Hall of Fame trainer Phil "P.G." Johnson's 5-year-old multi-millionaire Volponi will enter stud at Rick and Liz Trontz' Hopewell Farm near Midway, Ky., in 2004. Volponi's four graded stakes wins include the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) by a record margin of 6 1/2 lengths. Johnson bred Volponi in the name of his family's Amherst Stable and raced him in partnership with Edward Baier's Spruce Pond Stable. Volponi won or placed 24 times in 31 career starts for earnings of nearly $3.2 million. Volponi is by 1987 Florida Derby and 1989 Donn Handicap winner
Cryptoclearance, a $190,000 yearling by Fappiano out of the Hoist the Flag mare, Naval Orange. Cryptoclearance has sired 34 stakes winners in 11 crops of racing age, including 1999 Champion older male Victory Gallop. Volponi's dam is 11-year-old Prom Knight, by 1987 Irish Derby winner Sir Harry Lewis.
Volponi, center, winning the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic.
