Free Drop Billy, G1-winning 2-year-old by Union Rags, retires to Spendthrift

Free Drop Billy retires as Union Rags’ only G1 son at 2

Free Drop Billy, the dominant winner of last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, has been retired to stud at B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, KY.

The Grade 1-winning son of Union Rags will be the newest stallion offered through Spendthrift’s renowned “Share The Upside” program in 2019.

“Free Drop Billy is a great-looking horse with a proven sire’s pedigree, and he was a dominant Grade 1 winner and leading 2-year-old of his crop,” said Ned Toffey, General Manager at Spendthrift. “He ticks a lot of significant boxes, especially for a stallion prospect in his spot in the market. We believe he’s a terrific value that breeders are really going to like, and we’re excited to stand him.”

The Share The Upside fee for Free Drop Billy will be $10,000 for one year, however, breeders must also breed a mare in 2020 on a complimentary basis. After the breeder has a live foal in 2020, pays the stud fee, and breeds a mare back, he or she will earn a lifetime breeding right beginning in 2021. For breeders not interested in the Share The Upside program, Free Drop Billy will be offered for $10,000 on a standard stands and nurses contract. As always, Share The Upside opportunities are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Campaigned by trainer Dale Romans for Albaugh Family Stables, Free Drop Billy was one of America’s top 2-year-olds a year ago. After a decisive three-length debut victory going 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill, Free Drop Billy was the favorite in the Sanford S. (G3) and Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga in his next two starts, finishing a close runner-up in each behind Grade 1 winners Firenze Fire and Sporting Chance, respectively.

Free Drop Billy stretched out around two turns in his fourth start – the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland. The chestnut colt powered clear in the stretch to score a dominant four-length victory over Grade 2 winner & Preakness (G1) runner-up Bravazo.

Earlier this year in major Derby preps, Free Drop Billy finished on the board in the Blue Grass S. (G2), Holy Bull S. (G2) and Gotham S. (G3), finishing behind Grade 1 winners and Kentucky Derby-placed colts Good Magic and Audible. The 3-year-old colt retires with earnings of $662,470 and enters stud as the only Grade 1-winning son of popular sire Union Rags.

Free Drop Billy is out of the Graded stakes-placed and multiple Grade 1-producing Giant’s Causeway mare Trensa, and hails from the family of champion and leading sire Cozzene. Free Drop Billy is a half-brother to multiple Group 1-winning multimillionaire Hawkbill.