Flashy debut winner The Wine Steward punctuates Vino Rosso’s big week

Champion Vino Rosso had another promising week in his young career as a sire, with first-crop juveniles selling for $385,000 & $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale in Timonium, Maryland May 22-23. He would close the week by gaining his second 2-year-old winner on the track in the form of impressive debut winner The Wine Steward, a 6-length maiden special weight victor May 28th at Belmont.

A $340,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale earlier this year, The Wine Steward overcame a slow start to draw well clear of his rivals for a triumphant debut. Trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher, the flashy bay colt stopped the timer in 58.68 seconds for five furlongs under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm & Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward became the second winner from four starters to date by Vino Rosso.

At F-T Midlantic, a filly selling as Hip 379 commanded $385,000 from buyer Team Hanley & 30 Year Farm, making her the highest-priced filly by a freshman sire at the premier sale. Earlier in the session, Hip 268 hammered for $350,000 with West Bloodstock signing the ticket on behalf of Mike Repole’s Repole Stables – the owner of Vino Rosso during his decorated racing career and purchaser of his eighth racing prospect sired by his former racing star. The $350,000 price tag also represented the second highest by a freshman sire at the sale.