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Chance It Retired To Journeyman Stud In Florida

Florida-bred Chance It, a winner of two of the three legs of the prestigious FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes in 2019 at Gulfstream Park, has been retired and will stand the 2022 breeding season at Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla.

“We're excited to stand Chance It here at Journeyman next year,” said Journeyman's Brent Fernung. “He is a beloved Florida-bred racehorse that displayed tons of talent. Had he not got injured, I'm sure he would have annexed at least one Grade 1 stake before he was finished. Chance It won from six furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth and showed indications that he would have won going further. It'll be a pleasure to work with Mary and her entire team.”

Chance It was trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, a syndicate managed by Mary Lightner of Ocala, Fla.

Chance It won the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager over six furlongs by 3 1/4 lengths on Aug. 3 of 2019 before dominating the $400,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes In Reality two starts later in September, winning the 1 1/16-mile test by 7 1/4 lengths. He was also second, missing by just a head to Liam's Lucky Charm, in the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed going seven furlongs on Aug. 31.

By Currency Swap out of Vagabon Diva, by Pleasantly Perfect, Chance It started his sophomore campaign with victory in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 4, 2020 at Gulfstream Park, achieving a Beyer Speed Figure of 99 while defeating stakes-winner As Seen On Tv and future graded stakes-winner Sole Volante.

In four starts this year, Chance It was second twice including a runner-up performance in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint over six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on July 3 and third in the G1 Forego going seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 28 while earning a 97 Beyer. He was retired after his final start in the G2 Kelso at Belmont Park on Sept. 25 when he suffered a minor injury to his left front leg.

Chance It, who was bred in the Sunshine State by Bett Usher, finished his career with four wins, four seconds and a third in 11 lifetime races while earning $583,330.

The handsome bay colt will join a stellar stallion roster at Journeyman Stud that includes Khozan, the leading sire in Florida in 2020 and 2021; St Patrick's Day, who is a full-brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah; and Mr. Money, a winner of four graded stakes as a 3-year-old.

Chance It's fee for the 2022 breeding season has not been announced.

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Grade 1 Winner Valiance Retired, To Be Offered At Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Valiance, a Grade 1 winning daughter of multiple leading sire Tapit, has been retired from racing and will be offered at Fasig-Tipton's upcoming November Sale on Nov. 9 in Lexington, Ky. Bluewater Sales will consign the 5-year-old mare for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz, and CHC Inc.

Valiance took last year's Grade 1 Spinster Stakes in tremendous style, defeating a top-class field that included two other Grade 1 winners. She followed up that victory with a game second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff to multiple champion Monomoy Girl, finishing ahead of another four Grade 1 winners.

In addition to being a Grade 1 winner on dirt, Valiance won her first three career starts on turf, including Monmouth's Open Mind Stakes as a 3-year-old. Trained throughout her career by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, she has career earnings of $809,575.

“Valiance is a top-class race mare and a terrific individual,” commented Pletcher. “She's always been a true professional to train in the morning and was so versatile on the racetrack in the afternoon. She's a good one.”

A $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling, Valiance carries an elite pedigree to complement her outstanding race record and conformation. Her first dam Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker, captured the G1 Madison Stakes. Her second dam, Lazy Slusan, is a multiple Grade 1 winning distaffer and millionaire.

“Valiance was a stunning yearling with a royal pedigree and she followed through on the racetrack,” said Aron Wellman, President of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “She trained with brilliance, ran with brilliance on turf and dirt at the highest level and provided our partners with huge thrills. She's a rare filly who had impeccable breeding, gorgeous looks, immeasurable talent and that intangible killer instinct to win her races. She is an elite mare who offers the complete package and she is cut out to be an exceptional broodmare.”

Added Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning: “Valiance is a rare commodity- she's a Grade 1 winner, her dam is a Grade 1 winner, and her granddam is a Grade 1 winner! In addition, she's by Tapit and a beautiful individual. Her potential as a broodmare is unlimited.”

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European Champion St Mark’s Basilica Retired To Coolmore Stud In Ireland

Last year's European champion 2-year-old and the highest-rated horse in the world this year, St Mark's Basilica, has been retired from racing and will retire to Coolmore for the coming season.

“St Mark's Basilica is possibly the best horse we have ever had in Ballydoyle,” said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He relaxes and quickens and has all the determination from Galileo and all the speed from Siyouni.”

St Mark's Basilica was bred by Bob Scarborough and raised at Norelands Stud, like his 2,000 Guineas-winning half-brother Magna Grecia, and was purchased by MV Magnier at Tattersalls October Book 1 for 1.3 million guineas.

Beginning with the Dewhurst last October, he notched up five straight Group 1 successes in three countries. After displaying his trademark turn of foot to great effect in the French Guineas and the Prix du Jockey Club, St Mark's Basilica put up arguably his finest performance in the Eclipse Stakes when scoring by 3 1/2 lengths from the multiple Gr.1-winning older horses Addeybb and Mishriff. Another excellent effort came in the Irish Champion Stakes when he got the better of Breeders' Cup winner Tarnawa and 2,000 Guineas and St. James's Palace Stakes winner Poetic Flare.

“He's the most exciting prospect we've retired from Ballydoyle since his late grandfather Galileo,” said Coolmore's David O'Loughlin. “European champion 2-year-old, the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world, a 1.3 million guineas yearling by a top sire in Siyouni, a half-brother to another brilliant horse in Magna Grecia, both out of Galileo's group-winning 2-year-old Cabaret. He has everything and he'll get terrific support from his owners' broodmare band too.”

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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Runner-Up Battleground To Enter Stud In Turkey

Battleground, who finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, has been acquired by the Jockey Club of Turkey, and he will enter stud in that country for the 2022 breeding season, the Turkish publication Yaris Dergisi reports.

The 3-year-old son of War Front retired with two wins in seven starts for the Coolmore partnership and trainer Aidan O'Brien, earning $289,722.

Battleground broke his maiden in his second career start as a 2-year-old, taking the Chesham Stakes during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. He then won his group stakes debut in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, making him a looming threat in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Battleground left the gate as the favorite in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and after a wide trip, he finished second to 30-to-1 longshot Fire At Will.

His 3-year-old season was highlighted by a third-place finish in the G1 St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale / Chelston / Wynatt, Battleground is out of the great Galileo mare Found, whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup Turf.

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