By Justina Severni
'TDN Rising Star' and Classic winner Tonalist (Tapit–Settling Mist, by Pleasant Colony) has been retired from racing and will stand the 2016 season at Lane's End Farm for $40,000.
“Tapit is the most important stallion in America and Tonalist is his best son” said Lane's End's Will Farish. “Tonalist is his only Grade I winning son at a mile and a quarter, from a tremendous female family. He's exactly the kind of stallion we want to stand. We're in the business of classic Thoroughbreds and he certainly fits our program. A.P. Indy, Lemon Drop Kid, Union Rags won races like the Belmont and [Jockey Club] Gold Cup and we are confident Tonalist will continue that success.”
Tonalist, one of the most consistent horses of his generation, finished in the trifecta in 13 of his 16 career starts for owner Robert S. Evans and trainer Christophe Clement. He earned 'Rising Star' status after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream in his first start as a sophomore (click here for In Sharper Focus) and earned his initial graded score in Belmont's GII Peter Pan S. before pulling off the 9-1 upset to upend California Chrome's Triple Crown bid in the GI Belmont S., giving Clement his first Grade I win on dirt (video). Second in the GII Jim Dandy S. and third in the GI Travers S., the Evans colorbearer annexed the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup (video) before wrapping up his 3-year-old season with a fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The bay kicked off his 4-year-old season with a dazzling GIII Westchester S. win (video) and valiant runner-up efforts in the GI Metropolitan H. and GII Suburban H. Tonalist was third in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga behind Honor Code (A.P. Indy) andLiam's Map (Unbridled's Song)–who he will join on the Lane's End stallion roster–and returned to Elmont to defend his Jockey Club Gold Cup title in style (video). Fifth again in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, he capped off his career with a gutsy victory in the GI Cigar Mile H. (video).
“I want to thank Christophe Clement and his team for their great work,” said owner Shel Evans. “This horse retired sound and only ran on Lasix. What he's been able to accomplish is a great testament to the horsemanship of Christophe. I'm very excited to partner with Lane's End on the next stage of this horse's career. Tonalist will be a great fit there. They have an excellent reputation of making racehorses like him into prolific stallions.”
The Christophe Clement stable tweeted, “We're so sad to see Tonalist retire, but so excited for his next journey! He's deserving of a happy retirement after all that he's accomplished. It's been a phenomenal journey with Tonalist. We'll never forget the multiple GI victories, especially the Belmont S. Thanks for the ride!”
Rene and Loren Wolcott's Woodslane Farm bred the bay, who was purchased by Evans privately as a yearling.
Tonalist, who is by Gainesway's leading sire Tapit, is out of the Pleasant Colony mare Settling Mist. Second dam Toll Fee (Topsider) was a stakes winner and multiple graded-stakes placed, and was a half-sibling to champion sprinter Plugged Nickle; GI Flower Bowl H. winner Christiecat; and graded winner Key to the Bridge; as well as stakes winners Toll Key, Idle Gossip and Tokens Only. Toll Fee produced graded stakes placed The Bink (Seeking the Gold), the dam of multiple Grade I winner Riskaverse (Dynaformer) and graded winner Cozzy Corner (Cozzene). The Bink also produced Easter Bunnette (Carson City), the dam of champion Havre de Grace (Saint Liam).
Settling Mist has a winning 3-year-old filly Settle 'n Speight (Speightstown) and a 2-year-old Tale of Ekati colt, Tale of Mist.
Trainer Barclay Tagg signed the $500,000-ticket on her yearling filly by Jersey Town at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Settling Mist did not produce a foal in 2015 and will be bred back to Tapit.
According to Thorograph numbers, Tonalist was one of the most dependable runners of the last two years. After registering a 0 1/4 in the GI Belmont S, Tonalist earned a -0 2/5 in the Jim Dandy before three more efforts in the 0 range to round out his 2014 campaign. He produced five consecutive 3- figures in his races from the Westchester to the Jockey Club Gold Club before a 1 2/5 number–the only significant backwards step of his entire career–in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He ended his career with a -2 1/4 in the Cigar Mile.
Tonalist retires with a lifetime record of 16-7-4-2 with $3,647,000 in earnings.
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