Following the record-breaking success of grade I winner and last year's leading New York freshman sire Frost Giant , a group including that stallion's principal owner will stand his full brother, the versatile graded stakes-placed Heavy Breathing, in New York for the 2014 season.
"With Frost Giant's continuing success, including recent stakes winners West Hills Giant and Frosty Bay, we decided to bring Heavy Breathing to New York and hope he will offer another great opportunity for New York breeders who have supported Frost Giant and helped make him such a success," said co-owner Andrew Cohen.
Heavy Breathing will stand at Dutchess Views Farm near Pine Plains, N.Y., for a partnership involving Cohen's Sunset Stables, Gary Tolchin's Golden Goose Enterprises, and Well Found Management. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
A 4-year-old son of Giant's Causeway out of the Gone West mare Takesmybreathaway, Heavy Breathing won his first two starts impressively for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Starlight Racing. He began his career in February 2012 with a 7 3/4-length romp over 7 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream Park and about a month later drew away to a 4 1/4-length victory at Gulfstream in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race.
Switched tothe synthetic surface at Turfway Park, Heavy Breathing ran third in the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III). He just missed by a neck when second in the Lamplighter Stakes on turf at Monmouth Park.
"A very attractive individual, Heavy Breathing showed great promise with his ability over a variety of distances and track surfaces," Pletcher said.
"We are hoping Heavy Breathing will follow in the huge steps of his sire, Giant's Causeway, and his success in New York that started with his full brother, leading sire Freud , and is continuing strongly with leading freshman sire Frost Giant," said Eric Bishop, manager of Sunset Stables. "Our goal is for Frost Giant and Heavy Breathing to achieve the same level of success."
From one of the most prolific female families in North America, Heavy Breathing and Frost Giant are out of a three-quarter sister to Mutakddim, sire of over 100 stakes winners. They also hail from the family of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Super Saver , champion Rhythm, influential sires Private Account and Not For Love, and grade I winners Bluegrass Cat and Girolamo .
Frost Giant has proven to be a success, leading all North American freshman sires last year in percentage of winners from starters with 80%, and in percentage of stakes horses from runners, with 26.6%.
With only 15 starters in 2012, Frost Giant's progeny—including champion New York-bred filly Kelli Got Frosty—set a New York record for freshman sire progeny earnings, and his book was full this season with more than 135 mares. Frost Giant stands at Keane Stud near Amenia, N.Y., and currently ranks among North America's leading second-crop sires with progeny earnings of more than $747,700.
