Hill 'n' Dale

Curlin is in the midst of an exceptional year. He's the only North American sire with three Grade I winners already in 2021 with undefeated Kentucky Oaks heroine Malathaat, Florida Derby winner Known Agenda and Santa Anita H. victor Idol. He's also responsible for the buzz horse of the week in undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and GIII Dwyer S. winner First Captain. As expected from Curlin, a sire known for his Classic-producing abilities, all four of these current stars broke through to stardom as sophomores or older. And while two...

Multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Charlatan (Speightstown) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duty at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, Hill 'n' Dale announced Thursday. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, the imposing chestnut, out of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff-placed Authenticity (Quiet American), sold as the second-highest priced colt for his sire at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale at $700,000. Purchased by SF Bloodstock/Starlight West, the colt raced for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Frederick Hertrich, III,...

Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat--Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew) has been pensioned from stud duty, Hill 'n' Dale Farms announced Friday. The Arthur Appleton homebred won six of his 15 starts, including two stakes, and earned $148,126 before retiring to stud at Bridlewood Farm in his home state of Florida. He stood his first three seasons there before moving to Hill 'n' Dale in Kentucky. The 27-year-old stallion is responsible for 109 black-type winners and 48 graded winners. His eight Grade I/Group 1 winners include champion and two-time GI Breeders' Cup...

It is now a decade since John Sikura was walking through a Lexington steakhouse and glimpsed, on a screen over the bar, a bay colt coasting clear of his pursuers with sparks coming from his heels: :21.24, :43.48, 1:07.44. He was puzzled: it wasn't yet the weekend, and he wasn't aware of any stakes being run that day. Seven lengths in a hand ride. Then they told him that this was just a maiden race out at Santa Anita. Sikura couldn't believe his ears. He wasn't alone: a 114 Beyer...

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Silver State (Hard Spun) upped his win streak to six while providing trainer Steve Asmussen with a third GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. in the last four years. The historic Met Mile also gave Silver State an automatic spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile should his connections choose that event over the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. By My Standards (Goldencents) rallied to cut the winning margin to a length after missing the break, while stretching-out GI Carter...

While it remains too early to acclaim a masterpiece in the making, even these first, bold brushstrokes have plainly been mixed from an unusually vivid genetic palette. And if Cezanne (Curlin) can complete the canvas the way he has started, with a confident new flourish in the GIII Kona Gold S. last weekend, then he could become an exhibit for one of the principal galleries of the modern breed. Happily it has the most discerning of curators in John Sikura, who has been devotedly cultivating this family--Cezanne's third dam is...

   Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), 2019's champion older mare and a five-time GISW with earnings of nearly $7.5 million, has been pronounced in foal to Hill 'n' Dale stalwart, two-time Horse of the Year and fellow Steve Asmussen trainee Curlin. "Midnight Bisou was a mare with extraordinary ability. One can only imagine the possibilities from the mating of two such Greats of the breed," said John G. Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale. Midnight Bisou sold for $5 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton November sale to Chuck Allen, who was...

Cezanne (Curlin), who topped the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale when bringing a final bid of $3.65 million from M.V. Magnier, is training steadily for his return to the races, most recently working five furlongs in 1:00.00 (4/21) Thursday at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. "He's doing well," Baffert reported following the work Thursday. "We just freshened him up." Racing for Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, as well as co-breeder St. Elias Stable, Cezanne opened his career with a 2 1/4-length victory going 6 1/2 furlongs last June...

As we approach the end of the calendar, we turn our attention to the incoming sire class of 2021. We asked several judges who their favorite incoming sire is for next year and if there are any other stallions, new or otherwise, that have caught their eye as under-the-radar picks.     DEREK MACKENZIE, Vinery Sales  Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), $10,000, Darby Dan  My favorite new sire for 2021 is Higher Power. Physically, he's just phenomenal and his pedigree is hands down the best this year for the new sires....

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) arrived at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Thursday afternoon after completing her final phase of rehabilitation at WinStar Farm. The five-time Grade I winner will visit Hill 'n' Dale flagbearer Curlin. Midnight Bisou was preparing for her Breeders' Cup bid this fall when she incurred a sesamoid fracture during a work at the end of September that forced connections to retire the mare prematurely. The champion shone as one of brightest stars at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Nov. 8. Co-owner Chuck Allen of Allen Racing...

Hall of Famer Curlin (Smart Strike) once again leads the 2021 roster at Hill 'n' Dale, which recently moved to their new Xalapa property outside of Paris. The leading stallion's 2021 fee remains unchanged at $175,000 LFS&N. "We are aware of the pressures on the market due to the uncertain climate we find ourselves in. Hill 'n' Dale will once again look to be an industry leader by offering exceptional value in its entire roster. We are all in this together and together we will grow stronger as an industry,"...

A caravan of four massive Sallee Horse Vans journeyed from Fayette County to Bourbon County today to deliver the 13 members of the Hill 'n' Dale stallion roster to their new residence: Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. While Hill 'n' Dale President John Sikura said there was apprehension going into the big move, everything went smoothly. "It's kind of like when a horse goes in the starting gate--lots can go wrong," he said. "But thanks to the quality and class of the horses and the horsemanship of everybody who was...