Horse Husband Stables welcomed an especially meaningful foal—a handsome bay colt born March 13, 2025. Lovingly nicknamed "Thirteen," he arrived precisely on his due date and represents the 13th and final foal from our beloved mare, Elusive Surprise ("Surprise"). We're inviting you to join the celebration by participating in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help name this colt!
About Elusive Surprise
Surprise joined the Horse Husband Stables family in November 2024 after co-owner Kyle Rothfus, who also co-founded Mareworthy Charities, spotted her at the Keeneland sale. Kyle closely monitors mares age 18 or older at Keeneland, ensuring they land softly into homes where they'll be valued and hopefully retired safely after delivering their foals. Surprise, then 18 years old, was the last mare in Kyle's watch group. He decided to purchase Surprise not only to ensure her safety but also to provide a companion for fellow HHS mare Lady Dyanaformer, whose original foaling companion, Empress Luciana, had been retired after requiring a C-section last year.
Elusive Surprise carries extraordinary bloodlines. While sired by the internationally successful Elusive Quality—famous as the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones—her maternal lineage is especially notable. Surprise is out of Amirati, a daughter of the legendary broodmare Weekend Surprise, herself a daughter of Secretariat and the dam of racing icon A.P. Indy. Through her dam’s illustrious family, Surprise connects directly to Thoroughbred royalty, representing generations of champions known for their exceptional talent, durability, and class.
Surprise herself delivered 12 healthy foals in consecutive years through 2023. After failing to become pregnant for 2024, she was sold carrying this colt by Tale of Silence—her 13th foal and fittingly, her last. Keeping our lifelong commitment to broodmare welfare, the HHS team will retire Surprise to Mareworthy Charities after her colt is weaned later this year. At Mareworthy, Surprise will enjoy a well-deserved retirement, protected and cared for within the herd at the same farm, living out her days surrounded by friends and free from breeding responsibilities.
Meet Tale of Silence, the Sire
Surprise's new colt is by Tale of Silence, an accomplished son of renowned sire Tale of the Cat. Tale of Silence demonstrated his talent and resilience on the racetrack, earning over $540,000 while competing at the highest levels of graded stakes racing. Notably, Tale of Silence’s damsire is the legendary Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sunday Silence. Thirteen has inherited striking face markings remarkably similar to those of both his grandsire, Tale of the Cat, and his great-grandsire, Sunday Silence—a powerful visual connection to his storied lineage.
Future Plans for Thirteen
Thirteen will remain part of the Horse Husband Stables family, with hopes he may one day follow in the hoofprints of his distinguished ancestors on the racetrack. Following his racing career, Thirteen will have a secure future at HHS or, if suitable, be rehomed into a carefully selected forever home where he may excel in a competitive second career.
How the Naming Contest Works:
Step 1: Submit Your Names!
March 19-26, 2025
Submit your best name suggestions using the form below—there’s no limit! Names must adhere to The Jockey Club naming requirements listed below.
Step 2: Voting by Members of The Foal Circle
Members of The Foal Circle will narrow submissions over three exciting rounds:
Round 1 (Top 12): March 28–30, 2025
Round 2 (Top 6): March 31–April 2, 2025
Final Voting (Winner): April 3–5, 2025
The name receiving the highest votes in the final round will become Thirteen’s official Jockey Club registered name!
Not a member? Join Today!
Members, Watch Your Email for Instructions for the Voting Rounds
Round 1 (Top 12): March 28–30, 2025
Round 2 (Top 6): March 31–April 2, 2025
Final Voting (Winner): April 3–5, 2025
The name receiving the highest votes in the final round will become Thirteen’s official Jockey Club registered name!
Prize & Recognition
The participant who submits the winning name will receive special recognition, a commemorative gift from Horse Husband Stables, and lifetime bragging rights for naming Surprise’s final foal!
Jockey Club Naming Requirements
Please ensure your submissions qualify by reviewing these important naming guidelines:
Names must not exceed 18 letters (spaces and punctuation marks count as letters).
Names must not consist entirely of initials.
Names must not end in horse-related terms such as "filly," "colt," "mare," etc.
Names must not consist entirely of numbers, except if numbers above 30 are spelled out.
Names must not end with numerical designations like "2nd" or "3rd."
Names of living or deceased persons require appropriate permissions or approvals.
Names must not contain profanity, be offensive, or promote controversy.
Names must not be demeaning to horses or the racing industry.
Names must not currently be active in racing or breeding.
In the event The Jockey Club rejects the winning name, the contest winner remains unchanged, and the next highest-ranked name from final voting will be submitted until a name is approved.
Submission Period is Now Closed. Want to vote for the winner?
Submissions as of March 25, 2025 at 9:00pm EST
13 Surprise Tales
13th surprise
A Dozen and Won
A Tale of Thirteen
Apollos
B Silent
Bakers Dozen
Brave Silence
Changes
Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Echo of Silence
Eclipsed Thirteen
Elusive Brave Tale
Elusive Echo
Elusive Paws
Elusive Quality
Elusive Question
Elusive Silence
Elusive Silent Tale
Elusive Tale
Elusive Tales
Elusive Thirteen
Elusive Thirteenth
Elusive Weekend Cat
ElusiveEclipse
Elusivesilence
End of an Age
Exclusive Tales
Ezra
Fable Curiosity
Fabled Prize
Fearless Mystery
Final 13th child
Final Tale
Finale Cat
Fortnight
Four Paws
Four Surprises
He's a Charmer
HHS Hidden Tale
HHS Indy Cat
HHS Lucky Thirteen
HHS Quality Cat
HHS Secret Silence
HHS Thirteen
HHS Whispered Tale
Inquisitive Echo.
Intended Omission
Irish Surprise
Irish Tale
It'sasurprise Shh
JustSurpriseMe
Lucky Leap
Lucky Thirteen
LuckyThirteen
Michaela
Missing Rule
Mom is Done
My Thirteenth Tale
Myth13 Phantom
Not So Elusive
Plot Twist
Quality Silence
Quality Silent Sunday
Quality's Silent Tale
Ready or not Surprise!
Ready, Set, Surprise
RevelationThirteen
Rule of Thirteen
Secret Surprise
Shh He'sasurprise
Shh Ima Thirteen
Shh It'sasurprise
Shock Into Silence
Shock N Surprise
Silent Cat
Silent Curiosity
Silent Lucidity
Silent Surprise
Silently Chaotic
Silently Elusive
Singular Sensation
Sir Prize Silence
Sir Prized Purr
Sonny Surprise
Sunday Cat
Sunday Surprise
Surprise Cat
Surprise Catch
Surprise dancer
Surprise dynamo
Surprise ending
Surprise final thirteen
Surprise Silence
Surprise’s dasher
Surprise's Tale
Surprising Story
Swift Surprise
Swiftie
Take a Turn
Taken by Surprise
Tale of bnthirteen
Tale of Eluded Cat
Tale of Exclusivity
Tale of Kentucky
Tale of Quality
Tale of Silence
Tale of Surprise
Tale of Surprises
Tale of Swift
Tale of Thirteen
Tale of Thirteens
Tale Thirteen
TaleO'13Surprises
Tales of Surprise
Tales of Surprises
Testy McTesty
The 13th Chapter
The 13th Tail
The 13th Tale
The Elusive Son
The Final Frontier
The Final Surprise
The Silent Thirteen
The Torn Prince
TheTaleofThirteen
TheThirteenthTail
TheThirteenthTale
Thirteen
Thirteen and done
Thirteen and Final
Thirteen and Out
Thirteen Candles
Thirteen Dreams
Thirteen Reasons
Thirteen Secrets
Thirteen Sundays
Thirteen Surpises
Thirteen Surprises
Thirteen Tales
Thirteen tales of surprise
Thirteensthecharm
THIRTEENTALES
Thirteenth Cat
Thirteenth Chapter
Thirteenth Command
Thirteenth Moon
Thirteenth of Nove
Thirteenth Sunday
Thirteenth Surprise
Thirteenth Tale
Three One Three
Three Thirteen
Till the Darkness
Torn Prince
Unlucky for You
Unspoken Tale
Weekend Silence
Weekend Surprise
Whispered Bravery
Why not Thirteen
Wild 13
Windblaze
Wonderful Surprise
Wonderful Thirteen