War Front, one of the biggest names in the North American sire ranks, took to the battlefield at Saratoga Race Course last weekend – and he brought the troops with him. The standout commercial and racetrack sire and his sons combined for seven wins in the first four days of racing at Saratoga, from Thursday through Sunday.
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Art Collector
War of Will joined an elite club with his narrow victory in last Friday's Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile on the Keeneland turf. The 2019 Preakness Stakes winner, War of Will is the third horse to win both an American classic and a Grade 1 race on the turf, joining the legendary Secretariat and the popular California Chrome.
While champion Monomoy Girl was returning to graded stakes company with a victory in the Grade 2 Ruffian on Saturday at Belmont, and Project Whiskey was earning 50 points toward the Oaks with a victory in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 4, their sire, Tapizar, was continuing to develop his eclectic career as a sire of international classic winners. Ta;pizar is the sire of Bullof Wall Street, winner of Sunday's Swedish Derby.
Regally bred Grade 1 winner Mr Speaker faced a hurdle early in his stud career, as he had to reintroduce himself to Kentucky breeders following an extended shuttle stint to Chile. His first-crop daughter Speech is doing her best to keep him in the discussion, as she made a statement with a three-length victory in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.
Grade 1 winner Tom's d'Etat will stand at WinStar Farm upon his eventual retirement from racing, according to a press release, giving the Kentucky operation likely the last significant son of the late leading sire Smart Strike to come to stud.
Eclipse Award champion sprinter Runhappy sired his first winner as Libertyrun rolled to a 6 1/4-length victory Wednesday at Indiana Grand.
Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Swiss Skydiver
Spendthrift Farm has acquired the future breeding rights to Vekoma, who captured the Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap last Saturday at Belmont Park.
The Metropolitan Handicap has a history of being a stallion-making race because it showcases the brilliance that is so desired in the American market. Vekoma remained unbeaten in his 4-year-old season with a victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan at Belmont Park, and with a pedigree that sports several successful sires, he sports solid credentials to become a top sire himself.
