Fri, 06/14/2019 - 11:50

Queen's Plate pedigree profile: Desert Ride

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.

Thu, 06/13/2019 - 16:33

Menifee, 'Korea's Sunday Silence,' dead at 23

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Menifee, winning the 1999 Haskell, was the runner-up in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

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.

Wed, 06/12/2019 - 11:34

World of Trouble to enter stud at Hill 'n' Dale in 2021

Justin N. Lane
World of Trouble was never headed en route to a 1 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Jaipur at Belmont Park.

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.

Mon, 06/10/2019 - 13:46

Awesome Again's stamina on display with Sir Winston

Ronnie Betor
Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston gave sire Awesome Again his second classic victory.

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.

Thu, 06/06/2019 - 20:17

Bonus offered to Saratoga maiden winners from Runhappy's first crop

Barbara D. Livingston
Runhappy's first crop will be represented at yearling sales later this year.

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.

Wed, 06/05/2019 - 10:16

Queen's Plate pedigree profile: Jammin Still

Jammin Still

Take Charge Indy–Cat’s Garden, by Tale of the CatBred in Ontario by William D. Graham ($87,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Derek Chin)

Take Charge Indy’s son Everfast finished second in the Preakness Stakes three weeks ago and will start in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. Take Charge Indy also is the sire of Queen’s Plate hopeful Jammin Still, giving the stallion the chance to chase classic wins in both the United States and Canada this season.

Wed, 06/05/2019 - 09:20

Another stallion-making Met Mile renewal in the works

Barbara D. Livingston
Two-time Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow is part of a stellar field for the 2019 Met Mile.

The Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap has a history of being a stallion-making race because it showcases the brilliance that is so desired in the American market. Recent history has lived up to the race’s reputation, continuing to make this a coveted prize.

Wed, 06/05/2019 - 09:16

Intrepid Heart, with ties to Glennwood, can boost family

Barbara D. Livingston
Intrepid Heart's female family has strong ties to John and Tanya Gunther's Glennwood Farm.

Glennwood Farm isn’t as intimately involved in the Belmont Stakes as it was last year, when Justify, whom it bred, completed his Triple Crown sweep, with Vino Rosso, also foaled at the farm, finishing fourth. But Glennwood, owned and operated by the father-daughter team of John and Tanya Gunther, still has ties to this year’s race, as Intrepid Heart could continue to boost the value of Vino Rosso’s family.

Mon, 06/03/2019 - 13:06

American Pharoah, Justify joined at the hip in many ways

Barbara D. Livingston
American Pharoah will shuttle to Australia for the third year. He will be joined this summer by Justify.

American Pharoah and Justify’s Triple Crown victories were separated by three years on the calendar. But the two are now linked by more than history and shared trainer Bob Baffert – they are now both young stallions for the international Coolmore group, sharing a stallion barn at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Mon, 06/03/2019 - 12:36

Steadfast sire Tapit can add to Belmont Stakes legacy

Barbara D. Livingston
With three offspring expected to go in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, Tapit could get his fourth winner in the race.

The bloodstock industry has seen change, but as the ground has shifted under his feet, Tapit has remained strong and steady. The perennial leading sire seeks to lift the bar even higher for himself in Saturday’s renewal of the Belmont Stakes.