A European champion standing in America and an American standout standing in Europe, both sons of internationally successful sires bred in Kentucky, recorded their respective first winners over the weekend.

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Volatile, by Violence, has an explosive name – and he exploded onto the scene with a victory in the Aristides Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs. But trainer Steve Asmussen has a long and harmonious history with the family of the rising star, having conditioned his dam and granddam to sprint stakes victories as well.

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Spendthrift Farm has acquired a majority interest in unbeaten Kentucky Derby hopeful Authentic, continuing to invest in its leading sire line. 

Shooters Shoot

Competitive Edge – Repeat, by Bernardini

Bred in Kentucky by Nancy C. Shuford ($90,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds; $70,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Gary Mottola; $300,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring 2-year-old purchase by Exline-Border Racing)

Eclipse Award champion and leading money-winner Arrogate has been euthanized after an unspecified illness caused neurological issues.

Grade 3 winner and freshman sire Speightster broke through with his first winner when Queen Arella won her debut last Friday at Gulfstream Park.

New Year’s Day and Midnight Lute got major boosts on the global sire list earlier this year as their respective champion runners Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou finished one-two in the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup. While neither stallion cracks the top 10 list based upon North American earnings – reigning leading sire Into Mischief tops that list – neither is a one-hit wonder for the season. Both had graded stakes winners in May at Santa Anita, and Midnight Lute, in particular, is having a solid season.

Eclipse champion sprinter Runhappy sparked the public’s attention after taking the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga in stakes-record time, earning a lofty 113 Beyer Speed Figure. He followed that up with a heroic win in the slop in the Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland before a track-record performance in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. He continued to flash his natural talent in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita to cap off his 3-year-old season. Runhappy retired with seven wins in 10 lifetime starts and never raced on medication.

Ny Traffic

Cross Traffic – Mamie Reilley, by Graeme Hall

Bred in New York by Brian Culnan

Maxfield was the star of the show in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes last Saturday at Churchill Downs, remaining unbeaten with a victory. However, a length behind him was a colt who has quietly been a consistent force on the Kentucky Derby trail and who has months to continue his development.

Champion and prominent sire Bernardini is steadily emerging as a broodmare sire, following in the footprints of his late, great sire, A.P Indy. Bernardini recorded a triple with three stakes winners out of his daughters on Saturday at Churchill Downs.