Speightster could prove worthy heir for sire

Speightstown has long been a stalwart sire for WinStar Farm – and the farm may have a worthy heir in first-crop yearling sire Speightster, who has proven popular early in his career.

Speightstown was the Eclipse Award champion sprinter of 2004 and entered stud the following year, and his career standouts include Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz and Grade 1/Group 1-winning millionaires Force the Pass, Golden Ticket, Haynesfield, and Reynaldothewizard. Through July 15, Speightstown led Daily Racing Form’s Beyer Sire Performance Standings with four individual runners to record Beyer Speed Figures of 100 or higher. Those were led by Qurbaan, who posted a 103 when he was a narrow second to Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Speightstown’s other top runners this season include graded stakes winners Bobby’s Wicked One and Lexitonian.

Speightstown has three yearlings cataloged for the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale – as does his son Speightster, who will be looking to build on a successful start to his commercial career. Speightster was represented by a $285,000 colt sold to Robert and Lawana Low at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky summer selected yearling sale in July, the fourth-highest price of the day for a first-crop yearling sire, and the sixth-highest price of the sale overall.

Speightster won three of his four career starts while racing as a homebred for WinStar, including the Grade 3 Dwyer.

He covered a sizeable book of 174 mares in his first season, according to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred.