Clearsky Farm takes fast track to Breeders' Cup

After watching its breeding program graduate Arrogate defeat California Chrome in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic, this year, Clearsky Farm will be in the middle of the action as the event comes to Del Mar.

In addition to the defending Classic winner, Clearsky, a finalist for last year’s Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder, bred two prominent contenders for this year’s Breeders’ Cup: Distaff contender Abel Tasman and Juvenile Turf hopeful Untamed Domain. Clearsky also co-owns Abel Tasman, who won this year’s Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, and Coaching Club American Oaks, with another rising entity, China Horse Club.

Clearsky was established in 2009 by the late Eamon Cleary and is run by his sons Bernard and Eamonn, along with farm manager Barry Robinette. Despite maintaining a smaller band of broodmares than many other major enterprises, the farm has reached the pinnacle in less than a decade.

Clearsky bred and sold 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day, whose half-brother Mohaymen co-topped the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale at $2.2 million and went on to be a four-time Grade 2 winner. At the same sale, Clearsky consigned the yearling Arrogate, with Juddmonte Farms purchasing him for $560,000. That looks like a bargain now that Arrogate has banked $17,302,600, thanks to victories in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes, $6 million Classic, $12 million Pegasus World Cup, and $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Other standouts bred by Clearsky have included Grade 1 winner and Eclipse finalist Lord Nelson and graded stakes winner Firing Line, second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

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