Future Spendthrift stallions hold strong hand in this year’s Breeders’ Cup
October 29, 2019
Sprint-G1 contender Mitole | Eclipse Sportswire photos
Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup races will feature four horses who will stand stud at Spendthrift Farm following the conclusion of their racing careers, led by Omaha Beach and Mitole, who could each go off the favorite in the Dirt Mile (G1) and Sprint (G1), respectively.
Vino Rosso also figures prominently in the Classic (G1), while Coal Front will contend the Dirt Mile with Omaha Beach.
Omaha Beach, arguably the most exciting horse in training, has been nearly unstoppable since being switched to the dirt in February. The 3-year-old won the Rebel S. (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) before being scratched as the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The son of War Front returned to take the Santa Anita Sprint Championship
Classic-G1 contender Vino Rosso
(G1) to up his record to 4-3-1 in eight starts. Drawing post five in Saturday’s $1 million Mile, he was made the 8-5 morning line favorite in 10-horse field.
Mitole is a similar favorite, at 9-5, in the $2 million Sprint. A winner of eight of his last nine starts, the 4-year-old son of Eskendereya has banked more than $2 million and won a trio of Grade 1 races. Mitole, who drew post four of 10, posted a five-furlong bullet of :58 4/5 in his most recent work at Santa Anita.
Vino Rosso, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, has post three consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, including in victory in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1). The 4-year-old colt drew post 10 of 11 and was made a 4-1 chance in the 1 ¼-mile race. A son of Curlin, Vino Rosso has earned just over $1.5 million.
Dirt Mile-G1 contender Coal Front
Coal Front, who has won eight of 12 starts, bested a top-notch field in the Godolphin Mile (G2) this spring. The 5-year-old has also collected wins in the Amsterdam (G2), Gallant Bob (G3), Mr. Prospector S. (G3) and Razorback H. (G3) while accumulating earnings in excess of $1.8 million. He’ll be in post 7 and ridden by Javier Castellano.
Spendthrift will announce future plans and stud fees for all of their future stallions after the Breeders’ Cup.