Multiple Grade I winner Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley) has had his first mare reported in foal, Gainesway said Monday. Ginger Kitty (Red Rocks {Ire}), a juvenile winner and now 5-year-old mare from the family of Grade I winner Tactical Cat (Storm Cat), scanned in foal to the former Chad Brown trainee.
Raging Bull captured five stakes racing from ages three to six, taking the GI Hollywood Derby as a sophomore, the GI Shoemaker Mile S. as a 5-year-old in 2020 and the GI Maker's Mark Mile s. at six last spring. An earner of over $1.7 million in the colors of Peter Brant, Raging Bull stands at Gainesway for $10,000.
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens sends out firster CAPONE (Classic Empire) for the partnership of Gainesway, LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing. The dark bay sold for $400,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale following an adventurous work in :10 2/5, accomplished despite the saddle slipping under rider Susan Montanye. TJCIS PPs
Afleet Alex, the champion 3-year-old male of 2005, has been pensioned from stud duty at Gainesway in Lexington, Ky., the farm announced Monday.
The 16-year-old son of Northern Afleet is in good health. He will remain at Gainesway for the entirety of his pensioned life, and he will remain available to visit on farm tours.
“He was an outstanding colt on the track and was an exciting stallion to retire to Gainesway,” said Gainesway's Sean Tugel. “His stallion career was successful in producing seven Grade 1 winners and making his mark as a broodmare sire.”
Afleet Alex stood his entire career at Gainesway, entering stud in 2006 after a dual-classic winning racetrack career where he earned more than $2.7 million. He has sired 14 crops of racing age, with 550 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $51.6 million.
His debut crop of runners arguably reached its zenith during the 2010 Travers Stakes, when Afleet Alex was represented by three runners: Admiral Alex, Afleet Again, and winner Afleet Express. Afleet Again would go on to win the Breeders' Cup Marathon a year later.
That class also included Grade 1 winner Dublin and Grade 2 winners Afleeting Lady and Harissa.
Afleet Alex saw his best 2-year-old ascend in 2014 when Texas Red won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park and finish as an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 2-year-old male. He won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes the following year.
Other Grade 1 winners by Afleet Alex include Iotapa, Materiality, and Sharla Rae.
His best international runners include Canadian champion Skywire, Korean champion Dolkong, and Puerto Rican champions Cuqui's Love and Advier.
As a broodmare sire, Afleet Alex is responsible for Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston, Grade 1 winner Dream Tree, and Argentine Group 1 winner Mahagonny, along with other notable runners Bourbonic, Suddenbreakingnews, Attachment Rate, and Estilo Talentoso.
Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet–Maggy Hawk, by Hawkster), perhaps best known for his dramatic win in the 2005 GI Preakness S. after he stumbled in the stretch, has been pensioned after 16 years of stud duty at Gainesway, the farm announced today. Afleet Alex, who went on to win the GI Belmont S. in the same year, turned 20 this year.
“Gainesway has officially pensioned Afleet Alex from stallion duties,” said Sean Tugel, Gainesway's director of stallion sales and recruitment. “He is in great health currently and will remain at Gainesway for the entirety of his retirement, available to be visited by all of his fans on Horse Country Tours, etc.”
Owned by Chuck Zacney's Cash is King Stable and trained by Tim Ritchey, the Florida-bred won the GII Sanford S., and the GI Hopeful S. before finishing second in the GI Champagne and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at two. Third in the GI Kentucky Derby, he stumbled badly in the stretch of the Preakness when he clipped heels with another horse, but recovered to go on and win.
“He was an outstanding colt on the track and was an exciting stallion to retire to Gainesway,” said Tugel. “His stallion career was successful in producing seven Grade I winners and making his mark as a broodmare sire.” Among those seven Grade I winners were Texas Red, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile; and Afleet Express, winner of the GI Travers S.
“Alex turned 20 this year and in talking people to Gainesway, his book has declined,” said Chuck Zacney, “So, it's a business decision, but the good news is he's going to remain at Gainesway, and when people stop by, they want to see Afleet Alex. He's going to live a very good life at Gainesway. I talked to Antony Beck and he reassured me he would continue to be held in high regard.”
Zacney, who named Afleet Alex for his then 4-year-old son, who now manages his father's stable, said that his 12-month career, “was such a great ride. He won his first two races by double digits, then he went to Saratoga and won two graded stakes. He had a great campaign at two, and through the Triple Crown races, but after the Belmont, we found out he had an injury and we had to retire him, but what a great 12 months. He will live a long and healthy prosperous life. He has a special place in my heart and always will. It was a great experience for the family, a great ride, shared by so many. Tim Ritchey had his eyes on him from day one at the sale, and did a great job training him.”
