Charles LaLoggia

Born: Aug. 31, 1951, Rochester, N.Y.
Residence: Rochester, N.Y.
Family: Single
Education: B.S. in accounting, economics, and finance from Syracuse University in 1973 ... While in college, he played piano in an oldies rock band
Professional Background: In 1974 he took a position with Merrill Lynch on Wall Street as a junior analyst. By the end of that year, he went out on his own as an investment adviser and started a stock market newsletter called "Laloggia's Special Situation Report." He later published another newsletter, "The Superstock Investor," for almost 30 years ... In 2000 he wrote the book "The Superstock Investor," which was published by McGraw Hill and focused on his specialty of spotting companies susceptible to takeover bids
Racing Background: In 1978 he went to Finger Lakes with a friend who owned some horses and was captivated by the racetrack experience so he decided to buy a few horses. "The most I ever had at one time was 10, mostly claimers," he said
Breeding/Racing Operation: Tim Kegel, the bloodstock agent who spotted Skip Code (9th in 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile), Clearly Foxy, Officer Cherrie and Lickety Lemon for him, trained his horses at Finger Lakes in the ’70s and they had a couple of nice New York-breds ... "I met Tim in the late ’70s and we've been friends ever since," Laloggia said. "He's a big part of this. I told him five years ago that if he ever saw something he really liked, to let me know. Of all of the horses I've bought in the last five years, the only time he called and insisted I buy the horse, it was Skip Code." When the horse was $60,000 at a 2-year-old in training sale in Miami in February 2006, Kegel told him he could not pass him up so Laloggia put his faith in his agent's horse sense. "When I was a personal money manager, I needed my clients to trust me and my judgment," Laloggia said. "I always had an innate sense of what was right for my clients and that's what I do with Timmy. I trust that he knows what he's doing." ... Laloggia named Skip Code and said that he tries to give all of his horses a name that means something special and is appropriate. One would guess that the colt has both Skip Away and Lost Code in his pedigree, but would be only half right. "The Skip does come from Skip Away but there's no Lost Code," he said. "I happened to be reading a book called "The Bible Code." The thesis is that there is a hidden code in the Bible and it can be found in letters that are skipped. Since his dam is Heavenly Note, his name just came to me. I always thought that if I ever got a good one and was asked where his name came from, I wanted to have an intelligent answer." ... Officer Cherrie is named for his longtime friend and employee, Cherrie, who was once a student at the police academy, and Lickety Lemon is by Lemon Drop Kid ... "All three fillies – Clearly Foxy, Officer Cherrie and Lickety Lemon – are better at this stage of their careers than Skip Code was. We have high hopes for this bunch of fillies," said Kegel ... In addition to Kegel, Laloggia appreciates what trainer Mark Casse has done to give him his first Breeders' Cup starter in Skip Code and lots of promise with his other horses. "Mark has really done a fantastic job with all of my horses and he is very talented," Laloggia said. "Getting to know Mark and his family through all of this has been a real pleasure." ... Laloggia and Kegel savored the experience of their first Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs in 2006 and are looking forward to another great trip ... Laloggia said that although he dreamed of owning Breeders' Cup starters, he never thought it would actually happen. "It can happen if you don't give up," he said. "You just have to keep trying." ... Currently has five 2-year-olds in training.