Classic winner Empire Maker, the grandsire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, will return to the United States to stand at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky.
The 15-year-old Unbridled horse had stood in Japan since the 2011 season, after being sold by owner and breeder Juddmonte Farm. Gainesway joined together with Don Alberto Corp to purchase the stallion, and the Japan Bloodstock Breeders' Association approved the sale on Sept. 25, according to Racing Post.
Grade 3 winner Micromanage will make his debut at stud in 2016 at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, N.Y. for an advertised fee of $5,000.
The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro won seven of 30 starts over four seasons of racing for earnings of $790,551, highlighted by a win in the Grade 3 Skip Away Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and four non-graded stakes scores. He also placed in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes, the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes, and the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup Stakes.
Take Charge Brandi, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2014, has been retired from racing and will reside at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky., until the decision is made to keep her to breed or offer her at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
The 3-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway finished her on-track career with five wins in 11 starts and earnings of $1,692,126. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas for owner Willis Horton.
The pedigree, performance, and hype that follow a first-year stallion into the breeding shed mean little if he is unable to get mares in foal.
On average, roughly 4 1/2 to five out of every 100 potential new stallions are deemed infertile or subfertile in their debut seasons due to a natural defect.
Horses from the first crops of Astrology, Caleb’s Posse, Star Guitar, and The Factor highlight the Breeders Sales Co. of Louisiana yearling auction, to be held Tuesday at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe. There are 220 yearlings catalogued to the sale, which starts at 11 a.m. Central.
The book also includes offerings by such stalwarts as Songandaprayer and Valid Expectations as well as younger faces like Eskendereya, General Quarters, Into Mischief, Line of David, Paddy O’Prado, Street Boss, and Temple City.
The Equine Sales Co. of Louisiana has cataloged 214 horses to its open yearling and mixed sale Oct. 25, the auction house announced Thursday. The sale will be held in Opelousas.
The catalog comprised of weanlings, yearlings, and broodmares includes offspring of such young stallions as Apriority, Bind, Calibrachoa, Drosselmeyer, I Want Revenge, Ice Box, Itsmyluckyday, Line of David, Majesticperfection, Redding Colliery, Sidney's Candy, and Uncle Mo. It is the largest catalog for the auction, which was introduced in 2013.
Grade 3 winner Cigar Street has been purchased by Thomas J. Young and will make his debut at stud in 2016 at Young’s Sandringham Farm in Georgetown, Ky.
The 6-year-old son of Street Sense won five of nine career starts for earnings of $283,908, highlighted by victories in the Grade 3 Skip Away Stakes and the non-graded Homecoming Classic Stakes. He has not raced since the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Cigar Street was trained by Bill Mott for owners Jake Ballis and Rashard Lewis.
Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who campaigned top-level horses as Zabeel Racing International, died of a heart attack Saturday. He was 33.
Sheikh Rashid was the eldest son of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a prominent international racing figure who campaigns horses under the Godolphin and Darley banners. On Saturday, the homebred Frosted carried Godolphin’s colors to win the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.
Vale of York, winner of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has been sold to the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club to stand at Haras des Faunes in Arveyres, France for the 2016 breeding season.
The 8-year-old son of Invincible Spirit previously stood at Kildangan Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland. He has sired two crops of racing age, led by Italian Group 3 winner Fontanelice, French Group 3-placed Pleasemetoo, and Irish stakes-placed Galway Bay.
