Spendthrift Farm has announced it will be adding Grade 1 winners Taiba, Zandon and Arabian Lion to its stallion roster for the 2024 breeding season.
“We are really excited to be bringing in three new stallion prospects of the caliber of Taiba, Arabian Lion, and Zandon for the 2024 breeding season,” said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. “All three are superior physicals, and all three displayed immense talent in winning some of America's biggest 3-year-old races on dirt. Obviously, the Breeders' Cup is ahead and some of them will be looking to finish strong. These are the kind of stallion prospects we have looked to bring in and will continue to try to bring in at Spendthrift.”
Taiba was a leading 3-year-old in North America a year ago, knocking down victories in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, G1 Pennsylvania Derby and G1 Malibu Stakes for Zedan Racing Stables. A $1.7 million 2-year-old purchase, the talented chestnut is the only son of Gun Runner with three Grade 1 wins. Out of the 14-time stake-winning Flatter mare Needmore Flattery, Taiba has earned $2,356,200.
Zandon was also a leading sophomore in 2022, impressively winning the G1 Blue Grass Stakes and finishing third in the Kentucky Derby as one of the race favorites. As a 2-year-old, Zandon broke his maiden at six furlongs on debut at Belmont before finishing runner-up by a nose to classic winner Mo Donegal in the G2 Remsen Stakes in just his second start. This year, Zandon has finished a good runner-up in the prestigious Met Mile and Whitney, and the striking dark bay colt is being pointed for the Sept. 30 G2 Woodward Stakes at Belmont. He has earned $1.92 million to date for owner Jeff Drown.
Three-year-old Arabian Lion roared onto the scene this spring with an emphatic win in the G1 Woody Stephens at Belmont, earning a gaudy 109 Beyer – the second fastest performance by a sophomore in 2023. Before that, the powerfully built chestnut son of Justify won the Sir Barton Stakes around two turns on Preakness day at Pimlico, and he's amassed earnings of $497,600 to date for owner Zedan Racing Stables.
Stud fees for all three horses will be announced at the end of their respective racing careers.
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