War Front-Tapit cross strikes with Halladay

Tapit and War Front are both standouts in the North American sire ranks and have been rivals atop the commercial leaderboard. The two stallions are starting to combine for success together as well, with recent stakes winner Halladay one example of their lines being crossed.

Halladay, a 4-year-old War Front colt out of the Grade 3-winning Tapit mare Hightap, won the Sunshine Forever Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. It was his second stakes win, as he previously took the Tropical Park Derby in December at Gulfstream. He placed in a pair of stakes last fall in New York.

Tapit entered stud in 2005 at Gainesway, and War Front entered stud in 2007 at Claiborne Farm. Both are relatively early in the curve of their careers as far as second-generation progeny. For example, the first sons to stud for both had their first runners just in 2016. Therefore, the numbers from crossing these two stallions together are still scant – but they have shown promise. Mares by Tapit have produced five winners by War Front, led by multiple stakes winner Halladay and French Group 3 winner Munitions. Tapit’s daughters also have produced multiple graded stakes winner Silver Prospector, by War Front’s son Declaration of War, and minor stakes-placed Fashion Fact and Thatsafactjack, both by War Front’s son The Factor.

War Front is earlier in his career as a broodmare sire, as he entered stud after Tapit, and crossing Tapit over War Front mares has produced just one winner. Meanwhile, Specially, who is by Tapit’s son Tapiture and out of the War Front mare Peace Process. She was second by a half-length in this year’s Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn.

Bolt d’Oro won’t shuttle in 2020

Bolt d’Oro will not shuttle from Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky to Spendthrift Australia this year. It was first reported by the Racing Post in March that the second-year stallion had been taken out of breeding shed service for two days early in this season after displaying aggression. An equine behaviorist suggested changes in his routine, and Bolt d’Oro has since returned to service without incident.

“We are disappointed to announce that Bolt d’Oro will not shuttle to Australia in 2020 due to him not handling the shuttle process last season,” Spendthrift Australia general manager Gary Cuddy wrote on social media. “Our decision has been made with the welfare of the horse in mind.”

Bolt d’Oro, a multiple Grade 1 winner as a juvenile, covered 214 mares in his first Kentucky season in 2019 before covering 104 mares in Australia. His first book in Kentucky was highlighted by Lotta Kim, dam of Hall of Fame racemare Rachel Alexandra. This season, he covered Spendthrift’s four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder.

◗ Two of this season’s most highly anticipated freshman sires had their respective first starters finish on the board in maiden special weights last week at Gulfstream Park.

Restored Order, by multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted, finished a green third as the favorite in his debut Friday, lugging in in the stretch while beaten a neck for second.

One day later, Breakthrough, by Kentucky Derby winner and juvenile champion Nyquist, also finished third as the favorite in his race, weakening late after dueling early for the lead.

Both Frosted, by emerging sire of sires Tapit, and Nyquist, the first son of Uncle Mo with a starter, stand at Darley.