Calumet continues to be Triple Crown participant
Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky., had a productive Triple Crown prep season with its 3-year-old crop, putting the storied operation in a position to be represented in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. Patch will close out the Triple Crown run for Calumet on Saturday, when he starts from post 12 in the Belmont Stakes.
Patch, the runner-up in the Louisiana Derby, was one of three Kentucky Derby starters for Calumet, alongside Hence, the winner of the Sunland Derby, and Sonneteer, who as a maiden ran second in the Rebel Stakes and fourth in the Arkansas Derby. Hence and Term of Art, who ran fourth in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and third in the San Felipe this winter at Santa Anita, started in the Preakness.
So far, the best Triple Crown race finish for Calumet this year was a ninth in the Preakness, courtesy of Hence.
Calumet long ago cemented its place in the breeding and racing communities when Whirlaway won the Triple Crown in 1941 and Citation swept the series in 1948. Fast forward to the present day, and victories in Triple Crown races continue to be the historic standard by which success is measured. Calumet, which boasts eight wins in the Kentucky Derby, registered its latest Triple Crown race win in 2013, when Oxbow captured the Preakness. It was the first classic under the farm’s newest ownership, led by Brad Kelley.
Calumet has several stallions and may be adding more. Hence, Sonneteer, and Patch are homebreds, while Term of Art was a yearling purchase at Keeneland September for $220,000. Hence is by Street Boss, Sonneteer by Midnight Lute, Patch by Union Rags, and Term of Art by Tiznow.