Florida stallions

A few weeks ago, I was a guest on the weekly Going In Circles podcast, which is hosted by Chuck Simon, the former trainer who's also a top-notch writer at his blog, and Barry "The Sniper" Spears, an excellent handicapper and well-known figure on Twitter. Simon asked for my opinion on which stallion I'd consider to be the most influential of the past 50 years. You can listen to a nine-minute clip of the conversation here. My answer? Claiborne's iconic Mr. Prospector, of course. The clip generated quite a bit...

At Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Florida, one feels a sense of family and mutual respect among all of the inhabitants--horses, dogs and people. The atmosphere is relaxed and happy. Brent Fernung of Journeyman Stud and his wife, Crystal, have been cornerstones of the Thoroughbred industry in Florida for more than 40 years. Under Fernung's management Congrats, the leading first-crop sire of 2010, and Wildcat Heir, North America's leading second-crop sire in 2010, both began their careers. In addition to its two new stallions Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo--Forest Music, by Unbridled's...

Trainer Rusty Arnold's MGSW & 2020 Breeders' Cup-placed Leinster (Majestic Warrior--Vassar, by Royal Academy) has officially been retired from racing and will stand at Joe and Helen Barbazon's Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for the 2022 breeding season. He will stand for $5,000 and has already arrived at the farm. "Leinster is an exceptional addition to the stallion barn at Pleasant Acres Stallions," said Joe Barbazon. "A world-class turf sprinter, he brings with him two blazing fast track records in graded events and four triple digit Beyers." Racing for a...

Black-type winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Sweetontheladies (Twirling Candy--Whataclassybroad, by Yankee Gentleman) will stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida for the 2021 breeding season with a $2,500 fee, the farm announced Monday. Sweetontheladies placed in five graded events and eight black-type races, finishing his career with earnings of $408,012 in 31 starts. "Helen and I are excited to have the black-type winning and graded stakes-placed sprinter, Sweetontheladies, join our roster at Pleasant Acres Stallions," said Joe Barbazon, owner of Pleasant Acres Stallions. "He has retired sound and brings stamina...

Ocala Stud stallion Awesome Slew (Awesome Again--Slewfoundmoney, by Seeking the Gold), a multiple graded stakes winner, sired his first reported foals Jan. 18 when a bay colt was born in Ocala and a bay filly was foaled in Ohio. Bill Law bred the colt out of the multiple stakes-winning Yesbyjimminy mare Flay Mignon. Craig and Cindy Powell bred the filly who is produced from the Super Saver mare Winnercoasttocoast. A Live Oak Stud homebred, Awesome Slew won stakes ranging in distance from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and won...

Florida sire Greatness (Mr. Prospector--Harbour Club, by Danzig) has returned to his roots and will stand the 2020 season at Solera Farm in Williston, west of Ocala, Fla, Dr. Krista Seltzer announced Monday. There he will join Field Commission, Florida's eighth-leading active sire of 2019 with progeny earnings of more than $1.6 million. "[Greatness] has a home here for life beyond his breeding career," said Seltzer. "My dad [Edward Seltzer] bred him, raised and raced him and now he is back with us forever." The 21-year-old Greatness is one of...

Over the past year, Brent and Crystal Fernung, the owners of Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Florida, have carefully tracked wins from Journeyman first-crop sire Khozan. It's kept them busy. To date, 20 sons and daughters of the son of Distorted Humor have tallied up 26 victories, but the Fernungs are even more excited about the nine black-type runners Khozan has already accounted for, placing him among the top three freshman sires in the country in that particular category. "It's one thing to get winners," said Brent Fernung. "A lot of...