A maiden, Mr Ease 123 opened his career in the Heritage Place Futurity (G1) trials, then was second in his Rainbow Futurity (G1) trial to qualifier Hez Our Secret.

Carolyn Bay of Clare, Michigan, races horses in her own name and in the name of her T. Bill Stables – named in honor of her first horse. Her runners include two-time Grade 1 winner Cold Cash 123 and Grade 3 winner Fanci Ending 123. Cold Cash 123, the Rainbow Derby (G1) winner, is the fastest qualifier to the All American Derby (G1).

Mr Ease 123 is a homebred out of her homebred mare Barbs Beduino 123.

“This doesn’t make a bit of difference, they don’t have to be beautiful to run,” Bay said. “But he happens to be just a beautiful 2-year-old. He happens to be one of my favorites. He’s been good-looking, and a dominant baby ever since he was born.”

Mr Ease 123 got his name when farm helper and volunteer Joan Roberts, who loves to help with the newborn foals, brought her non-horsey husband, Mike Roberts, out to see the foals. Joan reported that Mike really liked the colt, and so Bay added his initials – MR.

The “123” designation at the end of the horses’ names indicates an old family story – when Bay’s parents began dating, they did not have the approval of their families, so they used the numbers as a code for “I love you.” It became part of the family lore, and part of the horses’ names.

Sire Holland Ease is a 22-year-old son of First Down Dash and the sire of Corona Cartel (who sired four of the All American Futurity finalists). A Grade 1 winner on the track, Holland Ease has from 16 crops sired the earners of more than $11.7 million. They include 367 winners from 617 starters, 41 stakes winners, and champion Haulin Pass. Barbs Beduino 123 is a homebred for Bay, and like All American Derby fastest qualifier Cold Cash 123, traces to the stock that was owned by Walter and Barbara Conley of Remus, Michigan. Bay bought or was given horses from their program, including Tiny Lou Etta. The Tiny’s Gay mare is the third dam of both Mr Ease 123 and Cold Cash 123.

Barbs Beduino 123 is named in honor of Barbara, who picked the filly out as her favorite of that year’s crop. The winning Chicks Beduino mare has produced three winners from four starters, including stakes winner Shadaisy 123 (by Shazoom, $60,203). Bay uses the Q-Racing Journal's Successful Crosses, published every December, and noticed the success Chicks Beduino mares had crossed on Holland Ease. A letter sent out from Lazy E Ranch (where the stallion stood at the time) reinforced the decision to breed to the stallion.