Goshen, NY — Jack Parker Jr.’s open trotting mare NF Happenstance 4,1:52.2f ($661,321) has been retired from racing and sent to Olive Branch Farm in North Carolina.

Chris Coyle, Jack Parker Jr., NF Happenstance and Chip Moore. Photo courtesy of Chris Tully.

The Breeders Crown elimination winner begins her second stint at motherhood after returning to the races in 2018 from the broodmare ranks to become the fourth richest older trotting mare in North America.

During her second stint on the racetrack, the daughter of SJ’s Caviar competed against the best mares in her division and earned $361,065 last season, and she was in very good company. Only three trotting mares earned more than NF Happenstance in 2018: Dan Patch Award winner Ariana G, Breeders Crown champion Emoticon Hanover and 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover.

Jack Parker Jr., the 63-year-old veteran horseman, bought her for the second time, in foal to Sebastian K at the 2016 Harrisburg sale.

“I thought she would make a nice horse. As it turned out, she was much better than that.

“My buddy Chip (Moore) owned her the first time around. We raced her with some success. She made some money and broke some track records. But then she started to make breaks so we sold her to Hall of Famer Bill Weaver. When he passed away, the mare was sold in-foal as part of his dispersal. We were excited to get her back.

“As soon as Chris Coyle weaned that filly we put her back in training. The mare never missed a beat once she got going again.”

A model of consistency, she was first or second in 24 of 36 starts in 2018 with 13 wins. In fact, she only missed a check in two starts, or as her trainer would say, “She has exceeded all of our expectations.”

Her 2017 Sebastian K filly named Pure Happenstance is now stabled at Pinehurst and is enrolled in Gordon Corey’s Institute of Equine Erudition.

The Maine-native known for his talent for breaking babies and his no-nonsense demeanor stated that she was a “typical filly with some rusty edges in the beginning but making good progress in smoothing those out.

“Enthusiastic and ambitious, she makes good progress in her trotting attributes. She is pleasant to work with and intelligent on the track, despite her early filly traits.”

Perhaps Pure Happenstance will be sharp enough to participate in the annual spring matinee at Pinehurst Harness Track on Saturday (April 6).

Meanwhile, her dam, has a date for the 2019 breeding season with Diamond Creek Farm’s Father Patrick.