Drill, who defeated American Act by a nose in the Feb. 19 San Vincente Stakes (gr. II), was a high-energy horse with a lot of potential even as a yearling.
“I have a really sharp memory of Drill,” said Meg Levy of Kentucky-based Bluewater Sales. “When we had him at our farm, every time we turned him out in the evenings he was such a beautiful mover and he would just run and run and run. I always would watch him and think, ‘Jeez, this is a really nice horse.’ ”
Stonewall Farm Stallions bred 3-year-old Drill in Kentucky. In 2010, when the dark bay or brown colt was a yearling, a judge ruled that Bluewater would act as a receiver and take possession of and sell more than 130 horses owned by Stonewall and related entities. The action was the result of a lawsuit filed by Fifth Third Bank against Stonewall, alleging that it owed more than $14.8 million on defaulted loans.
After taking over the care of Drill following the May ruling, Bluewater consigned the colt later that year to the Keeneland September yearling auction.
“He was a gorgeous horse at the sale--really, really handsome,” Levy said. “He was just really well-balanced with a great hip, a beautiful hind leg, and a long neck, He had a super walk. He attracted a lot of interest; he was probably vetted 10 or 11 times. All the Stonewall horses were sold without reserve and there were a lot of people bidding on him.”
Drill brought $300,000, going to Mourning Wood. The colt races for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. He is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who acted on their behalf in acquiring the runner in the Mourning Wood name.
Just prior to Drill being sold, “I was talking to Bob in the back (walking) ring at Keeneland,” Levy said. “Bob tends to kind hook onto horses and really watch them carefully. I said, ‘Bob, I’m not trying to push this horse on you, but I’m telling you he’s the most gorgeous mover that I’ve ever seen and he has so much energy.’ It’s really cool to read now that Bob says the same thing about him, that he has so much energy. He also says he (Drill) really has a lot of presence.”
Out of the Storm Cat mare Cat Dancer, Drill is by Lawyer Ron, who was euthanized at the age of 6 in 2009 because of complications from colic surgery. The stallion, who was 2007’s champion older male, has been represented by four stakes winners so far. In addition to Drill they are Adirondack King, Talk to My Lawyer, and With Council.
Bluewater Sales, as agent, sold Adirondack King for $55,000 to Lionheart Stables at the 2010 Keeneland September sale. Winner of the Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes in 2011, 3-year-old Adirondack King finished third in a division of the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 20 and also was third in the Pasco Stakes this year. He was bred by Stonewall Farm Stallions in Kentucky.
Drill and Adirondack King are both Triple Crown nominees.
“The saddest thing is that Lawyer Ron isn’t around anymore because he seems to have some really good horses out there,” Levy said.
On Feb. 11, another Stonewall Farm Stallions-bred horse, Thunder Moccasin, captured the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II). The son of A. P. Warrior is a Triple Crown nominee.
“That says a lot for Stonewall’s breeding program,” Levy said. “It’s amazing how many of their horses have come out and run well. They’re popping up left and right.”
