At long last, there was a nice break in the Bluegrass winter that allowed me to get out and enjoy some of the top stallions that the Horse Capital of the World has to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Darley at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, KY.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice President/Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, the Ruler of Dubai and the founder of Godolphin. The Sheikh saw his first race in 1967 and it was love at first sight. He was wining his own races by 1977 and he started Godolphin, named for the Godolphin Arabian, in 1992. The Godolphin Arabian along with the Byerley Turk and the Darley Arabian are the 3 foundation stallions from which all Thoroughbreds descend from. Godolphin is a breeding and horseracing stable that spans 6 countries. One of the many farms they own is Jonabell in Lexington, KY. He purchased this property in 2001. Street Cry was the first stallion he put to work there. Street Cry was a Dubai World Cup winner. His cremated body remains on sight with a lovely grave marker. He is the sire of champions including Shocking, Street Sense, Whobegotyou, Winx and Zenyatta. Winx won her 15th straight win yesterday, 2/25/17. Close by the grave of Street Cry lies Affirmed, buried whole. Affirmed died in 2001. He was the winner of The Triple Crown in 1978 and two time Horse of the Year. He has a nice statue above his marker. Street Cry passed in 2014, he should soon have his own statue as well.
The first stallion presented to the tour group was Frosted. This is Frosted’s first season as a sire. He won the Grade 1 Met Mile, the G1 Whitney, the G1 Wood Memorial and the G1 Metropolitan Handicap. He is the offspring of Tapit and Fast Cookie. He finished in the top four in two of the three Triple Crown races in 2015, the year that American Pharoah swept them all.
Next, we were treated with the great Bernardini, son of A.P. Indy and Cara Rafaela. During Bernardini’s racing career he won The Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, The G1 Travers Stakes, The Preakness Stakes, the Jim Dandy Stakes and the Withers Stakes. He holds an Eclipse Award for Champion 3 year-old colt. Bernardini began his career as a stallion in 2007. He has produced at least 10 Grade 1 winners and 30 graded stakes winners. He is also the sire of Capezzano.
Following the showing of Frosted and Bernardini, we headed into the stallion barn. There we met the camera shy, Girolamo, son of A.P. Indy and Get Lucky. Girolamo won the G1 Vosburgh Stakes and has produced 8 or more graded stakes winners in his 1st crop of 3 year-olds.
Next, Street Boss was having a snack. He was produced by Street Cry and Blushing Ogygian. Street Boss was a multiple graded stakes winner himself as are his offspring, such as Cathryn Sophia.
Hard Spun was there too. He is the offspring of Danzig and Turkish Tryst. Hard Spun ran 2nd in the KY Derby, 3d in the Belmont Stakes and 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a 3 year-old. He is a multiple graded stakes winner. He sired Wicked Strong and several other G1 winners.
Then I saw Street Sense. He won the BC Juvenile, the KY Derby, the Travers Stakes, the Jim Dandy Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby. He is also a son of Street Cry. His dam is Bedazzle. Street Sense has sired several G1 winners.
Midshipman, was at home. He won an Eclipse award for 2 year-old champion. He was the winner of the BC Juvenile and the G1 Del Mar Futurity. He was produced by Unbridled’s Song and Fleet Lady. Midshipman is the sire to Lady Shipman and many graded stakes winners.
There too, was Elusive Quality. He was born to Gone West and Touch of Greatness. Elusive Quality was a graded stakes winner in his youth. As a sire he has produced many champions including Smarty Jones who won both the KY Derby and Preakness.
Additionally, I met up with Nyquist, once again. I saw him several times when he won the BC Juvenile and was living at Keeneland. He won the KY Derby, the Florida Derby and the San Vincente Stakes last year. He is sired by Uncle Mo. His dam is Seeking Gabrielle. This will be his first season as a stallion.
Furthermore, Animal Kingdom was in his stall. He is the son of Leroidesanimaux and Dalicia. Animal Kingdom won the KY Derby and the Dubai World Cup. His first crop was foaled in 2015. There are great expectations.
Making faces, was Medaglia d’ Oro. El Prado and Cappucino Bay’s son was 1st or 2nd in ten G1 and G2 stakes. He has produced many graded stakes winners such as Violence, Songbird and Rachel Alexandra.
Finally, I got to watch Holy Bull root around looking for a snack and soon after he got a nice meal. At 26 years young he is retired from stud but still thriving in the lap of luxury. He is the grey beauty of Great Above and Sharon Brown. Holy Bull was Eclipse Horse of the Year in 1994. He won the Eclipse 3 Year-Old Colt award in 1993. Holy Bull was inducted in the the Hall of Fame in 2001. He has a race named for him, the Holy Bull Stakes, that takes place at Gulfstream Park annually and awards KY Derby points. He sired several great Thoroughbreds including Macho Uno and Giacomo.
Godolphin is a huge sucess in the Thoroughbred industry. One of the very few things they haven’t pulled off yet is to race their own Kentucky Derby winner. Could this be their year? Yes, it very well may be. On the Road to the Kentucky Derby there is another international trip, the UAE Derby. Godolphin will likely race both Thunder Snow and Capezzano there. The race awards 100-40-20-10 points to the 1st four finishers. That’s a berth to the KY Derby for a first place finish. The race is on 3/25/17, stay with me.
If you are thinking of vacationing in Lexington, KY try to squeeze in a visit to Darley at Jonabell. Take the opportunity to be dazzled by Darley. For the trips you can’t make, I plan to keep sharing my adventures with you. Please, keep in touch.
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