Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}–Charm the Maker, by Empire Maker), who defeated GI Kentucky Derby winner and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Medina Spirit (Protonico) in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in his first start on the dirt, has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2022 at Spendthrift Farm. The nursery had previous announced the acquisition in last April.
The handy winner of a six-furlong turf sprint on career debut at Santa Anita Jan. 1, the $650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase took the one-mile Pasadena S. Feb. 27 by a widening 2 1/4-lengths and proved not for catching in the Santa Anita Derby, reporting home a 4 1/4-length winner. Compromised by a horrendous start in the Run for the Roses, Rock Your World was a battling runner-up in the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar Aug. 29, dropping a 1 1/4-length decision to Medina Spirit. Bred by Ron and Deborah McAnally and trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing and Talla Racing, Rock Your World retires with a record of 7-3-1-0 and earnings of $612,100.
Rock Your World's dam was a stakes winner and twice placed at Grade I level going long as a 2-year-old and is also responsible for GSP She's Our Charm (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a yearling Curlin colt that fetched $825,000 from D. Hatman Thoroughbreds at this year's Keeneland September sale.
Rock Your World is a maternal grandson of GSW Charm The Giant (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), the dam of GSW Liam the Charmer (Smart Strike), while MGSW/GISP third dam Olympic Charmer (Olympio) also bred MGSP Charming Legacy (Ire) (Danehill), whose daughter Light of Darkness (Red Rocks {Ire}) won this year's G3 Istanbul Trophy in addition to the Turkish 1000 Guineas.
“Rock Your World is a fast Santa Anita Derby winner with a wonderful blend of looks, pedigree and sire power,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “He's a $650,000 yearling and you can see why. He's one imposing individual and as good-looking of a Candy Ride as you'll find. Rock Your World possesses a true classic dirt pedigree, with Empire Maker and Giant's Causeway as his first two broodmare sires. We believe there's a lot to like, especially through our Share The Upside program. We will begin showing Rock Your World today and I invite all breeders to come out and see him.”
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