Forbidden Kingdom possible to race again before stud deal next year

ARCADIA, Calif. – Forbidden Kingdom, the winner of three Grade 2 stakes, was sold for $310,000 during the Fasig-Tipton digital sale last week as a stallion prospect for 2025.

But the 5-year-old’s racing career may not be finished, trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday. Forbidden Kingdom may have additional starts later this year after a short-term vacation at Pete Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, where the horse will be based as a stallion.

“We’ll give him a little rest and we might try him again before breeding season and see how it goes,” Mandella said.

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Forbidden Kingdom, the most expensive hip of the sale, was previously owned by My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm and was sold to dissolve the partnership. Forbidden Kingdom, by American Pharoah, has won 4 of 13 starts and earned $680,000.

In 2022, Forbidden Kingdom won consecutive starts in Grade 2 stakes at Santa Anita – the San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs and the San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles – before he finished last of six as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April of that year.

Last December, in his first start since May of 2023, Forbidden Kingdom won the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.

At times in his career, Forbidden Kingdom was sidelined by a throat ailment, colic, and a sore foot.

“He’s had some health problems that got in his way,” Mandella said. “He’s a good stallion prospect for California.”

Forbidden Kingdom was purchased as a yearling for $300,000.

In his most recent start, Forbidden Kingdom finished last of seven in the Grade 3 Kona Gold Stakes at six furlongs on dirt at Santa Anita on April 27, his lone race this year.

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