Admire Daytona
Colt by Drefong – Ice Pastel, by Shackleford
Bred in Japan by Northern Racing ($480,276 JRHA select weanling purchase by Junko Kondo)
If Japanese-bred Admire Daytona claims the automatic Kentucky Derby berth he earned by winning the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby – the finale of the European/Mideast Road to the Derby – the late nominee to the Triple Crown will bring in a pedigree full of names familiar to America.
Captain Cook
Colt by Practical Joke – Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie
Bred in Kentucky by Marylou Whitney Stables ($410,000 Keeneland November horses of racing age purchase by Steven Young)
The bloodlines of the vaunted Whitney program have rarely been available in the public marketplace. That changed last year, when John Hendrickson, widower of Marylou Whitney, died.
Journalism, the current favorite on Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch list, will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon his retirement from racing, the farm announced Monday night.
The Coolmore team will also join Journalism’s current ownership partnership – Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, and Robert LaPenta – in his continuing racing career. On Monday, Journalism was entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Eclipse Award champion sprinter Straight No Chaser, currently in the midst of a Middle Eastern campaign, will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement from racing.
WinStar announced Friday that it had entered into a partnership with MyRacehorse to acquire the breeding rights to the 6-year-old son of Speightster, continuing its long association with the sireline. The farm stood the horse’s grandsire, fellow Eclipse champion sprinter Speightstown. It then bred, campaigned, and initially stood graded-stakes winner Speightster.
Rancho San Miguel, one of the West Coast’s leading breeding farms, is for sale, owner Tom Clark said on Tuesday.
Clark said the central California property is being offered for $13.5 million. In an interview, Clark stressed that he hoped a potential buyer would retain the 210-acre parcel for horses. Clark did not dismiss a partial sale.
The 70-year-old Clark cited his age and widespread issues plaguing California racing as two of the reasons the farm is available.
Disruptor
Colt by Gun Runner – Margate Gardens, by Speightstown
Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm and Peter J. Callahan ($1.15 million Keeneland September yearling purchase by Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farm)
Champion Gun Runner ended his career in the month of January at Gulfstream Park, soaring to victory in the 2018 Pegasus World Cup. A few weeks later, he started his smashing stud career.
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society has begun issuing guidance to owners and breeders on approaching tariffs on goods shipped to the United States, which, if implemented, would affect the travel of Thoroughbreds across the border, meaning an immediate impact on the ongoing breeding season.
Rapture
Colt by Uncle Mo – Positively Royal, by Bernardini
Bred in Kentucky by Bill Mathis and Terry Mathis, MST LLC, and Rochelle Bloodstock ($300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by China Horse Club, Maverick Racing, and Siena Farm).
Despite Virginia’s long equestrian history, parimutuel racing in the state has a relatively short footprint. That hasn’t stopped many prominent breeders from putting down roots in Virginia and supporting the growth of its Thoroughbred industry.
