Klaravich Stables's multiple track-record setter Highly Motivated (Into Mischief–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward) will join the Airdrie Stud stallion roster for the upcoming 2023 breeding season, the farm announced Tuesday. He will stand for a fee of $7,500 LFSN.
A son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief, Highly Motivated was purchased by Mike Ryan as a weanling on behalf of his owner for $240,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. Entrusted to trainer Chad Brown, Highly Motivated broke his maiden as the 3-5 favorite in September of his 2-year-old year at 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont over future Grade I winner Known Agenda (Curlin). He followed that up with a win in the Nyquist S. on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland, winning easily by 4 1/4 lengths. His time of 1:14 4 for the 6 1/2 furlongs set the Keeneland track record, and his 96 Beyer Speed Figure represented the highest number of any 2-year-old that competed on the Breeders' Cup Championship weekend–a lineup that included multiple Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and the multiple Breeders' Cup champion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). By year's end, only Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) could boast of a higher juvenile figure.
Returning to Keeneland in the spring of his 3-year-old year, Highly Motivated was second to Essential Quality in a memorable edition of the GII Toyota Blue Grass S., where the latter prevailed by a short neck after a long stretch duel. It was a further 5 1/2 lengths back to third-place finisher Rombauer (Twirling Candy), who would return to take the GI Preakness S. Sent off as the 10-1 fifth choice in the GI Kentucky Derby in his next start, Highly Motivated's disappointing 10th-place finish would prove to be the final start of his sophomore season.
Following a nearly year-long layoff, Highly Motivated was brought back to win a mile feature at Belmont Park before making his next start in the GIII Monmouth Cup S, where he posted an easy victory, breaking the nine-furlong track record in 1:46.53 set 37 years prior by Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Spend a Buck. Subsequently injured while training toward the GI Cigar Mile, Highly Motivated retires with a record of 10-4-3-1 and earnings of more than $667,000.
“Highly Motivated was the best colt in our barn at two and three and ran Grade I-winning numbers at both ages,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He's a two-time track-record setter by one of the best stallions in the world. In my opinion, there's not a ceiling on his potential at stud.”
“He's an undeniable talent by a brilliant sire,” added Airdrie's Bret Jones. “He's an absolutely gorgeous Mike Ryan purchase that we believe will be on anyone's short list of the best-looking horses retired this year. Highly Motivated fits the description of so many important sires: a horse with Grade I speed that goes to stud without the benefit of a Grade I on his resume. He deserves the opportunity and we will see that he gets it. Having given us the chance two years ago to stand Complexity, we are again grateful to Seth Klarman for entrusting our Airdrie team with the future of his talented horse.”
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