Category: WinStar

Carpe Diem Relocating to Acadiana Equine

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WinStar stallion Carpe Diem has been sold and will take up stud duty in Louisiana for 2022, the farm announced today.

Carpe Diem will be syndicated in Louisiana by a group led by Picard Racing (Dawn and Jeff Picard) and David Tillson and he will stand the upcoming breeding season at Acadiana Equine at Copper Crowne in Louisiana. By Giant’s Causeway out of the graded stakes-placed Unbridled’s Song mare Rebridled Dreams, Carpe Diem, a dominant Grade 1 winner at two and three for WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables and an earner of $1,519,000, will be available for inspection at Acadiana Equine beginning on Dec. 18.

Carpe Diem is the sire of 11 black-type horses in 2021, led by stakes winners Bella Aurora, Wait for Nairobi, and graded stakes-placed Thisismytime, runner-up in the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes. A $1.6 million juvenile purchase, Carpe Diem is also a leading sire of 2-year-olds this year (21 juvenile winners) and is represented by Romancer, runner-up in the $500,000 Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

“We have a strong relationship with David Tillson and Acadiana Equine,” said Liam O’Rourke, Director of Bloodstock Services for WinStar Farm. “We look forward to continued success with Carpe Diem.”

David Tillson added, “Our goal is to provide Louisiana breeders the best opportunity for future success, and we’re excited to stand Carpe Diem, a multiple Grade 1 winner and proven stallion.”

WinStar Farm stallion Pioneerof the Nile dies at 13

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WinStar Farm stallion Pioneerof the Nile died suddenly today, the farm announced. The 13-year-old son of Empire Maker—Star of Goshen, by Lord at War (ARG), bred a mare this morning and started acting uncomfortable once he was back in his stall. He was en route to the clinic when he died.

“We are all extremely saddened by the loss of Pioneerof the Nile,” said WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden. “He was a superior physical specimen, a Triple Crown Sire, and a unique personality. All of us at WinStar are heartbroken.”

A multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire on the racetrack, Pioneerof the Nile is the sire of two 2-year-old male Eclipse Award winners and two Breeders’ Cup winners from his first four crops to race—Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Classic Empire.

Pioneerof the Nile was a leading sire of his generation for the past three years, including No. 1 sixth-crop cumulative sire in every category: Grade 1 winners, G1 horses, graded stakes winners, black type winners, earnings, etc.

Justify Retired Due To Ankle Filling

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07.25.2018 | 2:14pm

Justify greets the media the morning after winning the Triple Crown

Justify, undefeated winner of the 2018 Triple Crown, has been retired from racing, it was announced today.

“Justify had some filling in his ankle, and he is just not responding quick enough for a fall campaign,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “We all wanted to see Justify run again, but ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure he is perfect. Without 60-90 days, I can’t be definite.”

Campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, and Starlight Racing, Justify dazzled at first asking on Feb. 18, winning his career debut at Santa Anita and proceeded to accomplish many historical feats en route to racing stardom. He broke the “Curse of Apollo” when he won the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths on May 5, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Derby without starting as a 2-year-old.

“He is an incredible horse and we are very disappointed he can’t run again,” said WinStar Farm’s Kenny Troutt. “All things happen for a reason, and we are blessed to have raced him to be the 13th Triple Crown winner in history.”

Justify went on to capture the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico under the foggiest conditions the race has ever seen. He was pressured every step of the way and fended off all challengers for the wire-to-wire victory.

“When he won the Preakness, I allowed myself to start dreaming about the Triple Crown,” said Troutt. “When we look back on this, we have been a part of an undefeated Triple Crown Champion, and hopefully a Horse of the Year.”

Justify went to New York in pursuit of history in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Sent to the lead by his Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, Justify never looked back, winning the Belmont by 1 ¾ lengths, becoming the first undefeated Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew.

“Like everyone else, I am disappointed he won’t run again, but I am thankful he came into my life,” Smith said. “There was never a time when I rode him that I felt like I was going to get beat. There was no horse who could run with him without sacrificing themselves, and there was no horse who could come get him. He truly is a gift from God.”

Justify provided racing international exposure through the Triple Crown, winning the Belmont Stakes in China Horse Club’s red and yellow colors after taking the Derby and Preakness in WinStar’s silks.

“To win the Triple Crown is an amazing accomplishment,” said China Horse Club’s Teo Ah Khing. “The history of the Triple Crown and the difficulty of winning the three legs is not something I take lightly. It has been a great ride for all of us, and I have complete confidence Bob is doing the right thing by Justify.”

Justify will return to WinStar Farm early next month. He won all six of his career starts, amassing earnings of $3,798,000. In addition to his Classic wins, Justify also won the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther, the son of Scat Daddy—Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper was purchased by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing for $500,000 out of the Glennwood Farm consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September sale.

“The timing is bad for another start in 2018, and therefore, we have to retire him,” said WinStar Farm’s Elliott Walden. “Like American Pharoah, we can’t take the risk of running Justify as a four-year-old. We all wanted him to finish his career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but it was not meant to be. As has been reported, there is a possible sale to Coolmore in place, but that won’t be finalized until a later date. We are excited to share him with our fans starting the middle of August after he gets acclimated.”

The “First Look” will be offered to WinStar StableMates members on Aug. 10th and 11th and can be scheduled through https://stablemates2.winstarfarm.com/.  Complete tour schedule available at https://visithorsecountry.com/winstarfarm/.

Justify will also parade at Del Mar on Saturday, July 28, before traveling to WinStar.

“The parade at Del Mar will be a great opportunity for the fans in the San Diego area to come out and see him,” said Baffert.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association released the following statement in response to the news: 

“Justify’s extraordinary racing career – from maiden to Triple Crown winner in less than four months – was as brilliant as any our sport has seen. We can’t wait to have his first runners hit the track in 2022.”

– Alex Waldrop, President and CEO, National Thoroughbred Racing Association

WinStar: Justify’s Breeding Rights Still Undetermined

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Justify | Benoit

The breeding rights for undefeated dual Classic winner Justify (Scat Daddy) are still undetermined, according to a statement from WinStar Farm released in response to an ESPN story published Thursday afternoon. The story stated that Coolmore had purchased the colt’s breeding rights for around $60 million.

The statement from WinStar, who owns Justify in partnership with the China Horse Club, SF Racing, Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing, said, “We have had numerous inquiries into the breeding rights of Justify, including from Coolmore. Nothing is finalized at this time and won’t be in the foreseeable future. We are focused on the [GI] Belmont [S.] and his racing career at this time.”