Olympiad

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S., the first Grade I of the year for 3-year-old fillies. First run in 1936--also Keeneland's first year--for 3-year-olds and up, the Ashland was named for the plantation home of Kentucky statesman Henry Clay. It had a predecessor, the Ashland Oaks, which was inaugurated in 1879 at the old Kentucky Association Racetrack and was a very different race. Perhaps it's...

OLYMPIAD (Speightstown), winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has had his first mares scanned in foal, Gainesway Farm announced Friday. He is confirmed in foal to Cheyenne Stables's Navasha (Giant's Causeway), who is from the female family of Grade I winners Fault (Blame) and Juju's Map (Liam's Map). Olympiad stands for $35,000 at Gainesway. Gainesway also announced that GI Woody Stephens S. winner DRAIN THE CLOCK (Maclean's Music) has his first mare in foal as well--Amelia Island (Hook and...

It's not often that a runner-up effort translates into a key selling point for a new stallion, but when that second-place finish comes behind a horse like Flightline, people take notice. Such has been the case for Olympiad (Speightstown - Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d'Oro), whose career finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic made him a standout in the 2023 class of incoming stallions. Ryan Norton, who joined Gainesway as the farm's new stallion director a few weeks before the Breeders' Cup, explained how Olympiad's performance at Keeneland over...

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Maggi Moss with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and Second Stride with the Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award at the 33rd Annual Stallion Season Auction and 'Tis the Season Celebration presented by Mt. Brilliant on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Grand Reserve in Lexington, Kentucky. The Allaire du Pont Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA's mission. Past award winners include Jen Roytz, LNJ Foxwoods, and Dan Rosenberg, just to name...

Flightline (Tapit) (139), who closed out his undefeated career in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, maintains his commanding lead in the ninth edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2022. In the Breeders' Cup Classic, Flightline pulled away from the field to win by a record 8 1/4 lengths. Olympiad (Speightstown) (124) was second, while Taiba (Gun Runner) (123) was another half-length back in third. Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (122) also impressed during the Breeders' Cup World Championships and joins the rankings following his 2 1/2-length win the GI...

Olympiad (Speightstown--Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d'Oro), a five-time graded stakes winner, led by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., and most recently second in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, has been retired to Gainesway Farm. The $700,000 Keeneland September graduate will stand for an advertised fee of $35,000 LFSN. One of North America's top older males of 2022, Olympiad posted eight wins in 13 career starts for earnings of $3,027,560 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and owners Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables and LNJ Foxwoods. Olympiad's year started...

Tapit's stud fee will remain at $185,000 in 2023, according to a press release from Gainesway Farm Wednesday morning announcing their roster and stud fees for the coming breeding season. The farm's top stallion is currently the leading active sire in North America by Grade I winners (29), Grade I horses (62), graded stakes winners (96), graded stakes performers (184), stakes winners (154), and stakes performers (299), and he is the all-time leading sire by lifetime progeny earnings ($188,654,112). The fee is the third-highest announced thus far for 2023, behind...

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods' Olympiad (Speightstown--Tokyo Time, Medaglia d'Oro) will take up stallion duties at Gainesway Farm upon his retirement from racing. To date, Olympiad has won eight of 12 career starts, including five graded stakes victories, highlighted by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Having already amassed over $2-million in earnings, the 4-year-old is expected to make his next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland next month. Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Olympiad captured five graded victories this season, beginning...

Undefeated Flightline (Tapit) closed as the 4-5 favorite following the completion of betting Monday in Pool #2 of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Future Wager. After a 19 1/4-length victory in Saturday's GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Flightline led the listing of 23 horses and one "all others" wagering interest in the second Future Wager pool for the $6-million Longines GI Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at Keeneland Nov. 5. Pool #2 of the Future Wager generated $437,147 in total handle, more than doubling the $205,349...

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods's Olympiad (Speightstown), a head-scratching fourth in the GI Whitney S., bounced back with a powerful performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. The 8-5 favorite jumped well from his inside draw and sat a perfect, stalking trip in second behind longshot pacesetter Tax (Arch) through fractions of :24.54 and :49.70. Racing in between rivals as last year's GI Cigar Mile H. winner Americanrevolution (Constitution), one of four entered for Todd Pletcher, continued to draw closer heading...

There is no such thing as a sure thing in horse racing, but 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) will be bet as if Saturday's GI TVG Pacific Classic--a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 5--is already the proverbial fait accompli. And why not, really? His four towering victories in as many trips to the races have come by an average winning margin of better than 13 lengths. His lowest Beyer Speed Figure is a downright pedestrian 105 earned for his debut just...

Life Is Good (Into Mischief) caught a flier right out of the gate, strutted his stuff up front for six furlongs and fought off a pair of stubborn challengers through the Saratoga stretch to capture Saturday's $1-million GI Whitney S., punch his ticket to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and stick his nose in front of a crowded Horse of the Year race. Running away to a 9 1/2-length debut romp and 'TDN Rising Star' honors for Bob Baffert in November of 2020 at Del Mar, the $525,000 Keeneland...