Vinery Stables is looking to score a progeny/sire double in the Oct. 27 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) with Kodiak Kowboy, a son of freshman sire Posse, who stands at the Lexington farm.
“We are thrilled,” said Tom Ludt, general manager of Vinery. “(Posse) is stamping them just like him.”
In his last race, Kodiak Kowboy finished second to Tale of Ekati in the Sept. 15 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park. He comes into the Juvenile sporting victories in the June 17 Victoria, July 7 Bashford Manor (gr. III), and Aug. 16 Saratoga Special (gr. II) Stakes.
Steve Asmussen trains the bay colt, who runs in the name of Tom Simon’s Vinery Stables and Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. Vinery Stables purchased the colt for $70,000 at the 2006 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. August yearling sale from Burleson Farms, agent.
Following his victory in the Bashford Manor, a half-interest was sold to Fox Hill Farm. Porter also owns Hard Spun, a favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
“He has a very good personality,” Ludt said of Kodiak Kowboy, who was bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm. “That is what is so great about him. It makes him a whole lot easier to train.”
Vinery considered entering two sons of Posse in the Juvenile but opted to run Lantana Mob in the Favorite Trick Breeders’ Cup Stakes on the Oct. 26 Breeders’ Cup World Championships undercard.
Asmussen also trains Lantana Mob, who finished fourth in the Oct. 6 Champagne Stakes (gr. I). The colt has two victories at Monmouth: the July 28 Tyro Stakes and Sept. 2 Sapling Stakes (gr. III).
“Obviously, Lantana Mob has run here twice and won, so we are happy with him (in the Favorite Trick),” Ludt said. “Our whole racing program is supporting our stallions, so instead of running them against each other, we are trying to hopefully pick up two checks.”
Lantana Mob finished third in the Favorite Trick.