Stakes-placed Thirstforlife becomes first U.S. winner for freshman sire Stay Thirsty

Freshman sire Stay Thirsty was represented by his first winner in the U.S. when previously stakes-placed Thirstforlife, his first starter, came back in a $45,173 maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs on June 4 and won as much the best at odds of 1-10.

Owned by Gary Barber and St. Elias Stable and trained by Mark Casse, Thirstforlife got away from the gate well this time and sat right off the early pace. He took the lead when asked and drew away in the stretch to a 6 1/2-length victory under Robby Albarado in the final time of :57.59 for the five furlongs. In his career debut on May 5 in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill, Thirstforlife dwelt at the start, losing all chance, but rallied strongly in the stretch to finish third, beaten just two lengths.

Stay Thirsty’s first winner came in England on May 31 when the filly Cheval Blanche won a maiden race at Redcar.

From his first crop of 90 foals, Stay Thirsty has had four starters and two winners. He stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., for a fee of $10,000.

Stay Thirsty, by Bernardini out of Marozia, by Storm Bird, was campaigned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher after being purchased for $500,000 as a 2-year-old at the Fasig-Tipton Florida March sale. He won five of 17 starts and earned $1,936,000 while running from ages 2 to 4.

He was second in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 2 and in his first start at 3 won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes. He did his best running later at 3 when winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers Stakes. In his last career start, he won the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap.