History repeated itself in a big way for Frank Stronach. For the second time in his career, the Austrian native earned an Eclipse Award as both outstanding breeder and top owner in the same year. In 2008, his Adena Springs was named best breeder, and his Stronach Stables was chosen top owner.
Stronach, who won both titles in 2000, had some big numbers working in his favor in 2008. There were 573 starters representing Adena Springs as breeder alone or in partnership. Those runners, of which 25 were stakes winners, made 3,679 starts, won 604 races, placed in 1,032 others, and earned $19,247,705. Not bad, considering only one of those starters was bred in partnership.
Finishing second by breeders’ earnings was Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable, with $8,521,912, followed by Central Kentucky owner/breeder William S. Farish, with $6,950,184. Stonerside was an Eclipse Award finalist as leading breeder, as was Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm.
In Eclipse Award balloting for leading owner, Stronach Stables outpointed IEAH Stables (Michael Iavarone, co-president).
Frank Stronach, either in his name or in the Adena Springs name, has won a record six Eclipse Awards as outstanding breeder. The next closest is the four won by Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms. Stronach has earned four Eclipse Awards as top owner, either in his name or in the name of Stronach Stables, which ties him with John Franks.
Adena Springs was represented by nine homebred stakes winners, including graded winners Ginger Punch, Giant Gizmo, Harlem Rocker, Spring Waltz, and Sugar Swirl.
Ginger Punch, the 2007 Eclipse Award-winning older female and a 2008 finalist in that division, won five stakes in 2008, including the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) and the Go for Wand (gr. I) and Ogden Phipps (gr. I) Handicaps. Her other stakes wins came in the Louisville Stakes (gr. II) and the restricted Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes.
In a way, Ginger Punch is more than just a homebred. She is by Awesome Again , who stands at Adena Springs near Paris, Ky.
Stronach also stands stallions at his Adena Springs South near Williston, Fla. In Canada, where Stronach resides, he owns Adena Springs near Aurora, Ontario.
Harlem Rocker was not only a graded stakes winner in New York, but also a classic winner in Canada. He won the Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, plus the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie as a Stronach Stables lessee. His sire, Macho Uno, stands at Adena Springs near Paris.
The year 2008 also was good for Frank Stronach in Canada. Adena Springs was voted a Sovereign Award as outstanding breeder.
Stronach Stables picked up three Sovereigns. Fatal Bullet was chosen Horse of the Year and top sprinter, and homebred Ginger Brew was voted best 3-year-old filly. The latter, by Adena Springs stallion Milwaukee Brew, scored her biggest win in the classic Woodbine Oaks.
Fatal Bullet, by Adena Springs South stallion Red Bullet, won three stakes in 2008. He ended the year with a runner-up effort in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I).