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Claiborne Farm Acquires Breeding Rights To Met Mile Winner Silver State

Claiborne Farm announced today that it has acquired the breeding rights to multiple graded stakes winner Silver State. He will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has won seven of 13 career starts, hitting the board in 12 of those starts, and has made over $1.9 million. In 2021 alone, he is 4-1-1 from 6 starts and has made over $1.6 million.

“We are very excited to stand Silver State in 2022,” said Walker Hancock of Claiborne Farm. “Danzig is one of the legends of Claiborne, and we anticipate his legacy continuing through his grandson, Silver State.”

Silver State is being pointed toward this year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Saturday Nov. 6, after earning a “Win and You're In” berth by winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. In the stallion-making Met Mile, he defeated three Grade 1 winners, including Knicks Go, a four-time Grade 1 winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

The highlight of his career thus far is a six-race winning streak spanning 2020 and 2021, which included wins in the listed Fifth Season Stakes and Essex Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the G2 Oaklawn Handicap, and culminating in his signature Met Mile triumph at Belmont Park.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing, the most accomplished son of Hard Spun has posted wins in each of his three campaigns. Silver State won on debut as a juvenile in a maiden special weight during the September meet at Churchill Downs. At age three, a minor setback knocked him off the Triple Crown trail, but he returned to the races later that year to score allowance wins at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

“He's a tremendous physical,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Everyone that's been around this horse is struck by his presence. He really must be seen to be believed.”

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds, who co-owns Silver State with Willis Horton Racing, added, “For any horse to win six races in a row, especially when those victories included races as well-regarded as the Oaklawn Handicap and Met Mile, is pretty incredible and puts him in a special category. Looking ahead to his stud career, we couldn't be more excited about Silver State finding a home at Claiborne. We're looking forward to supporting him with our mares and can't wait to see his offspring.”

A product of the vaunted Stonestreet Farm breeding program, Silver State is out of the Grade 3-placed stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme, and he hails from the family of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. He sold for $450,000 as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.

An advertised stud fee will be announced at a later date.

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Claiborne Acquires Breeding Rights to Met Mile Winner Silver State

Claiborne Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple graded stakes winner Silver State (Hard Spun–Supreme, by Empire Maker). He will stand at the Paris, Ky., farm upon his retirement from racing.

The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun has won seven of 13 career starts, hitting the board in 12 of those starts, and has made over $1.9 million. In 2021 alone, he is 4-1-1 from six starts and has made over $1.6 million.

“We are very excited to stand Silver State in 2022,” said Claiborne's Walker Hancock. “Danzig is one of the legends of Claiborne, and we anticipate his legacy continuing through his grandson, Silver State.”

Silver State is being pointed toward this year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 6, after earning a “Win and You're In” berth by winning the GI Metropolitan H. this June. In the stallion-making Met Mile, he defeated three Grade I winners, including Knicks Go (Paynter), a four-time Grade I winner who has captured the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.

The highlight of his career thus far is a six-race winning streak spanning 2020 and 2021, which included wins in the listed Fifth Season S. and Essex S. at Oaklawn Park, the GII Oaklawn H. and culminating in his signature Met Mile triumph at Belmont.

“He's a tremendous physical,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Everyone that's been around this horse is struck by his presence. He really must be seen to be believed.”

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds, who co-owns Silver State with Willis Horton Racing, added, “For any horse to win six races in a row, especially when those victories included races as well-regarded as the Oaklawn H. and Met Mile, is pretty incredible and puts him in a special category. Looking ahead to his stud career, we couldn't be more excited about Silver State finding a home at Claiborne. We're looking forward to supporting him with our mares and can't wait to see his offspring.”

A product of the vaunted Stonestreet Farm breeding program, Silver State is out of the Grade III-placed stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Supreme, and he hails from the family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. He sold for $450,000 as a yearling at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.

An advertised stud fee will be announced at a later date.

The post Claiborne Acquires Breeding Rights to Met Mile Winner Silver State appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Echo Zulu Punches Ticket To Juvenile Fillies With Dramatic Frizette Win

Heavily-favored Echo Zulu validated horseplayers' faith in her, taking the Grade 1 Frizette by daylight at Belmont Park on Oct. 3. The undefeated Steve Asmussen trainee set a blistering pace under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., grabbing the lead out of the gate and setting fractions of :22.38, :45.98, and 1:10.40. She ignored closing bids from Gerrymander and Magic Circle through the sandy Belmont turn and hitting a new gear in the stretch, drawing away decisively to win by 7 1/4 lengths.

Gerrymander was second, followed by A Mo Reay. The victory grants Echo Zulu a berth in this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Owned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds, Echo Zulu is now three for three, coming to this effort off a win in the G1 Spinaway at Saratoga.

The final time for the mile was 1:35.12.

Echo Zulu was bred in Kentucky by Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby. She is the daughter of Gun Runner and Menifee mare Letgomyecho. She was a $300,000 yearling at last year's Keeneland September sale, where Betz Thoroughbreds sold her to Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Echo Zulu went off at odds of 1-5 and paid $2.70, $2.30, and $2.10. See the full chart here.

G1 Frizette Quotes
A “Win and You're In” event for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Steve Asmussen, winning trainer of Echo Zulu (No. 6, $2.70*): “It's amazing. She's a special filly and she's by Gun Runner. How much better can it get? She's better than good.

“She's a Spinaway and a Frizette winner. That's elite company. I'm proud of her. Good energy though the wire. She didn't stagger in there and she set honest fractions.”

On his concern regarding the quick fractions: “I was [concerned]; very much so. I watched the race from up the stretch, a long ways across to the backside – [and they went] 22 and 1, 45 and change. Obviously, there was pressure from her outside. But the first thing Ricardo [Santana, Jr.] said when he came back was he couldn't believe how relaxed she was. He said her ears were up and she was relaxed and within herself.”

On going to the front: “We're not going to not let her be who she is. I feel very strongly about be who you are. Don't show up and re-invent yourself. I thought there was nothing but speed in the race. I was very concerned with it and the Maclean's Music filly of Todd's [Pletcher-trained No. 7, Jester Calls Nojoy] and how fast she is, but when you're the favorite you make them make adjustments around you.”

On trying two turns for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 5 at Del Mar: “The filly obviously has a tremendous amount of ability and I think the big jump is to get to this level. The Spinaway and the Frizette – that sort of foundation and doing it multiple times gives you a tremendous amount of confidence. My worry was the Spinaway off one 5 1/2-furlong race with the [lack of] seasoning. The Spinaway and Frizette have eased all those tensions, now it's just up to how fast everybody is.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr., winning jockey aboard Echo Zulu (No. 6): “She's special. She broke her maiden and we never expected she was ready first time out in Saratoga. How she did it [shows] she has some ability and she proved it today.

“She broke good and was waiting for the company. When the company got to her, she took off again. She's really special.”

On the fast fractions: “It felt like I was walking, how she was doing it. She was really impressive for a two-year old.”

On his confidence level at the quarter pole: “I had a lot of horse. I never needed to ask her that's how much horse I had.”

Joel Rosario, jockey aboard runner-up Gerrymander (No. 8): “I was sitting in a good spot, but she was just second best.”

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Echo Zulu Brilliant Again in Frizette

There have been other impressive performances turned in by 2-year-old fillies in recent weeks (namely Hidden Connection {Connect} in the GIII Pocahontas S. and Ain't Easy {Into Mischief} in the GII FrontRunner S.), but 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) reaffirmed her spot at the top of the division Sunday as she blew away her competition in Belmont's GI Frizette S., a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

The L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer was a 5 1/2-length debut winner over a field that included subsequent two-time Florida-bred stakes dominator Outfoxed (Valiant Minister) on opening day at Saratoga July 15–good for a very strong 92 Beyer Speed Figure. She made similarly short work of the GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga Sept. 5, contributing to a highly memorable meet for her connections that got even better when Gunite closed things out with a win in the GI Champagne S. to complete an unprecedented double for freshman sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}).

Backed at 35 cents on the dollar to carry her brilliance over an additional furlong Sunday, Echo Zulu wasted no time taking command as Brown/Klaravich representative Gerrymander (Into Mischief) applied some pressure through splits of :22.94 and :46.37 (according to Trakus). There was a brief moment midway around the turn when Echo Zulu looked like she might let her competition into the race, but as soon as her nose pointed for home, she slammed the door. Ricardo Santana, Jr. hit the gas, and she poured it on at will, running the score up to 7 1/4 lengths from the staying-on Gerrymander. Maiden A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo) came out on top of a blanket finish for third.

“It's amazing. She's a special filly and she's by Gun Runner. How much better can it get? She's better than good,” said all-time winningest trainer Steve Asmussen. “She's a Spinaway and a Frizette winner. That's elite company. I'm proud of her. Good energy though the wire. She didn't stagger in there and she set honest fractions.”

The Hall of Fame trainer had won the Frizette three times previously, perhaps most notably in 2011 with the similarly brilliant My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike), who subsequently ran to favoritism at the Breeders' Cup to lock up an Eclipse Award.

“The filly obviously has a tremendous amount of ability and I think the big jump is to get to this level,” said Asmussen when asked about the upcoming two-turn test at Del Mar. “The Spinaway and the Frizette –that sort of foundation and doing it multiple times gives you a tremendous amount of confidence. My worry was the Spinaway off one 5 1/2-furlong race with the [lack of] seasoning. The Spinaway and Frizette have eased all those tensions, now it's just up to how fast everybody is.”

Santana added, “She's special. She broke her maiden and we never expected she was ready first time out in Saratoga. How she did it [shows] she has some ability and she proved it today… She broke good and was waiting for the company. When the company got to her, she took off again. She's really special.”

Sunday, Belmont Park
FRIZETTE S.-GI, $400,000, Belmont, 10-3, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:35.12, ft.
1–ECHO ZULU, 120, f, 2, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Letgomyecho (GSW, $136,200), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo
3rd Dam: Kashie West, by Sir Ivor
'TDN Rising Star' ($300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-L and N Racing
LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/
CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $220,000. Lifetime Record:
3-3-0-0, $440,000. *1/2 to Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's
Song), GSP, $253,478; J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSW,
$377,543; and Echo Town (Speightstown), GISW, $410,020.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gerrymander, 120, f, 2, Into Mischief–Ruby Lips (GSP), by
Hard Spun. ($375,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables,
Inc.; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Pollock Farms (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown. $80,000.
3–A Mo Reay, 120, f, 2, Uncle Mo–Margaret Reay (GSP,
$133,455), by Pioneerof the Nile. ($400,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-My Racehorse Stable & Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-T & G Farm
of Kentucky LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $48,000.
Margins: 7 1/4, 3, NK. Odds: 0.35, 10.60, 6.50.
Also Ran: Magic Circle, Saucy Lady T, Jester Calls Nojoy, Hot Fudge, Jumeirah, Frosty Brew. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Gun Runner has been represented by four graded stakes winners already in his first crop, including the aforementioned Gunite, who was fifth in Saturday's GI Champagne S.; fellow Winchell/Asmussen filly Wicked Halo, who took Saratoga's GII Adirondack S. in August; and GII Best Pal S. hero Pappacap, second in Friday's GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita on the stretch out. Tony Holmes and Winchell's Concept (Gun Runner) broke his maiden in Remington's Kip Deville S. Sept. 26 while earning a 92 Beyer.

Gun Runner's yearlings were, unsurprisingly, highly coveted at Keeneland September, with a top-priced colt bringing $975,000 and six youngsters selling for $625,000 or more. The Three Chimneys resident's 40 sellers at KEESEP grossed $13,037,000 at an average of $325,925 and median of $280,000.

Echo Zulu's dam was talented herself, winning by 5 1/2 lengths in her Calder debut as a newly turned 3-year-old and streaking to three-for-three in the 2005 GII Forward Gal S. L and N Racing and Asmussen campaigned Letgomyecho's son Echo Town, who took last term's GI H. Allen Jerkens S. and completed his first season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud this year. Echo Zulu's yearling half-sister was also extremely popular at Keeneland September–she topped the first session of the sale on a $1.4-million bid made on behalf of Joe Allen. Ron Winchell bought the second topper that day. Click here for more.

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