Fri, 12/14/2012 - 15:07

Spring At Last is a surprising third-generation success

Bob Coglianese
Spring At Last won the Donn Handicap in 2008, then finished eighth in that year’s Carter Handicap and was retired to stud shortly thereafter.

The 1970s were a truly weird decade. The Beatles broke up, the Rolling Stones did not. A president resigned. Polyester bell-bottoms and platform shoes anyone? Viceregal, the first champion son of Northern Dancer, failed at stud, but his lightly raced full brother, Vice Regent, succeeded far beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

Fri, 12/14/2012 - 13:46

Vinery buys half-brother to Black Caviar and a farm

Nathan Tinkler, the financially troubled Australian tycoon who owns Patinack Farm, has sold All Too Hard, a Group 1-winning half-brother to Black Caviar, to Vinery Stud in Australia, according to Australian media reports.

Tinkler, 36, reportedly will sell All Too Hard as part of $31.6 million deal that includes Onemorenomore, a Group 1 winner already standing at Vinery Australia, and a Patinack Farm property, the former Allanbridge Stud, in Aberdeen, New South Wales. Patinack’s website describes the farm as “the foundation property of Patinack Farm’s mammoth operation.”

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 16:59

Animal Kingdom to stand stud in Australia next fall

Barbara D. Livingston
Animal Kingdom has won 4 of 9 career starts for earnings of $2,327,500.

Champion Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, will enter stud in Australia in September 2013 after John Messara's Arrowfield Stud acquired a majority interest in breeding rights to the colt.

A 4-year-old by Leroidesanimaux, Animal Kingdom will likely shuttle to the Northern Hemisphere beginning in 2014. Robin Bruss of Northfields Bloodstock brokered the stud deal, which is subject to the colt passing importation protocols. Blood work is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 16:21

Champion Awesome Feather retired by Adena Springs

Awesome Feather, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2010, has been retired, Adena Springs Farm announced on Thursday.

Breeding plans have not yet been decided for Awesome Feather, a 4-year-old Awesome of Course filly, who will begin her broodmare career at Adena owner Frank Stronach’s farm in Paris, Ky.

Awesome Feather concluded her career with 10 victories from 11 starts for earnings of $1,912,746. Her only loss came when she ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park in her final career start.

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 15:46

Spendthrift boosts Into Mischief’s fee for 2013

Spendthrift Farm announced Thursday that Grade 1 winner Into Mischief, among this season’s leading freshman sires, will stand for $10,000 in 2013, an increase from his previously announced fee.

The 7-year-old Harlan’s Holiday horse had been scheduled to stand for $7,500, the same as his 2012 fee. Fees will be payable when the foal stands and nurses.

“Into Mischief is having a terrific year with his first crop of 2-year-olds, and the demand from breeders has been overwhelming,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said.

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 13:32

Americain leads Calumet roster at $20K

Historic Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky., has announced its stud fees for 2013, with Group 1 winner Americain leading its newly created three-stallion roster.

Americain, winner of the Melbourne Cup in 2010, will stand for $20,000. Multiple graded stakes winner Aikenite and stakes winner Lentenor – a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro – will each stand for $7,500. All three will be first-year stallions of 2013.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 21:56

Joe Allbritton, owner of Hansel, dies at 87

Banking and media giant Joe Allbritton, who came into the Thoroughbred racing game late in his life and won two classics with Hansel, died in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday. He was 87.

Allbritton owned Riggs Bank and a large media company, Allbritton Communications, and was a power broker in Washington, D.C., at the height of his influence. His holdings included eight television stations in seven markets, newspapers, and Riggs Bank, a Washington institution.

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 16:13

Freshman sire Sightseeing dies of colic

Sightseeing, a Grade 2 winner by Pulpit, lost a battle with colic in early December, the same week his sire died unexpectedly. At the time of his passing, the 8-year-old stallion ranked 11th among North American-based freshman sires with progeny earnings of $500,904.

Tue, 12/11/2012 - 17:41

Biondetti retired to Woodford Thoroughbreds in Florida

Group 1 winner Biondetti has been retired and will begin his stud career at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick, Fla. in 2013.

The 4-year-old, from the first crop of champion Bernardini, will stand for $4,000 live foal.

Biondetti won three of nine career starts and earned $359,583 while competing in five countries. His biggest victory came in the Group 1 Gran Criterium as a juvenile in Italy; he was also Group 3-placed in France the following year.

Tue, 12/11/2012 - 10:27

Nicanor, full brother to Barbaro, to stand at Shamrock Farm in Maryland

Adam Coglianese
Nicanor won 4 of 18 career starts and earned $147,697.

Nicanor, a stakes-placed full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will enter stud in 2013 at Shamrock Farm in Woodbine, Md.

The 6-year-old Dynaformer horse will stand for a fee of $2,500.

Nicanor, campaigned as a homebred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stable, won four of 18 career starts, earning $147,697. He finished third in both the Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park and the Three Coins Up Stakes at Aqueduct in 2010.