Afleet Alex, winning the Belmont, is going to stud at Gainesway Farm.
Cash is King Stable, Jess Jackson, and Gainesway Farm have announced that dual classic winner Afleet Alex will enter stud for $40,000 at Gainesway near Lexington. "Having Afleet Alex stand at Gainesway is one of the most exciting moments in our 18 years of owning Gainesway," says president Antony Beck. "There's already a huge buzz at the farm."Afleet Alex burst onto the national scene with one of the most dramatic performances in racing history. He was knocked to his knees at the top of the stretch in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and recovered to win by 4 3/4 lengths."That day he did something champions do," trainer Tim Ritchey said. "I've never seen a horse stumble that badly, lose his momentum that much, and come back and win in a grade I race."Bred by John Martin Silvertand, Afleet Alex is credited with eight wins in 12 starts and earnings of $2,765,800 for Cash is King. He won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by seven lengths and finished a close third in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). He earlier took the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) by a record eight lengths.At two, Afleet Alex captured the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) and set a stakes record 1:09.32 for six furlongs in the Sanford Stakes (gr. II). He also finished second in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the Champagne Stakes (gr. I).Afleet Alex is by Northern Afleet and is out of Maggy Hawk (by Hawkster). His second dam, Qualique, was a grade I winner at two in New York.Jess Jackson of Stonestreet has long been a fan of Afleet Alex. "After viewing his first two races, it was clear to me that Afleet Alex had the brilliant speed and competitive desire of a true athlete," he said. "Realizing his potential as a champion and his likely value as a stallion, I tried to purchase him even then. Gainesway is the perfect farm to prove his value as a sire. He gets my vote for Horse of the Year, even athlete of the year".Cash is King's managing partner Chuck Zacney spoke of the long and extensive search for the site of the next phase of Afleet Alex's career. "After meeting with Gainesway they quickly became our number one choice," he said. "They have a great reputation, a passion for the game, and really believe in Afleet Alex."
