Lexitonian

The two new names on the GI Kentucky Derby trail each exemplify one of the principal alternatives to what nowadays feels like the ideal route, namely to exploit the imbalances of the commercial market with a breed-to-race program. Nobody having ever operated one of those on a scale as lavish as the one that produced Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the choice between these other models is strictly practical. If you can run to $2.4 million for a Saratoga yearling, as did Speedway Stable for the Into Mischief colt we now know...

Calumet Farm homebred She Be Smooth (Lexitonian) raced well out of the range of the cameraman for the opening 5 1/2 furlongs of Saturday's GII Davona Dale Stakes, but she entered the picture in an instant and finished full of run to become the first graded winner for her sire (by Speightstown) while picking up 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Allowed to jump at juicy odds of 28-5 off an impressive debut over the Davona Dale course and distance Jan. 23 that came at the expense...

5 - BLACKSMITH, SA, 2/20-3rd, 1 mile (video) Beyer Speed Figure-82 (c, 3, by Liam's Map--Sweet Achiever, by Curlin) O-Wathnan Racing. B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings & St Elias Stables (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Florent Geroux. Distance has always been important for Blacksmith given his pedigree, and he was striding out nicely in this decisive 3 3/4-length score to make amends for a puzzling flop at odds-on six weeks ago. His unraced Curlin dam is a full-sister to former Baffert speed demon Cezanne, but her granddam happens to be Better Than...

RIVER WIND (f, 3, Lexitonian--Rachae Leigh, by Stormin Fever) entered this unveiling with a sharp worktab to her credit for trainer Norm Casse, and was supported by the betting public to the tune of 4-1 odds. Breaking well as Quick to Charm (Goldencents) was herded out, the daughter of Lexitonian stepped out to set the fractions and posted an opening quarter of :21.87 with a clear advantage on her rivals. Under a drive but well clear after a half-mile in :45.45, River Wind entered the lane three wide but still...

The betting public wagered that the Anoakia Stakes would be a return to winning form for Himika (Curlin), and she gave them no reason to worry in the lane as she powered home with ears pricked. A stylish victress at first-asking June 12 at this venue, the newly minted 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was asked to take on graded company in her second lifetime start, and she passed that test with grace to land the GIII Sorrento Stakes by over four lengths. From there, she ran an even...

Down on the Lone Star Park turf, Ritzaphena (Lexitonian--Ritz and Glitz, by Desert Party) held on late to graduate at first asking and also hand her first-crop sire his first win. The 2-year-old exited from the extreme outside and worked her way over nicely to rate in third around the far turn. Gearing up through the backstretch, the filly started to make her move on the leader and she took control around the far turn. Ritzaphena was pursued by Shidoni (Gormley) down the lane, and she found the wire in...

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will offer a Lexitonian 2025 breeding season for auction from 8 a.m. ET Thursday to 8 p.m. ET Friday. Donated by Lexitonian's trainer Jack Sisterson, this no-guarantee season with breed back to Lexitonian is to benefit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Lexitonian stands at Calumet Farm. "He's a horse who fights," Sisterson said. "He has the talent, the will, and the heart. He's a class act winning and placing second in multiple Grade I races. I've had a tremendous amount of confidence in him throughout his career because you...

A colt from the first crop of GI A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap hero Lexitonian (Speightstown) realized a final bid of $115,000 from Noble Oaks to top the LTBA Breeders Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale held Friday at the Louisiana Equine Sales and Events Center in Opelousas. Bred in Louisiana by Clear Creek Stud and Warran J. Harang and consigned to the single-session sale by Clear Creek Stud, hip 97 is a son of the unraced Spun Lace (Hard Spun), the dam of four winners from four to the races, including Zestina...

Every year, the Fasig-Tipton July sale offers the first chance for buyers to get a look at a new crop of yearling sires. Many buyers were seeing these sires' yearlings for the first time this week, and while it's admittedly early, we took a little survey to get their first impressions. The group includes: Basin, Beau Liam, By My Standards, Charlatan, Core Beliefs, Essential Quality, Independence Hall, Knicks Go, Known Agenda, Leinster, Lexitonian, Maxfield, Modernist, Raging Bull, Rock Your World, Silver State, Tacitus, Uncle Chuck, and Yaupon. LIZ CROW: Tacitus...

Grade I winner Lexitonian (Spightstown) will stand the 2024 breeding season at Calumet Farm for a fee of $7,500, live foal, after spending his first two years at stud at Lane's End, the farm announced on Tuesday. The 7-year-old stallion, who won the 2021 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. and finished second in the GI Bing Crosby S., was bred and campaigned by Calumet Farm. Lexitonian joins Keen Ice (Curlin), Oxbow (Awesome Again), Hightail (Mineshaft) and Channel Cat (English Channel) at $7,500. Bal A Bali (Brz) (Put It Back), Bravazo...

GISW Lexitonian (Speightstown--Riviera Romper, by Tapit) will be transferring to Calumet Farm for his third breeding season. The Calumet homebred won from ages two to five, recording his most important victory in the 2021 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.  He won or placed in five graded stakes races for earnings of $718,682. After retiring from the track, the stud joined the Lane's End stallion roster for the 2022 and 2023 seasons where he covered a total of 136 mares. At Calumet, Lexitonian joins GISWs Keen Ice and Oxbow in addition...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's second annual Off to the Races online auction concluded Feb. 6 and raised over $56,000 from the 17 offered VIP experience packages and no guarantee Season to Lexitonian (Speightstown). The auction featured experience packages on 17 major race days in 2023 and 2024, each offering a unique itinerary of horse racing-related bucket list activities and tickets to the specified race day(s). Additionally, a no guarantee season with a breed back to 2021 G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. winner Lexitonian was offered online to breeders on Feb....