Fifteen of those 30 days have been stayed, however, due to Ward's overall record and number of violations, and on condition that the trainer receives no Class A or Class B medication violations over the next year.

Ward will serve the other 15 days of the suspension between Jan. 26 and Feb. 9.

Averly Jane was also disqualified and all purse monies are forfeited, according to the stewards ruling dated Jan. 25.

Not an equine medication, metformin is among the most commonly prescribed human medications in the U.S. It is used in the treatment of type II diabetes, reducing glucose production in the liver and the uptake of glucose by the intestine.

The Association of Racing Commissioners International classify it a Class 2B drug.

According to Ward's attorney, Darrell Vienna, Ward had not administered metformin to Averly Jane and that all the evidence suggests it was a case of environmental contamination.

As such, Vienna said that he presented the following question to the stewards.

“What is more plausible: That a trainer like Ward with an international reputation would have administered or caused to be administered an easily detectable substance with no impact on performance in minute quantities? Or that it resulted from contamination of feed, hay, human contact?”

According to Vienna, “there was not a single bit of evidence on the regulatory side other than the detection of a small amount of this substance in the horse's system.”

That amount, Vienna said, was in the parts per billion.

According to Vienna, the nature of the violation didn't warrant a suspension.

“I searched all the records in the United States and I found two prior cases [of metformin positives] that resulted in $1,000 fines,” Vienna said.

Vienna also explained that in 2019, the Kentucky legislature approved a rule change essentially modifying the trainer absolute insurer rule “by permitting trainers to introduce what they deemed substantial evidence of mitigating circumstances for which a lesser or no penalty would be appropriate.”

The mitigating circumstances in this case, Vienna argued, further supported the rendering of a fine only.

After her win in the Kentucky Juvenile S., Averly Jane had two easy victories in the Skidmore S. at Saratoga and in the Indian Summer S., at Keeneland.

Her last racecourse appearance was a fifth-place finish in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Averly Jane is owned by Hat Creek Racing, a partnership led by Keeneland's vice president of racing, Gatewood Bell, himself a former Kentucky Horse Racing commissioner.

Over the last 10 years and comprising 4,615 starts, Ward has been penalized for two other medication violations, according to the Thoroughbredrulings website.

The KHRC issued Ward a $500 fine when Arcelor tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing first in the fifth race at Turfway Park on Dec. 2, 2016.

Prior to that, the New York State Gaming Commission served Ward a 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine after Sunset Time tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing third in the second race at Belmont Park on June 20, 2012.

“It happened and that's it,” said Ward, at the time. “I'm responsible for whatever the stewards give me. It is what it is. There are a lot of reasons it took so long for this to get resolved. It's for a medication I used to use to keep the lungs clean and everything working good. Unfortunately, this particular filly went over the permitted level. The rules are different now, and I don't use it at all.”

In June of 2020, the Florida Division of PariMutuel Wagering issued Ward a written warning after Summer Sangria tested positive for omeprazole sulfide, otherwise known as the ulcer medication Gastrogard.

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According to medlineplus.gov, metformin (a Class B drug) is used to treat type 2 diabetes by decreasing the amount of glucose absorbed from food and the amount of glucose made by the liver; it also increases the body's response to insulin. Metformin has been examined in several studies regarding equine metabolic syndrome.

Fifteen days of the suspension have been stayed by the commission due to mitigating circumstances (number of violations in relation to overall
record), provided Ward does not have an additional Class A or B positive during the next 365 days. The dates Ward will serve are Jan. 26 through Feb. 9, inclusive.

“It's the fifth-most dispensed drug in the United States for diabetes,” Ward told the Daily Racing Form. “It was four nanograms. It's just a shame. I don't know how it got into the horse's system, and it obviously didn't make her run faster.”

Ward also told DRF that a shipping company employee informed him he has taken metformin twice a day for 30 years to manage his diabetes. Ward and attorney Darrell Vienna argued in a hearing with the KHRC that the case was environmental contamination, but Ward told DRF he respects the final decision of the stewards.

Averly Jane has been disqualified from her victory in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes and purse money forfeited, moving Vodka N Water (Steve Asmussen) into first. The filly's record includes two additional stakes wins in 2021, the Skidmore at Saratoga and the Indian Summer at Keeneland, before she finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Averly Jane wins the Skidmore

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Averly Jane was foaled and raised at UK's Maine Chance Equine Campus, the university's research and teaching farm on the north end of Lexington. UK purchased the historic property from Elizabeth Arden in 1967 as an expansion opportunity for agriculture research and programs.

The University of Kentucky equine students are hoping that Maine Chance — once home to Kentucky Derby winners Aristides and Jet Pilot — will add a Breeders' Cup champion. Owned by Gatewood Bell's Hat Creek Racing partnership and trained by Wesley Ward, Averly Jane is 4 for 4, with three stakes wins over males: Churchill Downs' Kentucky Juvenile, Saratoga's Skidmore and in her turf debut Keeneland's $200,000 Indian Summer, which gave the filly a fees-paid berth in the corresponding Breeders' Cup race.

“It's been awesome to watch a horse that came up from UK Maine Chance,” Brittany Sparks, a graduate of UK's equine program who was involved in the filly's care, said after the Indian Summer. “We foaled her, weaned her, prepped her, sold her. It's been an amazing process to watch her go along.”

Bell, Keeneland's Vice President of Racing, purchased Averly Jane for $35,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale last year.

While he'd never before purchased a horse from the UK consignment, he said: “I always go back there and look at them. I love just looking at all the smaller consignors' stuff. And Dr. (Laurie) Lawrence who runs the program, I took her class like 20 years ago when I was at UK.”

The third-generation horseman, who earned a finance degree with honors from UK in 2004, jokingly added: “I don't think I got a good grade in it.”

More seriously, he said: “It's an awesome program. The kids take a lot of pride in it. They do a great job. (Averly Jane) was at the sale and I kind of just fell in love with her. I bought two fillies off of them.

“It wasn't like a sympathy case,” he said of his purchase. “It wasn't like I was trying to make a bunch of students' day. Because they're not getting the money. The money goes to fund the program. I thought she was a really nice filly.”

Who now is worth far more than her purchase price, Ward observed.

“She's done everything right,” the trainer said. “Undefeated. We've got all of UK rooting for her, so we've got that in her favor as well.”

UK did not nominate Averly Jane to the Breeders' Cup as a foal so Bell and his partners paid $12,000 in July to make her eligible.

“They can't really afford to pay the $400 foal nomination,” Bell said of the UK program. “The nominations (for 2-year-olds) were due in like two days, or it would become $100 grand. I called Wesley and said, 'Hey, we think she's really nice. But $12,000 is $12,000.' He said, 'Nominate her.'”

UK student Claire Wilson, also an intern in Keeneland's publicity department, said of watching a filly go from foal to stakes-winner: “There's not really anything like it, and I think that's why people stay in this business as long as they do. We're having a great time cheering her on.”

The UK program has about 35 mares in its primary herd, with mares and stallion seasons donated by industry participants.

“The University of Kentucky — through our equine education, research and service — serves as the backbone of one of Kentucky's most important and vibrant industries,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We are home to the only scientific institute in the United States in which nearly all faculty are conducting full-time research in equine health and diseases. Against this backdrop, we are thrilled to see that a horse of our own — one born and raised by Maine Chance and sold by our UK team — has emerged as a favorite in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.”

Averly Jane is by far the best horse the university has bred. Until Averly Jane, their only prior stakes-winner was Twister in Oz, who won Kansas' $10,000 Anthony Thoroughbred Futurity in 2007, which doesn't really count.

Now, however, UK is the breeder of a Breeders' Cup horse whose combined winning margin is 22 1/4 lengths while earning $313,140.

Daniel Deatrick was the student that led Averly Jane into the ring at Fasig-Tipton. Now he's hoping she is led into another ring: the Breeders' Cup winner's circle.

“I learned a lot from her,” Deatrick said. “It's crazy what she's done in just that time frame. It's a lot of fun, and we're really proud of her.”

The post C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats! UK-Bred Averly Jane The Favorite In Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Peter Brant's Blowout (GB), winner of the Grade 1 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare and a candidate for the $2 million Grade 1 Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 6, worked a half-mile on her own in :50.80 for trainer Chad Brown.

Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Tiz the Bomb, winner of the Grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon and a candidate for the $1 million Grade 1 Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5, worked five furlongs on his own in 1:01.80 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Also working for McPeek was Arriba Arequipa's Reina de Mollendo (ARG) who covered five furlongs in 1:06.40 on her own in preparation for a possible Filly and Mare Turf start.

Trainer Wesley Ward worked a trio of runners headed by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg's Golden Pal, winner of the Grade 2 Woodford Presented by TVG.

Winner of last fall's Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and a candidate for this year's $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Golden Pal drilled five furlongs in 1:00.80 with splits of :24.20, :37.20, :49, and 1:00.80. (Click here for a video of the work.)

Other Ward workers were Hat Creek Racing's Averly Jane, winner of the Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select, and Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker, second in the Indian Summer. Working together for possible starts in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, the undefeated Averly Jane covered five furlongs in 1:03.40 and Kaufymaker went the distance in 1:03.80.

Calumet Farm's Channel Cat, prepping for a possible second start in the $4 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf, worked five furlongs on his own in 1:02.20 with splits of :25.20, :38.60, :50.40 and 1:02.20 for trainer Jack Sisterson.

Three other possible Breeders' Cup runners posted works on the fast main track.

Also working for Calumet and Sisterson was Lexitonian, who covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.60. Winner of the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt two starts back, Lexitonian is a candidate for the $2 million Grade 1 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road, runner-up to Letruska in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster, worked a half-mile in :49 for trainer Chad Brown in preparation for a likely third start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).

Dare To Dream Stable's American Sanctuary, fourth in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, worked a half-mile in :48.40 for trainer Chris Davis. He is possible for the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

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At the Lexington, Ky., track, Averly Jane exited post seven quickly, finding the front in the opening strides of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint. Roman Poet and Diamond City traded second and third as Averly Jane held onto a safe lead, Gaffalione gave the filly a short breather on the far turn. Into the stretch, though, the field had no chance to challenge the favorite as she stretched her advantage with ease, hitting the wire three lengths in front. Kaufymaker was second and Circle Back Jack was third.

The final time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:02.65. Find this race's chart here.

Averly Jane paid $3.80, $2.40, and $2.20. Kaufymaker paid $3.40 and $2.80. Circle Back Jack paid $7.00.

The Indian Summer Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Winners of Challenge Series races earn a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding event at the Breeders' Cup World Championship Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Bred in Kentucky by the University of Kentucky, Averly Jane is by Midshipman out of the Richter Scale mare Sh Sh Shakin'. Owned by Hat Creek Racing, the 2-year-old filly is trained by Wesley Ward. Consigned by Maine Chance Farm, Averly Jane was sold to Newt Dobbs for $35,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. With her win in the Indian Summer, she maintains her perfect record, 4 for 4, with career earnings of $313,140.

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The Indian Summer marked Averly Jane's third score over colts as she'd also faced and beaten them in both the Skidmore and in Churchill's Apr. 28 Kentucky Juvenile S. The bay filly has faced her own gender just once when debuting with an 8 3/4-length victory Apr. 15 at Keeneland. The Indian Summer was her first start on the lawn.

Trainer Ward also won the Indian Summer in 2019 with another filly in Kimari (Munnings), whose further exploits included victory in Keeneland's GI Madison S. this past April.

Sh Sh Shakin' has also produced 2018 Skidmore winner Chattel, whose injuries sustained when clipping heels and falling in the stretch at Kentucky Downs later that year caused his death. The mare also has a yearling colt by Brody's Cause, who sold for $45,000 to Emerald Farm as a Fasig-Tipton short yearling, and was bred to World of Trouble for next term.

Sunday, Keeneland
INDIAN SUMMER S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT, $200,000, Keeneland, 10-10, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.65, gd.
1–AVERLY JANE, 117, f, 2, by Midshipman
               1st Dam: Sh Sh Shakin', by Richter Scale
               2nd Dam: Capote's Gift, by Capote
               3rd Dam: Bubbles Darlene, by Fappiano
($35,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT). O-Hat Creek Racing; B-University
of Kentucky (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Tyler Gaffalione.
$120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $313,140. *1/2 to
Chattel (Giant Oak), SW, $111,540.
2–Kaufymaker, 116, f, 2, Jimmy Creed–Heaven's Touch, by
Montbrook. O/B-Gregory Kaufman (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward.
$40,000.
3–Circle Back Jack, 118, g, 2, Tonalist–Sucat, by Medaglia
d'Oro. O-Susan Evans & Cathy Sweezey; B-Susan Evans &
Mary Catherine Sweezey (KY); T-Sarah Hamilton. $20,000.
Margins: 3, NK, NK. Odds: 0.90, 3.20, 47.50.
Also Ran: Detroit City, Pure Panic, Roman Poet, Big Boss Ben, Bonus Appreciation, Diamond City. Scratched: Sonnyisnotsofunny.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The Indian Summer, a Breeders' Cup Challenge race that offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar on Nov. 5, will go as the eighth race Sunday with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who won the 2019 Indian Summer with the filly Kimari, Averly Jane is one of two fillies in the race for Ward along with Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker.

Averly Jane has won her three starts by a combined 19¼ lengths with stakes victories coming in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs and the Skidmore at Saratoga. She won at first asking at Keeneland as did Kaufymaker, who enters Sunday's race off a third-place finish in the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint (L) at Kentucky Downs last month.

Tyler Gaffalione has the call on Averly Jane from post seven, while Irad Ortiz Jr. will pilot Kaufymaker from post two. The two entrants are the race's lone fillies.

Trainer Mark Casse, who sent out Strike Silver to win the inaugural Indian Summer in 2018, is back this year with Canadian invader Diamond City.

Owned by D. J. Stable, Diamond City has won one of three starts at Woodbine with the victory coming in his most recent start in the Ontario Racing Stakes (L) on Sept. 19 going 5 furlongs. Diamond City will start from post position 10 and be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

The field for the Indian Summer, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Sonnyisnotsofunny (Luis Saez, 118 pounds), Kaufymaker (Ortiz Jr., 115), Detroit City (Adam Beschizza, 118), Pure Panic (Flavien Prat, 118), Big Boss Ben (Reylu Gutierrez, 118), Bonus Appreciation (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Averly Jane (Gaffalione, 117), Roman Poet (Florent Geroux, 118), Circle Back Jack (Robby Albarado, 118), Diamond City (Leparoux, 120).

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Champion Essential Quality (Tapit) worked five furlongs in the company of Ellis Park allowance winner Colonel Bowman (Curlin) just after the track opened for business shortly after 5:30 Saturday morning. The duo broke off at the half-mile pole, crossing the wire in :46.80 before completing the move around the clubhouse turn in :59.20. Essential Quality outgamed Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) to take out the GI Runhappy Travers S. in his most recent start and is being trained up to the Classic, for which he figures no worse than the second choice.

“Essential is the type of horse that just keeps finding more in every race,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I thought his race in the Travers was a tremendous effort to run down [Midnight Bourbon]. He's a really nice horse in his own right.

He continued, “The distance in the Classic is not going to be an issue for him. He'll be fit and ready. There wasn't a race in between the Travers and the Classic that made a lot of sense for him to run in. We gave him two easy half-mile works prior to [Saturday] and we'll keep tightening the screws each week.”

The Cox-conditioned Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) turned in an easy half-mile in :50.40 Saturday morning, her first move since winning the GIII Locust Grove S. Sept. 17.

Bell's The One (Majesticperfection), a latest second to Sconsin (Include) in the Sept. 17 Open Mind S., also returned to the tab Saturday morning for trainer Neil Pessin. The 5-year-old, who will look to improve on her third-place effort to Gamine (Into Mischief) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, went in the company of recent allowance runner-up Audrey's Time (Uncle Mo) and covered a half-mile in :48 (14/131), breaking off five lengths behind her stablemate before joining her on the wire.

Across Interstate 64 at Keeneland Saturday morning, pro-tem divisional leader Letruska (Super Saver) tuned up for the Oct. 10 GI Juddmonte Spinster S. by working five-eighths of a mile in :59 over a fast main track. She was clocked in splits of :22.60, :35.40 and :46.80 before energetically galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.

Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), winner of the 2020 GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, worked five furlongs in 1:01 over the firm turf course in preparation for next Saturday's GII Woodford S. His workmate was the fleet 2-year-old filly Averly Jane (Midshipman), who is ticketed for the Oct. 10 Listed Indian Summer S. en route to a possible appearance in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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Rocketing out of the gate to clear early, the bay was still in total control after a :45 flat half and glided home all by herself the easiest of winners.

“When you're riding for Wesley Ward, you know they have speed and just hopefully they last and today, she did,” winning rider Tyler Gaffalione said. “She broke on top and I was able to just put my hands down and let her relax and she did everything on her own. She's a rocket. I had plenty left in the tank. We could have went a lot quicker even early on but we only used what we needed.”

Ward said of the winner, “She's a nice filly. We were kind of going back and forth with the [Sept. 5 GI] Spinaway. We'll talk it over with Gatewood Bell [of Hat Creek racing]. He picked her out and he does a great job picking horses out. We'll get with him and make a plan from there. It'll probably be the [GI Darley] Alcibiades [at Keeneland Oct. 8], which is in Gatewood's hometown. That's where she's trained her whole life.”

Averly Jane has a yearling half-brother by Brody's Cause. Her dam was not bred for 2021 but most recently visited World of Trouble.

SKIDMORE S., $120,000, Saratoga, 8-20, 2yo, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:03.79, ft.
1–AVERLY JANE, 119, f, 2, by Midshipman
                1st Dam: Sh Sh Shakin', by Richter Scale
                2nd Dam: Capote's Gift, by Capote
                3rd Dam: Bubbles Darlene, by Fappiano
($35,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT). O-Hat Creek Racing; B-University of
Kentucky (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $66,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $193,140. *1/2 to Chattel (Giant
Oak), SW, $111,540.
2–Pure Panic, 122, c, 2, Summer Front–Shock the World, by
Hansen. ($24,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $42,000 RNA Ylg '20
KEESEP; $170,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O/B-Kendall E.
Hansen, M.D. Racing, LLC (KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $24,000.
3–Overbore, 122, c, 2, Speightstown–Galina Point, by Saffir.
($275,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peter Leidel; B-WinStar Farm, LLC
(KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $14,400.
Margins: 7 1/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.60, 5.90, 3.90.
Also Ran: Golden Bell, Catch the Smoke, Backnthewoods, Bonus Appreciation, Baytown Warrior, Barone Cesco. Scratched: Kaufymaker. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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He ranks second amongst his studmates, behind Jonabell's elder statesman Medaglia d'Oro, in terms of blacktype runners to named foals at over a 12% clip, and his $7,500 stud fee this year only adds to his appeal.

“I think the area where Midshipman really excels, and it's a very easy selling point, is that everyone has a mare that would suit him because he's so consistent,” Darley's Assistant Sales Manager Kate Galvin said. “There's a low risk factor as a breeder when you're using Midshipman and I feel really confident that he can get mares a runner. He's not expensive compared to his competition and he's very impressive physically. All those things combined really make for a no-brainer mating.”

Of the stallions standing in Kentucky today, Midshipman is the only one to achieve a lifetime blacktype winners to runners percentage of over 15% with a stud fee under $10,000 this year. His current 17.8% strike rate places him in between Uncle Mo at 17.4% (2021 stud fee of $175,000) and Quality Road at 18.2% (2021 stud fee of $150,000).

This year, Midshipman's runners are shining at the highest level. His progeny have already collected five blacktype wins with potential for bigger things to come as the year progresses.

Last month, Royal Ship (Brz) broke through to earn his first graded stakes win in the U.S in the GII Californian S. at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old gelding arrived at the barn of Hall of Famer Richard Mandella last summer after taking a Group 1 and Group 3 in Brazil.

“Royal Ship's win was a really significant benchmark for Midshipman and a very interesting angle as well because Midshipman started shuttling to South America five years ago,” Galvin noted.

Royal Ship made four starts for Mandella prior to his win in the Californian, including a third-place effort in the GII Del Mar Mile H.

“He's a quality horse,” Mandella said. “We were kind of struck with back luck in his first few races, but there's nothing you can do about that. He's doing very well now and he'll get a couple of good workouts in starting here in the next few days.”

Mandella reported that the gelding is pointing towards the GI Hollywood Gold Cup on May 31.

“With the possibility of Midshipman having a Grade I-winning American horse now becoming a reality, that would mean everything for Midshipman,” Galvin said. “It would really drive home the point that he is one of the best proven stallions in Kentucky.”

Royal Ship gets his first stateside win in the GII Californian S. | Benoit

Two days before Royal Ship's victory on April 17, a juvenile filly by the same sire named Averly Jane broke her maiden at Keeneland by nearly nine lengths. The Wesley Ward trainee journeyed to Churchill Downs soon after and stayed undefeated in the Kentucky Juvenile S. Ward has noted plans of pointing the 2-year-old towards the Albany S. at Royal Ascot.

Midshipman's other leading performers this year include Bara Lass S. winner Happy Sailor, Howard B. Noonan S. victor Morestride and another Wesley Ward pupil in dual stakes winner Wink.

The Stonestreet-campaigned filly was a debut juvenile winner last summer and then took the Colleen S. at Monmouth before running second in the G3 Prix d'Arenberg at Longchamp.

“She's a filly that really got some attention, because here you have a major racing operation having a 2-year-old winner by Midshipman,” Galvin said. “We're very excited about her this year because she just made her 3-year-old debut a couple of weeks ago at Gulfstream and she won [the Melody of Colors S.], so we're looking forward to seeing what she'll be doing this summer.”

Galvin added that along with Midshipman's well-recognized asset in consistency, his other big selling point is his versatility.

“Showing the full gauntlet of what Midshipman can get, Royal Ship won going a route of ground as an older horse on dirt, but then you have your top 2-year-old-types like Wink and Averly Jane.”

Wink's victory last month in the Melody of Color S. was on the grass going five furlongs, a reflection of how Galvin said Midshipman was first recognized at stud.

“He got off the mark as a stallion who gave his progeny a ton of speed,” Galvin said. “['TDN Rising Star'] Lady Shipman was his first mainstream horse and she was just an absolute beast sprinting on the turf. She ran seven triple-digit Beyers, she won 11 stakes and was second in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.”

Other leading earners for Midshipman include Dearest, a three-time stakes winner who took the 2016 GIII Sugar Swill S. going six furlongs on the dirt, as well as the Kenny McPeek-trained Princess Warrior, who ran second in the GI Darley Alcibiades before switching to the turf at three to take the GII Mrs. Revere S. at a mile and a sixteenth.

“We see a variety of results in his best runners,” Galvin said. “If you have a young mare that you don't want to put a ton of money into her first year or two, for less that $10,000 you can go to a stallion who has a higher percentage of blacktype horses to runners than the majority of stallions in Kentucky. You have to pay more than $90,000 to get a horse that has a better number than him in that statistic.”

Averly Jane remains undefeated in the Kentucky Juvenile S. on Kentucky Derby week. | Coady

Galvin said that Midshipman has become a go-to stallion for many breeders looking to find the true potential in a young mare.

“Obviously unproven stallions are very popular, but as a breeder you can get into a trap where all of a sudden, you're four or five years in and look at a mare's produce record and you don't know if you gave her a chance or not if she hasn't gotten a runner. So I always tell people, let's backtrack, reduce your risk and breed her to Midshipman, and let's see what happens.”

While Midshipman is now an in-demand representative for Darley, Galvin said that the early days at stud for the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion weren't quite so simple.

“Midshipman had a really unique start to his stud career. Most stallions who are Eclipse Champion Juveniles start their career with a bang with everybody lining up to breed to them. But Midshipman had a bit of a tougher start. It was kind of a reverse demand situation than what you typically have with a young stallion.”

When Midshipman suffered from minor soundness issues as an older horse and there were some questions regarding the overall soundness of the sire line at the time, breeders were initially skeptical.

“He offered everything that you want a top stallion to have,” Galvin explained. “He has an amazing pedigree. He and Frosted are very closely related- they're both from Stonerside breeding. But the breeders just weren't super excited about him and he actually struggled to get mares in his first few years at stud. It wasn't until the year that he had his first 2-year-olds in 2014 and they were breezing at OBS and Gulfstream, that's when the phone started ringing for Midshipman.”

Midshipman saw a 50-mare jump in his book from 2013 to 2014 and his book has not fallen below 100 mares since.

“I do think one of the reasons Midshipman has been successful is that he's done it the hard way,” Galvin said. “Since 2014, he's been standing for less than $10,000. We've just made an effort to get plenty of mares to him and get good breeders to use him, and that has really paid off in spades. Now we're starting to see these bigger operations having no problem buying a Midshipman at the sale and they're obviously all breeding to him.”

So while a Grade I win this year would of course raise the profile of the now 15-year-old Midshipman, he has already sealed his deserved space in history as an influential part of the Darley sire program, doing so at a modest stud fee along the way.

“Getting a Grade I win in the U.S. would make a big difference to Midshipman,” Galvin said. “It will probably raise the profile of the type of mare he gets and raise the profile of his sales results, so it would make the latter half of his career stronger. But he's also a stallion that has done so much, he really doesn't owe anyone anything. We're just very proud of the results he's had so far.”

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