Manzotti, a graded stakes winner and a successful Texas stallion, was found dead April 12 in a field at John Goodman’s Brookshire Farm near Brookshire, Texas. Manzotti, who spent his retirement years at the farm, was 28.
Sired by Nijinsky II, Manzotti raced for Goodman’s father, Harold Goodman. Racing in the name Brazos Thoroughbred Unit, Manzotti set a track record in the 1988 John B. Campbell Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico and also won that year’s Canterbury Cup Handicap (gr. III) and the Trenton Handicap (gr. III). Manzotti placed in five graded stakes during his career and was retired with earnings of $457,017. He was trained by Mike Stidham.
Manzotti stood at stud at Brazos Thoroughbred Farm in Texas and at William S. Farish’s farm near Hempstead, Texas. Manzotti’s best runner, grade I winner Two Altazano, was one of the top 3-year-old fillies of 1994. A homebred for Harold Goodman, Two Altazano won six stakes that year, including the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), the Fantasy Stakes (gr. II), and the Monmouth Oaks (gr. II),
Manzotti is represented by 27 stakes horses, 16 of which are stakes winners, including three other graded winners. His runners have earned more than $7.9 million.
Manzotti was bred in Virginia by The Anne M. Stone 1983 Trust and was produced from the graded stakes-placed Tom Rolfe mare Shufleur, whose descendants also include 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Spain. Manzotti’s second dam is a full sister to two-time champion distaffer Shuvee.
According to Barbara Kvalsvig, wife of Brookshire farm manager Wayne Kvalsvig, some of Manzotti’s offspring have become successful polo ponies.
