Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — Four years after a seemingly innocent gesture with a sales catalog resulted in Leander Schwartz buying broodmare Twin Oaks Tess at auction, the Indiana resident is getting to watch the best horse he has ever raced, Kobe’s Gigi.

Twin Oaks Tess was in foal to JK Endofanera when Schwartz “accidentally” purchased her for $9,000 at the 2017 Midwest Mixed Sale.

“When I say accidentally, I was bidding on her, and then quit,” Schwartz said. “I was leaning against a gate, looking down. I had my catalog in my hand, and I shook my catalog against the gate, just tapping the gate, and they took my bid. So, I got her.”

The following April, Twin Oaks Tess had a foal, a female pacer that Schwartz eventually named in memory of basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash in 2020.

Kobe’s Gigi bucked a shin at age 2 and was limited to one start. This year, she was slowed by a knee issue in the spring, but since returning to action in August has hit the board in all 12 of her races, winning six and finishing second on five occasions for trainer Missy Essig.

Kobe’s Gigi wins the Thanksgiving Classic for driver John DeLong. Dean Gillette photos.

She was runner-up to multiple Grand Circuit winner Hot Mess Express in the Indiana Sire Stakes final and Pegasus Stakes, and second to millionaire Blue Diamond Eyes in the USS Indianapolis Memorial. She has won back-to-back races since, including the Thanksgiving Classic for 3-year-old female pacers on Thanksgiving night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

For the year, Kobe’s Gigi has earned $204,850.

“She’s been such a pleasant surprise,” said Schwartz, who owns Kobe’s Gigi with Black And White Stable. “It’s been a blessing like no other. It’s almost like a dream.”

Schwartz did not have any broodmares when he purchased Twin Oaks Tess.

“We had young children and I thought it would be really cool for them to experience that growing up, like I did, having baby foals all the time,” Schwartz said. “(Kobe’s Gigi) had a special spot with us from the second she was born. We have four children, and they got to experience it. She was going to stay with us, no matter what.”

Despite her setbacks along the way, Schwartz was impressed with Kobe’s Gigi from her earliest days as he prepared her to race.

“You can never say you knew you had something at (age) 2, but she was amazing training down,” Schwartz said. “We absolutely loved her. I’ve been really impressed with her heart and her attitude. Just from the word ‘go’ she’s been so smart. She’s never shied away from anything. From the first time we put the harness on her, we could basically do anything we wanted. And she’s never changed from that.”

The connections of Kobe’s Gigi celebrate after she won the Thanksgiving Classic.

On Saturday (Dec. 4), Kobe’s Gigi is the 3-5 morning-line favorite in a $25,000 conditioned series final, The Peony, at Hoosier Park. John DeLong will drive the filly from post four in a field of seven.

“Whether it’s been jogging, training or racing, she gets better every week,” Schwartz said. “She’s been amazing. Most times, anything good that I’ve qualified, I’ve sold. She is by far the best I’ve kept and raced.

“We’ve been told to stake her up a little bit (next year), so that’s probably the plan. I don’t know if she can go with them, but if she comes back sound next year we’re going to find out. We won’t know unless we try.”

One thing Schwartz and his wife Kassie do know, the filly will have plenty of support, whether at the track or at home.

“The kids absolutely love her,” said Schwartz, whose children range in age from six to 14. “If they don’t get to go to the track, they make sure it’s on the computer so they can watch. Our house gets pretty loud when Gigi races.”

On Saturday, the family might have two reasons to get loud. In addition to Kobe’s Gigi, Schwartz co-owns Osiris’ Lil Sis, who will start The Peony from post five for driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Melanie Wrenn and is the 3-1 second choice. On Nov. 19, she finished second to Kobe’s Gigi in the first leg of the series.

“That was an absolute blast for us,” Schwartz said. “I believe that’s the first time that’s happened to me, where I was first and second in the same race. It would be great to repeat that on Saturday.”

Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. (EST) Saturday at Hoosier Park. Free online programs can be found here.