The 2016 breeding season brings challenges for stallion owners and breeders: more expensive stud fees for top-tier stallions, fierce competition for mares, and the stock market suffering a worst-ever start to a new year.
Bloodstock agent Julio Rada and his Platinum Bloodstock agency clients have been moving the needle in this season's yearling market, part of a strong South American contingent of buyers influencing North American sales.
Grade III winner and classic-placed Medal Count, a son of Dynaformer, has been retired and will stand stud in 2016 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington as the newest participant in the farm's Share The Upside Program.
Three who hit the board in the May 30 Opening Verse Stakes will come back to face off again, except the victorious The Pizza Man, in the $200,000 Firecracker Stakes (gr. IIT) June 27 at Churchill Downs.
Terry Hamilton's Heart to Heart put together a three-race win streak and collected his second straight grade III victory Nov. 15 when he wired a field of 12 sophomores in the $115,300 Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill.
The Brian Lynch trainee has won two in a row and comes into the Nov. 15 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) well rested after his wire-to-wire victory in the Jefferson Cup (gr. IIIT).
Aptly named Lawn Ranger raced into Breeders' Cup contention when he surged to the lead at the top of the stretch and drove relentlessly to the wire to win the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland Oct. 5.
Main Sequence, Imagining, and Twilight Eclipse -- the top three finishers from the last month's Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga -- will face off again Sept. 27 in the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT)
After being overmatched in last month's Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT), Divine Oath found himself back in the winner's circle when he held off Bashart to take the $150,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park.
Let's Go Stable's Divine Oath looks to get back on track Sept. 20 in the $150,000 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park, coming off a sixth-place finish in the Aug. 16 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International.
Pacesetter My Afleet ran the race of his life Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs as he denied highly regarded Medal Count in a thrilling finish to the $250,000 Dueling Grounds Derby on the turf at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6.
Tom LaMarra and Frank Angst handicap the $400,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. watch video
Spendthrift Farm's Medal Count, a close third in this year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and one-for-one on turf, will return to the grass Sept. 6 for the inaugural $250,000 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs.
After acing his graded stakes debut Aug. 8 with a 23-1 upset of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga, Wallyanna looks to continue his success Sept. 1 in the Saranac (gr. IIIT).
The first runners broken and trained last year at Gelfenstein Farm have shipped to South Florida and are in training with Antonio Sano.
Closing in on the 47th running of the William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I), Medal Count put in another solid breeze at Churchill Downs July 19.
The common link between this year's Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and third-place finisher Medal Count is His Majesty.
Relive Tonalist's victory in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. See where your favorite horse was at seven points of the race with our interactive slideshow. view slideshow
Relive Tonalist's victory in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. See where your favorite horse was at seven points of the race with our interactive slideshow.
View the dramatic images during the unfolding of the 2014 Belmont Stakes. view slideshow
Robert Evan's Tonalist rallied late to edge Commissioner to win the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). California Chrome, bidding for the Triple Crown, finished in a dead-heat with Wicked Strong for fourth behind Medal Count.
Images from the weeks leading up to the Belmont Stakes. View Slideshow
Trainer Dale Romans, on Medal Count's Belmont bid in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. Watch Video
Everything seemed to sparkle and shine Friday morning. read blog
Son of Dynaformer may be pointed to turf by his connections in the future, but a big run in the Belmont Stakes June 7 guarantees Medal Count will be given every opportunity to excel on dirt for the remainder of this season.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| All Cash | D. Wayne Lukas |
|
| Bashart | Michael R. Matz |
|
| Boji Moon | Chris Richard |
|
| Bon Accord | Antonio Sano |
|
| Culprit | Nicholas Esler |
|
| Manaus | Eduardo Caramori |
|
| Medal Count | Dale L. Romans |
|
| Oogeley Eye | Marya K. Montoya |
|
| Poker Player | Wayne M. Catalano |
|
| School On a Hill | Wayne M. Catalano |
|
| Solar Flair | James P. DiVito |
|
| Tiger Bourbon | Eddie Kenneally |
|
| Whyruawesome | Conor Murphy |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Eddie D S. (gr. III) | SA | |
| Eddie D S. (gr. III) | SA | |
| Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. (gr. IT) | BEL | |
| Gallant Bloom H. (gr. II) | BEL | |
| Pilgrim S. (gr. III) | BEL |
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