Developing a leading freshman sire was an especially sweet victory for the connections of two-time GI winner Bolt d'Oro, who was finally able to turn the tables on Justify after finishing behind him in their only two meetings on the track.

“It's really exciting obviously,” Spendthrift Farm general manager Ned Toffey said. “It's a really nice way to cap off the year. We have the perennial leading sire (Into Mischief) and to add the leading freshman sire is certainly a feather in our cap. It is a credit to the entire team at Spendthrift Farm and the ownership group, the breeders and the buyers at auction. As the year unfolded it was nice to see (Bolt d'Oro) gain momentum to not only have sprinters but also runners who could go two turns.”

Bolt d'Oro was bred to 214 mares in 2019 with 168 live foals reported, of which 80 started and 29 won. Overall, his first crop earned $2,810,095 in 2022 and he was represented by 15 stakes runners and six stakes winners, including GII winners Instant Coffee and Major Dude. He stood for $25,000 in his initial year at stud, dropped to $15,000 in 2020 and after a year at $20,000 will stand for a fee of $35,000 in 2023.

“This is a horse (the late Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Huges) was very excited about,” Toffey said. “Bolt d'Oro came to Spendthrift at about the time Medaglia d'Oro was at the top of his game and a big international sire, and Mr. Hughes was pretty positive about this horse. He was one who really captured his imagination and I think he'd be very proud right now. Like Mr. Hughes would say, 'It's genetic roulette,' and I think we got lucky here.”

Good Magic, who covered 164 mares for 134 live foals in his first crop, saw 22 of his 65 starters reach the winner's circle, his entire first crop banking $2,533,194. GI Champagne S. winner Blazing Sevens was his top performer, and he was also represented by GII winners Dubyunhell and Vegas Magic. He had six score in black-type company in 2022 overall, of which four earned graded honors. He stood for an initial fee of $35,000, which was boosted to $50,000 for 2023.

Justify, who stood for $150,000 in his first year at Ashford Stud, covered 252 mares in 2019 and was represented by 180 live foals in 2020. He saw 29 of his 71 starters reach the winner's circle for $2,478,038, with Irish G2 winner Statuette being his most successful runner. He was also represented by GIII winners Just Cindy and Champions Dream in the U.S. He is advertised for $100,000 in 2023.

Other notable sires to finish behind the top three were Army Mule (Friesan Fire), who stands at Hill 'n' Dale for a fee of $12,500 in 2023 and whose offspring earned $2,045,440; and Three Chimneys Farm's Sharp Azteca (Freud), who is advertised for a fee of $15,000 and whose first crop of runners earned $1,914,292.

Bolt d'Oro joins an impressive recent list of leading first-year sires that includes Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile).

Final Earnings Standings through Dec. 31, 2022 (pending last-minute foreign earnings):
1st—Bolt d'Oro, $2,810,0956
2nd—Good Magic, $2,533,194
3rd—Justify, $2,478,038

The TDN sire lists contain full-dollar earnings of Northern Hemisphere foals winning anywhere in the world. To view the current standings updated overnight, click here.

The post 2022 Leading First-Crop Sire Race: And the Winner Is… appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bolt d'Oro kicked off the last week of the year in winning fashion as his son Corona Bolt captured the Sugar Bowl S. at Fair Grounds on Monday by 6 3/4 lengths, picking up a $60,000 check in the process. The $220,000 KEENOV weanling boosted his sire's progeny earnings total to $2,712,616, which is now $184,443 more than Good Magic's second-place figure of $2,528,173.

Bolt d'Oro has three set to run in Turfway Park's fifth race on Thursday night, a race originally carded for last Friday before the track was forced to cancel due to sub-zero temperatures. St. Elmo, Itzos, and Fast Forward are all back to take a stab at the 6 1/2-furlong Msw test, which carries a purse of $70,000. On Friday, Bolt d'Oro will have a pair–Mahina and Bolt's Broad–race a mile on the turf in a $67,000 Msw at Santa Anita, which has been carded as the day's first race. He has four runners entered for New Year's Eve at various tracks.

Repole Stables' homebred Rule It is first for the day on Thursday for Good Magic. The colt, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, is out of the Bernardini mare Enthrall and seeks a first career win in the fifth race at Gulfstream Park, a 7 1/2-furlong Moc turf test. Up North at Aqueduct, Moonflyer will wear a $40,000 price tag when he races 6 1/2 furlongs looking for an initial career win for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who also co-owns the colt in partnership with Gabrielle Farm, Vincent Scuderi, Michael Imperio, and Theresa Cotrone. Good Magic's final runner heading into the weekend will be Belle Elena in a 6 1/2-furlong Msw worth $34,000 at Delta Downs om Friday.

Not willing to simply settle for third, Justify was represented by two runners in Japan at Hanshin Racecourse on Wednesday. Dona Sweat, a $425,000 KEESEP graduate, finished fourth in a six-furlong maiden race and earned $6,025. Later on the card, Yuttitham was victorious in a $106,284 allowance event, earning $55,498 in the process. With the earnings boost and his runners' current total of $2,477,539, Justify trails Good Magic by just $50,634and has one entered for Saturday at Santa Anita.

Note that Japanese earnings are added every Sunday night, and there may be delayed reporting from other countries, which could postpone the final results in a very tight race into early January.

Current Earnings Standings through racing of Dec. 27:
1st—Bolt d'Oro, $2,712,616
2nd—Good Magic, $2,528173
3rd—Justify, $2,477,539

The TDN sire lists contain full-dollar earnings of Northern Hemisphere foals winning anywhere in the world. To view the current standings updated overnight, click here.

The post Dec. 28: Despite Significant Lead by Bolt d’Oro, Rivals Not Going Down Without a Fight appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A one-two finish from Communication Memo and Two Rocket in Friday's 6th race at Oaklawn Park and their combined earnings of $72,000 helped Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) extend his lead over Good Magic (Curlin) and Justify (Scat Daddy) in the first-year stallion earnings race heading into the weekend. Not willing to wave the white flag just yet, Good Magic's Almurtajiz, a $290,635 ARQMAY purchase earlier this year, finished second in the G3 Ministry of National Guard Cup at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Friday and picked up a check for $7,898, while his daughter, Miss New York, brought in $6,100 to help keep her sire in close contention.

With just 15 days left in 2022, Bolt d'Oro remains in front with total progeny earnings of $2,647,216, followed by Good Magic (Curlin) at $2,467,615 and Justify (Scat Daddy)–his one runner failing to earn a check on Friday–remained at $2,383,960.

Despite Bolt d'Oro's near $180,000 lead, it's clear his two main rivals don't plan on handing him the victory without a fight.

Good Magic will have the busiest week with at least one runner each day Saturday through Wednesday, including two on Saturday-Protégé in a $104,000 Alw at Oaklawn Park and Good Rapport in a $81,000 Msw at Aqueduct. Also on Saturday Justify's Arabian Lion is the 4-5 favorite in the GII $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity, which would also give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record 14th win in the race dating back to when it was held at Hollywood Park.

Bolt d'Oro's Oh Chic is set to contest a $27,000 Msw at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday to complete the stallion's week in North America, and Just Katherine will represent Justify in a $70,000 Msw at Gulfstream on Sunday. Also, Bolt d'Oro will be represented by From Dusk in Sunday's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Hanshin. The $900,000 OBSMAR 2-year-old is coming off a second-place finish in the Keio Hai Nisei Stakes six weeks ago.

Note that Japanese earnings are added every Sunday night, and there may be delayed reporting from other countries, which could postpone the final results in a very tight race into early January. We will also be providing a preview of 2-year-olds entered the next day in North America and beyond.

Current Earnings Standings through racing of Dec. 16:
1st—Bolt d'Oro, $2,617,216
2nd—Good Magic, $2,467,615
3rd—Justify, $2,383,960

The TDN sire lists contain full-dollar earnings of Northern Hemisphere foals winning anywhere in the world. To view the current standings updated overnight, click here.

The post Dec. 16: One-Two Finish For Bolt Pads First-Year Stallion Lead appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Already the sire of G1 Middle Park S., G1 Prix Morny, and G2 Norfolk S. winner Perfect Power (Ire), the bay's 2021 fee was £4,000. Other high class runners for Ardad are G3 Sirenia S. heroine Eve Lodge (GB), who is one of 21 winners by the 7-year-old, and G2 Coventry S. third Vintage Clarets (GB). Ardad also had 12 winners prior to Royal Ascot, a record for a British freshman sire. This year he bred 156 mares, and at the 2021 yearling sales, he boasts a 100% clearance rate for 30 sold from 30 offered. They averaged £56,000 and his highest price was 190,000gns.

Simon Sweeting, Overbury Stud Manager, said, “Ardad is proving to be a most unusual stallion, fully capable of passing on not only his powerful good looks and movement but also his laid back and charming temperament. He's already proved himself to be a notable source of Royal Ascot 2-year-olds and sales stock, and we're really looking forward to seeing what the future brings. His stud career could certainly scarcely have started any better.”

The post Ardad Boosted to £12,500 For 2022 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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