Alphabet Soup, Touch Gold return to Adena Springs Kentucky

Alphabet Soup and Touch Gold have returned to Adena Springs Kentucky in Paris, Ky., to stand the 2014 breeding season for fees yet to be announced.

The two stallions stood the past three seasons at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“We would like to thank Joe and Anne and the entire McMahon family for the wonderful job they did in standing these stallions during the past three seasons”, said Adena Springs’ General Manager, Eric Hamelback. “We really appreciate their efforts and their horsemanship and we are very grateful to the New York breeders for their support of both stallions. We look forward to making both of them available to the Kentucky market once again.”

Alphabet Soup, a 22-year-old Cozzene horse, retired to stud at Adena in Kentucky for the 1998 breeding season, and stood there until 2010. He relocated to stand one season at Adena Springs’ Ontario facility before moving to New York.

Alphabet Soup was a 10-time winner in 24 starts during his racing career for earnings of $2,990,270, highlighted by his victory in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He also won five other Grade 2 or Grade 3 races during his four seasons of racing.

At stud, Alphabet Soup is represented by 13 crops of racing age, led by Canadian champion Phantom Light, Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Our New Recruit, Grade 1 winner Alphabet Kisses, Grade 2 winners Leprechaun Kid and Alpha Bettor, and Grade 3 winners Fugutive Angel, Beautiful Bets, Silver Whistle, Watchem Smokey, Mark One, and M B Sea.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, Alphabet Soup is out of Grade 3-winning Arts and Letters mare Illiterate, who produced 11 winners from as many foals to race, including multiple stakes-placed winner Starsawhirl.

Touch Gold, a 19-year-old Deputy Minister horse, stood his first season in 1999, remaining at Adena Springs Kentucky until moving to New York for the 2011 season. The 1997 Belmont Stakes was one of six wins from 15 starts for Touch Gold, compiling earnings of $1,679,907. His sophomore campaign also included wins in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Handicap and the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes.

Touch Gold is represented by 12 crops of racing age, highlighted by Grade 1 winners Seek Gold, Composure, Midas Eyes, and Mass Media, Grade 2 winners Sugar Swirl, Sharp Susan, and Medallist, Grade/Group 3 winners Ferrari Pisa, Ready Set, and Region of Merit, and Canadian classic winner Royal Challenger.

Bred in Kentucky by Holtsinger, Inc., Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, and Star Stable, Touch Gold is out of 1989 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Passing Mood, who was a stakes-winning daughter of Buckpasser. Her six winners from seven foals to race include 1989 Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval, Grade 1-placed stakes winner Daijin, stakes winners Bar U Mood and Sweeping Change and stakes-placed winner Launch Key.