Ashford Stud

In a deal that came about unexpectedly for Rodney Eckenrode's Equistar--the training and breeding operation east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that stands Smarty Jones and Brody's Cause--GSW Zozos (by Munnings) will join the farm's stallion roster for 2025 with a stud fee of $2,500 in the offing. The dark bay who was bred and campaigned by Minnesotans Barry and Joni Butzow recently retired from trainer Brad Cox's shedrow after a career which began at three. Zozos's career highlights include a runner-up finish in the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds...

In a cozy, bedded down stall that resides within the inner courtyard of Atlanta Hall Farm's indoor track, you'll find Grade I winner and Grade I sire Cupid (Tapit), the first stallion to stand at the historic farm that encompasses 400 acres in Monkton, Md. With the ease at which Cupid strolls beside Garrett Murray, stallion manager and co-owner of the farm, as he mills around during a grazing session, or nickers to 13-year-old Genevieve, Murray's daughter, as she strides over with a carrot in hand, it's hard to believe...

After being purchased by Tom Magnier for AU$3.4 million ($2,250,545) at this year's Inglis Chairman's Sale, the G1 VRC Oaks winner She's Extreme (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}) will head to North America to be covered by Justify in her maiden season, according to Coolmore in an article on TTR AusNZ. As has been well-documented, the Triple Crown winner is not returning to the Southern Hemisphere this spring, but will cover a limited book to Southern Hemisphere time at Ashford Stud. "Justify has quickly emerged as a world-class stallion but despite...

If you didn't know the sophisticated people behind the mating, you might imagine that Puca went to Good Magic on no better premise than to double down on the alchemy implicit in both names. Because a puca (or pooka) in folklore is a shape-changing sprite, capable of bringing good or bad fortune. Shakespeare named Puck accordingly in A Midsummer Night's Dream, but my favourite example is Elwood P. Dowd's invisible drinking buddy Harvey, a rabbit standing just under six feet four inches. Perhaps you've noticed his silhouette at Harvey's Bar...

Every now and then, a horse comes along who never seems to set a foot wrong. From record-setting freshman sire to perennial top 10 stallion, Uncle Mo is one of those horses. Additionally, it seems every time the Coolmore America/Ashford Stud sire reaches a new benchmark, he moves the bar just a little--or a lot--higher. The first-ever stakes winner for Repole Stables was a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut himself and has since been represented by 18 'Rising Stars' of his own, including three since May, and sired his 15th...

Coolmore stallion Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat--Yarn, by Mr. Prospector) died Monday from "the infirmities of old age" according to an announcement released through the Coolmore website. Born in 1994 for the breeding partnership of Indian Creek, Philip Freedman and Hugo Lascelles, Tale of the Cat was a $375,000 Keeneland September grad in 1995 for trainer John Forbes, who signed the ticket on behalf of Phantom House Farm. He was a 11 1/2-length winner on debut at Monmouth Park and quickly moved up the ranks, contesting the GI Buick...

Justify (Scat Daddy--Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) won't be returning to stand at Coolmore Australia this spring and will remain at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky where he will cover a select book of mares to southern hemisphere time late in the year. "It's a similar situation to Frankel in England where they serve mares to southern hemisphere time," said Coolmore's Tom Magnier. "We will be sending up some of our best mares and some of our clients here will have the opportunity to send their mares to him too." "Many...

Early Voting (Gun Runner), who was taken out of stud duties after one season at Ashford while suffering from Anejaculatory Syndrome, has had his first mare test in foal since resuming his stud career at Taylor Made Farm this year, according to a press release from the Early Voting Consortium and Taylor Made. Dr. Paddy O'Casaigh, who treated the 2022 GI Preakness S. winner, confirmed a heartbeat which he described as, "spot on, embryonic development." Early Voting stands at Taylor Made at a fee of $20,000. "This attractive breeding opportunity...

Coolmore's Ashford Stud will enter breeders who have booked mares to Corniche, Epicenter, Jack Christopher, or Tiz the Law into drawings to award four no-guarantee nominations to Justify in a promotion called "THE JUSTIFY 4." There will be a separate drawing for each of the four stallions, with one no-guarantee nomination awarded among each pool, for a total of four. The drawing will be held on Apr. 26. The farm said that the event was being held "to celebrate Justify's phenomenal year in 2023." Justify is the cumulative leading third-crop...

Ashford Stud's three-time Grade I winner Jack Christopher (Munnings) was represented by his first reported foal when a filly was born Jan. 11 at River Valley Farm in New York. The filly is the first produce from the unraced She's a Go Go Girl (Union Rags), who was acquired by Whitecloud Bloodstock for $30,000 at last year's Keeneland November. The deeper female family includes Grade II-winning juvenile filly Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat). "We couldn't be happier with this filly," said Dr. Scott Ahschwede who bred her along with his wife Dr....

Early Voting (Gun Runner), who got 120 mares in foal during his first season at stud last season before a rare condition led to his being removed from stud duties on the advice of veterinary experts, has been cured and will continue his stud career at Taylor Made Stallions in 2024. He covered his first book of mares in 2023 at Ashford Stud. Winner of the 2022 GI Preakness S. for Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown, Early Voting retired with three wins from six starts and earnings in excess of...

The first foal for champion 2-year-old and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche (Quality Road) arrived at Denali Stud on Monday when Faith And Honor (Honor Code) produced a filly, Coolmore America said in a release Wednesday. "Our Corniche out of Faith and Honor started off our foaling season at Denali in good order," said Conrad Bandoroff. "The filly has plenty of quality about her with good leg and bone. Very pleased with our start!" A $1.5 million sale topper after breezing a furlong in :10 flat at OBS April,...