JC / Railbird

Breeders/Breeding Archive

Smart Shopper

That’s one possible name for Smarty Jones’ first foal, a healthy filly born to Shoppingwithbetty shortly after midnight on Tuesday at Stone Farm in Kentucky. “She’s very well-made, very strong, very alert, very independent. She has tons of substance; she’s beautiful,” said farm president Dan Rosenberg. You can see how adorable the little filly is for yourself in this photo gallery (complete with audio commentary). Another 91 Smarty Jones foals are expected this winter; the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner starts his second season at stud in February.

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on January 11, 2006

Ashado Sells for $9 Million

Fresh off her third place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Ashado sold for a record-setting $9 million at Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale this afternoon. The bidding came down to the two usual suspects, Coolmore and Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum of Dubai (through his agent John Ferguson), with the sheikh winning out. “It’s very unusual to come across a mare with such an outstanding race record with such quality. She’s an absolute queen,” said Ferguson afterwards. “Sheikh Mohammed is especially keen to assemble an outstanding broodmare band in the United States. And, she’d fit into the paddock with the best of them.”

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on November 7, 2005

Afleet Alex Deal Pending

The Blood-Horse is reporting that a deal “is in the works” for the breeding rights to Afleet Alex. Cash Is King spokesman J.J. Graci confirmed this afternoon that Castleton Lyons of Kentucky was one of the farms bidding and that the stable still plans to run Alex as a four-year-old. “The sale is for the breeding rights only,” Graci said. “Chuck [managing partner Chuck Zacney] was emphatic that Alex will race next year under Cash Is King Stable.”
9/25 Tangent: Afleet Alex is scheduled to breeze this Friday at Belmont (New York Daily News).

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on September 23, 2005

Kentucky At Risk

Breeding programs in other states are threatening Kentucky’s dominance in the Thoroughbred industry: “Odds are Kentucky could be overtaken in its signature industry if somebody in the state doesn’t crack the whip, according to concerned industry leaders.” (Kentucky Post)

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on September 22, 2004