For half a century, John Ed Anthony has won some of the sport’s most important races. Now he is taking aim at the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with homebred hopeful Quietside, who has been training at Keeneland after winning Oaklawn Park’s Fantasy (G2) on March 29.

Quietside, who is trained by John Ortiz, has three wins, three seconds – including Keeneland’s Darley Alcibiades (G1) last October – and one third from seven starts and has earned $957,200. She is expected to have a timed workout at Keeneland on Friday and ship to Churchill Downs that afternoon.

Anthony, 88, and his wife, Isabell, breed and race horses as Shortleaf Stable (the operation previously was called Loblolly Stable. Both names are species of pine trees, a nod to Anthony’s Arkansas-based lumber business.) The list of outstanding Loblolly homebreds includes champion Prairie Bayou, who won the 1993 Blue Grass (then Grade 2) at Keeneland en route to his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby and victory in the Preakness (G1); 1992 Preakness winner Pine Bluff; and champion Vanlandingham. Anthony won the 1980 Belmont (G1) with champion Temperence Hill, who he had purchased privately. 

Also known for breeding Arkansas-breds to capitalize on lucrative bonuses for horses born in the state, Anthony prefers breeding his own runners. His connection to Quietside began in 2015, when he purchased her dam, a daughter of Speightstown, at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale. Isabell named the filly Benner Island for the private Maine island where the Anthonys have vacationed, and she became a Grade 2 winner who was Grade 1-placed. She named Quietside for another Maine vacation area.

“My job is to name the fillies,” Isabell Anthony said.

The Anthonys plan to bring a cheering section to the Oaks and hope to improve on the second-place Oaks finish of Hometown Queen in 1987.

“We’ll be there with bells on. We’ll have about 40 family members with us to cheer,” said John Ed. “I have been pleased and surprised by Quietside. But it’s a lot more pressure when you have a favorite instead of a longshot. We’re excited.”