Stay Thirsty sires his first stakes winner

Freshman sire Stay Thirsty was represented by his first stakes winner today when the Ohio-bred 2-year-old colt Jocker Justice won the $75,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes at Thistledown, breaking his maiden in the process. He had been second in his first two starts, including last out in the Hoover Stakes, at Belterra Park.

Jocker Justice, a homebred for Justice Farm and trained by Aaron West, is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Erica’s Melody. In the six-furlong Cleveland Kindergarten, Jocker Justice under Eduardo Perez was fifth early in the eight-horse field, though never far back, circled the field on the turn, took the lead at the quarter pole, and held off even-money favorite Cake Pop late to win by a head. He completed the race in 1:12.82.

Jockey Justice, the third choice at 7-2, had been second, by 1 1/4 lengths both times, to Cake Pop in his first two starts. He got a new rider in the Cleveland Kindergarten. He earned $45,000 for the victory, increasing his earnings to $62,050.

Erica’s Melody has produced seven foals and four winners, including stakes-placed Jasmine’s Melody, at Emerald Downs. Unraced Erica’s Melody is a half-sister to stakes winner and $510,985-earner Reno Rumble (by Vigors), stakes winner and $246,592-earner Beg Borrow N Steal (by Sham), and minor stakes winner Rodman (by Apalachee).

Stay Thirsty has two stakes horses in his first crop of racing age. His first starter, Thirstforlife, was third in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs in his career debut, and has since won.

From his first crop of 90 foals, Stay Thirsty has had 18 starters and four 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.