Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle standing stud at Buck Pond Farm
Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle arrived this week at Buck Pond Farm in Versailles, Ky., where he will debut at stud this breeding season, which recently got underway.
Hog Creek Hustle, a 6-year-old son of Overanalyze who earned $774,546, last raced when fourth in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on the 2021 Kentucky Derby undercard, beaten less than a length by Flagstaff, Lexitonian, and Whitmore. He subsequently had a bone fragment removed by Dr. Larry Bramlage, and had resumed training on Jan. 1, according to owner Patty Tipton of the Something Special Racing partnership.
"He was doing fabulous, and then he came up with another small issue, and we decided not to push him any farther," Tipton said.
"He's been a joy to be around. He's brought us so much fun."
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Trained throughout his career by Vickie Foley, Hog Creek Hustle had his best season of racing at age 3. He was second to eventual 2019 Preakness winner War of Will in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes, and was second in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard. He broke through with a neck victory in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard for his biggest career score. In New York’s other major Grade 1 event for 3-year-old sprinters, he was second by a nose to Mind Control in the H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga.
Hog Creek Hustle is the latest high-profile retiree in a difficult position timing-wise this season, with breeding sheds opening around Valentine’s Day or slightly earlier. Tipton says she has focused on marketing the horse online with stallion registers and pedigree services.
"I wanted to be sure I didn't miss anything," Tipton said. "We're also doing some networking, and I called just about everybody I knew in the horse world."
Tipton said Hog Creek Hustle’s physique helps him stand out as a stallion prospect.
“He’s very regal and majestic-looking,” she said. “He’s always had that look about him. He’s just well put together. And he’s run with the best horses in the country.”