G1 winner Zandon sires first foal

Spendthrift Farm’s Zandon, the multimillionaire and winner of Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at 3, sired his first reported foal this week when a filly was born late Monday, January 20^th at KatieRich Farms in Midway, KY.

Bred by Rattner Bloodstock LLC, the bay filly with a thin white blaze on her face hails from the Champali mare I Love Nola.

“Nice, healthy filly. She has great leg and a big motor. We’re excited,” said Dan Ratner.

Trained by Chad Brown, Zandon broke his maiden on debut as a 2-year-old at six furlongs at Belmont before falling a nose short in the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct when second to eventual classic winner Mo Donegal in his only other start as a juvenile. At 3, Zandon won the $1 million Blue Grass (G1) going away by 2 ½ lengths, making him a favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Zandon finished a close third behind Rich Strike and champion Epicenter in the Derby at Churchill. He went on to finish runner-up to Epicenter in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga and was on the board behind that rival again in the prestigious Travers Stakes (G1). It took another Eclipse finalist to defeat him in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), as Zandon ran second to three-time Grade 1 winner Taiba while finishing ahead of multiple Grade 1 winners Cyberknife and White Abarrio.

As a 4-year-old, Zandon was a gallant runner-up to champion Cody’s Wish in the storied Metropolitan Mile (G1) at Belmont, again finishing ahead of multiple Grade 1 winners White Abarrio, Dr. Schivel and a decorated field while earning a 106 Beyer. Zandon faced the best yet again in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, beaten only by eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic champion White Abarrio while finishing ahead of Cody’s Wish and the remainder of the field. He went on to easily capture the Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct by 4 ¼ lengths, earning a 104 Beyer. The striking near-black colt closed out his career with earnings of $2.2 million before retiring to Spendthrift.  

Campaigned by owner Jeff Drown, Zandon is by Upstart and out of the Creative Cause mare Memories Prevail, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Cairo Memories. He covered 158 mares in his first book in 2024 and his first in-foal mares have sold for up to $240,000 at public auction. Zandon is set to stand his second season for a fee of $10,000 S&N. For more information about Zandon, please contact Des, Mark, Brian or Daniel at 859-294-0030.