Here’s a bold statement: sometimes, the most unlikely horses can dream the biggest dreams—and even make them come true. Meet Layabout, a quirky gelding with a knack for keeping things interesting, both on and off the track. While the $125,000 Tropical Park Derby might not have been the most high-profile race on December 13th, it was the one that had Kevin Doyle and his stable manager, Andy Smith, on the edge of their seats—all the way from London. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite his oddities and early struggles, Layabout isn’t just a horse with potential—he’s a horse with connections, and those connections are dreaming big. Very big.
As Doyle and Smith watched their 3-year-old Kentucky homebred surge to the lead in the final sixteenth of the race, they held their breath. Layabout narrowly held off a late challenge from Tiz Dashing, winning by the slimmest of margins—a nose. The victory wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Once the photo confirmed their triumph and the trophy was presented in Gulfstream Park’s winner’s circle, the duo received a call from trainer Patrick Biancone. Smith recalled with a laugh, ‘On to the next one. January 24, we’re hoping for.’
January 24th marks the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1T), an ambitious target for a still-developing gelding. And this is the part most people miss: Layabout isn’t just aiming for domestic success—he’s being groomed for international stardom, with sights set on races in the Middle East later in the year. For Doyle’s Scotland-based Newbyth Stud operation, these goals are more than just dreams—they’re potential game-changers.
Doyle, a long-time player in the entertainment and property industries, has always had a soft spot for Thoroughbred breeding. While he keeps a few mares at Floors Castle in Scotland, his real action is in Kentucky, where two or three mares are under the watchful eye of Peter O’Callaghan at Woods Edge Farm. ‘He’s quite deep into the business, but he’s more an investor than anything else,’ Smith explained. ‘He enjoys it, and we try to make a few dollars when we can. He likes a turnover.’
Doyle’s American bloodstock ventures have been notable. He was an original owner of Trolley Song, the dam of 1995 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and influential sire Unbridled’s Song. He also bred War Plan, a grade 3-placed runner who fetched $700,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Currently, one of his Woods Edge mares is Batalla Sindical, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Big Brown who raced in Argentina. Smith was drawn to her pedigree, as she’s a half-sister to 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Blue Prize, both out of the mare Blues For Sale. Her value was further cemented when another half-sister, Blue Stripe, won the 2022 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) before narrowly losing the Distaff by a nose.
Layabout’s conception was a twist of fate. Due to COVID-19 delays, Batalla Sindical missed her original stallion booking. Smith considered Uncle Mo but settled on his son, Laoban, after a friend’s suggestion. Batalla Sindical was later entered in the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale while carrying Layabout, but she RNA’d for $130,000 due to a cyst. In hindsight, this was a stroke of luck—when a promising colt was born, Doyle and Smith decided to train him themselves.
Layabout’s early training was perplexing. Under Brian Lynch, he made three starts on Gulfstream Park’s dirt without a win, though he showed speed in the mornings and faced tough competition, including future Preakness Stakes (G1) starters River Thames and Gosger. ‘He’s a bit of a strange horse,’ Smith admitted. ‘When he hits the front, he stops like a stone. He’s awkward in the gate, awkward in the mornings.’
After Lynch returned to Kentucky, Smith turned to Biancone, explaining, ‘We can’t get him to go.’ Biancone’s approach? Treating Layabout like a child, with patience and TLC. The results speak for themselves: Layabout broke his maiden on synthetic before scoring two turf wins, including the Bear’s Den Stakes. A fourth-place finish in the $2 million Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs and a near-miss in the Showing Up Stakes at Gulfstream further showcased his talent.
Here’s the real question: Can Layabout overcome his quirks to compete at the highest level? Junior Alvarado, who rode him to victory in the Tropical Park Derby, believes so. ‘He’s a really good horse,’ Alvarado said. With three wins in four starts on Gulfstream’s turf, the team is hopeful for a Pegasus Turf invitation—and beyond. ‘We think he’s better than his results,’ Smith said. ‘We’ve got quite a lot to come.’
Newbyth Stud’s future looks bright, with Batalla Sindical’s 2-year-old Cupid filly, a Practical Joke yearling, and a ‘beautiful’ Gunite foal in the pipeline. The mare is in foal to Gunite again, ensuring the legacy continues. But what do you think? Can Layabout live up to the hype, or will his quirks hold him back? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
