Biondetti, Rivers Run Deep to stand in Ohio
Italian Group 1 winner Biondetti, Florida’s leading freshman sire of 2016, will relocate to continue his stallion career at Poplar Creek Horse Center in Bethel, Ohio. He is part of a duo of incoming stallions for the farm, with the other coming from much closer to home, as Ohio champion sprinter Rivers Run Deep retires for 2019.
Biondetti, who formerly stood at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick, Fla., had been entered in the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. Poplar Creek’s Robin Murphy moved to acquire the Bernardini stallion privately prior to sale time. Meanwhile, she also had secured Rivers Run Deep, by Ready’s Image, who last started in November at Fair Grounds for James Travis and Ywachetta Driver.
Rivers Run Deep, multiple times voted Ohio’s champion sprinter, finished his racing career with a record of 20-12-6 from 46 starts and earnings of $1,187,945. He won the Best of Ohio Sprint in 2014, 2015, and 2016, finished second by a nose in 2017, and was third in 2018 in his penultimate start. Overall, he recorded 14 stakes wins and an additional nine stakes placings.
Biondetti, who is from the immediate family of champion Royal Delta, won 3 of 9 starts, winning the Group 1 Gran Criterium in Italy as a juvenile and finishing second in the Group 3 Prix Messidor in France the following season. As a stallion, he is the sire of stakes winner Bella Vincenza and three other stakes-placed runners, including Mr Chocolate Chip, second in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor last year.
Poplar Creek will showcase its stallion roster, including its two newcomers, at an open house Jan. 19. In addition to the stallion show, the farm also will host a breeding seminar and an informational session on the Ohio race program.