2022 New Stallions | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tacitus Extends Family Dynasty at Taylor Made

Beginning his stud career at Taylor Made Stallions with a $10,000 initial fee, Tacitus (Tapit -Close Hatches, by First Defence) earned medalist status on Chris McGrath's 'Value Podium' of new stallions in 2022. Now, with the breeding shed door opening soon, the blue-blooded multi-millionaire has seen an enthusiastic response from breeders and has amassed a solid first book of mares.

“He is booked to over 160 mares now,” reported Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor. “We've been really satisfied with the reception from breeders. We're not taking every mare he gets offered. We're picking through and trying to get the best mares we can. We probably could have stood him for more money because he has been so popular, but we wanted to make sure we got a good book to him to get him off to a good start.”

Hailing from a highly-successful Juddmonte family, the son of champion sire Tapit is the first foal out of Champion Older Mare and five-time Grade I winner Close Hatches (First Defence). The mare descends from blue hen Best in Show (Traffic Judge) and is from the same family as G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Siskin, a young sire in Japan who is also by First Defence.

Taylor gives high regard to the line breeding traced in Tacitus's pedigree through First Defence, a grandson of Unbridled out of a Seattle Slew mare, and Tapit, a member of the Seattle Slew sire line out of an Unbridled mare.

“I really like the way he's bred with the Unbridled and Seattle Slew line breeding,” he explained. “They're both through a male and a female, so it's a very well-balanced pedigree. Then the females in his family are unbelievable. You have Weekend Surprise, Narrate, Gana Facil, Crimson Saint and Best in Show. When you look for what I call a blue-blood Kentucky pedigree, this one hits the bullseye.”

“There's a lot of things you can line breed to with him and try to come up with some clever matings,” he said, adding that the new stallion's first book is replete with mares by the sire lines of Candy Ride, Arch, Indian Charlie and War Front.

One of two graded stakes-winning grays joining the Taylor Made roster this year along with champion Knicks Go (Paynter), Tacitus may share the coloring of his sire, but Taylor said his physical better reflects his female line.

“He's bigger [than his sire] and you can really see the Unbridled coming through,” Taylor said. “He has a big, deep shoulder and a good neck on him.”

Tacitus all alone in the GII Suburban S. | Sarah Andrew

Campaigned by Juddmonte and trained throughout his career by Bill Mott, Tacitus was a top contender on the Triple Crown trail. After breaking his maiden as a juvenile, he claimed consecutive victories in the GII Tampa Bay Derby, where he set a stakes record, and the GII Wood Memorial S.

The colt did not see the winner's circle again as a sophomore, but ran in the money in each of his next five starts in 2019, placing second in the GI Belmont S., GII Jim Dandy S. and GI Runhappy Travers S., and finishing third in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S.

“He was right there through the major 3-year-old races,” Taylor said. “[To finish] third in the Kentucky Derby was a real credit and then he came back and ran well in the Travers. While he never got the Grade I win, he was a Grade I-caliber horse. I think just pure ability made him as good as he was.”

Tacitus was competitive again as a 4-year-old, gaining a third graded-stakes score with an 8 3/4-length romp in the GII Suburban S. at Belmont and later placing in the GI Woodward H. and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S.

He retired after his 5-year-old season with earnings of over $3.7 million, competing exclusively against graded stakes company after breaking his maiden and running in the money in all but five of those 15 graded starts.

“Tacitus was such a good racehorse,” Taylor said. “He won the Wood Memorial, the Tampa Bay Derby and the Suburban. Two of those used to be Grade I races so he just didn't win them at the right time. He has a beautiful pedigree and we think he could be a great stallion. We're very fortunate to have a royally-bred horse like him at Taylor Made.”

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Independence Hall: A Son of Constitution at WinStar

As Tapit's list of Grade I winners quickly approaches 30 constituents, his sons are now proving their worth in the stud barn. Constitution leads the charge of Tapit sons at stud with an $85,000 fee. The WinStar sire concluded 2021 with a fifth worldwide Group 1/Grade I winner in Cigar Mile H. victor Americanrevolution and his 20th black-type winner in GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile S. winner Law Professor.

While WinStar Farm hopes that Constitution, whose first crop was foaled in 2017, could one day become a foundation sire at WinStar, this year they checked off the next goal for their promising stallion by adding one of his sons to their stallion roster.

Independence Hall, a graded stakes-winning member of Constitution's first crop along with MGISW Tiz the Law, will stand alongside his sire this year for a fee of $10,000.

“We're super excited to have Independence Hall came home to WinStar and begin his stud career,” said WinStar's director of bloodstock Liam O'Rourke. “We've had a great history at WinStar over the past 21 years and Constitution really represents the next generation of what WinStar is going to be. He's had such an electric start and with what he has coming down the pipeline, we're very excited and very bullish on his future. [Reaching] the next step of having one of his sons retire to WinStar is very rewarding.”

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Independence Hall was an easy debut winner for Robert and Kathleen Verratti and trainer Mike Trombetta. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stables joined in the ownership before his next start, a stunning 12 1/4-length score in the 2019 GIII Nashua S. in record time.

“He came on our radar very early,” O'Rourke said. “After his first start, when he came back in the Nashua to run a 101 Beyer speed figure–the fastest 2-year-old performance of the year–we started to realize that he was going to be a very special horse.”

The dark bay colt remained undefeated in his sophomore debut in the Jerome S. and was then runner-up in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. After an unplaced finish in his next start, he was given time off and returned to the starting gate at the end of his 3-year-old season under the care of trainer Michael McCarthy.

At four, Independence Hall was competitive against top company with WinStar joining his partnership at the beginning of the season. He ran third to future GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., placed second to the same rival later in the GIII Lukas Classic S. and then earned a final career victory in his next start in the GII Hagyard Fayette S.

“He held form with [Knicks Go] through most of the year and the season was culminated by what was I think one of the talking performances of the Keeneland meet when he came out and won the Fayette S.,” O'Rourke recalled. “He beat some outstanding horses in that race and really showed what a brilliant horse he was.”

Independence Hall retired with earnings of almost $900,000, running in the money in six graded starts with three stakes wins to his credit.

Independence Hall's breakout performance in the GIII Nashua S. | Chelsea Durand

“I think he was a really great racehorse because of that high cruising speed,” O'Rourke explained. “We love that 2-year-old form, that brilliance, and when they can come back and be an elite older horse and knock heads with the best of the best in the country, that's something that we find really strong.”

O'Rourke said that the new stallion's physical helps explain the high cruising speed he was able to display on the track.

“Physically, he's a very impressive horse. He's a big, beautiful, smooth walker. He's balanced, but he's masculine. He has that size, scope and frame that I think Constitution has been able to produce and he put it all together in the way he could get over the ground.”

A son of the winning Cape Town mare Kalahari Cat, Independence Hall is a half-brother to Grade III winner Black Onyx (Rock Hard Ten) and two more graded stakes-placed siblings in SW Francois (Smarty Jones) and Quality Council (Elusive Quality). His family also includes Desert Stormer (Storm Cat), winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and the granddam of MGISW Better Lucky (Ghostzapper).

O'Rourke explained that while Independence Hall has been popular with breeders since arriving at WinStar, he already has a solid support system built in with a large syndicate group that includes Woodford Thoroughbreds, Twin Creeks, Kathleen and Robert Verratti, Eclipse Thoroughbreds, China Horse Club and Machmer Hall.

“It's really a 'who's who' of syndicate members,” O'Rourke said. “Along with that, we offered Independence Hall in our Dream Big program, which virtually sold out overnight, so we have some really good folks supporting the horse and he will have some really nice mares in those first couple of years.”

WinStar's Dream Big program allows breeders the opportunity to acquire a lifetime breeding right to the stallion.

“Independence Hall proved that he was a special horse as a 2-year-old and he proved it again as an older horse,” O'Rourke said. “He has the pedigree and the looks and I think we priced him to where he's very attractive to breeders. We've had a huge response to him so far and it's so rewarding to have a son of one of our sires come home and join our stallion roster.”

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Charlatan Attracts Quality First Book for 2022

Hill 'n' Dale President John Sikura couldn't be happier with the book of mares that multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Charlatan (Speightstown-Authenticity, by Quiet American) has amassed for his first season at stud in 2022. Sikura said the quality embodied in this initial book is unlike many he's seen for a first-year sire.

“The complements we've received from people who have come out to see him have been remarkable,” he said. “Eclipse Award-winning breeders are sending Grade I-winning and Grade I-producing mares to him, which is something that is not the norm for newly-retired horses. He seems to be the exception where people recognize him as value.”

“The best way I can validate what I think about the horse is with the kind of mares we're sending to him,” he added.

Charlatan's first book includes two high-profile Hill 'n' Dale mares, 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Guarana (Ghostzapper) and Bubbler (Distorted Humor), the dam of champion Arrogate.

The new addition to Hill 'n' Dale's roster, who officially retired from racing in June of 2021, will stand for a fee of $50,000 in 2022.

“Charlatan is the first horse we've had since our inception of standing stallions who seems to have every ingredient,” Sikura said. “He was a horse of phenomenal talent and I think he's a generational horse in terms of his ability and his conformation.”

Charlatan is the second foal out of MGSW and 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff third-place finisher Authenticity, who is also the dam of SW Hanalei Moon (Malibu Moon). Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the son of Speightstown sold for $700,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale.

“He is a very well-bred horse and is replete with Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector in his pedigree,” Sikura noted. “He's by a very good sire whose sons look like they're going to be very good.”

The highly-regarded colt raced for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Frederick Hertrich, III, John D. Fielding and Golconda Stables and broke his maiden in style on debut early in his 3-year-old year, winning by nearly six lengths and earning the 'Rising Star' nod when he went six furlongs in 1.08:85.

He continued his win streak with a 10 1/4-length romp in an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita and another easy score in the 2020 GI Arkansas Derby. Two months later, Oaklawn stewards disqualified Charlatan, who was trained by Bob Baffert, for his Arkansas Derby win due to a drug positive, but in a ruling from the Arkansas Racing Commission in April of 2021, the disqualification was overturned and the win was restored to his credit.

Charlatan skipped the 2020 Triple Crown due to a minor ankle injury, but he returned at the end of the season to remain undefeated as a sophomore in the GI Runhappy Malibu S., defeating MGSWs Express Train (Union Rags) and Collusion Illusion (Twirling Candy), among other stakes winners.

Charlatan claims the GI Arkansas Derby by six lengths | Coady

The swift-footed colt suffered his lone defeat in his final start in the G1 Saudi Cup, running second to Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) after going head-to-head with future GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go (Paynter).

“He had so many wild performances and was only beaten once in his life,” Sikura explained. “He was a horse of extreme brilliance and world-class talent and he had speed that could carry.”

Charlatan retired after the Saudi Cup with earnings of over $4 million.

“It was a long road, to be honest, when he got hurt and had time off,” Sikura reflected. “I know there was more to the horse. I believe he was the kind of horse that if he left the gate and didn't have any problems, he was always the horse to beat no matter who was in the race with him. He was a remarkable racehorse and a generational talent.”

Hill 'n' Dale secured the breeding rights to Charlatan following the colt's romp in the Arkansas Derby. Sikura said that as breeders have come out to see Charlatan, they've only been further convinced of the new sire's potential after seeing the imposing chestnut in person.

“He's very proportionate with a great hind leg and he walks like a cat,” Sikura explained. “He seems to float over the ground and he has a great presence about him. I see him as a flawless, impeccable horse who really withstands any scrutiny from breeders. If you're wondering what a stallion should have, come and see him. He has every category in spades.”

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Maxfield Settling in Upon Return to Jonabell Farm

Just a three-mile jaunt from Brendan Walsh's barn at Keeneland, the conditioner's first Grade I winner Maxfield (Street Sense – Velvety, by Bernardini) is settling into his new home at the stud barn of Darley's Jonabell Farm.

Three weeks ago, the Godolphin homebred ended his career on a high note with a final victory in the GI Clark S. at Churchill Downs. Walsh, who had hopped on a plane shortly after the win to visit his Florida division, had not seen Maxfield since that night. So when he dropped in at Jonabell Farm this week to see his former pupil it was, as he said, like visiting his kid in college.

“We were all very fond of him and we're kind of missing him,” the Irishman admitted. “It's good to be able to come see him and he'll make a great stallion. Hopefully we can look forward to training his babies in the years to come.”

Maxfield had clearly not forgotten his old friend as he accepted Walsh's carrots and pats and looked on quietly as a crowd of breeders gathered.

“He was so talented from day one and he has such a great character,” Walsh said. “He was so calm with everything. With some horses you're concerned about them at the races if they're going to act right, but he just filled you with confidence because he had such a good temperament and there was never a worry about if he was going to put his best foot forward.”

For everyone at Jonabell, Maxfield's return marked a celebratory homecoming.

“To have Maxfield do what he did on the racetrack and then come back to his birthplace to take up residence in the stallion barn, it's unbelievably special,” said Darley's Darren Fox. “It's really what we're trying to achieve here and we couldn't be happier to have a horse of his caliber, pedigree, physique and race record fly the flag forward for us here at Jonabell.”

Maxfield's retirement for 2022 was announced in October this year and the new addition, who will stand for a fee of $40,000, was booked full before he entered the stud barn at the end of November.

“Demand was strong for him from the get-go,” Fox said. “We emailed our clients to let them know when he would be arriving at the farm and before we started showing him, he was essentially full. For a stallion to be full before he does his first stallion show says it all. The wave of interest was incredible and he has certainly amassed a stellar first book of mares.”

Maxfield races to a 5 1/2-length victory in the 2019 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | Coady

Joining his sire Street Sense on Darley's stud roster, Maxfield is out of the winning Godolphin homebred Velvety, a daughter of red-hot broodmare sire Bernardini, who passed away at Jonabell earlier this year.

“He is absolutely, stunningly gorgeous,” Fox said. “He looks like a Street Sense on first impression with that same size and physique, but he's a smoother, better-looking version of Street Sense. We see shades of Bernardini through his head. For a good-sized horse, he is so light on his feet. He has that jaw-dropping commercial walk that every weanling and yearling purchaser looks for. Then when you add in his pedigree, it's one of the best female families in the stud book.”

Maxfield's second dam MGSW Caress (Storm Cat) was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed's operation for $3.1 million in 2000. The mare is responsible for Grade I winner and sire Sky Mesa (Pulpit) as well as MGSW and GISP Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold).

Despite a physique that suggested that the colt would excel going two turns, Maxfield was one to watch from the start of his juvenile season.

Breaking his maiden on debut going a mile at Churchill Downs, Maxfield was a dominant winner of his next start in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.

“The 2-year-old form is almost the cherry on top that you wouldn't expect for a horse of his profile,” Fox said. “His Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland was jaw-dropping. A lot of shrewd people called it the most impressive performance by a 2-year-old that year.”

An ankle chip forced Maxfield to scratch from the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but the colt returned a winner as a sophomore in the GIII Matt Winn S. An injury forced him to the sidelines once more and he skipped a September Kentucky Derby in 2020, but came back to remain undefeated in the Tenacious S. in December and then the GIII Mineshaft S. to begin his 4-year-old campaign.

Although Maxfield's 2020 season was a test in patience for his trainer, Walsh said he never lost faith that his pupil was destined to remain at the top of his game.

“Everyone always says, 'Oh, you had so many highs and lows with him,' but it was never really a low because we always knew he had the talent to come back and we always knew that as he got older, he might get better,” Walsh explained. “He was actually very consistent through his whole career to win a Grade I at two and then he went on to become a fantastic 4-year-old.”

Maxfield wraps up his career in style with a win in the 2021 GI Clark S. | Coady

Maxfield ran in the money in each of his seven starts at four, claiming the GII Alysheba S. and GII Stepehen Foster S. each by over three lengths, then running second in the GI Whitney S. and GI Woodward S. and finally capping off his career by winning the GI Clark S.

“Maxfield is the first horse in history to win the Alysheba, Stephen Foster and the Clark,” Fox said. “There was no doubt that he had an affinity for Churchill. He was in his absolute element, circling the field on more than one occasion and having so much in the tank on a lot of those performances.”

Maxfield retires with earnings of over $2 million and was never off the board, running in nine graded stakes, including five Grade I races, over his three-year career.

Fox said one of his favorite memories of Maxfield's racing career was watching him in the paddock before each race, particularly on busy race days ahead of the GI Whitney at Saratoga and the GII Alysheba on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.

“The class that this horse demonstrated made the hairs on the back of your neck stand by watching him in action,” he said. “I've watched him in some absolutely-mobbed paddocks and he was as cool as could be. He never turned a hair and the confidence he exuded was inspiring to watch. I see a lot of the class coming from his sire and broodmare sire and while obviously he's his own horse, he certainly inherited their composure.”

“It's just that X-factor that you look for,” he continued. “He is such a smart, intelligent and unbelievably-classy horse. Whatever ability this horse passes on to his progeny, if they inherit his class and composure, they'll certainly be able to demonstrate the full extent of their ability in the afternoons.”

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