Sat, 01/13/2024 - 13:47

First reported foal of Flightline arrives

By Nicole Russo
Barbara D. Livingston
Flightline is set to stand at Lane's End for $150,000 in his second breeding season.

The first foal publicly reported for unbeaten Horse of the Year Flightline is a filly out of Grade 1 winner Juju’s Map.

Breeder Albaugh Family Stables reported the arrival Saturday morning on social media, saying the filly had arrived overnight. No other arrivals from the highly-anticipated first crop of Flightline have yet been shared by farms, including Lane’s End, where Flightline stands in Kentucky.

“We are so excited, and we are happy to say that Juju and her baby are doing great!” the Albaugh stable posted on X, adding that the filly is “gorgeous.”

Wed, 01/10/2024 - 21:27

Early Voting to resume stallion career at Taylor Made after unique treatment

By Nicole Russo
Barbara D. Livingston
Early Voting stood the 2023 season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud, where he covered 191 mares.

Early Voting, the 2022 Preakness Stakes winner whose nascent stud career hit a major roadblock last year, will continue as a stallion while moving to Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Ky., for the upcoming breeding season.

Wed, 01/10/2024 - 12:50

Keeneland sales continue to see strong demand

By Nicole Russo
Barbara D. Livingston
Just F Y I's dam Star Act was sold privately for $1.2 million to the partnership of Hill ‘n’ Dale and Determined Stud.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There was a strong weanling market during the major-market November mixed sales in Kentucky, with a number of buyers looking to get out ahead of what has been a robust yearling marketplace in recent years. And thus, there was anticipation for this segment of the marketplace coming into this week’s Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. The demand for foals of 2023 has continued to be strong, with a competitive, selective marketplace delivering solid returns for this particular sale. 

Tue, 01/09/2024 - 12:49

Purchase of Bridlewood Cat boosts Annapolis's first book

By Nicole Russo
Annapolis wins the Saranac at SAR Sept 3 2022
Barbara Livingston
Annapolis, winning the Grade 3 Saranac, was retired last week to stand at Claiborne Farm.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For stallions retired closer to breeding season, the final major-market mixed sales provide a valuable opportunity for their supporters to add solid mares to bolster their crucial first book. That was the case on opening day of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, as $750,000 Bridlewood Cat, the third-highest price of the day, is now slated to visit Grade 1 winner Annapolis, whose retirement to Claiborne Farm was announced less than a week ago.

Wed, 01/03/2024 - 11:39

Blowen steps down as CEO and president of Old Friends

By Nicole Russo
Barbara D. Livingston
Old Friends founder Michael Blowen with Silver Charm, the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, in January of 2023.

Michael Blowen, whose pioneering Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement organization celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2023, has announced he will step down as president, with John Nicholson, former executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park, taking over as president and CEO.

Tue, 01/02/2024 - 14:25

Into Mischief continues reign as leading North American sire in 2023

By Nicole Russo
Barbara D. Livingston
Into Mischief has been the leading North American sire by earnings for the last five years.

With the flip of the calendar earlier this week, Into Mischief has officially claimed his fifth consecutive leading general sire earnings title in North America.

Into Mischief, by Harlan’s Holiday, stands at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky. He easily outdistanced Curlin, standing at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Paris, Ky., by 2023 earnings, at $26,126,182 to $18,770,794, according to Daily Racing Form statistics.

Fri, 12/22/2023 - 09:55

Northern California breeders, owners consider scaling back operations

By Steve Andersen

Hardly a week of racing went by this year without a horse owned and bred by Larry and Marianne Williams racing at Golden Gate Fields or on the fair circuit.

Over the years, the couple has won stakes with such familiar names as Lady Railrider, Pulpit Rider, Rousing Sermon, Tamarando, and Ward ’n Jerry. They all earned more than $500,000.

This fall, the 2-year-olds Grand Slam Smile and Wild Jewels won stakes for the Williamses at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita.

Those successful runners may represent the end of an era for the stable in Northern California.

Fri, 12/22/2023 - 09:55

California Stallions 2024: Bolden, Finneus, Shaaz join Golden State ranks

By Steve Andersen
Debra A. Roma
Finneus, left, scored his biggest win in the Golden State Juvenile. He is preparing to begin his stud career alongside sire Stay Thirsty.

No one could get close to Bolden at the finish line in his abbreviated racing career in California.

In four starts in sprints from the spring of 2020 until his final race this September, Bolden won by a combined 21 lengths. Bolden won two sprints on dirt at Santa Anita and turf sprints at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

“He’s faster than 99.9 percent of your racehorses,” trainer Phil D’Amato said after Bolden won a five-furlong turf sprint at Del Mar in September. “He’s ultra-talented on dirt and grass.”

Fri, 12/22/2023 - 09:55

California Stallions 2024: Grazen instantly puts Eclipse in upper echelon

By Steve Andersen
Shigeki Kikkawa
Unusual Heatwave will stand alongside leading California sire Grazen in 2024 at Eclipse.

It’s difficult for a horse fanatic to keep their eyes on the road when traveling east on California Highway 246 between Buellton and Solvang. There’s too much to see and admire in that stretch of road well north of Santa Barbara.

The journey between the two small towns is barely a few miles, but once past the famous Hitching Post restaurant and Ostrichland USA, the path narrows to a two-lane tree-lined road between horse farms.

Thu, 12/21/2023 - 13:20

California Stallions 2024: Grazen leads the way by progeny earnings

By Nicole Russo
Benoit Photo
Rose Maddox has been sire Grazen's leading earner in 2023.

Regardless of where in California Grazen resides, it’s a safe bet that he will continue his run at or near the top of the state’s sire charts as he comes off a strong season in 2023.

Grazen, who will stand at Mike and Angie Scully’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Training center for 2024, led this year’s California general sires earnings list through Dec. 14. He has a good chance to hold sway through the end of the year, with total progeny earnings of $4,648,407 to $4,036,340 for Stay Thirsty.

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