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Dennis Clark
Peter Vitulli is the proud new owner of a 5-year-old mare named Sheza Heartbreaker.
By Michelle Leifer
Impulse buys are common at auctions: It’s not unusual for a buyer to walk in intending to purchase a painting, only to fall in love with a sculpture instead. But what Peter Vitulli ended up with was a horse of a different color.
On Valentine’s Day, the Long Island, N.Y., businessman went to a car auction planning to pick up an old set of wheels — and walked out with a 5-year old thoroughbred mare named Sheza Heartbreaker.
“It was a different kind of horsepower that was being auctioned off,” Vitulli told the New York Post.
When auctioneer Richard Maltz announced to the 150 prospective car buyers that he had a horse for sale, they laughed. “It was definitely out of the ordinary,” Maltz told the New York Post.
But Vitulli, who has owned and raced horses in the past, saw the horse’s potential right away. He outbid three other men to buy Heartbreaker for $16,000 — and now he hopes she’ll lead him to the winner’s circle.
The Kentucky-bred horse has a successful record, winning more than $100,000 since she began racing last year. Her previous owner lost her in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings.
Although Heartbreaker has a bad ankle, Vitulli is confident that with a hefty amount of TLC, she’ll be back on track.
“They’re animals and they need a lot of love,” he said. “If they’re happy, they’re going to run.”
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Nice to know it won't end up as dog food south of the border.
even i she never races again with her record her foals will bring a good price
Dogs have to eat to you know.
If she doesn't win, she'll be going to Romania and sold for her meat. Run dammit, RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Sheza beauty. No wonder they named her Heartbreaker. Best of luck to Vitulli and the mare.
beats the price of gas too....
If she has a bad ankle, I hope his vet certifies her recovered before he pushes her into a race. She is a real heartbreaker too. Love her looks. Good luck Sheza Heartbreaker!
I know the new owner and he's buying her the new Dr. scholl's custom fit orthotics. She'll be fine.
Very nice looking horse!
Lucky horse!
Finally some good news in the world!
it would be wonderful if you'd keep us up to date. A rescue horse will give him lots of love in return...
With the price of gas going up to $5 a gallon we all may be riding horses and mules again. Doomed to repeat history.
I wouldn't exactly call that doomed...
Horses are pretty magnificent animals. I would be happy to ride horses instead of driving.
Just think of no car accidents! Or exhaus fumes, except when the horse farts,lol!
That would be a blessing not doom!
I'd rather have the horse than a car too. Beautiful mare isn't she I'll have to remember her name. My lil 2006 Miata cost almost the same but it won't be winning any races.
Maybe I can trade my Miata in for a mare like her.
I wonder if horses release methane....
Of course they do Jon Not John. Obsess much about your name? Just wondering!
One time I was in a blog that had a troll named John and I wanted to distinguish myself ftom that troll. The name stuck.
Thanks for the answer...I can see the tree huggers bitching about horses causing climate changes.
God bless you, Peter Vitulli. Please don't put her down if she doesn't pay off.
Tray
I don't think a man would invest $16,000 in a horse and just put it down if it didn't pay off. Just my opinion. I think the horse is in good hands.
More than that is invested in TBs every day that end up on trucks bound for Mexico or Canada - the initial investment is NOTHING compared to the costs involved in running a TB for even just one season, if they aren't winning and earning money they are a huge financial drain and better to plug the leak (get rid of the horse, one way or the other) than continue pouring more money into it.
She's undersized and underweight for a Thoroughbred.. Most stand between 15 1/2 to 17 hands tall.. This little mare barely hits the 15 hand mark, if that.. I find it hard to believe she's already won $100k at 5 years old if she's been in this condition all along.. But she has a wonderful look about her and I have no doubt she's won races on heart alone.. I hope he will get her in much better condition before he ever considers putting her back on the track.. I wish him luck..
I sure hope, if she doesn't do well, he will sell her to someone who will retrain her to be a great riding horse.. Something very easy to do but few race horse owners will take the trouble to do.. Most of them either put their non-winning horses down or have them shipped overseas to be made into dog food.. It's all rather sad when you know there are literally thousands of kids out there who would die to have their own horse!
There are other possibilities for this mare if she can't run anymore and stay sound. Hope his investment works out so he can win his money back and put her out to pasture as a brood mare or some kind of riding horse. There are lots of TBs out there that give loads of pleasure to experienced riders when they retire from the track.
Works for me!
Nice to read a positive story on here for once. Good luck to her. Gotta love those animals.
A wonderful story!
I never have been able to properly afford a horse but as a child I was able to volunteer at a local stable.
I learned how to care, groom, feed and ride while taking care of these magnificent animals.
Those were the best summers of my life.
I don't know much about the ins and outs of horse racing, but she is a beauty. I wish her success in the track for her new owner who took a chance. And beyond that, a long enjoyable life somewhere.
She's an Arch baby out of Sheza Wild Thing. Started racing as a 3YO. 3 wins out of 28 starts, 7 seconds, 8 thirds.
Beautiful horse! And so alert, too. She may be a tad small but she'll make the new owner's money back in her foals. I wish them both the best even if she can't race again. If she can heal and race again, he'll have a nice profit! Great for both of them!
Too bad his goal is to get her back on the track, especially with an existing ankle issue. She is a little "Heartbreaker". As someone who has an OTTB myself, I do wish he wasn't so determined to get her back on the track, especially with the exisiting ankle issue mentioned in the article, and more inclined to just enjoy life with her.