Kopion, a horse bred by Tall Oaks Farm, made a successful comeback from a nine-month layoff to win the La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park, earning her first grade 1 victory. The founder of Tall Oaks, Ivan Dalos, expressed surprise at the win and believed that Kopion has the potential to be a grade 1 horse at the right distance, indicating that sprint races may be her strong suit.

Kopion is a fourth-generation homebred, with her dam Galloping Ami winning the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Broodmare in 2016. Dalos has a successful breeding program, with many of his horses winning Sovereign Awards and other accolades. He has a preference for breeding Kentucky-breds over Ontario-breds due to their higher value in sales.

Dalos’ breeding program has been successful, earning him numerous awards and recognition in the Thoroughbred industry. He has a passion for breeding and finds it more challenging than racing, having learned about horses and the industry later in life. His dedication to perfecting his craft has led to a successful breeding program that continues to produce top-quality horses.