The Lieutenant, a half-brother to Justify, retired to Sequel Stallions
The Lieutenant, a graded stakes-winning half-brother to unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify, has been retired and will begin his stud career at Sequel Stallions in Hudson, N.Y.
The Lieutenant, by Street Sense and out of the Grade 3-placed Ghostzapper mare Stage Magic, will stand for an introductory fee of $6,500 at Sequel. Justify is, of course, set to begin his stud career at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky for $150,000, making the son of Scat Daddy the most expensive incoming stallion on the continent.
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"Justify is a very special horse,” Sequel’s Becky Thomas said. "When the opportunity presented itself to stand his brother in New York, I just couldn't pass it up. Standing brothers of famous horses has served me very well. Giant's Causeway's brother Freud has become the very cornerstone of the breeding program in New York.”
The Lieutenant, bred by Glennwood Farm, was a $185,000 purchase by trainer Mike McCarthy out of the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s March sale of 2-year-olds in training. He emerged with his best season of racing this year at age 5, winning the Grade 3 All American Stakes in May at Golden Gate. He also finished second to Diversify in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap, was third in the Grade 2 Californian, and finished second in the Santana Mile. He retires with an overall record of 15-4-2-1 and earnings of $345,882.
“His looks, mechanics and desire to train reminded me of some of the most talented horses I had ever been around, before an unfortunate injury after the Suburban Handicap ultimately curtailed his career,” McCarthy said in a release issued by Sequel. “I’ll miss watching him train in lock step with [Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner] City of Light and was sure he was geared up to make some noise in the fall schedule’s biggest races. I have no doubt that his looks, heart and strong female family will be a bonus to the New York breeders for years to come.”