Spendthrift acquires breeding rights to G1 millionaire Wicked Strong

B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to Grade 1-winning millionaire Wicked Strong, and the 4-year-old colt by Hard Spun will be retired at season’s end to stand stud at Spendthrift in 2016 as the farm’s newest participant in its renowned “Share The Upside” program.

“Wicked Strong is a Grade 1 winner by one of Danzig’s best sons at stud, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better physical from the Danzig line,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “He’s an exceptional-looking horse and full of class and quality. We believe he’ll be extremely popular with breeders, especially through our ‘Share The Upside’ program, and we’re excited about his chances in the Breeders’ Cup.”

Wicked Strong, who is set to make his next start in the $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on Oct. 30th at Keeneland, will stand for $10,000 on the “Share The Upside” program, and will require breeders to breed a mare in 2016 & 2017 and have two live foals on a stands-and-nurses basis to earn a lifetime breeding right in Wicked Strong starting in 2018 and lasting throughout his stallion career. Wicked Strong’s one-time stud fee is also $10,000 on a standard stands-and-nurses contract for people who do not wish to participate in the “Share The Upside” program. Commitments to Wicked Strong are being honored prior to the Breeders’ Cup, and his stud fees are subject to change pending race results through the rest of the year.

On the track, Wicked Strong has been among the best of his crop at two, three, and four. Trained by James Jerkens, the bay colt broke his maiden in his second start as a 2-year-old over a mile at Belmont before stretching out around two turns a month later to finish a close third in the Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct. He closed strongly to be beaten a half-length by Honor Code and Cairo Prince in the Remsen.

At three, Wicked Strong returned to Aqueduct to capture the $1,000,000 Wood Memorial (G1) by 3 ½ lengths, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.31 – the fastest final time in the prestigious Wood since Bellamy Road back in 2005. Wicked Strong earned a 104 Beyer for the performance, making him the second fastest 3-year-old heading into the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1), only behind California Chrome.

Wicked Strong had a nightmarish trip in the Derby, stumbling from the start and then overcoming traffic trouble to finish a fast-closing fourth. He returned to New York for the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) and had to overcome a wide trip to dead-heat with California Chrome for fourth, beaten just 1 ¾ lengths in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Wicked Strong went on to enjoy a strong summer at Saratoga, winning the $600,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2) over Tonalist before getting tagged on the wire by stablemate V.E. Day in the Travers S. (G1).

This year, Wicked Strong has again competed against the best horses in the country, finishing in the money in races such as the Met Mile (G1), Whitney H. (G1), Woodward S. (G1), and most recently the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) where he was runner-up to Tonalist. An earner of $1,934,460 to date, Wicked Strong is currently training for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at his base at Belmont Park, and recently breezed a bullet half-mile in 47.60 on Monday in preparation.

Out of the Charismatic mare Moyne Abbey, Wicked Strong is owned by Centennial Farms which purchased the colt for $375,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September.

For more information about Wicked Strong or Spendthrift’s Share The Upside Program, please contact Des, Mark, Brian, or David at 859-294-0030, or visit SpendthriftFarm.com.