Carrumba was a fine racemare, carrying the iconic Phipps Stable black silks with cherry cap to victory four times, highlighted by the Grade 3 Top Flight Invitational Handicap in 2016. She only missed the board twice in 15 starts, and her seven additional graded stakes placings included, fittingly, a third in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes in 2016 at Belmont Park.
Not only did the great Curlin complete his personal Triple Crown with Golden Tempo’s victory in the Kentucky Derby, having now sired a winner of each of the Triple Crown races, he had a unique Derby trifecta that showcases his multi-generational influence. Golden Tempo edged Renegade, who is out of a Curlin mare. Third-place finisher Ocelli is by Curlin’s son Connect, as Curlin continues to emerge as a sire of sires.
Spendthrift Farm’s orange and purple silks will be carried by just one horse in the Kentucky Derby. But, in addition to focusing on dominant Blue Grass winner Further Ado, the farm’s principals could be forgiven if their eyes stray elsewhere in the big field on Saturday.
Four Kentucky Derby entrants are from the first crops of their respective sires, which could give a big leg up to young stallions still building their résumés.
The four, all in the main body of the field, from the inside of the gate out, are Albus, by Yaupon (who stands at Spendthrift Farm); Danon Bourbon, by Maxfield (Darley); The Puma, by Essential Quality (Darley); and Silent Tactic, by Tacitus (Taylor Made Farm).
Two-time Horse of the Year and classic sire Curlin will not cover mares for the remainder of the breeding season after developing an ulcer and a brief illness. The 22-year-old son of Smart Strike stands at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Paris, Ky., which is hopeful that the stallion will be able to return to service in 2027.
The story was first reported by the Thoroughbred Daily News. Hill 'n' Dale owner John Sikura told the TDN that Curlin exhibited discomfort about 10 days ago, and an ulcer was found outside of his stomach, an unusual location.
Pavlovian
Pavel – Mandy’s Grace, by Bellamy Road
Bred in California by Reddam Racing
J. Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill have teamed to win the Kentucky Derby twice, in 2012 with I’ll Have Another and 2016 with Nyquist. Their hopeful this year is California-bred homebred Pavlovian, whose sire and dam were both trained by O’Neill for Reddam.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Frosted, whose top-level wins included a dazzling score in the 2016 Metropolitan Handicap, was euthanized Wednesday after developing laminitis. The son of Tapit was 14.
Frosted raced as a homebred for Godolphin and stood under the operation's Darley stallions banner. The farm termed his development of laminitis an “acute episode” in a release issued Wednesday.
Renegade
Into Mischief – Spice Is Nice, by Curlin
Bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low ($975,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable)
Renegade’s performance in the Arkansas Derby made him the early Kentucky Derby favorite. He has a pedigree befitting a Derby favorite, as he is by one of the leading sires in the race’s history and from a strong female family with plenty of two-turn success.
The late mare Crowned, dam of 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, was honored as Kentucky’s Broodmare of the Year as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) presented their annual awards on April 10 in Lexington, Ky.
The Broodmare of the Year award, first presented in 1946, is the oldest of the KTOB awards, and considered one of the most prestigious accomplishments in Thoroughbred bloodstock.
The late mare Crowned, dam of 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, was honored as Kentucky's Broodmare of the Year as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) presented their annual awards Friday night in Lexington, Ky.
The Broodmare of the Year award, first presented in 1946, is the oldest of the KTOB awards, and considered one of the most prestigious accomplishments in Thoroughbred bloodstock.
