Vino Rosso
Vino Rosso
Curlin's Most Accomplished Racehorse Yet
2015, Chestnut, 16.1h | Entered Stud: 2020 | Nominated to: Breeders' Cup, KTDF
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2025 Racing: Already led by multiple stakes winner THE WINE STEWARD, impressive winner of Oaklawn’s Fifth Season S. in his seasonal debut, earning a 96 Beyer.
2024 Racing: Top 5 Sire of Black Type 3-Year-Olds (his first crop) in all of North America with 13 – only Into Mischief ($250,000), Gun Runner ($250,000), Justify ($250,000) and Constitution ($110,000) had more!
A leading Second-Crop Sire in North America – No. 2 by Graded Stakes Horses (5) & No. 3 by Black Type Horses (16) – including multiple SW THE WINE STEWARD, runner-up in Keeneland’s Lexington-G3 in his 3yo debut and runner-up in Belmont’s Peter Pan-G3; 3yo colt TUSCAN SKY, dominant 6 3/4-length winner of Monmouth’s Pegasus S. (99 Beyer); Wine Me Up, runner-up in Santa Anita’s San Felipe-G2 (96 Beyer) & Robert Lewis-G3; Corposo, placed in the Santa Anita Oaks-G1; Next Level, placed in Churchill’s Matt Winn-G3 & runner-up in the St. Louis Derby; Shiloh’s Mistress, runner-up in Santa Anita’s Providencia-G3; AVANA (winner of 6 straight), 8-length winner of the River Rock Casino S., 4 3/4-length winner of the Century Casino Oaks, 2 3/4-length winner of the Supernaturel H., 3 1/4-length winner of the BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club H., winner of the British Columbia Oaks; Le Vin, placed in Parx’s City of Brotherly Love S., etc. Top second-crop 2yos incl. Breeders’ Cup contender PALI KITTEN, winner of Santa Anita’s Speakeasy S., etc.
2024 Sales: Second-crop 2yos incl. colts sold up to $270,000 and fillies sold up to $190,000 to date.
No. 1 First-Crop Sire by Graded Stakes Horses & G1 Horses in 2023, including a Grade 1-placed colt in all three of the major final Breeders’ Cup preps for juveniles at a mile of more on dirt! Led by rising 2yo colt THE WINE STEWARD, winner of the Bashford Manor S. at Ellis Park, Funny Cide S. at Saratoga and narrow runner-up in the Breeders’ Futurity-G1 at Keeneland; Wine Me Up, debut winner and runner-up in the American Pharoah-G1 at Santa Anita in his second start; Dancing Groom, third in the Champagne-G1 at Belmont after breaking his maiden at Saratoga; Next Level, third in the Del Mar Futurity-G1; Laurel Park SW CAP CLASSIQUE (3-for-4 as a 2yo); stakes-placed Zaino, April Vintage, King Rosso, Vino Rouge, etc.
4 G1 Stakes Horses from his first 2yos – more than any other stallion in North America on dirt in 2023; No. 3 First-Crop Sire by Earnings after leading in October.
A Leading Freshman 2-Year-Old Sire in 2023 with a $103,784 avg. from 58 sold, incl. $550,000 colt purchased by Alex & JoAnn Lieblong – the second-highest priced 2yo at OBSMAR; $475,000 colt at OBSAPR purchased by FMQ Stables; $385,000 filly at F-T Midlantic purchased by Team Hanley & 30 Year Farm; $350,000 filly at F-T Midlantic purchased by West Bloodstock for Repole Stables; $340,000 colt at OBSMAR purchased by Michael Maker, $325,000 filly at OBSMAR purchased by West Bloodstock, for Repole Stable, etc. First 2yos at OBS March incl. 3 of the top 8 prices by freshman sires.
Second-crop yearlings in 2023 incl. $430,000, $325,000, etc.; third-crop weanlings incl. $155,000, $110,000, etc.
Recognized by Paulick Report as “First Team” on their 2023 All-Value Sire Team: “my money is on Vino Rosso” –Joe Nevills
A Leading Freshman Yearling Sire in 2022 with a $94,287 avg. from 112 sold, led by fillies up to $550,000 and colts up to $400,000.
No. 2 freshman sire at the prestigious F-T Saratoga Select Sale – $293,750 avg. (only Omaha Beach’s was higher) – incl. $550,000 (highest price by a freshman sire), $300,000, etc; F-T July Sale incl. $250,000 (top 2 by a freshman sire), $200,000, $200,000, etc; Keeneland September incl. $400,000, $385,000, $375,000, $360,000, etc.
“The best-looking Curlin I’ve ever seen. He’s spectacular looking and about as well bred a horse as there is. He and Justify were our best yearlings (in 2016).”
–John Gunther, 2018 Eclipse Award Winner for Outstanding Breeder
Yearling buyers incl. Repole Stable, St. Elias Stables, Winchell Thoroughbreds, Albaugh Family Stables, Ken McPeek, Lael Stables, Mike Ryan, Spendthrift Farm, Sackatoga Stable, Eddie Woods, Peter Bradley, Tom McCrocklin, Calumet Farm, The Elkstone Group, D.J. Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Mayberry Farm, etc.
Top 3 Freshman Weanling Sire in 2021 with a $90,595 avg. from 47 first-crop weanlings (& short yearlings) sold including 19 six-figure sales, featuring colts up to $340,000 and fillies up to $300,000.
Multiple G1 winner & Eclipse Champion in the mold of elite sire CURLIN – arguably his closest-resembling son by looks, quality, style & type.
At 4: Earned the Eclipse Award for 2019 CHAMPION OLDER DIRT MALE after a dominant win in the $6,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) by 4 1/4 lengths over 9 G1 winners incl. McKinzie, Higher Power, Elate, Code of Honor, Yoshida, Seeking the Soul, Math Wizard, War of Will, etc. (111 Beyer & a historic -6 1/4 Thoro-Graph).
Won $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1), defeating 2019 G1 winners Gift Box, Mongolian Groom & Higher Power and earning a 105 Beyer.
At 3: Won $1,000,000 Wood Memorial (G2) going away by 3 lengths at Aqueduct, defeating G1 winner Firenze Fire in 1:49.79 – second fastest in the last decade.
At 2: Undefeated in two starts by open lengths, including a 7f MdSpWt win on debut at Aqueduct and Allowance win over a mile at Tampa.
Fastest Breeders’ Cup Classic on record by THORO-GRAPH: -6 ¼ (Arrogate -5, Saint Liam -4 3/4, Ghostzapper -4 1/2, California Chrome – 4 1/2, Curlin -4, American Pharoah -3 1/2, Mucho Macho Man -3 1/2, Invasor (Arg) -3 1/2, etc.)
Elite 111 BEYER: Only Palace Malice was faster among sons of Curlin; Faster than Good Magic, Exaggerator, Keen Ice, Connect, etc.
Finished first before being DQ’d and placed in second in $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont in 2019, finishing ahead of 2019 G1 winners Code of Honor & Preservationist and G2 winner Tacitus – 106 Beyer.
Won Stymie S. at Aqueduct in 4-year-old debut, earning a 4 Ragozin at a mile.
77.27 Class Performance Index according to Blood-Horse – No. 1 CPI rating of any racehorse ever by CURLIN.
Out of the multiple stakes-producing Street Cry (Ire) mare Mythical Bride, a half-sister to Belmont S. (G1) runner-up COMMISSIONER-G2 and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up LAUGH TRACK-G3 – 18 stakes performers under his first four dams.
$410,000 yearling at Keeneland September – among Curlin’s top yearlings in 2016.
Earned $4,803,125 – the most accomplished horse ever by leading sire Curlin, who’s the most accomplished horse ever by SMART STRIKE (one of Mr. Prospector’s most influential sires).
Establishing a deep pipeline: Averaged 185 mares bred his first five seasons at stud.
“I think he’s got a big future. He’s a very good-looking horse. He resembles Curlin a lot. He was able to win at 2, 3 and 4 and is a classy type of horse which is what the people are looking for. He has a great disposition, he’s healthy and sound and has all the attributes you look for in a stallion.”
–Todd Pletcher
| Age | Starts | 1st (SW) | 2nd (SP) | 3rd (SP) | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | $48,000 |
| 3 | 7 | 1 (1) | 0 | 2 (2) | $794,500 |
| 4 | 6 | 3 (3) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | $3,960,625 |
| Totals | 15 | 6 (4) | 1 (1) | 3 (3) | $4,803,125 |
Racing Highlights
Won at 2
- An allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs (1 mile & 40 yards, by 2 1/2 lengths, defeating Bon Raison, Moveslike Molasses, etc.)
- A maiden special weight race at Aqueduct (7 furlongs, by 2 3/4 lengths, defeating Point to Remember, Home Run Maker, Allured, On Patrol, etc.)
Won at 3
- Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct (G2, 9 furlongs in 1:49.79, by 3 lengths, defeating Enticed, Restoring Hope, Firenze Fire, King Zachary, Evaluator, Old Time Revival, etc.)
3rd at 3
- Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga (G2, 9 furlongs, to Tenfold and Flameaway, defeating Reride and Sporting Chance)
- Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs (G3, 8.5 furlongs, to Flameaway and Catholic Boy, defeating Hollywood Star, Navy Armed Guard and Septimus Severus)
Won at 4
- Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park (G1, 10 furlongs, defeating McKinzie, Higher Power, Elate, Math Wizard, Code of Honor, Yoshida, Seeking the Soul, War of Will, Owendale and Mongolian Groom)
- Gold Cup at Santa Anita S. (G1, 10 furlongs, defeating Gift Box, Lone Sailor, Mongolian Groom, Higher Power, Core Beliefs and Blitzkrieg)
- Stymie S. at Aqueduct (8 furlongs in 1:35.27, defeating Title Ready, Shivermetimbers, Sunny Ridge, California Night, Stan the Man, Curlin's Honor and Hero's Welcome)
- Jockey Club Gold Cup S. at Belmont Park (G1, 10 furlongs in 2:00.30, (finished 1st but DQ'd to 2nd) to Code of Honor, defeating Tacitus, Preservationist and Olympic Village)
- Whitney S. at Saratoga (G1, 9 furlongs, to McKinzie and Yoshida, defeating Preservationist, Forewarned, Monongahela and Imperative)
Pedigree
Alan Porter’s 2024 Breeding Analysis for Vino Rosso
Eclipse Award-winning Champion Older Horse, Vino Rosso was a dominant winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). He is by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, now an outstanding sire, and promising sire of sires, out of a Street Cry mare from a family full of black type. In 2023, Vino Rosso was a leading freshman sire with nine black-type two-year-olds and three other Grade one performers.
The cross of Curlin and sons with mares from the A.P. Indy line has produced nearly 40 stakes winners, including Vino Rosso’s multiple stakes winning and Grade one placed The Wine Steward. The Curlin line cross with mares by A.P. Indy himself has produced such as Champions Malathaat and Nest, and Grade one winners Idol and Global Campaign. The cross with mares by Bernardini has produced Grade one winners Paris Lights and Clairiere, as well as Grade one placed Vino Rosso performer Dancing Groom. The Wine Steward is out of mare by Bernardini son To Honour And Serve, and there is also a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Bernardini son Wilburn, which also suggests daughters of Stay Thirsty. Grade one winner Stellar Wind is out of a mare by Malibu Moon, and there is a grade two winner by Curlin out of a mare by Flatter (sire of Upstart and Flat Out), and Champion Cody’s Wish out of a mare by Tapit (sire of Constitution, Frosted, Tonalist, Concord Point, Tapizar, Tapiture, Hansen and Trappe Shot). Tapit is by A.P. Indy son, Pulpit (also sire of Corinthian – broodmare sire of a Curlin line graded winner – Sky Mesa and Stroll). There is also a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Majestic Warrior and a stakes winner out of a mare by Jump Start. It could also be worth considering mares by Congrats (a brother to Flatter) and Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine), Jump Start, Majestic Warrior and Stephen Got Even.
A.P. Indy is by Seattle Slew, and Curlin also has classic winner Exaggerator and Champion Elite Power out of mares by Seattle Slew son, Vindication, and there is also a grade one winner out of a mare by Boston Harbor (by Capote). Curlin also has two graded stakes winners out of mares by Yes It’s True, whose grandsire Raja Baba is from the same sire line and family as A.P. Indy.
The cross of Curlin and his sire, Smart Strike, with mares from the Danzig branch of Northern Dancer has been a hugely successful one. We can note that Curlin and sons have Champion Good Magic out of a mare by Hard Spun;Kentucky Derby winner Mage out of a mare by Big Brown; Grade one winner Bright Future out of a mare by Bellamy Road; Grade one winner Known Agenda out of a mare by Byrama (from the Green Desert branch); a quartet of stakes winners out of daughters of Polish Numbers; and stakes winners out of mares by Foxhound, Pine Bluff, War Front (sire of The Factor, Summer Front, Declaration of War and Hit it a Bomb), Exchange Rate and Ascot Knight.
From another branch of the Northern Dancer line, Curlin had developed a particularly strong affinity for mares from the Storm Cat line, this cross producing more than 40 stakes winners. In addition to daughters of Storm Cat himself, this cross has produced grade one winner Grace Adler out of a mare by Newfoundland, grade one winner Rattle N Roll out of a mare by Johannesburg (sire of Scat Daddy – himself broodmare sire of Vino Rosso stakes winner Cap Classique – and a son of Hennessy, also sire of Henny Hughes), black-type winners out of mares by Giant’s Causeway (who is represented by such as Not This Time, Creative Cause, Eskendereya – already broodmare sire of a Curlin line stakes winner – First Samurai and Frost Giant), Tale of the Cat (sire of Tale of Ekati and Lion Heart; grandsire ofKantharos and Uncaptured), Forestry (sire of Discreet Cat and Shackleford), Stormy Atlantic, Stormin Fever, Tactical Cat, Lion Hearted and Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir and D’Wildcat), Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief – already broodmare sire of a Curlin graded stakes winner – Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby),. Daughters of Bernstein, Bluegrass Cat, Cat Thief, Freud (brother to Giant’s Causeway), Pure Prize and Yankee Gentleman are among other Storm Cat sources that could be considered.
There is a Curlin grade two winner out of a mare by Dixieland Band and another out of a mare by that horse’s son, Dixie Union (sire of Union Rags). This line could also be sourced through High Cotton, Hook and Ladder and Overanalyze. Out of mares from the Nureyev branch of Northern Dancer, Curlin has a classic winner out of a mare by Royal Anthem and a stakes winner out of a mare by that horse’s sire, Theatrical, and a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Great Commotion. This also suggests trying daughters of Atticus, Fasliyev, Unusual Heat and Spinning World. From the sire line of Nureyev’s three-quarters brother, Sadler’s Wells, there is a grade one winner out of a mare by Warrior’s Reward, a son of Medaglia d’Oro (broodmare sire of Vino Rosso’s grade one placed horse Next Level) which also suggests mares by Violence. Medaglia d’Oro is by El Prado, also sire of Kitten’s Joy (broodmare sire of Vino Rosso’s Grade one performer Wine Me Up).
Curlin is out of a Deputy Minister mare and has enjoyed exceptional success with inbreeding to that strain. Vino Rosso has a double of Deputy Minister, but that will be 4×5 in his offspring, so a third strain should not be problematic. Among likely sources are Awesome Again, broodmare sire of Curlin grade one winner Keen Ice, and who might be brought in through Ghostzapper, Paynter, Oxbow, Daheer, Toccet, Awesome of Course and Awesome Patriot; Dehere (whose son, Graeme Hall, is broodmare sire of Curlin grade one winner Curalina), Silver Deputy (sire of Posse – himself broodmare sire of a Curlin line graded stakes winner – Archers Bay, Badge of Silver, Spring at Last), Forest Camp (broodmare sire of a Curlin line stakes winner) and French Deputy (broodmare sire of a Curlin line graded stakes winner).
Curlin already has two stakes winners, including grade one winner Collect, out of mares by Holy Bull, and he is sire of Macho Uno (broodmare sire of a Curlin grade one winner), Flashy Bull, Woke Up Dreamin and Giacomo. Curlin has a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Indian Charlie, a son of In Excess. In Excess is also sire of Rocky Bar, Notional and Bring the Heat, and Indian Charlie is sire of Uncle Mo, Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaisonand Cinco Charlie.
Alan Porter’s 2024 Breeding Analysis for Vino Rosso
Eclipse Award-winning Champion Older Horse, Vino Rosso was a dominant winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). He is by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, now an outstanding sire, and promising sire of sires, out of a Street Cry mare from a family full of black type. In 2023, Vino Rosso was a leading freshman sire with nine black-type two-year-olds and three other Grade one performers.
The cross of Curlin and sons with mares from the A.P. Indy line has produced nearly 40 stakes winners, including Vino Rosso’s multiple stakes winning and Grade one placed The Wine Steward. The Curlin line cross with mares by A.P. Indy himself has produced such as Champions Malathaat and Nest, and Grade one winners Idol and Global Campaign. The cross with mares by Bernardini has produced Grade one winners Paris Lights and Clairiere, as well as Grade one placed Vino Rosso performer Dancing Groom. The Wine Steward is out of mare by Bernardini son To Honour And Serve, and there is also a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Bernardini son Wilburn, which also suggests daughters of Stay Thirsty. Grade one winner Stellar Wind is out of a mare by Malibu Moon, and there is a grade two winner by Curlin out of a mare by Flatter (sire of Upstart and Flat Out), and Champion Cody’s Wish out of a mare by Tapit (sire of Constitution, Frosted, Tonalist, Concord Point, Tapizar, Tapiture, Hansen and Trappe Shot). Tapit is by A.P. Indy son, Pulpit (also sire of Corinthian – broodmare sire of a Curlin line graded winner – Sky Mesa and Stroll). There is also a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Majestic Warrior and a stakes winner out of a mare by Jump Start. It could also be worth considering mares by Congrats (a brother to Flatter) and Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine), Jump Start, Majestic Warrior and Stephen Got Even.
A.P. Indy is by Seattle Slew, and Curlin also has classic winner Exaggerator and Champion Elite Power out of mares by Seattle Slew son, Vindication, and there is also a grade one winner out of a mare by Boston Harbor (by Capote). Curlin also has two graded stakes winners out of mares by Yes It’s True, whose grandsire Raja Baba is from the same sire line and family as A.P. Indy.
The cross of Curlin and his sire, Smart Strike, with mares from the Danzig branch of Northern Dancer has been a hugely successful one. We can note that Curlin and sons have Champion Good Magic out of a mare by Hard Spun;Kentucky Derby winner Mage out of a mare by Big Brown; Grade one winner Bright Future out of a mare by Bellamy Road; Grade one winner Known Agenda out of a mare by Byrama (from the Green Desert branch); a quartet of stakes winners out of daughters of Polish Numbers; and stakes winners out of mares by Foxhound, Pine Bluff, War Front (sire of The Factor, Summer Front, Declaration of War and Hit it a Bomb), Exchange Rate and Ascot Knight.
From another branch of the Northern Dancer line, Curlin had developed a particularly strong affinity for mares from the Storm Cat line, this cross producing more than 40 stakes winners. In addition to daughters of Storm Cat himself, this cross has produced grade one winner Grace Adler out of a mare by Newfoundland, grade one winner Rattle N Roll out of a mare by Johannesburg (sire of Scat Daddy – himself broodmare sire of Vino Rosso stakes winner Cap Classique – and a son of Hennessy, also sire of Henny Hughes), black-type winners out of mares by Giant’s Causeway (who is represented by such as Not This Time, Creative Cause, Eskendereya – already broodmare sire of a Curlin line stakes winner – First Samurai and Frost Giant), Tale of the Cat (sire of Tale of Ekati and Lion Heart; grandsire ofKantharos and Uncaptured), Forestry (sire of Discreet Cat and Shackleford), Stormy Atlantic, Stormin Fever, Tactical Cat, Lion Hearted and Forest Wildcat (sire of Wildcat Heir and D’Wildcat), Harlan’s Holiday (sire of Into Mischief – already broodmare sire of a Curlin graded stakes winner – Majesticperfection and Shanghai Bobby),. Daughters of Bernstein, Bluegrass Cat, Cat Thief, Freud (brother to Giant’s Causeway), Pure Prize and Yankee Gentleman are among other Storm Cat sources that could be considered.
There is a Curlin grade two winner out of a mare by Dixieland Band and another out of a mare by that horse’s son, Dixie Union (sire of Union Rags). This line could also be sourced through High Cotton, Hook and Ladder and Overanalyze. Out of mares from the Nureyev branch of Northern Dancer, Curlin has a classic winner out of a mare by Royal Anthem and a stakes winner out of a mare by that horse’s sire, Theatrical, and a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Great Commotion. This also suggests trying daughters of Atticus, Fasliyev, Unusual Heat and Spinning World. From the sire line of Nureyev’s three-quarters brother, Sadler’s Wells, there is a grade one winner out of a mare by Warrior’s Reward, a son of Medaglia d’Oro (broodmare sire of Vino Rosso’s grade one placed horse Next Level) which also suggests mares by Violence. Medaglia d’Oro is by El Prado, also sire of Kitten’s Joy (broodmare sire of Vino Rosso’s Grade one performer Wine Me Up).
Curlin is out of a Deputy Minister mare and has enjoyed exceptional success with inbreeding to that strain. Vino Rosso has a double of Deputy Minister, but that will be 4×5 in his offspring, so a third strain should not be problematic. Among likely sources are Awesome Again, broodmare sire of Curlin grade one winner Keen Ice, and who might be brought in through Ghostzapper, Paynter, Oxbow, Daheer, Toccet, Awesome of Course and Awesome Patriot; Dehere (whose son, Graeme Hall, is broodmare sire of Curlin grade one winner Curalina), Silver Deputy (sire of Posse – himself broodmare sire of a Curlin line graded stakes winner – Archers Bay, Badge of Silver, Spring at Last), Forest Camp (broodmare sire of a Curlin line stakes winner) and French Deputy (broodmare sire of a Curlin line graded stakes winner).
Curlin already has two stakes winners, including grade one winner Collect, out of mares by Holy Bull, and he is sire of Macho Uno (broodmare sire of a Curlin grade one winner), Flashy Bull, Woke Up Dreamin and Giacomo. Curlin has a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Indian Charlie, a son of In Excess. In Excess is also sire of Rocky Bar, Notional and Bring the Heat, and Indian Charlie is sire of Uncle Mo, Adios Charlie, Bwana Charlie, Liaisonand Cinco Charlie.
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