Skywire could be the latest Queen's Plate prospect from one of Canada's most prolific female families, which has a long record of classic success. The unraced Meandering Stream, the dam of four winners from as many starters, is a full sister to stakes winner Surging River, plus a half-sister to several stakes producers. That makes Skywire's third dam No Class, the pivot point for an outstanding classic family.
Multiple Grade 1 winners Beholder, Close Hatches, and Princess of Sylmar faced off five years ago in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes. Now they are all on to their second careers as broodmares, and one of them will have an entrant in this year’s Belmont Stakes.
Manitoba is not exactly an epicenter of Thoroughbred breeding. Yet Manitoba-bred Escape Clause has emerged from the relative handful of foals produced in the province to become a graded stakes winner.
Grade 1 winner Geri was euthanized on May 25 at Park Equine Hospital in Versailles, Ky., due to complications from colic.
The internationally successful sire Scat Daddy made headlines in the American classics last year as his unbeaten son Justify swept the American Triple Crown. The late sire now has a runner from his final crop eyeing the Canadian classics in Federal Law, who already is well traveled. The gelding was a winner in England as a juvenile and recently broke through with a win in the Queenston Stakes in Canada for owner Qatar Racing.
Claiborne Farm has purchased an interest in Catholic Boy and will stand him upon retirement, the farm announced Tuesday via press release.
Jump Start, a perennial leading sire in Pennsylvania, was euthanized on May 19 at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center due to complications from colitis. The son of A.P. Indy was 20.
The off-the-track Thoroughbred Witch Hunter took a star turn on Preakness Stakes Day at Pimlico, as the Adena Springs homebred and winning racehorse was the outrider pony who helped snag Bodexpress.
Brad Kelley's Calumet Farm enjoyed a solid day Saturday, with Preakness Stakes runner-up Everfast preceded by a pair of homebred stakes winners onthe card.
The late classic sire Smart Strike sired a pair of Preakness Stakes winners in Curlin (2007) and Lookin At Lucky (2010). The stallion's influence was strongly present at Pimlico this Preakness Stakes weekend, with Curlin siring three graded stakes winners on Friday's card and another champion son of Smart Strike, English Channel, represented by a pair of stakes winners Saturday.
