Investment pays off for local priest

How many priests do you know who own a racehorse?

If you know Patrick Fertitta, the answer is at least “one.”

The reverend — he left his congregation in Alabama to help his mother run their family business — is part owner of Country Grammer, one of the best 3-yearold thoroughbreds in the world.

“I own about one square inch of his hind end,” the Rev. Fertitta said.

And the reverend made his purchase the way many of us buy things these days — on the internet.

In April of 2021, the Rev. Fertitta was online — taking a break in serving customers at Fertitta’s Delicatessen — reading about the upcoming Kentucky Derby. A pop-up advertisement offered the opportunity to buy shares of a horse.

The Rev. Fertitta was interested. “It’s always been in the back of my mind,” the Rev. Fertitta said of horse ownership. “It was something I would love to do one day.”

That day had come.

“They go in and figure out an 18-month allowance for expenses such as training costs, feed, stable and all of that,” the Rev. Fertitta said. “That’s all packaged together. Then they have an equity price on the horse itself. They split up into a certain number of shares, and they sell it at $50 a share.”

But surely this wouldn’t turn out to be anything more than an expensive way to have fun — watching a race and cheering for your horse — right? No way it would turn into a money-making investment for the reverend, right?

Country Grammer has earned more than $10.5 million — that’s right, “million”— this year.

“Euphoria,” the Rev. Fertitta said of how it feels to watch Country Grammer run — and run well. “That’s the best way to describe it. Euphoria.”

But Country Grammer’s success was far from a sure bet. Soon after the reverend clicked the “Pay Now” button, he got bad news.

“The first notice I got after the investment was made is that we’re not going to be able to run Country Grammer in the Pegasus Cup because he has an injury to his ankle. I was like, well, there goes my money.”

But Country Grammer’s ankle healed.

He resumed training and was entered in this year’s Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Cup is the world’s richest race, with a $20 million purse.

In deep stretch, it looked like Country Grammer had the race won. But a 99-1 shot made a late run and got to the wire first by a half-length. Still, Country Grammer earned a healthy $3.5 million.

Fertitta didn’t watch. “I was in the hospital room with my stepfather. He was passing away. We were with him as he died, and I missed the race.”

Fertitta’s stepfather died the same time the race began.

“I was thinking my stepfather missed the race. Then, I thought, well, maybe not.”

Exactly one month later, Fertitta did watch Country Grammer’s next race, the $12 million Dubai World Cup. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Country Grammer was third. But in deep stretch, he found another gear and won by a length and a half.

“I was watching at home with my mom and cousin. I’ve got a big-screen TV. As he was running that last leg, my mom and cousin both thought I was going to have a heart attack. He let loose, took off and won that race.”

The first-place prize of more than $7.2 million gave Country Grammer a tworace total of $10.7 million. Added to his previous winnings, Country Grammer became eighth on the all-time list for most money earned.

The Rev. Fertitta won’t say how much money he has invested in Country Grammer. He won’t say how much money he has made. But …

“I have made back at least six times my investment.”

Country Grammer is scheduled to run next in the TVG Pacific Classic on Sept. 3 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. After that, it could be on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

But despite Country Grammer’s success, the Rev. Fertitta doesn’t have plans to invest in another horse.

“This is the first one and the last one I will ever buy. How do you top this?”

Amen.