foal

Champion Monomoy Girl displayed many admirable traits during her four years on the racetrack, but those closest to her would be quick to say that she has never exactly been known for her easygoing nature. Independent, tenacious and self-assured would be much better adjectives to describe the GI Kentucky Oaks victress and two-time GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine. "She's very sassy, that's for sure," said Florent Geroux, who teamed up with the chestnut daughter of Tapizar for 16 of her 17 lifetime starts. "She's not really a 'people horse' who...

GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. winner Lexitonian (Speightstown) was represented by his first foal Sunday. The filly, out of a half-sister to dual Eclipse winner Roy H. (More Than Ready), was born at Calumet Farm. "We've been excited to see the foals for our homebred Lexitonian and are delighted that the first one is born at Calumet," said Eddie Cane, general manager of Calumet. "She has a lot of leg, good bone, and is well balanced." Lexitonian stands at Lane's End for a fee of $7,500.

A lifetime breeding right to young sire Havana Grey (GB) and a full-sister to Group 1 winner Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) will be offered at the Tattersalls Online December Sale on Dec. 14-15. During the Tattersalls Online November Sale, a breeding right sold for 115,000gns to Badgers Bloodstock to top the sale. The Whitsbury Manor Stud-based grey is the leader of his intake in Europe across most first-crop sire categories, and sports five black-type winners and 13 black-type horses to date. He will stand for £18,500 next season....

Tanya Gunther was thrilled to watch the latest 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify) trounce the competition in her breathtaking debut, but the horsewoman admitted that a few thoughts of what could have been flashed through her head as she remembered the promising filly's early days spent at Glennwood Farm. "I didn't really want to sell her," Gunther said with an acquiescing smile. "Most of our yearlings do go to the sale, but I was a bit sad when we let her go." Bred by Tanya's father John Gunther in partnership...

Three Chimneys Farm's stallion sensation Gun Runner set a new record for progeny earnings by a first-crop sire last year, headlined by six stakes winners including champion Echo Zulu, but the striking son of Candy Ride (Arg) was just getting started in 2021. When Klaravich Stables' Early Voting captured the GI Preakness S., Gun Runner added a fifth tally to his remarkable count of Grade I winners from his first crop. Early Voting's win at Pimlico was worth celebrating at Three Chimneys for more reasons than one. Not only did...

The highly-anticipated first foal out of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) arrived on Feb. 12 this year and is now thriving at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. Jeff Bloom stopped by the farm in the midst of Triple Crown season to visit the Curlin colt and his Eclipse Award-winning dam. "He is what you would expect to see out of a champion and by a champion," Bloom said after inspecting 'Baby Bisou' for the first time. "I think he takes after his mom quite a bit, but certainly there are...

Jean-Claude Rouget is not prone to hyperbole so, when the decorated French handler compared the unexposed Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) to his only G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) earlier this week, some people did a double take. Not Benoit Jeffroy, who manages Haras de Bouquetot on behalf of the Al Shaqab operation. Jeffroy has long been aware of the standing in which the multiple Classic-winning trainer has held Al Hakeem and, when the colt won the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly on...

From the moment a newborn foal enters the world, it has a bevy of hopes and dreams riding on its back. Ideally a newborn overcomes life's first few challenges in short order--it is delivered without incident, gets to its feet and nurses for the first time, consuming the colostrum and receiving the vital antibodies necessary for the foal to develop its immune system. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned. Whether due to dystocia, a lack of milk production or a mare who is simply not the motherly type and...

Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse.com have launched a weekly foal contest on social media called #FoalDerby, which will showcase foals from the first crop of their Horse of the Year and GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The contest begins this week and will run weekly leading up to this year's Kentucky Derby. Breeders are encouraged to submit photos each week as their foals arrive and continue to submit as they grow over the course of the next 10 weeks. Submissions will be posted to Spendthrift's Twitter and Facebook platforms. The top...

Daredevil's first foal back in the U.S. has arrived at Dunquin Farm in Paris, Kentucky. The filly, bred by Mike and Pat Freeny, is out of C. C. Zipp (City Zip). "She is an outstanding foal that anyone would be proud of," said Mike Freeny. Daredevil produced champion Swiss Skydiver and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil in his first U.S. crop.

Hall of famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}--Vertigineux, by Kris S.) has lost her 2021 foal, a Candy Ride (Arg) filly. The news was reported on Zenyatta's official website Tuesday. "We at Team Zenyatta and Lane's End Farm are deeply saddened to share that Zenyatta lost her 2021 foal early this year," the website read. "She had been carrying a second Candy Ride filly, and we grieve the loss of this precious life. Thankfully, Zenyatta remains in excellent health and is doing very well." Zenyatta's first two foals, the 9-year-old Cozmic...

It's a toss-up, really, as to who made the bigger splash in 2017--the Don Alberto Corporation itself, or their superstar filly Unique Bella (Tapit). Three years ago, Don Alberto Corporation continued their traditional annual shopping spree at the fall breeding stock sales, spending a combined $8.3 million at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton, plus an additional $3.35 million in partnership purchases at the Keeneland November Sale. Meanwhile, their $400,000 2015 Keeneland September purchase Unique Bella shone bright as a 3-year-old with four consecutive graded stakes wins and a later victory in the...