Michael Pegram

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2009 Record: (30-8-7-1)

2009 Earnings: $321,241

2009 Win %: 26% In-The-Money %: 53%

Born: Feb. 16, 1952, in Fort Knox, Ky.
Residence: Paradise Valley, Ariz. and Del Mar, Calif.
Family: wife, Mary Ellen; children, Amy, Tiffany and Tim
Professional Background: Owns a string of 22 McDonald's restaurant franchises in Arizona; also owns Bodine's Casino in Carson, Nev.
Racing Background: First attended races at Ellis Park just across the river in Kentucky while growing up in Princeton, IN hometown also of Dodgers' great Gil Hodges ... First horses owned were Quarter Horses in partnership with his father ... Met trainer Bob Baffert through Hal Earnhardt, an Arizona-based car dealer, who also is a Baffert client ... Made switch to Thoroughbreds with Baffert in 1988
Racing Career: First Thoroughbred purchased at auction was Thirty Slews, bought in partnership for $30,000. Thirty Slews became a multiple stakes winner, highlighted by a victory in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Sprint ... Pegram has started six horses in sole ownership in Breeders' Cup races, including 1998 Juvenile Fillies winner Silverbulletday, who entered racing's Hall of Fame in 2009 along with her trainer, Baffert, and 2000 Classic third-place finisher Captain Steve. Owned dual Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute in partnership with Karl Watson and Paul Weitman after suggesting to the two Tucson automobile dealers that the three of them buy some horses together ... The three also own Lookin At Lucky, winner of the 2009 Del Mar Futurity (G1) and a prospect for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile ... In 2008, Midnight Lute had made only one start before successfully defending his 2007 Sprint title ... Silverbulletday, purchased for $155,000 as a yearling, was named 2-year-old filly champion in 1998 and 3-year-old filly champion in 1999, despite finishing sixth in that year's Breeders' Cup Distaff (now the Ladies' Classic). She was retired in 2000 with 15 wins and earnings of $3,093,207 ... In 1998, Pegram also campaigned 3-year-old champion Real Quiet, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The $17,000 yearling missed the Triple Crown by a nose at the wire of the Belmont Stakes, losing to Victory Gallop. Real Quiet, a G1 stakes winner at ages two, three and four was retired with earnings of $3,271,803 ... Captain Steve won the world's richest race in 2001, the $6 million Dubai World Cup, and retired with earnings of $6,828,356 ... Pegram also has campaigned major stakes winners Pussycat Doll, Gibson County, Commitisize, Isitingood, High Stakes Player, Icecoldbeeratreds, Danthebluegrassman, Arches of Gold, Hookedonthefeelin, Censored, Argolid, Favored One, Preachinatthebar, Queen of Money, Woke Up Dreamin and Letthebighossroll ... Pussycat Doll, who won G1 stakes in 2005, 2006 and 2007, has been particularly meaningful to Pegram since she is by Real Quiet out of his Grade 1 stakes-winning mare Hookedonthefeelin. Pussycat Doll won the 2005 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita, the same race her dam won in 1999
Breeding/Racing Operation: Owns 20-25 Thoroughbreds in training with Bob Baffert ... Broodmares, boarded at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky, include Silverbulletday and Thru n’ Thru (in partnership with Watson and Weitman) Silverbulletday has a Bernardini yearling colt, an Elusive Quality weanling filly and was bred to Midnight Lute for 2010 ... Still owns shares in Real Quiet, who stands stud in Pennsylvania ... Sold Hookedonthefeelin in foal to Deputy Minister several years ago ... Recipient of the 1998 Big Sport of Turfdom Award, presented by Turf Publicists of America.