Keeneland Sale Continues on Par With 2015
Buyers with unfilled orders continued to shop the Keeneland September yearling sale during the Sept. 24 penultimate session as numbers for the marathon auction are nearly identical to 2015.
First Defence
- Bay Colt
- Born 2004
Alex Evers/Adam Coglianese
First Defence
Coglianese Photos
First Defence
Skip Dickstein
First Defence with jockey Channing Hill up overwhelmed a large field to win the 29th running of The Forego at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York August 30, 2008.
Skip Dickstein
First Defence with jockey Channing Hill up overwhelmed a large field to win the 29th running of The Forego at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York August 30, 2008.
Coglianese Photos
First Defence wins the Forego.
Coglianese Photos
First Defence holds off Salute the Count to take the Jaipur (gr. IIIT).
- News
- Profile
First Defence, United States to Saudi Arabia
Grade I winner First Defence, sire of multiple grade I winner and champion Close Hatches, will stand at Haif Stud alongside United States.
Irish Jasper Draws Away in Victory Ride
Derek Ryan's Irish Jasper continued a three-race win streak and earned her second grade III in a row July 4, closing with a wide rally and drawing away in the $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park.
Juvenile Catalina Red Sets Tampa Track Mark
Two-year-old Catalina Red set a track record at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 27 when he won the $65,000 Pasco Stakes by a neck over X Y Jet as the 3-5 favorite.
Sister to Midday Tops Tattersalls Session
Posset, full sister to the multiple group I winner Midday, was the highlight of the third day of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale when selling for 625,000 guineas ($1,031,250 in U.S. funds) Dec. 3.
Juddmonte Announces 2015 Fees
Juddmonte Farms announced their stud fees for the 2015 breeding season for their North American stallion Mizzen Mast and First Defence.
Close Hatches, Untapable Take Aim at Distaff
After finishing fourth as the favorite in the Spinster Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches will try to bounce back in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
Don't Tell Sophia to Work at Keeneland for BC
Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) winner Don't Tell Sophia will prepare at Keeneland for her planned start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Close Hatches Dominates Personal Ensign
Close Hatches took command on the opening turn and never looked back in the $500,0000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I), romping over a muddy track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 22 for her third grade I triumph in a row.
Close Hatches Secures Apple Blossom Victory
Defeating four older fillies and mares, Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches secured her third grade I with a front-running performance in the $588,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 11 at Oaklawn Park.
Close Hatches Proves Class in Azeri Stakes
Favored at odds of 3-5 and making her first start of the season, Juddmonte's 4-year-old First Defence filly galloped wire to wire in the 1 1/16-mile test, taking rider Joel Rosario straight to the winner's circle March 15.
Fee Increases for Mizzen Mast, First Defence
Juddmonte Farm announced Nov.11 that Mizzen Mast will stand for $20,000 in 2014 and First Defence will have a stud fee of $15,000.
Second Straight Grade I Win for Close Hatches
Close Hatches secured a second straight grade I victory Sept. 21 when she passed Test Stakes (gr. I) winner Sweet Lulu turning for home and held off all challengers in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (gr. I).
Sales Remain Strong Into Keeneland Session 11
The ceiling for top prices dropped as Keeneland's September yearling sale ended its penultimate session Sept. 20, but overall figures for the 12-day auction stayed on course to beat last year's returns.
Close Hatches Makes First Defence
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Leading commercial sire Unbridled's Song is still looking for his true heir as a stallion, and he may have found it in First Defence.
Close Hatches Gets Golden Egg in Mother Goose
Close Hatches became Juddmonte Farms' newest grade I winner when she captured the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) June 22 at Belmont Park, leaving heavily favored Dreaming of Julia behind on the turn and cruising home.
Juddmonte Announces Select Stock Dispersal
Khalid Abdullah plans to disperse part of his global Juddmonte equine operation, the organization's chief executive confirmed.
Eye-Catching Move for Filly Close Hatches
Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches drills a half-mile in :47 2/5 in advance of the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). The daughter of First Defence is unbeaten in three starts, all this year.
Close Hatches Gets Determined Gazelle Score
Close Hatches led at every pole, repelled Princess of Sylmar in deep stretch, and drew away to keep her unbeaten record intact, registering her first stakes score in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. II) April 6 at Aqueduct.
Mizzen Mast's Fee Raised to $15,000
Mizzen Mast, the sole stallion to sire as many as two Breeders' Cup winners this year, will stand in 2013 for $15,000, up from $12,500 in 2012.
Yes It's True Colt Tops Keeneland Session
A Yes It's True colt purchased by California trainer James Kasparoff for $220,000 topped the Sept. 19 ninth session of the Keeneland September yearling sale that continued to show strength entering the home stretch.
First Defence's First Winner Scores by 12
First Defence's initial winner, 2-year-old Dundonnell, romped by 12 lengths at Lingfield in England Aug. 4.
Royal Delta is Evidence of a Powerful Cross
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The feeling that Empire Maker's move to Japan was a significant loss for U.S. breeders, especially as an excellent cross for A.P. Indy, was reinforced when Royal Delta won the Alabama.
Mizzen Mast to Stand for $12,500 at Juddmonte
Mizzen Mast, sire of 21 stakes winners, will stand in 2011 for $12,500 at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms near Lexington.
Empire Maker's 2009 Fee Reduced
Empire Maker, who stands at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms near Lexington, has had his 2009 fee reduced from a previously announced fee of $100,000 to $75,000.
Empire Maker Remains at $100,000
Empire Maker, 12th on this year's leading second-crop sires list by progeny earnings, will stand once again for $100,000 at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms.
First Defence to Stand at Juddmonte
Forego Handicap (gr. I) winner First Defence will stand the 2009 breeding season at Juddmonte Farms near Lexington for a stud fee of $20,000 live foal, the farm announced Oct. 31.
BC Sprint Choices Draw Inside
Cost of Freedom and Street Boss drew posts 1 and 2, respectively, for the Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). The pair had finished one-two in the Sept. 27 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) over the same Pro-Ride synthetic surface they will be competing on in the Oct. 25 Sprint.
Sprint: Double Time
Trainer Bob Baffert will be trying to accomplish something in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) never done before-win the race twice with the same horse.
Dirt Mile: Pool Party
This year the Breeders' Cup World Championships has expanded to 14 races. Trainer Eoin Harty was hoping for a 15th event, for swimming, not running.
Talent Abounds in Loaded Vosburgh
A star-studded cast of seven talented sprinters led by grade I winners Fabulous Strike and First Defence will do battle in the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.
HRTV: Pursuit of the Cup Sept 5 (Video)
HRTV's weekly series analyzing each division of the Breeders' Cup. This episode includes an analysis of the Woodward, a review of the Juveniles, a preview of the Ruffian and much, much more.
First Defence Honing His Natural Speed
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
First Defence is one of those horses whose pedigrees scream speed. The son of Unbridled's Song began displaying that potential with a 6 3/4-length romp in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 30. After surviving an early speed duel with opening fractions of :22.53 and :44.61, he pulled away in the stretch to win in a final time of 1:21.55.
First Defence Romps in Forego
Juddmonte Farms' homebred First Defence took over at the three-eighths pole and never looked back, the son of Unbridled's Song eventually romping to a decisive 6 3/4-length victory in the $250,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 30 at Saratoga. It was his first graded stakes win on the dirt and first triumph in four starts the Spa.
Lucky Island One to Beat in Forego
With the surprising retirement of Benny the Bull and the disappointing effort by Midnight Lute last weekend, all of a sudden the sprint division has become wide open. Should he claim victory in the $250,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 30 at Saratoga, Shadwell Stable's Lucky Island could catapult himself into the upper echelon of those ranks.
Frankel Impressed with Ginger Punch
Hall of Fame trainer Robert Frankel was still amazed with the way Ginger Punch managed to defend her Go for Wand Handicap (gr. I) July 26 at Saratoga title by muscling her way between horses after being boxed in at the top of the stretch.
Abraaj Breaks Through in Vanderbilt
Favored Abraaj, under a vigorous ride from Alan Garcia, earned his first stakes victory when he rallied from far off the pace to win the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga July 26.
Vanderbilt Big Test for Bustin Stones
Although slowed by a fever that knocked him out of the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), undefeated Bustin Stones should be ready for a top effort in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga July 26, trainer Bruce Levine says.
Giant Gizmo Sidelined With Fracture
Stronach Stables' Giant Gizmo, winner of his last three starts, will be sidelined for the remainder of the year with a non-displaced condylar fracture in his right front leg, trainer Bobby Frankel said July 22.
First Defence Doesn't Bend in Jaipur
First Defence made his initial effort on grass a winning one for trainer Bobby Frankel and became a graded stakes winner in the process, just holding on by a head to capture the $162,966 Jaipur (gr. III) on Belmont Park's yielding course June 15.
Jaipur: 10 Seek First Graded Stakes Win
A well-matched group of turf sprinters will each seek their first graded stakes score June 15 at Belmont Park, as 10 go to post in the $150,000 Jaipur Stakes (gr. IIIT). The six-furlong contest will be held on the inner turf.
Ginger Punch Works at Belmont
Ginger Punch, last year's champion older female, had her first work since winning the Louisville Stakes (gr.II) on the morning of May 16 at Belmont Park.
Fabulous Strike Destroys Vosburgh Field
The $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) was billed as the return of multiple graded stakes winner Discreet Cat. Instead, it became Fabulous Strike's coming out party.
Vosburgh: Discreet Cat on Comeback Trail Again
The spectacular Sept. 30 card at Belmont Park includes four Grade I events, each with Breeders' Cup implications. One of the more anticipated is the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I), which includes the return of 4-year-old superstar Discreet Cat, who will be making his first start in nearly six months.
Lawyer Ron Works at Belmont
Lawyer Ron, winner of the Whitney (gr. I) and Woodward (gr. I) in his last two starts at Saratoga, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds over Belmont Park's main track Sept. 17.
Hard Spun Fights Back, Wins King's Bishop
Heavily favored Hard Spun, a colt who has made all the major dances for trainer Larry Jones this season, earned his elusive first grade I victory when he turned back a serious challenge from First Defence in the $250,000 King's Bishop (gr. I) for 3-year-olds at Saratoga Aug. 25.
First Defence Leads Every Step in Long Branch Romp
Juddmonte Farms' First Defence punched his ticket for the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Saturday, leading every step to win the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup for 3-year-olds by 2 1/4 lengths at Monmouth Park.
First Defence on Offense in Monmouth's Long Branch Stakes
- By Claire Novak
First Defence will tackle the field when six horses go postward in Saturday's Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Long Branch Big Step for Frankel's First Defence
Juddmonte Farms homebred First Defence, a late-developing 3-year-old who was not ready for this year's Triple Crown events, steps it up Saturday for trainer Bobby Frankel in the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup, Monmouth's local prep for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 5.
Nobiz Like Shobiz Likely Choice in Dwyer
Rested since his 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Sponsored by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Elizabeth Valando's Nobiz Like Shobiz will likely be the favorite anyway in the $150,000 Dwyer (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park Wednesday.
Connections
| Trainer | Robert J. Frankel |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Javier Castellano |
| Owner | Juddmonte Farms |
| Breeder | Juddmonte Farms Inc |
Pedigree
| First Defence View Five-Cross Pedigree | Unbridled's Song | Unbridled |
| Trolley Song | ||
| Honest Lady | Seattle Slew | |
| Toussaud |
Auction History
No auction history found.
Search Horses
Trending Horses
| Beholder |
| Tepin |
| Songbird |
| Nyquist |
| Exaggerator |
| Arrogate |
| Frosted |
| Dacita (CHI) |
| Cathryn Sophia |
| Rainha Da Bateria |
