John Sikura

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...

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...

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...

The first foal by group-placed Lost Treasure (Ire) (War Front) is a colt out of Little Miss S (Candy Ride {Arg}). The mare is a half-sister to Grade I winner Crisp (El Corredor). "How fitting that the first foal by this regally bred group-placed son of War Front from the immediate family of Galileo (Ire), would be out of a half-sister to Grade I winner Crisp," said John G. Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale Farms, which stands the 6-year-old stallion. "That's what happens when you have great partners like...

When Hill 'n' Dale Farms announced that it would be standing World of Trouble (Kantharos) at stud, everything appeared straightforward. The horse was among the fastest of his generation and had won Grade I races on the turf and dirt. Considering the modest stud fee of $15,000 and the horse's credentials, Hill 'n' Dale President John Sikura had every reason to believe that the horse would be one of the more popular stallions at his farm. Five months later, it all came crashing down. His trainer Jason Servis was indicted...

Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome Again), Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) and Point of Entry (Dynaformer) will join the stallion roster at John Sikura's Hill 'N' Dale at Xalapa outside of Paris, KY, according to a release from the farm. They are being relocated from Adena Springs. The fees for the three stallions are: Ghostzapper - $85,000 LFSN; Point of Entry - $7,500 LFSN; Mucho Macho Man - $7,500 LFSN. "I have known John since he was a young man in Canada and his rise as a pre-eminent horseman...

   Only a few years after first becoming involved in Thoroughbred ownership, Susan and Charles Chu watched their first Grade I winner also become a Breeders' Cup Champion when 'TDN Rising Star' Drefong (Gio Ponti) crossed the wire first in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint under their Baoma Corporation banner. While they'd had several graded stakes contenders come along prior to Drefong's campaign, after the millionaire took his third Grade I in the Forego S. for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in 2017, Baoma Corporation went through a bit...

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...

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...

A colt by Curlin has no shortage of new owners after Gainesway's Alex Solis signed the ticket on hip 282 at $1.2 million Monday at Keeneland. The new partnership includes Mike Repole, Vinnie Viola's St. Elias, Gainesway, John Oxley and Robert Clay's Grandview. "We've been talking about all the colts we liked and I really liked this colt," Solis said after signing the lengthy ticket. "I thought his mother was a pretty special filly. All week long I kept seeing him and thought I'd like to find a way to...