Rockridge Stud

The Board of Directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) held its first meeting of 2026 on Thursday, Feb. 5 and unanimously elected Rockridge Stud's Lere Visagie, to serve as president through 2028, the organization said in a press release on Friday. Current NYTB Director Rick Burke, owner of Irish Hill Century Farm, was elected vice president. The Board also elected Jane McMahon, of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, to serve as secretary-treasurer. Visagie, owner of Rockridge, has served as an NYTB Director since 2019 and succeeds Dr. Scott Ahlschwede,...

New York's Rockridge Stud has welcomed the first foal by Chewing Gum, a hard-knocking son of Candy Ride (Arg) with 35 starts under his belt and wins including the GII Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita. His additional four black-type placings include a runner-up performance in the GI Jaipur Stakes to Casa Creed. Chewing Gum's first foal is a filly born Jan. 14 out of Hatta's Appeal (Miracle Man), a winning mare who hails from the extended family of Dayjur and Maplejinsky. Chewing Gum will stand for a private fee...

Edited Press Release With a stud fee for multiple Grade I winner Mindframe (Constitution--Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) still to be determined pending his start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Claiborne Farm has released its advertised stud fees for 2026, with Grade I winner Prince of Monaco (Speightstown--Rainier, by Medaglia d'Oro) leading the way at $30,000. The fastest-ever 2-year-old by prominent sire-of-sires Speightstown, Prince of Monaco covered a Claiborne-record 176 mares, including 44 black-type runners in his first season at stud in 2025. GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner...

GI Preakness Stakes winner War of Will (War Front) will relocate from Claiborne Farm to New York's Rockridge Stud for 2026, the farm announced Sunday. "We are honored to have this opportunity with Gary [Barber] on another stallion and thrilled to have Claiborne dipping a toe into the NY market," said President of Rockridge Lere Visagie. Barber added, "I am very much looking forward to supporting War of Will in the lucrative New York breeding program. With the new Belmont facility coming online with three surfaces, I know War of...

Rockridge Stud has added two new stallions for the 2025 season, bringing its roster up to seven members. With MGSW/GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker - Checkered Past, by Smart Strike) and 2022 GII Joe Hernandez Stakes winner Chewing Gum (Candy Ride {Arg} - Shared Heart, by Forestry), the farm aims to capitalize on bloodlines that are not already represented in New York. Standing privately for a partnership that includes Wachtel Stable and Pantofel Stable, Chewing Gum is the only son of Candy Ride standing in New York. Over...

The first foal by the New York-based Americanrevolution (Constitution) was delivered early on the morning of Jan. 19 at Northview Stallion Station in Warwick, Maryland. Bred by Valencia Leach, the colt is the fourth live produce out of Tiz a Belle (Tiznow), a daughter of the Grade III-placed Mr Hall's Opus (Office), the dam of GIII Palos Verdes Stakes winner Essential Wager (Honor Code) and also hailing from the A.P. Indy sire line. Tiz a Belle's lone foal to the races is the winning Alemam (Catalina Cruiser), an $85,000 Keeneland...

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will hold its annual stallion season auction from Friday, Jan. 3 through Tuesday, Jan. 7. The event will be hosted online at Thoroughlybred.com. The auction has routinely attracted donated seasons from farms in the Empire State and Kentucky, including McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Sequel New York, Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions, Rockridge Stud, Spendthrift Farm, Darley America, Darby Dan Farm and additional farms. The annual auction raises funds that allow the NYTB to carry on its two-fold mission of promoting New York breeding...

Rockridge Stud, with a pair of new stallions in 2025, has released its stud fees for next year's breeding season. New to the New York operation next year are Chewing Gum (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the 2022 GII Joe Hernandez Stakes and runner-up in the 2021 GI Jaipur Stakes, and three-time graded winner Messier (Empire Maker), who was second in the 2021 GI Santa Anita Derby. Chewing Gum's fee is private and Messier will stand his initial season at stud for $5,000 LFSN. Rockridge Stud, in partnership with WinStar...

MGSW/GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker--Checkered Past, by Smart Strike) will stand stud in 2025 at New York's Rockridge Stud for $5,000 LFSN in a deal brokered by Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock, the farm announced Friday. The Sam-Son Farm homebred was purchased at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Sale by Donato Lanni on behalf of SF Bloodstock, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing for $470,000 and broke his maiden in his 2nd start to become a 'Rising Star', winning by 6 1/2 lengths. He bested Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah)...

A winner of the GII Joe Hernandez Stakes, GISP Chewing Gum (Candy Ride {Arg}--Shared Heart, by Forestry) will take up residence at Rockridge Stud for the 2025 season and will stand for a partnership including Wachtel and Pantofel Stables, the farm announced via presser Friday. The five-time winner claimed the aforementioned graded contest at Santa Anita in 2022 but had made an appearance at the highest level the year prior, finishing two-lengths second to Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the GI Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes the summer of 2021. He'd run...

MGSW War Dancer (War Front--Deed I Do by Alydeed) will return to Rockridge Stud in 2025, it was announced Thursday. The millionaire, who began his stud career at Rockridge Stud in 2017, led New York's turf sire since his first foals hit the track in 2020, with current progeny earnings nearing $10 million. "We are thrilled to once again partner with Rockridge in standing War Dancer, who has proven himself as a top turf sire," said Robin Malatino. "With the introduction of Tapeta at Belmont, he can only improve on...

Al Khali (Medaglia d'Oro--Maya, by Capote) succumbed to a bout of colic this past Saturday, Rockridge Stud announced in a release Tuesday evening. The millionaire multiple graded stakes winner had been standing at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, New York, for the past three seasons. The $15,000 KEESEP yearling carried the colors of owners Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable and was trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Al Khali retired to Keane Stud in 2016 with a record of 41-8-5-5 and earnings of $1,019,510. Owner Adam Wachtel said, "We are...