As the Road to the Kentucky Derby winds its way through Europe this week I’m taking a moment to evaluate the top of the leaderboard to look for patterns and new talent. I must say, I am overjoyed to have trainer D. Wayne Lukas, with Bravazo and Sporting Chance, back in the running. Also, I am struck by the presence of second-crop sires Poseidon’s Warrior, Violence and Graydar. It is refreshing to see the new breath of young sire power blowing into Thoroughbred racing. Graydar is the leading second-crop sire in North America by winners. Watch out for his offspring in the Kentucky Derby and other Classic races.
Thoroughbred U strives to be clear and educational so let me make the awesomeness of Graydar easy to understand. Graydar was foaled May 16, 2009. His sire was Unbridled’s Song and his dam was Sweetest Smile. Graydar is a Kentucky bred grey Thoroughbred. He is a champion, though his racing career was brief. He won 5 of his 6 lifetime starts, in 2012 and 2013. He finished first place in all three of his graded stakes races, the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, the G2 New Orleans Handicap and the G2 Kelso Handicap.
When Graydar sustained a mild injury, a quarter crack in his left front hoof, he needed a break from racing. He was simply too valuable to Taylor Made Farm to return to racing. His father, Unbridled’s Song, died at age 20 due to an inoperable mass in the summer of 2013. Unbridled’s Song was a favorite stud at Taylor Made. The farm longed to have his most promising son to carry on his father’s lineage. Graydar retired from racing and moved home to Taylor Made that same Fall.
Graydar got to work in the breeding shed and his first foals, called his first crop – he sired 92 named foals, were born in 2015. His first runners hit the track in 2017. 45 raced and 14 won leading up to 11/5/17. Graydar was a top 10 first-crop sire by winners in 2017.
Graydar’s largest and best crop are currently 2 year-olds per his stallion overview. He has bred 440 mares to date over the course of 4 books (that is 4 breeding seasons). Be on the lookout for his sire power in the races and at the sales. I am expecting big things this year as his 2 and 3 year-olds stun us at the track. That is why when you are thinking Kentucky Derby you best look out for Lombo!
Lombo is Graydar’s groundbreaker, his first foal to win a graded stakes race, his first foal on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and he is grey like his papa. Thoroughbreds in the KY Derby are required to be 3 years-old. This year is the first chance that several of the sires (second-crop sires) will be represented with KY Derby contenders. I love this as it adds to the mystery. Only time will tell who is the best stallion of the 2018 Triple Crown and Classics season.
It will be interesting to see what European racing adds to the leaderboard as this week progresses. The Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park and the Patton at Dundalk take place in Europe on 3/1 and 3/2/18 respectively. This weekend’s preps end back in the U.S. with the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 3/3/18. There aren’t any Graydar sired contenders in this week’s KY Derby prep races but he does have his offspring Porta Liza, The Italian and All Net entered on Thursday and Toothpic on Friday at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park tracks. Watch for winners with Graydar and check back for more Thoroughbred action and adventure here at Thoroughbred U!
