorgeous, imposing individual standing 17 hands, weighing 1300 pounds, with textbook conformation.” says Olian. 

Tigertail Ranch will be offering free breeding service to approved mares for the 2019 season, with only a modest $350 booking fee. Olian wants to attract a large book of mares to enable Mobile Bay to compete as a sire at the national level.  At the same time, he appreciates the great thrills and excitement that Mobile Bay has given him and the horse’s many fans in Louisiana and elsewhere.  He wants to give something back to breeders in the Louisiana breeding program in gratitude for all the benefits he received as well as to attract mares from breeders in other states such as New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.

“He is a remarkable individual, an outstanding and durable athlete and specimen with text book conformation,” says Olian. “Mobile Bay has the capacity to hold his own physically against any stallion in the country. His sire Lone Star Special has the rare quality of moving up his mares. I expect Mobile Bay will move up his mares significantly as well. Both represent the best of the Unbridled sire line and I believe will serve to establish a new branch of that line.”