Mating Plans: Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Farm

With the 2022 breeding season right around the corner, we will feature a series of breeders' mating plans over the coming weeks. Today we have Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Farm

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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This Side Up: Using the Full Genetic Orchestra

Though in most respects I only grow older, and no wiser, I do try nowadays not to get so cross about things. If I think people are breeding to the wrong horses, that's their prerogative. It's a difficult game; a still harder business. The Thoroughbred is reliable only as a vehicle of humility. We're all wrong far more often than we're right. And the beauty is that we have a proving ground out there, with a wooden post at the end. If you really are right, and I'm wrong, that's where we can find out.

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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Claiborne ’22 Fees Led By War Front

War Front (Danzig–Starry Dreamer, by Rubiano) heads all Claiborne stallions in 2022 with a stud fee of $100,000. The 19-year-old stallion, who stood for $150,000 in 2021, was represented by 10 stakes winners, led by Group 1-winner Homesman and four other Grade I/Group 1 performers worldwide. Showing his prowess in the sales ring this season, he is the sire of 29 seven-figure yearlings, including a $1.2 million filly.

Standing alongside his sire at Claiborne is War of Will (War Front–Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells)), a winner in four graded stakes, including the GI Maker's Mark Mile on turf and the GI Preakness S. on dirt. During his second season at stud in 2022, he will once again stand for $25,000.

Also unchanged for 2022, Flatter (A.P. Indy-Praise, by Mr. Prospector) will command a fee of $35,000 next season. With over $80 million in progeny earnings to date, the 22-year-old sired six stakes winners and 11 stakes horses led by the Grade I winner Search Results.

Two new stallions join Claiborne's roster for 2022–MGSW and GISP Performer (Speightstown–Protesting, by A.P. Indy) and Silver State (Hard Spun–Supreme, by Empire Maker). Undefeated as a 3-year-old, homebred Performer is from the Phipps family of champion Storm Flag Flying and Hall of Fameer Personal Ensign. He will stand for $12,500.

GI Metropolitan H. winner Silver State, who is aiming for this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will enter stud at Claiborne in 2022. His stud fee will be announced at a later date.

Getting a boost for 2022, Runhappy (Super Saver–Bella Jolie, by Broken Vow) has been a leading second crop sire this year and will stand for $12,500, up from $10,000 this year. The champion sprinter is responsible for nine stakes performers and five stakes winners, including GII Vosburgh S. winner Following Sea, who is among contender for this year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Among those getting a trim in 2022, MGISW Blame (Arch–Liable, by Seeking the Gold) will stand for $20,000 down from $30,000 this season. The 2010 Eclipse Award winning older male in is responsible for 70 stakes performers and 37 stakes winners, including five Grade I winners. This season's runners include French Group 3 winner and €575,000 Arqana Arc Sale purchase Saiydabad. Also getting a price cut in 2022 is Grade I winner Catholic Boy (More Than Ready–Song of Bernadette, by Bernardini), who will stand for $20,000. GSW Demarchelier (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}-Loveisallyouneed {Ire}, by Sadlers Wells) will return for a fee of $5,000.

 

Claiborne's full stallion roster of 2022:

STALLION                          FEE (LFSN)

Blame                                 $20,000

Catholic Boy                       $20,000

Demarchelier (GB)            $5,000

First Samurai                     $10,000

Flatter                                $35,000

Lea                                     $5,000

Mastery                             $10,000

Performer                         $12,500

Runhappy                          $12,500

Silver State                       TBA

War Front                          $100,000

War of Will                        $25,000

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War Front Tops Claiborne Farm’s 2022 Stallion Roster At $100,000

The Hancock family's Claiborne Farm announced 2022 stud fees today for their stallion roster at the Paris, Ky.-based farm.

Internationally acclaimed sire War Front again heads all Claiborne stallions with a stud fee of $100,000.

The son of Danzig has had another strong year around the world with his 10 stakes winners led by Group 1 winner Homesman and four other Grade 1 performers worldwide. A stallion who has had stakes performers in six major countries this year, he again sees his 2-year-olds performing at a high standard, with the group including Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes winner Annapolis, G1 Summer Stakes runner-up Grafton Street, and Ancient Rome who placed in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

An emerging sire of sires, War Front is North America's number one sire by percentage of lifetime stakes winners, graded stakes winners, and Grade 1 winners. War Front also continues to be a hit in the sales ring with multiple million-dollar yearlings this year taking him to 29 seven-figure yearlings with his 2021 group led by a $1.2 million filly.

Standing alongside his famous sire is dual-surface star War of Will. This classic-winning son of War Front captured four graded stakes victories during his career, including the G1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland on turf and the Preakness Stakes on dirt. 2022 will be his second year at stud for $25,000.

Already the sire of multiple champions, Flatter has had one of his best years in 2021 and will command a fee of $35,000 next season. Flatter is the sire of 120 stakes performers and nearly 60 stakes winners with over $80 million in progeny earnings to date. This year alone, the prolific A.P. Indy son has sired six stakes winners and 11 stakes horses led by the Grade 1 winner Search Results.

Champion racehorse Blame continues to prove year after year that he's one of the best of his generation with 70 stakes performers and 37 stakes winners – led by five Grade 1 winners. A proven sire in both North America and Europe, his runners this year include French Group 3 winner and €575,000 Arqana Arc Sale purchase Saiydabad with his eleven 2021 stakes performers coming in three different countries. Blame has also been in demand in the sales ring with his yearlings bringing up to $525,000. He will stand for $20,000 in 2022.

Catholic Boy will stand for $20,000 and Demarchelier will stand for $5,000 on the eve of their highly anticipated first weanlings going through the ring this fall.

Catholic Boy is one of only three North American 3-year-old colts in history to win Grade 1 events on both dirt and turf. Supported by top breeders around the world, the regally-bred graded stakes winner Demarchelier is the only son of the great Dubawi standing in Kentucky.

Champion sprinter Runhappy has been a leading second crop sire this year and will stand in 2022 for $12,500. The sire of nine stakes performers and five stakes winners, his runners are led by G2 Vosburgh Stakes winner Following Sea. Runhappy has also proven to be a top sire of juveniles this year with his 37.5 percent 2-year-old winners to runners. Included in his group of juveniles are stakes winners Runup, Happy Soul, and Run To Daylight.

Two exciting new stallions join Claiborne's roster this year in Performer and Silver State.

Undefeated as a 3-year-old, Phipps homebred Performer is by emerging sire-of-sires Speightstown and from the family of champion Storm Flag Flying and Hall of Fame mare Personal Ensign. A multiple graded stakes winner, Performer proved to be a talented racehorse who finished in the money 100 percent of the time. Among his wins were the G3 Discovery Stakes and the G3 Fred Hooper with Performer also placing in the G1 Cigar Mile Handicap. Performer will stand for $12,500.

A grandson of the great Claiborne stallion Danzig, G1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Silver State will enter stud at Claiborne in 2022. His stud fee will be announced at a later date. The winner of six consecutive races spanning 2020 and 2021, he has won or placed in eight stakes races in his career for over $1.9 million in earnings. Silver State is now aiming for this year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

See Claiborne's full stallion roster and 2022 stud fees below:

Blame
Arch—Liable, by Seeking the Gold
Fee: $20,000

Catholic Boy
More Than Ready – Song of Bernadette, by Bernardini
Fee: $20,000

Demarchelier (GB)
Dubawi (GB) – Loveisallyouneed, by Sadler's Wells
Fee: $5,000

First Samurai
Giant's Causeway—Freddie Frisson, by Dixieland Band
Fee: $10,000

Flatter
A.P. Indy—Praise, by Mr. Prospector
Fee: $35,000

Lea
First Samurai—Greenery, by Galileo (IRE)
Fee: $5,000

Mastery
Candy Ride (ARG)—Steady Course, by Old Trieste
Fee: $10,000

Performer
Speightstown – Protesting, by A.P. Indy
Fee: $12,500

Runhappy
Super Saver—Bella Jolie, by Broken Vow
Fee: $12,500

Silver State
Hard Spun – Supreme, by Empire Maker
Fee: TBA

War Front
Danzig—Starry Dreamer, by Rubiano
Fee: $100,000

War of Will
War Front – Visions of Clarity (IRE), by Sadler's Wells
Fee: $25,000

(All stud fee payable Live Foal Stands & Nurses)

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