The article highlights the success of Volleyballprincess, a North Carolina-bred filly who dominated the Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack with a 10-length victory. She was bred and raised on Dr. Frank Batten’s farm near Wilson, North Carolina, and is a daughter of Coolmore stallion Mo Town. Batten has a lifelong passion for horses and has developed several family lines, including Volleyballprincess’ lineage.
Batten also bred Ruth, a filly by Uncle Mo out of the Bernardini mare Peppy Rafaela. Ruth broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park and is trained by Todd Pletcher. Batten has had success in breeding, with Ruth’s full sister Mopotism winning the La Canada Stakes and being sold for $1,050,000 at auction. Mopotism’s first foal, Journalism, won the Los Alamitos Futurity and is a contender for the Kentucky Derby.
Batten has made tough financial decisions regarding his breeding stock, selling some mares and foals at auction while keeping others to race and develop on his North Carolina farm. Despite challenges in selling North Carolina-bred horses, Batten remains dedicated to breeding and raising horses, with a deep love for the animals and the process of watching them develop.
