Saturday, November 18, 2023
5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
EVEN NOW (f, 2, Catholic Boy–Evening Call, by Tapit), a $385,000 in-utero purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at Keeneland November in 2020, is out of an unraced daughter of SW For Royalty (Not For Love), the dam of GI La Brea S. winner Constellation (Bellamy Road), three-time stakes winner Truth Seeker (Into Mischief) and an additional pair of black-type performers. Even Now will be campaigned in the Sunday Racing colors. B-Northern Farm (KY)

11th-TOK, Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S.-G2, ¥72m, 2yo, 1800mT
CIRCLE OF JOY (JPN) (c, 2, Constitution–Mirth, by Colonel John) belied debut odds of nearly 10-1 going this distance at Hanshin Sept. 10, coming from behind midfield to graduate in professional fashion (video, SC 4). The chestnut is the first foal from his dam, the GI Rodeo Drive S. heroine who was knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.05 million with this colt in utero at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Circle of Joy is bred on the same cross as Classic winner Tiz the Law, GSW We the People and SW/GISP Never Surprised, et al. B-Shunsuke Yoshida

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In 2023, War Front's yearlings sold for up to $800,000, and he is among the top 10 North American-based sires this season by percentage of black-type winners from starters (6.9%), black-type performers from starters (11.8%) and total graded stakes winners (six).

War Front's GI Preakness S.-winning son War of Will will stand for $25,000. His first yearlings sold at auction this year, going for as much as $650,000 with an average sale price of $120,132.

Blame (Arch) will also stand for $25,000. In addition to siring top runners including, Grade I winner Wet Paint, Blame has emerged as an important broodmare sire. Led by champion Forte, Blame has 12% stakes horses from starters, the highest percentage of any broodmare sire with 100 or more starters.

The Grade I Met Mile winner Silver State (Hard Spun) will stand for $15,000. His first weanlings will arrive at auction this fall.

Champion sprinter Runhappy (Super Saver) will stand for $10,000, with runners in 2023 led by Grade I winner Nutella Fella and Grade II winner Smile Happy.

Dual-surface Grade I winner Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) will also stand for $10,000. His first crop of juveniles had an average progeny-winning distance of 7.26 furlongs leading all freshman sires.

Veteran sire First Samurai (Giant's Causeway) will once again stand for $7,500, led by Grade II-placed Synthesis, who has earned over $648,000 over the course of his career.

First Samurai's son Lea will stand for a private fee, with a resume of recent runners that includes Grade III winner Poppy Flower.

Demarchelier (GB) will have his fee announced at a later time. The only son of top international sire Dubawi standing in Kentucky has gotten off the mark quickly with his first 2-year-olds, leading all freshman sires by black type performers on turf (two) and average winning distance over turf (8.05 furlongs).

Mastery has been relocated to Lex Stud in Japan.

Following is a full list of Claiborne Farm's 2024 roster and fees:

Blame (Arch)–$25,000

Catholic Boy (More Than Ready)–$10,000

Demarchelier (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})–TBD

First Samurai (Giant's Causeway)–$7,500

Lea (First Samurai)–Private

Runhappy (Super Saver)–$10,000

Silver State (Hard Spun)–$15,000

War Front (Danzig)–$100,000

War of Will (War Front)–$25,000

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Still overlooked at the windows at 14-1 here, the bay filly avoided Momma Kim (Noble Mission {GB})'s fall, who stumbled up the backstretch after clipping heels with Gold Alliance (Goldencents), which also caused Bingo's Girl (Yoshida {Jpn}) to go down. Rounding the far turn, Lady d'Oro made up ground into the stretch and wrangling Gold Alliance past the eighth pole, she went on to graduate by 3/4 length over the late-running Madame Mischief. Gold Alliance was disqualified from third and placed last for interference entering the turn.

Following the race, Bingo's Girl and Momma Kim walked off under their own power. Jockey Samy Camacho, who was aboard Bingo's Girl, was sent to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch by ambulance for evaluation X-rays following a spill, according to track Medical Director Angelo Chinnici. Camacho, the track's second-leading rider with 29 wins, was excused from the remainder of his mounts on the 10-race card. Jockey Jorge Gonzalez, who was aboard Momma Kim, reported no injuries.

The winner's dam is responsible for a yearling filly by Instagrand and she foaled a colt by Good Magic Feb. 11.

4th-Monmouth, $55,850, Msw, 7-2, 2yo, f, 5fT, :57.12, fm,
3 3/4 lengths.
LADY D'ORO, f, 2, by Catholic Boy
1st Dam: Popstar, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Catstar, by Storm Cat
3rd dam: Advancing Star, Soviet Star
Sales History: $22,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $19,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $33,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart, VIDEO, sponsored by TVG or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Leopoldo M. Ortega; B-Lauren West, Val Henson & Jonathan Thomas Racing Stable (KY); T-Leopoldo M. Ortega.

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A total of 16 young guns in North America have 50 or more current 2-year-olds resulting from their first covers in 2020. A great many more have fewer than 50, but numbers beget opportunities. The leading freshman sire of 2023 is likely to be one of those 16.

It's also a good bet that Spendthrift Farm may repeat Bolt d'Oro's 2022 success as the leading freshman sire, as four of the top five freshmen by number of 2-year-olds stand at the Central Kentucky Farm.

The 16 newcomers are concentrated in Kentucky, with one each also in New York and Florida. What almost all have in common is plenty of sire power behind them. Including two freshmen by Curlin and two by Into Mischief, all of the sires of these leading 16 freshmen have thrown Grade I winners themselves, but not all of their sire sons have done the same.

Conformation, dam side, and athleticism of the new 2-year-olds aside, let's examine the hard evidence based solely on elite performance of other sons at stud by the same sires. Which of these 'Sweet 16' is most likely to find success based on how other sons by their sires have fared?

Audible and Maximus Mischief, both by Into Mischief, standing for $25,000 at WinStar Farm, 150 2-year-olds (Audible), and for $7,500 at Spendthrift Farm, 135 2-year-olds (Maximus Mischief)

It's impossible to overlook Into Mischief, who is coming off his fourth general sire championship. He's got an embarrassment of riches with a plethora of up-and-coming young sire sons in the next few years, including Kentucky Derby winners Authentic and Mandaloun, as well as four-time GISW and Breeders' Cup winner Life Is Good. Getting the first jump are GI Florida Derby winner Audible and GII Remsen S. winner Maximus Mischief. Into Mischief's first major sire sons are Goldencents and Practical Joke, both of whom have already sired a U.S. GISW. In addition, Practical Joke has hot Derby prospect and MGSW Practical Move. Audible was particularly popular at OBS March, with his top two each working in :10 and bringing $500,000 and $425,000, respectively.

And the second freshman by Into Mischief for 2023:

Catalina Cruiser, by Union Rags, standing for $15,000 at Lane's End, 110 2-year-olds

Holding the distinction of being the fourth generation of his sire line (Union Rags-Dixie Union-Dixieland Band) to stand at Lane's End, five-time graded winner Catalina Cruiser could be the first big-time sire son for Union Rags. The latter's only other sire son in a major market is Free Drop Billy, whose first-crop sophomores have not yet broken through on the graded stage. Catalina Cruiser's top 2-year-old specimen at OBS March breezed in :21 and brought $400,000 post sale.

Catholic Boy, by More Than Ready, standing for $15,000 at Claiborne Farm, 104 2-year-olds

Any horse that can win the GI Belmont Derby on grass in July and the GI Travers S. on dirt just over a month later has to be taken seriously. The late More Than Ready was the dual hemisphere phenom whose sire sons include Australia's late Sebring (Aus), sire of at least eight Group 1 winners; the exported Verrazano with one U.S. Grade I winner and two Chilean Group 1 winners; Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) with six Group 1 winners spread between Australia and South Africa; Daredevil, whose first-crop exploits included both a Classic winner and a GI Kentucky Oaks winner; and Custom for Carlos, who stands in Louisiana and came up with a U.S. Grade I winner despite averaging just 45 foals a year.

Demarchelier (GB), by Dubawi (Ire), standing for $5,000 at Claiborne Farm, 70 2-year-olds

Even as the first known son of Dubawi at stud in the U.S., GSW Demarchelier will not suffer from pedigree anonymity as Dubawi is arguably the top sire in Europe. At least five of his sire sons have been responsible for Grade I or Group 1 winners on their own: Al Kazeem (GB), Makfi (GB), New Bay (GB), Night of Thunder (Ire), and Poet's Voice (GB).

Enticed, by Medaglia d'Oro, standing for $5,000 at Darley, 103 2-year-olds

Like Curlin, Into Mischief, and War Front, who also have freshmen sons with first juveniles this year, Medaglia d'Oro is one of the elite stallions of Kentucky with the sustained success of umpteen Grade I winners to his credit. Among his sons, two have sired Grade I winners to date, with Violence holding the top spot as far and away his best sire son so far. Violence has four GISWs, including current Derby favorite Forte. Medaglia d'Oro also has Astern (Aus) with a Group 1 winner in Australia and Bolt d'Oro as last year's top freshman who has not yet broken through with a Grade I winner. Enticed himself was precocious, winning the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and placing in the GI Champagne S. at two.

Flameaway, by Scat Daddy, standing for $7,500 at Darby Dan Farm, 116 2-year-olds

MGSW Flameaway's late sire ignited early with his first runners and his success just magnified after his death at age 11. Among the late Scat Daddy's sons to sire a Group 1 winner to date is his undisputed sire son leader No Nay Never, as well as the classy Caravaggio. And then there's Triple Crown winner Justify, who gives the sense he's knocking on the Grade I door after his first American and Australian crops yielded five graded/group winners.

Leofric, by Candy Ride (Arg), standing for $7,500 at Darby Dan Farm, 56 2-year-olds

After the success of Gun Runner, Candy Ride sons are a hot commodity and he will have a steady pipeline of sons with first runners in the coming years, including champion Game Winner and MGISW Vekoma (both with first yearlings this year), as well as GISW Rock Your World (first weanlings this year). GI Clark H. winner Leofric is the early bird among the group that follows Candy Ride's two sire sons who have achieved out-of-this-world success: Gun Runner and Twirling Candy. The former, with only two crops to race, has sired a spectacular six GISWs and another five Grade I performers. The latter is no slouch either, accounting for seven Grade I winners from his eight crops to race. Both also have sired Classic winners. Clearly, when Candy Ride hits, he hits big.

Mitole, by Eskendereya, standing for $15,000 at Spendthrift Farm, 158 2-year-olds

A champion and MGISW who helped contribute to his dam being crowned Broodmare of the Year for 2021, Mitole is one of three freshmen who are charting new territory for their own sires by attempting to become their first established son in the sire ranks. Eskendereya was exported to Japan in 2015 when Mitole was just a foal. The stallion's only other known sire son in the U.S. is Mor Spirit, who stands alongside Mitole at Spendthrift and has yet to have a graded performer in his first crop (now sophomores). Buyers at OBS March liked what they saw: the top three Mitole 2-year-olds all worked in :10 and brought $350,000, $325,000, and $300,000, respectively.

Omaha Beach, by War Front, standing for $30,000 at Spendthrift Farm, 138 2-year-olds

The brilliant Omaha Beach, a triple Grade I winner, looks every bit the part of a stallion who's going to make it. No matter how you look at it–whether it's his sire, the bottom side of his pedigree, his own race performance, his first yearlings–he's hard to fault. Among his first 2-year-olds at OBS March was a $690,000 filly who worked in :9 4/5. The venerable War Front, sire of a surplus of Grade I winners, has had three sons who have made it to the big stage as sires thus far: Declaration of War with Grade I/Group 1 winners in the U.S., Australia, France, and Canada; The Factor with two U.S. GISWs; and Hit It a Bomb with an Argentinean Group 1 winner. Omaha Beach and Classic winner War of Will (first yearlings this year) are among War Front's top sire prospects yet.

Preservationist, by Arch, standing for $10,000 at Airdrie Stud, 76 2-year-olds

GI Woodward S. winner Preservationist and fellow GISW Instilled Regard (whose first foals are currently yearlings) are the last top horses by the late Arch, who died in 2016 just prior to the breeding season, to go to stud. Arch has had two sons sire GISWs: the late Archarcharch, whose last crops were in Korea, and Blame, who has sired five GISWs and counting.

Solomini and Vino Rosso, both by Curlin, standing for $6,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, 78 2-year-olds (Solomini), and for $15,000 at Spendthrift Farm, 178 2-year-olds (Vino Rosso)

Is there any limit to Curlin's prowess as a sire? Last year, he topped his own sire and grandsire (Smart Strike and Mr. Prospector)–who tied with a dozen other stallions by siring two Eclipse winners in a single year–when he made history as the only sire to ever have three individual Eclipse winners in a single year. Like Candy Ride and Into Mischief, he's got a number of sons with first crops to the races on the horizon. This year, it's his champion and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso and his MGISP Solomini who will send their first juveniles to the races. Curlin has no fewer than four sons who have sired Grade I winners: Good Magic (whose first crop is just three this year), Connect and Keen Ice (whose first crops are four), and Palace Malice. Both Vino Rosso and Solomini had a number of first juveniles at OBS March: Vino Rosso's top was a :9 4/5 breezer who hammered for $550,000 and Solomini's best worked in :10 and brought $200,000.

St Patrick's Day, by Pioneerof the Nile, standing for $3,500 at Journeyman Stallions, 71 2-year-olds

A maiden winner at two and graded-placed at three, St Patrick's Day has the lightest race record of this group, but he's a full-brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Although the late Pioneerof the Nile has a number of very useful sons at stud, American Pharoah is the first who has broken through with any Grade 1/Group 1 winners. He has a half-dozen of those to his name.

World of Trouble, by Kantharos, standing for $5,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farm, 89 2-year-olds

A wickedly fast GISW on both dirt and turf, World of Trouble might be the biggest wild card among the freshmen sire ranks in terms of sire power. The only other son of Kantharos at stud in a major market is Bucchero, who stands in Florida and has yet to have a graded performer in his first crop (now sophomores).

Yoshida (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn), standing for $10,000 at WinStar Farm, 101 2-year-olds

A Grade I winner on both dirt and turf, Yoshida is the only known son of Sunday Silence's Heart's Cry standing in Kentucky. Among Heart's Cry's sire sons is Just a Way (Jpn), who has a 2-year-old champion and Group 1 winner in Japan. Heart's Cry just passed away Mar. 9.

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HIP 187–a filly by Dialed In who is a half to a stakes winner and from the family of MSW Gray Attempt. Consigned by 1880 Bloodstock.

HIP 188–a filly by freshman stallion Catholic Boy who is from the family of MGSW Tax, MGSW Yell, and MGIW Elate. Consigned by 1880 Bloodstock.

HIP 189–a filly by Tapwrit who is a half to two winners and from the family of GSW Doremifasollatido. Consigned by 1880 Bloodstock.

HIP 190–a colt by Lord Nelson who is out of SP Malibu Party. Second dam is G1SW Malibu Mint. Consigned by Oak Creek Thoroughbreds.

HIP 191–a colt by Half Ours out of SW & GSP Moontune Missy. Consigned by Clear Creek Stud.

HIP 192–a filly by Congrats out of the champion imported filly in Mexico. From the family of GSW Governor Charlie and champion Silverbulletday. Consigned by A B Dynamite Racing.

HIP 193–a filly by Nyquist out of MGSP Maria Maria and from the family GSW He's Got Grit. Consigned by Clary Bloodstock.

The sale will take place April 5 at Lone Star Park's Sales Pavilion while the breeze show is April 3.

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Among them, Catholic Boy holds the distinction of earning Grade I victories on two surfaces. After collecting six graded wins over his three-year racing campaign, Catholic Boy launched his stud career at Claiborne Farm in 2020. The farm's Walker Hancock said that the $2.1 million earner, who is out a daughter of productive broodmare sire Bernardini, has all the criteria to replicate his sire's success.

“He has turned into a really gorgeous sire,” Hancock said. “He has the perfect mix of More Than Ready and Bernardini, which I think is appealing to breeders. He really fits the mold of a great stallion and we look for him to continue More Than Ready's legacy.”

The picture of versatility on the racetrack, Catholic Boy won the GIII With Anticipation S. at two in his second career start for Jonathan Thomas and then switched to dirt to take the GII Remsen S. As a sophomore, he tallied turf scores in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. and GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. and got his signature dirt Grade I in the 2018 Runhappy Travers S. He returned to the grass at four to take the GII Dixie S.

Launched at a stud fee of $25,000, Catholic Boy bred over 130 mares in his debut at Claiborne. This year his first crop of yearlings will go through the sales ring, but which surface will they ultimately excel on?

“They're kind of across the board,” Hancock explained. “They're a bit like More Than Ready in that you can get bay and chestnut, big and small. You can look at one Catholic Boy and say that this one looks like it's going to be dirt and then you look at the next one and say this one is going to be turf. He's really providing that versatility through his offspring that we saw him have on the track.”

At the breeding stock sales, Catholic Boy's first weanlings averaged over $60,000. With 20 of 24 sold, five youngsters sold for six figures. The Claiborne sire will be represented by nearly 60 yearlings at the Keeneland September Sale. Within that group, Claiborne will offer two in Book 2. Hancock said the pair is an accurate representation of the versatility Catholic Boy seems to be throwing.

Hip 714, a Catholic Boy colt out of Line (War Front) | Sara Gordon

Hip 638 is a filly out of the winning Speightstown mare Fashion Week. The yearling's second dam is Grade I-placed Theyskens' Theory (Bernardini), a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even).

“We've had buyers come to the farm over the last two weeks and every single one of them seem to really like her,” Hancock said of the filly. “She has a real presence about her. She's a really pretty individual and she looks like she'll hopefully be one of Catholic Boy's highest-priced yearlings.”

Hip 714 is a colt out of the winning War Front mare Line, who hails from a long line of Claiborne-bred broodmares. Line's dam Wend (Pulpit) was a three-time graded winner on grass.

“It looks like he'll have a little turf influence in his athletic abilities,” Hancock explained. “We're really pleased with how he has progressed. He has really blossomed with sales prep and I think buyers will be pleased with what they see.”

As the son of a War Front mare, this colt is a result of the matings that Claiborne envisioned when they brought Catholic Boy to the farm with the hope of supporting broodmares by their flagbearing sire.

“One of our draws with Catholic Boy was that we have a lot of War Front mares and More Than Ready crosses really well with Danzig,” Hancock noted. “[The cross] has had a ton of success in Australia especially and I think we'll see it more and more here in America hopefully in the next couple of years. It's a good cross because some of the War Front mares aren't the biggest and leggiest, but Catholic Boy is really providing the kind of size and leg they might need.”

Claiborne will showcase yearlings by a second first-crop sire at Keeneland September with Demarchelier, who has over a dozen youngsters cataloged for the auction.

A regally-bred son of Dubawi–and the only stallion in Kentucky by the globally-successful Darley sire–Demarchelier was a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut for Peter Brant and Chad Brown in his lone juvenile start. At three, he defeated allowance company on the Keeneland turf and then showed an impressive turn of foot to take the GIII Pennine Ridge S. After incurring a career-ending injury in his next start, he retired to Claiborne.

Demarchelier strikes a pose | Sara Gordon

Hancock said their team was not sure how the talented bay would be received by the market with his short-but-impeccable turf resume, but he shared that they were thrilled with how breeders responded to the new stallion, who has stood for a fee of $5,000 in his first three years at stud.

“Demarchelier bred 102 mares in his first crop, which we were more than happy with,” Hancock said. “[Despite] being a horse that was just three for three and with a very European pedigree, he really wasn't that hard of a sell thanks to Dubawi doing so well as an international sire. Peter Brant supported him heavily and he always told us that the horse had a ton of ability.”

While Catholic Boy seems to be throwing an array of types with his progeny, Hancock said that Demarchelier is definitely stamping his offspring.

“Every single one of them looks exactly like him. They're not the biggest, but they're really good movers. They look like they're going to be very turfy. If you've seen Dubawi, Demarchelier has a lot of his characteristics. Obviously Dubawi's sons are really excelling in Europe and we expect Demarchelier to do that here too. We have a lot of really good breeders behind the horse and I think when they hit the racetrack this time next year, they'll speak for themselves.”

For more TDN Features on first-crop yearling sires, click here. 

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The initial seven-horse draft on offer is highlighted by five yearlings by WinStar sire Constitution.

“Overall, we thought this was a very solid group and these individuals were very similar,” Twin Creeks' Randy Gullatt said. “And they all have a very strong pedigree behind them. I hope we have already proven the point that we can breed and sell great horses, so I think they will be very popular here.”

In a fateful move that would pave the way for the string of successes that would come in the breeding shed and on the racetrack, Twin Creeks teamed up with WinStar Farm to campaign $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase Constitution (Tapit), victorious in the 2014 GI Besilu Florida Derby and 2015 GI Donn H. Standing for an advertised fee of $85,000 in 2022, Constitution currently heads the earning's list of North American fourth crop sires with runners in both North America and Europe.

“He's been so important to us, both in racing him and now as a sire,” he said. “We've raced four graded stakes horses by him that we also bred.”

According to Gullatt, Hip 812 and Hip 888 are likely to garner plenty of attention next week. The former, who is out of Sharp Instinct (Awesome Again), is a half-brother to GSW Send It In (Big Brown). The latter is a half-brother to Grade II-placed Afleet Destiny (Hard Spun). Both yearlings are by Constitution.

Gullatt explained, “These colts in particular have a really special look to them. They both have that special physical that most of these buyers seem to be attracted to. I think being by Constitution and having that look, I would think they'd be very popular.”

Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again, Twin Creeks has already tasted top-level success with another son of Constitution. Consigned on behalf of breeder Twin Creeks by Becky Thomas's Sequel New York in 2018 renewal of the Saratoga Preferred New York bred Yearling Sale, Tiz the Law–out of Tizfiz (Tiznow)–was purchased for $110,000 by Jack Knowlton's Sackatoga Stable. Trained by Barclay Tagg, the colt went on to win the GI Belmont S. In addition to the GI Runhappy Travers S., GI Curlin Florida Derby and GI Champagne S.

“Tiz the Law is a very different type of horse from the colts we are offering at Keeneland September,” explained Gullatt. “He was a smaller sort of horse and had an exceptional mind, but he wasn't a [physical] standout as a yearling. And Constitution was a relatively unknown stallion at the time that Tiz the Law sold.”

He continued, “But I think these colts are a step above [physically] than Tiz the Law was as a yearling. Obviously, Constitution's stature as a stallion has also grown since Tiz the Law sold.”

Another member of the Constitution brigade received a timely boost her page. Hip 1019–out of a half-sister to GISW Celestine (Scat Daddy) named Haunted Heroine (Ghostzapper)–is a full-sister to Law Professor, winner of the Sept. 1 Tapit S. at Kentucky Downs. Trained by Rob Atras, the Twin Creeks homebred is also responsible for a win in last season's GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile.

“I think he's going to be an exciting fall horse for us,” Gullat said of Law Professor. “We're quite high on him.”

Of his full sister, he added, “She should make an incredible racehorse, and hopefully, as a broodmare for someone one day.”

Among the Twin Creeks offerings not by Constitution, Hip 906 is by the recently deceased More Than Ready out of Baffling (Graydar)–a homebred, half-sister to Constitution out of Baffled (Distorted Humor). The immediate family also boasts Group 2 winner Boynton (More Than Ready) and Grade III scorer Jacaranda (Congrats).

“We had the mare Baffled for some time and sold a More Than Ready out of her named Boynton for $750,000 [at Keeneland September in 2015]. So, we know that the niche works.”

He added, “She is a big, strong, two-turn, classy filly. I think she can be a tremendous broodmare for someone someday.”

According to Gullatt, Hip 1093, by Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) out of May Night (Gulch), has been withdrawn from the sale and will be retained by Twin Creeks to race. Twin Creeks also campaigned the GI Travers S. and GI Belmont Derby winner with Bob LaPenta, Madaket Stables and Siena Farm.

“She's the only Catholic Boy that we have,” he said, explaining the decision to scratch. “It looks like it might be [dam Song of Bernadette]'s last foal, so we decided we want to keep that family.”

Planting the Seed

According to Twin Creek's Randy Gullatt, the addition of farm manager Ryan Bardin to the team was instrumental in facilitating the move to sell its own product at public sale.

“We have done occasionally in the past, but nothing to this degree,” explained Gullatt. “This year, I have a new farm manager to help out and we had a nice group of horses and we thought we could sell them all on the same day. And we thought, 'why not this year be the year we start selling our own in September'.”

Expanding upon the decision to assume selling duties at Keeneland September, Gullatt continued, “Sequel New York sells all of our New York breds, and Taylor Made sells our Kentucky horses. And we're still going to use them. Taylor Made sold a horse for us in July and they will sell something for us in October and November as well. Sequel sold a horse for us at Saratoga in August. September is just such a unique place. It's close to home and its something that we can do on our own now. We also thought the horses were all of similar quality and, being able to sell them on the same day, that played a role in the decision as well.”

Also on offer, next week are a pair of Constitutions–a filly, Hip 779 out of Grade II winner Pure Silver (Mission Impazible) and Hip 792, another colt by Constitution out of Remedy (Creative Cause) from the family of champion Beholder and Into Mischief. Rounding out the consignment is Hip 799, a daughter of freshman sire City of Light.

Underscoring the relevance of the younger sires, not only to Twin Creeks program, but also to the industry as a whole, Gullatt said, “Especially with the fillies, having these current horses on the track adds that 'sexy' value to these yearlings. I think this market always enjoys that fresh face. The first-year stallion, new horse or an up-and-coming stars like Constitution. Big names mean a lot to pedigrees. Having that current horse just gives you a family that people want to invest into. Those are the ones we want to bring here.”

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“More Than Ready was an amazing horse who touched everyone he came in contact with,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “He may not have been the biggest horse in the barn, but he more than made up for it in class, balance, and character. His expressions said it all. We will greatly miss him at the farm.”

Larry McGinnis, longtime stallion manager at WinStar Farm, said of the legend's passing, “To me, he was more than a great stallion, he was a great friend. It was an honor to take care of such a remarkable horse. I will miss him.”

Bred in Kentucky by Woodlynn Farm Inc., More Than Ready was purchased by Edward Rosen, agent for owner Jim Scatuorchio, for $187,000 at the 1998 Keeneland September sale and won his first five starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, including the GIII Tremont S. and GII Sanford S. before tasting defeat for the first time when stretched to a mile in the GI Champagne S. Dead-heat winner of the GII Hutcheson S. in his sophomore debut, More Than Ready was second in the GII Louisiana Derby and was beaten a head when runner-up in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. ahead of a meritorious fourth to Fusaichi Pegasus in the GI Kentucky Derby. Focusing on one-turn races for the balance of the season, More Than Ready earned Grade I laurels in Saratoga's King's Bishop S. and was second to stablemate Trippi (End Sweep) in the GI Vosburgh S. He retired to Vinery Kentucky for the 2001 breeding season with seven wins from 17 starts and earnings of $1,026,229, and was one of several Vinery stallions that moved to WinStar upon the closure of that nursery.

We lost a legend today.
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of legendary sire More Than Ready. He will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/38hDd2MVZS

— WinStar Farm (@WinStarFarm) August 26, 2022

A Dual-Hemisphere Sensation…

A stallion blessed with tremendous fertility, More Than Ready is the sire of an eye-popping and record-setting 2118 winners to date (72.4% winners to starters), making him the world's most prolific sire of individual winners. With a victory in the GII Wonder Again S. in June 2022, Klaravich Stables' Consumer Spending provided the stallion with his 100th worldwide winner at the group/graded level and the victory occurred on the same Belmont program where Morethanreadyeddie–named in honor of the aforementioned Rosen–won his maiden at first asking over five furlongs. Of his black-type winners (only Galileo {Ire}, Danehill and Sadler's Wells have more), some 26 have struck at the top level in seven racing jurisdictions, including Hong Kong and South Africa. The sire of 17 winners and three stakes winners from his first American crop in 2004, More Than Ready was an instant hit in Australia, where he shuttled to Vinery Stud to serve mares Southern Hemisphere time. To date, he has sired 971 winners in the U.S. and Canada and 905 in Australia and New Zealand. His progeny earnings are in excess of $219 million.

With Australasia's emphasis on speed and precocity, his foals hit the ground running, with six black-type winners among his 17 first-crop winners overall, including G1 Champagne S. heroine Carry On Cutie (Aus). His early Australian crops also featured Benicio (Aus), winner of the 2006 G1 Victoria Derby; Sebring (Aus) and Phelan Ready (Aus), victorious in the prestigious G1 Golden Slipper S. in 2008 and 2009, respectively; G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Samaready (Aus); and G1 Western Australian Derby victress Dreamaway (Aus). More Than Ready has also proven especially potent with Danehill-line mares, resulting in the likes of Group 1 winners More Joyous (Aus), Prized Icon (Aus) and More Than Sacred (Aus) in addition to Benicio (Aus), Sebring (Aus), Perfectly Ready (Aus) and Dreamaway (Aus). More Than Ready's other Southern Hemisphere Group 1 winners include Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) and Entisaar (Aus) in South Africa; and More Than Sacred in New Zealand. His progeny were brilliant enough in the early parts of their careers to score in races like the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Blue Diamond S., but were equally effective at trips of 2000 meters and beyond in Australian fixtures such as the Queen Elizabeth S., and he accounted for Derby winners in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. In total, More Than Ready has sired Group 1/Grade I winners in seven countries.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and More Than Ready | Horsephotos

The top-level winners were a bit slower to come at home, but Buster's Ready became More Than Ready's first American Grade I winner in the 2011 Mother Goose S. Verrazano, raced in partnership by Kevin Scatuorchio's Let's Go Stable, became his sire's first male GISW in the 2013 Wood Memorial S. and Daredevil–also raced by Let's Go in partnership–his first Grade I-winning juvenile in the 2014 Champagne S. More Than Ready's son Catholic Boy holds the rare distinction of winning Grade Is on two surfaces–the GI Belmont Derby on turf and the GI Travers S. on the dirt. Catholic Boy is one of four sons of More Than Ready at stud in Kentucky (Copper Bullet, Daredevil, Funtastic), while Verrazano has gone on to become a productive stallion in South America.

More Than Ready is the leading sire of Breeders' Cup winners to date with seven and accounted for multiple Breeders' Cup winners on two separate occasions. He was represented by the winners of the Breeders' Cup juvenile turf events in 2010 (Pluck, More Than Real), while champion Roy H won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2017 and 2018. 'TDN Rising Star' and future Eclipse Award winner Rushing Fall posted the first of her six career Grade Is in the 2017 GI Juvenile Fillies' Turf. Uni (GB)–another maternal granddaughter of Danehill–beat the boys in the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Mile. More Than Ready has been represented by 13 champions around the world. Among More Than Ready's 16 offspring that earned the 'Rising Star' distinction is the versatile Emmanuel, third in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. and front-running winner of his turf debut in the GII Pennine Ridge S. at Belmont this past June. More Than Ready is the only sire to have an Eclipse Award Champion each year from 2017 to 2020.

A Broodmare Sire of Note…

More Than Ready is the broodmare sire of fully 135 stakes winners, 61 group or graded winners and 15 at the top level, including GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Structor (Palace Malice), top Australian sprinter Bivouac (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), the rags-to-riches Group 1-winning juvenile filly Miracles of Life (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) and Hong Kong champion Wellington (Aus). Other U.S. graded winners from More Than Ready mares include Kauai Katie (Malibu Moon), Breeders' Cup winner Four Wheel Drive (American Pharoah) and 'TDN Rising Star' and leading turf distaffer Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom), whose dam Mary's Follies is also responsible for Japan's top dirt galloper Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway), a dual graded winner in the U.S. whose success extended to Barbados and that island nation's richest event, the Barbados Gold Cup.

Rosen Remembers 'Life-Changing' Horse…

Eddie Rosen has been involved with any number of successful horses over the course of his bloodstock career, but it's safe to say none left the impression the same way More Than Ready did.

“Most people are aware of all the amazing statistics he compiled as the greatest dual-hemisphere sire in history, his versatility in the ability to sire dirt, turf, long and sprint winners,” he reflected. “Sometimes forgotten is what a great 2-year-old he was, reeling off the first five starts of his career in spectacular fashion. My family and I will always cherish the wonderful memories sharing his career with the Scatuorchio family. For me, he was life-changing. During Derby week this year, I was able to visit with him and give him one last peppermint. I will miss him dearly!”

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INTO MYSTIC (m, 6, Into Mischief–Loveofalifetime, by Medaglia d'Oro), to be bred to Constitution

She's a multiple stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed maiden mare with earnings of $448,623, and will be bred to Constitution.

Constitution, purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale by Twin Creeks Racing and WinStar Farm, is loaded in the pipeline with a tremendous support from shareholders and elite breeders. He's poised to take the reins from his legendary sire Tapit.

MAY NIGHT (m, 19, Gulch–Riverjinsky, by Riverman), to be bred to Catholic Boy

May Night won the P. G. Johnson S. at Saratoga, and is a multiple stakes-producing mare including millionaire Red Rifle (Giant's Causeway) and Notte d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro).

Raced in partnership with Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, Catholic Boy showed true brilliance on both turf and dirt surfaces. Catholic Boy is also by More Than Ready, one of the most respected sires in racing. We are looking forward to his first-crop yearlings in 2022.

WHISPER NUMBER (m, 14, First Samurai–Santerra, by Tejabo), to be bred to Constitution

She's a multiple graded-stakes producer and the dam of Ms Locust Point ($675,975, Dialed In) and Warrant ($649,700, Constitution). She's due to foal to Constitution, and will be bred back to him this year.

SHARP INSTINCT (m, 15, Awesome Again–Forty Paulina {Arg}, by Roar), to be bred to Independence Hall

Sharp Instinct is the dam of graded stakes winner Send It In ($501,914, Big Brown). She's due to foal to Twin Creeks-bred Tiz the Law, and will be going to WinStar's new recruit Independence Hall.

Independence Hall raced in partnership with Twin Creeks Racing, Bob Verratti and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, then was later joined by WinStar farm. The son of Constitution is a stunning physical that breeders are falling in love with. His athleticism should match up well with many different sire lines.

We are looking forward to [her] Tiz the Law foal as well. Tiz the Law was brilliant his entire racing career. Tiz the Law is known for his exceptional class, ability and he's by the exciting stallion Constitution.

BAFFLING (m, 7, Graydar–Baffled, by Distorted Humor), to be bred to Gun Runner

She's a Twin Creeks Farm homebred half-sister to Constitution, Jacaranda (Congrats), and Boynton (More Than Ready). By Graydar, who was campaigned by Twin Creeks Racing, she's due to foal to Not This Time.

PURE SILVER (m, 7, Mission Impazible–Jehan, by Forest Wildcat), to be bred to Constitution

Pure Silver is a Twin Creeks Farm homebred, by Twin Creeks Racing's Mission Impazible. She's a multiple stakes winner, including the GII Adirondack S. at Saratoga, and is due to foal to Constitution.

Let us know who you're breeding your mares to in 2022, and why. We will print a selection of your responses in TDN over the coming weeks. Please send details to: garyking@thetdn.com.

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True, that isn't quite so effective a consolation when so much breeding is predicated on a different proving ground altogether, in the sales ring. But even that unwholesome separation of priorities–by which the most “commercial” sires tend to be the least “proven”–creates an enhanced opportunity. “Don't get mad, get even.” Because some of our most venerable and valuable races are nowadays less competitive, especially in Europe, because the genetic assets required are somehow considered uncommercial.

Even in that unbelievably febrile market at Tattersalls this week, then, it no longer infuriated or depressed me to see significant investment entrusted to some whose principal professional asset is a practised plausibility. I know I have shared with you before how one of these characters once sneered at my polite inquiry whether his extremely wealthy patron might benefit from the invigorations available in American blood. He replied that he had never darkened the doors of Keeneland, and had no intention of doing so. Any fool knew that “over there they are only interested in speed”.

Well, I think we're safe in assuming that this gentleman won't be tuning in to Aqueduct on Saturday, where adolescent horses testing the water for the greatest theater of the American Turf–which, in healthy contrast with his home marketplace, maintains the two-turn pedigree at the forefront of commercial breeding–will be running nine furlongs through a tiring winter surface before they have even reached their third birthdays.

That being so, I wonder how he might account for the transformation achieved in the European Classic Thoroughbred by the winner of the GII Remsen S. in 1963? Northern Dancer clearly founded his transatlantic dynasty on the definitive attribute of the dirt runner: the ability to carry speed. Yet nowadays commercial breeders in Europe reject bloodlines in which the speed-carrying nature of “stamina” is not properly understood, in favor of sires whose mere precocity is, in turn, mistaken for speed.

On the other hand, it's difficult to refute the charge that the American Thoroughbred operates within too narrow a spectrum. While there are extreme tests, from half-mile maidens to the ultimate outlier of the GI Belmont S., those youngsters contesting the Remsen will typically spend the rest of their careers within a very finite range–a furlong or two less, or a furlong more–either side of this test.

Remsen winner Catholic Boy went on to win Grade Is on both dirt and grass | Sarah Andrew

Aficionados of this storied blue-collar circuit rightly cherish To Honor and Serve (Bernardini), who returned the year after his Remsen to win the GI Cigar Mile on the same card. In theory, lasting nine furlongs as a juvenile and then having the speed to win a single-turn mile as a sophomore suggests an impressive range. The Cigar, like its cousin the GI Met Mile, is an optimal speed-carrying test. A more conventional double, as such, would appear to be the one completed in the Cigar by the likes of Congaree (Arazi) and Kodiak Kowboy (Posse), who also won Aqueduct's other (surviving) Grade I prize in the Carter H. Unfortunately neither of that pair, nor To Honor and Serve, proved successful at stud. But the fact is that all their accomplishments were really in the same register.

During the years when Aqueduct hosted the race, the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup was still staged over two miles. When Buckpasser won the 1966 running, it was only 19 days since he had won the Woodward, over 10 furlongs, and in the meantime Eddie Neloy had kept him ticking over with a win over 15. Yet Buckpasser won his next start, the Malibu, over seven! In his juvenile campaign the previous year, moreover, his Hopeful success at Saratoga followed seven starts already between five and six furlongs.

Nashua | Courtesy Keeneland Library

Another Hopeful winner who went on to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup (twice, at Belmont), Nashua, had won over 4.5 furlongs on debut. Yet nowadays I have to get excited by a horse like Omaha Beach (War Front), because he could win Grade Is in the same campaign at six and nine!

Nashua and Buckpasser, of course, both became vital distaff influences: Buckpasser was among the greatest of them all, while daughters of Nashua gave us contrasting influences in Mr. Prospector and Roberto. To me, we simply won't know where to find that kind of bedrock if we no longer measure the full capacity of our elite performers. That doesn't necessarily mean modern horses don't have the same kind of range, though you are entitled to doubt it. But the modern race program and modern trainers together mean that we can only guess.

Performance is the best way we can identify heritable strengths. If breeders are to mix the right shades to achieve some kind of masterpiece on the genetic canvas, they need to see the full palette.

The Remsen would be a wild proposition for any European juvenile expected to operate at similar distances the following spring. (Their closest equivalent, the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 10 furlongs of mud, is one for the real sloggers.) Yet whoever wins Saturday will be said to show “versatility” if he someday returns to Aqueduct to add the Cigar or even the Carter.

Breeding a Thoroughbred should be like composing a symphony. You can't just rely on the string section: you need the layers and shades and tones provided by brass, wind, percussion. Yet nowadays we not only compose symphonies without that kind of depth. We don't even use the full string section. Commercial breeders confine themselves to the sharp, vivid speed of the violins. Those trying to win big races with homebreds favor the resonance of the cellos and double bass. But the string section owes its richness and balance to the violas, which link and express the best elements on either side.

Okay, so it's no longer realistic to expect people to use the full range of instrumentation, from the flute to the kettledrum, like Nashua or Buckpasser. But let's not make it too easy for that fabulously obtuse compatriot of mine to justify his prejudices, simply because Group 1 prizes in Europe are contested from five furlongs to 20.

Yes, it's great that Essential Quality (Tapit) could win a maiden over six as well as the Belmont. But we know that the former should be within the compass of any elite prospect against overmatched inferiors; and that the latter is nowadays a unique and exotic assignment, only embraced by the handful to whom it is a sufficiently pressing opportunity, and certainly never to be repeated. The rest of his career took place within a distance span of 300 meters.

Flintshire | Sarah Andrew

It's also gratifying that the 2017 Remsen winner, Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), could go on to win Grade Is on both dirt and grass. But we know that the turf section of the orchestra gets very little use from Bluegrass breeders, whose neglect of a stallion as eligible as Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) this week saw him returned to Europe for a reboot in France.

In the recently published covering stats, Flintshire was revealed to have covered eight mares last spring. EIGHT! This horse retired as the highest earner in the history of the Juddmonte program, and was supplanted only by another from the same family in Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Having maintained top-class acceleration (carrying his speed, turf fashion) to the age of six, he has so far had a single crop of sophomores. These included one that flew into fifth of 19 in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, while he had a juvenile graded stakes winner at Del Mar only last weekend. The reliably far-sighted farm that welcomed Flintshire to Kentucky said that it was trying to make the Bluegrass “relevant to all marketplaces” once again. Well, good luck with that.

It's almost enough to make me angry. But I remind myself that I'm not doing that any more. If I feel so offended on Flintshire's behalf, then it's up to me to find a way of sending him a mare in Normandy. But please, please, don't make it so easy for that clown to dismiss the American Thoroughbred as a one-trick pony.

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