Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro-Alternate, by Seattle Slew) will retire to Darby Dan Farm at the conclusion of his racing career and stand in partnership with Matt Bowling Bloodstock, the farm announced Tuesday. The Hronis Racing colorbearer, trained by John Sadler, is pointing to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7. His 2021 fee will be $10,000 S&N for nominations completed prior to the Breeders' Cup. A 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Higher Power recorded a career-best 107 Beyer in the 10-furlong event. A five-time winner of more than $1.5 million heading into this year's Breeders' Cup, Higher Power has been a model of consistency, finishing in the top three in an additional quartet of races in 2019–GI Breeders' Cup Classic, GI Hollywood Gold Cup, GI Awesome Again S., and GII San Diego H.
“He is all class,” said Ryan Norton, Darby Dan's stallion director. “He showed his talent and his impressive turn of foot in winning the Pacific Classic in the manner that he did. He descends from an outstanding Pin Oak family, has a stallion's pedigree, and physically, he is a superb individual.”
Purchased by David Ingordo on behalf of Hronis Racing for $250,000 from the 2019 Keeneland April Sale Horses of Racing Age session, Higher Power turned in his final major work before the Classic, working seven furlongs in 1:25.40 at Keeneland Sunday.
Bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud, Higher Power is out of multiple stakes-winning Alternate, who has also produced multiple graded stakes-winning Alternation, winner of the GII Peter Pan S. and GII Oaklawn H., and sire of 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress. Alternate is also a half-sister to 1995 Canadian Horse of the Year and multiple Grade I-winner Peaks and Valleys, from the female family of Grade I-winner Mucho Gusto.
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