Wed, 09/20/2023 - 11:30

Volatile's first crop includes $1.15 million filly

Keeneland Photo

Volatile's filly, Hip 215 at the recent Keeneland September Sale Book 1, sold for $1.15 million, out of the dam Love and Pride.

Grade 1 winner Volatile got off to an explosive start with a filly from his first crop selected to the elite Book 1 of the Keeneland September yearling sale, as she lit up the bid board at $1.15 million.

Volatile, who stands at Goncalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., was the first of this year’s first-crop sires to break the seven-figure threshold. Gainesway’s McKinzie joined him with a $1.2 million colt sold in Book 2.

“His first crop have been super impressive to us,” Three Chimneys COO Chris Baker said.

Sat, 09/16/2023 - 21:00

Arabian Lion, Taiba, Zandon to stand at Spendthrift Farm in 2024

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

Arabian Lion will begin stallion duty next year at Spendthrift Farm.

Grade 1 winners Arabian Lion, Taiba, and Zandon will stand at Spendthrift Farm in 2024, the Lexington, Ky., farm announced Saturday night.

Arabian Lion and Taiba are both campaigned by Zedan Racing, with Bob Baffert the trainer. Zandon, who races for Jeff Drown, is trained by Chad Brown. Taiba will stand for a $35,000 fee in 2024. Stud fees for Arabian Lion and Zandon will be announced at the end of their respective racing careers.

Mon, 09/11/2023 - 18:47

Godolphin named national owner and breeder of year by TOBA

By Nicole Russo

Justin N. Lane

Flightline's owners received the Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year Award.

Godolphin was named national owner of the year and national breeder of the year as the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association honored its annual award winners in Lexington, Ky.

TOBA held both an awards luncheon on Friday at WinStar Farm, honoring state and Canadian breeders of the year, and an awards dinner on Saturday at Fasig-Tipton to honor all award winners, including national honorees.

Fri, 09/08/2023 - 11:23

Country Grammer retired, will stand at WinStar Farm

By Nicole Russo

Dubai Racing Club

Country Grammer, winner of the Dubai World Cup in 2022, has been retired from racing and will stand as a stallion at WinStar Farm next year.

Country Grammer, whose multiple Grade/Group 1 wins included the 2022 Dubai World Cup, has been retired and will begin his stud career next year at WinStar Farm.

The 4-year-old son of Tonalist will debut for a fee of $10,000, the farm announced Thursday evening. Country Grammer retires with earnings of $14,921,320, behind only champions Arrogate and Gun Runner among North American-based horses.

Thu, 08/31/2023 - 11:24

Full brother to Pink Lloyd tops CTHS Ontario sale

By Nicole Russo

A full brother to Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd sold for $150,000 to lead the way as the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s Ontario division hosted the Canadian premier yearling sale on Wednesday. The sale finished with more horses sold for a gain in gross receipts, but drops in average and median prices.

The CTHS reported 168 yearlings sold on Wednesday at Woodbine's sales pavilion in Toronto for a gross of $4,017,790. Last year, 150 yearlings brought $3,837,700.

Tue, 08/29/2023 - 14:02

Belmont winner Sarava euthanized at age 24

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

Sarava, shown last January, paid a record $142.50 when he won the 2002 Belmont Stakes. After a stud career, he was retired to Old Friends in 2012.

Sarava, the upset winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes, died on Monday at Old Friends Equine Retirement in Georgetown, Ky., the farm announced.

The 24-year-old Wild Again horse was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture.

Mon, 08/21/2023 - 12:30

Gigante's Secretariat upset continues upswing in Virginia

By Nicole Russo

Coady Photography

Gigante, with Javier Castellano up, holds off Nagirroc to win the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs.

It was already a celebratory day in the Virginia Thoroughbred community. The Grade 1 Arlington Million and its undercard stakes were contested for the first time at Colonial Downs on Aug. 12, creating the state’s biggest day of racing. In a nice twist, that meant the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes would be run for the first time on Colonial’s Secretariat Turf Course, as the racing industry celebrates the 50th anniversary of Virginia-bred Secretariat’s Triple Crown triumph.

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 12:00

King's Plate pedigree profile: Touch'n Ride

By Nicole Russo

Touch’n Ride

Gelding by Candy Ride – Niigon’s Touch, by Niigon

Bred in Ontario by Chiefswood Stables

Supplemental entrant Touch’n Ride is a late addition to the King’s Plate party. A maiden winner in July, he is seeking to become the first horse to win the Plate in their third career start since Awesome Again in 1997. Among Touch’n Ride’s attributes, he has a route-oriented pedigree with plenty of Canadian classic success.

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 11:34

Honor Code relocated to Yushun Stallion Station in Japan

By Nicole Russo

Barbara D. Livingston

Honor Code stood at Lane's End Farm, where he sired 14 stakes winners from five crops of racing age.

Eclipse Award champion Honor Code has been sold to stand at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan beginning with the 2024 breeding season.

Wed, 08/16/2023 - 14:33

Vronsky colt heads Northern California sale

By Steve Andersen

Led by a Vronsky colt purchased for $100,000, Tuesday’s Northern California yearling and horses of racing age sale in Pleasanton showed an increase in several key categories compared to the 2022 auction.

According to the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which conducted the sale, 115 yearlings sold for $1,064,900, an average of $9,260 and a median price of $5,500. There were 19 horses listed as not sold and 32 withdrawn.

In 2022, 105 yearlings sold for $871,100, an average of $8,296 and a median of $4,500.

Subscribe to Breeding News