Not too many people campaign two millionaires in their lifetime. Don Van Kempen took it further and found his seven-figure earners via the claim box.
For $25,000 in 2003, he claimed Moscow Burning. She proceeded to win a total of $1,417,800 to become the all-time leading money- earning California-bred female.
“I never intended to have a horse like Moscow Burning ever,” said Van Kempen, who is known as Don Van and calls his stable Don Van Racing. “You have no idea how lucky I am to have had a horse like this.”
The year after he claimed Moscow Burning, Van Kempen claimed Lunge for $20,000. She paid for herself on the racetrack and then produced The Usual Q. T. for Van Kempen. That Calbred gelding has earned nearly $1.5 million with victories in the 2010 Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT)
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