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First Mares Check In Foal For Spendthrift Farm’s Authentic, Vekoma

Spendthrift Farm's debut stallions and 2020 Eclipse finalists Authentic and Vekoma have had their first respective mares confirmed in foal.

Authentic has had two mares reported in foal, both from his official first day of breeding on Feb. 10. Aguilera, a daughter of Unbridled's Song and the dam of multiple stakes winner Bluegrass Singer, and Jennifer's Dream, a stakes-placed daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of Grade 1 winner Joyful Victory, are both pregnant. Aguilera is owned by Seclusive Farm, LLC & Chester and Anne Prince, and Jennifer's Dream is owned by Hidden Springs Farm.

Vekoma's first mare reported in foal is Scion Power, a daughter of Wildcat Heir and full sister to graded stakes winner Derwin's Star. She is owned by Angela Ingenito.

Authentic was recently named the 2020 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male after capturing wins in the Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, G2 San Felipe and G3 Sham over fellow sophomores. The son of Into Mischief closed out his championship campaign by defeating older horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic before retiring to Spendthrift with earnings of $6,191,200. His debut stud fee is $75,000 S&N.

Vekoma was an undefeated graded stakes winner at two and four and captured a major Kentucky Derby prep race at three. After winning on debut in 1:08 4/5, the Candy Ride colt earned his first graded win in the G3 Nashua at Aqueduct to close out his juvenile season. Vekoma scored a decisive win in Keeneland's G2 Blue Grass at three, and he proved to be one of the best horses in North America last year as a 4-year-old.

Vekoma won a pair of Grade 1 races in New York in 2020, including dominating the G1 Carter before taking the prestigious G1 Met Mile, and captured the Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream. He retired to Spendthrift with earnings of $1,245,525 and is standing his first season at stud for a fee of $20,000 S&N.

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Trio Of Kentucky Farms To Sue Jockey Club, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Over Stud Book Cap

Following is a press release sent on behalf of Spendthrift Farm, Ashford Stud, and Three Chimneys Farm. This is a developing story, and we will be updating as more information, including court filings, is made available.

Three of Kentucky's biggest stud farms have filed a lawsuit challenging The Jockey Club's rule to restrict Thoroughbred stallions from breeding with more than 140 mares each year – the so-called “stallion cap.” The complaint argues that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has unlawfully delegated power to The Jockey Club, and that the new rule breaches the Constitutions of Kentucky and the United States as well as federal and state antitrust laws.

The plaintiffs in the complaint are Spendthrift Farm, Ashford Stud and Three Chimneys Farm, who say the stallion cap is a “blatant abuse of power” by The Jockey Club. The suit argues that the rule change is “arbitrary” and “anti-competitive” and will reduce access or drive up prices for many owners of mares looking to access top stallions. The rule also risks driving the best stallions overseas, as no other country with a Thoroughbred stud book imposes a cap.

The plaintiffs believe The Jockey Club's action will have a significant impact on the entire economic structure of the industry by undermining the value of Thoroughbreds throughout the United States, with a consequent impact on jobs and livelihoods. In addition, it places artificial restrictions on breeders' abilities to decide for themselves the best course of action for their stables.

The plaintiffs state there is “no scientific basis” to support The Jockey Club's argument that the rule change is necessary for the health of the Thoroughbred breed or to promote genetic diversity. There are only 42 stallions in the 2020 season who were bred to over 140 mares, and the cap simply means excess demand will move on to the less desirable, less commercial stallions, making it more difficult for breeders to be profitable. Some breeders have stated the new rule will lead them to simply get out of the business rather than tolerate it. No other country has seen a basis for introducing a cap, and the plaintiffs believe such a fundamental change cannot be taken unless supported by robust scientific evidence.

Membership of The Jockey Club is by invitation only, and the decision was made by its Board of Stewards without discussion or a vote at the Club's annual general meeting. The Jockey Club stewards making the decision had clear conflicts of interest, given they also represent or own various breeding and racing entities who stand to benefit now that owners of mares are being denied their first-choice stallion.

Commenting on behalf of the plaintiffs, B. Wayne Hughes of Spendthrift Farm said:

“The introduction of the stallion cap by The Jockey Club is a blatant abuse of power that is bad law, bad science and bad business. A handful of individuals from a private club in New York have been allowed to make a decision that will negatively impact the future of Thoroughbred racing and breeding both in Kentucky and the whole country.

“We have filed this complaint to defend the industry from anti-competitive, un-American and arbitrary decision making that is not based on scientific evidence.

“If they can limit the number to 140, what's to stop them from limiting it to 100 or 80 or any other number down the road? What if your mare isn't one of the 140? We are really concerned about the small breeder's ability to survive this.”

The Jockey Club announced the rule 14c amendment on May 7, 2020, which, beginning with stallions foaled in 2020, limits the number of mares which can be bred to a stallion in a calendar year to 140. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, Central Division.

It argues that the actions of The Jockey Club and KHRC breach sections 1, 2, 3, 8 and 29 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which are designed to protect property rights and limit delegations of power by governmental bodies to private entities. In addition, it says the stallion cap violates the due process and equal protection rights of the three stud farms as guaranteed by the 5th and the 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution. The suit also argues the rule violates the Sherman Antitrust Act and suppresses competition.

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Toast To Vino Rosso: Colt Out Of Coup De Coeur Is ‘Everything You Look For In A Foal’

Throughout the breeding season, the Paulick Report will be sharing photos of foals from the first crop of Spendthrift Farm's Breeders' Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso in the “Toast to Vino Rosso” series.

This week's feature foal is a colt out of the stakes-winning Exchange Rate mare Coup de Coeur.

The flashy colt was born Jan. 31 at Spendthrift Farm. He is a half-brother to Grade 2-placed runner Animosity, and he hails from the family of Grade 2 winner Old Trieste and European Group 3 winners Perigee Moon and Veldermoro.

“This is one of the nicest foals we've had here in a long time,” said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. “He has everything you look for in a foal. He has a very classy look to him, he's athletic, balanced, has great bone, and is very correct.”

Vino Rosso, a 6-year-old son of Curlin, stands at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $25,000.

Vino Rosso won won six of 15 starts and earned $4,803,125 on the racetrack. In addition to his signature Breeders' Cup Classic score, the stallion picked up victories in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes, and the G2 Wood Memorial Stakes.

A first-crop Vino Rosso colt out of Coup de Coeur at Spendthrift Farm.

A first-crop Vino Rosso colt out of Coup de Coeur at Spendthrift Farm.

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Cape Canaveral, Wilko Lead Alberta’s 2020 Stallion Owner’s Breeding Award Bonus Earners

The 2020 Stallion Owner's Breeding Awards were recently dispersed to eligible stallion owners as part of Horse Racing Alberta's Breed Improvement Program.

The Stallion Owners' Breeding support for 2020 totaled $55,000 and was distributed through the Thoroughbred Breed Improvement Program.

The percentage for the 2020 Stallion Owners' was 3.28 percent and was based on the following criteria: “Stallion bonus will be paid proportionately to stallion owners whose stallions have eligible Alberta Thoroughbred progeny with earnings of $10,000 or greater during the calendar year. Stallions must have stood in the province of Alberta for the entire calendar year of conception for each year's crop to be eligible.”

The Highfield Stock Farm stallion Cape Canaveral, led the Alberta stallions with $311,478 total in eligible Alberta Thoroughbred progeny earnings in 2020.

The leading runner for the Mr. Prospector son last season was the CTHS Alberta sale graduate Pearl of Knowledge, bred by Starline Thoroughbreds. The multiple stakes-placed filly finished the season with $54,760 in earnings with a win in the Alberta Oaks and second place finishes in the black type Sonoma Handicap and Chariot Chaser Handicap. The race record for Pearl of Knowledge last season was 6-2-2-1.

The stakes-winning daughter of Cape Canaveral, Music at Work, was his second-leading earner with $43,460 in earnings from a win in the black type Sonoma Handicap and a third place finish in the Chariot Chaser Handicap. Bred by Wes and Jenn Hanson, the race record for Music at Work was 6-2-0-1 in 2020.

Triple Power was the third-leading eligible Alberta progeny for Cape Canaveral with $33,247 in earnings from a record of 7-4-0-0 and a win in the Grande Prairie Derby. The gelding was bred by Don Danard, Joe Fenrich and Don Knight.

The Awesome Again son Wilko took second spot in the leading Alberta stallions with a total of $217,666 in eligible Alberta Thoroughbred progeny earnings.

The 2017 Alberta champion Shimshine led the list for this stallion with $49,389 in earnings last season. Shimshine finished the 2020 meet with a record of 9-2-1-1 including a win in the Alberta Breeders' Handicap and a third place finish in the black type Century Mile Handicap.

Chancee was the next eligible Wilko progeny with $22,280 in earnings from a record of 13-1-2-0 last season. Horseradish was the third-leading eligible Alberta progeny in 2020 for Wilko with $20,214 in earnings and a record of 6-1-1-0. All three leading eligible runners for Wilko were bred by Andy Stronach and Wally Pugh. Wilko stood stud at Highfield in 2014 and 2015 when these runners were conceived.

Where's the Ring finished in third position on the top five Alberta stallion list for 2020 with $195,760 in eligible progeny earnings. The Seeking the Gold son stood at Peaceful Valley Farms in Didsbury for the 2016 year before moving back to Colebrook Farms in Ontario where he was a leading sire last season.

Solo Ring led in eligible Alberta progeny for Where's the Ring with a win in the $50,000 CTHS Alberta Sales Stakes for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings and $47,140 in season earnings from a record of 7-2-3-1. The CTHS Alberta sale graduate was bred by Peaceful Valley Farms.

Striders Ring was second for Where's the Ring with two allowance wins and $44,195 in season earnings from a record of 9-5-0-1. Striders Ring was bred by Running Fawcett Thoroughbreds and sold through the 2017 CTHS Alberta sale.

Zicatela rounded out the top three Alberta eligible progeny placings for Where's the Ring Alberta progeny with a third place finish in the CTHS Sales Stakes in the same race with another Where's the Ring son, winner Solo Ring. Bred by Dawson Guhle, Zicatela finished the season with $28,645 in season earnings and a record of 9-1-3-2.

The Bar None Ranches Ltd. stallion Gayego was fourth on the 2020 Alberta stallion list with eligible progeny earnings of $173,634 last season.

Count on It was the leading Alberta runner for the Gilded Time son last season with three stakes placings including a second in the Princess Margaret Stakes, a second place in the 2-year-old CTHS Sales Stakes, and a third place finish in the Sturgeon River Stakes. The Bar None Ranches-bred filly finished the meet with a record of 6-1-3-1 and $36,060 in earnings.

The second placed eligible progeny for Gayego was the Bar None Ranches bred and owned gelding, Trader Lynn. The 2017 gelding earned $17,178 last season with two claiming race wins and a record of 6-2-0-0. Bred by Tod Mtn. Thoroughbreds, Lookout Taylor was the third-leading eligible Alberta progeny for Gayego in 2020 with $10,639 in earnings from a claiming race win and a record of 7-1-1-1.

The Storm Cat son Schramsberg was fifth on the leading Alberta stallions in 2020 with eligible progeny earnings of $112,795. Lookout Louie was the leading eligible runner for Schramsberg last season with two claiming race wins and $44,400 in earnings from a record of 7-3-0-0. Lookout Louie was bred by Jim Moroz and Dave McDougall.

Bar None Ranches-bred and -owned runner, Chatty Gal, was the second-leading Alberta progeny for Schramsberg with $10,275 in earnings from a claiming race win and a record of 6-1-2-0 last season. The Bar None Ranches-bred runner, Remarkable Vintage, rounded out the top three runners for Schramsberg with two claiming wins and earnings of $9,797 from a record of 7-3-0-0.

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