Breeders split half the $300,000 pot in Spendthrift Stallion Stakes

Spendthrift Farm has pioneered a number of breeder incentive programs in the last several years, with its Share the Upside and Breed Secure programs helping to make its stallions among the most active in the country.

That level of participation has carried over to the Kentucky-based breeding operation’s latest venture, the $300,000 Spendthrift Stallion Stakes – which has drawn a full field of 14 for its inaugural running Sunday on opening day at Churchill Downs.

The seven-furlong race is restricted to juveniles sired by stallions who have stood for Spendthrift since 2013. (In addition to its Kentucky base, the farm stands stallions in regional markets, including Louisiana, Maryland, New York, and Ontario.) Half the purse will go to the owners of the top finishers, with the other half allocated to the breeders of the first- through fourth-place finishers.

Nine of the 14 entrants are by the popular young sire Into Mischief, who covered the second-most mares in the country in 2016, according to statistics provided by the Jockey Club. That group includes likely favorite Cool Arrow, winner of the Kip Deville Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths in late September at Remington Park. That was his first start since mid-July after having throat surgery to correct a minor breathing issue.

“For him to run that big of an effort, I think he’ll definitely improve off of that,” trainer Joe Sharp said. “He’s come back and trained fantastic at Trackside. We’re really looking forward to Sunday. I don’t think the seven-eighths will be an issue.”

All Right, who will be making his first start on dirt, is also a stakes veteran in his nascent career. A son of Dominus trained by Kellyn Gorder, All Right won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile before finishing ninth against graded stakes company in the Bourbon at Keeneland.

Warrior’s Club, by Warrior’s Reward, is still a maiden after five starts, but has hit the board several times, including a runner-up effort at Keeneland which earned the top last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the field. He is trained by Wayne Lukas for the Churchill Downs Racing Club, a group launched by the track to provide fans with a low-cost experience with racehorse ownership.

Spendthrift Stallion, Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Cool Arrow, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 73-67-65

◗ He is stretching out from six to seven furlongs off stakes win at Remington.

◗ Only four horses in this field – Cool Arrow, Warrior’s Club, Candy Snatcher, and South Sea – have earned Beyers higher than 70; Cool Arrow has run two of those.

Warrior’s Club, by Warrior’s Reward

Last 3 Beyers: 77-59-61

◗ Maiden owns the highest Beyer in this field with his last-out 77 when second in a Keeneland maiden race.

South Sea, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 71-61-65

◗ A Juddmonte homebred trained by Bill Mott, he has tangled with solid company in New York. He comes off a maiden win at Belmont in early October.