Graded stakes winner and pensioned sire Broken Vow died on Saturday of natural causes at Pin Oak Farm in Versailles, Ky. A homebred son of Unbridled who raced for and stood at Pin Oak, Broken Vow was 25.
Trained by Graham Motion, Broken Vow won 9 of 14 starts and missed the board only once. His five stakes victories were highlighted by the Grade 2 Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth and Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland in 2001; he also placed in four graded stakes.
Off a strong start to his freshman season, Grade 1 winner Girvin has been "called up" from Florida to the Kentucky stallion ranks, the epicenter of the American breeding industry and where he will have access to additional high-quality mares to continue his ascent.
Girvin, by Tale of Ekati, entered stud in 2019 at Ocala Stud, in a partnership between that farm's O'Farrell family; the Jones family of Airdrie Stud; and the Grand Oaks Farm of Brad and Misty Grady, who campaigned Girvin on the track. He will now stand the 2023 season at Airdrie in Midway, Ky.
Grade 1 winner and successful sire Include was euthanized in July at Airdrie Stud, it was reported this week.
The 25-year-old son of Broad Brush had been pensioned following the 2021 breeding season and continued to reside at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., his home since 2003. According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, which first reported his death, the stallion had been pensioned due to a heart condition, which had recently been worsening, leading to the decision to euthanize him.
West Point Thoroughbreds is already enjoying a special summer, having scored its 1,000th victory in August. The partnership looks to keep working on its next 1,000 this weekend, with Grade 1 action from coast to coast with leading older horses it runs in partnership.
First Captain contests the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday evening at Saratoga. Less than three hours later, Flightline looks to remain unbeaten in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
The weekend following internationally successful sire More Than Ready’s death, his legacy was evident. His son Funtastic sired his first winner, and More Than Ready recorded a stakes winner as a broodmare sire.
The legacy of More Than Ready, a Grade 1 winner who went on to become one of the most successful sires in the history of the Breeders’ Cup, will be as the most prominent keeper of the Halo line in the United States.
More Than Ready was euthanized Aug. 26 at WinStar Farm in Kentucky due to the effects of old age at 25.
More Than Ready, a Grade 1 winner who became a prominent sire on two continents and one of the most successful stallions in the history of the Breeders' Cup, was euthanized Friday at WinStar Farm "due to the cumulative effects of old age." The son of Southern Halo was 25.
Two Grade 1-winning regional stallions who it was hoped would help carry on important sirelines recently died of colic.
It was reported Monday that Combatant, who stood his first season earlier this year at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, N.Y., died suddenly of colic at Haras Porta Pia in Chile, where he had shuttled for the Southern Hemisphere season. On Tuesday, Imagining, who stood at Anchor and Hope Farm in Port Deposit, Md., was euthanized during colic surgery at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania.
During Friday’s New York Showcase Day at Saratoga – with six statebred stakes worth $1.25 million – the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., will honor five legendary New York-breds: Classic winners Funny Cide and Tiz the Law; fellow Grade 1 winners Commentator and Fio Rito; and Fourstardave, the “Sultan of Saratoga.”
Horse of the Year Gun Runner will get a chance to continue to build on the smashing success of his first crop as his Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting and multiple Grade 1 winner Cyberknife face off in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga. His second crop also is beginning to light up the board.
Gun Runner recorded three maiden special weight winners from his crop of 2-year-olds over the weekend.
Duke of Love
Cupid – Tell the Duchess, by Smart Strike
Bred in Ontario by Caldara Farm, Patrick Costello, David Whitford, and Tom Zwiesler ($15,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by War Horse Place; $40,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling purchase by Julie Davies, agent; $85,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old purchase by MyRacehorse)
