Lane's End

When longtime owner and breeder Paul Pompa, Jr., who campaigned the likes of dual Classic winner Big Brown, passed away suddenly in October of 2020, it was a big blow to many in the industry. Some 19 months after his passing, the owner of Truck-Rite Corp.'s legacy has reached new heights. In the past two months alone, four former Pompa horses have won stakes, topped by Grade I winners Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) and Country Grammer (Tonalist). "Mr. Pompa was a gentleman and a great sport to work for," said...

6th-Santa Anita, $67,500, Msw, 3-27, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:37.99, ft, 7 1/2 lengths. SET SAIL (c, 3, Malibu Moon--Fleet of Gold {SP, $109,892}, by Medaglia d'Oro) was third on debut Feb. 26 in a seven panel maiden over Santa Anita's main track after altering course early and losing second by 1 1/4 lengths. Trying a mile here, the bay Mandella trainee broke on top and never looked back, coasting home much the best by 7 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 second choice over One More Bid (California Chrome). Q B One...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $32,000, Msw, 3-12, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.35, gd, 1 1/4 lengths. GINA ROMANTICA (f, 3, Into Mischief--Special Me, by Unbridled's Song) left the gates as a heavy 4-5 favorite in this debut for powerhouse connections. Rating from seventh early on, the $1.025 million KEESEP purchase watched the pack in front jostle for position down the backstretch and through the final turn. Called on for her rally coming into the lane from the far outside, Gina Romantica swooped by her rivals under a confident ride to win by...

Grade I winner Lexitonian (Speightstown--Riviera Romper, by Tapit), new to the Lane's End roster for 2022, has his first mare confirmed in foal, the farm reported Monday. The first mare scanned in foal to the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. hero is Grade I winner Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song), owned by Calumet Farm. She hails from the immediate family of black-type performers Galileo's Song, Great Barrier Reef, Queen Daenerys and more. An earner of over $700,000 in his racing career, Lexitonian stands for $10,000.

Two new stallions, both debut winners as juveniles who went on to become Grade I winners, have joined the Lane's End roster for 2022. Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB} - Reunited, by Dixie Union) and Lexitonian (Speightstown - Riviera Romper, by Tapit) will stand for a fee of $10,000 in their first year at stud. "Code of Honor and Lexitonian are sound, consistent young horses and they both give breeders a chance to breed to Grade I-winning sires with fair, introductory prices and super pedigrees," Lane's End Farm's Bill...

Daredevil's first foal back in the U.S. has arrived at Dunquin Farm in Paris, Kentucky. The filly, bred by Mike and Pat Freeny, is out of C. C. Zipp (City Zip). "She is an outstanding foal that anyone would be proud of," said Mike Freeny. Daredevil produced champion Swiss Skydiver and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil in his first U.S. crop.

Grade I winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code)'s first foal arrived Jan. 27, 2022 at Coteau Grove Farms in Sunset, Louisiana. The filly, bred by Coteau Grove Farms, is out of multiple black-type winner and graded stakes performer Joanie's Catch (First Tour). "The resemblance of this filly to her sire is uncanny, right down to her four white socks," said Andrew Cary, Coteau Grove Farms' bloodstock advisor. "There is no doubt about who her sire is. Honor A. P. was right up there with the best of his generation and...

'TDN Rising Star' Gift Box (Twirling Candy--Special Me, by Unbridled's Song) was represented by his first foal when the 12-year-old Chelsea Road (Speightstown) delivered a colt at St. Simon Place Wednesday, Jan. 19. The colt was bred in partnership by St. Simon Place and Machmer Hall, who teamed to purchase Chelsea Road--the dam of SP Go Big Blue Nation (Animal Kingdom)--for $65,000 with the colt in utero at last year's Keeneland November Sale. St. Simon Place's Tommy Wente said of the foal, "He's a big attractive colt. I'm very pleased....

Champion and three-time Grade I victor Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}--Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy)'s first foal arrived Sunday at Machmer Hall. The filly, out of Desire Street (Congrats) was bred by Machmer Hall, and born just before midnight. She was described by Carrie Brogden as a "well balanced, leggy, strapping filly with a great hind leg." Brogden continued, "We have already booked a dozen client and Machmer Hall mares back to him, so this baby certainly helps to justify that faith in this juvenile champion son of Candy Ride."...

Call it the Japan factor. We've already seen it creating opportunities for breeders, after all, with Hard Spun--a still more direct conduit of Danzig blood, and arguably underpriced ever since his relaunch in Kentucky after a sojourn in Hokkaido. The Factor, however, is four years further behind in that process, and right now finds himself at an intriguing crossroads in his rehabilitation. Having spent 2018 at Shizunai Stallion Station, the son of War Front had no American juveniles last year and will accordingly have no sophomore representation in 2022. That...

The Gerry Dilger Scholarship Foundation has granted one more scholarship for the upcoming 2022 breeding season, allowing University of Limerick student and Cashel, County Tipperary native Luke Kevin to travel from Ireland and work at Lane's End Farm. "I would like to give a huge thanks to the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation for giving me this great opportunity to work and learn in the U.S.," said Kevin, a third-year student in the Equine Science program who has gained prior experience at Ballysheehan, Martinstown and Ballinalard Studs. "On behalf of...

So finally we come to a group of stallions that has at least offered some initial indication of their competence actually to produce a runner. Not that the market tends to enjoy this process! Its nervousness about sires at this stage of their career makes it easy to see why so much investment is instead concentrated in that period of grace when they haven't yet been exposed in such heartless fashion. Yes, the one or two that are prompt to seize their chance are instantly on their way: their second...