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Free Drop Billy

Free Drop Billy

Union Rags’ Only G1 Son At 2

Union Rags – Trensa, by Giant's Causeway
2015, Chestnut, 16h | Entered Stud: 2019 | Nominated to: Breeders' Cup, KTDF

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2022 Racing: A top 20 Freshman Sire in North America, led by 4-time stakes-winning 2yo filly FREE DROP MADDY ($272,800), winner of the $150,000 TTA Futurity at Lone Star, $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie S. at Fair Grounds, $75,000 Louisiana Broodmare Of The Year Buttercup’s Song S. at Fair Grounds and $75,000 Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial S. at Fair Grounds.

2022 Sales: First-crop 2yos led by colts up to $230,000 and fillies up to $200,000 (sale-topper).

First-crop yearlings sold up to $180,000 at public auction in 2021.

Bred a larger second book than first book in 2020 due to the quality and buzz from his first foals.

Dominant 4-length winner of the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at 8.5f at Keeneland in his first start around two turns.

Defeated G2 winner & Preakness (G1) runner-up Bravazo, Graded SWs Lone Sailor and Ezmosh, etc. in the Breeders’ Futurity.

Close runner-up in the 6f Sanford (G3) [beaten a length] to G1 winner Firenze Fire, and 7f Hopeful (G1) [beaten a neck] to G1 winner Sporting Chance at Saratoga as a 2yo.

Runner-up to G1 winner Audible in the 8.5f Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream, and on the board in the 9f Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and 8f Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct as a 3yo.

Impressive 2yo debut MdSpWt winner going 5.5f at Churchill, drawing off by 3 lengths.

The only G1-winning son of UNION RAGS to date; Earnings of $662,470 — $428,020 as a 2yo.

From a deep Alexander-Groves female family — 3rd dam Mochila is a half-sister to top sire COZZENE and was acquired for $750,000 from the Tartan/Nerud dispersal.

10 black type horses in the first two dams, including half-brother HAWKBILL, multiple G1 winner of $4,777,480.

First crop are 3-year-olds in 2023.



Age Starts 1st (SW) 2nd (SP) 3rd (SP) Earned
2 5 2 ( 1 ) 2 ( 2 ) 0 $428,020
3 6 0 1 ( 1 ) 2 ( 2 ) $234,450
Totals 11 2 3 2 $662,470

Racing Highlights

Won at 2

  • Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland (G1, 8.5f, by 4 lengths, defeating Bravazo, Lone Sailor, Ezmosh, etc.)
  • Maiden Special Weight at Churchill (5 1/2f by 3 lengths, defeating Transgress, Orbatron, Battle At Sea, etc.)

2nd at 2

  • Hopeful S. at Saratoga (G1, 7f, to Sporting Chance by a neck, defeating Givemeaminit
  • Sanford S. at Saratoga (G3, 6f, to Firenze Fire by a length, defeating Psychoanalyze, Bal Harbour, Baffin, etc.)

2nd at 3

  • Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream (G2, 8.5f, to Audible, defeating Tiz Mischief, Enticed, Pony Up, etc.)

3rd at 3

  • Blue Grass S. at Keeneland (G2, 9f, to Good Magic, defeating Sporting Chance, Kanthaka, Gotta Go, Blendid Citizen, Marconi, Tiz Mischief, etc.)
  • Gotham S. at Aqueduct (G3, 8f, to Enticed, defeating Firenze Fire, Beautiful Shot, etc.)

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Pedigree

Four CrossAnalysisCatalog Style
DP = 4-4-17-1-0 (26) DI = 1.74 CD = 0.42

Alan Porter’s 2023 Breeding Analysis for Free Drop Billy

Fast enough to break his maiden by three lengths going 5½ furlongs on his debut, Free Drop Billy carried his speed to a four lengths victory over classic performer Bravazo in the 8½ furlong Breeders’ Futurity (G1). By classic winner and successful sire Union Rags, Free Drop Billy is half-brother to international group and grade one winner Hawkbill, from the family of Leading Sire Cozzene, and he is already a stakes sire with his first two-year-olds in 2022.

Free Drop Billy is sire of first crop multiple stakes winning two-year-old Free Drop Maddy out of a mare by Half Ours, a son of Unbridled’s Song, who is also sire of Cross Traffic, Liam’s Map. First Defence, Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Rockport Harbor, Songandaprayer and Zensational) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Candy Ride (sire of Twirling Candy). Other Fappiano line sires that might work here include Quiet American (sire of Real Quiet and grandsire of Midnight Lute), Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister, grandsire of Cairo Prince, Classic Empire and American Pharoah), Rubiano (sire of Too Much Bling and Burning Roma) and Broken Vow.

Fappiano is by Mr. Prospector and from other branches of that line, Union Rags has seven stakes winners, including grade one winner Union Strike, out of mares by Smart Strike (sire of Curlin, Lookin At Lucky and English Channel). Union Rags’ multiple graded stakes winner Tequilita is out of a mare by Mr. Greeley (sire of El Corredor), a son of Gone West, also sire of Elusive Quality (who is represented by Smarty Jones and Quality Road), Grand Slam (sire of Limehouse) and Speightstown (himself sire of Munnings and Central Banker) and Proud Citizen. Union Rags also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Seeking the Gold, sire of Petionville, Mutakddim and Cape Town.

Free Drop Billy is bred on the cross of Union Rags with a Giant’s Causeway mare. Union Rags has been exceptional with mares from the sire line of Giant’s Causeway’s sire, Storm Cat siring Dancing Rags out of a mare by Storm Cat himself, and grade one winner Paradise Woods out of a mare by Forest Wildcat (who would be good through Wildcat Heir). Other Storm Cat sons that would appeal here include Forestry and his sons, Shackleford and Discreet Cat; Freud, a brother to Giant’s Causeway; After Market (bred on the same cross as Giant’s Causeway); Hennessy (sire of Johannesburg and Henny Hughes; grandsire of Scat Daddy), Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati; grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), Bluegrass Cat, Stormy Atlantic and Stormin Fever, Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief, Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby), Bernstein, Pure Prize and Yankee Gentleman.

Storm Cat is a Northern Dancer line mare, and Union Rags’ sire, Dixie Union, sired grade one winner Dixie Chatter out of a mare by Northern Dancer line stallion, Deputy Minister, as well as two stakes winners out of mares by Deputy Minister son, Salt Lake. From this line, Union Rags has a stakes winner out of a mare by Dehere (sire of Graeme Hall) This would also suggest considering mares by such stallions as Awesome Again (sire of Ghostzapper, Paynter, Oxbow, Daaher and Awesome of Course), French Deputy and Touch Gold.

Dixie Union did well with A.P. Indy line mares, and Union Rags has followed suit. He has a stakes winner and a classic-placed runner out of mares by A.P. Indy himself, as well as the brilliant Catalina Cruiser and multiple graded stakes winner Express Train out of mares by Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Pulpit which suggests mares by Tapit (sire of Frosted, Tapizar, Tapiture, Tonalist, Cupid and Constitution), Sky Mesa and Stroll. Other sources of A.P. Indy include Bernardini (who should work well here and is sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve), Malibu Moon, Flatter, Congrats, Jump Start, Majestic Warrior and Stephen Got Even.

Union Rags is sire of stakes winner Saguaro Row out of a mare by Indian Charlie, and there is also a stakes winner by Dixie Union out of mare by In Excess, sire of Indian Charlie. It’s possible to bring in Indian Charlie through Uncle Mo, Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaison and Cinco Charlie, and other sons of In Excess include Rocky Bar, Notional and Bring the Heat.

AnalysisCatalog Style

Alan Porter’s 2023 Breeding Analysis for Free Drop Billy

Fast enough to break his maiden by three lengths going 5½ furlongs on his debut, Free Drop Billy carried his speed to a four lengths victory over classic performer Bravazo in the 8½ furlong Breeders’ Futurity (G1). By classic winner and successful sire Union Rags, Free Drop Billy is half-brother to international group and grade one winner Hawkbill, from the family of Leading Sire Cozzene, and he is already a stakes sire with his first two-year-olds in 2022.

Free Drop Billy is sire of first crop multiple stakes winning two-year-old Free Drop Maddy out of a mare by Half Ours, a son of Unbridled’s Song, who is also sire of Cross Traffic, Liam’s Map. First Defence, Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Rockport Harbor, Songandaprayer and Zensational) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Candy Ride (sire of Twirling Candy). Other Fappiano line sires that might work here include Quiet American (sire of Real Quiet and grandsire of Midnight Lute), Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister, grandsire of Cairo Prince, Classic Empire and American Pharoah), Rubiano (sire of Too Much Bling and Burning Roma) and Broken Vow.

Fappiano is by Mr. Prospector and from other branches of that line, Union Rags has seven stakes winners, including grade one winner Union Strike, out of mares by Smart Strike (sire of Curlin, Lookin At Lucky and English Channel). Union Rags’ multiple graded stakes winner Tequilita is out of a mare by Mr. Greeley (sire of El Corredor), a son of Gone West, also sire of Elusive Quality (who is represented by Smarty Jones and Quality Road), Grand Slam (sire of Limehouse) and Speightstown (himself sire of Munnings and Central Banker) and Proud Citizen. Union Rags also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Seeking the Gold, sire of Petionville, Mutakddim and Cape Town.

Free Drop Billy is bred on the cross of Union Rags with a Giant’s Causeway mare. Union Rags has been exceptional with mares from the sire line of Giant’s Causeway’s sire, Storm Cat siring Dancing Rags out of a mare by Storm Cat himself, and grade one winner Paradise Woods out of a mare by Forest Wildcat (who would be good through Wildcat Heir). Other Storm Cat sons that would appeal here include Forestry and his sons, Shackleford and Discreet Cat; Freud, a brother to Giant’s Causeway; After Market (bred on the same cross as Giant’s Causeway); Hennessy (sire of Johannesburg and Henny Hughes; grandsire of Scat Daddy), Tale of the Cat (sire of Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati; grandsire of Kantharos and Uncaptured), Bluegrass Cat, Stormy Atlantic and Stormin Fever, Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief, Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby), Bernstein, Pure Prize and Yankee Gentleman.

Storm Cat is a Northern Dancer line mare, and Union Rags’ sire, Dixie Union, sired grade one winner Dixie Chatter out of a mare by Northern Dancer line stallion, Deputy Minister, as well as two stakes winners out of mares by Deputy Minister son, Salt Lake. From this line, Union Rags has a stakes winner out of a mare by Dehere (sire of Graeme Hall) This would also suggest considering mares by such stallions as Awesome Again (sire of Ghostzapper, Paynter, Oxbow, Daaher and Awesome of Course), French Deputy and Touch Gold.

Dixie Union did well with A.P. Indy line mares, and Union Rags has followed suit. He has a stakes winner and a classic-placed runner out of mares by A.P. Indy himself, as well as the brilliant Catalina Cruiser and multiple graded stakes winner Express Train out of mares by Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine) and a stakes winner out of a mare by Pulpit which suggests mares by Tapit (sire of Frosted, Tapizar, Tapiture, Tonalist, Cupid and Constitution), Sky Mesa and Stroll. Other sources of A.P. Indy include Bernardini (who should work well here and is sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve), Malibu Moon, Flatter, Congrats, Jump Start, Majestic Warrior and Stephen Got Even.

Union Rags is sire of stakes winner Saguaro Row out of a mare by Indian Charlie, and there is also a stakes winner by Dixie Union out of mare by In Excess, sire of Indian Charlie. It’s possible to bring in Indian Charlie through Uncle Mo, Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaison and Cinco Charlie, and other sons of In Excess include Rocky Bar, Notional and Bring the Heat.

Media

VideosPhotosProgeny PhotosWalking Video
Free Drop Billy: 30 second commercial
Free Drop Billy | 2017 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity G1
Free Drop Billy | 2017 Maiden Special Weight
Free Drop Billy 2017 Breeders' Futurity G1 | Keeneland
Free Drop Billy 2017 Breeders' Futurity G1 | Keeneland
Free Drop Billy - 2017 Breeders' Futurity-G1 aerial from Keeneland | Coady photo
Free Drop Billy - 2017 Breeders' Futurity-G1 aerial from Keeneland | Coady photo
Free Drop Billy 2017 Breeders' Futurity G1 | Keeneland
Free Drop Billy 2017 Breeders' Futurity G1 | Keeneland
Free Drop Billy 2017 MSW | Churchill Downs
Free Drop Billy 2017 MSW | Churchill Downs
Free Drop Billy | Spendthrift Farm 2018 | Autry Graham Photo
Free Drop Billy | Spendthrift Farm 2018 | Autry Graham Photo
$230,000 colt | Purchased by Yoshimasa Ema | Bred by Mullikin Thoroughbreds | 2022 OBSAPR | Judit photo
$230,000 colt | Purchased by Yoshimasa Ema | Bred by Mullikin Thoroughbreds | 2022 OBSAPR | Judit photo
$200,000 filly | Purchased by Mansfield Racing | 2022 TEXAPR sale-topper | Photo courtesy TTA
$200,000 filly | Purchased by Mansfield Racing | 2022 TEXAPR sale-topper | Photo courtesy TTA
$180,000 filly o/o Tiz The Key | Purchased by Rocket Ship Racing | Bred by Spendthrift Farm | F-T OCT 2021 | Spendthrift Farm Photo
$180,000 filly o/o Tiz The Key | Purchased by Rocket Ship Racing | Bred by Spendthrift Farm | F-T OCT 2021 | Spendthrift Farm Photo
Hip 2656 filly Help The Children 20 $72,000 | Purchased by Spendthrift Farm | Bred by Andria Mengucci | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Hip 2656 filly Help The Children 20 $72,000 | Purchased by Spendthrift Farm | Bred by Andria Mengucci | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Our Whiskey Girls 20 colt | Pictured at 6 days old | Bred by Sycamore Bark Farm LLC | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Our Whiskey Girls 20 colt | Pictured at 6 days old | Bred by Sycamore Bark Farm LLC | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Tiz the Key 20 filly | Pictured at 17 days old, bred by Spendthrift Farm | Spendthrift / Autry Graham Photo
Tiz the Key 20 filly | Pictured at 17 days old, bred by Spendthrift Farm | Spendthrift / Autry Graham Photo
Sweet Diva 20 filly | Pictured at 1 month old, bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Spendthrift / Autry Graham Photo
Sweet Diva 20 filly | Pictured at 1 month old, bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Spendthrift / Autry Graham Photo
Sweet Diva 20 filly | Pictured at 1 month old, bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Spendthrift / Autry Graham Photo
Sweet Diva 20 filly | Pictured at 1 month old, bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Spendthrift / Autry Graham Photo
Help The Children 20 filly | Pictured at 41 days old | Bred by Andria Mengucci | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Help The Children 20 filly | Pictured at 41 days old | Bred by Andria Mengucci | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Cedar Summer filly pictured at 15 days old | Bred by Spendthrift Farm | Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham Photo
Cedar Summer filly pictured at 15 days old | Bred by Spendthrift Farm | Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham Photo
XOXO colt pictured at 23 days old | Bred by Spendthrift Farm | Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham Photo
XOXO colt pictured at 23 days old | Bred by Spendthrift Farm | Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham Photo
How Nice 20 filly | Pictured at 40 days old | Bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
How Nice 20 filly | Pictured at 40 days old | Bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
How Nice 20 filly | Pictured at 40 days old | Bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
How Nice 20 filly | Pictured at 40 days old | Bred by Heaven Trees Farm | Photo by Spendthrift Farm / Autry Graham
Free Drop Billy Walking Video