Descending from a family steeped in black-type, it came as no surprise when Court Vision skyrocketed in status, advancing from maiden winner to graded stakes victor in just his third start. Under Julien Leparoux, the juvenile son of Gulch rallied from eighth to prevail by a half-length in the Oct. 28 Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm, Court Vision is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish and Jeanie Kilroy’s Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership, the colt was first bought for $180,000 by Whitehorse Stables at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale from Lane’s End, agent.

This year, the dark bay or brown colt was acquired for $350,000 by Las Olas Racing at the Fasig-Tipton Florida March 2-year-old sale from Scanlon Training Center, agent.

Court Vision was produced from the Storm Bird mare Weekend Storm, who is a full or half-sister to four stakes winners, the most well-known of which are A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.

A.P. Indy (by Seattle Slew) retired with earnings of more than $2.9 million. He won the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic (both gr. I) en route to being named 1992 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male. He stood the 2007 season at Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky., where he is a two-time leading sire.

Summer Squall, who scored his big win in the 1990 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), also retired a millionaire.

Weekend Storm, a daughter of 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (by Secretariat), also hails from the line of champion older horse and sire Lemon Drop Kid.

Three of Weekend Storm’s offspring have brought more than $775,000 at auction, including her first foal, Kipling, who fetched a bid of $1.4 million at the 1997 Fasig-Tipton New York August select yearling sale. Consigned by Lane’s End, agent, the full brother of Court Vision was bought by Demi O’Byrne. Retiring from racing a $100,000-plus earner, he sired NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Kip Deville.

Weekend Storm is also the dam of Hong Kong group winner Garcia Marquez, who is also a full brother to Court Vision; and stakes-placed City Weekend (by Carson City).

Weekend Storm has a yearling Smart Strike filly, who brought $350,000 at this year’s Keeneland September sale. She produced a City Zip colt May 9. Kept at Lane’s End, Weekend Storm was not bred this year.

Gulch is the sire of 66 stakes winners, including other 2007 added-money winners Cantrel, Shampoo, Ten a Penny, Hard Warrior (in Austria), and Ivy Creek (in England). Gulch stood the 2007 season for $30,000 at Lane’s End.—E.M.