(1-3-26) Stay Fabulous will now move on as a broodmare.

According to owner Mike Hawbaker, who claimed Stay Fabulous from MRH –

Stay Fabulous and Espiridion

All going well and hope the same on your end. Yes, she’s (Stay Fabulous) under contract to breed with Authentic and Espiridion ( Dominus – Lady Ban Shee, by Ghostzapper ) is under contract to breed to Arabian Lion. I have both under lights hoping for an early start. I’m taking them to Lexington in about a week. Going to register them as Iowa breds.

Why the ‘blue lights‘

Putting a Thoroughbred mare under blue lights (or blue-toned LED lighting) is a well-established management and reproductive technique in the horse industry.

Here’s the breakdown

🟦 What the “blue lights” actually do

Those blue or cool-spectrum lights are used to control the mare’s reproductive cycle by manipulating her perception of daylight.

Horses are long-day breeders — their hormones respond to length of daylight, not temperature.

When a mare experiences ~16 hours of light per day, her brain increases:

  • Melatonin suppression
  • ➜ which increases GnRH
  • ➜ which increases LH & FSH
  • ➜ which stimulates the ovaries
  • ➜ which brings her into regular estrus (heat) earlier and more reliably

Blue light is extremely effective because the horse’s eye is especially sensitive to blue wavelengths, so much less light is needed to trigger the hormonal response.

Why it’s used on Thoroughbred mares

Breeding schedule control

Thoroughbred foals are all assigned the same official birthday: January 1.

Breeders want foals born as early in the year as possible to give them a physical advantage in racing.

Blue light exposure allows breeders to:

  • Start cycling 4–8 weeks earlier
  • Time ovulation precisely
  • Improve conception rates
  • Produce earlier, stronger foals

Why it’s placed near the mare’s head

Special “blue light masks” or stall fixtures shine toward one eye, because:

Only one retina needs to perceive the light to trigger the brain’s hormonal response.

So the light is positioned near her face, often on the halter or stall wall.

Why blue specifically (not white)

Blue wavelength (~468 nm):

  • Penetrates the retina more effectively
  • Strongly suppresses melatonin
  • Requires far less brightness
  • Causes less disturbance to rest and stable environment

It’s biologically targeted lighting, not cosmetic lighting.

Results breeders see

  • Earlier onset of estrus by 1–2 months
  • Shorter anestrus period
  • Higher pregnancy rates
  • More predictable foaling dates

(9-8-25) Stay Fabulous has been retired…her last race was in Iowa at Prairie Meadows.

Owner Mike Hawbaker shared on Twitter her leaving the track…

(2-13-23) This past weekend those who had shares of MyRacehorse’s Stay Fabulous (Violence – Jeanne’s Speight, by Speightstown) were disappointed and surprised that she was claimed. Although it has been a tough start for her as a MRH owner you get very attached to a member of your fractional stable.

A look at he beginnings…MRH and Bloom Racing secured the winning bid for Stay Fabulous by Violence (Medaglia d’Oro – Violent Beauty, by Gone West) for $150,000 on the final day of the 2022 June Ocala Breeders’ Sale of two-year old’s in training.

This is what took place yesterday, her 4th career race…Stay Fabulous finished fourth in the first race at Oaklawn and was claimed for $30,000 by trainer Lynn Chleborad and owner Michael S. Hawbaker.

So what happens next? New owner Mike Hawbaker replied to our request and I think she will be in good hands for the future.

Stay Fabulous’ New Owner Mike Hawbaker tells us about why he claimed her…..

Thank you for the note about Stay Fabulous. I hope you still follow her career as I’ll be posting when she is allowed to run for me. This is my first claim and I think I have to wait at least 30 days before re-entry. Maybe more. She is my 3rd horse I’ve had in training. I bred one, bought one at yearling auction and now claimed one. I have a Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile – My Tina, by Bertrando) foal due in April too:)

I’ve been following Stay Fabulous for a while and think she has potential for the level of racing I do. I would never be able to afford her type so was looking for one that may be dropping from higher aspirations to my level.

I’d like to keep her but also need to run where they are competitive as horses can get discouraged if they try hard but still are uncompetitive. The claiming game is hard for those of us with the connection. Steve claimed my first homebred (Storm Strategy) earlier this month and I’m still in the doghouse with my family as we raised him from a foal and were attached.

Here is Stay Fabulous at her new barn after the race yesterday and after the vet exam and testing. All seems well with her.

Just FYI so you know the care she will be getting; we have 9 rescue animals including an off the track thoroughbred and blind 30 year old pony (my kids learned to ride on her) that keeps the racehorses company when back with me for a rest so rest assured, she will be well cared.

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