Flashback retired to Hill 'n' Dale

Grade 2 winner Flashback has been retired from racing and will make his stallion debut in 2015 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky.

The 4-year-old son of Tapit finishes his career with two wins in seven starts for earnings of $405,730. His showcase victory came in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, with placings in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes that spring. In his final outing, he finished third in the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap earlier this month.

Owners Gary and Mary West purchased the colt as a weanling for $260,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. He was trained for the majority of his career by Bob Baffert, and made one start this year for Wayne Catalano.

“We will be supporting Flashback with carefully chosen mares we own and will purchase mares specifically to breed to him,” said Gary West. “We are all-in on Flashback as well as our other stallions and will unveil an innovative incentive-laden program in the coming days to let breeders know how much we covet their support and stand with them when they breed to our stallions.

“Between [Hill ‘n’ Dale stallions] Flashback, New Year’s Day and Power Broker, we offer promising Grade 1 stallions with superb race records and pedigrees at unrivaled value,” he continued.

Bred in Kentucky by William Andrade M.D. and Michael Hernon, Flashback is out of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Rhumb Line. The mare has developed a reputation for her success when bred to Tapit, with the cross producing Flashback, as well as Grade 1 winner Zazu; Farraaj, who brought $1.6 million at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March selected sale of 2-year-olds in training; and a $975,000 colt who finished under his reserve at this year’s Keeneland September yearling sale.

In total, Rhumb Line is the dam of four winners from five foals to race, also including stakes winner Corinthian’s Jewel and Group 2-placed Art Princess.

“Flashback is an extremely athletic and smooth horse,” said John G. Sikura of Hill ‘n’ Dale farm. “He is a great physical horse with brilliance, pedigree and by Tapit, the most important sire in North America. Combined with the Wests’ commitment to both support the horse and incentivize breeders, we think he will be a standout choice in the marketplace and have every chance to become an important sire.”

Flashback is currently available for inspection at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm.