It tells you a lot about our business that the majority of the two dozen stallions operating at this level can only do so because they have yet to send a single runner into the starting gate. A quarter of these we immediately set to one side, as absolute beginners, because those received separate consideration in the opening instalment of this series. Of the remaining 18, another eight belong to those preceding intakes that remain untested by runners.

Some of these have been taking the precautionary clips often necessary to keep young sires in the game, as commercial breeders maintain as safe a distance as possible from the dangers that accompany racetrack exposure.

You can see that template magnified in one of the two sires who are closest to the moment of truth. AUTHENTIC started out in 2021 as the most expensive in his intake, at $75,000. This year he takes his third consecutive cut, down to $50,000 (from $60,000 and previously $70,000). Yet has he become any less likely to sire racehorses, if you send him a mare this spring, relative to when he retired as Horse of the Year? Far from it, if the market reception is any guide: he duly looked after investors by processing 91 yearlings (120 offered) at a median $235,000 (average $286,076), clear at the top of the class.

Authentic | Sarah Andrew

We all know how the system works. But if you genuinely thought Authentic good value at $75,000, well, you'd better get right back to him now that his fee is down by one-third. After all, a true commercial opportunist should be anticipating a rising tide from all the juvenile winners that will surely be emerging from a debut book of 229 mares, just a couple short of making him the busiest stallion in North America that year!

Of course, Spendthrift operates the model so dexterously that Authentic has meanwhile maintained demand, at his more lenient fees, with books of 202 and 198 mares. With 165 live foals to go to war, he surely gives the farm every chance of a third consecutive champion freshman.

MCKINZIE has bucked the trend by retaining his initial fee of $30,000 for a fourth year. He starred at the sales, sending no fewer than 144 into the ring-a staggering percentage of his 174 live foals. That's expressive of the commercial package he had offered in combining knockout looks with 11 triple-digit Beyers, plus Grade Is at two, three and four. He duly sold 110 at a median $90,000, reaching an average of $149,157 after blowing the doors off with a $1.2 million colt at the September Sale. (Both indices beaten only by Authentic in the class.) We've all seen market discoveries sink without trace, over the years, but McKinzie has certainly raised expectations and duly maintained numbers in the meantime, with books of 171 and 168.

The next intake is also represented by two sires, now preparing their first yearlings for auction. One of their peers, Essential Quality, actually remains beyond even this level and duly topped the weanling averages, but CHARLATAN filled second place in selling 19 of 22 at a median $175,000 and average $206,052. That was what he had to do, having similarly starting out behind only Essential Quality in terms of fee, and he's another whose original investors have been spared a depreciation: he remains $50,000 for 2024.

Charlatan emerged from the same crop and barn as Authentic to emulate the GI Arkansas Derby-GI Malibu S. double of Omaha Beach the previous year, and was only narrowly outstayed when stretching his speed again in the G1 Saudi Cup. Unfortunately he then suffered another setback, but nobody forgot his talent and he started with books of 222 and 223. Breeders evidently recalled that he had himself been a $700,000 yearling out of a genuine Grade I mare.

Maxfield | Sarah Andrew

MAXFIELD takes a mild trim, to $35,000 from $40,000, despite selling 11 of a dozen weanlings at a median $110,000/average $165,181. His farm tends to be more conservative with its books, so 165 mares for his first year looked like a full subscription, with another 134 in his second. Maxfield was beaten by just four horses across 11 starts, won a Grade I as a juvenile by five and a half lengths, and above all is out of a Bernardini half-sister to the admirable stallion Sky Mesa (very fine family overall).

Four youngsters who covered their first mares last spring assembled books that appeared, after the mare cap debacle, to be making a point of some kind-albeit one that may be lost on anyone who ends up with only an average specimen to bring to saturated catalogues.

With 262 partners, EPICENTER was behind only his frenzied studmate Golden Pal among American sires, his championship campaign having featured a standout GI Travers (112 Beyer). His sire has gone beyond reach, for most, and I love the sturdy European influences sowing his deeper family-though I can't imagine that those names were front and central for many others!

His neighbor JACK CHRISTOPHER was nearly as hectic with 247 mares. He must have been an easy sell, even his solitary defeat in the GI Haskell counting in his favor as confirming him to be all speed. He'd have had plenty of support had he retired on the spot after a daylight debut success at Saratoga, and beat a good one when returning for what proved his final start a year later. Both he and Epicenter take the customary trim, from $45,000 to $40,000, to help keep the door revolving.

Jack Christopher | Sara Gordon

Jack Christopher represents Munnings, of course, and it's good to see some of Speightstown's later sons contesting the legacy.

Just like Charlatan, OLYMPIAD was a $700,000 yearling. His debut book of 228, making him the busiest stallion outside Ashford, shows that plenty of other farms are prepared to go all out for numbers, given the chance. He matured through the grades with eight triple-figure Beyers, but the clincher is Chic Shirine as third dam. By this stage of the series, you probably won't be surprised that proven stallions populate the Value Podium, but this guy looks a profoundly wholesome prospect in retaining a fee of $35,0000.

Though JACKIE'S WARRIOR had to settle for “just” 182 mares, he could comfort himself that they included Beholder! He's another to take a clip, to $45,000 from $50,000, but still finds himself standing for more than his own sire. Even so, he will remain in demand as a Grade I winner at Saratoga three years running, an unprecedented achievement gilded by a 28-year-old stakes record in the Hopeful.

Right, now let's get onto some sires that have actually demonstrated some competence to replicate the genetic prowess we should be looking for at this kind of fee.

Of these, the one who has barely started is OMAHA BEACH. He's just completed his freshman season with fourth place in a table dominated by Spendthrift sires, on the face of it hardly measuring up to his status as the most expensive of the quartet. But I'm not alone in retaining high hopes, judged from the fact that his fee has moved back up to $40,000 for 2024, having been allowed to slide from an opening $45,000 to $30,000.

Because while he has only had a couple of stakes winners, he has a class-high 11 black-type performers from 64 starters–a much smaller footprint than his three studmates (Vino Rosso, late bloomer though he was, has fielded 92!)–and these include four at graded stakes level. Omaha Beach presumably received rather more Classic/two-turn mares than his peers, and it's reasonable to expect consolidation from here. It's a rare horse nowadays that can win Grade Is at both six and nine furlongs, and his family overflows with quality.

Obviously, he has volume behind him, standing where he does, but that was partly a function of what seemed pretty lenient pricing throughout. His second crop of yearlings held up very well, at a median $105,000/average $156,508 for 95 sold (116 offered). That keeps Omaha Beach miles clear of his intake, some of whom have been quickly embarrassed by their opening fees. Those who kept the faith in the meantime (185 mares in his fourth book last spring) are entitled remain optimistic, the only caveat being the overall underperformance of this particular class of freshmen, judged by graded stakes winners. It's now over to Omaha Beach to convert his promise into a headliner or two.

City of Light | Lane's End

A similar remark might have been made, this time last year, about CITY OF LIGHT–and, heading into the Breeders' Cup, he had still not justified an against-the-tide hike from $40,000 to $60,000 in 2022. That was the reward for a sensational debut (average $337,698/median $260,000) at the yearling sales. With his book down to 85 last spring, from 132, he was slashed to $35,000 for 2024. But then along came Fierceness, and suddenly everything is looking much more cheerful.

City Of Light may have a few later developers, but 18 black-type performers from no more than 127 to have made the starting gate is a very fair ratio. His fee cut was among several such gestures by his farm after polarisation at the sales (where his third crop were down to a median $75,000/average $126,269 for 63 sold of 75) made it feel as though fees generally remain too high.

In his (very competitive) intake, one who has only elevated his reputation is GIRVIN, who started in Florida at $7,500 and is up to $30,000 (from $20,000) after consolidating the breakout that earned him a ticket to Kentucky. From limited materials, he is so far operating at 6 percent stakes winners (including Grade I scorer Faiza) to named foals, narrowly bettered only by Good Magic and Army Mule in his class.

Girvin's tragic sibling Midnight Bourbon showed what their unraced dam Catch the Moon must be contributing to the equation, and this year Catch the Moon's sister produced Brightwork to lend further Grade I luster to the page. Everyone should duly be fully reconciled by now to Girvin's unfashionable (but superbly-bred) sire. Those who bred to Girvin in his second year in Ocala, at $6,000, certainly can't complain about a yearling average of $92,411 (stretched by a $475,000 colt, but a $41,000 median itself very respectable) for 17 sold from 21 offered. Girvin is firmly on his way, through the roof by the restrained standards of his farm with 181 mares (up from 86) last spring, and only an even more upwardly mobile studmate has kept him off the Value Podium.

Violence | Sarah Andrew

Before we get to that, we have three horses that have by now had ample opportunity to show where they fit in the marketplace: Liam's Map, Maclean's Music and VIOLENCE.

Not that the latter has remotely settled, in terms of pricing! Initially elevated to $60,000 for 2024, he has meanwhile slipped back into this bracket at $40,000. The reasons have been cogently explained, and leave him looking big value as the sire of two new stallions in Kentucky this year, not to mention one with an obvious shot at the freshman title in Volatile. Violence is actually cheaper than his champion son Forte, a rookie whose supporters would surely be delighted if he can produce as many fast horses by the time he reaches the equivalent point of his career. Violence's book will be managed appropriately to his circumstances, but purely in terms of value he looks of imperative interest to eligible mares. For this is a proven achiever at this level–both on the track and in the ring, where he moved his yearling yield up to a median of $80,000 (from $60,000) and average $121,642 (from $97,614). That's impressive for a stallion with seven crops in play. Violence was No. 13 on the general sires' list and the caveats sound very manageable.

His studmate MACLEAN'S MUSIC also looks a fair price at $40,000, after a couple of years at $50,000, considering that he has four sons at stud in the Bluegrass. We've already noted one of them, Jackie's Warrior, getting plenty of trade at a higher fee, while Drain The Clock served no fewer than 199 mares in his debut season. Maclean's Music himself had to settle for 144 last spring, but covered 421 over the previous two seasons after dwindling to 57 in 2020, so the good old “pipeline” is well and truly loaded. In fact, no fewer than 183 live foals in 2022 give him the single biggest battalion of juveniles for the forthcoming campaign. So this looks a pretty shrewd time to stay aboard with a horse who processed as many as 104 of 131 yearlings at an average $118,739 ($70,000 median sound enough, against a $25,000 conception fee).

LIAM'S MAP also maintained his sales performance, selling 80 of 102 offered at a $100,000 median/$124,024 average–conceived at $30,000–albeit down somewhat on the previous crop, who had knocked it out of the park ($130,000/$166,724). Standing at $40,000 for a third year running, he once again proved a reliable source of stakes action this year, chiefly with maturing stock. His next task is to emulate the Hill 'n' Dale pair, who have been in the game rather longer, as a sire of sires.

VALUE PODIUM

Bronze: HARD SPUN
Danzig–Turkish Tryst (Turkoman)
Darley $35,000

So I guess he's not going to change the world, at this stage–but I really don't see much better value to prove your mare, or just to get yourself a racehorse. I know that's not everyone's priority, but the fact is that the last big son of Danzig has now turned 20 and that leaves us diminishing access to the great patriarch.

Hard Spun | Darley

Hard Spun missed a return to the top 10 sires only by cents, relatively speaking, and it was a measure of what he can do for a mare that a horse with as plain a page as Two Phil's could break into the elite of his crop, and now become Hard Spun's fourth son at stud in Kentucky.

It's incredible that a horse with a dozen domestic Grade I winners has never gone higher than $45,000 in the decade since he made the sojourn in Japan that (in hindsight) cost him vital momentum. In that time, he has finished as high as fourth in the general sires' list, but he doesn't get precocious horses and has settled at a median $67,500 (strong six-figure average) with his last couple of yearling crops.

Hard Spun nonetheless produced another 26 black-type performers in 2023, and cumulatively stands at No. 7 among active sires with several ratios (for instance, graded stakes winners/performers at 2.7/5.7 percent of named foals) uncannily in step with his old buddy Street Sense, who maintains a fee of $60,000.

It's gratifying to see that he remains fully subscribed, 151 mares last year showing that there are still plenty of breeders out there who recognise the importance not just of getting a winner under their mare, but a high-class winner. Hard Spun's stock goes on all surfaces, at all distances, and with those storied Darby Dan bloodlines behind him, it's no surprise that he should meanwhile be emerging as a broodmare influence. His daughters have lately produced a top-class miler in Europe in Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), and no less an animal than Good Magic.

Somehow the world has spun against this horse, but it's very hard to see why.

Silver: AMERICAN PHAROAH
Pioneerof The Nile–Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman)
Ashford Stud $50,000

Well, you can't win them all–even if you're Coolmore. Who could have said, for certain, which of their two Triple Crown winners would best replicate the talent that had confirmed the series to remain within the competence of a modern Thoroughbred? It was actually this one, having ended a generation of doubt, that started at the higher fee: he opened at $200,000 in 2016, and Justify at $150,000 three years later. The latter had been trimmed to $100,000 by the time he launched his first runners, in 2022; and American Pharoah had taken a proportionately deeper cut at the equivalent stage, to $110,000 for 2019. Their paths since, however, have forked radically. Justify is now out of sight, listed as private; and Pharoah enters 2024 suffering the indignity of yet another cut, this time down to $50,000 from $60,000.

American Pharoah | Sarah Andrew

Now there's no way that you can say he's any kind of dud, en route to oblivion. He finished 2023 at No. 6 in the general sires' list, with a seventh Grade I winner supplemented by no fewer than six others placed at the elite level–and that's taking no account of his success in Australia, including a G1 Victoria Derby winner. Yes, like most stallions on this farm, the volume behind him proves a double-edged sword when it comes to his ratios.

His 11 stakes winners arrived at 3.7 percent, pretty unexciting given the quality he must have been working with. But he continues to get his superior/graded action at a superior rate to ever-fashionable studmate Munnings, for instance, who commands a 50 percent higher fee.

The exotic seeding of American Pharoah's family was always liable to make the owners of top-class mares a little nervous, but his dam has proved a consistent producer so something has come together in dynamic fashion. Further action was plainly required after he assembled no more than 129 mares with last year's reduction, but if able to maintain his current sales performance–yearling median $150,000 with both his last two crops, averaging $210,164 in 2023–then you'll be looking at a very fair yield at his current price.

Both American Pharoah and Justify have proved effective sires on turf. If this fee proves a last roll of the dice, then I might impudently suggest once again that American Pharoah could be worth a spin in Co. Tipperary. But he's now within reach of a different type of American breeder, and that may well grant him a new lease of life.

Gold: UPSTART
Flatter–Party Silks (Touch Gold)
Airdrie Stud $30,000

So what is it, really, that we can hope to find at this level? I mean, we're obviously excluding “fantasy” breeding to untested stallions. But is there perhaps a horse out there hinting that he's pressing against the ceiling, and might soon be inaccessible? The other pair on the podium, admirable as they are, hardly fit that category. To me, however, Upstart is the dude in this tier who has the chance of elevating himself to a higher level yet.

Upstart | EquiSport

Maybe you were disappointed that he didn't follow through the 2022 deeds of Zandon and Kathleen O (among 63 named foals conceived at $10,000) with his next crop of sophomores? Well, that's because his third crop comprised just 27 live foals. Even so they included Prerequisite, a $47,000-to-$350,000 pinhook who won the GII Wonder Again S. on her first start outside maiden company, and then missed a Grade I by three parts of a length next time. Meanwhile, as we knew to expect from his own template (multiple Grade I-placed in three consecutive seasons), his mature stock kept him in the game with wins in races as resonant as the GII Clark and GII Woodward S.

He has punched conspicuously above weight at the sales, averaging $90,900 in 2022, but traded at just $39,434 from a modest book last year. But he's now ready to open a new cycle. His incoming yearlings emerge from a book of 151, saturation point for a farm that resists the opportunity of exposing their clients by inundating catalogues. Hiked to $30,000 last spring, he entertained another 153. When you consider what he has been doing with mediocre materials, this is a stallion on the point of a big move.

Despite a dual Grade I runner-up among his first juveniles, Upstart somehow remained bumping along at $10,000. Even so, his 13 stakes winners at 5.2 percent of named foals and 26 black-type performers at 10.4 percent compares with 5/12.2 percent for the lavishly supported Nyquist (standing at $85,000) in his own class; 4/9 percent for Practical Joke ($45,000) and 5.2/8.5 percent for Arrogate in the following intake; 5.9/9.4 percent for Justify and 4/11.1 percent for Bolt d'Oro ($60,000) in the one after that.

This is a horse that gets stock onto the track, and into the winner's circle: 53 percent winners to lifetime starters, compared with 46 percent for the soaraway hero of his intake, Not This Time; 41 percent for Nyquist; 43 percent even for the stellar Gun Runner, the same for Practical Joke, just 39 percent for Arrogate.

Upstart was cleverly named and, it now seems, aptly too. There are some curiosities sowing his family, but it's demonstrably all working. Perhaps the farm that gave us the sires of Uncle Mo and Into Mischief has again tapped into an unexpected seam of gold. With an incoming spike in quality and quantity, catch him while you can.

The post Value Sires For 2024 Part 6: Reaching The Snowline appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Summer Wind Equine was awarded a bronze mare and foal as the breeder of Flightline (Tapit), who was crowned Champion Kentucky-Bred Horse of the Year and Champion Kentucky-Bred Older Dirt Male.

Godolphin received multiple bronzes as the recipient of the P.A.B. Widener Trophy, best known as the KTOB Breeder of the Year, as well as KTDF Owner & Breeder of the Year.

2022 KTOB Broodmare of the Year and her owner and 2022 Champion Kentucky-Breds and their breeders:
Broodmare of the Year: Dreaming of Julia (Owner: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Horse of the Year, Older Dirt Male: Flightline (Summer Wind Equine)
Two-Year-Old Male: Forte (South Gate Farm)
Two-Year-Old Filly: Wonder Wheel (Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farms)
Three-Year-Old Male: Epicenter (Westwind Farms)
Three-Year-Old Filly: Nest (Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables)
Older Dirt Female: Malathaat (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Male Turf Horse: Casa Creed (Silver Springs Stud, LLC)
Female Turf Horse: War like Goddess (Calumet Farm)
Male Sprinter: Jackie's Warrior (J & J Stables)
Female Sprinter: Goodnight Olive (Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC)
Racing Abroad: Country Grammer (Scott Pierce & Debbie Pierce)
Steeplechase Horse: Snap Decision (Phipps Stable)

Four merit awards will be presented to individuals for their contributions to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Industry.

2022 Merit awards will be presented at the KTOB Awards Dinner Presented by Anthem:
P.A.B. Widener Trophy for KTOB Breeder of the Year: Godolphin
Hardboot Breeders' Award pays tribute to distinctive but unsung breeders that help make up the backbone of our industry: John Williams
Charles W. Engelhard Award acknowledges a member of the media for outstanding coverage of the Thoroughbred Industry: Steve Byk
William T. Young Humanitarian Award distinguishes a person or organization in the thoroughbred industry “who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor: H. Greg Goodman

Also to receive awards are the top Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) money earners in 2022 in five separate categories.

2022 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) Leaders:
KTDF Sire of the Year: into Mischief (Spendthrift Farm)
KTDF Earner of the Year: Kitodan (Foster Family Racing, Douglas E. Miller & William J. Wargel)
KTDF Owner of the Year: Godolphin
KTDF Trainer of the Year: Brad Cox
KTDF Breeder of the Year: Godolphin

Recipients of the 2022 KTOB Kentucky-Bred Champion awards were voted on by the full membership of KTA/KTOB while the KTDF category leaders were tabulated using purse money won at Kentucky racetracks in 2022. KTOB merit award recipients were voted on by the KTA/KTOB Board of Directors.

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1st-AQU, $80K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:20 p.m.
Trainer Chad Brown has Aqueduct's first race on closing day bookended with a pair of firsters from his shedrow in OCASEK (Candy Ride {Arg}), who draws the rail with Dylan Davis aboard and to the outside ARMY TIMES (Into Mischief) with Manny Franco in the irons. Both have a Candy Ride connection as the former, who was a $440,000 '21 FTSAUG  purchase by Spendthrift Farm, was sired by him, while the latter's dam, MGSW & MGISP Paid Up Subscriber, claims the stud as her own.

Peter Brant' Army Times was bred by Joseph Allen, who incidently co-owned his dam and was conditioned by Brown and White Birch Farm. Pointing to this spot, Brant's bay colt put forward a bullet four-furlong work Mar. 10 in :47 (1/125). Stablemate Ocasek is not without merits, as his dam Shananies Song (Eltish) has turned out a diverse group of offspring in GSP Bellamentary (Bellamy Road) and a pair full-brothers by Flatter in GSW Favorable Outcome and GSW Mouheeb. TJCIS PPS

11th-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, 4:50 p.m.
Out of Unicorn Girl, champion MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) was a $95,000 Ylg KEESEP in 2019 and earned almost $3 million on the racetrack. Going for $600,000 at the Mixed KEENOV sale a year later, half-brother OCEAN CITY (American Pharoah) looks to continue that legacy in what will be his second start for Jackie's trainer Steve Asmussen at the Fair Grounds after a fourth place behind a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Bishop's Bay (Uncle Mo) and First Mission (Street Sense) Feb. 18 going six panels. Switching to the grass and ridden by James Graham from the rail, the Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith-owned bay colt was bred by J&J Stables and Carlo Vaccarezza. TJCIS PPS

12th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1/16mT, 6:10 p.m.
From the chute on Sunday, look for FLYLIKEABUTTERFLY (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) to debut for trainer Kent Sweezey from gate one with Angel Rodriguez aboard. She is out of a family that includes a pair of graded-stakes winners in Nayyir (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and Sky Hunter (GB) (Motivator {GB}). Drawing the eight hole with Javier Castellano in-town to ride is first timer for trainer Christophe Clement, MONEY BEETS (City of Light). She was a $575,000 '21 KEESEP buy and is out of stakes-winning mare Do the Dance (Discreet Cat), who counts Japanese MGSP Randonnee (Blame) as a half. TJCIS PPS

The post Sunday Insights: Brown Pair Debut With Candy Ride Connection appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The first mare reported in foal to GI Arkansas Derby and TVG.com Haskell S. winner Cyberknife, a son of sire sensation Gun Runner, is graded producer Afleet Lover (Northern Afleet), who is located at Wynnstay Farm. Likewise, the beautifully bred GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Greatest Honour, a son of Tapit, also had his first mare confirmed in foal. She is American Jack (Pioneerof the Nile) and is part of the Watershed Equine broodmare band.

The Eclipse champion sprinter of 2021, Jackie's Warrior got Chesapeake Farm's stakes producer Battle Bridge (Arch) in foal. A son of Maclean's Music, Jackie's Warrior won five Grade I races during his career. And finally, the 2022 GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal, a son of Uncle Mo. also had his first mare confirmed in foal. She is Allez Jete (Petionville), who is part of Adan Mandujano's broodmare band.

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DREAM YOUR DREAMS (m, 10, Tapit – Takesmybreathaway, by Gone West) to be bred to Into Mischief

I have a long history with this mare's family. I owned her dam with my father. She's an elegant, two-turn type of filly who didn't show much on the racetrack, but has a genetic pool that is second to none. Her female line goes back to the great Numbered Account (Buckpasser) and she is a half-sister to Grade I winner Frost Giant (Giant's Causeway).

I was looking to put a little more speed and substance into her and thought that using the old Bull Hancock theory — breed the best to the best and hope for the best – really pertained to this mating.

SMUGNESS (m, 4, Gun Runner – Claire's Song, by Unbridled's Song) to be bred to Street Sense

Smugness is another one that I am very familiar with her family. She's from the family of GISW Hard Not To Love (Hard Spun) and champion Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro). We purchased her third dam Hard Knocker (Raja Baba) as a yearling. We raced her and produced several foals out of her, including Smugness's second dam Chimichurri (Elusive Quality).

This mare will be going to Street Sense. My good friend of 40 years John Williams taught me a lot about the importance of good conformation. Now that I'm doing a lot more racing, I realize that you have to have a sound structure to have a chance, so I place a lot of emphasis on that aspect. This is a wonderful physical match combined with the fact that this is her first foal and I always like to use a proven stallion with a young mare.

Roadrunner's Honor is in foal to Maxfield and will visit Justify this year | courtesy Paul Manganaro

ROADRUNNER'S HONOR (m, 6, Honor Code – Wild Idle, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Justify

This Grade III-placed mare is from a strong female family. Her second dam is 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champion Storm Song (Summer Squall). She has a Munnings yearling filly and is in foal to Maxfield for this year.

This year she will go to Justify. This mating breeds type-to-type on physical and I believe that Justify is one of the future stars of the stallion shed. With a $100,000 stud fee this year, I'm hoping that by the time she drops her foal, he is worth substantially more than that.

ON MY WAY (m, 17, Giant's Causeway – It's Our Time, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Jackie's Warrior

This mare comes from a deep Manganaro family. My family purchased her second dam Leo's Lucky Lady (Seattle Slew) as a yearling, raced her and bred everything out of her. We kept a few of her daughters including It's Our Time, the dam of On My Way.

We sold On My Way as a yearling and then I bought her back two years ago. She was in foal to Vino Rosso at the time and she was already the dam of GSW King Zachary (Curlin). We sold the Vino Rosso colt for more than we bought the mare for and now she has a Quality Road yearling and is in foal to Twirling Candy.

We chose Jackie's Warrior for her this year. This is another mating that matches up really well physically. I gave it a five-out-of-five rating. This family tends to need some speed and if Jackie's Warrior can't provide speed, I don't know who can.

ENCHANTED JASMINE (m, 9, War Chant — Sharaiji Blossom, by Saint Ballado) to be bred to Olympiad

We purchased this mare at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton February Sale as a maiden mare. She's a half to Grade II winner Dothraki Queen (Pure Prize) and under the second dam, her pedigree includes a champion in Hong Kong and a champion grass mare in Canada.

We are going to breed her to Olympiad. I bought a share in Olympiad. With his physical presence, durability and consistency, I think he'll be a really good match for this mare.

JANE MAST (m, 4, Distorted Humor – Coming Attraction, by Tapit) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro

Jane Mast had a world of talent. She ran twice, including a very impressive maiden win at Saratoga. Unfortunately an injury forced her to retire early. She's from a superb Phipps family. Her third dam is My Flag (Easy Goer).

We're excited to have the opportunity to breed her to Bolt d'Oro. It's a good match on pedigree and physical. With the start he got off to in his freshman year, we're hoping that he can provide her that early development and class.

RED ROSES TOO (m, 4, Nyquist – Wishful Splendor, by Smart Strike) to be bred to Not This Time

We purchased this mare's second dam Kaylem Ho (Salem) at the end of her career. We bred her to Smart Strike, which produced this mare's dam Wishful Splendor, who was a stakes winner herself and produced Grade II winner Juanita (Mineshaft).

Red Roses Too is currently in foal to Maclean's Music and for this year we are going to go with Not This Time. It's a really good physical match. There's a lot of soundness and consistency in this female family. Wishful Splendor had 14 foals to race and 12 winners, including several stakes winners. Kaylehm Ho had 15 winners from as many to race. We're breeding their soundness and consistency with the quality and class that Not This Time can provide.

SO HONEST (m, 8, To Honor and Serve — French Park, Ecton Park) to be bred to Nashville

So Honest comes from the family of MGISW Palace (City Zip). She's one of our better-looking mares and is the winner of over $64,000. We've had a little bit of bad luck with her. She came up empty in her first year, then she had a City of Light that is now two, and then she was empty the next year. This year she is in foal to Nyquist and will be going back to first-year sire Nashville.

I didn't really plan on considering Nashville for her, but when I was at WinStar and they pulled him out of the stall, I knew I had to make it happen. If he can reproduce himself physically, he will be very popular in the commercial market. I don't think you can train speed into a horse. You have to provide it through the genetic pool and this horse should do that for her.

Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.

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5th-FG, $70K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:00 p.m.

Purchased by Coolmore's M V Magnier as a weanling for $600,000 just one hip after his dam herself brought $850,000 in foal to Into Mischief at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, OCEAN CITY (American Pharoah) is the fifth foal out of Unicorn Girl (A.P. Five Hundred), making him a half-brother to champion male sprinter and MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music). The colt drilled five furlongs from the gate in 1:00 4/5 (2/42) Jan. 27 and again in 1:00 3/5 (2/37) Feb. 3 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Veteran John Velazquez gets the call.

Just to his inside is stablemate Unload (Gun Runner), a Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred out of a full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly Untapable and a half-sister to GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}). This is also the family of GISP Red Route One (Gun Runner). He worked his own five furlongs Feb. 3  in 1:00 3/5 (2/37).

Brad Cox unveils $450,000 Keeneland September yearling Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) for a large ownership group including Spendthrift Farm. Out of SW & GISP Catch My Drift (Pioneerof the Nile), the colt is a half to MSP Strava (Into Mischief).

The first half of a coupled entry for Godolphin, First Mission (Street Sense)'s second dam is champion 3-year-filly in Argentina Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar). From a heavy South American family, he counts G1SW Chanta Joy (Arg) (Fortify) and GSWs South Marshy (Arg) (Southern Halo) and South March (Arg) (Southern Halo) as members of his extended family.

Godolphin's other entry, St. John's (Hard Spun) is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Bay of Plenty (Medaglia d'Oro) and GISP and leading Argentina sire Fortify (Distored Humor). This is the family of GISW Flagbird (Nureyev), GISW Little Belle (A.P. Indy) and GISP Lady Alexandra (More Than Ready). TJCIS PPS

8th-SA, $75K, Aoc, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 7:06 p.m.

Last seen beating only a trio of rivals home in the GI Cotillion S. in September, ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo) returns to the races and once again is under the tutelage of trainer Bob Baffert. A 13-length winner of the GIII Las Virgenes nearly a year ago, the bay fired a bullet two works back Feb. 3 (five furlongs in :59) and picks up Juan Hernandez for the first time. TJCIS PPS

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GOODNIGHT OLIVE
Goodnight Olive brought a salty four-race win streak into her stakes debut and then promptly reeled off two of the biggest Grade I prizes for female sprinters, making her a no-brainer choice for Eclipse champion female sprinter.

She debuted in 2021 with a runner-up finish in a Gulfstream maiden, then went to the sidelines for seven months, never to lose again. The dark bay reappeared at Keeneland's 2021 fall meet with an 8 1/2-length maiden score, followed it up with a nine-length allowance win at Aqueduct, and then took another seven-month break. She hadn't lost a step upon return this past June, smartly taking back-to-back allowances at Belmont and Saratoga by open lengths. Up against three Grade I winners, including reigning champion female sprinter Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), for her coming-out party in the GI Ballerina, Goodnight Olive was sent off at 5-1 but surged clear in the stretch to win with aplomb. Although lightly raced coming into the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, she again overpowered her foes, sizzled to a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, and kept her 2022 season flawless. In addition to her Eclipse as female sprinter, she was also a finalist for older dirt female.

Trainer Chad Brown has said Goodnight Olive is much like her Horse of the Year sire, not necessarily touted for soundness, but certainly for brilliance. Steve Laymon, founder of co-owner First Row Partners, won his second Eclipse as he also co-owned Dayatthespa (City Zip), champion grass mare of 2014.

Goodnight Olive got some time off following the Breeders' Cup and is gearing up for a 5-year-old campaign.

Early Impressions…
“A nice filly and a later-maturing type. We thought she would stand out in October and benefit from the additional time.” –John Moynihan, Stonestreet's bloodstock advisor

“Goodnight Olive really stood out to me at Fasig October. She was on the final day of the four-day sale, but once we saw her early on we knew we had to wait patiently to try and get her purchased. She was a bit offset but had so much athleticism in the way she moved and a lot of class with some edginess. She was on the smaller side (not anymore), but being almost a May foal and by Ghostzapper she was big enough. She had just enormous potential and she has certainly lived up to all of our expectations and then some.” –Liz Crow, agent for First Row Partners

–Jill Williams

ELITE POWER
A winner of five of his last six starts in 2022, Elite Power topped off his season with a defeat of both MGSW & MGISP C Z Rocket (City Zip) and last year's Eclipse champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) in the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Though he didn't break his maiden until June, Elite Power went on a hot streak through the summer, working his way up the ranks with two wins against allowance company before stepping up in dominating fashion to take the GII Vosburgh S. at Belmont's Aqueduct meeting by 5 1/4 lengths Oct. 8.

Drawn mid pack as a 5-1 shot behind heavily favored Jackie's Warrior in the Sprint, Elite Power took his time early on under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., racing seventh as Super Ocho (Chi) (Dubai Sky) paced the field through tiring fractions of :22.12 and :44.99. Steadily advancing while three wide around the turn, Elite Power came running from the middle of the track to overtake the leaders with a sixteenth to run, hitting the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of his rivals.

“I had the perfect trip,” Ortiz, Jr. said of his Breeders' Cup ride aboard Elite Power. “He broke real sharp and I let him settle. I let the speed go. I was able to cut the corner around the turn. When I tipped him out, he was there for me. He kept going forward. He gave me a really good kick from the quarter-pole to the wire. He's a nice horse. I rode him with a lot of confidence.”

A $900,000 yearling for Juddmonte out of the Lane's End consignment, Elite Power beat out another son of Curlin and Mott trainee in Cody's Wish (Curlin) for the award. He remains in training for the 2023 season and most recently worked four furlongs in :48.80 (1/17) Jan. 25.

–Stefanie Grimm

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HAVANA DREAM (m, 10, Quality Road – Mayo On the Side, by French Deputy) to be bred to Constitution

This stakes-placed mare is carrying her third foal by Yaupon. She is from the family of MGSW Midcourt (Midnight Lute) and throws foals with a lot of size. Constitution should suit her physically. This is a sire line she has not been to.

I'M A FLAKE (m, 15, Mineshaft – November Snow, by Storm Cat) to be bred to Curlin

The dam of Grade I winner Express Train (Union Rags). She throws big, strong, correct foals. The mating of Curlin with A.P. Indy-line mares is proven. He had three Breeders' Cup winners in one day!

Layla's colt out of Liam's Map brought $625,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale | photo courtesy Dixiana Farm

LAYLA (m, 9, Union Rags – I'm a Flake, by Mineshaft) to be bred to Flightline

The full-sister to Express Train. She proved that she can have a very good individual. Her first foal, a Liam's Map colt, sold for $625,000 (1/43) at last year's Keeneland September Sale. Flightline needs no introduction. He's equine perfection. For a young mare to go to such a talented horse, it gives her every chance.

AMERICA'S TALE (m, 8, Gio Ponti – America's Friend, by Unusual Heat ) to be bred to Jackie's Warrior
Mr. Shively purchased this mare last November in foal to Medaglia d'Oro. She is one of two mares that we have going to Jackie's Warrior. An incredible racehorse and he is stunning.

REVITALIZED (m, 5, Uncle Mo – Excited, by Giant's Causeway) to be bred to Life Is Good

This mare is from the family of MGISW Spain (Thunder Gulch) and a half to two graded stakes horses. Her first foal is a Munnings filly and is very impressive physically. She is in foal to Authentic. Life Is Good will suit her physically.

STARGIRL (m, 8, Medaglia d'Oro – Campionessa, by A.P. Indy) to be bred to Justify

A full-sister to the dam of 2022 GII Jessamine S. winner Delight (Mendelssohn). Her second foal is a very attractive Good Magic yearling filly. We thought we would try a similar cross as Delight with Justify (Scat Daddy). For a sire that we didn't expect to be early, he is off to a great start. I think he has an exciting future ahead and he should put some size into her foal.

SWOOP AND STRIKE (m, 10, Smart Strike – Dance With Doves, by A.P. Indy) to be bred to Golden Pal

One of four mares going to Golden Pal. What a talented and fast horse. Two Breeders' Cups, a track record and a stakes record. And a son of Uncle Mo. I was really impressed when we saw him at Ashford.

TIGER RIDE (m, 11, Candy Ride [Arg] – Royal Tigress, by Storm Cat) to be bred to Not This Time

This Grade I-placed, Grade III-winning mare is carrying her third foal by Charlatan. Her second foal, a Tapit filly called Tiger Tap, was retained by the farm and is showing a lot of talent. Tiger Ride has not been to this sire line. Grade I winner Epicenter and GII winner Simplification, both by Not This Time, are out of Candy Ride mares.

TRUE ELEGANCE (m, 10, Distorted Humor – Sealy Hill, by Point Given) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro

This mare's first foal Elegant Joy (Kitten's Joy) beat the boys at Arlington in her first start. She has an impressive yearling colt by Authentic. True Elegance is a half to MGISW Cambier Parc (Medaglia d'Oro), as well as many others. Bolt d'Oro is off to a great start as a sire. Mr. Shively thought this was the obvious choice for her.

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Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo – Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit) took home a hard-fought win in the 2021 GII Remsen S. and went on to claim a Classic victory this year. His new studmate Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music – Unicorn Girl, by A.P. Five Hundred) came close to an undefeated season at two, but upped his game at three to be named Eclipse Champion Sprinter in 2021.

Jackie's Warrior's remarkable career highlighted by five Grade I scores started off with his domination of New York's juvenile division in 2020. Spendthrift's Mark Toothaker admits that ahead of the colt's stakes debut in the GII Saratoga Special S., their stallion nominations team was eyeing a different race contender. But after a call in to Steve Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi, who said that Jackie's Warrior was the one they needed to look out for, they turned their attention to the bay son of Maclean's Music.

“The next thing you know, the horse does just what Scott said he was going to do and I'm on a plane headed up there trying to get a deal done,” Toothaker recalled with a laugh. “We were very fortunate to be able to get involved with him early.”

After his three-length win in the Saratoga Special, Jackie's Warrior established a new stakes record in the Hopeful and then earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in his 5 1/2-length Champagne win.

“It takes a special 2-year-old to be able to do what he did,” Toothaker explained. “What was amazing was how big and strong he was. He is a heavily-muscled horse with a lot of bone. When you first saw him as a 2-year-old, you're thinking that this is the biggest kid on the playground.”

During his Eclipse-worthy sophomore season, Jackie's Warrior reeled off four graded stakes wins highlighted by the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., where he went head-to-head with MGISW Life Is Good (Into Mischief). His four graded stakes wins at four included his fifth straight win at Saratoga in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H., where he became the first horse in the storied track's 159-year history to win a Grade I in three consecutive seasons.

Toothaker recalled visiting Jackie's Warrior one morning during Derby week ahead of the sprinter's win in the GI Churchill Downs S. The backside was hectic and the Asmussen team had several high-profile contenders entered for that weekend, but the quietly composed Steve Asmussen spent over half an hour talking about his superstar trainee.

“He was so proud that he had bought the horse for $95,000 at the Keeneland Sale,” Toothaker said. “He said, 'Tooth, where were all the experts? Did they all go to lunch when he sold?' He was very proud that he had picked out the horse for the Robisons, who are wonderful people. Getting to meet Kirk and Judy Robison and develop a friendship with them and their children and grandchildren over the last three years has just been amazing.”

Jackie's Warrior, the highest-earning son of Maclean's Music, will stand for $50,000 in 2023. The champion has been in high demand with breeders and has already amassed a high-quality book to kick off his stud career.

“I've had so many people come out to the farm and say that he might be the best one they've seen of all the new [stallions],” Toothaker said. “Almost every mare that he got was a stakes winner or a stakes producer, so he's going to get every opportunity.”

Spendthrift's Mo Donegal has been received by breeders with similar enthusiasm.

“We love to have sons of Uncle Mo because that is what our breeders want,” Toothaker explained. “Last year [Spendthrift sire] Yaupon was the second most-popular horse in North America. Mo Donegal is a big, stretchy horse. What I love about him is that even though he stands over a lot of ground at 16'2 and a half, he's got a beautiful frame on him and a really nice hip.”

Going two for three as a juvenile, Mo Donegal claimed an exciting edition of the GII Remsen S. when he battled future Grade I winner Zandon (Upstart) down the stretch and survived a stewards' inquiry to get the win by a nose. The Todd Pletcher pupil ran third in this year's GIII Holy Bull S. before adding a win in the GII Wood Memorial S. over eventual GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner). In the GI Kentucky Derby, he drew the rail and raced 10 wide in the stretch to get up for fifth.

Mike Repole obtained a minority interest in Mo Donegal shortly before his Kentucky Derby bid and was rewarded in the colt's next and final start in the GI Belmont S., where he finished three length ahead of the runner-up, fellow Ashview Farm/Colts Neck Stables-bred Nest (Curlin), who is also co-owned by Repole Stables.

“I know that was a very special day for Mike and his family, the Lyster family and for Todd,” said Toothaker. “With Mo Donegal, one of the biggest factors for us has been that Mike Repole is our partner. Mike brings so much energy and when you've got a guy that buys 71 yearlings at the Keeneland Sale, that was a huge thing for us to know that we had his support like we have on Vino Rosso.”

One of Uncle Mo's top three leading earners along with fellow Classic winner Nyquist, a top third-crop sire this year, as well as champion Golden Pal, who is also set to begin his stud career in 2023, Mo Donegal will stand for $20,000. His dam Callingmissbrown, a daughter of GI Acorn S. victress and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Island Sand (Tabasco Cat), has produced two others winners including her 2-year-old daughter Prank (Into Mischief), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' after her 9 3/4-length debut win at Saratoga this summer.

“For Mo Donegal to win a graded stake at two in the Remsen, which is a tough, grueling race at a mile and an eighth, but yet be able to do what he did as a 3-year-old in the Wood Memorial and top it off in the Belmont, it takes a very good horse to be able to do that,” Toothaker noted. “Mo Donegal was one of the absolute best of his class. It's a lot to offer breeders, especially for $20,000.”

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“Jackie's Warrior has settled in nicely at the farm and is such an impressive specimen, especially for a horse coming off a pretty hard campaign,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “It's special to be able to add another great champion to our stallion ranks and we're excited to be able to show him off to breeders. Cyberknife ran great to finish a head behind older horse Cody's Wish in the Dirt Mile, and he came to the farm looking well and with good energy. He is set to run again before retiring, however, it was important for us to be able to show him to breeders over the course of the next week.”

Jackie's Warrior will stand for an introductory fee of $50,000 S & N and retires as the first champion sprinter in 34 years to have won as many as five Grade I races. He became the only horses in the history of racing at Saratoga to post top-level success in three straight seasons when winning this year's GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. in dominating fashion.

Cyberknife, winner of this year's GI Arkansas Derby and GI Haskell S., will command a fee of $30,000 upon his retirement.

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