Freshman sire American Freedom strikes with first starter

Freshman sire American Freedom, standing at Airdrie Stud, had his first winner from his first starter as American Bound won her debut on opening day at Keeneland.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

American Freedom won the Grade 3 Iowa Derby and the Sir Barton Stakes. He was second to classic winner Exaggerator in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, and second to champion Arrogate in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. As a stallion, he has drawn interest because he is one of the final accomplished sons of Pulpit to go to stud.

Pulpit, an A.P. Indy stallion who died in late 2012 at age 18, became a prominent sire of sires. His son Tapit is a perennial leading sire and prominent classic sire, and has turned out successful sons at stud in his own right. The late Lucky Pulpit, another son of Pulpit, sired two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome; Sky Mesa is a consistently successful sire in Kentucky; and Mr Speaker sired Grade 1 winner Speech in his first crop. Pulpit has two sons in this freshman class in American Freedom and Grade 1 winner Lord Nelson at Spendthrift Farm.

Keeneland provides the first opportunity for 2-year-olds to race in North America. American Freedom joins Caravaggio as Kentucky freshmen to produce winners. Caravaggio, now standing at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud after beginning his career in Ireland, was represented by a debut winner at Naas.

The freshman sire Klimt, standing at Darby Dan, was represented by three runners at Keeneland on opening day, none of whom hit the board. Mastery, a Claiborne Farm freshman, also had an unplaced first starter. This week will bring the first entrants for Keen Ice and Connect. American Freedom, meanwhile, has his second entrant, Another Flat Drunk, on the Thursday card.