Blue Point, who turned in the superb accomplishment of winning two Group 1 races at the Royal Ascot meeting last week, has been retired. He will enter stud in the 2020 season at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England.
Blue Point, by Shamardal, had already been slated to retire at the end of this season for 2020.
The North American 2-year-old auction season has wrapped up, and the major summer race meetings at Del Mar and Saratoga, which traditionally unveil standout juveniles, are on the horizon. Many of this season’s top lots are in training with an eye toward those race meets – including the three top-priced juveniles of the season.
Rising Star
Ghostzapper–Purple Trillium, by Seeking the Gold
Bred in Ontario by William D. Graham ($325,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Fox Hill Farm)
Queen’s Plate hopeful Rising Star will attempt to give his sire a third winner of the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
It is far too early in the 2-year-old racing season to predict who will claim the freshman sire title in a strong group led by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. However, the Florida-based Khozan is off to a flying start.
The late Scat Daddy’s best sons, including Triple Crown winner Justify, have come to stud in the last two years, but those already with young runners on the track are setting the bar high.
Desert Ride
Candy Ride - Fun in the Desert, by Distorted Humor
Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm
Woodbine Oaks winner Desert Ride, who races as a homebred for storied Sam-Son Farm, sports an outstanding classic-type pedigree laden with stamina on both sides of her page.
Dual Grade 1 winner and dual classic-placed Menifee, who became a prominent sire for the growing Korean breeding industry, has died. The 23-year-old Harlan horse died June 13 from a reported heart attack at the KRA Stud Farm on Jeju Island, according to Alastair Middleton of the Korean Racing Authority on the Horse Racing in Korea website.
World of Trouble, a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, will enter stud in 2021 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky alongside his sire, Kantharos.
The farm announced the deal Wednesday for the 4-year-old colt, who is campaigned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables. The partnership will continue to race the horse through 2020. BSW Bloodstock represented both the partnership and Hill 'n' Dale on the stallion deal.
Sir Winston’s Belmont Stakes victory was an awesome result for his sire . . . again.
Sir Winston became the second American classic winner sired by Awesome Again, a homebred for Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs operation. The stalwart sire was also represented by 2013 Preakness Stakes winner and Belmont runner-up Oxbow. Sir Winston’s victory in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont continued to show off the stamina Awesome Again displayed during both his racing and stallion careers.
Bonus money will be up for grabs for members of champion sprinter Runhappy’s first crop racing at Saratoga next year, the latest in a robust series of promotions for the stallion on the New York circuit.
A $100,000 bonus will be paid to any 2-year-old by Runhappy who wins an unrestricted maiden race during the 2020 meet at Saratoga, when the stallion will be among North America’s freshman sire class. Runhappy, who was campaigned by Jim McIngvale, stands at historic Claiborne Farm.
