In Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso standing at Spendthrift Farm in Victoria it was his Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher who stated ‘I think he’s got a big future. He’s a very good-looking horse.’
‘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.’
In winning over $4.8 million in stakes, Vino Rosso cumulated his career with a 4¼ length victory in the $6m Breeders’ Cup Classic of 1m2f in the time of 2-02.8min at Santa Anita.
Registering 6¼ on the Thoro-Graph Player service Vino Rosso is rated the highest Breeders’ Cup Classic winner ahead of Arrogate on 5, California Chrome 4½, his sire Curlin 4 and American Pharoah at 3½.
Also at four Vino Rosso won the Hollywood Gold Cup and Stymie Stakes, and was placed second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, third in the Whitney Stakes and fourth in the Cartier Handicap.
In winning both starts at two years, he went onto claim the Wood Memorial Stakes at three, and finished third in both the Jim Dandy Stakes and Sam F Davis Stakes.
Described by his breeder John D Gunther, a 2018 Eclipse Breeding Award recipient, ‘as spectacular looking and about as well-bred a horse as there is, he and Justify were our best yearlings in 2016.’
A $410,000 buy by owners Mike Repole and St Elias Stable from Glennwood Farm at the Keeneland 2016 September Yearling Sale, he was sent to Todd Pletcher who already had nine BC successes.
Vino Rosso resembles his duel US Horse of The Year and Breeders’ Cup Classic ‘elite’ sire Curlin in looks, type, quality and style, who has also sired the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winning sire Good Magic.
Of the successful Mr Prospector-Street Cry cross, with Curlin a grandson of Mr Prospector, Vino Rosso is from the winning Street Cry mare Mystical Bride, and a half-brother to Gr3 placed winner So Alive.
The immediate family of I’m The Tiger, his stakes winning grandam Flaming Heart is dam of Gr1 winner Commissioner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint placed Gr3 winner Laugh Track.
War Front’s highly credible son Omaha Beach, also shuttles to Spendthrift this season as a triple Gr 1 winning 3yo who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.
Placed in all his first four starts, including three at two-years, Omaha Beach broke through in a 7 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita at his second start at three years.
At his next start in winning the Rebel Stakes of 1m1f at Oaklawn Park, Omaha Beach stepped-up to Derby potential when defeating triple Gr1 2yo Game Winner, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner.
In gaining ‘direct win’ entry into the Arkansas Derby of 1m2f, Omaha Beach defeated the Los Alamitos Futurity winner Improbable, and was installed as 4/1 Kentucky Derby favourite.
However, on the eve of the Run for The Roses, Omaha Beach was found to have an ‘entrapped epiglottis’ and was with drawn for the Kentucky Derby, and missed all three classic races.
Returning to racing in October, Omaha Beach defeated the top-line sprinter Shancelot and older competitors in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship of 6 furlongs.
Installed as 8/5 favourite in the Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile at Santa Anita, Omaha Beach ran a great second to all-the-way leader Spun To Run, who had gained a commanding winning break.
In his final career start Omaha Beach defeated the Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster by 2¾ lengths in the Malibu Stakes 7f at Santa Anita, before retiring to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.
In having ‘the rare ability to mix brilliant sprinter speed with stamina and toughness’ Omaha Beach is also described in possessing ‘elite sire power, tremendous physical makeup and mental disposition.’
‘An exciting stallion prospect by superstar stallion War Front, a son of Danzig,’ who in Australia his son Declaration of War sired the Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare.
Trained by Richard Mandella for Fox Hill Farms, he was purchased privately when failing to meet his reserve on a bid of $625,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Bred by the Charming Syndicate, who owned his dam Charming, Omaha Beach descends from a ‘blue hen’ American stud book family of two champions and six Gr1 winners in his first two dams alone.
A half-brother to Champion 2YO Filly in Take Charge Brandi, he is from the winning Seeking the Gold mare Charming, who is half-sister to Leading 3YO Male in Will Take Charge and Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, from the duel Gr1 winning grandam Take Charge Lady.