WinStar Farm

The ever-growing threat to American life that is coronavirus COVID-19 has rapidly chipped away at horse racing's business after shutting down the affairs of all major sports. Only a handful of tracks are choosing to stay open without spectators as of this writing, and news of the four-month postponement of the GI Kentucky Derby drove home once and for all that the sport would not be unaffected by this crisis. But deeper into the heart of Kentucky than the Twin Spires, are stallion and breeding farms. As much as racetracks,...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-GP, $44K, Msw, (S), 3yo, 1m, 3:03p.m. WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's $600,000 KEESEP purchase FREEDOM FORCE (American Pharoah) makes his career bow against fellow Florida-breds in this spot. The chestnut is a half-brother to MGISW millionaire Iotapa (Afleet Alex) and SW & GSP Saintly Joan (Northern Afleet). The Rodolphe Brisset trainee enters off a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 flat (1/8) at Palm Meadows Feb. 19. Todd Pletcher saddles another intriguing runner in this test in Mathis homebred Roman Empire (Empire Maker). Off...

A Friday hearing could bring much-needed clarity to the $23 million lawsuit against Ahmed Zayat and his financially troubled Zayat Stables, LLC, regarding whether or not the court-appointed receiver in the Kentucky case should be allowed to have broadly expanded legal powers over racing and breeding stock. But instead of categorically fighting the receiver's Feb. 18 motion for more control over his horse business, lawyers for Zayat on Feb. 20 filed a response that asked a Fayette Circuit Court judge to grant that motion in part and to deny it...

Abel Tasman (Quality Road), Beholder (Henny Hughes), Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Wind (Curlin) and Flower Alley (Distorted Humor). These names are recognizable champions, classic winners, and high-profile Grade I winners. Another common thread they all share is they were bred during their respective sires' third season, on stud fees ranging from $12,500 to $40,000. It took their breeders' confidence, gumption, and desire to not just go with the status quo and avoid young sires that were in their "bubble years." Breeding Thoroughbreds is a long-term...

WinBlaze LLC stallion and Grade III winner National Flag (Speightstown--Date to Remember, by Bernardini) sired his first reported foals when a colt out of the Tale of the Cat mare Princess Adelyn was born at Smokin C Farm in Ohio and a colt produced from the Kitten's Joy mare Elated was born at Blazing Meadows Farm. He stands as the property of WinBlaze LLC, an alliance between WinStar Farm and Tim Hamm's Blazing Meadows Farm. "We are excited to see the first foals by National Flag hit the ground, and his...

Ring Leader maintained her perfect record with a score over favored 'TDN Rising Star' Specially in the Listed Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Saturday evening. Second choice on the board, the bay, who broke her maiden at first asking at Canterbury Park in June and returned Jan. 24 to romp by 5 1/4 lengths in the mud locally, tracked from third behind an opening split of :22.48. She challenged three deep on the far turn and went on with it, turning into the home straight with all of the momentum....

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-14, 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:38.88, ft. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (c, 3, Constitution--Addison Run {SP}, by Unbridled's Song) had to overcome a few tense moments, but ultimately kicked off his sophomore season successfully Friday afternoon at Tampa. A nine-length debut winner sprinting in the Saratoga slop Sept. 2, the grey was second as the favorite behind a dominant performance from Maxfield (Street Sense) and ahead of last month's GIII Lecomte S. winner Enforceable (Tapit). His connections opted to skip a trip to the Breeders'...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols 6th-TAM, $27K, Alw/Opt Clm (75k), 3yo, 1m 40yds, 3:16 p.m. Team Valor International and WinStar Farm's GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (Constitution), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following a nine-length debut win at Saratoga Sept. 2, makes his first start since finishing second behind Maxfield (Street Sense) in the Oct. 5 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. Trainer Mark Casse sends out Untitled (Khozan), a sharp debut winner at Gulfstream in December who returned to finish a troubled fourth in the Feb. 1 GIII Swale S. in his first start for...

There has been a lot of conversation in these pages over the past few days about the difficulty sires have attracting mares in their third and fourth season. Many of them are sold overseas as a result. Once in a while, one gets off to such a good start in America that they are brought back when it is discovered that people simply gave up on them too soon. Case in point: Take Charge Indy. The son of A.P. Indy is back at WinStar Farm after spending three years in...

So now we come to a group who will typically, at this stage of their careers, find themselves clinging by their fingertips to the commercial precipice--even as the agents and pinhookers press down ruthlessly with their boots. Yes, any breeder using these stallions this spring will at least have some valid evidence with which to evaluate what tends, in many cases, to be a dwindling fee: a first group of sophomores in 2019, backed up by the most precocious juveniles of their second crop. These, nonetheless, should by any sensible...

A late-blooming gelding kicks off his career with two straight impressive victories carrying the white silks of WinStar Farm. Sound familiar? While the talented 'TDN Rising Star' Diversify (Bellamy Road) eventually changed hands as a racing prospect at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale prior to posting a pair of Grade I victories for Ralph and Lauren Evans, Kenny Troutt's operation was represented by the promising blowout allowance optional claiming winner Fearless (Ghostzapper) at Gulfstream Saturday. The unbeaten 4-year-old gelding, campaigned in partnership with China Horse Club International, earned an eye-catching...

9th-GP, $51K, OC 75k/N1X, 3yo, 7f, 5:03 p.m. ET CARPE OMNIOUS (Carpe Diem) punched through an inviting opening along the rail to win at first asking going six furlongs with a very solid 83 Beyer Speed Figure at Gulfstream Dec. 21. The priciest of 73 first-crop yearlings by Carpe Diem to sell in 2018 when he brought $550,000 at Keeneland September, Carpe Omnious is co-owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club International and trained by Todd Pletcher. His dam Renards Lapin (Tiznow) is a half-sister to English highweight Lucky...